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Picture Book Reviews: That’s Not Normal, and Eso No Es Normal

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¡Eso no es normal! by Mar Pavón
That's Not Normal! by Mar Pavón

That’s Not Normal!
by Mar Pavón (Goodreads Author), Laure du Faÿ
4 out of 5 stars

Elephant has an abnormally long nose, but no one really minds… except Hippo. Elephant uses his long nose to help the other animals, but Hippo keeps reminding everyone that Elephant’s nose is “not normal.” One day Baby Hippo goes wandering toward the lake, and the animals rush to save Baby Hippo from the lake crocodiles. Is there a way that Elephant’s long nose could help? Will Hippo ever stop teasing Elephant about his long nose?

I loved this sweet book! It has such positive messages of acceptance and love. Even if someone is different or “abnormal”, they deserve our respect and kindness. And you never know, someday you might need their help.

I was especially impressed with the positive messages of forgiveness from Elephant himself. He never tries to retaliate or get revenge on Hippo. It’s such a simple story, but this book has a powerful message!

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Book Review: How Do You Live?

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How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino

How Do You Live?
by Genzaburo Yoshino, Bruno Navasky (Translator)
4 out of 5 stars

Copper reflects on the meaning of life as he faces challenges at his school. He befriends a poor classmate who is being teased and bullied, but that puts him in crosshairs as well. Somehow he must find the courage to stand with his friends, and find out what kind of person he really wants to be. Copper’s uncle and mother give him good advice, but ultimately it is up to Copper to make his own decisions.

This book is told in two parts; the first is Copper’s experiences at school and the second is his uncle’s notes to him about philosophy and the underlying meaning behind everyday things. These two perspectives overlap in alternate chapters. First we read about something that happened to Copper and then his uncle writes to Copper about it, expounding on different moral and social ideas of why that particular experience was important and how it can help to shape Copper into a good person.

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Picture Book Review: The Tiny Woman’s Coat

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The Tiny Woman's Coat by Joy Cowley

The Tiny Woman’s Coat
by Joy Cowley, Giselle Clarkson (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

A tiny woman needs a coat. She looks for fabric, for a needle, for buttons, for thread, and the creatures of the forest help her to find what she needs to make herself a little coat.

This is such a cute story! The tiny woman is so resourceful and smart. She really inspires me to look at things in a different way. Maybe leaves could be like fabric. Maybe seeds could be used as buttons. Maybe everyday things that we don’t notice could actually be useful and beautiful.
It’s such a simple story, but it has a powerful message. Plus it’s just fun and interesting to see how she manages to make her coat.

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Picture Book Review: Dulcinea in the Forbidden Forest

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Dulcinea in the Forbidden Forest by Ole Konnecke

Dulcinea in the Forbidden Forest
by Ole Konnecke
5 out of 5 stars

Dulcinea has been told not to go in the forbidden forest, because an evil witch lives there. But when the witch puts her father under a spell, Dulcinea goes looking for the witch to find a way to save her father. She journeys through the forest, and outwits the old witch!

I loved this imaginative story so much! The creatures in the forest are so weird-looking, and the story is magical and exciting. There are also some really funny lines that had me laughing!

Dulcinea is so resourceful and smart! I was inspired by her courage and her love for her father. The way that Dulcinea tricks the witch was so interesting and unique.

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Spanish Picture Book: Un Lobo Con Mucha Hambre

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Un lobo con mucha hambre
by Silvia Borando
4 out of 5 stars

Un conejo corre por el bosque gritando a todos los que encuentra que hay un lobo hambriento en el bosque. Intenta que el caracol se escape, pero el caracol es demasiado lento. Intenta hacer que el lirón corra, pero el lirón tiene demasiado sueño. Intenta que el burro se escape, pero el burro es demasiado terco. ¿Puede el conejo salvarlos antes de que el lobo venga a comérselos a todos?

¡Este es un libro tan adorable! Pensé que la historia era muy divertida. Pensé que el conejo era muy ingenioso al tratar de ayudar a todos. Les grita a todos que huyan, y si no corren, simplemente los levanta y los lleva a un lugar seguro.

¡Me encantaron las ilustraciones! Cada página está llena de colores brillantes y lindos animales. Me encanta el dulce caracolito. ¡Es tan pequeño y lindo! ¡Qué libro tan adorable!

KEEP READING FOR THE REVIEW IN ENGLISH!

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Book Review: Atlas of Amazing Architecture

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Atlas of Amazing Architecture by Peter Allen

Atlas of Amazing Architecture: The Most Incredible Buildings You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of
by Peter Allen
4 out of 5 stars

This book explores beautiful architecture around the world. These are some lesser well-known buildings and structures that aren’t as popular as the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben, but have been influential nonetheless.

I loved this cool book! It was so interesting to learn about these buildings, the architects who designed them, and the places where they were built. I like that the book doesn’t just tell you about the building, but also about the history behind it and the culture of the country that influenced it.

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Picture Book Review: Skywatcher

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Skywatcher by Jamie Hogan

Skywatcher
by Jamie Hogan
3 out of 5 stars

Tamen lives in the city, and has never seen the stars. There is too much light pollution to be able to see the night sky. Tamen’s mother takes him to the country, where he discovers the beautiful constellations and the Milky Way. He sees nocturnal animals like owls and moths, and falls in love with the beauty of the stars.

This book was really sweet and meaningful. It highlights the importance of preserving some areas of our world where there are no artificial lights, so that our connection to the stars will never be lost.

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Picture Book Review: Agent Llama

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Agent Llama by Angela Woolfe

Agent Llama
by Angela Woolfe, Duncan Beedie (Illustrator)
5 out of 5 stars

Charlie is a fabulous spy. She is hot on the trail of a stolen pair of underwear, fighting off evil goons and saving the world from the dastardly duo, Bogdon Boom and Greta Grimm. She parachutes from a crashing plane. She skis down a mountain at high speed. She outwits the bad guys, and does it all with style.

This book is so hilarious! I loved the funny plot and the exciting adventures. The rhyming text is so much fun to read out loud. I am very picky about rhyming text in picture books, but I was so happy with the rhythm and rhymes in this story. It really is delightful to read!

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Book Review: Emma Brown

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Emma Brown by Clare Boylan

Emma Brown: A Novel from the Unfinished Manuscript by Charlotte Bronte
by Clare Boylan, Charlotte Brontë
2 out of 5 stars

A child is mysteriously left at a girls boarding school. She has no memory of her past and is enrolled under a false name. Mr. Ellin takes it upon himself to find out about the girl’s history, hoping to restore her to her family.

Charlotte Bronte wrote the first twenty pages, and then tragically passed away before she could finish this intriguing story. And a modern author, Clare Boylan, has tried to finish the book in Charlotte Bronte’s style. I was not impressed.

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