Grumbles From The Forest: Fairy Tale Voices With a Twist is a collection of poetry. The Dear Readers letter at the beginning of the book clearly spells out the authors’ intentions: using some of the most well-known Western fairy tales they are going to re-imagine each one through a poet’s eyes, juggling different–sometimes unexpected–perspectives. The structure … Continue reading
This has been on my TBR list since it was published in 2017. I am SO thrilled I finally made the time to read it. After The Fall is a rewarding reading experience beyond what I anticipated. This is the continuation of what happened after the traditional Humpty Dumpty rhyme ends–told by Humpty Dumpty himself. After … Continue reading
Usually I enjoy Jason Reynold’s work. Look Both Ways? Not so much. Part of my problem–I think–were my expectations of the book. The jacket copy read: Jason Reynolds weaves ten tales (one per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings, into one wickedly funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the … Continue reading
The only thing disappointing about this book is that I didn’t discover it while my kids were younger! We loved Tedd Arnold’s Fly Guy and Parts series and they remain on my bookshelves today. I happened to see this in the library picture books as I was looking for another title and snatched it up … Continue reading
The first book in the Elephant & Piggie Love To Read spinoff series, The Cookie Fiasco sets the bar high for the series, as it is written and illustrated by the extraordinarily talented Dan Santat. The basic premise is that four friends–Monkey, Squirrel, Hippo and Alligator–have three cookies. They feel their friendship depends on their ability … Continue reading
I love Jan Thomas’ characteristic style of bright, single-color backgrounds behind richly expressive animal characters embroiled in a humorous situation. The Easter Bunny’s Assistant does all that and a little more! Easter Bunny demonstrates for the reader how to make “BEAUTIFUL Easter eggs.” His assistant is the enthusiastic Skunk. After each step in the Egg-decorating … Continue reading
I Just Want To Say Good Night by Rachel Isadora ranks among my favorite bedtime stories for children. If I still had little ones–preschool, early elementary–I would DEFINITELY be purchasing this title for our home library. Sweet, gentle, and soothing it exemplifies the perfect bedtime read in that: (1) it is structured around Lala’s stalling … Continue reading
Harold & Hog Pretend For Real is a new addition to the Elephant & Piggie Love to Read Books Easy Reader series spun off from Mo Willems’ popular (and brilliant) Elephant & Piggie books. Hog and Harold are best friends and they love reading about Elephant and Piggie and their adventures in books. They decide … Continue reading
Elodee & her twin, Naomi, are 11 years old. Their family has been through a traumatic year and Elodee is lost in the torrent of strong emotions raging inside her. Mom gets a new job in Eventown and everyone hopes it will be the “fresh start” they need–individually and as a family. Eventown was a … Continue reading
While both of these picture book biographies about E.B. White are good, they each have a distinctly different focus. A Boy, A Mouse and A Spider by Barbara Herkert is written very much in the pastoral style E.B. White, himself, favored. There is not a huge amount of text on any one page. On … Continue reading
