The Bookish Elf

A Sad Goodbye

2014-08-31T14:51:00.001-03:00

It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing the end of Cozy Little Book Journal. I will no longer be reviewing, tweeting about, or blogging about books. Period. This means the end of all of my secondary blogs as well, I'm afraid.

I'm so sorry to all of the authors and publishers who were counting on me to promote the countless books they've sent me over the years, and I'm sorry to all of the readers who have come back to my blog again and again. I appreciate all of your support and encouragement and I'm so sorry to disappoint anyone. I assure you I did not take this decision lightly.

Most people don't realize this but I've not been well for several months now. I've had medical issues that have impacted my life in various ways and I really need to focus on my health now. For a long time, blogging seemed like a good fit for me. I could read and review books even when I was too ill to do much else. Lately, however, the stress of all of my book-related commitments, combined with feeling physically ill and emotionally exhausted, has made it a hobby that I dread more than I treasure. I've hated having reading turn into a chore instead of a joy.

Apart from health concerns, I've also gotten tired of a lot of other aspects of having a book blog. I'm sick of having authors' friends call me an idiot on Amazon because I didn't like a book. I'm tired of being sent dozens of crappy book files every month, despite repeatedly telling self-published authors that I'm in no way interested in their Christian children's books or their vampire YA. I'm tired of always being a few hundred books behind in my reading list, then feeling guilty if I choose to read a library book instead of one I'm "obligated" to read. I miss re-reading my favourite books just because I feel like it, instead of trying to speed-read the endless book files I have on my Kobo.

Don't get me wrong. I've loved so much about book blogging. I'd say I've loved it way more than I've hated it. I've loved being a part of a community of committed readers who discuss books with the enthusiasm of sports fans discussing a big game. I've loved interacting with authors, illustrators, publishers and publicists, the majority of whom have been the most amazing and lovely people. I've treasured the moments when my honest excitement for a book can make an author's day, and I've loved when they've taken the time to tell me that. I've been in awe of so many authors and artists and I've felt like I was backstage at a rock concert, getting to exchange letters and emails with my literary heroes.

I've loved sharing this experience with my daughter. She's five, but she never starts a new book without reading not only the title, but also the name of the author, the illustrator and the publisher. I didn't do that when I was her age. She's only a beginner reader herself, but she can already easily identify when a book is written or illustrated by someone she knows because she's come to recognize art styles, writing styles, and author photos. She thinks computers are mostly for downloading book files. I love that.

Nonetheless, I've decided that it is time to take a break from blogging. My daughter is starting school in a few days and I'm trying to stay healthy enough to share each day with her. Of course we'll still be reading and discussing all our favourite books. We just won't be doing it online.

Thank-you again to everyone who has supported and participated in my book blog, in every capacity, over the past four years. Unfortunately it's goodbye for now (possibly forever) but I really appreciate all of you. Thanks for understanding.

The Big Book of Things to Make, by James Mitchem (DK Publishing)

2014-08-06T13:18:00.000-03:00

Fantastic! As always, DK Publishing delivers exactly what it promises. This is like the quintessential book of kids' crafts. It's got all those things I vaguely remember from my own childhood (pinhole cameras, bottle rockets), plus a bunch of things I used to know when I was a daycare teacher but have since forgotten (homemade slime, milk art), and a couple of things I just never knew at all (if you make jello with tonic water it glows under UV light -- why?). Basically it's one-stop awesome.

And it has a whole bonus section of "things to do" that includes tips for how to play detective or pirates or even how to make your own board game. You know, for kids who want to better at playing and figure the answer is probably in a book (hint: it totally is). I was that kid. Actually, I still am, which is why I strongly approve of this book.

BOOK DETAILS:
The Big Book of Things to Make
Author: James Mitchem
Publisher: DK Publishing
Publication Date: March 18, 2013
View on Amazon

Source: Edelweiss

Loula and the Sister Recipe, by Anne Villeneuve

2014-08-05T13:13:00.000-03:00

Magda and I were big fans of Anne Villeneuve's previous book, Loula is Leaving for Africa, about a wealthy girl with successful but scattered parents, horrible triplet brothers, and a (luckily) attentive chauffeur. If it hadn't been for that chauffeur, I'm not sure anyone would have noticed that Loula had been gone all day (not really to Africa). Once again, it's the driver to the rescue when Loula decides it's time for another adventure. This time, she wants to create a new baby sister for herself, if only she can find the right ingredients.

This one sort of straddles the line between adorable and a little creepy, as Loula and her driver assemble the "ingredients" that Loula has heard are needed to make a baby. She gathers chocolate, candlelight, butterflies, hugs and kisses (with her cat), and of course, her parents. I know it's meant to be cute, but it's a little weird. After all, we the readers know that she's trying to set the scene for her parents to get it on (even if she doesn't quite realize it). And her chauffeur is helping her. It's...a little weird.

In the end her efforts do lead to an addition to the family, except it's in the form of a stray dog. Well, they assume it's a stray and just keep it without question. Again, a little odd.

Nonetheless, the series itself is charming and I'm hoping there will be more Loula books by Anne Villeneuve, even if this particular one isn't my favourite.

Magda's Take:
"I don't think that's going to work. I'm pretty sure that's not how you get a baby sister..."

BOOK DETAILS:
Loula and the Sister Recipe
by Anne Villeneuve
Published by Kids Can Press
Publication Date: August 1, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Also Mentioned In This Review:

View on Amazon.com
Read my review

Feivel's Flying Horses, by Heidi Smith Hyde (ilustrated by Johanna Van Der Sterre)

2014-08-04T13:12:00.000-03:00

Oh this is a lovely book! It tells the story of Feivel, a Jewish immigrant who comes to America in the 19th-century, leaving his family behind in Europe, so he can make a better life for them in the new world and hopefully earn enough money for them to come over and join them. A gifted artist, he makes a living carving elaborate and beautiful carousel horses, each dedicated to a member of his family. Finally, he earns enough for his wife and children to join him in New York, where they can finally see his amazing "horses."

Because it's based on real events, the book is of particular interest to children of Jewish families, European immigrants, or those who live in New York, but it is certainly not limited to that audience. The theme of longing and determination expressed through art is a universally relatable one, I think, and I found it very touching. Mostly though, the illustrations are so rich and lovely that it made me want to go on a carousel. What a wonderful book to read in the summertime, when there are merry-go-rounds to ride on at fairs and exhibitions (though perhaps not as amazing and special as the ones in the book)!

BOOK DETAILS:
Feivel's Flying Horses
by Heidi Smith Hyde
Illustrated by Johanna Van Der Sterre
Published by Open Road Media
Publication Date: May 20, 2013
Originally published by Kar-Ben Publishing on January 1, 2010
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Where in the World Will We Go Today? by Heather C. Toner (illustrated by Bill Pazman)

2014-08-03T13:11:00.000-03:00

The description of this book sounds ambitious--a children's illustrated journey around the world--but I had high hopes for it anyway. After reading so many wonderful books by DK Publishing I thought the concept had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, this book is definitely not a DK book and it didn't meet even my most meagre expectations. The illustrations are dull and amateur; the rhymes are toneless, shallow and banal; and the "journey around the world" only includes about a dozen countries, most of which only have a few lines of description at best (except for the United States and, confusingly, Tanzania).

If I had to describe this book in a word, it would be "unsuccessful."

BOOK DETAILS:
Where in the World Will We Go Today?
by Heather C. Toner
Illustrated by Bill Pazman
Published by BQB Publishing (Boutique of Quality Books)
Publication Date: September 30, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Rhoda's Rock Hunt, by Molly Beth Griffin (illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell)

2014-08-02T13:10:00.000-03:00

Oooh I love this book! Sometimes when a children's book is fantastic, it's hard to find a creative way to say "it's fantastic" because, well, many children's books are. Let's see. What I really mean is "as a parent, there are zero things which annoy me about this book" and "this book would continue to not annoy me, even after reading it forty times." If you're the parent of a preschooler, these are very important factors to consider.

But what kind of fantastic is it? Is it the kind that kids will love but parents will merely tolerate? Is it the kind that is so funny that parents will be laughing out loud but kids won't get the joke? Is it the kind that is educational so parents and teachers will want to read it with kids? I guess it's mostly the last one, but primarily it's a lovely story with lovely illustrations.

A little girl named Rhoda is excited to be going on a big hiking and camping trip with her aunt and uncle, mostly because of all of the interesting rocks she'll find. The only problem is that since they all have so much gear to carry, Rhoda absolutely must be responsible for carrying her own backpack. When her bag inevitably gets too heavy to lift, she'll have to decide which rocks to take and which to leave behind, not an easy decision for an amateur geologist like Rhoda.

My daughter and I both loved the idea of a rock collecting little girl, because we also love finding interesting rocks and seeing what we can learn about them. I also liked the problem solving aspect of Rhoda's journey. She has to leave behind some of her rocks and no amount of fuming is going to get her aunt and uncle to carry her bag for her. They simply can't give in to her frustration because they have their own stuff to carry. On the other hand, they sympathize with Rhoda enough to let her take some time to figure things out on her own. They're pretty great caregivers, those two. Well, they must be, because Rhoda's parents trusted them to take her into the woods for several days without them!

Magda's Take:
"I really loved the part where Rhoda's backpack is too heavy and she was trying so hard to pull it but she couldn't. That was pretty funny."

Book Details:
Rhoda's Rock Hunt
by Molly Beth Griffin
Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell
Published by Minnesota Historical Society Press
Publication Date: October 1, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: Edelweiss

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, illustrated by Rashin

2014-08-01T13:08:00.000-03:00

There have been so many interpretations of this classic rhyme, it's hard to imagine a new one would bring anything else to the story. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly is not only silly and a favourite among children, but also utilizes many different consonant blend sounds (fly, swallow, spider, etc.). Past incarnations of the rhyme have had the old lady swallowing all sorts of things: sea creatures, seasonal trimmings, regional fare. So how does Rashin's version, one that doesn't stray from the original words, add anything?

Well I'll tell you. It's the illustrations. For one thing, we get a rare glimpse into how the animals feel about being swallowed! Do they actually chase each other around in her stomach, as the rhyme assures us they should? In this one, they do!

Just when I thought I couldn't be surprised by this familiar verse, I saw the picture of the bird trying to stop the knife-wielding spider from chasing the fly and I almost snorted milk out of my nose. (Okay, it was Diet Coke, not milk, but I should be drinking more milk so I pretended that I was. I wasn't, though. It was soda pop. It hurt when I laughed because of the fizz.)

Rashin Kheiriyeh has managed to bring back a manic joy to a story that I thought was long since exhausted. Well done!

BOOK DETAILS:
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Published by North South Books
Publication Date: August 1, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Clara's Crazy Curls, by Helen Poole

2014-07-31T13:05:00.000-03:00

Clara loves her curly hair but oh, how she wishes she could have MORE of it. Thanks to some conveniently placed hair growth formula found in her parents' bathroom, she gets her wish and more. Before long she has hair that reaches the sky and all the incovenience that comes with it.

She's like a cross between a Robert Munsch character and one from Dr. Seuss (remember Gertrude McFuzz?). How she managed to get her hair to stay upright as it grew past the ceiling I'll never know.

Magda and I enjoyed this book, though I think Magda found the premise of wanting MORE hair a bit perplexing. She had been growing her own hair out so she could donate it to Locks of Love when she eventually had it cut. After months of dealing with tangles, braids, extra brushing and endless blow drying, the day she got it all chopped off was the happiest of her young life!

For more information about the book, visit Capstone Young Readers. And if you happen to be interested in donating hair to Locks of Love, a wonderful organization that makes wigs for sick children, you can visit locksoflove.org.

BOOK DETAILS:
Clara's Crazy Curls
Author: Helen Poole
Publisher: Capstone
Publication Date: January 1, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Callaloo: A Jazz Folktale, by Marjuan Canady (Illustrated by Nabeeh Bilal)

2014-07-30T13:03:00.000-03:00

Callaloo: A Jazz Folktale is an "almost" book. I can see where the author and illustrator were going with it, but it didn't quite get there.

The basic story is that a boy named Winston is eating callaloo, his favourite Caribbean dish, while sitting in his apartment in New York City, when he is suddenly transported to the island of Tobago. And that's when the book gets a little scary. Winston encounters a series of frightening demons and monsters before finally returning home to his kitchen. Upon his return he apparently has learned the value of eating in moderation. Was that what he was supposed to be learning? I guess so. It wasn't all that clear.

I think the idea behind this story (which is based on a play) is that readers are supposed to feel they are transported to another land along with Winston (sort of like Where the Wild Things Are), or that a regular kitchen can have the power of transformation (like Jonathan Cleaned Up and Then He Heard a Sound), but also that we're supposed to learn a lot about the Caribbean islands (like The Drummer Boy of John John). The problem is that the drawings are simple and unsophisticated enough to suggest the book is for very young children, but then the monsters are pretty scary. So the overall message seems to be, "If you eat Caribbean food you may end up in Tobago, which is the scariest place on the planet." I can't help but feel the author intended the book to have the OPPOSITE message.

Magda's Take:

Magda didn't actually finish this one. We started to read it after she'd had a big lunch and just before she was supposed to take a nap. When she saw that it was about a boy eating a lot of food she declared that she was too full and too sleepy to read this right now. I finished it on my own while she was napping and I'm glad I did because those monster drawings would have definitely scared the crap out of her. (Keep reading to see a couple of the illustrations)

Book Details:
Callaloo: A Jazz Folktale
by Marjuan Canady
Illustrated by Nabeeh Bilal
Published by Sepia Works
Publication Date: November 18, 2013
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Links:

Callaloo: A Jazz Folktale Audio Book

Callaloo: A Jazz Folktale book trailer

"The Callaloo Song"

Callaloo Book Website

Celebrate Caribana in Toronto!

Rosie Writes Backwards, by Eva O'Regan (illustrated by Diane Lucas)

2014-07-29T11:02:00.000-03:00

I've been meaning to publish a review of this book for some time but I've been procrastinating just a little. Unlike the overwhelming majority of books I review, this was written by someone I know in real life. Sort of. I met author Eva O'Regan at a my local library where she was doing a book launch event for this book (which is when I agreed to review it on my blog) and it turns out she works in my dentist's office.

I'm not one to sugar coat reviews, and I would never give a dishonest review of a book just because I'd met the author (or for any reason really), but, well...if I didn't absolutely love the book then a lukewarm review could be...awkward. I'd probably have preferred to just not review this book at all, but I already said I would, so here goes. (I assure you it's my honest opinion, but I definitely wanted to give everyone a heads up about any connection I have to the author, in case that changes how you assess my review.)

My daughter and I read this book together and it's, um, okay. The idea is an interesting one: A little girl writes backwards and astounds her friends at school. The entire book is written in mirror letters (THE ENTIRE BOOK) so it comes with a sort of shiny reflective mirror paper thing in the back that you're supposed to use to read the words. The idea is that you put the shiny mirror paper against each page and read the reverse image.

First of all, the shiny mirror thing doesn't work that well. It's awkward to read the book under the best of circumstances. I can only imagine how hard it would be once the reflective paper gets scratched, creased, smudged, or worse--lost. And because the book is paperback it's difficult to keep the reflective page at the exact right angle to read the words. Nice idea, but not the most practical execution.

Also, when I say the entire book is written in mirror letters, I mean the ENTIRE BOOK, not just the parts where Rosie is writing. Personally I think it would have been more successful if the main story were written normally, but maybe the character of Rosie could write things in reverse that readers would have to "decode." That's just my opinion.

As for the story itself, I do like the fact that Rosie's backwards writing is treated as a special talent instead of cause for concern. On the other hand, it probably would have been good if there had been a little bit of conflict for the main character to overcome. Did the kids at school think she was weird? Did her parents worry that she had a learning disability? Was her teacher annoyed that she wasn't writing properly? Although Rosie briefly worries about these things, the reaction from everyone is universally supportive. While that's lovely, it doesn't necessarily make for the most interesting storytelling.

Here's what my daughter had to say:

Magda's Take:
Will I have to know how to write backwards when I start school? I know how to write most of my letters, but I don't know how to write them backwards! Is my teacher going to ask me that? Also, why does the teacher in the book look exactly like the mom in the book? Do you think the illustrator was just drawing herself? The grownups all look the same. That's strange..

Mom's Note:
Magda is right about the adults in the book looking a lot alike. I hadn't noticed that!
As for her fears that she'll "have to" write backwards when she starts school, I've assured her she won't! But it seems like a bit of a missed opportunity to me that the author didn't include a parent resource page at the end about reverse writing, dyslexia, etc. Even a brief note on her website would have been great. Again, just my opinion.

Book Details:
Rosie Writes Backwards
Author: Eva O'Regan
Illustrator: Diane Lucas
Publication Date: September 2013
View on Amazon

Source: review copy from author
Visit Author's Website

Amazon.com Widgets

Cock-a-Doodle-Oops! by Lori Degman (illustrated by Deborah Zemke)

2014-07-28T11:05:00.000-03:00

Who doesn't love a good barnyard tale about animals hatching a plan? In the vein of Click Clack Moo and the Minnie and Moo series, Cock-a-Doodle Oops! is the story of animals who know more about running a farm than their farmer. Well, sort of.

When Rooster goes on vacation for a week (which Farmer McPeeper doesn't seem to notice) the other animals must take turns doing the morning wake-up call. Since none of them can master the rooster's "cock-a-doodle-doo" Farmer McPeeper (who is quite a deep sleeper) ends up sleeping for the whole week. He is grossly unqualified for his job.

Told in non-annoying rhyme (always a bonus for parents) and with delightfully expressive illustrations (Deborah Zemke can get a lot of attitude into cartoon eyes), the book follows each day of the week that Rooster is away. Each morning sounds almost--but not quite--right. There's "cock-a-doodle SQUEAL," "cock-a-doodle MOO," and "cock-a-doodle BAAAA," well you get the idea.

Magda's Take:
"I loved this book! I loved everything about it. I especially liked that the animals were trying so hard to say "cock-a-doodle-doo" but really they were doing pretty well for a sheep and a pig and a cow. I mean just getting the "cock-a-doodle-baa" part is still pretty good! But I think there might be something wrong with that farmer. How can you sleep for a week? It was a good idea at the end when they just called him on the telephone. Those animals are smart."

Keep reading for more details about the book and a peek inside!

BOOK DETAILS:
Cock-a-Doodle-Oops!
by Lori Degman
Illustrated by Deborah Zemke
Published by Creston Books
Publication Date: May 13, 2014

View on Amazon

Source: review copy from the publicist

Amazon.com Widgets

Don't Turn the Page, by Rachelle Burk (illustrated by Julie Downing)

2014-07-27T12:57:00.000-03:00

If you only read one book about a porcupine baby who reads a story about a bear cub who reads a story about a porcupine baby all year, it should be this one. It's a book within a book, a story and a meta-story, and it's all kinds of adorable!

Sami is a baby porcupine (or is she a hedgehog? Magda and her dad hoped she might be) who doesn't want to go to bed (because she's not even tired!) but she and her stuffed bear do want to read a bedtime story. Just don't call it a bedtime story (because she's not even tired!).

The book they read is about a little bear cub who is getting ready for bed. He gathers his stuffed porcupine (hedgehog?) toy and settles in for a book. And the book he's reading is this book, the one about the porcupine (hedgehog? porcuhog?). So meta.

I just adored this book. It reminded me a little of Snatchabook, another story about forest animals and their bedtime stories. Big thanks to the publicist for sending this one my way!

Magda's Take:

Magda--So do you think the bear in the story and the porcupine know each other in real life? Like, are they friends and their moms wrote this book for them?

Me--I don't know. Maybe.

Magda--I mean "real life" in the story. I know it wasn't really written by a bear.

Me--I know what you meant.

Magda--But then, would a porcupine and a bear cub be friends? A porcupine is pretty tiny compared to a bear. And if it's a hedgehog, that's even smaller!

Me--It's a mystery, honey.

Magda--It really is.

BOOK DETAILS:
Don't Turn the Page!
Author: Rachelle Burk
Illustrator: Julie Downing
Publisher: Creston Books
Publication Date: June 10, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: I was sent a copy by the publicist--thanks, Samantha!

Big or Little? (Board Book edition), by Kathy Stinson (illustrations by Jennifer A. Bell)

2014-07-26T12:56:00.000-03:00

Kathy Stinson's (Red is Best, The Man With the Violin) new book, Big or Little? is about an experience that every parent of a toddler or preschooler can relate to: your child feels (and behaves) like a big kid some of the time, but also feels (and is treated) like a little kid other times.

Helping in the garden makes him feel big. Being able to reach the elevator button makes her feel big. But then she has to go to bed when she's not even tired, or he tries putting on a shirt and the sleeves end up in all the wrong places, and it's back to feeling small.

It's the constant struggle of being a toddler (as The Honest Toddler will attest).

I say that parents will relate to it, but I can't guarantee that kids will admit to it (even though these are things they go through ALL THE TIME). When I read it to Magda I asked what things made her feel big or little. She said, "I'm four, Mommy. I'm BIG. FOUR IS BIG, Mommy." She probably just didn't want to admit to anything, in case it was a trick question to get her to take a nap when she wasn't tired.

BOOK DETAILS:
Big or Little?
Author: Kathy Stinson
Illustration: Jennifer A. Bell
Publisher: Annick Press
Publication Date: January 9, 2014 (Boardbook edition)
(Originally published March 1, 1983, by Annick)
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

MENTIONED IN THIS REVIEW:

The Honest Toddler
(my review)

Red is Best

The Man With the Violin
(my review)

Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm (A New English Version), adapted by Philip Pullman

2014-07-25T12:55:00.000-03:00

The Grimm Brothers are having a real moment in pop culture right now. There are numerous movies and television shows with dark fairy tale themes, including one simply called Grimm. There's the Grimm trilogy by Adam Gidwitz. There's even a take on The Three Billy Goats Gruff called The Bully Goat Grim. And then of course there's this new collection of Grimm fairy tales by Philip Pullman.

I say "new" but of course the stories are very old. The Brothers Grimm themselves did not originate most of these stories, but gathered them from many sources, travelling around listening to tales. So Pullman warns us not to be too precious about the "right" version of these stories.

"A fairy tale is not a text," he says in his introduction. Each storyteller who repeats a fairy tale has the liberty--nay, the obligation--to tell it in his own way with his own embellishments. In this collection, Pullman has striven to stay true to the spirit of the original fairy tales rather than worrying about the exact wording or details.

He's also included a lot of stories that I had never heard before, such as "Hans-my Hedgehog." I was excited about that one because my daughter, Magda, is in love with a hedgehog character that her father created for her in a series of stories (which are sadly not available outside of our house, as much as I'd love to see him publish them). The Grimm Brothers' take on a hedgehog was, uh, less charming. In true Grimm fashion, it was a little horrifying. I didn't tell Magda.

BOOK DETAILS:
Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
A New English Version
Author: Philip Pullman (adapted by)
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
(Published by Viking November 8, 2012)
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

MENTIONED IN THIS REVIEW:

A Tale Dark and Grimm
(review coming soon)

In a Glass Grimmly
(review coming soon)

The Grimm Conclusion
(review coming soon)

The Bully Goat Grim
(review coming soon)

Grimm (TV)

Once Upon a Time (TV)

Maleficent (2014)

Snow White and the
Huntsman (2012)

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Cupcake Cousins, by Kate Hannigan (illustrated by Brooke Boynton Hughes)

2014-07-24T12:55:00.000-03:00

I read this to Magda, who is four, and she loved it, but the target audience is probably around ages 7-9. It's a great chapter book overall, with just a few minor problems (in our opinion).

First of all, at nearly 300 pages it's quite long for a children's chapter book. Of course some of those pages are recipes or illustrations, but still.

Second, most of the characters have flower or plant names (Rose, Willow, Violet, etc.) but since it's hard to come up with plant-themed boy names, the little brother in the book is called Sweet William. Although I've seen that conceit used to great effect before (have you seen the movie The Hanging Garden? It's great), it did get very annoying that he was called that Every. Single. Time. Not once did they just call him William or Will. Does it say Sweet William on his birth certificate? Also, it didn't help that he was the worst character in the book. He was five but he acted (and was treated) like he was two, in that nobody ever reprimanded him for all of the horrible ways he screwed everything up. My four-year-old was a little insulted by how useless the five-year-old in the book was.

But on the plus side, the characters of Willow and Delia (the so-called Cupcake Cousins, though they seem to make everything BUT cupcakes) are great. And I loved that Delia comes from a mixed race family and it's NBD. Willow likes the fact that even though they have different hair and skin colour, she and her cousin still look a lot alike and have the same eyes. In real life, lots of families and extended families are racially diverse, but that's something you almost never see represented in children's books. I liked that a lot.

BOOK DETAILS:
Cupcake Cousins
Author: Kate Hannigan
Illustrator: Brooke Boynton Hughes
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: May 13, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Pig and Small, by Alex Latimer

2014-07-23T12:54:00.000-03:00

Oooh I love Alex Latimer! My whole family absolutely fell in love with Lion vs. Rabbit and now he's on our permanent watch list. As in, we always watch for any new books by him and try to get them as soon as possible. Well he has a new picture book coming out in August and we're all so excited! (We're especially excited because I got an advanced digital review copy from NetGalley--yay!)

Pig and Small is the story of a pig (Pig) and his new friend, a tiny bug named Small. They enjoy each other's company but it takes them a while to figure out what kinds of activities they can enjoy together without their size difference being a problem. Small tries knitting a sweater for Pig but it's far too little. They try hide-and-seek but Pig can't find Small for days. They try playing chess but it takes too long for Small to move the pieces. They're starting to worry that it's hopeless.

Luckily they figure it out and a beautiful friendship is born. Awwww.

I read this with my four-year-old, Magda, and she and her dad (who was listening from across the room) both had the same reaction. They both thought that Small reminded them of the character of Very Small Beetle, one of Rabbit's "friends and relations" from The House at Pooh Corner. Very high praise indeed!

Magda also pointed out that in the scene in which Small tries to play chess, his opening move is to (try to) move the queen, which isn't a very good opening play so his game of chess probably wouldn't have gone well anyway. (Magda's dad has been teaching her to play chess and both of them are always excited when they see chess mentioned in story books.)

BOOK DETAILS:
Pig and Small
Author/Illustrator: Alex Latimer
Publisher: Peachtree
Publication Date: August 1, 2014
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Source: NetGalley
Author's blog
Publisher's website

MENTIONED IN THIS REVIEW:

The House at Pooh Corner

Chess Teacher

ALSO BY ALEX LATIMER:

Lion vs. Rabbit
(my review)

The Boy Who Cried Ninja
(review coming soon)

Penguin's Hidden Talent
(review coming soon)

There Was an Old Sailor, by Claire Saxby (illustrated by Cassandra Allen)

2014-07-22T12:53:00.000-03:00

I do love cumulative rhymes in the style of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly and this is a particularly good one. The old sailor swallows a krill, a jelly, a fish...all the way up to a whale (at which point he burps them all up and sets sail).

The illustrations are delightful--which is especially important when you're doing a variation of such a familiar, well known rhyme--and the book even ends with "fishy facts" about each of the creatures the sailor swallowed.

When I was a daycare teacher, I certainly sang the original song plenty of times, and also sought out the many variations available as picture books. One of my favourites was There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow, by Lucille Colandro, who has made a career out of writing variations on the same theme.

So I was surprised that when I read this book to Magda she wasn't familiar with the concept. "Why did he swallow a whole squid? Where did he get the seal from? How is that even possible??" Did I really never sing "There Was an Old Lady" to her before?

After we read this book, we watched a video of the original song on YouTube and she appreciated the rhyme even more. I also noticed that one of the comments on the video said that the song is actually great for teaching various blended consonant sounds (catch, swallowed, fly, spider, perhaps, wriggled, etc.) which I never thought about, but it's absolutely true! And since this book stays very close to the original rhyme except changes which creatures are being eaten, this book is also great for practicing consonant sounds. Actually, it includes even more combinations than the original because of the krill, squid, whale, etc. Nice!

BOOK DETAILS:
There Was an Old Sailor
Author: Claire Saxby
Illustrator: Cassandra Allen
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Publication Date:
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Source: NetGalley

INSIDE THE BOOK:

MENTIONED IN THIS REVIEW:

There Was an Old Lady
Who Swallowed a Fly,
by Pam Adams

There Was an Old Lady
Who Swallowed a Fly,
by Simms Taback

There Was a Cold Lady
Who Swallowed
Some Snow,
by Lucille Colandro

There Was an Old
Lady Who Swallowed
Some Books!
by Lucille Colandro

The Best Book in the World, by Rilla (Rilla Alexander)

2014-07-21T12:50:00.000-03:00

Whatever the "best book in the world" is, it's not this. This book is okay, it's nice, it's fine, but it's not superlative.

Like many of the Flying Eye books I've encountered it seems to have been created by someone who loves art more than they love children. I"m not saying it's a bad book or inappropriate in any way, I just think the main (and nearly the only) focus of the book is on the artwork, and the words and story are of little consequence.

If you love the artwork, you'll love the book. But, as with other books from this publisher, I'm not as enamoured of the artwork as the publishers seem to be. Meh.

BOOK DETAILS:
The Best Book in the World, by Rilla Alexander
Published by: Nobrow / Flying Eye Books (July 8, 2014)
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Source: Edelweiss
Rilla Alexander's website

INSIDE THE BOOK:

Endangered and Extinct Mammals, by Jennifer Boothroyd

2014-07-20T12:47:00.000-03:00

Conversation with my 4-year-old:

Magda: Mommy, if you were in the forest and you met an animal that was endangered, would it poison you?

Me: Uh...what?

Magda: Like would it swoop down and kill you, like right away?

Me: Would what? What kind of animal are you talking about?

Magda: Endangered animals. Are they really poisonous or something?

Me: Ohhhh...no, honey. Endangered means the animal is in danger, not that they're really dangerous.

Magda: In danger of what? Dying?

Me: Yeah, dying out, becoming extinct.

Magda (giving a knowing nod): Oh because they're really old.

Me: Sigh. Just a second. I think I have a book on the computer that can explain this better than I am...

And so it did. Magda now has a better understanding of the meaning of "endangered" and "extinct" (I hope, at least) though I suspect she still thinks the dinosaurs all died of old age at the same time (this book only deals with mammals, so dinosaurs weren't covered).

This book is a good entry to the topic of endangered animals, though the section on "how you can help: was maddeningly vague. I don't think the author sufficiently explains how being sure to recycle your water bottles will prevent pandas from dying. I know Magda had a lot of followup questions, so I'd recommend a trip to the library, museum, or at least the internet after reading this.

BOOK DETAILS:
Endangered and Extinct Mammals
Author: Jennifer Boothroyd
Series: Lightning Bolt Books ™ — Animals in Danger
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Publication Date: February 1, 2014
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Source: NetGalley
Publisher's website

Starring Me and You, by Geneviève Côté

2014-07-19T12:46:00.000-03:00

This book is all kinds of adorable. A pig and a rabbit want to put on a play but they can't seem to get it together. First they're both too shy, then they can't agree on the costumes (pig wants to be a pirate, rabbit wants to be a flower), then they get frustrated and bread each other's stuff, until finally they're able to come to a compromise and put on a show together.

Geneviève Côté does a great job of helping children name their feelings--when I'm shy, sometimes I hide or sometimes I fake a smile--as well as identifying what other people are feeling based on their behaviour--when you smile like that, you look eager. This is an important skill that children need help to learn because it does not come naturally. If children have the language to talk about their feelings it can really help them express themselves without having a tantrum.

Speaking of language, I wonder if the book was translated from French. you don't always see the phrase "When I'm eager" in a children's book. It's not incorrect, it's just more common to see a word like "excited" instead. I should try to track down the French version (if one exists)!

BOOK DETAILS:
Starring Me and You
Author/Illustrator: Geneviève Côté
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Publication Date: March 1, 2014
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Source: NetGalley
About the Author/Illustrator

ILLUSTRATIONS:

MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR:

Entre toi et moi
(it does exist!)

Mr. King's Castle
(my review)

Without You

Even Monsters..., by A.J. Smith

2014-07-18T12:45:00.000-03:00

I think he needs to check his facts...

This cute book for toddlers and preschoolers claims that even roaring, growling, snarling monsters have to do regular kid things like eat breakfast, ride the school bus, play soccer and get goodnight kisses. I'm not sure how A.J. Smith could possibly know that. I'M STARTING TO THINK HE MADE THE WHOLE THING UP.

This book also has a QR code that takes you to the author's website (well, the book's website, I guess), www.evenmonsters.com. I haven't checked it out yet, but I'm imagining it's like one of those magazines with the "Celebrities Are Just Like You" sections, showing famous people pumping their own gas or eating french fries, except it'll be drawings of monsters with captions like, "They do math problems!" or "They sit in the time out chair!"

UPDATE: Nope, I just checked. It's not. But the "Who is AJ Smith?" section does have pictures of famous celebrity duos with one person's face blurred out and A.J. Smith's face crudely drawn in its place.

BOOK DETAILS:
Even Monsters...
Author/Illustrator: A.J. Smith
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Publication Date: April 1, 2014
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Source: NetGalley

EvenMonsters.com

Inside Even Monsters...:

Don't Dangle Your Participle, by Vanita Oelschlager (illustrated by Mike Desantis)

2014-07-17T12:44:00.000-03:00

So THAT'S what a participle is?

In the past I have criticized Vanita Oelschlager for not taking her ideas far enough or only telling half the story (Out of the Blue, for example) but here she gets it just right.

I have nothing bad to say about this book. She explains the concept of participles--verbs used as adjectives to modify or describe a noun--and uses many examples of how a participle can be left "dangling"--i.e. modifying the wrong noun.

One example from the book: The verb "growl" can be used as a participle to describe a lion, as in "growling lion." If it's left "dangling" you can get a sentence like this: "Growling as they ate, the children gathered around the lions' cage." It sounds as though the children are growling instead of the lions, then there's a picture of children growling at the zoo. Very cute!

Like Lynne Truss before her (author of Eats, Shoots and Leaves), Vanita Oelschlager is making language fun for a whole new generation of sticklers.

BOOK DETAILS:
Don't Dangle Your Participle
Author: Vanita Oelschlager
Illustrator: Mike Desantis
Publisher: Vanita Books
Publication Date: May 1, 2014
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Source: NetGalley

Author's Website

Look inside the book!

ALSO RECOMMENDED:

Eats, Shoots and Leaves,
by Lynne Truss

Help Your Kids with Language Arts,
by DK Books
(my review)

101 Troublesome Words
You'll Master in No Time,
by Mignon Fogarty
(my review)

Cozy Classics: Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, by Jack Wang and Holman Wang (and Charlotte Brontë)

2014-07-16T12:44:00.000-03:00

Cozy Classics: Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre
Authors: Jack and Holman Wang (and Charlotte Brontë)
Series: Cozy Classics
Publisher: Simply Read Books
Publication Date: November 20, 2013
Source: NetGalley
View on Amazon

Of all the Cozy Classics by Jack and Holman Wang, this is the one I am least familiar with in its original form. I've never read Jane Eyre, though I've always meant to. I mean, really this whole series is based on books that many of us have never read but have "meant to." That's kind of what classic literature is, isn't it?

I've noticed that the books' website, MyCozyClassics.com, has been updated to include character and plot descriptions for each of the classics, which is very helpful for parents struggling to remember who's who.

Even if I don't know Jane Eyre very well, this book came at the perfect time because my daughter has been very fascinated with the Brontë sisters lately. She's far too young to read any of their books, but she is intrigued by the idea of three sisters (and one brother) living together in a big house and writing stories together. Who isn't?

And can I just say, I would wear that outfit right now! Maybe not the bonnet. But definitely the dress and maybe even the cape.

Okay, I guess I should go look up Jane Eyre now.

CHECK OUT THE WHOLE COZY CLASSIC COLLECTION:

Cozy Classics: Oliver Twist, by Jack Wang and Holman Wang

2014-07-15T12:43:00.000-03:00

Cozy Classics: Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist
Authors: Jack and Holman Wang (and Charles Dickens)
Publisher: Simply Read Books
Publication Date: December 5, 2013
Source: NetGalley
View on Amazon

Oh I love these Cozy Classics so much! I love just about everything about them. I love how adorable the felted dolls are, and how intricately they're posed in each scene with detailed backgrounds, and how the background of the first page is always the first page of the actual book. They're just fantastic!

I'll admit I don't remember Oliver Twist that well. I don't think I ever read it. My school may have performed it as a play but I'm not sure. Isn't there a murder in it? Rest assured, there is no murder in the Cozy Classic version!

There are some dicey characters though. Look at their mean faces! I feel so bad for little Felted Oliver!

I've been reading these books with my daughter since she was a baby and now that she's just learning to read on her own (she's four), there is one thing I notice about these books. The font they use is the kind that's typical of book printing but doesn't look like how you actually write words. Oh, I'm terrible at explaining this because I don't know font-speak. Is there a font geek in the house who can help me out?

What I mean is that the 'a' and 'g', for example, have the extra serifs that make them look different than how you would actually write or print them. Here, like this:
a a

g g

See what I mean? That's Times New Roman on the left and some other font on the right (sorry, I'm terrible at font names). Anyway, it's a little thing, but it really helps when children are learning to read and write if the letters in the book look like the letters they're supposed to learn.

But other than that small thing, these books are wonderful!

CHECK OUT THE WHOLE COZY CLASSIC COLLECTION:

Cozy Classics: Emma, by Jack Wang and Holman Wang

2014-07-14T12:42:00.000-03:00

Cozy Classics: Jane Austen's Emma
Authors: Jack and Holman Wang (and Jane Austen)
Publisher: Simply Read Books
Publication Date: December 5, 2013
Source: NetGalley
View on Amazon

Yay! It's a new crop of Cozy Classics! I have to say, I'm not always a fan of the trend of children's books that are mostly just for adults, whether it's because they reference beloved classic literature or favourite movies or whatever. But I love these! I just can't get enough of them.

What makes these books so special is the illustrations. Those adorable knitted dolls that are posed and photographed are amazing. Plus I love all the work that goes into creating each of the backgrounds. And the juxtaposition of all that work next to a simple one-word text on the facing page is very charming.

Sometimes when I look at one of these books by Jack and Holman Wang with my daughter, I'm able to fill in the story for her because I'm somewhat familiar with the original classic, even if I haven't read it. In the case of Emma, I figured that'd be even easier because I have read it. In fact, it's the only Jane Austen book I ever remember finishing and certainly the only one I ever enjoyed (pausing to wait for the collective gasp from all the Austen fans).

I was able to mostly retell the story of Emma from this book (quite an accomplishment for the creators, considering they managed that in less than a dozen words) but if I'm honest, I was also secretly thinking back to the movie Clueless for help. (Remember Clueless? It was, like, totally a retelling of Emma. What-EV-er.)

I know I say this after reading every one of these books, but I wish I had those dolls! Also, how do they get them in all those poses? Is it glue? Is it wire? Is it hope and luck? I think they need to publish a "making of Cozy Classics" book next!

CHECK OUT THE WHOLE COZY CLASSIC COLLECTION: