The Best Books Ever

Ping Ping Panda's Bamboo Journey By  Maurice Pledger Published on 10 March 2015 Published by Silver Dolphin Books Source: Publisher Ping-Ping Panda is searching for some tasty leaves with the help of her hummingbird friend, but as they roam through the forest, all they find are other animals' favorite foods. Will Ping-Ping find something to satisfy her rumbling tummy? Help Ping-Ping and her friends explore the forest in this interactive story with flaps to lift and colorful, detailed scenes by best-selling nature illustrator Maurice Pledger. Dottie Dolphin Plays Hide and Seek By  Maurice Pledger Published on 10 March 2015 Published by Silver Dolphin Books Source: Publisher When Dottie Dolphin dives deep into the ocean to play hide-and-seek with her siblings, she discovers a wonderful world of ocean animals. Join Dottie and her new friends beneath the waves in this interactive story with flaps to lift and colorful, detailed underwater scenes by best-sellin...

Puckster's Christmas Hockey Tournament By  Lorna Schultz Nicholson and Kelly Findley Published on October 14th 2014 Published by Tundra Books Source: Publisher In Puckster's Christmas Hockey Tournament, it is Christmas Eve and Puckster is nervously watching the heavy snowfall gather on the ground and in the trees. It is his first Christmas away from home and though he is excited to be with Team Canada at the World Junior Hockey Tournament, he is afraid that the winter storm will prevent his family and friends from travelling to the remote arena and arrive in time for Christmas morning. But there is another traveler that Puckster and the players are excited to see this Christmas. Santa! When the heavy snow forces the closure of the roads, only Santa and his team of reindeer can help. Will everyone be together for Christmas? In this magical story of friendship, young hockey fans learn the true meaning of the holidays. Puckster's Christmas Hockey Tournament is dest...

Kitty and Me By Sharon Smith Kane Published on October 7 2014 Published by Henry Holt and Co. Source: Publisher I love Kitty and Kitty loves me. He comes when I call him . . . usually. We play fun games around this house, Like "Jump" and "Pounce" and "Catch the Mouse." Playing, chasing, scratching, purring. Kitty and Me is a charming rhyming story of best friendship between a girl and her growing kitten, by Sharon Kane, acclaimed author-illustrator of many beloved Little Golden Book Classics. This is a very old fashioned picture book, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. Author-illustrator Sharon Smith Kane is known for her Little Golden Books, so I guess it makes sense that this book follows that form. What I liked about Kitty and Me : It is written in a fun rhyme that kids will love to read, and about a topic that a lot of kids will enjoy. What I didn't like: I'm just not a big fan of the old-fashioned illustrations, like...

Puckster Plays the Hockey Mascots By  Lorna Schultz Nicholson and Kelly Findley Published on October 14th 2014 Published by Tundra Books Source: Publisher In Puckster Plays the Hockey Mascots, Puckster and his pals realize the dream of being on the ice with their hockey heroes - the Toronto Maple Leafs mascot Carlton the bear and the Montreal Canadiens mascot Youppi. These legendary NHL mascots inspired Puckster to play hockey and cheer for Hockey Canada and now here he was playing in a real game with these hockey greats. But when his drive to win and desire to impress others gets in the way, Puckster realizes that he has let his team down and forgotten the true spirit of teamwork. Puckster Plays the Mascots is yet another exciting hockey adventure for young fans. With the exciting addition of two legendary characters and the important message of teamwork, this classic tale offers all fans of the game a lesson in friendship. I don't know how much business I have review...

A Bed for Kitty By  Yasmine Surovec Published on September 23rd 2014 Published by Roaring Brook Press Source: Publisher Sweet dreams, Kitty! This adorable bedtime book from the creator of I See Kitty is perfect for tucking the very youngest cat lovers in at night. Kitty sleeps everywhere: on the TV, in the sink, even in her litter box! But she never sleeps in her own bed. This follow up to Yasmine Surovec's I See Kitty shows that sometimes it takes a friend to find the perfect place to sleep. With bright, bold artwork, A Bed for Kitty will charm very young readers with its gentle humor and genuine warmth. A Bed for Kitty is the newest picture book from one of my favorite cat cartoonists on the internet, Yasmine Surovec, of Cat vs. Human .  Anyone who has ever had a cat in their life will appreciate this book, which looks like it would be a great bedtime story for your little ones. If you've ever had a cat. you've suffered through the indignity of buying a pe...

The Slug By Elise Gravel Published on August 5 2014 Published by Tundra Books Source: Net Galley One in a series of humorous books about disgusting creatures, The Slug is a look at the land slug. It covers such topics as the slug's two pairs of tentacles, one pair for seeing, one pair for smelling (it can see you're a kid and smell like broccoli), its breathing hole (on the side of its head!), and its pretty gross mucous covering (in order to find a partner, the slug can follow another slug's mucous trail. True love!). Although silly and off-the-wall, The Slug contains real information that will tie in with curriculum A certain somebody I know, who shall remain nameless, hates slugs. So, I requested this book in hopes of convincing him-- and you-- that slugs are fun! This picture book is both educational and very funny! I really appreciate how facts about slugs are presented in a kid-friendly way within the context of the story, instead of stuck at the en...

A Fish Named Glub By  Dan Bar-el Published on April 1st 2014 Published by Kids Can Press Source: Netgalley In this lyrical story about friendship and the power of dreams, a small and ordinary fish named Glub asks himself the big questions in life as he observes life in the diner beyond his fishbowl. Who am I? Where do I belong? The lively characters around him provide unexpected answers, but soon it's Glub who reveals answers to their questions -- and their hearts' true desires. The small and ordinary fish discovers that life can be extraordinary. You just have to ask ... First of all, the illustrations! Wow! These mixed media collages of cartoonish people and one very expressive fish named Glub surely took hours to create. I was impressed by the storyline and the sophisticated messages behind the beautiful prose as well. Everyone in the story is missing something from their lives, even the fish named Glub, who had been abandoned by his owner and ends up living i...

Little Monkey Calms Down By  Michael Dahl Published on February 1st 2014 Published by Hello Genius Source: Netgalley Little Monkey is having a bad day. After a major melt down, he goes to his room and uses some coping techniques to calm down. For ages 2-4. Board book. From the Hello Genius series. For the youngest learners, fun, cheerful read-alouds that help guide a child's first steps in learning and growing. Little Monkey Calms Down is a very cute, simple board book for young children. I love the cover illustration, which shows Little Monkey in a yoga pose. All of the techniques that Little Monkey uses to calm down are accessible for the youngest children. This is a good book for teaching coping techniques to toddlers and pre-schoolers because it uses a relatable character and fun illustrations.

100 Hungry Monkeys By  Masayuki Sebe Published on March 1st 2014 Published by Kids Can Press Source: Netgalley One hundred monkeys are hunting for food in this colorful counting book, but something else -- something big and scary -- is hungry, too! Young readers will find page-turning action on every page -- and more than 100 reasons to take a second look. 100 Hungry Monkeys is a picture book with a lot going on! Part concept book and part Where’s Waldo?, it’s an interactive adventure that follows 100 hungry monkeys on their search for food. Along the way, they meet a scary monster and discover new foods to eat. Kids can read the monkeys’ thoughts on every page, follow their suggestions, and discover hidden treats within the colorful illustrations. It is the perfect book for a parent to read with a child, in order to guide the child in exploring the monkeys’ world. And, you can count 100 monkeys on each and every page together! 

There Was an Old Sailor By  Claire Saxby Published on March 1st 2014 Published by Kids Can Press Source: Netgalley In this nautical update on the familiar childhood rhyme "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly," an old sailor swallows a krill, which makes him ill, so he swallows a jellyfish to catch the krill, and a feeding frenzy begins! Young readers will love the cumulative rhyme, and grown-ups will appreciate the fresh take on an old favorite. This book is quite the update on “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”! The illustrations are beautiful, the rhyme catchy, and the story unique. But, eww, talk about gag reflex just thinking about the sailor swallowing all of those sea creatures!  It’s kinda gross, but maybe Saxby’s target audience likes that. ;-)

Chris P. Bacon: My Life So Far By  Len Lucero and Kristina Tracy Published on December 16, 2013 Published by Hay House Source: Netgalley Welcome to the life of Chris P. Bacon! This adorable baby pig, who was born without the use of this back legs, became a YouTube and talk-show sensation when his adopted dad, veterinarian Len Lucero, posted a video online of tiny Chris learning how to use a cart made out of toys. This determined piglet soon mastered the device and was rolling to interviews across the country. Here, in his first book, this inspiring little guy tells the story of his life so far. Chris P. Bacon is the very cute, inspirational true story of a little pig who became a big deal on the internet and TV. Chris’s back legs would not work, so his adopted “dad” (a vet) designed a cart for him to wheel around on instead. Chris became a Youtube sensation and appeared on TV shows. This book is told from Chris’s point of view and uses both illustrations and real pho...

The Other Bears By  Michael Thompson Published on October 31st 2013 Published by Star Bright Books Source: Netgalley Mother and Father Koala are suspicious of the “other bears.” They don’t like the panda bears’ looks and they don’t trust the polar bears. The black bears are too noisy and the brown bears have big teeth . . . . But all their grumpiness melts away as they watch the littlest bears play together and realize that their similarities and common needs far outweigh their differences. The Other Bears is an eloquent tale about tolerance and acceptance that will appeal to readers of any age. I have mixed opinions about this picture book. So much so that I put off reviewing it for a while. It’s not a bad book by any means. It’s kid-friendly, tells an important lesson, and is full of colorful illustrations. As an adult, however, I can’t help but to look at is through adult eyes. Throughout the book, Mother and Father Koala meet other kinds of bears and instantly ...

Smelling Sunshine By Constance Anderson Published on October 25th 2013 Published by Star Bright Books Source: Netgalley All around the world in cities, towns, and villages—large and small—clothes are washed. They are hung to dry in the breeze and sunshine, and children everywhere revel in the fun of helping with the laundry. Smelling Sunshine captures some of the special moments of this day-to-day chore—a wonderful, heart-warming time shared between parent and child and an experience young readers will relate to. I was pleasantly surprised by this simple picture book. The illustrations are vivid and show children and parents in a variety of locations and cultures, all washing and hanging laundry together. Although each have their own methods for washing and drying— from washing in rivers to drying on clotheslines in fields, apartment buildings, and small backyards— the book makes the point that the world is connected by this one simple act. I remember hanging clothes o...

The Man with the Violin By Kathy Stinson and Dušan Petričić (illustrations) Published on August 8th 2013 Published by Annick Press Source: Netgalley "Who is playing that beautiful music in the subway? And why is nobody listening?" This gorgeous picture book is based on the true story of Joshua Bell, the renowned American violinist who famously took his instrument down into the Washington D.C. subway for a free concert. More than a thousand commuters rushed by him, but only seven stopped to listen for more than a minute. In "The Man With the Violin," bestselling author Kathy Stinson has woven a heart-warming story that reminds us all to stop and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. Dylan is someone who notices things. His mom is someone who doesn't. So try as he might, Dylan can't get his mom to listen to the man playing the violin in the subway station. But Dylan is swept away by the soaring and swooping notes that fill the air as crowds ...

City Cat By  Kate Banks, Lauren Castillo (illustration) Published on November 19th 2013 Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) Source: Publisher A plucky stray cat takes a Grand Tour in Kate Banks' story of a family on a European vacation. As the family travels from one city to the next, the cat finds its own means--by bus, boat, train, truck, and bike--to tag along on the trip, visiting historic landmarks like Buckingham Palace and the Cathedral of Notre Dame along the way. Readers will pore over the spreads to find where City Cat is hiding in each city, and detailed backmatter explains the history behind the sites in each locale. City Cat is one of those picture books that works by matching up rhythmic prose and beautiful illustrations in a way that entertains children, but also educates them. The reader follows City Cat, who is a stray, as she stows away on a family vacation to Europe. City Cat gets to see the world in a way that appeals to kids: from up abov...

Elephant's Story By Tracey Campbell Pearson Published on October 22, 2013 Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)  Source: Publisher The day Gracie loses her favorite book, Elephant finds it. He sniffs the words ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS and--oops--they go up his trunk, where they wiggle and jiggle and make him sneeze. The letters fly through the air helter skelter, and when Elephant tries to put them back together, he can't figure out how to make the right words that fit. He asks his friends for help, but they just choose some of the letters to make up their own words--Alligator wants to CHEW them, Seal SPINs them, Monkeys THROW them, and Bear just SNOREs. Lucky for elephant, Gracie comes looking for her book. She makes the letters into the right words and then adds some of her own: a girl went to the zoo and made a new friend.   So sweet! The story is a clever play on words. I love that...

How to Hide a Lion By  Helen Stephens Published on October 1, 2013 Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Source: Publisher Where can a very small girl hide a very large lion? It's not easy, but Iris has to do her best. After all, mums and dads can be funny about having a lion in the house. But can Iris hide her lion for ever? What happens when a lion goes into town to buy a hat? He gets chased out by the scared townspeople, of course. He runs right into young Iris’s playhouse. Iris (who isn’t afraid of lions) takes him into her house and successfully hides him from her parents. They play and read stories until, one day, the lion falls asleep and doesn’t hear the parents coming. Once again, the lion is chased off. He runs into town, where he hides until he becomes the town hero. In the end, everyone finds out what Iris knew all along: the lion was a kind lion. The mayor rewards him with a hat, “Which was all he’d come to town for in the first place.” This was a sweet...

Elecopter By  Michael Slack Published on September 3rd 2013 Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Source: Publisher Fly along with Elecopter as she soars above the savannah, patrolling the skies with her fire-hose nose at the ready. The other animals are safe with Elecopter on the scene—Elecopter is a hero for all! Preschoolers are in for a treat in this chant-along companion to Monkey Truck. Michael Slack’s picture book, Elecopter, reminds me of one of the Little Golden Books I had as a kid, but with a modern twist. Instead of a little engine that could, there’s a helicopter that’s inexplicably also a wide-eyed, blue elephant. Elecopter’s expression changes from one of delight, to panic, to determination, as she rescues animals from the flames of a wildfire, and then extinguishes the fire with her fire hose nose. My first thought, as an adult reading this book, was “What on earth is an elecopter?” but kids will surely love the nonsense of it all. Plus, Slack’s color...

The Pout Pout Fish By Deborah Diesen Published by Macmillian Audio Published on April 24, 2012 Source: From Publisher for review Summary taken from Goodreads : A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER Deep in the water, Mr. Fish swims about With his fish face stuck In a permanent pout. Can his pals cheer him up? Will his pout ever end? Is there something he can learn From an unexpected friend? Swim along with the pout-pout fish as he discovers that being glum and spreading “dreary wearies” isn’t really his destiny. Bright ocean colors and playful rhyme come together in this fun fish story that’s sure to turn even the poutiest of frowns upside down. The Pout-Pout Fish is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year. The Pout Pout fish is an adorable picture book for young readers.  It tells the story of a sad fish who only knows how to pout.  He learns from another underwater friend that there are more choices for him in life than pouti...

When God Created My Toes by Dandi Daley Mackall Published by Waterbrook Press Published 2008 This is a picture book for young readers.  I would say the reading age for this would be preschool, or even a toddler.  Most of the pages have one line and the font is large.  The book is made well and the illustrations are beautifully done.  The book goes through different body parts and tells a short two page rhyme about "When God Created" that body part. It is a very sweet story and the pictures are the stand out part- they really are beautiful. This would be a book to buy as a gift for a young reader.  I enjoyed reading this book and enjoy this author.  She writes books that are very sweet and easy for younger children to read/ be read too. I was provided this book for free from Waterbook Press for review. I do not guarantee a positive review- only an honest one.