#BenjiAndTheGiantKite #NetGalley

Title: Benji & The Giant Kite
Author: Alan C. Fox
Illustrator: Eefje Kuijil
Publisher: Clavis
Publish Day: August 11, 2018
Rating:🥄🥄🥄🥄🥄

Summary:
Let's go fly a kite! An inspiring read-aloud picture book about ambition, perseverance, and kite-flying from bestselling author Alan C. Fox. For aspiring aviators ages 4 and up.

In a small shop, Benji sees a beautiful kite. It’s huge and it’s bright orange. But the kite is also very expensive. Benji takes on all kind of jobs to earn the money to buy it . . . Then finally, the day comes he can fly the kite!

Review:

Follows Benji and the giant kite. He wants it and so his mother buys it. But he cannot interact with it until he completes weeding the garden. This book would be a good way of showing emotion -- he cries at the start of the story about something and delay gratification -- he has to weed the garden before he can get the big prize (the kite).

Downloaded from Netgalley thanks to the publisher for an honest review :)

#TheTruthAboutDinosaurs #NetGalley

Title: The Truth About Dinosaurs
Author: Guido van Genechten
Pub Day: August 11, 2018!
Score: 5/5
Recommend? Yes!

Downloaded from Netgalley thanks to publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Description 

Have you ever heard of the Gallus gallus domesticus? It’s a big word for a chicken . . . I mean, a dinosaur. Yep, and this ordinary chicken—sorry, this dinosaur—knows everything about other dinosaurs. That’s what he’s about to prove to you. A funny guided tour throughout the world of dinosaurs. For curious people from 4 up to 250 million years old.


Review: This is adorable. It's set up as the chicken's family scrap/picture book. It is a blend of fiction with the family scrap book with actual information at the bottom.

#ReadyToRide #NetGalley

"You Really Eat Anything"

Title:  Ready to Ride  Author: Sebastien Pelon Publisher:  Quarto's word & pictures

Publish Day -- Today!


Description 

A funny, feel good book with a can-do attitude for anyone who's ever tried to ride a bike, about freedom, friendship, and the joy of cycling without stabilisers for the very first time.

 A little boy is told to play outside by his mum and bumps into an imaginary friend with whom he goes for a bike ride. At first he finds it difficult to keep up, but with the imaginary friend’s help he takes off the bike’s stabilisers and learns to freewheel – all the way home.

 Stunning illustrations and an imaginative design make this a really special picture book gift for little bike riders everywhere.

illustration is off their Amazon page:

Review:

A child goes through riding a bike experience and through it grows up. Super cute and easy to follow for the younger kids through the imagery. Would be a good conversation book/  read out loud with parents or caretakers. Dives into growing up and not needing the same things as you once did,etc.

Downloaded from Netgalley thanks to the publishers for an honest review

Definitely would recommend.

I just watched a DUST short film with a girl and her imaginary friend. This reminded me a lot of it.

#ThisIsATaco! #NetGalley

This Is a Taco! by Andrew Cangelose, Josh Shipley

It's a children's book about a squirrel named Taco. While trying for an educational slant it's mostly comedy.  His name is also his favorite food.

It's cute. I'd buy it. He's a little self-absorbed so it'd be a good social/ emotional. Or, general social or focus on imagination. 

Downloaded from Netgalley in exchange for free review. 

#Storytime:Astromouse #NetGalley

Title: Astromouse
Author:  Steve Smallman
Publisher: QEB Publishing
Published day: June 21, 2018!

Summary:
When Pip the mouse learns that the moon is made of stinky cheese, he has a big idea – he's going to be an Astromouse! Pip makes himself a rocket out of an old funnel and some cardboard, and prepares for take-off. But blasting to the moon is harder than he thought and things don't go quite to plan. On his way home Pip sees a huge reflection of the moon in a pond. The moon has come to him! As he reaches down to break off a piece of stinky cheese, the eyes of a large frog appear and a frightened Pip runs all the way back home. He decides the moon is far to scary for a mouse, and he'd much rather live with his mom instead.


Downloaded through Netgalley in exchange for a review :)

My Thoughts:

A cute story that can help activate "what if"s and getting kids comfortable with asking questions (Like they need a lot of help ANYWAY). Imagination and science.

#SewingTheRainbow #NetGalley

Sewing the Rainbow by Gayle E. Pitman and illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown

Published May 22, 2018 so it's already out and ready for purchase!

Quotes are taken from a e-copy given through Netgalley. Words may not be the same as the final version. Downloaded from Netgalley freely for an honest review. Thanks!

Description:

Sewing the Rainbow is the powerful story of Gilbert Baker and the creation of the rainbow flag. This book takes readers from Gilbert’s childhood in a small town in Kansas where he didn’t fit in, to his historic artistic career in San Francisco. Today the flag is everywhere, even in the small town where Gilbert grew up! This book shows that when you see a rainbow flag, you’ll know it’s okay to be your colorful self. Includes a “Note to Parents and Caregivers” with more about Gilbert and the flag’s history.

Review:

Information on Gilbert Baker – an American gay rights activist and designer of the rainbow flag. Baker's flag became widely associated with LGBT rights causes, a symbol of gay pride that has become ubiquitous in the decades since its debut. California state senator Scott Wiener said Baker "helped define the modern LGBT movement".

This book is a children's nonfiction about Gilbert Baker from a young age up til when he helped create the gay pride flag.

This is written for children. Simple, colorful and easy to follow along. I'd recommend it as a read out-loud for younger elementary kids because block of text may be too wordy. But for older kids they could read this on their own with ease.

There is mention of how his father didn't approve of him as a young child. But there isn't anything stated such as homophobic slurs, images, etc. "But one day, his father took away his art supplies and tore up his drawings." with images of the father destroying his art with an angry face. Very kid-friendly, especially, for parents who worry about their kids reading about hate.


"...where everything was gray and dull and flat, there was a little boy who was full of color and sparkle and glitter..."

Recommend?  Yes!

The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin, David Shannon

Score: 4/5

Summary: A disfigured Algonquin girl wins the heart of an invisible being.  A Cinderella story. I own a copy of this story. It's meant to follow a girl with a kind not-so rough heart even though she has a 'rough' face.

It's a lovely Cinderella story about what matters the most is kindness.

Moonie Noonies by John Cleveland

Title:  Moonie Noonies
By: John Cleveland
Publish: Through Amazon / 2016

Summary:The perfect book for kids learning to count. A little bit of rhyming paired with these adorable characters makes learning so much fun. Each character has a number on his chest from 1 to 20 paired with a rhyme. Youre child will love to count with the moonie noonies

Review: A rhyming book for kids with weird space things called Moonie Noonies. I was looking for counting books for my niece and nephew and this was one of them that popped up. Figured look through it. It's cute. You learn about the different Noonies and counting... on the moon.

Preschool to maybe first grade. Recommended because it's adorable.

The Most Magnificent Thing - Ashley Spires - Review

Title: The Most Magnificent Thing
Author: Ashley Spires
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Release Day: April 1, 2017 available to buy now!

Summary: A little girl and her canine assistant set out to make the most magnificent thing. But after much hard work, the end result is not what the girl had in mind. Frustrated, she quits. Her assistant suggests a long walk, and as they walk, it slowly becomes clear what the girl needs to do to succeed. A charming story that will give kids the most magnificent thing: perspective!

Review: I love this it shows a child persistence toward making the magnificent thing. As she's doing this she's still making things that other people can use or love even though she doesn't like it. It shows a positive way of working through something -- take a break and come back with fresh eyes.

Recommend?: Yes! Great for lessons or at home reading!

Downloaded through Netgalley to read for an honest review.

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Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears - Verna Aardema

Score: 4/5

No matter who and what you do.. has some kind of impact on your community.

Herodotus the Hedgehog by Jean-Luc Buquet

Downloaded through Netgalley to read for an honest review.

Score: 4/5


First Sentence: Herodotus was a young hedgehog, curious about everything.

Description on Amazon:

"A curious hedgehog asks the other forest animals what they believe in, but he eventually needs to choose his own beliefs"--

This will be ready to order and buy, March 15, 2018!!

Good:

The font is easy to read and follow along. The illustrations in this story are fun and quiet it's not screaming with color and not quite pastel. 

I believe the grade level for this is first / second grade. The story is interesting but it feels like older kids or even adults may be more interested in this conversation that goes on in it.  

But for the grade this is -- it would be easy enough to follow along with the story and create their interpretation on what is being said. 

Bad:

I could see where the story line could be problematic for the religious folks. It doesn't advocate for a non-religious life. But for those who are very restricted with their thinking and can't -- won't feel comfortable with this.. is probably not great for them.

Recommend:

Yes! It is adorable and has something in it that is a good conversation piece. 

 

Little Pierrot Vol. 2: Amongst the Stars by Alberto Veranda

Downloaded through Netgalley in exchange for a review.

Score: 4/5

Summary:

Little Pierrot and Mr. Snail's imaginative adventures take them to the stars and beyond! They might fly to the moon on the wings of a well-worn book, or cloud-watch with the new girl in school. Little Pierrot is ever the dreamer, but Mr. Snail is there to bring him back down to earth.

This will be out March 6, 2018!

Good:

Illustrations are fun to look at. There's a young boy, his talking snail friend and the moon. Each comic strip has a different theme.

It's easy to read and follow along what is going on in each section.

"It's good if a book is beat up... it means it was read again and again -- come on let's go!"

Relies heavily on imagination and it works for what you are getting as you read. I enjoyed this.

Bad:

This is a collection of separate stories that have different things going on. This may be confusing for some kids, especially, those who are newer to reading comics.

But it would still be fun for kids to look through and enjoy either way.

Recommend?:

Yes! It's adorable and is extremely fun to read through.

My Nana and Me by Irene Smalls

This can be read free through the Kindle Unlimited. Ebook is $5.99. Barnes & Noble has hardcopies for $9.99 paperback and $14.99 for a hardcover.

Score: 5/5

First sentence:

My Nana and Me had a tea party and all my dolls came
We had tea and cake and ate and ate
bread pudding and apple pie.


A child discusses her time with her grandmother. The things they do and say when they are together. Beautiful, colorful and imaginative illustrations go along with the story.

If you buy a hard copy there is a place at the beginning of the book to paste a picture of children and their grandmothers. It's super cute.

An easy to read and follow along excellent for a nighttime read along or even alone for older elementary kids.

Mabel and the Sock Pirates - Elwyn Tate

Score:  5/5

First Sentence: Up on a hill lived a farmer called Bill...and a black and white cat called Mabel.

Summary: 
Mabel is a cat who lives on a farm by the sea... but not just any old farm... Mabel's farm has some very special trees... Trees unlike you have ever seen before.

Can be purchased as an ebook for 99 cents or $9.99 paperback OR free if you're using Kindle Unlimited.

Good:

Colorful, cute illustrations. The writing is apart of the illustrations. There are pirates who want to steal their magical tree socks! This is everything and simply adorable.

You can follow along with what is happening with the pictures. Definitely a lovely picture book. Absolute use of pretend play and silliness. New words to introduce to kids.

Bad:

The words go with the illustration so this is definitely needed to read by an adult or a serious kid reader. 

Example from the book:

 

The words are cut off due to how I snipped it to add in here. Words are perfectly situated and can be read in the actual book. 

Recommend:

Completely 100% recommend this. It was adorable from beginning to end.