mmcbeth29
King County Library System
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mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Jul 06, 2016
Suitability
Ages 5
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Jul 06, 2016
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SUMMARY: This is an ABC book that shows an animal playing an instrument for each letter of the alphabet. For example: "C is for Chimpanzee crashing his cymbals. It's also for car, cat and camera."
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations were created in mixed media. They are very colorful and interesting. However, the layout is very busy with far too much to look at for the advertised age range.
THE GOOD: I was intrigued by the title when I saw this book as I am always looking for ABC books that are different--not just the run of the mill A is for Apple. There is plenty of rich vocabulary throughout the book as children are introduced to a list of different animals and instruments as well as other words each letter stands for.
THE NOT AS GOOD: First, I know this nitpicky, but B is for Butterfly and a butterfly is not an animal. I would have liked to see consistency here. There are 25 animals and one insect. The illustrations for this book are so intriguing, but I was unable to fully appreciate them because the pages were overly busy. There was far too much to see on each page. The same can be said for the wording (which necessitated more illustration on the page). This book would have been so much better if it were simplified to "E is for Elephant strumming her Electric guitar" rather than adding on the additional E words.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertised for ages 2-5. However, the pages are very busy and complicated for the 2-3 year olds.SUMMARY: This is an ABC book that shows an animal playing an instrument for each letter of the alphabet. For example: "C is for Chimpanzee crashing his cymbals. It's also for car, cat and camera."
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations were created…
I Am Invited to A Party!I Am Invited to A Party!, Easy Reader
by Willems, MoEasy Reader - 2007Easy Reader, 2007
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Jul 06, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: Piggie is invited to a party. But she is worried because she has never been to a party before. She asks Elephant to come. Elephant of course will come because he "knows" parties. Elephant comes up with several possibilities of what kind of party it might be and helps them to prepare. It turns out in the end that Elephant did know parties as Elephant and Piggie were perfectly prepared.
ILLUSTRATIONS: As always, Mo Willems' simply drawn and colored illustrations come across beautifully. The facial expressions speak a thousand words, the humor adds zest and laughs and it is all accomplished with two characters on a white background.
REVIEW: This was an utterly delightful book. It is really a comedy sketch of what it takes to prepare for all the possibilities when you don't know what type of party you have been invited to. The ending is priceless. The words are nice and simple for first time readers and the story is interesting and intriguing for pre-readers. This book is very versatile and can be used for anyone within the age range.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: AGES 4-8SUMMARY: Piggie is invited to a party. But she is worried because she has never been to a party before. She asks Elephant to come. Elephant of course will come because he "knows" parties. Elephant comes up with several possibilities of what…
Have You Filled A Bucket Today?Have You Filled A Bucket Today?, BookA Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids
by McCloud, CarolBook - 2016Book, 2016
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Jun 16, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: This book teaches kids the concept taught through the adult book "How Full is Your Bucket?" This concept teaches us that we all have invisible buckets that carry our happy thoughts and good feelings. We can fill that bucket by being kind and helpful to others and others can fill our buckets in the same manner in return.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations have a vintage 60s or early 70s "School House Rock" look to them. Unfortunately, the pictures are not very appealing for kids which takes away some of the interest value. What you see on the cover is what you will see throughout the book. I do, however, give this book an A+ for representing a wide variety of kids from different cultures and abilities.
THE GOOD: Bucket filling is a great concept. This book does a good job of explaining, in simple language, how you can fill others' buckets and how they can fill yours. This would be a good springboard book to use in the classroom.
THE NOT AS GOOD: Besides the unappealing illustrations, there is one major flaw in this book. And that is the fact that it never talks about how you can fill your own bucket. Yes, I understand this book was intended to teach us how our actions affect others, but the book makes it feel like we are dependent on others for happiness which is definitely not true. I just finished reviewing a kids book about happiness and the very first page starts with this quote: "The secret to happiness is to start by doing things that make you happy." There is still much good in this book, but this major flaw means you would have to add to the discussion on your own.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Grades 2-5SUMMARY: This book teaches kids the concept taught through the adult book "How Full is Your Bucket?" This concept teaches us that we all have invisible buckets that carry our happy thoughts and good feelings. We can fill that bucket by being kind…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Jun 16, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: A little boy goes outside to swim in his wading pool only to find a whale has taken over. The boy tries everything to remove the whale including reasoning, begging, bribing and even using a crane to lift the whale out. Nothing works. The boy is at the end of his patience when he thinks of a solution that will make everyone happy.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations appear to be digitally rendered. They are simple for younger readers with chunky lines and are very colorful.
THE GOOD: This story has a lot of humor as the boy tries one idea after another to get the whale out of his swimming pool. I especially love when he tries to bribe the whale with his allowance. The simplicity of this story makes it a perfect funny story for the youngest crowd from toddler to preschool. Because of the few words in the story, this would be a great book for an emerging reader for independent reading or shared reading.
THE NOT AS GOOD: The writing is extremely simplistic. I know this is the style the author has chosen and many love this style of using very few words to convey meaning. But I always feel like it needs more. I also do not prefer the chunky art style in picture books as it makes me feel like I am watching a television cartoon instead of reading a book. These are preference issues though and not quality issues
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertised for ages 1-4. I think 2-5 would be a better age range.SUMMARY: A little boy goes outside to swim in his wading pool only to find a whale has taken over. The boy tries everything to remove the whale including reasoning, begging, bribing and even using a crane to lift the whale out. Nothing works. …
100 Things to Make You Happy100 Things to Make You Happy, Book
by Gerry, Lisa M.Book - 2015Book, 2015
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Jun 16, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: This book begins with this awesome quote: "The secret to happiness is to start by doing things that make you happy." It then proceeds to give 100 ideas of things you can do to make yourself happy like find a hobby, volunteer, give a hug, etc. It also has some adorable smile-worthy pictures along the way to boost your happiness as you read the book. The writing and pictures are geared towards the middle grade (ages 8-12) crowd.
REVIEW: I always love books that encourage happiness and this book was no exception. It is rich with so many ideas that it can be read over and over and over again. With each reading, the reader can pull something new from it. The book has great variety. It is not just a list of things, but has cute pictures and stories of people who have done things to make themselves happy. It also gives step by step instructions for some of the choices. Of course my favorite happy activity was #29 "Eat Chocolate!" I highly recommend this book for your home as well as for classroom use. There are so many ways this book could be used to teach lessons, I couldn't even begin to count them.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: This book is advertised for grades 3-7 or ages 8-12 which is perfect. Ages 6 and 7 could also benefit from reading this book if they are on a very high reading level.SUMMARY: This book begins with this awesome quote: "The secret to happiness is to start by doing things that make you happy." It then proceeds to give 100 ideas of things you can do to make yourself happy like find a hobby, volunteer, give a hug,…
Suitability
Ages 8
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added May 28, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: Pig number one wants to sit back and relax with his rubber duckie in his bathtub full of bubbles. But along come nine more pigs. "Now there's nowhere left to sit!" What will pig number one do?
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations were created in ink and digitally. They were colorful, creative and laugh out loud funny. Anderson knows how to take a simple illustration and make it look complex through use of facial expression and movement.
REVIEW: I absolutely loved this book that counts up to ten pigs as they interrupt Pig One's bath and then counts back down again as the pigs leave. Each pig that joins the scene is quirky and creative such as the tuba playing pig and pirate pig. And I always say, every picture book needs at least one pirate! The ending is very clever, but I won't give it away. Let's just say, Pig One gets a little of his own back!
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertised for ages 3-5, however ages 6-7 who are learning to read will also love to read this book for themselves.SUMMARY: Pig number one wants to sit back and relax with his rubber duckie in his bathtub full of bubbles. But along come nine more pigs. "Now there's nowhere left to sit!" What will pig number one do?
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations were…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added May 28, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: "Big cars, small cars, let's call all cars!" This book takes you down the road past many different kind of cars in many different types of situations until it is time for "sweet dreams, sleepy cars..."
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations were created digitally. They are very bright, colorful, and adorable.
THE GOOD: This is a well written book about many different cars. Even if a child does not particularly love cars, he or she will enjoy watching the cars go by. There are some very creative car types such as "who's inside cars" for a car with darkened windows and "rainbow-bug cars" for a rainbow colored VW bug that is actually carrying bugs (this was my favorite of the bunch). The story winds down towards the end with a darkening sky to help little ones feel sleepy.
THE NOT AS GOOD: The illustrations are very busy for the youngest crowd of readers. I often found myself not knowing where to look on the page because I was visually overwhelmed. The layout was difficult to follow as well. For instance: when you turn to the first two page spread, the eye is directed automatically to the second page, instead of the first, due to the larger writing. I had to struggle to find the print among the busy first page. Also, often a car was described in the writing that was not there. Where it said, "Beach cars, town cars, tops-go-down cars," only two cars were illustrated. And the reverse was also true. There were often too many cars illustrated on a two page spread. "Old cars, new cars, starry-view cars" had four cars illustrated. The extra car was confusing since it did not fit into any of the three categories.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertised for ages 3-7. I would say it is better for ages 4-7. This is a great book for new readers due to the simple text.SUMMARY: "Big cars, small cars, let's call all cars!" This book takes you down the road past many different kind of cars in many different types of situations until it is time for "sweet dreams, sleepy cars..."
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations…
Braids & Buns, Ponies & PigtailsBraids & Buns, Ponies & Pigtails, Book50 Hairstyles Every Girl Will Love
by Strebe, JennyBook - 2016Book, 2016
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added May 24, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: This book is for girls of all hair types with medium to long hair. There are no short hair styles in this book. There are 50 hair styles broken down into four categories: Ponytails, Braids, Pigtails, and Buns and Twists. Each hairstyle comes with a picture of a model with the completed hairstyle and a step by step visual of how to complete the hairstyle. Each hairstyle has three pictures and shows what that style would like with different types of hair or from different angles.
REVIEW: I first read Strebe's 100 Perfect Hair Days and wanted to see what she had available for the younger crowd. I enjoyed every page of this book. The layout is excellent. Each hairstyle has a two page spread with the model wearing the hairstyle, the step by step step instructions and the variation (if there is one). The book is extremely user friendly with easy to understand instructions. I especially loved the fact that the children used in the photos look naturally adorable instead of like pageant misses. What you see on the cover is a sample of what you will see in the book. I also loved that the author shows the hairstyles as they would look with different hair types. However, Strebe gives tips whenever possible of how to make the hairstyles work with all hair types.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: The hairstyles are appropriate for all ages once your child's hair reaches the appropriate length, but this book would be a wonderful gift for a child ages 7-8 to preteen or whenever your child is first able to complete hairstyles independently (such as braiding hair). With all that said, even though the book is targeted for this age group, as an adult, there are many adorable hairstyles throughout the book I would definitely wear!SUMMARY: This book is for girls of all hair types with medium to long hair. There are no short hair styles in this book. There are 50 hair styles broken down into four categories: Ponytails, Braids, Pigtails, and Buns and Twists. Each hairstyle…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added May 24, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: Captain Jack, Zack and Caspar create an imaginary ship out of sand in which they have grand adventures. Will the pirates catch up to them in the end?
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations have a very soft look making them perfect for a bedtime story. They are colorful, but also have wonderful contrast with the darker imaginary pirate ship and the pencil sketches as the boys build their ship.
THE GOOD: For a pirate or ship lover, there is quite a bit of rich vocabulary including bosun, mainmast, prow, unfurl and galleon. The rhyming was well done and the story had great flow that can keep the reader's interest from beginning to end. There are plenty of adorable illustrations including the ever present teddy bear. And of course, most importantly, there are pirates!
THE NOT AS GOOD: This book follows on the heels of King Jack and the Dragon--a story about three very little boys who engage in beautiful imaginary play and battle a dragon. That adventure was age appropriate for the boys who appear to be about 2 for the youngest one and 4 or 5 for the other two. This new story has an adventure that doesn't fit the age of the boys. They appear to be on the beach alone and although the boat they make out of sand and "stuff" is pretty crude, I still can't see children this little accomplishing this major feat. Nor do I see them using a good deal of the words describing their boat. To add to my confusion about the age appropriateness, on the final page, when the boys are dried and dressed, the two older boys look more like they could be 6 or 7 which would have fit this particular story very well. This all makes it very difficult to say what age group this story is most appropriate for. The illustrations are perfect for the youngest crowd, the story is great for ages 5-8, but would the older kids want to read a picture book with main characters who look like babies?
AGE RECOMMENDATION: It is very difficult to say what age group this story is most appropriate for. The illustrations are perfect for the youngest crowd, the story is great for ages 5-8, but would the older kids want to read a picture book with main characters who look like babies?SUMMARY: Captain Jack, Zack and Caspar create an imaginary ship out of sand in which they have grand adventures. Will the pirates catch up to them in the end?
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations have a very soft look making them perfect for a…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added May 12, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: This book introduces little ones to the wonderful concept of underwear. It shows how much fun underwear can be as well as some of the problems we might face with underwear (such as a pair being too small). But most important of all, This book teaches us that underwear is not for babies!
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations appear to be digitally rendered. They are simple for the younger viewers, full of fun, color and humor. My favorite illustrations were of the underwear that was too big for the radish and too small for the potato. The poor potato has some serious amount of bum sticking out!
THE GOOD: First, I must start by saying that the book confused me at first. I thought this was going to be a book about vegetables using underwear as the catalyst (the end papers have a visual of each vegetable labeled with its name; onion, broccoli, etc.) when this is actually a book about underwear using vegetables as a catalyst. Once I figured out the purpose of the book, I saw how completely adorable it is. And what better way is there to introduce little ones to the concept of wearing underwear than to use cute vegetables? The book discusses many different concepts of underwear from the names we call them by to the difference between boys' and girls' underpants. And the best part is "Babies don't wear underwear...Sorry, babies."
THE NOT AS GOOD: This is nit picky, but when writing a book for children as young as 2, I really don't like to see the use of contractions such as "There's big underwear..." and "There's underwear for Monday..." There was plenty of room for the "is."
AGE RECOMMENDATION: AGES 2-5SUMMARY: This book introduces little ones to the wonderful concept of underwear. It shows how much fun underwear can be as well as some of the problems we might face with underwear (such as a pair being too small). But most important of all, This…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added May 12, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: This is the first book in the Love Underpants series. Aliens love underpants, but they don't have any on their planet so they must come to Earth in order to steal some. While here, they have a romping good time playing games with underpants and just being downright silly with them. The book ends with the warning that you should check your underpants before putting them on ..."in case an alien still lurks inside, unseen!"
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations are my favorite part of the book. They are brightly colored with lots of humorous and fun details. I enjoyed the lovely variety of underwear in all shapes, colors and sizes!
THE GOOD: This is a cute concept for a silly book about underwear and aliens. What kiddo doesn't love reading about underwear?
THE NOT AS GOOD: I read these in backwords order which means I have gotten to the first book in the series last. Many people love this one the most. I, however, did not. Although the pictures were great fun, I couldn't get past the words which felt thrown together. Every single one of the books in this series has weak wording. The rhyming is forced and the vocabulary is lacking in creativity and imagination. Also, the ending is pretty creepy for a little kid's book. It may leave some kids very worried about putting on their underwear because of what may be lurking inside.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertised for ages 4-7SUMMARY: This is the first book in the Love Underpants series. Aliens love underpants, but they don't have any on their planet so they must come to Earth in order to steal some. While here, they have a romping good time playing games with…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added May 03, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: "Baby Bear wants to do everything by himself. At the library, he sees a book on a high shelf that he wants for his bunny, Bailey. "I'll get it!" Baby Bear says. But when the task proves to be too tough, he realizes that sometimes, having help is just fine!"
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations are large and bright for the littlest readers. There is also a bonus addition. Baby Bear's backpack is made with a fuzzy texture. Each page you turn to that shows the backpack is an extra delight! Baby Bear is an absolutely adorable character (as is his stuffed bunny)! And there is lots of movement in the pictures which helps move the story along.
REVIEW: This is another Tracey Corderoy book that I couldn't help but love! Just like any other growing child, Baby Bear wants to learn to do things for himself even if he doesn't do them perfectly (as shown by a less than perfectly buttoned jacket). But sometimes, no matter how much he wants to do everything himself, Bear realizes there are some things he simple must ask for help on. And Bear is okay with this, especially when he gets to help his mother in return. I love the heart melting ending.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: AGES 3-6SUMMARY: "Baby Bear wants to do everything by himself. At the library, he sees a book on a high shelf that he wants for his bunny, Bailey. "I'll get it!" Baby Bear says. But when the task proves to be too tough, he realizes that sometimes, having…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added May 03, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: "Tad the tadpole loves spending every minute with his awesome dad, whether they’re swimming together or catching flies." During the day, Dad encourages Tad's new skills, but at night, Tad clings a little bit to Dad and insists on sleeping on his lily pad. This makes for a rather sleepless night for Dad. Tad grows bigger and bigger until he is too big to share the lily pad. When Dad tells Tad about his many sleepless nights, Tad finds his own lily pad to sleep on. But now Dad has a sleepless night of a different sort.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations were created from marker, crayon and watercolor. I found them to be fairly dark and muddy making the details difficult to see--especially for the young target age group. The picture you see on the front of the book is nice and simply illustrated. I would have truly enjoyed the book if more pages were done in this style. The humor and expressiveness of the illustrations were enjoyable.
THE GOOD: This starts out as a cute book about a tadpole who adores his Dad. He loves following his dad's example and growing more and more like Dad each day. The book also shows how much Dad loves Tad. I loved how Dad encouraged Tad with each new thing he learned.
THE NOT AS GOOD: The book was a great story until the last few pages when Dad became negative. "'Why do you want to sleep on my bed?' said Dad. 'Are you trying to drive me bananas?'" Then Tad swims far away from Dad and Dad has peace at last. This whole part of the book could have been handled with less anger and more understanding. I also could not enjoy the illustrations as explained above.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Recommended for ages 3-5. I think ages 3-6 would be appropriate.SUMMARY: "Tad the tadpole loves spending every minute with his awesome dad, whether they’re swimming together or catching flies." During the day, Dad encourages Tad's new skills, but at night, Tad clings a little bit to Dad and insists on sleeping…
There's No Such Thing as LittleThere's No Such Thing as Little, Book
by Pham, LeUyenBook - 2015Book, 2015
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added May 03, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: This book looks at things that are little such as a candle that puts out a "little light", but when you turn the page, the light is transformed into the welcoming light of a light house. Each item is shown through a peek hole and as you turn the page you can see how the "little" item can actually be something big.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations are bright and big for the smallest readers. They are full of delightful details, from building blocks to fine works of art, that will catch the eye of children of different ages. And the peep holes are an utter delight! I couldn't wait to turn each page to see how the author incorporated the "little" picture into something bigger.
SUMMARY: This is a book that celebrates little. It also shows how things we think of as little thing are really very big things. This book celebrates the importance of everything no matter how small. One page shows the little boy and girl practicing their letters. The boy has written the letter "i". The question is: "A little letter?" And when you turn the page you see famous quotes and pieces from literature with the "i" featured throughout. The answer is: "No, an important letter." Writing only single letters may seem like such a little thing now, but it is actually part of something much bigger that is yet to come. Although this book can be a bit abstract, I absolutely loved the concept that everything is important. And I couldn't get enough of the peek holes--who can resist them?
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Ages 3-7SUMMARY: This book looks at things that are little such as a candle that puts out a "little light", but when you turn the page, the light is transformed into the welcoming light of a light house. Each item is shown through a peek hole and as you…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Apr 24, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: Luna loves living in the snow. But she loves her polar bear friend, Bear, even more. One day, Bear discovers a beautiful golden flower growing in the snow and gives it to Luna. But when the flower dies, and Luna is sad, Bear goes on a search around the world for another to bring to Luna. When he returns home, he realizes that Luna is his greatest treasure and the he is hers. And that they are happiest when together.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrator does a wonderful job of making a predominantly white setting look interesting and fun. There are plenty of adorable and funny details along the way that add interest.
THE GOOD: This is a lovely story of friendship between a girl and her polar bear. When the going gets tough, they both do something in a big way for the other to prove their love and friendship, but they also realize that being together is by far the most meaningful thing they could do.
THE NOT AS GOOD: The writing does tend to run on without pausing at times, causing the sentences to be too complex. For instance:
"Luna lived in an igloo...
...and Bear lived in a snow cave in her little garden where, one bright day, something most unusual popped up."
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Ages 4-8SUMMARY: Luna loves living in the snow. But she loves her polar bear friend, Bear, even more. One day, Bear discovers a beautiful golden flower growing in the snow and gives it to Luna. But when the flower dies, and Luna is sad, Bear goes on a…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Apr 24, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: Little Brown Bunny can't get enough of books. At bedtime, Mommy reads to him until she gets tired and Daddy takes over. Grandma and Grandpa Bunny take a turn as well, but none of the books are enough for Little Bunny. The next day he decides to write his own super long story. But when he sits down to read to his stuffed friends, the book isn't long enough. Mommy Bunny suggests that Little Bunny go to his friends to get more story ideas for his book. Little Bunny writes down all the stories into one "super-duper storybook."
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations are incredibly adorable. They are large for the youngest readers and full of bright colors. I love the many cute details like the book titles on his friends' shelves, the adorable teeth on his red dinosaur, and the wolf having tea with three stuffed piggies. And oh, the facial expressions of Little Brown Bunny! I just want to squeeze him and hug him for being so adorable!
REVIEW: Even though I do not believe the family should have catered to Little Brown Bunny by reading every book they own for bedtime, I still loved this story. I loved it because Little Bunny can't get enough of books (and this reminds me of myself!). I loved it because Little Bunny decided to write his own book. And when he ran out of ideas, he asked for help from his book loving friends. I also loved how much love and family closeness was portrayed throughout the book. His whole family encourages his love for books, his mom helps him in his creative endeavors, and there were big hugs from Daddy wolf to Little Wolf. And when the book was complete, Little Bunny's whole family stood around the bed, ready to listen to his story. This is an all around wonderful book for encouraging a love for reading and writing for young children.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: AGES 3-7SUMMARY: Little Brown Bunny can't get enough of books. At bedtime, Mommy reads to him until she gets tired and Daddy takes over. Grandma and Grandpa Bunny take a turn as well, but none of the books are enough for Little Bunny. The next day he…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Apr 24, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: Two mothers bring their toddlers to the beach. Many little mishaps happen along the way, but the toddlers have a wonderful and inventive time playing.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The pictures were created in pencil and then colored digitally. They get a 10 out of 10 for cuteness factor and creativity! I love the little girl's adorable glasses and the little tongue on the little boy that sticks out ever so slightly when he is concentrating.
REVIEW: This book is pretty much a wordless book since the only word throughout is "uh-oh." But this makes it perfect for the toddler set. The action of each page speaks for itself. The little girl drops her glasses; the little boy shoves his cup by accident into the sand pile; but they turn the situation around by making a cute sand "man." The action flows constantly throughout the book so you are never bored. And the best part is the fun the kids are having. I smiled so many times over their antics, I lost count. I highly recommend this as a book for the very youngest crowd for one-on-one reading time or for a small group.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Ages toddler-4SUMMARY: Two mothers bring their toddlers to the beach. Many little mishaps happen along the way, but the toddlers have a wonderful and inventive time playing.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The pictures were created in pencil and then colored digitally. …
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Apr 16, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: This is a book where everything is wrong. The snake has two heads and no tail, the bird is in the fish tank and the fish is in the bird cage, and there are sheep coming out of the smoke stack instead of smoke.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations are done in Eric Carle's classic style of painted tissue-paper collage.
THE GOOD: From an educators standpoint, I can see a very good use for this book for the younger crowd. Children can point out what is wrong with each picture. The book is meant to answer the questions: "What's true? What's impossible? and What's absolutely absurd?"
THE NOT SO GOOD: However, the execution was weak in a couple of areas. One, the rhyming text was extremely awkward and felt thrown in. This kept the book from flowing in an interesting way. The second problem for me, and I was shocked to see this in an Eric Carle book, was the negativity in the text. For instance: the tennis player who ends up with applesauce in her face, the dog who says to the man in his house, "For all that I care you can fly to the moon. But go soon," and the chimpanzee in the mirror that is said to look like the reader. This book had an interesting concept, but is far from my favorite Eric Carle book.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Ages 4-7SUMMARY: This is a book where everything is wrong. The snake has two heads and no tail, the bird is in the fish tank and the fish is in the bird cage, and there are sheep coming out of the smoke stack instead of smoke.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The…
The Day the Crayons Came HomeThe Day the Crayons Came Home, Book
by Daywalt, DrewBook - 2015Book, 2015
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Apr 16, 2016
Comment:
SUMMARY: Duncan and his crayons (I suppose these are the only ones who didn't quit in the first book) receive a stack of post cards. Each one is from a different crayon who is living a miserable existence and wants to come home. Each card complains about how horrible life is for the crayon. When the crayons come home, Duncan builds a home where all the crayons will feel welcomed.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations were created in a mixed media of crayons, post cards and cardboard.
REVIEW: I gave the first book, The Day the Crayons Quit, 2 stars for the same reasons I am giving this sequel 2 stars. First, the post cards are written crayon. But instead of making them in some sort of readable print for young readers, they are written in a combination of cursive and print. This makes the cards very difficult to read and hard on the eyes. The colors have been improved, but it doesn't matter because in simple words--it's just bad handwriting!
Once again, this book is full of complaining and negativity. The crayons, who chose to leave in the first place, complain on each and every page about how bad life is. This makes the book a downer. At no point in the book did I feel excited because the crayons were coming home. At no point did I feel happy for Duncan or the crayons. At no point was I interested in what the crayons had to say because it was all so negative. And yet, there is a picture of a happy crayon on the front cover. This is misleading. No one is smiling throughout the book and only a couple of crayons are smiling on the last two page spread.
The illustrations were, again, uninteresting. The post cards did add a nice touch, but many of the pictures were scribbled art. I lost interest in the pictures after the first couple of pages.
There are also quite a few mature and inappropriate bits throughout the book. The crayons use the word stupid regularly, puns young readers won't understand, angry tones and one put down after another. There is a picture of the dog licking its privates and poop that came from a bear in the woods. I can go on and on. And the big excitement of this book was the special glow in the dark drawing. I could barely see it in a dark room.
The second time around is no better than the first and again, I cannot recommend this book for any age reader. It is poorly written, poorly illustrated and all around poorly executed. There are too many other lovely picture books out there to waste time and money on this kind of low quality.SUMMARY: Duncan and his crayons (I suppose these are the only ones who didn't quit in the first book) receive a stack of post cards. Each one is from a different crayon who is living a miserable existence and wants to come home. Each card…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Apr 08, 2016
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SUMMARY: Olive is in a very bad mood. Nothing makes her happy. As she walks along and sees her friends, she puts her bad mood on them by making them feel bad about themselves. Olive sees a candy store with her favorite candy. She buys the candy and is now in a good mood. Then she sees all her friends sitting together, each in a bad mood. Olive shares her candy with them and everyone is happy...until Olive runs out of candy and her good mood runs out.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations are created in mixed media. They are large and simple for younger viewers.
THE GOOD: This book starts out well by showing how you can affect others with your bad mood and by the negative things you say to them.
THE NOT AS GOOD: Once again Olive misses the mark. Everything is solved in this book by candy. Her friends don't tell Olive how bad they made her feel, but happily take her candy as if nothing happened. Olive tears her friends down in a big way and this is never addressed. In the end, Olivia is oblivious to how her bad behavior affects others. And on the very last page, Olive is in a bad mood again because her candy is gone. Obviously candy is not the solution.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertised for ages 4-8. I think ages 5-8 is better.SUMMARY: Olive is in a very bad mood. Nothing makes her happy. As she walks along and sees her friends, she puts her bad mood on them by making them feel bad about themselves. Olive sees a candy store with her favorite candy. She buys the candy…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Apr 08, 2016
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SUMMARY: The surf is up! Dude the frog goes to Bro the frog's house to get him to come surfing. But Bro is very involved with reading a book (Moby Dick). Dude can't believe Bro would rather read a book than go surfing. That is until Bro begins telling some of the exciting parts of the book. In the end, Bro makes Dude a believer that a good book is something worth taking time out for.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations are creative and fun. On some pages the illustrations are muddy making it more difficult to follow what is happening--especially the imagination sequences. I don't understand why this is done when some of the pages have very clear and nice illustrations (such as on the cover).
THE GOOD: First off, being a valley girl myself, I love that the frogs are named Dude and Bro. These are perfect surfer names. I love how Bro draws Dude to the book with his own excitement and how the book shows that sometimes a book is better than surfing.
THE NOT AS GOOD: I did not feel that Moby Dick was a very good book to use as the example here of an enticing book since Surf's Up is meant for the younger crowd. And the combination of muddy illustrations for the "book" scenes with very little vocabulary can leave a child very confused if the adult is not filling in the holes to the story. This book is an awesome concept, but the execution was somewhat weak.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertised for ages 4-8. Ages 5-8 would be a better range.
NOTE: I received a free ARC copy of this book from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. My reviews are always 100% honest based on preset criteria.SUMMARY: The surf is up! Dude the frog goes to Bro the frog's house to get him to come surfing. But Bro is very involved with reading a book (Moby Dick). Dude can't believe Bro would rather read a book than go surfing. That is until Bro begins…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Apr 08, 2016
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SUMMARY: Molly has a secret. She tells Olive the secret and Olive promises not to tell anyone. Unfortunately Olive can't keep her promise and tells one person. But that person tells one person who tells another person and so on. Before long, Molly's secret is out and Molly knows exactly who told
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations are simple and large for the younger viewers. The wonderful facial expressions add humor to the story.
THE GOOD: This book is a wonderful illustration of how secrets end up becoming widely public just from telling one person.
THE NOT AS GOOD: This book does not talk about Molly's feelings about the shared secret. It simply shows her in an angry stance, but she doesn't say anything as Olive tries to lie about telling the secret. Olive never shows remorse for telling the secret and there are no consequences for her. This makes the story feel incomplete. I felt like the book was saying, "Olive told a secret she promised not to. So, what?" I would have liked a better ending that involved a moral teaching.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Ages 4-8SUMMARY: Molly has a secret. She tells Olive the secret and Olive promises not to tell anyone. Unfortunately Olive can't keep her promise and tells one person. But that person tells one person who tells another person and so on. Before long,…
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Apr 03, 2016
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SUMMARY: It is nearing bed time so Daddy Rabbit and Baby Rabbit head out for a last romp through the meadow. They meet up with several friends along the way who join the play. But before long, Baby Rabbit whimpers. He is tired from all the play. Daddy Rabbit hugs him tight and sings a lullaby until Baby is fast asleep.
ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations were created in watercolor. They are large and colorful for the younger ones, yet full of fascinating details along the way. I love how well the motion of each character was shown on each page as the owl swooped and the bear tumbled. I also love how the colors of the sky gradually grow into a sunset and then darkness for the final goodnight. The cuteness factor of the characters is a 10 out of 10!
REVIEW: This was such an enjoyable bed time book to read! The rhyming is lovely with a good pace. The story is short making it a perfect length for a bed time story for the littlest ones. Although this book has quite a bit of romping about, everything about it winds down from the activity of the animals to the darkening of the sky. And the story is very sweet, ending with a big cuddle from Daddy Rabbit.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: Ages 2-5SUMMARY: It is nearing bed time so Daddy Rabbit and Baby Rabbit head out for a last romp through the meadow. They meet up with several friends along the way who join the play. But before long, Baby Rabbit whimpers. He is tired from all the play. …
The Oil Pulling MiracleThe Oil Pulling Miracle, BookDetoxify Simply and Effectively
by Frohn, BirgitBook - 2016Book, 2016
mmcbeth29's rating:
Added Apr 02, 2016
Comment:
Before trying the practice of oil pulling, I read two different books on the subject. This is one of them.
SUMMARY: "In this practical guide, Birgit Frohn details the simple process of oil pulling, including when to do it, how long to swish the oil in your mouth, and other oral care techniques that complement it, such as tongue scraping. She explains the specific health benefits of 10 different cold-pressed oils that can be used in oil pulling, from traditional sesame oil to vitamin-packed pumpkin seed oil to highly popular coconut oil, allowing you to choose the best oil for your needs. She also reveals the vast number of ailments that can be healed and prevented by regular oil pulling practice...Frohn also explores additional detox techniques that enhance the benefits of oil pulling and concludes with a step-by-step 7-day detox plan for those who want to maximize the effects of oil pulling and accelerate their return to better health."
REVIEW: This book looks at oil pulling from the traditional Ayurvedic view. It talks about the origins of oil pulling and works from the belief that oil pulling actually pulls toxins from your body into your mouth as well as triggering digestive enzymes that boost the immune system. Frohn suggests as little as 5 minutes a day up to three times a day will make a major change in your health. Frohn encourages using the best quality virgin cold-pressed oils available and includes a list of the best oils to use.
THE NOT AS GOOD: If you are looking for science to back up this natural health method, you will not find it here. Plus, the final third of the book is taken up with other ways to boost your immune system including healthy eating and other natural detoxification techniques. I found this part of the book to be incongruous to the oil pulling information and often the author contradicted her own advice. This part of the book felt like a filler thrown in to make the book a little bit longer. The book would have been much stronger without it.
CONCLUSION: Birgit Frohn has her own method of how to complete oil pulling that differs a bit from others. This is why I read more than one book on the subject to get different views and to decide for myself what would work the best for me. This book is good if you are looking for how to do oil pulling rather than the reasons why oil pulling works. I recommend it for the oil pulling information only which includes when to pull, how to pull and what to expect. Does oil pulling work? I have been doing it for two weeks with a good quality oil and have already seen some major results in muscle and digestive relaxation as well as more energy during the day. I am beginning to feel much less sensitivity in my gums and teeth. But I think two weeks is too little of time to make a firm decision so I will keep at it a while longer. If nothing else, my jaw muscles are becoming much stronger from the daily swishing!
NOTE: I received a free ARC copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My reviews are always 100% honest based on preset criteria.Before trying the practice of oil pulling, I read two different books on the subject. This is one of them.
SUMMARY: "In this practical guide, Birgit Frohn details the simple process of oil pulling, including when to do it, how long to swish the…
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