Picture Books

Book Review: Stick and Stone

Author
Ferry, Beth
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

COMPLETELY ADORABLE! Stick and Stone is so simple and accessible for shy, retiring children. Stick and Stone start out alone. But when Pinecone comes and Stick defends Stone, a friendship blossoms. With lovely illustrations and clever text, Stick and Stone will worm their way into your heart – and you will become friends with them, too.

Reviewer's Name
Kristin

Book Review: The Lump of Coal

Author
Snicket, Lemony
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

With the snarkiness that we’ve come to expect, this is a story of miracles – sort of. It’s a story of a lump of coal that can think, walk, and talk – which is a miracle – sort of. We read this out loud and couldn’t stop laughing; which is a certain kind of miracle. Pick up The Lump of Coal to laugh while you discover miracles – despite the omnipresent snark of Lemony Snicket.

Reviewer's Name
Kristin B.

Book Review: Queen Victoria's Bathing Machine

Author
Whelan, Gloria
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

A great, rolling doggerel accompanies this story about finding a way to allow the queen to enter the sea without any part of her being “seen!” Funny and factual, this will be a fun read for you and yours.

Reviewer's Name
Kristin Brown

Book Review: Spot, the Cat

Author
Cole, Henry
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

Spot, the Cat by Henry Cole, is a beautiful wordless pen and ink book. An open window allows Spot to escape out into the city and a wonderful adventure ensues. Wordless books are a lovely opportunity to have a conversation about what is on the page. You may be surprised by what your little one notices that escaped your attention – just like Spot escaped!

Reviewer's Name
Kristin B.

Book Review: Rivers of Sunlight: How The Sun Moves Water Around the Earth

Author
Bang, Molly
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

"I am your sun. My energy warms your days. I light up your world." So begins a lovely book about how the entire Earth's water system works. The illustrations are the sort you can sink into and perseverate over. This book is so beautiful, in fact, that you will absorb the complexity of our Earth's hydrology without even realizing it. Check out Rivers of Sunlight and pour yourself into knowledge and beauty.

Reviewer's Name
Kristin

Book Review: Pi-Shu, the Little Panda

Author
Butler, John
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

There is no better way to describe Pi-shu than to say, "It's Pukin' cute!!" Follow a new panda through his day by poring over John Butler's luxurious illustrations. Heartwarming and very dear, you will enjoy reading this one over and over!

Reviewer's Name
Kristin

Book Review: Wolves

Author
Gravett, Emily
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

What a fun book! Rabbit checks a book out of the library that's all about wolves. As he becomes lost in the text, he doesn't realize that real wolves are lurking about him. The book ends with a mystery: did Rabbit get eaten? Or is the alternative ending the truth?

Reviewer's Name
Kristin

Book Review: Luna's Red Hat: An Illustrated Storybook to Help Children Cope With Loss and Suicide

Author
Smid, Emmi
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

Luna’s Red Hat is a children’s book to help with loss and suicide. Though these are topics from which we wish we could always shield children, the reality is that there are times that you might need such a book.

This one is written with knowledge, compassion, and a deep understanding of children. I highly recommend Luna’s Red Hat if you find yourself facing such a difficult time as having to explain to a child the realities of death and suicide.

Reviewer's Name
Kristin

Book Review: Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

Author
Steptoe, Javaka
Rating
4 stars = Really Good
Review

This is a beautiful book. It won the Caldecott Medal, so that's saying something. The artwork is fantastic. The book tells the story of Jean-Michel Basquiat's life in a free form jazz-inspired style. I'm not familiar with Jean-Michel Basquiat's work and now I want to see it for myself. There's a biography in the back. I only read this book once to my daughter. If I had read it more than once, I'd probably give it 5 stars.

Reviewer's Name
vfranklyn

Book Review: Dragons Love Tacos

Author
Rubin, Adam
Rating
5 stars = Bohemian Rhapsody Awesome!
Review

This story has it all, from tacos, to laugh out loud humor, to dragons, to colorful illustrations, and most importantly you also learn about why NEVER to give dragons totally mild salsa with jalapenos. The results are action packed, disastrous, and hilarious. Luckily, the dragons make everything right in the end.

This book is just plain old fashioned silly, and even a bit absurd, fun! The pictures in this book really capture the tone and elevate and enhance the story rather than get in the way. I'd even argue that they might be the main draw of this already entertaining book. The illustrator, Daniel Salmieri, didn't take the illustrations too seriously and you can tell they had as much fun making the book as you will reading it. Enjoy this lighthearted, humorous romp and feel free to enjoy a few tacos along the way when reading!

Reviewer's Name
Will