Me Want Pet! by Tammi Sauer illustrated by Bob Shea Picture Book * * * Stars (Pretty good) Cave Boy really wants a pet, but none of the animals he brings home to the family cave is acceptable. They all hang around, however, and when a stampede threatens the family’s home the animals save Cave Boy from certain death! After that, they are welcomed with open arms – despite size, allergies, and house-breaking issues. Cute … Read more
The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas by Tony Wilson illustrated by Sue deGennaro Picture book * * * * Stars (Great!) Prince Henrik wants to fall and love and get married, but he’s not really sure how to choose the perfect princess. When he asks his brother for help, he tells him how he picked out his own perfect princess – with the pea hidden under the multiple mattresses method. Princess Eva, his … Read more
Small Bunny’s Blue Blanket by Tatyana Feeney Picture Book * * * * Stars (Great!) Small Bunny is very attached to his blue blanket – they do everything together. When Small Bunny’s mom decides blue blanket needs a (gasp!) bath, Small Bunny is skeptical – he likes blue blanket the way it is. Anxious about blue blanket, Small Bunny watches the entire cleaning and drying process. Blue blanket is not the same afterward, but Small … Read more
The Honeybee Man by Lela Nargi Juvenile Fiction/Non-fiction Picture book * * * * Stars (Great!) Fred the Brooklyn beekeeper loves his bees. He climbs up to his rooftop apiaries every morning to greet his colonies with a “Good morning, my bees, my darlings.” And addresses an individual greeting to each of his bee queens (Mab, Nefertiti, and Boadicea). This is an excellent, accessible introduction for younger children to what bees and their keepers do. … Read more
Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Danny Dragonbreath is a dragon, but so far he’s not a very good one – he can’t even breathe fire, no matter how much he practices (and he’s getting tired of his dad’s long-winded lectures on the subject). He goes to a school for reptiles and amphibians and his best friend, Wendell, is an iguana. When Danny receives a failing grade on his report … Read more
Mr. & Mrs. Bunny: Detectives Extraordinaire! by Mrs. Bunny translated from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath Fantasy Funny Mystery * * * * Stars (Great!) Mr. & Mrs. Bunny have just decided (one of Mrs. Bunny’s many whims) to become detectives when Madeline’s parents (humans) go missing. Madeline is a responsible young girl, who is about to graduate from the 5th grade, and she’s accustomed to taking care of her folks. When they are abducted … Read more
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor Fantasy * * * * * Stars (Amazing!) Sunny is a young albino American-Nigerian who has been living in Nigeria since her mother had a premonition that something bad was going to happen to her if she stayed in the States. Her father never wanted a daughter and certainly never wanted to go back to Nigeria, so he holds a grudge against her. When Sunny’s classmate, Orlu, introduces her to … Read more
Masterpiece by Elise Broach Fantasy * * * Stars (Pretty good) Martin is a young beetle who lives in the walls of the Pompadays’ apartment in New York City. The beetles don’t think much of Mr. & Mrs. Pompaday or bouncing baby William, but they are quite fond of 11-year old James (Mrs. Pompaday’s son from a previous marriage). Martin wants to do something special for James on his birthday, so he uses James’ new … Read more
Wild Things by Clay Carmichael Realistic Fiction * * * * Stars (Great!) When 11-year old Zoë’s mother passes away, she is taken in by her uncle, Dr. Henry Royster. Both are accustomed to being on their own – Zoë had to take care of herself because of her mom’s mental illness and poor choices, and Henry lost wife #3 and became an artist (he makes large metal sculptures) – and both are rather independent … Read more
The Life Cycle of a Snail by L.L. Owens Juvenile Non-fiction Picture book * * * Stars (Pretty good) This introduction to snail biology will have young readers racing out to their own backyards to locate their slimy subjects for a closer inspection. Detailed, close-up photographs accompany explications of snails’ life cycle – the one of the land snail laying its eggs in a moist patch of soil is a particularly good catch. While some … Read more