Review: Never Too Late for Mother's Day Books

Yeah, so that TBR pile I mentioned earlier...it dates back a bit. I was sent these books to review in time for Mother's Day, and...that obviously didn't happen. Fortunately, these are books that can happily be read all year round, and there are some sweet ones!

9780062271051

Before YOU came along, so many things were different! But now there's a giggly baby, a house full of adventures and toys, a million little surprises. . . . And so much love.

The illustrations looked familiar right away, and sure enough - this is Patrick McDonnell, who illustrated The Skunk, a book I have used in story time, and The Perfectly Messed-Up Story, one of my class visit staples. Just look at that sweet face on the cover! Did you automatically want to reach down and pick her up, like I did?

This is one of those books that is written as much for the adults as they are for the kids, which may be appreciated in story times. Both parents and children will chuckle as they recognize familiar surprises (like finding "so many things in unusual places" - Daddy has learned to be careful putting his boots on!) Choosing books children can see themselves in is a big step in promoting love for reading, and the scenarios in here are pretty universal. We never see another family member, so this could be any family that includes at least one mother and at least one child. One busy, sticky, loud, cuddly child.

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Another familiar illustrator (Fancy Nancy, of course), the text for this one reportedly started off as an advertisement. It focuses on a mother's excitement and nervousness as she waits for her baby to arrive, and then guides him as he grows up. "I followed advice. I read twelve books. I ate lots of spinach...I wasn't sure I was ready. But then you were here." A very sweet book, but I think it will speak more to mothers than to children, who aren't going to readily identify with the mother's feelings. Both the illustrations and text would make this a perfect baby shower gift, though. Nothing like making the hormonal expectant Mommy cry!

9780061689581

A seed knows how to sprout. A lamb knows how to bleat. A bee knows where the nectar is to make the honey sweet. Stars shine, seasons change, and waves rise and fall. Invoking the majestic beauty of the natural world, a mother affectionately explains that some things just come naturally—like a parent’s love.  

Hmm...in a world with postpartum depression and news of abusive parents, the description alone seems slightly guilt-producing. A nice enough book that I will put on my shelves, but nothing I would bring out in a group, especially not knowing everyone's stories. If nothing else, though, the pictures and comparisons might make this a good introduction to discussions about nature, animal instincts, etc. - provided the ending isn't a trigger for the reader!

So, one hit, one maybe, and one...meh. With lots of color in the pictures, but...a little diversity in skin tone, please, HarperCollins?

Review: Three New Junior Readers

We have three new Junior Reader books hitting our library shelves this week:

 

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We love Charlie at our house - both the real Charlie, found here, and the fictional character. My kids especially like finding the chipmunk on each page, so it will be interesting to see their reactions when I bring this home - while the chipmunk is present, he's not on every single spread, and I'm not sure what their reaction will be! What really gave me pause, though, was the author line: "Based on the..." Based on? Based on? As in, not actually written by?

 

The MARC record only lists Drummond and DeGroat, but they named Amanda Glickman and Rick Whipple are thanked for their "editorial and artistic contributions". Are we turning the series over to ghost writers? Or are these interns? Google searching leads my imagination in both directions...curiouser and curiouser...

At any rate, I didn't notice any differences (other than the missing chipmunk). Charlie tries to keep a carrot-stealing rabbit out of Mama's garden, and ends with a compromise. Bacon is mentioned, so S. will approve.


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Not as bad as the previous junior readers - in fact, I kind of like this one, if I don't compare it to Eric Litwin's picture books of Pete the Cat. When Pete tries to take everyone else's advice on what to wear, he ends up looking rather silly. It might be fun to read this, then let everyone in the house pick out a piece of an outfit for everyone else - and wear the results for the day! Not to Walmart, though. Nobody would notice if you looked strange. (P.S. - Hey, HarperCollins - the title makes NO sense whatsoever.)


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With a second grader at home, we are in the throes of believing everything we hear from our friends. (Moms, as we all know, don't know anything.) In this well-timed (for probably more than me) edition from Fancy Nancy, a classmate tells nancy all the things that are bad luck, and she works herself into a tizzy trying to avoid them all. Or, is Ms. Glass right when she says there is no such thing? (She is a grown-up, after all, so probably not all that bright!)

It's a Fancy Nancy, so it will be popular regardless, but a good early reader all on its own. After reading it together, see how many good and bad luck items/actions your class/family can think of. Maybe research what other cultures think of as lucky.

Thanks to HarperCollins for the review copies!

 



New Junior Readers

Today we have a few new titles for your beginning readers:

 

9780062086570

 

Emma got a little overenthusiastic with her class project on good deeds, and signed up to do half a dozen all on the same day. Wonder how many moms will relate to this? Dixie tries to help her out with each one, but only succeeds in making a mess - until the very end, when she saves the day. I think kids will enjoy the story (if Mom is able to bite her tongue), but I was expecting something to come of the culminating mess Dixie would surely have become.

 

9780062083111

 

In the Fall, even the leaves are fancy! (Excuse me - I meant, in Autumn, the foliage is more colorful.) Our little village just celebrated its annual Apple Festival, so this was well-timed. Nancy's class is going apple picking, and she is determined to bring home her father's favorite, a Gala. Unfortunately, her field trip buddy seems more determined to play trick after trick on their class, ending in a boy-who-cried-wolf lesson. One of O'Connor's better junior readers, I think - and, of course, Fancy Nancy titles never stay on the shelves for long!

 

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Okay, now he's just a cutie. Look at that face! How can Momasaur be too mad when he 'forgets' to listen? Silly and short, a perfect read-together with the little one that has you shaking your head and trying to hide your smile. We'll look forward to seeing more of Digger!

 

Thank-you to Harper Collins for the review copies.



Review: Fancy Nancy Puppy Party by Jane O'Connor

We can never have too many Fancy Nancy books, can we?

 

 

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Not at the library, at any rate - especially not as Summer Reading registration approaches!

 

Birthday parties are loads of fun, and a party for dogs can only be more so, right? Despite the need for one of my favorite fancy words - "pandemonium" - everyone has a great time. We even get a little caution about what dogs shouldn't be eating slipped in with the vocabulary building.

 

Another fun read-together for Fancy Nancy afficionados (that's a fancy word for "fans"). Just be prepared for your reader to immediately want to plan a party for your pets! And, hey, it's almost summer - time to entertain a bit, anyway!

 

Thank-you to HarperCollins for the review copy.