Ladybugs Have Lots of Spots by Sheryl and Simon Shapiro

Ladybugs Have Lots of Spots by Sheryl and Simon Shapiro

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

This innovative picture book encourages children, through poetry and photographs, to explore the idea of what is round — from the spots on a ladybug’s back to a ring on a finger or a wheel on a bike. Using words such as ‘dot, ‘ ‘spot, ‘ ‘loop, ‘ ‘hoop, ‘ and ‘ring, ‘ it shows that round things aren’t all alike, but can be anything!

Again this book wasn’t what I expected based on the title but since we had just read the Zebra book it wasn’t as much as a shock.  The book is packed full of different types of circles, some easy to spot while others were a little less obvious.  The book is full of wonderful illustrations that are bright and colorful.  The flow of the book makes it easy for children to follow.

This is another great book for younger children.  It’s a good book to start working on recognition of shapes within everyday objects.  It’s also a good tool to help with counting, colors and other various motor skills children need to develop before they start school.  The picture of the colorful ferris wheel was Lilly’s favorite since we went to the state fair not long ago.  She also thought the little girl in the slide was our neighbor’s daughter.  Overall we give Ladybugs Have Lots of Spots 3½ Stars. 

Zebra Stripes go Head to Toe by Sheryl and Simon Shapiro

Zebra Stripes go Head to Toe by Sheryl and Simon Shapiro

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

The fun, simple text and vibrant design of “Zebra Stripes Go Head to Toe” explore the concept of squares and stripes. Using words such as ‘cube, ‘ ‘line, ‘ ‘block, ‘ and ‘band, ‘ short poems encourage readers to spot the similarities (and differences) between the shapes of the stripes on a zebra and the stripes on a crosswalk, for example, or between a square soda cracker and cubes of cheese.

This book was not what I expected.  When we first started reading it, it was about different types of square items.  The zebra and stripes entered into the story about halfway through the book.  The story was fun and had a great flow to it.  The transition between the square and stripes section was clear but effortless.  The illustrations primarily contained things that the children would easily recognize, including other children.

Lilly enjoyed the book and it was a great tool to get us started talking about other items that were either square or striped.  She laughed when we got to the cookie with a bite out of it and her favorite was the one with the striped socks on it.  It is a great book for kids under the age of four because it helps them to start looking at things around them.  Parents will love the book for cadence and flow and the children will love the colorful illustrations.  Overall Lilly and I give Zebra Stripes go Head to Toe 3½ stars. 

Lucas Lashes Visits the Doctor by Lucas Lashes, LLC

Lucas Lashes Visits the Doctor by Luca Lashes, LLC

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

 

This sixth eBook in the series reintroduces Luca Lashes as he experiences his first doctor visit. Your child discovers how to be brave as Luca experiences the first round of shots that he will remember. Your child learns about the things he will see and experience on that first trip to the doctor’s office. The eBook includes parent suggestions and focuses on a relatable character.

Lucas Lashes is a little boy with special eyelashes that give him superpowers not to be scared.  In this installment he is off to see the Doctor for his shots.  He is worried that it will hurt but with the help of his special eyelashes, he is brave when he gets his shot.  He even got cool band aids and a lolly pop.

This is a great series that opens up the lines of communication between parents and small children under the age of four.  The books are meant to help the child through a difficult or tough event they are going through, in this case, getting a shot.  I know that even though we have talked about shots and watched different preschool shows with Lilly, shots are still not fun.  In fact, they are bad and honestly I don’t think this book would help her any better than anything else has.

That being said, I can see where it would be comforting to others.  I like the fact the eBook offers pointers and tips to parents on things to do to help make the visit easier.  Even though Lilly doesn’t like shots, she likes this series and enjoys the books about Lucas.  She thinks it’s funny that his eyelashes give him special powers.  The illustrations are fun and the story flows well.  Overall we give Lucas Lashes Visits the Doctor 4 stars. 

Dream Animals by Emily Winfield

Dream Animals by Emily Winfield

Release Date – October 22, 2013

*A review copy of this book was viewed from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

 

Ideal for bed time reading, this book will appeal to parents and children who love Grandfather Twilight and On the Night That You Were Born. Author, illustrator, and creator of The Black Apple Etsy shop, Emily Martin convinces children to close their eyes and discover who their dream animal might be-and what dream it might take them to. With a perfect nighttime rhyme and gorgeous illustrations, this book is irresistible. Separate ends and a matte cover with spot lamination complete the package.

This is a wonderful book that takes us on a dreamland adventure through the stars with the help of animal guides.  It is beautifully illustrated and I loved that they looked old fashioned, like something seen years ago.  They were sweet and Lilly couldn’t stop looking at them either.  The pictures had beautiful color and a joy to look at.

The story itself had good rhythm and flowed well, even though it had minimal words throughout the story.   We had to read this one at bedtime on several different occasions.  It has definitely become a favorite and we are going to have to add this one to her growing book collection.

Overall Lilly and I loved Dream Animals: A Bedtime Journey and give it 4 Stars. 

Duck & Goose, Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills

Duck & Goose, Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills

*A copy of this book was borrowed from the library*

 Duck and Goose, where is your pumpkin? Is it in the log? Is it under the leaves? Is it in the apple tree? Preschoolers will surely enjoy going on a pumpkin hunt with Duck and Goose . . . especially when they find the perfect pumpkin at the end!

Duck and Goose are seeking out the perfect pumpkin just like their friend has.  They take us along on the journey around the area and finally end up in the pumpkin patch.  There they find the perfect pumpkin.

Last summer I wasn’t able to download this book before it expired so we decided to check it out for the fall this year.  Lilly seemed to enjoy it and would laugh at their antics.  When they would look silly places for the pumpkins she would respond “no silly.”  She liked the illustrations and we made a game out of finding the fall items.

This was a fun fall read for Lilly and I.  Overall, I definitely think the book is more for toddlers but you can still use it to work with and teach preschoolers too.  We give Duck & Goose, Find a Pumpkin 3½ Stars.  

 

 

A Pet Named Sneaker by Joan Heilbroner

 A Pet Named Sneaker by Joan Heilbroner

*Review copy of this book was viewed from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

 

 Fifty years after the publication of Robert the Rose Horse comes Joan Heilbroner’s second Beginner Book—A Pet Named Sneaker, with illustrations by Pascal Lemaitre. A madcap tale reminiscent of The Cat in the Hat, Go, Dog. Go!, and A Fish Out of Water, Sneaker is the story of a pet-store snake who longs for a real home. When he is finally adopted by Pete—a young boy charmed by Sneaker’s uncanny ability to twist himself into different shapes—Sneaker not only proves himself a good pet, but proves to be a good student (sneaking into school with Pete and learning to read and write); a good citizen (saving a drowing toddler at a community pool); and a goodwill ambassador for the entire animal kingdom (inspiring the community to open the pool to all animals)! With delightfully understated, wickedly funny illustrations by Pascal Lemaitre, this is a fantastic, funny book that will sneakily get beginning readers reading on their own! 

Dr. Seuss books are some of our favorite books around our house and this book is no different.  Sneaker has been living in a pet store but he longs to have a home and a family to love him.  His dreams come true when he is adopted by Pete and he goes home with him.  He is a fun pet that can change his shape, he likes to sneak into Pete’s backpack so he can go to school and he loves the water.  He even rescues a drowning child and proves to be an important part of the community.

We loved this book.  It was so much fun to read and the illustrations were typically of Dr. Seuss books.  It is a great book for preschoolers and after a couple times, Lilly tried to read it to me.  It definitely encourages reading in the young.

Overall we loved this book and give A Pet Named Sneaker 4½ stars.  

Sophie’s Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller

Sophie’s Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller

*Review copy of this book was viewed from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

 

 On a trip to the farmers’ market with her parents, Sophie chooses a squash, but instead of letting her mom cook it, she names it Bernice. From then on, Sophie brings Bernice everywhere, despite her parents’ gentle warnings that Bernice will begin to rot. As winter nears, Sophie does start to notice changes…. What’s a girl to do when the squash she loves is in trouble?

 Sophie is a young girl with a wonderful imagination.  She decides that the squash purchased for dinner will make the perfect companion for her.  She gives her a name and face and takes her everywhere with her.  As time goes by and Bernice begins to get “sick”, Sophie decides to take matters into her own hands and gets a nice surprise when spring comes.

I love that the parents encouraged her to use her imagination and self-discovery.  However, I do think they should’ve stepped in a little sooner since the squash was starting to rot.  The story was cute and fun to read and I loved that the fall theme was carried out through the illustrations too.  Lilly thought it was funny that she had a squash for a baby since Lilly loves her baby dolls.

Overall Lilly and I enjoyed this Sophie’s Squash and give it 3½ stars. 

The Bad Birthay Idea by Madeline Valentine

The Bad Birthday Idea by Madeline Valentine

Release Date – November 12, 2013

*A review copy of this book was viewed from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

 

Ben likes to play with robots. His little sister, Alice, would like to play with Ben. But when she and her doll try to join Ben’s games, Ben says, “No dolls allowed. This is a robot game.”

That’s why Alice asks for a robot for her birthday. Not just any robot. The exact robot Ben has been wanting forever!

Ben is very, very jealous. He wants that robot. Now. Maybe he could sneak it out of its wrapping during Alice’s birthday party and play with it for awhile. Nobody will know. Right?

But Ben’s bad idea goes very wrong and he feels terrible. Now it’s up to him to show Alice that a sister is more important than even the best robot toy in the world.

This is a sweet book that tackles sibling rivalry.  Alice is a typical little sister that just wants to play with her brother so she asks for a robot for her birthday.  Her brother is jealous because it’s the exact robot he has been wanting.  He tries to be good and leave it alone, but he just can’t resist and something bad happens.  In the end, everything works out for them.

This book not only deals with sibling rivalry but also with patience and sharing.  It shows children that we don’t always get what we want.  The story was fun to read and easy to get the child engaged in.  The illustrations were beautifully done.  The ending was perfect because Alice got what she really wanted, to play with her brother.

Lilly and I enjoyed this story and give The Bad Birthday Idea 4 stars. 

The Apple Orchard Riddle Margaret McNamar

The Apple Orchard Riddle by Margaret McNamar

*A review copy of this book was viewed from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

Mr. Tiffin and his students from the perenially popular How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? are back in this picture book about a school trip to an apple orchard! In this playful, humorous, and child-friendly classroom story, the students learn a lot about apples and apple orchards—including how apples are harvested, how cider is made, and what the different varieties of apples are—while trying to solve a riddle. The book also celebrates how some children learn differently than others.

As the students tour the orchard, they learn a lot about apple production.  They are challenged with a riddle by their teacher that they try to figure out as they tour the orchard.   The children work through the riddle but none of them could figure it out.  They spend time learning how to pick apples, make cider and all the different types of apples.

Tara is different from all the other students in her class and seems to be in her own world.  She is usually the last one to get anywhere and doesn’t seem to mind being alone.  She’s smart and inquisitive and is the only one that figures Mr. Tiffin’s riddle. 

This book is fun and educational at the same time.  The children are shown the process of running an orchard step by step.  Along the way they are given facts about apples or asked questions that make them think.  I love that Tara is different and that’s ok.  It may take her a little longer to work through things but in the end she will figure them out. 

I think this is great because not all kids learn the same way and the book recognizes that and it’s ok.  The book is beautifully illustrated with nice flow.  Lilly enjoyed this book and still talks about the riddle.  We give The Apple Orchard Riddle 3½ stars.  

The Princess and the Peas and Carrotts by Harriet Ziefert

The Princess and the Peas and Carrots by Harriet Ziefert

*Review copy of this book was viewed from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

As her parents learn to how manage their daughter’s persnickety ways, a little girl also comes to understand the royal reason that she is so fussy.

This princess-y, picky-particular girl will strike a strong chord of recognition. Every kid has some version of “I can’t eat those peas because they’re touching the carrots!” Right?

This is a story about a picky little girl that refuses to eat her dinner so she’s sent to room.  While in there, she makes an even bigger mess, she’ll show them.  As she stumbles over a copy of The Princess and the Pea she begins to understand why she acts like she does, now if she can convince her parents that she really is a princess too everything will be ok.

 I had mixed feelings about this book.  Lilly is a very picky eater and sometimes it takes an act of congress to get her to eat her dinner.  However, we don’t have the option of putting her to bed without food because she has Cystic Fibrosis and has to eat.  I can understand how frustrated the parents got with the little girl. 

Lilly enjoyed the story and all the pictures and the idea of a book inside of a book is cute concept.  I just don’t know that I agree with encouraging that type of behavior out of little ones.  We don’t let Lilly act that way and I wouldn’t want her to think its ok just because she saw it in the book, even though the little girl seemed better at the end.

Overall we give The Princess and the Peas and Carrots 3 stars.