Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

Author: Neil Gaiman

Illustrator: Skottie Young
Title:Fortunately, the Milk

Publication: September 17, 2013

Publisher: Harper Collins

Genre: Children

Pages: 128

Audience: 6 and up

Rating: 4 out of 5

Source: Public Library

Synopsis (from the cover): "I bought the milk, "said my father. "I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this" thummthumm. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road." "Hullo," I said to myself. "That's not something you see every day. And then something odd happened." 
Find out just how odd things get in this hilarious story of time travel and breakfast cereal, expertly told by Newberry Medalist and bestselling author Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Skottie King.

My thoughts:

 This book was precious. If I was a children's librarian, I would be so excited to read this book at story time. There is a chance to dress up, make up silly voices, and plenty of sound effects. There are plenty of illustration and I really like how it the art flows into the text of the novel as well. The story is of  a  father goes to the store to buy milk. He takes forever and his children start to worry. When their father returns,he has a wonderful story to tell them about what kept him and how the milk made it home. It is a fantastic little book filled with interesting characters (like dinosaurs and pirates), time travel, and of course milk. I strongly recommend this for young children and for those young at heart. Fortunately, the Milk is the perfect bedtime or story time book.

Chu's Day

Author: Neil Gaiman

Illustrator: Adam Rex

Title: Chu's Day

Publication: January 8, 2013

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Children's

Pages: 32

Audience: 4 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Interlibrary Loan

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Meet Chu. Chu is a small panda with a very big sneeze. When Chu sneezes, you REALLY don't want to get in the way. But a whole day of adventure will test Chu's sneeze-resisting powers to the limit - there's the library (dusty books!), the diner (pepper!), and then the circus (all those animals!). How big can a sneeze really be? Just wait and see . . .

My thoughts:
I FINALLY got this book. Sorry for reviewing it so late. Chu's Day was very cute. I saw reviews for it before I got to read it and the main complaints were that it was very short. it is very short, but if you have  three year old, like my nephew then this book is perfect. It is short, sweet, and to the point. Chu is so cute and cuddly, I mean who doesn't love panda? It is a really cute book that younger children or children with short attention spans would enjoy.

The artwork is beautiful. Adam Rex does an excellent job on all the animals in the book. Chu is just a cute little fluff ball. In some scenes he looks just like my cat! I really love the next to last page, the Dad looks like he is fed up. It was a bit funny. That could just be me though.  Anyway, the artwork is great and the book is great.

Odd and the Frost Giants: Audiobook

Author: Neil Gaiman

Illustrator: Brett Heliquist

Title: Odd and the Frost Giants

Publication: September 22, 2009

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Children's

Length: 1 and 1/2 hours
Pages: 128

Audience: 8 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Public Library

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):The winter isn't ending. Nobody knows why.
And Odd has run away from home, even though he can barely walk and has to use a crutch.
Out in the forest he encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle - three creatures with a strange story to tell.
Now Odd is faced with a stranger journey than he had ever imagined.
A journey to save Asgard, City of the Norse Gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.
It's going to take a very special kind of boy to defeat the most dangerous of all the Frost Giants and rescue the mighty Gods. Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever.
Someone just like Odd.

My thoughts:
This book was adorable, and I believe young children in particular, boys would love this book.  Odd is a young boy who will not let his disabilities put a limit on what he can do. As he ventures off on his own he will discover the world is much bigger and larger than his village. He will face great dangers, but not back down without a fight. Of course, Odd also has the help of Thor, Loki, and Odin all of whom he meets on his adventure. I do not know much about Norse mythology (except from what I know from the Marvel movies), but I really enjoyed this audiobook.

Neil Gaiman often narrates his own books. If you have never heard Mr. Gaiman narrate a book, then you are in for a treat! I listened to The Graveyard Book, Neverwhere, and Odd and the Frost Giants, all narrated by Neil Gaiman. His English accent is not overwhelming. The voices he gives each character is distinct to the point you know which character is speaking. I really enjoy it when the author narrates because they are able to portray the characters as they see them.

Just a note about the book, I did not read the book, but I did notice that Brett Heliquist was the illustrator. He illustrated The Series of Unfortunate Events. He is a great artist and if you are not an audiobook person, then I suggest the book. The book is great and I know the art will be great too.

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, Henry Cole

In the zoo there are all kinds of animal families. But Tango's family is not like any of the others. This illustrated children's book fictionalizes the true story of two male penguins who became partners and raised a penguin chick in the Central Park Zoo.

I was surprised that this is a true story and although I understand why some people are offended by it, I still think it's sweet. I chose this one because it seems to make it onto the banned book list frequently, so I figured why not see what all the hype is about. This story is about two male penguins that do everything together and in a way seclude themselves from the other penguin pairs. They can do anything the other penguin’s do except have a baby of their own, no matter how they try. It was interested watching them see what the rest of the penguins and then doing what they did and so cute when they built their little pile of rocks and took turns sitting on it hoping it would become a little penguin. Though, the subject matter may offend some, it really is a touching story about family and love that I think is worth reading.

Author: Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell
Illustrator:Henry Cole
Title: And Tango Makes Three
Publication: April 26, 2005
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Rating: 4 out of 5
Pages: 32 pp.
Source: Library

Chloe,Instead by Micah Player

Author: Micah Player
Title: Chloe, Instead
Publication: April 18, 2012
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Pages: 32 pp.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Library

Synopsis
Molly always dreamed of having a sister who is just like her. But she got Chloe, instead. These two sisters are nothing alike: Molly loves to color with crayons. Chloe prefers the taste of wax. Molly loves to read. Chloe prefers to nibble a book's spine. Molly is frustrated! But then she realizes that maybe sisters aren't the ones next to you on the piano bench, they're the ones dancing to the music you play! This humorous, perceptive snapshot of sibling love is perfect for those who may need a bit of convincing what fun little siblings can be!


Thoughts: We all know how annoying younger siblings can be but they also can be your best friend and Molly learns this first hand. She hoped that her sister would be just like her but what fun would that be, it actually can be quite boring. Chloe and Molly like the same things but they approach them in different ways like reading. Molly reads books and well Chloe likes to rip them apart. She is very active and into everything till the point her sister begins to unravel and she hurts Chloe feelings, so in trying to make peace they get a better understanding of each and begin to realize that different is not so bad at all. I love Chloe, true she comes across as a bad child but she is adorable, which is something people say a lot about "active" children. 'Little so and so is bad but just so darn cute', like that's excuses them being little deviants. I think the illustrations are very colorful and give a great representation of the story, which is as full of life as the two sisters. Any who, this a good story about the bond between sibling. 

Little Beauty

Author: Anthony Browne

Illustrator: Anthony Browne

Title: Little Beauty

Publication: August 24, 2010

Publisher: Candlewick

Genre: Children's

Pages: 32

Audience: 2 and up

Rating: 4 out of 5

Source: Public Library

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads): 
Once there was a very special gorilla who had almost everything he needed. There was only one thing he didn't have: a friend. With no other gorillas at the zoo, the keepers try something new. Will the gigantic ape strike a bond with another sort of creature, one as tiny and innocent as a kitten? Sparked by the story of a real gorilla who learned to sign, "Little Beauty" is a celebration of a most surprising friendship

My thoughts:
Is this book cover precious or what? That is what sold me on the book. It was too cute. The story is perfect for young children and it tells a tale of friendship between the most unlikely of friends. The illustrated dynamic between the kitten and gorilla is so adorable and funny. Another neat thing about the story is the gorilla knows sign language which would be something  cool to introduce children to. I enjoyed the story, but I enjoyed the illustrations even more.

Meow: Stories from Around the World

Author: Jane Yolen

Illustrator: Hala Wittwer

Title: Meow: Stories from Around the World

Publication: July 26, 2005

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Children's

Pages: 40

Audience: 4 and up

Rating: 4 out of 5

Source: Public Library

 Favorite Quote: "In a cat's eye all things belong to cats.- England"

Synopsis (from the cover):
There's a story behind each of these feline traits. For centuries, people everywhere, from Tibet to Oman to Scotland to the United States, have been fascinated with cats and their intriguing personalities. In this captivating collection, New York Times bestselling author Jane Yolen has gathered and adapted cat stories, sayings, and nursery rhymes from around the world. The glowing jewel-like illustrations of cats galore in their native homes have been lavishly painted by Hala Wittwer.

My thoughts:

This children's book provides a brief overview of cat stories from around the world. I thought I would have heard some of them before, but I never have. I knew some of the quotes and two of the nursery rhymes, Hey Diddle Diddle and The Kittens Who Lost Their Mittens, but the short stories were completely new. Of course, most of them made cats out to be sneaky and mean. Not all cats are mean, sneaky- yes. My favorite story was the last one, Why The Cat Falls on Her Feet. It is a story from the Chippewa and it shows how loving and protective cats can be. Sorry if I am a bit biased, but I am a cat lady after all. All the stories were interesting and the illustrations were beautiful. I would read the book just for the illustrations. As the synopsis said, the cats and animals are very jewel-like. The book is adorable and I would recommend it to any cat person and to any one who wants to share cat stories with young children.

Knitty Kitty

Author: David Elliott

Illustrator: Christopher Denise

Title: Knitty Kitty

Publication: September 9, 2008

Publisher: Candlewick

Genre: Children's

Pages: 32

Audience: 2 and up

Rating: 4 out of 5

Source: Public Library

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
What could Knitty Kitty be knitting? Something to keep three mischievous kittens toasty and comfy, of course. But after the snow falls and the moon comes up and it's bedtime for kittens everywhere, what will keep them all warm and snug? Knitty Kitty has the answers! With a fun, rhythmic text and delightfully detailed illustrations, the storybook team of David Elliott and Christopher Denise knit together a read-aloud that little ones will cozy right up to.

My thoughts:

I went to the public library one day and just went crazy with the cat related children's book. I'm a self proclaimed cat lady, so I did not feel crazy until I realized how many children's books I had. This book is adorable! It is perfect for the autumn or winter because the kittens end up playing in the snow and building a snowman. It reminded me a lot of the tale about the kittens who lost their mittens. If you know a snow day and want to snuggle up with a cute children's book- this is it.

Olivia

Author: Ian Falconer

Illustrator: Ian Falconer

Title: Olivia

Publication: October 1, 2000

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Genre: Children's

Pages: 40

Audience: 2 and up

Rating: 4 out of 5

Source: Public Library

Synopsis (from Goodreads):  
Have fun with Olivia... dressing up, singing songs, building sand castles, napping (maybe), dancing, painting on walls and - whew! - going to sleep at last.

My thoughts:
I've heard about the television show, I've seen the stuffed animals, and I've seen all the books at various retail locations. I had not read Olivia until recently. I can now see why she is so popular. She is one very busy pig with a huge, sassy personality. I loved the main colors of the book were black, white, and red. It made images really pop. Of course, I loved the Olivia. She was such a hoot and I could see myself in her at times. If you have young girls in your life I suggest sharing Olivia with them.

The Dangerous Alphabet

Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Gris Grimly

Title:The Dangerous Alphabet

Publication: July 27, 2010

Publisher: HarperCollins

Genre: Children's, fiction

Pages: 32

Audience:5  and up

Rating: 2 out of 5

Source: Public Library

Favorite Quote: "A is for Always, that's where we embark;"

Synopsis (from the cover):
Two children, treasure map in hand, and their pet gazelle sneak past their father, out of their house, and into a world beneath the city, where monsters and pirates roam. The Dangerous Alphabet is a tale of adventure, piracy, danger, and heroism told in twenty-six alphabetical lines- although even the alphabet is not to be relied upon here.


My thoughts:
I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan. I've seen covers of his Blueberry Girl and  his other children's books, which seem happier. This book is pretty much an alphabetical, visual, childish version of Hell. I enjoyed some of the letters and what they meant, but it wasn't as enjoyable as his other works. The artwork is actually like the illustrator's name. It is grizzly and grimly. The artwork almost reminds me of Ren and Stimpy. I hated that cartoon. It is just not art that I would expect in a children's book. If I read this to a child, I would make sure they were at least five and has a pretty good grip on fact and fiction. Since, it is FINALLY October (I LOVE Halloween and October and all the wonderful things that come with autumn), I think this book would be perfect for a Halloween read.

Review: Today I Am A Princess by Jill Cikins

Title: Today I Am A Princess
Author: Jill Cikins

Illustrator: Rosalie Peng
Publication: December 9, 2011

Publisher: Nampedia

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Genre: Children's

Audience: All ages

Rating: 4.5 out 5

Amazon|Website

Synopsis: This book was inspired in the wisdom of Universal Kabbalah, as taught by Dr. Joseph Michael Levry, which teaches that the purpose of life is to be the best we can be. With love and mastery of both esoteric sciences and the practical nature of man and the cosmos, Dr. Levry teaches that by living each day in the present and opening our eyes to the gifts and lessons that are all around us, our journey through life can truly be joyous and magical. It is my hope that the story of the Little Princess will show children of all ages that by using their imagination and focus, magical things can happen each and every day!

This is the story of a little girl who becomes a beautiful and wise princess. Along her way she meets the 7 Great Planets of the Sky as they guide her on her journey. She learns the Kabbalistic principle that each planet behaves differently in the sky and exerts a physical influence on planet Earth and on the human mind in a periodic succession equivalent to the days of the week. In this tale, magical planets speak wisdom to the little girl, provide guidance and teach an important lesson each day that brings the Little Princess closer to her Kingdom. Each planet grants our little girl a wish and a symbol to use on the day they rule as well as a magical phrase for the Little Princess to always remember.

And so begins the story of the Little Princess!

My Thoughts: This book is based on the Kabbalistic principle. This is an inspirational and empowering book. I enjoyed the illustrations. The poetry is catching and easy for a youngster to understand. As always Jessie, my little assistant, read and reviewed this with me. She enjoyed the full color illustrations and the descriptions of how each planet carries themselves. I was not a big fan of the "chant" but I love the messages that they convey. We didn't chant but we did talk about what each meant and how she could embody it. All little girls will love this book. What little girl doesn't want to be a princess?

Review: Postcards from a War by Vanita Oelschlager

Title: Postcards from a War
Author: Vanita Oelschlager

Publication: October 1, 2009

Publisher: Vanita Books

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Genre: Children

Audience: 6 and up

Website|Amazon|Goodreads

Summary

Postcards from a War is about a boy whose mother has recently been deployed overseas to a war. His grandfather, who was about the same age when his father left to serve in World War II, helps him understand why she has gone away. He shares with his grandson postcards and letters sent by his father from the Philippines. The grandfather and grandson collaborate on building a scrapbook that will include these, plus the letters and emails and other communications the boy will get from his mother. Postcards is intended for 4-8 year olds, ones who are old enough to understand that a parent in the military may have to go to a dangerous place, but maybe not why. It shows the important intergenerational bonding that families often experience during times of war.

The postcards and letters in the book were received by the author from her father during World War II.

My Thoughts

We all know someone who has been or will be deployed. This is a wonderful book. It reminded me of when my father was deployed when I was a kid. I remember getting his letters and being so excited. I love the photos of actual letters Oelschlager received from her father during his deployment. 

Mathew's mom has just been deployed overseas. Mathew begins talking to his grandfather about his feelings regarding his mother being gone. His grandfather tells him about his experiences during World War II and his father being in the war. Mathew's grandfather helps him with his feelings and shares how he got threw his father being gone with the help of letters. This is a great book for families with a loved one deployed. 

Review: The Magical World of Flower Faires by Buddy Mays

Title: The Magical World of Flower Fairies

Author: Buddy Mays

Publication: July 16, 2012

Publisher: Earthworm Publishing

Source: Author

Genre: Children’s

Audience: 6 and up

Website|Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Smashwords

Summary: Did you know that every time a caterpillar laughs out loud, a flower fairy is born? Or that Butterfly Tag is a favorite flower fairy game? Or that flower fairies are all girls because if there were boy flower fairies, they would always be sweaty and muddy and stinky and have worms in their pockets, and nobody would like that! 

Most people don’t realize it, but these tiny magical creatures—the most common of all fairies—inhabit many well-tended flower gardens—possibly even yours. In this delightful, beautifully-illustrated children’s book, fairy expert, author, and prize-winning photographer Buddy Mays, provides young and old readers with secrets to successful flower fairy watching.

My Thoughts: This is a very cute book. My assistant reviewer (my daughter) absolutely loved this book. We were both drawn to the book because of the intriguing cover. My favorite part is the beautiful and well thought out photography on every page. It is refreshing to see kind and generous qualities being encouraged. The tips on how to seek out flower fairies will keep a child busy for hours. Jessie wants to start a flower garden so that the flower fairies will move in. This will also make a cute personalized book. A child will love having their picture placed throughout the book. This is available as an e-book at a great price. `

A Christmas Tree for Pyn

Author:  Olivier Dunrea
Illustrator: Olivier Dunrea

Title: A Christmas Tree for Pyn

Publication: October 13, 2011

Publisher: Philomel

Genre: Children, Holiday

Pages: 32

Audience: 3 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Public Library

Synopsis:
Pyn is a young girl who really wants a Christmas tree for Christmas. Oother, Pyn's father is a man of few words and is not an easy man to live with. He wants Pyn to call him "Oother" instead of Papa. Pyn also does all the cooking and cleaning. All she really wants is a Christmas tree. She asks her father again and again. Finally, he says, "We'll see." On Christmas Eve, her father leaves out with an ax. Pyn is excited, but decides she will go out on her own and find a Christmas tree. She is so small she gets buried in the snow. Her father finds her and is so touched by her determination that they set out together to find the perfect Christmas tree. Pyn has kept a drawer full of odds and ends and various items she has found in nature to help create the most beautiful Christmas tree. Her father is so moved that he allows Pyn to call him Papa, and allows her to top the tree with a bird he had made for Pyn's mother. Together they allow the Spirit of Christmas to move them and create a beautiful Christmas tree.

My thoughts: 
I know, I know. It's summer, it's July. Some stores and radio stations do sales this time of year called Christmas in July. In honor of that, I'm doing a review on a Christmas book in July. Actually, I had this book on hold at the Public Library over Christmas, but things got too hectic and I forgot about it. Also, I thought it would be better for parents with children to share it with their children. I don't have any, and I could wait to read the book. I had read I believe on Huffington Post that this book went beyond Santa, presents, and the material things of the holiday and showed the love and life is all about the simple, precious moments. This book is so adorable! The artwork is so cute. Pyn in super cute. I just want to scoop her up and hug her because she is so precious. Her father was not my favorite character. His name is Oother and wants Pyn to call him Oother. I kept calling him oaf or Olaf (the villain in The Series of Unfortunate Events) in my head, just because he was not a nice guy. However, Pyn wants a Christmas tree and she is getting one. I love that her father and her go on the adventure to find it. Her excitement over it is contagious. I was excited for her. The ornaments she creates out of things from nature is so creative and impressive. She isn't sad because she does not have glass or shiny ornaments to put on the tree. She is so happy she has a tree to decorate and make beautiful with the things she has available. It really is a heartwarming book and a book to share with children and family during the holidays.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Title: Twilight

Publication: October 5th, 2005

Publisher: Little, Brown and Co

Genre: Young Adult

Rating: 3 out 5

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Amazon | BN

Synopsis: Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife-between desire and danger.Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

Thoughts: Yes, I’m going to be the person to review Twilight. I read this book when it first came out in 2005. I was 15 years old and hated books. My friend recommended it to me, so I thought “meh, why not?” After reading I was hooked, everything was about Twilight. I tried to get my friends to read it, I couldn’t wait for the next book to come out, yadda yadda yadda.

I just picked up the book last week to re-read it and my view altered. I thought to myself “what changed? I loved this book!” Bella is whiney while Edward is conflicted and it goes on for more than half the book. The reason why most adults don’t like Twilight is because of the target audience. It still baffles me how I can change from loving a book to not want it in my hands again. Then again, I did re-read the fourth book and liked it. So let’s not get too hasty. I also saw every Twilight movie on its midnight release. Hey, it was a tween favorite of mine. *Shrugs*

The reason why I’m writing this review is to be on both sides. Twilight is a good read for girls that are into drama and conflicted love, and women who like to kill time. No, it doesn’t have the best writing. No, it doesn’t have strong characters. Yes, some of Bellas actions are extremely confusing. Yes, the vampires sparkle. This being said: if you’re iffy about reading the book, I think you should watch the movie first because it goes by the plot line. If you like what you saw then read it.

This review is all opinion based so if you disagree with what I’m saying write a comment rebutting your answer. I’d like to hear your side. What appeals Twilight to adults and children? What doesn’t? 

Review: Seriously, Just Go to Sleep by Adam Mansbach

Title: Seriously, Just Go to Sleep

Author: Adam Mansbach

Publication: April 3, 2012

Publisher: Akashic Books

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Genre: Children’s

Audience: 4 and up

Amazon|Goodreads|Website

Summary

Critical success for the original Go the F*** to Sleep, a #1 best seller at: New York Times, Amazon.com, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and many more! Seriously, Just Go to Sleep is the G-rated, traditional-sized, children's version of the book every parent has been talking about. Go the F*** to Sleep, the picture book for adults, became a cultural sensation by striking a universal chord for parents. Now, Adam Mansbach and Ricardo Cortd do a companion volume that lets kids in on the fun."

My Thoughts:  Jessie and I were reading a couple of other books together and I decided we would give this one a try. I had read the first book and watched the Youtube video where Samuel L. Jackson is reading it. I absolutely loved the adult version. This version is still a book for adults it just doesn’t have all the cursing and bad language. This did bring back memories of those long nights where I couldn’t get Jessie to sleep. It’s reassuring to read what I had been feeling when I was going through this. Jessie didn’t get the story at all. She kept asking me while wouldn’t the little girl go to sleep. That said I personally don’t recommend this for children. I think that either book would be a great for a baby shower gift.

Review: It's a Big World, Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi

Title: It’s a Big World Little Pig

Author: Kristi Yamaguchi

Publication: March 1, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Genre: Children’s

Audience: 4 and up

Website/Goodreads/Amazon

Favorite Line: "We all smile in the same language."

Summary

Poppy, the adorable, persistent, dreaming-big pig, has a new adventure in store for her: the World Games ice-skating championship in Paris! Poppy is nervous about meeting so many new people in a new place. But, ever courageous and supported by her family (Emma, too!), Poppy embarks upon this exciting adventure head-on. She meets a snowboarding Panda, a Maltese who skies, and two fellow skaters, a Crane and a Kangaroo. Poppy begins to realize that although these animals look different, act different, and are from different places, they are all the same at heart. They all smile in the same language!

My Thoughts: My 6 year old daughter and I read this together. We both loved it. This is a great encouraging read for young children. Poppy is on her way to the World games in Paris. She is nervous about meeting new people and being in a new place. With the support of her friends and family Poppy is motivated to experiencing new things. Poppy quickly makes friends with other skaters. Each skater she meets are from different countries and they each help each other around the village. Each character gives the other great support and advice. I think this is a great read. My daughter wanted more. We are fans and can’t wait to see what poppy is up to next.