animals – Page 10 – One Chapter

Cat & Mouse by Britta Teckentrup

5 stars Children’s Picture Books

Oh, my goodness! What a cute story about mouse and cat. I think about a few readings of this book, a couple children could probably retell this story in their own words. With cute little cutouts on each two-page spread this rhyming story tells the story of a cat chasing a mouse.

This big board book is an older book but it’s one that would never get old with time. Black cat begins chasing white mouse in the blue house and it continues outside in the yard.

Mouse tries to hide in some boxes but cat also fits in the boxes so mouse is not safe there. The mouse is fast but the cat is not far behind. I didn’t understand how there was a” hole in the ground” inside the house but who knows, this might be an old house. I liked the simple illustrations and the action within the illustrations. A nice fun book to read and the ending was very cute. 5 stars

Home: a Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta TeckenTrup

3 stars Children’s Picture Book

I don’t even know where to begin with this review. This children’s book is packed with a variety of different animal homes. I enjoyed taking a walk with the bear cub as he saw all the animals in the forest. I remember reading about beavers, ovenbird, salmon, rabbits, wolves, terns, and bears in this book and the homes that they make in the forest.

You will find yourself catching a beat as you read this rhyming book and looking at everything on the pages before you. There are numerous cut-outs on each page so take your time when you look through this book, you don’t want to miss anything.

I really wished this book would have been printed on heavier paper. There were tons of cut-outs in this book and in the back of my head, I’m wondering how this book will hold up over time.

I liked the language in this book as the author gives the reader some great vocabulary words as he helps the reader become connected to the forest (snout, dome, weaves, warren, eerie, prowl, unfurled, swarms, etc.). I had a problem with some of the text being printed on a dark background, I wish they would change the color of the text to a brighter color instead of black when they print on a dark background, it helps the text stand out and helps kids it better.

These illustrations were busy, I mean really busy. I thought the illustrations took away from the text. The text seemed swallowed up by the illustrations which was a shame to me. The cut-outs were great but again, I thought there were perhaps too many of them. Not every page needs to have cut-outs nor so many. Again, this is my opinion as this is my review. The book felt so busy to me. 3.5 stars.

The Barnyard Night Before Christmas by Beth Terrill

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

I like reading remakes of this classic and this one was no exception. I tried reading it to my grandson and it got a bit too long for this 3-year-old so we just looked at the pictures and I told him my own version of the story. He liked the illustrations and I saw him later take out the book and was looking through it and telling the story in his own words. In my opinion, that is what reading is all about, taking out a book on your own and going through it – no matter how old you are.

In this version of the story, Santa is “left in a pickle.” Santa’s reindeer can’t fly as they have eaten ‘too much sweet Christmas pudding” and Santa needs to leave for his famous Christmas ride. Back at the farm, the animals are all getting settled inside the barn for the night. Although the mouse wrote to Santa, there is a feeling of hopelessness that Santa will actually visit them tonight, as the animals think about sleep. Then, they heard something! Outside, they all rushed and, in their amazement, they saw Santa standing there in the pasture. He needed their help, but how could these farm animals do what eight flying reindeer accomplish?

What a cute storybook and using your great imagination, this storybook will become a favorite. The illustrations are just amazing!! The facial expressions and the details are spectacular. I loved how Santa was portrayed in the story from the illustrations to his mannerism. The rhythm and rhyme of this book worked without a struggle and I found myself bouncing along as I read it. So many stars and smiles for this book!! 5+ stars

Blue Bison Needs a Haircut by Scott Rothman

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

Ha! Blue Bison’s hair is long! He decides that he needs to get a haircut but soon realizes that his usual barber shop is closed. When he realizes that every shop is closed, Blue Bison decides that he will get a haircut tomorrow. What?!? The shops are still closed the next day! Oh, Blue Bison is mad and he begins to show his anger. Blue Bison’s mother tries to ease the situation and explain the difference between a need and a want as his little sister, Bubble Gum Bison offers to cut his hair. Not trusting her little red scissors, Blue Bison heads off to try to solve the issue on his own which leads to him becoming even more upset. It’s Bubble Gum Bison sister who finally rescues Blue Bison from his horrible mood and saves the day.

This is a cute book with colorful pages with fun, talking animals. I love the thicker cardstock pages and the facial expressions on the animals are fantastic. Blue Bison over reactions seem typical of small children and I laughed as I read this. I can’t wait to read this to my grandchildren. 5 stars

The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

Crocodile loves watermelon! He eats it anytime of day and he gets so excited when he eats it. This excitement comes to a standstill when one day, he accidently swallows a watermelon seed. Oh no! Crocodile can only image what’s going to happen now that he’s gone and done that. His skin is going to stretch, vines will begin growing inside his body and then, his skin will start turning a different color!! He needs help!!

Children will laugh as they hear this story and learn how crocodile solves his watermelon seed problem. I liked the how the text (including the fonts) worked with the illustrations to make this a lively, entertaining book to read and enjoy. With simple, fun illustrations this is one story that will be read over and over again 4.5 stars The Watermelon Seed

Hot Dog by Doug Salati

I think we all can relate to the dog in this story. I think it helps to understand what kind of dog this is too. I think this looks like a dachshund to me, a brown wiener dog. Known for their short legs and long bodies, this dog lives in the city and belongs to a woman who takes him for walks on a leash.

One particular hot sunny day, they head out, so the woman can do her errands. The sun has already heated up the sidewalks. The women ties the dog up outside as she slips inside each of the businesses she has to stop at. The dog starts to get irritated at being left outside. It’s hot, it’s noisy, and today, it’s just too much. Too much noise. It’s too hot. Too many people. She keeps dragging him along, stop after stop. Finally, he dog has had enough and he stops. In the middle of the road and ….she got it. She understood.

The ending is so sweet that it will leave a huge smile on your face as the dog and the woman just escaped life for the day. What a great day to be a dog. 5 stars Hot Dog by Doug Salati

Little Houses by Kevin Henkes

Walking along the shoreline, you spot the most unique shells but are they just pretty? As you read this picture book by Kevin Henkes, he has you examining shells beyond their outer beauty. For you are now looking at these shells from all angles: where did this shell come from? Is it empty? If not, who lived in it? If someone lives in it, who is it? Why is it shaped the way it is? Why does it make the sound it makes when I put it up to my ear? As this granddaughter takes a walk with her grandmother on the beach, she is taught to look beyond what her eyes sees.

I liked the flow of the book as it begins with the granddaughter just enjoying her walk on the beach looking at all the shells and then, as her grandma starts talking to her about the shells, her mind gets going about all the different possibilities these shells might have when a few minutes ago, they were just pretty shells. Grandma helped the girl start to think on her own. This creative thinking continues as the girl looks out into the water and she begins to wonder about life under the water (something that she can’t see from above). Grandpa gets into the picture when he tells her how big the world is and that someday she’ll know everything about it. With great illustrations that share the stage with the text, this book is fantastic. What a great story time book, bedtime book, or read aloud. Would be a good book to help start a discussion on questions children have about the world they live it. I highly recommend this one. 5 stars

Walrus in the Bathtub by Deborah Underwood

The facial expressions in this book are hilarious. When the family moves into their new house, the family didn’t know it, but they get a walrus with the deal. A walrus in their bathtub! They liked the house because it had a big backyard, a cool seagull nest, and a giant bathtub but they didn’t know about the walrus. There are plenty of things that are wrong with having a walrus in your bathtub and in this book, they’ll list them out for you. They try to get him out of the bathtub but nothing works so it looks like they might have to move again. It’s not something the family nor the walrus wants but what can they do? What a cute ending to this funny, entertaining book. A walrus in your bathtub? I loved the illustrations in this book and I thought they brought this book to life. The boy in the book is your narrator and he doesn’t enjoy having the walrus in his bathroom yet looking at the illustrations, his sister doesn’t seem to mind. She is all smiles and seems to be enjoying all the crazy activities that are occurring. Using lists, the boy explains his reasonings which is a great way to express his feelings and organize his thoughts and the illustrations back up these ideas. With bright, colorful, and busy illustrations this book is sure to bring smiles on the faces on young ones. 5 stars

Clarice the Brave by Lisa McMann

“It only takes 1 mouse to believe in you. And that mouse is me.”

This is a quote that Clarice’s mom heard from her father which is then passed down to Clarice. Clarice holds onto these words as she tries to care for her brother Charlies, aboard a pirate ship. Clarice and Charles are the only two remaining members of their family. As mice living aboard a ship, daily life at sea, has claimed the lives of the rest of their family members. Living in fear, the brothers live in a wooden crate by the pantry, this is their home. Clarice travels out for supplies but Charles prefers to stay securely inside the box, waiting on Clarice, the provider.

I found myself immediately absorbed into this story as Clarice describes the world around her. The ship was full, as the humans were filling up all the available space. They consisted of two groups of people: the crew/captain and the prisoners. Fighting erupts on the ship and the brothers hear the word, mutiny. What does this word even mean?

The brothers soon find out as Clarice finds himself in a smaller boat with some of the individuals from the ship and Special Lady. Packed with sailors, a mouse, and a cat, this boat which has been cast out into the sea, does have the captain aboard, which gave me some hope. Meanwhile, Charles is still aboard the ship. Charles the mouse who doesn’t like to move out his box needs to do something to stay alive without his brother.

Will the brothers ever be reunited again? What happens to the brothers as they float out in the sea in two different vessels? What a good adventure story, a story of friendship and family, a story that will stay with you.

If You Live Here by Kate Gardner

This is a cute picture book and the illustrations are amazing. I think the language of the book can lead a little one to higher level thinking and the illustrations compliment and stretch that thinking. As you open up each two-page spread, you are greeted with one place that might be an option for someone to live on. Now, some options are more feasible than others but they all are options.

Some examples are:

“If you live on a spaceship, keep curious for there is wonder all around. “

The illustration is a blue & green spaceship traveling through black space with stars and spaceships, rocks, and shooting stars all around. There are people in space helmets outside the spaceship. People inside the spaceship drawing, looking out the window and waving. It’s a friendly homey looking spaceship.

“If you live in a burrow, everyone snuggles”

The illustration shows a hilly tree section leading up to a castle. This section is a ¼ of the top of the book. The rest of the page is life under the ground in the dirt. We see multiple tunnels – tunnels made by squirrels, snakes, turtles, foxes, rabbits, mole, and mice. Some of these tunnels are simple and some of them are elaborate with paths this way and that.

I loved the language in this book. It’s fun to look at these illustrations and the amount of detail in them. I like the paper that the illustrations are printed on too. From a castle, to a submarine, to a dollhouse, to a nest, (just to name a few) – you will see that there is a lot to look at. 5 stars