animals – Page 13 – One Chapter

Just Beyond the Very, Very Far North by Dan Bar-el

I was thrilled to see this sequel because after I had read the first book in this series, I needed more of Duane and his friends. I love the way that the author narrates the books and I really enjoy the characters. It’s how the characters relate to one another, how they view themselves in their world and their own unique personalities that make these characters stand out. You don’t need to have previously read the first book to enjoy this book in the series but I highly recommend that you read it because you’ll love it.

His winter slumber is over, as Duane walks out to find his friends and they bring him up-to-date on what he has missed. Starving, the friends head down to the beach for a picnic. They were a great, cheerful group of friends but now, a new face has arrived and he’s causing waves among the small group. It seems that this weasel has a comment about everything and everyone. They’re such a tight group of friends that, when one of them is affected by the weasel, the whole group is impacted. That darn weasel!

There were some great moments in the book, moments that made me smile and laugh. I loved how Duane removed the snow without using a shovel. If only that would work in real life, I would love to be able to do that. As I sit here now, in Iowa with over 14 inches of snow on the ground, I’m thinking I could roll myself a nice-sized fort. The concern and the effort that the characters put forth for Duane and Boo was so sweet. That’s what friends do for each other and they each did what they wanted and what they were capable of doing also. I can’t wait to see how much Musk Ox changed, if any, when he returns back to the Very, Very Far North. I was afraid that he was going to be gone for a while but I’m glad to see that he’s coming back shortly. I enjoyed the letter he wrote.

This was a great sequel and I can’t wait to share it with my grandchildren when they get older. It’d make a great read aloud or it’s a great chapter book.

Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera

I am in awe! This book is breathtaking! As a nature lover, I am fascinated about the world around me and as I read about Apis, I was glued to this book. As Apis made her made into the world, her journey was just beginning. Each page of this book, brought new experiences and I was exhausted just reading about everything that she did. Only days old and she was working non-stop.

I learned a great deal about the Short Life of a bee and my mood quickly changed as the I got the end of the book. I liked how the author presented the information with facts and comments in a story-like narration. The illustrations are bright, engaging, and bigger than life. At the back of the book is a diagram of a honeybee with its different parts highlighted and there’s also a section about helping honeybees, facts about honeybees, online and books about honeybees. I highly recommend this book as I can’t stop thinking about this book!

The Boy on the Bus by Penny Dale

If you know the song, The Wheels of the Bus, you’ll have to read this book as this book is about a young boy driving the bus but he’s picking up farm animals. At each bus stop, a different animal gets on and sometimes more than one animal boards the bus. The boy is having the time of his life driving the bus, gathering up all the farm animals as he says, “On you get! Take a seat! Not full yet!”

The bus is bouncy up and down over the dirt road as the bus fills up, and I mean fills up! The animals look to be having a good time also as they find room for each other until the bus looks like it cannot hold another person. With realistic looking animals, this is a fun, colorful, and entertaining picture book! 5 stars from this Nana.

This Old Dog by Martha Brockenbrough

What a beautiful, heart-felt book about an aging dog and a little girl. I’ll tell you right now, that the dog does not die in this book. In fact, I feel that the dog may even forgot that he was an old dog at the end of this book. For his life, has just taken on a whole new purpose.

“His bones are sore

But his heart is strong.

It thumps, and so does his tail.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

Old dog’s glad to see a new day.”

So begins the first page of this fantastic picture book, as we see old dog wagging his tail in his dog bed. I really enjoyed the illustrations as we see old dog getting ready for his day. Ever since the baby came into the house, everything is done in fast motion yet old dog would rather take things slow as, his “knees yip,” his “back whines” and he enjoys just taking things slow. Old dog used to enjoy his walks, taking in the sights and sounds of the world around him but now, they hurry him along for time the clock is ticking.

As old dog dreams, he remembers what it used to be like and he longs to have a friend who would like to take it slow with him. These memories are so sweet and the illustrations will make you smile as you think about old dog’s life.

He’s sad, lonely and I felt for the old dog. The family is busy with their new baby and they’ve forgotten about old dog.

Then, old dog hears something and there’s a new pair of feet on the floor. As she makes her way to him, I felt my heart fill. It looks like today marks the beginning that these two, will start being seen together.

What a fantastic book! I loved everything about this book. Woo-hoo!! You need to check out this book whether you’re 3 or 103, it’ll make you smile. 5 stars!!

Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls

I guess I don’t follow the excitement about this book. The illustrations are wonderful but I thought they were the best aspect about the book. With a fantasy theme to them, the girl moves through the different scenes, trying to escape her dark past. Some scenes she has forest animals with her and in one she has dragons but throughout her adventures, she is with her companion, the fox.

Trying to put her dark and gloomy life behind her, she’s trying to move onto a brighter future. As she flees with the fox, she realizes that they could run into problems in their journey but she knows the action they can take to beat it.

It’s a beautiful book but I think the text might be a bit deep for some readers. It’s a book about hope, letting readers know that, although they may feel overwhelmed or defeated, victory and success awaits them. I think for a picture book, there are many children who will not be able to comprehend the true meaning of what the author is trying to convey without someone explaining it to them first. Once you get over that small hump with young readers, it’s a great book and for older readers, they should be able to grasp it.

Two Dogs on a Trike by Gabi Synder

How hilarious! I’m still laughing about this one! This counting picture book is so cute and fun! I don’t know where to begin on this review as there were many things that stood out in this book. I’ll begin by saying that I had to read this multiple times. Just reading it once doesn’t do this book justice, you have to stop and savor the illustrations. I compared the illustrations which made the book more hilarious. I’ll definitely have to get this one to read to my grandchildren.

When dog spies the gate open, he goes for it and he escapes out of the yard. Dog thinks he’s being sneaky, going undetected, yet we spy cat, watching him out the window drinking her coffee. Dog jumps on the back of a trike which is driven by a poodle who has also escaped and now, we have “two dogs on a trike.” As we turn the page, this duo now jumps on a scooter being driven by another escaped dog which makes “three dogs on a scooter.” I loved watching the dog’s actions and their faces as they continued on their way. They were having the time of their life, even the dog wearing the lamp shade. It makes me laugh now, just thinking about it. The story gets even better because I haven’t mention who else is in the picture. Cat. Leaving her coffee and house slippers behind, Cat has been trailing the dog and all of his buddies since he left the yard. It was a hoot to see Cat, in her own various means of transportation secretly spying on the dogs as he makes his journey in various mode of transportation too.

Each step of dog’s journey, another dog is added until the count gets up to ten and then, the story reverses and it counts back down. It’s more than a counting book, it’s a fun adventure!

I loved the energy and creativity that was put into this book. I couldn’t help laughing at the dogs while they were on their journey and then, seeing cat who was spying on them, not that far away. When the book starts counting backwards, the reactions from the dogs have changed. Comparing the same numbers from counting up to counting down was entertaining and comical. I have to thank the author for leaving the ending of this book open. I really like it when an author sets up a book and then leaves something for the reader to ponder that’s not a huge cliffhanger.

I really enjoyed this book! I think children will love this book also. I can also think of many applications of how to build off this book at home or in the classroom. From having your child come up with their own numbers book based on this concept, to having your child finish the book where the author left off, to having a child use different modes of transportation or animals. This was a super book!!

Here is the author being a Special Guest Stay at Home Storytime Reader at the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library and reading Two Dogs on a Trike: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcymc9JbfVo

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Emma Kragen

Super cute book! Each day of the twelve days of Christmas, the book features a different breed of dog. There’s a poodle, huskies, Basset Hounds, Golden Retrivers, and a few others. Each day, the dogs are doing something: there are dalmatians dancings and boxers boxing, etc. The book follows the same lines as the song which makes this book fun, if you know the song.

The pictures of the dog look realistic but the dogs are set in cartoon backgrounds. Sometimes the dogs wear accessories, like scarves or hats and they too are cartoonish on the realistic-looking dogs. It’s super cute especially if you like dogs. There’s a nice a surprise on the twelfth day of Christmas. I didn’t listen to the CD.

You’re Here for a Reason by Nancy Tillman

Another fantastic book by Tillman. Have you ever felt that you’re just not sure that anyone cares or is listening? What about the time you messed up and thought, well I’ve done it now, they won’t forgive me now? Have you ever thought: I’m too ______ (insert an adjective here), I don’t really matter? Well, my friend, we all matter because we all make the world go around.

I like Tillman’s approach in this book as she lets everyone know that no matter what they do or who they are, they matter. Everyone is important to this world and although you may know it or may not know it, someone needs you. This creates hope. I also liked the mix of real and fantasy in the illustrations as that adds to the mystery of “you may not know” aspect of the book. I don’t think this book is for younger elementary children as I don’t think they would really understand the concept of the book unless someone explained it to them first.

You and Me and the Wishing Tree by Nancy Tillman

It was the most magical day. It began when they awoke and found the orange wishing tree on their front lawn. The parent and child knew it was special as they both made their wishes. Only, it was the child who spoke with excitement their wish and instantly, that wish came true.

Filled with enthusiasm and intensity, the pair is flying through the sky. Witnessing the world from up high, the scenes were breathtaking. The child continues to make wishes that are granted, as their day is filled with magical events that only a child could dream of. It’s quite a fun-filled day but the day must end, as both the child and the parent got their wishes from that magical, orange wishing tree.

What a beautiful picture book! What would you wish for? If you could have a whole day of wishes, what would you do? I enjoyed the bright detailed illustrations in this book and sweet storyline that accompanied it. A great storybook to read to any child.

The Heaven of Animals by Nancy Tillman

Yes, there is a heaven designed specially for animals and it’s everything you’ve ever imagined it to be. In this beautifully written book, you’ll see some of what heaven has to offer our four-legged loved ones when they leave this physical world behind. With fantastic illustrations, this picture book can help ease the pain and offer comfort to those who pick it up.