fantasy – One Chapter

Cat Nap by Brian Lies

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

I think this book is great for older elementary readers but for younger readers, I think it needs to be explained to them. My 3-year-old grandson picked it out as it had a cat on the cover and well, it was a bit slow for him. I added a few words here and there as we read, relying on the illustrations to tell the story, so he did enjoy the story by the time we got to the end of the book.

Mouse wants to remain undetected as he slips into the painting on the wall, but Cat sees him and follows. Yes, they both go into the painting.

Going into the painting, they come out on the other side of the wall, into another piece of art. This art is a limestone carving which they end up destroying. This artwork is supposed to be carved but somehow the cat, the mouse, and the rats which are in the carving have knocked the items in the carving down. The chase is on!

Cat continues to chase mouse everywhere! Cat ends up having a conversation with a clay dog, an ornamental mask, and multiple pictures.

Cat is on the prowl. Does he ever catch the mouse? Will he ever get back home?

I enjoyed the concept that the author had with this book. Altering items that the cat and mouse encountered in the book was very entertaining and creative. I appreciate the author’s notes at the end of the book as he shows the reader how he made the art to complete this book. Sure, he could have relied on AI or computer images but as the author notes, “where’s the satisfaction in that?” The author goes on to say that if you like to make things, keep practicing. Use your imagination to create an idea and then take the time developing the skills to create what you want. “You can make pretty much anything you want to, if you teach yourself how.” There’s also information on the actual art pieces that the author used in his book.

Interesting concepts and a book that should be appreciated for what it does.

The Library of Fates by Margot Harrison

3 stars Fantasy

I really loved the idea behind this book. A magical library. Can you just imagine that?! Inside this magical library, lives a magical book which is governed by a special librarian. This magical book, The Book of Dark Nights, gives those who use it a gift. Those who write upon the pages of this magical book are granted a glimpse into their future. Sounds amazing, right? Yet, what must be written on the pages are your own deepest confessions. Would you be willing to share your most private confessions to see a glimpse of your future?

It’s a difficult decision but it becomes even more complicated when the predictions don’t materialize like they should. It’s a special library, and the librarian is part of the magic. If you tell the librarian that you “need” a book (no title suggested), she will go into the library’s shelves and find you the perfect book that you “need” for your situation right now.

Told in dual timelines, we follow Eleanor when she is a young student in college and when she is middle-aged. As a student, the library is a new experience and she’s excited to be a part of it. She’s dating a new guy and the library becomes a part of it. As an adult, Eleanor has been a mentee at the library but is now suddenly thrown into the position of Librarian. I liked the dural timelines, but I didn’t like how frequently they switched, I would have rather become more involved in one time period and then switched over, then have the constant switching. I was having a hard time connecting to the characters and I thought the story was choppy in the middle with all the flip flopping. Eleanor first job is to hunt down the missing The Book of Dark Nights. It’s a interesting journey with her mentor’s son beside her.

I wished that more of the back stories of the characters would have been explained to us. The story felt so long and drawn out in the middle, and I think it was because I was jumping through timelines and I had to switch the characters back and forth. I did like the characters, and I liked that there were not a lot of them. I was lost about Daniel and his actions. I just couldn’t understand why he didn’t recognize anything even after everything Eleanor said and did. Why wasn’t anything explained in the dual timeline? It was an okay read for me. 3 stars

The Monster in the Lake by Leo Timmers

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

Three ducks want to go to the lake but the mallard is worried about the monster. His friends say there is nothing to that story. When Mallard looks under the water at the lake he sees a huge monster fish. The monster fish smiles at him, and Mallard follows him under the water. Mallard finds at the bottom of the lake a huge party of monster fishes and Mallard has a good time down there. Mallards’ three friends are still swimming up above and don’t really notice that Mallard is gone until later. When they realize that Mallard is gone that are scared that he was taken by a monster until Mallard tells them that there’s no monster in the lake. Yet, as Mallard walks off on dry land, all the monsters from down below are making their way onland, happy smiling monsters.

Funny, cute story. The illustrations are amazing! It’s a simple story with few words but the story is good and has a good message. 5 stars

Sleepy, the Goodnight Buddy by Drew Daywalt

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

Do not read this before bed especially if it’s your first time reading the book as you’ll be laughing and want to read it again. My grandkids laughed and wanted to read it again. I wasn’t thrilled with the book cover, but the inside of the book is fantastic! Roderick hated going to bed and came up with every excuse to stay up. His parents decided to get him a goodnight buddy to help him sleep.

The buddy’s name was Sleepy.

Roderick didn’t like Sleepy. While trying to hide him, he discovered that Sleepy could actually talk and carry on with a conversation. That could be cool except that Sleepy began to be annoying and want Roderick to do things for him.

Roderick thought that Sleepy was supposed to provide him comfort and not be so needy. The tables have been turned and now, its Sleepy that needs Roderick to get to sleep. Ha! Will Roderick and Sleepy ever get to sleep?

The illustrations are funny and the facial expressions are hilarious. A great story that you’ll laugh over. 5 stars

How Will I Get To School This Year? by Jerry Pallotta

5 stars Children’s Picture book

My grandson is addicted to Who Will Win? Series so I found this book at the library which is also written by the same author. With a fun, lively storyline, the story is about a girl who doesn’t want to take the smelly school bus this year. She took it last year and she’s thinking she wants something different this year so….what about a giant mosquito, a bald eagle, a hammerhead shark, a pride of lions, or the list goes on with a wide variety of animals.

Each two-page spread tells what animal she would take and what that animal would do and has a bright, colorful illustration of her on that mode of transportation.

It’s a fun and entertaining book for all ages. What does she decide to ride this year to school?

Read the book and find out. My only clue is that she has more fun when travelling with her friends so she needs something her friends can ride on too. 5 stars

Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe

3.5 stars Children’s Picture Book

It finally happened; Aggie is out on her own. With her own house, she is very excited except her house is haunted. It wouldn’t be that bad except the ghost never leaves her alone! The ghost follows her everywhere! Aggie finally has enough and sets the ghost down and gives it a set of rules – a long list of rules.

The ghost proceeds to break all the rules. Yes, Aggie gets mad. Hoping to get rid of the ghost, she has competition with the ghost. Aggie thinks she can win and yes, the ghost believes it will be the winner.

You can just imagine how the competition goes. Who wins in the end? I think they both did.

I liked the thick pages of this book; I like cardstock pages in a children’s book. It feels meaty, and solid. The illustrations were bold and easy to follow, and the text was large and not wordy. I didn’t like how the author worded the ending, as it sounded confusing and choppy to me. The “Don’t ever visit me from time to time.” Perhaps it was the word choice too, I don’t know, it just didn’t flow for me. 3.5 stars

Ghost in the House by Ammi-Joan Paquette

5 stars Halloween Picture Book

Great interactive book. I liked the variety of Halloween guests that were included in this book.

As the guests gather one-by-one in the house, the rhyming text has them finding each other by hearing a sound they each make. A shriek, a voice, click-clack, etc. To reveal each new guest, you must lift the flap.

The ghost isn’t alone for long. The ending is cute. Simple text and cute illustrations. 5 stars

Night Owl by Christopher Denise

5 stars Children’s

A wish comes true. A cute short story where dreams really do come true. Even though little Owl doesn’t fit the true description of a knight, that doesn’t keep him from striving to become one.

A shortage of knights in the kingdom allows little Owl the opportunity to apply and that is all he needs. Little Owl works hard throughout the training to graduate and earn a position in the Knight Night Watch. Where others have failed in this position, because of who he is, he succeeds.

Owl has achieved his dream, he feels like an official knight. As he stands guard late at night, he hears a noise. Investigating, Owl discovers a powerful beast. A beast who would like to make a snack of Owl. How will Owl prove his knighthood to the beast and save himself?

A cute fun story that will have children guessing as you turn the pages. The bright bold illustrations are fantastic.

If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

The books in this series are so cute. I think kids love how they go on forever until they loop around to the beginning again. The dog in this story is cute and of course, who doesn’t like donuts.

So, give the dog a donut and of course, he’s going to need something to drink. He loves the juice so much, he needs more but of course, you have no more, so he’ll make his own. Throwing the apples from the tree, the dog is reminded how much he likes to play baseball and of course, he wants to play baseball! Playing baseball involves a lot of equipment and dog is such a great player, that a celebration is in store when they are finished this celebration creates more fun, and they go on an adventure with a treasure hunt and kite flying. Did I mention a kite? Yup, a kite which so happens to get caught in a tree. What kind of tree? Yup…. you got it and now….we shall start dog all over again on this wonderful story.

Cute, fun-filled illustrations that complement the storyline. I love the little boy who is trying to keep up with the dog in the story as he runs about making the dog happy. The colors are a nice shade of brightness, and the shapes are simple within the illustrations so not to take away from the text. A fun and adventurous story that everyone will enjoy. 5 stars.

If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

You start with one pancake with sticky syrup and a pig….yes, a pig who doesn’t want to be sticky. To solve this, the pig takes a bubble bath with a rubber duck. Oh, a duck, that little duck brings back memories to the pig who now gets homesick and off you go! The pig wants to go on a trip to the farm where she was raised. Pig now has to get ready to go to the farm and that is an ordeal involving clothes, dancing, photos, and treehouse building. So many activities to get ready to go!! Has pig started on her trip to the farm yet? No, but now she’s feeling sticky again and you know what that means. Pig wants another pancake …….and you know what that means….. start reading this story over again.

A fun and lively story that will leave you smiling. The little girl is cute that is trying to keep up with the pig throughout the story, running and cleaning up and assisting the pig wherever she can. The pages are busy, yet the shapes are simple so not to take-away from the text on the pages. I love the colors used on the pages as they’re a toned-down shade of brightness.