A Little Bit Different

author: Claire Alexander
name: Wayne
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2019/09/29
date added: 2019/09/29
shelves: childrens
review:
'A Little Bit Different' with words and pictures by Claire Alexander is an allegory about accepting those who are different.

The ploofers are creatures that look like balloons. They have been practicing something they all want to do together. When one of the ploofers does something different, no one knows how to react. That ploofer is left on the outside, until someone else comes along and encourages everyone to accept the difference.

This book works well for small children to help them understand that it's ok for others to be different, and it does it in, I think, a pretty accessible way. The illustrations are a bit simple, but they get the truth of the story across well.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - words & pictures, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Sergeant Billy: The True Story of the Goat Who Went to War

author: Mireille Messier
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.29
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2019/09/29
date added: 2019/09/29
shelves: childrens, non-fiction
review:
'Sergeant Billy: The True Story of the Goat Who Went to War' by Mireille Messier with illustrations by Kass Reich is a picture book that shows how often truth is stranger than fiction.

A group of Canadian soldiers on their way to World War I, made a stop in a prairie town. They find a young girl named Daisy with a goat, and they ask if they can take the goat with them. She makes them promise to bring the goat back unharmed.

The goat becomes a kind of mascot and good luck charm. At one point the soldiers head to the front, but the goat isn't supposed to go, so the soldiers think of a clever way to smuggle a goat into the dangerous trenches at the front.

I loved this true story of a goat who helped morale. The book ends with some real pictures and talks about where in Saskatchewan you can find out more. The illustrations are also fun with rounded looking characters and a goat with quite the personality.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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An ABC of Equality

author: Chana Ginelle Ewing
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.32
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2019/09/29
date added: 2019/09/29
shelves: childrens
review:
'An ABC of Equality' by Chana Ginelle Ewing with illustrations by Paulina Morgan is a board book with a definite agenda. If you agree with that agenda, you will love this book. If you don't, you won't. My review is asking if it works as a board book for toddlers.

Teaching equality is a noble aim, and I understand what the author is attempting. Unfortunately, I think it conceptually fails on a few levels. One function of an ABC book is to teach the very young the letters we use to form words. Usually these are accompanied by illustrations that help serve as mnemonic devices to remember, like an apple or a zebra. Here the illustrations are for concepts like belief or ability. While I like the illustrations, they don't convey anything memorable for little readers.

Secondly, each entry is accompanied by text to explain things, and for the very young, I think these are a bit wordy and don't actually explain things well enough. I'm not sure how a three year old would get the concept of transgender or xenophobia. Books can inform conversations, but concepts like these are not be as easy.

I like the concept and the colorful illustrations. I just don't think it works as a book for the very young.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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King Mouse

author: Cary Fagan
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.13
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2019/09/28
date added: 2019/09/28
shelves: childrens
review:
'King Mouse' by Cary Fagan with illustrations by Dena Seiferling is a beautifully illustrated book but the story was just ok.

Mouse finds a crown in the woods that fits and decides to be a ruler over other animals that come by like Crow and Bear. When most of the other animals also find crowns, that leaves one feeling left out. Mouse chooses kindness over kingship, and so makes the best choice of all.

The illustrations and story remind me a bit of the classic Little Bear stories. I really do like the lesson of the story. It just felt a bit bland. I like the illustrations as well. They are in muted earth tones. This would be a good quiet time book.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden

author: Heather Smith
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.18
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2019/09/28
date added: 2019/09/28
shelves: childrens
review:
'The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden' by Heather Smith with illustrations by Rachel Wada is a story adapted from a beautiful and poignant true story.

Makio lives in a village and he likes to stand with Mr. Hirota and watch his father head out to sea. When a tsunami destroys his village, Makio doesn't know how to deal with his grief. Mr. Hirota understands and builds a phone booth in his garden that is not connected to anything. Makio sees other villagers go to the phone booth and "make calls" to those they've lost. Can this help Makio?

The story is touching, but told in a really gentle way for younger readers. The illustations are in a Japanese style and are beautiful. I think this might make a good gift for a child who has lost someone important to them. It may help them through the grieving process.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Orca Book Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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The Children's Home

author: Charles Lambert
name: Wayne
average rating: 2.91
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2019/09/28
date added: 2019/09/28
shelves:
review:
'The Children's Home' by Charles Lambert is a moody book about a disfigured recluse and the people who enter his life.

Morgan Fletcher lives in a sprawling estate. We aren't told where or when. There are clues that it may not be on our world at all. The artifacts in his home are strange, like the wax figure of a pregnamt woman with a hinged womb containing a baby. When a couple children show up, Morgan takes them in. Then more and more start appearing. Morgan and the town physician, Dr. Crane, set out to try to figure out where these mysterious children seem to be coming from.

I liked this atmospheric tale, and I really liked the prose. For those looking for a specific story arc, this may be a disappointment. Morgan is more of an observer than a protagonist, and the ending left me with more questions than answers.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Scribner, Gallic Books, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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Apple Cake: A Gratitude

author: Dawn Casey
name: Wayne
average rating: 4.28
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2019/09/28
date added: 2019/09/28
shelves: childrens
review:
'Apple Cake: A Gratitude' by Dawn Casey with illustrations by Genevieve Godbout is a simple rhyming picture book with a message about being grateful.

A young child wanders outside with a huge satisfied smile on her face. She is thankful for all that she sees from hedges to bees to even the rain. She is thankful for all the things that provide food, and her friends. We find out her journey has been showing many of the things that go into making apple cake. The book ends with a recipe to make apple cake.

I love this rhyming journey of gratitude. I especially love the illustrations by Genevieve Godbout. They are lush and beautiful. I'm a big fan of anything she illustrates.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.


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