That's my series! Its words are so tasty!

Review:

We just love this series! We never, ever, get tired of reading it again and again!
In each book the little white mouse is looking for his doggy, reindeer, dinosaur, monkey, bunny, train or lion that seems to be always lost. But before finding it he has to pass for many wrong ones, maybe because its paws are too soft, or its ears too velvety, or the tail too hairy. And you can actually touch them to check they really are! The text is easy and repetitive, so the kids quickly are able to "read" it, and it's full of tasty words like bumpy, squashy and fluffy, that are always funny for them to say.

A cute, cute, cute series for toddlers.

Characters with character: FAIRNESS

Review:

Stay away from Simon!

by Carol Carrick

Illustrated by Donald Carrick

The kids doesn't feel comfortable when Simon is around. The reason is not really clear. Simon is poor, and he doesn't go to school, he is not very smart, he can't even learn how to read or count. But this can't be a reason for them to dislike him. The real problem is all this gossip around Simon. Those stories people makes up when is scared of something or someone different. The outcome is the kids judging Simon unfairly. Lucy among them.
Trying to runaway from Simon, Lucy gets her and her little brother Josiah into trouble. They are lost in the middle of a snow storm. The situation will turn even more frightening when she realized Simon is still behind them. But Simon is there to help them, and will safely lead them to their home. Lucy realized then how unfair she has been, and how dangerous gossip is.

I loved the last image of Lucy holding Simon hands. So touching!

*This review is part of my project Characters with characters

Wait

Review:

by Antoinette Portis

Mom is in a hurry. She holds the boy's hand . There are so many beautiful things to look at in the way, the boy keeps asking for stop at everything that catches his attention. But mom really can't stop.

Prettily illustrated and almost wordless, sweet is the best word to define this book. I could see my kids smiling at each page, looking for what was the intriguing  thing the boy put his eyes on this time! I could see them relating with this curious little character. They faces saying "I'd have stopped to look too!"

Mom is probably late at this point. But some things are worth the waiting...

Age range suggested: 2 to 5 years old. (I caught my teenagers taking a look, though)

Friendship comes in many colors!

Review:

 Rainbow of Friendship

by Joni Klein-Higger

Illustrated by Eileen Goldenberg

The beautiful red girl, redder than red, is used to her red town, with its red streets, and her red friends. But one day red daddy decides it's time to explore the world so they drive to Rainbow Row City, a city full of different colors.
There the beautiful red girl meets kids of different colors: the friendly blue girl with the blue ribbons, the tall orange boy with his fancy orange hair style, the smiley yellow girl with her yellow braids, and more! The red girl is puzzled. "Since that moment, my life simply wasn't the same", she says. She is not sure if it is safe to befriend kids of other colors, but she finally decides to give it a try. Her new friends love the same games she loves, and all of them have a great time together. After all Rainbow Row City is where rainbows are made, and who doesn't love rainbows?

The story is told in rhyme form. I wasn't surprised when I later discovered the author is a long time songwriter, since the text seems sung to me.
The illustrations are of course really colorful. How could they not be!

"Each color has added its own special hue to color my life in whatever I do".
This book is all about respect, tolerance and focus in the richness of being different!

I received this copy via "Pump up your book" in exchange for an honest review.

Characters with character: COURAGE

Seven Brave Women

by Betsy Hearne

Illustrated by Bethanne Andersen

Before reading this book I thought it was about a selection of seven women well known in history. It actually is about women from the author's family who had shown to be brave in some way or another, and have had an imprint in the author and her family. These grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and even great-great-great-grandmothers emigrated, were midwives, artists, doctors, missioner, harpists, architects, etc. They were brave in the decisions they made and the way they lived their lives. As the author says in the introduction, they "made history by not fighting in wars". Elizabeth had the courage to cross mountains and the ocean to give her children a better life. Betty was the only woman in a "men's school". Helen took care of sick poor women in India.

Although this is a picture book, the text is not intended for little ones, but I'd say the age range is from 6 to 10 years old.
The colorful illustrations are done in oil paints on gesso, and mainly focused in each woman. I liked the detail of a bird gathering them with a pink ribbon along the book.


*This review is part of my project Characters with character.

Characters with character: PERSEVERANCE

Review:

The Glorious Flight

Across the Channel with Louis Blériot

by Alice and Martin Provensen

This is the story of Louis Blériot, who was the first person to fly across the English Channel in the early 1900s.
After seeing the first air ship crossing over the city of Cambrai, in France, Louis Blériot decides to build a "flying machine". It took him many years and many attempts, but he never gave up. In 1909, after many crashes, the "Blériot XI" succeed in crossing over the channel in 37 minutes.
Every attempt to create the flying machine is recorded in this book with a picture that illustrates how each new invention looked like, from the first "draft" too small for a person to sit in it, to the airplane that finally crossed the channel.
Louis Blériot's is showed persevering and positive during the whole story. He not only had to learn how to build a plane, but he also needed to learn to pilot one. He never says he failed, but he "almost flew", "he is learning", "he is getting lots of practice". In every page is also possible to see his family, friends and community supporting Blériot in this challenge.
I find the illustrations very interesting and appropriate. They look like old photographs but with some color.
Children between 5 and 8 years old will enjoy this book. I'd say this is a good option to introduce the younger ones to non fiction books different from the usual "counting" and "alphabet" ones. Inventions is always a good way to introduce history and science to the little readers.

*This review is part of my project Characters with character

A celebration of the time we spend enjoying each other!

Review:

Happy Birthday, Davy!

by Brigitte Weninger

illustrations by Eve Tharlet

While Davy is anxiously waiting for his birthday, he wishes for the three most important things to him: someone who always had time to tell stories, someone to teach him more games, and someone who had lots of time to play with him. Grandma and grandpa will come to be his present, and make all his wishes come true in his special day. Davy has the best birthday ever!

This story is VERY sweet. Davy and his siblings really enjoy the time they spend with their grandparents. The best thing is get together, love and enjoy each other. Davy is so happy and grateful at the end of the day, he offers himself to be his grandparents present in their birthdays, and give them the best he can think of: his love.

Davy asking hundreds of times how many more days until his birthday made me laugh. This is such a familiar situation at my house ! We actually do countdowns for birthdays!

The book is also beautifully illustrated. These are illustrations you feel like hugging!

I find it appropriate for kids between 3 to 6 years old.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.