Maggie McGillicuddy's eye for trouble

by Susan Hughes

illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan

age range: 3 to 5 years old

Kids Can Press

Old Maggie McGillicuddy has an eye for trouble, and that's why she is always on alert for whatever might happen in the neighborhood. Is that cat actually a fierce tiger? And isn't really that tree's root a dangerous snake? But one Saturday Charlie, her new neighbor, is certainly running straight for trouble! Chasing his ball, Charlie didn't realize a car is coming up the street. Thankfully Maggie McGillicuddy has always an eye for trouble! She shouts to Charlie making him stop. From that moment Charlie and Mrs. Gullicuddy start spending time together, always having an eye for trouble: an elephant stampede,a  hungry crocodile, a UFO. After all, one never knows how much trouble might happen in this very street.

How not to like Mrs. McGillicuddy? She is very nosy, it's true, but she is also friendly and incredibly imaginative, and Charlie enjoys her company. I think it is a great idea to bring the kids attention to the fact that elderly people can be cool too.

Entertaining story that vividly dialogs with the reader. I find the illustrations absolutely catch the essence of the story. I kept wanting to know more Mrs. M and Charlie adventures.

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

Take a look at another beautiful story portraying the friendship between a young kid and his elderly neighbor: Harry and Walter

The bear who couldn't sleep

by Caroline Nastro

illustrated by Vanya Nastanlieva

age range:

NorthSouth Books

It's winter and despite his mother and brothers sleep, Bear can't sleep. He watches the leaves fall, and the snow to cover everything, but he still can't sleep. He decides to look for someone to make him company, but all his neighbors are sleeping too. He walks, and walks until he arrives to the city that never sleeps, and that's is exactly what he needs! He visits museums and famous landscapes. He meets people and eats delicious food. He also gets sleepy... So he tries to sleep in a bus stop bench, in a corner at the museum and even in Central Park, but he can't. He comes back to snuggle with his mother and brothers to wait, eyes closed, for he spring to come.

Lovely illustrated bedtime story for those days when kids have lots of energy left and don't want to sleep. The book's pace slows down a little more each page, and at the end you fell like curl up among the bears to sleep. Another great addition to our bedtime collection.

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

Me and my cat

by Michael Dahl

age range: 2 to 5 years old

Capstone Young Readers

Having a pet is wonderful, and cats make awesome pets. However, it is important to know that cats and kids not always enjoy the same things. While lying in the sun together is fun for both of them, go into the pool isn't something a kitty usually enjoys.

The book explains in a very simple way the differences between the things kids and cats like to do, highlighting the importance to be considerate and respectful with your cat. With pretty illustrations, the book makes a great resource to build responsibility toward pets. It also counts with a companion book, Me and my dog, that I expect to read soon. 

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

I won a what?

by Audrey Vernick

illustrated by Robert Neubecker

Alfred A. Knopf

Mom and dad won't let him have a fluffy, shaggy or feathery pet, but they promised the boy he could keep anything him wins at the goldfish booth. That's why the boy is so excited when he finally holed the ball. He won the goldfish! But actually, he didn't win the goldfish, he won Nuncio, the whale. Now the boy has the hard job of persuade his parents about the advantages of having a whale.

Funny story with lovely illustrations. Great for a reading aloud time, to make voices and exaggerate expressions. 

You might want to read another story about how to handle a whale: The whale in my swimming pool

The seventh wish

by Kate Messner

age range: 8 to 12 years old

Bloomsbury Children's Books

Charlie feels like she's always coming in last. From her Mom's new job to her sister's life at college, everything seems more important than Charlie. Then one day while ice fishing, Charlie makes a discovery that will change everything . . . in the form of a floppy fish offering to grant a wish in exchange for freedom. Charlie can't believe her luck but soon realizes that this fish has a very odd way of granting wishes as even her best intentions go awry. But when her family faces a challenge bigger than any they've ever experienced, Charlie wonders if some things might be too important to risk on a wish fish. 

The description above is taken from the blurb of the book, and to be honest it doesn't make justice to this marvelous book. I tried to write my own description, as usual, but there are so many things I want to say about this book that I felt overwhelmed, and decided to put this task aside, at least for now.

The seventh wish took me by surprise. I liked Charlie from the very beginning. She is sweet, smart, loves Irish dance, and deeply misses her sister who is a freshman in college. She is doing ice fishing with her friend Drew and his grandma, to save money for a sparkling solo dress for her next Irish dance feis, when a green eyed fish grants her a wish in exchange for its freedom. This is the little pinch of fantasy in the book, and although the wish fish will do a few more appearances in the story, this book can't be labeled as a fantasy. It is pure realistic fiction.

The beginning of the book is light and amusing. Charlie has a beautiful family, and adorable friends. And funny things happen, such as although Charlie wishes for Roberto Sullivan to fall in love with her, Robert O'Sullivan is actually the one "affected". Or Charlie's friend Catherine taking care of a flour-bag-baby for a project, and forgetting it (actually her, she named the bag Meredith) everywhere. I remember thinking this was the kind of book that makes you want to be a kid again. But at some point Charlie's family discovers Abby, her older sister, has an addiction to heroin, and their world totally changes. She can't understand how her smart sister, always academically outstanding, skillful at sports, and socially successful is now in this situation. The story goes on as Abby is put under a drug addict program, but after a short time "clean" she relapses, and this time suffering an overdose.

Messner chose on a tough topic, and developed it in the best way possible. The explanation of what is happening is age appropriate and respectful. The way the family including Abby, but specially Charlie, suffers because of this addiction is displayed without lies, but full of hope too.

All this things Charlie has to go through makes her grow in some way, but at the same time she is a girl who would like to just make things right again by wishing it to a green eyed fish. I would give ten stars to this book if it were possible.

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

Lucy & company

by Marianne Dubuc

age range: 2 to 5 years old

Kids Can Press

Lucy & Company is a very cute picture book for little kids. It consists of three very short stories about Lucy and her friends' adventures, such as going on a treasure hunt, surprising a friend with a birthday party, watching chicks hatch, and sharing a snack among friends. The stories are simple and uncomplicated in their plot, and give kind of comfort in their resolution, making them ideal for the age range. As in all Dubuc's works, the art is beautiful and the best part or the book.

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

Another Marianne Dubuc's picture book we read: Mr. Postmouse's Rounds

Madeline Finn and the library dog

text and illustrations by Lisa Papp

age range: 3 years old and up

Peachtree Publishers

Madeline Finn doesn't like to read. And reading aloud is even worse. She just hates it. Many times she can't figure out the words in the page, or they just get stuck in her mouth when she tries to say them. Madeline would like to earn a star at school for being a star-reader, but she only gets keep-on-trying stickers, plus some giggles from her classmates when she makes a mistake.

One day when she visits the library she is offered to read a book to Bonnie, a big, white, flurry dog. Bonnie is a great listener. She doesn't giggle, she is patient when Madeline Finn's words come out all wrong, and she doesn't mind about slow reading. After many Saturdays reading to Bonnie, Madeline Finn is ready to try at school. It's difficult at the beginning, but she takes a deep breath and just pretends to be reading to Bonnie.

Beautiful, beautiful, book about being patient and keep on trying when we fail in doing something. Madeline's dislike for reading is nothing more than her anger for not being able to do it right. She is being too hard on herself, and that only make things more difficult. But Madeline learns from Bonnie to be patient and forgiving. The illustrations are marvelous. There is something so calm and vivid at the same time in them. Highly recommended.

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