Plastic Soup

by Judith Koppens & Andy Engel

illustrations by Nynke Mare Talsma

age range: 4+ years old

Clavis Publishing

A group of friends are super excited about a beach day, but they get very disappointed when plastic grocery bags start getting tangled in their bodies when they go for a swim. When they look around they see that there is not only plastic bags, but bottles, plastic containers, and more. Hedgehog has read about it. All the plastic we throw away ends in the oceans. They have an idea. They don't want to throw away all the plastic bags they have brought to the beach. They decide to make kites with them.

I liked this story. It is true that it is simple compared with the complex plastic problem we have, but this is a picture book for little kids, and I think that the first step of feeling we can do something is essential. At the end there is also a plan/suggestion to paint your own cotton bag to use it for groceries, and never again use the plastic ones again. A nice and purposeful summer activity.
The illustrations are also cute, colorful. I kind of feel like going to the ocean. :)

I received this book from Clavis Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All Along the River

by Magnus Weightman

age range: 3+, but any age really

Clavis Publishing

The journey starts high up in the mountain, where the river is born from the glacier in it. A little bunny lost his toy duck in the river, and with the help of his brothers he sails to find it. All along the river. Each page is a section of the river they sail chasing the duck. Each page is a world to discover, full of details, characters, and stories. The landscape changes and the activities the characters are engaged in change with it. Of course one of the best parts it's finding duck in every page, which sometimes is trickier than others. The illustrations are delightful, and a joy to spend time examining.


I received this book from Clavis Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wolfie & Fly

by Cary Fagan

illustrations by Zoe Si

age range: 7 to 10 years old

Tundra Books

Renata Wolfman likes only facts, to wear every day the same kind of clothes, and above all to spend time by herself. This is why she is called Wolfie at school. She doesn't have friends, and she does not understand why she would want to have one. Having friends requires "cooperation", "compromise", and "respecting other people's opinions", and Renata is perfectly fine with her own opinions. One afternoon, while building a huge submarine with a fridge box, Renata hears a desperate knock in the door, and when she opens it Livingston Flott is there, asking to go inside right away, since he is running away from his brother. Livingston is not only her neighbor. He also attends the same school as Renata, where he is called Fly for annoying people buzzing.  Renata expects Livinsgton to leave quickly, but when he sees her submarine, there is no way to make him go. Renata is not sure how but a few moments later they are both inside the submarine, packed with food supplies, traveling underwater. And to Renata's surprise... she is actually enjoying it!

Splendid beginning for a series! Renata is so lovable in her own way, and Livingston is such a cute character. The text is uncomplicated and full of humor. I loved all the imaginations involved in their adventure. The illustrations are a great complement to the story. I am already looking forward to more Wolfie and Fly's adventures.

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

Animals do, too!

by Etta Kaner

illustrations by Marilyn Faucher

age range: 4 years old and up

Kids Can Press

Kids love to pretend they are animals, and roar, walk on four legs, or move they arms like flying. For this reason I find the idea of this book incredibly interesting. Animals sometimes "act like kids", since they also dance, play tag or leapfrog, have piggyback rides. For each of these examples there is an explanation for this behavior. Grey Tree Frogs, for example, blow bubbles to build a nest on trees above water where they lay their eggs, allowing the tadpole to fall into the water when they hatch.

The illustrations are colorful and bright, and help to compare kids and animals doing the same activity. I liked that the kids are shown in different spaces, like a park, beach or their home, and accompanied by their family and friends. Each animal is also portrayed in its environment and surrounded by their own. Beautiful picture book. 

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

The year of the garden

by Andrea Cheng

illustrated by Patrice Barton

age range: 6 to 9 years old

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The year of the garden is a prequel to The year of the book and the Anna Wang Series. In this novel Anna meets Laura who, like her, has just moved into the neighborhood. They like each other right away, but sometimes it is not that easy to be friends. Even being the same age and prospect of attending the same school at the end of the summer is not always enough. They like to do different things, and have different personalities. Sometimes the different cultural background plays its part too. But they learn to focus in what they have in common, and the importance to know more about each other to better understand their interests, fears and dreams. Making a garden and saving a little bunny prove to be amazing plans to do together. 

This short novel was a pleasure to read. The story is sweet, with lovely characters. It not only is funny, but it has simple facts about seeds, flowers, soil, bunnies, Chinese food and festivities, soccer, and specially friendship, and how some difficulties don't mean it is impossible. Friendship is something we build while growing in the process. And it's worth it. There are many cute illustrations along the pages, which make the layout of the book beautiful. Looking forward to read the rest of the series!

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

Harry and Clare's amazing staycation

by Ted Staunton

illustrated by Mika Song

age range: 4 to 7 years old

Tundra Books

Harry and Clare are staying home this spring break, and to make things worse the weather is not helping. They don't seem to care, though. They do an expedition to Mars, and also a cars race. They play pirates, and school, and circus, and jungle. Everything would be perfect if Clare wasn't the only one making the rules, and, what it is worse, if she wouldn't manage to always eat both their snacks... Harry has a plan, and when he gets to hoard some supplies of "asteroid burgers" and "volcano sticks" in this pockets, things start to change.

The story made me laugh out loud. Harry and Clare are very funny, and it is impossible not to relate with their little conflicts. At the same time they manage to solve them in a friendly way. These siblings are so imaginative and creative, and the illustrations accompany so perfectly their games.
In the overall it was a great reading, amusing, enjoyable and sweet. Adorable characters, and lovely pics. It is also very appropriate, since we are just starting a freezing staycation here...

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

Sam sorts

by Marthe Jocelyn

age range: 3 to 6 years old

Tundra Books

Sam's bedroom is a complete mess. It is time to clean it up. Sam begins to sort all his stuff to put it away, and he discovers there are so many ways of sorting things! Like in many other sorting books Sam sorts by shape, color, type and function. But what I loved about this book is that Sam dares to go beyond and he sorts his stuff in original and creative ways: things that come in pairs, things whose names rhyme, things with dots, holes, stripes or checks, soft, bumpy, fuzzy, noisy, pointy, smelly. No, that's not all. There are thing that float, and things that fly. Wait. Actually there are things that fly with wings, and things that fly without wings. Even things with wings that do not fly! The outcome is that Sam's stuff is still in a pile, but he has learned a lot of things, and had a lot of fun.

The pictures are wonderful. The complete book is a huge collage in different colors and textures. The author uses Venn diagrams in such a natural way as part of the story, no explanation is needed. But not all the objects are sorted using Venn diagrams, some times different color backgrounds, or even a rainbow or a pac-man "screen" do the trick. I was happily surprised by this book. A decided 5 stars. 

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