Review: Boy Meets Dog: A Word Game Adventure

Title: Boy Meets Dog: A Word Game Adventure

Author: Valerie Wyatt

Illustrator: Dave Whamond

Date Published: August 2013

ISBN: 9781554538249

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Pages: 32

★★★★✰

 Strange things happen when you change one word into another, one letter at a time. A toy becomes a boy, a cat becomes a dog, and together they discover a funny, mixed- up world! Explore language and spelling on this wacky word game adventure.

My goodness, the illustrations! The illustrations are amazing. So much fun! Here's the thing ... I'm a big fan of tricking your children into learning. That sounds horrible but kids are really hard these days. There are so many distractions around them and sometimes, it's hard to keep their attention on something that is learning related. They are like that dog in the movie, UP ... bird! 

A child's attention span is about 5 seconds and that's if you're holding candy. If I can get something into our boys' hands that can teach them something useful AND they don't want to put it down, it's a home-run to me. This book has that. 

My only issue with it is that it's a bit long. I know, at 32 pages, is that long?!? Well, it is to a kindergartener. Especially if they are the ones reading. But I found that if I only do a couple of pages with this book for our youngest, that he will stay engaged AND excited about it. 

Cute book, awesome idea and amazing illustrations. I can't wait to see what else this author has up her sleeve because I'll definitely be interested.

Review: Loula Is Leaving for Africa

Title: Loula Is Leaving for Africa

Author & Illustrator: Anne Villeneuve

Date Published: September 2013

ISBN: 9781554539413

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Pages: 32

 ★★★★★

Loula has had enough of her terrible triplet brothers and decides to run away to Africa. Luckily, her mother's chauffeur, Gilbert, knows just how to get there. Together, Loula and Gilbert ride camels, cross a desert and, most important, use heaps of imagination in this heartwarming adventure.

Poor Loula! While reading this, I imagined that the triplets were three of our youngest son. And I shuddered. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Well ... maybe I would. 

Such a sweet story! I was really captivated by this book. The illustrations are adorable and the story line is something that most parents have been through. 

I loved how all of the characters were written ... I think that my favorite speaking character was Gilbert ... he was so sweet and patient and played along with Loula. 

Now ... my favorite non-speaking character is the cat that speaks giraffe! It doesn't get much cuter than that!

Review: Peek-A-Boo Monsters

Title: Peek-A-Boo Monsters

Author: Charles Reasoner

Illustrator: Marina Le Ray

Date Published: July 2013

ISBN: 9781479521708

Publisher: Picture Window Books

Pages: 10

 ★★★★★

 Monsters hide throughout this die-cut book from Charles Reasoner. As you read the simple verse, small windows give you a peek at the creatures on the next page. Each spread reveals more adorable monsters!

I can't express how much I love this book. It is absolutely adorable! Unfortunately, our boys are a little too old to fully enjoy this book but I will be giving it to all of our friends with young kiddos ... which is a lot ... apparently, there's something in the water. 

This is intended for little ones, but if you have a new reader, I think that this would be an awesome book to start off with!

The illustrations and bright colors are also perfect ... they will keep a little one completely engaged while you're reading it. 

  

Peek-A-Boo Monsters is one of those books that your kiddo will be requesting to be read at bedtime night after night for quite a while! 

Review: Hocus Pocus Takes the Train

Title: Hocus Pocus Takes the Train

Author: Sylvie Desrosiers

Illustrator: Remy Simard

Date Published: August 2013

ISBN: 9781554539567

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Pages: 32

 ★★★★★

A magician's rabbit is up against a fast train and a meddlesome dog in his quest to reunite a stuffed toy with its toddling owner. Even the earliest readers will delight in this second wordless comic adventure featuring Hocus Pocus and Dog.

Before I dive headfirst into this review, it does need to be known that this book does not have words. I repeat ... no words. But in no way does that take anything away from this wonderful book ... here's why ... 

So many things to say about this little book. First of all ... adore the illustrations. They are fun and simple and almost child-like ... which is a good thing!! I think that kids are able to see a bit of themselves in the drawings and it also inspired our two boys to make a comic strip!

I showed this book to our 6 year old and he loved it from just looking at the cover. After a few minutes, he started to tell ME what the book was about - which is another thing that I love. Getting children interested in books is so important for their development. I've always said that it doesn't matter WHAT they read, as long as they are reading SOMETHING. And this book, even though there are no words, plays right into that as well. This book helps them on their creative side. We also found out that each time he would "read" the book to us, the story changed and that means that this book will be a favorite for a very long time in our house. 

I'll hop down off of my soap box now and just say this ... great book, pick it up ... it's really for any age between 2 
(when they start really talking) and around 10 (when everything around them becomes babyish and anyone speaking to them is an inconvenience ... we're at this age with our eldest ... it's great. Lol).

Pick it up or give it as a gift and watch the creative side of your child emerge! 

I Hate Picture Books!

Title: I Hate Picture Books! 
Author: Timothy Young 
Date Published: February 2013
ISBN: 9780764343872
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
Pages: 32

★★★★✩
Max hates his picture books and he's throwing them all away. But he soon learns just how invaluable imagination is and has a change of heart. Find out why in this outrageous book that both pokes fun at and celebrates many of the classics of children's literature. Join writer and illustrator Timothy Young for this irreverent and humorous story ideal for children and adults alike. Early Reader; Ages 5-8. 

First of all, since I'm a mom of two wonderful (and sometimes obnoxious) boys, I've read my fair share of children's books. Now, being a mom ... I was a little surprised with how many times the word stupid and hate were in the book.

Stop right there. I know what you're thinking ... the word hate is in the title, how could I not assume that it would be in the book, right? Well, I did assume that it would be in the book but I wasn't counting on the word stupid. I can't tell you how many times a day I have to tell our 6 year old that he needs to find another word to use instead of stupid and that hate is a really strong word and yadda, blah. It's actually amazing that I don't have a permanent knot in the middle of my forehead from banging it on the wall every night ... THAT'S how many times a day I tell him these two things.

Anyhow, if this book didn't have those two words in it, I would go out and buy it immediately. It's a really cute book that goes through all of this child's favorite stories and he's saying how he feels almost robbed because none of them were actually true. Finally, he realizes that the reasons he doesn't like each book is the same reason that he loves them. Such an adorable premise for a children's book. It brought back so many memories for me and I'm sure that our youngest would enjoy it.

I just wish that there were other words used, I really do love this book and it would make for some amazing gifts to all of our pint-sized friends.

I received this book in exchange for a review.