Aliens Get the Sniffles Too! (Review and Giveaway Entry!)

Having stayed up just last night to help my poor toddler feel better from Croup, this book seems especially appropriate today! Check out my review of Aliens Get the Sniffles Too! and see below to enter a giveaway for a pretty awesome prize...

Aliens Get the Sniffles Too!
Written by Katy S. Duffield, illustrated by K. G. Campbell

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 978-0763665029
Publisher: Candlewick
Date of publication: November 7, 2017
Age: 4 - 8 years
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: extraterrestrials, sick/ill, cold treatments, pets, family relationships

"Little Alien is sick. And sick is extra-terrestrial bad when you have two scratchy throats, five ears that hurt, and three runny noses. Splatch! Sputter! Spurt! Luckily Mama and Daddy Alien have an arsenal of lunar decongestants and meteor showers on hand to make him feel a little better (not to mention a Milky Way milkshake to help the medicine go down). Even so, the family's alien pooch, Mars Rover, can't stand to see his little buddy feeling out of sorts. Can a loyal pup's funny tricks finally coax a smile?"

Oh, the joys of a sick child! This loving alien mom and dad do all sorts of things to help their poor child, as loving parents would. In the end, though, it seems as though the dog will be getting the credit. Maybe my recent late night makes me a tad more bitter about this than I should be—the parents did all they could! Despite my own bias, I'm sure kids will love the story. It's got a dash of humor, plenty of relatable woes (oh the sniffles and sore throat!), and a very lovable dog. The illustrations are soft, with Campbell's colored-penciled settings and characters, making it feel cozy. It seems a good read when you've got an under-the-weather child. Check it out! Or enter the giveaway below for a chance at your own copy.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Katy Duffield is the award-winning author of more than twenty-five books for children. She lives in Florida with her husband. To learn more, and to download classroom resources, visit katyduffield.com. Twitter: @KatyDuffield. Check out Katy on Pinterest!

K. G. Campbell is the illustrator of Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo and the author-illustrator of Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters. He was born in Kenya, raised in Scotland, and now lives in southern California.

TWO giveaway opportunities!!

1. One grand-prize winner will receive an out-of-this-world alien backpack with a signed copy of Aliens Get the Sniffles Too! along with tissue packs, toy mini aliens, and space pencils.
2. Ten lucky runners-up will receive a copy of Aliens Get the Sniffles Too!

To enter, click here

Top Picture Books in October

There were a lot of picture books that I enjoyed this month. Interestingly, there was definitely a self-improvement theme going through most of them. So if you're looking to help your kids be better people, check out some of these titles. And then, of course, I tacked on some creepy underwear because Halloween obviously. And my fascination with underwear books. That too.

I Am Not a Chair
Written and illustrated by Ross Burach

My rating: ★★★★½

ISBN: 978-0062360168
Publisher: HarperCollins
Date of publication: February 14, 2017
Age: 4 - 8 years
Format: library book

Themes: giraffes, identity, jungle animals, courage, humor

Could there be anything worse for Giraffe? Maybe being sat on by a skunk or smooshed by two hapless hippos, or worst of all—cornered by a hungry lion? No one seems to notice that Giraffe is not standing around just to be sat upon. Will he be able to find his voice and make his friends realize who he really is?

I really don't think this book is getting enough credit. Sure, it's pretty silly and the whole concept is a tad absurd, but that all just emphasizes the point of the book even further: to be true to yourself and those around you. Standing up to peer pressure and all that. So a good lesson and it's totally hilarious? Yeah, I'd say that's a winner! I laughed more with this book than I have in a while. The ending, especially, was a perfect touch. The illustrations are, of course, what make this book (because, really, a giraffe would not look like a chair otherwise). Overall, I really enjoyed it and am eager to share it with some kids.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Pug & Pig Trick or Treat (Review and Giveaway!)

Guys, I'm on a giveaway streak. So let's not end it quite yet, right? I mean, especially now that's it's the Halloween season and I have a really cute Halloween book to share today. So see below to enter the giveaway for Pug & Pig Trick or Treat!

Pug & Pig Trick or Treat
Written by Sue Lowell Gallion, illustrated by Joyce Wan

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-1481449779
Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Date of publication: July 25, 2017
Age: 2 - 7 years
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: Halloween, friendship, pugs, pigs, costumes

Halloween night has come to Pug and Pig’s house, and the darling duo is sporting matching costumes. The costumes are cozy. They glow in the dark. And they have masks! There’s only one problem—Pug hates wearing his. So he decides to rip it up and stay home. But Halloween just isn’t any fun for Pig without Pug! Can Pug find a way to be a good friend and get back into the Halloween spirit?

Top Nonfiction Books of the Month (Sept 2017)

Listen: How Pete Seeger Got America Singing
Written by Leda Schubert, illustrated by Raúl Colón

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-1626722507
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Date of publication: June 13, 2017
Age: Grades 1 - 4
Genre: Biography, Nonfiction
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: Pete Seeger, folk singers, activism, music

"Listen.
There was nobody like Pete Seeger.
Wherever he went, he got people singing.
With his head thrown back
and his Adam’s apple bouncing,
picking his long-necked banjo
or strumming his twelve-string guitar,
Pete sang old songs,
new songs,
new words to old songs,
and songs he made up."

It's simply poetic. So beautifully written. Just by reading it, I felt like there was some banjo folk music playing in the background. Okay, I know that might sound cheesy, but really--the stanzas of writing, the story being told, and the illustrations all make for a sweet tribute. The illustrations, in particular, actually, are perfect for Schubert's style because of its soft lines and velvety texture. Do you see how this all works together to make its own music? Now, don't expect too much detail on Pete's life--the 40 pages of this text are more about his activism and good done in the world. The author is very much a fan, and this fact shines through in every line. If you enjoyed Seeger's music, you'll definitely love this book. If you don't know of Seeger, well...prepare yourself to become a fan.

Oh, also, check out Schubert's website for a curriculum guide and videos and more.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Chomp!: Fierce facts about the BITE FORCE, CRUSHING JAWS, and MIGHTY TEETH of Earth's champion chewers 
Brady Barr

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-1426328398
Publisher: National Geographic
Date of publication: June 13, 2017
Age: Grades 2 - 5
Genre: Nonfiction
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: animal facts, teeth, biting, eating habits

"It turns out that there's a lot more to biting than meets the eye. Physical features and the how (and when and why) an animal bites reveals much about the animal itself. Chomp! highlights an array of awesome creatures with a diversity of chomp styles – from shredders and slicers to grippers and gulpers. Then it shows how tooth type, bite force, jaw shape, and food source all come to together to make each an incredible member of the animal bite force!"

Dude, Brady Barr has really put his life's work into this book. His expertise and experience shines through--I particularly enjoyed the little side stories he would tell about his work in the field (yes, he was once charged at by a rampaging hippopotamus). The writing often felt like I was listening to him in a one-on-one conversation--it's companionable and fun to read. His individual animal analyses provide some pretty awesome (and somewhat terrifying) insight into various eating habits. Combine that with the stunning photography and bright spreads that one can count on from National Geographic and you've got yourself a good read. Just be prepared for some pretty gruesome facts here and there.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

What Would Happen?: Serious Answers to Silly Questions 
Crispin Boyer

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-1426327704
Publisher: National Geographic
Date of publication: July 11, 2017
Age: Grades 3 - 6
Genre: Nonfiction
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: questions and answers, random facts, curiosities

"Ever wondered what would happen if some cool or crazy things were possible? Like what would happen if: you got sucked into a black hole; dinosaurs still existed; humans could fly; you could communicate with dolphins; or you could dig a hole through to the center of the Earth? Get ready to explore all kinds of scenarios that would or could happen if the world was just a slightly different place. Each scenario is examined with real scientific, historical, and cultural facts in mind. This out-of-the-box book encourages readers to cultivate a better understanding of the world as it is – and as it could be!"

Totally random and yet...totally fascinating. So while I haven't actually wondered about some of the things in this book, all of the questions asked are really thought-provoking and thoroughly researched. Each question (e.g. "What if you grew up in outer space?") has exploratory information, side-angles to get the mind going, and the clincher--could it really happen? While I wish Boyer went a bit more into why he asked these particular questions (like I said, it felt really random), I did learn quite a bit (did you know there's a man in Iran that hasn't bathed in 60 years??) and think kids would really enjoy it.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

The Secret Subway
Written by Shana Corey, illustrated by Red Nose Studio

My rating: ★★★★½

ISBN: 978-0375870712
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade
Date of publication: March 8, 2016
Age: 4 - 8 years
Genre: Nonfiction
Format: library book

Themes: Alfred E. Beach, technology, New York City, subways

"New York City in the 1860s was a mess: crowded, disgusting, filled with garbage. You see, way back in 1860, there were no subways, just cobblestone streets. That is, until Alfred Ely Beach had the idea for a fan-powered train that would travel underground. On February 26, 1870, after fifty-eight days of drilling and painting and plastering, Beach unveiled his masterpiece—and throngs of visitors took turns swooshing down the track."

Now I may be a bit behind the times with this one, but thanks to the Beehive Book Awards, I'm going through some pretty sweet published-last-year nominees-for-this-year so as to get my students excited. Anyway, this here was fascinating; I love a nonfiction book that tells a little-known story—and with such finesse! I particularly enjoyed the way Corey wrapped up the story at the end, with the echo of the past leaving its mark. Topping off this great story is some pretty unique illustrations—miniatures and models to create the scenes of the story. Overall, a really unique story that I'm eager to recommend.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk Blog Tour (and Giveaway!!)

Oh man, it is about time that I got to host a blog tour stop for one of Josh Funk's books—and have an interview with the man himself! I am such a fan. Allow me to introduce you to his newest book, report his comments on the matter, and then, (drumroll...) post the giveaway! Enter for the chance to win a copy of It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk below...

It's Not Jack and the Beanstalk
Written by Josh Funk, illustrated by Edwardian Taylor

My rating: ★★★★½

ISBN: 978-1542045650
Publisher: Two Lions
Date of publication: September 19, 2017
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: fractured fairytale, narrator & character relations, beans, giants, humor

"Jack is not fond of the bossy narrator of his fairy tale! When Jack is told to trade his beloved cow Bessie for some magic beans, throw the beans out the window, climb the ENORMOUS beanstalk that sprouts overnight, and steal from a GIANT, he decides this fairy tale is getting out of control. In fact, he doesn’t want to follow the story line at all. Who says Jack needs to enter a life of daring, thievery, and giant trickery? He takes his story into his own hands—and you’ll never guess what happens next!"

Top Picture Books of the Month (Sept 2017)

Edit: Originally published without my review stars--oops! Fixed on 9/13.

I feel like there's a bit of a back to school theme here. Or maybe it's just because all I've been thinking about is getting back in the swing of things now that I'm working at a school again. Summer gone? Yep. Lessons planned? Well...no. But books! So here's the books that topped my charts this month...

Small
Written and illustrated by Gina Perry

My rating: ★★★½

ISBN: 978-1499804010
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Date of publication: August 1, 2017
Age: 4 - 8 years
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: size, empowerment, city life, imagination

While spending the day with her mom and baby sibling, one little girl feels overwhelmed by the big world that surrounds her. Tall buildings, noisy cars, and hungry ducks who want to eat her lunch all make her feel like she is small. Until . . . she dreams big by being an artist, plays big and makes the winning shot, and swings big because she is brave. Soon she realizes she IS big, and nothing can stand in her way!

This one struck a chord with me. See, I feel small when I think of all the students coming through my library. I feel big when they look to me for a good book, though. It's all about perspective! This book is a great way to start off the school year—it's empowering, encouraging, and endearing all at once. The little illustrations are sweet, and fit the story well. This would make for a great readaloud; after reading, have your students write what makes them feel small vs. big (or talk to your kids about it). It's simple, cute, and to the point—check it out.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Duck and Hippo: Lost and Found
Written by Jonathan London, illustrated by Andrew Joyner

My rating: ★★★

ISBN: 978-1542045629
Publisher: Two Lions
Date of publication: August 15, 2017
Age: 4 - 7 years
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: friendship, searching, picnics

Duck and Hippo invite their friends, Turtle, Elephant, and Pig to a picnic at their favorite pond. Yippee! It’s time to dance and sing, swim and eat. Everyone brings goodies to share…except Hippo. He didn’t bring ANYTHING. So Hippo sets off into the forest to find some berries. But he is gone a long time, and Duck begins to worry that Hippo is lost. What should his friends do to find him? Join Duck and Hippo on another fun adventure!

It's an end-of-summer picnic, so it still fits my theme, see? Anyway, the first Duck and Hippo adventure now has a sequel—one that is much more of a story than a series of little adventures. Still, though, the pacing feels off at times. And there's a lot of exclamation points. It makes for a lot of shouting. In any case, it's a fun little story and I still love the illustrations—their cartoonish quality encourage the humor, action, and emotion of the story. If you liked the first, this is a fun followup.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Crocodali
Written and illustrated by Lucy Volpin

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-1499806335
Publisher: Little Bee Books
Date of publication: August 29, 2017
Age: 3 - 7 years
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: art, painting, reader interaction, crocodiles,

In this interactive picture book, children can follow Crocodali the painter's instructions to help him create a masterpiece that will spark children's curiosity! Crocodali tells readers to tilt the book to straighten the canvas, shake the book to spread the paint, blow on the book (but not too hard!) to help the painting dry, and much more. As they help Crocodali paint his masterpiece, children will be able to express their creative sides and learn to appreciate art.

Brilliant! Much along the lines of Herve Tullet's books, this interactive story is a lot of fun. I appreciated it especially for having this adorable little crocodile guiding the read through the actions—it helps to have a character for young readers to focus on. Plus, it allows for discussion of the name Dali and famous artists. The illustrations are beautifully done, with the watercolor allowing for lots of fun actions. Overall, I did think it was a tad short, but the ending does encourage it to be read over and over. I'm sure that kids will have a lot of fun with this one; a favorite of mine, for sure.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

How to Get Your Teacher Ready
Written by Jean Reagan, illustrated by Lee Wildish

My rating: ★★★½

ISBN: 978-0553538250
Publisher: Knopf Books
Date of publication: July 4, 2017
Age: Grades K - 3
Format: library book

Themes: teaching, elementary school, first day of school, behavior

You're ready for the first day of school...but what about your teacher? It's up to you to make sure she feels welcome (give her an extra-big smile!) and prepared for the exciting year ahead. Within the pages of this book, you'll find expert advice on getting your teacher ready for picture day, the holiday concert, the 100th day of school, field day, and all the busy days in between. You and your teacher have lots to look forward to, and she'll be depending on you to help keep things running smoothly. So crack open this book! And enjoy a wonderful year together.

It's cute. Let's just say it now. This book is a great way to help kids feel empowered and responsible at school, and it cleverly encourages good behavior. The illustrations have a lot going on, which just adds to the entertainment value. My favorite part? It addresses that things don't always go well, and that in those scenarios, it's perfectly acceptable to turn to books. Read and know that things will get better. So read this book, and be a better you tomorrow!

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Nothing Rhymes with Orange
Written and illustrated by Adam Rex

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-1452154435
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Date of publication: August 1, 2017
Age: 4 - 8 years
Format: library book

Themes: fruit, loneliness & inclusion, friendship, rhymes

We all know nothing rhymes with orange. But how does that make Orange feel? Well, left out! When a parade of fruit gets together to sing a song about how wonderful they are—and the song happens to rhyme—Orange can't help but feel like it's impossible for him to ever fit in. But when one particularly intuitive Apple notices how Orange is feeling, the entire English language begins to become a bit more inclusive.

Ah, Mr. Rex. Your clever humor has swooped in once again, topped with a healthy dose of friendly encouragement about including others. See how this is a great start-of-school year read? Talk to your kids about times they've felt left out. Ask about times where they may have noticed others being left out. While Orange's experience is thoroughly unique, the overall message is the same: be a friend! The illustrations are also clever; they consist of actual photos of fruit, overlaid with brilliantly drawn facial expressions. The rhyming is quite impressive, sure to please kids and adults alike (I mean, when he brings in and rhymes "Friedrich Nietzsche"...). A crowd-pleaser, good lesson, and fun readaloud (once you've mastered saying "Friedrich Nietzche"), so check it out.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Top Picture Books of the Month (August 2017)

There were a lot of great picture books published this summer, but here are some of my favorites. You'll notice most of them are based on humor... (what can I say, I love to laugh)

Whobert Whover, Owl Detective
Written by Jason Gallaher, illustrated by Jess Pauwels

My rating: ★★★★½

ISBN: 978-1481462716
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Date of publication: July 18, 2017
Age: 4 - 9 years
Genre: Mystery
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: forest animals, detectives, mystery, humor

"Help Whobert Whover, Owl Detective, keep his woods safe in this hilarious who-who-dun-it. What happened to Perry the Possum? Whobert Whover, Owl Detective, is on the case! Did Debbie the Duck whack Perry with her wicked wings? Or did Freddie the Frog soak Perry in his sickening slime? And what if the culprit is closer to home than Whobert expects?"

Whobert is adorable. Yes, I'm TOTALLY biased because—hello—I run a book review blog called Literary Hoots. But, sadly, he's not quite as wise as you might expect for an owl... (*giggle*). Okay, sorry, let's keep going. Really, the book, overall, is just awesome—but it takes a couple of read-throughs to really appreciate it. The writing has great flow, with a repetitive pattern of Whobert looking for clues, making an accusation, being totally wrong and starting again. Then the ending exploits that nicely and wraps up quite humorously—perfect for a readaloud or storytime.

The illustrations support the text beautifully because this is where the real humor comes in. Look closely at the clues illustrated—what is Whobert missing that the intrepid reader could discover? It's brilliant and demands to be looked at repeatedly, encouraging the reader to be their own detective. In storytime or with a child on your lap, this is a fantastic picture book to try out. I really hope more Whobert adventures are in the works.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Monster's New Undies
Written by Samantha Berger, illustrated by Tad Carpenter

My rating: ★★★½

ISBN: 978-0545879736
Publisher: Orchard Books
Date of publication: June 27, 2017
Age: 3 - 5 years
Genre: Humor
Format: library book

Themes: monsters, underwear, rhyming, humor

"These are my undies! / A sweet work of art! / Uh-oh! My undies! / They just fell apart. Monster is JUST FINE with his old undies, thank you very much. But when his undies fall apart, what's a monster to do? His mommy takes him shopping, of course! But finding the perfect pair of undies is not going to be easy..."

Rhyming text all about underwear? I would never NOT use this in storytime. Fun to read aloud and content kids love (I'm sorry, kids will never NOT laugh at underwear books—trust me, I did a whole underwear storytime). My only complaint is that it might be a tad too long; I honestly didn't know you could poeticize about underpants for so many pages. And the ending felt a bit abrupt. Still, with appealing illustrations and the chance to repeatedly rhyme words like "buns" and "rump," I know kids would have a lot of fun with it. See for yourself!

Find it at your library or on Amazon

The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors
Written by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Adam Rex

My rating: ★★★★½

ISBN: 978-0062438898
Publisher: Balzar + Bray
Date of publication: April 4, 2017
Age: 5 - 10 years
Genre: humor
Format: library book

Themes: games, battles, legends, humor

"You've played the game. Now read the legend of how it all began...Long ago, in an ancient and distant realm called the Kingdom of Backyard, there lived a warrior named ROCK. Meanwhile in the Empire of Mom's Home Office, a second great warrior sought the glory of battle. And his name was PAPER. At the same time, in the Kitchen Realm, in the tiny village of Junk Drawer, lived a third warrior. They called her SCISSORS. These three were the strongest, smartest, and fastest in all the land. Time and again they beat the most fearsome opponents they could find: an apricot, a computer printer—even frozen, breaded, dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets! But when the warriors finally meet each other, the most epic round of battles begins...and never ends. That is why, to this day, children around the world honor these worthy adversaries by playing ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS!"

There's been a lot of buzz about this one—and for good reason. The writing is just so clever and the illustrations so totally epic. And of course, the two together make for a hilarious homage to a rather simple game. Who knew you could make Rock, Paper, Scissors so totally awesome? Gosh, even the publisher-provided summary is rather glorious. The length of this book, though, does lead me to say it'd be better for an older audience—grade-schoolers will love it. I think it'd make for a great classroom study, in addition to it being just an all around fun read.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Blue Sky, White Stars
Written by Sarvinder Naberhaus, illustrated by Kadir Nelson

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-0803737006
Publisher: Dial Books
Date of publication: June 13, 2017
Age: 4 and up
Genre: Poetry
Format: library book

Themes: The United States of America, the flag, patriotism,

"An inspiring and patriotic tribute to the beauty of the American flag, a symbol of America’s history, landscape, and people. It depicts a stirring tableau, from the view of the Statue of Library at Ellis Island to civil rights marchers shoulder to shoulder, to a spacecraft at Cape Canaveral blasting off. This book is an ode to America then and now, from sea to shining sea."

Man, I missed the ball on this one—what a perfect read for the 4th of July! I only missed it by a month or so. While the writing is poetic and evocative, it's Nelson's illustrations that make this book so successful. I'm a huge fan of his skill; the detail and realism in his paintings are awe-inspiring. Naberhaus outlines, while Nelson fills in the details. So, really, his work was perfect for Naberhaus' writing. Definitely take the time to really pore over the art in this book. This is one that can be appreciated by people of all ages.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

Be Quiet!
Ryan T. Higgins

My rating: ★★★★½

ISBN: 978-1484731628
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date of publication: April 4, 2017
Age: 4 - 9 years
Genre: Humor
Format: library book

Themes: forest animals, humor, book writing

All Rupert the mouse wants is to star in a beautiful, wordless picturebook. One that's visually stimulating! With scenic pictures! And style! He has plenty of ideas about what makes a great book, but his friends just WON'T. STOP. TALKING.

Genius, really. Pure comedic genius. Higgins has delivered a story that not only makes you laugh out loud, but even explores aspects of the book writing and illustrating process. It's so meta; it breaks the fourth wall before the book even starts. The illustrations, with their comic-like word bubbles and action contributes to the humor even further. This would be such a great readaloud—the more dramatically read, the better (and it allows for a lot of drama!). Give this one a try!

Find it at your library or on Amazon

7+ Awesome Books for Preparing Your Toddler for a New Sibling

Oh hi there! It's a been a while since I've posted here on Literary Hoots and the subject of this particular post is a big hint as to why—I decided to give myself a wee maternity leave due to the arrival of a new baby in the family. Now that I've (sorta, kinda) gotten back into the swing of things, I plan on posting regularly once again. Thanks for sticking around!

Reviews of the Week 5/29

Amazing how a small vacation can totally throw me off my blogging groove... But, of course, I still read books. And I still like to share what I read. So while there haven't been many other posts on this here blog other than reviews recently, I'm giving myself a pat on the back for still blogging. And maybe I'll find the mental reserves to put some other content out there. Eventually. (Ah, well, just keeping things honest, right?). Here are some more awesome books to check out:

Reviews of the Week 5/22

I've got some extra special tidbits included with today's reviews: Shannon Hale, the author of the now bestselling and highly-acclaimed Real Friends, is local and I was able to go to her book talk just this weekend. So, not only do you get to hear my thoughts on her newest book (woo! right?), but learn some extra special background info (the fascinating tidbits she shared). Plus some other awesome book highlights, in the board book and picture book categories.

Reviews of the Week 5/15

I don't really know why this didn't get posted at the beginning of the week. Do you ever have one of those weeks that are like, "*Poof* it's Friday!" and you don't remember how you got to the end so fast? Actually, you know what. The whole month is going too fast. How is it already this far gone in May. What the heck. Maybe the books are just sucking me in too much. They're like a time warp. (#bookloverproblems)

Reviews of the week 5/8

Four stars all around today. So, yes, these are some pretty great books that I'd definitely recommend. I mean, don't risk a trip and a face plant in your rush to the library or book store, but they're still pretty good. Four-star good.

11+ Awesome Spanish/English Bilingual Picture Books

Happy Cinco de Mayo! I'm feeling pretty festive today (or maybe I'm just craving tacos...) so I thought I'd share some of my favorite Spanish picture books. Or really, to be more specific, the Spanish bilingual books and Mexican culture stories I enjoyed using my Head Start Preschool storytimes (you can see a couple highlighted bilingual storytimes I did here). So here are my top eleven! Plus some more, because I always seem to think of other random titles here and there in my descriptions. There are, of course, many more awesome bilingual books, so if you have a favorite, don't forget to share them in the comments below!

Share, Big Bear, Share! (Review and Giveaway!)

Oh yeah, did I mention my giveaway frenzy was continuing into May? Yep, so much to "share" (pun intended...). This time we're going back to the picture book audience with this new title from Maureen Wright's Big Bear series, Share, Big Bear, Share! So enjoy this blog tour stop, check out my review, and enter the giveaway below!

Share, Big Bear, Share!
Written by Maureen Wright, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-1503951006
Publisher: Two Lions
Date of publication: April 25, 2017
Age: 3 - 7 years
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: sharing, forest animals,

"Big Bear's forest friends eye his berries hungrily, but he doesn't notice as he digs into his delicious snack. When the old oak tree says, 'Share, Big Bear, share,' he thinks the tree has said, 'Hair, Big Bear, hair!' One comical scene follows another as Big Bear keeps misunderstanding the old oak tree's message until things finally get sorted out. Whimsical illustrations highlight the humor in this gentle story about the importance of sharing something special with friends."

Reviews of the Week 4/24

This week, I'm excited to share a new middle-grade book that's really unlike anything I've ever read. It's timely and well-written for our country today. So definitely give that a look-see. And the other two? Well, they're almost a given due to their fantastic authors/illustrators...

Happy Dreamer (Review and Giveaway!)

Continuing with awesome book giveaways here on the blog, I'm lucky enough to share Peter H. Reynolds' newest book! Here's my review and don't forget: enter to win the book and a Doodle Pillowcase below! (Thank you Scholastic for sending me a copy and providing the prize pack!)

Happy Dreamer
Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 978-0545865012
Publisher: Orchard Books
Date of publication: March 28, 2017
Age: 4 - 8 years
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: imagination, dreaming, individuality

"While the world tells us to sit still, to follow the rules, and to color inside the lines, Happy Dreamer celebrates all those moments in between when the mind and spirit soar and we are free to become our own true dreamer maximus! This empowering picture book reminds children of how much their dreams matter, and while life will have ups and downs, readers should stay true to who they are, to tap into their most creative inner selves, and to never ever forget to dream big!"

Reviews of the Week 4/17: Earth Day Reads!

Earth Day is coming up! And books are a great way to celebrate, of course (books are always a great way to celebrate). I have a BUNCH of new reads that celebrate all things Earth and wanted to share three reviews here. Lot's of nonfiction/animal/earth-science love today!

Reviews of the Week 4/10

This month is full of new books to review and giveaways to share! ...so my schedule is a little in flux. But! There's still plenty to see and get excited about. This week's picks are quite the range—a big contrast between city living and the great outdoors. 

How the Queen Found the Perfect Cup of Tea (Review and Giveaway!)

Yes, another giveaway! I'm pleased to share a review and giveaway for quite a special book, a unique story that's perfect for your next tea party. But what's more important? In the spirit of the book's message, the author, Kate Hosford will donate $1 (up to $500) for every retweet (be sure to include @khosford_author!) of a review or interview from her blog tour to First Book. Established in 1992, First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need. So pass along this review!

How the Queen Found the Perfect Cup of Tea
Written by Kate Hosford, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska

My rating: ★★★½

ISBN: 978-1467739047
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Date of publication: March 1, 2017
Age: 5 - 9 years
Format: ARC from publisher

Themes: tea, friendship, internationality, royalty, journey

"Each day when the Queen wakes up, three maids dress her, two more style her hair, and her butler James makes her tea. But when she grows dissatisfied with her brew, the Queen and James set out in search of the perfect cup. With each stop on their hot-air balloon journey, the Queen encounters new friends who expand her horizons—in the kitchen and beyond." (Check out the fun book trailer here!)

Reviews of the Week 3/27

Extra! Extra! (Hey why did newsboys call out "extra?") Anyway, the point is, I've got extra reviews this week, what with all the extra great stuff being released (oh my gosh, the more I say "extra" the weirder it sounds—what a weird word). After my special spotlight on Dragonwatch on Monday, I've still got three more books to share with you this week.