Favorite Board Books for Baby

It's pretty baby-heavy around here nowadays. Which made me realize that for some crazy reason I haven't ever talked about board books.

What?? I know! Totally crazy. Especially since I was doing Baby Time at my library and everything.

So, without further ado, I present my favorite board books. (Which makes a lot of sense, now that I actually have a baby...)

Paper Wishes

Paper Wishes
Lois Sepahban

My rating: ★★★½

ISBN: 978-0374302160
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Date of publication: January 5, 2016
Age: Grades 4 - 7
Genre: Historical Fiction

Themes: WWII, Japanese-Americans, relocation camps, family relationships, dogs

Ten-year-old Manami did not realize how peaceful her family's life on Bainbridge Island was until the day it all changed. It's 1942, and Manami and her family are Japanese American. The attack on Pearl Harbor means the government has forced them to move to a prison camp in the desert. Manami is sad to go, but even worse is that they cannot take their dog, Yujiin, with them. Manami tries to sneak Yujiin under her coat but is caught and forced to abandon Yujiin. She is devastated, but Manami clings to the hope that somehow Yujiin will find his way to the camp and make her family whole again. It isn't until she finds a way to let go of her guilt that Manami can reclaim the piece of herself that she left behind and accept all that has happened to her family.

It was a fascinating book; I have not read much about the U.S. government's relocation camps. While the main focus of the book is Manami's relationship with her family and the loss of her dog, it also includes actual historical events and elements that enrich the story. That all being said, yes, it's another sad book. Especially when all this injustice is being told through the eyes of a child.

But that's not necessarily the reason for my lower rating. What I didn't like was the style of writing. Sentences and paragraphs are very short, and it comes off very stilted. I recognize that this is on purpose and it really does contribute to the simple, child-like retelling of a story, but it bothered me (personal preference). I also did not love the way it ended, but appreciated the author's note (but I shouldn't have to depend on that to tell me how this family's story wraps up).

Overall, yes, it's recommended. I can tell it will get some Newbery buzz. Try it out, and see if you can win me over.

Find it at your library or on Amazon

My Favorite Books of 2015

I know, hopefully you have the same attitude I do: better late than never! I mean, technically we're only a month into the new year. This post is still relevant...right?

Whatever. If anything, I'm doing it for myself. So there. Here's my totally and completely biased, I-don't-care-if-they're-award-winners-or-not-I-just-love-them book list--my favorites from 2015!

And maybe if you trust my opinion, you'll like these, too.

Mother Bruce

Mother Bruce
Written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins

My rating: ★★★★★

ISBN: 978-1484730881
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Date of publication: November 24, 2015
Age: 3 - 7 years

Themes: bears, geese, cooking, migration, family relationships

Bruce the bear likes to keep to himself. That, and eat eggs. But when his hard-boiled goose eggs turn out to be real, live goslings, he starts to lose his appetite. And even worse, the goslings are convinced he's their mother. Bruce tries to get the geese to go south, but he can't seem to rid himself of his new companions. What's a bear to do?

A completely lovable grumpy old bear with some adorable goslings?? What more could you want?! Just LOOK at how wonderful the illustrations are: (the baby carrier...)

I read this months ago. I can't believe it's taken me this long to review this book. Because, obviously, it's awesome. It has all of the elements I love: a slightly irreverent humor, inside jokes for adult readers ("are these eggs free-range organic?"), irresistibly charming illustrations, educational elements and varied vocabulary, a storyline kids can love, a perfect readaloud for storytime...I could just go on and on. The point is: I laughed out loud and so will you. And so will your kids. That's what's so great!! Go read it!

Good readalikes include: Goodnight Already! and I Love You Already! (gotta love the bear/fowl combo), and the hilarious family mashup makes me think of Wolfie the Bunny.

Find it at your library or on Amazon