Splat and the Cool School Trip by Rob Scotton

August 23, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Splat and the Cool School Trip by Rob Scotton
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Childrens (Ages 0-8), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Join Splat the Cat on a school trip to the zoo in New York Times bestselling author-artist Rob Scotton’s hilarious new adventure, Splat and the Cool School Trip.

Splat the Cat is so excited when Mrs. Wimpydimple announces that the class will be going to the zoo. While everyone calls out his or her favorite animal—Elephant! Giraffe! Monkey!—Splat only wants to see the penguins. After all, penguins are perfect; they are black and white, just like Splat!

All day long, Splat just can’t wait. But when the smallest animal makes the biggest splash and shuts down the penguin exhibit, Splat goes home disappointed and alone . . . or does he?

Fans of Splat the Cat will delight in this story about zoo animals and enjoy Splat’s always-present enthusiasm.

A silly little cat and his obsession with penguins.

I loved this book because Splat is so cute. He’s determined to see the penguins on the school trip, but he’s got to handle the sadness because he can’t see them. I liked how this taught the lesson that you can’t always get what you want, but it’s done in a funny way so it doesn’t feel preachy. I loved the little twist in the story, too. So worth the read.

The writing is fun and the pictures even better.

If you’re looking for a story about not always getting what you want and how to deal, then this might be the book for you and your young reader.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

The Never-Ending Sweater by Erin Welch

August 23, 2023 By Leave a Comment


The Never-Ending Sweater by Erin Welch
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A heartfelt story that celebrates the power of intergenerational love, connection and friendship, featuring the nostalgic imagery of a small East Coast village.

When Peter was little, he asked his grandmother to knit him a VERY big sweater. So she made him a sweater with love knit into every stitch. Young Peter wore the sweater, with its drooping sleeves and oversized body, everywhere he went. Eventually, Peter outgrew his small seaside village and decided to see the world with his sweater providing comfort and a reminder of home on every adventure. After traveling for many years, he returns home to find a new family next door. They too have traveled from far away, and Peter finds a connection with the young son, who also needs a comforting reminder of home.

Love comes in all shapes and sizes, including fuzzy ones!

I adored the descriptions of Peter’s childhood in a small, Canadian town by the ocean. He was free to run around and play wherever he wished to, and he made sweet memories on the beach and in his grandparents’ backyard. What made these scenes ever better were the later ones that explained why he decided to leave his community and explore the world. It was such a kind and respectful look at why some people love small town life while others are happier elsewhere.

One of the big things I wish this tale had explained was how the sweater lasted for decades and still looked brand new. Kids are notoriously hard on their clothing, and some scenes showed Peter romping around on stony beaches and other places where it would be easy to snag a sweater on something and maybe tear a hole in it. If only the narrator had explained whether there was something magical going on here or if Peter’s grandmother quietly repaired the sweater when he wasn’t looking!

The ending made me smile. There were so many similarities between it and the beginning that it made me want to read the whole thing over again. I also appreciate the way it tied all of Peter’s adventures into who he was as an older adult and what he’d learned from his travels.

The Never-Ending Sweater was a cozy autumn read.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

Mario and the Hole in the Sky – How a Chemist Saved Our Planet by Elizabeth Rusch

August 14, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Mario and the Hole in the Sky – How a Chemist Saved Our Planet by Elizabeth Rusch
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The true story of how a scientist saved the planet from environmental disaster.

Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth’s protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned–and quickly. Today Mario is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in the fight against global warming.

Science is full of possibilities.

Mario had such a loving and supportive family. They even cleared out an unused bathroom in their house so he could perform science experiments when he was a kid! I smiled as I read about the many other ways they supported his interest in science even when it led to a few unpleasant mixtures of chemicals. That’s exactly the sort of home every child should grow up in!

This picture book didn’t seem to be written with a clear audience in mind. Some portions were lighthearted, playful, and seemed to be meant for preschoolers. Other sections were much more serious and complex and probably would be more appealing to middle schoolers or even adults. As much as I enjoyed learning about Mario Molina’s life and scientific achievements, I’d struggle to figure out who to share this with and how to simplify the science in it for kids who haven’t studied chemistry yet.

With that being said, it was so interesting to learn the history of who discovered that humans were causing the destruction of the ozone layer around Earth back in the 1980s and how he convinced the world to stop using products that were making this problem worse. It was inspiring to learn how everyone pulled together to solve this crisis, and it gave me a lot of hope for all of the current efforts to reduce pollution and slow down or maybe even figure out how to reverse climate change today.

Mario and the Hole in the Sky – How a Chemist Saved Our Planet was exciting.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Touch the Earth by Julian Lennon

August 11, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Touch the Earth by Julian Lennon
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Childrens (Ages 0-8 yrs), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

A New York Times bestseller that TODAY calls “beautiful” and “stunning!” Boys and girls can take to the air and learn how precious the Earth and her natural resources are.
This interactive book immerses children in a fun and unique journey. Jump aboard the White Feather Flier, a magical plane that can go wherever you want!

Just press a button printed on the page, and point the plane up in the air to fly, or down to land it!
Fly to the top of a mountain!
Send clean water to thirsty people!
Dive deep into the ocean (the Flier turns into a submarine!) to pick up pollution and bring back the fish!
Explore the planet, meet new people, and help make the world a better place!
The Flier’s mission is to transport readers around the world, to engage them in helping to save the environment, and to teach one and all to love our planet.
An inspiring, lyrical story, rooted in Lennon’s life and work, Touch the Earth is filled with beautiful illustrations that bring the faraway world closer to young children. The book includes words to a special poem written by Julian Lennon, specifically for Touch the Earth.

The first book of a bestselling trilogy that includes Heal the Earth and Love the Earth. A portion of the proceeds from book sales will go to support the environmental and humanitarian efforts of the White Feather Foundation, the global environmental and humanitarian organization that Lennon founded to promote education, health, conservation, and the protection of indigenous culture.

Sometimes we need to see the bigger picture before we can work on a smaller scale.

This book is fantastic in that it’s about the earth and how we can change what’s going on, but on a smaller scale. I liked that it’s lyrical and pretty, while educational. Lennon writes in a way that’s empathetic, but also sweet. It’s a love story to the earth, wrapped in a children’s book, and educational without being pushy. We need to fix the earth so we can all enjoy it. I loved it and the illustrations are beautiful.

If you’re looking for a book that’s pretty, educational and fun, then give this one a chance.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

Thank You, Neighbor by Ruth Chan

August 11, 2023 By 1 Comment


Thank You, Neighbor by Ruth Chan
Publisher: HarperCollins Childrens
Genre: Contemporary, YA, Childrens (4-8 yrs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Celebrate all the people, places, and things that make our neighborhoods special with Thank You, Neighbor! Selected as a best picture book of the year by Publishers Weekly.

Join our narrator and her dog on their daily walk as they greet the people in their neighborhood—from the mail carrier and bus driver to the sanitation workers and grocery clerks and more.

Whether listening, asking, helping, or just saying hello and thank you—it is our patience and kindness that make a neighborhood feel like home. This charming story gently reminds us to slow down and be grateful for all the people, places, and things around us.

With funny and heartfelt illustrations, this charming book includes an author’s note about how Ruth Chan’s own Brooklyn community inspired her to create this special picture book. Perfect for sharing at home or in the classroom.

Cute book with a great message!

I liked this book because it showed the people in the neighborhood. The writing is sharp, and the story moved along at a great clip, too. I loved the colorful illustrations and felt drawn right into the story.

In some places, it’s hard to know the neighbors. This book shows how it can be much easier if you just open yourself up a little bit. I liked that the main character used her dog as a reason to get out into the community and that she was willing to open up and simply say hi. It showed that just because you don’t look like your neighbors doesn’t mean you can’t be friends.

If you want a story that’s got a great message and it’s fun, then this is the book for you.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

My First Day by Phùng Nguyên Quang

August 10, 2023 By Leave a Comment


My First Day by Phùng Nguyên Quang
Publisher: Make Me a World
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Suspense/Mystery/Thriller, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A visually stunning story of resilience and determination by an award-winning new author-illustrator team, perfect for back to school.

This is no ordinary first journey. The rainy season has come to the Mekong Delta, and An, a young Vietnamese boy, sets out alone in a wooden boat wearing a little backpack and armed only with a single oar. On the way, he is confronted by giant crested waves, heavy rainfall and eerie forests where fear takes hold of him. Although daunted by the dark unknown, An realizes that he is not alone and continues to paddle. He knows it will all be worth it when he reaches his destination–one familiar to children all over the world.

Growing up definitely has some perks.

I haven’t come across many mysteries written for this age group, so I was excited to find this one. There were a few clues included about where An was going. People who pay close attention may be able to figure it out before he gets there! It was so much fun to find all of these hints and keep track of them as I turned each page.

There were a few times when I felt the plot was a little thin. As much as I wanted to give this a perfect rating, the storyline was not quite complex enough for me to do that. I loved the spooky atmosphere of it and the big reveal at the end, but I needed something more from the text to be fully satisfied.

The world can feel like a big, scary place sometimes for kids. I was impressed with how well this picture book captured that emotion, especially considering how familiar An would have already been with the route he was travelling. It takes extra effort to add suspense to a moment like that, but it was well worth it for this reader.

My First Day was a memorable adventure.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

On Duck Pond by Jane Yolen

August 9, 2023 By 1 Comment


On Duck Pond by Jane Yolen
Publisher: The Cornell Lab Publishing Group
Genre: Children’s (0-8 yrs), Animals, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

ON BIRD HILL took readers on a surreal journey with a boy and his dog, as they stopped, looked, and noticed things along their path, ultimately discovering the miracle a hatching baby bird.ON DUCK POND continues their journey, this time in a new place―a serene pond, filled with birds, frogs, turtles, and other creatures going about their quiet business. Their intrusion stirs the pond into a cacophony of activity, reaching a climactic chaos before slowly settling back to a quiet equilibrium.

This beautiful and enchanting sequel is sure to delight ON BIRD HILL fans and millions of readers of Jane’s popular classics.

Beautiful story about a day at the pond.

I’ve never thought about a day at the pond this way. This is a beautiful story about a man watching the ducks come to the pond. It’s a great story of realizing what’s happening, taking a moment to take it all in and observing what’s around us. I loved it and will look at time at the pond or out in nature a little differently.

If you’re interested in a story about nature and observing, then this is the book for you.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Purplicious by Victoria Kann Elizabeth Kann

August 9, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Purplicious by Victoria Kann Elizabeth Kann
A Pinkalicious book
Publisher: HarperCollins Childrens
Genre: YA, Childrens (5-10 yrs), Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

In this follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Pinkalicious, a young girl remains true to herself and discovers that pink isn’t only a pretty color, but also a powerful one.

While everyone knows Pinkalicious’s favorite color is pink, the bullies at her new school don’t agree. All the girls are wearing black, painting in black, and making fun of Pinkalicious for loving pink. “Pink is for babies and stinks!” they tell her. Pinkalicious feels left out until she learns that pink can be a powerful color, and that the most important thing is to be yourself.

Pink isn’t just a pretty color, it’s powerful.

I liked this book because it took on the topic of peer pressure and being true to yourself. Many young people feel they have to cave to peer pressure because it’s so strong. This book shows how this young lady started to give in, but also found strength she didn’t know she had. I liked her journey and am glad I went with her on it.

The other girls tell her black is the best color and pink is for little kids or pink isn’t cool any longer. It’s up to Pinkalicious to decide what she wants. It’s a fun story, but also shows young people that it’s okay to be original.

If you’re looking for a book about being true to yourself and giving yourself a chance to explore, then this might be the book for you.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Dog’s Day by Jane Cabrera

August 8, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Dog’s Day by Jane Cabrera
Publisher: Orchard Books
Genre: YA, Childrens (0-6 yrs), Animals
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Dog has a very busy day with his animal friends, swinging from the trees with Monkey, flying through the clouds with Bird, and hopping and jumping with Rabbit.

Fun with Dog!

I picked up this book because of the dog on the cover. The colors simply popped. The story is very simple, but that’s okay. I liked it because it showed young readers what this particular dog is up to and teaches interactions, but also does it with bright colors and a fun storyline. I liked that younger children could read this to themselves. It’s simple, but that’s the beauty of the story. Dog has a great day doing all sorts of things and it’s fun.

If you’re looking for a short book to read with your blossoming reader, then this is a fun one to consider.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Cows to the Rescue by John Himmelman

August 7, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Cows to the Rescue by John Himmelman
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
Genre: Humor, Contemporary, Childrens (0-8 yrs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

It’s the day of the county fair!

Three-legged races, a “Smartest Pig” contest, the Ferris wheel―what could be more fun? But the Greenstalks’ car won’t start, so they’ll need some help getting there. . . .
Cows to the Rescue is the fabulous new book in John Himmelman’s hilarious barnyard saga. It follows Chickens to the Rescue and Pigs to the Rescue, bringing back the fun with brand new mishaps and brand moo―er, new―problem-solvers.

A humorous book about the cows…coming to the rescue!

I liked this story because it showed how sometimes we have to have a little bit of rescue. The series of events and how the cows helped is so funny. Children will love the funny illustrations. The cows aren’t always the best at helping with the situation, but that’s not always bad. They’re trying their best. It’s funny and repetitive, which makes it perfect for children learning to read and those who just want to laugh.

If you’re looking for a funny book that will help younger readers, then this is the story for you.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,
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