Fangs! by Alan MacDonald

Story: 10
Presentation: 10
Total: 20
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Childrens
To Purchase

Blurb: Wherever Bertie goes, chaos follows, and this trio of stories is no exception. Join Bertie as he attempts to prove the grumpy school custodian is a vampire, finds himself modeling the latest fashions, and gets a serious "scare-cut" at the barbers.

Review: A delight to read at storytime with my children. Between the ages of four and eleven, this book was a hit for all....including me :) Fun and frisky, with enough mystery to really spark the imaginations of my young readers.

Dog Number 1, Dog Number 10 by Ami Rubinger

Story: 10
Presentation: 10
Total: 20
Publisher: Abberville Press
Children's
To Purchase

Blurb: Dog Number 1, Dog Number 10 takes readers through a world of playful pups that love to count! Each spread's rhyming text leaves out the last word, allowing little ones to chime in and shout out the missing number. The amusing illustrations provide countable clues for the numbers that have been left out. With Dog Number 1, Dog Number 10, accomplished illustrator Ami Rubinger once again turns his humorous and imaginative eye to an otherwise simple subject. This is Rubinger's third rhyme-completion book, a technique that teaches children about concepts like counting with a fun, fill-in-the-blank challenge that encourages participation. His colorful, computer-generated canines will make little faces smile, and the rhyming game will have them counting from one to ten, again and again.

Review: Yet another cute, colorful and imaginative picture book by Ms Rubinger. though my little one had a few problems with the numbers it was quickly picked up and really enjoyed by everyone in the home. My eldest even got into it and got excited about the cats at the end :)

Overall a winner for all :)

I Dream of an Elephant by Ami Rubinger

Story: 10
Presentation: 10
Publisher: Abberville Press
Children's
To Purchase

Blurb: From the author-illustrator of Abbeville's Big Cat, Small Cat comes a second rhyme-completion concept book, teaching children about colors through bright landscapes of loveable elephants.

Review: Cute and creative, this little picture book paired whimsical images of pachyderms with nifty rhymes that encourage both color recognition and learning how to rhyme. A cute fun story for pre-schoolers and your kidlets :) Mine loved it :)

Big Cat, Small Cat by Ami Rubinger

Story: 10
Presentation: 10
Publisher: Abberville Press
Children's
To Purchase

Blurb:



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An interactive book about cats that introduces children to rhyming and opposites in a fun and engaging way.

Big Cat, Small Cat takes readers through a fantastical world of felines, where they will encounter many different pairs of cats—from good and bad to happy and sad. This delightful iBook’s sing-song text leaves out the last word of each page, allowing little ones to chime in and complete the rhyme. Captivating, colorful illustrations provide clues for the words that have been left out. Introducing words like “dirty,” “clean,” “nice,” and “mean,” Big Cat, Small Cat teaches children about rhyming and opposites with a fun, fill-in-the-blank challenge that encourages participation.

Review: A totally cute story that had my little ones glued to the screen of my computer while we were reading. Interactive and engaging, with colorful pictures and easy to follow lines. It made for a great educational read for my 4 year old :) I had to read it 5 times when we first got it. The kids were so excited about the pictures of the cats and guessing what would come next.

While there were a few of the Fill-in-the-blanks that my youngest did not get, they were still happy :)

I'm Not Tired Yet by Marianne Richmond

Story: 10
Presentation: 10
Total: 20
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Childrens
To Purchase

Blurb: For every parent whose child won't settle into bed without a dozen excuses, here is an adorable bedtime story that makes us laugh with recognition from beloved, award-winning author Marianne Richmond. With her signature heartfelt illustrations and whimsical text, I'm Not Tired Yet! helps every parent ease their child off to dreamland. I'm Not Tired Yet! inspires a playful, endearing bedtime routine that leaves kids and grownups looking forward to nighttime, no matter how strong the allure of playtime.



Review: Imaginative and creative, this fun bedtime tale not only brought a smile to my face but brought laughter and giggles to my children when I read it to them.

A fresh story that tackles the dreaded bedtime woe's of the child that isn't wuite ready for bed when mom says it's time. Whimsical pictures that brough a layer of delight to the kids. Nifty hugs and kisses that made us all find the fun in the moments leading up to the lights going off.

Ms Richmond has done a wonderfl job with this terrific poetic story. I can't wait to grab her next story for my family collection.

The Goblin and the Girl by Neil Irani

Story: 9
Presentation: 9
Total: 18
Publisher: Maverick Arts Publishing
Children's
To Purchase

Blurb: Every morning a girl looks in the mirror and sees a goblin. She is scared that people will see that she is different and so she hides under a hat. One day, when it is stormy outside, the hat blows away…
A beautifully illustrated book about self-confidence and friendship.

Review: The blurb really nailed this one. I was inspired by this little children's book. And thrilled to see an author unafraid to tackle the issue of low self esteem in kids. The fact that I have children and one of them gets picked on sometimes only made this story hit closer to home for me. It helps to show kids that not everyone sees what you see. and that REAL friends see who you are and not what you look like :)

Sparkle's Song by Samantha Hale

Story: 9
Presentation: 9
Total: 18
Publisher: Maverick Arts Publishing
Childrens
To Purchase

Blurb: Aunt Millicent does not allow music in her house, so when Sparkle hears a beautiful song coming from the forest, she wants to find out where it is coming from. Following a songbird, she discovers something magical that will change her life forever.

Review: I don't get many children's book to review but when I do I jump all over them :) This was one that not only appealed to me but also to my kiddos, as well it should. A tale of loss and coping with change, Sparkle finds joy in the world again after the loss of her parents. A wonderful story with pictures that drive the imagination to new heights. A winner for my kids :) Therefore a winner for me :)

The Fearsome Beastie by Giles Paley-Phillips

Story: 8.5

Presentation: 9
Total: 17.5
Publisher: Maverick Arts
Children's book
To Purchase

Review: Let me start by saying that I love children's books. My kids love for me to read to them and I totally enjoy finding a book that my kids ask me to read again and again. With that said I can now tell you that I found this story very entertaining :) While maybe not what we here in the states would typically think of when we pick up a book for the kiddos, I liked it. The ax wielding Granny that chops up the fearsome beastie and releases all the little kids that he ate gets my vote :)

Even my stoic hubby thought the book was different in a good way. Maybe not something I would read to a 3 year old but my older child really liked it and I dug reading it to him. The imagery was well done and the poetry of the story flowed very well. I was impressed :)