Category: Children’s book Reviews

A review of Aboard the Time Line by Bastian Gregory

Young readers will be entertained and find the story educational. Bastian Gregory has a creative mind, describing settings in detail as well as all kinds of different creatures. I admired Pete because he represents the virtue of friendship. Even when he is concerned that he can’t solve a problem, he does everything he can to help others and never gives up.

A review of Fil and Harry by Jenny Blackford

As with all of Blackford’s work, Fil and Harry manages the perfect balance between fast moving suspense, engaging characterisation, and gentle accessible humour. The work is never too sweet nor too dark, and the tone works for all ages, including adults, who will find Fil and Harry a surprisingly pleasurable read, whether read alone or aloud to a willing young listener (something I highly recommend!).  

As If We Were Here Already: A review of Are We Here Yet? Questions + Answers + Drawings by Aevi

I believe that it is this shift and the accompanying struggle that produced the magical disjuncture that characterizes Are We Here Yet? In other words, the book documents the four-and-a-half-year old boy’s own process of constantly reading what he wrote and trying to identify himself in what he read. It is in this sense that Are We Here Yet? is a book about the act of writing and reading books. It is a book that could only be written by a child, to be read by “children” of any age—those readers who have not yet learned to stop asking questions.

A review of The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless by Ahmet Zappa

Ahmet Zappa has created a refreshingly child friendly story certain to tempt the middle grade target audience. Characters and situations including Guide Mr. Devilstone, the egomaniac one-eyed coyote who wears a monster alarm, the Enotslived Diamond, around his neck, Ms. Monstranomicon a live monster manual who is more kindhearted than horrific, and the McFearless clan itself are appealing, engaging and likeable.

A review of Vikings by Martin J Dougherty

That Dougherty is a historian is evident in this work. Filled with maps, photographs and graphics; Dougherty treats the reader to an eye-appealing, gratifying volume regarding the fundamentals of Viking life, history and a broad spectrum of activities carried out for the duration of the period. Vikings provides a robust overview of a fascinating people whose life, culture, accomplishments and behaviors have colored much of the world and have left an indelible mark on those of us who descend from the settlement areas colonized by them.

A review of Small Pig by Arnold Lobel

Jam-packed with easy-to-read vocabulary and child pleasing, characteristic Lobel illustrations Small Pig has proven to be a long time, much loved, favorite in my K-1 classrooms. Ludicrousness, exhilarating action, and short, simple, child friendly sentences and low key illustrations are a delight for emergent readers, as well as those who enjoy reading Lobel’s books to them.

A review of Gunnywolf by Antoinette Delaney

What a joy, and what fun I have had reading and re reading this small book filled with delightful illustrations trailing across each 2 page spread. Text is kept to minimum, at children’s Primary reading level, and repeats the alphabet in upper and lower case many times.

A review of The Chocolate League by Rah and Jahi Humphrey

During my daily reading, Osage County First Grade followed the adventures of The Chocolate League as they found fun summer things to do despite the closure of their park. Water balloon fights, and jump rope, and running games with chase and tag, pranks and dares, and visits to the candy store, parents sitting on the front stoop, hurrying home as dusk is falling fill pages illustrated with bright and colorful drawings provided by Fanny Liem.