Review: The Dancing Trees by Masiana Kelly, Illustrated by Michelle Simpson

The Dancing Trees

by Masiana Kelly, Illustrated by Michelle Simpsom

Release Date: November 2, 2021

2021 Inhabit Media

ARC Edition: 32 Pages 

ISBN: 978-1772273694

Genre: Fiction / Children / Nature

Source: Review copy from publisher

3.5 / 5 Stars

Summary

Thomas loves to tell stories. Big stories. Stories about how skilled he is on the land. But when one of his friends grows tired of his tall tales, Thomas has to prove how skilled he really is. Taking the challenge to spend a night alone in the forest, Thomas heads into the wilderness. The trees, who have heard his stories, watch him tear off their bark and litter as he goes. And so, while Thomas sleeps, they dance a dance that will leave Thomas with a very different kind of story to tell―if he can find his way home…

 

My Thoughts

The main idea of The Dancing Trees is to take care of the environment and to be careful that you are truthful, that you don't boast about things that you didn't do.  I really liked the message/themes of the book and think they are relevant to many of the concerns in today's society.  The illustrations were lovely and I did take my time looking at them as I know lots of illustrators include a lot of little nuggets if you pay a lot of attention.

 

What I really liked: I really liked the digital art as the colours were vivid, yet earthy, colours I love. As someone who loves hiking and canoe trekking, these pictures attracted my eye and I did spend a lot of time looking at them.  I also have a background in children's literature, so I tend to look to see if the illustrator has included any other little things that are easy to overlook in their artwork if you just flip through the pages.  

 

I read the book was originally published in Inuinnaqtun, so it is nice to see a children's book based on an Indigenous oral legend.  Everyone has exaggerated their exploits when they were young, and I liked how this book tackled that topic, to encourage truthfulness and that boasting will not be tolerated.  I loved listening to oral stories as a kid, and it is important for young children to understand the relevance these old legends have in today's society.

 

I did think the story was a bit wordy for young children, and when I did read to a couple of my neighbour's kids, they had trouble with the idea of Thomas going off into the forest by himself at such a young age.  I also had an issue with that, even though I know it's just a story, relevancy is important, and young children would definitely not spend the night along in a forest today.  And while I loved the message regarding the environment and how we have to protect it, I did think Thomas' quick turnaround was just that, way too quick.  He just seemed to change personalities and everything was forgiven without accountability, something else my young readers picked up on.  

 

Verdict

The Dancing Trees was a charming book and I loved that it was based on an Indigenous oral legend.  I would definitely love to see more of those legends brought to life this way.  I did think the book was a bit wordy for a young child, and Thomas was able to change his ideas and behaviours way too quickly without being accountable for his actions.  Lovely artwork so I will definitely be looking for more from this illustrator as well.  I do recommend this book if you have young children who are interested in the environment. 

 

Review: Ghost Girl by Ally Malinenko

Ghost Girl

by Ally Malinenko

Release Date: August 10, 2021

2021 Katherine Tegen Books

Kindle Edition; 288 Pages

ISBN: 978-0063044609

ASIN: B08

Audiobook: B08

Genre: Fiction / Juvenile Fiction / Ghost

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3.5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Zee Puckett loves ghost stories. She just never expected to be living one.

It all starts with a dark and stormy night. When the skies clear, everything is different. People are missing. There’s a creepy new principal who seems to know everyone’s darkest dreams. And Zee is seeing frightening things: large, scary dogs that talk and maybe even . . . a ghost.

When she tells her classmates, only her best friend, Elijah, believes her. Worse, mean girl Nellie gives Zee a cruel nickname: Ghost Girl.

But whatever the storm washed up isn’t going away. Everyone’s most selfish wishes start coming true in creepy ways.

 

My Thoughts

Ghost Girl is one of those books to which I was drawn simply because I loved the title.  Who could refuse a title like that? There is also something really appealing about juvenile fiction cover titles as well, and this one is really effective as the more I looked at it, the more I saw.  I am not one to be drawn to a book by a cover title as I usually tend to chose them by the content, but I do admire the artistry and the talent that do go into them.  As someone who can't draw anything more artistic than stick figures, I have a huge respect for the effort that goes into a lot of these cover pages.  

 

Zee is a fun character, but I can't honestly say that she stands out from any other middle-grade character that I have read in this genre.  As usual, she is the one who stands out in school for telling odd stories and coming from a family that has some issues so the other students don't quite know what to make of her situation.  Because she doesn't follow the societal rules, she doesn't really fit into any social group at school and is the target of the usual group of popular girls.  Standard stuff, really.  I didn't always root for her character as she had a tendency to be mean and spiteful at times, which in a funny way, I kind of liked as it reflected more the reality of the situation of someone who is being picked on a lot of the time.  She definitely had a chip on her shoulder and I do wish the author had developed this a bit more through her relationships with her peers.  

 

I thought the writing style was fine for a juvenile fiction novel as there is a fine balance between detail and story, and you don't necessarily want to bog down young readers with too much detail.  While I thought there were a lot of gaps in the story, and some of it left holes that were not fully explained, I'm not sure a young reader would necessarily pick up on those.  The story was not original by any means, but it was fun, and the author took the time to place the importance on family and friendship, running themes throughout the book.  And while Zee could be spiteful, she did get called out for her behaviour, and there were definitely consequences to her actions, which I liked.   

I will be honest and say that I am a terrible judge of creepiness in a book as I have always loved creepy, even as a kid.  The story does revolve around a trickster who promises people whatever their hearts desire and Zee is one of the few people who is immune to his tricks.  I have years behind me reading horror, fantasy, and ghost stories, so this premise is not original but for a kid who is seven or eight? This might be right up their alley if they are looking for something that is creepy, but won't send them to mom and dad's room for the next month.  

Verdict

Ghost Girl was a solid tween entry, and I did enjoy the book.  Yes, there were gaps in the story, and some young readers may pick up on the lack of development or the brushing over of those ideas, but I think for the most part, young readers will enjoy the characters and how they eventually worked together to save their town.  I definitely think this book will appeal to those young readers who are venturing into this genre as it's not too scary and the story, and the characters, are relatable. 

Review: Bunheads by Misty Copeland and Setor Fiadzigbey (Illustrator)

Bunheads

by Misty Copeland, Setor Fiadzigbey (Illustrator) 

Release Date: September 29th 2020

2020 G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

PDF Version; 32 Pages

ISBN: 978-0399547645

ASIN: B085N3YP9G

Genre: Fiction / Children

Source: Review copy from publisher

3.5 / 5 Stars

Summary

Misty is so captivated by the tale of Coppélia and its heroine, Swanilda, she decides to audition for the role. But she's never danced ballet before; in fact, this is the very first day of her very first dance class!

Though Misty is excited, she's also nervous. But as she learns from her fellow bunheads, she makes wonderful friends who encourage her to do her very best. Misty's nerves quickly fall away, and with a little teamwork, the bunheads put on a show to remember.

 

My Thoughts

Bunheads is a charming tale of two friends who support each other as they try out for the leads of the ballet Coppélia their ballet school is putting on for their yearly show.   The story does touch on self-doubt, friendship, determination, and perseverance, but there were some elements over which I was perplexed as well.

What I really liked: I liked how excited the girls were to go to dance class every day and how everyone supported each other and pushed each other.  The story was charming from that perspective and showed that if you worked hard you could achieve your dream. I also really liked how the story included a famous ballet and summed it up so succinctly for young readers to enjoy and understand.  Coppélia is one of my favourite ballets so it was nice to see it included in this book.  

The illustrations were charming and fun to look at and I think a young reader would enjoy looking at them.  They are bright and colourful, and I especially liked the ones depicting the ballet Coppélia.  I was bothered a bit by the fact that all the girls portrayed in the book were one body type, especially at that young age, and I do think a better representation of a ballet class would be better served.  

And while I enjoyed the story, I couldn't get over the fact that the main character, Misty, was attending her FIRST day of class.  And while I know Misty herself was exceptional, even she didn't go on pointe shoes her first day of ballet class.  I don't think it would be possible for someone to understand and do all of these complicated steps no matter how talented on the first day of class, and then suddenly be up for the lead in a major ballet at their studio, especially Coppélia.  I'm not really sure this is a realistic introduction to young children into the world of ballet and might even give them the wrong idea; ballet is incredibly hard work and you will not be able to do these things the first day of class.  I thought at first I misread the timeline of the book, but nope, I didn't.  

 

Verdict

Bunheads had really gorgeous illustrations and demonstrate energy and enthusiasm, although I wish they were more representative of a ballet class at younger ages; I mean this wasn't a dance academy, at least by the book.   I did think the book ended a bit abruptly though, and I thought it missed a golden opportunity to inspire young girls to be ballerinas through a realistic portrayal, not a fantastical one. 

 

Review: The Ghost Who Lost Her Boo! by Elaine Bickell and Raymond McGrath (Illustrations)

The Little Ghost Who Lost Her Boo!

by Elaine Bickell, Raymond McGrath (Illustrations)

Release Date: August 18th 2020

2020 Philomel Books

Kindle Edition: 32 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593202159

ASIN: B081Y3HYJH

Genre: Fiction / Children

Source: Review copy from publisher

4.5 / 5 Stars

Summary

'I've lost my boo! I've lost my boo! Where has it gone? What will I do?' Little Ghost has lost her boo, but she is determined to get it back, so she heads out to look for it. On her night-time hunt she meets a number of her friends, Owl, Pigeon, Rooster and Cow, and asks each of them if they've heard her boo. None of them have but they are all very kind and offer Little Ghost their own sound instead. But none are as good as her own scary boo so she keeps on looking. In the end, it's the reader who finds it for her!

 

My Thoughts

The Ghost Who Lost her Boo! was such a sweet little children's book.  With captivating illustrations and a fun rhyming story to go with those illustrations, this is a book that little ones will devour.

 

Elaine Bickell has written a cute rhyming story that incorporates a number of animal characters that Little Ghost encounters as she searches for her lost boo.  On the surface, this seems like a fun search, there is a much deeper message here as Little Ghost explores a host of different sounds from the other animals, but realizes those sounds don't quite work for her and is not willing to just accept them and trade her missing boo for just any new sound.  She really liked her own personal sound and is not willing to compromise so will continue to search until she finds it.  There would be a lot to discuss with a young child regarding this concept and that appeals to me quite a bit.  

 

Another theme running through this story is one of determination, where you don't give up until you find what you are looking for, and sometimes you may need help to find it.  I really liked that theme, and again, it would be an important theme to discuss with children when reading this book.  As a teacher, I was even going through a list of questions and topics I would discuss with children after presenting this book to them.  

 

What I really adored in this book though, were the illustrations.  You have this relatively dark background full of mysterious things, and if you look closely, there is a lot to look at, something to which a child will pay a lot of attention.  Then you have these eye-popping colours of the animals which makes them stand out which I loved.  And Little Ghost was all in white, so explosive on the page.  I spent a few minutes checking out each page before continuing, admiring the illustrations, which is why I still read children's books to this day.  

 

Verdict

The Ghost Who Lost Her Boo! is a clever little story although I do feel the illustrations overwhelm the actual rhyming story, and I was content to just look at those beautiful pictures.  I even read the book twice just to look at them again.  I would highly recommend this little gem to any little child as there is a lot to discuss, plus the illustrations are beautiful.  

Review: Cezanne's Parrot by Amy Guglielmo and Brett Helquist (Illustrator)

Cezanne's Parrot
by Amy Guglielmo, Illustrated by Brett Helquist
Release Date: February 11th 2020
2020 Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons
Kindle Edition; 40 Pages
ISBN: 978-0525515081
ASIN: B07RQH3VB4
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction / Children
Source: Review copy from publisher

Summary
All Cezanne wants is to be a great painter like his friends Monet, Pissarro, and Renoir. But when he shows his works, the professors, the critics, and the collectors all dismiss him: "Too flat!" "Too much paint!" "These are rough and unfinished!" Even his own pet parrot, Bisou, can't be brought to say, "Cezanne is a great painter!" And who can blame them? Cezanne doesn't care about tradition, and he doesn't follow the rules. He's painting in a way no one else has done before, creating something completely new--and he's destined to change the world of art forever. Cezanne's Parrot is a spirited celebration of creativity, determination, and perseverance--and the artist who would become known as the father of modern art.

My Thoughts
Cezanne's Parrot is a fun and simple story featuring the famous French artist, Paul Cezanne, at the start of his career as he was trying to find his niche in the difficult and critical art world.  Known as the father of modern art, his early years were rather challenging as he was trying to find his place and figure out his strengths as an artist.  

Personally, I really enjoyed the message this book was trying to present. As a struggling artist, Cezanne had many setbacks, but he persevered and eventually discovered his strengths as a painter. Using his pet parrot, Bison, to illustrate his challenges was a fun way to highlight his journey as the author used the parrot to indicate when Cezanne painted something really great, or not. I can imagine a child breathlessly turning the pages, waiting for that magical statement when Bisou finally says, "Cezanne is a great painter!"  Even myself, knowing this painter's background, found myself waiting for that statement.

I loved the illustrations in his book and recognized quite a few of them. "Fruit and Jug on a Table" is definitely one that I recognized and loved the idea of the paintings being included in the book. Plus, Cezanne interacted with several famous painters as well such as Gauguin, Monet (one of my personal favourites), Pissarro (who was a great friend to Cezanne), and Renoir. As an educator, I couldn't help but think about the lesson plans I could create around this book and the discussions to be had on each page.  It is too bad though, that Cezanne's son wasn't featured in this book as well. That could have been interesting.

Verdict
Cezanne's Parrot is full of bright, colourful illustrations that feature a variety of artists and paintings. Chronicling Cezanne's journey from frustrated artist to successful artist, it teaches that one should never give up one's principles in order to be successful. It is definitely a fun introduction to the world of art and to Cezanne.  Highly recommended.

Review: Froggy Builds a Snowman by Jonathan London & Frank Remkiewics (Illustrator)

Froggy Builds a Snowman
by Jonathan London
Illustrator Frank Remkiewicz
Release Date: January 7th 2020
2020 Viking Books for Young Readers
ARC Edition; 32 Pages
ISBN: 978-1984836366
ASIN: B07QGPCL2B
Genre: Children / Picture Book
Source: Review copy from publisher

3 / 5 Stars






Summary
It's Winter Carnival day, and Froggy can't wait to build a snowman. But school principal Mr. Mugwort says there is a lot to do first. Skating! Sledding! A snow fort! Finally it's time to build a snowman, but Froggy builds a snow dinosaur instead. And of course the day wouldn't be complete without a wild snowball fight. 

My Thoughts
Froggy Builds a Snowman is a sentimental read for me as it reminds of the time when my kids were little and I would read them these books over and over again, and I think because I have one in university and another going next year, I am feeling a little sentimental so I am going through a phase where I am reading a lot of children's books and getting a lot of pleasure doing so.  The Froggy books were always a favourite series for my kids and by looking at the attractive bright colours and simple text, as a parent, you can definitely see the appeal.

First of all, the illustrations. I have always liked the illustrations in these books.  They are bright, eye-catching and fun.  I have never been a fan of children's books that are overwhelming, with so much going on that a child gets frustrated just looking at a page.  Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of value in those books and illustrations and as an adult, I love them, but for a child? Not so much.  There is so much to discuss through the illustrations with a child in this book. As a parent, I was itching to talk about the colours and have a child point them out and see if they knew their colours, and to talk about the different kinds of snowmen they could build and encourage them to go outside and play. In fact, I was itching to go outside and ski as the snow looked so bright and inviting.  I loved the bright blue sky that featured on each page with snow falling down.  In fact, I was a bigger fan of the illustrations than the overall story.

The story itself was cute, but I was getting so frustrated for Froggy, who wasn't allowed to build his snowman all day long.  Why not just let him build it right away? Then do the activities later?  As a kid, the first thing we all did in the snow was jump in it and make snow angels.  I don't think I was outside more than five seconds before being covered head to toe in snow.  So much fun!!   However, I do love the message in the book whereby Froggy was very patient and decided to go with the flow and do what was asked and scheduled and eventually he got to do what he wanted to do.  Definitely ample opportunities for reader participation in all sorts of settings and opportunities to discuss use of language techniques such as similes and onomatopoeia.   

Verdict
Froggy Builds a Snowman will definitely appeal to younger children with its bright colours and simple message.  I am so glad the author decided to continue this series as I thought it was complete. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for something fun to read to their children as there is plenty of opportunities to discuss snow, snowmen, getting along, following instructions, and just winter in general. 

Review: OMG...Am I a Witch? by Talia Aikens-Nunez

OMG...Am I a Witch?
by Talia Aikens-Nunez, Alicja Ignaczak (Illustrator)
Release Date: October 31st, 2013
2013 Pinwheel Books
Ebook Edition; 150 Pages
ISBN: 978-0985424855
ASIN: B00FQI9SZO
Genre: Fiction / Children's
Source: Review copy from Publisher/TLC Book Tours

4 / 5 Stars

Summary
April Appleton is so annoyed at her older brother that she searches the Internet for a spell to turn him into a dog. When the spell works, April realizes she has more powers than she ever dreamed of! Now she has to figure out how to turn him back to normal before her parents find out. She has little time, but with the help of her friends, Grace and Eve, she finds a book of magic that will hopefully reverse the spell. Will it work and will April's newfound magic save the day?

My Thoughts
OMG...Am I a Witch? is a really cute chapter book about a young girl who accidentally turns her older brother into a dog when she gets annoyed with him.  Being a rather curious girl, she had found a book of spells online, and when she got angry, she decided to use the spell on her brother, and presto! annoying brother turns into a rather cute little dog.  The question is now, how did she do it?  And how will she get him turned back before her mother finds out and she gets into really big trouble?

I thought the premise to this rather sweet novel to be quite fun and it was certainly entertaining.  I can think of quite a few times when I would have gladly turned my sisters into something else, and dogs were probably not at the top of the list either.  Sorry, girls!!!  And it probably would have taken me a lot longer than April to feel remorse over the situation as well.  I like the way modern technology was incorporated into the novel as it made it seem more realistic and I am sure young readers will be able to relate, both to the situation as well as to the approach taken by the characters.  

April and Grace race around the clock trying to discover a solution before their parents discover their duplicity, and I like how April spends some time thinking about her brother and all of the nice things he had done for her in the past.  I did wonder how long that would last once he was turned back though, as I couldn't imagine he would have been happy spending 24 hours as a dog.  Without spoiling anything, I was glad to see some things don't change.  

Verdict

OMG...Am I a Witch is quite short, it took me less than half an hour to read, and is sprinkled with adorable pictures and illustrations. It will appeal to younger readers around the grade 2-5 range, and all readers will definitely love the pictures of Austin as a pup, so adorable!!!  I am curious as to whether this book is the first in a series as it seems like it has the potential to be.  I certainly hope so as it was quite enjoyable and fun.