Category: children

Author: Zora & David Aiken
Illustrator: David Aiken
Publisher: Schiffer Books
ISBN: 978-0-7643-3962-2
Pages: 32
Price: $14.99

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Is a cat tail a fluffy feline appendage, or a tall plant with a rounded top? Is a bookworm a slithering creature, or just someone who loves to read? These and many more words with double meanings are playfully demonstrated through rhyme and pictures in Double-Talk.

Kids love word play, and they will appreciate the light-hearted touch of whimsey featured in this delightful book. And once they’ve read through the author’s word choices, they’re encouraged to discover some of their own. This would be an enjoyable read for any child with an active imagination.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Dave Reisman
Illustrator: Jason A. Maas
Publisher: Jumping Cow Press
ISBN: 978-0-9801433-4-8
Pages: 46
Price: $7.99

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“Cows can’t quack… but they can moo.” In this delightful sequel to Cows Can’t Jump, Reisman presents a sound version of what animals can – and can’t – do.

Once again, the illustrations are simple drawings that kids will relate to. And the expressions on the animals’ faces are priceless. Kids will see that the animals can’t make certain sounds, but they can make another one that suits them better. Reading about the specific talents animals have, and how they also have limitations, frees kids to stop worrying so much about the things they’re not good at, and gives them permission to excel with their natural abilities.

Many kids struggle with striving to be good at something that doesn’t come naturally. It’s great to see books that touch on this topic, done in a fun and light-hearted way. I highly recommend Cows Can’t Quack.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author:  Joanne Lécuyer
Illustrator: Amy Rottinger
Publisher: Topsy Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9869517-4-9
Pages: 64
Price: $12.99

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Allistaire Arturius Doppelganger Varning the IV is a 12 year-old vampire, living amongst humans. He knows humans are afraid of vampires, and he wants to prove that he and his family are harmless.

One day he comes up with the idea to be a superhero – Kaptain Vamp. His purpose will be to help humans whenever he can. He immediately puts his plan into action, performing super-hero rescues and a daring attempt against evil.

Kaptain Vamp is a likeable character with a heart of gold. He believes in his mission of doing good in the world, and he’s serious about doing it well. I enjoyed reading about how and why Allistaire wants to be a superhero, but I found the ending a bit confusing. Overall, Kaptain Vamp is an entertaining and positive read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Check out what Joanne Lécuyer has to say about her books and writing.

Author: Kimberly Dana
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-61346-416-8
Pages: 24
Price: $8.99

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Gracie is a doll who has been well-loved by a little girl named Tasha, but bears some of the “scars” of the process. She has purple eyes from a makeup experiment, a missing arm from when the dog grabbed her, and spiky hair from when Tasha decided to cut it. But every night, Gracie sleeps by Tasha’s side, secure in the knowledge that her appearance means nothing to Tasha.

The other dolls in Tasha’s room are jealous of Gracie, and make fun of her. Although they are far more beautiful, Gracie gets all the attention. But one day, the prettiest one of all has an accident that helps her, and the others, to see Gracie in a whole new light.

Pretty Dolls was a Children’s Picture Book Finalist in the 2011 Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest. In this book, children will see that it’s possible to be kind, even when it’s obvious that others don’t like them. But they’ll also learn that it’s not okay to be mean when they’re jealous. This is a nice story with a positive message.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Ambur Lowenthal
Illustrator: Joe Werner
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4005-5
Pages: 32
Price: $12.99

Schiffer Books
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Shirley does NOT like cake. She despises everything about it – the icing, the pretty flowers and decorations, and the cake itself. And everyone in her home, classroom, and neighborhood knows it.

One day, Shirley goes too far in offering her opinions of cake. Her teacher has to sit her down and remind her that it’s perfectly okay for her not to like cake, but she’s ruining the enjoyment for everyone else. Shirley realizes what she’s done, and comes up with a surprise everyone will love.

Shirley’s Cakes is a delightful book about a little girl who needs to learn some manners, but this lesson is taught in a fun and lighthearted way. Colorful illustrations bring this cute story to life, as Shirley comes to the realization that cake isn’t such a bad thing after all. I highly recommend this book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Elaine Allen
Illustrator: Kelli Nash
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4069-7
Pages: 40
Price: $16.99

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Schiffer Books

Mallory has forgotten where she left her eggs. As she flies around the lake, she discovers eggs in other nests, but none are hers. Finally, she realizes she hasn’t yet laid her eggs, and when she does, she knows she’ll never forget where they are.

In this charming picture book, nature scenes are beautifully illustrated by Kelli Nash. Kids will enjoy reading about Mallory’s confusion as she hops from nest to nest, searching for her own. And once she does lay her eggs, they will discover that a mom’s love is the very best kind.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Joy Cowley
Illustrator: Don Tate
Publisher: Hameray
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-60559-368-5
Pages: 16
Price: $5.95

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Poor Oscar always gets blamed for everything. If the older children make a mess or do something they shouldn’t, they tell their mom “Oscar did it!” But Oscar finally gets even with them when lunch is served.

Oscar Did It! is part of the Joy Cowley collection, meant for classroom use. At the end of the text, lesson pointers for teachers are provided for guiding discussions about this story. Features like punctuation marks, repeated sentence patterns, and consequences of actions are summarized.

This fun read will have kids giggling as Oscar gets his revenge. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: David Rendimonti
Illustrator: Agnes Garbowska
Publisher: pdo!nk
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-09868013-0-3
Pages: 32
Price: $17.99

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Yogurt the Ogre likes to pretend he’s a big whale. But whales are messy, splashing water on unsuspecting creatures, tracking mud through the house, and sloshing tub water onto the floor while bathing. Yogurt is not a tidy whale, and his parents scold him for his behavior.

After a good night’s sleep and time to reflect on what they’ve said, Yogurt decides an apology is needed. He makes amends to all those he had unintentionally harmed the day before. Now he knows it’s great to have fun, but only if his fun doesn’t cause problems for others.

Kids don’t mean to be untidy, so they need to learn how their behavior affects others. Yogurt the Ogre shows them how to act, in a gentle and non-preaching manner. This series is a fun read for all children.

Reviewer: Alice Berger