Picture Book Review: Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw

Who doesn't remember being a child and getting excited when it was that day of the week that you got to go to the library? Ok still is like that for me as an adult. That day of the week when I was a kid was Saturday. My mom who was also an avid reader would take me ever single Saturday and I always loaded up on books. I always took out the maximum amount that the library would let me and sometimes even convinced the one librarian to let me sneak in one or two more. 

Lola is up bright and early because today is Tuesday and that means she gets to go to the library. Lola loves the library and is ready to get a whole bunch of new books to read.

Let's admit it that all of us bibliophiles can totally relate to Lola. There is nothing more magical than a library/bookstore. All those books and worlds to explore or revisit. It just puts you in such a contented place. I loved seeing a younger child who is excited about reading but isn't one of those advanced readers like Matilda. She is just a normal little girl who loves to read. There is something refreshing in that as a lot of times book lovers are portrayed as reading "the classics" by age 3. Lola reads picture books and she especially reads the ones about things she likes like bears and shoes. 

The illustrations were wonderful and do a great job of portraying just how much Lola loves books. The rapt attention she during the story time reading is obvious.

My favorite part was after the library when her mother has a cappuccino and shares a spoonful of the foam. The reason is that it reminds me of when my stepdaughter was little. She loved it when my husband would give her spoonful of his coffee. She would beg for more. I don't drink coffee so there was none to be had from me. But she didn't mind having a sip or two of my tea. This part just brought up feelings of nostalgia for me.

5 out of 5 stars!

Picture Book Review: Patty's Pumpkin Patch by Teri Sloat

Ok so yes I know that TECHNICALLY it is not fall yet. But let's face it once you start seeing pumpkin spice flavored things on the shelves it is Autumn. So how could I not curl up with a cup of pumpkin spice chai tea and read this wonderful pumpkin themed book?

This rhyming book is all about a pumpkin patch. From the beginning of planting seeds to the end of the pumpkin picking season this book covers the seasonal lifespan of a pumpkin patch.

I really enjoyed this one. Not only was it a great rhyming book it also was an alphabet book. At the bottom of each page going from a-z were words related to animals/insects/plant-life you find in the pumpkin patch. 

This is suitable for toddlers and kindergarteners. I don't know that children much older than 5 or 6 would want to read this but for the younger set it is perfect. The illustrations are great and with the alphabet running along the bottom you can make a great activity out of having the child point out where that animal is in the picture. This is perfect for the fall/Halloween season. Now I want to munch on some pumpkin seeds.

4 out of 5 stars.

Picture Book Review: Swan Lake by Lisbeth Zwerger ; Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Ok so the cover of this book is what drew me in to wanting to read it. I'll admit I've never seen Swan Lake and only know the barest of details about it. So I kind of went into this book not knowing...well anything really other than it was a much beloved ballet.

A prince celebrating his birthday is told by his mother that he must get married. That night he and his friends hunt some swans that fly over head. The prince meets the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and learns that she is one of the swans who has been transformed by an evil sorcerer and only love can break the spell.

So at first I kind of didn't like the story. But I can't blame Lisbeth Zwerger for that as it is based on the ballet. I did some research after reading this and it is accurate to the play. So she can't be blamed for the parts that I didn't care for. The prince is only just turning 18 but his mother is upset that he isn't married yet. I guess back in 1877 if you were royalty and not married yet you were an old man. 

The best part about this book is the illustrations. My goodness!! They were AMAZING! As in I want to own this book (borrowed from library) just so I can keep looking at these pictures. They are so gorgeous and it is hard for me to pick my favorite. I love where the girls are transforming back into swans and I loved when the pages turn black for the fake Swan Queen. 

I love that the author found a way to include several of the different endings as the original play was worked and reworked several times and had has had multiple endings. She chose to go with the original happy ending and that works great especially considering this is a book for children. 

I am going to try and find other books by Lisbeth Zwerger because I cannot stress just how much I enjoyed her artwork. If you can find a copy of this please have a look because it is worth it just based on the illustrations alone.

5 out of 5 stars!

Picture Book Review: The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck by Beatrix Potter

So after reading Peter Rabbit yesterday I decided to read another Beatrix Potter book and chose this one. I had never read this one before but had a vague recollection of my husband telling me he read this book to my stepdaughter and that there was something about the book that he didn't like. 

Jemima Puddle Duck is a simpleton who wants to lay some eggs. She comes across a fox who lets her lay her eggs in his feather filled woodshed. Will someone save from Jemima and her eggs from this crafty fox.

Hey, look yet another children's story where the fox is the bad guy. Though in this case with the stupidity of Jemima who would even be upset if the fox had eaten her.

Now then let's talk about that thing that I realized right away why my husband was shocked all those years ago....ummm yeah....uh...I can't even begin to say anything about it. I was rather shocked myself. This is a children's book but it take a very very VERY dark turn at the end. I honestly don't know how I feel about it.  Up until that end I was really enjoying the story. I loved all the way up till it mentioned the fox hounds. Knowing what I know of them I knew that (spoiler) this was the literally end for the fox. But I read on. Ok so the fox dies. But then the fox hounds eat her eggs. Then at the end she finally does have some babies but only 4 of them hatch.


Whoosh...I really really don't know how I feel on this. I still love love love the classic illustrations. I just don't know what I think of that ending. I think it might be a bit hard for children but it might even be harder for adults to process. As far as rating this I'm a bit stumped. This is a book that makes you think a bit and does do something to your emotions. Does that make it bad? Does making you face harsh realities make it inappropriate for a children's picture book? I don't think it does. Death is something that happens all the time and we can't just avoid it.


Sooo....I think I'm at 4 out of 5 stars on this one.

Picture Book Review: The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

Several years ago my mother gave my stepdaughter a box set of all the Beatrix Potter books. We never read all of them but did read a good portion of them. At my sister's baby shower I gave her those books (plus a bunch more of my stepdaughter's baby books). Little did I know but at that time I was also pregnant (I would have kept a few of those books for my son had I known). But you can't change the past and I certainly wasn't ever going to ask for them back. So I had to search out a new copy for my son.

Unlike his sisters Peter Rabbit is a naughty little bunny who doesn't listen to his mother. She tells him to keep out of Mr. McGregor's garden. Peter, after eating too much, ends up with a belly ache. In search of some parsley he is seen by Mr. McGregor and is soon on the run from him and lost in the garden. 

Peter Rabbit is so iconic. There are some literary figures that you can just mention by name and people immediately know what you are talking about. Our little rabbit is one of them. The illustrations are beyond charming and have that nostalgic feeling that draws you in. The theme is mature I wouldn't say it is something that children can't handle. After all children all over the world have been reading these books for well over 100 years. 

4 out of 5 stars!

SOR Picture Book Review: The Elephant and the Bad Baby by Elfrida Vipont Illustrated by Raymond Briggs

So here is a SOR book that I have never read before but is on the 1001 children's book list. What sold me on reading it was that it was illustrated by one of my all time favorites Raymond Briggs.

One day an elephant encounters a bad baby and takes him all through town. All along the way, the elephant swipes treats for both himself and the bad baby. However, at no point does the baby say the word, please. Chasing behind them the whole time is an ever growing following of shop owners that they stole from.

For me, the story was a bit weird. The elephant had no problem stealing but had a problem with the baby not saying the word, please. I suppose that he had his own moral code. Also one has to wonder if the shop owners told the mother about what the elephant and bad baby did. 

What made this book was the illustrations. I know I'm biased as I'm a huge fangirl for Briggs but really the drawings make this book. My favorites were when all the shop owners run into the elephant's rump and the HUUUGE pan that the mother uses to make pancakes.  

So the story line is more like a 2 star for me while the drawings are a 4 star. I'm in a debate on where I fall overall on this book. So I'll split the difference

3 out of 5 stars

Children's Book Review: The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

The Mouse and the Motorcycle was one of the first books I ever did a book report on. I had loved this book as a child and it was a favorite. Sadly, it has been nearly 30 years since I last read it.


Ralph S. Mouse lives in a knothole in room 215 of a hotel. One day a little boy named Kevin and his family come to stay. Ralph becomes excited when he sees Kevin's prized toy motorcycle. Soon Ralph and Kevin become friends and Ralph zooms all over on the motorcycle.

I had forgotten a lot of this book. It was nice to go down memory lane with this book. I loved how Kevin and Ralph bonded not just over the motorcycle but their mutual understanding that growing up is hard and how they both wanted to be mature. 

I loved the illustrations and had forgotten how cute they were. This was a quick read and still holds up after all these years.

A solid 5 out of 5 stars.

Picture Book Review: Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

Who hasn't read/felt this book before? It is a classic that every generation seems to read and enjoy.  This tactile book teaches the youngest of the young through their sense of touch.

There is not much to say about this book. My favorite part as a child and still today as an adult is touching daddy's scratchy face. I can't tell you why exactly but that's the one that makes me pause the longest.

The book is not overly complicated and for most of it is wrapped in nostalgia. So how do you rate a book like this? There is no plot...there are no morals. It is just a touch book...but it is one that touches my heart and shadowy memories of flipping through this book.

4 out of 5 stars.

Picture Book Review: Stellaluna by Janelle Cannon

I'm trying to not only catch up on my picture book reading but also check off more and more books on the 1001 children's book list. When I found out that this book had been featured on Reading Rainbow I decided to give it a shot.

Stellaluna is a small bat who becomes separated from its mother after an owl attack. She finds a nest with some baby birds and joins the family. But she never quite fits in with them. 

I thought this was a cute book. The illustrations were great and looked like the illustrator had carefully studied photographs of real life bats and birds. I also like the message that you can have a lot in common with others but still be true to yourself.

3 out of 5 stars.

Picture Book review: Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka

Ok so I've never read this book nor heard of it before. But I am familiar with the author's 3 little pigs retelling. I saw this book title on the 1001 Children's books list and was like ok I HAVE to read that.

The book contains quick silly retelling of classic children's fairy tales. Many of the stories are linked together from one retelling to the next.

Ok so right off the bat I was laughing as I saw the back cover with the hen asking, "who is this ISBN guy." Then to see the upside down dedication page I knew there was a treasure awaiting inside this book. This book did not disappoint! I found myself several times laughing out loud.

I would say that this book is truly best appreciated by adults. Not that it isn't for kids or that they wont enjoy it but the humor of it totally is something that adults will get. The art work is top notch. It is hard for me to pick my favorite drawing from the sly fox, stinky cheese man or the tortoise and the hare. All help with the whimsy and humor driven book.

I borrowed this from the library but have already decided that I MUST get a copy for myself. 

5 out of 5 stars!

Book Review: The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl

Like so many other children that came before and after me Roald Dahl was a must read writer. Roald just seemed to understand children in a way that so many others don't. While I've read a good number of his books this was my first time reading this one. So I brewed a strong cup of earl gray and dived right in.

In The Magic Finger a young girl with special magical abilities lives next door to the Gregg family. Upset over their hunting for fun her magic finger gets to work and before they know it the Gregg family has become a family of birds. 

As an adult this one is a bit harder to read. Not that it is a hard read at all. But this book is written in first person perspective of the little girl. The grammar and speech cadence therefore is written as an 8 year old little girl would write. For a child it speaks right to their level. For an adult you just want to go along and edit.

I enjoyed this silly tale that had a message layered in it about those who kill animals just for sport. I'm not a fan of hunting myself but if the hunter actually eats the meat then I'm not offended. I don't believe in killing things just to kill them. 

I hate to say that this is not one of my favorites among his books but it was still enjoyable and better than a good number of books out there today.

3 out of 5 stars.

Picture Book Review: The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper

This is one of those books that I think everyone grew up reading or at least have a vague knowledge of. I have a very hazy memory of a school librarian (couldn't tell you her name) reading this to my kindergarten class. I just remember her showing us the pictures as she chanted, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" and "I thought I could, I thought could." I remember how she sounded just like how she sounded just like the chug chug chugging of a train when she did it.

The Little Train that Could is a picture book where a train carrying toys and goodies for the children of a village breaks down before making it over the hill to the village. Many trains pass by refusing to help but finally a little blue train agrees to help.

I haven't read this or heard the whole tale since....well since that day all those years ago back in kindergarten. Sure I know the story (who doesn't!). The part that I didn't remember was the other trains who refused to help. I think we all remember the train going over the hill and chanting away but who remembers those other jerky trains who refuse to help?

The obvious moral of the story is that if you think you can and you show even just a bit of kindness you can overcome anything. A nice morale to teach and it is nice to show kids that sometimes you have to work just a tiny bit harder to get what you want.

I really loved the watercolors in this. It gives a softer edge to the pictures that works so well with smaller children.

4 out of 5 stars

Children's Book Review: I Like, I Don't Like by Anna Baccelliere

I requested and read this book last month. I'm only just now getting around to writing my review. I received the book from *Netgalley. I picked it because I thought it sounded like an interesting and different picture book.

I Like, I Don't Like tells in pictures and words about the difference between the privileged children of the world and those in 3rd world countries. Using the same object such as a shoe it shows that some children get to wear and enjoy them while others have to build the shoe.

I enjoyed the artwork in this one. It was unique and drew the eye in. However, while I like the message of the book it came off as a bit heavy handed and by the fourth I like, I don't like it was too repetitive. This is a deep topic and is a hard one for children who have grown up in the US to fully grasp. To be honest I don't know that I would want my younger child to grasp such things. Sometimes letting a child be innocent and naive to these things is better. 

I'd give this a 2 out of 5 stars.





*I received a review copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Children's Book Review: The Big Honey Hunt by Stan and Jan Berenstain

I've read a huge number of the Berenstain books...like well over 20 of them. But I had never read the very first one. The one that started it all. So after some searching I was able to find a copy and happily dug right in.

The bears are all out of honey. Mother Bear sends out Small Bear and Father Bear to buy more honey but Father Bear decides to hunt for the honey.

The first thing that stands out is the different artwork. The bears look slightly different from what I and millions of other children grew up reading and are familiar with. It is rougher but has some of the elements that are recognizable in what they ultimately would become. Also the names are different as most of us know the bears as Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Brother Bear and Sister Bear. There was no Sister Bear and Brother Bear was called Small Bear.

The rhyming and the story were great and there were moments that had me chuckling. There wasn't a major moral lesson like I'm used to. It was just a cute story.

I enjoyed it a lot and would read it again for sure.

4 out of 5 stars

Children's Book Review: Malala:Activist for Girls Education by Raphaële Frier Illustrated by Aurelia Fronty

When I saw this on *Netgalley I had to request it. I remember watching Malala on The Daily Show
with Jon Stewart. To say that this girl (now a woman) is an inspiration does not even begin to express it. 

The book goes into details about Malala's life and her activism for girls and her fight against the Taliban. It doesn't hold back and even tells of her being shot 3 times.

I enjoyed this book. It is not for younger children as it is information heavy and some may find parts too upsetting. But this is perfect for older children. It is a great introduction to Malala's life. 

The illustrations in this are incredible. Like stare at each page for several minutes incredible. I also love that at the end of the book the author included real photographs of Malala. I loved the ones showing her with her family as the love is obvious in her family. This is one that I will read again.

4 out of 5 stars.


* I recieved a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Children's Book Review: Animals in the Wild: The Wolf by Renne

When I saw this book on *Netgalley I just had to request to read it. In my family we love wolves and
a non-fiction picture book about wolves just called to me.

This informative picture book gives details about wolves and even mentions things like how they are portrayed as the "big bad" in fairy tales. 

The star of this picture book is definitely the drawings. A gorgeous palate and beautifully drawn wolves give a almost tranquil feel. My favorite of all the drawings was a pack of wolves with a gorgeous blue snowy background with their snouts raised high howling.  I also appreciated how at the end there were drawings of relatives to the wolf including dogs and foxes. 

I really enjoyed this and hope this turns into a series of books (foxes please!). I would gladly read the other books!

5 out of 5 stars



*I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Picture Book Review: Meg and Mog by Heather Nicoll Illustrated by Jan Pienkowski

I had never heard of this book series before reading it on the list of 1001 children's books. So I went

into this picture book blind. This book is being used for 1001 children's books and the picture book challenge.

Ok so I can't really give a synopsis of this book other than Meg is a witch with a cat named Mog. Meg gets together with some witchy friends to create a spell that backfires. 

This is a small book that is a super fast read. It is meant for the youngest of the youngsters. It is a cute book that has some fun illustrations. My favorite thing would have to be when Meg is coming down the stairs they staggered the words to follow along the stairs. 

It is hard to review books like this there is rarely much content to it. This is not a beloved childhood classic for me but I know that it is for others. I enjoyed it and if I had a little toddler I'm sure I would have enjoyed it even more. 

4 out of 5 stars

Picture Book Review: The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses By Paul Goble

Looking to fulfill a few more of my reading challenges I stumbled upon this book that I have never read before. The striking artwork on the cover had me eagerly scooping it up in children's section of the library. This Caldecott winning book fills in slots for 1001 children's books, old school kidlit, and picture book reading challenges.

Riding on the back of a horse a Plains girl ends up lost during a major storm. She is welcomed by a herd of wild horses and becomes their friend and part of their family. 

The best part of this picture book was the artwork. It was AMAZING! This is the type of picture book that has me flipping back through the pages to soak in the beauty of the art. I love how how motion is conveyed with things like her hair blowing outwards. 

The story was decent and showed the love that the girl had for both her family and her adopted horse family. I love the ending that plays into what you would see with traditional lore. 

4 out of 5 stars

Picture Book Review: Chanticleer and the Fox By Geoffrey Chaucer Illustrated by Barbara Cooney

When I was in college I decided to take a course on Chaucer. Well, let us just say that it was the hardest class I had ever taken. We read Chaucer in Middle English and it may as well have been reading it in a whole other language. If you think Shakespeare is hard to understand try reading Chaucer in Middle English. Chanticleer and the Fox is a retelling of one of Chaucer's tales. To be honest I don't remember reading this tale though I'm sure I did.  This book managed to cover a number of reading challenges I'm doing including The Old School Kid Lit, 1001 children's books, and The Picture book Challenge.

The tale is of a fox luring in a vane Rooster. Using flattery he manages to catch the Rooster. The Rooster uses similar logic to free himself from the fox.

I have never read this book before. I enjoyed the illustrations immensely. I am to understand that the illustrator actually researched artwork of that time. It is reflected in the art style. I love the simple color palettes and it really does make you feel like you are looking at an old tapestry or centuries old book.

The story itself is a good one but honestly I think it may be above the level of some younger children. The writing is not a familiar style to most children so some may struggle to understand it. Though I'm sure there are many who would enjoy it especially with the unique art style.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

2017 Old School Kidlit Reading Challenge

Hosted by Read At Home Mom

How to Participate

Each month, the challenge will focus on a different category. Choose a book that fits the category, read it, and then post a review on your blog or wherever you review books (Goodreads, LibraryThing, Instagram, etc.). At the end of each month, link up your reviews here at Read-at-Home Mom. (Link-up posts will be published on the last weekday of the month.) 

The monthly categories are as follows:

• January: Award winners - 1959 Caldecott Winner- Chanticleer and the Fox, 1979 Caldecott winner The Girl who Loved Wild Horses
• February: Books you loved in childhood 
• March: Published prior to 1945- Little Engine that Could, Pat the Bunny
• April: Fantasy stories 
• May: Animal stories 
• June: Required reading (classics or other books typically assigned in school) 
• July:  Family stories 
• August: Nonfiction  
• September: School stories 
• October:  Mysteries 
• November: Published in the year (or decade) of your birth 
• December: Winter stories