4 stars A beautiful story that examines ocean pollution from the perspective of a turtle. The reader follows Little Turtle as she traverses her ocean home, noting the changes that dampen its colors and the silent creatures (plastic bags, bottles, and other garbage) that quickly multiple. Though she experiences great darkness, there are those ready…
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4 stars A lovely mythical version of “Over in the Meadow” that incorporates counting and magical creatures into a soothing rhyme. Magical read from a twin writing duo. The book also includes a scavenger hunt feature for added engagement. Readers are challenged to find the griffin on each page as they traverse the Woodland to…
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5 stars It feels slightly odd reviewing this audiobook as it isn’t quite a traditional audiobook. Prelutsky’s poems are set to music complete with a banjo, mandolin, saw, percussion, fiddle, slide trumpet, guitar, bass, keyboard, and kazoo. This makes the it feel more like a music CD than a book, but provides a wonderful listening…
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4 stars A fast-paced story that pulls the reader into a magical world of fascinating creatures. Auggie lives on an island and uses his talent to care for the wonderful animals who roam there. Though helped by Fen, Miss Bundt, and the unseen Professor Cake, what Auggie really wants is a friend. The artwork pairs…
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3 stars An interesting fictionalized story surrounding the shark attacks of 1916. I liked this original novel slightly more than the graphic novel adaptation (though I do like that there is more information in the backmatter of the graphic novel). This is the first book I’ve read in the series. They are very popular at…
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2 stars Okay read. I’ve since gone back and read the original novel and found the original to be a less sensationalized account. The artwork in this is too over-the-top. The incorporation of historical facts into a fictionalized story was interesting. Tarshis gives Chet a whole backstory and his own struggles outside the shark storyline,…
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3 stars Told in short chapters with simple language, this fictionalized account of Ivan’s story places Ivan at the center, giving him voice and agency in making change for himself and his friends. A wonderful story that highlights the importance of animal rights and the ethical treatment of animals. Applegate uses many of the real…
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3 stars A picture book telling the story of Ivan, how a gorilla became a shopping center attraction and the public’s changing understanding of animals in captivity. The book goes through some of the main events of Ivan’s story, including some dark times. It touches on various aspects of human treatment of wild animals and…
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4 stars A hilarious collection of poems that taps into the whimsey, humor, imagination, and oddity of childhood. Great for those who enjoy Shel Silverstein or as an introduction to poetry. These poems are wonderful to read aloud and are paired with fun drawings from James Stevenson that really bring them to life. Throughout the silliness, there are also…
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5 stars I’ve found when I really like a book, it’s hard to put into words how great it is. Hence, this will be a relatively short review. Non-stop adventure. I was hooked from page 1. This gripping tale features fantastic artwork and a cast of characters that stick with you. A missing Pig Wizard,…
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