The Picture Book Review

Hector’s Shell by Thomas Radcliffe

April 27, 2016 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] Hector’s Shell is an endearing and charmingly illustrated story about grit, determination, and resourcefulness. One day Hector comes back to his spot on the beach after a successful day of snorkeling only to find that his shell is missing. Uh oh. That’s not good. But his reaction is admirable. He first thinks ahead to what his parents would say. “Where did you have it last? Have you […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Overcoming Obstacles, Picture Books about Turtles • Tags: Children's Books, Grit, Hector's Shell, Humorous Children's Books, kidlit, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books, Thomas Radcliff

Monster Needs Your Vote by Paul Czajak and Illustrated by Wendy Grieb

April 26, 2016 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] Told in an upbeat and swinging verse with bright and animated illustrations, Monster Needs Your Vote is an inspiring and fun picture book that shows readers that even though they’re not able to vote, there are plenty of things they can still do to make a difference. What has Monster been doing these days? Last we saw of him, he needed, and successfully received, a party. Now, […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Friendly Monsters, Picture Books about Politics, Picture Books about Running for President, Picture Books about Voting, Two year old loved • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, kidlit, Monster Needs Your Vote, Paul Czajak, Picture Book, Picture Books, Picture Books about Friendly Monsters, Picture Books about Politics, Picture Books about Voting, Read Aloud, Recommended Picture Books

Rufus: The Bat Who Loved Colors by Tomi Ungerer

April 25, 2016 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] Rufus: The Bat Who Loved Colors is a picture book originally published in 1961 by Tomi Ungerer. Rufus is the definition of a timeless picture book. Despite it being published 55 years ago, it is still very relevant, poignant, and illuminating. But above all, it is a wonderful book that is a joy to read aloud. So let’s meet Rufus, shall we? Rufus is your pretty standard […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Bats, Picture Books about Being Different, Picture Books about Communication, Picture Books about Finding Friends, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Highly Recommended Picture Books, kidlit, Phaidon Press, Picture Books, Tomi Ungerer

Meh by Deborah Malcolm

April 20, 2016 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] Meh is an engaging and engrossing picture book about a young man’s experience overcoming depression. This young man is enjoying his life when one day, for no particular reason, a blob grabs him and drags him down into an abandoned dark and misty swamp. He looks down and sees ghost-white paw prints that lead him to a friendly-looking feline waiting for him in a tree. Together they leave […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Depression, Picture Books about Overcoming Obstacles, Wordless Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Children's Picture Books, Deborah Malcolm, Meh, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books, ThunderStone Books, Wordless Picture Books

Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo’s Saturn Surprise by Oneeka Williams, M.D.

April 15, 2016 by The Picture Book Review

If you’re the planet Saturn and you suddenly find out that your rings are gone — who are you going to call? The super surgeon, Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo! Just give her a buzz on her watch and she, along with all of her incredible friends, will literally come flying to help.

Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo’s Saturn Surprise is fun, engaging, exciting, and educational.

Categories: Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Planets, Science Fiction Picture Books • Tags: Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo, kidlit, Oneeka Williams, Picture Book, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books, Science Fiction, We Need Diverse Books

Yann and Gwendal Le Bec on Creativity and Doubt, Making a Picture Book, and What Makes Them Laugh!

April 13, 2016 by The Picture Book Review

Yann and Gwendal Le Bec, creators of the picture book Danny, were kind enough to talk with me about their picture book, a bit about their process, what their parents did to cultivate their creativity, and the importance of laughter. I reviewed Danny last year (here) and we’ve read it a countless number of times since then. Danny’s subversive and playful humor paired with its bright and sophisticated illustrations make it a picture book that we happily come back to again and […]

Categories: Interview, Picture Books, Picture Books about Dentists • Tags: Children's Picture Books, flying eye books, Gwendal Le Bec, Highly Recommended Picture Books, Interview, Nobrow, Picture Books, Yann Le Bec

Mechanical Marvels (Record Breakers) by Jonathan Litton and Illustrated by Tom Connell and Ian Jackson

May 21, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] I had no idea that the Hughes Helicopter can fly over 1,860 miles on a single tank of fuel. I was surprised to learn that there are 500,000 pieces of junk currently floating in space. And I was even more surprised to learn that CAT Scans and MRIs were originally developed by NASA through their attempts to photograph the surface of the moon. I have learned more about […]

Categories: Kidlit, Nonfiction Picture Books, Picture Books, Picture Books about Machines • Tags: Ian Jackson, Jonathan Litton, Little Bee Books, Machines, Mechanical Marvels, Mechanics, Nonfiction Picture Books, Tom Connell

Daredevil Duck by Charlie Alder

May 12, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] Daredevil Duck desperately wants to be brave, but holy moley can it be hard! Some things are too dark, too fluttery, too wet, and too high — and those things can really make it hard for a little duck to be brave. To make things harder, there is the loud, obnoxious gang waiting on the sidelines to taunt and tease him — and dub him “Scaredy Duck”. […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Animals, Picture Books about Bravery, Picture Books about Ducks, Picture Books about Friendship, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Charlie Alder, Children's Books, Daredevil Duck, Ducks, Highly Recommended Picture Books, kidlit, Picture Books

The Squawks by Ruth Thorp

May 7, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] “Have you met the birds that SQUAWK the SQUAWKY talk of the SQUAWKING SQUAWKS? They come in many shapes and sizes…some SQUAWKS even wear disguises.” Come meet these very cute, very dapper, and very endearing little birds. The Squawks by Ruth Thorp is beautifully designed, fun to read aloud, and very funny. Summary: The squawking squawks are happy party birds that dance and swing and squeal and skip. […]

Categories: Children's Books, Picture Books, Picture Books about Birds, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Birds, Book Review, Children's Books, Highly Recommended Books, Highly Recommended Picture Books, kidlit, Picture Books, Ruth Thorp, The Squawks