Book Review | The Picture Book Review

Anna and Johanna: A Children’s Book Inspired by Jan Vermeer Written by Géraldine Elschner and Illustrated by Florence Kœnig

July 13, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Prestel Publishing] What if there was more to Vermeer’s paintings? What if there were stories that we didn’t know about the people he painted? What if there were secrets? Connections? Incredible events and coincidences that we never imagined? Wouldn’t that make an interesting story? Wouldn’t it be fun to imagine? In Anna and Johanna, Géraldine Elschner has written such a book about the women in Vermeer’s The Milkmaid and in The Lacemaker, and the way she […]

Categories: 2018, Children's Books, Fine Art Picture Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Art, Picture Books about Birthdays, Picture Books about Siblings, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Art, Book Review, Children's Books, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

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Little Rabbit’s Questions – 小兔子的问题 – by Dayong Gan and translated by Helen Wang

March 19, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Candied Plums ] Little Rabbit’s Questions — with its black-and-white ink illustrations and elegant touches of blues, reds, and yellows — is a stunning picture book with new takes on classic themes of growing up and a mother’s love for her child. One day while Mama Rabbit and her child, Little Rabbit, are outside, Little Rabbit begins to ask questions. “Why are your eyes so big? Why are your ears so long? Why does your nose twitch? […]

Categories: 2017, Bilingual Picture Books: Mandarin/English, Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Bilingual, Book Review, Children's Books, kidlit, Mandarin, Picture Book, Picture Books

Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima

March 15, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Reviewed from Copy Courtesy of Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers] Harriet Gets Carried Away is a wonderful and adventurous story about Harriet and her amazing imagination — or possibly about Harriet and her real and incredible journey to Antarctica (it depends on what you think really happened). Either way, this story, with its enchanting illustrations, adorable characters, and fantastic blending of reality and fantasy, makes for a wonderful read with children. It playfully and effortlessly elicits amazing conversations […]

Categories: 2018, Diverse Picture Books, Picture Books, Picture Books about Penguins • Tags: Book Review, Books, Children's Books, kidlit, Penguins, Picture Book, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books

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Norman The Slug with the Silly Shell by Sue Hendra

March 14, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Aladdin/Simon & Schuster] Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell is a light-hearted and brightly-illustrated picture book about finding a way to be who you want to be – especially if you weren’t born that way. Norman is a slug, but when he looks over at the snails, he’s in awe of them. He wants a beautiful shell like they have. He really wants to hang out with them and join in on their group pyramid. […]

Categories: 2017, Picture Books, Picture Books about Being Different, Picture Books about Being Yourself, Picture Books about Belonging • Tags: Book Review, Books, Children's Books, Picture Book, Picture Books

BRAVE by Stacy McAnulty and Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

March 12, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Running Press Kids] “Brave kids can save the world. Just by being…brave.” Have you read Brave yet? If not, you need to. It’s an amazing picture book. With it’s powerful, direct text, and bold, bright illustrations, Brave will floor you. As an adult, it will put you in awe of everything your kids have to do daily just to grow up. Good luck making it through the first few readings without having to fight back tears. […]

Categories: 2017, Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Bravery • Tags: Book Review, Brave, Children's Books, Picture Book, Picture Books

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Who Was That? by Olivier Tallec

March 9, 2018 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Chronicle Books] In Who Was That? readers learn that they are not as observant as they think they are, but that won’t stop them from laughing about it. In asking us questions about what we’ve just seen, this book deftly and playfully shows us how vulnerable we are to oversight and misdirection. You’ll feel compelled to stop, go back, and examine each page. Even when you’re sure that you’re ready for the next page turn and […]

Categories: 2018, Children's Books, Humor, Kidlit, Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Chronicle Books, Olivier Tallec, Picture Book, Picture Books, Who Was That?

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My First Book of Patterns by Bobby & June George and Art by Boyoun Kim

October 16, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Reviewed from Copy Courtesy of Phaidon] My First Book of Patterns is a beautifully designed and elegant board book that introduces young ones to different lines, shapes, and the patterns that they create. Done in bold, vibrant colors with scenes that are eye-catching and immersive, My First Book of Patterns is a wonderful book to read with young ones. Created by Montessori educators, designers, and artists, this 66-page board book takes patterns-and-shapes format to a whole new level. Its layout and […]

Categories: Board books, Children's Books, Kidlit, Recommended Board Books • Tags: Board books, Book Review, Children's Books, kidlit

Most People by Michael Leannah and Illustrated by Jennifer E. Morris

September 26, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Reviewed from Copy Courtesy of Tillbury House Publishers] Most People is a picture book that gives the gift of perspective and reassurance. This picture book, with its beautifully illustrated friendly faces and thoughtful portraits of people, is here to help calm the anxious and reaffirm the hopeful. It’s a picture book that impresses upon us that most people want to be good, do the right thing, and that they want to see you happy, too. “Most People love to smile. Most […]

Categories: Children's Books, Diverse Picture Books, Kidlit, Nonfiction Picture Books, Picture Books, Picture Books about Behavior, Picture Books with Great Characters, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Books, Children's Books, Children's literature, kidlit, Picture Books

A Mischievous and Enchanting Tale: The Grotlyn by Benji Davies

September 19, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Reviewed from Copy Courtesy of HarperCollins Children’s Books] From the extraordinary artist and storyteller Benji Davies comes a divinely illustrated and expertly plotted picture book that is thrilling and fun. Told in a lyrical and haunting tone, the first read through is spooky and mysterious and holds readers in complete suspense as they wonder what on earth is the Grotlyn? Where is it going? And what is it going to do next? The ending has a light-hearted and mischievous flair […]

Categories: Children's Books, Halloween Picture Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Bravery, Picture Books about Underwear, Picture Books with Great Characters, Recommended Picture Books, Spooky Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Books, Children's Books, Children's literature, kidlit, Picture Books

The Picture Book Review

Reviews of Children's Board Books, Picture Books, Activity Books, and Graphic Novels

Tag: Book Review

Anna and Johanna: A Children’s Book Inspired by Jan Vermeer Written by Géraldine Elschner and Illustrated by Florence Kœnig

Little Rabbit’s Questions – 小兔子的问题 – by Dayong Gan and translated by Helen Wang

Harriet Gets Carried Away by Jessie Sima

Norman The Slug with the Silly Shell by Sue Hendra

BRAVE by Stacy McAnulty and Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Who Was That? by Olivier Tallec

My First Book of Patterns by Bobby & June George and Art by Boyoun Kim

Most People by Michael Leannah and Illustrated by Jennifer E. Morris

A Mischievous and Enchanting Tale: The Grotlyn by Benji Davies