Book Review | The Picture Book Review

Weldon Wexford & Murkle Monster by David Ezra Spinner and Illustrated by Peggy Collins

April 15, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy of this book from the author. No other compensation was received.] Weldon Wexford & Murkle Monster is a fun and magical picture book about the ups and downs, challenges and successes, of being a child wizard. After reading this story and getting to see what life as a wizard is really like, you’ll feel that you and your family have more in common with wizards than not, and you might find yourself grateful that your […]

Categories: Kidlit, Picture Books about Friendly Monsters, Picture Books about Pets, Picture Books about Wizards • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Highly Recommended Picture Books, Picture Books

Monster Needs a Party by Paul Czajak and Illustrated by Wendy Grieb

April 7, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] It is Monster’s birthday! Whoo Hoo! Now it is time to celebrate, but when Boy calls up all of Monster’s friends — they are disappointed that no one can come. How sad! Fortunately, Boy has a great idea! Maybe they can’t have the birthday party that Monster imagines, but they can go to Pirate Land! Monster is understandably disappointed that he isn’t going to […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Birthdays, Picture Books about Friendly Monsters, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Highly Recommended Picture Books, kidlit, Mighty Media Press, Monster Needs a Party, Paul Czajak, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books, Wendy Grieb

Fearless Fred and the Dragon Written by Maureen Sudlow and Illustrated by Kat Quin Merewether

April 3, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy of this book from the author. No other compensation was received.] Fearless Fred and the Dragon is a stunning, poetic, and sweetly surprising picture book about a little boy and his dog as they set out into the world to find a dragon! It feels timeless yet modern, dramatic but adorable, and whisks you into the wonderfully imaginative world of childhood. “He rode into the distance, his helmet on his head. Gallop, gallop went the hooves as through the […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Dragons, Picture Books about Friendship, Picture Books about Knights, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Dragons, Fearless Fred and the Dragon, Highly Recommended Picture Books, Kat Quin Merewether, kidlit, Maureen Sudlow, Picture Books

The Good Morning Game by Hervé Tullet

April 2, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] A simple and joyous story of waking up, taking a shower, eating breakfast, and going off to school makes for a brilliant board book that both my sons love!!! All of Tullet’s books are amazing. He solidly blurs the lines of book and toy to make for a gleeful experience full of creativity and giggles for people of all ages. With The Good Morning Game, you draw a […]

Categories: Board books, Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Board Book, Book Review, Children's Books, Hervé Tullet, Highly Recommended Picture Books, kidlit, Picture Books, The Good Morning Game

Snail, Where Are You? by Tomi Ungerer

March 31, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] Snail, Where Are You? is a charming and delightful search for a snail! Each page has at least one snail-like swirl — could that be the snail? No? Maybe here? Not quite! Find it on the tuba, the waves, on the tails of ball-balancing pigs and more! Where is that snail? Originally published in 1975, it’s a timeless picture book that both my children […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Snails, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Highly Recommended Picture Books, kidlit, Phaidon Press, Picture Books, Snail, Tomi Ungerer, Where Are You?

Danny by Yann & Gwendal Le Bec

March 27, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] If you’re into smart, subversive, and satirical humor — this is the book for you! While getting his teeth cleaned by two gossipy, kibitzing cleaner fish, Danny is aghast that they think he has a lisp! Instead of saying to himself, “They’re random fish, what the fiddle diddle do they know?” and moving on with his life, he runs to his friend Steve the snake. […]

Categories: Cautionary Tales, Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Animals, Picture Books about Dentists, Picture Books about Hippopotamuses, Recommended Picture Books, Suggested Piece for Forensics Storytelling • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Danny, Dentistry, Gwendal Le Bec, Highly Recommended Picture Books, kidlit, Picture Books, Yann Le Bec

The Monkey Balloon by Rebecca Eisenberg and Mindy Winebrenner and Illustrated by Yuki Osada

March 20, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] The Monkey Balloon, filled with bright, bold backgrounds and silhouetted people, tells an engaging story about a little girl and her father in search of her lost balloon. Papi gets a beautiful balloon of a monkey holding a banana at the carnival and gives it to his daughter, Mimi. Mimi is devastated when her monkey balloon is carried away by the wind. Her father, […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Balloons, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Book Review, Children's Books, Highly Recommended Picture Books, kidlit, Mindy Winebrenner, Picture Books, Rebecca Eisenberg, The Monkey Balloon, Yuki Osada

Max the Flying Sausage Dog by John O’Driscoll and Richard Kelly and Illustrated by Arthur Robins

March 20, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] What is better than getting a dog on your birthday? Maybe a dog that can fly? How about a dog that can fly AND thwart a burglary? Throw in some sausages, set the story in London, and you have the brilliance and magic that is Max the Flying Sausage Dog. When the story begins, we’re introduced to Tom on his seventh birthday. Tom is one […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Dogs, Picture Books about Flying Dogs, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Arthur Robins, Book Review, Children's Books, Dogs, Flying Dogs, Highly Recommended Picture Books, John O'Driscoll, kidlit, Max the Flying Sausage Dog, Picture Books, Richard Kelly

Peace is an Offering by Annette Le Box and Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

March 13, 2015 by The Picture Book Review

[I received a review copy of this book from the publisher. No other compensation was received.] Peace is an Offering is a prayer, a meditation, and a hope for a better world. Yet, it goes beyond simply crossing our fingers and presenting a “nice idea” with giving children real things that they can do for themselves and each other. When you take small things like giving a kiss, saying nice things to each other, and keeping a person company and […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Divorced Families, Picture Books about Friendship, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Annette Le Box, Book Review, Children's Books, Highly Recommended Picture Books, kidlit, Peace, Peace is an Offering, Picture Books, Stephanie Graegin

The Picture Book Review

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

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