kidlit | The Picture Book Review

Rot, the Cutest in the World! by Ben Clanton

December 20, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Simon & Schuster/Atheneum Books for Young Readers] Released out into the world yesterday – Rot, the Cutest in the World! is a picture book about a mutant potato entering a cuteness contest. It expertly touches on themes of beauty, high self-confidence, context, and who’s to judge. Rot explains these complex lessons in a fun, honest, and hilarious way. In Rot, the Cutest in the World!, Ben Clanton uses tons of humor to send a clear message that […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Children's Books, Humor, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

Small Walt – by Elizabeth Verdick and Marc Rosenthal

November 27, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books] In this enchantingly illustrated and uplifting story, we cheer for a small snowplow as he goes out in a big snow storm and surmounts even bigger challenges. Expert storytelling combined with a perfect blend of retro and modern illustrations makes Small Walt a win for young fans of snowplows everywhere. Where to Get Small Walt: [Affiliate Link]: Amazon.com [Local Bookstore]: Addendum Books [Public Library]: Worldcat.org Small Walt, with his sweet smile, kind […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Children's Books, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

Little Mouse Finds a Friend by Jeni Leidenfrost and Jessica Linn Evans

November 25, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Jovial Press] Here’s a sweet picture book about a small mouse that finds and adopts a caterpillar as a pet. Little Mouse Finds a Friend‘s characters are charming, it is beautifully illustrated, and the factual information is memorable and interesting. We meet Little Mouse one day as he is getting ready to head outside and play. No one else in his family is interested in joining him, so he heads off by himself. After meeting up with […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Moths, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Atlas Moth, Children's Books, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

If Picasso Painted a Snowman by Amy & Greg Newbold

November 21, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Tilbury House Publishers] In If Picasso Painted a Snowman, a very friendly hamster introduces 17 different artists and their particular iconic style to readers in a fun and memorable way. Readers are brought into the story by the use of a direct second-person conversational tone making them instantly feel part of the story. It’s an immediately absorbing and engaging book that is both informative and accessible. The book opens with the hamster postulating, “If someone asked […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Picture Books about Art, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Children's Books, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

The Peanut Fart/花生米样的屁 by Xiaoming Wang and translated by Adam Lanphier

November 15, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Candied Plums] You’ll never believe how much this book will make you care about a snail and his fart. You’ll be awed at how beautifully illustrated and how compellingly told this unusual picture book is. You’ll laugh, the kids will laugh, and you’ll find yourself amazed at how creative and touching The Peanut Fart is. The Peanut Fart combines stunning artwork and profound humor in such a creative and unique story that I didn’t know how […]

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

Hamsters Don’t Fight Fires! by Author Andrew Root and Artist Jessica Olien

November 14, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of Andrew Root] Hamsters Don’t Fight Fires is, in its own way, a masterpiece. It is funny, impossible, sweet, encouraging, and bizarrely realistic and logical. In theory, it shouldn’t work. In theory, a book about a hamster wanting to be a firefighter should be kinda funny and cute at best. Instead, the story and illustrations come together in this beautiful and strangely perfect way that leaves its readers feeling hopeful and energized. You need to read this […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Children's Books, Firefighters, Hamsters, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

Microbes by Amy Gallagher

November 13, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

[Review Copy Courtesy of ThunderStone Books] Microbes is a super fun and fantastically illustrated picture book that gives you tons of information about the crazy and amazing world of microbes! The artist and author, Amy Gallagher, makes learning about the world of microscopic organisms interesting, funny, engaging, and memorable. In this nonfiction picture book, information about six different types of microbes: bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae, archaea, and protozoa, is presented in an enthusiastic and playful fashion. She makes these microbes […]

Categories: Children's Books, Kidlit, Nonfiction Picture Books, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Children's Books, kidlit, Microbes, Picture Book, Picture Books

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

Itty Bitty by Cece Bell

October 11, 2017 by The Picture Book Review

In 2009, Cece Bell, author and artist of the acclaimed and wonderful graphic novel, “El Deafo,” created Itty Bitty, an elegantly simple and charming picture book. It has now been released as a board book and it is perfectly suited as such.

Categories: Cybils, Humor, Kidlit, Picture Books, Recommended Picture Books • Tags: Children's Books, kidlit, Picture Book, Picture Books

The Picture Book Review

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

Tag: kidlit