Review: Munch

Munch

Written and Illustrated by Emma McCann

Publication date: 2005

Publisher: Meadowside Children's Books

ISBN: 1-84539-045-8

Summary/Back cover:

There's a huge hungry monster on the loose eating everything in its path.  Munch the little monster stays at home to guard his house.  But will the massive muncher munch Munch?

Review:

We chose this book because the bite mark out of the bottom corner appealed to my 2.5 year old (the picture above doesn't show it, but it looks like this - sorry I can't find a bigger picture!)

The story itself is quite a cute wee story, about a monster who finds his toaster and jam have been eaten by a bigger monster, and ends with a relatively predictable (for parents) twist, which my boy loved! The illustrations are bright and uncluttered, which I enjoy for my children - if you have a little boy that loves monsters and food, then do check this book out.

My rating: 3.8 out of 5.

Review written by Bronwyn

Review: Handa's Surprise

Handa's Surprise
Written and Illustrated by Eileen Browne

Publication date: 2006

Publisher: Walker Books
ISBN: 9781406308945

Summary/Back cover:
Handa puts seven different delicious fruits in a basket to take to her friend Akeyo as a surprise. But Handa's walk takes her past a variety of animals, and the fruits do look very inviting...

Review:
This is a deceptively simple story. It has very few words but the illustrations are rich and colourful and show a traditional African tribal village. There is a great opportunity for discussion about animals, lifestyle and different fruits. We did a week where Monkey at one fruit from the story each day... It was a great way to introduce new tastes.

Rating: 4/5

Review written by LatteJunkie

Review: Green Eggs and Ham

Publication Date: 1962
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 978-0-00-715846-1

Ratings:
amazon.com: 4.7 out of 5 (246 ratings)
goodreads.com: 4.28 out of 5 (59,031 ratings)

Summary/Back cover:
When Sam-I-am pesters a grumpy grouch to eat a plate of green eggs and ham, we soon find we can't know what we really like until we have tried it!
By combining the funniest stories, craziest creatures and zaniest pictures with his unique blend of rhyme, rhythm and repetition, Dr. Seuss helps children of all ages and abilities learn to read.

This is one of those classics that every child should read - I'm a huge Dr. Seuss fan, and am forever adding to my (ahem, I mean, my childrens') collection of Dr. Seuss books.

Green Eggs and Ham is probably one of the best known books that he wrote, and is now catering to it's 3rd or 4th generation of readers. Dr. Seuss is well known for making up words and creatures in his stories, but this books is not one of them - all the words and creatures will be familiar to children.

Dr Seuss' books are split into three groups: the blue back, the green back and the yellow back books. This is one of the green back books, which are "for children just beginning to read on their own" - other books in this group include Fox in Socks, The Cat in the Hat, and Ten Apples Up on Top (yes, all of which we have in our collection!)

I thoroughly recommend Dr. Seuss in general (I'll be reviewing more of his books in the future), and particularly recommend Green Eggs and Ham - we probably all read it as children, and our parents probably read it too. It's only fair that our own children get to know the classics of the children's book world too!

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 - one that should be bought and read until the parents have it memorised!

Review written by Bronwyn