Review: My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes

My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes

Written by Eve Sutton

Illustrated by Lynley Dodd

Publication date: 1978
Publisher: Puffin Books

ISBN: 978-0140502428

Summary/Back cover:

Lots of cats all around the world do exciting things like fly aeroplanes or play the violin – but my cat, an ordinary round-the-house cat, likes to hide in boxes. Children will love joining in with this fun rhyming story that is just right for beginner readers.

A classic New Zealand children's book with drawings by Lynley Dodd. This book is cute with lovely rhymes and illustrations but is quite repetitive to read. It would be good for kids when learning to read though and they love calling out "but MY cat likes to hide in boxes".

4 out of 5

Review written by Carrie

Look A Book! Giveaway

Look! A Book! is here!

The most amazing seek-and-find you'll EVER see!

Here's a little more detail about this cool book and Giveaway from Little Brown Books for Young Readers.....

This book has been on my coffee table the past few days and I'm enjoying the reaction to it by all of my friends kids! They are immediately drawn to it and it sure occupies their time and minds. Artist Bob Staake has filled it with visual goodness! (Interest Level: Ages 4 -8)

Book Description: Look! A book! A hook! A cowboy cook! Weird and kooky things that go! Some go fast and some go slow! Can you find the squawking crow? Go on a crazy seek-and-find adventure in this new picture book from award-winning artist Bob Staake. Die-cuts on every page draw readers into each themed scene and invite them to find the items hidden within the elaborately detailed spreads. From underwater worlds, to haunted houses and tree-top towns, there are endless details for readers to search for and discover. This inventive picture book format will have kids hooked from the very first die-cut page all the way through to the end where a gate-fold finale challenges them to go back for yet another look and even more surprises. Bob is best-known and widely celebrated for his picture books and this visual feast is some of his most exciting and creative work to date!

Book Trailer:



How do you enter?
Go to the comments section below - just leave an email address if your profile doesn't have one or I won't be able to notify you if you won. All entries will be assigned a number and the winner will be chosen by random.org. Giveaway closes at midnight PDT on Friday, February 11th, 2011. This is open to US residents. The winner will receive an email the next day.
GOOD LUCK!

Review: Kit the Cat

Kit the Cat

Written by Alison Maloney 

Illustrated by Maddy McClellan

Publication date: 2008

Publisher: Meadowside Children's Books

ISBN: 978-1845393557

Summary/Back cover:

Kit the Cat sits and spits at flash the fish who flips and flaps in the fish pond. Can kit the cat catch flash the fish or does dig the dog dare to save her?

This is one of the first books I was given for Robbie before he was born and it's still one of my favourites. The illustrator has to get co-credits for the book because they are so perfect. There's so much going on and the drawings are full of texture. The story is set in the garden around "a pretty paved pond" where Flash the Fish live and Kit the cat live. Kit himself (or herself) is a crafty looking cat set on capturing Flash but his nefarious plan is thwarted by neighbouring Dig the Dog. As you can tell, the story is full of tongue-twisting alliteration and rhymes. Example: "Kit the Cat licked and picked up Flash the Fish then span and ran through the clackety cat flap". I'm probably spoiling the story, but it does end well for Flash the Fish. It's a kid's story after all.

This book is fun to read, which is pretty important for a parent and you won't get too tired of it after the umpeenth reading. I haven't yet anyway.

My rating: 5 out of 5

Review written by Carrie

Review: Colour Me Happy!

Colour Me Happy!

Written by Shen Roddie

Illustrated by Ben Cort

Publication date: 2007

Publisher: MacMillan
ISBN: 978-1-40500-909-6

Summary/Back cover:

"When I'm brave, colour me orange."

A sparkly celebration of feelings with a fabulous rainbow finale!"

I have to confess to being a fan of the very short and simple children's book; when flicking through books to buy, anything more than 2, maybe 3, sentences per page sees me putting it down and moving on.  In my defence, our little dude is book OBSESSED and will bring out book after book to be read.  So, in keeping with my book-purchasing habits, this book is a one-sentence-per-page story about the range of emotions and the colours that can are associated with them - blue for sad, green for jealousy, pink for funny etc.

What really makes this book stand out are the absolutely gorgeous illustrations.  Hands down my absolute favourite of all the kids books, they are the most adorable pictures and have the added interest of glitter on parts of the drawings which always see my little one run his fingers over.  I don't know if it's because he has picked up on how much the adults in the house love this book, but our 17 month old will choose this one above all others to read.  He has been known to move on immediately to the next person to read it to him as soon as he has finished it with someone else.

A resounding 5/5.

Review written by QTCass

Review: I Udderly Love You

I Udderly Love You

by Kate Toms

Publication date: 2009
Publisher: Ice Water Press

ISBN: 978-1-92171-821-2

Summary/Back cover:

"I love you so much that I think I may burst!"

A reassuring story about unconditional love, told with a bit of whimsy and illustrated with delightful characters.  You'll find the message utterly moo-ving!

As the name implies, this story has the cute gimmick of being told from the first person perspective, with that first person being a cow.  Where possible, words have been "cow-ified"; moo-sic, moo-vement, moo-dy. And combined with a rhyming text result in a playful and fun story. 

The illustrations are sewn-felt collage and are so gorgeous it never fails to make me rue the fact that I can't sew and won't be able create something similar for a child's quilt.  I'm a bit of a sucker for this style of illustration and am always on the lookout to add to the few that we have.

Nice quick, amusing read along with the lovely illustrations have this on high rotation in our household.

4.5/5

Review written by QTCass

Book Reviews: Oliver at the Window and Loon Summer

Author: Elizabeth Shreeve
illustrated by Candice Hartsough McDonald
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

From the Book Jacket: When his parents separate Oliver must brave many new changes. He shuffles back and forth between his parents' homes. And now he goes to preschool every day. He doesn't know the kids there or his new teacher. Isolated and alone at first, Oliver slowly becomes part of the gang. Eventually he's able to help the newest student feel welcome at school. And his lion stays with Oliver everywhere he goes, giving him just the thing he needs to adjust to all the changes: courage.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Oliver at the Window is a MUST read for children who are feeling withdrawn or sad after a divorce. On top of those difficult feelings, sometimes kids have to move and change schools because of the divorce. It's no wonder detachment can become an issue for students. Oliver is experiencing this detachment. This simple and sweet story will empower and encourage kids as they are going through this experience....and they will come out okay.

Oliver eventually begins connecting with the other kids and participating in classroom activities. Sometimes we just need a little time. A new girl shows up with the same sort of detachment going on. But it's Oliver who steps in to support and guide her because of what his own experience has taught him. It's important for kids to know that through their own life journeys - they can help each other. Oliver is a wonderful role model.

Author: Barbara Santucci
illustrated by Andrea Shine
Interest Level: Ages 9-11

From the Book Jacket: My first morning on the lake I hear the loons. "Oh-OOOO-oooo." Their sad songs remind me Mom isn't coming to the cottage this summer.

Rainie knows that this summer will be different. As she and her dad spend time together at the cottage. Rainie is painfully aware of her mom's absence. Throughout the summer, Rainie watches a pair of loons on the lake - watches them lay eggs, hatch babies, and be together as a loon family.

"You told me loons stay together for life. Why can't you and Mom?" she asks her dad.

Loon Summer is an authentic hopeful story of a child adjusting to the difficult reality of changes in her own family. As summer progresses, Rainie grows in her trust and understanding of the unconditional love each of her parents will always have for her.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Divorce reminds me of the grieving process. It's a loss...a letting go. The absoluteness of a new beginning can be especially difficult. Rainie's story will be a familiar and helpful one to many children. She still wishes and hopes things could go back to the way they used to be. I appreciate divorce bibliotherapy validating those thoughts and feelings. Children will also find healing and comfort in Rainie's dads words to her, "My wish is that you'll never forget how much Mom and I both love you. Even when one of us isn't with you." This is what kids want to hear....love. I'm excited to have this in my lending library to kids and parents. 


A Link to These Books and Others You Might Find Helpful:

Review: Little Kiwi Looks After the Egg

Little Kiwi Looks After the Egg

Written and Illustrated by Bob Darroch

Publication date: 2004
Publisher: Penguin NZ
ISBN: 1869486641


Summary/Back cover:

Little Kiwi has a very important job: to look after his new brother or sister – whatever hatches out of the egg!  The only problem is the egg has a mind of its own and leads Little Kiwi on a wild chase through the New Zealand bush.

Will Little Kiwi manage to keep it safe?

My daughter (2.5 years) loves this book, she is in love with kiwis and thinks it's great. There are a lot of words in this book but I skip some words and make up our own story.  We love the whole NZ part of it all and it's exciting watching the Little Kiwi chasing egg all over the place.   So cute you have to read it. 

Review written by kiwigirl04