Children's Book Review: The Owls of Wickenden Wood by Shauna Kramer Barnes, illustrated by Leonid Rozenberg

The Owls of Wickenden Wood by Shauna Kramer Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A beautifully illustrated and wonderous tale of woodland magic.

The Owls of Wickenden Wood by Shauna Kramer Barnes is a beautifully illustrated children’s picture book of a magical woodland adventure. The cool crispness of the pictures brings to life the mysterious tale of a young visitor suddenly transported to a secret woodland setting where owls talk and rule over the comings and goings in their presence. The suspense builds as the child traveler is asked to tell a story to the owls in exchange for returning to the woods from which he came.

In the drawings, the owls quickly multiply in number, eager to hear a new story, and the young visitor must gather his courage to meet their challenge. As his confidence builds, he is able to please the gathering with his tale and successfully gains permission to return to his home woods. The omission of color from the increasing crowd of owls lends an uneasy edge to the story, and I know that if I had been confronted with the burgeoning mass, I would have been fearful of the situation. The story provides plenty of opportunities for side discussions with young listeners about how they would feel, what they would do, and what they thought would happen next, making this a nice choice for reading aloud to small, intimate groups. For the most part, the illustrations present images of close-up action, with only glimpses of a foot here or there of the young visitor. This may make the visuals less effective when reading aloud to larger groups who may be unable to discern the half-seen evidence of the child’s presence.

Rosenberg’s illustrations match the emotions and vibe of the author’s woods and complement the energy of the story. Very young readers may be a little alarmed by the sudden and growing crowd of owls initially, but once the simple and happy resolution is revealed, all should be satisfied and reassured.

I recommend THE OWLS OF WICKENDEN WOOD for sharing with young listeners in the classroom, in after-school programs, and as a bedtime story.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

View all my reviews

Children's Book Review: Santa Claws: A Christmas Tail for Cats by Denise Alicea; illustrated by Sadiqa Akhter

Santa Claws: A Christmas Tail for Cats by Denise Alicea
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This adorable Christmas story is about Apollo, the cat who becomes Santa Claws.

Santa Claws: A Christmas Tail for Cats by Denise Alicea is a cute and cozy story for the little ones besides the cats. With an adorable cat main character, a lovely tale arising from his wish for all his fellow cats who have not yet found their forever home, and vivid, realistic illustrations by Sadiqa Akhter, this book would be a perfect one to share in the days leading up to the big night.

Apollo, a former stray, has found his forever home, a loving family, and all the amenities his little kitty heart could desire. But when Santa Claus comes down the chimney on Apollo’s first Christmas at home, he’s amazed by what Santa will accomplish that night. His only wish is that all the cats still living on the streets could have their own home. However, Santa Claus has a plan.

The story is heartwarming, and there’s a lesson there for children and adults to explore. Apollo immediately thinks of others who need a “Santa” in their lives. The illustrations of Apollo with his large, yellow-green eyes will melt your heart, and each setting is perfectly depicted, whether it’s inside his warm and cozy home, a cold, dirty alleyway, or a snow-laden street scene. I think children will enjoy looking at the pictures alone or while the story is read aloud. There is a lot of detail to notice in the backgrounds of each beautiful picture. This is a book that will require more than one reading.

I recommend SANTA CLAWS to children from young to old, especially those who like cats.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

View all my reviews

Children's Book Review: The Sky Is Not Blue by Joy Jones; illustrated by Sanger Cloud

The Sky Is Not Blue by Joy Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful children’s picture book that combines science and taking the time to see the world around us.

The Sky Is Not Blue is a delightful new children’s picture book about Robert, an adorable child who draws the world, specifically the changing aspect of the sky, as he sees it rather than relegating it to an indiscriminate blue background. I think I fell in love with this fictional child the first time he appeared on the page for his infectious joy and inspirational enthusiasm for life and the beauty he saw around himself. His consistent connection to the real look of his world eventually affects his teacher as well.

I would have loved to have had this book in our library to share with my children when they were Robert’s age. Besides the storyline of observation and conscious intent, the book includes small bite-sized and child-friendly facts and the basic science behind why the sky is seen as blue and other colors. I was glad to watch Robert remain steadfast in drawing what he actually saw rather than succumbing to the cliché of always having a swath of blue at the top of his drawings.

I recommend THE SKY IS NOT BLUE to those with young readers or listeners, especially ones with an affinity for drawing and coloring.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy via Netgalley.


View all my reviews

Book Review: Alexander Finds a Home (Alexander's Adventures, #1) by Vicky Ann Meier; illustrated by Mentari

Alexander Finds a Home by Vicky Ann Meier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This cute picture book promotes embracing being your own unique YOU!

Alexander Finds a Home is the first book in a new children’s picture book series by author Vicky Ann Meier and illustrated by Mentari. It features Alexander, a young kitten, and his two siblings, who go to a cat shelter to find their forever home. All the kittens at the shelter are different from one another: various colors, long fur or short fur, large and small. One by one, each kitten is picked by a visitor to the shelter to come to live with them at their home, except Alexander. Each prospective owner has some features or characteristics they are looking for in the new pet: a specific color or gender or even whether they have a sibling they can adopt as well. But one day, a girl comes in, and in her eyes, Alexander is exactly the kitten she’s looking for.

The story is upbeat, and the kittens are optimistic about going to the shelter. Alexander does get a bit anxious when he begins to think he may not ever get selected, but the happy ending comes quickly. The narrative is simple and easy to follow, so even younger children can enjoy this one. The illustrations are clean, clear, and adorable. I am delighted to see this is a planned series of Alexander’s further adventures.

I recommend ALEXANDER FINDS A HOME for young children and lovers of picture books featuring kittens.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy via Netgalley.


View all my reviews