Jayne’s Childrens’ Book List
Baker and Taylor: The Mystery of the Library Cats by Candy Rodo
This is the first title in a newly independent reader series that combines fun storylines featuring two bookish cats, with factoids throughout to create an immersive reading experience for bibliophiles, cat-lovers, and learners of regional history and culture alike.
Meet Baker and Taylor, two cat buddies (opposite in every way) who are about to leave the comfort of their cozy public library reading nook to embark on one epic literary road trip!
After spending most of their time reading in the library, Baker and Taylor are encouraged by their friend Flora to get out and see the world. Their first stop? New York City. There, Flora tells them, they’ll meet another pair of cat besties eager to share their library—the 42nd Street branch of the New York Public Library —with them.
Review
Cats and libraries and books, oh my. Baker and Taylor are good friends and love going to the library. But when Flora the librarian tells them about a wonderful large library and they discover there are cats there, Baker and Taylor have to check it out. There are tidbits of information about New York City, the NYC Public Library, bodegas, and pizza places (among other things) sprinkled through the book for children to learn about as well as wonderful drawings showing our two feline adventurers. Remember, lions are cats, too. B+
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Little Book of Caring by Francesca Pirrone
A little book about caring and friendship. For people of all ages.
It’s easy to show you care. Say good morning, be helpful, listen when people speak . . . You’ll see that when you take care of others, they’ll take care of you too.
Review
Pig, wearing short pants and socks, is back to show us how to be caring as well as kind. Look after each other, say good morning, let others speak and listen to them; it’s easy to do, costs nothing, and can help make someone’s day. B
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A Better Way to Bell a Cat by Bonnie Grubman
Elwood, Bernardo, and Vincent enjoy a nice, easy life. Until the humans bring home . . . MEOW! Oh, no, a cat in the house! Goodbye, lazy days. Unless the mice succeed in their plan, of course!
A funny story about a new roommate and clever, scheming mice. For mouse and cat lovers ages 5 years and up.
Review
Well, the idea is cute and the illustrations are bright and fun to look at but I wonder if some of the words are in the reading grasp of five year olds. If not, maybe the book will teach them. I also had trouble telling the mice apart and knowing which one was talking when. While the message – don’t judge just on appearance alone is good, the execution is a little lacking. But it did make me seek out the medieval fable that the story is based on. C+
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Shoo! by Susie Bower
A raucous debut picture book about an invasion of pesky animals.
Mrs Golightly doesn’t like animals – and now a whole zoo has moved next door! No matter how hard she tries to shoo them away, she finds animals everywhere: a kangaroo on the loo, a giraffe in her bath, and even ants in her pants.
What can she do to get rid of these stinky, bothersome creatures?
Bursting with colour, delightful rhyme and outrageous humour, Shoo! is acclaimed children’s author Susie Bower’s first picture book.
Review
This is darling! The illustrations are fantastic and don’t just show the characters but the actions as well. The rhymes are silly and fun – alligators on radiators, armadillos on pillows, jellyfish in a satellite dish – and just the sort of thing that the age group its aimed at will probably enjoy listening to. Children outside of the UK might need to be told what a loo is. It’s also about not making snap decisions and that it’s okay to change your mind and make new friends. B+
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If you haven’t seen them, I was utterly delighted by Frankenstein (Baby’s Classics) and Dracula (Baby’s Classics). I just sent both two a small person who just turned one (I got her older sibling P is for Pterodactyl (because I am THAT auntie)) and I also shared my copies with a group of knitters (I don’t knit) and some said they wanted them immediately for their grandkids.
The NO MORE BITING cracks me up.
Well, okay, all of it really.
@Random Michelle: They sound like fun. Thanks for the recs.