Reading List by Jayne for Children
The Octopus by Guojing
Join a little girl as she discovers the hidden world of her new octopus friend in this stunning wordless picture book by critically acclaimed author-illustrator Guojing.
A little girl goes to the beach with her mother, never expecting the day full of magic and wonder that is ahead of her. When she scoops up a tiny octopus in her small, clear container, and they see each other eye to eye, there’s a spark between them! But a little octopus cannot be happy for long in a container. So the girl sets out to discover what the octopus needs. And that’s when something truly magical happens! Soon, the little girl is on an underwater adventure with her new octopus friend, where she discovers the joy and beauty of the octopus’s world and learns how she can help take care of the ocean in her own way.
Review
Wow, not a word spoken (well, actually written but you get the idea) and yet at the end, I’m crying happy tears. The images are delightful and the message is profound. Make a friend, be a friend, help a friend, and learn. And remember, try not to use plastic bags but if you come home with one, they can be recycled at grocery stores. Keep ’em off the beach and out of the water. (Stepping off the soapbox on the hill I would die on). A
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Flowers for Mama by Deborah Freeman
Deborah Freedman is back with a heartwarming picture book on patience and love, perfect for Mother’s Day!
For Mama’s special day, the kittens decide to gift her all sorts of flowers. Some are drawn and stamped. Others stitched and sung. Oleander, though, plants a seed in hopes of gifting her a real flower. But as Mama’s special day approaches, Oleander’s flower still hasn’t blossomed. Will he have a gift in time?
Flowers for Mama shows us many ways art can be made and how, with a little patience and a lot of love, very different flowers can all come together to form a whole garden, just for Mama.
Review
Oops, I know I’m late on this one but you can get a jump for next year! Have you ever wanted to give someone something special? You work on it. You wait. You watch it. But it’s not ready in time? Mamas know that the effort counts. And they know just how to reassure you that your effort is wonderful and they love you. Paint and collage go into the gorgeous and colorful images of four kittens making special things for their special mama. A
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The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires
An endearing story about a little girl who doesn’t think she can.
“Up there! The tree can be our ship!” one of Lou’s friends exclaims when they decide to play pirates. “Ummm …” responds Lou. Usually she loves adventures. But this is new. Lou has never climbed a tree before. And she knows she can’t do it. She doesn’t even want to try.
But this adventure does look fun, and when all her excuses run out, Lou realizes the bravest adventurers are those who TRY. An inspiring lesson for anyone who’s ever avoided something hard.
Review
Well, I generally adore books by Ashley Spires. There is humor, there are cute illustrations, there are often cats. Diverse Lou, her friends, and Lou’s cat are adventurers. They play together well and have fun. Then along comes something that Lou doesn’t feel like trying. She makes a ton of excuses but doesn’t just come flat out and tell her friends that she’s never tried to do this and doesn’t want to. Then she does try … and fails. I like the idea that she doesn’t force herself to keep trying to do what she doesn’t want to and plans to maybe try again later but … I’m not keen on overriding your reasonable (as the tree is drawn tall and with no lower limbs) reservations about something. C+
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Cat Shapes by Aidan Cassie
Cat Shapes by by Aidan Cassie
The contortionist antics of some sly cats help teach babies and toddlers about shapes in this charming board book.
Clever and mischievous cats take on different shapes in this adorable concept board book. A curious cat climbs into a box to investigate and forms the shape of a SQUARE. A thirsty cat crawls into a bathroom sink to get a drink and spreads into an OVAL. A sneaky cat slips into a drawer to take a nap and stretches into a RECTANGLE. And, at the end of the day, all the cats cuddling together take on the best shape of all: the shape of their owner’s HEART!
Award-winning author and illustrator Aidan Cassie really gets how cats behave ? and what amuses very young children! Using simple text, bright colors and spot-on visual humor, Cassie showcases six different cats morphing into the six basic shapes that babies and toddlers are learning to recognize and name. For each one, the cat is shown approaching or near its target on the right side of a spread, with intriguing text: “A curious cat can be a …” Turn the page, and the left side of the next spread reveals where the cat landed, and in what shape: in this case, “SQUARE.” The cat and its shape-shifting behavior are the whole focus of each of the illustrations. Small children will delight in this age-appropriate introduction to shapes, sure to become a new favorite read-aloud!
Review
This is a cute book to learn shapes, colors, and words. Toddlers can follow along as mischievous cats get into all kinds of things and show off their shapes. The cats also have personalities that are showcased by what they’re doing – the hungry cat licks her lips, the fancy cat struts, the sleepy cat yawns. At the end, the toddler can also count all the cats. B
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George the Mouse (in a Log Pile House) by Rebecca Atanassova
Always follow your whiskers. Your whiskers will lead you home…
Deep in a quiet garden, tucked within a carefully built log pile, lives a small mouse named George. His world is cozy, safe, and familiar-but George can’t help wondering what lies beyond it. One day, guided by curiosity and courage, he sets off on an adventure into the wide and wondrous world.
As George journeys farther from home than he ever has before, he encounters new places, unfamiliar sights, and unexpected friends. Along the way, he learns that the world is full of both beauty and uncertainty-and that even the smallest creature can be brave when it matters most. But when George finds himself far from everything he knows, he begins to wonder: how will he ever find his way back?
Told with warmth, simplicity, and heart, George the Mouse in a Log Pile House is a gentle story about exploration, resilience, and the meaning of home. It reminds young readers that it’s okay to venture out, to be curious, and even to feel a little lost-because sometimes the journey itself helps us discover where we truly belong.
Inspired by the real-life work of English wildlife photographer Simon Dell, whose enchanting Log Pile Village has captured the hearts of hundreds of thousands around the world, this beautifully illustrated picture book brings that magical world to life in a whole new way. From tiny doorways and woodland paths to the quiet companionship of new friends.
Review
A map! This one starts with a picture map! I love these books that let you see a whole book world on a page. It’s also “a place where kindness grows.” The painted images are the classic type that I grew up seeing in the books I read as a child. The story is like a gentle hug on a warm summer day. This is a lovely book to settle into and read to an delighted child. B+
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