Reading List by Jayne for Children
Holly Jolly Kitty-Corn : A Picture Book by Shannon Hale
This festive kitty-corn tale features Christmas decorations, gingerbread houses, one (almost) perfect tree—and the magic of true friendship.
The best part of Christmas is the merry music! No, it’s the gingerbread! No, it’s definitely decorating the tree!
Kitty and Unicorn can’t wait to spend their first Christmas together! But try as they might, they can’t seem to agree on their favorite festivities.
Will the magical best friends pull off the perfect Christmas, or will all their plans come tip-timber-crashing down?
The magical, bestselling team of Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham return with a cozy and heartwarming holiday story for kitty-corns everywhere.
Review
Kitty and Unicorn are best friends always. But even best friends can disagree on what their favorite thing is. They just need to be sure to communicate and realize that it’s okay not to like the same things as much. It’s friendship and being together that’s the best. And singing Christmas Carols – fa la la la la, la la, la la. B
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My Someone : A Pet Adoption Story by Yuko Torii
A heartwarming picture book about a stray dog’s journey to finding his forever home.
A little stray dog wanders the streets alone, afraid of everything he comes across—loud city noises, getting caught in the cold rain, and bigger dogs that fight for scraps. He doesn’t like it!
And he especially doesn’t like it when he gets caught by animal rescue and is forced to be cleaned and scrubbed. But everything changes when a family chooses him to take home, helping him slowly discover all the things he does like—playing fetch, eating delicious food, and being loved forever.
Through rich art and sparse text, debut author-illustrator Yuko Torii shows how to be grateful for every step of life’s journey.
Review
Oh, this one will tug on heartstrings in all the best ways. A young dog is alone in the world and running from what he doesn’t want – loud noises, big dogs, being hungry – when a rescuer picks him up, swooshes him in a bath, clips his nails but also gives him a chance for what he does want – his someone.
The text is simple and the illustrations are sparse yet cute and show what the young dog faces without being too overwhelming for young readers. You can almost feel the calm when he enters his new house and then see his joy at discovering yes, this is home and he’s found safety. B
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Crouton : One Cat’s Adoption Tale by Kristine A. Lombardi
Join Crouton, a lovable shelter cat, as she searches for her perfect person—because not everyone would be the right fit. But wait! Who is that over there? This heartwarming adoption story playfully told from the pet’s perspective celebrates the joy of finding a furever home.
Each day I watch people walk by my crate.
I am always on the lookout for my person.Crouton is starting to wonder if her person is out there… But wait! Who is that adorable little girl? All the other animals are trying to adopt her!
When Crouton finally takes the little girl home, she makes sure she is well-fed, well-groomed—she even helps her focus on her homework and lets her know when it’s time to take a break!
Perfect for cat lovers or anyone who has ever adopted a pet, this simple story told from Crouton’s perspective will inspire readers to see the world through the eyes of the pets that chose them.
Review
A young cat in the shelter eagerly waits for her person to come adopt her. Lots of people walk by but no, they’re not the right one. Then suddenly, there she is! She’s adorable but she has to notice Crouton first. Once she does, it’s love at first sight and Crouton is going to take good care of her person once they get home.
This one turns adoption on its head with the cat being determined to take good care of its person – making sure she gets sleep, food, playtime, grooming, and still makes the bus on time. Then how to pass the day? Sleep, naps, and more sleep are good ideas. This is a cute way for adopters, young and old, to learn what a pet needs and be ready to be the best adopter ever. B
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Cantaloupe and HoneyDo Take the Bus by Mike Boldt
Two hilarious melons try new things in the picture book series from the bestselling illustrator of I Don’t Want to be a Frog. Climb aboard as they learn how to take the bus to school!
Cantaloupe and HoneyDo are taking the bus for the first time. HoneyDo can’t wait for the wild ride. “You are thinking of a roller-coaster,” Cantaloupe explains, a little nervous. Once they catch the bus (no net needed!), find a place to sit, and decide the gum stuck under the seats is not for snacking, they discover that playing tag while bus-riding is out. But having a thumb war, doing rock-paper-scissors, reading a book together, and making new friends are all in! And there just may be a wild ride awaiting them at their destination after all.
Meet Cantaloupe and HoneyDo. Cantaloupe brings the caution and HoneyDo the confidence. Together, they’re learning what they can’t do, at least not at first, and what they totally can—with a little practice, a little care, and two smart melons. With friends like these, new things are can-do.
Review
Best Melon friends Cantaloupe and HoneyDo are back and this time they’re riding the bus to school for the first time! They’ve got lots of questions but thankfully the bus driver knows all the answers. And before they even get there, they make a new friend, Broccoli, play games, and find snacks stuck under the seat. The bus is great!
This is a fun and somewhat silly introduction to riding a school bus that will have children laughing and ready to take on a new experience while giving parents the chance to warn children not to eat the snacks they find stuck under the seats. B
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Catnip Mouse by A. J. Smith
A disagreement between two animal friends turns into a laugh-out-loud word game with heart.
Vera (the cat) is happily playing alone with her catnip mouse when Gipp (the dog) desperately tries to join the fun. When she doesn’t respond, Gipp decides he’ll impress her with his magic wand but instead accidentally destroys Vera’s toy! Attempting to cheer her up, Gipp offers to use his wand to replace the catnip mouse, suggesting a series of fantastical rhyming alternatives. Would Vera like a ketchup joust? No. A cattle blouse? No! How about a cactus house? NO! Vera’s had enough. And soon neither of them has their favorite toy. Is there some way the friends can patch things up?Writer and illustrator A. J. Smith has created a delightfully silly picture book filled with inventive language and fanciful images. This entertaining rhyming word game is tucked inside a warm and satisfying emotional story about friendship and compromise. The story will appeal to children who like to play alone, those who long to be included – and those who go back and forth depending on the day. A perfect read-aloud, this fun book could inspire children to make up their own rhymes or even create their own rhyming game. It also could lead to discussions on topics such as cooperation, communication and different ways to play, and would support character education lessons on kindness and empathy.
Review
Not all children, or cats and dogs, want to play the same way or the same way all the time. Here Vera is happy alone with her catnip mouse before Gipp tries to jump in with his magic wand. Things go wrong in delightfully rhyming ways with illustrations that convey Vera’s increasing distress and Gipp’s desperate efforts to fix things for his friend.
After Gipp feels he’s ruined things, Vera sees her unhappy friend and tries to work together to fix things and repair their friendship. I think this is probably better for younger children who can enjoy the funny illustrations to go with the increasingly silly rhymes. B
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Diary of a Marine Biologist by Anita Thomas
My name is Emma, and I am a marine biologist. A marine biologist is a scientist that studies life in the sea. Did you know that 70 percent of our planet is covered by oceans?
Follow the adventures of a marine biologist for a week, and learn about our magical, mysterious, watery world. Full of amazing facts, incredible creatures, and beautiful illustrations, this book gives you insights into:
Whale monitoring and how these enormous creatures talk to each other
How clownfish populations are increasing with the help of hatcheries
How giant cuttlefish are the chameleons of the sea and communicate by changing their skin color
Discovering a new species of sea snakes
How humans are building reefs to help protect diverse marine life from extinction
How surfing teaches us to ride the waves and understand the ocean
Review
This is cool with colorful illustrations. Emma takes us through a week at her job where she gets to explore, monitor, and help marine life using camaras, notebooks, hydrophones, quadrats, and scuba gear among other tools. She helps breed “Nemos” for the pet trade so that wild populations of clownfish aren’t wiped out, listens to whales, watches cuttlefish put on a light display, builds reefs, and discovers a new species of sea snake. I know two marine biologists and wanted to read the book because of them. SV and MJ, this is for you. B
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Serafina Makes Waves by Matthew Burgess
Introducing an irresistibly over-the-top new kitty character who’s ready to make a big splash!
Meet Serafina. If there’s one thing you should know about Serafina, it’s that she absolutely, positively HATES water. Running faucets, rain, or the sea? No thank you. So even though she looks fantastic in goggles, Serafina is NOT happy to be forced into a swim class by the powers that be. NOTHING can convince her to get into that disgusting pit of seething water. Nothing, that is, except maybe a very beloved old friend who needs a hand.
The first book in an unforgettable new picture book series from acclaimed creators Matthew Burgess and Robin Rosenthal shows how trying something new can lead to unexpected joy.
Review
When I was young I was very much like Serafina – a bit judgy of new experiences and often reluctant to try something. I was the one who tried to get out of things and had to be coaxed into or just flat told, “yes you will try/do this.” I wish I had had a book like this to show me that new things can be fun, if only you’ll let them be. And that you can look cool, like Serafina and her bestie Noodles, in goggles. B+
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What a lovely assortment of books, Jayne!
@Kareni: I had fun reading all of them. ☺