Thursday, February 25, 2021

Review - Where Children Sleep

Where Children Sleep

by James Mollison
Date: 2010
Publisher: Chris Boot
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 116
Format: hardcover
Source: library

“Where Children Sleep” presents English-born photographer James Mollison’s large-format photographs of children’s bedrooms around the world—from the U.S.A., Mexico, Brazil, England, Italy, Israel and the West Bank, Kenya, Senegal, Lesotho, Nepal, China and India—alongside portraits of the children themselves. Each pair of photographs is accompanied by an extended caption that tells the story of each child: Kaya in Tokyo, whose proud mother spends $1,000 a month on her dresses; Bilal the Bedouin shepherd boy, who sleeps outdoors with his father’s herd of goats; the Nepali girl Indira, who has worked in a granite quarry since she was three; and Ankhohxet, the Kraho boy who sleeps on the floor of a hut deep in the Amazon jungle.

Photographed over two years with the support of Save the Children (Italy), “Where Children Sleep” is both a serious photo-essay for an adult audience, and also an educational book that engages children themselves in the lives of other children around the world. Its cover features a child’s mobile printed in glow-in-the-dark ink.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

After I read and reviewed Gregg Segal's Daily Bread: What Kids Eat Around the World, this book was recommended to me by a Goodreads friend. While I can't say that I liked Where Children Sleep as much, I'm not sorry I read it (though I doubt I'd ever pick it up again).

Unfortunately, this is a very depressing children's book. Focussing on the extreme ends of the economic spectrum, the book shows us children either living in squalor or residing in privileged (or spoiled) excess. There's not a lot in between, and I—having grown up squarely in the middle class—found it difficult to relate to any of the children. The photos don't help. I'm not sure if it's the lighting or a particular filter that was used, but there's a distinct post-apocalyptic feel to the photographs that I do not like. Even the mansion bedrooms look dark and dingy, and I wouldn't be surprised to open the curtains and see something out of a nightmare.

As an adult, I found this to be a fascinating—if sometimes horrifying—read. This book is supposedly aimed at children, but I would definitely suggest parental guidance as there are some disturbing images and text (though, thankfully, not always together). I'm thinking mainly of the children in Kenya who must go through circumcision as teenagers (without crying out, so as to not bring shame on their families), the little girl who works in a quarry, and the girl who sleeps in an attic prison in her employer's home (the sleeping space even has bars). These things could be confusing and frightening for an eight-year-old (which is where the recommended reading age begins).

I do appreciate the fact that more ground was covered in Where Children Sleep than in Daily Bread. However, the offerings were still pretty sparse and an opportunity was missed to show children of different levels of privilege in more familiar places. Where are all the aboriginal children? Entries from places such as Canada and Australia wouldn't have been that difficult to create, and would have provided some good information to children who live in those countries but might not know that much about how their neighbours live. Unfortunately, I've yet to see a book in this genre that has a really diverse selection of children.

The premise is good. The information (and the writing it's presented with) is decent. I'm not a fan of the photographic style, but your mileage may vary. This is an important book that highlights the living conditions of some children in our world... but I'd be hesitant to give it to actual children unless a parent is going to sit down and read/discuss it with them.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.83 out of 5

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Review - B Is for Baby

B Is for Baby

by Atinuke
illustrated by Angela Brooksbank
Date: 2019
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 34
Format: e-book
Source: library

Atinuke and Angela Brooksbank, creators of the award-winning Baby Goes to Market, pair up again for a bright and beautiful first book of words.

B is for Baby. B is for Brother. B is for going to see Baba!

One morning after breakfast, Baby's big brother is getting ready to take the basket of bananas all the way to Baba's bungalow in the next village. He'll have to go along the bumpy road, past the baobab trees, birds, and butterflies, and all the way over the bridge. But what he doesn't realize is that his very cute, very curious baby sibling has stowed away on his bicycle. Little ones learning about language will love sounding out the words in this playful, vibrantly illustrated story set in West Africa.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I thought this was going to be an alphabet book, but it's not. Instead, it's an exploration of words that start with "B" that's set in West Africa.

A baby goes with her brother on his bike to visit Baba (their grandfather) and bring him some bananas. The journey is populated with lots of "B" words (including some doozies that even parents might have trouble pronouncing, like "bougainvillea"). The colourful illustrations bring the setting to life.

This is only the second of Atinuke's books that I've read. There are definitely some culture shocks (like, who thinks it's a safe idea to toss a baby in the banana basket on the back of a bike and ride it through baboon-infested areas?) but it's still interesting to see the settings.

Overall, this is a nice title for very young children that really does give plenty of examples of things that start with "B". They'll probably love the cute baby and her ride to Baba's house (even if it does make adults cringe a little).

Quotable moment:


Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Thursday, February 18, 2021

Review - Ten Animals in Antarctica: A Counting Book

Ten Animals in Antarctica: A Counting Book

by Moira Court
Date: 2016
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Antarctica – an icy desert with mountain ranges and sleeping volcanoes, home to the spinning end of the earth and to an array of quirky creatures. Moira Court brings the diversity of Antarctica to life in this gorgeous new picture book, combining clever counting with lyrical prose and stunning artwork.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Despite the fact that this is a counting book, it's not really for very young children. The vocabulary and the detailed notes at the end make this more suitable for school-aged children who probably already know how to count to ten.

That said, though, this is a really nice book that highlights ten different animals that live in Antarctica. Through detailed collage and interesting adjectives, Court brings the continent to life. There are probably some species here that you've never heard of. But don't worry... there's a brief explanation of each one at the back of the book, along with some information about the continent itself.

Setting the mismatch between reading level and format aside, this is a lovely look at Antarctica and the animals that live there. I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy learning about wildlife... even if they're far past the point of learning how to count to ten!

Quotable moment:


Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5

Review - Too Many Carrots

Too Many Carrots

by Katy Hudson
Date: 2016
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Rabbit has too many carrots, which overtake his house. When he tries to move in with friends, more chaos ensues. Will Rabbit learn to change his selfish ways?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Rabbit has so many carrots! He stores them in his burrow, but that means he has nowhere to sleep. So he goes in search of a new house. Unfortunately, he takes his carrots with him, and those veggies end up destroying the homes of all of his friends until, finally, everybody is homeless... except for Rabbit. Will he find a way to make up for his carrot-hoarding selfishness?

The pictures are quite cute, but I wasn't really a fan of the story. Rabbit's obsession with his carrots grew grating after a while. I also didn't like how Rabbit was shown climbing into Tortoise's shell. That's not how it works.

If you're a fan of Hudson's artwork, check this one out for the illustrations. But if you're looking for books about friendship and overcoming selfish tendencies, you might want to look elsewhere.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.83 out of 5

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Review - Valentine's Day with Snowman Paul

Valentine's Day with Snowman Paul
(Snowman Paul)
by Yossi Lapid
illustrated by Joanna Pasek
Date: 2021
Publisher: Yosef Lapid
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: Amazon.ca

How will Dan describe the meaning of love to his best friend who happens to be a Snowman?

With stunning watercolor illustrations and delightful rhymes, this holiday-themed picture book explores the meaning of Valentine's Day and show just how much fun it can be with beloved family and good friends.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is the third of the Snowman Paul books I've read and, for me, it's one of the weakest. It's not terrible, by any means; it still has cute pictures and a nice message. However, I felt it was kind of a rehash of some of the other books rather than an entirely new story, and the punctuation in this one bothered me a little more than it did in the other titles.

That said, it's a refreshingly normal title—considering its release date amid all the COVID craziness—that shows friends getting close to each other to provide love, comfort, and support. As Snowman Paul and his friend Dan share examples of how they've felt love for each other, we're reminded of a simpler time when children were actually allowed to get close to their very best friends.

If you're a fan of Snowman Paul and his stories, you'll probably want to check this one out. If you're looking for a simple but sweet Valentine's book for kids, you might find something to like here, too.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Review - This Is the Glade Where Jack Lives: Or How a Unicorn Saved the Day

This Is the Glade Where Jack Lives: Or How a Unicorn Saved the Day

by Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis
Date: 2021
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

This unicorn-friendly twist on “This Is the House that Jack Built” will charm readers young and old

This is Jack, all sparkly and white, whose magical horn shimmers bright, day and night.

Inspired by the beloved rhyme “This Is the House that Jack Built,” this is the whimsical tale of Jack the unicorn and the magical glade where he lives! Full of fantastic creatures from fairies and mermaids to gnomes and trolls—even a dragon—this sweet and silly book is a wonderful read-aloud for creatures big and small.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is kind of a goofy take on "This Is the House That Jack Built" that's populated by whimsical creatures. The cumulative nature of the story means that it's repetitive, but the illustrations keep the interest level high as gnomes, mermaids, trolls, and goblins keep joining in. When a cranky dragon is aroused from her nap, though, it's up to a unicorn to set things right.

I kind of wish that the blurb didn't give away the unicorn as Jack, because it's not immediately obvious when you start reading. I wondered who Jack was the whole time, and I was pleasantly surprised when we were introduced to the unicorn. But then I saw the blurb on the back, which kind of blows the surprise. Oh, well. Chalk it up to a weak marketing decision.

The illustrations are colourful and detailed, and there's plenty to examine in each spread. Each fantasy character is rendered with their own personality, and the whole thing is quite pleasant to look at.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. If you're looking for variations on "This Is the House That Jack Built", you might want to take a look at This Is the Glade Where Jack Lives.

Quotable moment:


Premise: 3/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.57 out of 5

Saturday, February 6, 2021

Review - A New Kind of Wild

A New Kind of Wild

by Zara González Hoang
Date: 2020
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

This sweet author-illustrator debut celebrates imagination, the magic of friendship, and all the different ways we make a new place feel like home.

For Ren, home is his grandmother’s little house, and the lush forest that surrounds it. Home is a place of magic and wonder, filled with all the fantastical friends that Ren dreams up. Home is where his imagination can run wild.

For Ava, home is a brick and cement city, where there’s always something to do or see or hear. Home is a place bursting with life, where people bustle in and out like a big parade. Home is where Ava is never lonely because there’s always someone to share in her adventures.

When Ren moves to Ava’s city, he feels lost without his wild. How will he ever feel at home in a place with no green and no magic, where everything is exactly what it seems? Of course, not everything in the city is what meets the eye, and as Ren discovers, nothing makes you feel at home quite like a friend.

Inspired by the stories her father told her about moving from Puerto Rico to New York as a child, Zara González Hoang’s author-illustrator debut is an imaginative exploration of the true meaning of “home.”

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book made me kind of sad. I guess it's supposed to be about friendship and seeing the beauty in your surroundings wherever you happen to be, but I just felt sorry for poor Ren, uprooted from paradise and plunked in the middle of a city with all of its sensory onslaughts. It's nice that he had Ava to show him that the city had its own beauty, but how would that help a reader who's longing for home and hasn't made any friends?

So... I basically spent a lot of this book being mad at Ren's mom.

That said, the story is okay and the illustrations are colourful and engaging. I might have enjoyed the story more if I actually believed that going from a simple wilderness life to a polluted city one was a good thing.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.67 out of 5

Review - Choo-Choo School

Choo-Choo School

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
illustrated by Mike Yamada
Date: 2020
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

No racing in the haul-ways! From the late, beloved author Amy Krouse Rosenthal, a look at seven adorable train cars on their first day of school.

All aboard the train-car pool! A new lineup of students is off and rolling to Choo-Choo School. After reciting their classroom rules — Work hard, play fair, be kind — it’s time for some math to get the wheels turning. Then everyone’s ready to climb a hill in gym (it’s good to blow off steam), sing songs in music (Flat Car is a bit off-key), and learn the whole alphabet, especially the letter R. In one of Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s last books, lighthearted verse portrays a world where train stations are classrooms, the conductor doubles as the teacher, and Boxcar is happy to hand out tissues to anyone who ah-choo-choos. Bright, energetic illustrations by animation artist Mike Yamada bring the whole clickety crew to rollicking life.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm not sure what to think about a book that's published this many years after its author's death. Unless the author specifically set aside books to be published after her death, it seems a little opportunistic. What if certain books weren't published for a reason?

Now, Choo-Choo School isn't bad, but it's not great. It will probably appeal to very young children with its cute train-car characters... especially if those kid love trains. For everyone else, though, this is little more than a run-of-the-mill rhyming picture book with an iffy rhythm and little plot. A bunch of varied train cars go to school to learn how to be... themselves, I guess. That's literally all there is. There's no conflict. Nothing really happens. If you're looking for something with a story, this isn't it.

The illustrations are fun, though, and I can see this appealing to little train fans. It's no masterpiece, but it probably won't tarnish Rosenthal's reputation, either.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.71 out of 5

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Review - Imogene's Antlers

Imogene's Antlers

by David Small
Date: 1985
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

The family doctor, the school principal, and even Imogene's know-it-all brother, Norman, fail to resolve her dilemma. Imogene, the cook, and the kitchen maid, however, make the best of things, finding unusual uses for Imogene's new horns. Meanwhile, the problem appears to be solved when Imogene awakes the next morning antler-free. But the family (and the reader) are in for a surprise when Imogene comes down to breakfast.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'd heard of this book before I picked it up. Not surprising, given that it's been around for over 35 years now.

Imogene's Antlers is a cute story about a little girl who wakes up one Thursday morning to find that she has antlers. This takes some getting used to, and everybody has their own reaction. Some are helpful (the kitchen staff turn her into a giant birdfeeder) while others... not so much (her mother just continually faints). Imogene herself doesn't seem too upset by her new accessories, and goes to bed that night seemingly content. When she wakes on Friday, her antlers are gone. But are her problems?

The illustrations are quite cute, showing the little girl and her family try to deal with her giant antlers. While I wasn't crazy about the mother being depicted as a stereotypical fainting woman, the historical setting makes it not quite as offensive. I also appreciated the author's note in the edition I read, which tells us how he came up with the idea for Imogene and her strange problem.

This is charming and funny, and should appeal to most readers who like a touch of fantasy in their picture books. Give this one a look if you haven't already done so.

Quotable moment:


Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.17 out of 5

Review - Daily Bread: What Kids Eat Around the World

Daily Bread: What Kids Eat Around the World

by Gregg Segal
Date: 2019
Publisher: powerHouse Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 120
Format: hardcover
Source: library

As globalization alters our relationship to food, photographer Gregg Segal has embarked on a global project asking kids from around the world to take his "Daily Bread" challenge. Each child keeps a detailed journal of everything they eat in a week, and then Segal stages an elaborate portrait of them surrounded by the foods they consumed. The colorful and hyper-detailed results tell a unique story of multiculturalism and how we nourish ourselves at the dawn of the 21st century.

From Los Angeles to Sao Paulo, Dakar to Hamburg, Dubai to Mumbai we come to understand that regardless of how small and interconnected the world seems to become each year, diverse pockets of traditional cultures still exist on each continent, eating largely the same way they have been for hundreds of years. It is this rich tapestry that Segal captures with care and appreciation, showcasing the page-after-page charm of Daily Bread. Contrasted with the packaged and processed foods consumed primarily in developed nations, questions about health and sustainability are raised and the book serves as a catalyst for consideration of our status quo.

There's an old adage, "The hand that stirs the pot rules the world." Big Food is stirring the pot for children all over the world. Nonetheless, there are regions and communities where slow food will never be displaced by junk food, where home-cooked meals are the bedrock of family and culture, and where love and pride are expressed in the aromas of stews and curries.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

A friend on Facebook posted an article about this book, prompting me to seek it out. It's a fascinating look at the diets of children around the world, showing how food corporations have touched nearly every life on our planet.

Profiling a week's diet of children from a handful of countries, the book highlights the contrasts and the similarities of what kids eat. Quantity doesn't always equal quality, and those living in some of the wealthiest places also have the worst diets, full of packaged food and lots of sugar. I found the indigenous children in Brazil particularly striking, especially compared with their city counterparts; the former have diets that would make a nutritionist weep with happiness, while the latter would just make a nutritionist weep. Societal norms are also expressed in the children's words, like that of a nine-year-old girl from India who isn't allowed to go to school because she has to take care of her baby brother... whom her mother loves more than her.

This is a long book, and will probably take a few sittings for most readers to get through. But it's interesting, and the spreads of food are fascinating to look at. I was, however, disappointed by the amount of typos, and the selection of places is a bit sparse. That last point is understandable, given funding issues, but I would've enjoyed seeing what kids ate in other places, too: Mongolia, Russia, Iceland, northern Canada, Australia, South Africa... and many more could have been included. The fact that even the USA is highly concentrated in southern California makes the selection of children seem... well, kind of bunched up. There isn't as much diversity as there could've been, even though it was interesting to see how diets varied wildly even within a particular city.

Readers who enjoy non-fiction titles like Children Just Like Me will probably be the audience for this book. It's not necessarily a children's book, either; adults will probably find the subject matter just as fascinating.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5
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