A Wolfishly Delightful Child of the Night
582545
Kitty, her name an oxymoron for a werewolf, is as unlikely a late night DJ turned Phil Donahue as one could find.  How this girl goes from nocturnal platter spinner to a woman syndicated for her sage advice is a somewhat bloody but entertaining tale which is well written.  Looking forward to reading more by this author in command of her craft.
4144400
'Max at Night' by Ed Vere is the second book starring the brave, black kitten. While I liked the first book a bit more, this one is charming and stars a plucky hero.

Max is very sleepy. He goes through his going to bed routine by brushing his teeth and sayiing good night to everything around him. There is one problem: when he says good night to the moon, it is nowhere to be seen. In spite of how tired he is, Max goes on a quest to find the moon. Can he stay awake long enough to find the moon?

It's a lovely going to bed book. Max is adorable. I think there was a bit more story in the first book, 'Max the Brave' but this is still a winner. The illustrations are fun, and Max is pretty cute. Perfect for the toddlers in your life.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
653183
This unique childrens book is a treasure  a delightful and wonderful tale of magic and the moon, of a pig wanting to belong somewhere, of a lonely girl, Maria, with a dream: a pig of her own. Luna is just adorable and the magic of the story splashes off each page of the book. I love it  the sentences flowing so smoothly, almost poetical, the stunning illustrations I loved the alluring and enchanting drawings.

A captivating and charming book for children of all ages; the very young can enjoy the colourful images and the lovely Luna, children from four to six years old and up will love to hear you reading the story to them. What a beautiful tale to show your (grand)children and what a great starting point to talk to and with them about accepting others and having self-respect, of believing in yourself, inspiring others and following your dreams.
2116680
This book is so much fun.  I've been an insomniac myself since I was 4 years old, and it's fun to see those spooky nights brought to life in such an adorable way.  I love the mileage Stan Yan gets out of the limited nighttime palette and his dynamic line work, and the book is just a great read as well.  I strongly recommend it for anyone with a young kid that gets scared of monsters, or a great big adult that sometimes hears the monsters in the basement too.
2296136
Rarely does one find a children's book that is as potentially appealing to adults as it is to children. 'Ella Enchanted' kept me up at night till the wee hours of the morning--I wanted to see what would happen!
The  first-person narrative is immediately endearing, capturing the personality  of the main character in just a few lines. All the major characters are  drawn and handled with care. My personal favorite was Ella's father--so  heartless, yet so likable at the same time. Such a complex character rarely  makes an appearance even in adult fiction.
The romance between Ella and  Char made me laugh and sigh by turns. While a deep romance featuring a  fifteen-year-old girl is not exactly believable, if one succeeds in  suspending disbelief there is a beautiful depiction of the relationship,  yet without ever becoming overdone or sappy.
I also liked the way Levine  draws on elements from the original fairy tale while giving them a new  twist--such as the obedience spell.
The only problem I had with this  book were the occasional logical gaps that detracted somewhat from the  plot's believability. Yet this is a minor detail, and one that I would  probably not have noticed at age nine--which is, after all, the ideal age  to read this book. But a teenager or an adult who is interested in fairy  tale re-tellings should enjoy this hilarious new spin on 'Cinderella'.
1829609
You know, sometimes these magicky-whimsical-fairy-tale books can be just a bit too coy, arch and twee for either kid or adult readers. Well, excuuuse me for being a grump, because this book not only pulls off magical whimsy, it sets the bar ridiculously high. It was everything I had hoped for, and more.

The story is deceptively simple. The Wild Conductor wants to trap an Ice Raven and our hero kids go along with him to keep an eye on things and make sure no creatures are harmed in the process. Ultimately, the kids have to fix an unfinished fairy tale and convince the Wild Conductor to do the right thing. There's a lot more and all sorts of clever and engaging side plots and developments, not to mention fantastical settings, but that's the basic idea.

Here's the important part, though, because this isn't really a "plot driven" story. This may be one of the few books I've read in which "magic" actually feels magical, and "fantasy" actually has the dreamy, compelling, and other-worldly ability to take the reader out of himself and to somewhere truly fantastic.

There's a City of Singing Clocks and a Forest of Night and all sorts of magical objects, but the real stars are Harper and the rest of the kid adventurers. Harper always carries a harp and a piccolo flute, (although she can play any instrument). Nate plays a tambourine. Liesel is a violinist, and her brother Ferdie plays the accordion. Wherever they go the kids have their instruments and their music with them, and they often communicate or express their emotions through music. This is presented in such a matter of fact and engaging style that it feels like a perfectly natural way to conduct oneself.

The kids are smart and plucky and big-hearted. Nothing here is dopey or precious. Music and fantasy and adventure are normal and the mellow, poetic narrative sustains and enhances the illusion. This may be the calmest, most laid-back, and yet most carefully shaped and crafted adventure tale I've read. It is fast paced and brief, but that's because just the right words - no more and no less - are used to tell just the right tale. And as a bonus, the drawings are completely in tune with the narrative and illustrate the tale in a quite satisfying and rather charming fashion.

I admit I was a bit taken aback by this book. The level of the vocabulary, the quality of its craftsmanship, the underlying current of good humor and good will, and the poetic but completely accessible feel of the writing just put this in its own category. Let's call it a "literary chapter book".

For what it's worth, this is the third of four Harper books. It appears that you might get a bit more out of them by reading them in order, but this one worked well enough as a standalone. I'd feel comfortable reading them in whatever order I could find them or get them. (These books were all originally published in Great Britain and seem only now to be arriving in the U.S., which is why they may be hard to find.)

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
3912799
I love this simple little story, delightfully illustrated by the author, which will immediately capture a child's imagination.  It is about being contentedly different, it's about dreams and being afraid: it's about courage, trust and friendship. It gently normalises the fears and encourages the confidence that knowledge, observation and understanding bring.  This story begs a sequel...let's hope we have more adventures in store with our two favourite balloons, Blue and Pinky.  I also appreciate, as will every child, the blank pages at the end which give the opportunity to draw and paint.  As a grandparent I love the fact that all this comes in an appealing package which will give hours of pleasure to any child.
3307077
Fire Touched all comes down to a boy who has left a girl, and she wants him back in the worse way. He looks to be all of ten but he is a powerful being, and she is a universe unto herself. One of Briggs's great accomplishments, in my opinion, is making this fantastical fairy tale seem anchored in everyday reality. The worlds she builds seem so close to our own we need only walk through the right door to be there.

For several books, we have been seeing awful things the fae sometimes do to children. Can there be any more heinous crime than to hurt, abuse and kill a child? Here we see perhaps the most abused child of all, his innocence stolen.

Next to the mostly ages-old fae, all of humanity are children. Luckily, there are other magical beings, the werewolves, willing to step up and protect the innocents. But how far are they willing to go? Humans have not been that good to the werewolves either. They may not wish to do so much for humans as the half-human, lone little coyote Mercy would like. Mercys great talent is attracting trouble and she at the top of her game in Fire Touched.

I liked how the book continued with familiar characters and issues  the ex-wife makes an appearance and some of the wolf pack still resent Mercy. They are all in for a surprise. As always, Briggs writes entertaining, popcorn fare in the best way. Lots of laughs and a fair amount of googly-eyes and cuddling with the handsome Adam, leader of the pack. This is seasoned, also as always, with sprinkles of history and current politics. It makes for escapist reading more thoughtful than the average bear.

My only complaint is the one I always have. The book ended and I want the next one right now.
4028266
My 22 month old daughter loves the D.W. books within the Arther book series by Mark T. Brown.  D.W. is a great little character full of spunk and curiosity and I must admit that I enjoy reading about her along with my daughter!  This book is one of her favorites and must be read every night at bedtime or like a previous reviewer stated, she says "Mommy, D.W. Picky Eater" until I agree to read it.  She has even memorized parts of it and pretends to "read" it herself.  It is a delightful book that will soon become a favorite of any child's library even if he or she is not within the recommended age group that this book calls for.
4842486
The Little Red Wolf was such a wonderful little book! It was a surprising and a little spooky, yet endearing retelling of The Little Red Riding Hood, and I loved it.

What initially piqued my interest was the promise of a unique retelling, and it definitely didn't disappoint in this area. It's one of the "what if" scenarios in which the wolves become prey and the humans are predators and I really enjoyed all the new elements of the story. I think that the idea is absolutely brilliant and would give a chance for a lot of important debates.

As this book is targeted at children, the writing is simple but the story is very engaging, preserving the tension till the very end. The tale is accompanied by the illustrations that really make the story come alive. The colours, the artist's style and techniques used are all truly gorgeous! I read a decent amount of graphics novels and illustrated stories now, and the art in The Little Red Wolf is definitely one of my favourite and most beautiful I've ever seen. I really liked how they changed with the mood and the artist carefully crafted even the smallest details. It was a true feast for the eye, and I can imagine that the printed copy would look even better.

In short, The Little Red Wolf by Amelie Flechais is a unique and thought-provoking retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale that will be a wonderful addition to any bookshelf.
457976
If you're unfamiliar with this author, you don't know what you're missing out on!

The author writes in a wonderful style that guarantees the attention of young minds. The pictures are also delightfully illustrated. This is the kind of book that makes you feel nice and warm, and all fuzzy inside!

I would highly recommend this enchanting children's book.
3498872
This is the tale of Trevor, a young boy who becomes one of those children who end up on milk cartons under the word Missing.

Trevor is living in a dark and dreary town called Superbia, along with many other children. Think of an orphanage from Victorian England. They are not allowed to say words like "parents" or "home." If they do, the boogeymen who run Superbia (and who kidnapped the children from their beds), will send them away for behavior modification, or send them to the Pantry, to be fattened up and eaten by the boogeymen. Becoming a meal for the boogeymen is the eventual fate of all the children.

After a very vivid dream about his parents, Trevor asks about going home, and is sent away for behavior modification. Around this time, he meets Maggie, a fellow orphan who also has memories of life before Superbia. She tells Trevor that she is part of a secret society whose aim is to help all the children who want to return home to actually do it. He also meets Epictetus, a one-eyed slave who is a leader in the "underground," and Zephyr, a very unique talking mouse. Trevor also learns about Trothward, a very nice place outside Superbia. He also learns about the long-term war going on between the Guild, who runs Trothward, and Lucian, the leader of the boogeymen. This leads Trevor to one adventure, and narrow escape, after another, while he is traversing many dank and dreary passageways beneath Superbia.

This is a young adult book that was made to be read aloud to older children, say between 10-13 years old. It may be a little too much for younger children. There are a number of dark and spooky bits in this story, and, being first in a series, there is not a "happily ever after" ending. The author does an excellent job with this tale from beginning to end, and it is very much worth the time.
290619
This book was purchased for our 15 month old granddaughter. Her Dad loves popup books and he and our daughter--and granddaughter are entranced by Sabuda's work. Last evening--the night before Christmas--I watched the toddler as the book was read. She touched carefully and and enjoyed the visual and tactile experience of the book as much as her parents did. The reindeer surprised her the first the they jumped from the page, and they are a bit ghostly--even menacing. But the entire book is magical and highly recommended for people of any age.
972215
What a fantastic twist on the "afraid of the dark" bedtime stories! Chester the Raccoon is having trouble sleeping but since raccoons are nocturnal, it's the daylight that's keeping him up. He keeps thinking he sees scary things in the sun's rays, the way children might complain of shapes in nighttime shadows. As usual, his mother is there to comfort him and help him relax for bedtime (and dream of nighttime adventures). The text is a simple rhyme that's sure to enchant even very young children.

Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book free from the publisher from NetGalley. I was not obliged to write a favourable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
1230770
This is a rollicking great read, ideal for younger children who will delight in the rhythm and repetition of the text. The illustrations are a feast for the eyes, mirroring the children's feast as the gulp down mulberries. Best of all, there's a delightful twist in the tale. Highly recommended, especially for parents looking for authentic African children's picture books.
1071710
This is a story about a friendly young werewolf named Ulf and his struggle against an evil foe.  Ulf, though a child, finds courage to save his friends after their capture and kidnapping.  The evil baron attempts to use despicable and savage methods to dispatch the humans and friendly monsters.  All in all, despite dealing with monsters, it was not overly scary, but was still rather suspenseful.  My son, 10 years old, got to the book before I did and he was so mesmerized that he could not put it down and read the whole thing straight through in 1 day.  They left the end open for more books to follow and we will definitely follow Ulf on his next adventure.
3992119
Jack and the dragon was a delightful twist about a supposed terrible creature and a young creative boy trying to prove there is good in everyone and everything. Jack is constantly laughed at though out throughout the story for his beliefs, but he never the less proves bravery can take you a long way. Children with these similar fears of monsters will find this particular tale quite satisfying with just the right mixture of adventure and fantasy to start off their nights. This book is quite suitable for teaching kids even though everyone maybe against you, does not mean you're always wrong. Kids will receive more confidence and fear less after reading about little jack and the small fleets he must pass in his quest for the large fire-breathing creature. Another positive note is the message of helping those in need which will make more parents feel fondly about the story. This has definably been added to the bookshelf for keeps as a new childrens classic tale with a very big twist.