Julia’s House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke

Published on July 16, 2014 | Leave a response


The cartoon-like illustrations in Julia’s House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke (First Second Books, September 2014) perfectly match the child-like imaginative story.  It begins with fantastic personification:

Julie’s house came to town and settled by the sea.

And Julia is obviously not a normal girl, for when she decides to open her home to lost creatures, she finds herself welcoming not just “patched up Kitty” but a sad troll and all sorts of other monsters. (more…)

Santa Clauses by Bob Raczka

Published on July 15, 2014 | Leave a response

Wait, is that snow I see outside?

Nope, it’s the sprinkler and kiddie pool. But nevertheless, it’s time for a Christmas in July book review!

Santa Clauses by Bob Raczka (Carolrhoda Books, September 2014) is a great book for the upcoming holiday season. With 25 different haiku poems, Santa prepares himself and his workshop for the upcoming Christmas holiday. (more…)

Bug on a Bike by Chris Monroe

Published on July 14, 2014 | Leave a response

When you think of anthropomorphic bugs, you don’t often think of them riding a bike. Even in Pig and Small (which I reviewed a few weeks ago), the bug is unable to bike ride. He’s a bit too small.

But in Bug on a Bike by Chris Monroe (Carolrhoda Books, October 2014) the bug has a bike just his size and he rides it to all of his friends’ houses to invite them to some mysterious event.

The narration and the dialog that bug speaks to his friends (including an athletic pickle and a nickle) is all in an amusing rhyme. Yet, the destination of bug and his animal friends remains unknown until the very end! The illustrations, done with watercolor and ink, are delightfully ridiculous. It could not be otherwise. How else could a story with an athletic pickle dancing be told?

Raisin’s comments are that this book is so much fun, and I have to agree. I don’t want to spoil it for you, so you should find it yourself when it comes out this fall.

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book.

Starring Me and You and Goodnight, You by Geneviève Côté

Published on July 13, 2014 | Leave a response

Starring Me and You by Geneviève Côté (Kids Can Press, March 2014) and Goodnight, You by Geneviève Côté (September 2014) are the two most recent books in the adorable Piggy and Bunny series, this time focusing on putting on a play and having a nighttime camp out, respectively.

In all the books in this series, Piggy and Bunny have a disagreement about something, but ultimately, they come to a resolution together. The author writes only in the dialogue of the two animals (each animal’s words shown in a different font). The illustrations also tell the story, giving emotions to animals that appear simply drawn. (more…)

There Was an Old Sailor by Claire Saxby

Published on July 12, 2014 | Leave a response


There Was an Old Sailor by Claire Saxby and Cassandra Allen (Kids Can Press, March 2014) is a delightful rendition of the “old lady” song, this time featuring a sailor on the sea.

In this tale, the old man swallows a krill, a jellyfish, and more, leading up to a shark and whale of course! He does not die as the old lady often does, but rather the old sailor burps and sails off to sea as the sea creatures disperse in the swirling waters around him.

The gorgeous illustrations (rendered in gouache and pencil) are also simply stunning. To add to the delight, the last pages include simple facts about the animals featured in this story. Although there is a plethora of books continuing the “old lady” song, this one certainly stands out. Who can resist seeing how an old sailor (supposedly) swallows a whale?

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book.