Children's Book Review Tuesdays: Do Not Open The Box

Title: Do Not Open the Box

Author: Timothy Young

Illustrated by: Timothy Young

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Why I Read This Book: I received this ebook from the Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my review.

About the Book (from Edelweiss):  

Benny spots a big cardboard box with a note taped to it saying, "Do Not Open." His imagination runs wild, and it's almost too much for a curious boy to bear. He thinks about all of the things, good and bad, that could be inside that box. A birthday robot? A wolverine? An entrance to another world? What should he do? This endearingly illustrated tale of a classic childhood dilemma has a surprise ending and offers a peek into a young boy's mind as he weighs tantalizing possibilities against the risks of breaking the rules.

Review

Do Not Open the Box is a cute, imaginative story about the mysteries of what could be in a box labeled "Do Not Open". The illustrations are great! The story is intriguing, although somewhat bland. I think it would be a great bed-time story and could be really interactive with your children ("what do you think could be in the box?").

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 0-6 years

Overall Rating: 4/5

Children's Book Review Tuesdays: David and Goliath

Title: David and Goliath

Author: Katherine Scully

Illustrated by: Simona Sanfilippo

Genre: Christian Children's Picture Book

Why I Read This Book: I received this ebook from the Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my review.

About the Book (from Edelweiss):  

Can young David win against a giant? Read the story of David, the shepherd boy who fights the mighty giant, Goliath. These beautifully illustrated classic Bible stories are perfect for reading together as well as reading alone. The most popular stories from the Old Testament are retold in easy-to-read language and provide a perfect introduction into the Bible. The series allows children to become familiar with colorful stories from the Old Testament using the familiar picture story format. Whilst the language is simple and easy to understand, the detailed illustrations support the text and provide ideal opportunities for spotting things and for further discussion.

Review

Making biblical stories relate-able and interesting to children might seem like a challenge, but David and Goliath makes it seem easy! This version of the biblical story of David's battle with Goliath is perfect for children. It shows that you can do anything with God by your side. This version is not too violent for young children. The illustrations are beautiful and engaging. It's perfect for children of any age!

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 3-5 years

Overall Rating: 4/5

Purchase Link

Amazon

Children's Book Review: It's Not About Your Mrs. Turkey

Title: It's Not About You Mrs. Turkey

Author: Soraya Diase Coffelt

Illustrated by: Tea Seroya

Genre: Christian Children's Picture Book

Why I Read This Book: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my review.

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

Thanksgiving is a celebration of bountiful harvest, but more than just great food, the true meaning of Thanksgiving goes deep into the roots of family, friends, trust, hope in times of hardship and much more. 

This delightfully illustrated children's story is sure to become a tradition for you and your family. It will be a helpful tool as parents, grandparents, and teachers instruct their children on the important historical background behind this holiday and to reflect on the importance of family, friends and a thankful heart.

Review

What is Thanksgiving truly about and what does it mean to you? It's Not About You, Mrs. Turkey is a charming and beautifully illustrated children's picture book about the history and true meaning of Thanksgiving. It highlights the pilgrim's voyage to the New World and gives just enough details of their history to keep young children entertained.

It's Not About You Mrs. Turkey is in the same series of books as It's Not About You, Mr. Pumpkin (that I previously reviewed here). Both of these books have fun, beautiful illustrations and rich text that would keep children entertained through multiple readings. I can imagine myself begging my Mom or Dad to read this book to me all throughout the year, not just through the holidays.  I will also be reviewing another book in this series soon: It's Not About You, Mr. Santa after Thanksgiving. I am already int he Christmas mood (I may have put my tree up already...) and I cannot wait to review this final book that the author has generously given me for review.

As an additional bonus to the books in this series, all the proceeds from this series of books (The Love Letters Book Series) goes to a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping children, As the Stars of the Sky Foundation, Inc. 

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 4-10 years

Overall Rating: 4/5

Purchase Link

Amazon

Children's Book Review Tuesdays: It's Not About You, Mr. Pumpkin by Soraya Diase Coffelt

Title: It's Not About You, Mr. Pumpkin

Author: Soraya Diase Coffelt

Illustrator: Tea Seroya

Publish Date: 2015

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Why I Read this Book: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my review.

 

 

 

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

Halloween has become one of the most popular and commercially profitable holidays in America, yet the true origin of the day is often missed. Almost everyone equates "trick or treat" with Halloween, but what events were the catalyst behind this centuries-old tradition? 

This delightfully illustrated children's story is sure to become a tradition for you and your family as October rolls around each year. It will be a helpful tool to instruct children on the important historical background behind this holiday and to reflect on what is most important.

Review

It's that time of the year again when parent's are making their last minute changes to their children's Halloween costumes and others are rounding up those delicious candies to hand out. During all this craziness, why don't you sit down and enjoy some quiet time (or maybe not so quiet time) reading with your children? If this sounds like a plan for you, you may want to pick up this delightful book: It's Not About You, Mr. Pumpkin.

It's Not About You, Mr. Pumpkin is a cute story that explains the origins of Halloween. The illustrations are perfect for young children and the writing is easy to understand. I appreciate the Christian perspective that is behind these series of books. I also love that all the proceeds from this series of books (The Love Letters Book Series) goes to a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping children, As the Stars of the Sky Foundation, Inc. 

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 4-10

Overall Rating: 5/5

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

BAM!

Children's Book Review Tuesdays: The Most Magnificent Thing

Title: The Most Magnificent Thing

Author: Ashley Spires

Publish Date: April 1, 2014

Genre: Children's Picture Books

Why I Read this Book: I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my review of this novella.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Spires has created a charming picture book about an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. "She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!" But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right. For the early grades' exploration of character education, this funny book offers a perfect example of the rewards of perseverance and creativity. The girl's frustration and anger are vividly depicted in the detailed art, and the story offers good options for dealing honestly with these feelings, while at the same time reassuring children that it's okay to make mistakes. The clever use of verbs in groups of threes is both fun and functional, offering opportunities for wonderful vocabulary enrichment. The girl doesn't just "make" her magnificent thing -- she "tinkers and hammers and measures," she "smoothes and wrenches and fiddles," she "twists and tweaks and fastens." These precise action words are likely to fire up the imaginations of youngsters eager to create their own inventions and is a great tie-in to learning about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Review

The main character in The Most Magnificent Thing seeks to make something amazing. She has an idea in her head, but she cannot get it to work in real life. She gets frustrated and mad, but then walks around with her dog and cools down. After she cools down, she realizes that all her past failed attempts were really great at somethings and bad at others. She combines all of the good things from her past attempts and makes something magnificent.

I believe that this picture book is great for young readers. It teaches them not to get frustrated when things do not work out as planned and that failures are ways to learn from your mistakes. I would recommend this book to any young reader.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: young readers (children)

Overall Rating: 4/5

Children's Book Review Tuesdays: Spiderwick Chronicles (Books 1 and 2)

Title: The Field Guide (Book 1) and The Seeing Stone (Book 2)

Series: The Spiderwick Chronicles

Authors: Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black

Publish Date: May 1, 2003

Genre: Children's Novels, Fantasy

Why I Read this Book: I re-read this book during Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon.

 

 

 

 

 About Book 1 (from Goodreads):  

When the three Grace children -- Mallory, Jared, and Simon -- and their mom move into Aunt Lucinda's old house, readers know there's magic afoot. The kids uncover a nest of assembled junk, and on a visit to the secret library via the dumbwaiter, Jared finds a note describing "my secret to all mankind." After a few mysterious pranks that get blamed on Jared, the boy finally digs up the real prize: Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You. Fortunately enough, the kids meet one of the critters listed in the guide -- a brownie named Thimbletack -- who makes it all "real" and helps provide the book's suspenseful conclusion: "'Throw the book away, toss it in a fire. If you do not heed, you will draw their ire.'"

Review

I first read this series when I was younger. I remember loving these books, but I could not remember why I loved them. After re-reading the first and second books during the Dewey's 24 Hour readathon, I fell in love with the books all over again.

The first book started to hold my attention after about page 30.  Each book is very fast paced and leaves you wanting more. The writing style reminds me of Lemony Snicket, who I also love. 

These books would be a great read for children who want to start reading chapter books. The language is great for a child; simple but enthralling. The plot is engaging. The series became even better in book 2 of the series. I hope to continue re-reading the whole series.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: Any

Overall Rating: 5/5

Children's Book Review Tuesdays: Oliver and Jumpy (Introduction and Stories 7-9)

Book Title: Oliver and Jumpy (Introduction and Stories 7-9)

Author:  Werner Stejskal

Publish Date: February 20, 2014

 Why I Read this Book: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes from the author.  This in no way influenced my review.

 

 

 

 

 

Review

If your children love books about adventure, these are the stories for them.  The illustrations are engaging and colorful.  The stories are fun, full of adventure, and adorable!  Children of all ages would have fun reading these stories or having them read to them.  The main character is a tomcat who loves to recount adventures that he has previously went on with his friends, including a kangaroo and her joey.  Any child full of adventure and imagination would love these stories.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: Any

Overall Rating: 4/5

Children's Book Review Tuesdays: A Pear and A Bear

Book Title: A Pear and A Bear

Author:  Tanja Russita

Publish Date: October 18, 2014

 Why I Read this Book: I received a free copy of this book for review purposes from the author.  This in no way influenced my review.

 

 

 

 

 

Review

Simple, yet satisfying is how I would describe A Pear and A Bear.  This book would be great for young children around the time that they begin to read.  The illustrations are really adorable.

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: Any

Overall Rating: 4/5

Children's Book Review Tuesdays: The Tiger Rising by Kate Dicamillo

Book Title: The Tiger Rising

Author: Kate D. Camillo

Publish Date: July 1, 2002

Genre: Middle Grade

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

The National Book Award finalist from the best-selling author of BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE - now in paperback

Walking through the misty Florida woods one morning, twelve-year-old Rob Horton is stunned to encounter a tiger - a real-life, very large tiger - pacing back and forth in a cage. What’s more, on the same extraordinary day, he meets Sistine Bailey, a girl who shows her feelings as readily as Rob hides his. As they learn to trust each other, and ultimately, to be friends, Rob and Sistine prove that some things - like memories, and heartaches, and tigers - can’t be locked up forever.

Why I Read this Book: I checked out this book from my local library to read during the last Dewey's 24 hour read-a-thon.

 

Review

The Tiger Rising is an engaging story about a boy who finds a caged tiger in the woods behind where he lives.  Rob, who is a young lonely boy, finds a friend in a girl who he attends school with, Sistine.


The Tiger Rising was heartbreaking and kept you wondering about what would happen next.  The journey is the best part about this story, so I will not ruin that for you.


Although this story is too intense for younger readers, The Tiger Rising  is sure to keep your teen or pre-teen hooked and eager to read more.

 

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: 10+

Overall Rating: 4/5

Children's Book Review Tuesdays: Dying to Meet You by Kate Klise

Book Title: Dying to Meet You

Series Title: 43 Old Cemetery Road (Book 1)

Author: Kate Klise

Publish Date: April 6, 2009

Genre: Middle Grade Paranormal

About the Book (from Goodreads):  

Enter at your own risk: You might just DIE laughing.

The best-selling author Ignatius B. Grumply moves into the Victorian mansion at 43 Old Cemetery Road, hoping to find some peace and quiet so that he can crack a wicked case of writer's block.

But 43 Old Cemetery Road is already occupied--by an eleven-year-old boy named Seymour, his cat, Shadow, and an irritable ghost named Olive.

And they have no intention of sharing!

Why I Read this Book: I saw this at my local Goodwill and thought that it would be wonderful for Dewey's Readathon that I participated in last week.

 

Review

This book was pun-y!  Dying to Meet You is written in the form of letters and newspaper articles.  It contains incredibly cute illustrations.  This book would be perfect for anyone wanting a fun read that makes you laugh out loud.  It is a perfect read for Halloween.  It teaches you the importance of being nice and helping others.  I hope that I can read the rest of the series very soon!

 

Final Statements

Recommended Reading Age: Any

Overall Rating: 5/5