Valentino Finds a Home by Andy Whiteside and illustrated by Catherine Hnatov

Valentino is a Guinea Pig looking for a home. He  is he often mistaken for a rat...or a meal! And now he's had enough. So he maneuvers his way to America on a quest to find someone who will appreciate him. Will he ever find a home?

There's a delightful streak of the absurd running through this book. The text is rhyming and playful; the illustrations are bright and clear with a cheeky sense of humour. I was a bit hesitant when I read the jacket copy saying that in Bolivia he was afraid of being eaten but early on there's a spread of Valentino getting in shape. When I saw those pictures I was hooked on this book. This is a great read for a child who likes books that are a bit different and who have an offbeat sense of humour, as well as those who love to read about animal stories.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Star Bright Books.

Read it with:
Hip, Hop by Catherine Hnatov
Super Guinea Pig to the Rescue by Udo Weigelt
I Completely Know About Guinea Pigs by Lauren Child

Swift Edge: A Mystery by Laura DiSilverio

Charlie Swift is skeptical when a young figure skater shows up at her office. The girl, Dara Peterson, is desperate - her partner Dmitri Fane has gone missing and the Olympics are only weeks away; the US National Champions are even sooner. Lots of people think that Dmitri has just gone away to clear his head (or is hidden away with a new boyfriend), but Dara knows that something is wrong. Charlie accepts the case and soon finds herself immersed in the strange world of figure skating. There are a lot of people who are happier with Dmitri gone, including Peterson and Fane's biggest rivals. But Dmitri might have been up to more that just triple jumps, and as the bodies start piling up Charlie Swift could be in mortal danger. Good thing she had an extra-large Pepsi to start the day.

I picked this book up for the figure skating aspect of it rather than being attracted to the mystery part, so that's the lens that I'm viewing it with. There were parts that made a lot of sense (such as being set in Colorado Springs, home to one of the biggest US training centres and some top-level coaches) and then details that didn't (such as the focus on the National Competition being incredibly important when the US would almost definitely have two entries to the Olympic Games, so it wouldn't matter who won Nationals, or the idea of a pairs team doing side-by-side triple axels), but I think only a big skating fan would make a note of these issues. The mystery gets a bit convoluted as more characters are introduced, but plots and suspects dovetail and tie-in nicely, building to a big finish. Charlie maintains her sarcastic tone but also displays the characteristics that make her good at her job. Gigi, her partner, often plays for comic relief, but she's given enough of a back-story to make me root for her and want her to succeed. Many reviewers have written that this is a good pick for fans of Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich, so if you like those writers be sure to give Laura DiSilverio a try.

See more at Laura DiSilverio's website.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Swift Justice by Laura DiSilverio
Swift Run by Laura DiSilverio
Murder She Wrote: Skating on Thin Ice by Donald Bain

The Smiley Book of Colors by Ruth Kaiser

There are smiles everywhere. Not just on happy people, but on things like buildings, food, and clothing. Two eyes, a curve for a mouth, sometimes a nose and voila - an instant face. You might have to squint to see them, or maybe you see them easily (it probably depends on the person). I think I've confessed before on this blog that I'm someone who frequently sees 'faces' on houses (windows, doors, sometimes even a porch mustache), so this book was a natural fit for me. Built around examining colours, this book has the potential to be a bit scary for some kids (imagine faces everywhere - it's not too hard to get to imagining things coming to life), but with the right person it can jump-start their creativity and encourage them to think differently about the world around them.

This book came out of the Spontaneous Smiley Project, so if you're in the mood for some more smiles, head on over there and check them out.

I received a review copy from Edelweiss courtesy of Golden Books (Random House).

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Ruby, Violet, Lime: Looking for Color by Jane Brocket
Building Stories by Isabel Hill
Urban Animals by Isabel Hill
Look Book by Tana Hoban

Llama Llama Nighty-Night by Anna Dewdney

It's time for one little Llama to get ready for bed! He has a regular nighttime routine: clean up, bath, story. Before long Llama Llama will be ready to say 'nighty-night' and drift off to sleep. (And don't forget a goodnight kiss from Mama!)

All of the charm of the original Llama Llama books has been packed into this condensed board book version. Along with the loveable character of Llama Llama, this book has rhyming text, familiar scenes, and words that might be new to kids (but ones that they can learn from the context and with some help from a caregiver). I'm a big fan of the original books, but I've found that they can be a bit long for young readers, so I'm so excited to see this shorter board book series. Definitely check it out!

Check out Anna Dewdney's Llama Llama website. There are Llama Llama games, activities, and information about the books.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Grumpy Gloria by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama Wakey-wake by Anna Dewdney

I Will Not Read This Book by Cece Meng illustrated by Joy Ang

One little boy has an annoucement: he will not read this book. No matter how what happens, the book will not get read. He can be hanging from a cliff, there could be a monkey involved, it could be a life-or-death situation and he would still not read this book. Is there anything that could happen to change his mind?

Books about kids who don't want to read books present a reassuring line to people who don't see themselves as readers. As much as I love to see kids enthusiastically grabbing and pouring over books, I know that there are probably just as many kids who aren't likely to pick up a book on their own. One of the strengths, I think, of the book is that (spoiler alert) it doesn't swing all the way to the other side of the spectrum at the end of the book. The boy doesn't become a passionate advocate of reading; he doesn't decide that he loves books after all. He grudgingly accepts that reading might not be so bad, especially if his mom will read with him. And to me that's a much more realistic ending for a boy like this one. The story used humour effectively and the wide-ranging scenarios that the boy imagines make it exciting and dangerous while still in a safe environment. I responded very positively to Joy Ang's illustrations and the different expressions that the boy adopts over the course of the book. I could easily see this book as an animated short movie (both in story and look). This is a fun book to share with kids - both kids who see themselves as readers (it will be absurd to see a kid go to such lengths to avoid reading) and those who do not (who might find it reassuring to know that there are other people out there who feel like they do, even if they are fictional characters).

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Tough Chicks by Cece Meng
The Qalupalik by Elisha Kilabuk illustrated by Joy Ang
Miss Brooks Loves Books! (And I Don't) by Barbara Bottner
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

Dog Number 1, Dog Number 10 by Ami Rubinger

Ten different dogs. Ten different interests. Join these animals as they introduce themselves with their names and personalities along with their numbers. Rhyming text and strategic pauses give kids a place to shout out the answers (and a surprise visit from some felines keeps it from feeling too rote). Just as in Ami Rubinger's I Dream of an Elephant, there's a hazy dreamlike quality about this book that makes it seem like it's taking part on another planet that has a very different natural environment. I think the bold, bright colours will appeal to young readers, and the expressions and characters of the dogs themselves create a fun learning environment for starting kids on their numeracy journey.


See more of Ami Rubinger's work at his website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Abbeville Press.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Big Cat, Small Cat by Ami Rubinger
I Dream of an Elephant by Ami Rubinger
Ten Nine Eight by Molly Bang

Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

It's not every day that a boy meets a robot, but this boy and this bot discover that they can have a lot of fun together. But when the robot gets accidentally switched off, the boy is stumped as to how to help him. Can the boy and the robot ever be friends again?

Dan Yaccarino is one of my favourite illustrators working today, and I'm always so excited by his art. Coupled with this debut story from Ame Dyckman, this is a book that I can easily see kids getting excited about, too. Robots (like dinosaurs) are a great crowd pleaser, and this story takes what, on paper, is a very simple storyline and lets it be a simple story. The pictures and the reader's imagination expand to fill in any empty spaces. It's a lovely story about friendship and learning about others' differences and the love and affection that can grow between a boy and a robot.

Check out Ame Dyckman's website and Dan Yaccarino's website.

I received an advance review copy from Edelweiss courtesy of Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Robot Dreams by Sara Varon
Lawn to Lawn by Dan Yaccarino
The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino

Humpty Dumpty by Salina Yoon

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall...and it didn't end well. Or did it? In this new version of an old rhyme, Salina Yoon creates an Easter-themed story that might just have a happy ending.

I think it's fitting that Humpty Dumpty has an Easter theme. He's probably one of the most famous eggs in literature, certainly an egg that is also a character (and not just featured, like green eggs). Is there any connection between this egg being put back together on Easter, the same holiday that celebrates Jesus' resurrection from the dead? Probably, but it's likely best not to think too much about that. Instead, think about the bright colours and fun images that will appeal to kids and the holiday tie-in that makes it a natural fit for parents to add to Easter baskets.

Find out more about Salina Yoon.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Who Do I See? by Salina Yoon
Humpty Dumpty and Other Rhymes by Iona Opie
Where Are Baby's Easter Eggs? by Karen Katz

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen

Wahoo Cray (named after the wrestler, by the way, not the fish) is worried about his father. Mickey Cray is one of the best wild animal wranglers in the world, but ever since he was hit on the head by a frozen iguana falling out of the tree he just hasn't been the same. This means that the Cray family is running out of money. That's when the crew from Expedition Survival! arrives, hoping to use Mickey Cray's animals and services for their popular cable adventure show. Mickey isn't convinced that it's a great idea, but Wahoo knows that this is just what they need to pay off their debts and start fresh...that is, if they can all get out alive.

Wahoo is a good, solid character who is a great combination of man and boy; sometimes he needs to be both. He's worried about his father's health, sanity, and reputation, but he also wants his mom to be able to come home and not have to work at a job that means she has to work in China. Coming out of the recent recession there have been a number of books that include a piece like this in their narrative. I think that this truly does reflect many children's reality in that they do have an awareness and concerns about their families' financial situations. What might not reflect their reality is living in a location that is also home to alligators, snakes, turtles, and many different kinds of animals.  It's evident that Carl Hiaasen, a longtime Florida resident, has a deep understanding of both the area and the wildlife. That authenticity comes through in the story. There's lots in here that will appeal to readers, including the animals but also a comedic adventure story that gets stranger and more dangerous as the book goes on. Also, the visual appearance of Chomp and Carl Hiaasen's other children's books really speaks to me; this will be an attractive, attention-grabbing book to have on shelves.

Find out more information about Carl Hiaasen at his website. 


Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Fat Vampire by Adam Rex
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
Chomp! by Heather Brown
Can You Tell an Alligator from a Crocodile? by Buffy Silverman

Izzy the Whiz and Passover McClean by Yael Mermelstein with illustrations by Carrie Hartman

Izzy the Whiz loves to invent things. His mother is worried because it's almost Passover and there's still so much to do, but Izzy tells her not to worry: his new invention, Passover McClean, will have the house clean in no time! But Passover McClean doesn't quite work as Izzy was expecting...will he have everything back to normal by the time his mom comes back?

There are two things that I love about this book. One is that it is so deeply immersed in Jewish life and tradition, and the other is that it has the power to reflect anyone's life. The celebration of Pesach and the ritual cleaning of hametz is unique to Jewish people who observe this holiday, and it's wonderful to see a children's picture book that reflects this. At the same time, though, there's a wonderful universal quality about the book. Whether or not someone fully understands what hametz means (I did not) is not needed to enjoy this book. It's about a boy who invents a machine that doesn't work as he planned. It could be anyone's story, but it's specifically Izzy's story, and his story includes Passover and hametz and other aspects of Jewish life. That makes it accessible to all readers and provides the opportunity to learn more about another religion and culture. The illustrations are soft and fanciful, and it's always cool to see a kid who's interested in science (and science experiments). This is a great pick for public libraries looking to diversify their picture book collections; it might end up in a holiday collection, but it's worth checking out at any time of the year.

Yael Mermelstein is the winner of the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award.  Carrie Hartman has a website and a blog where you can see more of her illustration.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Lerner Books / Kar-Ben Publishing.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Barnyard Purim by Kelly Terwilliger
Hannah's Way by Linda Glaser
Going on a Hametz Hunt by Jacqueline Jules

I Dream of an Elephant by Ami Rubinger

Dreams can be wonderful things. You never know what you might dream about. For example, you might dream of an elephant that's blue, dancing and jumping the whole day through. Or you might dream of an elephant that's yellow (he's a popular fellow). There's no end to the marvelous things that you can dream! Visual cues and predictive text help kids to figure out the answers; this book practically screams out to be used in storytimes. I was reminded a touch of the elephant dream sequence/trip in Dumbo, with the elephants in such wild colours, but while that was known to scare young viewers, I think that this book will excite and delight them.

See more of Ami Rubinger's work at his website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Abbeville Press.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Big Cat, Small Cat by Ami Rubinger
Dog Number 1, Dog Number 10 by Ami Rubinger
I Broke My Trunk by Mo Willems
Ten Nine Eight by Molly Bang

When I Was Small by Sara O'Leary with illustrations by Julie Morstad

Henry knows all about his own history. He knows all about what he was like when he was (an even younger) boy. But he's curious about his mother. What was she like as a little girl? He wishes that they could have been friends. So his mother tells her what she was like when she was small.

As a fan of Sara O'Leary and Julie Morstad's previous collaboration, When You Were Small, I was quite excited to find this book peering back at me from a library shelf. The text is short and spins readers off into a gentle fantasy world. The illustrations seem both vintage and timeless. They're lovely with a whimsicality that at the same time seems entirely natural. Julie Morstad is one of my favourite illustrators. Children and caregivers can talk about the content of the book (do you think these things really happened? do you think part of it is true?) as well as the idea behind it. It's a great prompter for sharing your own family stories and personal history with kids.

It looks like this book was released in Canada in December of 2011 and seems to have a US publication date of August 2012.

Check out their websites for more about Sara O'Leary and Julie Morstad.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
When You Were Small by Sara O'Leary
Where You Came From by Sara O'Leary
Singing Away the Dark by Caroline Woodward and Julie Morstad
Oddfellow's Orphanage by Emily Winfield Martin

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Sasha is a proud member of Stalin's Communist Soviet Union. He can't wait to join the join the Young Pioneers and pledge his allegiance to Stalin and his country. He wants to make his father, a member of the secret police, proud. But then his father is arrested. Was he set up by a devious neighbour? It all must be some kind of terrible mistake. Alone, with his father arrested and his mother dead, Sasha tries to find a way to convince Stalin that his father's arrest is just a big mistake. But along the way Sasha learns many hard truths about his father, his life, and his hero, Stalin.

My favourite part of this book is how it plays with perspective. This shows up literally, as the perspective in the illustrations is sometimes skewed. Adults loom scarily over children in images that look like something out of a nightmare. Of course, the entire book (which takes place over a very short period of time) looks at how Sasha's perspectives change. He develops a deeper understanding of his father, of Stalin, and the world. Yelchin's afterward about Stalin and the USSR can help readers to put the story in its historical context. I hope Breaking Stalin's Nose's status as a Newbery Honor book brings it a larger audience.

Check out Eugene Yelchin's website to see more of his illustration and work.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
Stalin's Nose by Rory MacLean
Seven Hungry Babies by Candace Fleming

A Good and Useful Hurt by Aric Davis

Mike, still grieving and dealing with the death of his girlfriend, knows that he must confront her memory and move forward - but nothing is ever that simple. Three things happen at about the same time: Mike hires a new piercing artist at his tattoo shop, a customer requests that Mike design and ink a tattoo using the ashes of a customer's lost loved one, and an unknown serial killer decides who will be his next victim. These three events seem unrelated, but they place Mike on a path that will change the course of his life...and the lives of the people around him.

Before looking at what's on the inside, I want to talk for a moment about what's on the outside. This is quite a stunning book to see in person. The colours on the cover really stand out, and the detail work at the start of each chapter gives it a special look. And it has a good heft; it feels good in my hands, and that's one of those indescribable personal details that always puts me in a good mind for reading. In his profile at the back of the book, Aric Davis says that he likes weather that's cold enough to wear a sweatshirt (but not a coat) - I love that weather, too. And now to the content. I was nervous when I started reading because I know very little about the world of tattoos; I was afraid that my lack of knowledge would mean that I wouldn't understand the book. No tattoo knowledge is necessary, I am happy to say. I think that people who do know a bit more about this world would appreciate the details and observations, but the book is completely accessible even to people who have never thought about getting a tattoo or a piercing. The chapters are the perfect length and keep the story moving without feeling choppy. It was a hard book to put down; the changing points of view meant that I wanted to keep going and explore what was going to happen next. I would frequently think, "okay, I'm just going to read one more chapter" and that would lead to many, many more. The idea of tattoos that include personal remains was something that I feel like I'd heard about before in real life, but not something I've seen explored in a book. It set the tone  of the book with something slightly otherworldly yet completely grounded in the physical world.

I received a review copy courtesy of Little Bird Publicity.

Find it at IndieBound.

Learn more about Aric Davis at his website.

Read it with:
Nickel Plated by Aric Davis
From Ashes Rise by Aric Davis
Moody Food by Ray Robertson

The Other Side of Suffering by John Ramsey

John Ramsey knows why you know his name. On December 26, 1996, his daughter JonBenet was reported kidnapped from her bed; she was later found murdered in their basement. While John and his family lived in a world of grief, they also lived under the shadow of suspicion by the Boulder Police Department. The police thought that John and his wife Patsy were the most likely suspects, and tabloids soon published all kinds of outlandish stories naming John and his family as the guilty parties. Over a decade later, John and Patsy were finally cleared of all suspicion in a formal announcement where it was revealed that there had never been any evidence that connected them to the crime. How could a family stand it? How could John Ramsey deal with so much tragedy in his life and come through to the other side of suffering? This is his story of how his life changed and shattered and how his faith in God helped him to put the pieces back together.

I was twelve at the time of Christmas 1996, so I have very strong memories of the Ramsey murder case. I remember the way that the media tore into the story; I remember the images splashed all over televisions and tabloids. This book, while about John Ramsey's journey of suffering and healing, starts out with and spends a fair amount of time on the loss of his youngest daughter. There are details that I knew along with things that I had known at the time but forgotten (such as John losing his oldest daughter in an accident only years before) and things that I never knew about the family (like how they never went back into their Boulder home after leaving it after the murder was discovered). The book talks a lot about John's religious faith and how it has provided comfort and guidance to him over the last two decades. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he frequently goes to the book of Job, but it's clear that his faith is something that is very deeply a part of his identity. This will be a book that will be of interest to readers of true crime as well as people looking for spiritual guidance through tough times.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of FaithWords.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
The Death of Innocence by John and Patsy Ramsay
JonBenet: Inside the Murder Investigation by Steve Thomas with Don Davis
Madeleine by Kate McCann