All Fall Down by Mary Brigid Barrett (illustrated by LeUyen Pham)

All Fall Down by Mary Brigid Barrett (illustrated by LeUyen Pham) is very similar to Pat-a-Cake, which I reviewed yesterday (here), as they feature the style because they have the same author and illustrator. In this adventure, all kinds of things fall down.

All Fall Down is a bright, rhyming board book filled again with all kinds of different looking characters, which I really appreciated because I think it is super important for children to experience from a young age. There is a lot more text in this book than I expected based on Pat-a-Cake and I think it is a bit much for the small pages. I'm also unconvinced about the scenario that features a young child dumping all their food on the floor and it being celebrated-- I'm not sure that's something a parent, or whoever is reading the book to the toddler, wants to encourage, even in fictional form. Although the dog getting the scraps sure looks happy.

Overall, All Fall Down is a cute fun book that would definitely keep a child's attention but if you are only going to get one I would go with Pat-a-Cake instead. 
 
Release Date: January 7th 2014 Pages: 16  Format: Board Book
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Candlewick Press  Buy It: Book Depository

Pat-a-Cake by Mary Brigid Barrett (illustrated by LeUyen Pham)

A quick review for a quick little book. Pat-a-Cake by Mary Brigid Barrett is a board book, illustrated by LeUyen Pham with not much text and bright colourful pictures. A lot of the words inside the book are sounds that things make when you pat them, like a pudding "wibble, wobble" that make it fun and easy to read out loud. There's also a rhyme going on that helps it flow easily.

I appreciate the diversity of the characters in Pat-a-Cake it's nice to see all kinds of races represented. I also think the book is great for encouraging interaction with the child as they can pat the different items represented, and also discuss what those things feel like and what they would do with them. So overall, even though there's nothing super surprising about Pat-a-Cake it is a cute fun book for toddlers. 

Release Date: January 7th 2014 Pages: 16  Format: Board Book
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Candlewick Press  Buy It: Book Depository

Tippy and the Night Parade by Lilli Carre

After my first experience with Hearts I knew what to expect with Toon Books, which are easy-to-read comics designed for new readers, in these cases, Level 1 which is kindergarten to grade 1. Although the level a book is unites it in terms of how easy it is to read, the amount of detail and images as well as characters, each book is totally unique in terms of images and story. Tippy and the Night Parade by Lilli Carre is about Tippy, a girl whose mom gets upset every morning when she finds her room a disaster. But Tippy doesn't know how it happened, all she remembers is falling asleep!

I much preferred Tippy to the previous Toon Book I tried. The illustrations for this are so cute and so is the story, which is easy to follow and full of adventure and animals. The blue of the illustrations that take place at night add to the mood, and there is so many little details to see on each page. It's a funny story and there is lots of excitement. My favourite part? Searching for all the animals Tippy found on her walk the next morning in her room! Such a cute book, I highly recommend Tippy and the Night Parade.

Release Date: February 11th 2014 Pages: 32  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Toon Books  Buy It: Book Depository

It's Time to Say Good Night by Harriet Ziefeat illustrated by Barroux

It's Time to Say Good Night written by Harriet Ziefert and illustrated by Barroux is a cute children's book where a little boy says good morning to everything--the cow, the piggies in the pen, the garbage and the cans--only to find out by the time he's done, it's time to say good night to everything again.

The illustrations are cute and vintage looking and match the story well. The text is also well-placed, and moves along with whatever the boy is saying good morning/ good night to, as well as having the emphasis be on the good morning or good night part by having it in larger text of a different colour. However while the story is a fun, cute, list of things, it is a bit weird that the boy goes from saying good morning straight to saying good night. However the bright illustrations and adventures of the main character in It's Time to Say Good Night would still make it a fun read for a young child, especially as a bedtime story.

Release Date: October 22nd 2013 Pages: 36  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Blue Apple Books  Buy It: Book Depository

I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder

I Haiku You is a picture book written and illustrated by Betsy Snyder. I really love haikus and think it's a perfect form of poetry for a picture book, so I was really excited to pick this up. Snyder's drawings are really adorable and really make the cute, sweet haikus that accompany them. There are lots of little details and I really love the illustrations overall.

In terms of the writing, I am just okay about I Haiku You. Some of the haikus are nice, but there is a little too much reliance on things that expected and feel a bit cliche and boring to me, such as "you be my jelly, / i'll be your peanut butter--/let's stick together!" and even though it is a children's book I though that they could be a touch more original with the metaphors, something like peanut butter and jelly is quite expected.

I Haiku You would be an adorable bedtime book for a young child who is unlikely to have the same complaints I do regarding the writing and would instead just appreciate the sweet, simple words and the adorable drawings that match.

Release Date: December 26th 2012 Pages: 28  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Random House   Buy It: Book Depository

Forever by Emma Dodd

I am just so in love with Forever by Emma Dodd. This is absolutely the perfect children's book, and when I someday have children, I definitely hope that I remember to grab a copy because it is flawless. The words are simple, and tell a sweet, easy to read rhyme for a parent to read to a child.

Along with the text are gorgeous illustrations of a polar bear and parent, doing things together. There are only a few colours on each page, mainly blues, but there is also a touch of metallic silver, sometimes just tiny spots, sometimes the entire water in an ocean scene. The silver element adds something extra special to the book and will likely help keep the child's attention. Overall, Forever is a sweet, endearing, book from both a text and illustration perspective, with a universal message of love that would be perfect for any parent. Dodd's book definitely deserves to be a childhood classic for those who experience it.

Release Date: October 22nd 2013 Pages: 24  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Templar  Buy It: Book Depository

Hearts by Thereza Rowe

Hearts by Thereza Rowe is designed as a first comic for brand new readers, so it's actually a bit different than the picture book I expected when I picked it up, because it's meant to be read by the child, not to them. As a result, there are very few words in Hearts, and the story is mainly told through the illustrations, with words here but mainly ones that add description about what is happening on the page. For example, as Penelope the Fox struggles to catch up to the dolphin holding her heart, she says "Wait!" and the dolphin goes "Whoosh!"

I think the biggest issue with Hearts is when I spent too much time trying to make sense of the story instead of just enjoying the dream-like journey Penelope takes. Sometimes the illustrations are difficult to follow, but they are all very beautiful and detailed so there is a lot for a younger reader to look at. It also leaves a lot of opportunity for a child to discuss what could be happening in each scenario, so I think Rowe's book makes a fun learning tool rather than a standalone book, but that's exactly what it's intended for. That said, I would worry that younger children might have the same difficulty following that I did and might become confused or frustrated, so that will depend on the child.

Release Date: January 7th 2014 Pages: 32  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Toon Books  Buy It: Book Depository

Ribbit by Rodrigo Folgueira (illustrated by Poly Bernatene)

Ribbit by Rodrigo Folgueira (illustrated by Poly Bernatene) is pretty much the perfect picture book. I can say nothing wrong about it! It's the adorable and heart-warming story of a pig who pretends to be a frog because he just wants to belong, but all the frogs don't understand why he goes RIBBIT. The illustrations are gorgeous and match the story perfectly, including the placement and size of the text within the book. The animals all have perfect facial expressions, especially the confused frogs.

Everything about Ribbit is charming and perfect, there's a great message to share with young children hidden behind an easy to follow, simple but not unoriginal story. The illustrations match perfectly, and I would be very happy giving this book to any new parent or young child. I am neither, but I am definitely tempted to hold onto my copy for many years in the future, because when it comes to picture books, this is exactly what I want in one and I have absolutely no complaints.

Release Date: March 26th 2013 Pages: 32  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher:  Knopf Books for Young Readers Buy It: Book Depository

How the Meteorite Got to the Museum by Jessie Hartland

How the Meteorite Got to the Museum is a picture book written and illustrated by Jessie Hartland, who previously published How the Dinosaur Got to the Museum (2011) and How the Spinx got to The Museum (2010).

Despite being a picture book, this is definitely targeted at a slightly older reader as there is quite a lot of text on some of the pages. It has a significant educational element to it which is really great, without it coming across as boring or just a list of facts. However, as much as I appreciated the art, the story itself is one I think best-appreciated by the intended audience. There are some picture books that are just so sweet and lovely that I would definitely reread them again by myself, but How the Meteorite Got to the Museum is one I'd save to read to an actual child.

One aspect of the book I really appreciated was the diversity of the characters, how they all looked different. There's also something just so charming and interesting about the artwork, it looks childlike, but intentional. There is a depth to Hartland's colours, and it's unsurprising given that the author both wrote and illustrated, but the drawing and the text blend together seamlessly. The use of different styles of writing (both fonts and hand-drawn) helps keep the pages interesting and makes the book more fun to read.

How the Meteorite Got to the Museum is an informative, fun, and beautiful book. I am passing this book onto a friend of mine who is also a scientist, and I know she will appreciate the educational aspect as well for her daughter. A definite success and I would certainly pick up more picture books by Hartland in the future.

Release Date: October 8th, 2013  Pages: 40  Format: Hardcover
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Blue Apple Books
Buy It: Book Depository

Mouse House Tales by Susan Pearson (Illustrated by Amanda Shepherd)

Mouse House Tales by Susan Pearson is illustrated by Amanda Shepherd and tells two stories. In the first one, Mouse needs to build and furnish her home, and gets help from all of her animal friends. In the second she's moved in, but there's a mystery visitor making noises at night who she wants to catch. 

I really liked the classic look of the illustrations in Mouse House Tales, it definitely reminded me of picture books from when I was a kid, especially in combination with the storyline about animals working together. There was also a little tweak that I found adorable– there's a goat who won't stop offering everyone cheese. I loved this cute character and I thought he was pretty funny.

I also enjoyed the second story although it had a less-obvious conclusion, it was still pretty fun and cute and I'm always happy when lots of different animals come together. The book rhymes, and there was the ever popular seven and eleven one that seems to show up all the time even when it's unnecessary. But overall I didn't mind cause it helps the book flow and makes it a bit musical to read aloud.

Ultimately a charming story with charming illustrations, I enjoyed Mouse House Tales and I could definitely see this as the first in a series about Mouse's adventures. Wherever she goes, I hope that there is cheese!

Release Date: September 10th, 2013  Pages: 72  Format: Hardcover

Source: Publisher  Publisher: Blue Apple Books  Buy It: Book Depository

It's A Firefly Night by Dianne Ochiltree (Illustrated by Betsy Snyder)

  

It's a Firefly Night is written by Dianne Ochiltree and illustrated by Betsy Snyder. It depicts a young girl catching fireflies with her dad, only to let them free into the sky and watch them glow in the sky. So, first off, I'm immediately won over by any book with glitter on the cover, and I know that my five-year-old-self would be too–– but it's the contents both text and illustration-wise that ultimately stole my heart.

This is the kind of book that tells a simple story, but does it perfectly. The text is told in short rhyming stanzas of four lines, which occur once on every two page-spread. The only complaint I have about this book at all is that some of the rhymes aren't perfect. That said, the feeling it generated was so magical, I'm willing to forgive it. On the pages, the text is white, which contrasts nicely with the dark nighttime colours of the book, it's also large enough to be easy to read without overwhelming the drawings.

The story of It's a Firefly Night is easy to follow, with a sweet message about letting the fireflies go. There's also some facts at the back of the book about fireflies, which I thought was a fun addition and would make it more interesting to older readers. Finally, there's a tiny bit of counting in the book as the main character counts the fireflies, which I think is a nice component to have. 

Complimenting the lovely text by Dianne Ochiltree are gorgeous illustrations by Betsy Snyder. I adore these illustrations. They perfectly capture the magical feeling of the evening, and have some cute hidden details like a caterpillar hiding out on a leaf that would be fun for kids to notice. The way that the fireflies in the book glow is just so gorgeous, and I love the cute little dog that keeps the girl company.

Overall, It's a Firefly Night was a huge hit for me, both writing and illustration wise. I definitely hope these two collaborate again!

Release Date: May 14th, 2013  Pages: 32 Format: Hardcover

Source: Publisher  Publisher: Blue Apple Books  Buy It: Book Depository

Monster Needs One More! by Natalie Marshall

Monster Needs One More! appears to be the second monster book by Natalie Marshall, following up Monster, Be Good! This time the monsters are back, and I would say they are even cuter. They are all looking for one more of something, one more cookie, one more teddy bear.

That said, like the last book, I adored the illustrations and I think they would greatly appeal to young children, but had an issue with the text. These are all monsters saying they NEED one more. They are grouchy or not-so-happy monsters, and it is only getting more (often things like candy or cookies) that cheers them up, and it's not because they are hungry, it's just because they need one more. It's a message I'm not entirely convinced by. That said, Monster Needs One More! ends with the monster needing one more kiss goodnight, which is absolutely adorable.

Although the counting aspect of Monster Needs One More! is good for helping kids learn, the book also rhymes and I think that causes it to be confusing at times, because there is always a sentence that rhymes with the number before it finishes doing the math. For example, "Another beach ball! Like the water? Can you dive? I had four. Now I have five." I think it would be easier for kids to follow if the math immediately followed the monster asking for more. 

Ultimately, Monster Needs One More! had some flaws in the writing that make me hesitant to recommend it, as adorable as the illustrations are. I definitely hope for more monsters from Natalie Marshall in the future, they are so cute!

Release Date: August 27th, 2013  Pages: 24 Format: Hardcover

Source: Publisher  Publisher: Blue Apple Books  Buy It: Book Depository

Monster, Be Good! by Natalie Marshall

I definitely picked up Monster, Be Good! because of the illustrations by Natalie Marshall, and they did not disappoint. This is a book with bright, clear, large illustrations of adorable monsters. I think it would definitely keep the attention of a young child. It also has very little text on each page which means there aren't tiny, distracting words that are difficult to read.

The point of Monsters, Be Good! is to remind children that they are in charge of the monsters, and "if a monster is selfish, say, "TAKE TURNS!" ". It's a message that makes sense, reminding them they have nothing to be scared of, but I wasn't a huge fan of the way it was portrayed. I get that the monsters are doing something wrong and should be corrected, but I thought it came across too bossy and that lost some of the fun of the book. With such colourful drawings, I really expected expected the book to come across a little less angry.

Overall, I really liked the message not to be scared of monsters, and I thought the colourful drawings helped with that but for me, Monsters, Be Good! is definitely a book where the illustrations far outshine the text.

Release Date: February 26th, 2013  Pages: 28 Format: Hardcover

Source: Publisher  Publisher: Blue Apple Books  Buy It: Book Depository

Backstage Cat by Harriet Ziefert (illustrated by Jenni Desmond)

It's been years (maybe decades?) since I read picture books, but there's so gorgeous and sweet and maybe it's a bit of nostalgia but I've been picking up a few lately. I also love sharing them with my friends who have or are having babies! One such book is Backstage Cat by Harriet Ziefert (illustrated by Jenni Desmond).

Admittedly, the cat aspect of Backstage Cat is what caught my attention because I thought it might be cute to pick up for a friend who has several cats and a baby on the way! I was right. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and the text is sweet, straightforward and entertaining: what a perfect combination!

Backstage Cat is the story of a cat in a theatre who gets into all kinds of trouble. It's really cute and gives a nice idea of some of the things that go into making a play and some of the jobs that people have. I love the watercolour illustrations as well, it really brings a movement to the pages and I think the text is well-placed.

The one part of Backstage Cat that threw me off was the part where the main performer (and owner of the cat) sings a long song. Personally, I thought it was too long and sorta lost my attention and lost some of the charm of the rest of the book. I would have preferred something snappier and maybe more obvious as a song. 

However, overall, I really enjoyed Backstage Cat and I think Ziefert did a cute job with the story as I always love ones that involve animals, especially animals that get into trouble. The illustrations by Desmond that go with it are also exceptionally lovely.

Release Date: March 12th, 2013  Pages: 40 Format: Hardcover

Source: Publisher  Publisher: Blue Apple Books  Buy It: Book Depository