A sweet story about Harriet, a little rabbit, who is sad because she thinks her friends have forgotten about her birthday. She decides to buy a cake and have a birthday lunch on her own. One by one she meets and helps her friends. Of course, when she gets home, they are all there waiting for her with a surprise party. The artwork in this book is wonderful with its subtle pastel colours and sweet animal characters. My son kept asking why Harriet was so sad- her face is very expressive. He also enjoyed noticing little details that 'give away' what Harriet's friends are up to. I believe the story would work the best with four year olds, although five year olds can have a discussion about what being a good friend means. This book is a part of a series of Storytime books: Beautifully illustrated, QEB’s Storytime series introduces young children to the pleasures of reading and sharing stories. Featuring charming animal and human characters, the books explore important social and emotional themes like friendship, gratitude, perseverance, and overcoming fears. A Next Steps page at the back provides guidance for parents and teachers. Thank you to Netgalley and QEB (Quarto Publishing Group) for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. From the book blurb: A quest for the perfect birthday present leads to ever grander (and ever more imperfect) gift ideas in this clever metafiction story that's hilarious any day of the year. 'I wanted to get you the greatest present ever' our narrator tells us. But somehow, none of the best ideas seemed to pan out. First, there was the pair of hand-knitted birthday socks (have you ever tried knitting birthday socks?). Then, the ten-scoop ice cream cone (a disaster to carry), the magic kit (it disappeared, just like magic!), the apple juice-fueled jet pack (still a few kinks to work out) and the dinosaur (I couldn't find one anywhere). And now, time has run out, and our narrator still has nothing to give. Or, maybe there is something after all. Something that contains all those awesome gifts in one. Something that can be enjoyed again and again, just by turning the pages ... In their debut picture book, Emmy Award-winning children's television writers Mike Erskine-Kellie and Susan McLennan have created a laugh-out-loud story filled with heart. The metafiction approach (speaking directly to you) and fun story together with the antic exuberance of Cale Atkinson's bold and colorful illustrations make this a lively read-aloud that will keep even the youngest children engaged. Though a book about finding the perfect birthday present is itself the perfect birthday present, it's also simply a delightful read for any time of year. It also offers an excellent character education lesson on perseverance. My thoughts: This was a realy cute story about trying to find the best possible present for its friend. The pace is fast, and the illustrations are entertaining. There is a fun twist- I don't think I will giving it away by repeating what the blurb has already said- this is a metafiction book. My toddler enjoyed the perseverance of the duck in the face of repeated failures. At the moment, he is very excited about any kind of present, but we also had a little discussion about what makes a gift suitable for a particular person and how the duck thought about its' friends interests and needs, put in thought, effort, and creativity in choosing what to give. It is a fun book, but there is also a great message of caring for each other and showing it. Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. The Expected Publication date: April 7th 2020. The protagonist of the story is a little girl who uses crutches to help her to walk. I could really relate to her as I spent almost a year using them as a child. The girl spends a lovely day with her mother/ caregiver. She sees the ocean in its variety of colours and characteristics- big and small at the same time, shallow in some places and deep in others, slimy, sandy, sparkly, dry and wet. She focuses on sounds -the 'splashes and crashes and echoes, and squawks' - and marine life in its glorious diversity. There is a lot of repetition which is important for a very young reader and a lot of vocabulary building (e.g. colours-'vibrant pink, rusty orange, faded white') to help your child describe their sensory experiences. The cut-paper illustrations are simple and gorgeous at the same time. I would love to read more books illustrated by Ashley Barron. Charming, original, inclusive, and beautiful. Highly recommended. Thank you to to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. A simple and touching story about a child coming up to terms with his/her grandfather passing away. I was very close to my grandfather, so this little book made me feel very emotional. It is difficult to tell if the child is a boy or a girl, which is great because family love and grief over losing your loved ones is universal. They used to do so many fun things together, timing different activities, and the grandfather was always present. Then one day he wasn't there anymore, and all the things that used to bring the child so much joy and happiness suddenly seem different. With time the child re-discovers the stopwatch. Remembering Grandfather is not as painful as it was, and there so many things to time and appreciate. The artwork is lovely and simple. It doesn't distract from the story, but rather enhances the emotions the story evokes in the reader. The topic of loss and grief is difficult to discuss with children, although sooner or later it is necessary to do. This book deals with the subject with great sensitivity and care, and can be very helpful. Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Expected publication date: April 7th 2020 Publisher: Kids Can Press / Hachette Group From the book blurb: Akiko Miyakoshi's enchanting picture book explores how an innkeeper who spends his days at the crossroads of others' journeys secretly longs to have adventures of his own. People from all over the world come and go at the innkeeper's little hotel. He enjoys meeting them, and many even become his friends. Only, sometimes, when he goes to sleep at night, the desire to travel far away himself wells up inside him. He dreams of packing a big bag and journeying wherever he pleases, from one unfamiliar town to another. He imagines stopping to visit friends and having wonderful and unexpected experiences. The innkeeper continues to go about his daily routine at his hotel, but, someday, he is sure, he will explore the world. This beautiful picture book from multi-award-winning and internationally best-selling author-illustrator Akiko Miyakoshi thoughtfully speaks to the common experience of longing for something new and exciting, while feeling comfort in the familiar. The artwork's muted colors and soft focus give it a dreamlike quality and, paired with the spare, simple text, invokes wonder, leaving many questions open to interpretation. This book perfectly captures the feeling of wanderlust, of being curious about the world, wanting to see other places and how other people live. It could ignite intriguing conversations with children about what they long to do. Its message is also likely to resonate with adults. My thoughts: This is my second book by Akiko Myakoshi and I expected charming dreamlike illustrations in her trademark style and a gentle subtle story. The book didn't disappoint -it is beautiful and evocative. The protagonist of the book, the owner of a place aptly named The Solitude Hotel, likes his job of welcoming guests from all over the world. He likes making them feel comfortable and telling them the stories of his little town. But at night he enters a different world, the world where he is a brave traveller and explorer of unknown places, full of joy and happiness for seeing his old friends and amazing landscapes, cherishing these special moments and being ready for unexpected. The contrast between soft black and white of his daily routine and soft and pastel colours of his dreams is stunning. It is as if his dreams are full of sunshine and are glowing from within. The room where he keeps notes and postcards from his friends seems to be the only colourful place in his hotel. It is the place that is singing with possibility and opportunity, and it is important for both children and adults to think big and reach in their imagination to far away countries where things are different from our usual daily life. Will he ever pack his suitcase and set off on a journey? I believe so. In the last sequence the colours are back to black and white, but he is travelling, so perhaps he is closer now to making these dreams reality. Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion Expected publication Date: 3rd of March 2020 Publisher: Kids Can Press |
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