Logan and I recently read “Claude: The True Story of a White Alligator.” We learned about albinism in nature and Claude’s life at the California Academy of Sciences. Click here for more information about Claude.
BOOK DETAILS // CLAUDE: THE TRUE STORY OF A WHITE ALLIGATOR by Emma Bland Smith, illustrated by Jennifer Potter // Published: August 4, 2020 // Hardcover, 32 pages // Little Bigfoot
AN EBOOK COPY OF THIS BOOK WAS GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
OUR CHALLENGE // Read together August 5, 2020 // Book #32 in our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge
Rating: 5 / 5 coffee beans
A few weeks ago, thanks to Emma Bland Smith’s recently published non-fiction children’s book, Logan and I were introduced to Claude the White Alligator! This book is a great introduction to Claude, his history and biological significance, and also serves as a great explanation of albinism in nature. Claude is the star of the show in this delightfully illustrated book, and any child (and adult) will be curious to learn more about this unique animal. His biological vulnerability and contribution to science will prompt discussions of how we can best protect endangered and vulnerable species and give them a second chance to thrive. Although he’s not living in a natural environment, he’s lived a long life so far and probably has many more years ahead of him because humans are caring for him and others like him in a secure environment. We thought the book deserved 5/5 coffee beans and hope to revisit this book again when we can enjoy a physical copy. Highly recommend!
We’ll leave you with a picture of the real Claude, below:
Steinhart Aquarium, California Academy of Sciences. Photos by Kathryn Whitney. Copyright- California Academy of Sciences, all rights reserved.
Hope your August is rounding out well, folks! Stay tuned for more reviews.
Logan and I finally made it to this 1986 classic a few weeks ago. The story was beautiful, the illustrations “classic” in every sense of the word, and of course, we’ll always remember that cover with the toddler making a complete mess in the bathroom. For the heartbreaking story behind the book, click here.“Love You Forever” is Logan-Approved!
BOOK DETAILS // LOVE YOU FOREVER by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Sheila McGraw // 1986 // Paperback, 32 pages // Firefly Books
Logan and I finally made it to this 1986 classic a few weeks ago. I doubt there are many people who haven’t at least heard of this children’s book. A paperback copy was gifted to Logan recently and we couldn’t wait to read this special story of a mother’s undying love for her child. This was guaranteed to be an extremely emotional read (we knew this before reading it); when I did some research and discovered the heartbreaking personal story behind the book and song (“I’ll love you forever / I’ll like you for always / As long as I’m living / My baby you’ll be”), it tugged at the heart strings even more.
We read this book with Mimi, who shared memories of having experienced it decades ago. She remembered the book from when I, Mama, was a little girl in grade school and my teacher read it during a parent-child Mother’s Day event. Mimi said my teacher warned everyone beforehand that she would try very hard not to break down and cry while reading it.
Yes, it’s one of those books.
One of those books where you’re looking around the room, asking “Who’s chopping onions?”
But that’s no surprise, because we expect any story about a mother’s love for her child (a son) to be heartfelt and sentimental. We were a little concerned about the part where the little old lady climbs up a ladder into the upstairs bedroom of her grown son! We understand that the book is simply making a point of how much this woman loves her dear child, but we thought that was a mite eccentric. I don’t know too many grannies climbing ladders, do you?
The story was beautiful, the illustrations “classic” in every sense of the word, and of course, we’ll always remember that cover with the toddler making a complete mess in the bathroom.
If you don’t know about this book, I have to ask: which rock have you been hiding under? And if you just remembered this book, why don’t you grab a copy and experience it again? It’s probably still one of the sweetest stories you’ve ever read. The book has been deemed a little “over-the-top” or strange to some people, and I can see where they’re coming from. And it’s heartbreaking when you learn the story’s origins. But we think it’s still one of the sweetest and most unforgettable stories of the last half-century.
Mama’s not too embarrassed to admit that she was a little scared to turn the page sometimes, the artwork was so detailed!! She’s not crazy about sharks but she liked the book because it was so informative and engaging. We recommend!
BOOK DETAILS Usborne Lift-the-Flap Sharks by Kirsteen Rogers, illustrated by Peter Scott 2005 Hardcover, 16 pages Usborne
Mama, Mimi and I read a great science book about sharks recently, and now we know more about this species than we thought possible!! Of course, the reason we loved this book so much is because it’s one of the awesome titles offered by Usborne Books and More!
The book is thoroughly researched with so many shark facts that when I’m older, I’m going to really dive into this one again. This is a Lift-the-Flap title and offers a fun, interactive way to explore the underwater world of sharks. We learned about some of the most recognizable players in the shark world (for example, great whites and hammerheads) but the book also highlighted some less well-known (but just as potentially dangerous) species as well.
We also learned that sharks rarely attack humans and when they do it’s because they’re mistaking them for food — not because sharks naturally enjoy snacking on humans. (In fact, they’d much rather have a fellow sea creature for lunch!)
The book is a nice size, full of colorful artwork and best of all, is as interactive as any kid would like! The Lift-the-Flap feature makes this already wonderful book a full 5/5 coffee beans for us.
Mama’s not too embarrassed to admit that she was a little scared to turn the page sometimes, the artwork was so detailed!! She’s not too fond of sharks but she liked the book because it was so informative and engaging. We recommend!
Logan and I read a stellar children’s book about Katherine Johnson. If you’ve seen the 2016 movie “Hidden Figures,” you already know about her. She was an amazing woman, and I was proud to introduce my son to her story. We will revisit this one when he’s older.
BOOK DETAILS A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison 2019 Hardcover, 40 pages Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Logan and I read another stellar children’s book a few days ago — this time about a real-life figure we were already somewhat familiar with: Katherine Johnson. If you’ve been living under a rock the last few years, you might not have heard of this awesome lady, but if you’ve seen the 2016 movie “Hidden Figures” or paid any attention to NASA, you certainly know about her. (In fact, you also probably know about Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, as well.) Katherine Johnson was the last surviving member of this empowered trio until she passed away at the age of 101 on February 24, 2020.
Photos courtesy of the publisher (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers); my photo arrangement in Pic Collage
Genres: Non-fiction, picture books, children’s books, history, African American, gender, women, artwork, biography Themes: motivation, intelligence, power of perseverance, heroes, education Recommended for: general audience
Katherine G. Johnson refused to be limited by society’s expectations of her gender and race while expanding the boundaries of humanity’s reach. – – former President Barack Obama, who presented Johnson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015
Portrait of Katherine Johnson, Credit: NASA For more information, click here
The beautifully-illustrated picture book “A Computer Called Katherine” was released in spring 2019 to much acclaim. Since our public library has been closed for a while now, we can’t access a physical copy of the book, so we read an ebook copy on Mama’s phone. We know without a doubt that the experience of the physical book would have made the reading of this book even more wonderful, and we hope to revisit it as soon as possible.
We won’t reveal the details of the book because we definitely want you to pick it up for yourself, but we will tell you without reservation that this is one great title, for littles and adults alike. The amazing (I can’t find a better word!) artwork by illustrator Veronica Miller Jamison and the biographical narrative by children’s book author and scientist Suzanne Slade provide ample evidence that they are wholly devoted to their subject.
Children’s book author and scientist Suzanne Slade has written over 100 books for children, many of them science-based
Illustrator Veronica Miller Jamison’s glorious artwork shines a light on Johnson, one of America’s scientific heroes
The authors of the biographical book “A Computer Called Katherine”
The cheerful full-page spreads visually invite the reader into the world of NASA and American society during the time in which Katherine was doing her history-changing work. It highlights Katherine’s lifelong ambition and intellectual gifts in a way that young children will devour, making her personal determination and enthusiasm to achieve and excel an important talking point.
This book will help start the conversation about personal goals and the importance of having dreams — no matter one’s gender or skin color. It will also demonstrate how critical it is to disregard any voices saying (sometimes shouting) that something can’t be done simply because it’s never been done before. The story of Katherine’s entire life proves that if we are able to do something in our lives, we must then be willing — no matter what.
It’s simply inspiring from the first page to the last, and a must-read for young and old alike. 5 stars for the artwork alone. One of our favorite reads so far!
Logan and I read another great book about strong family relationships with “Hair Love” by Matthew A. Cherry and illustrator Vashti Harrison. The story was simple and powerful, as the best stories tend to be.
Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry Illustrated by Vashti Harrison 2019 Hardcover, 32 pages Kokila
Read together April 29, 2020 Rating: 4 / 5 ⭐️ Book #26 in our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge
Logan and I read another great book about strong family relationships with “Hair Love” by Matthew A. Cherry and illustrator Vashti Harrison. The story was simple and powerful, as the best stories tend to be.
Adorable main character Zuri is a bright and shining little girl excited to spend quality time with her daddy while her mommy is out for the day. But it’s not just an ordinary day; it’s the perfect day to design the prettiest hairstyle!
That would be an ordinary undertaking for another little girl, but Zuri has wild and untamed hair. It kinks and coils and generally misbehaves, impervious to the comb and brush and always needing special care and attention. For this important mission, Zuri needs her Daddy’s help.
Lucky for Zuri, her daddy is hard-working and determined to give his daughter the best style. But managing Zuri’s hair is not for the faint of heart and even Daddy struggles to get it just right. Much time is spent in front of the bathroom mirror to give her a hairstyle that brings out her unique beauty.
Images courtesy of the publisher (Kokila) and cloudLibrary; my photo arrangement in Pic Collage
Eventually, the desired hairstyle is achieved and it’s all thanks to Daddy’s enthusiasm and hard work. He loves his little girl and it’s obvious how much he wants to make her happy. The beautifully-detailed illustrations by Harrison show the love between the two in cheerful spreads of color.
When mommy comes home at the end of the day, she hugs her little girl and compliments daddy’s handiwork. A memorable line at the end of the book: “My hair is Mommy, Daddy and me. It’s hair love.”
This is one of the sweetest family stories we’ve read so far. We enjoyed every page, and we think you will too! Highly recommend 🌺
BONUS: Watch the heartwarming Oscar- winning short film “Hair Love” from Sony Pictures Animation. Is someone chopping onions in this room, or what?
This Usborne Beginners Series book is a great children’s introduction to the exciting world of kittens and cats. It’s a detailed book, heavy on the science and biology of the feline species, but still elementary enough for little people. We enjoyed it and rated it 5 stars.
Cats Usborne Beginners Series by Anna Milbourne, designed by Michelle Lawrence 2006 Hardcover, 32 pages Usborne Books
Read together April 25, 2020 Rating: 5 / 5 ⭐️ Book #25 in our 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge
This Usborne book is a great children’s introduction to the exciting world of kittens and cats. It’s a detailed book, heavy on the science and biology of the feline species, but still elementary enough for little people. (Note: At almost 8 months, Logan is definitely not the target audience for this title — or most of the titles we read — so it is much more appropriate for an older child).
The book is interesting and full of facts, and I read some things that I didn’t know about cats, even as a cat owner. The graphics include both photographs and artwork and fill out the book in a streamlined way. It’s a good primer for cat newbies and lovers alike, or for anyone eager to learn something new about their feline friends. We will revisit this one when Logan is older, maybe about 4-5.5 / 5 ⭐️ for being richly informative and entertaining.
Another book review on the way. Continue to stay well and healthy, friends 🌼
Mimi sat down to read me another book recently; the book was from Mama’s childhood collection and it was well-worn and deeply loved. The book was called “The Friendly Duck” and it was another good one.
The Friendly Duck by Gina Ingoglia Illustrated by Deborah Borgo 1989 Paperback, 24 pages Western Pub. Co.
Read together March 23, 2020 Rating: 4 / 5 ⭐️ Book #24 in our “1000 Books Before Kindergarten” challenge
Mimi sat down to read me another book recently; the book was from Mama’s childhood collection and it was well-worn and deeply loved. The book was called “The Friendly Duck” and it was another good one.
It was about a little boy who lives in a farmhouse and a cute little golden-colored duck who glides in the pond behind the house. Every day, the boy comes out to visit the friendly duck and give him bread and attention. The duck is always happy to see him, and looks forward to his daily visits.
But one day, the little boy doesn’t come out, so the duck makes his first journey across the farm and inside the farmhouse to find the boy. After a quick tour of the farm, the brave duck climbs the stairs to the boy’s bedroom and finds his friend in bed, sick with a cold. The boy is delighted that the friendly duck came to see him for a change.
The friendly duck showed the little boy how much he missed him and how willing he was to see his friend. It’s a quick, pleasant book about friendship.
We loved the illustrations and enjoyed the story; it was also special to read another book that belonged to my Mommy and now belongs to me.
A scenario any child can relate to, this super-short and simple book is appropriate for the youngest of children and shows how hard a little dinosaur will fight bedtime. Spoiler alert: bedtime eventually wins.
Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea 2008 Hardcover Board Book, 40 pages Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Read together February 20, 2020 Rating: 2 / 5 ⭐️ Book #21 in our “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” challenge
A quick little board book about a red dinosaur who doesn’t want to go to bed. A scenario any child can relate to, this super-short and simple book is appropriate for the youngest of children and shows how hard a little dinosaur will fight bedtime — although it will conquer him in the end. We gave it 2 stars because it’s such a simple, elementary reading experience and we’re striving for more. This book, part of the Dinosaur Vs. series, is cute but not great.
Spring has almost sprung! More titles coming soon!!
Originally published in Portugal, “The Finger and the Nose” tells an amusing tale of extreme nose-picking and a child’s (forced) mission to evict her troublesome friend from his nose-home. You’ve never read anything like it!!
The Finger and the Nose by Paula Merlan Gomez (illustrator) 2019 Hardcover, 44 pages NubeOcho
Read together February 2, 2020 Rating: 3 / 5 ⭐️ Book #19 in our “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” challenge
Little One’s Book Review: Sophie has a little problem…that’s quickly turning into a big problem. She loves picking her nose; a common enough habit for most children, Sophie has taken her picking to the next level. She loves picking her nose so much that she has named her nose-picking finger Tom, and he’s become a rather close friend.
One day, she looks in the mirror and notices that her nose is getting bigger; she compares it to a large radish. It has beyond doubled in size and the growth doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Her parents told her this would happen if she didn’t stop letting Tom the Finger in her nose to root around all the time. Of course, Sophie didn’t believe them but now she thinks there might be something to it.
Sophie has made a nice home in her nose for Tom the Finger and he’s starting to explore and expand every day. That’s why her poor nose is getting bigger; Tom is upgrading his habitat!! Upon closer inspection, he’s got quite a nice place to live in Sophie’s nostril: he enjoys a large living room where he reads books, among other nice amenities.
If Sophie wishes her nose to return to normal non-radish size, she’ll have to stop her constant nose-picking and Tom will have to help out. Eventually, she figures out a way to occupy Tom in other pursuits. Things go back to normal when he behaves as properly as Sophie’s other fingers.
Mama’s Book Review: This is a cute book about a rather unsavory habit that many children will relate to and chuckle at while reading the story. I’m willing to bet that both children and adults have not encountered any subject matter quite like it in a children’s book, although the idea (plot) is pretty unique.
Originally published in Portugal, “The Finger and the Nose” tells an amusing tale of extreme nose-picking and a child’s (forced) mission to evict her troublesome friend from his nose-home. You’ve never read anything like it!! The artwork isn’t really a draw for us but it actually matches the story perfectly.
The artwork and the ick factor (which is a bit over the top) are why we rated it 3 / 5 ⭐️ However, we think the “grossness” won’t bother young children too much, as they pride themselves on this kind of behavior sometimes. And the book is perfect for a nice laugh.
Can you believe it’s almost the end of February?! We’ll be back soon with more reviews; marching toward March (and Spring).
Mama and I read this book a few weeks ago and thought it was pretty good. The story taught a lesson about listening to your mother and not jumping on the bed. It’s a hard rule to follow for many children, as we learn from the main character.
A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin 2019 Hardcover, 40 pages Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Read together February 2, 2020 Rating: 3 / 5 ⭐️ Book #18 in our “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” challenge
Mama and I read this book a few weeks ago and thought it was pretty good. The story was a little bland but the illustrations were incredibly beautiful; the artwork was the biggest draw for us, and although we’re not sure, the medium might have been watercolor. The story taught a lesson about listening to your mother and not jumping on the bed. It’s a hard rule to follow for many children, as we learn from the main character.
A little boy named Little Snow has a very special new bed to sleep in during the winter: a big blue bed made out of soft feathers. His mother gave him the bed and warned him to take care of it and sleep carefully in it. Beds ARE just for sleeping, right? Ordinarily that’s true, but Little Snow has discovered how bouncy his new bed is and he can’t resist jumping up and down on it!
Each night during the winter, Little Snow gets ready for bed, and his mother thinks he’s going to just SLEEP in his bed. The sneaky boy waits for his mother to leave before he does his naughty little deed of jumping on his big blue feather bed. He has such a great time jumping up and down and seeing how high he can soar; the fun seems endless.
Unfortunately, to his mother’s chagrin and quiet amusement, she knows exactly what Little Snow is up to each night and she tells him he’s being a naughty boy and he’s going to ruin his wonderful new bed. But Little Snow just can’t help himself; when he should be sleeping, he’s bouncing up and down on his bed like it’s a trampoline!
Soon enough, Little Snow’s bed starts to lose its feathers and go flat. However, his mother isn’t upset with him; it’s the end of the winter season and it’s time to store the bed away. Now that the feathers have all escaped the bed, it’s much easier to do so. Little Snow knows he’ll jump to his heart’s content on the big blue feather bed again next season, and he’s already looking forward to it. (We’re pretty sure his mother knows his plans as well.)
Baby Stole My Book 