This board book has the traditional "This Little Piggy" nursery rhyme with a small change. The piggy who originally ate roast beef actually eats "roast leeks" in this book. I guess that piggy is a vegetarian.

Each page shows a child wiggling their toes, and then the same child is dressed up in a pig costume acting out the accompanying action, like going to market, staying home, or crying "wee, wee, wee".
I appreciated that the children in the illustrations are all diverse and of different ages and ethnicities.

The art work is simple and cute. I like that it is brightly colored to capture a child's attention. The art depicts the actions clearly, so that a child could easily follow along.

This book is so cute and adorable!


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Rosa and her friends make pizza dough with yeast and flour. They let the dough rise, and then roll it into shape. After the toppings have been put on, the friends bake their pizzas. Each pizza comes out a little different, but they are all delicious.

I love how the friends work together and help each other to finish the pizza recipe. They aren't afraid to make a little bit of a mess. I really appreciate that Rosa's friends are diverse from different ethnicities.

I like how educational this book is! The story teaches about how yeast reacts with water and flour to create bubbles, which makes the dough rise. It also encourages children to learn how to follow a recipe, measuring out exact quantities of the ingredients and following the directions.

The illustrations are brightly colored with clear scenes that show exactly what the children are doing. I love the simple art style, and each of the characters are so cute!


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Scruff is a scruffy dog, and his owner is scruffy too. But Scruff likes to be polished and pampered and clean. So Scruff's owner gets polished and clean too. But is it enough for them to win a prize at the dog show with all the fancy dogs?

This book is adorable! It is told in a few comical words, and the writing is just perfect for little readers. The story is engaging and fun!

The illustrations really add a lot to the story! I like the art style with thick lines and bright colors. It is sure to capture the attention of little kids. Each scene is clean and simple without a lot of clutter on the page, and I like that.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

This graphic novel tells the true story of how the author survived on the Artic ice without any supplies or water when his snowmobile broke down. He knew survival techniques like melting ice for drinking water, and how to keep his clothing dry to ward off hypothermia. Using all his knowledge and skills to endure the harshest cold, he lives through the days and nights until a rescue party can find him.

I was impressed with this story of courage and endurance! I loved the way the narrator tells the story simply and in a straightforward way without trying to over-dramatize the situation. The writing style is sincere and gripping. I loved learning words from the Inuktitut language and getting a glimpse of what life is like in such a harsh climate.

I liked the art work, but some of the designs for people's faces are strange. Like their lips are too big and prominent for their face or something. It struck me as odd. But the rest of the illustrations are wonderful, and really capture the bleak terrain and the chilling cold of the Artic.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Sanikiluaq is a remote town that gets all its supplies through cargo planes. At Halloween, the plane flies in pumpkins for the school children! Each class gets to carve a pumpkin, and they draw names to see who gets to take it home for their front porch. They light candles inside each pumpkin. The children don their costumes and get bags full of candy trick-or-treating at each house. Then the whole community gathers for a Halloween dance. But when they go to bed, the children wonder if the tunnaat spirits will come out and steal the pumpkins. Or will the pumpkins freeze when the candles burn out?

I liked this snippet of life in an Artic Inuit town. You can really feel the delight of the children as they enjoy the holiday! There is a blend of modern traditions with old folklore that makes this book special. However, the tunnaat spirits going in and out of houses might be too scary for young children.

The illustrations are brightly colored and beautifully designed. However, some of the artwork looks like it was done digitally, and other bits were done in pencil. The art styles vary and I found that strange. It would have looked better to use one style throughout the book instead of mixing them. There is this one airplane drawn in pencil at the beginning that especially stood out in an odd way. The art could have been more cohesive. As it is, it is distracting.

This book captures the fun atmosphere of Halloween without being too creepy or scary. The whole story is cute and fun!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Bea loves lions. She is obsessed with everything to do with lions. But Bea hates going to the beach, because the sand is scratchy and gritty. When she goes to the beach with her mother, Bea meets a Sand Lion who helps her appreciate all the fun you can have with sandcastles and playing in the sand. Sand Lion is afraid of the water, so Bea helps him to not be afraid of the little waves on the shore.

I love how Bea and Sand Lion support and encourage each other through their anxieties and fears. It's so sweet and cute! The story is told in a fun and comical way that is never too preachy, but there are also a lot of positive messages woven into the plot.

I love that Bea is a complex character, even for a short children's picture book. She has a character arc and some personal development as she conquers her fears. She has definite likes and dislikes and a strong personality. She's such a spunky little girl!

The illustrations are so cute! I love the bright colors and crayon art style. The lines of the art are gritty like the sand, and every scene is beautifully designed. I love how expressive the characters' faces are, bringing emotion and interest to every page. There is also a lot of movement and energy in the artwork with specific details in the background that make this book really special.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

This book teaches the reader that mean words and arguments cause a crack to form between friends, but kind words and working together makes a tree of friendship grow. Thoughtlessness and selfishness only tear people apart, but forgiving and smiling at one another results in a happy atmosphere of support.

The moral message seems like it would be too preachy, but the poetry of the writing makes it so light and fun that it doesn't feel too heavy for a children's book. The writing is in good rhyme, with good rhythmic lines. I am very picky about rhyming text in children's books, but this writing is excellent. The poetry flows along nicely.

I always love books with die-cut openings, and this book uses the peek-through openings so cleverly to enhance the story and lead the reader into the next page. It's really beautifully designed and I was so pleased with the arrangement of the pages.

The illustrations are colorful and emotional as they depict the contrast of the darkness of anger and the sunshine of friendship. I like the textured art style with blocks of color and blurry lines. It gives the book a dreamy quality that is soothing.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Kayla is anxious on her first day of kindergarten, but she quickly forgets her nerves when she has to help her teacher, Mrs. Muddle. The teacher gives everyone the wrong name tags, and the students have to figure out everyone's names to give the right name tag to their classmates. Mrs. Muddle can't find the gym, and takes the students to the library instead. Kayla was worried about getting lost, but discovers she can easily find her way around school when she has to step in to help Mrs. Muddle. At the end of the school day, the children have spent their whole class time teaching Mrs. Muddle, but they have learned more than they realize.

I love this story! What a smart teacher to have the students help and figure things out as a group! I should have done that when I was teaching kindergarten. Too late now. If only I could time-travel back about 15 years and be like Mrs. Muddle.

Kayla is such a resourceful and smart little girl! She quickly takes charge, jumping in to help solve problems. I love that she has an outgoing and helpful personality. I also appreciate that each of the children in the class are diverse and from varied ethnicities.

I love the cute illustrations in this book! Each page is colorful and fun with special details in the background that bring the story to life. The art work really adds to the comedy of the story, and I love the expressions on the characters' faces. The art style looks like watercolor and crayon, which is just perfect for this type of story. Every scene in the story is a delight!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Paris Cat is born in a dirty alleyway where her cat relations eat fish bones. She runs into a dressmaker's shop to get out of the rain, and begins sewing her own wardrobe from the fabric scraps. She visits a theater and dances onstage with Josephine Baker (who is a famous erotic dancer from history known for her skimpy costumes) and Chiquita the leopard. Eventually, she opens her own dancing club and cafe where her cat family and friends can benefit from her fabulous fashion creations and jazz music.

The reason for my low rating is the inclusion of Josephine Baker in this book in her skimpy costume. Paris Cat joins Josephine onstage for some erotic dancing in very revealing clothing. I understand that Josephine Baker was a wonderful civil rights activist who even spoke alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., and she was part of the French resistance during WWII. She adopted 12 children because she had such a difficult childhood herself.

I mean, this is a person with a ton of good qualities that could have been highlighted in this children's book, but instead we see her dancing on stage in an erotic costume. Why would you feature that part of her life in a children's book? They barely mention the other amazing things she did in a blurb at the back of the book.

I just can't understand the twisted lack of morality that would put this aspect of Josephine Baker's career forward for children to learn about in such an inappropriate way. I really wish that they had included this historical figure in some other capacity other than erotic dancing.

I love that Paris Cat is determined and resourceful to build a new life for herself away from the old alley. She sees other people creating something or dancing or singing, and she decides that she can do it too. I love how confident she is in her own abilities, and she's willing to work hard to achieve her dreams.

I'm not sure that I'm a fan of this art style. It's a little too messy and garish for me. Everyone's eyes are so dark, and every feature is exaggerated in a weird way. I know that is the style, but it's not my cup of tea. The art is consistent and has a professional polish. It's obviously well done, but it's not my personal favorite.

I'm very disappointed in this book.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

A unicorn helps a young dragon who wants to learn to fly. First they try a superhero cape, then a rocket ship, and finally a big bunch of balloons tied to the dragon to help him fly. All through their experiments with flying, the unicorn is supportive. The unicorn listens and encourages the dragon every step of the way.

This book is so adorable! The characters are so cute, and I love their emotional journey as the baby dragon tries and fails and learns to get up again and try some more. The unicorn is a steady and loving character, always ready with a hug or a bandaid. The unicorn is always cheering for the dragon to succeed. It's so sweet!

I love the art style! Each page is so colorful and bright. The scenes are full of fun details in the background that make it a joy to read. I love how expressive the art work is! Each line is full of energy and movement. Even the text is colorful and big and grand.

The writing is excellent and tells the story in a concise way. The lines have good rhymes and a good rhythm that flows along nicely. It's easy to read aloud, and each word is vivid.

I just adore this whole book! It's beautifully crafted from start to finish!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.