Eh.  I love to swim, and I probably felt exactly like this child when I was young and in the water.  But it just felt flat.  The book tries at time to rhyme or to have a cadence, but frequently fails.  It uses long lists of synonyms to get a point across that could be done with one word.  Just not for me.

This book gets accolades because it deserves them.  It reads like poetry, and looks like love.  The illustrations and words together paint a picture of a young, strong, person of color.  This book pertains to everyone, but it is not seen enough for young black boys.  This is their book, this is their chance to be seen and heard.  This is just one of what will hopefully will become many.

 

This story is simple.  It is the history of itself.  How it started and where it is now.  The illustrations are nice and overall I think this would make a lovely story time read.

I do like this series.  It was better than the original, but the Christmas story is still the best.  Did you know what dragon does not like Halloween?  He is afraid of zombies and most creatures that go bump in the night.  But with a little imagination, and I do mean little, dragon and family find the perfect trick or treat outfit and gather tons of candy.  

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a cat all day?  For the 5 hours you are awake anyway.  Well this book will put you front and center of all the action.  It seems like a perfect representation of cat life.  It has a bit of snark, and is a bit annoying.  Like cats in general.

This book was too long and very boring.  It showed it age, just not in illustration, and library wear, but in style of storytelling.  I think this would have been better as a spoken story rather than a written one.

This is an oldie, but a goodie.  Originally written by Ogden Nash in 1936, this 1995 edition when illustrations by Munsinger is a delightful read.  The rhyming pattern is different but with some practice could be smooth as butter.  Plus, I think the story of how brave everyone is but the big giant dragon is a nice change of pace.  I loved this story.  It ages well.  It could get a new illustrator and be an entirely new read for a new generation, and it should be.  Maybe in 10 years when it enters the public domain.

A dragon has moved in again. This time so has a new baby.  The little boy and the dragon will cause some trouble, and make their sister grumble, but in the end it will be okay, after all, dragons can be tamed.

Penelope is a dinosaur.  But she is king and caring, and she loves to rock.  She wants to share her rock with the school.  However, stage fright has got the best of her and she will need her friends to overcome it.  This is adorable.  Not as adorable as We do not eat our classmates, but a close second.

I am sure we have all gotten a present that we have not liked very much.  I know I have.  And that is what happens when beetle gives stick bug a very big purple puffy coat. How do these friends handle it, with the sophistication and care?  This story was lovely, and much needed in today’s world.