Killjoy takes us back to the world of a good girls ‘s guide to murder. This is a prequel story that tells us when our main character decided they were gonna look into this murder. It all starts with a how to host a murder party thrown by a friend. This was a novella put out for world book night, and it was a nice story to the series. I didn’t like book number three so revisiting and seeing the things I loved about the main character from book number one was perfect.

Maisie book is a Maisie book. in this book, she goes to the eye doctor. The book is exactly what one expects it to be. The only thing they don’t get into is glaucoma testing, and that little puff of air. Now odds are that’s not happening on kids, but still it’s something I think should be noted because some kids might have to have that.

This book is exactly as the title explains. It’s about a little kid going from being the passenger in a baby seat to having their own two wheels. This book is lovely. You don’t see kids riding bikes around neighborhoods anymore, like they used to once upon a time. To see a love for bicycles and the need to get out and ride one is lovely. The illustrations bring back the nostalgia of being a child riding their first two wheel bike. 

 

This book is long. It is about a grandpa bear and a cub. The cub sees the postcard that’s always been on his grandfather ‘s fridge and ask him about it. And they decide they are going to train and get ready to go to Faraway Valley. Once they finally find faraway valley, grandpa decides to stay because the place is beautiful and he wants to help take care of it. This book is overly long for no reason. The illustrations are lovely, but this is not a book I would pick up and read over and over again. 

 

This book is hard. It’s about a child that continuously spends a lot of time in the hospital. And how they feel going between the hospital and regular school. How they feel they have to keep things separate or be like other children and try to forget their hospital time. But the story is useful. First off, the note from the author in the beginning about hospital kids being a little different and needing the public to understand that things are different for them is lovely and tearjerking. In the story of the character finds that it’s OK to have different experiences. It also teaches others that you should be aware of those experiences and not afraid but willing to try new things. 

 

This book is lovely. While it looks like a picture book it’s a small chapter book that is fully illustrated in color. It tells the story of evergreen a little squirrel who must go deliver medicine to Grandma Oak. To do so they must cross the forest which is dark and scary and has strange and dangerous things happen. But Evergreen learns that adventure awaits if you’re only brave enough to take it. This book was lovely and as usual Matthew Cordell does excellent illustrations. 

 

A ghost loves being in the meadow, making friends collecting flowers, etc. Their dream job is to take over the haunting of a very important castle. Upon landing their dream job they do it and they love it until they realize that they’re losing part of themselves. They need to go back to the meadow. I understand the allegory of this book. That sometimes what you dream of doing is not actually right for you. But I’m not sure if it’s the phrasing or if it’s the way it’s written. This book makes it seem like Wolfgang went back to the meadow, but took some of the haunting stuff with them When I think a better message might have been to be able to do a little bit of both. I’m not sure I do like the art. I’m just not the biggest fan of the story. 

 

I might need to keep this one a little longer for my niece. Who’s really gotten into dinosaur and also has a tendency to get very emotional very quickly. This would be entertaining at a story time. The book rhymes well, it has a nice cadenc,e and the illustrations are bright and colorful. Altogether, this is a great book that I could see being at storytime for the next 20+ years. 

 

This is not one of Wells ‘s better books. It’s four vignettes of little kids who like to do stuff and what they may become when they grow up. The illustrations are classic Wells. They are lovely. They’re memorable and recognizeable characters from other books she has written. However, there’s not really a story. It’s more informative. I do like that not everything is Dr., Nurse, these high degree high expense type of jobs, but still it’s lacking a storytelling quality which is highly unusual for a Wells. 

 

This book was wonderful. It was rhyming fun. The cadence was spot on. The story was entertaining. This would be great fun at storytime. Between the story itself and all the sound words that kids will get into and want to beatbox along with. Add some colorful, exciting illustrations and I’m surprised I haven’t heard more about this book.