Reviews written by Clara Graham-Reid, Staff Reviewer

24 results - showing 1 - 15
1 2
Ordering
November 01, 2024
Overall rating
 
4.5
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Kids Fiction
An Accessible Look at Bullying

I cannot tell you how much fun family storytime was with Bob Shea's "Pizza for Birds"! If you loved "Chez Bob", you're going to get such a kick out of this follow-up. The story follows Bob, our favorite alligator restaurateur, as he deals with some serious competition from Ryan, the...

November 01, 2024
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Kids Fiction
A Celebration of Active, Wiggly Behavior

As a former library storytime leader, I'm always on the lookout for books that channel kids' natural energy in a positive, constructive way. "I Am Wriggly" absolutely nails it with its bouncing, rhythmic text that just begs to be read aloud with lots of movement and participation. ...

November 01, 2024
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Stunning Wordless Picture Book

I have to say this wordless picture book from Freya Blackwood is one of the most stunning, captivating books I've come across in a long time. The detailed, emotive illustrations had my whole family enthralled. My six-month-old who was mesmerized by the colors and shapes, and my older son loved...

November 01, 2024
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Kids Fiction
A Book That Makes Following Rules Feel Like Breaking Them

"Mr. Fox's Game of No!" transforms the simple concept of saying "no" into an engaging, interactive game that delights young readers while cleverly challenging their cognitive skills. The book's game show format, complete with tricky questions and playful consequences, creates an immediately engaging reading experience that begs to be shared....

November 01, 2024
Overall rating
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Learning Value
 
5.0
Kids Nonfiction
A blend of artistic beauty and natural science

My family were already fans of Alexandra Milton's previous books, “Who is in the Egg?” and “Whose Tracks in the Snow?” So I was understandably excited for the new addition, "Who Lives Here?" This book has quickly become one of our family's favorite nature exploration books. Through stunning paper collage...

November 01, 2024
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
A clever, engaging story!

I absolutely adore this clever, engaging story! "How to Talk Like a Chicken" masterfully blends laugh-out-loud humor with heartwarming lessons about friendship, cooperation, and perspective-taking. The fourth-wall-breaking premise of the book is that a chicken instructor is teaching the reader the nuances of chicken communication. The silly, participatory...

November 01, 2024
Overall rating
 
4.8
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Kids Fiction
A Gentle Skill Building Story

I’m pretty sure everyone has known one of those kids who turns everything into a competition. "Bijan Always Wins" tackles this common childhood stage with such warmth and understanding that I found myself nodding along with every page. The story follows Bijan, whose need to win at absolutely...

November 01, 2024
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Kids Fiction
A wonderfully engaging read for all ages

I fell in love with Blanca Gómez's work after our family discovered "Very Good Hats," and "Bookie & Cookie" is another delightful gem. This story of two best friends navigating the challenges of trying new things is both heartwarming and cleverly designed. The book's format, with Bookie and...

November 01, 2024
Overall rating
 
3.8
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
3.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
3.0
A Cute Exploration of Animal Behavior

"Why Do Camels Have Such Long Eyelashes?" is exactly the kind of book that makes learning feel like play! The setup is super engaging - each desert animal comes with a silly question and an even sillier possible answer before revealing the actual science behind their amazing adaptations. My preschooler...

November 01, 2024
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
A Beautiful Exploration of Gief

The Language of Flowers is a beautifully illustrated and emotionally resonant story that follows young Juhi as she learns to connect and communicate through the symbolic language of flowers. Set in her father's flower shop, Juhi absorbs the meaning behind each bloom they sell, understanding how certain flowers convey love,...

November 01, 2024
Overall rating
 
4.3
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Kids Fiction
A Fun Read for the Whole Family

"Hank Goes Honk" arrived in our house at the perfect time - my son is deep in the "but I need to tell you RIGHT NOW" phase of life, just like the character of Hank. This story follows Hank, a goose who just can't help but "HONK!" his way into...

November 01, 2024
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
4.0
Kids Indie
A Faith Based Guide to Emotional Regulation

When I saw this book about a young boy managing big feelings and emotional overwhelm, I knew I had to read it with my son. My little guy has also been working on regulating his feelings, so I was excited to find a book that approached the topic in an...

October 31, 2024
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
A Beautiful Celebration of the Importance of Children

Oh, this book! As someone who has two little kids, "You Are My Everything" struck a profound chord with me. The sentimental story combined with all the new mom hormones had me tearing up reading this to my baby. The tender story of two elephants embarking on their migration journey...

October 31, 2024
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
3.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Kids Indie
An Excellent Addition to Any Bilingual Collection

As a librarian and homeschool mom, I'm always on the hunt for innovative, inclusive learning materials that engage young minds. "Miro / I Look" absolutely fits the bill, delivering a masterful blend of bilingual vocabulary development and visual literacy in a way that feels effortless. The consistent structure...

October 31, 2024
Overall rating
 
5.0
Plot
 
5.0
Characters
 
5.0
Writing Style
 
5.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
Kids Fiction
An Adorable Bedtime Transition

"We Hug Night Night" is a story that captures those precious end-of-day moments we all treasure with the kids in our lives. This book features clever die-cut pages that encourage little hands to get involved in exploring the book. Once you meet a pair of animals coming to the end...

24 results - showing 1 - 15
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