Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: Illustrated

PEBBLES And The BIGGEST NUMBER by Joey Benun, illustrated by Laura Watson – Picture Books, Children’s Science Books, Science & Nature

Pebbles the butterfly loves to count as much as he can in his garden. But soon enough he gets curious, and in Pebbles and the Biggest Number by Joey Benun, he embarks on a science-filled quest to find the world’s truly gigantic numbers.

While the numbers start small, they quickly grow bigger and bigger, as do the wild events that Pebbles must face. Our butterfly guide wanders from forests to deserts, and encounters earthquakes, tsunamis, and even an avalanche. Each landscape and natural disaster pushes Pebbles onward to meet new friends and find even bigger numbers.

How big can the numbers get?

You’ll find no made-up numbers in Pebbles and the Biggest Number. Everything from a quintillion to a googolplex actually exists, though it isn’t long before the numbers become nearly impossible to imagine. However, there is a handy sand chart in the back to put some numbers into immense perspective. This is the kind of book that kids will sit with for long hours and astound you with the facts they’ve learned.

The friendly creatures and beautifully rendered landscapes of Pebbles’s journey will engage young and curious minds. Complete with extra notes and definitions in the back, this book will continue to teach even after the story ends.

Pebbles and the Biggest Number is hopefully the start of a great new series explaining the world to young readers. With its wonderful descriptions and knowledge, this book comes highly recommended!

March 20, 2023
EUDORA SPACE KID: Do the Robot! (Book 3) by David Horn – Science Fiction, Children’s Action & Adventure, Illustrated Books

In Eudora Space Kid: Do the Robot (Book 3), David Horn’s latest middle-grade sci-fi novel, Eudora Jenkins embarks on a rollicking, action-packed story that shows the reader just how much mischief one girl can get into out in deep space.

Eudora lives on the Planetary Republic’s flagship Astro liner Athena. A smart and sassy third-grader, Eudora can’t stop finding trouble on the ship’s journey to protect the Republic from aliens and perform science experiments and exploration in deep space.

The story begins with a school play, where Eudora plays a tree. How embarrassing. Her best friend, Arnold, joins her as a shrub. To make matters worse, Eudora’s eighth-grade sister, Molly, snatches Eudora’s role as the leading lady in Snow White. Molly eagerly anticipates a first kiss from her crush, Buck Fraser, playing the leading man.

Eudora plans a little payback for her sister stealing the lead role. She reprograms Walter, whom Eudora calls ‘lootenant,’ the only robot officer on the ship.

As everyone in the Planetary Republic knows, these robots are expensive. Walter is cast as “Grumpy the Dwarf,” and Eudora’s plot goes off perfectly. During the big scene, Walter pushes Buck aside and kisses Molly, to the delight of the audience. But after the performance, Walter breaks, and Eudora must think fast. She and her best friend work furiously to fix him, but soon the whole bridge realizes that something is wrong with him.

How can Eudora avoid destroying her shot of attending the Space Academy, and save her dream of becoming a Chief Engineer?

Horn’s masterful storytelling brings the sci-fi world of outer space alive, a realm filled with aliens both good and evil. Readers will Join Eudora in this romp through The Athena, as it struggles to operate without its robot extraordinaire.

Eudora is wonderfully imaginative, and she captures our sympathies. Readers will in love with her as she tries to solve the problem of reprogramming the complicated circuitry of a one-of-a-kind robot.

Each scene of Do the Robot! is filled with suspense, excitement, science, and space exploration. The surprising ending will satisfy readers young and old alike.

March 1, 2023
VICTORIA And The BIG, BRAVE BREATH by Andrea Vaughan, illustrated by Ryan Feltman – Children’s Books, Anxiety, Children’s Emotion Books

Andrea Vaughan’s Victoria and the Big Brave Breath is a beautifully illustrated children’s book, written to ease conversations about anxiety and worry with a child.

This story teaches children how to calm their nerves by focusing on their breath, using a clever onomatopoeia to help. Vaughn’s book is a timely must-read!

Victoria and the Big, Brave Breath starts with a little girl named Victoria recognizing that she is often worried. She lists examples (trying new foods, going to the doctor, playing in the park) of her anxieties. Physically-speaking, Victoria’s hands sweat, her knees shake and her tummy hurts when her feelings appear. Her teddy bear best friend Baxter has a suggestion for her to ease these unfamiliar (and uncomfortable) feelings.

The friendship that the bear and the girl share is sweet and endearing, as if the bear is an allegory for a friend or family member.

Baxter reassures Victoria that her feelings can be calmed by breathing in and out and reciting the magic word “oobeedoobee”. The bear’s person-like behavior in illustrations, such as his cheeks and warm eyes, are kindhearted and sympathetic towards Victoria. Victoria is hesitant at first, but after trying it she realizes Baxter is right and the technique “…makes her worries much, much smaller.”

The illustrations created by Feltman are vivid, with a lively color scheme.

Victoria’s eyes and complexion add refreshing diversity to the story, and the illustrations maintain a cute and endearing style. Feltman uses tender and gentle images to convey a feeling of emotional openness.

Victoria and the Big, Brave Breath flows well.

The examples given of her feelings are accurate and not overly dramatic. This gives the story an unwavering, clear tone and purpose.

The definition of being anxious is to feel unease or to experience worry or nervousness. If these feelings arise, we must stay present in the moment and focus inwards. Like in Victoria and the Big Brave Breath, we must take our time to breathe and calm ourselves, to understand we are safe, present and capable.

This practice is important especially now, with the ever-changing challenges we face. This book will arm children to know that their feelings are natural, while providing a tool they can use to navigate or calm them, which is only a couple oobeedoobees away.

Victoria and the Big Brave Breath by Andrea Vaughan and illustrated by Ryan Feltman won Grand Prize in the 2021 CIBA Little Peeps Awards for Early Readers and Children’s Fiction.

August 3, 2022
RAVENS ROOST by Maggie Bates – Children’s Nature Books, Illustrated Books, Children’s Friendship Books

Maggie Bates’s Ravens Roost is a Children’s book that explores the illustrated nighttime adventures of a woman with her friend, a small frog.

This story teaches children how to be curious about forest animals, even in the middle of a wind storm. Bates is new to writing Children’s books, and cares deeply for the natural world. Her rapport with animals likely inspired her debut tale.

Ravens Roost begins with a frog sitting on a roof, wondering where ravens go at night. The woman who lives in the house decides to help the frog follow his curiosity on an adventure. First, she climbs up a tree to watch ravens soar overhead. She admires the moon and notices the birds perching in her favorite tree. She climbs down and starts her trek along a forest path as night falls and the wind picks up. The woman tucks her frog friend into her pocket for safety. Along their journey, the frog and the woman share a special friendship.

The pair get trapped in the storm and the woman feels lost about where the ravens have gone.

Illustrations of the storm, the face of the wind, and the swirling background add depth and complexity to a pivotal part in the story. These images bring the story to life and sweep the reader up in their tale.

Ravens Roost is imaginative and observant of the world, making it a good choice for building vocabulary with a youngster.

This story’s lessons come in elegant prose. After reading of the author’s love and respect for nature at the end of the book, the parallels between the lead character and the author become apparent. Some beautiful ideas from Ravens Roost are realized by letting the wind carry us away, admiring numerous ravens on a perch, or protecting a frog from harm during a storm. Maggie Bates teaches children to be curious about animals, and the world we share with them.

Although the woman and frog are different in many ways, their ability to coexist is a valuable lesson.

In the end, if we do not stop to admire the natural beauty that surrounds us, we are overlooking unlikely friendships that may form, such as a woman with a frog. Bates reminds us that nature is a sacred space in her debut tale, and this story is paramount to us appreciating nature at any age.

July 1, 2022
SOMETIMES WHEN I’M BORED by Deborah Serani, Psy.D – Children’s Activity Books, Children’s Development Books, Picture Books

Deborah Serani’s Sometimes When I’m Bored is a colorful children’s book that highlights the challenges of being bored as a child in an inquisitive and reflective way. It also teaches children how to navigate this complex emotion. Dr. Serani is also an award-winning psychologist in practice for over thirty years.

The story starts with a little boy explaining how when he feels bored, that “nothing feels fun.” He gives examples (staring out the window, not preferring his toys, completing multiple readings of all his books) of his complex feelings in the story opening, which are relatable as both a child and an adult. He decides to ask his mother for suggestions on how to cure his reluctance to do all his usual and familiar hobbies. The two share a relationship that is bridged by easy-to-understand language.

Momma reminds him that he could see his feelings of boredom as meaning that “something special is waiting” for him. His well-meaning and good-natured mother provides numerous suggestions to her son. The boy starts spending time resting with his father, or writing a letter to a loved one and following his curiosity. These tender moments are beautiful, the bond the two share is sweet and loving. Kyra Teis’ illustrations are full of vibrant color, with double page spreads showing texture and closeness in the characters.

Sometimes When I’m Bored flows naturally and effortlessly while touching on the challenges of feeling bored as a child and as an adult.

Boredom, although at times can feel inconvenient or inappropriate, teaches us all to use our curiosity and openness. We must, like the little boy in Sometimes When I’m Bored, learn and take the advice from those around us to help nurture these new habits in wonder.

Moreover, if we do not honor our disinterested feelings, we are unable to grow as individuals. Serani teaches children about this lesson in her lovely book and this book, like the others in the Sometimes When series, give a safe space for all to articulate their thoughts without judgement and only in awe.

June 16, 2022
GREAT AS a BUTTON by Masoud Malekyari – Children’s Books, Children’s Self-Worth Books, Children’s Picture Books

Masoud Malekyari’s Great As a Button is a delightful children’s book that places a soulful little plastic adornment at center stage in a thought-provoking story that offers up a positive lesson about self-worth.

This tale unfolds from a first person POV as a lonely, black plastic button falls off a shirt. The button ruminates over its plight of feeling too plain to be noticed, and wishes perhaps to be a sock, a key, or a pair of glasses, i.e., a more important item that the button surmises someone would go out of their way to look for.

Amidst encounters with an inquisitive dog and some playful ants, the button has longings to reside in a big castle while adorning a king’s coat, or to sail across the ocean while attached to a boat captain’s slicker. Fate suggests that the button might be in trouble if snatched up by birds; lucky if used by a seamstress; or forlorn when not chosen like the more ornate accessories in a tailor’s shop. When given to a young boy, surprising opportunities send the button in an unexpected direction where ultimately, he discovers newfound importance on a sunny winter’s day.

Illustrations by Sebastião Peixoto prove glowingly complimentary and are a key component of the story.

The natural color shadings render quiet, yet well-defined drawings. Quirky and whimsical features lend true personality to the bevy of characters. From the intense facial details of a battling buttons army to the sad expression of the central plastic disc pondering his plainness, this simple character with its curlicued thread body is artfully brought to life.

Peixoto also smartly visualizes enlightening options between the little button’s desire to live in a royal palace, contrasted with an outdoor tent-like open book structure, where a smokestack chimney provides warmth on a snowy day. Likewise, the thought of adventure on the high seas is pitted against the simplicity of a paper vessel floating down a curbside stream.

Great As a Button is a charming take on learning to be happy with who you are.

Like the little button, it may take some of us a bit longer than others, but finding our particular niche is key. Our own unique traits and talents will lead us to where we belong, and satisfaction will come with contentment. Comparisons with others is unnecessary, as we come to realize we are each an individual with our special place in this world.

Like the simple button who comes to understand his self-worth, this quaint, imaginative read is an important work with a vital message for both young readers and the confident adults they aspire to be.

Great As a Button by Masoud Malekyari won Grand Prize in the 2020 CIBA Little Peeps Book Awards for Early Readers Fiction.

March 30, 2022