Shapes that Go by Rebecca Bondor

Shapes That Go
Concept by Rebecca Bondor

Photographs by Scholastic   

This simple board book teaches shapes and colors through photographs of vehicles.  Each page shows a shape on the left hand side and on the right hand side a vehicle.  The first page has a red circle on the left hand side of the page.  On the right hand side of the page there is a photograph of a backhoe.  The tire of the backhoe is highlighted in red to make the red circle on the corresponding page.  The book continues in this manner with shapes square, rectangle, triangle and octagon.  The colors that are introduced are:  red, green, blue, yellow green and purple.  The vehicles are backhoe, garbage truck, bicycle, school bus and semi-truck.  On each page the child is asked to see each shape.  The last page has all the shapes and the child is asked to point to each one.  A note to parents and teachers says that the child can be asked to trace each shape and name the color of each vehicle.

I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

God bless my Boo Boo by Hannah C. Hall

God Bless by Boo Boo by Hannah C. Hall and Illustrated by Steve Whitlow is a charming, soothing baby book.  The thick cover makes it durable and the cardboard pages make for easy turning for chubby, baby hands.  The comforting, lyrical prose on each page assures the child that any hurt can be soothed by a loving mommy, daddy or grandparent.  At the same time the words point to a loving Heavenly Father who heals our wounds.  The illustrations are endearing with various baby animals and an adult relative who helps in their time of need.  These animals include:  zebra, walrus, monkey, rabbit, elephant, alligator, flamingo, bear, porcupine and sloth.  The baby animals are depicted in scenes of things a human child would do.  These include playing on a jungle gym, getting an immunization at the doctor's office, having a splinter pulled out, falling and scraping a knee, etc.  The illustrations add warmth to the story.  The activities that the baby animals are involved with mirror things a child would experience and relate to and help keep the child engaged in the story to the end of the book. This is a satisfying book!

I received this book from the publishers and was not required to write a positive review.

Where’s My Fnurgle? by Jim Benton

Where’s My Fnurgle?

Jim Benton
Illustrated by Jim Benton

            This board book is an imaginative hide and seek game with Fnurgle.  Fnurgle is creature of whimsy and fantasy that loves to hide.  The book goes through different rooms in the house and the child is invited to try and find the hidden Fnurgle.  The book has rhyming words throughout the text for an enjoyable lyrical experience.  The simple text and bold, color rich illustrations will capture a young child’s attention.  The interactive manner of the book will make this a book a child will want to read over and over with a beloved care giver.  Benton has created a book that is sure to delight.

I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Dinosaur Parade by Shari Halpern

Dinosaur Parade

Shari Halpern

Illustrated by Shari Halpern

            An endearing book of lovable dinosaurs begins with a little boy strategically placing his toy dinosaurs on the carpet of his bedroom. The author Shari Halpern uses the factual, scientific names for the dinosaurs but they are drawn in a child-friendly manner.   On each page Halpern has created intriguing dinosaurs in bright, beautiful colors.  The inside cover and back cover of the book give detailed facts on various dinosaurs.  The inside pages give basic facts.  Several pages deal with the size and shapes of dinosaurs including those that had armor, bills and wings.  Other pages discuss how the dinosaurs moved and whether they lived on the land, in the water or flew in the air.  Description is given to the difference between plant eaters and meat eaters.  There is even a page dedicated to the scary, mean dinosaurs and the cute, sweet looking dinosaurs.  This book educates while it delights young children.

I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

Dropped Off Dog (A Mostly-True “Tail”) by Catherine Lagorio

Dropped Off Dog (A Mostly-True “Tail”)

Catherine Lagorio

Illustrated by Robert Kelly

  This story is based on the true-life events surrounding the author adopting a stray dog.  Ms Lagorio has created a story from the abandoned dog’s view point.  The story begins with the dog being well cared for and loved in a nurturing environment.  Sudden illness takes his caregiver away.  The dog is left forgotten until a relative of his caregiver drops him off at the side of the road.  The stark contrast between his safe, loving home and being left to fend for himself in a desolate wooded area make his plight felt by the reader.  Mr. Kelley’s soft toned illustrations are a perfect complement for this poignant story with a tender ending.  This picture book is a lovely way to introduce responsibility and loyalty in pet care.  It is also a great way to begin a discussion with a child about animal shelters, rescue organizations and the local pound. 

I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

The Barefoot Queen by Ildefonso Falcones

This is a tale of Caridad a former slave girl and Milagros a gypsy girl.  The story details differences in their coming of age years as well as their cultures.   But most of all it is a tale of an enduring friendship through misunderstandings, sufferings, separation, and strife.

Caridad arrives in Spain after her master dies onboard ship.  With no way to support herself she is mislead by “benefactor” who quickly uses her as means to gain money through prostituting her.  Caridad is eventually rescued from this ordeal by an elderly gypsy who is Milagros grandfather.

Milagros has been taught the art of seductive dance while keeping herself chaste.  This is as strict rule among the gypsies and she steps over the bounds when she dances too close to a rival gypsy’s young man.  This one misstep leads to many years of sorrow and hardache for Milagros and her family. 

Amidst this family turmoil comes the persecution of gypsies from the Catholic Church and Spanish government.  Milagros parents are thrown in prison for not adhering to church mandates.  Gypsies are rounded up because of the unsubstantiated view that their practice of telling fortunes is unholy and that they are thieves.  Much prejudice abounds for those who do not understand the culture of the gypsies.

A surprising hero arises in young Fray Joaquin who tries to protect the gypsies in his parish.  He heals rifts among the gypsies, accepts their ways and beliefs of the gypsies and tries to prevent their persecution.

The beauty of the friendship between Caridad and Milagros is ruined by the multiple graphic scenes of sexual abuse and sexual violence throughout the book. 

I acquired this book free from the publishers and was not required to write a positive review.

Jungle Babies of the Amazon Rain Forest: Squirrel Monkeys by Rachel Lynette

Jungle Babies of the Amazon Rain Forest:  Squirrel Monkeys

Rachel Lynette
Photographs by Shutterstock Images
            The book begins with an introduction to a baby squirrel monkey.  There is a physical description of the squirrel monkey that includes a little box at the bottom of the page with a shadow illustration of how large the adult squirrel monkey is compared to a human child.  An explanation is given of where they live with a map imposed onto the photos of the trees they inhabit.  The variety of sounds the squirrel monkeys make are described and explained. The author gives details on the squirrel monkeys development from birth to adulthood.  The babies are raised in family groups called troops.  She explains who their predators are, and how the mother protects and feeds her baby.  The mother gives special training to her babies to teach them how to find fruit and peel it.  At 18 months old the squirrel monkey is considered an adult.  Squirrel monkeys live in the same troop their entire lives.  The book concludes with an illustrated glossary. The closing page gives a list of books and an online website a child can explore for more information.   

I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.