Review: Goodnight Mouse

Goodnight Mouse

Written by Rochelle Killiner

Illustrated by Agata Oleksiak

Publication date: 2010
Printed: PublishMe
ISBN: 978-0-473-16322-8

Summary/Back cover:
It’s time for bed at Mouse’s house, but poor little Mouse is scared of the night!
Join Mouse and his Mum as they discover the magic of the night’s sky and learn that going to bed is not so bad after all.

Review:
This is a gentle story about a Mouse who is scared of the dark but then discovers he has a special star watching over him. This story suits preschoolers and would be useful for kids who are scared of the dark. The rhyming text uses rich language and the illustrations are simple and colourful. It is not a spectacular book but well worth a read.

3/5

Review written by Judith

Review: Owl Babies

Owl Babies

Written by Martin Waddell

Illustrated by Patrick Benson

Publication date: 1992
Publisher: Walker Books
ISBN: 0-7445-9270-4

Summary/Back cover:
On a tree in the woods, three baby owls sit and think and wait for the Owl Mother to come home.

Review:
The three baby owls miss their mother and at first the two older owls are confident their mother will be back soon while the smallest owl misses his mother. After a while they all become unsure and comfort each other until their mother returns.

This is a simple but lovely story suitable for all ages. It is fairly short with beautiful illustrations.
Word of warning: I would not recommend reading this story to a child who is missing his/her mother as the smallest owl continually says “I want my mummy.” My own mum had to change the words in the story to avoid reading this line when she was looking after my kids for the night otherwise it could have ended up in a disastrous night.

3/5

Review written by Judith

Review: Dora the Explorer – Little Star

Dora the Explorer – Little Star

Adapted by Sarah Wilson

Publication date: 2011
Publisher: Parragon
ISBN: 9780689847219

Summary/Back cover:
Dora and Boots spy the first little star of the evening and begin making their wishes. But suddenly a comet knocks Little Star out of the sky, and she falls to the ground. Join Dora and Boots as they try to get Little Star home, so that everyone can make a goodnight wish.

Review:
This particular Dora book is one of my daughter’s favourites. The story involves the reader by using questions for them to answer, such as riddles or spotting items on a page. It includes many Dora characters such as Map, Boots, the Grumpy Old Troll and Swiper. I can understand why Dora fans love these books, but I find them frustrating as they are similar to the TV programme. Apart from answering the questions in the book there is no real theme or values explored. The book uses some Spanish phrases, however it would be helpful if the pronunciation was included. These books are more for entertainment than for educational purposes.

2.5/5

Review written by Judith

Review: Poppy Cat's Dream

Poppy Cat's Dream

Written and Illustrated by Lara Jones

Publication date: 2006
Publisher: Campbell Books
ISBN-13: 978-1405054263

Summary/Back cover:
It's time for Poppy Cat to snuggle up in bed. But someone's missing! Where's Bear? Join Poppy Cat and friends for another exciting adventure this time in Poppy Cat's dreams! They search high and low, floating in a hot air balloon up in the sky, sailing in a pirate ship on the ocean and zooming in a rocket through space! But perhaps Bear was closer to home all the time...

All the wonderful scenes in this fantastic large-format book are brought to life by the ingenious pop-ups on every spread so now Poppy Cat's adventures are more exciting than ever!

Review:
A wonderful book that is so well illustrated every page moves and you have to find bear. For our family the reliance of missing a special teddy is big deal. The writing of the book is lovely with lots of Whizzing, whooshing and other action words you sort of flow and sing through the book. I keep this book due to its ability to be damaged on a higher shelf so my kids treat it as a special book. They always get a thrill reading it and having to find the bear where ever he maybe. A great book for bedtime.

Rating 5 out of 5

Review written by Elise

Review: The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate

The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate

Written by Margaret Mahy

Illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain

Publication Date: 1995 (first published 1985)
Publisher: Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-055430-0

Summary/Back cover:
Sam was an ordinary person who wore an ordinary suit and ordinary shoes. He worked in a neat office writing down figures all day. But Sam’s mother was a PIRATE!

Written by a best-selling author, this is a lively and enchanting tale with wonderfully exuberant illustrations to match

Review:
The thing that strikes me about Margaret Mahy books is that they really tell a story. I think the illustrations perfectly compliment Mahy’s text in this tale of a “little man” with the exuberant pirate mother. The story is about the “little man” taking his retired pirate mother to the beach (quite the journey from the city where they live) with just a barrow and a kite to transport them. The book is proving a hit with my boys who are quite keen on pirates.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review written by team_s

Review: Jeremy Draws a Monster

Jeremy Draws a Monster

Written and illustrated by Peter McCarthy

Publication Date: 2009
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
ISBN-13: 978-0-8050-6934-1

Summary/Back cover:
Jeremy’s monster turns into a monster of a problem. Will it ever leave?”

Review:
In terms of plot, Jeremy is a young boy who does not go outside. He seems to spend most of his time drawing, and on this occasion he draws a monster that comes to life and makes a nuisance of itself. Thankfully Jeremy is a talented illustrator and uses that skill to solve his monster problem.

Peter McCarthy, the author/illustrator of this book, lives in New York, which might explain the modern, minimalist feel of the story. The illustrations are in pen ink and watercolour with a limited colour palette. The story is quite entertaining and quite a quick read. I get the impression that the story has a sub-level to it – the monster representing some part of Jeremy’s subconscious. You could delve into repressed emotions if you like to combine reading to your youngster with psychology or close-reading.

My general opinion is that it’s an okay story, but just not a particular popular one in our family.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

Review written by team_s

Review: Down by the Cool of the Pool

Down by the Cool of the Pool

Written by Tony Mitton

Illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees

Publication Date: 2001
Publisher: Orchard Books
ISBN: 978-1-84121-098-8

Summary/Back cover:
Down by the pool in the cool of the day, Frog cried, “Wheeeee! Can you dance like me?”

Join sprightly Frog and his energetic farmyard friends frolicking down by the cool of the pool – flipping and flopping, splishing and splashing stomping and stamping in their watery wonderland. Where will the fun end?

Review:
This book is created by the illustrator of Giraffes Can’t Dance and the author of the Amazing Machines series. If you and your children are fans of The Lion Who Wanted to Love, Commotion in the Ocean and/or Farmyard Hullabaloo (all published by Orchard Books) you will definitely enjoy this book. It’s a lot of fun to read, with great rhythm and rhyme and lots of onomatopoeia. The illustrations are bright and lively.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review written by team_s