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The Wild Birthday Cake

September 22, 2016

Not as interesting as it sounds.

Takes a long time to get to its point. The point is weird. It's not a bad message; it's just a weird message.

Message

Only special people can keep wild animals as pets.

Pierre in Love

September 22, 2016

Contrived story, ends before it gets realistic.

Two separate people have loved each other from a distance and never actually had a conversation, but they're in love. Hopefully it works out at the end. It doesn't really say.

Message

If you love somebody, tell them.

Small Rain: Verses From The Bible

September 22, 2016

Bible Bible Bible.

It's just a bunch of verses from the Bible, with some kind of maudlin, Precious Moments-style illustrations.

Message

Be polite.

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf

September 22, 2016

Unrealistic metaphor that does more harm than good.

It's not bad because the message is bad, but because it fails at getting that message across and what it does get across is just upsetting.

Message

People die but life goes on.

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon

September 22, 2016

Tries to be funny and fails.

It kind of seems like trying to capitalize on the popularity of “The Stinky Cheese Man,” but it really doesn't live up to that.

Message

Don't spend beyond your means. Or, don't rob banks. Not clear.

The Alphabet from A to Y With Bonus Letter Z!

September 22, 2016

High quality for an alphabet book.

Given Steve Martin's ability to write, most of them are actually really good rhymes and have good meter, which is hard to find in standard children's books. I was amused.

Message

Teaching the alphabet.

An Ambush of Tigers

September 22, 2016

Pretty pictures and well-written.

I wanted to hate this book, I really did. But I can't fault it for being well-written poetry with good rhymes, or for having great illustrations.

Message

None.

Amelia Bedelia

September 22, 2016

A bunch of jokes that aren't very funny.

I don't think kids would think of “trimming” as putting ribbons and stuff on something, like you trim a dress, I guess? Maybe it's just dated.

Message

Be specific. Or, if you make good pie, people will forgive anything else.

Who Will I Be, Lord?

September 22, 2016

Realistic yet enforces gender and class stereotypes.

Everybody's really lower class. Maybe that's good, because I guess there really isn't that much mixing of lower and upper class, so it's more realistic that way?

Message

You can be anyone you want to be.