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.
Read more...None.
Boring book literally about bears being on wheels.
A lot less interesting than it sounds. Very simple. Nothing happens. There's no story.
Read more...Teaches numbers. Counting, perhaps.
The story is as disappointing as the treasure itself.
The best part: “'What is booty, Papa?' Asked Sister.”
Read more...Seashells are cool.
Japan's version of the fairy realm.
The framing device for the story basically lampshades the fact that the story has a weird ending, which is even weirder.
Read more...Don't forget about those who you love. The kids explicitly point out the moral in the book.
Forced, annoying rhymes and not much of a story.
Perhaps the diction is intentionally childlike? But no, then they wouldn't have used the word “congregate.”
Read more...None. Just descriptive.
Nope, apparently there's no such thing as "too much car trip."
I was really expecting it to be about Mama and Papa bear realizing that sometimes pushing everybody to do too many things on a long car trip is a bad idea, but no.
Read more...Car trips are fun.
As the title says, nothing happens.
An ultra-short book which lives up to its title.
Read more...Even when moms get mad at their kids, they still love them.
Video review.
I felt that it portrayed the main character, Binah, as perfect, and the "English Roses", four other girls, were only jealous of her because she was so perfect. When they found out her mother was dead, they realized only then that their jealousy was unfounded. So the main character's only flaw is that she has a dead mother, and shunning people is bad because... they might have dead mothers. Or something. My video goes into more detail.
Don't hate people who seem too perfect because they might have tragic backstories.
Video review.
This book sends absolutely the wrong message, in more ways than one. Basically, the main character is upset, and the only thing his "friends" tell him is that he should smile for them, oblivious to the possibility that he might have a legitimate problem of some kind, or that feeling sad is even okay in this aquatic world. They don't want to deal with his feelings. Then a stranger arrives and kisses him on the face, which magically fixes the problem, suggesting to impressionable kids (as other reviewers here have pointed out) that going around kissing people you don't know is acceptable and in fact desirable. My video review goes into more detail.
Smile or your friends will hate you.
Video review.
This book sends the wrong message to impressionable children. Basically, when the Little Rabbit gets the titular red wings, his mother and all the other animals reject him as a stranger and he is forced to undo his wish in order to fit in again. It teaches kids that being different is bad. My video review goes into more detail.
Nobody likes you if you try to be different.
