Children – Page 4 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Goodnight, Teddy Pear

Title: Goodnight, Teddy Pear
Author: Mirko Filippi
Genre: Children’s, Board Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Board Book
Release Date: December 12, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

Teddy bears are cute and cuddly. Teddy bears are the favorite stuffed animal or toy of many children, and of many adults, looking back with fondness at their own childhood experiences. We need to throw that teddy bear out the window, because there is a new toy sherrif in town–Teddy Pear. Teddy Pear is not a big talker–that’s true–and . . . he doesn’t really do a lot . . . that’s also true . . . actually, will he ever do or say anything? In the end, we’ll have to read the book to find out.

Review:

In this board book, a little boy is getting ready to go to sleep with his giant Teddy Pear, a toy that takes up half of his bed. He keeps talking to the Teddy Pear to try to get him to respond. It reminded me of playing with my stuffed toys when I was a kid. This book also reminded me of the nursery rhyme Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear.

Goodnight Teddy Bear is an adorable board book for kids!

Thank you Taffy Tales for sending me a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Have you read Goornight, Teddy Pear? What did you think of it?

Review: Frankie and Friends: The Big Protest

Title: Frankie and Friends: The Big Protest
Author: Christine Platt, Alea Marley (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s
Publisher: Walker Books US
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: May 7, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Young reporter Frankie and her news crew of beloved toys learn why and how people protest as this engaging series continues.

There’s breaking news on TV at Frankie’s house—a protest to demand justice! Frankie’s mama, a journalist, gets a call to cover the story, and Frankie wants to do her own reporting, too. But what isa protest, exactly, and why do people do it? Along with her news crew, including Farrah the doll, Dan the teddy bear, and Nina the cat, Frankie prepares a feature story by doing research and conducting interviews with Papa and big sister Raven. And when the toys decide to have their own protest in support of the local movement, Frankie is on the scene to help make signs, march, and, of course, get the scoop! In this latest installment of the winning series, Frankie explores big ideas like racial injustice and activism with her supportive family and learns more about journalism in the process. Young newshounds will learn along with Frankie through all-caps vocabulary terms and a glossary at the back.

Review:

This story is a great way to teach children about protests and activism. There are so many protests about important human rights these days. It could be difficult to open that topic with children so they are aware of what’s going on in the world, but not give them so many details that it scares or traumatizes them. In this story, Frankie saw a protest on the news which inspired her to make her own news report about a protest. This was a safe way for her to learn about and experience a protest of her own.

Frankie and Friends: The Big Protest is a great early chapter book for young readers!

Thank you Walker Books US for sending me a copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Frankie and Friends: Breaking News

Have you read Frankie and Friends: The Big Protest? What did you think of it?

Review: Dinosaurs

Title: Dinosaurs
Author: Taffy Tales
Genre: Children’s, Board Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: August 21, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

Embark on a prehistoric adventure! This captivating chunky board book, adorned with interactive die-cut pages, invites young explorers to journey to prehistoric times and encounter a delightful array of dinosaurs. From the towering T. rex to the speedy Velociraptor, each page unveils a new Jurassic surprise. Bursting with vibrant illustrations and engaging text, Dinosaurs is a delightful celebration of these ancient creatures that will spark curiosity and promote language development. Watch as your little one’s imagination soars alongside these magnificent creatures in a colorful and lively title that promises endless joy and learning.

Review:

Dinosaurs is a board book with lots of fun facts about dinosaurs. The illustrations were vibrantly coloured, which will appeal to young kids. There were so many dinosaurs included. I hadn’t heard of most of them. There’s a QR code at the back that leads to a pronunciation guide for the names of the dinosaurs, which will be helpful when reading aloud to kids!

Dinosaurs is a great board book for early readers!

Thank you Taffy Tales and Bookinfluencers.com for sending me a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Have you read Dinosaurs? What did you think of it?

Review: Blast From the Past (The Raccoons)

Title: Blast From the Past (The Raccoons)
Author: Chris McGuire
Genre: Children’s
Publisher: Candy Jar Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: March 27, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

“I’m coming to give you what you deserve!” One fine day in the Evergreen Forest, Cyril Sneer gets a letter from his former business partner…

Yes, Karl Snarl is on his way to get even with Cyril! He’s mean. He’s greedy. He’s grumpy. And he has lovely handwriting (but that’s not strictly relevant). But all Sneer’s henchpigs know for sure is that Karl Snarl must be one seriously scary character, especially if Cyril’s terrified of him!

Time to man the defences! But will they be enough if Snarl huffs and puffs and blows their mansion down?

Oh, and Bert Raccoon intends to use a helicopter to deliver newspapers around the Evergreen Forest.

But surely nothing can go wrong with that, can it?

Review:

This is another great book in the Raccoons series. It was exciting and funny! I love the inclusion of QR codes that lead to videos about the series. There’s even a scene that you can watch as you read along with it. There’s also a fun crossword puzzle at the end of the book that I think kids will love!

Blast From the Past is a great book for young readers!

Thank you Candy Jar Books for sending me a copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Have you read Blast From the Past? What did you think of it?

Review: Brunt and Eggbert

Title: Brunt and Eggbert
Author: Jeff Dorrill, Ángeles Peinador
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Blue Balloon Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Ebook
Release Date: November 26, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

With each passing day, they were learning new things, growing into their roles as father and son, monster and boy, and overcoming the challenges of living in both the human world and the monster world.

Brunt is a kind and intelligent but scary-looking monster who loves gardening. Eggbert is an orphaned boy with an unusual assortment of skills that he has learned from the kindness of strangers while longing for a family of his own. After a chance encounter in the woods, both monster and boy learn to look beyond appearances, discover the true meaning of family, and rejoice in the rewarding experience of caring for and protecting another—despite the treacherous obstacles that exist by virtue of having to live in both the human world and the monster world.

Brunt and Eggbert is an action-packed and heartwarming tale of unlikely friendship and chosen family. Full of colorful, lovable, and creative but imperfect characters, this unconventional children’s story unfolds over the course of eight parts, each one its own adventure. Throughout cozy cooking sessions and daring escapes, Jeff Dorrill’s wit and Ángeles Peinador’s vivid illustrations will entertain young readers and parents alike from the days of bedtime stories to the early years of independent reading. Equal parts adventure, humor, and heart, Brunt and Eggbert is sure to find its place beside the many beloved classics of our childhood memories.

Review:

This is a sweet picture book that teaches kids that appearances aren’t always what they seem. Brunt was a monster who lived in the forest and people were scared of his appearance. However, once Eggbert got to know him, he knew Brunt was a special creature who he wanted to stay with. Though Brunt and Eggbert had to go through some hard situations, they had a happy ending together!

Brunt and Eggbert is a cute children’s picture book!

Thank you Blue Balloon Books for providing a digital copy of this book!

Have you read Brunt and Eggbert? What did you think of it?

Review: I Will Love You Forever

Title: I Will Love You Forever
Author: Katya Zolina
Genre: Children’s, Board Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: December 12, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The newest addition to the Love You Forever series, I Will Love You Forever delights the reader with a playful exploration of the relationship between mother and child that balances humor with heart-felt sentiment. “Mama, do you love me?” It asks . . . and answers, and the art invites the reader to linger on each page, to share in the emotion, and it succeeds on all fronts.

Review:

I Will Love You Forever is a cute board book. The baby bear asks his mom lots of questions like “Do you love me?” and “Why do you love me?”. The mother’s answers are given in rhyming verses. There were beautiful illustrations of different animals at the baby’s party, as well as places they will travel to when he grows up.

I Will Love You Forever is a cute board book for early readers!

Thank you Taffy Tales and Bookinfluencers.com for sending me a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Have you read I Will Love You Forever? What did you think of it?

Review: The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe

Title: The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe
Author: Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, LeUyen Pham (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Fantasy
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 3, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The Princess in Black may know how to handle all kinds of monsters, but a kitten set on destruction? Me-OW!

Duchess Wigtower had heard that pets are fun, but all her kitten has gotten her is nine lives’ worth of problems. Eeeeek! It’s time for someone else to deal with this catastrophe. Princess Magnolia is thrilled when a kitten lands on her doorstep, but just as she’s about to play with Plumpkins (or should it be Hugmaster Floof?) the monster alarm goes off. When Princess Magnolia returns to her castle, her furry companion has carved up the wallpaper! In fact, each time Princess Magnolia leaves to help the Goat Avenger fight a very grouchy monster, her feline friend wreaks havoc. Has the Princess in Black finally met her match? Ten years after she first donned her cape, the Princess in Black returns for a purrfectly hilarious entry to the New York Times best-selling series.

Review:

This is such a cute book in The Princess in Black series! Princess Magnolia’s grumpy neighbour gives her the cat because he is so destructive. Magnolia must figure out how to get this new kitten to behave, while also defeating a monster in the village. I loved the way her problem with the kitten and the monster were related. The illustrations were adorable too!

The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe is a cute children’s book!

Thank you Candlewick Press for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read The Princess in Black and the Kitty Catastrophe? What did you think of it?

Review: Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound

Title: Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound
Author: Brian Anderson
Genre: Graphic Novel, Children’s
Publisher: Marble Press
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 15, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the creator the much-loved webcomic, “Dog Eat Doug,” Sophie is a hilarious new graphic novel series, a sendup of family life from the perspective of one snarky dog who wants nothing more than to have everything—without ever having to share.

Life is good when you’re a dog and you have humans all to yourself. But what about when a new baby enters the picture . . . along with a couple of cats intent on taking over the world?

Full of mini adventures, pop culture spoofs, sharp jokes, adorable illustrations, and a sneaky dose of heart, Jurassic Bark and Frankenstein’s Hound are the perfect introduction to these characters and their world. Just right for the pet-obsessed among us no matter the age, while simultaneously appealing to the kids who love to giggle at Big Nate, Dog Man, Garfield, and Snoopy.

Review:

This is another adorable graphic novel about Sophie the chocolate lab and her human baby brother Doug. There were some new pets added to the family including two cats and foster dogs. The cats were hilarious. They were always plotting to take over the world. This book was even funnier than the first one.

Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound is a funny kids graphic novel!

Thank you Marble Press for providing a digital copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Sophie: Jurassic Bark

Have you read Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound? What did you think of it?

Review: Sophie: Jurassic Bark

Title: Sophie: Jurassic Park
Author: Brian Anderson
Genre: Graphic Novel, Children’s
Publisher: Marble Press
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 15, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From the creator the much-loved webcomic, “Dog Eat Doug,” Sophie is a hilarious new graphic novel series, a sendup of family life from the perspective of one snarky dog who wants nothing more than to have everything—without ever having to share.

Life is good when you’re a dog and you have humans all to yourself. But what about when a new baby enters the picture . . . along with a couple of cats intent on taking over the world?

Full of mini adventures, pop culture spoofs, sharp jokes, adorable illustrations, and a sneaky dose of heart, Jurassic Bark and Frankenstein’s Hound are the perfect introduction to these characters and their world. Just right for the pet-obsessed among us no matter the age, while simultaneously appealing to the kids who love to giggle at Big Nate, Dog Man, Garfield, and Snoopy.

Review:

Sophie: Jurassic Bark is such a cute kid’s graphic novel! Sophie, the chocolate Labrador, takes the baby Doug on adventures in her imagination. It reminded me of the Wishbone TV show from when I was a kid. I laughed out loud a few times while reading this one. I think kids and their parents will love this book!

Sophie: Jurassic Park is a great kid’s graphic novel!

Thank you Marble Press for providing a digital copy of this book!

Other books in the series:

Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound

Have you read Sophie: Jurassic Bark? What did you think of it?

Review: Priceless Facts About Money

Title: Priceless Facts About Money
Author: Mellody Hobson
Genre: Children’s, Nonfiction
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Debut author Mellody Hobson, barrier-breaking pioneer in the world of finance, demystifies money for kids with a look at some wild and weird facts about what makes the world go round.

What is the meaning of all those symbols on US bills (and why are they so hard to counterfeit)? What’s with people calling money “bacon” or “cheddar” or “smackeroonies”? With savvy and wit, financial expert Mellody Hobson sheds a friendly light on a daunting subject, from the meteorites that created the first mineral deposits to the ancient Maya who used chocolate as currency to the beginnings of the banking system itself. Readers learn about bartering, profit and loss, the origins of credit, ATMs, and even fun facts about money around the world. In her first children’s book, Mellody Hobson brings excitement to the realm of financial literacy and gives kids the tools they need to navigate money now and in the future. Featuring energetic artwork by debut illustrator Caitlin Stevens, amusing skits starring a cat and bunny who converse in money idioms, and inserts depicting the author and her business partner as kids just learning how money works, Priceless Facts about Money is an inviting, entertaining, and richly educational resource for every child.

Review:

This is a fabulous book about the history of and fun facts about money! Money has been used around the world for thousands of years, made of different materials and in different currencies. There are interesting details on our modern bills to prevent counterfeit money being created. This is a great book for kids and adults!

Priceless Facts about Money is a fun and fascinating book!

Thank you Candlewick Press for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Priceless Facts About Money? What did you think of it?