Picture Book – Page 2 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: The Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin

Title: The Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin
Author: Brian Baumgartner, Ben Silverman, Maël Gourmelen
Genre: Picture Book, Humor
Publisher: Mariner Books
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: November 5, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A new Christmas classic for all ages and the ultimate holiday gift for every fan of The Office: Spend “The Night Before Christmas” at Dunder Mifflin in this hilarious and timeless illustrated retelling of the beloved poem, featuring a visit from Michael Scott as Santa and narrated by Kevin Malone (author Brian Baumgartner).

’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Dunder Mifflin…

It’s Christmas Eve at Scranton’s finest paper company, and Michael Scott is nowhere to be found. As the office dozes off after their raucous holiday party, two mysterious visitors sneak a Santa peddling holiday cheer and that’s what she said jokes, and his beet-loving, dutiful, right-hand elf. Armed with absurd gifts for the staff, tacky decorations for the office, and absolutely nothing good for Toby, the two prepare to give Dunder Mifflin a holiday they’ll never forget.

A hilarious twist on a Christmas classic, The Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin is a rollicking, festive, and heartwarming jaunt through everyone’s favorite office, the perfect holiday treat for any fan of the show.

Review:

This was such a cute Office version of the classic Christmas story. All of the characters from the TV show received the perfect Christmas gifts for them, such as a paint set for Pam and a retirement countdown sign for Stanley. There were many inside jokes for fans of the show that made me laugh.

Twas the Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin is a great gift for fans of The Office!

Thank you HarperCollins for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read The Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin? What did you think of it?

Review: Dasher Gift Set

Title: Dasher Gift Set
Author: Matt Tavares
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Celebrate five years of Matt Tavares’s holiday classic with a beautifully designed gift set featuring four press-out keepsakes.

Dasher is an adventurous young reindeer with a wish in her heart and whose life is forever changed when she meets a man in a red suit with a horse-drawn sleigh. New York Timesbest-selling author-illustrator Matt Tavares channels the spirit of the season—and leaves us with a heroine to root for—in a pair of picture book odes to giving, kindness, and holiday magic. Included are two specially designed paper ornaments, two standees as well as two hardcover classics:

Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever
Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas

Review:

This gift set had two hardcover picture books about the reindeer Dasher. In Dasher, she lives with her family in a traveling circus. Her mom has always told her stories about living at the North Pole, so when Dasher gets a chance, she runs away. Dasher meets Santa who is struggling to pull his sleigh with his horse, so Dasher helps him.

In Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas, Dasher now lives with her family at the North Pole. She loves Christmas Eve, and one year she can’t wait for it to arrive, so she runs away the night before Christmas Eve to see the Christmas lights and hear carols. However, she gets lost and needs the help of a child to get home.

These are two beautiful Christmas picture books. I love that they are new origin stories about Santa’s reindeer, but they fit with the traditional story of Santa and his reindeer. This gift set also comes with some ornaments and decorations on a card that can be used for the holidays.

Dasher and Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas are beautiful books for the holidays!

Thank you @penguinrandomca and @tundrabooks for providing a copy of this book. This book was gifted to me from Penguin Random House Canada as part of the Holiday Book Magic Campaign! The Holiday Book Magic books are a curated list of books that are perfect for gifting and enjoying all year long!

Have you read Dasher or Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas? What did you think of it?

Review: Twas the Night Before Puck Drop

Title: Twas the Night Before Puck Drop
Author: Harry Caminelli, Dhamma Cakka (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: November 1, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A new classic in the making, ‘Twas the Night Before Puck Drop combines two subjects North American kids love: hockey and Christmas. Magical winter fun ensues as Santa drops in for a big game of pond hockey just before Christmas. Find out that Santa can not only deliver presents in a single day, he can also skate like the wind and has a big slapshot! Enjoy this beautiful hardcover edition with emboss and spot UV treatments!

Review:

On Christmas Eve, the narrator looks out the window and finds an ice rink in the backyard. On the rink is Santa with four iconic Canadian hockey players: Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe, Sidney Crosby, and Wayne Gretzky. Santa plays a game with them before flying off on his sleigh.

This was such a fun adaptation of Twas the Night Before Christmas. The rhymes were cleverly written to fit the hockey theme while also following the rhythm of the original story. This book would be the perfect gift for any hockey fans!

Twas the Night Before Puck Drop is a fun hockey Christmas story!

Thank you Taffy Tales for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Twas the Night Before Puck Drop? What did you think of it?

Review: Socks

Title: Socks
Author: J.D. McPherson, Anika Orrock (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Walker Books US
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 10, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Rock and roller JD McPherson’s comical salute to Christmas curmudgeons hops from stage to page, making for the stocking stuffer of the season.

This is the worst gift I ever got!
It doesn’t beep or buzz or bop or rattle in the box!
Why’d they waste the paper on a lousy pair of SOCKS?

It’s the dawn of Christmas morning, and this child can no longer wait, furtively tiptoeing straight to the unlit Christmas tree. There lies a festive box, brightly wrapped, with their name on it. A shake for good measure, and then . . . wait, seriously? What did they ever do to deserve this? Based on the cult classic “Socks” (from his eponymous Christmas album), bluesy rock and roller JD McPherson pays hilarious homage to a stereotypically bad gift—and its disappointed recipients—in a deftly extended picture-book version of his song. Brought to energetic life in droll, retro artwork by Anika Orrock, who illustrated the album cover and liner, Socks will prove a perfect fit for anyone who has ever gotten stressed over holiday gift-giving—and everyone, big or small, who’s come to appreciate the love wrapped up in even the humblest present. Includes a QR code to the “Socks” song.

Review:

This picture book is based on the Christmas song Socks by J.D. McPherson. A little boy wakes up Christmas morning and opens the first present he sees under the tree to find socks. Even his stocking is filled with socks. He’s so disappointed, until he finds out that everyone in his family got matching socks.

This was a fun story based on what’s typically thought of as the worst kind of gift to receive. I like that the song can be listened to along with reading the book to give the words a lyrical rhythm.

Socks is a cute Christmas picture book!

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books for sending me a copy of this book! This book was gifted to me from @penguinrandomca as part of the Holiday Book Magic Campaign! The Holiday Book Magic books are a curated list of books that are perfect for gifting and enjoying all year long!

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

Review: An Anishinaabe Christmas

Title: An Anishinaabe Christmas
Author: Wab Kinew, Erin Hill (illustrator)
Genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Tundra Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 8, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A festive, joyful Indigenous picture book that explores both Christmas traditions and Anishinaabe culture, for fans of Santa in the City and Go Show the World.

One winter solstice, Mommy says, “Baby, we’re going home to the Rez. We’re going to have an Anishinaabe Christmas.” But this is Baby’s first Christmas away from the city, and they’re worried! They have a lot of will Santa know where to find them?Why do we have presents on Christmas?How come they’re going home to the Rez but don’t live there?On the long trip to Mooshom’s and Kookom’s, Baby learns about animals and plants being part of their family, about the North Star leading them home and even the meanings of some Anishinaabe words. Will this Anishinaabe Christmas be Baby’s best yet?

Review:

One Christmas, Mommy and Daddy decide to take Baby to their home on the Rez. It is Baby’s first Christmas away from the city, and they don’t know what to expect. On the drive to see their grandparents, Mommy and Daddy tell Baby what Christmas will be like and teach them some Anishinaabe words.

This is a beautiful picture book. I liked that Baby wasn’t given a gender, so any child could see themselves in their place. Though Baby didn’t know what to expect at Christmas on the Rez, it ended up being a wonderful holiday with family.

An Anishinaabe Christmas is a lovely Christmas picture book!

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

Have you read An Anishinaabe Christmas? What did you think of it?

Review: Grammie and Pupa’s House

Title: Grammie and Pupa’s House
Author: Daisy Butterfield, Justin P. Wayoro (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Daisy Butterfield Press
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Ebook
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Welcome to Grammie and Pupa’s House!The door is always open and everyone is welcome in as the smell of fresh baked pies and cookies lingers in the kitchen air. So, pour a cup of tea and sit down and relax. It is my pleasure to share with you a day in the life of Grammie and Pupa as seen through the eyes of their granddaughter, Daisy.

Review:

Daisy lives on the same street as her Grammie and Pupa. On Saturday morning she goes to their house to spend the day. She bakes and picks fruit with her Grammie and she gardens with her Pupa. She has a wonderful time and is excited to go back tomorrow.

I grew up across the street from my grandparents so I could relate to this story. I saw them every day of my childhood. It’s lovely to have such a special connection to your grandparents, like Daisy had in this story. I loved the vibrantly coloured illustrations that went along with the story!

Grammie and Pupa’s House is a beautiful picture book!

Thank you Daisy Butterfield and iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book for a paid campaign.

Have you read Grammie and Pupa’s House? What did you think of it?

Review: There Might Be a Magical Unicorn at the End of This Book

Title: There Might Be a Magical Unicorn at the End of This Book
Author: Andy Waters, Mark Kummer (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Taffy Tales
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: July 7, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Prepare for a tale of enchantment and quacky chaos! Join our intrepid narrator as he embarks on a whimsical retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, only to find himself in a feathery frenzy thanks to an inquisitive duck! This feathered mischief-maker can’t help but dive beak-first into the heart of the story, peppering the narrative with uproarious questions and hilariously skeptical speculations about the potential appearance of a majestic unicorn. Will the narrator manage to corral this whimsical waddler and bring the fairy tale to its majestic conclusion, or will the duck-driven disruptions lead to a side-splitting showdown of epic proportions? Get ready for a quacktacular adventure that’s bound to have you giggling, grinning, and dreaming of unicorns! About the There Might Be book series: The There Might Be series from Taffy Tales is silly. It is funny. It is funny and silly. That’s it. It is for every young reader who impatiently wants to rush to the ending of the story, but one who also enjoys some jokes and silliness along the way. Taffy Tales creates best-selling children’s titles that will be cherished and remembered.

Review:

The narrator is reading Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to the duck, but the duck is only interested in finding a unicorn in the story. The narrator told the duck that there might be a unicorn at the end of the story. After the duck gets too excited and rips up the book, the story takes an unexpected turn with seven squirrels appearing and possibly a unicorn.

This was such a fun picture book! The duck was impatient to find out what happened at the end of the story. I’m sure most readers will know that the traditional story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs doesn’t include a unicorn, so the story has to take an unexpected turn to end the way the duck wants. This story reminded me of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, which is one of my favorite picture books!

There Might Be a Magical Unicorn at the End of This Book is a fun picture book!

Thank you Taffy Tales for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read There Might Be a Magical Unicorn at the End of This Book? What did you think of it?

Review: My Way Home

Title: My Way Home
Author: Holly Heaton
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Independent
Source: iRead Book Tours
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 11, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Enter the hidden realm of the Little Folk and follow Kit on a thrilling adventure. Can he reclaim an object precious to his people and return home to the Hollow Chestnut? Using his wits and environment, Kit embarks on this miniature odyssey through a lushly illustrated world.

Review:

When a fox snuck into the home of the Little Folk, he stole their crystal that had ensured they had an abundant harvest every year. Young Kit embarks on an adventure, tracking the wolf to retrieve the crystal for his family.

This is a beautiful picture book. I loved that Kit was clever in outsmarting the fox to get the crystal back. The illustrations were gorgeous. They were coloured in pencil crayons, which gave them a natural effect, reflecting the forest setting.

My Way Home is a beautiful picture book!

Thank you Holly Heaton and iRead Book Tours for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign.

Giveaway:

Author-Signed Copy of MY WAY HOME
one winner / US and Canada
ends Nov 22
https://gleam.io/G6dKL/my-way-home-by-holly-heaton-book-tour-giveaway

Have you read My Way Home? What did you think of it?

Review: Squirrel-ish

Title: Squirrel-ish
Author: Bambi Edlund
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Owlkids
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 17, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

At the park, people give squirrels free peanuts. And nobody screams when a squirrel crosses their path. But for Rat, it’s all screams and no nuts … until he comes up with a plan: be more like a squirrel—squirrel-ish!

When his attempts at adopting a squirrel-ish posture and pinning his ears down don’t make a difference, Rat considers his tail. And after a few crafty but failed squirrel-ish tail prototypes made from cotton balls, feathers, and spaghetti, he lands on a winning material: straw from a broom!

Finally, Rat can walk through the park without getting shooed. Free peanut in hand, he daydreams about building a re-tail empire … until the dogs in the park spot him and give chase. All of a sudden, Rat understands why squirrels do so much scampering! Maybe his rat tail isn’t so bad after all …

Brightly illustrated and packed with hilarious details and hidden gags, this laugh-out-loud ode to self-love reminds readers that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Review:

This rat wants to be liked as much as the squirrels in the park. People scream and run away when they see him, but when they see squirrels, they’re given peanuts. The rat figures out that it’s the squirrel’s fluffy tail that makes them more likeable so he tries to give himself a bigger tail. However, he will find out that not everyone loves the squirrels.

This is such a cute picture book! I’m scared of rats, but not squirrels, and I do think it has to do with their tails. The fluffy squirrel tails make them more appealing and friendly looking. However, this story teaches that even though squirrels are more well liked by people, other animals don’t like them. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Squirrel-ish is a cute picture book!

Thank you Owlkids for providing a digital copy of this book!

Have you read Squirrel-ish? What did you think of it?

Review: Trick or Treat on Scary Street

Title: Trick or Treat on Scary Street
Author: Lance Bass, Roland Garrigue (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Source: Manda Group
Format: Paperback arc
Release Date: July 23, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

From musical superstar Lance Bass, this quirky and surprising Halloween story is perfect for trick-or-treaters who love extra tricks and treats.

Come one.

Come all.

Come follow thirteen trick-or-treaters down Scary Street. Dare to stop at the vampire’s lair? Tempted to take a bite of the witch’s delight? How about a peek inside a ghostly haunt? Who will make it to the end. . . and what last trick (or treat) awaits?

Celebrate the thrills and chills of the season with this unforgettable trip down Scary Street!

This engaging Halloween tale appeals to young readers who love scary books and anyone looking for Halloween books for kids. Parents and kids alike will be drawn to this Lance Bass book, as the *NSYNC star brings his creative flair and love of Halloween to the world of scary stories for kids ages 4 to 6.

Trick or Treat on Scary Street, is a must-have for families who eagerly anticipate the Halloween season and enjoy sharing in its playful frights together.

Review:

Go trick-or-treating on Scary Street in this picture book! You can visit many different houses, like a gingerbread house or Dracula’s house. There’s a special trick waiting at the end of the street!

This is such a cute picture book! I loved the rhyming lines. The illustrations were beautiful and detailed. I know I would have loved this book as a kid!

Trick or Treat on Scary Street is a great Halloween picture book!

Thank you Manda Group for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read Trick or Treat on Scary Street? What did you think of it?