Picture Book – Page 3 – Jill's Book Blog

Review: The Poop Factory

Title: The Poop Factory
Author: Lori Patterson, Daniel Limon (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Blue Balloon Books
Source: Author
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 17, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Inside the poop factory on Hummingbird Lane was a big, giant poop–Barry was his name.

Barry and his friends have spent enough time in the poop factory and now they must venture their way out. While his friends are light and airy, Barry’s large size calls for extra effort to squeeze him through the tunnel. Luckily, with the help of healthy foods Barry makes it out!

This playful story teaches readers how to deal with constipation in a fun-loving manner. With education and entertainment woven together, The Poop Factory is an excellent story for any young reader to enjoy.

Review:

In The Poop Factory, Barry hangs out with his friends. Barry is made of candy and cheese puffs, while his friends are made of healthier food. When Barry tries to follow his friends down a slide, he gets stuck. He needs the help of berries, beans, and peas to pass through.

This book is hilarious and informative. I think kids would love that it’s about poop, but at the same time it teaches kids how their body works. If there is too much unhealthy food in your system, it can’t function properly and allow the food to pass through you like it should. I have IBS, so I’m always trying to manage my symptoms and get my digestive system to function. This book is a great way to open a digestive or healthy diet discussion with children.

The Poop Factory is an entertaining picture book!

Thank you Lori Patterson and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Have you read The Poop Factory? What did you think of it?

Review: I Want to Read All the Books

Title: I Want to Read All the Books
Author: Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Canada
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: September 17, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

An insatiably curious girl decides the only way to answer all her questions is to read all the books in this funny and charming picture book in the spirit of The Library Fish and Tom Chapin’s The Library Book.

Hana wants to know everything about the world around her. When she starts asking questions, her mother gives her a book. She learns so much, but now she has even more questions! She also has a big she will read all the books—every single one! She reads every book in her house…and then her friends’ houses…and then the whole block. Nonfiction, fiction, romance, mysteries, and science fiction. But when her mother takes her to the downtown library, she realizes there are a lot more books than she thought…way more. Maybe she can’t really read all the books—now what?

Review:

Hana is a curious girl. When she asks her mom where rain comes from, her mom suggests she find the answer in a book. Then, Hana makes a list of questions and challenges herself to find all the answers in books. She loves reading books so much that she declares she wants to read ALL the books. Eventually she must find another way to share her love of books when she learns that she will never be able to read all the books in the world.

This is a beautiful picture book! I loved the vibrant illustrations. There was even a picture of Hana reading this picture book on her quest to read all the books! This is a fun book that encourages children to read!

I Want to Read All the Books is a beautiful picture book!

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me a copy of this book!

Have you read I Want to Read All the Books? What did you think of it?

Review: Pierre’s Promise of the Deep (The Adventures of Pierre and Penny LePockets)

Title: Pierre’s Promise of the Deep (The Adventures of Pierre and Penny LePockets)
Author: James-Scott Wong, Nino Aptsiauri
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Hasmark Publishing International
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: August 30, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

This rhyming picture book features the spirited Pierre LePockets in his signature oversized jacket, baggy shorts, and magical pockets overflowing with toys and trinkets. When one of Pierre’s beloved toys falls into the deep ocean, he dives after it and finds himself in a vibrant underwater realm filled with extraordinary creatures.

He befriends Finn who bemoans the treasure that has gone missing when Gill had promised to safely guard it. Pierre is determined to recover the treasure and restore trust in the ocean world.

Will his plan work to set things right? Dive into this little adventure and you will discover a story that is sure to make a splash with young readers and inspire them to embrace the integrity of keeping promises.

This book is from the series The Adventures of Pierre and Penny LePockets, which strives to teach children life lessons and build their self-esteem through fantastical adventure stories.

Review:

Pierre LePocket keeps lots of toys in his pockets. When one falls out into the ocean, he dives in after it. Pierre meets a fish named Finn, who tells him that another fish named Gill promised to guard their treasure but now he’s gone missing. Pierre helps Finn and his friends get their treasure back.

This is another great story from The Adventures of Pierre and Penny LePocket series. This story teaches young readers the importance of keeping promises. Pierre told Gill he shouldn’t have taken the treasure, but he can make it right by giving it back. Even if someone has made a mistake, they can fix it by owning up to it and doing what is right. I loved the vibrant and detailed illustrations that accompanied this story!

Pierre’s Promise of the Deep is a great picture book!

Thank you James-Scott Wong and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Other books in the series:

Penny’s Day on the Farm

Have you read Pierre’s Promise of the Deep? What did you think of it?

Review: Into the Goblin Market

Title: Into the Goblin Market
Author: Vikki VanSickle, Jensine Eckwall (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Tundra Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 30, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A picture book ode to Christina Rossetti’s classic poem and a clever homage to familiar fairy-tale villains, this story about two sisters will enthrall readers with its beautifully detailed art and enchanting writing.

Millie loves her quiet life on the farm, but Mina longs for adventure. When the Goblin Market comes to town, Millie knows visiting it is a bad idea. They’ve been told stories their whole lives about the dangers of the Goblin Market. But Mina just can’t resist.

When Mina doesn’t come back, it’s Millie’s turn to brave the market to bring her home. She will use all her smarts and courage to try to outwit the goblins and save her sister… but will it be enough?

Review:

Millie and Mina are young sisters who live together on a quiet farm. Millie is happy with their life, but Mina wants to go on an adventure. One night, Millie wakes up to discover that Mina has run away to the Goblin Market. Mille must try to outsmart the goblins to save her sister.

This beautiful picture book is based on Christina Rossetti’s poem Goblin Market. This adaptation was a simpler form of the poem for young children to understand. This book was also not as dark as the original poem. The black, white, and red illustrations that went along with the text were beautiful and detailed.

Into the Goblin Market is a beautiful picture book!

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

Have you read Into the Goblin Market? What did you think of it?

Review: Walter the Woogobee: The Vortex to Vidza

Title: Walter the Woogobee: The Vortex to Vidza
Author: Brenda Beckelman
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Seld Published
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

An otherworldly adventure awaits us all!

Join Walter in this amazing journey as he space travels through a Vortex to strange new worlds where Elephants Fly and the Wind Speaks.

The local village is being destroyed. Walter and his new friends set out to save the village and find unusual animals, a valley full of gold and of course monsters. Will they be able to save the village? Will Walter find his way home?

Review:

Walter is a Woogobee from space. He lands on Earth via a World Vortex Locator after his planet was hit by an asteroid. He makes a friend named Bayron, and together they travel to the planet Vidza. Walter and Bayron join together with their new friend Kian and try to save her village from the Windmaker Monsters.

This was a cute picture book. I really liked the illustrations. There was a 3D quality to them with background images slightly blurry to create perspective. The characters were well developed in a short amount of time. This story is a great start to a new series!

Walter the Woogobee is a cute picture book!

Thank you Brenda Beckelman and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign.

Have you read Walter the Woogobee: The Vortex to Vidza? What did you think of it?

Review: Penny’s Day on the Farm

Title: Penny’s Day on the Farm
Author: Eugenie Gloria Wong, Juliana Castro (illustrator)
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Hasmark Publishing
Source: Author
Format: Paperback
Release Date: June 4, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Are you looking for a captivating picture book that instills confidence in your child and models how to make friends?
Look no further than Penny’s Day on the Farm by author Eugenie Gloria Wong.

This rhyming picture book follows Penny, a little girl with a room full of stuffed animals who are her friends. On the evening before her first day of school, the words on a mysterious note whisk her away into a magical realm where animals talk and unexpected friendships blossom.

With a newfound friend by her side, Penny navigates how to reach out to others through teamwork, kindness, and embracing new experiences. She discovers the magic ingredient that makes friends flock to her and learns that moments of adventure can begin with a simple wish … and an open heart.

Penny’s Day on the Farm is filled with heartwarming and humorous illustrations by Juliana Castro. This book is from the series The Adventures of Pierre and Penny LePockets, which strives to teach children life lessons and build their self-esteem through fantastical adventure stories.

Review:

Penny is excited for her first day of school tomorrow. Before she goes to sleep, she finds a note with a spell that transports her to a farm. She meets all kinds of animals on the farm, and teaches a group of pigs how to play soccer. After making friends with animals on the farm, Penny is ready to make new friends at school.

This was such a fun picture book! I liked that it showed how easy it was for Penny to make friends with animals, so then she can use those skills to make friends with kids on her first day of school. I loved the illustrations! They were vibrant and colourful. I would have loved reading this book when I was a kid.

Penny’s Day on the Farm is a beautiful picture book!

Thank you Eugenie Wong and Bookinfluencers.com for providing a copy of this book as part of a paid campaign!

Have you read Penny’s Day on the Farm? What did you think of it?

Review: The Only Lonely Fairy

Title: The Only Lonely Fairy
Author: Lana Button, Peggy Collins
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Pajama Press
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: March 5, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Make-believe + melodrama = comedy as one dramatic little girl learns the new skill of finding a friend Leah is looking for a friend to play fairies. But when her invitation fails to sway her classmates, Leah is left all…ALONE. Poor Lonely Leah! Will she always be the only one standing alone in line? The only one reading fairy tales in the book corner? The AGONY of her SUFFERING is so overpowering that she almost misses the quiet voice trying to get her attention… From the creators of Percy’s Perfect Friend comes an entertaining new journey into social-emotional growth. Author Lana Button is an early childhood educator who has seen firsthand the struggles many kids experience learning to navigate social situations and conflict—especially if pandemic lockdowns were part of their early lives. In The Only Lonely Fairy , she tells a relatable story of someone trying to make friends and missing the mark, while Peggy Collins brings lively humor to the illustrations, letting readers know what Leah doesn’t that she isn’t alone after all.

Review:

Leah wants to find someone to play fairies, but none of her classmates want to play with her. She gives up on asking and gets upset that she’s the only lonely fairy with no one to play with, but she doesn’t notice that there is one girl who does want to play with her.

This is a great picture book about making friends. It can feel so devastating when you’re a kid and can’t find someone to play with. This book captures that feeling. The illustrations are beautiful. I liked that the children in the images were diverse, including children of different races and abilities.

The Only Lonely Fairy is a beautiful picture book.

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

Have you read The Only Lonely Fairy? What did you think of it?

Review: The Little Books of the Little Brontës

Title: The Little Books of the Little Brontës
Author: Sara O’Leary, Briony May Smith
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Tundra Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 10, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

The inspiring true tale of young siblings who loved to make stories — and grew up to be among English literature’s finest writers. A picture book for fans of Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein.

Many years ago, the four motherless children of the Brontë family — Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne — lived in a windswept house by the moors with their father. Although their lives were often filled with sadness and their world was only as large as the distance they could walk, their INNER worlds were bound only by their imaginations. Hungry for stories, these children devoured novels and poetry, history and fables. And with the gift of a group of toy soldiers, they were inspired to make their own stories, and their own tiny books . . . a passion that would last them a lifetime.

A moving and atmospheric story about the power of imagination, the joy of storytelling and the love of books, The Little Books of the Little Brontës will enchant both those who love these literary sisters and those who are learning about them for the first time. Includes an author’s note, timeline of the Brontës’ lives and a fun craft with instructions on creating your own little book.

Review:

In 1820s England, Charlotte Brontë made a miniature book for her younger sister Anne. The three Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, along with their brother Branwell, love to tell stories. They had tragic childhoods, losing their mother and older sisters suddenly, but they find joy through storytelling. They grew up to become artists and storytellers.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë are two of my favourite classic novels. They’re both tragic love stories, which makes sense after hearing about the tragedy the authors experienced in their young lives. However, this picture book doesn’t delve into that too much. This story shows the Brontë siblings as playful children, making up stories with the toys and writing mini books. There were even instructions at the back for how to make your own mini book, which I would have loved doing as a kid!

The Little Book of Little Brontës is a great children’s book for kids who love to read!

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

Have you read The Little Books of the Little Brontës? What did you think of it?

Review: Only a Trenza Away: A Tale of Trust and Strength

Title: Only a Trenza Away: A Tale of Trust and Strength
Author: Nadine Fonseca, Camila Carrossine
Genre: Picture Book, Children’s
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Source: Publisher
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: August 8, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A little girl feels her father’s love as he takes time to braid her hair each night and share imaginative bedtime stories.

Every night, Xiomara’s (zee-oh-MA-da) papa delicately braids her hair before bed. As he gently tugs and twists and tightens her hair, father and daughter embark on imaginative and fun adventures as he makes up stories about Xia and her trenzas, or “braids” in Spanish.

In one story, her trenza becomes a sturdy twisted vine that she uses to bravely swing through the jungle. In another, her trenzas are jump ropes as she catches the beat to play double Dutch with the best players in the neighborhood.

But Xia worries what she would do if Papa was not there to help her in a real adventure—like starting a new school. Could the strength Xia needs already be woven into her braids?

Review:

Every night before bedtime, Xiomara’s father braids her hair and they go on imaginative adventures together. He makes up stories about Xiomara and her braids (or trenzas). One night, her father wasn’t there to braid her hair and she felt lost without having her trenzas in her hair. Xia must learn that the strength from her trenzas is already within herself.

This is a beautiful picture book. I loved the ritual that Xiomara had with her father braiding her hair every night. It reminded me of when I was a child and my dad would read me bedtime stories. I also liked that it was her father that braided her hair, which would stereotypically be considered a “female job” to braid her daughter’s hair. The time her father spent braiding her hair was nice bonding time for Xia and her father.

Only a Trenza Away is a beautiful story!

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me a copy!

Have you read Only a Trenza Away? What did you think of it?

Review: Cone Dog

Title: Cone Dog
Author: Sarah Howden, Carmen Mok
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Owlkids Publishing
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: September 12, 2023
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

A pesky cone becomes a doggie dream come true in this canine companion to Cone Cat One day, Emma the dog leaves the vet with a giant plastic lampshade on her head. It cuts off her corners, dulls her digging, and makes Garson the greyhound gawk. One thing is clear―the cone is not good, and the only thing left to do is sulk. When Emma’s human tries to cheer her up with a game of fetch, Emma discovers that the cone miraculously catches every ball she fumbles! Emma realizes the cone has other surprising advantages too, from serving as a helmet during her hallway hurtles to helping her dig at triple-speed. Best of all, the cone plays a pivotal role in Emma’s master plan to scare off the sneaky neighborhood squirrel, Keith. Eventually, the cone comes off and Emma is free, but the important lesson she learned from her cone days cone or no cone, it’s Emma’s inventive spirit that make her the Best. Dog. Ever. This fresh and funny follow-up to Cone Cat is a charming ode to ingenuity and making the best out of a ruff situation.

Review:

When Emma the dog leaves the vet’s office with a giant plastic lampshade around her neck, all she wants to do is sulk. She can’t run around freely, or dig, and other dogs stare at her. However, after playing fetch with her owner one day, Emma realizes she can use the cone to her advantage to play and pull a prank on a sneaky squirrel.

I loved the book Cone Cat in 2020, so I was excited to read Cone Dog! Anyone who has had a pet who wore the “cone of shame” knows what a struggle it is for their animal to wear it. It’s for their own good, so they don’t hurt themselves, but they can’t go about their daily lives in the same way. Emma, the dog in this story, figured out how to use the cone to her advantage. This is a great way to teach children that something you think is a bad situation can be turned around into a positive one.

Cone Dog is an adorable picture book!

Thank you Owlkids Publishing for providing a digital copy of this book.

Other books in the series:

Cone Cat

Have you read Cone Dog? What did you think of it?