Picture Book – Jill's Book Blog

Review: Vampire Jam Sandwich

Title: Vampire Jam Sandwich
Author: Casey Lyall, Nici Gregory
Genre: Picture Book
Publisher: Tundra Books
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: July 1, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Once upon a time a vampire took a bite of a jam sandwich . . . and a legend was born. Now the vampire jam sandwich roams the streets, looking for MORE JAM. Will yours be next?A hilarious spooky picture book featuring a sneaky vampire, for fans of Creepy Carrots and How to Make Friends With a Ghost.You may not have heard of the Vampire Jam Sandwich. But it’s time you learned the truth.Once upon a time, a vampire (maybe his name is Terrence) took a bite of a jam sandwich (maybe he thought the jam was . . . something else).And you know what happens when a vampire bites you . . .That’s right. The jam sandwich has become . . . A VAMPIRE JAM SANDWICH. Terrifying, stalking the streets at night, sneaking into people’s homes in an endless search for MORE JAM.The only thing you can do to protect yourself is box up all your jam and put it outside your home with NO VAMPIRE JAM SANDWICH written on it (here, I’ll show you how to spell T-E-R-R-E-N-C-E).Kids and adults alike will be delighted by this sly jam-loving vampire and his jam sandwich legend, with hilarious tongue-in-cheek art from Nici Gregory. Can you trust your narrator? Is the Vampire Jam Sandwich real? Is your jam safe? Read on to find out . . .

Review:

This picture book is about a jam sandwich that was turned into a vampire jam sandwich after being bitten by a vampire. The narrator is a young boy who tells how to prevent a vampire from stealing the jam to make a sandwich. There was a cute twist at the end that I won’t spoil here. This is a fun picture book, but I hope it doesn’t make kids scared of eating jam!

Vampire Jam Sandwich is a cute picture book!

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

Have you read Vampire Jam Sandwich? What did you think of it?

Review: Power Posey

Title: Power Posey
Author: Avra Davidoff
Genre: Children’s, Picture Book
Publisher: Tellwell Talent
Source: Author
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: April 9, 2020
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Get ready to meet Power Posey, a remarkable young girl with an indomitable spirit who teaches children the power of resilience, positive thinking, and the strength that lies within. In this inspiring children’s book, readers join Posey on a transformative journey of self-discovery as she faces challenges head-on and triumphs with boundless determination.

As children accompany Power Posey on her adventures, they learn valuable life lessons about perseverance, self-belief, and the importance of strong body language. By adopting Power Posey’s confidence-boosting techniques, children discover they have the power to conquer their fears, embrace challenges, and achieve their goals.

This engaging and empowering picture book is perfect for children aged 3-8. It encourages young readers to embrace their inner strength, instilling in them a sense of self-confidence and resilience. With relatable situations and characters, Power Posey inspires children to approach life’s hurdles with courage, positivity, and a determination to succeed.

Get ready to stand tall, strike a pose, and embark on an uplifting journey alongside Power Posey. Unleash your inner strength, embrace challenges, and discover the incredible power that lies within you!

Review:

This is a great children’s book! When Posey feels nervous, she strikes a pose with her hands on her hips and chest held high, which gives her confidence. When she does her power pose, she knows she can do anything. This is such an important lesson for kids, but especially girls, who are often put down and told they are less than boys.

Power Posey is a powerful picture book!

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

Have you read Power Posey? 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: 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: 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: 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: 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?

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?