Tag: Picture Book

A Bold Pumpkin Plan – Katy Hudson

Cover image of A Bold Pumpkin Plan by Katy Hudson

Hedgehog is ready for a change. After building the same house year after year, he’s planning something new this year.

Something brighter. Something bolder.

Like many introverts, Hedgehog’s imagination is big and so is his attention to detail. He figures out the perfect plan to make his perfect home a reality, but the best laid plans of mice and men (and hedgehogs) often go awry.

Opening yourself up to change in one area of your life often generates change in others. It isn’t long before Hedgehog has the opportunity to overcome obstacles.

Although he probably wants to roll up into a ball and hide, Hedgehog chooses to be courageous, being clear about what his needs are and accepting help from others.

Mouse offers to help

Along the way, Hedgehog and I gain much needed confidence and learn that while alone time is so very important for introverts like us, we also need others in our life.

I love Katy Hudson’s books. She’s one of my favourite illustrators, bringing the struggles and triumphs of the most adorable animals to life. Their emotions are clearly portrayed and they’re always so relatable. Having read almost all of Katy’s previous books, I was delighted to find a few familiar faces amongst the pages.

The words are just as rewarding as the illustrations. I see myself in so many of Katy’s characters so her books are always a good reminder of lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Like the stories that preceded it, I haven’t found the reread that’s one too many. I don’t think I will ever tire of this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Capstone Editions, an imprint of Capstone, for the opportunity to read this picture book.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

A plan to build a unique home takes a timid Hedgehog on an incredible journey of self-discovery. From meeting new friends to conquering countless obstacles, Hedgehog tackles his house plan with a newfound confidence. Best-selling creator Katy Hudson (Too Many Carrots and Mindful Mr. Sloth) combines her stunning, detailed artwork with themes of friendship, problem solving, and self-awareness in this empowering picture book.

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Glow – Ross Morgan

A young girl and her grandfather used scraps from her grandfather’s junkyard for their projects. Their latest project remains unfinished after his death.

The girl and her dog walk through the darkness of the junkyard until they find a buried secret. A turn of a key sets in motion something magical.

The illustrations are extraordinary, capturing the granddaughter’s grief and the darkness she finds herself surrounded by as she comes to terms with her loss.

There was something both lovely and sad about the fact that the project the girl was working on with her grandfather before he died is complete by the end of the book.

I knew I had only scratched the surface after two reads. I watched an interview with the author and read it a third time before even attempting to write a review.

The darkness of some of the early illustrations probably would have scared me as a young child and I definitely would have needed an adult to explain what the story was about because the words alone wouldn’t have made it clear. If I’d read this to a child without having watched the interview with the author, I’m not sure I could have answered their questions.

In case it’s not already obvious, this book has left me conflicted. The story took work for me to figure it out. I had absolutely no idea that the underground object represented the grandfather’s reincarnation until I heard the author say it in the interview.

I saw the glow as a representation of her grandfather’s love but it could also be a guiding light, a reminder that her grandfather’s legacy will never fade, magic that awakens mechanical objects…

The illustrations are some of my favourites in any picture book. 

Thank you so much to Walker Studio, an imprint of Walker Books, for the opportunity to read this picture book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

There is a path I walk with care.
There is a shadow that follows me there.
There is a place, a secret I keep,
where something special is buried down deep …

A sumptuously illustrated and immersive picture book that speaks to memory, shared moments, and love beyond and between worlds.

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Sleepy Sheepy – Lucy Ruth Cummins

Illustrations – Pete Oswald

Ma and Pa Sheepy are sleepy. Sleepy Sheepy is not. Of course he’s not!

Don’t Ma and Pa realise that bedtime is the best time to do all of the last minute things, like checking the springiness of the lounge chair, preparing for your next concert and practicing your lasso skills?

Oh, wait. Was that a yawn?

Never mind. It’s time for Sleepy Sheepy’s second wind.

This bedtime story is so relatable. I probably would have viewed this as an instruction manual on the various ways I hadn’t thought of avoiding sleep yet but hopefully your little lamb is more inclined to be ready to count sheep when you tell them it’s time to go to bed.

The illustrations are cute and adult me was as delighted as kid me would have been to discover the sheet of stickers in the back of the book!

Sleep Sheepy sticker sheet

I would have loved to have seen the looks on Ma and Pa’s faces when Sleepy Sheepy finally yawned.

Thank you so much to Walker Books for the opportunity to read this picture book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Despite his name, Sleepy Sheepy is NOT sleepy. He’d much rather build with blocks … or knit socks than go to sleep. Will Ma and Pa Sheepy ever get their sheepy to go to sleepy?

From New York Times bestselling illustrator Pete Oswald and critically acclaimed author Lucy Ruth Cummins comes a hilarious bedtime read-aloud that will be loved by little lambs everywhere for generations to come.

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Pavlo Gets the Grumps – Natalia Shaloshvili

Pavlo’s day looks a lot like my week. Someone suggests doing something fun, something we’d usually enjoy, and our response is essentially ‘Ugh!’ We’ve got the grumps and nothing you do or say is going to make any difference. Or is it?

Mama has plenty of good suggestions but there’s always a reason to not wanna. Honestly, why would you want to go to the park when “the slide is too SLIDEY!”

Unperturbed, Mama (who is vying for sainthood at this point) finally convinces Pavlo to leave the house. Pavlo learns that his family and friends will still be there for him when he’s having a bad day and that maybe, just maybe, bad days don’t have to last all day.

The illustrations are cute and clearly show Pavlo’s emotions.

Grumpy Pavlo

Be on the lookout for a bird that really wants ice cream and a frog that enjoys reading.

Thank you so much to Walker Books for the opportunity to read this picture book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

A book-shaped hug that we all need on a day when everything just feels BLAH.

Pavlo does not feel like going to the park. Not today.
He does not want to go swimming.
He even says no to the cinema.
What’s going on, Pavlo?
Pavlo’s got the grumps.

This comforting picture book takes a look at bad days and big emotions, and reminds us that we all have grumpy days sometimes but no feeling lasts forever.

Natalia Shaloshvili’s expressive illustrations are sad and funny at the same time, reassuring little ones that we are loved by our family and friends even when we’re not our happiest selves.

Pavlo guides young children on their emotional learning journey and shows how joy is always just around the corner.

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The Spell of a Story – Mariajo Ilustrajo

A young girl comes home after her last day of school with terrible news. She has to read an entire book during the school holidays.

Just one? For the entire school holidays? That is terrible news.

She hates books.

Blasphemy!

Her sister takes her to the library,

Ooh, the mother ship!

where she’s introduced to the book that will change her life.

Okay, so what you’re telling me is the sister is the hero of this story.

I love books. I love books about books. I love books about loving books.

The words in this one are wonderful, sure, but it’s the illustrations I keep going back to. Our soon to be kindred spirit is absolutely adorable!

Seeing our reluctant reader glued to the page is what joy is made of. Witnessing the moment she transforms into one of us is pure magic.

Prior to their visit to the library, the colours are muted. You can see more vivid colours beginning to escape the pages in the library and when the girl begins to read.

Muted colours

Once her imagination sparks, though, that’s when the colours come to life.

The colours come to life

I appreciated the sneaky inclusion of the author’s other books on the classroom bookshelf. Be on the lookout, as I always am, for Mary Poppins. You may also find a Lost polar bear.

You don’t need a spell to convince me of the life changing magic of books. My hope for this book is that it’s the first adventure for tomorrow’s bookworms.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, an imprint of The Quarto Group, for the opportunity to read this picture book.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

From the award-winning creator of Flooded and Lost comes a magical story about the joy of discovering a connection with books for the very first time.

This brightly illustrated adventure story is perfect for kids who claim to hate reading, as the enchanting narrative opens their eyes to a fantasy world created by words on a page.

In this spellbinding story, we meet a little girl excited for the end of term. No more school! However, she’s given the very unreasonable task of reading a whole book over the holidays. A whole book? but she HATES books. Luckily, her sister takes her to the library and says she has just the thing.

Slowly, the little girl is drawn into a world of adventure inside her own imagination, for the very first time. Even the greyscale world starts to fill with colour as she is carried away in the story. A little fennec fox leads her to meet fairytale witches and creatures as they find ingredients to cast a special spell at the end of her book.

The little girl is dismayed to learn that this spell seemingly hasn’t changed a thing. However, the little fox points out that she is completely transformed: discovering the power of her imagination has changed her forever.

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Here Be Dragons – Susannah Lloyd

Illustrations – Paddy Donnelly

Our arrogant pompous self assured knight is on a mission: to find a dragon. He’s determined, he has a map and a trusty steed who is, quite frankly, the brains of the operation.

The knight trusts his own judgement and buries his head in the map, oblivious to the signs he passes. Even the literal ones.

The knight misses the signs

This is one of those picture books where the words and the pictures tell vastly different stories. If we trust the knight, we’ll believe there’s nothing to see here, but we know better.

Paddy Donnelly’s illustrations tell us the other story. It’s not only the dragon the knight fails to see. He misses practically the entire story. Just some of what he misses are a unicorn, treasure and the real heroes of this story.

If I’d read this as a kid, I would have loved pointing out all of the times I found the dragon. Adult me may have also enjoyed doing this but also loved seeing the expressions on the animals’ faces.

My favourite expression happened early in the book, when the knight is in Ye Olde Shoppe. He may have purchased that map and bargain bin sword or he may have appropriated them when the shopkeeper’s back was turned. What’s not in doubt is how bored his horse is; without a word you can see they’re well acquainted with the knight’s self-aggrandising behaviour.

I read a lot of picture books. Not all of them make a lasting impression. This one has. I borrowed it from the library in 2021 and as soon as I saw it again I knew I had to reread it. It was just as much fun as I remembered.

I got even more out of the illustrations this time around. There’s so much to see. It’s taken me four reads to pick up on the fact that the bunny flying through the air is still visible when you turn to the next page.

I’m definitely going to be reading this again.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, an imprint of The Quarto Group, for the opportunity to read this picture book.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Children will love this hilarious book about a silly knight who goes in search of a dragon to battle!

The other knights have told him that there’s no such thing as dragons, but he says, ‘Forsooth! There is TOO such a thing!’ You just need to know where to look!

And luckily, this knight has something very special that no one else has – a map that says: ‘HERE BE DRAGONS’!

So, he sets off armed with the map, his sword, and his trusty steed. He travels straight to the spot marked ‘X’, past shiny treasure, some suspicious bones and many signs telling him to TURN BACK!

But alas, he’s too busy looking at his map to notice. He wanders up and down a spiky hill (the dragon’s back), shouts into a burrow (the dragon’s nose), and eventually walks into a very dark cave (the dragon’s mouth).

In this laugh-out-loud story, young readers will love seeing the hapless knight search for the dragon, all the while not seeing how close he truly is to the beast!

Will he see the dragon before it’s too late?!

With expert storytelling from the author of This Book Can Read Your Mind, Susannah Lloyd, and whimsical illustrations from the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal nominee, Paddy Donnelly, this is a book that will delight time after time. Kids will love coming back to the bookshelf and seeing if they can spot the fearsome dragon in the background. Comedic illustrations with hidden clues hinting at the dragon’s whereabouts accompany funny and lively text which kids and parents alike will love to read aloud!

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The Cat Who Couldn’t Be Bothered – Jack Kurland

I am the cat. The cat is me.

I can’t be bothered.

The cat been asked to participate in adventures, near and far, and every time he says he doesn’t want to. Finally, a friend talks to the cat and finds out why they can’t be bothered. Sometimes we’re sad and even being invited on an adventure isn’t what we need.

I love that this book encourages readers to acknowledge their feelings and not hide them from the people who care about them. By being open about what they’re feeling, the cat’s friends are given the opportunity to offer support.

I really enjoyed the illustrations. The cat is black and white, while his friends are brightly coloured. My favourite illustration featured cat-stronauts and martians.

As someone who is often overwhelmed by the pace of life that we’re all expected to keep up with, I appreciated that this cat reminds us that needing to do absolutely nothing sometimes is okay. I’d argue it’s necessary.

If you need me, I’ll be here doing nothing and not feeling bad about it. You’re welcome to join me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, an imprint of The Quarto Group, for the opportunity to read this picture book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

There is a cat. A cat that couldn’t be bothered to do anything … anything at all. His friends ask him if he wants to play but he doesn’t feel like it. They invite him on adventures to far-off places, but he would rather stay at home. Until one day, a friend asks how he is doing, and the true reason why he’d rather do nothing is revealed. He is feeling sad.

This is a story about feelings, friendship and the importance of speaking to someone when you don’t feel right. This beautiful socially aware story:

  • Reassures kids that feeling sad sometimes is normal
  • Helps them understand others’ behaviour and promotes empathy
  • Encourages them to be more in touch with their feelings
  • Provides a sense of fun while also broaching a tricky topic

Both children and adults will love the quirky and hilarious cat’s refusal to take part in anything and the sweet and important message behind this story. It’s never been more important to introduce kids to the importance of mental health. This bright children’s book is an easy way to talk about feelings and looking out for others. It provides an excellent jumping-off point for at-home and classroom discussions about emotional wellbeing and caring for others.

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Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire – Flavia Z. Drago

Vlad wears black to fit in with his friends, but there’s another reason as well. Vlad has a secret, something he is ashamed of.

Vlad had rosy pink cheeks! They made him look different from everyone else – so horribly alive!

He decides to use his love of fashion to design clothes to hide his pink cheeks. His clothes may be fabulous but hiding who he truly is makes Vlad feel alone.

Then Vlad learns he’s not the only one with a secret. With the help of Shelley, his best friend, Vlad discovers a world of colour and the confidence to be himself.

I love this series. They’re books I’d happily read over and over again. The characters are relatable and they have positive messages.

There’s so much to see in the illustrations.

description

The characters are expressive and there are plenty of background details to enjoy. I particularly enjoyed finding Gustavo and Leila from the previous books and the ghost in a teacup.

Vlad can make clothes for me whenever he wants.

Thank you so much to Walker Books for the opportunity to read this picture book.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Vlad’s passion is fashion. And just like every other vampire, Vlad dresses head to toe in the colour black. But unlike other vampires, Vlad has bright pink cheeks: cheeks that make him look, and feel, so different. Vlad tries to hide behind his clothes and his cape but, as it turns out, being yourself – truly yourself – is the most fabulous way to be.

An uplifting and charming celebration of our differences set in the same monster universe as the New York Times #1 bestseller, Gustavo, the Shy Ghost and Leila, the Perfect Witch.

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A Friend for Ruby – Sofie Laguna

Illustrations – Marc McBride

I’m all for judging a book by its cover and this one is absolutely breathtaking. More often than not, though, I choose a book because of who wrote it. Sometimes I get an unexpected bonus, discovering an illustrator whose work I wasn’t already familiar with.

This book, though, I chose to read specifically because I wanted to see more of the illustrator’s work, having fallen in love with their style when I read The Glimme.

This time, it was Sofie Laguna’s words that surprised me, drawing me into Ruby’s world just as much as Marc McBride’s illustrations did.

Ruby has had a rough week at school when she comes across the creature at the beach. Hoping she’s found a new friend, Ruby takes the creature home but quickly learns that caring for it isn’t as easy as she thought it would be.

This is such an adorable book. Ruby is an absolute sweetheart who is yearning for connection. The story majors on friendship and has more heart than I usually find in picture books.

Within its pages you’ll visit the bakery of my dreams and meet one of the most colourful, imaginative creatures you’ll ever encounter.

description

Kid me would have loved the story, wanted to be friends with Ruby and spent way too much time poring over every detail of the creature. Adult me loves the story and has spent so much time poring over every detail of the creature, marvelling at how the riot of colours don’t seem like they should work so well together but somehow do.

I’m putting my hand up for the bakery’s leftover cakes and hoping that one day I’ll walk into a store and find a plush toy creature to adopt.

This author and illustrator team complement one another brilliantly. I definitely need to clear some space in my TBR pile for the books they’ve written and illustrated that haven’t taken up residence in my heart yet.

Thank you so much to Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read this picture book.

Title: A Friend for Ruby Author: Sofie Laguna
Illustrator: Marc McBride
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 29 August 2023
RRP: AUD $24.99

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Ruby led the creature out into the garden. She drew a dancing circle in the sand. ‘I choose you!’ she said to the creature.

Walking along the beach, Ruby finds a strange creature on the shore. She takes it home, feeds it and makes a bed of straw for it in her cubby – but a cubby is no place for a creature from the sea.

Ruby must draw on all her resources to help the creature find their way home – and perhaps, along the way, she might just find an unexpected friendship.

A whimsical tale of friendship, compassion and resourcefulness, from a wonderfully talented creative team.

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The Upside-Down Book of Sloths – Elizabeth Shreeve

Illustrations – Isabella Grott

This book is a lovely introduction to the six types of sloths that live in Central and South America as well as some of the dozens that used to walk the earth (and in one case swam the sea) millions of years ago. Comparing the three-toed sloths with their “bandit-like masks” and the larger two-toed sloths to those we have learned about through their fossils, we discover how they live, sleep, raise their young and poop.

While I’ve yet to meet a sloth, I’ve read about them, fallen in love with some cuties I’ve seen in documentaries and have bought my mother, who adores them even more than I do, all manner of sloth merchandise. Did you know you can buy sloth bandaids?

This was a quick, enjoyable read that taught me some new fun facts. My top three are:

🦥 The largest tree sloths grow to 32 inches (81cm) and weigh up to 24 pounds (10.9kg). That’s tiny when you compare it to the Megatherium, a giant ground sloth, that lived 10 million years ago. It grew to 18 feet (almost 5.5m) and weighed around 8,000 pounds (3,628kg)!

🦥 Sloths move about 13 feet per minute through trees and about one foot a minute on the ground. They’re good swimmers, moving three times as fast in the water than they do on land.

🦥 It takes more than a month for a sloth to digest a meal.

Isabella Grott’s illustrations are gorgeous, showcasing species both past and present.

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Kid me definitely would have borrowed this book from the library for a school project.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Norton Young Readers, an imprint of W. W. Norton & Company, for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Slow, sleepy — and adorable. This playful and informative picture book follows the fascinating history of one of the world’s most beloved animals.

Many find sloths cute, while some find them just plain bizarre. In The Upside-Down Book of Sloths, Elizabeth Shreeve uncovers their less-well-known evolutionary history and how they became the beloved — and unique — creatures of today. She pairs and compares the six extant modern species, like the pygmy sloth, the brown-throated sloth, and the ai, with their prehistoric counterparts, such as Thalassocnus, the tough seafaring sloth; Paramylodon, which had armor-like skin and walked on the sides of its feet; and Megatherium, which could weigh up to 8,000 pounds. She even reveals how modern sloths have adapted to hang upside down, how they learned to swim, and even how they poop!

As entertaining as it is educational, The Upside-Down Book of Sloths offers a brilliant deep dive into sloths, their evolution, and their connections to our planet’s natural history — and future.

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