Tag: Quarto Publishing Group

Dragons: Father and Son – Alexandre Lacroix

Illustrations – Ronan Badel

Dragons: Father and Son tells the story of a father attempting to teach his son the dragon tradition of burning down houses. Drake is not exactly proficient at fire breathing, having used his abilities for cooking snacks but nothing ever as big as burning down a house!

Drake finds that he’s not quite a chip off the old block when he flies to a nearby village the next day, ready to make his father proud. Humans don’t seem to be as ferocious as his father has taught him. Can Drake find a way to make his father proud and still stay true to himself?

I loved the expressions captured on particularly the father’s face in Ronan Badel’s illustrations. The father’s use of glasses near the end was a chuckle moment for me. The illustrations complemented the story well and I imagine children will enjoy the father’s cranky expressions at the beginning of the book and the son getting ready to burn down parts of the village in earnest to please his father. I really liked the drawings of the bats.

My favourite picture would have to be when Drake tries to go to sleep the night before he sets out for the village. The look on Drake’s face as he contemplates the next day’s activities is priceless and there was a special cute factor with him holding onto his bird’s leg while the bird sleeps peacefully.

Also, dragons!!! 🐉 😃

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – words & pictures for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Strokkur is a young dragon, whose father instructs him to act like a proper dragon – and to go out and set fire to some houses. But Strokker isn’t confident about his skills and he doesn’t want to hurt anyone. How will be prove himself without upsetting his dad and everyone around him? A funny and moving story about the bonds between fathers and children, with a positive, peaceful message – and all the magic and mayhem you’d hope for in a tale about dragons.

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Poetry for Kids: Robert Frost – Jay Parini (editor)

Illustrations – Michael Paraskevas

Poetry for Kids: Robert Frost is the latest in a Poetry for Kids series, with previous books featuring poetry by Emily Dickinson, Carl Sandburg and Walt Whitman. This book contains 30 of Frost’s poems, prefaced by an introduction of Frost’s life and inspiration for his poetry, and followed by short explanations of each poem’s meaning in a section titled ‘What Robert Was Thinking’. There are definitions included with each poem for words children (and adults) may not be familiar with.

This book is part of an established series so obviously there must be a children’s market for this type of book but personally I would have preferred to see this book marketed as a gift book. Without the ‘for Kids’ branding I think the market would have opened right up for this book.

The audience for this book is listed as 8+ but I know I wouldn’t have appreciated this book as a child. At 8 I was reading Roald Dahl, not poetry books, and I don’t think that’s so unusual.

My fear for this book is that it may be used in schools to teach poetry at kids instead of to kids, and that could ruin Robert Frost for them. I say this because the only poetry I’ve ever hated with a passion have been poems taught to me. I always baulked at a teacher telling me emphatically what the poet meant by each word, line by line. I wanted to have the opportunity to think about the poem myself and decide what it meant to me, and always wondered if the poet actually intended the poem to be interpreted the way my teacher said was the only way, the right way.

Digressing, that reminds me of a story about Alfred Hitchcock helping his granddaughter write an essay for film school about his movie Shadow of a Doubt. Her grade? C. So the story goes, he shrugged and said, “That’s the best I can do”.

Anyway … I grew up adoring The Road Not Taken but that was mostly because my Nan used to quote it all of the time and I’d often read the photocopied poem stuck to a wall in her house with Blu-Tack. I don’t know I would have liked it as a kid without my Nan’s influence.

Michael Paraskevas’ illustrations are absolutely wonderful! They complement the poetry beautifully. I think adults will like them better than kids though. It’s only as an adult that I appreciate artwork like this.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – MoonDance Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

A collection to be read, experienced, and treasured. 

Whether capturing a cold New England winter’s evening, or the beauty of an old, abandoned house, four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Robert Frost left an indelible mark on our consciousness. This stunning celebration of his best-loved work includes 35 poems specially chosen for children ages 8 to 14 by author and historian Jay Parini.

Illustrator Michael Paraskevas brings the poems to life with his pitch-perfect scenes, infused with majestic color and quiet simplicity. Poems include “Mending Wall,” “Birches,” “The Road Not Taken,” “Fire and Ice,” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,”

This gentle introduction also includes commentary, definitions of key words, and an introduction to the poet’s life.

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Everybody’s Somewhere – Cornelia Maude Spelman

Illustrations – Alea Marley

I had hoped this would be a book I could recommend to psychologist friends for use with their younger clients experiencing separation anxiety or grief. Based on the blurb I expected Everybody’s Somewhere to be focused on bereavement or to be aimed toward children who may live with one parent and be missing the other, or perhaps who have a parent that has had to go away for a work trip. Given that the book was written by a social worker my assumptions were strengthened.

That’s not what this book is though. It’s basically saying that people are everywhere – up trees, under the stars, in cars, etc. Based on the reality of what the book is instead of what I hoped it would be, it’s a cute book. It would be a nice bedtime story. The rhyming and easy words are appropriate for the young target audience.

Alea Marley has done a beautiful job with the illustrations. The colour scheme is soft and comforting. I liked the diversity of the children featured in the pictures and think children as well as adults will enjoy looking at them.

I received an ARC from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Seagrass Press for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

UPDATE: If the blurb was fixed to reflect what the author intended then the story works perfectly. I still believe this will make a lovely bedtime story that children will enjoy.

Once Upon a Blurb

Everybody’s somewhere, where are you?
I’m right here, I’m somebody, too.
Some are in the country, some are in the town.
Everybody’s somewhere, up or down.

Everybody — mums, dads, grandpas, grandmas, friends, and people you’ve never met — is somewhere in the world, doing something right now, even if you can’t see them.

Everybody’s Somewhere is a fun, colorful introduction to the idea that everyone you’ve met, or haven’t met, is somewhere. Written perfectly for young minds that might not fully comprehend how big the world is, or the number of people on it, this fun children’s book will plant the seeds of the ideas in their minds.

With its playful poetry, bouncy rhymes, Everybody’s Somewhere asks children to expand their perspective, and follows up with fun illustrations. Award-winning author Cornelia Maude Spelman invites children to imagine other people in other places doing different things, to be delighted by new ideas, and to be reassured that everyone is important and sharing the same world.

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Seagrass Dreams: A Counting Book – Kathleen Hanes

Illustrations – Chloe Bonfield

The illustrations were beautiful and are what drew me to this book in the first place. I liked that there were photos of the sea creatures towards the back of the book to complement the illustrations. The boundaries of the Collector Urchins didn’t seem distinct enough for a counting book but I loved all of the others.

I became confused about the target audience as I made my way through the book. After all, we’re talking about a counting book here so our audience is maybe 3, 4 or 5 years old? Please keep in mind that all of my questions and comments from here on relate to thinking of this book as being targeted towards 3 to 5 year olds.

The level of information conveyed seemed at too high a level for kids learning to count to 10. Perhaps the same sort of information could have been written in a more age appropriate way? I could see primary school age kids using some of the information found in this book for school projects but at the same time, what primary school child is going to want to open a book that teaches you to count to 10?

While I personally love glossaries I question why words are being used in a counting book that kids learning to count wouldn’t already know. I also think some of the explanations in the glossary needed a glossary of their own. Do kids who are learning to count to 10 know what an organism or crustacean are?

I waited for an explanation to go with the Chocolate Chip Sea Star that didn’t come so I expect there to be a series of conversations between parents and kids ending up somewhere in this territory… “But why can’t you eat the chocolate chips?!”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Seagrass Press for the opportunity to read this book. It really is a beautiful book. I just think it would have worked better if either the illustrations were paired with simpler explanations for a counting book or if the counting part was scrapped so the book could be gorgeous illustrations accompanying interesting facts.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Introduce your future marine biologist to all of the creatures who live in underwater foliage, and how to count from 1 to 11 in Seagrass Dreams.

Seagrass Dreams is a unique counting book and introduction to marine life that stars animals who make their home in the seagrass. Young children and their parents will love learning to count from 1 to 11 while they also meet a host of marine animals. You’ll be introduced to characters such as the toothy great barracuda, the gliding yellow stingray, the bucktooth parrotfish, and the chocolate chip sea star (not good for adding to cookies).

That isn’t all though! Seagrass Dreams will also teach you each animal’s common name, scientific name, natural habitat, and a whole lot more! This book is loaded with gorgeous illustrations which add a colorful and engaging element. Seagrass Dreams closes with a list of the common species of seagrasses, their scientific names, and where each can be found.

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Hedgehog Wisdom: Little Reasons to Smile – Carolyn Parker

This is an adorable gift book. Whether you’re buying it for yourself or someone else, you can’t help smiling at the innate cuteness of Huff and Puff, the two models in Hedgehog Wisdom. Accompanied by pick me ups to bring you out of a dark day or to remind you of the good in your life, you’ll fall in love with these spiky fluffballs.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Rock Point for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Smile

Let’s get quilly! Based on the popular Huffy Hedgehogs Instagram, Hedgehog Wisdom is filled with pictures of the most adorable prickly pets as they dress up, chow down, and make you laugh out loud, all while promoting positive thinking and good vibes. Though spiny, huffy, and timid, these little pincushion creatures are too sweet for words, and will win your heart in no time!

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I Love a Book – Joe Rhatigan

Illustrations – Olga Ivanov & Aleksey Ivanov

What’s not to love about a book about loving books?! I Love a Book is adorable! This book could singlehandedly grow a new generation of bookworms, introducing them to the portable magic found between pages.

I would have loved reading this as a child and was delighted reading it as an adult. While other adults have coffee table books that make them seem more cultured than they probably are, my coffee table books consist of children’s books and I look forward to adding this one to them.

The words flow so well and the illustrations complement the poetry beautifully. The illustrations are extraordinary! Brightly coloured and detailed, they captured my imagination. Each time I look at a page I see something new. There are stories to be discovered in each of the illustrations. I both want to tell those stories and hear from children the adventures they see taking place on each page.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – MoonDance Press for the opportunity to read this book. I’d happily recommend this book for child and adult bookworms alike.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

This is a celebration of books, reading, and our imaginations, I Wish I Could Write a Book opens with a list of types of books and where to find them. The simple, lyrical prose then becomes more frantic as a young reader encounters pirates sailing the sea, a classroom of monsters “learning math with their paws,” and even an animal doctor making house calls in a helicopter.

With lavish illustrations nearly spilling off the page, the young reader finally makes a startling discovery about his own imagination and creativity. This book is for anyone who loves books and wants to instill this passion in the next generation.

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