Reading this one for the second time because, well, it’s Clifford’s origin story! The first time around I read a library book. This time around it is one of Mum’s many new hide-and-seek Clifford books. I hide them for her and she finds them. It’s so much fun hiding presents for people at random times. I highly suggest you try it!
Anyway, Clifford. While there are a few sad parts in this book, ultimately it’s a story of the power of love between a child and their pet. Clifford may have been the runt of his litter but with Emily Elizabeth’s love, this little red puppy became the big red dog readers adore. Aww! 💕
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Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
How did Clifford become such a big red dog? Read and find out how a simple wish from Emily Elizabeth led to Clifford’s amazing growth.
As someone who’s technically an adult I can tell you I love this series. I can only imagine how much fun they’d be to read as a kid. This series focuses on the friendship between Hotdog, Kevin and Lizzie. Hotdog is our main character and he’s looong. Kevin the rotund cat is a champion eater and sleeper. Lizzie the lizard enjoys reading and making others laugh but is terrified of heights.
In Circus Time! Lizzie goes off to join the circus to fulfill her dream of being a clown. Through unforeseen circumstances she has to face her fear of heights when she is asked to fill in as a trapeze artist! The support and encouragement of her friends and her bravery as she prepares to face her greatest fear is a great example for readers, teaching them valuable lessons in how to be a good friend.
As always I loved the humour in the story and illustrations. While the illustrations are primarily grayscale, each book also has splashes of colour. In this book it’s a couple of shades of purple so it deserves some brownie points for that alone. There are also purple words and phrases throughout the story.
My favourite minor character was the helpful duck who wears a vest and bow tie, and says clichéd but somehow still funny things like “egg-xactly”. I also loved the twist on the lion tamer, who is a lion that tames wild poodles.
I’ll be continuing to look out for new Hot Dog! titles at my local library and look forward to the next adventure in the lives of these friends.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Lizzies joining the circus! Her sister Emma is a high-flying trapeze star, but Lizzies terrified of heights! She’s going to be a clown, the funniest around!
Hotdog and Kev can’t wait to see the show. Hopefully everything goes to plan!
Fun, fun, fun! Kelvin is the new kid at his school, 56,000 light years from Earth. His parents are supergeniuses. His father works in robotics and his mother’s a neuroscientist. With two supergeniuses as parents, then Kelvin must be a Mighty Mega Supergenius, right?
Kelvin’s new friends at Sci-Fi Junior High are:
Spotch, the first friend Kelvin makes
Rand-El, the only person on his planet who needs to wear glasses – on his six eyes
Gil Lagoonie, who attends school in a portable fish bowl
Zot Totzie, who’s happy and positive all the time
Grimnee, who doesn’t like bullies
Brian Stem, the most intelligent kid at school, except for when he’s stressed and his brain shrinks
Mippett, another new kid who doesn’t talk.
With robots, an evil bunny, spaceships, a super secret project, a father who says, “Har” at the end of his jokes (that may be the only clue he told one) and tea parties, there’s no time to look away from this book. Part novel and part graphic novel, the story is pure entertainment and the illustrations are amazing!
I loved the use of illustrations of the head of the person who’s talking next to the words they’re saying. I can’t remember having seen this technique used before and it worked so well with this story. With so much dialogue, the reader isn’t bogged down with, “He/She said” all the time. A quick glance over the page and you know immediately who’s involved in the conversation.
The diversity of friendships was fantastic. Each friend was from a different planet and they all worked together as a team when they needed to and had fun together. Bullying was explored as was having the courage to be who you are, not who people expect you to be. I loved the message of acceptance in this book.
Overall it was a quick but super fun read and before I’d even finished the book I was on Goodreads looking for when the sequel is due to be released. While this is marketed as a kid’s book, adults will enjoy it just as much. This is one of those books I’d try reluctant readers with as there aren’t any boring bits, there are plenty of quirky illustrations to break up the text and there’s space travel, aliens and a baddie who tries really hard to take over the universe.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Kelvin Klosmo isn’t just the new kid at school – he’s the new kid in the galaxy! Welcome to Sci-Fi Junior High: an inter-galactic space station with students of all shapes, sizes, smells, and … slime content. As the son of Earth’s two most famous geniuses, Kelvin isn’t just the smartest kid in the world … .he’s the smartest kid in the UNIVERSE. At least, that’s what everybody at Sci-Fi Junior High thinks.
So, maybe Kelvin lied a little about being a genius to fit in. And maybe a mad scientist is about to take over the universe unless Kelvin can stop him. Maybe everyone is doomed.
Well, at least Kelvin won’t have to worry about math homework anymore.
Sci-Fi Junior High is an out-of-this-world story about friendship, accepting our differences, and the fight against evil … bunnies. Yes, evil bunnies – don’t ask.
I love this series! I stumbled across them after a bunch had already been released and I binge-read them, then encouraged my mother to do the same. Now each time a new one shows up in my library’s acquisitions list, I jump right in there and push the kids out of the way to get my hands on it first. Sorry, kiddies!
This one was even better than the rest for me because, well, Halloween. 👻🎃🦇
Not only do we get to check out Weir and Henry’s Halloween costumes throughout the years, we also enjoy Bella and Weir’s rummage in the garage to find stuff that can be transformed into this year’s costume. With some trick or treating, a missing pet, haunted house and the impending tragedy of the Do family needing to move house, there’s plenty to keep your attention. And did I mention the terrible Dad jokes?
Every book in this series is so much fun to read and I love Jules Faber’s illustrations. They really bring the characters to life. I am already looking forward to WeirDo #10!
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Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Halloween’s coming up, and Bella and Weir are busy working on their costumes. But everything will be turned upside-down when Weir Do finds out his family is moving away!
This book deserves 5 stars for the illustrations alone! It has some of the most detailed and beautiful pictures I’ve ever seen in a children’s book. All of the animals in each picture have their very own personality and they’re just so cute and quirky! Whether it’s a squirrel with a mohawk, crabs building sandcastles, sharks attending school, penguins swordfighting with swordfish, a fruit salad chameleon or mosh pit bats and rats, there’s so much to see and laugh at. The story is simple, repetitive and fun for kids, but the real stories are what’s happening within the pictures. I adore this book!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
The bear went over the mountain To see what he could see. What do you think he saw?
You won’t believe what the bear sees over this mountain!
A forest of squirrels singing, Setting ears a-ringing. Golly gosh! Oh my! Oh me! It was a sight to see.
Sing along with favourite children’s entertainer Jay Laga’aia’s bonus CD recording!
Thelma the horse desperately wants to be a unicorn and doesn’t believe her best friend when he tells her she’s perfect just the way she is. Between a carrot tied to her nose and a fortuitous near miss with a truck loaded conveniently with pink paint and glitter, all of Thelma’s dreams come true. Or so she thinks. It’s not much fun keeping up the facade of being someone you’re not.
This is a sweet book about accepting and loving yourself for who you are. A recommendation from one of my favourite librarians, I love the message of this book. The illustrations are lovely and I particularly liked Thelma’s best friend, Otis. You can’t help but love someone who loves you just the way you are.
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
Thelma dreams of being a glamorous unicorn. Then in a rare pink and glitter-filled moment of fate, Thelma’s wish comes true.
She rises to instant international stardom, but at an unexpected cost. After a while, Thelma realizes that she was happier as her ordinary, sparkle-free self. So she ditches her horn, scrubs off her sparkles, and returns home, where her best friend is waiting for her with a hug.
From award-winning author Aaron Blabey comes this joyful book about learning to love who you are … even if you don’t have sparkles.
I Need a Hug. Don’t we all?! OK, so today was library day!!! Recently I was told about the wonder that is Aaron Blabey by my awesome librarians and how popular his books are with the kids the librarians read to. So I figure if it’s good enough for the kiddies, then it’s good enough for me and my librarians haven’t pointed me in the wrong direction yet so I’m currently in possession of the first batch of Blabey books I ordered last week.
So, our sweet but prickly porcupine needs a hug so she asks her friends for one. They all run away screaming, scared of her spikes. Feeling dejected, our porcupine is still in need of a hug. All of the illustrations are gorgeous but the final one could surely melt the icicles encasing the coldest heart. Just goes to show that if we look beyond someone’s spiky exterior they may very well be hugworthy after all.
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Rating: 4 out of 5.
Once Upon a Blurb
‘I need a hug. Will you cuddle me, Lou?’ ‘What? With those spikes? Get away from me! Shoo!’ All this little porcupine wants is a hug. But with such prickly spikes, will she ever get the cuddle she craves?
Schizanthus Nerd 