Don’t Drink the Pink by BCR Fegan

Don’t Drink the Pink by BCR Fegan follows young Madeline from age one to fourteen, as each year her grandfather allows her to choose one of his special potions to drink. From super strength to invisibility, the potions offer magical gifts. He has just one rule- don’t drink the pink! But come Madeline’s fifteenth birthday, her grandfather has passed, and now it’s time for pink, which offers a very special gift. As with all of Fegan’s previous picture books, this one is full of gorgeous art and lyrical rhyming. Well worth adding to any child’s library, it’s sure to be enjoyed time and time again! 

***Many thanks to Netgalley and TaleBlade for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

The Halloween Tree by Susan Montanari

The Halloween Tree by Susan Montanori tells the story of a young fir sapling who has no interest in becoming a Christmas tree. He does everything he can not to gain lush for needles, so he’ll never be chosen. Time passed, the Christmas tree farm closes, houses build up, and the grumpy tree grows massive and gnarled, still lacking needles. He becomes a beloved part of the neighbourhood kids’ games and play, til the day comes when parents decide they don’t want such a grumpy tree in their neighbourhood. Can the kids save their tree by making him part of a new holiday tradition? My cubs and I read this together, and we all loved it. The artwork is lovely and the story teaches creating new traditions. A perfect addition to any class or child’s library!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

A World Full of Spooky Stories by Angela McAllister

A World Full of Spooky Stories by Angela McAllister is a collection of twenty-four creepy legends and folktales from around the world. It is divided into several sections by theme- Into the Woods, Down by the Water, Enchanted Places, Strangers at the Door, In Farm and Field, Home of the Spirits, Upon the Ocean/Under the Sea, In Castle Hall  Sorta… There were some, like Treasure Thief, that didn’t seem to fit the theme. Many were familiar and some were new to me. Favourites among my cubs and I include: Grandfather’s Eyes (Czechoslovakia), The Cold Lady (Japan), The Snake Prince (India), The Dance of Death (Native American), The Talking Skull (West Africa), The Clever Goldsmith (Syria), The Sea Goblins (New Zealand), Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (England), and The Girl with the Stone Face (Chilé). While sometimes brutal, or creepy, none felt spooky to my cubs and I. It’s definitely worth a place in a folktale collection!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Catch Cat by Claire Grace

Catch Cat by Claire Grace is a neat seek-and-find book of the Where’s Waldo type that also teaches kids about notable places to visit and things to see on each continent. There’s an initial spread with information on major countries, and several things to see. Following is a spread of the continent filled with drawings representing Various regions, sites, and attractions. The goal is to find Cat and each of the items discussed on the previous pages. My qualms were with the resolution of the pictures in ebook format. Probably much better to read as a hardcopy!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

There Was a Black Hole That Swallowed the Universe by Chris Ferrie

There Was a Black Hole That Swallowed the Universe by Chris Ferrie is a goofy rhyming book that follows the scheme of ‘There was an Old Woman that Swallowed a Fly’. From the universe to quarks, a hungry black hole gobbles up everything til nothing is left! I read this with my cubs and they enjoyed it. For myself, it creeped me out. I have an irrational and illogical fear of these mysterious celestial entities. I got nothin’ there… The artwork is amusing, and at the end of the book there’s a note for ARC reviewers that the final hardcopy will have a second ‘story’ that can be seen back to front via a blacklight. Great addition for home or classroom!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Explore for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

All Colors by Amalia Hoffman

All Colors by Amalia Hoffman is a short board book that uses chalk drawings to introduce little ones to colours. Each colour is represented by a unique scribble. One by one, these scribbles are pieced together and form a picture at the end. It was fun to try to guess what each scribble would end up as. I wasn’t a huge fan of the art myself, but can see where young learners might enjoy it.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Schiffer Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.