An ABC of What Art Can Be

TITLE: An A B C of What Art Can Be
AUTHOR: Meher McArthur
ILLUSTRATOR: Esther Pearl Watson
PUBLISHER: J. Paul Getty Museum
COPYRIGHT: 2010

This ABC book is unique in its design as it is shorter in height than most books, which is one of the things that caught my attention. It goes through the alphabet naming a different art related word for each letter. Some of these include frame, landscape, prints, and vanishing point. The illustrations are great because they illustrate the concept of the words being described.

My son and I enjoyed reading this book and learning some new words together.

That Cat Can't Stay

TITLE: That Cat Can't Stay
AUTHOR: Thad Krasnesky
ILLUSTRATOR: David Parkins
PUBLISHER: Flashlight Press
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Mom keeps finding cats and bringing them home. Dad has his list of reasons why "That cat can't stay" but ends up giving in when Mom gives a reason why they should help the cat out. How many cats will come to live with the family? The cartoon illustrations in this book fit well with the silliness of this book. It makes a fun read aloud.

My son and I thought this was a good book.

Fire Drill

TITLE: Fire Drill
AUTHOR: Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender
ILLUSTRATOR: Huy Voun Lee
PUBLISHER: Henry Holt and Company
COPYRIGHT: 2010

The children in a kindergarten class do a fire drill and learn how to act during a fire drill. Young children will enjoy this book with its easy to follow text and cute illustrations of children in a classroom. It would be appropriate for a school classroom or library.

My son and I thought this was a fun book to read.

The Jesus Storybook Bible

TITLE: The Jesus Storybook Bible
AUTHOR: Sally Lloyd-Jones
ILLUSTRATOR: Jago
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT:2007

I am reading The Jesus Storybook Bible with my son. We have read many different children's Bibles. This one is different from all of them. First, the illustrations are not the typical children's book cartoon illustrations. Second, these are not just shortened versions of stories from the Bible on a child's level. These are well-thought out stories that I have found to be biblically accurate. But they also show how that event or story points to Jesus. The subtitle of the book is "Every story whispers his name." I love and appreciate this. This is a wonderful book that both children and adults will enjoy. As an adult it is nice to be reminded of God's faithfulness as we read with our children. It is appropriate for school-aged children. This book would be perfect for a bedtime reading book.

Thank you to Zondervan for providing a review copy of this storybook Bible.

A Book About Color

TITLE: A Book About Color
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Mark Gonyea
PUBLISHER: Henry Holt and Company
COPYRIGHT: 2010

This is a nice book with brightly colored illustrations to introduce a young child to color. Things discussed are primary and secondary colors as well as complementary colors.

This would be a good book for a school or classroom library.

Vacation Bible Snooze

TITLE: Vacation Bible Snooze
AUTHOR: Mike Thaler

ILLUSTRATOR: Jared Lee

PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2010

This is another book from the Tales from the Back Pew series. Mom asks her son if he wants to go to Vacation Bible School. He doesn't think anyone would want to go to school during vacation to study the Bible. His Mom tells him about VBS and why he should go....to learn more about his Best Friend.

Personally, I did not like the cartoon illustration of God at the end of the book and didn't feel like the Mom gave very good description of VBS or reasons as to why the boy should go.

As I mentioned in my review for the other book I feel if you like the Black Lagoon Series you will like these books because they are so similar.

Thank you to Pam at Zondervan for sending me a review copy of this book.

In The Big Inning

TITLE: In the Big Inning Bible Riddles from the Back Pew
AUTHOR: Mike Thaler
ILLUSTRATOR: Jared Lee
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Are you familiar with the "Black Lagoon" series? This book is in a series called Tales from the Back Pew by the same author.

One of the riddles:
How do you know God is a baseball fan? Because he starts
off the Bible “In the Big Inning …”

There are several riddles on each page along with silly cartoon illustrations. The jokes cover things from both the Old and New Testaments.


I think this would be a book enjoyed by elementary aged boys. The jokes will be funny for those who have some Bible background. Otherwise they probably won't make sense. Several of them did make me laugh though. If you are a fan of the Black Lagoon series I would recommend that you check out this series also.

Thank you to Zondervan for sending me a review copy of this book.

If I Could

TITLE: If I Could
AUTHOR: Susan Milord
ILLUSTRATOR: Christopher Denise
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press
COPYRIGHT: 2008

A mother raccoon and her little raccoon walk along the beach and the mother expresses her love to her little one to show him what a treasure he is. The illustrations are adorable in this book, and it is appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers.

My son and I found this book to be enjoyable to read.

Taking Care of Mama

TITLE: Taking Care of Mama
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Mitra Modarressi
PUBLISHER: G.P. Putnam's Sons
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Mama is sick in bed so the kids and Papa take care of her and the house. They end up making quite a mess and are all tired by the end of the day. This is a fun book with rhyming text that makes it a great read aloud. The illustrations of this little raccoon family are just so cute!

My son and I enjoyed this book and recommend it to you.

The Fathers are coming home

TITLE: The Fathers are coming home
AUTHOR: Margaret Wise Brown
ILLUSTRATOR: Stephen Savage
PUBLISHER: Margaret K McElderry Books
COPYRIGHT: 2010

At night time the fathers begin to head home. Animal fathers and a sailor father return home to their families. The text is minimal and the illustrations are simply done without a lot of detail yet they are well done.

My son and I enjoyed this book.