Happy by Mies van Hout

The pictures are gorgeous! One emotion is depicted on each two-page spread through colorful fish drawings. The artist did a wonderful job of capturing what each word feels like. I think this would make a neat board book.

Charlie Chick by Nick Denchfield

Was anyone else completely surprised when this book didn't rhyme? It's all set up so you expect it and then...it doesn't. Odd. My husband was coming up with better couplets to finish the lines as I was reading it aloud for practice. Love the pop-ups of Charlie's body. Very well done.

The Seven Chinese Brothers by Margaret Mahy

This was not the edition I remember from my own childhood. That one was very cartoony and silly, so I started out a little disappointed. I had picked this up again because my husband had never read the book when he was young and was unfamiliar with the story of the Seven Chinese Brothers.
I like the fuller storyline, though. The repetition of phrasing is fun and the emperor's titles are a nice touch.

How to Teach a Slug to Read by Susan Pearson

Unlike Slugs in Love , these pictures were silly and cartoony enough to overcome the grossness of slugs. Their little slug faces evoked a much wider span of emotions to make the characters relateable and funny. Personally, I loved every time their antenna poked out above a hat!
Real suggestions to parents are given in slug terms for helping your child learn to read. Very reminiscent of Read to Your Bunny , which is still the better book, but more geared toward younger bunnies. This would appeal to 5-8 year old male slugs especially!

Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells

"So Nora had to wait!"
When I was little, my favorite part was Nora's explosive outburst of destruction! "CRASH went the lamp!" and my little heart thrilled from the messy chaos. 

Migrant by Maxine Trottier

I've never heard of the Mennonites from Mexico. That was an interesting bit of history. This book reminds me a lot of My Name Is Yoon.
The text is quiet and Anna's yearning is palpable. I give the author props for that. But the illustrations aren't my cup of tea.
The author's note at the end was also very interesting and political...
Not sure what to think.

Don't Slam the Door! by Dori Chaconas

I'm tickled that there is so much knitting in this delightful book! Unfortunately, it's not being portrayed accurately but that's typical. The rhyme is bouncy and catchy and I love that it's the little girl who's trying to avert disaster instead of the mother for once. Despite her efforts, no one listens to her.
Great book for story time! Can't wait to try it!        

Many Days, One Shabbat by Fran Manushkin

I liked this cozy book. I really like the illustrations, which show a modern Jewish family's daily life.

The Best Christmas Ever by Chih-Yuan Chen

I picked this book up when I saw it on display at my local library branch. The cover art is quiet, lonely and subdued in contrast to the title, so I was intrigued.
This book is deals with realistic and timely issues with grace, hope, and love.
"The year had been tough for Little Bear's father. His business had failed and he couldn't find work. There was just enough money left to feed the family."
Even though the words of the story sound SO SAD and heartbreaking, the reader can see that Little Bear is smiling and holding his daddy's hand. The next page shows that the two of them stopped to make smiling mud "snow-men" on their way home. The little snowman is looking up adoringly at his daddy snow-man. The book is filled with gentle touches to make a magical balance between story and illustrations. Masterful job.

Big, Bigger, Biggest by Nancy Coffelt

What amazing vocabulary words!

999 Tadpoles by Ken Kimura

The illustrations very closely resemble pictures I made in the third grade. I liked the oddly round birds and how expressive the hawk is, but the rest is pretty lame. Not a fan of this illustrator (who apparently has his own museum in Japan, so what do I know!).

GUYKU: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka

Great book to keep in mind for future sons. Boys of all shapes and colors are represented in the delightful illustrations of this book. I loved all the simple enjoyment of being outside.

Oh No!: Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World by Mac Barnett

Elementary science genius is a GIRL!!! After unleashing her robot science project, which tries to destroy the world, she fixes it with yet more inventing and science!
Go smart girls!

Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj

This would make an excellent book for storytime!
The book asks for children to respond to it in a funny way and would create excellent audience engagement!
Can't wait to try this one out on kids.

My Name is Elizabeth by Annika Dunklee

Names are important. I love that this little girl politely corrects everyone on her name. "But you may call me Elizabeth." Awesome!

Follow Me by Tricia Tusa

I'm always intrigued by this illustrator's covers and then disappointed by the stories. I like the wiggly, sketched nature of her artwork. The story seems like it's trying to be poetic but it fails. This is the kind of book you would read to a child once and they would never request again.

Moonpowder by John Rocco

Well, I love this man's illustrations so it's hard not to just love every book he's created. Wonderful main character is acting as man of the house for his mom by fixing her appliances as they breakdown while dad's away at war. Unfortunately, he's haunted by bad dreams. Lots of cogs, gears, and wrenches! Great for children who like to "help" with the fixing, especially.

Argus by Micelle Knudsen

"Don't be difficult!" Being different is okay, too.

I liked this book because it didn't whack you over the head with the message that being different is BETTER than being like everyone else. Being different is fine, it's great, it's not worse, but it's not better either. We don't always have to run from one end of the pendulum to the other!

Sniffles for Bear by Bonny Becker

For some reason I have a fondness for books about feeling under the weather. Friends bring soup, there are big red noses, funny accents due to congestion, and piles of quilts. There is something very cozy and reassuring about sickness books, probably because they alway end in recovery. The character is pampered by his friends and then wonder upon wonders, he feels SO much better in the morning. It's like magic.

The Surprise by Sylvia Van Ommen

This is one of my favorite books, but I must say, I'm not thrilled that the illustrator chose to show the sheep smoking to pass the time. Grrrrr. Bad decision Sylvia Van Ommen.