Book Review: Bumblebee Grumblebee by David Elliot

Bumblebee Grumblebee by David Elliot is a board book. Playful animals get up to everyday toddler mischief in this board book built on child-based wordplay, where each page twists animal names into funny new words that are fun to share. Babies and young children will recognize each activity—getting dressed, playing, painting (including themselves), having a bath, using the potty—and see how the animal makes the mischievous most of it. The bumblebee breaks its toy—bumblebee grumblebee! The cockatoo is getting dressed—cockatoo sockatoo! The pelican tries out the potty—pelican smellican! What will turtle do? Everybody gathers for the final squirtle. Built for adults, babies and toddlers to share and read aloud, this fresh and sweet board book encourages experimentation with words and sounds, just by changing a letter or two.

Bumblebee Grumblebee is a fun board book for sharing and enjoying with your young reader, or letting them have some time to look through an enjoy the fun pictures on their own. I liked the play on words and the fun pictures. The cartoonish pictures are muted but do a good job of capturing the action and mood of each phrase. I think the rhymes and fun plays on common tasks and scenes will make for enjoyable story time and some giggling. I think this stand for multiple reads and might become a favorite for some littles and their caregivers or older children that might want to read with them. 

Early Book Review: A Potato on a Bike by Elise Gravel

A Potato on a Bike by Elise Gravel is a board book currently scheduled for release on October 8 2019. The text's repeated asking Have you ever seen…? preceding the refrain No way! will have toddlers yelling "No way!" themselves as you read through these silly situations. Celebrated artist Elise Gravel brings the silly to a new level in A Potato on a Bike, because really, has anyone ever seen a broccoli counting to ten or a sausage reading a book? But wait, how about a...baby being tickled?! Uh-oh, I think the answer for that is—yes way!

A Potato on a Bike is a book I read because of the Gravel name. I had yet to be disappointed by her work. The illustrations are as cute as I expected, and the text was silly and nonsensical. Since it is a board book it is intended to be silly and simple for the youngest of readers, but I have to admit that I was kind of hoping for something more just because Gravel usually blows me away. It is a collection of silly situations that no one has ever seen, followed by one that most of us have. Simple, cute, and fun but no quirky twist or fact to tie it all together for me- although it would be the great precursor to some tickling.

Book Review: My Heart Fills With Happiness / Ni Sâkaskineh Mîyawâten Niteh Ohcih by Monique Gray Smith, Julie Flett

My Heart Fills With Happiness / Ni Sâkaskineh Mîyawâten Niteh Ohcih, is a lovely board book written by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Julie Flett. What fills your heart with happiness?The sun on your face. The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven. Holding the hand of someone you love. This book offers all readers a reminder  to reflect on and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy. Monique Gray Smith wrote My Heart Fills with Happiness to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families, and to encourage young children to reflect on what makes them happy. 

My Heart Fills With Happiness / Ni Sâkaskineh Mîyawâten Niteh Ohcih is a sweet book with fabulous intentions. I like seeing the dual languages, and the clear and open questions about what might make readers happy. I think seeing how many simple things can make everyone happy can help readers of all ages stop to enjoy the simple things a little more, but all see how much alike we are underneath it all. Language, heritage, faith, and ability might make us all different but we can all find happiness in sunshine, fresh baked treats, and the people we love. Two ideas that are important, sweet, and well done with the simple text and lovely illustrations. 

Early Book Review: One House by Sarah MacNeill

One House is a board book by Sarah MacNeill that is currently scheduled for release on September 25 2018. Crabs with clipboards and bears who build are some of the animals who come together to build a new home for their friend. Plans are drafted, holes are dug, and construction begins!

One House is a rhyming board book with counting and bright, bold illustrations to hold the attention of the youngest readers. The illustrations are fun, with a hidden heart on each page. Not only does it reinforce counting skills, but it only touches on friendship and helping each other or working with friends toward a common goal. A sweet, bright board book that might be just the right choice for sharing with your youngest book lovers. 

Book Review: Today I'll Be a Unicorn by Dana Simpson

Today I'll Be a Unicorn by Dana Simpson is a board book featuring the same characters the author uses in her Phoebe and Her Unicorn series of graphic novels. In the story Phoebe decides that she wants to be a magical, sparkly unicorn just like her best friend. 

In Today I'll Be a Unicorn Phoebe explores all the wonders of being a unicorn like her best friend; tiaras, magic, and rainbows. They have fun together, but when they get hungry and Phoebe discovers that Unicorns that do not eat pizza she decides it is time to be a little girl again. This is a fun, short board book that will be a perfect quick bedtime read or a fun read for the youngest readers that love all things magical and sparkling. I know I wanted more, but that is because I have read the graphic novels, but since this is a board book it was just the right length.

Book Review: ABC's of Physics by Chris Ferrie

ABC's of Physics by Chris Ferrie is not your average board book, and it is not a simple alphabet book. Instead, this book introduces a new physics concept for every letter of the alphabet, all the way from Atom to Zero-point energy.

ABC's of Physics is an introduction to physics for all ages. Everyone can get something out of it. I finished this little book and had a much better understanding of many physic concepts. My elementary school age children found it accessible, and I think that toddlers and babies could all get a little something from it. I think the biggest market will be gag gifts for scientists, and shower gifts from or to scientific minded individuals. What an intriguing little book, and one that I wish I had seen before the last shower I went to. 

Book Review: Baas Shapes by M.J. Burke, Jake Tebbit

Baas Shapes is a board book written by M.J. Burke and illustrated by  Jake Tebbit.  Meet Baa, a sweet and somewhat mixed-up sheep, who has a knack for getting into interesting situations, doing things in the most unexpected way, and smiling through it all. Baa’s favorite food is bright green grass and there is a whole field ready to be nibbled. Baa, a unique sheep, grazes that grass into shapes!

Baas Shapes is a short, sweet book that helps teach shapes. I really enjoyed the little hidden surprises in the illustrations- such as creatures like frogs and snails for young children to search for an find on each page. I think the happy little sheep, combined with the crisp colors, and value for teaching shapes makes this a perfect little book for the job. Some of the words might be tough for those trying to read independently, I think as a shared read will make this a hit. While it is not so incredibly new of an idea to knock my socks off, I enjoyed the book and think that the youngest set of readers will enjoy the book as well. 

Book Review: Do Princesses Boogie? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle, Mike Gordon

Do Princesses Boogie? is a board book written by Carmela LaVigna Coyle and illustrated by Mike Gordon. This book is part of the Do Princesses...? series, and readers join their favorite princess as she and her family dance, boogie, and jam. The happy princess discovers that having the right beat and looking on the bright side is all a girl needs to make her a princess.

Do Princesses Boogie? is a short simple board book that will appeal to the youngest readers that already love to dance and look at colorful books. There is not much to the story, as it is a board book, and is more about catching the eye and brief attention of young children. I prefer the picturebooks in the series that show that a princess can not only play soccer or wear hiking boots, but do it with style. Perhaps this will get the youngest set started with the series so that they can move on to the others for story or bed time readings.

Early Book Review: Little Monkey Calms Down by Michael Dahl

Little Monkey Calms Down by Michael Dahl is a board book currently scheduled or release on February 1 2014. The cute Little Monkey is having a rough day. After he melts down he takes some time to calm down before being ready to move on and have fun.

Little Monkey Calms Down is a sweet little board book that will entertain while offering parents and the youngest book lovers tools to use when a bad day is upon them. The story offers reasonable coping tools for even the youngest children, such as cuddling, deep breaths, and singing softly to sooth themselves. Sometimes even parents need to be reminded of these coping skills for ourselves, and the book can start a great dialog about what might help each individual child or adult calm themselves down when things are going wrong or are out of our control.

I would recommend Little Monkey Calms Down for young readers and their caregivers. I think the tools embedded in the story might be particularly useful for a family that is working with one or more children on controlling and understand their emotions. I know I would have used this book with my children if it was around when they were young enough not to turn their noses up at board books.

Early Book Review: Peek-a-Boo Monsters by Charles Reasoner

Peek-a-Boo Monsters by Charles Reasoner is a die cut board book which is currently scheduled for release on August 1 2013. This bright and colorful book shows monsters hiding and features small windows which offer a small peek at what hides on the next page. The monsters are more cute than frightening, and offer a simple verse with some opposites and contrasting words. While neither the die cut windows or the ideas in the book are new, the result is still a fun story that quickly catches the eye with its colors and fun.

I think that all board book fans will enjoy Peek-a-Boo Monsters, particularly those that are as fascinated by monsters and all things relatively spooky, as long as they are not too scary.

Early Book Review: Are You Sleeping Little One? by Hans-Christian Schmidt and Cynthia Vance

Are You Sleeping Little One? by Hans-Christian Schmidt, Cynthia Vance, Andrea Nemet, and Laura Lindgren is set for publication on August 28 2012. The book shows young children how over a dozen baby animals go to sleep. It is a cute little book for bedtime with attractive, soothing pictures.

Are You Sleeping Little One? does not display a new concept, showing young animals asleep. In fact it is used in a few bedtime favorites. However, some of the animals used here are ones I have not seen in this kind of book before. I liked seeing how flamingos, sloths, and moles slept; although there are still the standard duck, snake, and bat. So while old ground is covered, there is some new scenery as well. My only other sticking point with the book is the rhyme, there are a couple that just did not flow for me. While most of the rhyme is fairly lyrical, there is the use of at least one sight rhyme, instead of true rhymes. All things considered, this is a cute book worth adding to the bedtime arsenal if you are sick of reading Time For Bed but want a similar story.

Early Book Review: Where's Eddie? by Daniel Nunn

Where's Eddie? by Daniel Nunn is a board book scheduled for release on July 15 2012. This is a fun book that involvs finding the gray cartoon elephant, Eddie, on each page. After counting to ten the game begins, and Eddie is hiding in, behind, under, and next to objects that children will recognize from daily life. The story helps tech location words, is cute, and is fun. When looking for a board book, what more can you ask for?

Where's Eddie uses a hide and seek game, which is not completely unique, but Eddie is so cute that it does not matter. It is short, sweet, and cute. I highly recommend it to parents, teachers, and caregivers that are trying to teach location concepts to children that are very young, or having trouble mastering the concepts. Even children that have the ideas done will enjoy finding the little elephant.