Early Book Review: Moon Pig by Celina Lagnado, Leo Lagnado

Moon Pig by Celina Lagnado and Leo Lagnado  is a children's book currently scheduled for release on December 1 2020. Pig is a dreamer and he is planning to go to the moon. Join Pig in his adventure as he works to make his dream a reality. After lots of planning and hard work he puts together a rocket and flies off to his adventure. A book for young children about possibilities, imagination, and big dreams. 

Moon Pig is a cute picturebook about a young pig that dreams of going to the moon. He seems to have talked about it ad dreamed about it for awhile, and uses his imagination and crafting skills to make it happen, and still make it home in time for dinner. I think the story itself was very cute, and one that kids can relate to and emulate, using their own imagination to take journeys of their own. The pages were colorful and told the story well, but I was not wowed by the book. It was cute, but the illustrations felt a little clunky and childlike- which could be the aesthetic they were going for- but it just dd not work for me. I think some young readers will really enjoy it, but it did not make me as happy as I had hoped.

Book Review: Hotel Fantastic by Thomas Gibault

Hotel Fantastic is a picturebook written and illustrated by Thomas Gibault. Whether you're a robot needing to recharge or a giant looking for extra legroom, the suites in this hotel are designed to cater to each guest's needs. Feeling hungry? Dine at the hotel's world-famous restaurant among princesses and pirates. Need a workout? A fully equipped gym and rooftop swimming pool serve beings of all shapes and sizes. And rest assured that your safety and security are a top priority --- an elite strike team is always at the ready. Pay no attention to the rumors you may have heard --- there's certainly no horrible creature threatening to attack the hotel at any moment.

Hotel Fantastic is a brightly illustrated ad fun picturebook. The majority of the story is detailing the wonders of the grand Hotel Fantastic. The crazy creatures that stay there, work there, and their activities are imaginative and well done. I enjoyed the descriptions and artwork depicting the pool, security team, and infirmary the most- they were amusing and unique. I like that clues to what the lurking evil is, and how it is not all that evil but will certainly bring the story to an end, can be found throughout the story.  I like that the ending is a little bit of a twist, but not completely unexpected if readers pay attention to the clues, and think about the uniqueness of the amenities. Most of all, I like that the young boy telling the tale is not rude, mean, or in anyway shamed or embarrassed for playing with something that might go against gender stereotypes. That made me very happy and made me the story as a whole even more.

Early Book Review: Sir Tim Wants a Dragon by Judith Koppens, Eline van Lindenhuizen

Sir Tim Wants a Dragon is a picturebook written by Judith Koppens and illustrated by Eline van Lindenhuizen. It is currently scheduled for release on July 1 2018. Sir Tim wants a pet, but not just any kind of pet. Tim wants a dragon, because “All knights have dragons.” Tim says decisively. “I’m a knight so I need a dragon!” Tim and Mom go to the pet shop together, but the pet shop does not sell any dragons. Or do they?

Sir Tim Wants a Dragon is a cute picturebook about a young man with a big imagination. As he plays knight he becomes determined that he needs a pet dragon. Not an unexpected result to any parent or caregiver to be honest. When they go to the pet store he is disappointed that there are no real dragons. I liked the illustrations, I found the artwork to be very nice to look at, and offering extra details and some humor on each page.

I was glad that Sir Tim refrained from having a temper tantrum when a dragon was unavailable, but disappointed that a bearded dragon or other aptly named lizard was not the solution, I was half expecting it. I did like that he was able to compromise- although I was less than thrilled Tim ends up with a labor intensive pet with no talk of responsibility and no preparations. I know it is a book for the youngest readers, but the idea of getting anything you want without working for it or responsibility bothers me.

Early Book Review: A Stegosaurus Would NOT Make a Good Pirate by Thomas Kingsley Troupe

A Stegosaurus Would NOT Make a Good Pirate by Thomas Kingsley Troupe is a picturebook that is currently scheduled for release on February 1 2018. Everyone has dreams, even dinosaurs! But not every dream can become reality. For example, the brachiosaurus would love to be a spy! But at 40 feet tall, he certainly would not blend in. And the T-rex aspires to be a knight. But how would she manage to pick up a sword with those tiny arms?  

A Stegosaurus Would NOT Make a Good Pirate is a picturebook that is good fun, with charming illustrations. I liked the dinosaur's attempts at being a good pirate, and how the tone gave the impression that he could laugh at himself while still being more than a little overconfident. I think the deliver of dinosaur facts along side the light hearted story make for a fun read that might get many re read requests. I also enjoyed the glossary and mini quiz at the end. The fact that the answers are hidden in the illustrations, and the quiz offers clues as to where young readers can find the answers, might spark a larger search for hidden information and encourage them to study pictures in other books to see if they can find information and clues.