Title: Pete the Cat’s Groovy Guide to Love
Author: Kimberly & James Dean
Publisher:  Ballastine Books
Publication Date: December 2015
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780062430618
Ages: 6+
Type: Picture Book

Pete the Cat has been hit by an arrow! Follow along with Pete on the groovy train of love and hear some Pete’s favourite love-struck quotes.

Pete the Cat is a must-read for any children’s librarian, but this book is just plain…weird. The illustrations are spot-on, but what kid wants to read a bunch of quotes by Audrey Hepburn, Plato, and Lucille Ball? If you’re on a tight collection budget, I’d skip this one.

Grade: C-

 

Title:  Tiny Little Fly
Author/Illustrator:  Michael Rosen and Kevin Waldron
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Publication Date:  November 9, 2011
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780763646813
For ages: Preschool 3-5
Type:  Picture Book

Oh my a tiny little fly is causing so much trouble around the jungle! Follow the elephant, hippo, and tiger who try to catch the buzzing, buzzing, buzzing, fly.

Kevin Waldron might be my most favourited illustrator. These pictures are big, clear, and easy to see. I read this story for my Adventure storytime and the kids adored looking at the animals in the jungle. Will be reusing this for storytimes to come.

Title: King Pig
Author/Illustrator: Nick Bland
Publisher:  Scholastic Canada
Publication Date:  June 1, 2013
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781742834955
For ages: Preschool 3-5
Type:  Picture Book

King Pig doesn’t know why the sheep do not like him, even though he tries his best. The sheep do not smile, even though he tries to make them laugh. They never listen to him. So, one night, King Pig invited the sheep into his warm castle. They were dyed different colours and shaved to make King Pig fancier clothes. But still, the sheep did not like King Pig – even when he was wearing fancier clothes! How can he make them like him?

Nick Bland has done it again with King Pig. Enclosed in these pages is a story about popularity. King Pig is oblivious that he is making the sheep unhappy. He treats them as slaves, rather than people. Illustrations are simple and beautiful. This story has to be one of the best storybooks that I’ve read all year. A must read for preschool storytime.

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Title: Three by the Sea
Author/Illustrator: Mini Grey
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 5, 2011
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0375867842
For ages:  3-6
Type: Picture Book

A dog, a mouse, and a cat live happily together near the sea. Dog did the gardening, cat did the housecleaning, while mouse did the cooking. They all were very happy, until a sly fox came floating across the shore. He was from the “Winds of Change Trading Company.” He planted secrets in the ears of cat, mouse, and dog. Soon, they all were fighting and mouse ran away. He found himself in trouble, and cat and dog saved him.

This is a wonderful story of friendship and forgiveness. One of Mini Grey’s best written stories. Again, though, the pictures form a busy collage making it difficult to know where to read next. This book is recommended for children ages 3 to 6 – but again, I wouldn’t read this to to anyone younger than Grade 1.

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