It is high time for Parent Club Picture Book Review #1! Having been an author for so long…and a parent long before that…I have read a ton of picture books. And it’s time that I share some recommendations on what to read with your little ones. Here is a review round-up of Parent Club Picture Book Reviews that I think you should read…
Parent Club Picture Book Review #1
The Magician’s Secret by by Zachary Hyman (Author), Joe Bluhm (Illustrator). Publisher: Tundra Books. Charlie loves when Grandpa comes to babysit because he always brings his magical imagination. But what Charlie loves most are his wonderful adventure stories, and they all begin with something his grandfather has saved in his Magic Story Chest.Charlie’s parents, though, aren’t too sure they like Grandpa’s stories and warn Charlie that they’re just “tall tales.” What is Charlie to believe? How can his grandpa convince him that all you need to do is believe and a dream can be turned into something real?
The Magician’s Secret takes your on a journey to magical places while connecting readers to a special inter-generational relationship. The illustrations are dynamic. The press release for this book opens with the lead of Zachary Hyman being a Toronto Maple Leaf’s player – but that’s not what kids will remember about this book. Kids will remember the adventure of dreams and the special bond between grandchild and grandfather.
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating (Author), Marta Alvarez Miguens (Illustrator). Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. Eugenie Clark fell in love with sharks from the first moment she saw them at the aquarium. She couldn’t imagine anything more exciting than studying these graceful creatures. But Eugenie quickly discovered that many people believed sharks to be ugly and scary-and they didn’t think women should be scientists. Determined to prove them wrong, Eugenie devoted her life to learning about sharks.
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist will be LOVED by any creature lover, mini scientist, and dreamer. This biography is completely kid-friendly (something you can’t say about all biographies in the children’s section). And the timeline of Eugenie’s life as well as the pictorials of the different sharks is an interested added-value read for parents and kids alike. No wonder this book was named a Best Children’s Book of 2017 by Parents Magazine.
Sam & Eva by Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Author, Illustrator). Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. When Sam starts drawing a super cool velociraptor, Eva decides to join in. But Sam isn’t too happy about the collaboration. Soon Eva and Sam are locked in an epic creative clash, bringing to life everything from superhero marmots to exploding confetti. But when their masterpieces turn to mayhem will Sam stay stubbornly solo or will he realize that sometimes the best work comes from teamwork?
Sam & Eva is a book your kids will want to read again and again! It is light and playful; inspiring kids to imagine and be creative while collaborating. Definitely add this to your child’s bedtime reading list.
RELATED: BREAKING IN TO CHILDREN’S PUBLISHING – TIPS AND RESOURCES
You Know What? by Carol Gordon Ekster (Author), Nynke Talsma (Illustrator). Publisher: Clavis Oliver should go to sleep. But there is so much he wants to tell his mother about: what happened that day at school, the things he read in books, everything he sees around him. A touching and familiar picture book about (postponing) the ritual of going to sleep.
A cute story with which parents (and kids) can easily relate. We’ve all had that “you know what?” conversation leading up to bedtime. Which makes this a great bedtime book.
I will be actively reading and researching more picture books, early readers, non-fiction and YA books for review. I wrote Boredom Busters because I love everything about books (researching, writing, reading…) and I think books are a great connector between grown-ups and kids. They can explore together (like in The Magician’s Secret), learn and be inspired (Shark Lady), they can be creative fun (Sam & Eva) or just be calming together time (You Know What?).
Thanks, Caroline. I appreciate what you do for the parenting and #kidlit communities.
My pleasure!
These books look like so much fun! My nieces would love the Shark Lady book!
What a great selection of picture books. My cousin’s little girls would love them. I’ll have to pick up a couple for them when I see them next.
My youngest is just starting to really become interested in books and comes and sits on my lap with different books from our shelves. These are some great selections to add!
These look like great batch of books to read in the summer with my son. He will need to stay on track with learning to read!
Reading is something we still love doing with our grandchildren and they’re not so little anymore.
Now I’m intrigued with The Magician’s Secret. I want to know what grandpa has in his magic story chest!!
These looks like such adorable books! The Magician’s Secret especially looks so cute!
I appreciate your review of these picture books as I am always looking for new books for my grandchildren.