Counting Monster Chefs: Numbers in the Kitchen (Little Monster Learners)
Written and Illustrated by Ameliessa Richardson
Lots of laughs and learning are crammed into this picture book that teaches toddlers and preschoolers to count. The characters remind me of Sesame Street. Illustrations showcase nonstop humor in addition to interactive counting prompts.
The author cleverly includes alliteration and onomatopoeia to make reading this book aloud fun for the adult as well as the child, enjoying its message. Young readers will want to pick it up over and over. Repetition reinforces the learning process. At the end of the book, there is a link to additional printables.
As a former educator, I highly recommend this book to parents and teachers of children ages two through five.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
Patrick is a sensitive young boy with a gentle heart. His older brother, Ben, is rather hard and often teases Patrick.
One day, Patrick finds an injured baby rabbit. He convinces Ben to accompany him to Felice at the Wildlife Rescue. To get there quickly, Patrick and Ben will have to cross a scary thicket, which Patrick believes contains all manner of scary creatures. Patrick overcomes his fears because the urge to help an injured creature is stronger.
Throughout the sixty-page book, children learn about nature and its delicate creatures. Patrick teaches how to care for and nurture this frail rabbit. They learn that even when a strong bond develops, these creatures must learn how to be strong, resilient, and survive on their own.
I enjoyed the author’s technique of using onomatopoeia to teach sights and sounds of nature. The soft watercolors complement the mood of the tale.
This book is both a picture book and a beginning chapter book that is suitable for new readers.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY.
A simple title for a book that delivers a lot of value in a picture book. The author employs rhyme, alliteration, onomatopoeia, descriptive adjectives, and sentence building to offer a host of learning opportunities for toddlers and preschoolers.
The words are associated with the colors that represent them, each page adds more text so that as the book unfolds readers repeat and reinforce the learning. At the end of the book a glossary is included to remind young readers exactly what those “hard words” mean.
The female captain is a role model for young girls unaccostumed to seeing females heading up the captain’s job.
This book is one that will be read over and over, each time reinforcing and building upon the learning that has already taken place.
Highly recommended for parents, teachers, and librarians who work with toddlers and preschoolers.
SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG FOR NEW BOOK REVIEWS EVERY SUNDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
Lindy Nelson is an American who has spent most of her adult life teaching English in China after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She enjoys arts and crafts, funny memes, eating candy, and of course, spending time with her greyhound, Clarence.
MY REVIEW OF THIS BOOK:
This is Clare is an adorable picture book about a lady named Lindy and her adventures with her greyhound named Clare. The author uses verbs that end in air and are to teach English vocabulary. The illustrations are adorable and the simple text will expand vocabulary for anyone learning English. It is a book that is fun to read aloud and will enrich the vocabulary of native English speakers as well.
The multicultural illustrations that feature Chinese culture will provide a springboard for discussion and further research. This book will delight all ages from preschool to adult English as a Second Language Learners. I am looking forward to more adventures with Lindy and Clare.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a copy of This Is Clare, along with a virtual Questions and Answers session with the author!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
A copy of This Is Clare
A virtual Questions and Answers session with the author via Skype
Nine (9) winners receive:
A copy of This Is Clare
The giveaway ends December 2, 2021, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
Fernando Invents Socks, A Gripping Story, About the Perils of Ocean Trash!
Written and lllustrated by Brad Pohl
An adorable rhyming picture book for elementary school eco conscious readers! The author employs clever rhymes, onomatopoeia, and alliteration to create this fun read-aloud.
The plot is original and creative. Fernando, a penguin, has a guest visiting him. Judith, a brown chicken is walking with Fernando along the Arctic shore when they both become entangled with yellow string around their feet. Fearful of becoming bait for sea lions, Fernando thinks quickly. He plucks two of Judith’s largest feathers.
What does he do with them and how does his discovery lead to an ingenious invention? Read this beautifully illustrated picture book to find out.
If you enjoyed reading this post, please subscribe by clicking on the word Follow or by hitting the orange RSS FEED button in the upper right-hand corner of this page.
The Night the Monsters Came: A Fun Way to Teach Kids Healthy Habits as Part of Their Bedtime Routine
Written by Junia Wonders
Illustrated by Lisa Ciccone
Siblings Jack and Joy are getting ready for bed when Jack warns his sister, the monsters are outside and hungry. He dresses as a wizard and Joy puts on her fairy dress and crown.
As the monsters barge through the door, the children are steadfast. They warn the monsters they are not appealing targets because they follow good hygiene. Why does that turn the monsters off? Read the book to find out.
The rhymes are clever with extensive use of onomatopoeia and bright colors outlining new vocabulary. Illustrations are appropriate and colorful. I highly recommend the book for toddlers and primary grade children.
Lucky’s Adventures in Winter Wonderland (Lucky’s Adventures)
Written by Elizabeth Macey
Illustrated by Jenn Kocsmiersky
Lucky Charms is an adopted rescue dog who happily lives with her human family and a cat named Hershey Kisses. She is excited to wake up to a snowstorm. Lucky promptly goes out to play with her neighborhood dog friends. They go ice-skating and skiing. The day ends with barbecuing hot dogs. That night Lucky reflects on how fortunate she is to have such a comfortable life with a loving family and so many dog friends. She figures out a way to help less fortunate dogs and rallies her neighborhood dog friends to assist her.
Children will love seeing these dogs take on human characteristics and do the activities they love participating in themselves. The illustrations consist mostly of two-page spreads featuring many vivid drawings of adorable dog breeds. Macey includes a list of suggestions for her readers to get involved in animal rescue. I would recommend this picture book especially for elementary school readers, but it has appeal for a reader of any age.
If you enjoyed reading this post, please subscribe by clicking on the word Follow or hitting the orange RSS FEED button in the upper right-hand corner of this page.
This beginning reader has a lot going for it. The protagonist is a chicken who wants to do more than an average chicken. She decides that roller skating looks like fun. Chicken lays out the steps necessary to roller skate and proceeds to try. After falling down and feeling bruised, chicken gives up just as many children might do. When Cat begins to chase her, Chicken decides to try once more. Sometimes one must take a risk in order to succeed.
Toennisson’s illustrations are humorous and cartoon-like, perfect for young readers. Takoda uses onomatopoeia effectively. Children will love reading the book aloud and imitating the sounds as they learn the vocabulary words. Recommended for all beginning readers, but I think readers in the five to seven year age range will enjoy it most. Look forward to reading more of this series.
If you enjoyed reading this book, please subscribe by clicking on the word Follow or by hitting the orange RSS FEED Button in the upper right-hand corner of this page.
This book desperately wants to be a bad boy. His goal is to become a banned book in the library. He tries everything to win the librarian’s disapproval. Some of his tactics include using gross words, misspelled words, and made-up words. The book enlists readers to assist him by being loud and doing everything possible to annoy the librarian like flapping arms, wiggling and jumping up and down in their seats. To his dismay, the book makes its way into storytime.
This book is filled with much humor, graphics, and simple illustrations. There are vivid colors, lots of variation in print size, alliteration, and onomatopoeia. Bacon playfully encourages her readers to become accomplices in the book’s quest for notoriety.
Bacon targets the book for a kindergarten through grade five audience. Beginning, intermediate and reluctant readers can join in the fun.
If you enjoyed reading this post, please subscribe by clicking on the word Follow or by hitting the orange RSS FEED button in the upper right-hand corner of this page.
Book 4 continues the adventures of Carlo, the intrepid mouse, on his adventure in the hospital where he lives. Carlo spends most of his time dodging the hospital administrator who is determined to eliminate him. When Carlo spies a poster on the wall labeled “most wanted mouse,” he becomes indignant because he feels it doesn’t do him justice.
Carlo’s parents have repeatedly warned him to follow the rules, but Carlo continues to taunt the hospital chef by stealing food from the kitchen by night and watching cooking shows in the patient’s rooms during the day. One day Carlo breaks out in hives “…like popcorn bursting in a hot pan.” Carlo fantasizes how he got this disease. His mother figures it out. Carlo has spent too much time in the infectious disease part of the hospital and has contracted chicken pox. Poor Carlo takes this literally and fears that there are chickens under his skin.
The book is written with humor, colorful language and vibrant illustrations by Chanoa. Elementary school-age readers will be truly entertained. Carlo learns the hard way once more why it is important to follow the rules. Maybe his young readers will take note.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and voluntarily decided to read and review the book giving my honest opinions for no compensation.
If you enjoyed reading this post, please subscribe by clicking on the word Follow or by hitting the orange RSS FEED button in the upper right-hand corner of this page.
January 18, 2026
bamauthor
Barbara Ann Mojica's BLOG 
You must be logged in to post a comment.