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Kids Books And More

@dadsreadtoo

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JER: “The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABC’s” by Patrick McDonnell is the best ABC book I have found.

After years of reading children’s books, I have encountered many, many ABC books, which all end up feeling very contrived and, by the end, boring.

What the little red cat (Jules) does so effectively is allow the reader to puzzle and wonder at each page.

“Is “G” galloping, grass, . . . ? Oh, I see, glasses!” by @dadsreadtoo

JER: “Sleepy, the Goodnight Buddy” by author Drew Daywalt and illustrator Scott Campbell feels very familiar. The bedtime negotiating skills that most kids innately develop is very impressive.

Roderick is a very good example of this:

> “Sometimes he would ask for a pony. He never got a pony - but that’s okay, because he didn’t really want one. He just wanted to stay up, even if it was to hear all the reasons he couldn’t have a pony. And there were lots of reasons.” by @dadsreadtoo

JER: “Go To Sleep, MONSTER!” By Kevin Cornell is my favorite of the “go to sleep genre.”

George can’t sleep, because there is a monster under his bed.

When George’s sister Anna confronts the monster she learns about the layers of scared monsters, each afraid of the next one down until . . . The Center-Most Center of the Center of the Earth!

This book is definitely worth tracking down. by @dadsreadtoo

JER: “A Million YES’s” by author DJ Corchin and Illustrator Dan Dougherty feels very relevant to me, as a people pleaser.

I often over extend myself to avoid saying “NO.”

> “She gave a YES to any friend who needed one.”

I like identifying as a person who helps out and says. “YES.” But it is also important to realize that saying “YES,” can change your plans or limit your ability to show up in other places.

I love the conclusion of this book, and if you are a people pleaser then I bet you will, too! by @dadsreadtoo

JER: “The Book That Almost Rhymed” by author Omar Abed and Illustrator Hayek Aly is the most clever book I have read in a long time.

It starts with an older brother who believes he has just completed a perfectly rhyming book, only to have his younger sister interrupt the ending couplet of every page. She extremely cutely changes the words . . .

Perhaps I am outing myself now, I am the youngest of five children. I have a lot of younger sibling sympathy for the younger sister.

I often wonder if I am a bit too hard on my oldest daughter, my youngest sibling alarms go off often whenever my oldest daughter complains about her two younger siblings allegedly “melding” in her stuff, her space, or her fun.

I see myself in the pleas for attention that often end up appearing annoying to my oldest daughter, and everyone else, if I am being honest.

But I am ride or die for my younger daughters. I don’t think I will ever lose sympathy and empathy for the plight of the youngest or younger sibling. by @dadsreadtoo

JER: “Nop” by Caroline Magerl is infused with warm textures and water coloring creating portals into a dusty “Oddmint’s Dumporeum” full of forgotten treasures, all hastening to mend and bedazzle themselves to catch the eye of the morning’s customers.

Nop peers up out an open window for another route . . .

I love the art and the minimal text which creates an optimal balance that feels just right. by @dadsreadtoo

JER: “Some Pets” by author Angela DiTerlizzi and illustrator Brendan Wendell’s is a fun companion to “Some Bugs.”

I love how the cats play and the parrots talk. by @dadsreadtoo

JER: TOP 5 - 2023 BOOKS

I am embarrassed that it has taken me so long to finally provide my TOP 5 lists for 2023, 2024, and 2025, but they are on their way!

Here are my TOP 5 books I reviewed in 2023:

1. “How Does Santa Go Down The Chimney” by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
2. “Wolfie the Bunny” by Ame Dyckman and Zachariah OHora
3. “I Broke My Trunk” by Mo Willems
4. “Reynard’s Tale” by Ben Hatke
5. “Take a chance” by Sujean Rim by @dadsreadtoo

JER: “Life” by Cynthia Rylant and Brendan Wenzel feels like a fitting way to celebrate the end of the year.

> “What do you love about life?”

> “The hawk will say sky.”

> “The camel will say sand.”

> “The snake will say grassssssssssss.”

> “Remember this: in every corner of the world, there is something to love.”

> “Trust the wolf.”

> “ . . . it is worth waking up in the morning to see what might happen.”

#picturebook #childrensbookstagram by @dadsreadtoo

JER: “Big Bike, Little Bike” by author Kellie DuBay Gillis and illustrator Jacob Souva.

I love bikes.

“An old bike. Whap, tap, zap. Never too old for me.”

Right now, my two bikes are a used bike and a bike a friend helped me refurbish from the thrift store 18 years ago.

#bigbikelittlebike #kelliedubaygillis #jacobsouva #joshuajames #sardines by @dadsreadtoo

JER: “Three Billy Goats Gruff” retold by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen.

Growing up, my favorite book was “Three Billy Goats Gruff,” it is the book I remember being read to me the most.

Perhaps I liked the cunning young goats that could trick without being “sinful.” I wasn’t supposed to tell lies, but the young goats were able to get by the bridge troll by cunning without the sin.

I love the retelling and the illustrations, as always, from Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen.

“I love goat! Let me count the ways.

A rump of goat in honey glaze.

Goat smoked, goat poached, a goat pot roast.

Goat smorgasbord! Goat smeared on toast!

A goat kale salad - hold the kale.

Goat escargot! (That’s Goat plus snails.)

On goat I’ll dine, on goat I’ll sup.

You little goat, I’ll eat you up.” by @dadsreadtoo

JER: “Things in the Basement” by Ben Hatke involves a search for a lost sock that keeps leading deeper and deeper into a basement.

There are small mushroom people, an eyeball with tentacles, and a ghost, but they all turn out to be very helpful and equally scared of the Gobbler and the Sock Rat.

Ben Hatke demonstrates, yet again, why he is a great storyteller and engaging artist. by @dadsreadtoo