Category: Children’s Book Reviews

Photo from Amazon.com

Review by Sandra Horning

My five year old pulled The Cheese off the new book display at our library a few weeks ago and I’ve read it for bedtime every night since. Clearly, my five year old thinks it is great. The Cheese builds around the last line of the song “The Farmer in the Dell”: and the cheese stands alone.

Down on the farm no one knows why the cheese has to stand alone in the field all day, they just know that’s how the song goes. The rat thinks the cheese looks pretty tasty and decides to take action to join the cheese in the field. Along the way he encounters everyone else from the song: the cat, the dog, the child, the wife, and the farmer. After discussing why the cheese stands alone, each character gets persuaded to join the cheese in the field. Finally they all end up having a picnic with the cheese.

The humorous dialog of why the cheese stands alone brings laughter every time. The pleasing illustrations have lots of details for young children to see. The only drawback to reading this night after night is that my son likes me to end by singing “The Farmer in the Dell” and then the tune gets stuck in my head for the rest of the night! A small price to pay for a book that helps my son get to sleep.

Ages 3-8

As an early chapter book, Mokie and Bik is fun and different, with lovely detailed pen-and-ink illustrations to go with the text. Based on the cover illustration alone, my children and I were prepared to love this book. But, to be honest, my two boys didn’t like it. In fact, they found the twins’ language confusing and kept asking for clarification. Reading it aloud, I enjoyed some of the word play, but at times felt my tongue getting twisted up with phrases such as “swinging side to siding with Bik slip dippery riding splish swish sliding – splash! – overboard.”

However, that said, my children did listen to the whole story and I think it is worth a read aloud just for some of the word play. And perhaps a twin reading it or hearing it aloud will better appreciate the twins’ special language that so often confused my boys who never shared such a thing.

Ages 7-10

Photo from Amazon.com

Review by Sandra Horning

Both my 4 and 8 year old sons were taken with Patience Wright, America’s First Sculptor and Revolutionary Spy. What child doesn’t love a good spy story? And what a story it is!

Born to a Quaker family in 1725, Patience grew up in the American colonies and showed a talent for sculpting clay at a young age. In mid life she began to sculpt wax and her reputation for creating life-like sculptures grew. As a result her work was desired by many prominent Americans. Her success led her to open a studio in London. As a well-known artist, she had many political figures among her customers, including the king and queen.

When the American colonies started revolting against England, Patience was suddenly in an important position, as she was friendly with both English and colonial leaders. As Patience worked with some of her English customers, she led them to reveal secret information. Then Patience wrote this information down and hid it in the hollow busts of her sculptures that were going to America. Thus, she became a spy.

The realistic gauche-and-pastel illustrations of wax figures and early America bring the text to life. My younger son kept asking which illustration is the sculpture and which is Patience. This is a fun read for young historians, with additional information about Patience and the revolutionary war included at the end. But historian or not, if you haven’t heard of Patience Wright, this is a must read about an extraordinary woman. Questions about wax sculpting and spying are sure to go on for several days.

Ages 4-9

Photo from Amazon.com

Review by Sandra Horning

This week at the library a book with the title Toolbox Twins caught my eye. A new twin book? Yes and no. It is a book about twins, but not the same birth date kind of twins. Instead, Toolbox Twins refers to a small boy, Vincent, and his dad, each with his own toolbox and each making repairs around the house.

As Vincent’s dad goes around the house fixing things, Vincent follows along with his toolbox. They hammer the “steps that squeak” and the “stools that creak.” They move outside and work on the gate and chairs. Then into the garage to work on the bike. Back inside they go to hang pictures. Vincent and his dad work inside and out, pulling out different tools for every job. Each new tool in the text appears in bold, helping with identification as the tool is shown. The pleasing illustrations complement the simple rhymes.

Young twins will enjoy learning another way to use the word “twins”. And if your child also happens to be a fix-it child like my four year old son, Toolbox Twins is sure to be a hit.

Ages 2-6.

Photo from Amazon.com

Review by Sandra Horning

Snow showers in April! Winter continues to hang on here in New England. My children and I were feeling a little grumpy about it until we read Winter is the Warmest Season. A very pleasing title and an equally pleasing book that reminded us of all the highlights of winter. Now we are taking the time to enjoy our last wintry moments.

The story begins with a boy declaring that, unlike most people, his world is warmest in winter, not summer. Hot cocoa, hot soup, puffy winter jackets, cozy pajamas and bright fires are just a few of the images that appear in the book to help prove the boy’s point. The cheerful acrylic spreads add to the warmth of the text on each page. There’s a lovely play of contrasts between winter and summer throughout, with the cool swims of summer turning into the hot baths of winter.

This book also works as a good lesson on perspective. Winter is all about keeping warm so perhaps it really is the warmest season. If the freezing temperatures are still in your area, Winter is the Warmest Season is a must read to cheer you up and to help you enjoy these last chilly days. After all, spring must be just around the corner!

Ages 3-8

Photo from Amazon.com

Review by Sandra Horning

A few years ago when my sister-in-law was in London she bought my older son Night Monkey Day Monkey. The book instantly became a bedtime favorite and now my younger son loves it too.

Julia Donaldson is well known for The Gruffalo, which you can easily find in the U.S., but for some reason this wonderful book is harder to come by. The book is a bit British, with the repetitive line “Don’t be daft”, but that makes it all the more endearing.

As the title reveals, Day Monkey and Night Monkey are two monkeys as different as, well, night and day. The story begins with Night Monkey waking up Day Monkey. Day Monkey follows Night Monkey through the night and learns about the unfamiliar nighttime world, such as fireflies, bats and the croaking of frogs.

Finally, Day Monkey gets tired and goes back to sleep, but as soon as he wakes up, he quickly wakes up Night Monkey to show her the daytime world, with butterflies, chimpanzees and parrots. And, as they learn about each other’s world, they also become the best of friends!

The lyrical text accompanied by cheery, bright illustrations is always a pleasure to read (and, believe me, we’ve read it over and over). The concept of being the same, but different is nicely done and easily speaks to twins and multiples. An excellent choice for settling your little ones into a cozy bed.

Ages 3 – 8

About Children’s Book Reviews @ BeTwinned

Photo from Amazon.com

Review by Sandra Horning

This winter my children and I have been spending lots of time sitting around the wood stove and snuggling as we read collections of stories. Last week we came across a great collection of riddles and stories, Riddle Me This! Riddles and Stories to Challenge Your Mind, which entertained us for days. I already love most of the Barefoot Books (people can buy Barefoot Books by “Stallholders;” click here to go to the website of a Barefoot Stallholder) I’ve come across (The Barefoot Book of Knights and The Barefoot Book of Pirates are big favorites.), and this is no exception.

The riddles and stories come from all over the world, including Cuba, Russia, India and Arkansas, USA, to name a few. Some of the riddles are classic ones you probably heard yourself as a child (“Those that have eyes have no head, Those that have heads have no eyes.”), but some are new to me.

The vibrant and charming folk-art style illustrations give hints to the answers for the riddles. My four year old was able to solve a few with the help of the illustrations. And if you can’t solve the answer to a riddle, there is a handy page of answers in the back, as well as notes and sources for the stories. I peeked at a few of the answers myself!

Your library probably has a copy of this book, but if not, the paperback will be coming out this March. If you’re reading your way through the long nights of winter, Riddle Me This! should be added to your pile of books.

Ages 4-9

About Children’s Book Reviews @ BeTwinned

by Charlotte Doyle, illustrated by Julia Gorton
Photo from Amazon.com

Review by Sandra Horning

If your twin babies are just beginning to show an interest in books, then Twins! would be a good choice for them. Although the book is a picture book, it feels like a board book as the pages are thicker and sturdier than normal. The short text rhymes and easily keeps the attention of little ones, while the simple, bold illustrations provide lots of contrasts for young eyes. The book will provide some early learning too, with some numbers, colors and early word (for example, “up” and “down”) recognition.

The twins move through the book doing various activities, such as swinging on the swings, crying over dropped ice cream, looking at a book, fighting over a stuffed bear, taking a bath, and sleeping (always something a parent wants to encourage). All in all, this is a nice book for the new twins in your life to enjoy!

Ages 1-4

About Children’s Books Reviews @ BeTwinned

by Julia Rawlinson, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke
Photo from Amazon.com

Review by Sandra Horning

Living in New England, surrounded by falling leaves, Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, really spoke to my children. This wonderful autumn tale tells the story of Fletcher, an adorable young fox, and his favorite tree.

As the leaves turn brown and begin to fall, Fletcher worries his tree is sick and runs around trying to catch each leaf. He becomes more distressed when the squirrel and porcupine take some of the leaves for their nests. Fletcher does everything he can to reattach the leaves to the tree and to keep the rest of the leaves from falling. Some kind birds even help Fletcher put some leaves back on the tree.

Despite all of his efforts, the last leaf finally drops and Fletcher sadly goes home. He takes the last leaf home with him and tucks it into bed. When he wakes up he finds his favorite tree looking more beautiful then ever, twinkling with frost and icicles in the cold winter air. Fletcher finally understands that his favorite tree is just fine. The soft, warm watercolor illustrations are perfect, a lovely tribute to the changing of the seasons.

Ages 3-7

About Children’s Book Reviews @ BeTwinned

by Margaret O’Hair, illustrated by Thierry Courtin
Photo from Amazon.com

Review by Sandra Horning

Many families with twins may already have a copy of this book, but for those just beginning their journey, Twin to Twin is a book to add to your must read list. It’s great for preparing an older sibling (of toddler age) for the arrival of twin siblings. And it’s a great early read aloud for young twins themselves.

The text rhymes and rolls gently from page to page, as the charming cartoon artwork shows a set of twins in their early years, learning to walk, eat, bathe, play and sleep together. The red-headed twins in the story are different genders and look very similar, but you can tell them apart (the bows help), just like real twins!

It’s clear that twins do all the things other babies do, but they learn to do these things together with twice the fun. The double hard work for parents is not forgotten as the twins have double messy diapers and double tantrums too. Of course, it all ends happily with double love!

Ages 1 – 5.