🌟REVIEW: "Too Many Moose" by Lisa Bakos, Illustrated by Mark Chambers (Childrens Fiction)

	Too Many Moose by Lisa Bakos Illus. by Mark Chambers Publisher: SOURCEBOOKS Jabberwocky Genre: Childrens Fiction, Rhyming Publication Date: July 5, 2016 (Affiliate links)
Description from Publisher: Everyone Needs At Least One More Moose When Martha decided she must have a pet, she marveled and mulled over what she should get. But much of the choices made Martha quite glum… instead of magnificent, most were humdrum. And just as it seemed like it might be no use… she made up her mind that she must have one... moose! When Martha gets an unusual pet, she's delighted by all of the fun things they do together. If one moose is this marvelous, then more moose must be even better! Pretty soon, Martha has more moose than she can handle in this playful pet story.
My Rating:
I received a digital ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.com for an honest, unbiased review. My opinion is my own. This was a very cute story that my son (3.5) aND I both enjoyed. It was marvelous. ;) The illustrations were quirky and fun, and had plenty of color, which is something that I rather like in a children's book. The use of M-words was actually a pleasant surprise and it was very well done. As were the rhymes and rhythm of the text. I also couldn't help but appreciate the subtle teaching of moose singular and moose plural. The story itself was both sweet and silly, blended expertly!

🌟REVIEW: "Hot Dog, Cold Dog" by Frann Preston Gannon (Childrens Fiction)

	Hot Dog, Cold Dog by Frann Preston Gannon Publisher: POW Publishing Genre: Childrens Fiction, Picture Book Publication Date: April 29th, 2014 (Affiliate links)
Description from Publisher: From award-winning author/illustrator Frann Preston Gannon comes this celebration of wiener dogs (dachshunds) in all their variety--perfect for dog-lovers of every age! Simple rhyming text and boldly graphic, funny illustrations show off the comically lovable proportions of the dachshund, with its short legs and long body, spirited nature, and cheerful temperament. Author Frann Preston Gannon reveals a surprising variety of wiener dog looks and shows kids all the fun these little dogs have as they visit the beach, cavort in the snow, dig in the garden, jump to the ceiling, and even ride a skateboard--all the while giving a lesson in opposites. • Richly colored, textured illustrations with lots of elements and funny things for kids to spot, from "hidden" bones to muddy footprints • Rhyming text makes this a great read-aloud • Ends with a bedtime moment, very appealing to parents • Dachshunds are extremely popular; in fact, this breed is currently the 9th most popular in the US, according to the American Kennel Club
My Rating:
I found this randomly on Amazon while looking at some other kids books (Hello, my name is Sam, and I am addicted to books for both me AND my son. *waves*). I am a bigtime dog lover and this looked cute! It met and exceeded my expectations! The text are moderately simple examples of opposites, using dachshunds and some other animal friends. But it isn't just "Hot" - "Cold" for the majority. There is a "Hide and Go Seek Dog," for instance. The book has a good rhythm that has my son (3.5) "reading" along with me often. The words are also simple enough that I think this would make a good beginning reader book. My favorite thing about this is the illustrations - I think good art in a kids' picture book is incredibly important since most kids are being read to rather than reading themselves. :) The illustrations are colorful and really bring out the meaning of the words, like "Cold Dog" is in the snow, wearing a hat and scarf, with a mug of hot drink in front of him. Which brings me to something else I love: in almost every scene, there is a mug and a dog bone. Often, there is also at least one bunny, too. My son has loved finding the bone and "cup of tea" since he was about 2. I think his favorite is the page where the "tea" is knocked over and spilling. Overall, this is a seriously cute picture book with wonderful re-readability (also important since any parent is likely to be reading the same book over... and over... and over... and over).

🌟REVIEW: "Max's Dragon" by Kate Banks & Boris Kulikov (Childrens Fiction, Rhyming)

	Max's Dragon Story by Kate Banks Illustr. by Boris Kulikov Publisher: Macmillan Series: Max's Castle, Max's Words (affil.) Genre:Childrens Fiction, Rhyming Publication Date: March 18, 2008 (Affiliate links)
Description from Publisher: Max is looking for words that rhyme. His dragon is in his wagon – or was, for now its tail has left a trail, which Max follows. He finds an umbrella on the ground— "Found, ground," he says, while his older brothers mock him for believing in dragons and sitting under an umbrella when it isn't even raining. But Max believes in possibilities—and when he can show his brothers not only a dragon in the stormy clouds but also a dinosaur, they begin to come round. When Max demonstrates the power of his rhyming words to tame the dinosaur and the dragon and make the rain come, he wins them over completely. With amusing wordplay and beguiling illustrations, Kate Banks and Boris Kulikov celebrate language and imagination in a collaboration that is bound to be oodles of fun for everyone.
My Rating:
This is the first of three "Max" books by Kate Banks and Boris Kulikov that I picked up when my son was an infant. I think it's fun to find books with my son's name in it. Seeing as how the dedications in the books are often "To my Max," "No, to MY Max," I'm guessing that both Banks and Kulikov feel the same. ;) The art style of Kulikov is uniquely detailed and adds a lot of charm to his books. The children are all well-drawn and you can see their personalities in their expressions and outfit choices. The wonderful imagination that Max has is shown beautifully as you get a bit of reality blended with a vivid imagination. The character of Max feels very much like a "little brother," but one who is confident in what he does despite his older brothers, Benjamin and Karl, making fun of him. I really love how both brothers are a dismissive of Max until they just can't help but be pulled into his fun world of adventure. The rhyming is great and uses mostly multisyllabic words, so they all feel fresh. The rhyming game the boys all play would also be a fun one to play in real life, especially for those ages 6-10 or so. My son (3.5) is still a bit young for that, but he does still enjoy all the rhymes and pictures!