There are a few clever poems included, but the quality is inconsistent, which makes a certain amount of sense, given that they are all written by different authors. The illustrations don’t do anything to enhance the appeal of the book: the color scheme is drab and dull.

It’s a very simple book, with a simple, straightforward message: that we don’t need to be just like others in order to just like each other.  The illustrations are sweet and inviting, using a whole variety of animals to represent differences. The text is limited, with lots of repetition and rhyming, which is helpful for emergent readers, and the message is an important one.

I wish I could recommend this book. It’s beautifully illustrated, and full of beautiful sentiments about the American people. It certainly represents all sorts of things I want to be true. But it is so idealized it makes broad generalized statements that aren’t necessarily true of all Americans: when discussing the natural beauty of the land, it states, “Americans know that all these things are gifts to be cherished and protected, and passed on to future generations of Americans.” Yet we hear regularly in the news that a large percentage of Americans believe these things need to be exploited for economic gain. The book declares America a place, “where hard work is rewarded; where people can climb as high as their hearts and minds can reach.” As much as we all like to believe this to be true, it is not always the reality experienced by all Americans. I even debated giving this book a Not Recommended rating, but I’m going soft on it because I want it to be true.

I love this book! Surely, everyone who has ever read this book must love it. The illustrations are detailed and beautiful and full of personality. The language is rich and the story is multi-layered. When a baby fruit bat gets separated from her mother and falls into a nest of baby birds, she does her best to fit in, eating the bugs that mother bird brings, sleeping by night, and not hanging by her toes.  But then she flies ahead one day during flight practice, and instead of flying back to the nest at dusk, she stays out on her own past dark, where she meets others like herself, who teach her how to be a bat again. And she gets reunited with her mother, too.  When she returns to the nest to share all her new discoveries with her bird friends, things don’t quite go as planned, but they all decide their friendship overrides all their differences.

I feel like I am supposed to give this book a stronger rating, as it won an award in Holland. But if I am honest, I personally found both the story and the illustrations a bit odd. The story is about a knitting goat whose creations come to life. She starts out knitting goats, but when challenged by a neighbor she gets carried away and knits a wolf, who ends up eating the neighbor. When she knits a tiger to eat the wolf, it does, but then it turns on her. She finally figures out to knit a monster to eat the tiger, but not to let it off the needles, so after he eats the tiger she unravels the monster and keeps unraveling the other creatures until she sets her neighbor free.

If i were to judge solely on the illustrations, I would probably give this book an R*:  The illustrations are fabulous, somehow managing to be space-agish while having a certain vintage quality at the same time. But I am less thrilled with the text:  at times the rhythm seems a bit forced, and it can’t seem to decide whether it wants to be factual or fanciful. The rhyming text tells of an adventure on a rocket that only flies once a year,to fly out among the stars and see a giant banner wishing the earth happy birthday.  The last page offers some informational text explaining roughly how old the earth is, and potting the light power of the sun in terms of birthday candles.

The bright, graphic art is appealing to young readers, and keeps the monsters on the silly side instead of the scary side. The text rhymes. It’s got a cute surprise factor at the end, when monster number 10 turns out to be the narrator’s own sock puppet luring the others into a trap. He claims he intends to ship them far away, but the illustrations hint that perhaps he’s come to like them after all.

Jeff Mack has a new series-  Mr. Monkey.  Mr. Monkey is visually appealing slap-stick. Since this is book #1 , the numeral one is replaced with the icon of a single banana. The end-papers are filled with the images of single bananas.

Mr. Monkey sets out to make a banana cake. While he mixes the ingredients, he eats bananas. Oops, he forgot to peel the bananas he put into his cake. Oops, by the time the cake is finished Mr. Monkey has eaten so many bananas he is full, but slips one last banana into his pocket. Then, his email chimes  on his computer. There is a cake show where he can win a ribbon! Off Mr. Monkey goes to the cake show. As he walks to the cake show crossing the streets, escaping hungry birds (with teeth), a dog, and a gorilla at the zoo, Mr. Monkey arrives too late to enter the cake for a ribbon. Oh, No! The gorilla has followed Mr. Monkey to the cake show. The gorilla is chasing Mr. Monkey around creating a mess of the other cakes. Frosting is everywhere. Mr. Monkey is face to face with the angry gorilla. Oh! Mr. Monkey remembers he has a banana in his pocket. Gorillas like bananas, too. As Mr. Monkey leaves the cake show, he slips on the banana peel landing face first in his cake.

“Mr. Monkey Bakes a Cake” is silly, yet endearing!

Empire of Storms is the fifth book in the bestselling Throne of Glass series. It is not a stand alone novel: the reader needs the extensive character and plot background presented in the earlier books in this epic fantasy series. In Empire of Storms, Aelin continues the long path to the throne. Those who possess magic are in conflict with those who do not. Conflict rages over loyalties. Friendships are broken. Aelin and Rowan’s relationship is displayed in fairly several racy love scenes. The story is told in multiple point of view, which makes for interesting reading.
Recommended only for high school and up due to the sex scenes.