Posted in Early Reader, Preschool Reads

Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs is a laugh-out-loud retelling (that every mom will love)!

cover60102-mediumSnow White and the 77 Dwarfs, by Davide Cali (April 2015, Tundra Books) $17.99, ISBN: 9781770497634

Recommended for ages 3-8

In this hilarious retelling of the classic fairy tale, Snow White escapes the Evil Queen, and ends up at a house that belongs to 77 dwarfs. They let her stay on the proviso that she helps with the chores. For 77 little men. Not only does she have to remember everyone’s name, but she’s got to do their laundry, help with their grooming, tell every single one of them their own, personal bedtime story, referee all the quibbling – is being on the run really worth this, Snow?

Every mother will appreciate this, whether she’s wrangling multiple children, hosting a playdate, or acting as class mom. I’ve got three kids, and on some days, I swear there are 77. Snow White, I’m right there with you.

This book is adorable, with bright, cartoony illustrations that kids and grownups alike will enjoy. Snow White’s expressions are priceless (and oh, so recognizable), and the multitude of dwarfs, with all their word balloons, will strike a chord with any parent whose found themselves surrounded by children.

Look at me, I’m reviewing this book for parents. But we’re the ones who read them first, so why not? Kids will love this book because it’s flat-out funny, with eye-catching art. They’re most likely already familiar with the story of Snow White, so they’ll have a good frame of reference for Snow White and the 77 Dwarfs. And if you read this book as dramatically as I plan to? You’re going to have a lot of giggles and cries of, “Again! Again!” This is going into my bedtime rotation and my storytime rotation. Don’t miss this book.

Posted in Preschool Reads

If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur… You Could Really Get A Lot Done.

if you happen to have a dinosaurIf You Happen to Have a Dinosaur, by Linda Bailey/Illustrated by Colin Jack. Tundra Books (2014), $17.99, ISBN: 9781770495685

Recommended for ages 3-7

Part owner’s manual, part wish list, If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur is a running list of all the amazing things you could do if only you had a dinosaur. Worried about burglars? No longer! They’re also built-in gardening help, coffee grinders and potato mashers, umbrellas, snowplows, and more. But be careful – there are also somethings that dinosaurs are NO GOOD FOR. Like, anything to do with food.

I loved this book. Dinosaurs are very popular with children, and Ms. Bailey’s writing style, which calls Laura Numeroff’s If You Give… series to mind, will get readers ready to anticipate what’s coming next. The art, rendered digitally, is very retro-1970s, and absolutely enjoyable. The dinosaurs are colorful and have goofy expressions; the people in the book have friendly faces with big expressions. The black font is fairly plain with a little flourish, which will draw the attention of new and fledgling readers, and make for a fun storytime for littler listeners. The art stands out against the white background of the pages, with the exception of a spread or two.

This would be a great read-aloud book for preschoolers. I’d love to put some plush dinosaurs around the story room for the kids to enjoy as I read. The story lends itself to a fun discussion about what other uses there are for dinosaurs; it may even be a fun craft idea to let the kids draw some uses for dinosaurs. There are some great dinosaurs songs and fingerplays online, and there are virtually hundreds of coloring printables for a takeaway.

The author’s webpage offers information about her author talks and her books, an FAQ, and contact information. If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur hits shelves on May 13. The book’s ending makes me hopeful that this will be a new series, so let’s keep an eye out!