Lilianas Literary Loves
I've decided to review some of Nanis library books. Partly for my own amusement, partly because kids books these days!
The Rocking Horse Angel. Story and Pictures by Mercer Mayer.
Far and away Nanis favorite of the twenty odd we got, I suspect largely because it contains a rocking horse. Personally I find it creepy. Raven really likes it which kind of just confirms the creepy verdict. Its the story of a boy who sneaks up to the attic to look for Christmas presents to find he is getting a rocking horse. But he is then struck down with an illness that drains him slowly over the days during which time the horse appears to him in dreams. He then develops a serious fever and the horse takes him 'through the storm' to become well again.
The author says it shows the blurring of lines between reality and dreams but left me wondering if the horse was evil and planned it all. The artwork is all computer generated which is an interesting effect. Some are a little disturbing, one pages shows the boy over and over again trapped in a tear from the horse.
Nani gives it five crunches
Precious Little. By Julie Hunt, Sue Moss, Gaye Chapman
Again another odd story. The story of Precious Little who dreams of working in the circus but doubts and fears and falls, so she sews costumes, cleans shoes and picks the sequins from the sawdust after a show. Until she takes a chance.
The artwork is amazing. Elke on acid was my first thought. You have to twist and turn the book as you read, which makes it terrible for bedtime reading. But the images used are brilliant. A bit too old for Nani so she didn't enjoy it enormously but all adults are compelled to read it
Nani gave it two crunches
Snook Alone by Marilyn Nelson and illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
Kids stories these days! This one is about Abba Jacob, and his faithful dog Snook who lives alone in a hermitage on an atoll in the peaceful rhythms of their lives. Until they go to work preserving wildlife on islands in St Brandons Atoll and in a storm Snook is accidentally left behind.
Beautifully told and very descriptive. A very excellent bedtime book, very soothing and lulling, although Snooks fight with some of the island animals may be a bit scary. The pictures are lovely. So realistic. It is a really lovely book but quite serious in content.
Nani gave it four crunches
Miki by Stephen Mackey
Oh I love this one! On midwinters eve Miki makes a wish that takes her on a magical journey filled with penguins, polar bears and beautiful sea creatures. The story is lovely and fun. The artwork is so gorgeous. Its a story we all love reading because its just beautiful.
Five crunches!
Bears Golden Hearts by Gillian Shields and Paul Howard
A simple story of a bear looking for his place and someone to love him. Sweet, simple storyline and pictures. An easy read but not unique
Nani gave it three crunches (it is about bears)
Queen Victorias Underpants by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley
This one cracks me up :) Its the story of how underpants were introduced. Funny as for small people and involves lift-the-flap underpants sneaks on royalty. I was historically challenged on knowledge regarding the introduction of underpants and its role in womens rights so it was really interesting!
This one is my favourite!
The Naked Penguin by Kym and Oliver Lardner
Another simple concept of a penguin who is different striving to be included and find his place. Set among penguins and polar bears so Nani enjoyed it, and the efforts the penguin went to in his attempts to be like the others. An easy read, enjoyable book and great for bedtime winding downs
Four crunches
The Man Whose Mother Was A Pirate by Margaret Mahy and Margaret Chamberlin
A neat and tidy mans life is disrupted when his ex-pirate mother yearns for the sea and being a dutiful son he tries to please her, having only a wheel barrow and a kite at his disposal. Their journey to find the sea is colorful and jolly :) A book that encourages giggles with funny words and comic style silly pictures. A fun book for adults to read too
Nani gives it four crunches
All Together Now by Anita Jeram
This is an animal based book about adoption. How families can be different but still family. Another simple and sweet story, easy to read and filled with fun animal drawings and song. A good message
Nani gives it three crunches
Moonrabbit by Megan Kelliher and Dominique Ford
The story of the rabbit in the moon who grants wishes to sleeping children through their dreams. An excellent bedtime book. Soft rhyme and sleeping concepts. Beautiful pictures but not done in bright colours adding to the overall sleep time effect. Its a really beautiful book and Nani loves looking for the rabbit in the moon now
Five crunches
Why Epossumondas Has No Hair On His Tail by Coleen Salley and Janet Stevens
A very fun, silly book with songs and possums in pants. Bears with shoes too. Its the story of why opossums have no hair on their tails and how it came to be. A book parents and children can enjoy together. The drawings really lend themselves to the book and make it very fun. You can't help but put on an accent reading this book. Its just a giggly story
Fast becoming Nanis favourite with at least five crunches
Melrose and Croc Together at Christmas by Emma Chichester Clark
Two lonely animals find each other at Christmas and make it magical. Nani really loves this story because its all about animals, and shes loves crocodiles, especially when they wear scarves. I'm quite over reading it, the depth of the loneliness the animals each go through is a bit disturbing and makes me want to send the writer a Christmas card or something. But it is about Christmas AND animals so Nani is loving it
One last one for now then I'll leave it
Life Size Zoo by Teruyuki Komiya
Its what it sounds like. Its photos of the actual sizes of animals. So you get a piece of a zebra, or a centerfold four page fold out of a giraffes head, a tapirs nose. Its an interesting and fun book. Lots of facts about the animals and little details to look for. Nani loves it for the animals, and you can pretend to kiss some of them too :) The photographs are amazing in detail, and its things you just don't get to see. We can happily sit together and pour over the pictures of many different animals. I think we're both learning too
Five crunches and some giraffe smoochies :)
The Rocking Horse Angel. Story and Pictures by Mercer Mayer.
Far and away Nanis favorite of the twenty odd we got, I suspect largely because it contains a rocking horse. Personally I find it creepy. Raven really likes it which kind of just confirms the creepy verdict. Its the story of a boy who sneaks up to the attic to look for Christmas presents to find he is getting a rocking horse. But he is then struck down with an illness that drains him slowly over the days during which time the horse appears to him in dreams. He then develops a serious fever and the horse takes him 'through the storm' to become well again.
The author says it shows the blurring of lines between reality and dreams but left me wondering if the horse was evil and planned it all. The artwork is all computer generated which is an interesting effect. Some are a little disturbing, one pages shows the boy over and over again trapped in a tear from the horse.
Nani gives it five crunches
Precious Little. By Julie Hunt, Sue Moss, Gaye Chapman
Again another odd story. The story of Precious Little who dreams of working in the circus but doubts and fears and falls, so she sews costumes, cleans shoes and picks the sequins from the sawdust after a show. Until she takes a chance.
The artwork is amazing. Elke on acid was my first thought. You have to twist and turn the book as you read, which makes it terrible for bedtime reading. But the images used are brilliant. A bit too old for Nani so she didn't enjoy it enormously but all adults are compelled to read it
Nani gave it two crunches
Snook Alone by Marilyn Nelson and illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
Kids stories these days! This one is about Abba Jacob, and his faithful dog Snook who lives alone in a hermitage on an atoll in the peaceful rhythms of their lives. Until they go to work preserving wildlife on islands in St Brandons Atoll and in a storm Snook is accidentally left behind.
Beautifully told and very descriptive. A very excellent bedtime book, very soothing and lulling, although Snooks fight with some of the island animals may be a bit scary. The pictures are lovely. So realistic. It is a really lovely book but quite serious in content.
Nani gave it four crunches
Miki by Stephen Mackey
Oh I love this one! On midwinters eve Miki makes a wish that takes her on a magical journey filled with penguins, polar bears and beautiful sea creatures. The story is lovely and fun. The artwork is so gorgeous. Its a story we all love reading because its just beautiful.
Five crunches!
Bears Golden Hearts by Gillian Shields and Paul Howard
A simple story of a bear looking for his place and someone to love him. Sweet, simple storyline and pictures. An easy read but not unique
Nani gave it three crunches (it is about bears)
Queen Victorias Underpants by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley
This one cracks me up :) Its the story of how underpants were introduced. Funny as for small people and involves lift-the-flap underpants sneaks on royalty. I was historically challenged on knowledge regarding the introduction of underpants and its role in womens rights so it was really interesting!
This one is my favourite!
The Naked Penguin by Kym and Oliver Lardner
Another simple concept of a penguin who is different striving to be included and find his place. Set among penguins and polar bears so Nani enjoyed it, and the efforts the penguin went to in his attempts to be like the others. An easy read, enjoyable book and great for bedtime winding downs
Four crunches
The Man Whose Mother Was A Pirate by Margaret Mahy and Margaret Chamberlin
A neat and tidy mans life is disrupted when his ex-pirate mother yearns for the sea and being a dutiful son he tries to please her, having only a wheel barrow and a kite at his disposal. Their journey to find the sea is colorful and jolly :) A book that encourages giggles with funny words and comic style silly pictures. A fun book for adults to read too
Nani gives it four crunches
All Together Now by Anita Jeram
This is an animal based book about adoption. How families can be different but still family. Another simple and sweet story, easy to read and filled with fun animal drawings and song. A good message
Nani gives it three crunches
Moonrabbit by Megan Kelliher and Dominique Ford
The story of the rabbit in the moon who grants wishes to sleeping children through their dreams. An excellent bedtime book. Soft rhyme and sleeping concepts. Beautiful pictures but not done in bright colours adding to the overall sleep time effect. Its a really beautiful book and Nani loves looking for the rabbit in the moon now
Five crunches
Why Epossumondas Has No Hair On His Tail by Coleen Salley and Janet Stevens
A very fun, silly book with songs and possums in pants. Bears with shoes too. Its the story of why opossums have no hair on their tails and how it came to be. A book parents and children can enjoy together. The drawings really lend themselves to the book and make it very fun. You can't help but put on an accent reading this book. Its just a giggly story
Fast becoming Nanis favourite with at least five crunches
Melrose and Croc Together at Christmas by Emma Chichester Clark
Two lonely animals find each other at Christmas and make it magical. Nani really loves this story because its all about animals, and shes loves crocodiles, especially when they wear scarves. I'm quite over reading it, the depth of the loneliness the animals each go through is a bit disturbing and makes me want to send the writer a Christmas card or something. But it is about Christmas AND animals so Nani is loving it
One last one for now then I'll leave it
Life Size Zoo by Teruyuki Komiya
Its what it sounds like. Its photos of the actual sizes of animals. So you get a piece of a zebra, or a centerfold four page fold out of a giraffes head, a tapirs nose. Its an interesting and fun book. Lots of facts about the animals and little details to look for. Nani loves it for the animals, and you can pretend to kiss some of them too :) The photographs are amazing in detail, and its things you just don't get to see. We can happily sit together and pour over the pictures of many different animals. I think we're both learning too
Five crunches and some giraffe smoochies :)