Prestel Junior publishing's new books for kid's are delightful forays into sweet loveliness [Review & Giveaway[

All Around Bustletown: Nighttime by Rotraut Susanne Berner (ISBN: 978-3791374901; Hardcover $12.25; Ages 2-5; 14 pages)

My thoughts:  This newest "Bustletown" book again uses a set of detailed drawings that depict activities in the little town of Bustletown. Folks are just bustling about going hither and yon doing things of daily life. Previously, the Bustletown books each covered one of the four seasons. This one examines the town at night.

Detail is what these books are simply packed with. You follow a couple as they meander through the night about town. Watch the police as they patrol. Watch the town shut down for the day. A delightful experience as you try to figure out just what each character's story is.

I recommend this delightful and imaginative book.

About the book: Bustletown’s many fans will delight in a nocturnal return trip which finds the village’s beloved people, animals, and streetscapes as fun and busy as ever.

No matter what time of year, the inhabitants of Bustletown are busy working, walking, playing, eating, making music, exercising, and shopping. Now, even though it’s nighttime, the fun hasn’t stopped. Just as Berner’s previous explorations of the town have brilliantly evoked the sights and colors of the seasons, here she bathes the town in shimmering darkness that throws evening activities into fascinating relief. Seven colorful and incredibly detailed spreads take readers inside a multi-generational house, a farm, a railway station, a community center, a marketplace, a department store, and a park with a lake. Readers will return again and again to these pages to discover everything that takes place in Bustletown during the late hours: a burglar tries to break into the dental office, the bookshop features “books for a good night,” fireworks explode above the lake, and a slumber party is raging in the library. And as they search on each page for their favorite returning characters, they’ll create their own stories about all the things you can do after the sun sets. Other titles in the series are Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall.

Big Hedgehog and Little Hedgehog Take An Evening Stroll by Britta Teckentrup (ISBN: 978-3791375199; Hardcover $14.95; Ages 3-7; 32 pages)

My thoughts:  This is such a gentle, lovely book written in a verbal tone that is relaxing and calming. A perfect read before bedtime or naptime.

It invokes a loving father (or adult figure) leading little hedgehog along the way and through the night toward bed. But little hedgehog, like so many wee ones, wants to procrastinate and linger. It seems rather less of the need of a glass of water type of procrastination than the inquisitive nature of seeing new things and enjoying the beauty of the moment.

A treasure of a book and one I highly recommend.

About the book: One of the masters of children’s picture books returns with a simple and lovely story about taking one’s time in. Teckentrup’s spacious, textured collages, brushed with soft color and populated by a pair of charming hedgehogs, convey the beauty of a natural setting, and the comforting bond between caregiver and child.

It is evening and the big and little hedgehog are slowly making their way home. There is so much to see, and the little one wants to take it all in. Each step of the way the big hedgehog patiently asks, “What are we waiting for now?” The little hedgehog’s answers unfold in a series of lush landscapes as the two animals wait for the sun to set, for birds to fly by, for the moon and stars to appear, and for the world around them to prepare for sleep. At last, the little hedgehog is also asleep, carried home in the big hedgehog’s arms. Perfect for naptime, bedtime—or for any time that asks that we take a moment and slow down–Teckentrup’s signature combination of simple text and soothing illustration will appeal to readers young and old.

The Wild Garden by Cynthia Cliff (5/3/2022; ISBN: 978-3791375120; Hardcover $16.95; Ages 5-9; 32 pages) 

My thoughts:  A highly detailed and beautifully illustrated picture book that tells the story of a community that has an enclosed garden the local residents tend and benefit from the bounty. 

Outside of the walled, cultivated garden is The Wild Garden. This is simply a small wooded area that is rife with an abundant variety of plants many of which the child's grandfather collects for eating pleasure. As they stroll the woods, they encounter many birds, insects, critters, and animals. A treasure trove of goodness.

The story captures the desire of the community to expand the garden and thus removing some of the wooded area. A plan which once the residents are shown the resulting destruction of the woods is cancelled.

A lovely book. I highly recommend.

About the book: The Wild Garden is filled with charmingly rustic illustrations of people, plants and animals. This story about community and biodiversity introduces children to the variety of ways things can grow and flourish in nature.

 

In the village of Mirren, a tidy community garden is carefully organized and tended by the townspeople. On the other side of the garden wall is a wild patch of land— a jumble of trees, a pond, and tall grassy places. While the garden is cared for in different ways throughout the seasons, Jilly and her grandfather like to visit the wild place, foraging for mushrooms, asparagus, and nuts, and watching the insects, birds and other animals. When the townspeople decide they need a bigger garden, they make plans to expand beyond the wall into the wild place. Worried about what will happen to their special piece of nature, Jilly and her grandfather come up with a plan, inviting the townspeople to discover a new kind of gardening. Their plan works and the wild place and the community garden merge harmoniously; the bees pollinate the crops, berry bushes take over a garden corner, pumpkins grow along the pond, and delicious herbs appear among the ferns. Cynthia Cliff’s lovingly detailed illustrations reveal the joys of every kind of garden, while her story offers endless opportunities to talk about healthy eating, nature, ecological gardening, and friendship.

GIVEAWAY

Runs: June 1 - June 30 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

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DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Prize books are provided and shipped directly to the winner by publicist or publisher. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Approaching Anger, Microbes, and Mazes from a child's mindset [3-book review]

When I See Red by Britta Teckentrup (ISBN: 978-3-7913-7494-9; Hardcover $14.95; Ages 4+; 40 pages)

My thoughts:  I have mixed feelings about this book. The first half has a young girl absolutely raging in anger. Storming. Yelling. Red and black with anger. Spewing forth that anger on the World at large.

A lot of pages of anger.

Then the emotional climate begins to calm, settle, and the anger is overcome. All well and good and as it should be. 

But I just wonder if there is too much of the outrageous, raging anger in the story and in the images. Does this heavily implant in the child's mind that it is ok to rant and rage to stomp and screech? So long as you settle down afterwards?

I can see using this with a group of teens or adults to show them the utter wrongness that such outbursts of anger are. And you can't make up after all that anger and be nice and calm.

The use of anger to engage and result in correcting wrongs can be good or it can be bad. The idea behind this book is to use the anger constructively. But I'm afraid there is too much allowance for raging anger. 

We see mobs raging in anger because of ills of society, unjust issues, misuse of power. Mob anger is not a source of good. 

So what I'm essentially saying is that much care needs to be used in using this book with children.  

About the book: The heroine of this beautifully illustrated story feels her anger like a storm in a dark forest. It sweeps her away, and she thunders and howls. She pours down her emotions like sheets of rain; rage surges like a wind whipping angry waves. Her anger takes her on a wild ride.

Appropriate for a wide variety of ages, this book illustrates many aspects of anger that are often hard to articulate— how overwhelming it is, how isolating, even scary. But it also shows anger to be a source of power and an agent for change. Teckentrup’s impactful, boldly colored paintings skillfully evoke the way intense anger can take us on an emotional journey, one that can be both exhausting and affirming. This beautiful tribute to one girl’s experience of anger offers readers the opportunity to make sense of, and talk about their own feelings of rage in a time when that kind of understanding is more important than ever.

Is There Life on Your Nose? by Christian Bortslap (ISBN: 978-3-7913-7497-0; Hardcover $17.95; Ages 6+; 56 pages)

My thoughts:  This nonfiction book is funny and simple in its explanation of the tiny microbe world that lives all around us. There is not a lot of focus on the "germ" aspect as there is focus on the ever present and everywhere existence of all types of microbes. 

The end pages have more detailed information associated with each page previously stated in simplistic terms.

The book is simply and brightly illustrated. 

About the book: Germs, microbes, bacteria—these days those words are fraught with fear and uncertainty. But they’re not all bad. In fact, most of them make life and nature possible. Christian Borstlap’s playful, boldly colored illustrations and cheerful text will help kids understand that microbes are everywhere—in our noses and tummies, in the food we eat, in the air we breathe. From the world’s largest organism in Oregon’s Blue Mountains, to the bacteria that started life on earth; from microbes that help recycle plastic, to yeast that makes bread taste good—this book shows the incredible diversity of these tiny beings and how they affect every aspect of our lives. Borstlap uses both science and humor to demystify a potentially scary subject, and closes with double-page spreads that are packed with information to satisfy the most curious readers.

The Book of Labyrinths and Mazes by Silke Vry and illustrated by Finn Dean (ISBN: 978-3-7913-7474-1; Hardcover $19.95; Ages 7+; 96 pages)

My thoughts:  I'm not a "puzzle, labyrinth, or maze" person. So this books doesn't entice me or draw me into its pages.

However, it is informative and I did learn that there is a difference between a labyrinth and a maze.  I also learned that they have been around since man's early history. They have played a role in religions as well as entertainment.

I think the book would be quite interesting to those who already have a liking or love for  the complexities of labyrinths and mazes. I think that the illustrations are nice but would have been better had the images been more defined in nature rather than the soft tonal drawings.

This is a good book for a library so older children and adults can borrow and ponder.

About the book: This brilliant book on mazes and labyrinths in history and the modern world encourages young readers to really think about why these puzzles are so appealing. Filled with photographs, drawings, artwork, illustrations, and puzzles, it takes a thematic approach to these enigmatic works. Why are we sometimes afraid to get lost—and why does the idea excite us? How do mazes and labyrinths figure in history and mythology? What can nature tell us about humankind’s obsession with lines, spirals, and patterns? Along the way children will learn about the labyrinth designed by Daedalus for King Minos in the ancient city of Crete; the mystery of the Hemet Maze Stone in southern California; and the magnificent labyrinth at the Cathedral of Chartres. They are encouraged to trace their fingers along a labyrinth to experience its soothing effect, to solve maze-related number puzzles, and to create their own mazes and labyrinths. Packed with fun facts and engaging ideas, this book will help children understand why mazes and labyrinths are so popular, while inspiring them to identify and create these fascinating puzzles in their own world.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

"The Day Time Stopped" & "Where Is Everyone?" from Prestel Junior International

The Day Time Stopped by Flavia Ruotolo (October 2021; ISBN: 978-3791374895; Hardcover $14.95; Ages 5+; 48 pages)

My thoughts:  Actually, this isn't a book about time standing still but simply the concept of what happens in one moment in time around the World. The picture book takes the reader to places across the Globe that is Planet Earth and what someone is doing in that spot on Earth at the same moment in time that the initial character is licking a popsicle.

In a simply shown story in text and pictures the reality of time zones and what can happen in each of the time zones is presented. You're not actually aware that this is what is taking place, because this concept is foreign to a young child. But you see what can be happening.

The last couple of pages, explain why it is not the same time all around the globe. This presents a grand opportunity to explain "time" to a young child.

About the book: One afternoon in Italy, a little girl is about to take a bite of her delicious popsicle when time . . . stops. At that very moment, across the planet, people and animals are frozen in action— captured by this book’s warm, quirky illustrations and clever, time-stamped captions. A penguin hatches in South Georgia; a little girl gets a haircut in Brazil; a family sits down to breakfast in California; a tiger falls asleep in Bangladesh; a boy’s football ball gets stuck in a tree in Cape Verde. The sheer enormity of planet Earth can be impossible for young kids to grasp. Here, in this playful introduction to time zones, hemispheres, and life in different climates, kids will identify with all the ordinary things going on at the same time in our extraordinary world

Where is Everyone? by Tom Schamp (September 2021; ISBN: 978-3-7913-7450-5; Hardcover $14.95; Ages 2+; 14 pages)

My thoughts: Each page has a lift-the-flap to discover who is behind the flap. These are different from the usual behind-the-flap items seen in kiddie books. The humps along the back of the couch hid the humps of the camel. In the cold of the 'fridge hides a Polar Bear.

Kiddies will delight in lifting the flap as the book is read to them and discovering what is behind the flap but also they will have their imagination stimulated a bit.

Originally published as a Danish book, it bodes well for introducing it to young English kiddies. 

About the book: A toaster, a refrigerator, a sink, a bed, a car. Most kids can recognize these and other things that are part of their everyday lives. Leave it to Tom Schamp to imagine a different way of seeing them. As kids pore over these brightly colored and highly detailed pictures they’ll be delighted to discover a monkey on a surfboard and an elephant in a bowler hat— all inhabiting the same shapes they recognize in their homes. Each whimsical illustration offers a chance to explore, discuss, and giggle at the unexpected. Every page will encourage kids to think creatively and differently about the world around them and the possibilities that lie hidden in the things we see every day.

I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

I Saw a Beautiful Woodpecker by Michał Skibiński and illustrated by Ala Bankroft (release date Oct. 2021)

My thoughts: This is a highly unusual children's book and one to mull over for compassionate understanding.

It is not exactly appealing with its many pages of dark illustrations that do not contain detailed imagery. But once you begin to read and mull over the text and images, you grasp that the darkness is representative of the emotionally dark period in which this 8-year-old boy was writing in his journal.

Upon reading the "about" in the back of the book, one learns that the boy's father is a pilot (Polish?) air squadron who died 9/9/1939 - in the midst of the boy's journal though his father is not mentioned.

The daily activities as relayed in the sparse journal entries seem normal, but pondering this book on multiple reads will convey that the boy's family (grandparents, mother, and even nanny) are involved in moving him about and keeping things at a semblance of normal.

A dire, dark period in man's history was looming and this book brings a real-life-journal, preserved over 80 years, to today's readers capturing  the essence of a childhood survivor of World War II experience in the enveloping darkness that pervaded their lives. And it also records a spot of beauty in the boy's entry, "I saw a beautiful woodpecker."

About the book: It is the summer of 1939 in Warsaw, Poland and Michal is an eight-year-old boy just finishing his school year. In order to improve his handwriting, Michal's teacher gives him a simple assignment: keep a journal, writing one sentence a day. Eighty years later, Michal's diary has been gorgeously illustrated with beautifully atmospheric paintings. Eloquent in its simplicity, the journal is a remarkable artifact that captures the innocence of childhood and the trauma of war. The journal starts out with a typical boy's observations: July 15: I went to a stream with my brother and teacher. July 23: I found a caterpillar. However over the course of weeks, menacing details emerge. July 27: A plane was circling over Anin. September 1: The war has begun. September 3: I hid from planes. September 14: Warsaw is bravely defending itself. These haunting entries are interspersed with visits from relatives, a soccer game, a trip to a park, an ice cream cone. Photographs of pages from Michal's diary enhance the poignancy of this simple record--an ordinary holiday interrupted by war; a life changed forever by an extraordinary moment in history.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

"Mona Lisa in New York", "Pie for Breakfast: Simple Baking Recipes for Kids", & "Veggie Power" from Prestel Publishing

Mona Lisa in New York by Yevgenia Nayberg (ISBN: 978-3791374451; Hardcover $14.95; Ages 4-8; 32 pages)

My thoughts:    Although the famous, beloved painting of The Mona Lisa is strictly conventional art at its finest; however, in this book Mona Lisa in New York the illustrations take a distinctly modern, abstract, cubicist style. "Mona" is flitting about New York visiting  places that make New York famous and a true tourist attraction.

She slips out of her frame and ventures forth to see NYC for herself. But outside her frame, no one noticed her. "Mona" continues to keep her smile whilst she enjoys NYC.  She meets "Tag" (which is street art murials) and he takes her all about the city. 

A whimsical story that in an artsy way shows conventional and modern art styles in a fun story.

About the book: Mona Lisa is a tourist in New York City who experiences the city for the first time, and finds art, love, and inspiration in unexpected places.

Mona Lisa is taking a trip to New York from the Louvre. Yes, that Mona Lisa. The one with the knowing smile. After hanging in the museum for a while she decides to explore the city. She slips out of her painting and meets Tag, a street art figure. He takes her on an adventure from the Bronx to the Brooklyn Bridge and it turns out Mona Lisa doesn't know as much as she thought. In this beautiful and charming book, artist Yevgenia Nayberg, an immigrant to New York herself, shows young readers the city she has fallen in love with. Cleverly portraying da Vinci's iconic subject as a world-weary, know-it-all, Nayberg takes readers on a tour of New York. Mona Lisa and Tag eat pizza in the Bronx, listen to jazz in Harlem, dance to salsa music on the High Line, and swim at Brighton Beach. As Mona Lisa says goodbye to her new friend, she--and the readers--come away with a profound appreciation of the city and its wonders.

Pie for Breakfast: Simple Baking Recipes for Kids by Cynthia Cliff (ISBN: 978-3791374604; Hardcover $16.95; Ages 5-9; 40 pages)

My thoughts**: I just love children's recipe books. This "love" goes back to a cooking class that I, as a child, took and received my own children's starter cookbook. Many years later, my own children used that same cookbook as they ventured into the world of cooking. I have acquired children's cookbooks for my children and grands through the years. 

In Pie for Breakfast: Simple Baking Recipes for Kids children venture into baking as activity in a community effort to raise funding for the library. The setting is a variety of kitchens and peoples showing a bit of the diversity of life and of their diverse baking recipes.

They are having a bake sale for the benefit of the library. Children are joyfully involved baking a variety of items to sell at the bake sale. Some are making extra for sharing with family. 

One father says it is o.k. to have pie for breakfast as long as you don't do it too often.

Definitely a fun "cookbook."

**I have ignored the "family" with 2 daddies in this book simply because it is a lovely book and teaches the children cooking and actively participating in community support - the bake sale. Therefore, I recommend this book with reservation.

About the book: A beautifully illustrated baking book for children featuring recipes for delicious treats along with a powerful message about family, diversity, and helping others.

When Hazel and her father bake together, her mother says they make the whole house smell like a fancy bakery. And when they bake in the morning, they get to eat their goods as a special treat--even if it's for breakfast. One day Hazel decides to organize a morning bake sale for her school and encourages her friends to contribute to the effort. The results take readers all over the world, from strawberry mochi and pumpkin empanadas to Indian-spiced shortbread and Egyptian basbousa cake. Best of all, each of these treats including with muffins, carrot cake, scones, and vegan and gluten-free items--comes with its own easy-to-follow recipe. Cynthia Cliff's charming illustrations combine the simplicity of folk art with a sophisticated flair. Her down-to-earth baking accommodate all sorts of substitutions and skill levels. The perfect book for satisfying baking, Pie for Breakfast introduces children to new flavors and treats, opening their palates and their eyes to the delicious ways that baking can bring us together.antarctica.jpg

Veggie Power by Olaf Hajek (ISBN: 978-3791374789; Hardcover $19.95; Ages 8-12; 40 pages)

My thoughts:  As the season changes to warmer days and nights, many people are envisioning their own garden plots and the succulent vegetables they plan to grow. Others are looking forward to grocers and markets abounding in a verdant abundance of colorful vegetables.

But just how much do we all actually know about vegetables? What about their history? What about the good and the not-so-good aspects of each of the plants?

In Veggie Power the author writes information that will whet one's mental appetite and create a sense of gastric desire. The illustrations are coloful, detailed, robust and tend toward a festive and whimsical or magical glimpse into the world of veggies.

There is so much to capture one's interest in this beautiful, oversize book. I recommend.

About the book: An illustrated garden of vegetable delights that will make children interested in learning about what's on their plates.

As more and more families focus on local and organic eating, this delightful introduction to common vegetables offers a delectable serving of uncommonly beautiful illustrations and fascinating information. As in his previous book, Flower Power, Olaf Hajek's wondrously imaginative and detailed illustrations of vegetables are paired with engaging and eye-opening texts. Organized by season, the book tells how each vegetable is grown, how it can be enjoyed on our plates, its health benefits, historical tidbits, and botanical fun facts. From the first spring onion to pumpkins harvested just before the frost, this inviting journey through the growing seasons celebrates the artistic, historical, and culinary bounty that awaits us in the garden and at the table.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copies to facilitate reviews. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. 

A bit of "geography" in Antarctica: A Continent of Wonder & Great Rivers of the World from Prestel Publishing [Review & Giveaway]

Great Rivers of the World by Volker Mehnert & illustrated by Martin Haake (ISBN: 978-3791374703; Hardcover $19.95; Ages 8-12; 40 pages)

My thoughts:  Man has long realized that sustainable life requires access to water and often waterways. This book showcasing Earth's great rivers is a graphic/text portrayal of the richness that these rivers bring to a vast amount of people and lands.

Tidbits of information about the rivers as well as historic landmarks are provided in the graphics.

This is a sort of seek-and-find rather than story-text book. You read the short text about the river and then traverse the pages devoted to that specific river to glean the tidbits and fun information.

A fun book that provides a richness of information about great rivers. A fine book to have around when studying geography.

I recommend.

About the book: a vibrant, fact-filled book for kids that blends geography, history, and culture.

Where in the Rhein does the Nibelung Treasure lie? What river helps mark the prime meridian? Why do people make pilgrimages to the Indian city of Benares? Why is the Mekong called the "Nine Dragon" river in Vietnam? How does the Mississippi divide and unite the United States? These and hundreds of other facts are explored in this wonderfully illustrated atlas of the world's great rivers. Each spread in this book offers a colorful map packed with drawings, figures, and facts. Cities that border the rivers are highlighted, as are distinct flora and fauna, significant natural and human-made features, and fascinating historical details. A "biography" of each river describes where it flows, and its importance to the communities it passes through. Special attention is given to the ecological health of the rivers--those that are thriving and those in danger of losing their valuable habitats. Along the way, young readers will come to understand the enormous impact that rivers have on our lives, while learning valuable information in a way that will spark their curiosity and imagination.

Antarctica: A Continent of Wonder by Mario Cuesta Hernando & illustrated by Raquel Martín (ISBN: 978-3791374567; Hardcover $19.95; Ages 5-8; 48 pages).

My thoughts: This book is designated for ages 5 to 8 but I think at least upwards to age 12 is quite appropriate. This is a wonderful amount of information about this little known and understood continent, Antarctica.

I found the information about the whales and other sea life so clearly put forth as well as the impact the huge population of sea life in the region eats so much krill.

The sponges at the bottom of the sea in this are area thousands of years old. The cold is so cold and so unhabitable. The "summer" is so short and still so very cold. The ownership of this continent is mankind since many nations have agreed to keep it "unowned" and pristine. The research is ongoing and shared.

Quite an interesting book and such a grand amount of clearly stated information.

I highly recommend.

About the book: Come aboard the Polar Star and accompany its crew on their half-year stay in Antarctica. Through full-page illustrations, children will experience the work and life of these explorers and scientists as they study penguins, whales, and seals, measure the depth of the ice, chart wind speeds of up to 186 mph (300km/h), examine old volcanoes, and withstand some of the lowest temperatures ever recorded. Kids will also learn about Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott, the legendary explorers who first set foot on Antarctica. Equal parts thrilling adventure and in-depth exploration, this book is an unforgettable illustrated expedition to Antarctica that is sure to satisfy the boldest bedtime traveler.

GIVEAWAY

Begins March 3

Ends March 28 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize is provided and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or MMPublicity (publisist). Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

All Around Bustletown 4-Book Series: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall [Review & Giveaway - USA/CANADA]

Prestel's new All Around Bustletown series (Board Books, $12.95 each; Ages 2-5; 14 pages) by Rotraut Susanne Berner

This cute series follows the activities of a charming, bustling town over the course of all four seasons! If you look closer, you'll recognize the same characters appear on every page, each with their own story.

In the tradition of Richard Scarry and Where's Waldo, this series encourages kids to return again and again to each spread, following along with the characters and inventing their own stories. They'll recognize parts of their own world, while also learning about the endless ways we live, work, and play in each season. Kids will spend hours poring over these oversized pages of vibrantly detailed drawings in this joyfully illustrated series.

"What is it about cross-section illustrations — the kind where you can see everything going on inside a house, upstairs and down, all at once — that makes them so mesmerizing? Berner, one of Germany’s best-known children’s authors and illustrators, excels at these fascinating dollhouse-type scenes, a staple of the German genre known as Wimmelbooks. Hers are jam-packed with old and young characters engaged in prosaic, silly or mysterious activities that young readers can spend hours poring over...Parents and grandparents may be especially susceptible to this giant board book’s old-fashioned charms." —The New York Times

In All Around Bustletown: Spring (2/18/2020; ISBN: 978-3791374093), a house gets a top-to-bottom spring cleaning and farm fields are being prepared for planting. People are shopping, commuting to work, constructing buildings, and meeting friends. If you look closer, you'll recognize the same characters appear on every page, each with their own story. There's Wilfred the jogger slipping on a banana peel and his friend Erica who comes to help him. Three cheerful nuns shop, chat, and share a snack at the cafe. A stork surveys all the activity from the sky while a mischievous fox scampers through the streets.

My thoughts: On the back cover of each season in the Bustletown series, individual characters are drawn and it will be fun to watch for them in each of the books. Some are repeated and some are not. That is the case in any town and especially in Bustletown.

Beneath the characters on the back cover there is also a question, thought, or statement parents care read to their child to guide them in looking for actions and objects on the pages. Other than this page of text, the books are essentially "wordless."

The parrot gets lose and you can find him in different spots on each page. Someone drops a banana peel. Can you find it?

The possibilities of observation and story telling are virtually endless with the individuals, activities, buildings, seasons, and life in general.

I found it quite interesting to open all four books to the same scenes and compare the activities for each season. Also, it was interesting to see the progression of a project taking place - such as repair of the church.

Spring simply bursts forth on the pages giving opportunity to relate to activities children see depicted on the pages.

It's summer in  All Around Bustletown: Summer (4/21/2020; ISBN: 978-3791374208) and that means flowers, picnics, thunderstorms, and bike rides. It's a busy time for construction workers, farmers, and house painters. Playgrounds are filled with kids and vacationers are boarding trains in droves. In the sky a pair of balloons drifts through every scene, while on the street people of all ages make their way to an outdoor birthday party. There's even a big storm that turns umbrellas inside out, sends hats flying, but ends in a lovely rainbow.

My thoughts: Summer is just brimming with fun times around Bustletown. It is warm and folks are out and about enjoying the sunshine. There is free time. There is community to enjoy.

The leaves are blowing off the trees and the birds are flying south in All Around Bustletown: Fall (7/21/2020; ISBN: 978-3791374222). Farmers are preparing the fields for winter and kids are back in school. And look, there's a water main break that's causing havoc and a chimney sweeper perched on a roof! Each time readers look at these delightfully detailed spreads they'll discover something new, whether it's what's for sale at the outdoor market or how many pumpkins they can spot on a single page. Familiar characters appear on each page--a maestro and a violinist, a balloon-toting nun, and a mom with her baby. All the activity culminates in a harvest celebration lit by dozens of paper lanterns in every shape and size.

My thoughts: Bustletown in the Fall is a delight. So many delightful activities to talk about. The Fall Festival. The Fall dance. The kindergarten pumpkin walk. The weather is cooling off, the air is brisk, the leaves are everywhere. A delight!

Winter has arrived in All Around Bustletown: Winter (10/2019; ISBN: 978-3791374154) and everywhere you look people are embracing the season. At home there's baking, reading, and sleeping in, while on the farm the fields are fallow and quiet. Outside people are bundled up against the cold as they are skating, sledding, and running to catch a crowded bus. The town's buildings are alive with activity--piano lessons, a dentist appointment, shopping for presents, and visiting the museum. (Read Chat With Vera's review here)

GIVEAWAY

1 Set of 4 Bustletown Books

Begins April 11

Ends May 9 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to addresses in USA & CANADA only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's books are provided and shipped directly to the winner by publisher or publicist.

All Around Bustletown: Winter by Rotraut Susanne Berner (Prestel Junior Board Book)[Review & Giveaway-USA/CANADA]

My thoughts: It's cold here in North Carolina as it is in much of the Northern Hemisphere. That is Winter - even though the "official first day of winter" has not yet arrived. Its cold. It has been snowing in lots of areas, and it is dreary, cold.

In Bustletown it is also Winter and everyone goes about their business attired for the cold. Getting out 'n about. Trees are bare. Snow is falling. But life continues to bustle All Around Bustletown.

The highly detailed, fun illustrations take the child from his cuddled up perch along side his mommy or daddy in their warm house out into the cold with all the folks of Bustletown. Because, although cold and dreary, life goes on. School is open. Doctors and dentists have to be seen. We have to shop. We're just as busy in Winter as any other time.

Also, this fun book has specific characters repeated throughout the book as they go about their Wintry activities. It's fun to follow them on each page and to imagine their thoughts, emotions, and predict actions.

Lots of look-and-find and discover on these pages for child to learn, engage, and identify.

About the book:  Kids will cozy up for hours of fun as they peruse this joyfully illustrated book that shows the endless ways winter takes hold in a busy, charming town.

Winter has arrived and everywhere you look people are embracing the season. At home there's baking, reading, and sleeping in, while on the farm the fields are fallow and quiet. Outside people are bundled up against the cold as they are skating, sledding, and running to catch a crowded bus. The town's buildings are alive with activity--piano lessons, a dentist appointment, shopping for presents, and visiting the museum. And if you look closer, you'll recognize the same characters on page after page, each with their own story. Wilfred the jogger has lost his keys, and Erica is shopping for a Christmas tree. Each minutely detailed scene is bursting with different people, such as a cheerful lady with an umbrella and a young violinist, as well as animals and birds.

In the tradition of Richard Scarry and Where's Waldo, this book encourages kids to return again and again to these charming spreads, following along with the characters and inventing their own stories. They'll recognize parts of their own world, while also learning about the endless ways we live, work, and play in the winter.

GIVEAWAY

Begins November 18

Ends December 14 at 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA and CANADA addresses.

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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from MMPublicity on behalf of Prestel Junior Publishing to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and are freely given. Giveaway copy is  provided by and sent directly to the winner by the publisher or publicist.

20 Recipes Kids Should Know by Esme Washburn and photographer Calista Washburn [Review & Giveaway - US/CANADA]

Kick off the summer with fun cooking for your kids

ISBN: 9781385075
Hardcover $16.95

My thoughts: I came from a line of wonderful cooks but didn't spend much time in the kitchen myself as a child growing up. However, in my preteen years the local gas company held cooking classes for kids and my mother encouraged me to attend. I did and they also gave us a children's cookbook. It held basic recipes that gave a "kick-start" for a child to begin learning how to measure and how to cook a variety of items. It was a bit heavy on the dessert side in the line of recipes. They also showed us how to safely use gas ranges.

Later in school we had home economics classes and I continued to learn. I married young and then began my education in earnest to learn how to cook meats, vegetables, fruits, pasta, grains, and of course, desserts.

This absolutely wonderful book, 20 Reciipes Kids Should Know, has a grand assortment of recipes for kids to prepare and the instructions are really good. This is not a "dumbed-down" of "kiddie" book. This is for kids old enough and responsible enough to handle basic and a bit more complex cooking techniques.

It won't overwhelm, and it won't be a platform for junkie food.

A case in point is the mouth-watering pasta and cheese recipe. This is not a "dump it outta the box" directive. This is a use the butter, milk, cheese, etc. recipe where you make a great white sauce with butter and milk and then add grated cheese in a quantity that will provide a succulent adventure into the comfort food that a lot of us grew up loving. Don't miss this recipe!

And then there is the marinated steak recipe. Now you're going to want to be able to feel comfortable with your kid's skills and abilities before you invest in steak, but this certainly has a place in the repertoire that every growing child needs to learn.

Of course, a pizza recipe is included. Again, not a dump-it-outta-the-box recipe. It is one where you get to know the whole product item. Again, kids will love this one!

Anytime I can pass along information about a book that will bring enjoyable education to children, I value it. So I am highly recommending you invest in your child's eating future by investing in this extremely well done book.

UPDATE........ Here is a picture of a fabulous cake made by two of my grand girls using a recipe from this book. I am so proud of these girls ages 10 and 12.

About the book: The perfect book for children, this fun and engaging cookbook is written and photographed by a pair of teenage sisters for budding chefs.

Whether they're helping stir cake batter or producing their own YouTube cooking channel, kids of all ages are getting increasingly busy in the kitchen. This cookbook features twenty classic recipes that are fun, healthy, adaptable, and easy to prepare. From banana bread and the perfect grilled cheese to breaded chicken and apple pie, each recipe is written in a clear, accessible style that young cooks of every level will be able to follow. The author is a young chef whose love of cooking developed from her own family's food traditions like baking popovers with her grandmother and Sunday-night pizza making. By teaching kids basic recipes that can be adapted in endless ways, this book is the perfect launching pad to finding their way around the kitchen--or launching their own cooking careers.

About the author and photographer: ESME and CALISTA WASHBURN are sisters living in New York City. Esme, who is in middle school, is an amateur chef and cooking enthusiast. She has learned everything she knows from her grandmother. Calista, a recent high school graduate and budding photographer, loves helping out in the kitchen and eating the delicious food that Esme cooks.

GIVEAWAY

Begins May 19

Ends June 18 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA & CANADA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

Prestel Junior has 3 delightful new books for very young children or young readers. Cat & Mouse, The Song of Spring, and New York Day & Night [Review & Giveaway]

Cat and Mouse by Britta Teckentrup (ISBN: 978-3-7913-7374-4; Ages 1-3; Board Book $14.95)

My thoughts:  The format and art in this children's book is somewhat different and a bit stark. It is interesting and gets the message accross. The age old game of cat and mouse is played out on the pages as mouse flits from one spot to another as he is being pursued by cat.

The description of the book states.... "young readers will learn about important prepositions that help them understand where one object is in relation to another" but this will certainly need to be pointed out to little ones. It can, however, aid readers in comprehending how Mouse scurries from point A to point B in order to hide and evade Cat. Inside. In the box. Behind. Down.Over there. In a tree.

Adults reading to little ones can emphasize the words or perhaps they will simply want to enjoy reading about the chase and the neat poke holes through which mouse can scurry.

A cute book and will be lots of fun for those who love a chase or love cats.

About the book: The perfect place for a mouse is inside a cozy, warm house, but a cat lives there too, and once the cat sees the mouse, a chase ensues. As the cat and mouse scurry about—on top of a chair, inside a box, outside a window, through a hole—young readers will learn about important prepositions that help them understand where one object is in relation to another in relation to another.  At the end of this colorful chase, the cat and mouse curl up together and nap until they’re ready to start the whole thing again. Britta Teckentrup’s eye-catching, simple illustrations are cleverly enhanced with cut-outs that help reinforce the words, providing a unique and fun interactive experience that teaches young readers about basic prepositions.

BRITTA TECKENTRUP has published dozens of highly acclaimed illustrated works for children, including Oskar loves…, Oskar and Mo, Oskar can…, The Egg, and Birds and Their Feathers (all by Prestel). She lives in Berlin, Germany.

The Song of Spring by Hendrik Jonas (ISBN: 978-3-7913-7379-9; Ages 2-5; Hardcover $12.95). 

My thoughts:  As I read this charmingly cute book, it is only a few weeks until Spring officially arrives. Already here in  my area of North Carolina there are trees in full bloom with soft pink, deep pink, and white blossoms. And it is not yet the end of  February. Some jonquils are already blooming, too. So opening the pages of The Song of Spring is quite appropriate!

The host of  birds are tweeting, chirping, singing away and finding their "friends" or mates. But one little bird doesn't have a friend and his song just doesn't seem to come out the right way. As he tries time after time, a menagerie of animals respond upon hearing their own song. But bird still has not found his special friend.

He has friends now, though, and that is what it is all about. And then at the end...... well, there is a pretty little girl bird waiting and looking, too.

Charming. Cute. Sweet.

About the book: It’s spring and everywhere birds are calling out to each other but one bird has forgotten which sound to make. He tries “Woof,” and meets a dog, who encourages him to try “Oink,” with the expected result. Moo, Hee-Haw, Meh, Meow—each successive call adds another animal friend to the page. Will the young bird find another bird friend? As young readers are introduced to each type of animal and their sounds, Hendrik Jonas’ clever illustrations grow increasingly crowded. The result is a beautiful celebration of friendship that will delight young children everywhere.

HENDRIK JONAS is a Berlin-based illustrator whose work has appeared in The Times and The Guardian. This is his third book for children.

New York Day & Night by Aurélie Pollet and illustrated by Vincent Bergier (ISBN:  978-3-7913-7378-2; Ages 3-6)

My thoughts:  Now this book has some stark, bold colors and images. It is different in that the pages alternate between regular art and transparent pages. The transparent pages change the scene you're looking at into the opposite - day to night, night to day.

The illustrations are cute and will capture the fancy of kids. On one page when it is day, the construction workers are building new buildings. Now flip the transparent sheet over the scene and there is a super-hero complete with cape flying across the night sky.

They say New York never sleeps, and the night scenes show action and activity still taking place. Of course, some of the night visuals are imaginative and a bit far-fetched. But fun.

Your hosts for this tour of the city is a cat by night and a squirrel by day.

About the book: Sometimes your eyes can play tricks on you, especially in the dark. This enchanting picture book shows how New York City can look quite peculiar at night. Each brightly colored spread is overlaid with a sheet of translucent blue paper and when lifted, voilà! A space ship and Martian become The Guggenheim, a giant serpent is actually the subway, King Kong’s jungle turns into Central Park, and a superhero takes on the shape of a construction worker. Exhilarating and captivating, all the scenes are easily switched between day and night and  will take the reader on a unique journey that lets imaginations run wild while revealing that some things at night aren’t as scary as they seem.

AURÉLIE POLLET is an author, art director, illustrator, and film director. She lives in Paris, France.
VINCENT BERGIER is a French illustrator and musician. He lives in Paris, France.

 🌞 GIVEAWAY 🌞

1 Winner Choses 1 Book of Choice

Begins February 23

Ends March 22 at 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA and CANADA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from publicist on behalf of Prestel Publishing and authors to facilitate a review of each. Opinions are mine, alone, and are freely given. Winner's copy is provided and sent directly to the winner by publicist or publisher.

Prestel Junior (publishing) enchants with large picture books that educate: Bucketloads of Friends & Great Ports of the World [Review & Giveaway US/CANADA]

Prestel Junior released these two books in October 2018 and you will find that they are such fun to read and lend themselves well to educating your child in an entertaining way.

Bucketloads of Friends: A Look and Find Book by Mia Cassany and illustrated by Miguel Bustos

Buy it on Amazon

My thoughts: The intention of this book is to show that you can find a friend in various places and settings. While the intended ages is 4 to 8, my opinion is that the art is more suited to an older group. The drawings are a bit quirky with misshapened bodies out of proportion and somewhat bizarre. Perhaps it is my own perception or taste that wants to distance itself from this particular style. Previously published in Barcelona, Spain by Mosquito Books this may be a style that appeals to Europeans for the age group.

The story is simple in that Lucas wants a friend to love. So he goes searching. And the reader gets to search, too. This book with pages jam packed with images has sort of hidden aspects that you will see if you look for the pattern. Lucas looks and doesn't find his friend but the friend is there for the asking.

The search for a friend is a real issue for some and it is for Lucas.

About the book: Lucas is looking everywhere for a best friend: the park, the circus, by the lake, and at school. He meets a lot of people along the way. But what about a best friend? This entertaining and colorful book is full of details for kids to search and find. Every spread features line drawings that are humming with activity. From an animal hospital populated with every kind of pet to an office filled with workers too busy working to give Lucas the time of day; from a restaurant that appears to serve only sandwiches and salad to a botanic garden where the visitors are just as strange as the plants. As Lucas travels around the city, he meets a lot of people, but will he find a best friend? Young readers will turn again and again to these drawings, discovering new details each time, and sparking their own ideas about how people interact in everyday situations. Many look and find questions will increase the fun and help to spot even more details.

Great Ports of the World: From New York to Hong Kong by Mia Cassany and illustrated by Victor Medina

Fun book that will inspire wanderlust in the youngest adventurers, and makes a great road trip or travel companion!

Buy it on Amazon

My thoughts: Having grown up in a port city on the coast of North Carolina, USA, I can relate slightly to the idea of a bustling port. Our port was not active like the major ports across the globe, but it has seen lots of activity. From the early history of the Southern USA, through war time in the 1940s, the port was of major interest. So this book, Great Ports of the World...., is quite appealing to me. Originally published in Barcelona, Spain, by Mosquito Books and now in English by Prestel Junior, the design of the book is not that of photographs showing the ships and port activity. No, the illustrations have a more artsy, or graphic tone. Which is fine. I like the book.

The author and artist literally take the reader across the globe North, South, East, and West discovering ports huge and small; and the reader will glean bits and pieces of history and information that will whet one's appetite for more to discover.

I recommend this book for school libraries, public libraries, and homes where you love to discover. And hey, do you have a favorite port?

The Port of Hamburg on the River Elbe

About the book: Travel to the world’s ports and you’ll learn much about a country’s people, culture, and industry. Ports are thriving hubs of activity, filled with an endless variety of boats, cargo, and workers. This unique book takes young readers on a journey around the globe’s ports and features some of the world’s most fascinating destinations. In colorful spreads, readers are given insights into each port city: What are they eating in Hong Kong? What lives on the Nile River? What do the boats of Venice look like? From flora to fauna and from tropical climates to polar regions, this book is packed with vibrant, 1950s-era inspired illustrations. As entertaining as it is educational, this book gives children a window into a new way of seeing the world.

GIVEAWAY

Both books for 1 winner

Begins February 18

Ends March 17 at 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA and CANADA addresses.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from MMPublicity on behalf of Prestel Junior Publishing to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and are freely given. Giveaway copies are provided by and sent direcgtly to the winner by the publisher or publicist.
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