Books | Page 16 of 82

When Dinosaurs Conquered the Skies, a STEM sibling by another name

Family, especially the older branches in our trees can be complicated, can’t it? When Dinosaurs Conquered the Skies is an illustrated book whose sibling we read in 2022. That book, When Plants Took Over the Planet is a gorgeous illustrated book that’s all about the massive wave of plants that crept out of the water millions of years ago. Its sibling, When Dinosaurs Conquered the Skies is cut from a similar cloth in its layout and illustrations. However, in reading it I decided to treat it as a narrative book, instead of a reference book and the result was quite interesting.

Birds, why did it have to be birds?

My First Book of Japanese, a great template on learning Nihongo

By its title, My First Book of Japanese could easily be mistaken for a children’s book on colors, shapes, and numbers. Actually, it could be used as an introductory vehicle for young children to Japanese. It could also be great for elementary, middle, or high school students to learn basic words. I spent a couple of years living in Japan and My First Book of Japanese is a great refresher for my vocabulary.

My First Book of Japanese is a vocabulary-centric way of learning blocks of the language. Its illustrations and presentation make it great for ages seven and up.

Good for tourists or budding linguists

Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold, kids love this cloth

Xerox and Coca-Cola are brand names that have become synonymous with their product. Cola, soda, or ‘make a copy’ are their siblings that are hiding in plain sight. Likewise, books that are closely associated with their contemporaries are often grouped together, for example, it’s like Harry Potter, Wimpy Kid, or Dog Man. For young readers of a certain age or period of their life, Wimpy Kid, and the world that surrounds him, represent their go-to entertainment. However, Wimpy Kid, when used in those instances is an adjective and not a noun. Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold is a great example of that being used as an adjective. It follows the cartoon and text format to an extent; but has aspects that allow the book to be embraced by readers who are younger, as well as, reeling in those reluctant readers.

Quest Kids and the Dragon Pants of Gold is mglit that’s cut from the wimpy cloth, but it’s bigger, more entertaining and fun for grades 5 and up.

It is Ok to be compared to something else and still be awesome

You So Black, a niche poetic book that some Black kids need to see

I’m not really equipped to adequately review You So Black. Any book or service that has intentional grammar misuse or spelling is something that immediately stops progress in my mind. If you’re a car donation service or daycare, then intentionally misspelling your name is just lazy, but can also be effective. You So Black falls into that category too due to its grammar and the fact that it’s a poetry book. However, this illustrated book is a bit more complicated than that. You So Black is based on its performance at the 2019 Trumpet Awards. Theresa Wilson passionately performed a poem along these lines that was met with a rapt response from the crowd and the internet.

You So Black, an illustrated, poetic book about being Black for young audiences that’s based on the 2019 Trumpet Awards performance.

Ethnic positivity for those who need it

How to Send a Hug, it’s sweet but feels about 20 years too late

Don Quixote putting a stamp on the windmill. I mentioned that metaphor to my wife and she gave me the look that basically said ‘what the heck am I rambling about?’. I get that sometimes. How to Send a Hug is a very cute illustrated book that seems like the sibling to A Penny’s Worth. Unlike that book, the MacGuffin in How to Send a Hug is a letter, and it’s not the letter Q. This is the postal service, as in I have to send this eBay package to its buyer-so I’ll see you in two hours. I know, I should buy a scale here and print my own postage, but back to the book!

How to Send a Hug is a sweet testament to giving and receiving letters in the mail, but its concept might be too close to the telegram for young readers.

The book and concept are cute, the subject matter might put some adults off

The Sun Is Late And So Is The Farmer, hello to a new classic

Quirky is an interesting adjective and depending on specifically how it’s used could mean subtle, but different things. The Sun Is Late And So Is The Farmer is a quirky story in all of the right ways. The book is aimed at those pre-k through second-grade kids, and because they’re most likely not reading this review I’ll call the book a word that could cause derision and mockery in those circles. This is a charming book. That sounds like a word that you’d use when you don’t know how to describe something, but you’re implying that it’s a cute book for babies.

The Sun Is Late And So Is The Farmer is a timeless classic of an illustrated book about adventure and friendship, in your backyard.

Say hello to a book that’ll never leave your library

The Power of Architecture, a love letter for those building curious kids

Being a substitute primary school teacher I know what schools look like, and sadly, most of them look the same. If you work in an office building you probably know what they look like too and I’d bet that most of them are cookie-cutter-tastic. I’m not naïve, I realize that architecture, especially those that make a statement, come at a price of either money, land, resources or a combination thereof. The Power of Architecture: 25 Modern Buildings from Around the World is an illustrated book for curious kids that want to explore how things are and the way that they could be.

The Power of Architecture: 25 Modern Buildings from Around the World is an oversized look at unique buildings across the globe that makes a statement.

It only looks high brow…… it’s really for ages 8 and up

I Can Explain, cartoon-inspired lunacy on bad habits that teach a lesson via laughter

When I was a kid I wouldn’t talk for a couple of hours because I liked to imagine that I had a finite amount of words that I could speak on a given day. And if I was to use up my words with something silly, then that would just be wasteful, and my parents wouldn’t have liked that, would they? I Can Explain is an illustrated book from that same vein of illogical thinking that makes perfect sense if you’re a kid.

I Can Explain is a surreal look at how kids (and people) illogically excuse bad habits. It’s done via laughter in a way that ages 5 and up will howl over.

Don’t try to explain, just enjoy