What I've Been Reading with My Monsters [1]

 

What I've Been Reading with My Monsters is a new feature I'm starting to showcase which books I've been reading with my kiddos (in case the title wasn't super obvious, haha). I'm really bad about reviewing children's books (unless they're ARCs or for a blog tour), so hopefully this helps me stay on top of all the other books we read together throughout the week.

Solid, Liquid, Gassy (a Fairy Science Story) by Ashley Spires

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Esther the fairy is back, to investigate the water cycle! From the award-winning author of The Most Magnificent Thing, for fans of Ada Twist, Scientist and Hidden Figures.

Esther the fairy doesn't believe in magic. But fairies are all about magic, despite Esther's best efforts to reveal the science of their world. This time around, though, she's got her fairy pals Clover and Fig, along with trusty sidekick Albert the bird, to help create a more science-oriented entry for their school's Magic Fair -- Pixieville's magical answer to a science fair, which has never gone well for Esther before. When the local pond disappears, Esther realizes this might be the perfect opportunity for a real experiment! It's up to Esther and her fairymates to ask questions, make hypotheses, do research and show their conclusions -- this time, all about the water cycle. But when everyone Esther knows believes that Jack Frost is responsible for ice and that moon sneezes cause evaporation, she'll have to learn that sometimes discovery is its own reward.

Solid, Liquid, Gassy (A Fairy Science Story) is the second book in Ashley Spires' hilarious picture book series about a charming, determined heroine who celebrates the joys of curiosity and wonder.

I love books that mix magic and science! I also really enjoyed the author's previous book, The Most Magnificent Thing, which addresses frustration and how being angry only makes a problem worse. Spires makes learning - whether it's about science or dealing with emotions - fun and informative. The kids really loved the illustrations in this book, and they also liked making their own guesses about the character's experiments. They had some prior knowledge going into this one (they love Story Bots and Bill Nye the Science Guy), but were still somewhat surprised by the outcome. I was also really glad that everything didn't work out perfectly for Esther and her friends, because life rarely happens exactly the way we want it to. It was realistic despite being fictional. 

In a perfect world, Esther would have been able to convince the other fairies that their problem was solved by science. Unfortunately, her fellow fairies want to believe that magic is the solution to everything, even when shown otherwise. It was a good lesson in letting things go and moving on despite not noticing an immediate change in the people around you. People's perceptions and ways of thinking aren't going to change overnight, but it's no reason to give up or stop trying to make a difference. "...she'll have to learn that sometimes discovery is its own reward." (★★★★☆)

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Hilda and the Mad Scientist by Addie Adam, Lisa Thiesing (Illustrations)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Chillingly silly describes this monster of a picture book about a Dr. Frankenstein wannabe who meets his match in the form of an unstopable . . . housekeeper. With its comic text and lively pictures in cartoonlike style, this Frankenstein spoof about a mad, magical mix-up is sure to give readers a spell of the giggles. Watercolor and ink illustrations.

I didn't love Hilda and the Mad Scientist, but it wasn't terrible. The kids didn't really have any feelings about it either, so it's not one we'll be reading again.

"Chillingly silly" isn't a great description though, since there's nothing scary about this book. The "Dr. Frankenstein wannabe" spends most of his time trying to rid himself of a housekeeper he didn't want in the first place. Hilda shows up unannounced and uninvited, then proceeds to do whatever she wants in someone else's home. I think she said something about going where she's needed, but no one ever asked for her help. She also seems to make a mess of things instead of actually helping. It's not something that's addressed in the text, but the illustrations show Hilda being clumsy and destructive.

Maybe this would work better for younger children? The silly aspects may potentially be better suited for those that fall into the 0-3 age group. The Dr. creating his "worst nightmare" at the end also fell a little flat and was something that had to be explained to my kiddos. They didn't understand why he'd be so upset by the development, which also showed me they hadn't really understood the character flaw that made Hilda so unappealing as a "helper." (★★★☆☆)

Churchill's Tale of Tails by Anca Sandu

Synopsis (via Goodreads): When Churchill the pig loses his precious tail, his friends help him hunt for a new one. But trying new tails is so much fun that soon Churchill has forgotten his friends completely. Can Churchill learn to put friendship first, and solve the mystery of his missing tail?

Churchill's Tale of Tails is a book we've read many times! The girls really love it and think having a tail as an accessory is something to aspire to (#kidgoals). 

I really enjoyed seeing the various tails Churchill tried on, and thought the author came up with creative ways to show what made each tail so special. As Churchill gets more and more obsessed with  obtaining new tails, he stops hanging out with his friends. Thankfully, his tail isn't lost forever. He thought his tail was perfect, and while he liked trying on the others, he still missed his own. Very cute story with wonderful illustrations! (★★★★☆)

Mini Reviews [7]

Magic Words: From the Ancient Oral Tradition

of the Inuit by Edward Field (Translator) and 

Mike Blanc (Illustrator)

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Magic Words: From the Ancient Oral Tradition of the Inuit is a modern translation (1965) of a very old Inuit creation story by nationally known poet Edward Field. As a poem it captures beautifully the intimate relationship this Arctic people have with their natural world.

Magic Words describes a world where humans and animals share bodies and languages, where the world of the imagination mixes easily with the physical. It began as a story that told how the Inuit people came to be and became a legend passed from generation to generation. In translation it grew from myth to poem. The text comes from expedition notes recorded by Danish explorer Knud Rasmussen in 1921. Edward Field got a copy from the Harvard Library and translated it into English.

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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a beautiful children's book! My four-year-old was fascinated by the idea of people turning into animals and vice versa. He started talking about the different animals he would want to morph into, and I loved the conversations that followed. Some of the illustrations, which were breathtaking and utterly captivating, showed what appeared to be animal-human hybrids. A human face with deer legs and a fish tail, for example. 

Magic Words also emphasizes how important words are, and that saying them can have unforeseen consequences. Words have the potential to be powerful, and people should be careful how they use them. 

♡

Tiny Fox and Great Boar: There

by Berenika Kolomycka

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Tiny Fox lives alone beneath his apple tree in the distant hills. He is a happy little animal, busy looking after himself and his foxy things. Then one day, a Great Boar appears and moves in under the apple tree, bringing with him a time of change and adventure. Is Tiny Fox ready? 

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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thought the illustrations for this one were really interesting! Some of the original sketch marks are still included, so you can see how a few of the pictures evolved and were created over time. It also gives the appearance of movement, which is awesome all on its own.

As for the story, it was good. I think the author shows the importance of friendship, and that being alone can be hard. A single friend has the power to change all of that, but you have to be willing to compromise and make adjustments.

I wish there had been more of a story, but Fox and Boar have very limited conversations over the course of a few seasons. As an adult, I could see what their problems were and how they likely needed to deal with them, but I'm not sure it's something a child would easily grasp. My son was more focused on the things they were doing, and not the things being left unsaid. He may have been a smidge too young for this comic-like book, but he did enjoy it overall.

♡

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Award-winning author and illustrator Ashley Spires has created a charming picture book about an unnamed girl and her very best friend, who happens to be a dog. The girl has a wonderful idea. She is going to make the most MAGNIFICENT thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. All she has to do is make it, and she makes things all the time. Easy-peasy!? But making her magnificent thing is anything but easy, and the girl tries and fails, repeatedly. Eventually, the girl gets really, really mad. She is so mad, in fact, that she quits. But after her dog convinces her to take a walk, she comes back to her project with renewed enthusiasm and manages to get it just right.

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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is definitely a book we will be adding to our shelves! I loved the main character's tenacity and creativity. She's dedicated and incredibly focused on perfecting her idea. As the reader, we have no idea what she's trying to make, only that she tries again and again to make her project match what's in her head. As she gets increasingly frustrated, she starts to lose patience with her creations and pays less attention to what she's doing.  

In the end, her dog saves the day. He sees her frustration and offers a simple solution to help her refocus on what she was trying to accomplish. They made the perfect team, and I really enjoyed watching their story play out. I had no idea what she was trying to make at first, but the end result was absolutely perfect. 

This book would be great for teaching children to remain calm when they get frustrated, and how getting angry and upset only makes things worse. The Most Magnificent Thing shows readers how taking a step back can offer a different perspective and allow things to be viewed as a whole.