Picture Book: Newt Scamander: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Newt Scamander: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them, J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill, Arthur A. Levine Books, New York, 2017.
The movie of the same name, has an adventure in New York City in which Newt Scamander talks about the book he is working on.  This is the book.  The highlight here is the section on Dragons.  There is a picture and brief data about each of the types of dragons, ten in all.  There is a four-page fond out featuring the  Ukrainian Iron Belly.  Every page delights, from the introduction which tries to explain what is a beast.  Admittedly not all creatures in the books are beasts, but the Centaur chose not to be classified with intelligent beings.  This includes many creatures seen in the Harry Potter series, including the Troll, Merpeople and the Gnomes.  Ghosts are not included.  There are also animals featured in the Newt Scamander movie such as the Bowtruckle and Niffler.  I love the creativity and really enjoy the illustrations.  This book features 81 different creatures, not counting the dragons separately.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Movie Review: ***^Ferdinand (2017)

How do you take a classic children's book and make it new.  You add a little girl who loves Ferdinand.  This story is about not always being what others expect, or you can't read a book by the cover.  John Cena voices Ferdinand, the barnyard rebel who realizes that things do not turn out well for the bull.  Ferdinand is part of the family, after he escapes the bull ranch when he is young.
However when the bull fighters come looking for the perfect bull, Ferdinand is bound to be overlooked, except for a bee.  An ill-timed bee sting has Ferdinand selected for a big day at the bullfight.  Despite a wild escape attempt, Ferdinand ends up in the bull ring; where he doesn't fight, finally winning over the full fighter.  Ferdinand is much more interested in flowers than fighting.

Book Review: The Story of Ferdinand

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, drawings by Robert Lawson, Scholastic, New York, original Viking Press, 1936.
This book is the inspiration for the movie out last year.  Ferdinand is a bull unlike the other bulls.  he prefers to sit quietly enjoying the smell of the flowers rather than butting heads with other bulls.  However, when the bullfight managers come to select a bull for the bull fights, a bumble bee intervenes and Ferdinand goes crazy and is selected.  However, in the ring he is more interested in the flowers in the hats of all the ladies, and sits and smells; and refuses to fight.  Neither the Banderilleros, the Picadores nor he Matador are able to show off.  I especially like the drawing of the trantruming Matador. 

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: Illustrated Version

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay, Arthur A. Levine Books, an Imprint of Scholastic, New York, 2015, originial publication 1997.
For Christmas, Sheri purchased the first two illustrated versions of the Harry Potter series.  I quickly fell in love with these books again.  I read the originals, when they were first coming out.  Sometimes we had to buy several copies of the books so the kids and we parents wouldn't have to fight over them.  It was always a race to get them read.  The illustrated version add so much.
J.K. Rowling introduced us to a new world with "The Sorcerer's Stone."  An so many exciting characters, starting with Harry Potter, the boy who lived, and who lives in a closet.  And then Ron who becomes his friend, and Hermione, who starts out bossy, but mellows rather quickly; and so many characters at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft.  This book entertains, and delights, and they added pictures make it even more delightful.  I enjoyed the new read, as much as the old, and even more so with the pictures jumping out at you.  I especially like pictures of Hagrid.  I think he is my favorite character, with his oversized body and oversized heart, and always doing things to help others and animals. 

Picture Book Review: Moonstruck: The True Story of the Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon

Moonstruck: The True Story of the Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon by Gennifer Choldenko illustrated by Paul Yalowitz, Scholastic, New York, 1997.
A silly story about the cow, who trained with the horses, so he could jump over the moon.  This is about someone doing something they are not expected to be able to do, because of their own dream and desire. 

Picture Book Review: What Do You Do Dear?

What Do You Do Dear by Sesyle Joslin, illustrated by Maurice Sendak, Young readers Press, New York, 1969.
This is a storybook I loved as a child.  It presents a totally ridiculous situation, and then asks for the polite response.  Such as thanking your guest before leaving when a dragon comes to the party or cover your mouth when you cough because you are smoking a peace pipe.

Children's Rhyming Picture Book: Night Cars

Night Cars by Teddy Jam illustrated by Eric Beddows, Orchard Books, New York, 1988.
The illustrations are fascinating this book.  Throughout the book we see Baby, who is having a hard time going to sleep.  Instead he likes to look out the window at the cars and the many things going on in the city.  He sees a snow storm, and the snow plows, a fire engine and many more sights.

Picture Book Review: Fanny

Fanny A Serendipity Book, written by Stephen Cosgrove, illustrated by Robin James, Price Stern Sloan, Los Angeles, 1987.
This is a story of a three-legged cat.  The cat just wants to have friends, but the other animals, especially the adults, influencing their kids, make sure the little cat is not bothered.  "Don't talk to her, you would just embarrass her, besides she has nothing to say."  It takes a little puppy to break through the prejudice.  Puppies are just happy go lucky and don't listen to what others say.  Of course Ruby and Fanny became friends.  You see Ruby was a licking dog, and Fanny licked right back.  Soon the other animals started warming up, and discovered Fanny had a lot to say, and she wasn't embarrassed.  "Being handicapped is only a state of mine."

Picture Book Review: The Keeping Quilt

This is a fascinating picture book.  It tells the story of a family, using a quilt.  When Anna's family moves to America from Russia, they left many things behind in the old country.  Mother makes this quilt out of items that were getting old, and gives them new life in providing an object to help them tell each new generation about their history.  And so the keeping quilt is handed down.  It is used for wrapping babies, for picnic lunches, and to provide the canopy for weddings.  This story runs through Anna's death, and the telling of the history to children, grand children and great grand children. 

Picture Book Review: Ming Ling

Ming Ling by Stephen Cosgrove, illustrated by Robin James, A Serendipity Book, Price Stern Sloan, Los Angeles, 1978.

MingLing is a panda.  He is a panda that likes quiet so he can sleep.  As such he becomes grouchy with all the birds, until he drives them away.  But then things are too quiet.  He then meets a parrot who teaches Ming Ling and important lesson.  Could Ming Ling ever get things to where he could enjoy life in the bamboo forest.  I like the conclusion, "If you live in a forest and don't know how to share it, remember a panda named Ming Ling and a very sill parrot.

Picture Book Review: The Tiny Seed

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle, Little Simon, New York, 1987. 

This is a good story of the life cycle of a plant.  First in the autumn it floats on the wind.  Some of the fellow seeds don’t make it, the fall in the water, or are scorched by the sun.  However some make it to good soil, where they stay all winter under the snow.  A mouse eats some, a bird another, but a few begin to grow.  Some are choked by weeds, or pulled and given to a girlfriend, or stomped by feet.  The Tiny See becomes the biggest flower of all; and then in autumn his leaves all blow off, and his seeds ride the wind.

Very interesting artwork, which appears to be from a sponges; it has a nice texture.

Picture Book Review: The Little Engine that Could

The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper, illustrated by George and Doris Hauman, Platt and Munk Publishers, New York, 1930.

This is a classic positive thinking book.  Toys and good things to eat need an engine to take them over the mountain to the children.  First the passenger engine is too important, and the freight engine is too busy.  The old engine says “I can not, I can not.”  But the little engine, who has never been over the mountain says “I think I can, I think I can.” And does. 

Picture Book Review: The Dream Tree

The Dream Tree by Stephen Cosgrove, illustrated by Robin James, A Serendipity Book, Price/Stern/Sloan, Los Angeles, 1982.

Serendipity books seem to all be written and illustrated by the same people.  There are about 40 such books.  Most end with a moral lesson.  this one does not.  However it does tell of a caterpillar who becomes a butterfly.  It also explains that sometimes you can't explain how something is, you just have to do it.  Patty Caterpillar wishes a butterfly would tell her what it is like to be a butterfly; but all the butterflies just fly off, "Someday you'll know."  He promises himself to come back and tell the caterpillars what it is like, but somethings are easier promised than done.
I like the artwork.  Robin James uses nice colors. 

Picture Book/Halloween Poem: Pumpkin Eye

Pumpkin Eye by Denise Fleming, Henry Hold and Company, New York, 2001.

The pictures in this book are like Halloween.  They are sometimes over large, giving a partial view, sometimes they are blurry and misty, but always they are eerie.  The poem is mostly three syllable statements, like Piece of pie, pumpkin.

Picture Book: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, by Judi Barrett, illustrated by Ron Barrett, Scholastic, New York, 1978.

I don’t know if this is the inspiration for the movie with the same name.  Very likely it is.  In the town of Chewandswallow the weather delivers food, rather than rain or snow.  However, over time the storms become more and more violent.  This book does not give any reason why this might be happening.  It does point out that the clean-up crew is overwhelmed, and everyone decides to leave for their own safety.  Having food fall on you can be dangerous.

Picture Book Review: We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt retold by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, Margaret K. McElderry Books, New York, 1989

This story reminds me of a childhood game “No Bears Are Out Tonight.”  Who is stupid enough to go around tempting a bear, and what do you do when you actually find one.  This family finds out in a hurry; You run.  Somehow, I think if this book had been realistic, the bear would have caught up with someone.  Don’t bears run faster than people?

Picture Book Review: Big Jeremy

Big Jeremy by Steven Kroll, illustrated by Donald Carrick, Holiday House, New York, 1989.

This story is even more fun for our family as one of sons is named Jeremy.  He was the largest chi9ld in the family. In this book, Jeremy is a giant, who is prone to clumsiness.  This is a Paul Bunyan story, except our giant is an apple farmer rather and a lumberjack.  Big Jere,y had things pretty nice, working for the Terison family and enjoying the sunsets at night.  Everything was great until the orchard burned.  Things get worse from there, he blows all the children and grandchildren away blowing out the fire, then he breaks the bridge, and then he dumps them all in the river.  He decides to get away.  This only makes things worse for the Terisons.  The illustrations of Big Jeremy are very comical, and add a great deal to the book.

Counting, Picture Book: One Hungry Monster

One Hungry Monster: A Counting Book in Rhyme by Susan Heyboer O’Keefe, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, Scholistic, New York, 1989.

This is a cute little counting book with 10 out-oc-control little monsters who are greedy, selfish, messy and ungrateful.  It takes a whole book for the boy to come onto their behavior and kick them all out.  The monsters really are rather cute.  I especially like the illustrations when the young boy has finally had enough.  You could call this an angry page.  There are many different ways to draw angry.

Picture Book: The Pumpkin Man from Piney Creek

The Pumpkin man from Piney Creek by Darleen Bailey Beard, illustrated by Laura Kelly, Simon and Schuster for Young Readers, New York, 1995.

This book could be from our local area, where we raise a good percentage of the pumpkins in the United States.  This is a nice story with very nice illustrations.  After selling 100 pumpkins, will there be one left over for Hatie to make a Jack O' lantern.  The pumpkins will bring some needed cash. 
This story has a cute ending, and the illustrations bring the Halloween, pumpkin feel.  I especially like the birds and the pumpkins in the pictures. 

Children's Book Review: Disney's the Haunted House Party

This little book features Donald Duck.  Donald is my favorite Mouseketeer character.  He is invited to a costume party at a haunted house, but Daisy is going with a different duck.  So Huey, Dewey and Louie agree to create some peril so Donald can show himself a hero.  First they come as bats, and Daisy's date runs and hides.  Donald saves the day.  Of course he knows it is his nephews.  then a ghost appears, and Donald again saves the day, and again it is his nephews, but this time Donald didn't know it was them.  He thought they were going to do just one prank.  Fun book if you like the Mouseketeer characters.