A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

picturebook

Little Juniper makes it BIG

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Aidan Cassie writes a lovely story about little Juniper.  She is so small in her family and she feels she misses so much.  Do you know any children like that?   If so, they may find a companion spirit in Little Juniper.    Little Juniper makes it BIG allows us to watch Juniper’s perspective change.

little juniper makes it big

What I am Reviewing

Little Juniper makes it BIG.
Aidan Cassie (author, illustrator)
Farrar Straus Giroux
4-8 years, 40 pages, hardcover with fly leaf
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Picture book, Size, Preschool, Kindergarten, self-esteem, humour, animals

What Juniper lacks in size, she makes up for in heart. And her heart is dead-set on growing up and getting taller. She’s tired of having to reach for the cookie jar or use a stepping stool for the toilet. Everything in Juniper’s world seems to be made for adults. Ugh!
Juniper is industrious, however, and builds several silly contraptions to help reach her goals. But it isn’t until she makes a fun new friend at school, Clove, who is even smaller than Juniper, that she is able to see her world from a new perspective – and appreciate all sizes, big or small.

Little Juniper makes it BIG

Details on Little Juniper makes it BIG

Little Juniper makes it BIG is a fun book that made you see Juniper’s immense frustration with being the smallest in her family.  She tried so hard to accommodate, and to work around her size, but nothing really worked.  She was getting into such a funk.   What is a little coon to do?

Little Juniper makes it BIG

Comparing herself to her classmates helps but, it really isn’t enough.  Little Juniper only sees the difficulties she has.  How must it be for Clove?  Friendship and fun help see her way through to a different perspective.

Little Juniper makes it BIG

Thoughts/Recommendations

Between the fantastic images and the lovely (and fun) story line, Little Juniper makes it BIG is sure to please your little ones.  Laugh with Clove and delight in her antics.  Be delighted when Juniper learns to look at life from a different perspective… it’s a wonderful thing!  🙂   

There is so much colour and life in the images, different things to point out and talk about.  Items such as size difference, colour, home styles and how little Juniper would feel about taking a bath.  I love detail rich picture books.  Then the book becomes about more than just the story, but about the details of life as well.

One thing I did wish it had was more involvement by the parents in Juniper’s struggles.  Helping her to see and realize her place in the world even if she was smaller than all the grown-ups in her life. 

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Special Paws the Family List

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In Special Paws the family list, children are introduced to Boston and Hunter, two real life rescue dogs. Waiting for new homes, Hunter and Boston talk through what they would like in a home to call their own.

Special Paws the family list

What I am Reviewing

Special Paws: the Family List.
Tracey Kusinitz Altman, author.
Joseba Morales, illustrator.
Inspired Forever Publishing.
38 pages, softcover, ages 4-8
Picture Book
Rescue, rescue dogs, adoption, family,
Reviewed for Ascot Media.

When a sleepy-eyed Boston awakes and finds herself in new surroundings, she is full of questions! Beside her is an engaging, friendly beagle named Hunter, who quickly becomes Boston’s friend and explains that they are in an animal shelter. As their friendship deepens and their dreams of finding their forever-homes take shape, Hunter helps Boston create a very special list of everything she is looking for in a family. Readers young and old will enjoy the playful dialogue — and maybe catch a glimpse of their own feelings toward family — as both dogs reveal what’s most important to them in a forever home.

Special Paws the family list

The details of Special Paws the family list

32 pages with vibrant colours, well suited to the visual preferences of young children and the dogs of the book.  Children will love the ease of reading. It’s not a lyrical book, but the words are suitable for ages 4-8. The size of the font makes it easy as a read-aloud book with a group of children. 

Special Paws the family list

The story is told from the vantage point of the dogs, talking through what they would like to have in a family.  This might encourage children to talk about what they want in a dog as well. 

Special Paws the family list

I thought it was excellent to actually show the pictures of the real dogs at the close of the book. Didn’t the illustrator do a great job of depicting them?

Special Paws the family list

My Thoughts/Recommendation

Special Paws the family list is a cute book taking the vantage of the dog looking for a new home.  As a child-friendly book it’s great to see the dogs finding their forever homes at the close of the story.   It’s a great book to get children thinking about what they have to offer a dog, and then what a dog has to offer them.   If you have rescued a dog, or are looking to do so, this book would be great to get your children thinking about it more. 

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Born to Draw Comics

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Who doesn’t love Snoopy and Charlie Brown and all those little people in Peanuts?  Want to meet the author behind these wonderful characters?  Born To Draw Comics is the Story of Charles Schultz. 

Born to Draw Comics

What I Am Reviewing

Born to Draw Comics: The story of Charles Schultz.
Ginger Wadsworth
Craig Orback (illustrator)
Christy Ottaviano Books
Received: softcover ARC
History, Biography, Comics, Children, Art, Children’s Art, picture book
40 Pages, full colour
Ages 4-8
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

As a child, Charles split his free time between adventures outdoors with his friends and dog Spike, and daydreams and doodles inspired by the comics he loved to read. He longed to become a professional cartoonist, but saw his dreams deferred by unexpected challenges that laid ahead: military deployment to the European front of World War II, and the heartbreak of a family tragedy back home. Even so, Charles never lost sight of the hopeful joy of his early years and his love for Spike, both of which inspired PEANUTS. The comic strip went on to become the most popular and influential in comics history.

Born to Draw Comics

The Details

Even though this book is geared to students in grades 1 & 2, I would have no hesitation recommending it to any student interested in the life of Charles Schultz.   The mixed panel format along with full colour images and a good storyline makes for an informative read. 

Born to Draw Comics

Interspersed throughout are individual images and scenes that “Sparky” Schultz drew.  The text was well done, drawing us into the life of Charles as a child. 

Born to Draw Comics

You will find yourself drawn into his story, relishing the details of what made his life what it was.  It was not always an easy life, but he had a boyhood filled with delights!  He shared those delights in his comic strip Peanuts. 

Born to Draw Comics

Should you Get it?

I really liked this book, delving into the life of Charles Schultz.  It was a joy to see his love of drawing and his wide circle of activities.  Drawing wasn’t the only thing he had going on his life, but as he put “he was born to draw comic strips”.   Born to Draw Comics is an excellent introduction into his life for sure. 

If you are studying Charles “Sparky” Shultz, or interested in learning about comic strips and their creators, Born to Draw Comics would be a good addition to your study. 

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Tiny T. Rex

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Oh.. I LOVED this picture book called Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug.   Jonathan Stsutzman did an excellent job of bringing the struggles of one little T-Rex to life. 

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible hug

What I am Reviewing

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug.
Jonathan Stutzman
Jay Fleck (illustrator)
Chronicle Kids
Picture book, Hugs, Dinosaurs, Emotions, Friendship
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
48 pages, ages 3-5.

Tiny T. Rex has a HUGE problem. His friend Pointy needs cheering up and only a hug will do. But with his short stature and teeny T. Rex arms, is a hug impossible? Not if Tiny has anything to say about it! Join this plucky little dinosaur in his very first adventure-a warm and funny tale that proves the best hugs come from the biggest hearts.

The Finer Details

Tiny T. Rex starts his story off with a problem.  His best friend is ever so sad and Tiny T. Rex wants to help.  This leads him to another problem. 

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug
sample from Tiny T. Rex

Like everyone with a problem Tiny T. Rex seeks advice from those with more experience.  Some advise he gets is simply no good, but then he receives the best advice. And he follows it with his whole heart.

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug

And before you know, one tiny T. Rex has managed to solve two problems.

My Thoughts

Other than some time line issues… I thought this book was well made and cleverly done.  Interjected humour (in just the right places) and simple drawings brought this story to life.  An excellent story for any age reminding us of the importance of being (and acting like) a friend despite challenges that might come our way.   How to ask for help and the need to be determined to follow through.  A wonderful book I highly recommend. 

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Explorers by Matthew Cordell

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At the book sale this past Friday I chatted with a lady about a book I was selling.  It was a wordless book that my son and I had so much fun with when he was little.  This lady shared my love of wordless books.  Today I have a Matthew Cordell book entitled Explorers. 

Explorers by Matthew Cordell

What I am Reviewing

Explorers.
Matthew Cordell
Feiwel and Friends
2-6 years, or PK-grade 1
40 pages
Picture book, wordless books, museum, friendship
Children’s activity books
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

When a family goes to a local museum, a boy notices a homeless man sitting outside, making brightly colored origami birds. He convinces his dad to buy a bird the man makes just for him.
Once inside the museum, his little sister takes the bird and launches it into the air. Is it lost? Soon another boy helps him look, and the paper bird brings two families – and two new friends – together.

The Details

Explorers by Matthew Cordell

I adore the colours and drawings.  You can just sense the excitement and wonder in the children as they embark on their visit.  A new toy, dinosaurs, Egypt and more. 

Explorers by Matthew Cordell

The emotions!  Wow!   So clear eh?   Can you imagine talking to a little girl or boy?  Asking them what they think the boy is feeling?  Can you imagine a little child wondering about a two-headed boy?  Or talking about the shock of the lad when his sister snatched his toy?  Books can bring out amazing conversations with children if you take the time to have them. 

Explorers by Matthew Cordell

My Thoughts

I have to tell you, I love wordless books.  I do!  I find them so much fun to walk through with children as there is so much potential in where the story can go.   Matthew Cordell draws us into a story of a boy, his frustration with his sister, and his joy at finding a new friend.   OR you could read it as the excitement of the hunt, can he find his new toy that is much loved sister made a mistake with?  Same book, different twist, what twist could you make?  What about the littles in your life?

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