Summary: In this fun and entertaining story, you will read about Gerald the Elephant and best friend Piggie that are very ready to go play outside. They were very excited but as fate would have it, it started to rain! Piggie was looking forward to jumping, skipping, and running. They started to realize that they could have fun in the rain too then the sun came out once more.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (2009): “...The words themselves are manageable for young readers, and these endearing and distinctly developed characters have great child appeal. With a cameo appearance by the Pigeon on the final endpaper, this is a winning addition to the author's canon.”
Other books by Mo Willems:
Willems, M., & Ren. A. (2019). Because. Hyperion Books. ISBN: 9781368019019
Willems, M. (2010). Can I Play Too?. Hyperion Books. ISBN: 9781423119913
Willems, M. (2012). The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?. Hyperion Books. ISBN: 9781423151289
Hayes, G. (2009). Benny and Penny in The Big No-No!. Toon Books. ISBN: 9780979923890
Summary: When sister and brother Penny and Benny discover that they have a new neighbor, they take it upon themselves to solve the mystery of who it was. They started snooping and soon they discovered things about themselves and made a new friend.
Analysis: Benny and Penny are adorable mice children out playing in a cute yard wondering about their new neighbor. The art style is similar to graphic art, but much more adorable and lovely to look at. The colors are in a pastel, vibrant palette that is easy on the eyes. The speech bubbles and sound effect text make the story easy to follow for emerging readers. The comic book design and charismatic expressions of the three characters also helps the story simple to follow along with the audience, so it makes it very accessible for readers. Readers can also relate to Benny and Penny’s sibling squabbles, their little arguments make you laugh at their silliness. When they learn that their neighbor is not a monster or a thief, they resolve the misunderstandings and learn to apologize when they are in the wrong. The best part? They made a new friend! A cute graphic novel for beginner readers who will enjoy the story and three adorable characters.
KIRKUS REVIEWS (2009): “...Benny and Penny make agreeable protagonists, all sibling-squabbling when they're on their own but uniting against the depredations of the "monster" and doing the right thing when it's called for.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (2009): “...Thought bubbles and dynamic expressions make the simple story come to life; early readers will easily identify the emotional states of the three characters and predict the playful outcomes.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (2009): “..Benny and Penny, the children are suspicious that their new neighbor has stolen Benny's pail, so they sneak into her yard even though they know it's a "big no-no!" Through many misunderstandings, they learn to apologize and make a new friend. The simple text uses basic vocabulary and repetition, making it accessible to emerging readers. Young children will love the graphic-novel format and the sweet, charming illustrations will draw them into the narrative. Fans of Geoffrey Hayes's popular Benny and Penny: Just Pretend (Toon Bks., 2008) won't be disappointed with this sequel.”
Other books by Geoffrey Hayes:
Hayes, G. (2013). Benny and Penny in the Toy Breaker. Toon Books. ISBN: 9781935179283
Hayes, G. (2011). Patrick in A Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Other Stories. ISBN: 9781935179092
DiCamillo, K., & Fucile, T. (2010). Bink & Gollie. Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763632663
Summary: In this story, two very advanced and mature young ladies named Bink and Gollie share three comical adventures. Read about how they go through these from their super-deluxe tree house powered by peanut butter and pancakes.
Analysis: Two very different girls: Bink and Gollie. One is younger and energetic, the other is older and mature. These two unlikely companions learn the ups and downs of friendship. In the first adventure, Bink becomes obsessed with brightly colored socks that Gollie doesn’t like and they must learn how to compromise. In the second story, Gollie has a goal to climb the Andes Mountains and Bink needs to learn the lesson on personal space. Lastly, Gollie gets jealous of Bink’s new pet fish, but Gollie knows what to do in case of an emergency. It shows that an older person can be friends with someone younger and vice versa. Bink stands out with her small, pixie size and wild blond hair while Gollie literally stands tall with an air of maturity. Mostly black and white, but with splashes of color that really tie into the world of Bink and Gollie. A great combination of a picture book and graphic novel, minimal text but the characters are unique and expressive enough to help the reader understand the moral of the story. Despite these two girls having their differences and learning about how to maintain a friendship, they are still marvelous companions together. A great story of teaching friendship and getting along with others despite your differences.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (2010): “...The plots serve mostly as a framework for DiCamillo and McGhee's sharp, distinctly ungirly dialogue that makes every page feel like a breath of fresh air. And true to his background as an animator for Pixar and Disney, Fucile makes his inklike digital illustrations crackle with energy and sly humor--it's not surprising that the man who helped create The Incredibles' Edna Mode has made these two prickly personalities irresistible.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (2010): “...The delightful digitalized cartoon illustrations—mostly black and white, with color used for the two characters and in strategic splashes throughout—reinforce the humor of the text. Filled with movement, they successfully portray the protagonists' changing moods. Elementary listeners and readers will have no trouble relating to the two friends' antics and the bond they share.”
Other books by Kate DiCamillo:
DiCamillo, K., & Fucile, T. (2013). Best Friends Forever. Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763634971
DiCamillo, K., & Campbell, K. G. (2013). Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763660406
DiCamillo, K., & Bliss, H. (2018). Good Rosie!. Candlewick Press. ISBN: 9780763689797
Pizzoli, G. (2013). The Watermelon Seed. Disney Press. ISBN: 9781423171010
Summary: This is an enjoyable book based on a crocodile that had a big fear about eating a watermelon seed; you will discover that he has so many questions about what happens if you swallow a watermelon seed. Read all about the crocodile's wild imaginative thoughts.
Analysis: The crocodile’s first person point of view is full of character and insight to his mind. Sort of rambling about his love for watermelon. The image of him loving watermelon since he was a baby is quite amusing and brings a smile to your face. When he swallows a seed, his imagination goes wild. He thinks it’ll grow in his guts, vines will appear out of his ears, that his stomach will stretch or that his skin will turn pink. He doesn’t want to be in a fruit salad! He burps and out pops the seed! He decides that he had enough of melon, but eats it again was a hilarious way to end a funny tale. The crocodile’s thoughts exaggerates what will happen to him when he swallows the seed and will make the reader laugh at his vivid imagination. Minimal text, but still conveys a funny, cute story. The art work is quite cartoonish and simplistic, but with bright colors that come right out the page. Refreshing and silly, excellent for repeat readings thanks to this silly crocodile.
BOOKLIST (2013): “...In his first-person rant, the crocodile pushes at the fourth wall, not quite breaking it, and certainly owes something to Mo Willems’ titular pigeon in attitude and affect. But he is his own crocodile, with his own neurosis, and is sure to win his own fans and repeat readings.”
HORN BOOK (2013): “A watermelon-loving crocodile imagines the worst after swallowing a seed: "it's growing in my guts! Soon vines will come out of my ears!" After much fretting, the croc burps and brings the seed back up. Crisis over...until the next bite. The silly story is refreshingly simple, and Pizzoli's tempting melon-green and -red illustrations are hard to resist.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS (2013): “...Done in a three-color printing, the silk screen offers a toothiness to the page, giving fruit, animal and emotions more substance. However, the ingenuity of Pizzoli's work is in the making of the images, rather than in the story itself, which is about as substantial as, well, a piece of watermelon. A humorous vignette with deliciously bright colors that leap from the page.”
Other books by Greg Pizzoli:
Pizzoli, G. (2019). Watermelon Seed and Good Night Owl. Hyperion Books. ISBN: 9781368042666
Pizzoli, G. (2014). Number One Sam. Hyperion Books. ISBN: 9781423171119
Tabor, C.R. (2018). Fox the Tiger. Blazer & Bray. ISBN: 9780062398697
Summary: In this inspiring book, you will read about how a fox wanted to be a tiger. Later in the story, his friends the Turtle and Rabbit join him in wanting to be a fox. They soon discover that there is nothing better than being yourself.
Analysis: The artwork being cartoon images done in watercolor, crayon and pencil give that hand drawn feel to the illustrations. Fox is expressive along with other characters. The scene of Fox painting stripes on himself to become Tiger is ingenious. Rabbit and Turtle join in on the fun as well, showing off the excitement of make-believe and playing pretend. The fun is over when they get rained on and Rabbit is Rabbit and Turtle is Turtle. Fox is sad! Soon, he then realizes that foxes are the best after all. Funny and cute style that easy text to follow along, plus the change of identities was quickly accepted without disruption to the plot was brilliantly done. The dialogue is energetic and goes along with the make-believe playtime theme that all the animals are enjoying. The positive message towards the end about self-acceptance and self-love is an excellent message to give to young readers, a wonderful and adorable story to teach children that being yourself is the best thing for you.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (2018): “...A humorous ending provides a positive message of self-acceptance that would have more power if Fox's epiphany came from within, rather than from the affirmation of others. VERDICT This is Fox's first appearance in an easy reader and it will surely be popular with children who enjoyed him in picture book format.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS (2018): “...The digitally rendered cartoon illustrations—originally created with pencil, watercolor, and crayon—are energetic and expressive. The overarching message of self-love is a good one, but the no-fuss acceptance of changing identities in text and dialogue (even if they are just pretend) is even better.
Feel-good, make-believe fun.”
Other books by Corey R. Tabor:
Tabor, C.R. (2018). Fox Is Late. Blazer & Bray. ISBN: 9780062398710
Tabor, C.R. (2020). Fox Versus Winter. Blazer & Bray. ISBN: 9780062977052
Tabor, C.R. (2021). Mel Fell. Blazer & Bray. ISBN: 9780062878014
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