librarianryan's reviews
6364 reviews

Zandi's Song by Zandile Ndhlovu

Go to review page

informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

 
This is a lovely story. It’s about a little girl who is given a chance to be a mermaid and explore oceans. She is taught the lessons by the ocean to help keep it clean and help care for the animals because what we do as humans can be destructive to their habitat and their lifecycle. It does it in a lovely way that can get a bit repetitive but overall, this is a lovely book to read. 
Daniela the Pirate and the Evil Cyclops by Susanna Isern

Go to review page

lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

 
This was a nice story. The illustrations are fun and bright. Everything works well together. I feel like I’ve heard this story before but enjoyed reading this version of it. 
Squirrel Needs a Break by Kristen Remenar

Go to review page

lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

 
In general, I like this book. The illustrations are great, the story is funny, etc. However, the messaging bothers me. This is a dad that’s constantly busy with his kids and just needs a break. Part of it, are the kids misbehaving or are they just rambunctious. 
I Am Special Too! by Anna Tomàs

Go to review page

lighthearted

3.0

 
This book was fine. It was a happy go lucky story about a little bunny finding that they two are special just like everybody else. The book does a decent job rhyming but sometimes the cadence has tripoint. But overall, the book is successful at what it was set up to do. 
All You Need To Know About Dogs: By A. Cat by Fred Blunt

Go to review page

funny lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

 
This book is a five-star read. A cat is telling you all you need to know about dogs and how they are stupid and worthless. Until the cat needs them. This book is funny and full of heart, and the story flows well. There is nothing to dislike about this book. The illustrations are drawn to look like a very good kid did them. This is the type of book I think of when I think of happy books and I’m glad that they’re putting out stories like this. 
The Trophy Trap: Unleash Your Inner Winner by Chasta Hamilton

Go to review page

informative lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

 
In a time when participation trophies are handed out to most kids, this book looks at not getting a trophy.  It says it’s OK to not get a trophy. That what matters isn’t if you win or if you lose, but it’s the person you are, and how you get where you’re at. I really like that message. I also really like the illustrations in this book. The book is long, especially towards the end. Once it gets to the main point in the message, it goes on and on and on almost like it’s beating a dead horse. I like this book, but it could do with better editing. 
In Time by Marina Ruiz

Go to review page

lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

 
This book is about a child’s perception of time. How, to an adult it may be just a moment, but to a kid it’s a mini lifetime. It’s also about how time slows when something is fascinating, like watching saplings or wind blow. This was nice but it would be hard to convey the lesson in a group setting and would work much better as a bedtime book. 
Torla and Smorla and The Lower Than Average Cloud by Kes Gray

Go to review page

funny lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

 
Torla is a smaller than average giraffe and Smorla is an average giraffe. When one has a problem the other helps. This book was super fun and cute. The story is simple but sometimes that’s all it takes. The illustrations are what brings this book to life and the funny sizing also helps. I’d be happy to have this in my collection at any time. 
What about X? an Alphabet Adventure by Anne Marie Houppert

Go to review page

lighthearted medium-paced

3.0

This book is the usual question when someone tries to pick something for every letter of the alphabet: What about X? In this case all the alphabets are going on a camping trip and everybody’s going to bring something for camping, but who wants to play with an x-ray and what happens when the xylophone is broken? This book wasn’t bad. The illustrations are fun and it’s a nice addition to the usual alphabet books.
My First How to Catch the Sandman by Alice Walstead

Go to review page

funny slow-paced

4.0

 
This book is like many in the series. It’s a fun little rhyming book about the man who brings sleep. Some of the rhymes are harsh and that harness causes the cadence to stagger. Overall, this is a good book, but it’s not my favorite of the series.