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wolfiegrrrl's reviews
236 reviews
A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
This is a very cute book for teaching kids to recognize colors and animals. Plus, there is also a section about autumn, winter, and spring that can be helpful when teaching kids to recognize the changes that happen during the year. The illustrations make me think back to the sponge stamps I used to play with when I was little, so flipping through the pages feels very comforting to me, and I love the message about finding friends you can be yourself with!
A Man and His Cat, Volume 4 by Umi Sakurai
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
"The bath-peeping goblin at the man's house" is another extremely relatable cat moment! (I call mine a gremlin~)
As for the main story, I love getting to see how Kanda and Hibino bond over their shared experiences with being first-time cat owners, and Kobayashi is such a good friend for helping to make it happen! It's a great joy to experience the main cast growing closer the more they open up to each other, so I'm super excited to see what new characters wind up joining Kanda's (and Fukumaru's) circle next.
As for the main story, I love getting to see how Kanda and Hibino bond over their shared experiences with being first-time cat owners, and Kobayashi is such a good friend for helping to make it happen! It's a great joy to experience the main cast growing closer the more they open up to each other, so I'm super excited to see what new characters wind up joining Kanda's (and Fukumaru's) circle next.
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A charmingly simple story about two kids finding adventure and mystery within themselves at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
I think I loved this book so much as a kid because the idea of running off on an adventure was something I could never do myself, so I invested myself in stories where the main characters were kids who got to do just that. Rereading it as an adult who has had the privilege of visiting the Met many times through the years is such a treat! New York and the Met may have both changed a lot since 1967, but this book allows me to close my eyes and imagine a child's-eye view of what it was like back then. The fact that this adventure is based on just the right amount of realism for the time it was written provides the immersion that makes the story feel almost believable.
Never forget that the best adventures are the ones that allow you to come home with a few secrets of your own~
I think I loved this book so much as a kid because the idea of running off on an adventure was something I could never do myself, so I invested myself in stories where the main characters were kids who got to do just that. Rereading it as an adult who has had the privilege of visiting the Met many times through the years is such a treat! New York and the Met may have both changed a lot since 1967, but this book allows me to close my eyes and imagine a child's-eye view of what it was like back then. The fact that this adventure is based on just the right amount of realism for the time it was written provides the immersion that makes the story feel almost believable.
Never forget that the best adventures are the ones that allow you to come home with a few secrets of your own~
A Man and His Cat, Volume 3 by Umi Sakurai
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
So many more relatable cat moments and enough tragic backstories to go around! I love how the characters are developing now that the creator has been able to expand the format of the story. Moriyama has fallen so hard for Kanda and honestly who can blame him. The boy's got it bad and I love to see it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Grief
Minor: Bullying, Death, and Abandonment
I Am a Little Cat by Helmut Spanner
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A short, sweet, and simple story about a little cat facing the world of its own backyard. Great for introducing young kids to new vocabulary!
Muppets Meet the Classics: The Phantom of the Opera by Owen Richardson, Gaston Leroux, Erik Forrest Jackson
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book showcases classic Muppet humor with a Phantom twist which manages to mix the vibes of both stories into a wonderfully nutty cocktail of gags and spooks. It works surprisingly well and I enjoyed it, but I also found myself wishing I could see this on the screen - then the visual gags described would at least have more of a punch to them. Overall, the parody elements and fourth-wall-breaking commentary on popular Phantom adaptations were a real treat that make this novel a worthy addition to my personal library, so I'd recommend it to anyone with a love for these two nostalgic properties and a healthy curiosity.
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was familiar with the animated movie adaptation long before I ever learned it had been based on a book, so I decided to read it out of curiosity. While I see the charm in the book, I do prefer the movie this time around.
The father swan is a difficult character to sympathize with. His sexism, ableism, and prejudice against other species is probably supposed to be an allusion to how humans interpret swans interacting with each other and view them as being prideful and majestic... but even some of the human characters agree with his sentiments, especially the many times Louis gets called "defective" for having no voice. It doesn't really do much for the attempted positive message of the book.
I also wasn't a fan of Sam Beaver being likened to an indigenous person because of his hair color and the way he walks. It's the first thing the book hits you with on page one and that particular brand of childlike romanticization of indigenous people that leaves a poor taste in your mouth keeps coming back despite having no reason for it to be there... and yet there it is, pervasively a part of the culture we're living in then and now, reminding us that the Hollywood stereotypes are still going strong.
Those details aside, I enjoyed the book well enough and I'm glad I got to experience it. It's a pretty neat book for kids who are interested in birds, as there is plenty of trivia throughout the story.
The father swan is a difficult character to sympathize with. His sexism, ableism, and prejudice against other species is probably supposed to be an allusion to how humans interpret swans interacting with each other and view them as being prideful and majestic... but even some of the human characters agree with his sentiments, especially the many times Louis gets called "defective" for having no voice. It doesn't really do much for the attempted positive message of the book.
I also wasn't a fan of Sam Beaver being likened to an indigenous person because of his hair color and the way he walks. It's the first thing the book hits you with on page one and that particular brand of childlike romanticization of indigenous people that leaves a poor taste in your mouth keeps coming back despite having no reason for it to be there... and yet there it is, pervasively a part of the culture we're living in then and now, reminding us that the Hollywood stereotypes are still going strong.
Those details aside, I enjoyed the book well enough and I'm glad I got to experience it. It's a pretty neat book for kids who are interested in birds, as there is plenty of trivia throughout the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Sexism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Gun violence, Self harm, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I first read and fell in love with this sweet story about a very good dog whose presence helps a town cope with their sadness when I was in 4th grade, and I decided to revisit it years later as an adult to see if it still touched me the same way.
This slice of life deals with abandonment, loss of loved ones, the struggle to make friends, the complicated feelings that come from being uprooted and moving to a new place, and the loneliness of old age in a way that's comforting and easy to understand. There is also brief discussion about the effects prison, war, and addiction have on a person. It's not too much for a child to process and it's a sweet kind of melancholy to read as an adult.
This slice of life deals with abandonment, loss of loved ones, the struggle to make friends, the complicated feelings that come from being uprooted and moving to a new place, and the loneliness of old age in a way that's comforting and easy to understand. There is also brief discussion about the effects prison, war, and addiction have on a person. It's not too much for a child to process and it's a sweet kind of melancholy to read as an adult.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Death, Slavery, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War
Dino-Christmas by Lisa Wheeler
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
The Dino Holidays series is a fun addition to the Dino Sports universe. These books don't really do much to explain the reason for the holidays featured, instead focusing on some traditions that will be easily recognizable to children who celebrate them. The rhymes are simple and delightful but might go over the heads of some younger readers who are more interested in seeing what seasonal shenanigans the dinosaurs get up to.
Once again, the Pterodactyl Twins are back on that murder spree, nearly killing Apatosaurus and Troodon just in time for Sandy Claws to roll up to the Christmas parade with a sack of karmic retribution and their names on it. Unsurprisingly, this holiday is dedicated to the distribution of sports gear and equipment, making it a commercial affair. Considering how their entire dino society is supported by lavish sports festivals, they have to encourage consumerism somehow!
Dino-Halloween by Lisa Wheeler
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
The Dino Holidays series is a fun addition to the Dino Sports universe. These books don't really do much to explain the reason for the holidays featured, instead focusing on some traditions that will be easily recognizable to children who celebrate them. The rhymes are simple and delightful but might go over the heads of some younger readers who are more interested in seeing what seasonal shenanigans the dinosaurs get up to.
This time, Halloween prompts us to consider the fact that this dino society has a pop culture similar to our own. Star Trek, Spider-Man (Spider-Dino?), Beetlejuice, Frankenstein, and Doctor Who exist in the public consciousness alongside superheroes, clowns, and astronauts. Is space travel possible in their world or is it just a story they tell their children and daydream about? If they have reached the stars already, does that mean the space race happened? Some of these costumes also prove the existence of knights, ninjas, pirates, the Wild West, the navy, and a monarchy. There is clearly a rich history and many expansive dinosaur cultures that we are not yet privy to, and I am curious to know more.
This time, Halloween prompts us to consider the fact that this dino society has a pop culture similar to our own. Star Trek, Spider-Man (Spider-Dino?), Beetlejuice, Frankenstein, and Doctor Who exist in the public consciousness alongside superheroes, clowns, and astronauts. Is space travel possible in their world or is it just a story they tell their children and daydream about? If they have reached the stars already, does that mean the space race happened? Some of these costumes also prove the existence of knights, ninjas, pirates, the Wild West, the navy, and a monarchy. There is clearly a rich history and many expansive dinosaur cultures that we are not yet privy to, and I am curious to know more.