A Sad Goodbye

It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing the end of Cozy Little Book Journal. I will no longer be reviewing, tweeting about, or blogging about books. Period. This means the end of all of my secondary blogs as well, I'm afraid.

I'm so sorry to all of the authors and publishers who were counting on me to promote the countless books they've sent me over the years, and I'm sorry to all of the readers who have come back to my blog again and again. I appreciate all of your support and encouragement and I'm so sorry to disappoint anyone. I assure you I did not take this decision lightly.

Most people don't realize this but I've not been well for several months now. I've had medical issues that have impacted my life in various ways and I really need to focus on my health now. For a long time, blogging seemed like a good fit for me. I could read and review books even when I was too ill to do much else. Lately, however, the stress of all of my book-related commitments, combined with feeling physically ill and emotionally exhausted, has made it a hobby that I dread more than I treasure. I've hated having reading turn into a chore instead of a joy.

Apart from health concerns, I've also gotten tired of a lot of other aspects of having a book blog. I'm sick of having authors' friends call me an idiot on Amazon because I didn't like a book. I'm tired of being sent dozens of crappy book files every month, despite repeatedly telling self-published authors that I'm in no way interested in their Christian children's books or their vampire YA. I'm tired of always being a few hundred books behind in my reading list, then feeling guilty if I choose to read a library book instead of one I'm "obligated" to read. I miss re-reading my favourite books just because I feel like it, instead of trying to speed-read the endless book files I have on my Kobo.

Don't get me wrong. I've loved so much about book blogging. I'd say I've loved it way more than I've hated it. I've loved being a part of a community of committed readers who discuss books with the enthusiasm of sports fans discussing a big game. I've loved interacting with authors, illustrators, publishers and publicists, the majority of whom have been the most amazing and lovely people. I've treasured the moments when my honest excitement for a book can make an author's day, and I've loved when they've taken the time to tell me that. I've been in awe of so many authors and artists and I've felt like I was backstage at a rock concert, getting to exchange letters and emails with my literary heroes.

I've loved sharing this experience with my daughter. She's five, but she never starts a new book without reading not only the title, but also the name of the author, the illustrator and the publisher. I didn't do that when I was her age. She's only a beginner reader herself, but she can already easily identify when a book is written or illustrated by someone she knows because she's come to recognize art styles, writing styles, and author photos. She thinks computers are mostly for downloading book files. I love that.

Nonetheless, I've decided that it is time to take a break from blogging. My daughter is starting school in a few days and I'm trying to stay healthy enough to share each day with her. Of course we'll still be reading and discussing all our favourite books. We just won't be doing it online.

Thank-you again to everyone who has supported and participated in my book blog, in every capacity, over the past four years. Unfortunately it's goodbye for now (possibly forever) but I really appreciate all of you. Thanks for understanding.

The Big Book of Things to Make, by James Mitchem (DK Publishing)

Fantastic! As always, DK Publishing delivers exactly what it promises. This is like the quintessential book of kids' crafts. It's got all those things I vaguely remember from my own childhood (pinhole cameras, bottle rockets), plus a bunch of things I used to know when I was a daycare teacher but have since forgotten (homemade slime, milk art), and a couple of things I just never knew at all (if you make jello with tonic water it glows under UV light -- why?). Basically it's one-stop awesome.

And it has a whole bonus section of "things to do" that includes tips for how to play detective or pirates or even how to make your own board game. You know, for kids who want to better at playing and figure the answer is probably in a book (hint: it totally is). I was that kid. Actually, I still am, which is why I strongly approve of this book.



BOOK DETAILS:
The Big Book of Things to Make
Author: James Mitchem
Publisher: DK Publishing
Publication Date: March 18, 2013
View on Amazon

Source: Edelweiss

Loula and the Sister Recipe, by Anne Villeneuve

Magda and I were big fans of Anne Villeneuve's previous book, Loula is Leaving for Africa, about a wealthy girl with successful but scattered parents, horrible triplet brothers, and a (luckily) attentive chauffeur. If it hadn't been for that chauffeur, I'm not sure anyone would have noticed that Loula had been gone all day (not really to Africa). Once again, it's the driver to the rescue when Loula decides it's time for another adventure. This time, she wants to create a new baby sister for herself, if only she can find the right ingredients.

This one sort of straddles the line between adorable and a little creepy, as Loula and her driver assemble the "ingredients" that Loula has heard are needed to make a baby. She gathers chocolate, candlelight, butterflies, hugs and kisses (with her cat), and of course, her parents. I know it's meant to be cute, but it's a little weird. After all, we the readers know that she's trying to set the scene for her parents to get it on (even if she doesn't quite realize it). And her chauffeur is helping her. It's...a little weird.

In the end her efforts do lead to an addition to the family, except it's in the form of a stray dog. Well, they assume it's a stray and just keep it without question. Again, a little odd.

Nonetheless, the series itself is charming and I'm hoping there will be more Loula books by Anne Villeneuve, even if this particular one isn't my favourite.

Magda's Take:
"I don't think that's going to work. I'm pretty sure that's not how you get a baby sister..."

BOOK DETAILS:
Loula and the Sister Recipe
by Anne Villeneuve
Published by Kids Can Press
Publication Date: August 1, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Also Mentioned In This Review:

View on Amazon.com
Read my review

Feivel's Flying Horses, by Heidi Smith Hyde (ilustrated by Johanna Van Der Sterre)

Oh this is a lovely book! It tells the story of Feivel, a Jewish immigrant who comes to America in the 19th-century, leaving his family behind in Europe, so he can make a better life for them in the new world and hopefully earn enough money for them to come over and join them. A gifted artist, he makes a living carving elaborate and beautiful carousel horses, each dedicated to a member of his family. Finally, he earns enough for his wife and children to join him in New York, where they can finally see his amazing "horses."


Because it's based on real events, the book is of particular interest to children of Jewish families, European immigrants, or those who live in New York, but it is certainly not limited to that audience. The theme of longing and determination expressed through art is a universally relatable one, I think, and I found it very touching. Mostly though, the illustrations are so rich and lovely that it made me want to go on a carousel. What a wonderful book to read in the summertime, when there are merry-go-rounds to ride on at fairs and exhibitions (though perhaps not as amazing and special as the ones in the book)!

BOOK DETAILS:
Feivel's Flying Horses
by Heidi Smith Hyde
Illustrated by Johanna Van Der Sterre
Published by Open Road Media
Publication Date: May 20, 2013
Originally published by Kar-Ben Publishing on January 1, 2010
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Where in the World Will We Go Today? by Heather C. Toner (illustrated by Bill Pazman)

The description of this book sounds ambitious--a children's illustrated journey around the world--but I had high hopes for it anyway. After reading so many wonderful books by DK Publishing I thought the concept had a lot of potential. Unfortunately, this book is definitely not a DK book and it didn't meet even my most meagre expectations. The illustrations are dull and amateur; the rhymes are toneless, shallow and banal; and the "journey around the world" only includes about a dozen countries, most of which only have a few lines of description at best (except for the United States and, confusingly, Tanzania).

If I had to describe this book in a word, it would be "unsuccessful."





BOOK DETAILS:
Where in the World Will We Go Today?
by Heather C. Toner
Illustrated by Bill Pazman
Published by BQB Publishing (Boutique of Quality Books)
Publication Date: September 30, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Rhoda's Rock Hunt, by Molly Beth Griffin (illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell)

Oooh I love this book! Sometimes when a children's book is fantastic, it's hard to find a creative way to say "it's fantastic" because, well, many children's books are. Let's see. What I really mean is "as a parent, there are zero things which annoy me about this book" and "this book would continue to not annoy me, even after reading it forty times." If you're the parent of a preschooler, these are very important factors to consider.

But what kind of fantastic is it? Is it the kind that kids will love but parents will merely tolerate? Is it the kind that is so funny that parents will be laughing out loud but kids won't get the joke? Is it the kind that is educational so parents and teachers will want to read it with kids? I guess it's mostly the last one, but primarily it's a lovely story with lovely illustrations.

A little girl named Rhoda is excited to be going on a big hiking and camping trip with her aunt and uncle, mostly because of all of the interesting rocks she'll find. The only problem is that since they all have so much gear to carry, Rhoda absolutely must be responsible for carrying her own backpack. When her bag inevitably gets too heavy to lift, she'll have to decide which rocks to take and which to leave behind, not an easy decision for an amateur geologist like Rhoda.

My daughter and I both loved the idea of a rock collecting little girl, because we also love finding interesting rocks and seeing what we can learn about them. I also liked the problem solving aspect of Rhoda's journey. She has to leave behind some of her rocks and no amount of fuming is going to get her aunt and uncle to carry her bag for her. They simply can't give in to her frustration because they have their own stuff to carry. On the other hand, they sympathize with Rhoda enough to let her take some time to figure things out on her own. They're pretty great caregivers, those two. Well, they must be, because Rhoda's parents trusted them to take her into the woods for several days without them!

Magda's Take:
"I really loved the part where Rhoda's backpack is too heavy and she was trying so hard to pull it but she couldn't. That was pretty funny."

Book Details:
Rhoda's Rock Hunt
by Molly Beth Griffin
Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell
Published by Minnesota Historical Society Press
Publication Date: October 1, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: Edelweiss

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, illustrated by Rashin

There have been so many interpretations of this classic rhyme, it's hard to imagine a new one would bring anything else to the story. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly is not only silly and a favourite among children, but also utilizes many different consonant blend sounds (fly, swallow, spider, etc.). Past incarnations of the rhyme have had the old lady swallowing all sorts of things: sea creatures, seasonal trimmings, regional fare. So how does Rashin's version, one that doesn't stray from the original words, add anything?

Well I'll tell you. It's the illustrations. For one thing, we get a rare glimpse into how the animals feel about being swallowed! Do they actually chase each other around in her stomach, as the rhyme assures us they should? In this one, they do!

Just when I thought I couldn't be surprised by this familiar verse, I saw the picture of the bird trying to stop the knife-wielding spider from chasing the fly and I almost snorted milk out of my nose. (Okay, it was Diet Coke, not milk, but I should be drinking more milk so I pretended that I was. I wasn't, though. It was soda pop. It hurt when I laughed because of the fizz.)

Rashin Kheiriyeh has managed to bring back a manic joy to a story that I thought was long since exhausted. Well done!

BOOK DETAILS:
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Illustrated by Rashin Kheiriyeh
Published by North South Books
Publication Date: August 1, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Clara's Crazy Curls, by Helen Poole

Clara loves her curly hair but oh, how she wishes she could have MORE of it. Thanks to some conveniently placed hair growth formula found in her parents' bathroom, she gets her wish and more. Before long she has hair that reaches the sky and all the incovenience that comes with it.

She's like a cross between a Robert Munsch character and one from Dr. Seuss (remember Gertrude McFuzz?). How she managed to get her hair to stay upright as it grew past the ceiling I'll never know.

Magda and I enjoyed this book, though I think Magda found the premise of wanting MORE hair a bit perplexing. She had been growing her own hair out so she could donate it to Locks of Love when she eventually had it cut. After months of dealing with tangles, braids, extra brushing and endless blow drying, the day she got it all chopped off was the happiest of her young life!

For more information about the book, visit Capstone Young Readers. And if you happen to be interested in donating hair to Locks of Love, a wonderful organization that makes wigs for sick children, you can visit locksoflove.org.

BOOK DETAILS:
Clara's Crazy Curls
Author: Helen Poole
Publisher: Capstone
Publication Date: January 1, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Callaloo: A Jazz Folktale, by Marjuan Canady (Illustrated by Nabeeh Bilal)

Callaloo: A Jazz Folktale is an "almost" book. I can see where the author and illustrator were going with it, but it didn't quite get there. 

The basic story is that a boy named Winston is eating callaloo, his favourite Caribbean dish, while sitting in his apartment in New York City, when he is suddenly transported to the island of Tobago. And that's when the book gets a little scary. Winston encounters a series of frightening demons and monsters before finally returning home to his kitchen. Upon his return he apparently has learned the value of eating in moderation. Was that what he was supposed to be learning? I guess so. It wasn't all that clear.

I think the idea behind this story (which is based on a play) is that readers are supposed to feel they are transported to another land along with Winston (sort of like Where the Wild Things Are), or that a regular kitchen can have the power of transformation (like Jonathan Cleaned Up and Then He Heard a Sound), but also that we're supposed to learn a lot about the Caribbean islands (like The Drummer Boy of John John). The problem is that the drawings are simple and unsophisticated enough to suggest the book is for very young children, but then the monsters are pretty scary. So the overall message seems to be, "If you eat Caribbean food you may end up in Tobago, which is the scariest place on the planet." I can't help but feel the author intended the book to have the OPPOSITE message. 

Magda's Take:

Magda didn't actually finish this one. We started to read it after she'd had a big lunch and just before she was supposed to take a nap. When she saw that it was about a boy eating a lot of food she declared that she was too full and too sleepy to read this right now. I finished it on my own while she was napping and I'm glad I did because those monster drawings would have definitely scared the crap out of her. (Keep reading to see a couple of the illustrations)

Rosie Writes Backwards, by Eva O'Regan (illustrated by Diane Lucas)

I've been meaning to publish a review of this book for some time but I've been procrastinating just a little. Unlike the overwhelming majority of books I review, this was written by someone I know in real life. Sort of. I met author Eva O'Regan at a my local library where she was doing a book launch event for this book (which is when I agreed to review it on my blog) and it turns out she works in my dentist's office.

I'm not one to sugar coat reviews, and I would never give a dishonest review of a book just because I'd met the author (or for any reason really), but, well...if I didn't absolutely love the book then a lukewarm review could be...awkward. I'd probably have preferred to just not review this book at all, but I already said I would, so here goes. (I assure you it's my honest opinion, but I definitely wanted to give everyone a heads up about any connection I have to the author, in case that changes how you assess my review.)

My daughter and I read this book together and it's, um, okay. The idea is an interesting one: A little girl writes backwards and astounds her friends at school. The entire book is written in mirror letters (THE ENTIRE BOOK) so it comes with a sort of shiny reflective mirror paper thing in the back that you're supposed to use to read the words. The idea is that you put the shiny mirror paper against each page and read the reverse image.

First of all, the shiny mirror thing doesn't work that well. It's awkward to read the book under the best of circumstances. I can only imagine how hard it would be once the reflective paper gets scratched, creased, smudged, or worse--lost. And because the book is paperback it's difficult to keep the reflective page at the exact right angle to read the words. Nice idea, but not the most practical execution.

Also, when I say the entire book is written in mirror letters, I mean the ENTIRE BOOK, not just the parts where Rosie is writing. Personally I think it would have been more successful if the main story were written normally, but maybe the character of Rosie could write things in reverse that readers would have to "decode." That's just my opinion.

As for the story itself, I do like the fact that Rosie's backwards writing is treated as a special talent instead of cause for concern. On the other hand, it probably would have been good if there had been a little bit of conflict for the main character to overcome. Did the kids at school think she was weird? Did her parents worry that she had a learning disability? Was her teacher annoyed that she wasn't writing properly? Although Rosie briefly worries about these things, the reaction from everyone is universally supportive. While that's lovely, it doesn't necessarily make for the most interesting storytelling.

Here's what my daughter had to say:

Magda's Take:
Will I have to know how to write backwards when I start school? I know how to write most of my letters, but I don't know how to write them backwards! Is my teacher going to ask me that? Also, why does the teacher in the book look exactly like the mom in the book? Do you think the illustrator was just drawing herself? The grownups all look the same. That's strange..

Mom's Note:
Magda is right about the adults in the book looking a lot alike. I hadn't noticed that!
As for her fears that she'll "have to" write backwards when she starts school, I've assured her she won't! But it seems like a bit of a missed opportunity to me that the author didn't include a parent resource page at the end about reverse writing, dyslexia, etc. Even a brief note on her website would have been great. Again, just my opinion.

Book Details:
Rosie Writes Backwards
Author: Eva O'Regan
Illustrator: Diane Lucas
Publication Date: September 2013
View on Amazon

Source: review copy from author
Visit Author's Website

Cock-a-Doodle-Oops! by Lori Degman (illustrated by Deborah Zemke)

Who doesn't love a good barnyard tale about animals hatching a plan? In the vein of Click Clack Moo and the Minnie and Moo series, Cock-a-Doodle Oops! is the story of animals who know more about running a farm than their farmer. Well, sort of.

When Rooster goes on vacation for a week (which Farmer McPeeper doesn't seem to notice) the other animals must take turns doing the morning wake-up call. Since none of them can master the rooster's "cock-a-doodle-doo" Farmer McPeeper (who is quite a deep sleeper) ends up sleeping for the whole week. He is grossly unqualified for his job.

Told in non-annoying rhyme (always a bonus for parents) and with delightfully expressive illustrations (Deborah Zemke can get a lot of attitude into cartoon eyes), the book follows each day of the week that Rooster is away. Each morning sounds almost--but not quite--right. There's "cock-a-doodle SQUEAL," "cock-a-doodle MOO," and "cock-a-doodle BAAAA," well you get the idea.

Magda's Take:
"I loved this book! I loved everything about it. I especially liked that the animals were trying so hard to say "cock-a-doodle-doo" but really they were doing pretty well for a sheep and a pig and a cow. I mean just getting the "cock-a-doodle-baa" part is still pretty good! But I think there might be something wrong with that farmer. How can you sleep for a week? It was a good idea at the end when they just called him on the telephone. Those animals are smart."

Keep reading for more details about the book and a peek inside!

Don't Turn the Page, by Rachelle Burk (illustrated by Julie Downing)

If you only read one book about a porcupine baby who reads a story about a bear cub who reads a story about a porcupine baby all year, it should be this one. It's a book within a book, a story and a meta-story, and it's all kinds of adorable!

Sami is a baby porcupine (or is she a hedgehog? Magda and her dad hoped she might be) who doesn't want to go to bed (because she's not even tired!) but she and her stuffed bear do want to read a bedtime story. Just don't call it a bedtime story (because she's not even tired!).

The book they read is about a little bear cub who is getting ready for bed. He gathers his stuffed porcupine (hedgehog?) toy and settles in for a book. And the book he's reading is this book, the one about the porcupine (hedgehog? porcuhog?). So meta.

I just adored this book. It reminded me a little of Snatchabook, another story about forest animals and their bedtime stories. Big thanks to the publicist for sending this one my way!

Magda's Take:

Magda--So do you think the bear in the story and the porcupine know each other in real life? Like, are they friends and their moms wrote this book for them?

Me--I don't know. Maybe.

Magda--I mean "real life" in the story. I know it wasn't really written by a bear.

Me--I know what you meant.

Magda--But then, would a porcupine and a bear cub be friends? A porcupine is pretty tiny compared to a bear. And if it's a hedgehog, that's even smaller!

Me--It's a mystery, honey.

Magda--It really is.

BOOK DETAILS:
Don't Turn the Page!
Author: Rachelle Burk
Illustrator: Julie Downing
Publisher: Creston Books
Publication Date: June 10, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: I was sent a copy by the publicist--thanks, Samantha!

Big or Little? (Board Book edition), by Kathy Stinson (illustrations by Jennifer A. Bell)

Kathy Stinson's (Red is Best, The Man With the Violin) new book, Big or Little? is about an experience that every parent of a toddler or preschooler can relate to: your child feels (and behaves) like a big kid some of the time, but also feels (and is treated) like a little kid other times.

Helping in the garden makes him feel big. Being able to reach the elevator button makes her feel big. But then she has to go to bed when she's not even tired, or he tries putting on a shirt and the sleeves end up in all the wrong places, and it's back to feeling small.

It's the constant struggle of being a toddler (as The Honest Toddler will attest).

I say that parents will relate to it, but I can't guarantee that kids will admit to it (even though these are things they go through ALL THE TIME). When I read it to Magda I asked what things made her feel big or little. She said, "I'm four, Mommy. I'm BIG. FOUR IS BIG, Mommy." She probably just didn't want to admit to anything, in case it was a trick question to get her to take a nap when she wasn't tired.

BOOK DETAILS:
Big or Little?
Author: Kathy Stinson
Illustration: Jennifer A. Bell
Publisher: Annick Press
Publication Date: January 9, 2014 (Boardbook edition)
(Originally published March 1, 1983, by Annick)
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

MENTIONED IN THIS REVIEW:

The Honest Toddler
(my review)

Red is Best

The Man With the Violin
(my review)

Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm (A New English Version), adapted by Philip Pullman

The Grimm Brothers are having a real moment in pop culture right now. There are numerous movies and television shows with dark fairy tale themes, including one simply called Grimm. There's the Grimm trilogy by Adam Gidwitz. There's even a take on The Three Billy Goats Gruff called The Bully Goat Grim. And then of course there's this new collection of Grimm fairy tales by Philip Pullman.

I say "new" but of course the stories are very old. The Brothers Grimm themselves did not originate most of these stories, but gathered them from many sources, travelling around listening to tales. So Pullman warns us not to be too precious about the "right" version of these stories.

"A fairy tale is not a text," he says in his introduction. Each storyteller who repeats a fairy tale has the liberty--nay, the obligation--to tell it in his own way with his own embellishments. In this collection, Pullman has striven to stay true to the spirit of the original fairy tales rather than worrying about the exact wording or details.

He's also included a lot of stories that I had never heard before, such as "Hans-my Hedgehog." I was excited about that one because my daughter, Magda, is in love with a hedgehog character that her father created for her in a series of stories (which are sadly not available outside of our house, as much as I'd love to see him publish them). The Grimm Brothers' take on a hedgehog was, uh, less charming. In true Grimm fashion, it was a little horrifying. I didn't tell Magda.


BOOK DETAILS:
Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm
A New English Version
Author: Philip Pullman (adapted by)
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
(Published by Viking November 8, 2012)
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley


MENTIONED IN THIS REVIEW:

A Tale Dark and Grimm
(review coming soon)

In a Glass Grimmly
(review coming soon)

The Grimm Conclusion
(review coming soon)

The Bully Goat Grim
(review coming soon)

Grimm (TV)

Once Upon a Time (TV)

Maleficent (2014)

Snow White and the
Huntsman (2012)

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Cupcake Cousins, by Kate Hannigan (illustrated by Brooke Boynton Hughes)

I read this to Magda, who is four, and she loved it, but the target audience is probably around ages 7-9. It's a great chapter book overall, with just a few minor problems (in our opinion).

First of all, at nearly 300 pages it's quite long for a children's chapter book. Of course some of those pages are recipes or illustrations, but still.

Second, most of the characters have flower or plant names (Rose, Willow, Violet, etc.) but since it's hard to come up with plant-themed boy names, the little brother in the book is called Sweet William. Although I've seen that conceit used to great effect before (have you seen the movie The Hanging Garden? It's great), it did get very annoying that he was called that Every. Single. Time. Not once did they just call him William or Will. Does it say Sweet William on his birth certificate? Also, it didn't help that he was the worst character in the book. He was five but he acted (and was treated) like he was two, in that nobody ever reprimanded him for all of the horrible ways he screwed everything up. My four-year-old was a little insulted by how useless the five-year-old in the book was.


But on the plus side, the characters of Willow and Delia (the so-called Cupcake Cousins, though they seem to make everything BUT cupcakes) are great. And I loved that Delia comes from a mixed race family and it's NBD. Willow likes the fact that even though they have different hair and skin colour, she and her cousin still look a lot alike and have the same eyes. In real life, lots of families and extended families are racially diverse, but that's something you almost never see represented in children's books. I liked that a lot.


BOOK DETAILS:
Cupcake Cousins
Author: Kate Hannigan
Illustrator: Brooke Boynton Hughes
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: May 13, 2014
View on Amazon

Source: NetGalley

Pig and Small, by Alex Latimer

Oooh I love Alex Latimer! My whole family absolutely fell in love with Lion vs. Rabbit and now he's on our permanent watch list. As in, we always watch for any new books by him and try to get them as soon as possible. Well he has a new picture book coming out in August and we're all so excited! (We're especially excited because I got an advanced digital review copy from NetGalley--yay!)

Pig and Small is the story of a pig (Pig) and his new friend, a tiny bug named Small. They enjoy each other's company but it takes them a while to figure out what kinds of activities they can enjoy together without their size difference being a problem. Small tries knitting a sweater for Pig but it's far too little. They try hide-and-seek but Pig can't find Small for days. They try playing chess but it takes too long for Small to move the pieces. They're starting to worry that it's hopeless.


Luckily they figure it out and a beautiful friendship is born. Awwww.

I read this with my four-year-old, Magda, and she and her dad (who was listening from across the room) both had the same reaction. They both thought that Small reminded them of the character of Very Small Beetle, one of Rabbit's "friends and relations" from The House at Pooh Corner. Very high praise indeed!

Magda also pointed out that in the scene in which Small tries to play chess, his opening move is to (try to) move the queen, which isn't a very good opening play so his game of chess probably wouldn't have gone well anyway. (Magda's dad has been teaching her to play chess and both of them are always excited when they see chess mentioned in story books.)


BOOK DETAILS:
Pig and Small
Author/Illustrator: Alex Latimer
Publisher: Peachtree
Publication Date: August 1, 2014
View on Amazon

 Source: NetGalley
Author's blog
Publisher's website


MENTIONED IN THIS REVIEW:

The House at Pooh Corner

Chess Teacher

ALSO BY ALEX LATIMER:

Lion vs. Rabbit
(my review)

The Boy Who Cried Ninja
(review coming soon)

Penguin's Hidden Talent
(review coming soon)