Review: Dozers Don't Doze by Melinda Lee Rathjen and Illustrated by Gareth Williams

Fans of cars, trains, and construction vehicles will love this bedtime board book about a little bulldozer who won't go to sleep.

All kinds of vehicles take breaks, naps, and snoozes—but not bulldozers! Dozers don't need to go to bed, at least that's what the bulldozer who narrates this humorous book thinks. The self-assured dozer brags that it doesn't need sleep, but gets sleepier and sleepier as it lists all the other vehicles that do need rest: race cars make pit stops, trains stop in their tracks, tractors hit the hay, and more.

The conclusion to Dozers Don't Doze, in which the dozer ultimately dozes, will entertain little ones and please parents; the illustrations of sleepy machines may even lull children to sleep despite their own efforts to resist dozing.

Review

If your child loves all types of vehicles, then this cute board book will appeal to their senses through these beautiful illustrations. For that child who has trouble sleeping, this is a nice message to encourage children how important sleep is. Even though the narrator thinks he doesn't need to sleep, he sees things different as he talks about other vehicles and gets sleepy himself. Follow along this fun story that will hopefully be a bedtime story that they will fall straight to sleep.

This book is 24 pages and is ideal for your baby through 3 years old.

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Review: Where's My Christmas Tree? by Bob Holt

Unwrap a smile with this board book about a little penguin who discovers that the joy of Christmas and the love of friends are all they’re stacked up to be.

In Where’s My Christmas Tree? a little penguin wants nothing more than to see a Christmas tree, but where will he find one in his Antarctic home? After his exhaustive search, his friends take action to help. Bringing together the pure joy of Christmas anticipation, a simple quest, and friends who will do whatever they can to make you smile, this board book is the ticket to a bit of holiday happiness.

Review

Where's My Christmas Tree is a cute board book about a penguin who's excited about Christmas until he realizes there's no tree. With the help of some special friends and a little bit of Christmas magic, they bring the joy of Christmas with a sweet gift.

This was a fun story that had colorful illustrations and was nice to follow along. It really was the highlight for me of the book. It made it more engaging and complemented the colorful text. This will be 20 pages. The suggested age is 1-4.

Review: Kobee Manatee: Climate Change and The Great Blue Hole Hazard by Robert Scott Thayer and illustrated by Lauren Gallegos

In this adventure, we see Kobee the Manatee head off to Belize with some friends to help clean up plastic litter around his cousin's cafe. As always, the beautiful illustrations draw you into these wonderful characters that make the experience inviting and fun. Not only a fun adventure but the fun facts along the way are a great way of learning that complement with education on climate change, plastic pollution and the affect it has on the oceans inhabitants.

If you haven't checked out one of Kobee's adventures, than you are missing out. Overall, this was another wonderful addition to the collection. This is recommended for children ages 4-8.

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Review: Dream Big, My Precious One by Jill Roman Lord and Illustrated by Brittany E. Lakin

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Summary

Celebrate the hopes and dreams you have for your little one with this rhyming picture book that inspires children to dream big, work hard, and trust in God.

In Dream Big, My Precious One, a narrator wonders what a young child will enjoy as he or she grows up—sports, art, music? The narrator imagines all of the incredible things the child could become, from "a doctor or zoologist, a nurse or archaeologist" all the way to "a preacher sharing God's good news, a captain on a sailing cruise, a vet to cure sick kangaroos!" Upbeat and playful, this book will inspire children to passionately pursue their dreams, knowing that God will be with them every step of the way.

Review

Everything about this book is so beautiful. If every parent read and shared this encouragement, kids would know they could be or do anything. I love the illustrations. They are fun and will draw interest to the pages. I especially love the page at the beginning that shows the mom and her son. It truly sets the tone for the book. That moment between the parent and child, the sharing of possible hopes, dreams, and experiences they may have for them is so wonderful. The message to dream big and the endless possibilities of what could be is so inspiring. I’d recommend this book for all parents.

Age Ranges: 3 - 6

Pages: 32

Review: The Bedtime Chronicles: Legend of the Dadman by Derek Siskin and illustrated by Jamie Sale

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Summary

The Bedtime Chronicles is a new children’s book series that brings a unique and innovative spin to the traditional rhyme book genre. Inspired by the creative wordplay and style of hip-hop music, the series centers on the Rimes family: parents – Stan and Pam, their kids – Benny and Mary Lou, and Benny’s stuffed animal bunny, Hip-Hop. Each tale takes place at night as Benny requests a bedtime story – and in every book, a different family member takes him on a hilarious, rhyme-filled adventure meant to capture the imagination.

What’s more, The Bedtime Chronicles isn’t just for kids. With clever illustrations and pop culture references sprinkled throughout each book, it also appeals to those often-overlooked individuals responsible for the buying and reading of said books… the parents! Imaginative, funny, cool, and musical - The Bedtimes Chronicles is truly fun for the whole family. Legend of the Dadman is the first book to be released in The Bedtime Chronicles series.

Review

Legends of the Dadman, the first book in The Bedtime Chronicles series, isn't your traditional children's book. Inspired by the rhyme of hip hop, the book is innovative and fun not only for your child but for the parents as well. What I thought was fun for the parents were the pop culture references that will leave you feeling nostalgic and the play on rhymes give the story its uniqueness. The illustrations were colorful and fun. You really feel like you get to know the family. I love the familial bond and how a bedtime story can bring them together. The book inspires the idea of how fun bedtime stories can be.

Overall, it was a different spin on the traditional story. I look forward to see what the next book in the series will bring. The idea of each future book's bedtime story being told from a different family will keep this series fresh and unique. If you are looking for something fresh and different for a bedtime read, check this out.

Review: Perfect Patchwork Purse By Corey Ann Haydu and Illustrated by Luisa Uribe

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Summary

Family magic saves the day for best-friend-cousins Del and Alma in the third Hand-Me-Down Magic book! With adorable illustrations and short, easy-to-read chapters, this series is perfect for fans of Ivy & Bean and Dory Fantasmagory.

Alma knew it the first time she saw it: The patchwork purse in the window of the Curious Cousins Secondhand Shoppe was magical. Special. Perfect. But when her friend Cassie spots the purse and buys it, what could Alma do but agree that the purse really did look just right on Cassie?

Del decides it’s up to her to bring some homespun magic back into Alma’s life, and she’s got just the plan to do it. After all, she is the EXPERT on magic!

All she needs is some glitter and lots and lots of glue . . . because she knows magic can always come from the most unexpected places, but most importantly, that best-friend-cousins never let each other down.

Review

This was a pleasant surprise. This was my first experience with the series. Perfect Patchwork Purse, is the third book in Corey Ann Haydu's Hand-Me-Down series. There is so much to love about this book. Anything involving something magical always brings fun to a book. The story was one that was easy to follow and had some wonderful takeaways that makes you want to follow. The beautiful friendship between the girls, familial loyalty and the willingness to be a true friend really shine throughout. One of the best parts of the book is the beautiful illustrations by Luisa Uribe. The girls are so adorable and give off a warm welcoming that you feel like you want to be there friends. There is a sneak peek in the end with the introduction to the upcoming book in the back, The Mysterious Tea Set. I'd recommend this book and series. The book is recommended for ages 6-10.