Reviewed by Erin Britton

A fun-filled learning lesson about trying, persevering, and supporting friends

Poppy’s Sweet Sibling Story, the seventh book in the Poppy the Toucan series, shares an important lesson through an exuberant chorus of song and dance.

Poppy the Toucan is strutting her stuff in the Mungo Bungo Jungle when she spies her friend Blue Sloppy Foot singing loudly and jumping about like a rockstar.

“His rhythms were strong and his wings did a flutter at the end of each beat. His foot moves were a bit sloppy… but that’s what made them so unique and cool.”

She also spots his younger sister, Suzie Blue Foot, nervously watching the fun from the sidelines. Poppy asks if Suzie would like to join in and is shocked to learn that Suzie is too scared to do so in case she is no good and people laugh at her.

“How do you know what you’re good at if you haven’t even tried?”

Determined to help Suzie overcome her fear and see if she enjoys singing and dancing, Poppy explains the folly of quitting and failing before even trying something new, and she tells the motivational story of the Can-Can basketball team:

“Remember our team the Can-Cans?
They weren’t always the Can-Cans.
They started out as the Cannots
because they were so bad at first!”

Just as the Can-Cans persevered and improved through patience and practice, Poppy suggests that she and Suzie join forces—with Poppy singing and Suzie dancing—to see how much fun they can have. “Now I warn you, I don’t have a great voice, but I promise to sing my heart out anyway and have a wonderful time.” And her plan works!

While the other jungle creatures do initially laugh at the duo’s musical efforts, they quickly decide to join in with them, “and soon enough everyone was hopping up and down and dancing to the rhythms.” And what’s more, Suzie’s newfound confidence and willingness to try fresh things lead to some very exciting opportunities.

Poppy’s Sweet Sibling Story offers a joyful celebration of the benefits of helping friends and working together to have fun and achieve unexpected milestones. While it is the seventh book starring Poppy the Toucan, Madelyn Simon’s canny characterization means that Poppy feels instantly familiar and a joy to be around.

In fact, with all her exuberance, bravery, and zest for life, Poppy is an inspirational role model for young readers. She instantly spots when a friend is in need of help and having her confidence built up, and she’s willing to risk embarrassment to ensure that Suzie doesn’t become stuck in a rut and miss out on the possibility of enjoyment and success.

The moral behind Poppy’s Sweet Sibling Story is clear—never avoid pursuing an interest due to fear and always be willing to help a friend in need—but the story wears its educational aspect lightly. Simon ensures that the story is fun and funny the whole way through. Poppy’s antics are definitely going to entertain youngsters and the people reading with them.

Michael Sherman’s vibrant illustrations enhance the story greatly, particularly when conveying the chaotic movement and compelling joy of Poppy and Suzie’s musical endeavors. It’s no wonder the other jungle animals feel the urge to join in! The color and detail bring the scenes to life and will certainly hold young readers’ attention.

Poppy’s Sweet Sibling Story presents a cheery and hilarious adventure for Poppy the Toucan and her friends, revealing how a spot of bravery can have major consequences and lead in surprising directions. Little readers will love the book’s zany exploits, and older readers will be glad it instills a sense of confidence and a boosted self-esteem.

Thank you for reading Erin Britton’s book review of Poppy’s Sweet Sibling Story by Madelyn Simon! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

Float on a wave of imagination in this vibrant children’s book.

Julian and Ethan are bouncy chipmunk brothers who are always ready for adventure. Lucky for them, Mama is taking them to the museum today.

Lively and excitable, this chipmunk duo hops on a trolley and bounds into the museum expecting one thing only to receive another. They visit portraits and statues, busts and still-life paintings, and they’ve got questions aplenty. And Mama’s got answers. It’s all educational—until it becomes more than that.

Julian and Ethan are excellent role models for how you’d want your kid to approach a day at the museum. They are curious, open-minded, and willing to let their imagination invigorate the trip. This is a book that educates—like about the lack of cameras for portraits back in the day—but also illustrates the magic of imagination.

And speaking of illustrations…The Chubby Bubbies Trip to the Museum is elevated by its vibrant images by Irene Silvino. The chipmunks surf on a colorful wave of imagination from the left side of each page to the right, invoking the image of a ride that will take you to magical places. Imagination is captured so enticingly in this book that many little readers will feel excited at the prospect of riding their own imaginations after reading it.

“The real magic comes when you let your imagination guide you.”

The story can feel a bit transparently educational and inspirational, rather than focused on storytelling, but the characters are bright enough and the illustrations are exciting enough to keep young readers returning to it. It also feels like a surprising choice to call them “chubby,” but not necessarily depict them that way in the illustrations.

When Julian and Ethan are fully swept away into their imaginations, they step into the paintings at the museum and start to rhyme as they do it. I loved this subtle change in the storytelling, where not only are the chipmunks exploring new territory, but they’re experimenting with language and making it fun. This could be a fun conversation to have with your little one—about noticing the sudden rhymes—and then launching into your own imagination-filled rhymes with them.

The Chubby Bubbies Trip to the Museum is a fun-filled trolley ride into imagination land. This could be a great companion book to pair with your own trip to the museum with the kiddos.

Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s book review of The Chubby Bubbies Trip to the Museum by AM Xavier! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Reviewed by Jaylynn Korrell

A charming story about sisterhood, friendship, and two very determined dogs

Even the bravest of dogs can be scared sometimes. Just ask Sydney, a Labrador Retriever who, despite the comfort of her home and her loving human family, struggles with being left alone—especially during storms and bad weather. 

To remedy this situation, her family adopts a new puppy sister to keep Sydney company. But things go awry after her arrival, and it forces Sydney to be the bravest she’s ever been. 

In Sydney, Bean, and the Missing Gloves, Janice E. Collins delves into fear, sisterhood, and the power of friendship—a touching little story that dog-loving children are going to adore.

It feels like there are never children’s books about female dogs! Boys, boys, boys—I’m tired of it! This one isn’t just about one girl dog though—it’s about two!

A sisterhood story for my dog-loving daughters—an excellent match.

Sydney is a strong and independent dog, but she craves stable connection. Bean turns out to be just the dog for her; they balance each other exceptionally well. Bean is young and rambunctious, eager to form a sisterhood. I could have easily read a story that was just them getting to know each other in the backyard, but Collins ups the ante when their human loses an heirloom and suspects the dogs may have nabbed it. 

If I didn’t love Bean already, I fell in love with her even more after seeing how eager she is to find the missing glove. She genuinely wants to make others happy, especially her new family. Her innocence, however, makes her place her trust in an untrustworthy character’s hands and leads her on an adventure she isn’t equipped to succeed in. 

Collins uses this situation to showcase the power of friendship and the strength that comes when you team up with others and work toward a common goal. There are multiple lessons to be learned from this story, but my favorite is about being there for the people (or dogs) around you. Bean and Sydney embody this idea many times, but so do their friends.

Sydney is written with such compassion and apparent love. So many dog owners are all-too familiar with their dog’s fear of intense weather and loud noises. This story will be helpful to kids who have pets with similar issues, as it shows that dogs have feelings similar to those of humans and they deserve to be comforted. 

These heartwarming messages are paired with delightful images of Sydney, Bean, and their friends from around the neighborhood. Their expressive faces really bring the story to life and show how much they care for each other and their family. 

Sydney, Bean, and the Missing Gloves will be a favorite for dog-loving children. 

Thank you for reading Jaylynn Korrell’s book review of Sydney, Bean and the Missing Gloves by Janice E. Collins! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

A valuable, community-driven story about achieving calmness and sleep for kids

Leo might be in third grade, but he’s suffering from something so many people—old and young, you and me—struggle with: a lack of sleep due to an overactive mind. There are so many things to do tomorrow. How can we possibly stop thinking and sleep?

For Leo, many of his thoughts are related to school, sports, and his new favorite club: The Kids Can Club. Gathering in his backyard treehouse, he and a few of his friends eat snacks and plan missions to help those who need it in their community. Sometimes that means helping new kids at school feel welcome, and others they’re helping an adult tend to her garden. This is the kind of club you wish your kid would get into.

When Leo starts falling asleep in class and on the goalpost on the soccer field, he knows it’s time to enlist the help of his friends. It turns out—Iris, another girl in the club, has struggled with sleep too. But her mom had an excellent strategy for helping her calm down and get some rest. Would he like to try it? 

Soon, Leo and the gang gather at Iris’s house to learn from their mom and, hopefully, make a change for the better.

This is one of those rare kids’ books that’s infused with self-help tips while it tells an interesting story of a lovable kid. Iris’s solution is what some grown-ups might call “Progressive Muscle Relaxation,” but to Iris, it’s “Scrunch Up Five—Unscrunch.” 

At Iris’s house, the kids lie down and focus on tightening muscles in their body for five seconds, breathing, and then releasing. It’s a powerful strategy that is easy to replicate and see the benefits of. That much is clear the moment Leo falls asleep right there on Iris’s floor.

The Scrunch-Up exercise is outlined in detail and is given multiple pages of enactment. By mirroring the time and breathwork required to do it, the book teaches kids to slow down and give the practice its due time just while reading the book. Parents, guardians, and teachers will be encouraged to mimic the physical activities with their little ones, the ultimate teaching moment to practice what you preach. Parents are going to be glad to have a tool like this at their disposal. 

One potential downfall to this, too, is that the action gets a little repetitive on the page. We follow through on multiple scrunch & unscrunch exercises, which means we read a lot of the same stuff. Since it’s a reading experience that’s best combined with the physical activity itself, this makes sense, but it does result in a few extra pages than is needed to tell the story.

Sleep is such an incredibly important facet to our mental and physical health, and that goes double for kids. If your child is clearly having a hard time sleeping, this could be the answer you’re looking for. And since it’s got such a community-driven message, you’ll be doubling up on its usage—teaching sleep strategies and encouraging helping others.

Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s book review of Leo Gets His Nighttime ZZZs by Christine Corrigan Mendez and Jen Monika McCurdy! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

A touching fable with lovable characters, good advice, and the power to endure

Wally isn’t invited to play with the others at the playground. Some call him a slow-poke; they don’t pick him for the soccer team. And on the way home from his new school, he sits alone on the bus.

“I wish I were special.”

Sitting under a tree outside of his house, he makes a wish that he could be special enough to be included. And special this story becomes.

There appears the Tailor, an elfish creature with a funny hat who provides the tails for all the animals on the planet. Would Wally want one? Is that the special he was looking for?

A snake, coiling down from a tree branch, wouldn’t recommend getting help from The Tailor. “Look what he did to me. I’m nothing but tail.” But with the way Wally’s life has been going, he’s at least willing to try. A monkey tail is great, fun, but the other kids will think it’s unfair. A lion’s tail is impressive, sweeping, but you can’t use your hands or your tail in soccer. Last but not least, maybe a scary alligator tail is best, so no kids pull it. 

In the end, no tail seems right. Snake knows the feeling, starting to weep about his tail-like existence. But maybe it’ll be all right for all of them. Maybe Wally has found his tail after all, a slithery little best friend to show off at school.

A Tail Tale by Christine Kessides reads like your favorite childhood fable growing up. Sure it’s about a mythical creature and a talking snake, but it’s a story about making do with what you have, being creative, sticking together, and overcoming bullying and exclusion. 

This is a story with a big heart and a big mind. It’s enjoyable on the story-level—I’d be surprised if your kid doesn’t remember the lovable elfish Tailor for a long time—but it also has Wally transforming from bullied to confident helper for the down-and-out snake, providing real life advice that he’s had to learn the hard way. 

What should you do when you’re getting bullied? This book teaches the art of looking your bullies in the eye, telling them that you don’t like it, and, if needed, getting an adult involved. I love that we flip the script on Wally without him even knowing it. He doesn’t know he’s learned from the situation until he has the snake to help and take care of. We leave proud of Wally and feeling like it’d be a blessing if our kid acted like Wally recommends in the book.

I couldn’t get out of here without talking about the fun addition of The Tailor. Welcome to the lexicon of forever-memorable fable characters like leprechauns or Rumplestiltskin, Tailor! This friendly elfish character pops up in a funny outfit and feathers peaking out of his pockets, ready to provide Wally a humorous solution that will teach him a lesson in the end. I kept waiting for The Tailor to turn out tricky in some way, but he really is here to help—even if helping doesn’t look as magical as it first appears.

A Tail Tale is a welcome addition to fable canon. Your kids are going to love it, and you are too if you’ve been looking for a good excuse to talk about bullying and inclusion on the playground.

Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s book review of A Tail Tale by Christine Kessides! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

The Bunch is back! And more wholesome than ever!

Sipho, Monica, Jabu, and Jacob get to write their names in book one. It’s a sweet story about sad circumstances: a group of orphans in the countryside are bullied but claim their identity with the simple, powerful act of writing their names in the dirt. That book is wholesome, and this one, the third in the series, comes with the same soft heart.

In book two, the Bunch does something empowering, something to fight back against injustice and gain strength. And now, in The Bundu Bunch Get a Surprise, they’re discovering something to have of their own: an empty field, suitable for a makeshift, private classroom. This turns out to be another meaningful story about appreciating something as simple as an open field.

The orphans’ guardian, Aiyasha, is a wonderful teacher. She’s already taught them how to write using sticks and dirt, but now she’s stepping her game up even more. First, they are learning letters from an ABC book day after day. Then, despite not having any money, she starts coming with supplies: different books, pencils, and paper. The feeling of elation coming from these kids is real the moment they find out they can have their own pencil. This is a wonderful book to read to children to help them see what appreciation looks like first-hand.

The Bundu Bunch series has always featured the topic of bullying, especially from a boy their age named Samu. He calls them hurtful names in both books, and they constantly plan to evade him since he’s so relentless. He is even the victim of the bunch’s triumph in book 2; the kids frame him for stealing sticky buns. 

This is his story too. Something clicks for Samu when the goodhearted Bundu Bunch save him from cobras. The full series then becomes a story of redemption, where Samu is flipping the script on us. It’s great to see his character come full-circle like this, and readers of the full series will be rewarded with that.

Some new readers to the series could stumble over things like transitions and characters. Recollection of the previous books’ storylines (like the cave pool and Samu’s revenge plot) would be helpful. It would be a smart move to refresh your child on the previous books prior to cracking open book three. Luckily, those books are still very good. This series has done so many things well.

More than anything, I love that The Bundu Bunch Get a Surprise allows us to spend more time in this heartwarming feeling. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of reading about these resilient kids finding happiness and resources in small places.

Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s book review of The Bundu Bunch Get a Surprise by Allan Low! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

A bright, lighthearted story about letting your star shine

London’s birthday is coming up, and everyone on the school bus is talking about what they’re going to wear to her costume party. Magicians, superheroes, even ones with a strong familial connection—but London has no idea what she’s going to choose. There are too many options, and she has to get it right. It’s her party.

Who else comes to the rescue than the superhero in most kids’ lives? Her mom! “You, my love, are one of a kind. / Like a star in the sky, you’re a unique design.” London learns that being herself could be the best way forward—for this party and for always. 

This young girl loves science and technology, so how easy it is to decide when she considers following that love. Enter: London, the interstellar astronaut! On party day, she’s shining just like her friends and classmates are, but each in their own way. The party is a smashing success as London is beaming from ear to ear and they march down the street in their own impressive, colorful parade. It’s truly a birthday to remember.

There are different kids’ books for different occasions. There are ones that teach, that amaze, that entertain, that help your little ones consider things from new perspectives. But the ones I’m always eager to read are the lighthearted ones! The issue London encounters is real and commonplace while not weighing the book down in the least. Any kid will be glad to spend time in this vibrant little story about being yourself, no matter what mood they’re in.

The message behind the book is a wonderful one, imparted by an exemplary mother character. Be yourself, and amazing things can happen. London is such a cute, sweet kid, and I love that she’s represented as a science-fanatic. It’s a book that inspires young girls to get into STEM while celebrating everybody’s unique interests and talents. 

The art is adorable enough to hug. The characters are drawn with such personality and buoyancy; you can really feel the elation as London finds herself in her space suit.  These kids are having a blast, and yours will be just as excited at the prospect of dressing up with their friends.

The title doesn’t exactly fit the story being told, but on the story, art, and rhyming levels, it’s about as strong of a kids’ book as you can ask for. It’s got a stellar representation of a caring mother with wise, practical advice that goes beyond just the costume party—“As long as you’re being yourself, you can’t lose.”—and it’s a story that sparks enough imagination on the part of the reader that they will venture to their own dress-up closets moments after finishing it.

Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s book review of Cake, Lemonade, and Sprinkles by Aishah Hight! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

An exciting educational story celebrating the exploration of new places and cultures

Miles cannot contain his excitement about his first beach day in Barbados. The sand is soft and white, and the water is as blue as a dream. But it’s not only the beauty that Miles is about to discover.

Everything feels new to him: from the games the Barbadians play to the sweets they eat and the way they say “things.” Lucky for your curious little reader, Miles is more than willing to ask questions and get answers about what he’s curious about. As he explores this beautiful island and its people, so do you. 

This would be an awesome gift for your child before you go on a Caribbean vacation with them. What a way to start a trip it could be! By reading this book, you show them that learning new things about new cultures is exciting, eye-opening, and fun. It helps that they’re exploring the vibrant, colorful, beautiful world of Barbados at the same time—meeting warmhearted people, eating delicious sugarcane, and seeing green monkeys having feasts in mango trees.

The book is broken up into eight chapters, each covering a different aspect of Barbadian life. And before each chapter, author Jamie Bright includes a discussion question you can ask your little one, like “Why do you think it’s important to care for animals?” and “Have you ever tasted something new and learned about its history?” These discussion questions add great value to this story about the excitement of learning. Not only will kids discover what Miles discovers, they’ll play an active role in perceiving things from his point of view.

This is a book about Barbados by a visiting outsider, a potentially useful gateway for other visitors, but it’s true the culture is more of a tourist’s view of it. Most of the detail and storytelling is told with great care and respect, but Miles does try on some Bajan dialect and this could be cause for caution for those parents reluctant to engage with mimicry of foreign voices. 

Caribbean Sun & Fun in Barbados is a sweet story and a thought-provoking resource for kids who are curious about other cultures. Parents will love Miles’s enthusiasm for learning as well as the active participation that is asked of their child with the discussion questions, and kids will enjoy taking the trip to this culture-rich, beautifully illustrated island in the process.

Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s book review of Caribbean Sun & Fun in Barbados by Jamie Bright! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

Jaw-dropping art, incredible superpowers, and the promise of action—the beginning of something epic! 

Tiki lives in a small village on a small island called TikiTown. He’s a noble kid with integrity—or so he thinks. Lately, he hasn’t felt or acted like himself.

That’s why his big sister Tari sends him into the jungle on a quest to find himself again. But the self he finds isn’t the one he thought he was. This Tiki is a superhero. 

It turns out—he’s been chosen to save TikiTown from a forthcoming, time-traveling supervillain. In the jungle, a spirit named Fetu reveals his destiny and hands over the best superpowers a kid could ask for: time travel, super strength, and super speed. 

But he doesn’t have to do it alone. Tari volunteers her own bravery and intelligence to go against King Lauia, and so do Tiki’s best friends Spookie, Tom Tom, and Phillip. Spookie is the scientific one, Tom Tom is the architect, and Phillip is the dog with some surprising math skills. 

If King Lauia escapes with a magical Toku mask, it’ll turn TikiTown into an ice village. 

“So what time is it?”

“It’s Tiki Time!”

My child has asked me to read Tiki Time every day since we got it. And I don’t blame her! The art is exciting and vibrant, and the characters might be even brighter. Your kid is going to love Tiki & his crew, a heroic group full of personality and expertise. 

If your child loves creative play in the realm of superheroes, they’re going to love adding Tiki to the mix. He might be as powerful as Superman, he’s a kid, and he’s only a time portal away from dinosaurs. 

But for me, it’s the art that steals the show! My goodness, Tiki’s super speed stretches across the page, his punches come with force, and the characters are drawn with such individuality that you’ll remember them for a long time. 

And the danger is real and palpable without being scary. How you’re able to accomplish that when fire is overcoming your town and an evil creature is threatening everything you love is beyond me. This illustrator is incredible.

I do wish we concluded a portion of the story though. We get an introduction to the world, the problem, and our new heroic best friends, but the story pulls up short in favor of enticing us to read the next book. One thing’s for sure regardless: My child and I are definitely going to be checking out the rest of the story in prehistoric times.

It’s My Turn is an explosive first book in what promises to be a vivid, magical adventure series. And lucky for us, we get to see how these lovable side characters put their skills to the test to save TikiTown.

Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s book review of It’s My Turn (Tiki Time) by Creator JJ and Fates! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

Big heroes come in little packages.

Octavius the Octopus is missing. Larry and Kevin, Octavius’s friends and your favorite crustaceans, become even more worried when they realize he isn’t just hanging out with his sweetheart Farrah the Flounder.

All the critters of the great big ocean sound their alarms and search high and (very) low for the octopus they need in their lives and coral garden. Steve the Swordfish is the first to find him, finally!, but he’s trapped in a strong, impenetrable cage. 

Well, impenetrable for most.

Sherri the Shrimp rides in on a seahorse, and she might as well be wearing a cape. While the swordfish has an impressive saw-like nose and the crustaceans have powerful pincers, it’s the littlest one who swims in to save the day.

How many kids feel like they’re too small to make a difference? From an early age, it’s clear to our little people that there are benefits to being big. Stepping over baby gates, reaching counters, retrieving snacks—what is it that big people can’t do? Children could always benefit from a dedicated conversation about how little people can make big differences too. They may not look like the same differences, but they can be even bigger, impacting an entire community. There are so many topics to discuss with our children, and Sherri the Shrimp Saves the Day is a fun, ocean-friendly excuse to tell them you believe in them despite their size.

In addition to being relatable to their everyday concerns, this book is a eye-catching, story-told science lesson too! It can be difficult as a little one to really grasp the size of sea animals, especially the small ones. With art like this and what Sherri does to save the day will teach your little kid that those sea creatures they see as stuffed animals and cartoons can be about as minuscule as they come. Sometimes it takes a human item, like a lock, to help them picture how small they really are.

If you’re reading this book for the first time, the images of the cage and the panic from the characters may make you nervous. It is a pretty intimidating topic to cover with little kids—that humans catch sea creatures and take them away from their communities, often for them to eat—so this is a conversation you should be aware of going in. One of the only drawbacks for me here is the illustration of Farrah, a kissy-face, big-lipped, fake eyebrow-donning romantic interest. Overall, the illustrations are strong and add great value to the story, but the Farrah character left me wanting.

Sherri the Shrimp Saves the Day will be an enjoyable read for your kid, especially if they have something to learn about feeling small and inconsequential. If there’s a better role model than this infinitesimal shrimp who saves an octopus’s life, show me.

Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s book review of Sherri the Shrimp Saves the Day by George J. Linsenmeyer! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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