3 ⭐ Once again I find it hard to believe this was Kelly Clarkson. The song, the little ditty, absolutely. But the rest I think had help. It rhymes there‘s a cadence. The story is OK. I don‘t think it‘s anything special. I do wonder though why they changed illustrators. Illustrations are nice but now this new illustrator must try and match the artwork of the first book and that seems really odd. It makes me wonder what happened.

3 ⭐ I question how much help Kelly Clarkson had on this book. One it does not sound like Kelly Clarkson. Except for the lullaby. The lullaby sounds like Kelly Clarkson. This book has a decent cadence and rhymes well, but it does not sound like Kelly Clarkson. I especially say this because of how big they‘ve written Grammy award winning artist on the cover and how her biography lists all of her accolades in the music business.

3 ⭐ Silly Street is just like dirt on my shirt. It‘s a collection of children‘s poems. However, this collection has a theme. It‘s of walking down the silly street. It‘s a different shop you‘ll meet. Different things to do in kids to hang out with too. This book is more successful because there‘s a coherent theme where dirt on my shirt fell very cobbled together.

3.5 ⭐This is a collection of children‘s poems. Much in the vein of where the sidewalk ends or anything by Shel Silverstein. Jeff foxy does an admirable job. I do think that sometimes his poems are half thought of or feel like they‘re missing the ending But overall, they are a nice pleasant read. I think kids will like them and the illustrator does a great job bringing them to life. I‘m not sure how well you hear Jeff Foxworthy voice.

3.5 ⭐In this, we have a child who is trying to get a science experiment done. But her experiment keeps getting wrecked by their dog. While our kid knows they are the best scientist their neighbor has been the one winning all the awards. And the neighbor is the one saying you can‘t be a scientist. But our main character is out to prove them wrong. And the dog is always there to help and sometimes hinder the project along. This book was fun.

4.5 ⭐ This would be so much fun at story time. For me this would probably go on rotation. The cadence is masterful the rhymes all work. Add the illustrations in this book are close to perfect. It‘s funny it‘s entertaining. It has heat and not only will kids, but I and other adults will love it too.

4 ⭐This is a getting ready for bedtime book. Scooby Doo is ready for bed, but he must contendwith things like a bump in the night first. Sometimes they‘re his own tail and sometimes there is Shaggy raiding the fridge. One of my favorite parts is that this is written by Michael Dahl and in the end when Scoob is ready for a bedtime story, he reads bedtime for Batman, which is one of my favorite Michael Dahl books.

4 ⭐ This book is a reverse of things that go bump in the night. This time you have a creature of the night trying to go to bed who hears things, and his mom has to explain what they are. This is a nice change of pace. This book is handled beautifully by the illustrations that are both at once creepy, but heartfelt that kids will love. It‘s like Halloween every day and I am here for it.

4 ⭐These books are all about the illustrations. And it‘s the illustrations that make them so wonderful. There are many of these pictures I would hang on my wall. Each page shows one word and something the Sasquatch and the the lumberjack are doing together. And while the words are simple, it‘s the illustrations that bring everything to life. Seriously art for my walls is needed immediately.

4 ⭐Jane Yolen is a master storyteller. Along with the illustrator in less than 20 words, they can have a book from beginning to end. It‘s a perfect book for bedtime for that last push right before sleep.

3.5 ⭐ This is a story of a bear and a woodpecker. Bear needs to sleep and accidentally destroyed the woodpeckers‘ home. The woodpecker needs to build. Between the two of them, the bear is not getting to sleep. This results in name-calling. While the bear starts it out, the woodpecker completes it. And fuzzybutt is born. However, the woodpecker apologizes and the two find a happy balance. As someone with a woodpecker in their yard,

3.5 ⭐ there was glitter on every page. Gloria, the rhinoceros loves glitter and know that‘ll make everybody happy. But glitter spreads. Once it touches one thing it sure to be on everything. And at one point in the book the other characters get a little annoyed, but I‘ll end up being happy because glitter makes you happy. Part of this book rhymed part of it didn‘t. I just wish the story was better. That illustrations are lively and fun.

4 ⭐ Joe is a little boy. A little boy who is tired of being considered amazing. He‘s just a normal kid. He‘s no more amazing than his best friend. But he constantly gets told how amazing he is. What Joe is is a one-legged student. Joe is different but being different is normal. Being different is not amazing. Save amazing for when things are amazing. The message in this book is fantastic. The message is treat me like everybody else.

4 ⭐This book is about a book. This book does not want to tell a story. However, the pages of the book want a story. And they help the book find the words he needs to make the story. This book was just fun. It says it was written by the daughter of the author challenging him to write a book with no story. And they did a successful job. The illustrations are wonderful the contents of the book whether story or not are a great funny read.

⭐ 🌟 ⭐ 🌟5 ⭐
Where was this book when I was a child. As a 46-year-old woman I am all in my feels about a book that makes me 11 again. I am lucky that I did not have Ellie‘s mother, but my aunt and my grandmother were just like her. Ellie is a girl who is not small. She‘s been big all her life. She‘s been picked on by people at school, people in neighborhood, and even her mother. This constant referring of “you could be pretty if you lost weight”.

4.5 ⭐ You know that feeling when you have waited too long to read a really good book. I‘m living that now. I‘ve had Thornhedge since it came out and I already know I love T. Kingfisher. But no, I waited on this. The story that this woman can put in 111 pages. It‘s sweet, it‘s uplifting, it‘s happy, it‘s fascinating. Let the adjectives continue. This is a sleeping beauty retelling that imagines a different villain and a different reason

4.5 ⭐Once again, this man hits it out of the park. I wish he would write more children‘s books. He has such a creative mind and such a way with words. In this book, our character gets a new teacher. The new teacher is kind of gruff and our main character goes into some pretty crazy stories. But how much is true how much is not? Weird Al can tell a story, whether he‘s rhyming them to polka music or putting them in a book, this man makes words

4.5 ⭐ I love this book when it first came out. I still love it now. It‘s weird Al so you know his cadence and his storytelling is on point the story itself while some may consider long. It flows so well that while it‘s as wordy as an Eminem song, it goes as fast as a word page. Weird Al is able to weave magic in these pages. And the ending makes my heart go pitter patter my eyes tear up and make me go.

4.5⭐ I am impressed. This is a very good children‘s book. It has a cadence, it rhymes, but it has an important message that kids need to hear. That you can be multiple things. That you are more than just what people think you are. I love the letter in the back of the book from LeBron. That says you may think I‘m a basketball player, but I am more than!. I do believe he has another picture book called IPromise and before making my final thoughts on

4 🌟 This is a redeeming story that would be immensely fun story time. About a Sandcastle who get squished and has to rebuild themselves and gets frustrated and they get squished again, but they find out that when you have a friend The rebuild is better and stronger. I love the mess in this book. I love the artwork in this book and this book just works. I understand why it is on many best books lists for 2024.

⭐ 🌟 ⭐ 🌟5 ⭐
This book is a master class in wordless storytelling. This book is about a dog that needs to be walked, and the kid that doesn‘t want to walk them. Unlike some books where every single page is different this book both has one and double page illustrations as well as a page of graphic novel, like illustrations that move the smaller points of the story through faster.

2.5 ⭐I have to say I‘m not impressed by an author I normally like. This is a picture book by Melissa Marr, who wrote the Wicked Lovely series and other well received a series. I believe this is her second picture book, but someone needs to take her pen away. Each page or staza that starts with a cadence and then she blows the last line. Nowhere even remote. Doesn‘t even try. I‘m not saying it has to perfectly rhyme but when you start a cadence,

4 ⭐ Backing can be treacherous. Whether you‘re making screams or cake, things can go wrong. But a good baker always rises to the occasion just like a good loaf of bread. In this case, our baker is a monster and their ingredients are a bit specialized. Who knew worms could move so fast. This book is a fun fit for any reader.

3 ⭐ This is a sequel book to Something Wrong. This book is fine. It‘s over long by a lot. One of the characters is one that I think talks to hear themselves speak. But they do it in the guise of helping their friend. That is the important lesson to learn. It also shows that someone can say they‘re fine when they‘re not fine, but at what point is the line of finding out what fine actually means.

⭐ 🌟 ⭐ 🌟5 ⭐
There is a reason this author has a Caldicott. The illustrations in this book are phenomenal. It‘s the illustrations that make the story. A child is playing at home with their parent. And the other becomes the ocean and the story moves from there. Who needs to do housework when you can play pretend. This is a fabulous story that while simple will have a place in the heart of parents who read it to their children.

3 ⭐This book is nothing new. It‘s about a little kid that needs to go to bed. In this case, the kids a bulldozer. The book goes through all the trials and tribulations of getting bulldozer to go to bed until they find just the right accommodation. The best thing about this book or the illustrations. Otherwise, this book is the same. It‘s been done by others done better done worse. But it‘s nothing new and nothing exciting.

⭐ 🌟 ⭐5 ⭐ 🌟
I might need to buy this one for my niece. The big brother is telling a story and does a fabulous job telling and rhyming. And then the sister interupts. This happens frequently and the brother goes with it and changes his story to match his sisters in interjections. But by the end, the brother is fed up until he realizes how much of a genius his sister is. This book is genius. Flat.It has an amazing story and great illustrations.

4 ⭐ This is the book that starts off the Princess and Ogre series. We are introduced to the ogre and while much of the kingdom is afraid the princess is not. She knows a good party when she sees one, and if she‘s going to spread the happiness of the ogre‘s appearance with everyone. There are so many things to like about this book. I like that there are two kings. That they have their princess. And that while the ogre may be scary looking, they are

4 ⭐ This book is way too long for Storytime however it is a nice primer on the history of Juneteenth. In fact, I learned that there was a Juneteenth flag that I never knew till this book. It is technically an alphabet book, but I think that‘s the frame they used to get the lessons across. It works and will help educate students on why Juneteenth was important.

3 ⭐This book is typical of the series. It‘s a skim over of Katherine Johnson ‘s life and why she is important to history. There is nothing new here that can‘t be learned from watching the movie hidden figures. However, it mentions that her dad didn‘t or couldn‘t finish school and I want to know why. I do wish it times these books went deeper in or found reasons for the more interesting tidbits and did more than just skim over a person‘s life.

3 ⭐ This is a typical call and response book. The child asked the mommy a question and the mom gives a simple answer. This book has been done before. And there‘s nothing wrong with revisiting an old tropes. The illustrations really make this cute and interesting to pay attention even if the words are ho hum.

4 ⭐ This is a fun rhyming book about chalk art. How chalk art can make even the greatest city seem vibrant and colorful. But it‘s OK if rain comes and washes it away because there‘s more fun to be had with new colors and new pictures. This book was lovely. I like the artwork on the inside, but I think it needs a different cover.

3 ⭐ This book either you will love or hate. There is nothing wrong with this book being for children although many may see it as an adult parody. But I don‘t really feel it‘s a book for adults. Each page is a different color and a description of how death, the character, used that color or what that color represents. Like yellow caution tape or white face paint in Victorian times.

2 ⭐ This book reminds me of the anti-drinking ads from my childhood. A fun cartoon character to point out all the way that this is bad for you. It‘s like going to DARE all over again. It didn‘t work then what makes one think it‘ll work now. This book is informative and well done. I do hate how the story is pretty much repeated in the end, which is pretty typical of Julia Cook.

4 ⭐This is an ABC book. Each letter is a different food from all over the world. It‘s not just what people think of in America. It‘s not nuggets and grilled cheese, etc. At the end, they give a little explainer of some of the foods in case it‘s not something the reader‘s parent immediately recognizes. The Chibi illustrations also worked perfectly with this book to gain the attention of a toddler.

4 ⭐ Cranky chicken and their worm friend are back. This time they have a new friend named Wags and Wags is not what you think it is. These books are just fun for beginning readers. The soft illustrations that look like they were done in crayon really play up the story and will have kids wanting the next one in line.

4 ⭐This is the true story of Carol powder. How growing up her grandfather taught her to drum and the importance to her heritage of drumming. Carol carries this skill into the future to remind people that women are just as an important native heritage as the men are. Illustration of this book are lively and colorful and match the storytelling. It also includes notes at the end about both the creation, the history of drums, and about the author.

4 ⭐ This book is about a penguin who is tired of cold fish for breakfast lunch and dinner. They sat out on an adventure to discover new foods and new spices. Once found he takes them back home to introduce to the other penguins. This story works on all levels. The pictures are fun and it has a nice quiet lesson for all kids. Altogether this book just works.

3.5 ⭐ This is a bad ghost who‘s afraid. But one year when he doesn‘t get what he most wants from his family, he decides the only way to ensure that is to become less afraid. He spends the year slowly building up stamina so that he can join his family to get what they most desired. Occasionally, there‘s a setback, but the setbacks make him stronger in the end. This is a great message. The story is a little long, but in total

4 ⭐ This is a wonderful look. It‘s about various types of plants and a little girl who receives new ones frequently. The rhyme that tells the story is well done and perfect for the audience. The little plant tags with the types of plants are a genius idea that goes perfect with the story.

3 ⭐ This picture book is more for second grade. It‘s a longer story about how Beth came to colonize a bridge in Austin Texas. Illustrations are lovely. The story is nice. It‘s too long for storytime but altogether works and kids will find it interesting.

2 ⭐ This is a colon response picture book. I‘m reading it in Board book version, and I do not think it works very well. The colon response nature for kids who can‘t necessarily answer doesn‘t work for me. The story is typical and so are the illustrations. The story is nice, but it‘s nothing special.

#IllinoisReads

3⭐This should be a typical picture book, but it‘s odd that the story starts on the title page. And if you don‘t need the title page, then it feels like you started in the middle of the story. I‘m not a huge fan of the way. The story is laid out, but I do like how it rhymes in the illustrations are quite lovely plus the info bits of how the ifferent animal sleep and sleep required of kids at the end is a great addition to this story. #IllinoisReads

3.5 ⭐This is a wonderful book. It‘s meant more for about second grade than for reading nightly at bed. It is a little long, but it needs to be long for the purpose of the story. I really like how in the very end, not only does the author give her recipes for sauce and for chutney there‘s also information about tomatoes, information about farmworkers and a note from the author themselves. I can picture Padma in my head while I‘m waiting this.

3 ⭐ It‘s hard to call this a celebrity author or a celebrity picture because it‘s the song by a singer put in picture of a format. It‘s fine. The song was a hit for multiple years with the Happy Feet movie and yes this book was checked out like crazy. Is there still place for it? Yes… but I have a feeling this is one that when Library copies fall apart, they will not be replaced. I do like that they use real pictures in the book that are set to a

2.5 ⭐This is written by a celebrity author, and it feels that way. If you‘re old enough, you may remember Saturday morning specials or those after school specials where they get a celebrity to come in and teach a very valuable lesson. They were almost always cheesy and overacted. If you put that into a book, it would be this book. First off this book is massively too long for a picture book.

3 ⭐ This book is fine. It‘s what I would say it‘s a typical picture book. I think this could come from any picture book author. Knowing that the author is Hilary Duff, her history as a child entertainer is what makes this sound so traditional. She lived and breathed what keeps children interested or what message children need to see while being a child herself. Now as an adult she can look back on it and use that experience to make a picture

3 ⭐This book is overly long. It reads more like a book that should be spoken word then should be a written. There are times it feels like part of the story is missing and it‘s letting the illustrations do the work. Which can work, but in a book this wordy it feels like a missed thought instead of purposeful. The other thing is the stereotypical southern style dialogue. It‘s the colloquialism like wheat, cinnamon, cinnamon biscuits, etc that is

3 ⭐Another great simple easy reader. It is a level two Step Into Reading and if fits in that level quite well. Kids will enjoy it and it has a superb message.

3 ⭐This is an easy reader that fits in perfectly with the other purple books. The purple books always talk about the importance of asking questions of yourself and of others. Questions big and question small. In this book they notice that even puppies and other animals have questions. Such as when will you feed me? Can I chase the squirrel? The human has to help the animal with their questions and their answers. It‘s all very lovely and very fun