Review: The Itsy Bitsy School Bus by Jeffrey Burton, Illustrated by Sanja Rescek

THE ITSY BITSY

 SCHOOL BUS

by Jeffrey Burton

Illustrated by Sanja Rescek

Little Simon Books

July 3rd, 2018

Board Book

ages 0 and up

A fun and playful back-to-school twist on the popular nursery rhyme “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”!

The itsy bitsy school bus was ready for the day.
Backpack was full with lunch and books, hooray!
Dropped off at school, it was time to learn and play,
The teacher said, “Hello, nice to meet you all today.”

The itsy bitsy school bus is ready for the first day of school! Whether it’s a first day to Pre-K or back-to-school, little ones are sure to love this classroom twist on the classic nursery rhyme “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”!

MY TIDBITS

School takes on a fun new twist as this cute little school bus heads into a quick, short classroom adventure.

The Itsy Bitsy School Bus is on his way to school, and he discovers that it's a lot of fun. Each page offers one rhymed line based on the classic, The Itsy Bitsy Spider. But unlike the spider, the school bus is a story with sheer joy and fun.

At sixteen pages, this is a short, quick read. It's stable and small enough for small fingers and to take a few hard bumps or spills. Each page holds a very bright and warm illustration, giving off an encouraging feeling as the school bus ventures through a day of school. It's cheery, cute and encouraging.

Each two-page spread offers one line which can fit into the tune of the Itsy Bitsy Spider. Only the last two lines are a little stumbley when trying to be sung and could use some practice first. But then, it might not be intended to sing along. Although considered a twist on the original classic rhyme, the adventures the school bus has have nothing in common with that of the spider's. Still, it's a cute story on its own, one kids are sure to enjoy.

The vocabulary is easy enough for even younger listeners to understand, and the school buses adventure is kept extremely simple. It's a sweet read which goes by quick. It catches attention and is great to flip through and just look at the illustrations. It simply a fun, cute, sweet read.


And here they are. . .

The Author...
Jeffrey Burton has written several books for children. He lives in New York City with his family.

The Illustrator...

Sanja Rescek studied graphic design at the Academy fo Fine Arts in Zagreb, Croatia. She has illustrated more than one hundred books, which have been published in more than ten different languages. Sanja's illustrations have also been featured on cards for UNICEF.

Review: With Love, From Me to You by Mary Manz Simon, Illustrated Corinna Ice

WITH LOVE, FROM ME TO YOU

by Mary Manz Simon

Illustrated Corinna Ice

Zonderkidz

Board Books/Religious

ages 1 and up

A red heart sends a message

that says "I so love you,"

but we can send those same words

in what we say and do.

If I see someone crying

or looking very sad,

I'll stop to show some kindness

and he won't feel so bad.

With Love, From Me to You is a board book for little ones that will remind them how important it is to love and be loved. With adorable illustrations and sweet, rhyming text by bestselling author Dr. Mary Manz Simon, this book shows children how important their actions and words are in expressing God’s great love with one another. Parents will enjoy reading this book on Valentine’s Day or any day of the year to encourage their children to remember that love is more than gifts and candy; it’s about doing for others and sending love to everyone who’s near.

MY TIDBITS

Love and happiness flows from these pages, bringing smiles the entire way through.

This is a fairly sturdy board book, not for the youngest, roughest readers but ready to take on lighter abuse. The cover definitely grabs with the red, metallic lettering and endearing hearts—so sweet! It follows a polar bear postman as he delivers valentines across the countryside. For polar bear fans like me and my kids, this is an instant hook, and he is such a nice polar bear. The young valentine recipients are cute, young animals, drawn in a very bubbly, simple manner. They're sure to draw young listeners in with their cheerfulness.

The text is done in four-line rhymes, which are sweet but sometimes come across a little forced. The message is as heart-filled as the illustrations. It follows a very loving theme fitting to Valentine's Day, while incorporating the love of God and how he cares for us in a pretty seamless way. The message is very clear and leaves warm fuzzy feelings behind to warm little as well as big hearts.

I received a complimentary copy from Booklook Bloggers, and found it enjoyable enough to leave my honest and true thoughts.

Review: Princess Prayers by Jeanna Stolle Young

PRINCESS PRAYERS

by Crystal Bowman

Inspired by Jeanna Young and Jacqueline Johnson

Zondervan

Board Book Religious

ages 4 to 8

30 pages

Good morning, Lord, it’s time to rise.

The sun is shining bright.

I’ve got my day ahead of me,

so help me do what’s right.

Help me to be kind and good

and do my very best

to show my love for you today

so others will be blessed.

Princess Prayers includes fifteen sweet prayers for little girls who want to live like princesses for God their King. Prayers are included for girls to be able to pray and learn alongside princess Grace, Hope, Faith, Charity, and Joy. Every little girl is a princess, and this padded cover board book will help them engage with Scripture and discover how to open their hearts to God.

 MY TIDBITS

Even a princess says her prayers, and this collection offers fifteen perfect ones for various moments in a young royal's daily life.

Pink, pretty and glittery. The cover already will put a smile on young princesses' faces. This chunky board book fits well into even pudgier hands and offers the sturdiness required for flipping through the pages time and again. On each double page spread, the left side offers a rhyming, short, two verse prayer, while the right side has carries a colorful, matching illustration. The fifteen prayers cover normal situations which arise in a princesses life--morning prayer, evening prayer, Happy Times, Keep Me Safe and more. The illustrations bring each situation to life, showing a moment when princesses (and girls) might use the prayer. Only more diversity in the princesses was missing, considering each and every one is white skinned with blond or light brown hair.

Not only the illustrations display royal moments, but the prayers are situated in a worthy way. A crown hovers above each prayer, and flowered vines border around the entire page. At the bottom, surrounded by a golden frame. Is a single Bible verse, which correlates to the prayer.

Precious moments are guaranteed for young princesses as they read and listen to these prayers with their loved ones. In other words, this book is simply a joy.

I received a complimentary copy from Booklook Bloggers.



And here she is. . .

Jeanna Stolle Young is a daughter of the king that lives in Southern California with her dashing husband, Bruce, her two sweet princesses, Danika and Emmalynn, and two daring princes, Christian and Kenton. God gave her the vision for this series that has caused her faith to grow through watching Him work. She has a passion for moms of princesses and knights training up the next generation for Christ. She is a speaker and blogger at www.theprincessparables.com

This book is the 13th book in the Princess Parables Series.

Review: Grandpa Hugs by Laura Neutzling

GRANDPA HUGS

by Laura Neutzling

Illustrated by Cee Biscoe

Published by Thomas Nelson

Board/Picture Book

ages 3+

20 pages

Grandmas are for kisses, and grandpas are for great big hugs! Grandpas are fun! They go on adventures, tell silly jokes, say funny things, and love to eat treats. This adorable board book celebrates how wonderful spending time with Grandpa can be!

Little ones and grandpas alike will love Grandpa Hugs, the charming, rhyming storybook about how special a grandpa can be to a child. This companion to the acclaimed Grandma Kisses celebrates grandfathers and all the love and fun they bring to the special grandkids in their lives.

Whether it is a gift from a grandfather to his grandchild, a grandchild to her grandpa, or as a sweet, creative birth announcement for a first-time grandpa, Grandpa Hugs is bound to warm the hearts of everyone who reads it.

 MY TIDBITS

This is a gentle journey, which celebrates grandpas and all the wonderful ways they nurture and influence a grandchild's life.

Grandpas do so many things: play, eat ice cream, offer support and even pray. Through rhyme, many of these touching moments are brought to light and reflected upon.

Sturdy and ready for small hands, this board book will hold up to many hours of gazing and reading. Four line rhymes accompany every full page spread with a cheerful and bright description of the different things a child can experience with their grandpa. Some flow smoother than others. Every now and then, a small phrase follows in whimsical, colorful text which repeats the event in a type of sing-songy play.

The illustrations are bright yet gentle, bringing across the desired loving emotions. The watercolors add an airiness which is great for the youngest listeners, while still holding enough details to draw slightly older kids in time and again. Various animals are used to depict the grandparent-grandchild relationship, and this is cleverly enough done that the grandchildren could be of either gender (which makes it easy for the youngest to relate to and imagine themselves in the situations). The words and illustrations harmonize, allowing the pictures to bring the scenes to life. This is a perfect read for those children who share a special relationship with the grandfathers.

Review: Thank You, God, For Grandpa by Amy Parker

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR GRANDPA

by Amy Parker

Illustrated by Rosalinda Kightley

Published by Thomas Nelson

Board Book

25 pages

ages 2 to 5

Thank You, God, for Grandpas,For Pops and Papas too,For Granddads, Gramps, and Grandpappies— They’re great, grand gifts from You!

No matter what you call him, there is nothing like the love between a grandpa and his grandchild! With whimsical rhymes and charming illustrations, Thank You, God, for Grandpa encourages little ones to treasure God’s special gift of grandfathers.

Grandpas and their grandchildren alike will love this heartwarming story that celebrates their sweet relationship.

Amy Parker’s children’s books have sold more than 800,000 copies, including two Christian Retailing’s Best award-winning books and the bestselling A Night Night Prayer. She lives outside Nashville with her husband and two children.

MY TIDBITS

What a sweet book--a perfect glance at how important grandpas really are!

This is a heart-warming celebration of the relationship between a grandpa and a grandchild, which is sure to leave young listeners wanting a hug when the book is laid down. The rhymes flow nicely, depicting a different reason why grandpas are so important on each page spread. The reasons reach across the board: from playing to learning to simply spending time together. Especially boys will recognize certain situations. One of the main focuses through-out, however, is the religious tone. Grandpa's also teach about Jesus and how to pray. And this flows across so naturally that it never feels pushed or forced.

Phrases like “Thank you, God, for Grandpa; There’s nothing I can do to make my grandpa love me less – Grandpa, I love you too!” come across as warm and cuddly as a favorite blanket.

The illustrations are simply cute. The jungle setting with the gorillas is sure to catch young eyes and pull them into the green world as they go from trees to rivers and have fun the entire way. The Grandpa is depicted with such loving characteristics that it's hard not to like him.

As to robustness, this board book will take punishment well. It's stable enough to be flipped through time and again, and is sure to handle drool, trips to the car floor and tosses across the room.

I highly recommend this one as a read-aloud, especially for grandpas to their grand kids.


I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through BookLook Bloggers. I am only posting a review because I want to express my opinion (I enjoyed the book so much and want to shout it out to the world) by my own free will. 

Happy Book Bday, Animals Play Series by Douglas Florian!

FLAMINGOS FLY

Animals Play Series

by Douglas Florian

Illustrated by Barbara Bakos

Little Lee Books

Board Book

18 pages

ages 0-3

Discover what these animals do in this playful board book by award-winning author Douglas Florian.

Flamingos fly. Sailfish swim.

Monkeys swing on a jungle gym!

Discover what different animals do in this fun, rhyming story by award-winning author Douglas Florian! Animals include flying flamingos, swimming sailfish, swinging monkeys, diving dolphins, soaring swallows, creeping starfish, digging prairie dogs, lunging lizards, plunging pelicans, jumping jaguars, leaping llamas, and sleeping sloths. 

BEARS ARE BIG

by Douglas Florian

Illustrated by Barbara Bakos

Animals Play Series

Little Lee Books

Board Books

18 pages

ages 0 -3

Discover animal opposites in this playful board book by award-winning author Douglas Florian.

Bears are big. Bees are small.

Shrews are short. Giraffes are tall.

In this fun, rhyming story by award-winning author Douglas Florian, little ones can meet pairs of animals and discover how they're different! The pairs include bears/bees, shrews/giraffes, rhinos/tigers, turtles/snails, sloths/cheetahs, eels/tree frogs, hippos/butterflies, and ravens/doves.

MY TIDBITS

With colorful illustrations, this series is sure to delight the youngest readers as they venture into a up-beat and full of life animal kingdom.

These board books are great for small hands and so bright, they're sure to grab attention. The animals inside are full of excitement and joy, radiating fun from page to page. These animals are ready for adventure and play mixed with a tad bit of silliness too.

One type of animal is presented on every page, and they are active animals too. The text is short and to the point, giving each animal a single trait which is easy to understand. The whole thing is in rhyme, making it super fun to repeat over and over again.

This is a lovely way to take kids through the vastness of the animal kingdom, while keeping the main focus on pure fun. There are animals kids will recognize as well as more exotic ones. And the pages invite to peering through again and again and again.