All By My Elf by Jeffrey Burton

Have you noticed the Christmas decorations popping up everywhere? Honestly, I'm a 'wait until after Thanksgiving' fan, but it will be a short run this year. We always get our tree on Thanksgiving weekend and with the 1st of Advent hitting right away, it's going to be a short season.

Anyway, I'm excited to take a look at this read and see what surprises it holds...because it should have a few.

ALL BY MY ELF

by Jeffrey Burton

Illustrated by Nanette Regan

Little Simon

Board Book  /   Holiday

18 pages

ages 1 to 4

Little ones help prepare their homes for Santa’s arrival in this sweet and festive board book featuring an interactive element on every page, from glitter to felt!

Christmas is coming!
I can be Santa’s helper…all by my elf!

When the Christmas breeze swirls in the air, everyone prepares to bring out their holiday best…even the kids! A cast of eager little helpers get ready for the holidays, from rolling the perfect snowman to frosting gingerbread cookies. This time of year, there’s no such thing as being too young to help!

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MY TIDBITS

With glitter and joy, these pages awaken the Christmas excitement and dance through the traditions of the holiday season.

Already the cover gives off the popular Christmas glisten and shine with glitter to rub the fingers over and enjoy. From there, each page highlights a holiday-preparation moment, which radiates the curiosity and wonder of the season. Each time, there's a child who wants to prove their independence by showing that they can perform the activities by themselves. This comes across in text with the every-so-often, repeated phrase 'all by my elf'. 

The text is written in rhyme with only a short phrase on each page to keep it very much at the attention span for the intended age group. It flows nicely and makes a lovely read-aloud. The repeated phrase appears only every couple pages or so, giving young listeners something to join in on if the desire but doesn't overwhelm, either. The independence comes across with the pride kids have to show-off what they can accomplish. In this case, building a snowman, decorating cookies, or hanging up lights. 

The illustrations add another level as they incorporate textures for listeners to discover. These are varied and do include cloth and such, but they are also kept rather reserved to meld right in with the rest of the book. 

It's an enjoyable read during the holiday season and is sure to delight y

oung readers, especially those who enjoy a little sparkle and shine.

And here they are...

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

Nanette Regan is a freelance illustrator based in Jersey, a tiny island between England and France. She loves making joyful, messy, character-driven work that celebrates the chaotic magic of the everyday. Visit her online at NanetteRegan.com.

Today's read... Hey, Little Night Owl by Jeffrey Burton

HEY, LITTLE NIGHT OWL

by Jeffrey Burton

Illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz

Little Simon

Board Book

26 pages

ages 3 to 5

In this sweet bedtime board book, parents stay awake in the quiet night with their little night owls.

From rocking in chairs, to singing lullabies, to driving nowhere underneath the moonlight, this is a story to remind parents of the precious magic made in the late hours of the night with their little night owls.

With heartfelt illustrations from New York Times bestselling illustrator, Joy Hwang Ruiz, this board book is the perfect start to a good night’s sleep.

Hey little night owl,
up with the stars.
These hours are perfect.
All quiet and ours.

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MY TIDBITS

Each page invites to sweet dreams, while flipping to the owls' favorite waking hours of day.

The stars are out, which means it's time for the little owl to rise out of its nest. Mother owls spends every moment with her little one as they go from one calm and sweet activity to the next. But at one point, the sun shows its first rays, and the little owl needs to return to the nest.

This is a bedtime read, which manages to flip the nocturnal clock of an owl while still remaining calming enough to ease into the last, sleepy moments. The little owl is full of life and enjoys every moment of its waking hours. The mother owl spends her time singing, playing and discovering the night world around them. This gives a lovely sense of family and security, which melds wonderfully with each calming scene.

Tones of brown and dark blues create a night world which also invites to a calmer mood. The text offers short phrases and follows a rhyming, lullaby-like pace, which generally flows well. It offers just enough to push the read along, while the illustrations take over the rest. 

And here they are...

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

Joy Hwang Ruiz has worn many creative hats over the year including New York Times bestselling illustrator, contemporary studio artist, on-air creative for MTV, and work-from-home mom with two young kids. Her illustrations celebrate family love and embrace inclusivity. She lives in southern California with her multilingual family. Visit her online at MomIsDrawing.com.

Today's read. Easter Bunny, Where Are You? by Jeffrey Burton

 Easter isn't far away, and there's no way I can skip picking up a read or two to celebrate. This one is a board book for the youngest readers out there, and best of all, it has flaps! From the title, I'm assuming this one will involve a little hunting and searching, too.

EASTER BUNNY, WHERE ARE YOU?

by Jeffrey Burton

Illustrated by Juliana Motzko

Little Simon

14 pages

ages 0 to 3

Find where the Easter Bunny is hiding in this sweet lift-the-flap board book!

Easter Bunny, where are you?
Do you want to play?
I know you’re hiding somewhere.
It’s almost Easter day.

It’s almost Easter, but the Easter Bunny is nowhere to be found! Maybe the Easter Bunny is hiding behind that bush or that gate or maybe that tree. Look under the sturdy flaps to see whose fluffy tail or furry foot that really is—and find an Easter surprise on the last page!

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MY TIDBITS

Searching for the Easter Bunny holds many surprises and fun with every opening of a flap.

It's time for Easter, but the Easter Bunny isn't anywhere to be found. A little bear begins his search to find this important friend, but it's not that simple. Luckily, he receives help along the way.

This is a sturdy board book, which has thick and sturdy pages, thanks to the extra layer of cardboard needed to create the thick and sturdy flaps. So this book will take some abuse. The characters and scenes hold quite a few details while still having a gentler art style. The colors are bright and fit well to the Spring atmosphere. Each page holds joyful scenes and invites to play. 

The text flows in an enjoyable rhyme, which urges listeners to join in the search for the bunny. This is age appropriate and does have enough repetition to make it a fun read-aloud. Each verse hints at a large object in the illustrations (which holds a flap). These are easy to open and uncover a new friend as well as a quick text, which adds a hint of surprise (and giggles with the right reading atmosphere). It's fun to watch the friends gather more and more as they assist in the bunny search. It's a cute book for the holidays and is sure to bring more than a few smiles.

And here they are...      

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

Juliana Motzko is a Brazilian illustrator that has loved drawing and painting ever since she was a little girl. She’s fascinated by pets and children’s worlds and loves to create cute artwork that touches people’s hearts. After studying art and pedagogy, she worked as an art teacher.

Today's read... Be My Reindeer by Jeffrey Burton

Normally, I keep my Christmas dreaming stowed away until after Thanksgiving....but I have quite a few Holiday reads coming in December and decided it might be best to sprinkle in some early thoughts in that direction. Today's read is a little board book for the youngest readers and centers around reindeer. Let's just take a peek and get those holly-jolly feelings started.

BE MY REINDEER

by Jeffrey Burton

Illustrated by Anna Hurley

Little Simon

Board Book

14 pages

ages 2 to 5

Adorable animals wonder if they have what it takes to be one of Santa’s famous reindeer in this sweet board book full of holiday cheer—featuring soft, plush reindeer antlers with fun crinkle sounds at the top of the book!

Every Christmas before Santa takes flight,
The elves gather round to see the holiday sight.
Oh, who will pull Santa’s sleigh tonight?

Could a dinosaur pull Santa’s sleigh? Or maybe sweet, fluffy kittens? Young readers can watch them hilariously try while little hands play with the antlers visible above every page!

GOODREADS    /    B&N     /     AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Cute animals and holiday dreams mix with enough humor to draw giggles and smiles in this sweet read.

This is a board book for the youngest readers out there and is made a little sturdier to handle some bumps, accidents, and small hands. The top part of the book is rounded to form a deer head. The antlers are made of fuzzy cloth with a plastic filling, so they crinkle and snap whenever they are touched or fingered. The tale starts at Santa's workshop where elves are loading the sleigh. Santa's question of who wants to help pull it starts off the rest of the fun. Easy to recognize creatures (from animals to robots to dinosaurs and more) get their chance to chime in. 

The text is a little heavy for a board book and swings around a three-line rhyme. This flows pretty smoothly and isn't overly difficult for young readers to understand...although I would see this one more for ages three and up. The illustrations are lively and colorful with enough details to draw in for reading again and again. It's a fun twist on Santa's sled and brings a cute humor to the Holidays.

And here they are...

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

Anna Hurley is an illustrator who loves bright colors and can usually be found playing board games, riding her bike, and eating snacks. She lives in Oakland, California, and is currently working as a full-time freelance illustrator. Find out more at Anna-Hurley.com

Today's read... Five Little Dreidels by Jeffrey Burton

It's December 1st!!! Yep, I'm loving the season...not because there's snow on the ground (for a girl who grew up among mountains and snow, not seeing a flake in the Ozarks is so disappointing. Year after year after...) Now, that I got that bitterness out, I've already been baking and have my lights on the tree (ornaments go up today) and plan on visiting our small town's 'Santa's Workshop' this afternoon. Plus, I have tons of holiday reads lined up! I'll be squishing those in-between my Christmas movies....oooo, red and green colored popcorn anyone? And let's not forget the eggnog...and yes, I add to that and have other cozy-warm drinks in store.

Anyway, today's read hits Chanukah with the ever-loved dreidel spinning. I found the characters on the front of this little board book adorable and oh-so-cheerful! 

FIVE LITTLE DREIDELS

by Jeffrey Burton

Illustrated by Juliana Motzko

Little Simon

Board Book / Holiday

14 pages

ages 2 to 5

Celebrate the holiday season with this festive Chanukah board book that’s a twist on the popular nursery rhyme “Five Little Monkeys!”

Five little dreidels spinning all around.
One got dizzy and then fell down.
Mama called the doctor and the doctor said,
No more dreidels spinning all around.

A Chanukah twist on “Five Little Monkeys”, little ones will love following five little dreidels on a fun-filled adventure.

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 MY TIDBITS

Tons of personality and energy beam from these spinning dreidels as they turn out an original version of 'Five Little Monkeys' in Chanukah style.

This is a solid, little board book, which is just right for those smaller hands. It should hold up fine to 

a little abuse and is no problem to wipe-off, when those sugary, sticky fingers get ahold of it. It circles around the well-known, children's rhyme, 'Five Little Monkeys', making it recognizable and something that slightly older listeners might be able to join in on with a little time...if nothing else, the repeated refrain is a definite grabber.

The illustrations are bright and super cheerful. The little dreidels go from one place to another, slowly loosing one member each time. Each of these locations is very recognizable for young listeners and simple (meaning there are just enough details to make everything clear without adding too much to draw any attention away from the dreidels). There are easy-to-identify Chanukah symbols in the background, keeping the atmosphere in that direction. 

The text is printed clearly enough to make it no problem to read and carries a little swing. There's a little bubble with a mom-dreidel and another below it for a doctor dreidel on the very right side of each spread to fit those parts of the verse, while still keeping the main spinners at the forefront. The wording is great for the intended age group and is fun to see how it slides into the monkey format. The last phrase of the doctor doesn't follow the same rhyme-scheme as the original, which does make each one a tad bit awkward for those who know the monkey rhyme well. The younger readers on this one, probably won't notice as much and will be caught up in the fun.

It's a lot of fun and a cute read, which will, no doubt, get that wonderful word 'again' over and over again.

And here they are...

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

Juliana Motzko is a Brazilian illustrator that has loved drawing and painting ever since she was a little girl. She’s fascinated by pets and children’s worlds and loves to create cute artwork that touches people’s hearts. After studying in art and pedagogy, she worked as an art teacher.

Review: Twinkle, Twinkle, Dinosaur by Jeffrey Burton

TWINKLE, TWINKLE,

DINOSAUR

by Jeffrey Burton

Illustrated by Zoe Waring

Little Simon

Board Book

16 pages

 ages 1 to 5

This sleepy dino board book is a prehistoric twist on the popular bedtime lullaby, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!”

Twinkle, twinkle, dinosaur
how I like to hear you roar.
Stomping through the trees so high, 
as your friends fly through the sky. 

A roaring twist on the popular bedtime nursery rhyme, Twinkle, Twinkle, Dinosaur is the second book in a brand-new board book series that’s perfect for parents and little ones to snuggle up with and share.

 MY TIDBITS

Young dinosaur fans' hearts will be right in rhythm with this fun twist on a well-known bedtime song.

A cute, lovable dinosaur...with a fierce roar...wanders over the land, while friends circle above and around him. While the illustrations are kept rather simple, this also allows the focus to remain clear—dinosaurs. These dinos aren't scary but take on a warm atmosphere which leads to the calm needed before a nap or night time sleep. 

The book is small and sturdy, just right for little readers' hands. The text is also not too simple or difficult, making it slide right into the middle of the intended age group range. After reading this, a favorite song might take on a slightly different text for awhile, one great for all those dinosaur dreams.

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...

Zoe Waring is a children's book illustrator and designer based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Zoe loves the warmth and humor so often found in children's picture books and is a little obsessed with cute baby animals, which often make an appearance within her artwork She works in a variety of materials and loves creating engaging characters to make people smile. When she's not drawing in her sunny studio, she can be found exploring the beautiful British countryside. To find out more please visit her online at ZoeWaring.co.uk and follow her on twitter at @ZoeMop.

Review: All is Merry and Bright by Jeffrey Burton, Illustrated by Don Clark

ALL IS MERRY AND BRIGHT

by Jeffrey Burton 

Illustrated by Don Clark

Simon & Schuster

Board Books / Holiday

26 pages 

ages 2 and up

A gorgeous keepsake book that shines with holiday cheer andfoil on every spread, All Is Merry and Bright is full of illumination and hope—perfect for the youngest readers in your life.

Stars jingle in the sky
All is calm over night
All is merry
All is bright

As cheer and good will fill the air, there is an undeniable, joyous feeling that connects the world during the holiday season. With show-stopping foil, embossing, and spot UV on every page, All Is Merry and Bright is an artistic and shimmering board book celebrating the deep sense of happiness and hope that glows as warm and bright as the holiday lights.

MY TIDBITS

This is one of those books which feels special the moment it hits the hands.

Big, bright and beautiful—not only does the cover flash with color and shiny foil, but the stability is instantly clear. This is a book built to keep and treasure, year after year. Especially younger listeners will be drawn in by the glimmering pages, and cheerful and packed illustrations. Nothing is calm about this book. Rather, it screams celebration on every page.

The text is kept to a minimum with only a few words on each two-page spread. These words are big and bold, and at times, almost get lost in the vibrant illustrations surrounding them (but reading it isn't the main point). No space is wasted as very corner and cranny has something to look at. The concentration stays on the joy and excitement Christmas time brings, sticking to winter landscapes, fur trees, shiny decorations and jolly moments.

This is one of those books to keep in a special place for each Christmas season and bring out for the youngest to enjoy. Each page is like a new discovery and even the youngest will realize it isn't just an average read. It's busy, it's chaotic, it's exuberant and it's very merry and bright.


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...

Don Clark is an artist and cofounder of Invisible Creature, a widely respected and award-winning design studio he runs with his brother based in Seattle, Washington. He has worked with clients such as Target, NASA, LEGO, Wired Magazine, Nike, Adobe, XBox, The New York Times, and musicians including the Foo Fighters, Kendrick Lamar, Chris Cornell, Wolfmother, Alice In Chains, and more. Don's love for mid-century design and illustration lays the groundwork for Invisible Creature's aesthetic and curated line of products for both children and adults alike. He lives with his wife and their three children on a ranch thirty minutes southeast of Seattle.

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.