Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton

By Maureen Tai, 23 April 2018

“Jellyfish: You’ve never heard of a jellyfish?!”
Narwhal: Nope! You don’t look like any fish I’ve ever seen, but you do look kind of jelly-ish. I sure have an amazing imagination.”

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If I could describe the main character in Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea, in one single word, it would be EXUBERANT.

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The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey

By Ben, 21 April 2018

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“Aren’t you tired of being the VILLIAN? Aren’t you tired of the SCREAMS? Aren’t you tired of the FEAR?” – Big Bad Wolf

M: Hi Ben.
B: Hi Mommy.
M: Let’s talk about this book that you read to me.
B: Okay.

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The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt & illustrated by Adam Rex

By Maureen Tai, 31 March 2018

“Long ago, in an ancient and distant realm called the Kingdom of Backgarden, there lived a warrior named ROCK.”

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And so begins the story of the genesis of the most elementary and universal of playground games – Rock, Paper, Scissors.  While I normally view with disdain and dismay the deployment of “pants” and other such underwear humour in children’s books, the challenge by Scissors to Rock to don his “Battle Pants” has us guffawing with hilarity.   Continue reading

Sophie’s Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller & Anne Wilsdorf

By Maureen Tai, 24 November 2017

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“I’m glad we met,” Sophie whispered. “Good friends are hard to find.”  

Even with the umpteenth reading, it is hard not to think of Sophie’s Squash as being, quite possibly, the most perfect picture book ever written.

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