Anna G.
Added to listFor Young Bird Lovers (under 6)with 4 books.
A cute poetic story about wild birds and their habits around us. My children didn't like the illustrations. The girl in the book appeared to have a sour look on her face on almost every page. It was off-putting to them.
A cute poetic story about wild birds and their habits around us. My children didn't like the illustrations. The girl in the book appeared to have a sour look on her face on almost every page. It was off-putting to them.
Added to listLiterary Nature Studywith 3 books.
Added to listEarly Childhood Bookswith 22 books.
A cute story about Hedgie, the hedgehog who tries his hardest to forego hibernation just so he can witness the wonders of winter that he's never seen before.
A cute story about Hedgie, the hedgehog who tries his hardest to forego hibernation just so he can witness the wonders of winter that he's never seen before.
It wasn't a particularly memorable story on its own, but I'm sure as part of the entire series, it works. The book contains corporal punishment, which I prefer to avoid.
It wasn't a particularly memorable story on its own, but I'm sure as part of the entire series, it works. The book contains corporal punishment, which I prefer to avoid.
Added to listFor Young Birders (7+)with 8 books.
Added to listRead-Alouds: Age 7+with 21 books.
Updated a reading goal:
Read 50 books in 2026
Progress so far: 25 / 50 50%
A sweet book about a mother's love. It's a story for any child who confronts a difficult situation, and for the child within each of us who sometimes needs reassurance. Leaves you with a warm, wonderful feeling.
A sweet book about a mother's love. It's a story for any child who confronts a difficult situation, and for the child within each of us who sometimes needs reassurance. Leaves you with a warm, wonderful feeling.
Pinduli has strong visual appeal, with expressive, well-executed illustrations and moments of humor that are genuinely amusing. The story’s premise—animals learning a lesson after being unkind—is clear, and the twist involving Pinduli’s disguise is meant to be playful and lighthearted.
However, the narrative leans heavily on a spiritual element involving a “bad spirit” or omen coming to set things right, even though this is later revealed to be a misunderstanding. While the explanation resolves the plot, the framing still introduces ideas of evil spirits and supernatural fear that I personally prefer to avoid in children’s books. For families who are cautious about exposing young children to those concepts, this aspect may be off-putting.
Overall, while the artwork and humor have merit, the underlying spiritual framing significantly limited this book’s appeal for our family. It may work fine for readers who are comfortable with those themes, but it wasn’t a good fit for us, which ultimately impacts the rating.
Pinduli has strong visual appeal, with expressive, well-executed illustrations and moments of humor that are genuinely amusing. The story’s premise—animals learning a lesson after being unkind—is clear, and the twist involving Pinduli’s disguise is meant to be playful and lighthearted.
However, the narrative leans heavily on a spiritual element involving a “bad spirit” or omen coming to set things right, even though this is later revealed to be a misunderstanding. While the explanation resolves the plot, the framing still introduces ideas of evil spirits and supernatural fear that I personally prefer to avoid in children’s books. For families who are cautious about exposing young children to those concepts, this aspect may be off-putting.
Overall, while the artwork and humor have merit, the underlying spiritual framing significantly limited this book’s appeal for our family. It may work fine for readers who are comfortable with those themes, but it wasn’t a good fit for us, which ultimately impacts the rating.
Pinduli has strong visual appeal, with expressive, well-executed illustrations and moments of humor that are genuinely amusing. The story’s premise—animals learning a lesson after being unkind—is clear, and the twist involving Pinduli’s disguise is meant to be playful and lighthearted.
However, the narrative leans heavily on a spiritual element involving a “bad spirit” or omen coming to set things right, even though this is later revealed to be a misunderstanding. While the explanation resolves the plot, the framing still introduces ideas of evil spirits and supernatural fear that I personally prefer to avoid in children’s books. For families who are cautious about exposing young children to those concepts, this aspect may be off-putting.
Overall, while the artwork and humor have merit, the underlying spiritual framing significantly limited this book’s appeal for our family. It may work fine for readers who are comfortable with those themes, but it wasn’t a good fit for us, which ultimately impacts the rating.
Pinduli has strong visual appeal, with expressive, well-executed illustrations and moments of humor that are genuinely amusing. The story’s premise—animals learning a lesson after being unkind—is clear, and the twist involving Pinduli’s disguise is meant to be playful and lighthearted.
However, the narrative leans heavily on a spiritual element involving a “bad spirit” or omen coming to set things right, even though this is later revealed to be a misunderstanding. While the explanation resolves the plot, the framing still introduces ideas of evil spirits and supernatural fear that I personally prefer to avoid in children’s books. For families who are cautious about exposing young children to those concepts, this aspect may be off-putting.
Overall, while the artwork and humor have merit, the underlying spiritual framing significantly limited this book’s appeal for our family. It may work fine for readers who are comfortable with those themes, but it wasn’t a good fit for us, which ultimately impacts the rating.
Mole and the Baby Bird is a gentle, quietly emotional picture book about care, responsibility, and learning when to let go. Mole’s instinct to help a fallen baby bird is tender and relatable, and the story does a good job showing how love can sometimes mean accepting uncomfortable truths rather than fixing everything.
The illustrations are soft and expressive, and the pacing allows young readers to sit with Mole’s feelings of concern, hope, and eventual understanding. The emotional arc is thoughtful without being heavy-handed, making it accessible for children while still offering something meaningful for adults reading aloud.
Overall, this is a sweet, contemplative book with a valuable lesson about compassion and boundaries. A solid choice, especially for shared reading and gentle discussion, even if it doesn’t quite rise to a standout favorite.
Mole and the Baby Bird is a gentle, quietly emotional picture book about care, responsibility, and learning when to let go. Mole’s instinct to help a fallen baby bird is tender and relatable, and the story does a good job showing how love can sometimes mean accepting uncomfortable truths rather than fixing everything.
The illustrations are soft and expressive, and the pacing allows young readers to sit with Mole’s feelings of concern, hope, and eventual understanding. The emotional arc is thoughtful without being heavy-handed, making it accessible for children while still offering something meaningful for adults reading aloud.
Overall, this is a sweet, contemplative book with a valuable lesson about compassion and boundaries. A solid choice, especially for shared reading and gentle discussion, even if it doesn’t quite rise to a standout favorite.
Added to listBest Early Readerswith 15 books.
Added to listOwnedwith 26 books.
A great modern classic early childhood book with friendly rhymes and a positive message about friendship.
A great modern classic early childhood book with friendly rhymes and a positive message about friendship.
Added to listEarly Childhood Bookswith 22 books.
A sweet book with comforting rhymes for bedtime.
A sweet book with comforting rhymes for bedtime.
Didn't like it as much as The Mitten, or Hedgie's Surprise, or some of Brett's other works, but this one was entertaining, had good basic Spanish exposure, and the illustrations are 5 stars, as always with Jan Brett.
Didn't like it as much as The Mitten, or Hedgie's Surprise, or some of Brett's other works, but this one was entertaining, had good basic Spanish exposure, and the illustrations are 5 stars, as always with Jan Brett.
Not one of the best or most memorable books in this series, but the story was fine enough and my young children enjoyed it.
Not one of the best or most memorable books in this series, but the story was fine enough and my young children enjoyed it.