Anna G.

North South East West is a sweet, gentle picture book with a poetic rhythm that makes it especially enjoyable for young children. The story follows a mother bird teaching her baby to fly, and as the little bird explores the world, she wonders which direction is best—north, south, east, or west. The journey comes full circle in a heartwarming way when she grows up and finds herself answering the same question for her own nestlings.

The rhymes flow smoothly, the pacing is calming, and the story provides a natural introduction to compass directions without feeling educational or forced. I think this book is best suited for ages 3–6 as a read-aloud, though it would also make a wonderful independent read for beginning readers around ages 5–7. Any young bird lover is likely to enjoy this charming and timeless story.

Toot & Puddle was an absolute delight. The illustrations are warm, charming, and full of personality, and I loved following Toot’s travels around the world through the postcards he sends home. The contrast between adventurous Toot and homebody Puddle was sweet and balanced, showing that both travel and simple life at home can be meaningful and fun. The reunion at the end after Toot’s long journey was especially heartwarming. A beautifully cozy story about friendship and staying connected across distance.

We enjoyed getting to finish the series from Frightful's perspective, but this was our least favorite book in the series. Still worth reading, but could have done without all the government intervention and constant reiteration that falconers must have licenses. Of course people should treat birds of prey with respect and people shouldn't use toxic pesticides on the environment, but there were points where it felt the book was written to serve as an environmentalism and animal rights propaganda tool. Could have touched on these topics much more lightly and it still would have gotten the point across. Children don't need to have it shoved down their throats.

A warm, thoughtful story with a message that lands naturally. I appreciated how Sadie comes from a home of hand-me-downs—it felt relatable for a large family, and it was presented as normal without any complaining. That detail alone sets a grounded, content tone.

Her excitement over choosing her own special pair of shoes feels true to childhood, and the moment when one is lost in the water carries real weight. The resolution is especially satisfying—Sadie’s kindness toward a new girl is returned in a meaningful way when the shoe finds its way back to her.

A simple story built on generosity, gratitude, and kindness, with engaging illustrations to match.

A very cute book for ages 2–4 about a dog who loves to make messes—until one day, he makes such a big mess that nothing can be found… not even his friends. As he begins to clean up, he rediscovers all of his favorite things along the way.

Of course, once everything is tidy again, he starts the process all over—not quite learning his lesson. It’s humorous and very relatable for toddlers, showing why cleaning up matters while also reflecting their tendency to repeat the same behavior.

My 3-year-old loved this book and asked to read it multiple times.

A pleasant, gentle read with no negative attitudes toward any of the characters. In this story, Rabbit gives Pooh a pumpkin seed, and Pooh watches it grow throughout the summer. He learns that the pumpkin doesn’t appear immediately—first a vine grows, then flowers, then a small green ball appears. Pooh is disappointed at each stage because he doesn’t understand the process, but by the end, he finally enjoys his prized pumpkin.

This is a charming fall story for toddlers ages 3–5. It subtly teaches the stages of plant growth for children who are unfamiliar with gardening, while also offering humor for kids who already know the process, as they watch Pooh gradually figure it out.

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.

My 6- and 8-year-olds were entertained by this book (and the series) but for me, they didn't stand out as a favorite. The language style leans very modern and casual, which wasn’t my preference. At times, the quirky phrasing made parts of the story harder to follow, and it didn’t always read clearly. Some of it is meant to be humorous, but it goes over my very literal 6 year old's head. She doesn't mind, though. I tend to prefer children’s literature that models strong, proper English, and this felt more informal and unconventional than what I typically look for. However, it was wholesome and lighthearted and didn't have bad language, attitudes or behavior, which I avoid in all books for early readers, so from that standpoint it was a win.

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.

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.

I found the book pretty unmemorable as well as the poetry a bit abstract and difficult for young children to follow. The Margaret Wise Brown Book titled Big Red Barn is far better!

Not a particularly memorable book. But the story is entertaining enough for young readers.

A sweet book with comforting rhymes for bedtime.

A great modern classic early childhood book with friendly rhymes and a positive message about friendship.

Not one of the best or most memorable books in this series, but the story was fine enough and my young children enjoyed it.

Another excellent book in the Heartwood Hotel series. This one had lots of thrills and plot twists. It was very exciting and had my 6 and 8 year olds at the edge of their seats.

This book had more of a gradual buildup compared to the first two installments, but the payoff at the end is especially satisfying. My 6- and 8-year-olds continue to love this series as a shared read-aloud. Kallie George does an excellent job weaving meaningful moral lessons into the story while portraying conflicts and emotions that children ages 5–10 can genuinely relate to. She allows those challenges to unfold naturally and resolves them in ways that feel thoughtful and reassuring, making the series both engaging and emotionally enriching for young listeners.

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.

My children ages 3–8 LOVE this book. There is SO MUCH to look at! We've borrowed it from the library multiple times. They love exploring all the pages and pictures and learning about things they've never seen before. This has promoted so much discussion in our family and I look forward to adding it to our family collection.

Night Gliders is a beautifully crafted picture book that blends lyrical storytelling with exceptionally strong illustrations. The artwork brings the nighttime world of flying squirrels to life with warmth and movement, while the poetic text is rhythmic and engaging for young listeners, making it a pleasure to read aloud. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the book offers gentle, accurate insights into flying squirrels, making it an excellent and natural fit for a science study without feeling instructional. Overall, this is a standout picture book that balances art, language, and learning remarkably well, earning its place as both a read-aloud favorite and an educational companion. Can't wait to read more of Joanne Ryder's books.

Chipmunk Song is a gentle and informative story with a creative premise, told from the perspective of a child imagining himself as a chipmunk. The idea is appealing, and the narrative weaves in natural details in a way that feels thoughtful rather than instructional. The illustrations are also beautifully done and atmospheric.

However, the execution was confusing for a younger listener. Because the boy is illustrated at the same scale as the chipmunks, the distinction between imagination and reality isn’t always clear. For very literal children, this can be unsettling rather than whimsical—my 3.5-year-old struggled to understand what was happening and even became worried that the boy had been buried or trapped underground. The abstract nature of the concept didn’t translate well at this age.

Overall, this is a strong book in concept and artistry, but it seems better suited for children around five and older who can grasp the imaginative leap and allegorical framing. While it didn’t work well for a toddler audience, it would likely shine with slightly older children who can appreciate the perspective shift and underlying idea.

Dance at Grandpa’s is a charming and wholesome picture book that feels especially well suited for toddlers and young children. The story is warm, simple, and inviting, capturing the joy of family gatherings while gently introducing children to the rhythms of everyday life in earlier times. It offers a lovely window into the past—showing how families lived, celebrated, and spent time together—without feeling distant or heavy.

The tone is reassuring and affectionate, making it an easy and comforting read-aloud. Overall, this is a timeless book that supports an appreciation for family, tradition, and history in a way that feels natural and accessible for very young readers. A wonderful choice for early childhood and shared reading.

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.

Loved when my mother would read this to me as a child. Now, I enjoy reading it with my own children. Books about a mother's unrelenting love are always so, so good.

10 Reasons to Love a Bear has attractive, engaging artwork and presents factual information about bears in a way that is visually appealing. The illustrations are the clear strength of the book and work especially well for very young children who enjoy looking at animals and bold imagery.

However, alongside the facts, there is a strong emphasis on animal endangerment and a recurring undertone of human guilt and responsibility for these issues. While conservation is an important topic, the framing here feels heavy for a children’s board book, and the message comes through more strongly than I would prefer for this age group.

That said, as a board book, it functions well for babies and toddlers who are not yet reading. Used primarily as a visual book—something to flip through, point at, and talk about—it works much better, since the text and underlying message are unlikely to register with very young children.

Overall, this is a visually nice book with interesting facts, but the messaging limits its appeal for me. Best suited for casual, image-focused use with babies rather than intentional read-aloud time.