Review: The Wizard of Oz Colors by Jill Kalz

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

The Land of Oz is full of colors. Roads are yellow and monkeys are blue!  Let Dorothy, Toto, Tin Man, and Scarecrow explore all of the colors with you!
From the Wizard of Oz Concept Books series. For ages 4-7. Board books.
*75th anniversary of the Warner Bros. The Wizard of Oz movie
*3D re-mastering of the Warner Bros. film for DVD/Blu-ray release in Fall 2013
About the Author:
Jill Kalz is the author of more than 50 children’s books. Her picture book Farmer Cap (Picture Window Books) was a finalist for a 2008 Minnesota Book Award and the winner of the Reader’s Choice Award. Jill works as a children’s book editor and lives in a small German town in southern Minnesota. Thanks to her sneaky Bichon, Tuckerbean, she’s an expert at finding all sorts of hidden things: chew toys, bones, stuffed chipmunks, peanut butter treats.
About the Illustrator:
Timothy Banks is an award-winning illustrator known for his ability to create magically quirky illustrations for kids and adults. He has received honors and awards for his work from 3x3 Magazine, Creative Quarterly, Society of Illustrators Los Angeles, and PLAY! Illustration. He has a Master of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art & Design, and he also teaches fledgling art students in his spare time. Timothy lives in sunny Charleston, SC, with his wonderful wife, two beautiful daughters, and two crazy pugs.

MY TAKE:
What's not to like about a book that combines The Wizard of Oz with teaching lessons to kids?

In The Wizard of Oz Colors, kids are introduced to colors in the context of the story of The Wizard of Oz.

I really liked this book. The rhymes are easy enough for kids to understand but it's easy to see that the author  wasn't lazy when coming up with rhymes that worked.

The illustrations and coloring were also very beautiful and eye-catching. They're definitely the kind of drawings that kids would find cute and toddlers would be fascinated by.

Thanks to NetGalley and Capstone Press for the e-ARC. Publication date of The Wizard of Oz Colors is on September 2, 2013.

THE GOOD:

1. The story is able to combine well the idea of introducing colors with telling the story of The Wizard of Oz.
2. The illustrations and coloring style are gorgeous.
3. The rhymes are cute.

THE BAD:

1. The rhymes can be a little bit limiting when it comes to telling the entire story of the book/movie.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

Glinda the Good Witch
glittered in PINK.
She charmed with a smile,
a nod, and a wink.

READ IT IF:

1. You want to teach your child about colors.
2. You want to introduce your child to The Wizard of Oz.
3. You like children's books with pretty illustrations.

RATING:


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Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

On a brick road
bright and YELLOW,
Dorothy met a
straw-filled fellow.

Review: Here I Am by Patti Kim

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Newly arrived from their faraway homeland, a boy and his family enter into the lights, noise, and traffic of a busy American city. The language is unfamiliar. Food, habits, games, and gestures are puzzling. They boy clings tightly to his special keepsake from home and wonders how he will find his way. How will he once again become the happy, confident kid he used to be? Walk in his shoes as he takes the first tentative steps toward discovering joy in his new world.
For ages 5-9.
*Wordless picture book that follows a child's "immigration journey" to the United States
*Deals with the emotions of acclimating to a new community and way of life
About the Author:
Patti Kim was born in Pusan, Korea, and immigrated to the United States on Christmas of 1974 with her mother, father, and older sister. At the age of five, she thought she was a writer and scribbled gibberish all over the pages of her mother’s Korean-English dictionary and got in big trouble for it. Her scribbling eventually paid off. She earned her MFA in creative writing at the University of Maryland. She is the author of A Cab Called
Reliable. She lives with her husband and two daughters who give her plenty to write about every day. This is her first children’s book.
About the Illustrator:
Sonia Sánchez lives with her husband and a sleepy-head cat in a blue house near the Mediterranean Sea. She paints with both traditional and digital brushes and likes a lot of texture in her work. She loves children’s
books and her favorite illustrators are Quentin Blake and Fiep Westendorp. Sonia studied illustration at Pau Gargallo’s Arts and Design School of Badalona in Spain. Her illustrations have been published abroad in books, magazines, on graphic posters, and textile designs for clothing.

MY TAKE:
Most of the wordless picture books I've found on NetGalley were quite good so I decided to give this one a try.

In Here I Am, a young boy arrives in America and has a hard time fitting in. All the while, he finds comfort in a seed he has brought from home.

The story is something that a lot of young immigrants may find relate-able. It's not easy being in a new place, especially if you're young and not really open to changes. The resolution of the story was unexpected, but still a nice surprise overall.

The illustration style is a little unusual in that the layout isn't consistent. That is, It's not always one panel per page, and the panels can be different sizes and in different areas of the page. The style and the coloring is a little bit anime-like as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Capstone Young Readers for the e-ARC. Publication date of Here I Am is on September 2, 2013.

THE GOOD:

1. Kids who are new to a place will find this relate-able.
2. The illustration style and layout is not your typical children's book style.
3. It has a nice message.

THE BAD:

1. The illustration style might not appeal to all.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

I hope it encourages you to live out your own story of arriving to that place where you can say, "Here I am."

READ IT IF:

1. Your family is moving to a new place.
2. Your child is having trouble adjusting to a new place or situation.
3. You've moved to a new place at least once in your life.

RATING:


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In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

FROM NETGALLEY:

Here I Am by Patti Kim
The Wizard of Oz Colors by Jill Kalz
Peek-a-Boo Monsters by Charles Reasoner
The Alphabet Parade by Charls Ghigna
The Man of Steel: Superman vs. the Doomsday Army by Laurie S. Sutton

Review: The Wizard of Oz by Beth Bracken

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Film stills and original dialogue from the beloved movie The Wizard of Oz tell the tale of a young girl named Dorothy who flies over the rainbow with her dog, Toto, befriends a Tin Man, a Scarecrow, and a Lion on a yellow brick road to the Emerald City, and defeats a Wicked Witch before meeting a Wizard and learning that there's no place like home.
For ages 3-8.
*The 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz
*3D re-mastering of the film for DVD/Blu-ray release in Fall 2013
*Created using film stills, this picture book is a great introduction to the movie
*The Wizard of Oz movie facts:
   - Over 11 million DVDs sold to-date
   - The film will be re-released in Fall 2013
   - The film was Nominated for 6 Academy Awards and won 2
   - The film was ranked #1 on the American Film Institute's list of "100 Greatest Fantasy Films of All Time"
About the Author:
Beth Bracken’s books have been translated into multiple languages, and her picture books have won the 2011 Creative Child Award; the 2012 Eric Hoffer Book Award Grand Prize; and the 2013 Mom’s Choice Gold Award. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband, Steve, and their son, Sam.

MY TAKE:
I really liked The Wizard of Oz movie, so a children's book featuring stills from the movie sounded perfect.

The Wizard of Oz tells the story of Dorothy, her friends, and their individual quests. The book makes use of stills from the movie to accompany the story.

Since this book is for young kids, some scenes and details have been edited out. For example, the part wherein Dorothy and her friends were carried by the flying monkeys were not mentioned. For the most part, though, the important parts of the movie are here.

I liked how the book didn't get lazy with the layout and just slapped the text on top of the pictures. There's variety when it comes to the layout, and it kind of reminded me of those wedding books that creatively showcases the wedding pictures in a coffee table book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Picture Window Books for the e-ARC. Publication of The Wizard of Oz is on August 1, 2013.

THE GOOD:

1. The layout is very creative.
2. The important parts of the movie are in the book.
3. The pictures are well-chosen.

THE BAD:

1. Some parts were edited out.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

"I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog too!"

READ IT IF:

1. You're a fan of the movie.
2. You want to introduce your child to The Wizard of Oz.
3. You want to watch The Wizard of Oz movie again.

RATING:


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Review: A No-Sneeze Pet by Diana Gallagher

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Kyle and Mia are determined to help their friend, Emma, find a pet that won't make her mom sneeze. But Emma doesn't want a pet she can't cuddle, and Kyle and Mia are running out of ideas. Will they ever come up with the perfect no-sneeze pet, or is Emma out of luck?
From the Pet Friends Forever series. For ages 6-8.
* Dogs and cats are popular! One out of every three U.S. households owns a pet (72.9 million homes)
* Sweet stories that also teach kids about animal care
About the Author:
Diane G. Gallagher lives in Florida with five dogs, three cats, and a cranky parrot. A professional folk musician in the 1970s, Gallagher also wrote songs and dabbled in whimsical fantasy art in the 1980s. She is best known for her hand-colored print series, “Woof: The House Dragon,” and she won a Hugo for Best Fan Artist 1988. “The Alien Dark” (TSR1990) was her first published novel. Gallagher has written over 70 titles, including books in the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Charmed,” Smallville,” and “Star Trek” series.
About the Illustrator:
Adriana Puglisi was born in Argentina and now resides in Granada, Spain with her family. She has more than 20 years of experience as a freelance illustrator, writer, and storyteller. Her passion for stories and writing has led her to undertake various other projects parallel to her work as an illustrator and graphic designer, such as illustrating children’s stories like This is Me, published in October 2009 by Mil y 1 Cuentos (A Thousand and One Tales) and Este soy yo, as well as working for more than 20 years as a story-teller at private children’s parties, in various schools, and at Sunday schools.

MY TAKE:
I can't remember the last time I read a book about finding the perfect pet for households that have someone who is allergic to furry pets.

In A No-Sneeze Pet, Kyle and Mia, along with the help of their friends, relatives and neighbors, help Emma find a pet that she likes and her mother's allergies can tolerate.

I liked that Kyle, Mia and Emma discussed a variety of pets that fit the criteria and didn't just zero in on one type of pet right away. This way, kids who have the same issue as Emma can use this as a sort-of guide when choosing a pet. I've heard of hypo-allergenic pets before, which are specially bred to not activate allergies. That's what I was actually expecting when I first read the book. Those pets can get expensive, though, so it's good that the book went the traditional route and featured pets that are naturally hypo-allergenic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Picture Window Books for the e-ARC. Publication date of A No-Sneeze Pet is on August 1, 2013.

THE GOOD:

1. Kids can learn about the different types of pets that don't cause allergies.
2. Kids who have allergies or family members who are allergic can get an idea of pets they can have.
3. The story doesn't feel forced.

THE BAD:

1. There might be more pet options that weren't mentioned.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

"I bet she has a stuffed animal for a pet," Mia whispered with a giggle.

READ IT IF:

1. You are looking for hypo-allergenic pets.
2. Your child likes animals.
3. You are allergic to furry animals but your child wants one.

RATING:


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Review: Stacie Bakes classic cakes and bakes for the thoroughly modern cook by Stacie Stewart

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Since reaching the finals in Masterchef in 2010, Stacie Stewart has launched her Beehive Bakery to critical acclaim. Her bakes and cakes have proved enormously popular at festivals and events around the country – and she is now judge and mentor for the sweet baking category on the new primetime ITV show, food.Glorious.food.
This book includes all of Stacie’s most well-loved recipes, from Beehive bars to Cheesecake brownies. She gives a modern twist on traditional bakes, so there's Lemon meringue pie cake, Banana chocolate baked Alaska and White forest gâteau. There are gluten-free recipes too, including Old school Bakewell tart and an orange and almond cake. You will find tarts, cakes, biscuits, bars, puddings, breads, sweets and savoury pies. There's something to suit every occasion, with chapters ranging from Hello, Summer! and Mother’s Day & Vintage Tea to Valentine’s Day and New Year, New Baking Rules.
Author Information
Stacie Stewart is the judge for the sweet baking category on Simon Cowell’s new series Food.glorious.Food. A Masterchef 2010 finalist, she is now poised to introduce the joys of baking to a new generation. Stacie runs her own online bakery business, The Beehive Bakery. She appears regularly on TV, in newspapers and magazines. Stacie also DJs on the Northern Soul circuit. She lives in Sunderland.

MY TAKE:
I wasn't able to watch Stacie's season of Masterchef but I'm all for baking books so I gave this one a try.

In Stacie Bakes, we are treated to tips and various baking recipes for all occasions. Recipes are divided by seasons and celebrations such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day.

The way the book is written as a sort of mix between a recipe book and a biography book. In between sections of recipes, we are treated to pictures of Stacie and her family members, as well as stories from her life. The stories are written in a very conversational manner and they are interesting for the most part. The baking tips are actually pretty useful and most of them are stuff I've either heard before but forgotten or this is my first time hearing them. For example, sifting flour makes a difference when it comes to the lightness of cake, and you should also weigh the flour after sifting.

The recipes look delicious but I feel like overall they are better suited for intermediate to advanced bakers than for beginner bakers. Some of the recipes require special equipment or tins that those who are starting out may not have yet. Some of the ingredients may also be hard to find at regular stores especially if you're from a smaller town. In my city, for example, vanilla pods aren't usually found in supermarkets. There are only certain baking specialty stores that carry them.

There aren't as many pictures as I'd like, though, as a number of recipes did not include pictures of the finished product.

Thanks to NetGalley and Pavilion for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. Stacie inserts tips within recipes that can help improve your dish.
2. Ingredient measurements are very precise.
3. The recipes are not your typical recipe book fare.

THE BAD:

1. Some of the recipes may be intimidating to beginner bakers.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

In medieval England, kings and their courts enjoyed six-hour breakfasts featuring dishes such as roasted stuffed swans, pies and jelly.

READ IT IF:

1. You liked Stacie on Masterchef.
2. You are looking for English recipes you can try.
3. You are a beginner baker who wants to try slightly more complicated recipes.

RATING:


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