librarianryan's reviews
6521 reviews

 I am not sure what is better the story, the rhymes, or the artwork. This was a really fun book that I would have an amazing time reading at story time. 

 This book was fine. The little Labradoodle family takes in a grumpy cat and shows it the true meaning of Christmas. The book rhymes and has a nice cadence. The pictures are lovely. The only thing that does not make sense is the title. This book is about the cat not the dogs. The dogs wake   up to presents but otherwise Why does this book have this title. 

 This book is half done. The author does a decent job rhyming and while this story has a cadence there was about four cadences that the author switches around. The illustrations feel old-fashioned but at the same time go well with the story. However, the story ends in the middle of nowhere. It feels like the book isn’t finished. However if it were to get an ending, it would probably be too long. 

 This book is about the bucking bronco of a horse named Steamboat. Steamboat became the symbol of Wyoming that is still used today. This book is about family and not breaking anyones spirit just because you can. This book is a fine biography of a horse. What sets this apart is the artwork. It’s a goofy somber western comedic style artwork not usually seen in children’s picture books. But it goes perfectly with this story. 

 Do you ever get bored of the same ham and Swiss on rye. You’re not alone. Welcome the sandwiches of history. This cookbook not only explores the history of sandwiches, but some of the most unique things ever put on them and the recipes to make them. This book is well done and entertaining. And of all the recipes I’ve seen the one that sounds most intriguing is the cucumber pineapple sandwich. And the most WTF sandwich is probably the hotdog sloppy Joe’s sandwich. Also trigger warning: this book is on the side of hotdogs are sandwiches. 

 There’s something wrong with my galley. I’m not sure if the pages are supposed to be black with a light color printing or if it’s just a mess up with the digital galley. Having said that what I have read of this book I think it’d be nice for like a public library collection, but I wouldn’t add it to my own. It really didn’t add anything to what I already knew, and I thought the parts about educating on color hue etc. were long and drawn out. This felt more like sitting through professors’ class, then picking up a new hobby. 

 This book is exactly what you get from the title. Our main character Sarah has never been kissed. She is a senior in high school and it is a very big deal to her and her friends. Her best guy friend makes a bet with her to kiss a random stranger. Sarah cannot say no to her friends’ bets which gets her in a lot of trouble. Most of this book is Sarah feeling down or anxious about herself: I can’t do this, I’m too scared. There’s two boys, one she likes , one she asked to kiss who turn out to be brothers who live across the hall. This is meant to be a fun high school, quick graphic novel series. And it is. It feels very 90s teen comedy. The settings a little off. Mainly the time and the place. I’m reading a galley so I didn’t have a cover or any back matter. Part of it feels like it takes place in the 90s when characters use words like fo sho, OK byeeee, and a few others. But it also doesn’t feel like it takes place in America. Not that it needs to, but I think those context clues would help in the story where it feels like there are holes. This is just book one, but this will progress exactly as the 90s team romcom did so. What do you choose to continue it or not depends on if you like that thing. 

 This is book 3 in the Peapod farm series. Winter has set in there’s snow, firewood to collect, and farm chores to do. If you’ve read the other two books in this series, there is nothing new but a deeper appreciation of Lucy and her family. I like the points where you can see the real artist’s real hands as they draw the panel that you’re seeing and how it’s incorporated into the story. I also like how the author answers questions about the end about characters that are considered not nice, or what it was like having sisters, etc. In a way it feels like an ending to the series but also not an ending, so we’ll see where the author goes from here. I will say, I like her young readers graphic novels better than her adult stuff so I hope she continues to write for this group. 

 The artwork reminds me of the Loud House. This is about a town known for its skateboard gangs or crews. A not-so-great crew of misfits are trying to level up and find a place to shred. The way this book is drawn makes the gang seem like they’re from the movie Grease or from West Side Story rather than what most modern gangs are like. There is some narrative and in all honesty this book is boring. I am DNFing  at 24%. I like the artwork and even part of the concept, cannot get past how boring it is. 

 Boys Town Press has been getting some better authors. This book was a tad long all of Boys Town books are about learning a lesson. In this book, we have two little girls who come home from school.  They were left a note of instructions and told to wait for Mom. When they skip part of the instructions, it causes a problem. They use this problem to learn a lesson. I like that this strays away from the problem, three examples, pneumatic solution. This is a story told as stories are supposed to be told. While I find the story is long for storytime, it would be perfect for a classroom setting. The illustrations are bright and colorful and will keep kids’ attention.