Category: Children’s Fiction

The Magic at Villa Verde

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Villa Verde is a grove where a variety of animal friends live. The Magic at Villa Verde is a collection of short stories, each with a different animal protagonist. It’s the kind of book that I remember reading when I was little, where each story uses a fun animal to teach you a different lesson. Think Full House, but with totally different characters… it’s just that wholesome, classic vibe that slyly teaches morals like forgiveness, collaboration, and being yourself.

What I loved most:

I don’t know why rhyming automatically makes a story 100 times better, but it definitely does. The rhymes that Nemazie uses will make this a fun one to read out loud to small kiddos. Let’s be real though – parents, you might want to brace yourselves, because this seems like one that will get a “one more time” request over and over again!

Read this book if you like:

Rhymes, immersive worlds, animal friends, low key teaching kids important lessons through fun stories

Book details:

  • Author: Maryam Nemazie
  • Publisher: Self Published (forever holla-ing for authors who take the initiative to make their dreams of publishing a book come true!)
  • Interest Level: Toddlers to First Graders

Once Upon a Unicorn

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Plot:

Curious is a unicorn. He doesn’t quite seem to fit in with the other unicorns, because his Scientific Mind makes him interested in things the rest of them don’t care about.

Midnight is a night mare. She can’t quite seem to keep her fire under control, and that makes it hard for her to be included with the rest of the nightmares.

Everyone knows that unicorns and night mares don’t like each other. It’s just not how things work. But when Curious and Midnight cross paths while on an Experiment and a Plan (respectively), they’ll have to work together to escape from pumpkin-headed fae, figure out what the fairy queen is up to, and maybe save their world.

What I loved most:

I picked up Once Upon a Unicorn on a day when life was feeling heavy and I wanted to escape the world for a while. Anders built such a fun, rich, beautiful world – and it was a delight to escape to. I love unicorns, so trust me – I have read a lot of unicorn books (see my post on Welcome to Unicorn School for another one of my fav unicorn stories). I’ve never encountered anything quite like the night mares found in this story (which are clearly NOT the opposite of unicorns – just ask Midnight). I appreciate the way that Curious’s and Midnight’s eccentricities were strengths, and essential to who they were. I am also a sucker for any chosen family stories, and I adore how Curious and Midnight overcame their prejudices to create a solid bond. I loved this story as an adult, and I know that any kids reading it will be just as swept up into this world as I was.

Read this book if you like:

Unicorns, fantasy worlds, enemies-to-friends scenarios, fae, laughing while on adventures

Book details:

  • Author: Lou Anders
  • Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
  • Date of Publication: August 25, 2020
  • Age Recommendation: 4th – 7th grade
  • Look up Once Upon a Unicorn on WorldCat to find it at library near you!

Picture Book Round Up: LOLs

~ rachelbenzine ~ Leave a comment

Today’s post features some of my favorite funny picture books. Yes, these are intended for small kiddos – but they’re also ones that I pick up when I want to smile.

Who Wet My Pants?
by Bob Shea, Illustrated by Zachariah OHora

A bear who is a part of a scout group is surprised to find that someone wet his pants. He goes around, asking all of his friends which one of them wet his pants. If you have the humor of an eight-year-old boy like I do, you’ll think this is hilarious.

Find Who Wet My Pants at a library near you on WorldCat!

The Panda Problem
by Deborah Underwood, Illustrated by Hannah Marks

Every main character in a story has a problem, right? A panda is the main character in this story, but the panda doesn’t seem to have a problem… until the panda becomes the problem. I really love picture books that break the fourth wall, and the interaction that the panda has with the narrator in this picture book is just too fun.

Find The Panda Problem at a library near you on WorldCat!

Pokko and the Drum
by Matthew Forsythe

Pokko’s parents made a huge mistake… they gave her a drum. This silly picture book follows Pokko as she unintentionally leads a parade through the forest. The storyline is funny, but the illustrations here are really make this a stand-out book. Shoutout to Matthew Forsythe for both writing and illustrating this – I feel like it’s so impressive when people can do both!

Find Pokko and the Drum at a library near you on WorldCat!

Attack of the Underwear Dragon
by Scott Rothman, Illustrated by Pete Oswald

Cole has always wanted to be a knight, and his wish has now come true! Sort of – he’s serving as an Assistant Knight to Sir Percival. Surely his training will go well… unless an underwear dragon shows up. Fingers crossed that Cole will be able to use his knight skills to fight the dragon off!

Find Attack of the Underwear Dragon at a library near you on WorldCat!

And yes, the first book in this round up features someone wetting their pants, and the last book in this round up features underwear. I don’t care how old you are – that stuff is always funny. Have fun with these picture books, and let me know in the comments if you know of any great laugh out loud picture books I should check out.