Category: Animal Characters

Towed By Toad

by Jashar Awan

Tundra, 2024. 48 pages.
Review written March 6, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review
2025 Geisel Honor Book

The Geisel Awards are given to the most distinguished books for beginning readers, and they usually go to books in the beginning reader format. I’m so happy that this picture book won the award, because it only took one reading for it to become a favorite for me. And this picture book is both a good read-aloud and a good book for supporting new readers – the kind of book that will get read frequently and next thing you know, the child can read it themselves.

This was one of those picture books I had to show to my colleagues – except I found that I didn’t want to just show it to them – no, I was compelled to read it to them. Just a delightful book.

The look of the book is big, bright cartoon-type pictures on a white background, with about one to three short sentences per spread. And the action begins before the title page. We’re inside a house and see a toad calling from a doorway: “Breakfast!”

On the next spread, we see a smaller toad running out the door saying:

No time, Pop!
Can’t stop!

And then the title page shows the smaller toad driving out of a garage in an orange tow truck.

The beginning reminds me a little of Richard Scarry (though not nearly so busy):

Big cars. Little cars.
Old cars. New cars.
Everyone has places to be!

We then see various creatures headed various places.

No matter who you are
or where you are going. . .
. . . everyone needs help sometimes.

That’s where Toad comes in.

We see Toad towing and helping his first customer. Then these happen:

Catie Cat has a flat.
Davey Dog hit a log.

Mayor Hop forgot to stop.
Stanley Snout’s engine fell out.

And yes, the pictures that go with these are as fun as you might imagine.

And Toad helps them all.

But then, after a good day’s work, Toad’s own truck begins to make strange noises and breaks down. Toad doesn’t want to ask for help.

But when he finally does, we learn what that other big truck in the home garage is for.

And we’re left with a wonderful message:

Everyone needs help sometimes.

Even the helpers.

This book has it all – simple, bright pictures, easy-to-understand language, lots of cars and trucks, plenty of kid-sized drama, and a wonderful message to top it off.

One of those books that make me wish I were still doing story times.

jasharawan.com
penguinrandomhouse.ca

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Find this review on Sonderbooks at: www.sonderbooks.com/Picture_Books/towed_by_toad.html

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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The Ship in the Window

written by Travis Jonker
illustrated by Matthew Cordell

Viking (Penguin Random House), 2024. 40 pages.
Review written September 6, 2024, from a library book.
Starred Review

First, I have to give a disclosure: The author of this book, Travis Jonker, is a friend of mine, or at least a librarian acquaintance. When we see each other at library conferences, we smile and say Hi! So — I’m for sure going to like his books, and I continue to be excited for him that he’s writing books that are getting published.

But let me tell you about his latest. The illustrator is Caldecott Winner Matthew Cordell – so you know it’s going to be good!

The story is simple. Who among us hasn’t looked at an intricately crafted miniature ship and wondered if it could actually sail? In this book, the participants find out!

The story opens in wordless pictures before the title page. We see house close to the shore, and then inside the house, a man is carefully crafting a miniature ship. We see a boy by his side, looking on, and if you look closely, you’ll also see a mouse.

When the story opens, we get the viewpoint of the mouse, Mabel, who lives in the house with the man and the boy – and the magnificent untouched ship in the window.

Mabel knew it was the man’s prized possession because she had watched him spend months building it, carefully perfecting every last detail.

He wouldn’t even let the boy help.

Mabel wonders if it could sail like a real ship. She daydreams about being the captain of this ship. She can see that the boy shares in her wondering.

And then one night, the door gets left open, and Mabel sees her chance to find out!

This book is about Mabel’s adventure that night and what happens when the man discovers the ship is gone. (His alarm is expressed, but the ending softens it beautifully.)

This is simply a lovely little book about imagination and adventure. And new friends.

TravisJonkerBooks.com
MatthewCordell.com
Penguin.com/kids

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Find this review on Sonderbooks at: www.sonderbooks.com/Picture_Books/ship_in_the_window.html

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing

by Amy Hest
illustrated by Erin Stead

Neal Porter Books (Holiday House), 2024. 40 pages.
Review written July 18, 2024, from a library book.
Starred Review

Ahh. This picture book gives me a happy sense of peace.

It’s a quiet story of a grown-up bear and a young bear going fishing. The story is simple, the pictures are charming, and the nice repetition makes it delightful for beginning readers or young listeners.

Here’s how the book begins:

One day Big Bear says to Little Bear, I’m just in the mood for fishing.

Me too, says Little Bear. Just in the mood.

Big Bear and Little Bear pull on baggy blue pants for fishing. And boots. They stuff their feet into tal black boots. Their coats are yellow with pockets and hoods.

Now they are ready for fishing.

That all sounds good. But the first word on the next page is:

Almost.

Three times they think of something more they need — poles; nice, warm blueberry scones; and a book with stories.

When they are finally really, truly ready to go fishing, they make their way to their fishing boat, pulling the wagon with supplies, get into the boat, and row out into the lake.

I love the page once they get there:

Big Bear and Little Bear dip their poles in the lake.

Fishermen sit very still, whispers Big Bear.

Oh yes, Little Bear whispers back. Very still.

Sunshine sparkles up the lake.

Fishermen are patient, whispers Big Bear.

Oh yes, Little Bear whispers back. Patient.

And so they wait. And wait. And of course they need a break for nice, warm blueberry scones, as well as for reading from their big book of stories.

Okay, my repeating good lines simply doesn’t do the job without Erin Stead’s cozy illustrations. If you have a young child in your home, you need to check out this book and read it together yourselves! I guarantee, you’ll be charmed.

amyhest.com
erinstead.com

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Find this review on Sonderbooks at: www.sonderbooks.com/Picture_Books/big_bear_and_little_bear_go_fishing.html

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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How Old Is Mr. Tortoise?

by Dev Petty
illustrated by Ruth Chan

Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2022. 36 pages.
Review written July 26, 2022, from my own copy, signed by the author at ALA Annual Conference
Starred Review

Here’s a silly picture book about an old tortoise who just wants to eat cake on his birthday. But his friends want to know how many candles to put on the cake before anyone gets a slice.

So then they try to figure out how old Mr. Tortoise is. There are some silly guesses. Some ideas based on what he remembers. And finally, he remembers that he moved into his fancy enclosure on his hundredth birthday and was given a new succulent each year as a gift after. When you also add in the ones he’s eaten, they can finally figure out how old he is.

But the cake won’t fit that many candles! Will Mr. Tortoise ever get to eat cake?

This book has a nice little bit of math to make me happy and to get kids thinking about numbers. But my favorite part of that is what I just discovered — under the paper cover, the book shows a great big cake (instead of the cover image) — and I counted and it has the right amount of candles. (Unfortunately, on the library version, the cover will get taped down and you won’t get to check.) Ha! Though I just counted the candles pictured on the endpapers (apparently leftover after the cake is mostly eaten) — and there are again exactly the right amount. Nice touch!

But even without the math, it’s a happy story of friends and a birthday and cake! What’s not to like?

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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*Note* To try to catch up on posting reviews, I’m posting the oldest reviews I’ve written on my blog without making a page on my main website. They’re still good books.

Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates

by Cheryl B. Klein
illustrated by Abhi Alwar

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2021. 36 pages.
Review written December 11, 2021, from a library book
Starred Review

Here’s a funny picture book that teaches great things about conflict resolution and seeing another perspective.

We begin with a picture of two hamsters, one running in a wheel. The dark brown hamster introduces himself:

I’m Henry.

That’s Marvin.

We’re roommates. We’ve been roommates for two hundred and five days.

Henry is not happy about being Marvin’s roommate. Marvin talks all the time, and always wants attention. When Henry tries to hide in the bedding, Marvin finds him.

Henry’s perspective:

He’s ALWAYS TALKING,
while I’m NICE.

I don’t bother HIM.

Why won’t he do the same for ME?

Hamsters make TERRIBLE roommates.

On the two hundred and sixth day, Henry has had enough. He blows his top. He pours out his anger and tells Marvin to leave him alone.

Henry thinks it’s wonderful. Then Marvin very sadly apologizes:

I’m sorry.
I wish I knew you wanted quiet.
I talked to you because I like talking and I wanted you to talk to me.

Henry has a lot to think about. He realizes that different hamsters like different things. The two roommates are able to work out when it’s good to talk and when they should have quiet.

And they actually have fun together! I like when Henry tells Marvin he really is fast on that wheel.

It’s a child-size story on an important topic, infused with lots of humor. It’s a good story, but it will also give kids plenty to discuss.

cherylklein.com
abhialwar.com
penguin.com/kids

Buy from Amazon.com

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

What did you think of this book?

*Note* To try to catch up on posting reviews, I’m posting the oldest reviews I’ve written on my blog without making a page on my main website. They’re still good books.