Harold Loves His Woolly Hat

From Goodreads:  In this sweet picture book that celebrates selflessness and the joy of helping others, a little bear named Harold loses his beloved woolly hat--only to discover that others need it more. 

What makes a bear special? For Harold, it is his beloved striped woolly hat. He wears it when he sleeps, when he goes to school, and even when he takes his monthly bath. But when a crow whisks the hat off his head and high up into a nest, Harold doesn't feel so special anymore. He tries everything to get it back--offering the crow blueberries, worms, and even shiny objects--but alas, the crow will not budge. Turns out that the hat has a new special purpose: keeping three baby crows warm. This heartwarming picture book features an irresistible bear and gently reinforces the notion that it doesn't matter what you have, it's who you are that matters.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts:

-    This was an adorable story! I loved everything about it.

-    The illustrations were simple and beautiful. I loved the texture to the environment.

-    I love sweet little messages. We are special just for being us. We don't need objects to make us special, and some things have a better purpose, or someone might need something more than we do.

-    Both my girls loved this book, we'll definitely be reading it again. 

Hip-Hop Lollipop

Goodreads Says:    In this lyrical read-aloud filled with rhythm and rhyme and illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner Brian Pinkney, follow a little girl as she dances her way to bedtime. 

Mama says, "Lollipop, stop! Stop!
Jumping snapping nonstop."
Arms and shoulders pop 'n' lock.
Lollie's dancing hip-hop.

Watch as Lollipop grooves her way through her bedtime routine, brushing her teeth to the beat and shimmying into pjs. She sways along with her sister, her parents, and even some enthusiastic pets until, finally, Lollie closes her eyes and dances through her dreams. Susan Montanari and Caldecott Honor winner Brian Pinkney offer a playful bedtime read-aloud that perfectly captures the joy of music, movement, and family.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts:

-    The watercolor illustrations are delightful, and the text is often colored or situated so that it becomes part of the picture. It is really cool!

-    I must not be hip-hop enough to read this out loud. I struggled with the rhythm of the phrases at times.

-    The book is cute and fun, but there really isn't a story. The little girl hip hops her way through the bedtime routine. 

-    Gnome and I didn't care for the book too much. It was cute, but it wasn't one we'd want to read over and over again. Squishy didn't even want to sit through the book.

-    I think a lot of kids would enjoy this fun book, but it wasn't for us.

How Do You Take a Bath?

From Goodreads:    

How do YOU take a bath? 
Does your mama comb your fur?
Do you shake off all your dirt?
Do you splash and flap and quack?
Do the birdies peck your back?
No!

Follow elephants, pigs, monkeys, hippos, and more in this charming rhyming picture book from veteran author Kate McMullan. How does a pig take a bath? It sinks in the mud! What about a chicken? It thrashes about in dust! And a cat? Why, it licks itself clean, of course! Sydney Hanson's adorable illustrations toggle neatly between animals in nature grooming themselves and humorous depictions of children attempting the animals' bathing tactics. By the end of the book, the child finally makes his way to the bathtub, no mud baths or lick baths about it!

I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts:

-    This book was adorable!

-    The illustrations were SO cute! My girls and I were going "Awwwwww!" on every page. We almost couldn't handle the cuteness.

-    The rhymes were fun, and the way the children tried to imitate the way different animals bathe made us all laugh. 

-    I really appreciate the diversity. My girls noticed that one of the girls looked like them. My 2 yo even thought it was her sister.

-    This is a book we won't get tired of reading over and over. 

Don't Blink

From Goodreads:    This interactive book may seem to be on your side, reluctant sleeper -- but it's truly a bedtime book in disguise!

Here's how it works: if you can avoid getting to the end of this book, you can avoid bedtime, simple as that. (It's a pretty sweet deal, actually.) But each time you blink, you have to turn a page. Those are just the rules. So whatever you do, DON'T BLINK!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts:

-    I love interactive books. They are really fun. 

-    This book had me and my daughter laughing the whole way through. It was hilarious watching my daughter trying not to blink. 

-    The little owl is SO endearing! He is the only character in the book, but he is so cute!

-    I think a lot of kids and parents will really like this one.

-    The copy I received wasn't bound, so it was a little tricky to turn pages and stuff. It is also doomed to be scattered around by my toddler. They couldn't have put a couple staples in it before it shipped?

When You're Feeling Sick

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads:    This laugh-out-loud picture book from Coy Bowles, guitarist for the Grammy Award winning Zac Brown Band, will have sick kids feeling better in no time!

Sneezing? Coughing? Taking a sick day? Don t worry, you ll be feeling better soon thanks to this hilarious picture book from Coy Bowles, guitarist of the Grammy Award winning Zac Brown Band. Full of encouraging and super-silly rhyming advice on how to face sick days with courage and a positive attitude, When You re Feeling Sick is just what the doctor ordered! Comes with a sheet of stickers to bring a smile to every sick kid s face."

My Thoughts:

-    The book I received wasn't bound or anything. The pages were loose. It was awkward to hold.

-    I didn't know anything about this book before reading it, and it wasn't at all what I was expecting. It was trying to be silly, but I didn't find it funny or fun.

-    Some of the book rhymes and some doesn't. It was really inconsistent, and some of the rhymes were a bit of a stretch.

-    I think this was a cute idea for a children's book, but it was executed very poorly. 

-    The illustrations were really good.

Gnome's Thoughts:

-    I didn't like it.

-    I don't get it

-    I was bored.

Top Ten Tuesday: Freebie Week

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

Freebie Week!

I usually skip these freebie weeks cause I can't think of anything to list, but this week I thought it would be fun to focus on some of my favorite pictures books. Gnome and I enjoy a lot of fun books, so here are our top ten!

Mo Willems Books


Gnome and I adore anything by Mo Willems. We especially love the Pigeon and the Elephant and Piggie books.

 
 
 


Any Berenstain Bear book