"An amusing story that captures the intensity of the Christmas season from a little one's perspective. (Picture book. 2-5)"
A young rhinoceros named Otto prepares for Christmas with his family, getting into mischief by trying to make everything extra "Christmassy."
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"An entertaining romp of a book that amusingly addresses this often difficult aspect of toddlerhood. (Picture book. 2-6)"
Otto has learned the dreaded "no" word, for life for his family and friends, as well as for himself, just got more complicated.
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"Although there is an important lesson to be learned here, this picture book would've benefited from a bit more imagination. (Picture book. 3-6)"
This picture book by veterans Landa and Warnes puts a stale spin on a timeless lesson: There's no use in making a mountain out of molehill, or, in this case, a monster out of a mouse.
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"The illustrations are vintage Warnes—sweet, warmly colored and evocative—but this book about the testing of friendship remains strictly ADDITIONAL. (Picture book. 3-7)"
New collaborators Landa and Warnes (who is often paired with Julie Sykes) have created a picture book about friendship, jealousy, arguing and making things right again.
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"While adult readers who have traveled with little ones will empathize with the indulgent Chalk, its appeal to children is less clear. (Picture book. 4-6)"
A white dog named Chalk and a cheerful British mouse named Cheese explore New York City together in this well-intentioned but confusing story.
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"Pleasing enough, but not much new here. (Picture book. 4-8)"
When a new student, Boris the bear, arrives in Miss Cluck's classroom, he gets a frosty welcome from the other students, who are all afraid of his "fierce"-looking smile and booming voice.
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"The package is far from unique, but it would be a good gift for a cuddle-bear who's somehow missed all the others. (Picture book. 2-5)"
"I love you as big as the world. / I love you as deep as the sea. / I love you as bright as the sun. / I love you. / And I know you love me!"
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"The cub fills the ark with toy animals and pairs of obliging animal friends who continue to interact with the bears as they enjoy some lemonade and a walk through the woods. (music notation) (Picture book. 2-6)"
The appealing bears introduced by Warnes in his version of Jesus Loves Me! (2006) return as the main characters in another satisfying treatment of a traditional children's religious song.
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"The story is simple enough for two-year-olds, funny enough for five-year-olds and clever enough for older children and parents to enjoy as a family read-aloud during Christmas season. (Picture book. 2-7)"
In this charming, well-written story for younger children, a bear family of three prepares for Christmas Eve together.
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"Music and guitar chords are included. (Picture book. 1-5)"
The words to this traditional children's hymn serve as the text for a pleasant interpretation focusing on a family of three bears: a father, mother and child.
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"Readers will definitely share Rosie's delight. (Picture book. 5-7)"
Veteran Warnes creates an idyllic, ground-level (until the end, anyway) woodland setting for this debut tale of a young rabbit's search for a promised surprise.
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"Warnes provides cheerful illustrations full of bold colors and bright patterns, and he has a humorous way with his animal characters, including the tiny but expressive mouse and the cat who wears a headband with star antennae. (Picture book. 3-6)"
Sykes and Warnes team up for their second story about a Santa who makes all the Christmas toys with the help of his animal companions rather than elves.
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"Expressive, comical illustrations add even more whimsy to this amusing tale. (Picture book. 3-7)"
Nibbles and Squeak embark on an adventure to retrieve some chocolate cake from the kitchen, but what are two little mice against the big, ginger cat, especially when Squeak is "a small mouse, a scared mouse, a stay-at-home mouse."
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"Cartoonish line drawings capture action but not nuance in a tale that includes a warm fuzzy ending. (Picture book. 2-5)"
A young bunny and a hungry fox stick to their traditional roles in this formulaic bunny-finds-trouble tale, imported from Britain.
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"The humorous antics of the intrepid Santa make for a wonderfully silly holiday story. (Picture book. 3-7)"
It's Christmas time again and Sykes's noisy, jovial Santa (Shhh!) returns, embarking upon a whole new succession of misadventures.
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"Warnes has an impressive knack for summoning the African landscape in expressive forms and very few colors. (Picture book/folklore. 3-7)"
Although the language of the originals seems to have been oversimplified (there are no notes or sources given), these ten retellings about African animals—how the gluttonous zebra got its vulgar stripes, how the boastful hippo lost his silken hair and acquired his nocturnal habits, and more—remain thoroughly entertaining.
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"For anyone unsure of being welcomed, Scamell (Buster's Echo, 1995, etc.) shows that clumsiness can be endearing and that a song need not be musical to be heartfelt. (Picture book. 6-8)"
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