Welcome, book lovers!

So September was a wild month of reading for me. I didn’t plan on reading that much, but if you didn’t listen to the previous episode, I explained that I chose a lot of quick, “read now” books on NetGalley because I was trying to increase my feedback ratio. As a book reviewer on this website, the higher your ratio, the better you look to publishers who approve your requests to read their ARCs. So I thought the easiest way to increase my percentage was to read a bunch of picture books since they are quick. I also read two short stories, four graphic novels, and two standard novels from NetGalley. If you follow me on GoodReads, then you’ve probably seen all of my reviews for the books that I read last month.

You can listen to/read about the other NetGalley books that I read in September here.

NetGalley Kids’ Picture Books

My Gran Does Karate by Michel Deverall

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
My GR Rating: 5
Buy on Amazon here.

GR Description: This hilarious story introduces readers to the narrator’s amazing “Gran,” a karate-chopping grandmother with out-of-this-world skills. Even though Gran is elderly, she can still block, chop, kick, and spin. Gran brings her skills to the retirement home and Grandparents’ Day at school, blowing everyone away. What will Gran’s next cool hobby be? This book challenges readers’ ideas about older people while encouraging them to do what they love against all odds.

My Brief Review: This is a hoot! This is one of the funniest, cutest picture books I’ve read in a really long time. I loved it and had a great time! The illustrations are beautiful. I loved this style of artwork. The illustrations also helped to tell the story and gave it more humor. It’s too adorable! 

I loved seeing how this elderly woman wasn’t held back by her age. She shows everyone that getting old doesn’t mean your life is over and can’t be exciting anymore. I love breaking the stereotype of weak, feeble senior citizens in this story. I also appreciated how the grandmother gave back to the retirement home by teaching her peers karate and getting them active again. This is definitely a great message of never letting anything hold you back, not even age. Highly recommend – even to adults!!

Fiona and the Easter Egg Hunt by Richard Cowdrey

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Publication Date: January 9, 2024
My GR Rating: 5
Pre-Order on Amazon here.

GR Description: Join your favorite hippo, Fiona, the beloved internet sensation from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, as she plans an Easter egg hunt for her animal friends at the zoo! Fiona and the Easter Egg Hunt is another addition to the New York Times bestselling Fiona the Hippo series. Spring has sprung, and new adorable babies are being born all over the zoo! Fiona and her friend Rico the porcupine decide to have an Easter egg hunt for the animals. But when one of Mrs. Swan’s eggs gets accidentally mixed in with the Easter eggs in Fiona’s basket, will Fiona and her friends find the egg before it hatches?

My Brief Review: This was the sweetest, cutest holiday book. The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous. I loved watching Fiona and Rico go on this adventure and learn about Easter. For animal-loving kids, they would really enjoy this book set in a zoo. There are lots of illustrations of animals. 

It’s also a charming book about friendship, responsibility, and being accountable for your mistakes. When an egg went missing, Fiona did not shy away from the trouble she was in. She led the charge to find the egg with the help of her friends. Lots of great messages for little ones. Highly recommend!!

How Does Chocolate Taste on Everest? Explore Earth’s Most Extreme Places Through Sight, Sound, Smell, Touch, and Taste by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
My GR Rating: 5
Buy on Amazon now.

GR Description: Don’t get too comfortable. This isn’t the type of book you can snuggle up with under the covers. Not even close!

You’re off on the expedition of a lifetime to experience the sights, sounds, smells, feelings and tastes of the world’s most extreme places.

Have you ever wondered what the buzz of the rainforest sounds like on a trek through the Amazon? Or how it would feel to experience the biting cold as you voyage across Antarctica? Or how about how chocolate would taste on Mount Everest?

From every heart-bursting sight to tummy-lurching bite, this is a truly immersive round-the-world adventure, where YOU are the explorer.

My Brief Review: This was such a fun, entertaining and educational book. I loved it and learned so much. I loved the concept of going on a mission traveling around the world, exploring all of these extreme places. It’s jam-packed with tons of facts and information from geographical to historical. It sounds like a lot but it didn’t feel overwhelming while reading it. I also loved the second person POV because it made me feel like the main character in the story. It was extremely immersive. I felt like I was really traveling around the world (and space), experiencing all of the locations. I also loved how interactive it was by using the five senses and giving descriptions of what you would see, hear, smell, taste, and touch at each location. I think kids would have a lot of fun with this book. I would’ve loved this book when I was little.

The illustrations are absolutely beautiful. I took my time reading through this story, not just to soak up all the information I was receiving but to admire the gorgeous artwork. There is also a seek and find element with a spider, which was fun trying to find him throughout the story. 

This book is more than a story, it’s an experience. It’s not only very educational but also wildly amusing and entertaining. I laughed quite a bit and enjoyed the quirky humor. Highly recommend!!!

Avocado Magic by Taltal Levi

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Publication Date: March 5, 2024
My GR Rating: 5
Pre-Order on Amazon here.

GR Description: Avocado seeds and slow growing! A young girl’s impatience turns to wonder as she and her avocado tree gradually change and grow in this story inspired by Israeli artist Taltal Levi’s childhood.

Ellie is sulking—she celebrated her birthday yesterday under the old avocado tree. But she’s not even a little bit taller today! Dad tells Ellie a secret. She is like the pit of an avocado, he explains, small and full of magic. Together they put an avocado seed in a glass of water by the window and watch as both Ellie and her avocado plant grow, take root, and eventually bring new life.

In Taltal Levi’s native country Israel, avocados are ubiquitous and plucked straight from the tree. In her third book, Taltal Levi uses warm, earthy colors to tell a personal yet universal story about the magic of growth.

My Brief Review: I loved this sweet children’s picture book. The illustrations are beautiful! I loved the style of the artwork and all of the warm colors. It felt very cozy. 

I loved this heartwarming story, and it had great life lessons in it. Kids are usually in a hurry to grow up, but everyone grows and matures at their own rate. I love the message of being patient and allowing kids to grow up on their own time. I also enjoyed how this message was incorporated with the avocado seed. 

Avocados are one of my favorite foods, so that’s initially what drew me to this story, but there is so much depth in this short book. I also liked how it showed kids how to care for a plant and watch it grow. There is even a fun tutorial at the end that teaches you how to grow your own avocado tree! This was a lot of fun and very enjoyable to read. It was like a warm hug to my heart!

Highly recommend! (And now I want some guacamole and chips 😉)

Kid Christmas of the Claus Brothers Toy Shop by David Litchfield

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
My GR Rating: 5
Buy on Amazon here.

GR Description: Nicky Claus works with his three uncles in the Claus Brothers Toy Emporium. Uncle Hanz makes the toys, Uncle Louis checks them and Uncle Levi adds the… what’s the scientific term for it? Ah, yes. The magic! For each toy made at the Emporium has a special sparkle that means it will find the child it is perfect for.

One day, Nicky notices a young girl with her face pressed up to the glass. When she disappears, he follows her and finds her living on the streets with lots of other children, none of whom can afford a toy. Nicky vows that for one night only, every child will have the toy of their dreams and – with the help of his uncles and some flying reindeer – the legend of Father Christmas is born.

My Brief Review: Absolutely gorgeous illustrations!! They are stunning and what initially drew me to want to read this short children’s book. They are bright and vibrant, though it was hard to read the text on some pages.

This is a fun, creative retelling of Santa Claus’ origin story with a unique twist. It was really sweet and heartwarming. There are definitely some positive messages in it for kids. This will definitely put you into the holiday spirit and make you think about the true meaning of Christmas. Highly recommend! 

Always Together by Patricia Kreiser

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Publication Date: January 1, 2024
My GR Rating: 5
Pre-Order on Amazon here.

GR Description: Two otters are always together, always sharing adventures–until one day one of them is gone, and nothing is the same.

My Brief Review: This is a beautiful story about life and death. It is an emotional read but is told simply so that children would understand it. It discusses the range of emotions we feel when someone dies. It had me a little teary-eyed, but the ending turned things around, where it made me smile. The watercolor illustrations are gorgeous! Highly recommend!

Paper Wishes by Tara Knudson

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Publication Date: January 1, 2024
My GR Rating: 4

NG Description: Being together with loved ones is a gift, but it’s not always possible. So what can you do when you are missing family and friends? Channel all your love into a heartfelt paper wish! Tara Knudson pens a sweet, poignant story about a child’s use of origami to stay connected to loved ones in this comforting picture book.

My Brief Review: This is such a sweet, heartwarming story about still loving and connecting with your loved ones even if you live far apart from each other. This was highly relatable because I have family spread out throughout the country that I don’t see often. It’s easy to call someone or get on a video chat, but to take the time to craft a gift and send it to them was sentimental and touching. I think kids would enjoy this story – the text rhymes and is simple, and the story is easy to follow. I also appreciated the instructions at the end of the story so kids can make their own origami hearts. Definitely recommend! 

Not My Circus by Janet Sumner Johnson

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Publication Date: January 1, 2024
My GR Rating: 4
Pre-Order on Amazon here.

GR Description: Olivia was supposed to buy eggs at the store. Instead, she bought a circus! Between food fights and a lack of potty training, her mom is not thrilled. When Mr. Victor refuses to take the animals back, it’s off to the zoo for Olivia’s new friends . . . unless she can find a way to prove that she is in control of her circus.

My Brief Review: This was a fun, creative, and humorous story. It was over-the-top silliness, but I enjoy picture books like this one, and I’m sure kids will thoroughly enjoy it, too. I loved the idioms that were taught, and then more information was at the back of the book. This story also highlighted how to take responsibility and use clever thinking. It was a sassy book but very delightful. The illustrations were gorgeous. Definitely recommend!

Fire Flight: A Wildfire Escape by Cedar Pruitt

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Publication Date: January 1, 2024
My GR Rating: 4
Pre-Order on Amazon here.

GR Description: Flames consume a forest, and an owl seeks refuge. Helicopter wings chop, and water drops to drench the branches below. Using spare, lyrical language, this debut picture book takes readers inside the journey of a screech owl that fled the flames to ride along with a firefighting helicopter during the 2020 California Creek wildfire. Vivid imagery highlights the fear and danger of the experience–as well as an astonishing moment of connection.

My Brief Review: After learning that this story is based on a real-life event and experience makes it more impactful. Wildfires are devastating and heartbreaking, but they happen. This is a story about an owl trying to escape a forest fire and finding refuge in a firefighting helicopter. The illustrations are beautiful and make the story more emotional. I really enjoyed it, and definitely recommend!

A Tale of Playful Spells and Friendship by Amber J. White

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
My GR Rating: 4
Buy on Amazon here.

GR Description: A delightful and imaginative tale that celebrates the power of friendship and the wonders of childhood imagination. Isla and Zoe’s charming adventure will inspire young readers to embrace their own creativity and explore the magical worlds that lie within their hearts.

My Brief Review: I thought this was a sweet, cute, and wholesome short read. The illustrations were beautiful, with vibrant colors. They definitely helped set the tone and atmosphere. It’s easy to read and follow along. Any child would enjoy this book. 

This is a lovely story about friendship. I also enjoyed seeing the encouragement of imagination and playing make-believe as the little girls dressed up as witches. I loved the autumnal mood it sets, especially with the fall leaves and the forest setting. It is the perfect children’s book for the Halloween season.

It was also fun having an interactive element where you can seek and find certain animals throughout the story. Definitely recommend!

A Very Nutty Halloween by Jody Hildreth

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
My GR Rating: 3
Buy on Amazon here.

GR Description: Halloween is a thrilling, spooky holiday that kids love to celebrate. This story follows an acorn family as they pick and carve their pumpkin. These acorn brothers all use their talents to work on this fun holiday activity. With lots of hard work and a little pumpkin gut throwing, the brothers come up with an amazing acorn Jack o’ Lantern. This silly story is sure to spark creativity in young readers who are celebrating Halloween.

My Brief Review: This is a cute story about a trio of acorn brothers carving a pumpkin as they get ready for Halloween. The stop-motion concept was interesting, but it fell a little flat for me. I think the carvings of the acorns with their utensils and equipment to carve the pumpkin were impressive, but the background was too plain. It could’ve used more detail. Also, the story was too simple and could’ve used a bit more creativity. However, it’s a fun, cozy story about family and helping each other out. There is even a bit of humor, which made me laugh. With a bit more polishing, it could be a great story.

Tully The Tadpole: Who Never Became A Toad by A.M. Ruggirello

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
My GR Rating: 3
Buy on Amazon here.

GR Description: Join Tully, a cheerful tadpole, on an exciting adventure! Tully’s whole life has been spent swimming happily in their cozy pond. But things start changing when Tully’s pals turn into toads and hop on land. Tully feels scared and unsure if they’re ready for that big leap. Although loneliness sometimes creeps in, Tully stays positive and embraces their own specialness. As Tully keeps growing, they discover amazing talents of their own, and they learn that they don’t have to be like anyone else—they’re already perfect just being themselves!

With delightful pictures and an inclusive message, “Tully the Tadpole” teaches kids to stay true to themselves, no matter what comes their way. It shows that our differences make us unique and embracing who we are brings true happiness. So, come along with Tully and let yourself shine as the magnificent “you” you were born to be!

My Brief Review: The illustrations were pretty, but not my favorite type of artwork. The story was cute but pretty short, and not a lot happened. I think it could’ve been a little longer with a fun little action sequence to make it more interesting. The little fun facts sprinkled throughout the story were a nice touch, though. Overall, it was an okay read but a little preachy. I prefer messages to be a bit more subtle. Cute for kids.

Bad Hair Day by John Phillips

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
My GR Rating: 3
Buy on Amazon here.

GR Description: Yo, what’s up, Fuzznut? Sing along with the viral TikTok song Bad Hair Day in this riotous journey through the world’s worst bad hair day EVER! 

You won’t be able to stop laughing , or dancing , along to this extraordinary tale. Have you ever woken up with hair that looks like the back end of a chicken ? Well, let our hilarious chicken sidekick lead you through the WORST bad hair day, from hair that turns GREEN, to dreaded SCHOOL PHOTOS!

My Brief Review: Apparently, this is a song from TikTok, but I’m not on that social platform, so I was unfamiliar with it. This is a quirky, goofy book about a kid having a bad hair day and then finding out it’s picture day at school. It’s a silly story with a kooky chicken as the kid’s sidekick. I think kids would find this a fun and humorous story. The illustrations are appealing and nice. 

The Power of Snow by Bob Raczka

Genre: Children’s Picture Book
My GR Rating: 3
Buy on Amazon here.

GR Description: On a snowy day . . . Two flakes play. Four flakes sashay. Eight flakes twirl. Sixteen flakes swirl. At this rate, how long will it take to surpass 100 snowflakes? How about 1,000? Or even 16,000? Experience a snowstorm that brings together playful rhyming verse with the power of exponential growth!

My Brief Review: The illustrations are beautiful. I really enjoyed seeing all the snowflakes and being in the season of winter with this story. I also liked the different animals on each page. However, this felt like a math test with a bunch of gorgeous images. It wasn’t very engaging or compelling. It felt like homework. I’m not sure if kids would be interested in actually doing the math problems unless they were really into math. There isn’t really a story, just a bunch of math problems. It was okay. The illustrations stand out the most in this book.

*Please note that I am a participant in the Amazon Associates Program and a member of other affiliate programs. I may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made through links in this article.