Vegbooks

Where to Sleep

June 12th, 2013 · Books

Where_To_Sleep_BoardCoverReview By HOMA WOODRUM

I received a review copy of Where to Sleep by Kandy Radzinki (Amazon affiliate link) in board book form (it is also available in hardcover) from Sleeping Bear Press along with a host of other books from the company for review. It tells the story of an orange tabby kitten wondering where the best place to sleep would be. The kitten ponders sleeping with a calf in the field, in a vegetable patch, with the chickens, on a porch swing, in a shoe, and on an armchair before settling at the feet of her human friend. I’m assuming that the kitten lives in and around a storybook-style farm since there is just one cow in the field of grass and there are even bunnies frolicking in the vegetable patch but I honestly don’t think this is problematic and any kitten would love to live in a place with so much to explore.

Another great bedtime choice, the book ends with a night scene. The illustrations are detailed, which I appreciated because children will love the lifelike style as they follow along with the kitten. Ages 0 and up.

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The Dark

June 9th, 2013 · Books

e30ad71609ec3aa6f2d575167ac32affReview By ANDREA ZOLLMAN

When I was a kid, I refused to go to bed at night without my trusty night light. For years, I thought I was the only child who feared the dark because I never read any children’s books that featured it as a theme or that didn’t make children ashamed of their fear of it.

Lemony Snicket, author of A Series of Unfortunate Events plus several picture books, highlights this common childhood fear in his new book, The Dark, which I received as a review copy from the publisher.

We meet Laszlo, a boy who fears the dark. Even while playing in his house during the day, he thinks about the dark and where it lurks: in a closet, behind the shower curtain, in the basement. At night, the dark leaves its hiding places and permeates the house.

Laszlo tries to conquer his fear by visiting “the dark in the dark’s room” during the day. He thinks maybe it won’t bother him at night if he does this, but one night the dark overpowers his bright night light and plunges his room into darkness. And it calls him by name.

At this point, very young readers might quake a bit in their pajamas (if reading this at bedtime). Luckily, Laszlo has a flashlight. He turns it on and follows the dark through the pitch black hallway, down the stairs to the living room, and into the basement, where the dark lives day and night. Laszlo meets the dark and finds something he needs and conquers his fear of the dark, too. Illustrations by Jon Klassen add a warm glow to this timeless story.

This gentle, humorous book is for readers of all ages and will bring a smile to all, especially to those of us who used to be afraid of the dark but fear it no more.

Recommended for readers ages 3 – 6.

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Say Daddy

June 7th, 2013 · Books

9781585368631Review By HOMA WOODRUM

I may just be a softie but this board book (you can also purchase it as a hardcover) made me teary! I received a review copy from Sleeping Bear Press. (You’ll be seeing a number of reviews of their review copies from me in the future on Vegbooks.)
The charming watercolor illustrations depict a baby bear being read to by different family members, each one hoping that the baby’s first word will be their name. An excerpt of my favorite iteration of the theme:
When your brother played with you for the first time, he read you a book.
He read about sand castles, bubbles, and how brothers are there forever.
Then he said, “Say Brother. Say Brother.”  He hoped Brother would be your first word.
The prose is sweet and I think this would be a great bedtime book, my 2-1/2-year-old and 4-1/2-year-old enjoyed the twist at the end (spoiler alert) where the baby says his first word… “Book!” My daughter picked up the book and “read” it to her little brother right after I finished it – she was able to use the pictures to retell the story (it has been mentioned before on Vegbooks that even board books are great early reading tools). I think reading aloud is so important and each of the bears that read to the baby were fostering a love of reading. The story closes with the Daddy trying one more time to get the baby to say his name. With Father’s Day coming up, I think that if you’re looking for book for a new or expectant father this would be a fun choice. It actually ends with the baby’s first birthday so that is another great occasion to consider gifting Say Daddy.

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Kidlicious: Fun & Healthy Recipes That Kids Love!

June 2nd, 2013 · Books

KidliciousCover-4cReview By JACQUELINE BODNAR

Have you ever wanted a cookbook that was just for kids and offered up healthy, all vegan recipes? Well now you have it! The Kidlicious cookbook is exactly that, and more! This cookbook comes in a convenient-to-use spiral bound that is filled with full color photos.

Kids are taken on a journey through this book that includes breakfast, eating rainbows, lunch box options, family meals, and more. There is even information on eating healthy, reading labels, and a few Biblical scriptures to boot. This book is filled with recipes that kids will want to try, and will want to get involved in creating.

Vegetarian and vegan parents are likely to be quite pleased with the Kidlicious cookbook. My 8-year-old daughter thumbed through it, liking everything she saw, and quickly decided she wanted to make the zebra cake recipe. Together we prepared the zebra cake to take to a vegan potluck we were attending. It turned out fabulous and we had a great time making it together!

From such vegan recipes as rice crispy treats to sandwiches on a stick, this book offers an array of great recipes to try. There are recipes that pack a healthy punch, some that raise the bar on packing lunches, and some desserts that are sure to please.

Two thumbs up for the Kidlicious cookbook. It’s a book that both kids and their parents are going to love!

The author provided a review copy.

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