Take a photo of a barcode or cover
dwdillydally's reviews
113 reviews
Moon by Marion Dane Bauer
adventurous
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Many science facts, and subtly acknowledges cultural legends by asking, "Have you ever seen a man in the moon?... Some see a woman... a rabbit or even a frog!"
The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung
adventurous
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Memory Jars by Vera Brosgol
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
Birdfeeder Banquet by Michael Martchenko
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Body shaming
Milo Walking by James Howe
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope by Nikki Grimes
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment
Killers of the Flower Moon: Adapted for Young Readers: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Murder, Colonisation
Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol
The Proudest Color by Sheila Modir and Jeffrey Kashou, Monica Mikai
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I both love this picture book and feel let down by it. This picture book is the 2023 Anna Dewdney Read-Together Award, and as a one-on-one read, it's great! The main character, Zahra who is about to go into preschool or kindergarten (Possibly? It's not tied to a specific grade) explores her feelings with colors and drawings. She's creativity and talks with her family about her fears and frustrations. After a girl at school disses Zahra's skin color, her family helps her realize that brown skin is a proud color! She draws many brown people who make great impacts (MLK Jr, Frida Kahlo, Kamala Harris, etc.)* The last page of is a note to parents and caregivers with lovely, actionable ways to explore cultural pride. The illustrations are vibrant and expressive, and Zahra is a relatable main character.
Why do I feel let down by it? My own expectations. I scout the Anna Dewdney Read-Together Awards for stories to read aloud at toddler / preschool story times. In that group setting, the few pages listing the role models feels like a detour away from Zahra's plot. If you're using this as a one-on-one read-together, these pages won't be distraction. This shines as a cozy read-together, but it might be too long as a group read-aloud. YMMV.
Why do I feel let down by it? My own expectations. I scout the Anna Dewdney Read-Together Awards for stories to read aloud at toddler / preschool story times. In that group setting, the few pages listing the role models feels like a detour away from Zahra's plot. If you're using this as a one-on-one read-together, these pages won't be distraction. This shines as a cozy read-together, but it might be too long as a group read-aloud. YMMV.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying
Minor: Racism
Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Pumpkin Jack (2000) written and illustrated by Will Hubbell
Read this because there is a "Pumpkin Jack" trend among librarians (possibly teachers too?). My impressions are mainly about the illustrations: they feel old-fashioned, probably chalk or colored pencils, and Hubbell is more adapt at foliage and landscapes than people. While I don't find the illustrations stunning, they do tell the story well! The life cycle of a jack-o-lantern is longer than you think. It is well paced, the perfec way to show the life of a plant as seasons pass.
Read this because there is a "Pumpkin Jack" trend among librarians (possibly teachers too?). My impressions are mainly about the illustrations: they feel old-fashioned, probably chalk or colored pencils, and Hubbell is more adapt at foliage and landscapes than people. While I don't find the illustrations stunning, they do tell the story well! The life cycle of a jack-o-lantern is longer than you think. It is well paced, the perfec way to show the life of a plant as seasons pass.
Brontorina by James Howe
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I was in the mood for dinosaur picture books about *herbivores.* Brontorina popped up and was a sweet story about a ballerina whose size doesn't fit into the usual ballerina spaces. Her ballet teacher and other dancers help out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming