Age 04-08. 4 Stars. The gently ironic humor of the original books is continued here, and several jokes are repeated, enhancing the comic effect. French’s text is again very spare, and the story is beautifully paced, with a satisfying conclusion. Since several jokes depend on their repetition from previous books, it’ll be best appreciated by kids who have experienced the original Diary of a Wombat. And it’s so clearly make-believe that it shouldn’t matter whether the audience believes in Santa.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. While it would be impossible to equal the brilliance of the original Diary of a Wombat, this is a pretty good follow-up. Kids who loved the original will enjoy this one almost as much. Like the original, this one is good for reading aloud and for early reading practice.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. An introduction to an animal we won’t see in the wild outside of Australia, a satisfying story suffused with ironic humor, and an endearing, likable character which retains its animal qualities, all combine for a read-aloud with a very wide appeal. I highly recommend it.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. The Snowy Day is a simple, elegant story which traces a young boy named Peter’s first experience with snow. It is highly oriented to the physical senses — perfect for young children — and captures the wonder of this kind of early learning experience… This makes a very nice addition to your winter reading basket. It’s probably best for preschoolers as a read-aloud, but it can also be a good fit for elementary students.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. This is a mischievous, fast-paced tale, with elements from The Velveteen Rabbit and The Gingerbread Man blithely borrowed and mingled to spin an entirely new story.

Rating: Joseph Bruchac has written a number of award-winning picture books, many of them biographies or traditional stories originating from various Native American tribes.  This Muscogee (Creek) story tells of a conflict between the animals and birds.  They cannot decide which group is best, so they decide to resolve the question in a traditional manner, [...]

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. This is a charming, simple story about a young duck who arrives home just a bit early for Springtime… some parents may be uncomfortable with the underlying psychological theory of positive thinking… parents will need to decide for themselves whether this book is appropriate for their children.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. Galapagos Means “Tortoises” is a captivating collection of poems devoted to the animals found on the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador… This excellent read-aloud is both informational and entertaining, making it a good choice for introducing an elementary audience to both naturalistic study and poetry appreciation.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. Jim Arnosky has given us another accessible introduction to the habitat and habits of an interesting animal.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. The Grouchy Ladybug follows an insect through her day, providing some preschool-level humor along with a little bit of learning… The ladybug’s absurd behavior provides a humorously dramatic example of how pride can deceive people into acting in crazy, self-destructive ways (Proverbs 16:18). Young children will enjoy the silliness, even if they don’t absorb the moral, and the story ends happily. It’s not quite as charming as the Caterpillar, but it’s a very enjoyable read-aloud.