About the Book:
Title: First Friends: How Dogs Evolved from Wolves to Become Our Best Friends
Author: Kersten Hamilton
Illustrator: Jaime Kim
Pub. Date: February 9, 2021
Beagles and Books is excited to share a review and giveaway for the recently released First Friends: How Dogs Evolved from Wolves to Become Our Best Friends. Special thanks to author Kersten Hamilton for sending me a finished copy to give away on Twitter.
Review:
How did dogs become our best friends? This picture book uses a nonfiction narrative format to explain to kids how wolves evolved into dogs. The story begins in the Stone Age. A young girl and wolf pup meet and play but once they both grow up, their friendship must end, for humans and wolves are rivals hunting the same prey. Many, many years pass and a young boy living in a hut meets a wolf pup. They interact more closely with the boy scratching the pup and sharing his food, but like the girl, the relationship does not last although the pair watch each other from afar. Over time, more children and wolf pups befriend each other. Their relationship is more intimate trading items, drinking from the same water hole, sleeping side by side, and finally, traveling together to a new home. On the last page spread, it is now present day and a beagle (yes, a beagle!) and a girl run toward one another full of excitement and love.
Hamilton’s concise, melodic text and Kim’s warm and radiant illustrations are in perfect harmony. Words were chosen and art was drawn thoughtfully and with purpose to show how wolves evolved into dogs. At the end of the book, back matter includes more facts about their progression from competitor to companion as well as a bibliography. And pay special attention to the gorgeous endpapers, for the front depicts their rival relationship in hieroglyphics and the child-like illustrations of a girl and her dog grace the back endsheets. Thanks to author Kersten Hamilton and Farrar Straus Giroux/Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for sharing an eARC.
Bella and I are excited to share our latest reads in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.
Our Recent Reads:
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
Living in London during World War II, Edmund, William and Anna Pearce are orphans again. Their parents died years ago and now their grandmother has died. While they do not grieve the loss of their cold, distant grandmother, her death does impact them because she did not name a guardian in her will. Other considerations are the Pearce children want to stay together and with the war, finding a family to adopt them all poses a challenge. The solicitor recommends that the siblings join other children who are evacuating the city for the country. And while the trio are heirs to a comfortable inheritance, this information must be kept a secret until a forever, loving home is found.
From the very first page, this book had my heart. The writing is exquisite and has a classic, timeless feel. While I read, I truly could hear the narrator telling the story. Each sibling has a distinctive personality which made them endearing. The children encounter bullying, prejudice, and sheer indifference in their first two placements or billets, but they persevere because of their love for each other and for books. In fact, books are truly their refuge because books give them warmth on a cold night and hope for someone who thinks they hang the moon, like their mother. When they find the village lending library and befriend Mrs. Muller, the kindhearted librarian, your heart leaps because you feel a happy ending is looming but patience is required. And when it does happen, tears of joy occur because a new story is about to begin full with love, promise and of course, lots of books! Thanks to Margaret Ferguson Books/Holiday House for sharing an eARC. A Place to Hang the Moon recently published last week on February 2, 2021.
Bunbun and Bonbon: Hoppy Go Lucky by Jess Keating
Bunbun and Bonbon are back in the second book of this early graphic novel series. In the first book, Fancy Friends, Bunbun and Bonbon meet and become fast friends and members of Team Fancy. In Hoppy Go Lucky, when a couple of bad things happen, Bunbun is convinced their luck has run away. They seek the advice of their wise fox friend, Scout Von Fluffington, who suggest they set a trap to catch their good luck. Bunbun and Bonbon are optimistic their plan will work using a donut as bait. While the spunky pair do not trap their luck, they do catch a duck who offers his own tip, but that leads to more bad luck or maybe not because meeting a unicorn named Rosie Stardrop Sparklepants seems pretty fabulous to me. She gives the duo the best advice of all-as long as you can smile, you will never lose your luck!
With bright and eye-catching illustrations, easy to read dialogue and themes of friendship, problem solving, and positivity, this fun series will be in high demand. I am so happy that graphic novels are being written with young readers in mind, but I believe readers of all ages will be charmed by Bunbun and Bonbon. Hoping there are more adventures to come in the series. Hoppy Go Lucky recently published on February 2, 2021.
Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket by Sue Fliess Illustrated by Annabel Tempest
Told in playful quatrains, Fliess has written an inspirational story encouraging us all to chase our dreams. What I love most is Sadie teaches us that dreams come true with planning, research, teamwork, determination, and problem solving. And once a goal is accomplished, another idea can take its place. Tempest’s bright and exuberant illustrations reinforce the positive themes. At the end of the book, Sadie’s notebook is included which shares facts about Mars as well as women in space. Sadie motivates us all to be dreamers AND doers! To read my full review and enter a giveaway, click here.
Bella’s Pick of the Week
Wanting to spread the dog love, Beagles and Books has a weekly feature of highlighting a literary selection with a canine main character.
First Friend: How Dogs Evolved from Wolves to Become Our Best Friends by Kersten Hamilton Illustrated by Jaime Kim
How did dogs become our best friends? This picture book uses a nonfiction narrative format to explain to kids how wolves evolved into dogs. The story begins in the Stone Age. A young girl and wolf pup meet and play but once they both grow up, their friendship must end, for humans and wolves are rivals hunting the same prey. Many, many years pass and a young boy living in a hut meets a wolf pup. They interact more closely with the boy scratching the pup and sharing his food, but like the girl, the relationship does not last although the pair watch each other from afar. Over time, more children and wolf pups befriend each other. Their relationship is more intimate trading items, drinking from the same water hole, sleeping side by side, and finally, traveling together to a new home. On the last page spread, it is now present day and a beagle (yes, a beagle!) and a girl run toward one another full of excitement and love.
Hamilton’s concise, melodic text and Kim’s warm and radiant illustrations are in perfect harmony. Words were chosen and art was drawn thoughtfully and with purpose to show how wolves evolved into dogs. At the end of the book, back matter includes more facts about their progression from competitor to companion as well as a bibliography. And pay special attention to the gorgeous endpapers, for the front depicts their rival relationship in hieroglyphics and the child-like illustrations of a girl and her dog grace the back endsheets. Thanks to author Kersten Hamilton and Farrar Straus Giroux/Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for sharing an eARC. First Friends celebrates its book birthday tomorrow on February 9, 2021.
Bella and I thank you for visiting Beagles and Books!
“People love dogs. You can never go wrong adding a dog to the story.” Jim Butcher #IMWAYR is dedicated to dear Etta, my original book beagle. Blessed that Etta is part of my story.
About the Book: Title: Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket Author: Sue Fliess
Illustrator: Annabel Tempest
Pub. Date: February 1, 2021
Beagles and Books is excited to be part of the blog tour for Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket. Special thanks to Two Lions and Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review:
It all started with a wish to travel to space. Sadie Sprocket was not just a dreamer, she was a doer! And researching and learning no one has been to Mars, Sadie was not deterred. Sadie’s confidence exudes in Fliess’ rhyming text and Tempest’s illustrations show that exploring outer space is her passion.
Sadie and her crew collaborate to build a ship out of recycled materials. I love how on the first page spreads, her stuffed animals sit motionless on her bed and shelves, but as soon as Sadie proclaims her mission, the stuffed animals feel her energy and come to life to help her. Kids see how teamwork truly makes the dream work, and the pride is evident on all the crew’s faces on launch day.
After landing on Mars, Sadie and her crew get right to work collecting and labeling samples to bring back home. Kid see the importance of both planning and teamwork as the crew each has the necessary supplies to complete their task. When they try to venture home, problems abound. First, the landing gear is buried. Then the rocket won’t start. Sadie and her crew demonstrate problem solving, resilience, and resourcefulness in restoring power and successfully blasting back to Earth. Once safely home, Sadie models one of the most important lessons of all. Success means making new goals liking a trip to Neptune!
Told in playful quatrains, Fliess has written an inspirational story encouraging us all to chase our dreams. What I love most is Sadie teaches us that dreams come true with planning, research, teamwork, determination, and problem solving. And once a goal is accomplished, another idea can take its place. Tempest’s bright and exuberant illustrations reinforce the positive themes. At the end of the book, Sadie’s notebook is included which shares facts about Mars as well as women in space. Sadie motivates us all to be dreamers AND doers!
Praise for Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket!
“Inspiring, adventurous fun for aspirational kids.” —Kirkus Reviews
About the Author:
Sue Fliess is the author of more than thirty children’s books, including Mrs. Claus Takes the Reins illustrated by Mark Chambers; Shoes for Me!, A Dress for Me!, and Books for Me!, all illustrated by Mike Laughead; and Let’s Build illustrated by Miki Sakamoto. She lives with her family and their two dogs in northern Virginia, where they admire the moon, stars, and sometimes even planets from their backyard. Learn more about Sue at www.suefliess.com, on Twitter: @SueFliess, on Facebook: Sue Fliess Author and Pinterest: Sue Fliess
About the Illustrator:
Annabel Tempest is the illustrator of a number of picture books and board books. She holds a degree in fashion and textiles and has worked as a freelance illustrator on everything from maps and packaging to greeting cards and children’s books. She lives in the beautiful Somerset countryside in the UK with her husband and a houseful of muddy boys and dogs. Learn more about Annabel at www.annabeltempest.com and on Instagram: annabel.tempest
Enter Beagles & Books’ Giveaway:
One winner will receive a copy of Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket courtesy of Two Lions (U.S. addresses only). This giveaway is open from Friday, February 5, 2021 through Friday, February 12, 2021 ending at 10:00 p.m. EST. Please note that book may take longer to ship so patience is appreciated. Enter below or head over to my Twitter account, @lauramossa and retweet my Sadie the Sprocket blog tour post.
Bella and I are excited to share our latest reads in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.
Bella and I are excited to share our latest reads in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.
About the Book:
Title: Scooper and Dumper
Author/Illustrator: Lindsay Ward
Pub. Date: January 1, 2021
Beagles and Books is excited to be part of the blog tour for Scooper and Dumper.Special thanks to Two Lions and Barbara Fisch of Blue Slip Media for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
About the Book: Title: Goldibooks and the Wee Bear Author: Troy Wilson Illustrator: Edwardian Taylor Pub. Date: January 12, 2021
Beagles and Books is excited to share a review and giveaway for the recently released Goldibooks and the Wee Bear.Special thanks to author Troy Wilson and Running Press Kids for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Review:
I fell in love with this book on the very first page because a little girl thought books were as good as gold. Me too! Why did Goldibooks love books so much? Her parents instilled the love of reading in her. And it gets better! Each member of the family has their own bookcase and own reading chair. Ahh! Pure paradise.
Goldi and her parents aren’t the only ones who have a penchant for books. Wee Bear is scouring the forest and the town for even the smallest piece of paper (not food). Why? Because he loves reading too! So when he stumbles upon a house and peeks inside, he spies those glorious bookshelves and cannot resist entering Goldi’s home. In true fairytale fashion, both Mom’s and Dad’s books are not a good fit, but Goldi’s are just right.
Of course, you can’t enjoy reading on the floor so Wee Bear tries out the family’s chairs with Goldi’s being the best fit until…it breaks. Oops. No worries. Nothing better than snuggling up with a book in bed except for the fact you might be so relaxed that you fall asleep. As the illustrator of the IT’S NOT A FAIRYTALE series, I am a big fan of Taylor’s bold and lively artwork. I especially love the illustrations of Wee Bear, for after he jumped into a bush to glance into Goldi’s house, he is covered in twigs and leaves.
As expected, when Goldi and her family arrive home, they are startled at the mess. Who could be responsible? When Goldi and Wee Bear finally meet, he begins to explain but his parents interrupt him and they are NOT happy.
It turns out that Goldi’s parents were scared of grown up bears and Wee Bear’s parents were scared of grown up humans. Thankfully, their mutual love for books changes both families’ mindsets and an important lesson was learned– If you can’t judge a book by its cover, you surely can’t judge an animal by their appearance.
As an elementary reading specialist, I can’t gush enough about Wilson’s clever retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I love that reading is presented as a social activity first with Goldi and her parents, then Goldi’s family and Wee Bear’s family, and finally, the whole town creating a community book club. Wilson’s message is simple but powerful. Books bring people together and are meant to be shared.
About the Author: Troy Wilson is a picture book author living in Victoria, BC, Canada. Goldibooks and the Wee Bear is his second book/reading-themed fairy tale with Running Press Kids, preceded by Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf, which was illustrated by Ilaria Campana. His ninth picture book is due out this October, illustrated by Eve Coy and published by Candlewick.
About the Illustrator: Edwardian Taylor was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. His character designs, storyboards, and concept art can be seen in mobile games, TV, films, and commercials. He is the illustrator of multiple children’s books, including Race!, written by Sue Fliess; the Toy Academy chapter books, written by Brian Lynch; and the It’s Not a Fairytale books, written by Josh Funk. He lives in Texas with his partner and their four dogs.
Giveaway!
One lucky winner will receive signed copies of both Goldibooks and the Wee Bear and Little Red Reading Hood and the Misread Wolf courtesy of author Troy Wilson. This giveaway is open from Thursday, January 14, 2021 to Sunday, January 17, 2021 ending at 10:00 p.m. EST. Please note that book may take longer to ship so patience is appreciated. Enter below or head over to Twitter, follow Troy Wilson @TroyStoryToo, and retweet my Goldibooks and the Wee Bear post.
Bella and I are excited to share our latest reads in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.
Bella and I are excited to share our latest reads in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.
Bella and I are excited to share our latest reads in It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR is a community of bloggers who link up to share what they are reading. Kellee Moye of Unleashing Readers and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts decided to give it a #kidlit focus and encourage everyone who participates to visit at least 3 of the other #kidlit book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.
Beagles & Books 