Review: Underwearwolf by Gideon Sterer

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The birthday note from Uncle Larry to the boy was unusual. I know you appreciate underwear, he wrote, so I sent you the coolest ones I could find. That sets the stage for The Underwearwolf, a picture book written by Gideon Sterer and illustrated by Charles Santoso.

The note came with a caution. Do not under any circumstances or for any reason wear these underwear under the full moon. But how could the boy resist? Made from wool, the underwear is strange and different. Of course he’s going to wear them. Of course he’s going to transform into a werewolf and run with a pack. That’s why the picture book is so fun. Even young children can see what’s going to happen and want to see how the story plays out.

There are lots of funny moments, and much to be found in the details of the illustrations. For instance, the curtains in the boy’s bedroom are patterned with underwear. And there’s a younger sibling who acts as a silent witness as the boy transforms back to normal at the end of the night.

Also, the concept of a boy who loves underwear is great incentive for young children who may be transitioning from diapers. The book is cute and fun and easy for parents to read in an animated voice. Perfect for bedtime, snuggle time, or anytime.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book for review.

Review: Don’t Look in the Freezer by Patti Eddington

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As the wife of a veterinarian in Michigan, Patti Eddington has seen closely how crucial vets are to those of us with pets. Particularly when they are in a small town, vets’ offices may play a large role in the welfare of the whole community. Eddington’s memoir, Don’t Look in the Freezer: The Very Strange Life of a Veterinarian’s Wife, gives readers a glimpse beyond the front desk and exam rooms that most people see when they bring pets in.

Eddington’s straightforward style is warm and inviting. She could be sitting down with a friend over a cup of coffee telling the stories behind the animals. In some cases that includes how clinic pets came to live there, or how a rescued pup ended up with only three legs. Some tales are not for the squeamish, but they’re also not graphic. Instead, they deal tenderly with the tough decisions and hard cases that vets deal with on a regular basis.

Eddington also sprinkles humor throughout. And it’s easy to see the personalities of the animals her family adopts through the years. Readers will certainly find comparisons to their own furry friends as well as gain an appreciation for the long hours and dedication to animal welfare that typically defines a veterinarian and the family effort that goes into supporting that.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book for review.

Review: Through the Garden Gate by Sharon Rose

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Miles is bored, with nothing to do on a nice summer day. His mom encourages him to help their neighbor, who has a broken ankle, by pulling weeds from her garden. Weeding sounds even more boring to Miles, but his mom promises cherry pie and the opportunity to play with the neighbor’s dog, so he goes anyway.

Once he’s at Miss Mary’s house, Miles gets to work on pulling crabgrass. He notices a garden gate and wonders what’s behind it. Miss Mary tells him he can investigate once he’s done weeding. When Miles steps through the gate he finds a magical land, with fairies and amazing flowers and lush greenery. But he also finds a problem. A bog is growing and taking over the land. Miles must investigate, and when he finds the source of the trouble, his fairy friends help him make things right.

Through the Garden Gate by Sharon Rose is a picture book that combines the natural world with a magical one, where fairies fly and trees communicate if you listen closely and gophers work as a team. Illustrations by Erin Brown depict an environment that’s lush and bursting with life and the perfect cool place to hang out on a hot summer day. At the end there’s a description of the plants and animals found in the book; perfect for budding nature lovers to learn about the world around them.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book for review.

Review: Rules for Mothers by Julie Swendsen Young

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Elly Sparrow is the mother of four small children and the wife of a man who travels and works long hours at a law firm. Often finding herself the sole caregiver for days at a time, she begins to chafe at the restrictions on her life that young children demand.

She loves them all, yet she finds that she is losing a sense of her own self in taking care of the needs of the whole household. Her unhappiness with her life prompts her to make changes that have broad ranging consequences for the whole family.

Rules for Mothers by Julie Swendsen Young seeks to capture both the joys and frustrations brought on by motherhood. It also shines a light on gender roles and mental health issues that can arise for women who do too much for others while ignoring their own needs.

While the message of the novel is important, Elly was hard to like, as she didn’t define or ask for what she needed, acted impulsively, and see-sawed between wanting to do everything for her children and being resentful that she had to do everything.

And her husband’s motivations seemed surface level. Sometimes he professed his love for Elly and wanting things to work out between them as a family, other times he seemed only to care about himself. There wasn’t enough time on the page between them for me to understand the complexities that led them both to feel trapped in their lives.

The novel takes place during the 1980s, which sets it in a time when gender roles in marriage were more traditional. That positions it as a cautionary tale, as there’s also a movement to go back to those days.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book for review.

Review: The True Ugly Duckling by Sandra Nickel

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Hans Christian Andersen is known for his stories about misfits, the poor, and especially a little mermaid who gave up her voice for the love of a prince. The man behind the stories suffered hardships of his own during life, and experts now believe that he was likely on the autism spectrum.

The True Ugly Duckling: How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan by Sandra Nickel, introduces young readers to the young boy, then the man, who would struggle to find acceptance in his world. Hans persevered through many setbacks, trying to make a living through his creative talents, until he finally found success.

At last, he found an audience with children, who loved the paper cutouts he created while he told stories. Eventually, adults came around too, and Hans became so popular he even performed for the royal court in Denmark.

The True Ugly Duckling is a great story for children to learn about perseverance and finding a voice even when it differs from the mainstream. Illustrations by Calvin Nicholls are beautiful paper sculptures, fitting for a story about a man who was known during his time for his own paper sculptures. Nicholls’s work portrays depth and texture while creating Hans’s world.

It’s an interesting story, and an author’s note at the back talks more about Andersen and his work. There’s also a select bibliography for anyone interested in discovering more about this beloved author.

Review: Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King

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Every night when Zackary goes to sleep he uses his magic pacifier to enter the realm of the Rat King, an evil ruler who oppresses all in his kingdom. While there Zackary becomes Zicky, a superhero who fights off the king’s hordes before returning to his bed by morning.

When young Zackary talks about his adventures to his family, they chalk it up to fanciful dreams. His older brother and sister make fun of him. His parents indulge him. But one night the Rat King finally captures Zicky and steals his magic pacifier, giving him entrance to the real world. Zicky has to find a way home before the army of rats destroys the world he lives in.

Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is an adventurous graphic novel written by Darin S. Cape and featuring the art of Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto. Like all good superheroes, Zackary and his place in keeping the world safe are unknown to those closest to him. Who would believe that a preschooler could have special powers? Zicky knows, however, that completing his noble mission is better than any recognition he could have from others.

Zicky is fun and fast moving. Any reader who has felt misunderstood by people in their family will feel the connection with Zackery’s frustration and cheer him on as he fights for what’s right.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Review: the Secrets of the Jellies by Karen Jameson

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Some of my favorite things to see at an aquarium are jellyfish. Watching their rhythmic moves is almost meditative for me. And I’m always fascinated by the different sizes, shapes, tendrils, and colors. All on animals with no brains!

Karen Jameson shines light on these fascinating sea creatures in her picture book, The Secrets of the Jellies: Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents. Rhyming text is fun to read out loud and each page focuses on different aspects of jellies. For instance, the book starts with these lines:

Jellies pulse, jellies ride, gracing water as they glide.

They teem through all the ocean zones.

But did you know they have no bones?

A fun feature of each page is that the last word appears in giant letters, which lets readers focus on one specific characteristic of jellies. And the illustrations by Marie Hermansson bring the underwater world to life by depicting not only the jellies but also fish and kelp and sharks and other things that live in the sea.

For young inquiring minds, the back of the book contains lots of facts about jellies doled out in bite-sized pieces. There’s also a guide to several different kinds of jellyfish and how they live. The Secrets of the Jellies is both fun and educational, and I can imagine children memorizing the lines as parents read the text over and over again.

The publisher provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Lola Gillete and the Summer of Second Chances by Kimberly Behre Kenna

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Lola Gillette needs a second chance. After she is caught shoplifting, her parents bring her to spend the summer with her reclusive uncle, who lives in a crumbling castle on the Connecticut River that has been in the family for generations. It turns out her uncle needs a second chance too, as he has withdrawn from society after the death of his wife.

Lola makes friends with Kya, who lives nearby on the same property, but she doesn’t tell her about the trouble she’s in or that her parents want to send her to boarding school or, worst of all, that she feels responsible for her twin sister’s accidental death.

As the summer progresses and Uncle Milo sinks even lower into depression, a new threat comes from the town. Neighbors want the property condemned to make way for new development. Can Lola save the family home and help her uncle find new purpose in life while also saving herself?

Lola Gillete and the Summer of Second Chances by Kimberly Behre Kenna explores issues around grief and friendship and family bonds. Some areas of the story were not developed enough for me, like how a thirteen-year-old would believe that magic would get her out of boarding school, and the timeline for action seemed too short. But overall I liked the story of a girl who finds courage to take action and set in motion a chain of events that heals not just herself but her loved ones as well.

The author provided a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

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