Tag: creativity

The One and Only Sparkella Makes a Plan (Channing Tatum)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is The One and Only Sparkella Makes a Plan, written by Channing Tatum and illustrated by Kim Barnes (Kim’s Illustrations), second in the duo’s Sparkella series.

With two hours to go until Ella – better known as Sparkella – is having her new friend Tam over for a sleepover, it’s time to make sure all the activities, snacks, and tea party supplies are in place. And most importantly, a castle “fit for two royal highnesses” must be quickly constructed. Reaching out to Dad for help and showing him her ambitious blueprints, the two begin construction… but Sparkella is initially disappointed with the progress. Limited to construction materials like cardboard and tape, nothing about the castle looks or works like it did in her imagination. How can she make a princess-worthy palace in time?

Fluffy fun with a few helpful lessons. While the plot itself is a fairly light, slice-of-life story about problem-solving, Tatum’s text and Barnes’s artwork also neatly weave in a few very nice messages on creative thinking, managing emotions, and even father-daughter relationships. The latter theme is a particular favorite, as it shows Sparkella’s father gleefully engaging in and supporting his daughter’s “girly” activities, which is always awesome to see. Barnes’s artwork is a colorful delight that accessory-obsessed little ones will love, the length was great for a storytime, and JJ liked this one a lot. Overall, a fun read, especially for fans of the previous installment. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Grace and Box (Kim Howard)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Grace and Box, written by Kim Howard and illustrated by Megan Lötter, a sweet story of an unusual friendship.

“The day the new refrigerator came, Grace got Box.” Grace’s new pal is a master of imagination and disguise – one day, he’s a rocketship; another day, he’s a tent. Roman ruins, a submarine, even the entire city of Hong Kong, Box can be it all. But after a week of play, Grace notices that Box is starting to show some wear and tear. So what does a friend do when their best bud is feeling a little worn out? Take care of them, of course! Nursing Box back to health as best she can, Grace loses none of her affection for her playmate; he may look a little different now, but he’s still her friend Box, and they have a whole universe of imagination to explore.

Utterly charming. This timeless tale about the astounding imagination and creativity of kiddos and their ability to form bonds with beloved playthings is as fun a read for young bookworms as it is for their adults. Adorable Grace, with her purple dress, polka-dot socks, dark skin, and curly Afro, is a wonderfully engaging and expressing character, and the perfect foil to the oddly endearing Box and his static Sharpie smile; Grace’s unnamed dog is an entertaining silent third in their adventures. The illustrations and text work together perfectly to create a story that is light yet tender and heartfelt, and the reader feels drawn into each of Grace and Box’s fully-realized escapades. The length is perfect for a quick storytime, and JJ enjoyed it immensely. A delightful little tale, and we definitely recommend it – Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

When I Draw A Panda (Amy June Bates)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is When I Draw A Panda by Amy June Bates, a delightful tale of imagination, creativity, and expression.

A girl in white overalls and messy bun introduces herself to the reader as simply as possible: “I love to draw,” she states, gazing at a blank chalkboard wall with excitement. However, she points out that she is often encouraged to draw things “perfectly” or “the right way”. This does not appeal to the young artist, who prefers to create in her own way, such as swirling her chalk in circles until her own unique panda appears. She and the panda both enjoy drawing their own way, by giving their instruments free reign and allowing their imagination to fill in the blanks. So while their style may be a little “too crazy” for some, they don’t mind – not when their art makes them happy.

Adorable. This sweet tale reminds kids (and adults) that when it comes to art, there is no “right way” or “wrong way” to do things. This is both a nice encouragement for blossoming artists to let their creativity rule their efforts, as well as a good reminder to adults that children should be allowed to create in whatever way suits them personally. Bates’s charming illustrations and cheerfully irreverent text are a great match; the girl and her panda are both immediately lovable, and their imaginative illustrations are very entertaining; our favorite page gives a quick and fun tip for drawing dragons that we couldn’t wait to try out. The length is great for a quick storytime, and JJ loved it. A lovely ode to imagination, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Lost For Words (Natalie Russell)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Lost For Words by Natalie Russell, an adorable tale about the talents that make us special.

Tapir is flummoxed. He has a brand new notebook with fresh blank pages and a new set of sharpened pencils at the ready. Yet when he sets pencil to paper, he cannot think of a single thing to put down; his brain feels as empty as the page. His friends aren’t having any trouble: Giraffe has composed a poetic ode to his favorite tree; Hippo, a thrilling story about a brave (and handsome) hippo; Flamingo, beautiful song about the bright, warm sun. Tapir is proud of his friends, yet wishes he could figure out how to express himself as well. Retreating to a hill, he looks out over the place and creatures he loves, and reflects… and suddenly, he knows just how to express the feelings within.

Lovely. This gentle, sweet tale covers some pretty classic kidlit subject matter: individual talents and skill, artistic block, frustration, and friendship. The lovely ending sees Tapir not only finding his talent, but using it to show appreciation for the ones he cares about, dovetailing the themes smoothly and with considerable warmth. The art manages to create the cuddliest-looking creatures out of simple lines and colors; JJ was especially fascinated by Tapir, an animal who rarely gets a starring role in kidlit. The length is perfect for a short storytime, and we both loved it. A loveable cast and an encouraging tale, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Lali’s Feather (Farhana Zia)

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Hello, friends! Our book today is Lali’s Feather, written by Farhana Zia and illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman, a delightful story of ingenuity and friendship.

Lali is playing in the field one day when she finds a feather. Wishing to return it to its owner, she asks Rooster, Crow, and Peacock if they are missing it. They all say no, pointing out the feather’s plainness (as opposed to Peacock’s fancy feathers) and pokeyness (as opposed to Crow’s perky feathers), and so on. So Lali decides to keep her feather to play with. Her friends Hen, Duck, Jay laugh at the little feather, but as Lali finds more and more ways to creatively play with the feather, all six of the birds become more excited and invested. Then, when a gust of wind blows the feather out of Lali’s grasp, she is left broken-hearted. Fortunately, her feathered friends are there, and eager to bring her feather back.

Wonderfully unique. Various themes are explored in this one (different species of birds, imaginative play, not judging by appearances, etc.), all weaving together to create a story that is rich with substance yet light and fun to read. Particularly enjoyable is Lali’s creative mind, which can find a hundred uses for a plain, small, pokey feather, such as tickling, sweeping, writing, and more. It shows little readers that any ordinary object can be a toy, and the very best games are often the ones we create ourselves. The illustrations are gorgeous, creating a lush country home setting and memorable characters. Lali’s Indian culture is flawlessly woven throughout, from her bindi and clothing to the Indian slang used in the dialogue (translations are not provided, yet easy to guess from context). The length is perfect, and JJ adored the colors and characters. A marvelously enjoyable tale, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)