So what pet did the kids get? We may never know. I got to then end of the book and thought, "Wait what pet did they get?" and I am sure everyone thought the same things. I can't remember a Dr. Seuss book leaving us wanting an answer, but this one did. Did it work?

Kind of. This book was definitely not his best or my favorite (that goes to the Horton books). But I can see Dr. Seuss all in it. His classic style of rhyme, the texture in the illustrations, it definitely felt like Dr. Seuss. When I finished, I wondered when he wrote the story. The history in the back of the book speculates around 1960. But, what made him not share the book at the time he was writing and publishing? Why put the story aside and work on others. Could it be that he wanted more time to work on it? Could it be that he felt it wasn't quite right and therefore put it aside as he worked on other stories that did feel right?

I guess we will never know. Click here to purchase.

As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they'll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play! - Blurb from Amazon.com for Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site.

Both are bedtime books, both written and illustrated by the same people and both unique in their own way. What I like about both books are the rhymes and illustrations. The rhymes were very simple, easy enough for young readers follow along and even repeat after hearing them over and over again (as young reader tend to do). I love how the rhymes intertwined with the illustrations at times giving them a sort of rhythm. This brings me to the illustrations. I am always a fan of color, the brighter and more colorful the better. These illustrations were colorful, but more subtle than bright. What I love about them is the drawing feel. They look like they were drawn with crayons which are very familiar to young readers who at this stage use primarily crayon to draw pictures. They can relate to these images and feel as if it is something they can do one day.

My favorite of the two is Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site. I love how each “truck” is highlighted with a quick description of their role on a construction site. They’re all in rhyme and all end with the same phrase “Shh . . . goodnight, [truck], goodnight.” Even with a first read through, young readers and pick up this line quickly and say along with their parent when they get to that part in the book, thereby feeling involved in the story. I also like the words in parenthesis: sigh, yawn, crrrunch and so forth. At first, I didn’t get it, but then I realized that these words aren’t made to be said, they’re made to be acted out. They give the parent reader an indication of action to make the story come alive. 

My nephew loves this book and now I can see why.

Click the links to purchase:

• Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
• Steam Train, Dream Train

This little princess is everywhere and no wonder, she's quite adorable. The original series of four books is a great read for any little princess and when your princess becomes a big girl, there's the Pinkalicious "I Can Read" books. 

I love the brightness of the pictures in the books which is always the first thing I look for in picture books. I liked the consitency of the titles and how each "licious" meant something different: Pinkalicious was the character, Purplicious was the mixing of pink with blue, Goldilicious was the unicorn and Silverlicious was the chocolate silver coins left by the tooth fairy. At first, I thought each of the titles would be names for different characters like Pinkalicious and all her friends. I was pleasantly surprised that it was not the case.

Visit the Pinkalicious Website for more Pink fun: http://thinkpinkalicious.com/. Click here to purchase.

Sometimes they say, "if you want to beat a bully, kill him with kindness."  It doesn't always work, but in this tale, that is exactly what happens.  I thought it was a cute story and I loved the pictures.  For some reason, I've always liked the sketch look.  I guess that's why I made the protagonist in my new novel a sketch artist.  I found myself enjoying the pictures more than the words.  Both go well together, but sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

What I would like to see, though, is a ogre that's not so mean.  I know the stereotype and most stories portray the ogre as the mean type, but for once I would like to see one outside the bully mold.  Wouldn't that be an interesting story.

Click here to purchase.

First of all, I love Olivia.  I haven't found anyone who doesn't love this little piggy and this particular story was no exception.  What I love about Olivia is the true telling of a kid with the face of a pig.  In this telling, she's a kid with a favorite toy, a toy that ends up the victim of a dog.  Yup, been there.  

My favorite part is the beginning, when she sees her soccer uniform and it's green.  We all know Olivia is a red kind of gal.  This page says "Olivia's uniform comes in a really unattractive green" and on the page is a painting of a ballerina, her leg up in the air and her arm on her forehead in a "oh, god" fashion.  Yup, that's how Olivia feels.

Click here to purchase.

This book demonstrates how everyone is unique and different and what I like most about it is that the author used utensils to prove that point.  It hadn't been done before.  What I also liked was the addition of chopsticks as another utensil.  There's the basics of knife, fork and spoon, but I thought the chopsticks was also a nice touch.  Needless to say I like different.

The illustrations were nicely done as well.  Very colorful, but not as bright or bold as other books and I think it worked with the story.  The pictures stood out without taking anything away from the plot and lesson.

My favorite part is that Spoon had an aunt that ran away with a dish and it was told to him as a bed time story.  Very cute.

Click here to purchase.