Fantastic Finds at the Library: 2 Picture Book Mini Reviews

When it comes to picture books, I employ what I like to call the bombshell method. I just let my kids pick out whatever they want from the library and then we read everything once we get them home. Most of the books we bring home are not very good. But every now and then, we stumble across a gem. 

Zombelina 

Title: Zombelina

Author: Kristyn Crow

Illustrator: Molly Idle

Age Range: 4 - 8 years

Grade Level: Preschool - 3

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Walker Childrens; 1 edition (July 9, 2013)

Language: English

Series: None

Genre: Picture book

Source: Library

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

About the Book:

Zombelina loves to dance. She moonwalks with mummies and boogies with bats. She spins like a specter and glides like a ghost and loves to dance for her family the most. When Zombelina enrolls in a ballet class for real girls, her dancing gives everyone the chills! But when her first recital brings on a case of stage fright, her zombie moans and ghoulish groans scare her audience away. Only her devoted family's cheers, in their special spooky way, help Zombelina dance the ballet debut of her dreams.

Introducing the most adorable zombie to ever grace the dance floor, Kristyn Crow's pitch-perfect rhyme and Molly Idle's charmingly spook-tacular illustrations will make every reader want to sway and sashay in their own zombie trance.

Amazon | Goodreads | Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts:

This book is absolutely adorable! If you have little girls that like ballet and Halloween, this will be a sure fire hit. We found this book at the library and it's been a bedtime favorite ever since. The rhyme all flows perfectly and Molly Idle's illustrations are as gorgeous as ever.

Finn Throws a Fit

Title: Finn Throws a Fit

Author: David Elliott

Illustrator: Timothy Basil Ering

Age Range: 2 - 5 years

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Candlewick; Reprint edition
(September 13, 2011)

Language: English

Series: None

Genre: Picture book

Source: Library

My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

About the Book:

Who among us hasn't encountered that force of nature called "a fit"? A best-selling author and illustrator depict a toddler’s tantrum in all its horror and hilarity.

Finn likes peaches. Usually. But not today. Today Finn doesn’t like anything. Uh-oh. Is Finn going to throw a fit? Author David Elliott directs the event with wit, warmth, and appropriate wariness, while illustrator Timothy Basil Ering’s energy and whimsy match this tantrum turn for turn. At once empathetic and uproariously funny, this picture book speaks directly to anyone (young or old) who has ever had — or tried to contain — a real earth-quaking, ground-shaking, full-on fit.

Amazon | Goodreads | Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts:

I laughed out loud at the end of this book! Fin is the fictional version of one of my kids. The author captured a toddler's fit in all it's glory. The illustrations are half of what make the book so great. I love them.