A bit of delay.

October, being the busiest month in our family... with a birthday every week and of course, the most important birthday of them all on the 31st we're taking a small break. We'll be in Portland this week, but we're going to an awesome book store there, so hopefully we'll have some great new books to review!

Thanks!

Izze and her mama

That's Why We Don't Eat Animals by Ruby Roth

Rating: 5 happy chickens.

"This book is special, cause we not eat animals!
We love cows, we don't eat em'
If I saw a cow, he wouldn't bite me. He don't!
I'd really like to hug him.
There are sad chickens and sad pigs and sad ducks
But they wouldn't be so sad if we don't eat them.
It's my job...
My job is to not eat them."

I think she said it best.

This is a great book. It's about time a kids book about being vegan came out that isn't over the top, that isn't too schmultzy and at the same time is straight to the point.
We plan on buying this book a few times over. It would be very helpful to donate to a classroom for a teacher to better understand and for other kids to better understand why it is WE don't eat animals, they can decide for themselves if it's something they're going to do or not do. But WE don't eat animals and this book represents several reasons why.

The illustrations are very darling and I would love to have some of the prints (of the happy animals) in Izze's room.

I would give this book a lot more than 5 happy chickens! More like 100!

The Three Little Tamales by Eric A. Kimmel

Rating: 3 Little Two-males!

Izze loves the story of The Three Little Pigs and this is a version with tamales.

There are three little "two-males"
A burrito comes She means a tortilla
And they all run away!!
The one little "male" make a cactus house
A BIGBADWOOF COMES!
"LET ME IN! I HUFF AND PUFF!!"
He blows a house down! (gasp!)
They go to a cactus house.
He tried and tried to get in.
He have little toenails in the chimney.
He got in a pot!
Then he ran away.
And the three "two-males" have a party!

Izze likes that it's like the pigs but with "two-males."

I like the illustrations. They remind me of Frida by Jonah Winter. We like that style.

Moon Rabbit by Natalie Russell

Rating: 3 pretty moons

"Little Rabbit in a city
she love it!
She goes sleeping in a park.
When she wake up and there was a rabbit 'just like me!'
Playing a guitar.
She danced and danced
Two rabbits, they so good friends.
One so happy...
One so sad...
(starts singing a song of the two rabbits, that is in a language only she understands)
'But Rabbit like me, he visit me again!'"

Izze: "I like when they are dancing"

I thought Izze would like this book a lot more, because she is practically obsessed with the moon, but this book really had nothing to do with the moon. It's a sweet story though.

Boris and the Snoozebox by Leigh Hodgkinson

Rating: 4 kitty purrs.



I find a bird on every page! (This is only partially true, there are a lot of birds).
Boris is a cat, he "leepy" (sleepy)
He in a box.
"We not want this cat!"
NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!
Boris be sad.
Mr. Marshmallow eat only fish!
We ever not have a cat, he would eat "Oviler" (Oliver is Izze's fish).
Then he find a lady!
She sooo happy!



Izze loves the art, the collage style.

Vegan note: Mr. Marshmallow eats fish from The South Pole. Boris wishes he had fish, because he was hungry.

Mini Mia by Pija Lindenbaum

Rating: 4 Fabulous Darlings!

Mini Mia (whose real name is Ella). Loves her Uncle Tommy, they always do fun things together. Then Uncle Tommy's new boyfriend, Fergus starts crowding their fun dates. Mia, wishes he'd just disappear... but he doesn't.



Izze's summary:

Mini Mia... she have a darling Uncle.
They are doing fun stuff.
Her darling uncle make she hair colors.
Mini Mia not like Fergus.
She gets mad.
OH!! Mini Mia is naughty!!

Mini Mia is big like me when I swim under the water.
Then she like Fergus.



I like that, although it's never said, this book nonchalantly has a gay couple. It's not about being gay, the characters just happen to be gay. The little girl doesn't think twice about the relationship, just that she wants Fergus gone!

Izze loves Mini Mia's personality. It really comes through in the writing. She also loves how upset she gets!

The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz

Rating: 5 Pumpkin cookies





Izze's summary: (She's pretending to be the pumpkin...)
No pumpkins quite like me.
I not getting picked.
I getting tricked!
I alone.
Trees are miling. (smiling)
They they are throwing apples!
I cry...

OH MY GOSH!! I A QUASH!! (squash)



I love this book's illustrations and simple, but not cheesy rhyming tone. It's a great story of not fitting in. We read it year round, not just at Halloween or Thanksgiving.

Izze loves: "OH MY GOSH!! I A QUASH!!!"