Review Copies That We Re-read (Giveaway)

Do you ever wonder if someone reviews a children's book and gives it high marks, never to think of it again after the review has been published? When I first started accepting children's picture books for review, I didn't always do a good job of choosing ones that I thought my family would really and truly like. I've gotten much, much better about that over the years and now when you see a book appear on this site, you can believe it's appearing because we really liked it and intend to keep it on our bookshelves! (I'll tell you if I think it's so-so.)

Why will I tell you if I only moderately liked it? Because children's books are so speculative. You just never know if you'll really like them. Coupled with the fact that they are quite pricey, it's hard to want to take much of a gamble on them. (That's what libraries are for, eh?!)

Our family has amassed quite a collection of children's books, both because I buy them and because we accept them for review. I've culled and collected and culled and collected more times than I could count or should admit to! But there are a few that have stayed on our shelves for many years that we love and re-read frequently. I thought it would be kind of fun to go back and talk about some particular picture book titles that were accepted for review which we have really connected with.

I reviewed Jane Cabrerra's Old MacDonald Had a Farm and Mommy, Carry Me Please over at 5 Minutes for Books back in 2008.



Bookworm1 loved them. Then Bookworm2 loved them. And now we're singing a whole lot of E-I-E-I-O with Bookworm3! The pages have been worn to a frazzle and we've had to tape up rips here and there, but that just goes to show that they are well-loved! I highly recommend these titles still!


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I've talked about John Butler before, in reviewing Can You Cuddle Like a Koala? and Can You Growl Like a Bear? (I featured those in 2008 at 5 Minutes for Books.)



I also reviewed Bedtime in the Jungle (back in 2009).

We're still big fans. If you actually growl like a bear when reading this book then you win bonus points! All three of our children have loved these, although Bookworm1 holds the record of most-re-reads-in-one-sitting.

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I'm still a huge fan of Calvin Can't Fly (linked to my 2010 review) and he's been making the reading rounds again here these days. Bookworm2 (age 3) expresses the most love for Calvin at the moment and he's the one who usually drags the book over and asks me to read it.



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Also, A Little Bit of Love (reviewed Spring 2011) gets a fair amount of our reading time. I've purchased this book as a gift for others also because I really, truly love it!



*****

If I had to pinpoint one particular publisher whose books we save space for on our shelves and whose books we spend a lot of time re-reading, I would say that honor would go to Tiger Tales Books. With very few exceptions, we love their books! (Fidgety Fish and Smiley Shark - review 2009 - are still our favorite ocean animal picture book stories!)

Within the past week we've been re-reading a lot of The Three Billy Goats Fluff which was released in hardback just last year. (You can click on the title to read my review of it from last fall.) This title will be released in paperback this coming Spring. It is most-loved by Bookworm1 (age 5 3/4) at the moment who, every time he catches a glimpse of the cover art, asks me to read it to him.

Because this book is well-loved in our home and because I think you'll probably like it also (especially if you have boys) I checked in with Tiger Tales and they were delighted to offer a hardback copy of Three Billy Goats Fluff to one of you!



THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER, as selected by random.org, IS #6 - Shonya

Reviewing picture books is definitely fun. I enjoy the privilege of it very much. I love it even more when we hit upon that ever so special title that one particular child - or all of our children - really connect with. Those are treasures and we love talking about them and sharing them with others.