Tag Archives: picture book

January 9, 2026 · 7:00 am

Lou Lou’s Pet Dragon Goes to School by Brenden Bott (Book Review)

In Lou Lou’s Pet Dragon Goes to School, we meet Lou Lou—an unusual girl with a most unusual pet. On her first day at a new school, Lou Lou tries to convince her classmates and teacher that her favourite pet is a real dragon—a difficult task indeed. Filled with humour and surprises, it’s a story children will want to read again and again.

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

You’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the cover was so dang cute that I knew the story inside would be just as adorable. And guess what? I was right!

It’s Lou Lou’s first day at a new school, and the little girl enters the classroom to find her teacher, Ms. Quigleybottom, holding a black-and-white cat. All the kids loved watching Penelope the cat reach for the toy fish on a string. I can understand why; the illustration was very cute. Plus, cats are pretty awesome. Lou Lou mentioned Ms. Quigleybottom talked at length about how great her cat was, and that is no surprise; pet owners love talking about their pets. Me included!

When the teacher asked the kids to share what pet they had, we had a variety of common and (possibly) not-so-common responses, but none were so unthinkable as Lou Lou’s. She proudly announced she had a pet dragon. Dragons are make-believe, right?! The class laughed at her absurd response, but Lou Lou would be the one getting the last laugh. Bring your pet to school day turned into chaos, and I loved every moment of it. The artwork was stupendous! You can practically hear the class erupt in a flurry of screams and the pounding of shoes as they took off running. Even Penelope was zooming away with a panicked look on their face. I found the dragon’s outfit adorable, and I loved the confused look on its face, obviously wondering what’s up with these people. And the ending to the hilarious scene was perfection. Lou Lou asks her pet dragon if she should bring another pet tomorrow. The small glimpse of it made me smile. I can sense a similar reaction happening if she follows through on her idea. (No spoilers. Read the story!)

Lou Lou’s Pet Dragon Goes to School is perfect for kids ages 3 to 9. It has humor…lots of humor. The illustrations were the best I’ve seen in a long time, definitely in the top five overall. Kids will be begging you to read it and then immediately asking you to read it again. It’s really that good and deserves more than five stars!

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤++

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Meet the Author

Brenden has worked in the field of education for over a decade, and he is more convinced than ever of the importance of telling stories to shape hearts and minds. Brenden is currently the Head of School at Westminster Classical Christian Academy in Toronto. He has a doctorate in theology from Wycliffe College, the University of Toronto, specializing in medieval and Reformation thought and theodicy.

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Meet the Illustrator

Dong Hoon began his career as a mechanical engineer but left this behind to become an artist. With over twenty years of experience, Dong Hoon has established himself as an unusually talented illustrator with a unique ability to add humour to his artistic creations.

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January 2, 2026 · 7:00 am

Pickle the Pig by Brenden Bott (Book Review)

Do you have a favourite food? Now imagine that your favourite food is also the most famous food in town—and your grandpa holds the secret of how it was invented. A secret that involves your great-great-grandmother … and a perilous pig.

In Pickle the Pig, we meet Emily—a girl who has a peculiar obsession with bacon-wrapped pickle bites. In this hilarious tale, we uncover the outrageous story of how these tasty treats came to be. It’s a delightful mix of disaster, suspense, and plenty of humour—perfect for the whole family!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Everyone has a favorite food, and for Emily, it was a giant pickle wrapped in bacon. A weird combo food choice, but in their young mind, it was a delicious invention. Emily was curious how the town’s famous delicacy came to be, and her grandfather had the inside scoop. Oh, what a wild, strange, and humorous tale the grandfather shares, and it starts with a pig who craves pickles all the time.

Pickle the Pig loves to gobble up pickles, day and night. His hearty appetite doesn’t sit well with the townspeople, though, but they have bigger problems at the moment. A drought had struck the small town, then a tornado. Thankfully, the townspeople took refuge, and no one perished. The pickle-loving pig came out unscathed, too, but his girth was his salvation. Yup, the very, very round pig was too heavy for even a tornado to pick up. That tidbit, and its corresponding illustrations, made me smile. What came after the twister is a mind-bender but a chuckle inducer: food rains down from the sky, but how? The answer was unexpected and hilarious. Kids and adults will find themselves scratching their heads and laughing out loud.

Pickle the Pig was an enormous porker that greatly irritated the town; however, the community’s annoyed looks turned to smiles for one reason only. That reason will be unveiled once you read the story, and this is a book you’ll want to share with your family or class. The illustrations were extremely amusing (credited artist: Dong Hoon Kim), and the plot’s resolution was wonderfully ridiculous. I can’t wait to read more comedic stories by the imaginative author, and after you read the story, you’ll become instant fans of Brenden Bott, like me.

Amazon recommends this Pickle the Pig for ages three and up. I agree with this recommendation.

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Brenden has worked in the field of education for over a decade, and he is more convinced than ever of the importance of telling stories to shape hearts and minds. Brenden is currently the Head of School at Westminster Classical Christian Academy in Toronto. He has a doctorate in theology from Wycliffe College, the University of Toronto, specializing in medieval and Reformation thought and theodicy.

Amazon Author Page Link

Website Link

 

Meet the Illustrator

Dong Hoon began his career as a mechanical engineer but left this behind to become an artist. With over twenty years of experience, Dong Hoon has established himself as an unusually talented illustrator with a unique ability to add humour to his artistic creations.

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December 15, 2025 · 7:00 am

Let’s Look, Not Touch by Kateryna Dronova (Book Review)

Wherever Mom and her boy go—beach, park, or brook—the curious child loves to stop and look. From frogs that leap to turtles that clutch, Mom always smiles and says, “Let’s Look, Not Touch.”

But when a birthday surprise pops up just right, will Mom’s rule change on this special night?

Let’s Look, Not Touch is a rhythmic read-aloud picture book for kids that celebrates a child’s curiosity, teaches respect for wildlife, and shares the gentle lessons of patience and care. With its repetitive refrain and heartwarming message, this book makes learning about nature and animals an adventure—and builds a love of wildlife that lasts a lifetime.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Kids are inquisitive, and how they learn about the world changes over time. Babies and toddlers explore through touch. Their brain sends a signal instructing them to touch and feel everything. While some objects are safe to touch, others are not. Let’s Look, Not Touch is a rhythmic story that follows a mom and her little boy as they explore different locations, discovering new friends in nature, and learning to observe without touching. The beautiful story teaches young kids to respect nature and be kind to all living things, important lessons to begin learning at a young age.

Join the mom and son as they observe a starfish that has washed up on the beach. Teach kids to be mindful of snakes and spiders, especially when you don’t know whether they are poisonous. Take this engaging book to the park and feed the birds like the characters do in the story. Reminding kids to follow the book’s mantra: “Let’s look, not touch.” Listen to the frogs’ croak and watch as fireflies light up the night sky. Again, helping kids remember these four words: “Let’s look, not touch.” There is so much more to see and explore in this wonderful tale. The mom prompts the child to keep their hands away from certain animals and bugs, but there’s one animal the mom says yes they can touch. Read the story to find out what it is!

Kids do learn by touching objects, but they also learn through repetition. Repeating “Let’s look, not touch” in daily routines reinforces understanding of what is safe to touch and what should only be observed. I recommend sharing Let’s Look, Not Touch with your baby and/or toddler, especially before heading outside, to help instill respectful exploration habits early on. It’s beautifully written and illustrated. I even found the spider cute, and that is an amazing, artistic feat! My only small change, in the overall great story, would be the presentation of text. Placing the text on a solid color or less busy section of each page would make the words pop more. It was still a great read, though, and deserves four stars!

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Kateryna Dronova is a children’s writer who loves turning imagination into playful and heartfelt stories. Growing up surrounded by rich traditions and storytelling, she draws inspiration for her tales that nurture curiosity, courage, and kindness in young readers. Kateryna believes books can spark magic in every child—and she writes to share that wonder.


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December 8, 2025 · 7:00 am

Azuzu Saves the Day by Kateryna Dronova (Book Review)

Azuzu is a little bee who is always eager to help his friends. However, he is a bit clumsy and always ends up making mistakes. One day, he crashes into the wall of the hive, creating a huge hole in it. Determined not to make things worse, Azuzu leaves the hive. But before he can get far, he senses that the hive is in danger. Will Azuzu finally be able to step up and help his friends?

Perfect for little readers ages 3–7, this beautifully illustrated story teaches children about courage, resilience, and believing in themselves—even when things go wrong.

A must-have for parents, teachers, and caregivers who want to help kids learn that:

🐝 Everyone makes mistakes
🐝 You can always try again
🐝 Kindness and bravery come in many forms

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Azuzu is a sweet bee with a big problem: He’s much rounder than the other bees and a bit clumsy. He loves the smell of honey, the glow of the honeycombs, and his friends very much, so Azuzu is always ready to lend a hand; however, his good deeds don’t go as planned, leaving him feeling blue. Even though his bee friends and the queen didn’t make fun of or get mad at him for spilling honey and leaving a big hole in the wall of the honeycomb, Azuzu still felt terrible and decided to go off alone. His reaction was similar to how humans respond when they make a mistake or create a mess, prompting readers to empathize with the bee’s feelings.

Actions have consequences, and unfortunately, the large hole Azuzu made left the hive open for attack. The bee is facing a tough decision: Should he stay away or should he try to help fight off the wasp? Ask kids what they would do if their friends were in danger or what the bee should do.

Azuzu comes across as the story’s underdog. One might look at him and think there’s no way this bee can save the day. Oh, but looks are deceiving, and that’s why we should never judge a book by its cover. Or in the case of this delightful, suspenseful tale, we should never judge a bee by its large size and clumsy nature. How this bee saved the day from a wasp attack was very amusing. Too bad there wasn’t a better image (zoomed out view) of Azuzu’s clever idea. Still, I’m sure the scene will make young readers chuckle.

Azuzu Saves the Day teaches many great lessons. One, mistakes happen to all of us. Two, don’t be ashamed of how you look. Third, we are capable of incredible feats. Fourth, you should never judge someone by how they look. Lastly, help others in distress or call for help.

Azuzu Saves the Day is a suspenseful story with the right amount of humor. The illustrations did overpower the text in a couple of places, but it was still a great read. I agree with the synopsis’s target audience: 3 -7 years.

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Kateryna Dronova is a children’s writer who loves turning imagination into playful and heartfelt stories. Growing up surrounded by rich traditions and storytelling, she draws inspiration for her tales that nurture curiosity, courage, and kindness in young readers. Kateryna believes books can spark magic in every child—and she writes to share that wonder.

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Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

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December 5, 2025 · 7:00 am

Joey Meets the Tooth Fairy by Tannia Ortiz-Lopes (Book Review)

Hi! My name is Joey. I am eight years old and have a secret: I’m a late-toothed. (shhh). One day, my secret was revealed, and all my friends made fun of me. I was hurt! When I got home, I was upset and complained to Mom. So that night, while tucking me in bed, my dad told me the story of the Tooth Fairy. I was fascinated and wished I could travel to the castle to meet her. Do you want to know if I visited the Tooth Fairy?

To learn more about Joey and the Tooth Fairy, visit his website.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Kids love it when they get a visit from the Tooth Fairy because it typically means the magical person will leave money in place of their lost tooth. That’s why, when a child’s baby tooth starts to wiggle, they push and pull on it, ready for it to pop out. Even though every child’s baby teeth will eventually fall out, not every child will lose them at the same time. This is the case of eight-year-old Joey. Unlike his friends, Joey had not lost a single tooth yet. Instead of his friends reassuring him that he’ll probably lose one soon, they laughed at him. This situation provides a valuable opportunity for your young listeners to discuss appropriate responses to teasing and how mocking laughter can hurt as much as harsh words.

Are your kids at an age where they are questioning how the Tooth Fairy has time to gather up all the teeth every night? Joey Meets the Tooth Fairy takes readers on a magical journey through the fairy’s enchanting castle, where each floor is more wondrous than the last. We meet the Tooth Fairy, whose legs don’t work, so they built a Praconama (Pra-con-ama) flying-hovering wheelchair to help them get around. At first glance, I thought the Tooth Fairy was sitting on an oversized toilet with pointy legs. After a good chuckle, I appreciated the creativity in the chair design. I also admired the artist’s beautiful color choices for the fairy’s hair and all the detail they put in every scene. Above all else, I applaud the creative team for developing a character that looks like many viewers. So many kids are brown, black and/or spend their days in a wheelchair, so I was thrilled to see them represented.

The author’s imagination amazed me as well. The story answered common questions kids have about the magical visitor: how do they find the teeth, how do they grab the tooth without waking the child, how do they reach the numerous homes each night, and a couple of other questions the book raises. Their storytelling will mesmerize young listeners. Kids will love the surprises found in the castle. One floor might even activate their sweet tooth, while another floor hosts a character with a unique and very cool ability.

Joey Meets the Tooth Fairy is a captivating storybook that takes readers inside the magical world of the Tooth Fairy. It is intended for children ages 5-8.

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Dynamic Duo

Joey Paco:  I am an adventurous and curious eight-year-old boy. I can speak English, German, and Spanish. That makes me trilingual. I enjoy riding my bike, doing sports, reading, and playing with my friends. Mom says I am very persistent.

I keep a journal about my unusual adventures and family traveling. I think of me like a explorer. All famous explorers kept a journal about their adventures and discoveries.  

The idea for my first book,  “Joey trifft die Zahnfee.”  came from my journal, “Joey Paco’s Travels.”

 

Mom:  I was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico. I am a trilingual, multi-genre author, public speaker, freelance book reviewer, songwriter, bag designer, and hobby photographer. I speak Spanish, English, and German. To know more about my creative world, visit my Christian site: https://timewithtannia.com/

“Joey” is the main character of my first picture book: “Joey trifft die Zahnfee” (“Joey Meets the Tooth Fairy.”). I created Joey Paco’s Travels to allow Joey to promote his book. Likewise, he will share information about our “Book Reading Tours” and other adventures. After the publication of his book, he is starting to feel like a bestseller author. He refers to his site as “The Digital Journal of Young Author, Joey Paco.” (wink)

Psst: Please don’t tell him, he’s just a fictional character. Like Pinocchio, he thinks of himself as a real boy.  


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