Clara VulliamyCritiques

Okay, this was just a cute book. Small is adorable, and Tom is adorable, and the two of them knowing that they've been separated and wanting to find each other again is adorable. Also, Small is an adorable name for a stuffed animal. Did I mention the adorable?

This would definitely be a good bedtime story. I like the illustrations, especially during Small's adventure across town to find Tom at Granny's house.

Okay, this was just a cute book. Small is adorable, and Tom is adorable, and the two of them knowing that they've been separated and wanting to find each other again is adorable. Also, Small is an adorable name for a stuffed animal. Did I mention the adorable?

This would definitely be a good bedtime story. I like the illustrations, especially during Small's adventure across town to find Tom at Granny's house.

"Small" tells the heroic story of a stuffed mouse, Small, who is forgotten by his friend,Tom,when he leaves to go to Grandmas house. The stuffed mouse feeling just as lonely as Tom decides that he is going to go find him. Small travels in the dark of night to find his best friend.The story itself was very good, but I felt that the way it was written was choppy, and it didn't have a natural flow to it. The artwork was effective in telling the story. The illustrator utilized the whole page for his art, and he used darker colors when the friends were separated, but once they were together again the picture looked brighter than before.½

A little guy is visiting granny and just wants his little mouse, Small. Well when he realizes he forgot him he gets very upset. Somehow Small find his way to him and all ends well. Cute book.½

What an awesome short little picture book. This would be a great bedtime story for little kids!

This story shares a sweet connection between a little boy and his favorite stuffed animal. Small is his stuffed animal mouse that he seems he can not be without. He spends the night at granny's house and when its time for bed he realizes Small is not there. Small comes alive and travels his way to granny's house and ends up cuddling the little boy to bed. I would recommend this story as a bed time story for a child.

Prepares Toddler for Bedtime.
Age: 1 and Up
Source: Pierce County Library

Baby with Colorful Clothing.
Age: 1 and Up
Source: Pierce County Library

A young boy is sleeping over by his grandmother's house for the first time. He packs his suitcase and makes sure to remember his beloved stuffed mouse Small. The boy notices he's missing Small and Small realizes he's been left behind. Small goes on an advenuture to get to grandma's house to be there witht the boy. This is a great story for little kids who may still use stuffed animals. Really cute.

This book is a book of short stories for young children to be read to by adults and on their own later. I recommend this book for kinder through second. This book is a book to practice reading and has no content that requires any analysis and has no deeper meaning. It is simply a book with some repetitive words and rhyme to help children start reading. The illustrations are bright for what a small book it is and appeal to the age group.

From the publishers of Cricket, this 20-page magazine features short illustrated stories and poems for very young children. Each issue opens with a story starring recurring characters Kim, a toddler, and Carrots, Kim’s stuffed rabbit, and these recurring characters give children who frequently read the magazine a comforting sense of familiarity. Each of the following pieces is written by a different author and illustrated by a different artist, and while the 4- to 6-page stories don’t offer the satisfying story arc of a traditional picture book, they are nevertheless engaging. Parents seeking reading material for young children who cannot yet sit through a whole picture book will likely find these stories and poems a perfect choice. The magazine itself is constructed of durable glossy paper, thicker than the typical magazine paper, and will likely hold up well against wear-and-tear. The magazine also measures only 15 cm by 16.5 cm, making it easier for young children to manipulate. There is a website for parents with suggestions for reading this magazine with their children. Published 9 times per year and costing $58 for a two-year subscription, libraries should consider adding this publication to their collection if only because it offers materials for an age group not often served by magazine publishers. Recommended for children ages 6 months to 3 years.½

Little Kid Reaction: My son did not have a strong reaction to this book. Not good, not bad. He did sit while I read the whole book.

Big Kid Reaction: This was a so-so book for me. The illustrations are fun. The bear is cute and Lily is an adorable little girl. I did not like the way the little girl spoke to her mother, though: "I won't lie down. I won't shut my eyes. I don't want to play tomorrow. I want to play NOW!" We don't speak like that in our house, and I do not wish to have these words modeled for my children. The mother handles the situation very gently, allowing Lily to discover for herself that bedtime is for going to sleep.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.

I admit it. I fell in love with this oddly didactic book and the terrifyingly button-eyed characters.

Naughty Lily, whose button-black eyes are definitely creepy, is having a temper tantrum when her mother leaves. But suddenly a fluffy white bear shows up and it's time to have fun! Until the bear with sticky paws makes a big mess - and won't clean up, take a bath, or....do anything Lily was supposed to do earlier. Finally he leaves Lily with the mess just as her mother arrives home and she promises contritely to clean everything up and gets a big hug.

There's some counting involved, although nothing organized. The delicate detail in the illustrations and the fancy games combined with the simple but lilting text make this a perfect choice for toddlers and little ones who look like potential Fancy Nancy fans.

Verdict: Delightful

ISBN: 978-1589250703; Published March 2008 by Tiger Tales; Borrowed from the library

Lily doesn't want to go to school. She expresses herself by throwing her back pack on the floor. Then the doorbell rings. A small white fluffy bear is standing on a suitcase. He happily asks Lily to go with him to bear school.

At bear school Lily paints a house, cats and ducks. She plays the piano, trumpets and cymbals. Making noise is fun. She creates gooey messes from making gingerbread, brownies and cupcakes. But when bear doesn't want to share during dessert time Lily isn't happy.

Bear school isn't fun anymore for Lily, she wants to do her numbers and read stories and play grocery store. You will have to read the story to see what Lily and bear do next.

This book is about a little boy who goes to sleep over at his grandmas house. He accidently leaves his little stuffed mouse back at his house and realizes he is missing when he unpacks his stuff. However the mouse "comes to life" and finds grandmas house so the little boy and mouse can be together again.

My students loved listening to this book as I read it to them. It is a short, sweet, and simple book. I stopped and asked my students if they thought their stuff animals could come to life. They all of coarse giggled and said no. Then we talked about how cool it would be if they did come to life, and what they think those stuff animals would do. It fun watching how creative my children could be!

Functional first-day-of-school tale with an attractive streak of whimsy.½