Get your book wishlists up and ready to update! Here are the titles the Bookroo Crew bought in August and what we think of them.
Jane and Kesler:
What we were looking for: Adding a few favorite board books!
I’ve had my eye on this one for years but never actually bought it, so when Tayler and Becca bought it last month, I was reminded of it and pulled the trigger! This is the first book I ever saw with silicon touch and feel elements, which is so clever (and feels much more sanitary!) and these textures seriously feel so cool!
To my point above about adding favorite classics to our library, this one fits in there as well. I’ve had this one memorized for years, and it’s pure delight to hear my children quote along with my . . . “Three little pigs sing la la la!”
I’ve always loved Sandra Boynton books, but being in the finding hidden gems business I’ve realized I don’t own some of my favorite classics yet . . . so time to remedy that. This one makes my kids giggle—so funny!
Tiffany and Chandler:
What we were looking for: Books for school and a classic family read aloud!
We’ve been enchanted by this book ever since we reviewed it with the Bookroo team last year. It’s set in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City — a promising setting for a children’s book (From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, anyone?) — and is a wordless book with incredible fun and mischief as a little girl tours the museum with her classmates. They can’t touch the art, but that doesn’t mean the art won’t touch them!
We’ve liked Owen Davey’s illustration style ever since featuring one of his books in our picture book club. We’ve also done an interview with him. So when we discovered his About Animals series, we wanted to add it to our home collection and are starting with sharks. We remember enjoying encyclopedia type books as kids and love this modern, well designed offering.
We’ve listened to at least two classic Roald Dahl books on family road trips — Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG — and we’re excited to now enjoy James and the Giant Peach as a family read aloud. It’s been on our minds ever since listening to segments from a celebrity read aloud last year.
Rebecca and Tayler:
What we were looking for: Childhood favorites from Kevin Henkes!
Kevin Henkes has created some of my favorite picture books, and this is one of them. The personality seeps through the story, making it a fantastic read aloud, and this book’s message of being yourself, loving who you are, and not worrying about what others think makes this a home run read!
I remember reading this as a child and loving it—Wemberly worries, too, it’s not just me?! There’s something especially validating about reading a book with a character who feels the way you do, especially as a young child. I’m still a worrier and think this book is a valuable asset to remind little (and big!) worriers that we can be brave and it’s all going to be okay.