Grumpy Monkey is not only the title of a wonderful book, but a vibe. Written by Susanne Lang and illustrated by Max Lang, the cover instantly grabs your attention. One day as I scoured through my local Barnes and Noble bookstore, I couldn’t help notice the expressive face of the monkey looking back at me. It so happened I was in a particularly foul mood at the time and felt an instant connection. I mused out loud “this monkey gets me.” A few weeks later, my daughter gifted me both the book and a plush doll based on the Grumpy Monkey himself, Jim Panzee. Naturally, I opted to give the book a proper review.
book review
Ruby’s Sleepover
A child’s mind has a wonderful capacity for vivid flights of imagination. A shadow’s not simply a shadow but a giant robot from Planet X or maybe a mischievous bunny rabbit from the enchanted forest. Location as well as the time of day work in concert to prompt the types of imagery a kid will experience. Such is the case in children’s book “Ruby’s Sleepover” written by Kathryn White and illustrated by Miriam Latimer.
I Lego N.Y.
A great children’s board-book, “I LEGO N.Y.” by designer and illustrator Christoph Niemann, will delight children and adults alike. The book, filled with abstract images of representations of New York City created with LEGO bricks, is sure to charm kids and foster their own imaginative building ideas.