Looking for a fun new bunny book this spring? This is the one: with a super-fun rhyme and rhythm this will have the little ones bouncing and clamoring for another read. Just when you think you know what happens next, there's a BIG surprise. And just when you think you know how that will play out, there's another surprise and a satisfying end. The illustrations are cheerful and full of character - come on, everybunny dance! ~ Reviewed by Jennifer Armstrong
Hard to believe that Norway (2013 population 5.04 million) and Scandinavia's well publicized happiness index (Norway now ranked happiest nation) could produce so many fiendish serial killers. If Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole crime novels are to be taken at face value, there's something the happiness rankings have overlooked! But don't let that apparent disconnect spoil your appreciation for these gripping thrillers - perhaps it takes a happy nation to produce a series this scary. Harry Hole is back again, with all his scars and flaws and self-loathing. The Thirst reunites most of the characters we've been following for years, with tight plotting and cunning misdirection, and of course, a grisly series of murders. A detailed review of a crime novel is never appreciated, so I will leave it at this: if you haven't read any of Nesbo's thrillers, start at the beginning so that The Thirst doesn't become a spoiler. ~ Reviewed by Jennifer Armstrong
Would you imagine that a path as well-worn as learning about shapes still has some surprises to offer? It does! This charming board book is the perfect blend of repetition and surprise, injecting the unexpected into the mundane. This should offer plenty of giggles for babies one year old and up (and for the parent, too.) ~ Reviewed by Jennifer Armstrong
Little Kelp was born to a family of narwhals. Although his swimming skills aren't quite what they ought to be, he loves his underwater life, until one day he sees a unicorn standing on the shore and the light begins to dawn. The visual details in this utterly charming book will make you laugh out loud. An adorable gift for anyone who feels a little bit like they don't quite fit in. Pay close attention to the endpapers. ~ Reviewed by Jennifer Armstrong
The didactic "go to sleep" books of recent years WISH they could be this book. Chris Haughton's distinctive artwork of blocky shapes and vivid colors, along with plenty of yawns and sleepy stretching makes saying goodnight a pleasure. Little bear and all the other small creatures of the forest will be your child's new bedtime friends. Check out the endpapers for a special treat. ~ Reviewed by Jennifer Armstrong