Showing posts with label cats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cats. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper #review #picturebooks #Halloween #Autumn #CountdowntoHalloween2025

 


Summary:

Deep in the woods in an old white cabin, three friends make their pumpkin soup the same way every day. The Cat slices up the pumpkin, the Squirrel stirs in the water, and the Duck tips in just enough salt. But one day the Duck wants to stir instead, and then there is a horrible squabble, and he leaves the cabin in a huff. It isn't long before the Cat and the Squirrel start to worry about him and begin a search for their friend.

My review:

Pumpkin soup, the best three animal friends ever tasted because they made it the same way every night. Each friend has a job to do to make the soup, and it is status quo, until it wasn't and duck wants to do something different. Uh, oh!

I loved this book because it showed how we all have different talents and our specific talent helps to create something special. However, it also shows how sometimes, we want to grow out of what we have been expected to do and learn to do something different. This will always upset what is, including friendships. Still, it is a learning process for all involved and patience is often the key. Maybe things will seem chaotic, and feelings might be hurt as in the case of this book. But in the end, it will be alright.

The illustrations were bold and beautifully illustrated in autumn colors and added so much to the story itself.

Don't believe me? This book received an award from the library association for its illustrations.

I give this book 5 pumpkins.

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book for my own collection. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network

Where to find the author:

Amazon

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

The Cat's Museum by Viviana Maria Falleti #Review #childrensbooks #cats #animals #museums

 


ABOUT THE BOOK:
Catherine the Great, in 1766, recruited stray cats to protect her beloved Hermitage Museum from rodents. Generations later, to this day, cats are still working there, protecting the artwork and doing their zany mischief…tune in for a splash of fun!

MY REVIEW:
I am an animal lover and to read a semi-true story about them is so fun. Why do I say "semi?" Well, the story here begins in a museum,which I also love, where a  bunch of cats are taken in to eradicate a at problem within a real museum. The cats who live in the museum to this day, still guard the museums property and are taken care of by the curators of the museum. How cool is that! The cat now roam within the museum for all to adore.

This is what is true. What was not true within the book, was a secondary story that tells of the cats enjoying a yearly romp that included the cats dressing up to party and have a dance. This was fun and made the cats seem more "human" with their gratitude of the yearly feast (which is true).

I enjoyed everything about this book including the descriptive personalities of certain cats and the fact they still live within the museum. Oh would it be great to visit and see them!
The illustrations were large, bold, and colorful. Most of the pages were in different shades of blue and I feel that might have been intentional to describe the museum's colors.

Side note: As I was so enamored with this idea, I did further investigation of the museum. If you would want to read about the cats too, go HERE.

I give this book 5 cats meows.

Disclosure: I was given a copy of this book from the author. The review here is 100% my own and opinions and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Viviana Maria Falleti is a woman of faith, an insightful children’s storyteller, a lover of all things cats, and an aficionado of splendidly-illustrated books. She aims to produce only the highest quality books, containing wholesome and engaging stories every child is sure to love. The talented world-famous artists she employs bring her wondrous books to life even more. 
Viviana created Little Feather Press for the parent who is ‘hungry for wholesome’. Every book ordered from Little Feather Press can be presented to a child with the assurance that the child’s innocence and the beauty of childhood are respected. The stories entertain in the magical world of a child’s mind, without any corrupting influences.

In her childhood in Germany, Viviana would never tire of listening to storybooks that her mother lovingly read to her. She draws inspiration from those memories. 

Viviana was born in Germany but has lived most of her adult life in America. She has a lovely daughter Ashley and son-in-law Brent, two wonderful nieces Maria and Maria Luisa, and a suave Italian husband Gino. Her current residence is in Southwest Florida. 

Contact Links

Website: https://littlefeatherpress.com/

Purchase Link

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SWEXjg







Sunday, October 6, 2024

Dragon's Halloween by Dav Pilkey #review #CountdowntoHalloween2024 #bookseries #chapterbooks

 As I do not have any "littles" around much anymore, I was unaware that this book is from a series of "Dragon's" books. I picked up this one for Halloween. The cover is adorable with the blue dragon and plethora of cats at his feet.

The story follows along Dragon as he tries to scare others and himself. As the book is chopped up into three small chapters, the first chapter is him trying to carve scary pumpkins, next scary costumes, and finally scares of the night. I have not told you much other than the titles for each chapter.

It is a perfect book for kids who are beginning to read, who like the author, dragons, animals, and most importantly Halloween. I found the short stories to be cute and engaging enough that I wanted to turn the page.  The illustrations had all the colors you would expect for Halloween and a few more. The pictures went well with the words.

A nice little addition to the book was in thr back where the author illustrates how to draw Dragon. Fun! Also, the very last page asks kids questions of what costumes they might wear to a costume party and encourages kids to draw them.

Good book and it gets 4 pumpkins (but not too scary) from me.

Disclosure: I picked up  a copy of this book from my local library. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network

Where to find the author:

Goodreads

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Review: Los Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes #multicultural #CountdowntoHalloween2023 #animals #childrensbooks #picture books

 


This larger than life picture book for children tells the tale of all the spooks that come out for a huge Halloween party. The book starts off with black cats who screech. The ending is fun and unexpected as all these creatures come from all over. But who is it that breaks up the party?

The book is written in full rhyme. Each page features large pictures with all of the colors that one would expect at Halloween. The illustrator did a fantastic job of this. That in itself is awesome, but what makes this book even more cool is that it is in English and Spanish to describe all of the characters. A glossary in the back is a nice addition to help those whose first language is not Spanish.

I seriously love this book and it would be a good edition for the Halloween season shelf. Don't believe me? This book was given an award for excellence.

I give this book 5 pumpkins.



Disclosure: I borrowed a copy of this book to read and review from my local library. The opinions expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours.
~Michelle, Reading Authors Network