Review: The Berenstain Bears Easter Magic

Courtesy: Netgalley.com

In honor of Children's Picture Book Day I reviewed was "The Berenstain Bears Easter Magic."  The e-book is approximately 8 pages and the physical board book is said to be 10 pages, which can be a good thing if your toddler doesn't have have much of an attention span at the moment yet you want to read to him or her before bedtime.

Mom Says:

The book, by Jan and Stan Berenstain, features Brother Bear and Sister Bear. It takes the reader through a short journey as winter turns to spring and Easter then begins. I found the content to be very endearing with the cute rhymes and adorable illustrations it contains. No, this short story did not contain any moral or lesson, but I did feel it to be a good introduction for my son to the Berenstain Bears books and possibly TV shows. 

Kid Says:

Yes, it was short, but it did maintain my son's attention which I was grateful for! The rhymes caught his attention and he enjoyed the bright and colorful illustrations typical to The Berenstain Bear books. This was his first introduction to The Berenstain Bears and he took such a liking to the illustrations and the rhymes. He expressed that he would like us to read more of their books together.

The Verdict

Bookshelf: It was very short in content, so if you are looking for something more lengthy, this would not be an ideal book. I give it a Bookshelf rating, however, and I encourage parents to give it a chance since it did spark my son's interest in reading more of the Berenstain Bear books together and it may spark your child's interest as well.  Isn't this the goal of a children's book?

*Reviewer was provided with a free copy from Netgalley.com*

Mom Says/Kid Says Review: I is for Imagination

For Sesame Street's First Comic Book, Elmo Truly is the Superhero

Courtesy: NetGalley.com

Title: I is for Imagination

Authors: Amy Mebberson and Jason Burns

Publisher: Diamond Back Distributors

Release Date: May 7, 2013

I have been privileged to receive an early edition of the first in an upcoming comic book series to be released by the creators of Sesame Street called "I is for Imagination." 

Mom Says: 
From its inception, Sesame Street's mission has been to provide our children with education and entertainment. The first strip in this comic book does exactly that. Elmo is sad because he does not have "real" superpowers such as the ability to fly. Yet, Grover teaches him that the power to be a superhero lies in one's heart through every day accomplishments such as helping someone cross the street or opening the door for someone. This first segment of the book stays true to Sesame Street's goals and the expectations we have.

The second strip does not have an overt "message" like the first one did. The Cookie Monster is gazing at the moon and imagines it is a cookie which he can dunk in the Milky Way Galaxy. While there is no clear message here, this strip stills shows the concept of imagination, which is the actual title and purpose of the book. 

The third and final strip of this edition is a little disappointing. It features Oscar the Grouch's musings about how much he loves trash. There is no message nor is there any use of imagination here. Also, the way Oscar the Grouch is drawn seems to be a bit darker than he usually appears, almost like how the Batman comics are drawn. Some parts of it are funny however, especially when you look closely at the details, such as how the Grouch family dog looks exactly like Oscar, but in dog form, and for "Grumpsgiving", the family eats "Yuckberry Pie."  Compared to the first two, this segment is anti-climactic and I felt does not live up to what Sesame Street has sought out to accomplish.  

Kid Says:
Then there is the verdict of my 4 year old son, whose opinion matters most of all.  He was engaged in the first story with Elmo and enjoyed the illustrations. He enjoyed identifying the acts of heroism shown in the last few slides, such as a school crossing guard helping children crossing the street and a lady helping an elderly man. After this strip, however, he was not impressed. The last 2 stories did not hold his attention.  

So what's the verdict? Bookshelf, Library Bag, or Donation Box?
I would go with Library Bag. The first two stories made it a worthwhile read for me, while only the first story did make the book a worthwhile read for my son. I am looking forward to seeing the next comic books to be released by Sesame Street.

*Review edition was awarded by Netgalley.com