Hi everybody! Welcome to our Kids Book Review Library Haul post! This is where I give you quick and snappy reviews of our favorites from our weekly library haul. We read a LOT of children’s books from the library, so I don’t bother reviewing all the ones that were just mediocre. I like to keep things positive too, so books that I thought were terrible don’t usually make it into the list either… unless I just really want to rant about it for a while. Let us know in the comments which books were winners in YOUR library haul!

#1. Louise the Big Cheese and the Ooh La La Charm School by Elise Primavera

This was a kids book in the style of Fancy Nancy and Pinkalicious, pretty much right down to the language.  Louise wants to be very ooh lala and live in Paris, France, so when she meets a girl named Claire who says she has not only been to Paris but attended charm school, she becomes obsessed with getting into charm school herself.  Luckily, her new friend has promised to help her.  Unfortunately, Louise’s obsession with the idea of charm school leads her to be rather un-charming to her best friends and family.  Claire’s charm school isn’t very much fun either, and by the end of the book, Louise realizes that sometimes being charming to the people who are most important to us is the most ooh la la thing you can do.

This was pretty cutesy, but the message was good.  I didn’t particularly care for the fact that it seemed to similar to Fancy Nancy and Pinkalicious, but I guess you have to write what sells.

It was okay: 2 out of 5 stars

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#2.  Wild About Us by Karen Beaumont

Wild About Us is a short and sweet trip through the zoo, highlighting the differences between the animals and reiterating throughout the book that differences are what makes the zoo interesting.  The parallel that our own differences can be what makes us interesting is definitely easily drawn.  I thought this book was a good blend of message and just fun rhyming, and great for the younger age group. Bonus: Hearing a three year old pronounce ‘flamingo’.

I really liked it: 4 out of 5 stars

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#3. 5 Little Monkeys Wash The Car by Eileen Christelow

This was a clever embellishment of the traditional “Five little monkeys jumping on the bed” rhyme.  The Five little monkeys are on a mission to sell their car and get a nice new car, so they clean it up, paint it, and take it for a test drive.  Of course, chaos ensues and lives are in danger, but everybody wins in the end.  Bonus: It’s a board book, so Kman got in on the page-turning action.

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#4. The Man From the Land of Fandango by Margaret Mahy

The Man From the Land of Fandango is a rhyming, lyrical book that is simply fun to read.  He only comes round once every 500 years, but when he does, he pulls out all the stops, putting on a show for all ages.  This one is another great read for the younger ages with few enough words that even the youngest toddlers will sit through it, but enough of a lilt and a story line, and intricate pictures for an older child as well.

I really liked it: 4 out of 5 stars

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#5. Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett

A girl and her monkey rollick through the pages of this book, pretending to be different animals of all shapes and sizes.  This was a particularly fun one, as it encouraged animal charades, which has since become a big “thing” to do in our house.  Everything from bear crawling, to eating apples a particular way that may or may not be reminiscent of a rabbit.  This is another book that easily bridges the gap between baby-toddler and preschool-toddler.  Definitely one to check out.

I really liked it: 4 out of 5 stars