Vegbooks

Reviews of Kids Books and Movies

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Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?

September 4th, 2010 · Books

Review By CAROLYN M. MULLIN

What is it with princesses? Is it the lovely pink hue of their dresses? Good breeding? Financial success and widespread popularity from being cast in a Disney film? Personally, I find the little princess of Carmela LaVigna Coyle’s picture book to be more up my alley than most idolized cartoon heroines.

In this honest to goodness rhyme of an exploration, a mother answers all her daughter’s questions about the lives of princesses. A few of my favorite Q&A’s …

Q: Do princesses climb trees?  A: Is there a better way to catch the breeze?

Q: Do princesses eat the crusts of their bread?  A: They save them for the ducks instead.

Q: Do princesses have a favorite vegetable?  A: They find them all delectable.

And what would this self-reflective book be without our young protagonist asking her mother if princesses seem at all like her, and, in response, her mother providing a mirror and a message: “Look inside yourself and see…A princess is a place in your heart”?

Perfect for the girlie girl in the family that can’t help but be a tomboy too.

Ages 4–8.

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The Berenstain Bears’ New Kitten

September 3rd, 2010 · Books

Review By JENNIFER GANNETT

In The Berenstain Bears’ New Kitten, the popular series tackles the subject of stray animals. When Brother finds a kitten in a pond and brings her home, the whole family becomes involved in cleaning and comforting the animal. The Bear family elects to keep the kitten, but not before they take the feelings of Little Lady, the family dog, into account. Most of the story revolves around the decision-making process.

There are a few small things that vigilant animal activists will quibble with in this book, such as the fact that Brother is “hunting” frogs, the methodology by which Little Lady is temper tested around the kitten and that the kitten is introduced to the dog prior to her visit to the vet. One of the most glaring omissions in terms of how to handle finding a stray kitten is that the Bear family does not contact the local shelter to inquire about whether anyone is looking for a lost kitten.

Despite the above issues, there are many reasons to recommend this book. One reason is that the schoolyard bully is depicted as being very worried about the kitten and gives Brother the hat off of his head to use as a temporary kitten carrier– another reminder that animal lovers are a diverse lot and that we may find common ground when we least expect to. I also liked the Bear parents’ calm handling of Brother’s arrival with the kitten. I appreciated that the book shows Papa and Mama being open to adopting the stray and bringing the kitten to the vet as soon as possible. The ending also models a very important message: the vet encourages the Bear siblings to give Little Lady extra love and affection during the transition period as the family welcomes Gracie, the grey kitten, into their lives.

This feel-good book is a nice story for kitty lovers ages 4 and up.

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Forever Young

September 2nd, 2010 · Books

Review By CAROLYN M. MULLIN

Music icon Bob Dylan penned the words for “Forever Young” back in 1973. In 2008, illustrator Paul Rogers, through his imagery, interpreted those lyrics into a sweet rendition for children…and of course Bob Dylan fans. While the book definitely reads like “words of wisdom” imparted to children by their (grand) parents, it shares an inspiring, ‘60’s look at the crossroads where youth, idealism, music, and friendship meet.

Within the storyline, a young boy is bestowed a guitar. He grows up alongside his good friend, both attending school, studying in the evenings, signature gathering under a banner that reads “Save the Planet,” and jamming out in city parks with their instruments. As they get older, the two head out on the road in an old Beetle and join the “Stop the War” march.

This book is not suitable for all kids, but would be a great resource for the history of American politics, music and cultural studies. For Dylan fans, you’ll enjoy trying to pinpoint all of Rogers’ references. (See if you can find Joan Baez, Thelonious Monk and Paul McCartney in the drawings!) There’s a helpful guide in the back of the book.

Ages 9 – 99.

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Two Bobbies

September 1st, 2010 · Books

Review By CAROLYN M. MULLIN

It’s been five years since Hurricane Katrina first struck New Orleans. While much of the city seems to have recuperated, sections like the Lower Ninth Ward look more like untamed fields than once lively homesteads. And emotional stories like that of the Two Bobbies still sit with us, reminding us of our fragility in the face of nature and the importance of keeping our family members, human and non-, safe and close at hand. (Speaking of which, do you have an emergency plan in place for your animal family?)

Tailless, but certainly not friendless, blind Bob Cat and previously chained canine, Bobbi, were abandoned (the authors speculate) when Katrina hit. They fended for themselves for four months, enduring hunger, danger and other struggles we can only imagine. The solemn beauty of the book is that it shows the incredible strength of friendship in the midst of harrowing hardship. New Orleans resident and illustrator, Jean Cassels, does a superb job capturing the stark, post-disaster landscape and the bright future that awaits the unlikely pair of friends. Thanks to Best Friends Animal Society volunteers and a TV appearance on CNN (I <3 you, Anderson Cooper!), the dynamic duo eventually finds a suitable new home.

Two Bobbies can be used to discuss natural disasters and the need for preparation, volunteering/ animal rescue efforts, what it means to be a good guardian/suitable adopter, and chained dog issues. A percentage of the proceeds benefit Best Friends.

Ages 4-8.

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What’s in My Garden?

August 29th, 2010 · Books

Review By MAUREEN MCDOWELL

What better way for baby to learn the colors of the rainbow than from the garden?  What’s in My Garden?, a board book by Cheryl Christian, will entice babies with the illustrated, cut-out veggies that slide up from behind a garden scene.

This simple book lacks a story, and instead invites interaction, a boon to fostering communication in tiny ones.  Every other page presents a vegetable with, for example, “I see tomatoes” and then asks the same question, “What color are they?”  Older babies who recognize the vegetables from supper can participate in answering the question, and all can help slide the veggie up that awaits discovery on the opposing page and learn the color.

Ages 0-3.

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The Snail’s Spell

August 28th, 2010 · Books

Review By JESSICA ALMY

Many people are inspired to become vegetarians after they learn about the widespread animal exploitation that supports the Standard American Diet. For those of us, we can only hope that the next generation sees animals differently than ours does — not as commodities to be manipulated to maximize yield, but as individuals who deserve our respect.

Joanne Ryder and Lynne Cherry’s storybook The Snail’s Spell can help us instill those values in the children in our lives. By inviting the reader to become a snail — one of the smallest and most reviled animals in our culture — the story inspires empathy for other beings, and may even spark an interest in the natural histories of the animals around us.

Using sparse language and simple drawings, this book is an ideal pick for a teacher or family member who would like to introduce these concepts to the children they care for without explicitly mentioning the V-word.

Ages 3-7.

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Animalia

August 27th, 2010 · Books

Review By JENNIFER GANNETT

In Animalia, author and illustrator Graeme Base treats readers to a remarkably captivating alphabet book.  Each letter is represented with an alliterative phrase about a featured animal.  Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the detailed pictures contain not only illustrations related to the animals described but that there are also depictions of items and creatures that begin with the same letter.   This incredible work took Mr. Base over three years to complete.

From the armoured armadillos to the zany zebras, this enchanting book is a delight.  Poring over it with (or without!) a child while examining the many details incorporated into the pictures is a lovely way to spend time.  The complexity of the illustrations makes this perfect for ages 4 and up.

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I’m Gonna Like Me

August 26th, 2010 · Books

Review By CAROLYN M. MULLIN

In this day and age, kids can use all the positive reinforcement they can get in feeling good about themselves. Other children and society at large can be rather cruel, even to the youngest of minds, pointing out personal flaws or quirky differences. Jamie Lee Curtis’ I’m Gonna Like Me is a call to arms, getting youngsters on board with self appreciation and celebration.

Narrated by a wannabe firefighter and a forward-thinking fashionista, the book traverses common scenarios that might make a child uncomfortable, upset and even proud: having the wrong answer in class, being picked last for a team, thanking someone for a less-than-exciting birthday present, etc. In each instance, our little champions rhyme their way through and admit “I’m gonna like me when….”

For veggie readers, the best tidbit is the cafeteria spread where we read, “I’m gonna like me when I’m sharing my lunch ‘cause just like bananas friends come in a bunch.” In scouring the accompanying drawing we see a few progressive youth, one sporting a Gandhi lunchbox that proclaims “No Beef Allowed” and contains within a small carton of soymilk. Another is pouring Tofu Helper (hot dog flavored) onto the infamous white cube. Last, but not least, is an adorable boy chomping down on the contents of his Cup o’ Lettuce and sitting adjacent to a girl enjoying Global Warming Soup.

Parents should take note that other kids enjoy items like “T-bone on a Stick” and “Beef Jerky Bow Tie,” and later on in the book, the young fashionista makes octopus stew with her grandmother. I also felt bad for a pet turtle who seemed to be carried around an awful lot in a small cage. But, as vegans, we’re all about compassion, tolerance and changing hearts and minds, right? Why not do it with a bit of flare and enhanced self-esteem à la Jamie Lee Curtis?

Ages 4-8.

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Garlic- Onion- Beet- Spinach- Mango- Carrot- Grapefruit Juice

August 25th, 2010 · Books

Review By HUYEN MACMICHAEL

Garlic- Onion- Beet- Spinach- Mango- Carrot- Grapefruit Juice is a fresh, one-of-a-kind book designed to get a person’s mental juices flowing about compassion, vegetarianism, stereotypes,  expectations, and (of course) juicing. Like the title, a lot of interesting ingredients get blended together in this book; and although it sounds funny, it sure gets one “pumped!” (like the the main characters say).

The story revolves around two characters who are super enthusiastic about juicing. They find a reference to using yellow spotted snail shells to make them strong and healthy (and it goes well with juice!), so they bag a bunch and prepare to add them to their special garlic- onion- beet- spinach- mango- carrot- grapefruit juice. One of their housemates firmly believes snail shells do not belong in juice and begins thinking about the snails’ perspective and models critical thinking, empathy, and compassion for the reader. She asks herself thoughtful questions, one of which is “How does it feel to be food?” She discovers she does not know how to talk about her thoughts with her friends. When she comes down to the dinner they fixed, she is almost in tears upon seeing the juice on the table. Of course there is a huge surprise at dinner when the story takes an unusual but fun twist.

Although geared toward an older child using an energetic collage of photos and cartoon sketches to enhance the characters and storyline (and which are reminiscent of Mo Willems’ illustration style in Knuffle Bunny), my vegan three year old seemed to enjoy the imagery and grasp the message. A couple days after the story, she was playing kitchen and asked, “What does it feel like to be food?”

Nathalie VanBalen creates an active and engaging story with a lot of bold and dynamic text interspersed with memorable (yet somewhat disturbing) characters. There are pages filled with only pictures, pages containing only one large word, as well as pages utilizing both staggered text and images to create an energetic pace and reiterate the characters’ vibrant personalities. Thora, a very thoughtful (literally) character, appears a cross between an Uglydoll and a zombie while the two metal-music-loving-Viking characters actually remind me of a mixture of ninjas and Bill & Ted (and their Excellent Adventure).

This book is vegetarian-friendly (and vegan- and raw food- friendly) with a clear message about compassion and a social dilemma a person might face with friends or family regarding food and animals. Quirky humor is present in the references to health benefits and it isn’t frequent that a children’s book mentions the words kale, “protein, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and vitamins…” in such a fascinating way. I like the implied message that people need to come to their own conclusions about what they eat and that it is ok to not know the answers. For such a fantastic book, it hits on the real question: how do we teach others compassion?

Ages 6 and up.

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Ladybug Girl at the Beach

August 24th, 2010 · Books

Review By JESSICA ALMY

Having loved the original Ladybug Girl as much as I did, I was a little reluctant to read Jacky Davis and David Soman’s latest book in the growing series. After all, series books often have trouble rekindling the magic of the very first book. Labybug Girl at the Beach, however, captured everything I loved about the original book — the portrayal of an independent child, her devotion to her canine companion Bingo, and the fact that acts of compassion transform her into a superhero — and let me spend a little more time with the lovable heroine Lulu.

I brought this book to the beach on my family’s vacationette this summer, and I was also impressed by how seriously this book takes children’s fears, and how it can inspire them to overcome them. Just like Lulu, my kiddo was afraid of the loud, crashing waves at an ocean beach. But together we talked about how Ladybug Girl was inspired to plunge into the waves to “rescue” her bucket — and how brave that was — and kiddo eventually was able to overcome her own qualms.

This lovely book is a delightful read in the summer or anytime.

Ages 4-8.

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