59 Vegbooks reviews published in 2014.
My daughter has always been devastated by the ending of Run, Turkey, Run. So much so that she refuses to let us read it to her. Readers spend the entire book cheering for the turkey to get away from the farmer trying…
Tags: ChristmasEarly ElementaryGood for ToddlersHoliday BooksHolidaysJennifer KaliLee HarperPicture BooksPreschoolersSanta ClausTurkeysVegetarian ChristmasWendi Silvano
I bought this book during an author meet-and-greet with April Runge in late 2013, and though I had read about Gordy and the Magic Diet by Kim Diersen & April Runge (illustrated by Carrie Hartman), I had been…
Tags: April RungeCarrie HartmanEarly ElementaryFood AllergiesHoma WoodrumKim DiersenPreschoolers
The movie “Book of Life” lived up to my expectations and then some. I absolutely loved the clever and detailed animation as well as the story within a story (within a story!). All the characters looked like…
Tags: animal rightsAnimated MoviesDay of the DeadFamily FilmsFamily MoviesHuyen MacMichaelLatino CultureMexicoOlder Elementary
I’ve been reviewing for Vegbooks for over three years so I’ve seen a fair share of standard books – ABC books (All the Asleep Animals, Click, Clack, ABC,and Letters of the West) and song books (Jo MacDonald Had a…
Tags: Alexander PetersenAnimal TracksAnimalsCountingHoma WoodrumNaturePreschoolersSteve Engel
Originally published in 1962, the Forest Fire Mystery is a fast-paced story that tells the story of 15-year-old Art Mills, who moves with his parents and younger sister from Denver, Colorado, to a small southern…
Tags: 1960s Childrens LiteratureAndrea ZollmanChapter BooksFranklin FolsomMysteryOlder ElementaryTroy NesbitWilderness
This is a cute take on the Goldilocks story set in an apartment complex in Chinatown. It tells the story of Goldy Luck, an unlucky girl, on the morning of the Chinese New Year. Goldy Luck’s mom sends her to visit the…
Tags: ApologyChinese New YearChinese VegetablesCityEarly ElementaryFemale ProtagonistGoldy LocksGrace ZongJennifer KaliNatasha YimResponsibility
By JESSICA ALMY It’s hard to believe, but it was 5 years ago that we launched Vegbooks. The website has grown and flourished thanks to the contributions of our numerous volunteer reviewers, and in the spirit of years…
Tags: Best Books for Vegetarian KidsBooks that Teach EmpathyCarolyn M. MullinEarly ElementaryHoma WoodrumJane CowlesJennifer GannettPhillip HoosePreschoolersRobyn Moore
With the title of her book Just Being Audrey,Margaret Cardillo captures the down-to-earth character of the world renowned actress about which she writes. Perhaps this line captures the essence of Cardillo’s picture…
Tags: BiographyBullyingFemale ProtagonistJane CowlesMargaret CardilloPicture Books
Loosely based on Greek myths, Mini Myths: Play Nice, Hercules and Be Patient, Pandoraare board books that feature cute illustrations. Geared to toddlers and preschoolers, the story lines here are so simple they can…
Tags: Board BookGood for ToddlersGreek MythsJoan HolubLeslie PatricelliMythologyPreschoolers
Counting books are a dime a dozen, with good reason. When kids are learning their numbers (usually around age 3 or 4), repetition helps a lot, and books are a fun way to add a bit of story and some visual appeal.…
Tags: Board BookChristopher FranceschelliEggsGood for ToddlersPeskimoPreschoolers
Former elementary school teacher, Cindy Olejar, has developed a line of books that hone in on an early elementary student’s use of different words, whether they’re the prepositions in Find the Cat and More or the…
Tags: Carolyn M. MullinCindy OlejarDogsEarly ElementaryEducationGrammarHomeschooling
I received a review copy of Letters of the West: An ABC Book of the Many Plants, Animals, and Other Curious Features of the West from the publisher just after we returned from a road trip that took us alone the…
Tags: AlphabetAnimalsEarly ElementaryHoma WoodrumNatureNature BooksPlantsPreschoolersUnited StatesWild AnimalsWildlife
This book is by Barbara Jean Hicks, the same author as my 4-year old’s favorite book, The Secret Life of Walter Kitty. I love Hicks’ books because they are about encouraging children to use their imagination and see…
Tags: Barbara Jean HicksDiane VukovicImaginationMonstersPreschoolersSue HendraVegetable BooksVegetables
A gorgeous and detailed new book from Dawn Publications makes sure that we know it’s not only “still waters” that run deep — prairies have a lot going on beneath the surface as well! The Prairie That Nature Built…
Tags: AnimalsBirdsCathy MorrisonEarly ElementaryEcosystemsKristin WaldMarybeth LorbieckiNatureNature Booksnature books for kidsPrairie DogsPrairiesPreschoolers
This tenacious little seed never gives up hope despite its bumpy path in life. The Dandelion Seed’s Big Dream (received as a review copy from the publisher) sends an inspiring message – with a little determination…
Tags: Cris ArboEarly ElementaryGoalsIllustrationInspirationJane CowlesJoseph AnthonyNatureNature BooksPicture BooksPreschoolers
The story takes place in Vegitopia, a land where humans and animals live in peace together and no one would ever dream of eating animals. One day, a little girl named Lena who has her own lettuce patch learns that…
Tags: Animal RescueCarlos PatinoConsumption of MeatDepiction of Vegetarian Food in BooksDepictions of Meat in BooksDiane VukovicEarly ElementaryFairy TalesPrincessSybil SeverinVegan Children's BookVegan Fairytale
Last year, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting author Tami Crupi Zeman, wife of Vermont radio personality Bruce Zeman, Jr. at the National Animal Rights Conference in DC. The animal-welfare activist pair had…
Tags: Animal WelfareBruce ZemanDogsEarly ElementaryPicture BooksPreschoolersShaunna PetersonTami Crupi Zeman
What more can be said about Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone? The obsessively beloved first book of the seven book series has been dissected and read and re-read since it first burst onto the Young Adult…
Tags: Animals in CaptivityBullyingCaptive WildlifeDepictions of Meat in BooksEmpathyFantasyJ.K. RowlingKristin WaldMagicOlder ElementarySeriesWizards
For those longtime Vegbooks readers, you’re fully aware of my deep appreciation and respect for the children’s titles written by Canadian animal activist, Rob Laidlaw. The man is not only a writing machine (new…
Tags: Animal RescueAnimal SanctuariesAnimal WelfareAnimal Welfare Books for KidsCarolyn M. MullinHumane EducationNonfictionOlder ElementaryRob Laidlaw
I love Sara Gillingham’s illustrations, so it was with high expectations that I checked out this interactive board book. Designed for toddlers and preschoolers, the book incorporates flaps and pop-outs that allow the…
Tags: Board BookCaretakingGood for ToddlersNew SiblingPreschoolersSara Gillingham
A Boy and His Jaguar is one of the sweetest, most honest, and fragile works of children’s literature I’ve come across in a while. Rabinowitz candidly, yet innocently paints us a picture of his young life as a…
Tags: Alan RabinowitzAnimals in CaptivityCarolyn M. MullinCaTia ChienDifferencesJaguarsPicture BooksSpeechWild Animals in CaptivityZoos
I’d love to hear what folks in the Montessori community think of this new board book, which teaches preschoolers the basics about continents. (Please leave your thoughts in the comments!) The book is visually…
Tags: Board BooksGeographyHomeschoolingMontessoriNonfictionPreschoolersWild AnimalsWildlife
This book has the makings of a hit – I read through my review copy of Julia’s House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke and everything just suits the book so well. The illustrations, the colors, and the titular Julia…
Tags: Ben HatkeEarly ElementaryFemale ProtagonistGraphic NovelsHoma WoodrumKindnessKindness to Animals
The author-illustrator team that brought us the adorable board book I Know A Lot!is back at it with the new title I Am So Brave! Every time I look at this book (received as a review copy from the publisher), I find…
Tags: Board BooksBraveryGood for ToddlersOvercoming FearPreschoolersSara GillinghamStephen Krensky