Every review published by Vegbooks from 2009 through 2021.
The tagline for Maxwell Eaton’s collection of The Truth About…books is “Seriously Funny Facts About Your Favorite Animals,” and it proves itself true throughout the 32 pages of the latest installment: THE TRUTH ABOUT…
Tags: Early Elementarykid litMaxwell Eaton IIIThe Truth About Elephantsyoung readers
Eleanor Roosevelt first published WHEN YOU GROW UP TO VOTE in 1932 to help children learn about leaders and public employees, local first responders and elected leaders from local to national, and everything in…
Tags: citizenshipEarly ElementaryEleanor RooseveltGrace LinMichelle MerkelOlder ElementaryWhen You Grow Up to Vote
With gentle rhymes and a combination of adventure and joy in learning, in LITTLE OTTER LEARNS TO SWIM, author Artie Knapp creates a fun book about a young otter exploring her environment and overcoming her fears.…
Tags: Artie Knappchildren's booksGuy HobbskidlitLittle Otter Learns to SwimOhio University Press
WILD ORCA is a beautiful picture book filled with anticipation, drama, and a surprising amount of orca information. Told through the perspective of Mia, a young girl who awaits a familiar pod’s arrival. The pod, led…
As children of the 80’s, my wife and I are very familiar with Fievel and his family. We can belt out Somewhere Out There with the best of them. When I saw An American Tail on a list of recommended movies about…
Tags: An American Tailimmigrant experienceJennifer Kalivegetarians in films
Children and their loved ones always enjoy storybooks about hugs and kisses and saying “I Love You.” Add a variety of animals into the mix, and you’re sure to have a winning combination. Two fairly recent additions…
Tags: Ann Whitford PaulDavid ParkerHeather SwainHow Many Hugs?If Animals Said I love Youpreschoolread aloud booksSteven Henry
Review By KRISTIN WALD The Monster Mall is a worthy second installment to The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo series. Author and illustrator Drew Weing expands the world of Echo City with adventures via the subway,…
Tags: DifferencesDrew WeingFirst Second BooksGentrificationgraphic novelMargo MalooThe Monster Mall
Before the cooking comes the growing. And before the growing comes the planting. And even before the planting comes the planning. The first U.S. edition of PLANT, COOK, EAT!from co-authors Joe Archer and Caroline…
Tags: A Children's CookbookCaroline CraigCharlesbridge publishersCookbooks for Kidsgardening for kidsJoe ArcherPlant Cook Eat!vegan eatingvegetarian eating
After reading Cheryl Bardoe’s BEHOLD THE BEAUTIFUL DUNG BEETLE, you’ll have a newfound appreciation and admiration for the insects. The book, recently out in paperback, details the three types of dung beetles:…
Tags: Alan MarksBehold the Beautiful Dung BeetleCharlesbridge PublishingCheryl BardoeDung BeetleEarly ReadersPicture Bookpreschool
A PLACE TO START A FAMILY, by David Harrison, is a collection of 12 poems about animals and the homes they build. Separated into sections for builders underground, on land, in water, and in air, the poems focus on…
Tags: A Place to Start a FamilyDavid HarrisonEarly ElementaryEarly ReadersGiles LarochePicture BookPoems
Shark Weekdoesn’t come around until mid-July, but the magnificent Science Comics line has a new book out to tide us over. Sharks: Nature’s Perfect Hunter, by Joe Flood, is entertaining, informative, surprising, and…
One weekend, my family enjoyed a movie marathon of “Dr. Dolittle” and “Dr. Dolittle 2.” The first movie tells the story of a doctor (Eddie Murphy) who suddenly realizes he can talk to animals. He spends most of the…
Tags: 1990s MoviesEddie MurphyFamily MoviesJennifer KaliOlder Elementary
A relevant picture book for our times, Little Sid is a retelling of how a prince, Siddhartha, became Buddha. While not historically accurate, the story maintains the concepts and spirit of lessons to be learned in a…
Tags: BuddhaColorsEarly ElementaryHappinessIan LendlerIllustrationKristin WaldPicture BooksTigersXanthe Bouma
My 8-year-old daughter has been making her way through every book in the Vet Volunteers book series available at our local library. The series combines her love of mystery novels (she’s also reading every Nancy Drew…
Tags: Animal RescueFemale ProtagonistJennifer KaliKindness to AnimalsMysteryOlder ElementarySeriesVeterinarian
Any parent or caregiver knows that kids ask some tough questions. And while we now often have tiny computers at our fingertips, being able to sit down and work through answers that are at once satisfying and…
Tags: Braden LambEarly ElementaryEvolutionIan LendlerKristin WaldOrigins of the UniverseShelli Paroline
My family has mad love for all things Star Wars and the latest movie is no exception. We saw “The Last Jedi” as a family and my 8-year-old daughter said, “That was just amazing! It’s the best movie I’ve ever seen!”…
Tags: Depictions of Meat in FilmDiversityFamily FilmsFamily MoviesFantasyFemale ProtagonistGenderJennifer KaliOlder ElementaryStar Wars
Jane Goodall made her name 50 years ago through painstakingly observing chimpanzees in Gombe, and has recently been traveling all over the world promoting responsible stewardship of the earth and all of its…
Tags: Brett MorgenChimpanzeesDocumentariesHugo van LawickJane GoodallKristin WaldNational GeographicOlder ElementaryWild AnimalsWildlife
“Bee Movie” was a big hit for family movie night. Written by Jerry Seinfeld, who also voices the lead bee, this movie is funny and entertaining for the entire family. It was enjoyed by the kids (ages 3 and 8) and the…
Tags: Animated MoviesBeesEarly ElementaryFamily MoviesHumorJennifer KaliJerry Seinfeld
My kids, ages 3 and 8, are obsessed with “Dolphin Tale.” I reviewed the junior novel based on the screenplay recently, and the plot is exactly the same. But the movie, with real people (Ashley Judd, Harry Connick…
Tags: Animal RescueAshley JuddDolphinsEarly ElementaryFamily FilmsFamily MoviesHarry Connick JrJennifer KaliMarine AnimalsMarine MammalsMorgan FreemanOlder Elementary
Mighty Jack and the Goblin King from Ben Hatke is a testament to adventurous storytelling and rich imagery. Opening with the same rush of action as the first book in the series, this second part of the adventure…
With the gorgeous posters, dramatic previews, and all-around hype surrounding the blockbuster “Wonder Woman,” it is tempting to throw caution to the wind and bring children to see this woman-directed, woman-centered…
Tags: Family FilmsFamily MovieFamily MoviesFemale ProtagonistKristin WaldOlder ElementarySuperheroes
My 7-year-old daughter has recently decided she wants to be a marine biologist, which is how we ended up reading Dolphin Tale together. Dolphin Tale, the junior novel, is based on the screenplay for the 2011 hit…
Tags: Animal RescueDolphinsEarly ElementaryJennifer KaliMarine AnimalsMarine MammalsOlder ElementaryWildlife Rehabilitation
The ups-and-downs of childhood friendships, the painful drama that ensues when treasured friendships change, and the various coping mechanisms children employ are on full display in Shannon Hale’s new graphic memoir…
Tags: Female ProtagonistGraphic NovelsIllustrationKristin WaldLeUyen PhamOlder ElementaryShannon Hale
I was so happy to hear that the American Film Institute movie theatre near my home was running a Muppet retrospective. The Muppets were a huge part of my childhood, but haven’t been much a part of my kids’ lives. But…
Tags: Depictions of Meat in FilmEarly ElementaryFamily MoviesFrogsJennifer KaliMuppetsOlder ElementaryPreschoolers