I Used To Be a Fish is a picture book written and illustrated by Tom Sullivan targeted to 4-8 year olds about evolution. A boy uses his imagination, and tells a story on how evolution worked. He starts with a small organism of life, a fish- and goes on explaining how we evolved until he reaches humans. I liked the story because you could read the book to younger kids. It’s very simple, and an early approach that introduces them to the concept of evolution. I also loved how creative and colorful the illustrations were, it made the story more interesting to look at. There wasn’t a very specific moral in the story, but this book will definitely inspire younger kids to get creative with science and explore more on the topic of evolution. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only was it educational, but it was also creative and fun to read. I think this is a great book for kids and would definitely recommend it to my younger friends.

Bats’s Big Game is a book written by Margaret Read MacDonald illustrated by Eugenia Nobati, targeted to around 4 to 8 years olds, which is a book that teaches kids to be fair and that winning isn’t everything. In the story, bat, wants to play soccer, but wants to be on the team that WINS. It’s the Animals playing the Birds, but Bat can play on either team, as he has features and characteristics of both bats and animals. He keeps on switching teams- and in the end, he gets called out of the game because he wasn’t playing fairly. I liked the story, because I know that kids like winning- and that this story will teach them that you always have to play fairly. I also think the illustrations were well-drawn and creative, they went well with the story line. The moral of the story was that whether you win or lose, it doesn’t matter in the end. It matters that you were a good sport and played fairly with a kind attitude. Because playing a sport is not about winning, it’s about the thrill of having fun, the satisfaction of all your hard work paying off, creating special, bonds with your peers, and creating lifelong memories. Overall, this book was a fun, creative book, teaches kids a lesson in a amazing way, and reminds kids to always be a good sport and play fair.

Enemy Pie is a book written by Derek Munson and illustrated by Tara Calahan King, targeted to around 6 to 10-year-olds. In the story, summer was all going great- until Jeremy Ross moved into the neighborhood and became enemy number one, but fortunately enough, Dad had a recipe to get rid of enemies- Enemy Pie. But for enemy pie to work best, you’d have to spend a day with your enemy, and be nice to them the entire time. In the end, after spending a day with Jeremy Ross, he no longer an enemy but a great friend, and enemy pie was actually turned out to be a delicious pie, the perfect way to end the day. This book was so creative and sweet! The fact that Dad “got rid of enemies” by becoming their friend was heartwarming. Who knew dad’s recipe for enemy pie turned out so unique! The moral of the story is to never judge people the first time you meet them- they might not be as bad as you think! Always try to think positively,  always be warm and open to others, it’s important and gets you far places in life. Overall, this was a very fun, creative, and kind story about friendships. The author clearly worked very hard to bring kids a priceless and sweet life lesson that will definitely get them to truly think about the wonders of friends. 

The Sweetest Fig is a funny picture book written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. The book can be read by anyone of any age, but the reading level would be most suitable for 7-11-year-olds. In the story, an old lady gives a dentist, Monsier Bobbit, two figs to pay him for fixing her teeth, and she claims they would make your dreams come true. The dentist thinks this is rubbish, but when he eats one the next morning, his dream from last night really came true. He trained himself to dream about himself being the richest man in the world, but when he was ready to eat the second fig, the dog, Marcel, who had lived under Monsieur Bobbit’s strict rules and treatment, ate it instead, the next morning, Marcel’s dreams come true, Marcel became Monsieur Bobbit and Monsieur Bobbit became Marcel. I loved this book, the illustrations were beautifully detailed, and it was so creative and funny. I enjoyed the part at the end where Marcel became human and Monsieur Bobbit became a dog. I hope that Marcel will show Monsieur Bobbit how to really love and take care of a dog. Overall, I hope that this book will raise awareness for animal cruelty and remind people that treating a dog poorly is not okay. This book was a very well- written book, and I would definitely recommend this book to my younger friends, and wouldn’t mind reading it again.

Stolen words is a touching picture book written by Melanie Florence and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard on the impacts of residential school. The picture book can be read by anyone of any age, but would be most suitable for people of the ages 7-12. In the story, a first nations’ old man’s granddaughter asked him if he knew how to say “granddaughter” in Cree, his original language. He told her she didn’t, as he went to residential school, where speaking his language was forbidden, and eventually, he had forgotten his language. The granddaughter feels bad for him, so she gives him a book on the language of Cree, and as they read it together, slowly but surely, he started to remember his language again. This book was great because it had such a powerful message on how devastating the impact residential school was. I also liked it because the illustrations were so beautiful and detailed. I am sure many people will be inspired by this book to do something about restoring peace in the first nations culture. Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and the author and illustrator have definitely worked hard to create a powerful, inspiring story.

          Hey, Little Ant is a picture book written by Philip and Hannah Hoose and illustrated by Debbie Tilley. It’s a children’s tale and targeted towards elementary aged audiences, around 4-8 years old. A boy is taunting an ant and threatening to squish it, as the ant begs the boy not to. The ant reasons with the boy, and gave him some worthwhile advice. The ant told the boy that it also had things to care for, to not be persuaded by peer pressure, and most importantly, how the boy would feel if he were the ant. I think this is a suitable book for kids, reminding them to be kind and considerate of others’ feelings. I loved how the ant was not afraid to stick up for himself without being rude, it’s a good example that you can still defend someone while still being nice. Overall, this book was really great. It’s not only an amusing book, but it’s also a thought-provoking book for kids too, and will teach them that “a person’s a person, no matter how small”.