Caramel’s reviews – BookBunnies

Caramel reviews Narwhalicorn and Jelly by Ben Clanton

Caramel’s first review ever for the book bunnies blog was the first book of Ben Clanton’s Narwhal and Jelly series, Narwhal: The Unicorn of the Sea! Since then, he has reviewed five more books in the series: Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Narwhal’s Otter Friend, Happy Narwhalidays, and Narwhal’s School of Awesomeness. Today he talks about the seventh book in the series: Narwhalicorn and Jelly. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, it has been a while since we talked about Narwhal and Jelly. What are they up to in this book?

Caramel: Narwhal becomes a unicorn and his name is now Narwhalicorn.

S: That is the title of the book! But wait, how does he become a unicorn?

C: I think he wishes it upon a star and it happens.

S: Hmm, that is interesting. But unicorns live on land.

C: Yes, I know. And so he goes out of the water, on land, and Jelly comes along, though not exactly willingly.

S: But how does Jelly breathe out of the water?

C: He gets a bowl. A fish bowl. They call it a jellyfish bowl.

S: I guess that makes sense. Then is most of the book out of the water this time?

C: Yep.

S: Now the earlier books in the series always had a lot of fun facts about ocean life. Does this book have any facts like that too?

C: Yes it does.

S: About unicorns?

C: Real unicorns.

S: Wait, are there real unicorns? My understanding for all these years was that there are no real unicorns.

C: They mean things with one horn. Like there is something called a Siberian Unicorn. It was a rhino but went extinct.

S: Hmm, I did not know about those.

C: I did. I think we saw them in the Walking With Prehistoric Beasts documentary.

S: Oh, I must have forgotten. But I watched that series only once. I know you and Marshmallow have seen it several times.

C: Yep. We love that documentary!

Caramel is reading Narwhalicorn and Jelly by Ben Clanton. — Caramel is reading *Narwhalicorn and Jelly* by Ben Clanton.

S: Okay, back to Narwhal and Jelly. Did you like this book as much as the earlier ones?

C: Yes!

S: I know you have been reading other types of books these days, so I was wondering if you felt like this was too childish for you.

C: Narwhal and Jelly can never be too childish for me! I kind of feel like they are my friends.

S: In some sense they are. You started reviewing books with their first adventure. And you love facts, too, so these books were right up your alley.

C: Yes, and they still are. This book is also factful. And funny.

S: Okay, so I know already two of the three words you would use to describe this book. What is a third one?

C: Unicorny.

S: Do you mean it is corny? Not sure that is a good word.

C: No. I said unicorny and I meant unicorny. It has unicorns, so it is unicorny. Get it?

S: I guess I do. So Narwhal and Jelly find out about all kinds of other animals with single horns?

C: Yes.

S: Sounds good. So you know that there will be an eighth book from Narwhal and Jelly soon, right?

C: Yep, and you know that I will have to read it!

S: Okay, we will find a way to get a copy. Don’t worry.

C: Good. It is about Halloween, I think, so maybe we can review it around Halloween this year.

S: Makes sense to me! Okay, let us wrap up this review then. What would you like to tell our readers Caramel?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Narwhalicorn and Jelly by Ben Clanton and cannot wait to read the eighth book in the series as soon as it comes out. — Caramel loved reading *Narwhalicorn and Jelly* by Ben Clanton and cannot wait to read the eighth book in the series as soon as it comes out.

Caramel reviews Be the Bus by Mo Willems

Caramel, just like the rest of the book bunnies, loves Mo Willems’s Pigeon, and he has already reviewed one of his adventures, The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!, for the blog. Today, he talks about the brand new Pigeon book, Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems, published this year, 2023, which is also the twentieth anniversary of the very first Pigeon book: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Caramel reviews Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems, by Mo Willems. — Caramel reviews *Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems*, by Mo Willems.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, when I heard of this book, I knew you would want to read it. Even though it is supposedly meant for grownups.

Caramel: I am sure grownups can enjoy it, too, but I really liked it. So I don’t think it is only for grownups.

S: I agree with you Caramel. It definitely fits the adult humor genre, kind of in the spirit of Penguins Hate Stuff by Greg Stones, which you have reviewed a while ago. But it is also perfectly hilarious for little bunnies like you, and there is nothing too adult there, I feel.

C: Well, there is no mushy stuff for starters, and that is good.

S: Yep, nothing like that.

C: It’s just the Pigeon saying stuff. He says for example “I’m not susceptible to flattery. Unless it is about me.” I think that is funny.

S: Yes. I thought all of it was hilarious. The Pigeon says the funniest things. What was your favorite?

C: I don’t think I have a favorite. They are all funny.

S: I did hear you laugh out loud.

C: Yep. LOL.

S: Hmm, now you speak textspeak?

C: Well, I just said what you said.

S: Okay then.

C: The Pigeon is really wise. He says that it is better to say “I love you more than ever” than “I used to love you less.” And it is true. The two sentences say the same thing. But the first one does sound much better than the second.

S: Yes, I took a photo of you with that page. Let me put it right here.

Caramel is reading Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems, by Mo Willems. — Caramel is reading *Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems*, by Mo Willems.

S: So all in all, which three words would you use to describe this book Caramel?

C: Colorful, hilarious, and profoundly wise.

S: I see what you did there Caramel! You picked out the word “profound” from the title of the book!

C: Yep. Guilty as charged. I guess.

S: And some of the advice is on target, don’t you think?

C: Some of it, yes. The “I love you more than ever” one is clever. And there is another one like that, that I liked, too. and that is true: you should say “You are one in a million!” rather than saying “there are 7,960 other people like you!” Because if you are one in a million on a planet with 7.9 billion people, then the second sentence is right, too, but it does not sound so good.

S: Yes, and there are some quite wacky thoughts in the book, too, no?

C: Yes. Here is one: “Genius is seldom recognized. That is why I wear a name tag.” And the name tag says “Hello. I’m a genius.” So that is kind of wacky.

S: I agree. The Pigeon is definitely not a very modest creature.

C: That’s true. I’m sure nobody ever claimed he was.

S: So we read almost all the Pigeon books.

C: Yes, all except the one with the duckling and the cookie. We just saw that one in a YouTube video.

S: Yes.

C: Can we put the video here in this post?

S: Sure. Here it is.

The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems | A Pigeon Read Aloud – from YouTube.

S: So do you think you are done with the Pigeon?

C: No. Never! I like the Pigeon and I like reading and rereading his funny adventures. And now there is this short book, too, so maybe Mo Willems will continue to write more Pigeon stories, and we can read them, too.

S: Yes, who knows? So maybe this is a good time to wrap this review up. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems, by Mo Willems, and recommends it to all the bunnies who know and love the Pigeon. — Caramel loved reading *Be The Bus: The Lost & Profound Wisdom of the Pigeon as told to Mo Willems*, by Mo Willems, and recommends it to all the bunnies who know and love the Pigeon.

Caramel reviews Robot Dreams by Sara Varon

If it was not clear by now to the readers of this blog, Caramel loves robots. This week he got his paws on a graphic novel published first in 2007 about one particular robot: Robot Dreams by Sara Varon, and he had to review it for the book bunnies blog. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, this book was perfect for you, with a robot as one of the main characters, and in a really neatly drawn graphic novel format. Don’t you think?

Caramel: Yes.

S: I knew it! So tell me a bit about the book then.

C: Robot Dreams is kind of sad because it is about a robot who is friends with a dog but then gets rusty and the dog has to leave him.

S: I know. It is pretty sad at times. But it is also really cute and sweet when the dog and the robot are friends and are enjoying each other’s company immensely, no?

C: Yes. I just wanted them to continue to be friends. Forever.

S: Unfortunately, Caramel, there are very few things that last forever.

C: Yes, but I did not need to be reminded of that annoying fact.

S: I understand of course.

Caramel is reading Robot Dreams by Sara Varon. — Caramel is reading *Robot Dreams* by Sara Varon.

S: So tell me a bit more about the book.

C: Well, nobody speaks in the whole book. There are only a few words, when the dog and the robot go to the library for example. And at the very beginning when the dog receives the box containing the robot from the mailman.

S: Hmm, why do you think there are no words?

C: The author said that she feels like she is not the most articulate person, but also that the story was one that could be told without words, because it could be told in actions.

S: And it is, isn’t it? We do see how the two are good friends, and how they enjoy each other’s company, and how they get sad when things go wrong, and so on.

C: Yes.

S: Okay, then tell me a bit about the title of the book. It is a neat title, no? It could have two meanings. The robot is dreaming or the dreams belongs to the robot or about the robot.

C: Yes, either the robot is dreaming or dreams of robots. I like it!

S: Which one is it do you think?

C: I’m guessing it is the first one. Because we see the robot dreaming of the dog coming back and saving him and they are together again, but it is only a dream, unfortunately.

S: I can see that.

C: And in the end both have new friends. The dog has a new robot friend, and the original robot has a new friend who is a raccoon.

S: I guess life goes on, right?

C: Yes, but …

S: I think you don’t like that kind of change.

C: Yes, that is correct. I’d be happier if the dog could have saved the robot.

S: So I know this is a sad book, but it is also very simply illustrated and just beautiful. And I think you actually really liked it. Is that correct?

C: Yes.

S: And so maybe we can add this to the very short list of sad books that you liked even so. (As far as I can tell, there are only two books on that list so far: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White and Poppy and Ereth by Avi.)

C: Yes. But I would have preferred to add it to a longer list of happy books that I like.

S: I know. but sometimes sad books are good too.

C: I’m not going to comment on that.

S: So let us wrap this review up then. What three words would you use to describe this book?

C: Colorful, wordless, interesting. I only wish I could also say happy.

S: I know. But the three words you gave me work well enough. And what would you like to tell our reader Caramel?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Robot Dreams by Sara Varon and is sure to spend a lot more time with it in the coming weeks and months. — Caramel loved reading *Robot Dreams* by Sara Varon and is sure to spend a lot more time with it in the coming weeks and months.

Caramel reviews Leo + Lea by Monica Wesolowska and Kenard Pak

Today Caramel reviews a beautiful picture book titled Leo + Lea, written by Monica Wesolowska and illustrated by Kenard Pak. As always, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

The book bunnies received this book as a review copy.

Caramel reviews Leo + Lea, written by Monica Wesolowska and illustrated by Kenard Pak. — Caramel reviews *Leo + Lea*, written by Monica Wesolowska and illustrated by Kenard Pak.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, can you tell us a bit about this book?

Caramel: Maybe I can read you the description on the back cover?

S: Sure, let us start with that.

C: “This beautiful friendship story, inspired by the Fibonacci sequence and cleverly constructed using its mathematical pattern, celebrates different ways of seeing and being in the world, as well as how math connects us to one another.” That’s it.

S: I guess that is a good summary.

C: Yes.

S: So who are the friends in the book?

C: Leo and Lea. You should know that from the title!

S: You are right of course. So tell me about Leo and Lea.

C: Well, Leo is a boy who likes counting things. And Lea is a different person. She likes drawing and coloring patterns.

S: The book starts with Leo counting, right?

C: Yes. And he counts two trees, three squirrels, and five steps, and so on.

S: Oh, yes, I can see the Fibonacci sequence showing itself: Leo is 1, counting is 1, then the two trees is 2, and then the three squirrels is 3, and the five steps are 5.

C: Yes, and the words about them are the same number too. So The three squirrels are not just three squirrels, but they are “three noisy squirrels” so it makes three words. Then the five steps are “five big steps to school” and that is five words. And then comes 8 and then 13, and 21.

S: Yes, when we were reading this, at this point you realized the numbers had a pattern.

C: Yes, each number is the sum of the two numbers right before it. So 8 is 3 plus 5, and 13 is 5 plus 8, and so on.

S: And then you could guess that the next page would have 34 words.

C: Yes, and then there is a page with fifty-five words. I think. I am not sure. I did not count that one. That is a lot of words and I am sure I will lose track.

S: I can imagine. So that is kind of neat, no? The words and the numbers match the same pattern!

C: Yes, I did not notice that before we began rereading the book together. I thought it was just a love story.

S: Well, it is not quite a love story. It is a friendship story. and Leo and Lea become friends because they both like patterns and so can understand each other.

C: Yes, I know that now, and so I like the book more.

S: I know. Neither you nor Marshmallow like things to get too mushy. But this is not at all mushy. It is about two kids finding that they like patterns in different ways.

C: Yes, Leo likes patterns in numbers and Lea likes to draw patterns. So they can understand each other.

Caramel is reading Leo + Lea, written by Monica Wesolowska and illustrated by Kenard Pak. — Caramel is reading *Leo + Lea*, written by Monica Wesolowska and illustrated by Kenard Pak.

S: So let us look at the pictures a bit. Can you describe them?

C: They are colorful.

S: They reminded me a bit of some of the books illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault that you have read a while back. Do you remember those?

C: Yes, I can see that. But this book is a lot more colorful. And I did count the kids on the page for fifty-five and there are fifty-five people on it including Leo and the teacher.

S: How about the other pages?

C: Yes, just like on each page for a number there are that many words, there are that many pictures of some thing about that page. Like on the page for thirteen there are thirteen blossoms that Lea drew on her paper.

S: That is cool. So do you think this could be fun for a little bunny to read together with a big bunny and count things together?

C: Yes. Lots of little bunnies like counting things.

S: You do.

C: Yep.

S: So how would you describe the book in three words?

C: Colorful, numberful, and fun.

S: Totally! Okay, so it is time to wrap this review up then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!