Tag: holidays

Caramel reviews Happy Narwhalidays by Ben Clanton

Caramel loved reading and reviewing the quirky adventures of Narwhal and Jelly in Narwhal: The Unicorn of the Sea!, Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and Narwhal’s Otter Friend. Here he shares his thoughts on the fifth and most recent book in Ben Clanton’s Narwhal and Jelly series: Happy Narwhalidays. Sprinkles is taking notes and occasionally asking followup questions.

Caramel reviews Happy Narwhalidays by Ben Clanton.
Caramel reviews Happy Narwhalidays by Ben Clanton.

Sprinkles: I saw that you got your paws on another Narwhal and Jelly book Caramel!

Caramel: Yes! Its name is Happy Narwhalidays!

S: I guess it just came out right about in time for the holiday season. Do you think it would make a good book present for bunnies like you who love reading?

C: Yes. Especially if the bunny loves the other Narwhal and Jelly books.

S: They are fun to read, aren’t they? So what happens in this one?

C: They are fun to read, and I am rereading it again, right now.

Caramel is reading Happy Narwhalidays by Ben Clanton. He is looking at the pages where Narwhal is imagining all the different gifts his friend Jelly could be giving him in the gift box.
Caramel is reading Happy Narwhalidays by Ben Clanton. He is looking at the pages where Narwhal is imagining all the different gifts his friend Jelly could be giving him in the gift box.

S: Hmm, I see you are looking at the pages where Narwhal is dreaming up all the things Jelly could be gifting him.

C: Yes. The ideas he has are not really possible. He thinks that the gift might be a giant waffle or a big bouncy blow-up bubble castle! Or it could be a rocket ship to take him to the unicorn planet!

S: Narwhal sure has a big imagination!

C: He sure does!

S: So the book is about giving friends gifts then, right?

C: Yes, mostly.

S: I know these books always have a whole lot of facts about ocean life, and I know you love facts. So tell me the most interesting fact you learned reading this book.

C: Let me read it to you: “Tardigrades, commonly known as water bears, are water-dwelling micro-animals that can survive in temperatures as hot as 304F (151C) and as cold as absolute zero.”

S: That is one weird fact Caramel. Do you know what absolute zero is?

C: No. Is it like -100?

S: No, actually it is even colder than that. It is -273C, and it is -459F. Absolute zero is when it is so cold that nothing moves. Heat and temperature are about molecules moving about, and at absolute zero, nothing moves anymore. It is really fascinating that these water-bears can survive that temperature.

C: I didn’t know that.

S: I do like how these books bring up all sorts of interesting facts! Okay, so what else do you want to say about this book?

C: I love Jelly. He is the best character.

S: Why do you say that?

C: He is super funny.

S: I think Narwhal is also super funny.

C: Yes. He is a little goofier.

S: I know. Theyt are good friends though, right?

C: Yes.

S: So tell me three words that would describe this book Caramel.

C: Awesome, colorful, factful.

S: I am not sure factful is a word, but let us go with it. Shall we then wrap up this review so you can read the book one more time?

C: Okay! Stay tuned for more book bunnies reviews!

Caramel loved reading Happy Narwhalidays by Ben Clanton and reconnecting with old friends Narwhal and Jelly.
Caramel loved reading Happy Narwhalidays by Ben Clanton and reconnecting with old friends Narwhal and Jelly.

Caramel reviews The Crayons’ Christmas by Drew Daywalt

Both Marshmallow and Caramel loved The Day The Crayons Quit, written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. They also very much enjoyed reading The Day The Crayons Came Home. Unfortunately, neither of them had gotten around to reviewing either of the books for the book bunnies blog. But the crayons are forgotten no more! Today Caramel reviews the third book in this amusing series: The Crayons’ Christmas. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking followup questions.

Caramel reviews The Crayons' Christmas, written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.
Caramel reviews The Crayons’ Christmas, written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, what is this book about?

Caramel: This book is about the crayons in Duncan’s house and a candy cane that wants desperately to be eaten.

S: Wait, you need to tell our readers who Duncan is.

C: Duncan is a boy. We read about him in the other crayons books. The crayons are his.

S: So what about this candy cane? Why does it want to get eaten?

C: Because it is extremely old and it is supposed to be eaten, not put on Christmas trees!

S: So it wants to live the life it is meant to live in some sense, right?

C: Sort of.

S: So what happens in this book?

C: It’s Christmas time, and the crayons keep on getting postcards, or boxes, or games.

S: Kind of like you, right? You got this book for Christmas.

C: Yes, I did. I was so happy to get my paws on another book!

S: This is not just a book, though, right? The letters and such for the crayons are all on separate pages, inside envelopes. And you get to open them and read the cards inside.

C: Yes. It’s awesome! It is really fun to read the cards. And there is even a game in one of the packages.

Caramel is reading The Crayons' Christmas, written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.
Caramel is reading The Crayons’ Christmas, written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.

S: What is it called?

C: Let me see. Ok, I found it. It’s called The Great Crayon Race.

S: Did you play it yet?

C: No. Can we play it today?

S: Maybe. Right after we finish the post.

C: Ok.

S: Do you think this was a good Christmas gift?

C: Yes. It’s a nice book, and if you have lots of crayons, then it is fun to think of them as people.

S: Yes, people with distinct characters. And strange things have happened to them in the earlier books.

C: Yes, for example the peach crayon is naked because Duncan pulled off his wrapper. And in this one, the peach crayon receives a card from his mom, and she writes “Oh Peachy-Pie! You always were my shy one, so I’ve sent you some clothes! Now you can give Duncan back his underwear! Have fun playing dress-up, my naked baby, and Merry Christmas! Love, Mom.”

S: That is funny! And it is neat that the threads from the other books come up here too.

C: Yes. The orange crayon and the yellow crayon are still fighting in this book too!

S: That is funny too! Ok, maybe it is time to wrap this up?

C: Sure. Stay tuned for more book bunnies adventures!

Caramel really enjoyed reading and exploring all the goodies within The Crayons' Christmas, written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.
Caramel really enjoyed reading and exploring all the goodies within The Crayons’ Christmas, written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.