Do Fairies Bring the Spring? by Liza Gardner Welsh

We received this title from the publisher for review.

Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Illustration: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

After a long winter s rest with little to do, are the fairies ready to start something new, Do they use tiny brushes and oil pastels to paint crocuses, lilacs, and daffodils? Everyone knows fairies love spring flowers and summer sun, but is it the fairies who wake up the earth as the snow melts? Do they entice the trees to turn green and the flowers to grow? 

Magical Spring Time Themed Book

Do Fairies Bring Spring, asks the questions that gets children thinking if it is possible that the wonders of spring might not exist without the assistance of the fairies.  The idea is presented as quite plausible, which makes this a good one for reading to expand on through play and imagination.  It would also be a fun side addition to a spring unit for younger children.  

The whimsical illustrations are absolutely beautiful.  Evelyn seemed to enjoy pointing at all of the little details that were in many of the scenes, and I found each picture beautifully charming.

At the end of the book there are tips for attracting fairies for spring, which are actually very practical little projects that would be good to do with little ones.

Do Fairies Bring the Spring?

by Liza Gardner Walsh

Illustrated by: Hazel Mitchell

Published: Feb. 9, 2017

Recommended Age: 4-8

Pages: 32

Bedtime for Buzzy by T.J. Hackworth

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.

My Rating: ⭐

A young boy is playing with his toys and doesn't want to go to bed at bedtime. One by one his toys come to life in his imagination and convince him that going to sleep is the best way to continue his adventures.

As parents of young children know all too well, convincing a child that it is time to go to bed can sometimes be difficult, to say the least. 

The lovable characters of Bedtime for Buzzy encourage bedtime through a fun and engaging story -- one that is designed to help lead children to their own conclusion that it’s time to go to bed. Bedtime for Buzzy makes a perfect addition to the nightly storybook ritual that many parents share with their children.

Great Premise, But Not the Best Execution

I loved the idea of this book, a boy playing with his toys and using his imagination to interact with them, and then being convinced by them that bedtime is a good thing indeed.  The problem is that it isn't entirely clear that he is playing with his toys.  While there is a picture of his toys in his room at the very beginning, there is neither illustration, or any part of the story that makes it clear to a young listener that it is the toys that have come to life that the story is about.

In addition, I found the interaction with the toys to be inconsistently good, many scenes quite good indeed, and others not good at all, and the illustration is nothing more than okay.

Bedtime for Buzzy has the potential for being a wonderful addition to a bedtime ritual, but has too many difficulties in my opinion.  It might appeal to some readers who don't mind doing the author's work of clarifying to the listener what is happening.

Bedtime for Buzzy

by T.J. Hackworth

Illustration by: Sean Baptist

Published: February 8, 2017

Pages: 28:

My Source: Publisher