78. Zebra and Yak

78. Zebra and Yak The Backwards Alphabet Book. Paul Friedrich. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]

First sentence: Are you ready to start the alphabet? Let's go! Z is for Zebra.
What? What's going on? Did I miss my cue from Xylophone? I didn't hear X is for Xylophone. I'm not ready.
Z is for Zebra
I get that. I'm Zebra. But you're way early. It's A is for Apple, B is for something, the other letters, and then it's my turn!
Apple wasn't around. We're starting with Z instead.
This is ridiculous! We need to find Apple!

Premise/plot: Zebra and Yak star in a backwards alphabet book. This catches Zebra and the others by surprise! They are all used to being THE END of the alphabet and not the beginning. The book is full of bantering back and forth between the characters and the narrator (as well as between themselves) as the search for Apple continues.

My thoughts: I loved this one. It was fun, silly, exuberant. I loved the humor. I think it would make a great read aloud. The humor I think would make it appealing to those who have even grown a bit beyond the whole 'concept' of alphabet books.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

77. Cool Buds To The Rescue

77. Cool Buds To the Rescue (I Can Read Comics Level 3). Barbara Lehman. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, early graphic novel]

First sentence: Hello, new day!

Premise/plot: This I Can Read Level 3 early graphic novel stars a handful of arctic friends: Blue (Arctic fox) Puff (Atlantic Puffin), Tip (Arctic Hare), and Sealy (Harbor Seal). The story is quite simple: Tip is a stranded sailor in need of rescue. The other animals come to his rescue and welcome him to their community. Now that there's four it begins to feel like a 'real' town.

My thoughts:  Do I think this one would be good for kids to read? Sure. Yes. Of course. It is a graphic novel for younger readers who are just beginning to read on their own and picking up graphic novels. It includes a guide on how to read graphic novels--the panels, the bubbles, etc. The story is super simple. Not sure if this is the start of a series or perhaps several into a series. Have no idea if there's plan for more books starring these friends.

As an adult reader, it's not my favorite or best. But I do think for the intended audience it works.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

76. Lone Wolf Goes to the Library

76. Lone Wolf Goes to the Library. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-fai Steele. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, series book, animal fantasy]

First sentence: Wolf was reading his library book. He thought about the words. He enjoyed the sound of pages turning. It was very nice. "Mail!" called the careless postman. "Grrrr," said Wolf. But no mail arrived. The next day, Wolf was reading again. "Mail!" called the careless postman. "Grrrr!" said Wolf. He was up to a very good part in his book. But no mail arrived. The next day, Wolf finished his book. He stretched his arms. He picked up his watering can. "Mail!" called the careless postman. A letter smacked Wolf in the bottom. Wolf looked around his garden. There was a letter in the rose bush. There was a letter in the fountain. There was a letter in his fur. "Grrrr!" said Wolf.

Premise/plot: Wolf is on the verge of having AN OVERDUE LIBRARY BOOK. He has a very short amount of time to turn in his book before terrible, horrible penalties occur. BUT returning the book in time may just call for some plotting, planning, and scheming because PEOPLE peopling. He will have to dare go into the library during storybook time. 

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, love, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Lone Wolf. I do. I crazy love this character. He's wonderfully fabulously a loner. This is the fourth Lone Wolf book released this year. I hope the series goes on forever and ever. In this one, the library setting makes it extra fabulous.

My favorite scene is when Lone Wolf is trying to return his library book via return chute. The unthinkable happens--I imagine it happens frequently in real life--a snotty boy with snotty hands handles the chute and SNOT, snot, and more snot. A "stern librarian" closes the return chute with this message: CLOSED BECAUSE OF SNOT.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

75. Lone Wolf On Vacation

Lone Wolf On Vacation. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-Fai Steele. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, early reader] 

First sentence: It was summer vacation. Wolf packed his bags. He watered his plants. He said goodbye to....NO ONE! Wolf didn't have any friends to say goodbye to. Which was just the way he liked it. Wolf couldn't wait to go on vacation. To smell the fresh air. To see the sights. To be alone in new places. And best of all, he wouldn't have to worry about running into anyone he knew.

Premise/plot: Wolf is a lone wolf...a lone wolf by choice. Will his vacation go as planned? Or will he be surrounded by people, people, people, and more people!!! Will he ever get to relax on his vacation? Or will life keep throwing bothersome people and noisy situations in his path?

My thoughts: I love, love, love, love, love, love to infinity and beyond this character. LONE WOLF is awesome. That is all. This is the third Lone Wolf book I've read--I believe there are four published this year. It was WONDERFUL.

Quotes:

"How about a sing-along?" called the bus driver. OH NO. This was not a quiet bus driver. This was a singing bus driver. "The wheels on the bus go round and round," sang the singing bus driver. "Grrrr!" said Wolf.

 

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers

74. Let's Giggle

74. Board book: Let's Giggle. Caroline Jayne Church. 2013/2025. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [2 stars, board book]

First sentence: Laugh out loud or just giggle!
Feel a tickle in your middle!
Roll around and touch your toes!
Give a grin! Wiggle your nose!

Premise/plot: Let's Giggle was originally published as a board book in 2013. It was originally a board book with sound; it had a literal giggle button. It was a novelty, for sure. The giggle button is gone in this reprint. So readers are left with a sweet rhyming text and adorable illustrations. Goodreads does not have the version I have in my hands. They are instead promoting a bilingual edition. If Let's Giggle was indeed a bilingual board book, I think it would have more to offer. (For the record, I tried searching by isbn number, and this book just "does not exist" in their system.)

My thoughts: The illustrations are adorable and cutesy-sweet. If that's what you love, then this one might just work for you. The rhymes are of that darling variety. Which again complements the illustrations. IF that is what you are looking for in a board book to share with little ones, this one may be just right for you. I think I'd have preferred either the original giggle button OR bilingual text. Something to give this one a little extra.

© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers