Review: The Leaning Tower of Pizza and The Little Monster from Whimsical World

I have two books today, which are the latest from the collection at Whimsical World .  The first is a type of travel guide with tons of humor surrounding food, and the second whirls around a tale about a monster, who needs to face his fears. This second one also has a glow-in-the-dark cover, which I found to be a nice touch.

But why don't we just dive in, since there is so much to explore today?

THE LEANING TOWER OF PIZZA

by Derek Taylor Kent

Illustrated by Bright Jungle Studios

Whimsical World

Picture Book

28 pages

ages 4 to 8

The perfect picture book to teach kids about the joys of travel, experiencing new cultures and foods, and learning about famous monuments, landmarks, and artwork.

A diverse group of kids tell one another about the amazing places they've heard about. The only problem is they may have misheard the names and their imaginations run wild with possibilities. This hilarious book is the perfect introduction to travel, delicious foods, and the wonders of the world.

GOODREADS   /    AMAZON  

MY TIDBITS

Food and travel take on an entirely new meaning in a book, which displays well-known sites in the most unique way...and one kids won't easily forget.

While playing, a child suddenly announces the amazing thing he's heard about...a leaning tower of pizza! This does sound a bit too amazing, even to him, but after some silly consideration, he decides it could be true. Just as he's reaching this yummy conclusion, one of his friends tells about the amazing thing she's heard of. Soon, the diverse kids are traveling the world with their extreme food-delights.

This is a book, which holds goofy humor high-and-center and builds it in with well-known sites from around the world. The nonsense whirls to life through rhymed text, which already adds a whimsical note as some words flow smoother than others. Every aspect makes it clear that these pages rotate as much around fun as the information they hold. The kids tell of the amazing things they've heard about, give ridiculous reasons for why the sites are that way. All the while, they feed in a basic introduction to each place.

The illustrations let the food mold seamlessly into the real structures, but still, allow enough reality to seep through, so that young readers will recognize them in real life. It's a fun way to introduce the various areas to young readers and, by coating it with humor, makes sure it never nears boring and that each one isn't so easily forgotten.

THE LITTLE MONSTER

by Sheri Fink 

Whimsical World

Picture Book

28 pages

ages 4 to 8

A Glow-in-the-Dark Storybook about Being Afraid of the Dark

The Little Monster is counting down the days until his birthday. When his parents decide he’s finally old enough to get his own bedroom, he’s too embarrassed to admit that he’s afraid of the dark. Following a series of humorous missteps to cure his fear, the Little Monster discovers that he can have fun in the dark and relax at night in his own room… just in time for his big birthday sleepover party. This innovative glow-in-the-dark storybook empowers kids to face their fears, share their feelings, and find ways to sleep peacefully at night.

Features glow-in-the-dark elements on the cover and every page of the book!

Themes: Fear of the dark, Birthday, Family, Sibling Friendship, Sleepovers, Birthday Party, Overcoming anxiety, Halloween, Monsters, Sharing feelings, Overcoming being afraid of the dark, Social-Emotional learning

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

A monster and that with a glow-in-the-dark cover...this is definitely one, I'd grab up and flip through if I saw it on the shelves.

Little Monster's birthday is coming up and while he's super excited about the surprises it might hold, one surprise ruins everything. Since he's now older, his parents decide that it's time him and his brother each have their own room. It's supposed to be great, but Little Monster doesn't really want to leave his brother, especially since he harbors a secret fear—the dark. He tries his best to get over it, but night after night, he can't sleep, and it's beginning to wear on him. But maybe, this isn't something he needs to hide after all.

This tale centers around fears and the message that it's better to tell others, so they can offer advice and help. First, I found the monsters very sweet. They have monsterly habits to keep them curious and intriguing, and yet, are super sweet and have a wonderful family dynamic. The brothers do like each other very much, leaving only a positive sibling relationship on display. It's hard not to identify with the Little Monster as he tries his best to be 'big', but still has troubles...it's simply something that many young readers will have no trouble relating to.

This is really a 'story' book, which works great as a read-aloud. Beginning readers might struggle a bit, but those more sure of the words can tackle this one on their own, too. The illustrations follow very nicely along with the tale, enabling younger listeners to explore the tale on their own. 

 

Learn more about Whimsical World and their books.... https://whimsicalworldbooks.com/