Book reviews by kids

Book review: Pizza and Taco series

Posted on March 14, 2022February 16, 2022 by Alphabet Soup

Image shows the cover of a children's book: Pizza and Taco Too Cool for School by Stephen Shaskan. Cover illustration shows a piece of pizza in sunglasses and a taco in sunglasses in front of a red brick wall.

REVIEWED BY ETHAN, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

Pizza and Taco series by Stephen Shaskan, RHUS Children’s Books, Book 4 ISBN 9780593376072

Ethan read his school’s copies of the books in this series.

Do you like comics and friends and funny beginnings? Then the Pizza and Taco series is for you.

Pizza and Taco are always competing. And I think you should read this book because Pizza and Taco have so much fun together. But Pizza and Taco have one enemy: it’s Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger is Hamburger’s cousin. And some of Pizza and Taco’s friends are Ice Cream and Cake and the Chicken Tender Twins and Hamburger and Hotdog.

One reason I like this book is because Pizza and Taco are hilarious, one time they created a comic which had a lot of funny things. And Pizza and Taco are very nice to each other, but they get into a lot of trouble. In Pizza and Taco Too Cool for School, they get into trouble. The second reason I like this book is because it has imaginative pictures. Another reason I like this book is because they are a bit realistic. For example Pizza is a bit realistic. The third reason I like this book is because Pizza and Taco are so funny and sarcastic.

Do you want to find out more about this series? Visit your local library. I recommend this series to ages seven and up. I give this series 8 out of 10 stars.

Second grade students at Glenridge Elementary School (Missouri, USA) are guest reviewers at Alphabet Soup. Click here if you’d like to read more book reviews by Glenridge Elementary School. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Book review: Fox and His Friends series

Posted on March 11, 2022February 16, 2022 by Alphabet Soup

The image shows the cover of a children's book: Fox and His Friends by Edward Marshall, pictures by James Marshall. The cover illustration shows three friends - a pig wearing red-and-white striped shorts, a fox wearing an orange tshirt and black shorts, and an alligator wearing a white skirt with orange polkadots. Text at the top of the image says Puffin Easy-to-read, Level 3. .

REVIEWED BY JACOB, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

Fox and His Friends series by Edward Marshall, illustrated by James Marshall, Penguin Young Readers Group, ISBN 9780140370072

Jacob reviewed his own copy of this book.

Have you ever read a book that is funny and has some sad parts but more good parts? Good. You came to the right place because this book series has bad cooks and basic ones. And you do not have to read the books in order. The series is Fox and Friends by Edward Marshall and James Marshall.

In one of the books he gets in a race. He crashes in a garden so he has to fix it himself. And he gets sad about crashing into a garden. Then he broke his bike so he has to get a job, so he gets one …

My first reason I like this book is because Fox is funny. In the story he threw his tunafish sandwich away, but then he got hungry. It is so funny. My second reason I like these books is because they are not that long. You can read one in one day. My third reason is you don’t have to read the books in order.

I hope you get these books right away. I give it ten stars. I think this book is for ages 7 and up.

Book reviews by kids

BOOK REVIEW: The Colour of Music

Posted on March 8, 2022March 6, 2022 by Alphabet Soup

Image shows the cover of a children's book: The Colour of Music by Lisa Tiffen and illustrated by Matt Ottley. The cover is predominantly yellow and the illustration shows a child with brown skin and wearing headphones and dancing with eyes closed . At the bottom of the cover is a close up view of the scroll-end of a violin.

REVIEWED BY JAMIE, 8, WA

The Colour of Music by by Lisa Tiffen, illustrated by Matt Ottley, MidnightSun Publishing, ISBN: 9781925227871

The publisher provided a review copy of this picture book.

The Colour of Music shows us what music can be like for people with synaesthesia. When some people listen to music they just enjoy the beautiful sensation, and other people see colours and pictures in their imagination. Reading the book has meant I can listen to music in a new way.

The illustrations are colourful and have lots of feeling. I recommend this book for any kids that love music.

This is Jamie’s first book review for Alphabet Soup. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Book reviews by kids, Glenridge Elementary School

Book review: Pinkalicious and the Sick Day

Posted on March 4, 2022February 16, 2022 by Alphabet Soup

Image shows the cover of a children's book: Pinkalicious and the Sick Day by Victoria Kann. Cover illustration shows a child in pink pyjamas sitting up against a pink pillow in a pink bed with pink bedlinen. She has a thermometer in her mouth and is cuddling a teddy. On her bed is a pink tissue box, some drawings and a crayon.

REVIEWED BY LILA, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

Pinkalicious and the Sick Day by Victoria Kann, HarperCollins, ISBN 9780062246011

Lila reviewed her own copy of this book.

Have you ever read the Pinkalicious series? If you have not, you should read Pinkalicious and the Sick Day because it is funny. In this story there is a girl named Pinkalicious who is sick and her daddy tries to cheer her up.

One reason I like this book is because there are a lot of jokes. One of them is “Why did the pink panda go to the doctor? Because it was pink!” (That is why it is funny.)

Another reason I like the book is because I may want to be friends with her because she’s fun, but she may be crazy!

A third reason I like this book is because I like the pictures in the story. There are great pictures!

Do you want to find out more about this book? Visit your local library.

I recommend this book for kids ages 2-8. I give this book 9 and a half out of 10 stars!

Book reviews by kids, Glenridge Elementary School

Book review: Fox and Rabbit Celebrate

Posted on February 28, 2022February 16, 2022 by Alphabet Soup

Image shows the cover of a children's graphic novel: Fox and Rabbit Celebrate by Beth Ferry and Gergely Dudás. The cover illustration shows a giant cake with pink icing and a fox in a blue pointy party hat and two balloons, a tiny sparrow in a purple pointy party hat and a rabbit in a yellow pointy party hat and holding balloons. The sky is filled with confetti.

REVIEWED BY LUCCA, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

Fox & Rabbit Celebrate by Beth Ferry and Gergely Dudás, Amulet Books ISBN 9781419751837

Lucca read the school’s copy of this book.

Do you like books with celebration? Then Fox & Rabbit Celebrate by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Gergely Dudás is the book for you because it’s fun.

In this graphic novel, Fox and Rabbit want to make the world’s biggest, yummiest pizza for Sparrow’s birthday. But they can’t cook it until Rabbit reveals a sizzling secret that there’s a dragon close by that can help.

One reason I like this book is because Fox and Rabbit are best friends even though they are different, like how Fox likes swimming and Rabbit doesn’t. Another reason I like this book is because it has extra side stories. For example “Wonder, Wish, and Wow” is about making a rock garden. A third reason I like this book is because I like the graphic novel’s way of telling a story. For example I like how they use dialogue.

I hope you get this book and read it right away. I recommend this book for kids ages three and over. I give this book 10 out of 10 stars.

Book reviews by kids, Glenridge Elementary School

Book review: Isadora Moon Goes to School

Posted on February 25, 2022February 16, 2022 by Alphabet Soup

Image shows the cover of a children's book: Isadora Moon Goes to School by Harriet Muncaster. The cover illustration shows a black sky full of stars with a white full moon at the centre of the cover. Moving across the moon is a child with bat wings, a fairy wand, a yellow dress, black-and-white striped tights and black hair blowing behind her. She has fangs. Ahead of her is a pink rabbit.

REVIEWED BY ARIELLA, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

Isadora Moon Goes to School by Harriet Muncaster, Random House Books for Young Readers, ISBN 9780399558238

Ariella reviewed her own copy of this book.

Have you ever read Isadora Moon Goes to School? I think you should read it because it is about a girl who is half fairy and half vampire. So when she goes to fairy school she can not wear black. But at vampire school she can’t whoosh when she is flying; she flaps. So she goes to another school …

Do you want a cool book? This is the best one for you. One reason I love this book is because being half fairy half vampire is awesome and having a living stuffed animal is great. Another reason I like this book is because Isadora can be a good friend. For example, because she is half fairy and half vampire she can be friends with both fairies and vampires. I also think you should read this book because it is funny because Isadora has 2 breakfasts and is so full.

I hope you can get this book right away. I hope you like it!

Book reviews by kids, Glenridge Elementary School

Book review: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life

Posted on February 18, 2022February 16, 2022 by Alphabet Soup

Image shows the cover of a children's book, Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renée Russell. The cover image shows a comic-style sketch on what looks like a post-it note. A girl is reading on a school bench. Behind her two other girls are talking, sharing secrets.

REVIEWED BY ALMA, SECOND GRADE, MISSOURI, USA

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renée Russell, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, ISBN 9781416980063

Alma reviewed the school’s copy of this book.

Do you like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series? Well then, I think you should read Dork Diaries: Tales From a Not So Fabulous Life because it is funny.

This story is about a girl named Nikki who gets bullied by MacKenzie and her friend. They tried to change who she is. One reason I like this book is because it’s cool. In the story I like the part where they do a zombie dance. Another reason I like this book is because it’s funny. For example the tooth fairy gets trapped in Nikki’s pillow and Nikki throws the pillow in the washing machine. A third reason I like this book is because the words are even interesting. It looks like a real diary.

I hope you go get this book and read it right away. I recommend this for kids ages 4 to 7. I give this book 10 out of 10 stars.

Book reviews by Anwen, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Great White Shark

Posted on February 4, 2022January 30, 2022 by Alphabet Soup

Great White Shark by Claire Saxby and Cindy Lane

REVIEWED BY ANWEN, 8, WA

Great White Shark by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Cindy Lane, Walker Books Australia, ISBN 9781760651848

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

This book has a nice story that follows a shark’s day and shows facts about Great Whites. I learnt more about this species of shark from this book. Did you know that female Great Whites grow about as long as a giraffe is tall and may weigh more than a large car?

Great White Shark has amazingly good illustrations. They are so detailed and beautiful. It looks realistic because Cindy Lane used seawater, watercolours, pencil, found natural pigments, digital drawing and digital collage to make different textures. She’s done wonderful blending and she has used lots of colours in her art. It shows underwater scenes with other sea creatures and beautiful coral.

Overall, Great White Shark is a spectacular book and is suitable for all ages over four.

Check out Alphabet Soup’s interview with the illustrator, Cindy Lane.

This is Anwen’s second book review for Alphabet Soup. You can read her review of No! Never! here. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Book reviews by Emily, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Julia and the Shark

Posted on January 19, 2022January 12, 2022 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY EMILY, 9, WA

Image shows the cover of a children's novel: Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston. The cover illustration shows a black and white whirlpool of birds and a shark and at the centre is child in a yellow coat with yellow hood and yellow shoes walking with arms outstretched.

Julia and the Shark by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Tom de Freston, Hachette Children’s Books, ISBN 9781510107786

Emily reviewed her own copy of this book.

Julia and the Shark is about a girl called Julia, whose mum is a marine biologist. Julia and her mum and dad move to Shetland, Scotland for 6 months. They all get along really well, but things are about to change.

True adventure begins when Julia’s mum gives her best shot to find an ancient shark. Julia finds Kin, they quickly become best friends. Can Julia help find the shark, bring back her best friend and find the mum and dad she knows? But this isn’t all …

“Did you know that turtles breath through their bottoms!” This was one of the many Marine facts that I enjoyed. While some parts were amusing other parts gave off waves of sorrow.

This book was like a journey through Julia’s heart, full of joy and anguish. I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure, friendship and a bit of ocean facts. Overall I rate this book a 10 out of 10.

Emily is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. Read Emily’s other reviews here. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Book reviews by Aashi, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Biscuits, bands and very big plans

Posted on January 17, 2022December 22, 2021 by Alphabet Soup

REVIEWED BY AASHI, 7, VIC

The image shows the cover of a children's graphic novel called Tom Gates: Biscuits, Bands and very big plans by Liz Pichon. The cover illustration shows the title in child-like lettering surrounded by doodles of patterns and pictures like a dog, an arrow, smiley face, stars and a boy with short hair wearing a shirt that says 'Doodling Rocks'

Biscuits, Bands and Very Big Plans by Liz Pichon, Scholastic UK, ISBN 9781743832868

Aashi reviewed her own copy of this book.

Like other Tom Gates books, cheeky little Tom Gates is the star of this book as well. Tom loves to doodle but it’s hard in school when he sits right at the front of his classroom. He can even see through his report through his teacher’s nostrils! Mr Fullerman is basically bald and is a very strict teacher.

Tom, Derek and Norman have a band called ‘dogzombies’. They have a big mission which is to get this band well known.

On the other side is Delia, Tom’s sister. Delia hates Tom and Tom hates Delia. One day when Tom goes snooping into Delia’s room he finds something unusual. What was it? Little did he know that there could be a purple curse coming.

I would rate this book 10/10 because it is funny, interesting and mysterious. It would be a great book for 7–9-year-old kids.

Aashi is a regular book reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her book reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!