Gilles Tibo

If I were a devout Christian, I'd be very uncomfortable with this. As a fan of folklore, I think it lame. I want to like the little black girl God (a spoiler, but honestly if her first appearance doesn't telegraph the theme I don't know what would), but I find it awfully odd that she would have told Saint Patrick to clear Ireland of not only snakes but elves and giants, too. Since she did, I despise her almost as much as I do the bearded white patriarch. Oh, and I don't like the art much, show more either. show less

Greg is a very shy boy who picks out a goldfish that is just as shy as he is. When everyone asks about his fish, Greg just blushes and runs away. He eventually finds his voice and overcomes his shyness with the help of Shy Guy, his kindred spirit.
Although written and illustrated in a light and playful manner, I think it’s an honest depiction of shyness and anxiety. It would be a great book to read aloud so any shy children can find comfort in knowing they are not alone. It could also show more empower children who are shy to go out of their comfort zones. This is ultimately a cute and hopeful tale about overcoming fears. show less

Pretty cute! God is a little girl and preaches tolerance for our differences. Some people put up church bells, some knock 'em down, it's all good!

Giant Peter has challenged Alex to see who the best hockey player in the world is, and none of Alex's friends will help him. The large illustrations convey what the text says in a funny manner, and occasionally take on a graphic novel slant with word bubbles. The fear of Alex's friends is understandable, and young readers may relate to the extreme conclusions Alex comes to before the game. Those with a more developed sense of the world, however, will likely find the hyperbole unbelievable. show more The solution to the problem is creative, but in a way that many other hockey books have already used. For fans of hockey only, and even then, there are better books out there. show less