Larissa Theule

Although warned by her brother Joe about the dangers of "bicycle face" - the bulging eyes and scrunched-up expression that female bikers were in danger of getting stuck with, if they pursued the masculine activity of bicycling - Louisa Belinda Bellflower decided to risk it, and learn to cycle. With a pair of borrowed trousers, Joe's patient instruction, and a lot of perseverance, she eventually mastered this new activity. But what would her mother think...?

Although the illustrations from show more Kelsey Garrity-Riley provide an answer to that question, in their depiction of the children's mother and her suffrage activism, it is still a pleasure watching Louisa being given the encouragement she deserves, when her mother discovers her attire and activities. An informative afterword from author Larissa Theule gives more information about the dawn of cycling, which was initially considered a scandalous and immodest activity for girls and women. "Bicycle Face" was an actual concept, and while either sex could be afflicted with it (in the popular imagination of the day, anyhow), it was more commonly applied to women, as a means of discouraging them from the activity. Informative and entertaining by turns, Born to Ride: A Story About Bicycle Face pairs a simple fictional narrative with a more detailed non-fictional afterword and bright, appealing artwork. Recommended to young cyclists, of whatever sex, and to anyone looking for children's stories about one of the historical restrictions put on young girls' behavior. show less

Fat & Bones: And Other Stories by Larissa Theule is the story of the rivalry between a winged fairy, Fat, and a farmer's odious son, Bones. It also is the tale of a dog with a cold, a mouse in love, a cat without a tail, and a spiteful tulip. It is, in sum, a very weird book.

And yet, it is no less delightful for that. It very much reminds me of something, but I struggle to think of what. The illustrations are heavily reminiscent of Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories and their remarkable show more illustrator, Stephen Gammell. They have that black-and-white, splotchy, oozy feel that is genuinely unsettling. Or maybe the story reminds me of the old rhyme, "Hey Diddle Diddle (The Cat & the Fiddle)", with its collection of weird, offbeat animals and creatures on a farm. Whatever it is, it is unique and a good blend of gross, funny, and just a dash of horror.

Fat & Bones is the first book from this author, if the bookflap is to be believed, and it does show. A few stories felt like they ended prematurely, seemingly caught on that perfect moment of showing too much, but ultimately erring in the opposite direction. Still, if one is to err, then that is probably the better direction, and it never spoiled the book. Theule manages to spin a great yarn in these stories.

If you're looking for an off-beat, interesting read, this is a good one. show less

Taking a largely forgotten (and maybe, seemingly boring topic), these pages show how amazing concrete is while also taking the reader on an intriguing ride into history.

The first question addressed in these pages circles around the definition of concrete, cement, and other similar terms, and while doing this, it is anything but mundane. After the basics are established, it's a zoom back into history to explain how concrete has been used through time (or similar compounds), starting way back show more in ancient cultures. From here, the reader visits the various points in architectural history, where forms of concrete were used, what their purpose was, and how it became what it is today.

While this is a book for slightly older readers (ages 7 to 10), it brings across the material in a well-laid out, easy-to-understand fashion. Step-by-step the reader dives into the topic...and that while keep the material from growing dry. The illustrations make every situation visually clear and are enjoyable, too. Many of the illustrations contain speech bubbles where more information is presented or broken-down in a fun, conversational form. The vocabulary is kept fairly light so that the terminology doesn't bog down. By the end of this, readers will have a thorough understanding of what concrete is, how it's changed through-out history, and what uses it has.

I do see this one as great for homeschoolers, classrooms, or even those kids, who are interested in the world around them. I received a complimentary copy and found this was a nice way to bring across a rarely-seen topic. show less

This isn't the usual type of picture book I like - or even read - but I've come to expect something different from each book Gianna Marino writes or illustrates and this pairing with a debut picture book author (Theule has a previous credit for a middle grade novel and a second picture book being released in April 2019) is an excellent combination.

It's hot. Blazing orange and yellow backgrounds show weary Water Buffalo and dropping Crane on a small, orange globe. The trees are dead, the show more flowers droop, everything is hot. Nothing changes, there is only the endless heat.

Then someone new appears. Goat. Goat says only, "How do you do?" and begins dancing, but it changes everything. The others join in and they dance around their tiny globe, kicking up their heels and watching the earth turn green and beautiful again. Is the rain real or only metaphorical? Either way, Water Buffalo and Crane have experienced a change of heart and they see new beauty in their world.

Verdict: The beautiful language and glowing colors make this a thoughtful and unique story to read aloud or pore over with a special child.

ISBN: 9781523503544; Published January 2019 by Bloomsbury; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library show less