Wee Reads: Monsters Vs. Kittens by Dani Jones

Ever since Finn was born, and even before then, we would read to him. We wanted to show him reading from an early age. Now he loves us to read the same books, over, and over, and over. But it is the sweetest thing, when he likes to pick out a book and climb into our laps. 

Monsters Vs. Kittens by Dani Jones

A fun loving picture book about the differences and similarities between Monsters and Kittens. Which teaches kids not to judge something or someone on how they may appear.

Do you like this book?
Oh yeah! Because monsters and kittens are my favorites! 

What's your favorite part of the book?
I like all of the parts! Like when the mouse scared the big monster! And the monster was eating a cheeseburger! I like burgers with no cheese. And then the kitten and the monster were wearing sunglasses. 

What do you think of the cover?
I like it. I like the kitten and the monster and the horns and the ears and the teeth on the monster. 

Do you want me to read it again?
Uhm yeah

Cute book comparing monsters and kittens and how they're different but also alike.

The writing is cute and the illustrations are absolutely adorable.

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Dani Jones is an illustrator, artist, and writer based in New England. She began her career as a freelance illustrator in 2005. Since then, her work has been used in picture books, magazines, and educational publishing.
Dani also likes to create her own stories. She has produced and self-published several projects, including the ongoing webcomic My Sister the Freak (http://www.mysisterthefreak.com), the Halloween short story Frosty the Gourdman (http://www.frostythegourdman.com), and the children’s picture book Once Upon a Time (http://danidraws.com/onceuponatime).
Most of Dani’s illustration work is created on the computer in Adobe Photoshop. However, she also likes to play with watercolor, gouache, and oil paint, and she uses a lot of traditional painting skills to help influence her digital work.
At home, Dani is a triplet and has two identical sisters. They were born in Seoul, South Korea and were adopted as babies. Dani grew up all over the United States, living in 15 different houses in six states throughout her childhood. She currently resides in New Hampshire.

Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Title: Splintered

Author: A.G. Howard

Publisher: Amulet Books

Publishing Date: January 1st, 2013

Pages: 371
Audio Length: 12 Hours and 46 Minutes

Genre: YA Retelling

Series: Splintered

Source: Audio

 

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

What made me pick this book up: 

This was my second time reading this book. The first time I think Jenn might have suggested it? Because it's an Alice retelling. 

If Jenn didn't suggest it, the cover definitely would have caught my eye.

What did I like about the cover: 

Oh many where to start? It's a beautiful portrait. I love all of the bright colors. I love how beautiful she is. Her eye(s) are absolutely beautiful. I love all of the bugs. I feel like it matches the book perfectly.

And y'all know what a sucker I am for faces on the cover. I think I have zero imagination without them.

What made me read this book: 

Alice retelling. That right there makes me want to read it. But also the story sounded interesting and honestly that cover though.

What did I like the most: 

I love almost any Alice retelling because even though they're different, it's still Alice. It's still crazy and completely illogical.

That being said, Splintered is one of the best Alice retellings I've read.

The story is really unique, even though it is a retelling. The author really turned it into something different while keeping the original Alice story. 

I love how she took what Lewis Carroll wrote and put an almost creepy twist to it. Like with Chessy and the white rabbit (Rabbid white) It just makes it so much better and creepier to me.

The characters for the most part are pretty great, I love how they're written, especially the characters from Wonderland. 

I don't have too much to say about this book, except it's unique, well written, and has a great story.

What didn't I like: 

Love. Triangle. And the worst part is I can't pick between Jeb and Morpheus and I want to love both of them.

Alyssa can be a bit whiny too, but she has a lot she's going through, and it's all very crazy and confusing. 

Would I read the rest of the series/more from this author?
Most definitely.

Well written and unique take on Alice.

“Little blossom in peach and red
Trapping boys with your pretty head;
Tease and play, be coy and smart
For you will one day break his heart” 
― A.G. Howard, Splintered

#1 New York Times and International bestselling Author of Gothic / Fantasy & Paranormal tales. Mystical & romantic with a side of horror. YA, NA, and Literary Romance. Repped by Jenny Bent.
A.G. was inspired to write the Splintered Series, her tribute to Carroll's Wonderland, while working at a school library. Her pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.
How A.G. Howard rates books on GoodReads:
"I only rate or review books I enjoyed reading, and won't give any rating below 4 stars. Please don't consider every high rating a personal endorsement / recommendation from me. My ratings here are subjective to me as an individual.
I don't rate books solely on style. Every writer's voice is individual and unique; I've come to respect this truth during my own personal journey. As long as a story takes me to another place and is well edited, I'm going to give it a good rating. And if, for some reason, a book doesn't entertain me or I don't finish it, I won't leave a rating or review at all.
If you're considering a book I've reviewed/rated, be sure to read other reviews/ratings alongside mine to help you decide if it's a read you might enjoy personally.
Happy book hunting!"

(Author photo by pamlaryphotography.com)