guest reviewer

Picture Book Review – Finley: A Moose on the Caboose

 

A REVIEW BY MICHELLE JING CHAN

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FINLEY: A MOOSE ON THE CABOOSE

WRITTEN BY CANDACE SPIZZIRRI

ILLUSTRATED BY  CHANTELLE & BURGEN THORNE

(GNOME ROAD PUBLISHING; $18.99, AGES 4-8)

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Finley A Moose on the Caboose Finley on train tracks in conductor cap

REVIEW:

Finley: A Moose on the Caboose is an adorable picture book. Set in A, Alaska, the book follows Finley, a gentle giant of a moose who just wants to ride the train across Alaska and greet all the passengers. However, the conductor does not allow this, citing the rule that wild animals are not permitted to ride the train.

 

Finley A Moose on the Caboose int1 Finley at train station
Interior spread from Finley: A Moose on the Caboose written by Candace Spizzirri and illustrated by Chantelle & Burgen Thorne, Gnome Road Publishing ©2023.

 

Finley attempts to make his dream come true through a variety of fun and zany disguises, but his attempts are fruitless. When the train encounters a problem that only a giant moose can solve, Finley finally gets the chance to prove his worth and make his dream a reality.

 

Finley_A_Moose_in_the_Caboose_int2_Finley_dreams_of_adventure
Interior art from Finley: A Moose on the Caboose written by Candace Spizzirri and illustrated by Chantelle & Burgen Thorne, Gnome Road Publishing ©2023.
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Readers will love Finley and his sweet, plucky personality. This charming story by Candace Spizzirri shows how kindness and determination win out in the end and that some rules can and should change! The illustrations by Chantelle and Burgen Thorne are cozy and inviting and make this story the perfect book for the holiday season. A great choice for readers who love nature books or books about trains.
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 • Guest review by Michelle Jing Chan

 

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Candace Spizzirri photo credit Gina Tomassone
Candace Spizzirri Photo Credit Gina Tomassone

HELPFUL LINKS:
Author Candace Spizzirri
website – www.candacespizzirri.com
Twitter: @CCSpizzirri1
Instagram: @CCSpizzirri
Facebook: @CandaceSpizzirri 

 
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Illustrators Chantelle and Burgen Thorne

 

Reviewer Michelle Jing Chan

Michelle Jing Chan is a queer Chinese American artist who grew up in Colorado and now lives in the Pacific Northwest. Inspired by nature, cultural folklore, and fantasy, Michelle captures the magic in everyday moments through her art. She aspires to illustrate diverse, empowering stories her younger self would have loved.

When she’s not drawing, she can be found attempting new recipes, reading, or watching spooky TV shows. Visit Michelle at www.michellejingchan.com or on social media @michellieart.

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Who Ya Calling Monkeypants?

2009-march-002 Christopher Burgess, today’s Good Reads Guest Reviewer, and proud Dad, is an active duty member of the United States Air Force stationed at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. When he is not at work he spends his time chasing his 22 month-old, Logan Atreyu, around their home. His interests include working out, reading, music, sports, volunteer work and
spending as much time as he can with his lovely wife Chelcy.

33491504The first book I read with my son was Mommy Calls Me Monkeypants, a board book which became an instant favorite in the Burgess home. J.D. Lester’s clever writing explaining each character in the book set up Hiroe Nakata’s whimsical illustrations and made for an exciting, fun read. Logan (A.K.A. B-LO) loved the bright, bold colors as well as the numerous animals introduced in the book. He laughed and pointed at the pictures while I read along explaining each mothers “pet” names for their children. This adorable book emphasizes the special, silly connection a parent and child can share. This is one book that I see our little monkey holding dear to his precious little heart for years to come.

Mama, What’s In There?, another adorable board book from Random House, encourages children to explore just2 what is in bellies of all their favorite pregnant animals. The book is written by Diane Muldrow with creative and descriptive illustrations created by Rick Peterson. My son is fascinated by babies as most little ones are at this age. Totally interactive, this book that not only allows your child to find the baby in the mama’s belly by lifting the flap, but it also serves as a great opportunity to teach your child animal sounds, where animals live, and the body parts of animals and humans. The highly colorful illustrations captured my son’s attention and left him wanting to read the book over and over again. This would be a terrific book to introduce to your child if you were expecting a child of your own. The ending of the book helps the child identify just “what is in Mama’s tummy.” This book is bound to be a hit in any household, expecting or not!

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