Be A Maker, Dibs!, and Undercover Ostrich, are all picture books releasing this spring. I was sent a digital sample of each book for my review-please note that I have NOT read the completed books. I am only reviewing the portions of the books I did receive.
Be A Maker by Katey Howes is all about making things, and encourages children to be creative and make something new today. The pictures are whimsical, yet very detailed. This book sparks the imagination-a good book for the little maker in your life.
DIBS! is a book by Laura Gehl. The fun premise is that maybe you CAN really call dibs on anything you want! At least, that seems to be how it works for Julian’s little brother Clancy-with very silly results. If you have a sibling in your life, this book will probably speak to you.
Undercover Ostrich by Joe Kulka is hilarious. As in, I literally laughed out loud as I read it. It has a sarcastic, dry sense of humor that fits me perfectly. The book revolves around a narrator that just can’t seem to find the undercover ostrich hidden in each picture-the one hiding in plain sight.
The illustrations are brightly-colored, and the ostrich’s expressions on each page are so comical. This was a fun book, and my favorite out of the bunch. I will definitely be reading the full book once it is released.
I would like to thank Carolrhoda Books for providing me a sneak peek at these books. Thank you!

I thought "sampler" was referring to a sampling of books from the publisher... not a sampling of pages from each book. As such, I don't feel comfortable actually reviewing these books because I don't know how the stories end. The pictures are cute in all of them, but a really great picture book needs more than nice illustrations.

Three stars to remain neutral. Maybe I'll look for the actual books when they're released.

I can’t wait to read all three of these books in their entirety! The Undercover Ostrich is hilarious, kids will love the humor. Be a Maker sets the expectation of invention and creativity.

This is a compilation of three storybooks gaged for toddlers of different age groups.

Undercover Ostrich shows how good an ostrich is at hiding and blending in. This is written for a young child. Of the three, this was my least favorite. While young children enjoy silly drawings (which are absolutely adorable, by the way), I do not think that they will understand that an ostrich cannot do the things portrayed and that is why they are silly. If the reader wishes to explain what an ostrich can and cannot do prior to reading the book to a child, then this is a funny tale.
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Dibs! Is a story about a toddler whose first word is “dibs.” His older brother used it so often that the young boy picked up the word and it’s meaning quickly. The problem is that the toddler calls dibs on everything. Towards the end, he is told what dibs can and can’t be called on.

This is a cute story derived from a fresh concept. The illustrations are fun and colorful. The pages contain only a few words which works for young and older toddlers. The babies will be content to listen and point out things on the page. The young child will be able to comprehend the basis of the story and repeat it. Some may even be able to identify a few words.
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Be a Maker is my favorite of the collection. It shows the many things that can be made in a day. The illustrations are outstanding and the rhyming words are catchy and delightful.

This book is a fun read and also inspires little ones to see what they can create. My grandson loves crafts and loved this book. It is a great addition to a child’s library.


I received an eBook ARC of this collection through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion or ratings of these books.

Undercover Ostrich was a light little story with a lot of humor, but with no content and definitely not a single "message" to be passed. Commonly a simple tale to spend some pleasant moments of your life, if you are up to 4 years old, In the bright side the book is bringing the child into indirect contact with unusual animals, such as the chameleon, the possum, etc.

Be a maker: A small diamond for preschoolers and older children. Simple language, which nevertheless gives inspiration. Personally, I give an extra point, because its illustration is not cliché-based. It depicts a modern girl in the possible role of the maker, empowering girls who tend to be afraid of activities that have traditionally monopolized by boys. Excellent educational tool!

Dibs: An interesting book that fails to pass the message that initially inspired the author. The abrupt end, without a clear message, will probably leave a question mark in the average child, rather than food for thought.

Picture Book Sampler gives hints of three books. All of these books look like they have good messages for young readers, I was especially drawn to Be A Maker.

This sampler shows that there will some fun books coming our way this spring. Undercover Ostrich appears to be a very silly story that is told just for fun. Dibs shows that one cannot really shout "dibs" every time one wants something. For example, what if a toddler wants to be a pilot? The point is made in a humorous way. Be A Maker encourages doing things. All three of these picture books look promising. I look forward to their publication.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.