Advanced book @netgalley kids book recap 📚✏️✂️📖🖌️🖍️

The Puzzle Piece by Andrea Mendoza (May 13) The most beautiful story in how to help children love themselves and be their most authentic self. I’m excited to read more of her books. Wonderful conversations to follow this with my kids!

Gathered at the Table by Glenn’s Nellist (Sept. 9) Using poems, it explains Jesus last supper and his time at the table. Such a profound, kid appropriate explanation of the communion.

Rosie’s Wild Ride by Paige Murray (Oct 7) Her completion doesn’t go quite as planned, but what if we keep going and ask “What if I can?” as we follow big dreams! I can’t wait to get this for my daughter. Loved the illustrations.

Night Magic by Leigh Ann Henson (Sept 23) This was SUCH a fun book of information. Why does it take so long for the eye to adjust to night? Lots of great information with this book and at a child’s level.

The Mountain and the Goat by Slamk Taghaddas (Sept 23) I loved the concept of teaching resourcefulness in this one. Loved the storyline.

Sea Dog Boats by Astrid Sheckels (Jan 14) To learn all about boats, let the dogs lead the way. All about the ABCs and nautical adventures this is a really cute story!

Twelve Days of Summer by Sherri Meret (July 1) “On the first day of summer…” The animals take you on a summer adventure as you sing along! My kids LOVED this adorable book.

Franklin’s Trees by AJ Skenkman (July 1) A story about young President Franklin. A history major myself, this was a really cute informative book.

Outdoor Skills for Kids by Buck Tilton (June 3) My son thought this book was the bees knees. He learned so much from it and kept talking about “when you approach an animal this is what to do..” He was so excited to share all he learned.

A Very Dinosaur Christmas by Adam Wallace (Sept 2) The giggles with this one! Dinosaurs at Christmas is silly.

Spooky Poems Aloud by Joseph Coelho

The Story of Dinosaurs by Catherine Barr

The Not So Wicked Witch by Bergen Steven’s

Pips Adventure by Ashling Lindsay

Paul the Peacock by Tilly Matthews

Happy Halloween Fiona by Zondervan

The Adventures of Cam E. Chameleon by Donna Herweck Rice

What I liked the most were the illustrations, they were stunning!! Full of colors and beautiful details. The story itself is quite simple but with a good lesson about being kind to others and not acting entitled. Perfect for young children.

*Thanks to NetGalley uk, the publishers and the author for the ARC*

Beautiful use of color in the illustrations, in this book about friendship. Paul, the too-proud Peacock is humbled when a strong wind blows away everything he owns....including his tail feathers. He sets out to find them but getting them back is not easy....This is such a good story with such a good lesson......

The illustrations are my favorite part of this book. The colors are beautiful and the art is very well done. The story was cute and silly at times but with a good lesson in the end. This would be a book most parents would enjoy reading to their kids.

The artwork is beautiful, and the message and the idea behind the book is cool. The storyline had a few holes in it but that didn't keep us from enjoying this picture book.

An important lesson that children need to hear and learn: kindness matters. Children can sometimes be selfish and learning to be kind and respectful of others is always important. This type of self awareness is difficult to understand at such a young age but Paul is easy to understand and relate to. This book is a positive addition to any library or bookshelf.

*𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴*

Peacocks are such spectacular and fascinating animals, so I was so intrigued in this story. This story follows Paul the peacock, who seems to be very full of himself and arrogant. However, his friend ends up leaving after feeling under appreciated - hench, a wake up call that opens up Paul’s eyes.

The loss of a friendship can be very upsetting and heartbreaking, I enjoyed how this theme was portrayed in this book… making Paul realize there’s more important things in life than just himself. I loved following this character’s journey in self-reflection.

The illustrations were adorable and the story was clever, I’m sure any young reader will really enjoy this story.

🦚 🦚 🦚 🦚 🦚 🦚 🦚 🦚 🦚 🦚 🦚 🦚

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with access to read this book!

Paul the Peacock was a delightful read that talked showed a very selfish peacock the consequences for his greedy actions. The illustrations were beyond cute, and had many extra little bonuses to look at. I wanted a little bit more from the ending, but overall this was a very cute book!

Thanks to Tilly Matthews, Quarto Publishing, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review!

I really loved the art style of this picture book, bright and happy. The story itself felt like it was missing something, I like the idea of Paul learning the error of his ways but I just didn't feel like that really translated. Saying sorry after mistreating people for so long doesn't really seem like enough of an apology... I would have liked to see him try to make amends in some way.

I saw the cover on this book and knew instantly that I wanted to read it.

Paul wasn't very nice to his friend Norris and after a storm he realised he had lost everything, including Norris.

This is a lovely story of friendship and forgiveness.

I loved the images and the bright and bold pages in the book. My favourite image is the earthworms playing the violin!

A witty book that features adorable characters.

It promotes lovely messages too.

It is the ending that led me to my 4-star-review because we read similarly ending books before, and expected a different take.

Overall, this will be a children’s favourite. The illustrations are so vivid!

Pros: This bold cover immediately caught my attention, and when the description called it "belly laughing" I knew I wanted to read it. I loved the fantastically bright and colorful illustrations throughout this book. This book really did have me cracking up, especially at small details like Paul living in a penthouse and losing his feathers. This book has a fun adventure (retrieving his feathers) and a great message of friendship.

Cons: None!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the opportunity to read this book.

I love the range of ways pictures were presented, i.e., the double page spreads vs grids of different sizes, etc. However, I found the story kind of choppy, even for a picture book. I felt it read more like an outline rather than a full story. I found myself querying why the situation occurred, why the Paul behaved as he did, and even why he was supported.

No doubt young children will enjoy the vibrancy of the illustrations and remain engaged in the book for that reason, but the moral of the story could have been more solid.

They say ‘as proud as a peacock’. But how can our young ones understand that? -: ‘This simile alludes to the male peacock, with its colourful tail that can be expanded like a fan, which has long symbolised vanity and pride.”

Let us be introduced to Paul the Peacock with a very high opinion of himself, filled with and showing excessive self-esteem.

Paul’s only real friend is Norris the loris, a small primate who initially is helping to support and pamper his friend Paul. However, without a true relationship and being unappreciated, even Norris has enough. Just a quickly the very elements combine to bring Paul’s world crashing to the ground.

Beautifully illustrated throughout and signifying Paul’s loss of status with his missing feathers, the simple text takes Paul on a journey of growing despondency. He is unable to demand, steal or find his lost feathers and is left feeling no more significant than a simple worm.

A clever story, full of passion and humour which shows the lessons required to bring about humility and a respect for others. At his lowest point Paul remembers Norris his friend and writes to say “sorry”.

Children, like my grandson will love this story and the lessons it shares. Emotions are hard to understand and express in our young ones, books like this enable a grown up to share less tangible feelings and the animal kingdom is creative to find imaginative examples of ‘human’ traits.

This children's book is about an arrogant peacock whose friend, Norris, feels unappreciated and decides to leave. The loss of this friendship will be a wake-up call for the conceited peacock. The story is brightly illustrated with saturated colours that reflect the peacock's journey to humility and generosity. On the fun side, I couldn't help but feel that the author was somehow inspired by Morty and King Julian from Madagascar! :)

What a delightful read! Kindness matters, and this book is sprinkled with lessons of empathy and relationships. Paul the Peacock is on an adventure, which leads to self discovery and self reflection. The illustrations are vibrant and colorful, and done really well. Definitely recommend!

This book is awesome! It is funny, has great pictures, and a great message. Norris was beloved by my kids and a peacock losing his feathers is a great concept. Reminds me of Buffalo Fluffalo and Rainbow Fish, two other books we love. This is one I would definitely buy to add to our home library!