Reviews: Pete the Cat: Wheels on the Bus; The Princess and the Pea

Pete the Cat: The Wheels On the Bus by James Dean, YR, 2013, Board Book, 32p, My Rating=3
SourceL library

The kitties on the bus say,
"Come on, Pete!
Come on, Pete!"

The kitties on the bus say,
"Come on, Pete!
Hop on board!"

Pete the Cat can't wait to drive the school bus all the way to school! Everyone's favorite cat is groovier than ever in this way- cool adaptation of the classic kids' song "The Wheels on the Bus"!

My nursery kids enjoyed this rendition of Wheels on the Bus. There's something about Pete the Cat illustrations that catches their eyes ..bold, colorful, and fun.


The Princess and the Pea by Paul Galdone, Hans Christian Andersen, YR, 1979, Paperback, 32p, My Rating=3
Source: library

This adaptation of The Princess and the Pea, the classic fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, is illustrated with the whimsical illustrations of Paul Galdone. It tells the tale of a prince who is searching for a real princess to marry, but has no luck searching his kingdom. One stormy evening a princess shows up at his castle and he thinks she may be what he has been searching for, but can she pass the test to prove she is a true princess?

Story is funny. Illustrations, just okay.

Film Review: East of Eden

A good friend of mine is a film enthusiast and got me to join Letterboxd (like Goodreads for motion pictures). If you like movies and want to log and review them then check it out.  If you join (or already a member) then find me here and let's follow each other because I only have one follower :(


East of Eden, 1955, Directed by Elia Kazan, DVD, 115mins, Stars: James Dean, Julie Harris, Raymond Massey, My Rating=5
Source: gifted to me

Of what a girl did . . . what a boy did ... of ecstasy and revenge!

Two brothers compete for their father's approval and a woman's love.

I absolutely love this film! James Dean and Julie Harris took my breath away. The story line pierced my soul. I'm speechless. This motion picture now ranks as my favorite movie these lovely eyes have seen. James Dean is now also my new McDreamy :)


THE BOOK:

Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel. Here Steinbeck created some of his most memorable characters and explored his most enduring themes: the mystery of identity; the inexplicability of love; and the murderous consequences of love’s absence.

Wow! $2, what a deal!!!

Review: Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses by Kimberly Dean

Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses by Kimberly Dean, James Dean (Illustrator), YR, 2013, 40p, Hardcover, My Rating=4
Source: own

Pete the Cat is back in New York Times bestselling artist James Dean's picture book Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses, written by Kimberly Dean. Pete the Cat wakes up feeling grumpy—nothing seems to be going his way. But with the help of some magic sunglasses, Pete learns that a good mood has been inside him all along. Fans of Pete the Cat will love watching him take his positive outlook and transform a grumpy day into an awesome day!

My nursery kids (18mos-3yo) that I teach at church enjoyed this when I read it to them. They like the illustrations, especially the turtle on its back. But they're attention span is usually low (particularly with the 18mos) so we don't seem to get to the very end, a bit too long for them. I caught on so I split the story when we meet. However, they always get a kick out of taking turns wearing the blue magic paper sunglasses that came with the book! :)