3. If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone. Gideon Sterer. Illustrated by Emily Hughes. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, imagination, picture books]
First sentence: If you make a call on a banana phone, somewhere deep in the jungle...a gorilla will probably answer. And if they do, they will have some questions, Like,
Who are you? and
Why are you calling? If you'd like, you can tell the gorilla your name. If you are calling
just because, that's okay. But it is good to be interesting and share some things, like your favorite color or sandwich or joke. If you make a gorilla laugh on a banana phone, they will probably like that very much--there aren't many jokes in the jungle, and they might wonder more about you.
Premise/plot: This book imagines what MIGHT happen if you should make a call on a banana phone (and who hasn't made a call on a banana phone?!?!) It is written in second person.
My thoughts: I love, love, love this one. I do. I love it because it celebrates imaginative play. I love it because it celebrates the wonders and joys of imagination. I love that it is extended imaginative play. It keeps asking what might happen next....and next....and next....and next. I love how so much of the story is told THROUGH pictures.
I think this one would be great for sharing with young readers. Parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians. I do think teachers could do extension activities with this one. Young readers could become young writers and write imaginative stories of their own. They can write their own adventures if they call on a banana phone.
© 2026 Becky Laney of
Young Readers
1. The Animals of Farmer Jones. Leah Gale. Illustrated by Richard Scarry. 1942. 32 pages. [Source: Bought, 4 stars, Golden Books, children's classic, farm stories]
First sentence: It is supper time on the farm. The animals are very hungry. But where is Farmer Jones?
Premise/plot: The Animals of Farmer Jones is a classic Little Golden Book. This one was originally published in 1942. Half the book is spent visiting ALL the animals on the farm--every one must make its sound after all--who want to know where Farmer Jones is. The other half of the book focuses on Farmer Jones visiting ALL the animals and feeding them.
My thoughts: Is this the most thrilling farm book? Perhaps it isn't. But it has all the elements you'd expect: a wide variety of farm animals, all the animal sounds, repetition of the text, predictability. The illustrations are by Richard Scarry. They are fabulous illustrations.
If reading about farm animals is part of your life now as a parent, a grandparent, a guardian, then you might as well read a few classics as well.
© 2026 Becky Laney of
Young Readers
Since I find it unlikely that I'll review any children's books this week, I'm going to share my favorites now. Will I keep reviewing books at Young Readers next year? Maybe. Maybe not. Will I have a high goal of a hundred books? Definitely not.
In January, I read one five-star book:
4. Mustache Baby. Bridget Heos. 2016. HMH. 36 pages. [Source: Review copy]
In February, I read two five-star books:
11. Noodles on a Bicycle. Kyo Maclear. Illustrated by Gracey Zhang.
2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, Caldecott Honor, historical
picture book, picture book]
20. Lone Wolf Goes to School. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-Fai Steele.
2024. 56 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, animal
fantasy]
In March, I read five five-star books!
22. Lone Wolf Gets a Pet. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-fai Steele.
2024. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, humor,
animal fantasy]
24. Hi, Cat. Bye, Cat. Jade Orlando. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [board books, cats]
25. Squash the Cat: Stuck in the Middle. Sasha Mayer. 2025. 40 pages.
[Source: Library] [5 stars, cats, jealousy, toys, picture book]
28. The Baby Who Stayed Awake Forever. Sandra Salsbury. 2025. 40
pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, bedtime book, humor, family, 5
stars]
30. Will the Pigeon Graduate? Mo Willems. 2025. 40 pages. [Source:
Library] [5 stars, picture book, gift book, inspirational, humor]
In April, I read four five-star books!
34. Board book: This Dog. That Dog. Jade Orlando. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [dogs, pets, board book, 5 stars]
37. Little Freddie Two Pants. Drew Daywalt. Illustrated by Lucy Ruth
Cummins. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book,
humor]
42. It's Hard To Be a Baby. Cheryl B. Klein. Illustrated by Juana
Medina. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book,
babies]
43. You're a Poet: Ways to Start Writing Poems. Sean Taylor.
Illustrated by Sam Usher. 2025. [March] 72 pages. [Source: Library]
[nonfiction, poetry, 5 stars]
In May, I read five five-star books!
44. Orris and Timble: Lost and Found (Orris and Timble #2) Kate
DiCamillo. Illustrated by Carmen Mok. 2025. 80 pages. [Source: Library]
[5 stars, early chapter book, animal
50. Downpour: Splish! Splash! Ker-Splash! Yuko Ohnari. Translated by
Emily Balistrieri. Illustrated by Koshiro Hata. 2025 (2018). 40 pages.
[Source: Library] [picture book, 5 stars]51. Leo the Late Bloomer. Robert Kraus. Illustrated by Jose Aruego.
1971/1994. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book]
53. Our Gorgeous Baby. (Board book). Smriti Prasadam-Halls. Illustrated by Eve
Coy. 2025. 24 pages. [Source: Library] [board book, babies, 5 stars]
54. Can't Stop Kissing That Baby. K.L. Going. Illustrated by Fiona Lee. 2025. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book]
55. The Peddler of Puddles. Beth Ferry. Illustrated by Tom
Lichtenheld. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book]
In June, I read six five-star books!
57. Piggle the Pig #1 The Perfect Pigsty. Dudolf. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [early reader, 5 stars]
58. The Monster At The End of This Book. Jon Stone. Illustrated by Michael
J. Smollin. 1971. Golden Books. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]
65. The Man Who Didn't Like Animals. Deborah Underwood. Illustrated by
LeUyen Pham. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars] [picture book]
67. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2010. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio]
68.
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. Eric Litwin.
Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. 40 pages. [Source: Online Audio and
picture book]
71. Pop Goes the Nursery Rhyme. Betsy Bird. Illustrated by Andrea
Tsurumi. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, humor,
fractured nursery tales, 5 stars]
In July I read four five-star books!
72. Mouse and Spoon: Owlets and Tarts. (Ready to Read Level 2) Cynthia
Rylant. Illustrated by Janna Mattia. 2025.
75. Lone Wolf On Vacation. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-Fai Steele. 2025.
48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book, early reader]
76. Lone Wolf Goes to the Library. Kiah Thomas. Illustrated by K-fai
Steele. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, early chapter book,
series book, animal fantasy]
78. Zebra and Yak The Backwards Alphabet Book. Paul Friedrich. 2025. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]
In August I read three five-star books!
83. A Scrub in the Tub. Jan Thomas. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, humor, 5 stars]
84. The Elephant's Birthday (Mouse and Spoon). Cynthia Rylant.
Illustrated by Janna Mattia. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [early
reader, ready to read level 2, animal fantasy, series book; 5 stars]
85. George & Lenny Are Always Together. Jon Agee. 2025. 40 pages.
[Source: Library] [5 stars, animal fantasy, friendship, picture book]
IN September, I read one five-star book!
94. Rabbit Tea (Mouse and Spoon) (Ready to Read Level 2). Cynthia
Rylant. Illustrated by Janna Mattia. 2025. 32 pages. [Source: Library]
[5 stars, animal fantasy, early reader]
In October, I read two five-star books!
102. Detective Beans: Adventures in Cat Town. Li Chen. 2025. 208 pages.
[Source: Library] [j graphic novel, animal fantasy, 5 stars]
103. Tuck Me In. Nathan W. Pyle. 2025. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture books, science, bedtime stories]
In November, I read one five-star book!
106. The Dog and Pony Show: Dance Pants. Jeff Mack. 2025. 64 pages.
[Source: Library] [5 stars, if the Cybils exist in 2026 which is
questionable, this one would be eligible] [early reader, early comic]
In December I didn't read a five-star book.
© 2025 Becky Laney of Young Readers
