Who wants to do the Time Warp when you can do the Picture Book Round Up? Ok, ok. It’s not a dance, and while fun, not nearly as fun as the Time Warp, so let me start again. Hi all, I am writing abut two picture books I read recently. The first is Zander Stays. This book is about a goose, that does goose things, and not so goose things, and has a funny twist ending. The second is Where Dreams Take You, that is not about a goose (but does have a bird) and there are no funny adventures but does have an interesting ending.
Now, Zander’s story is told by Maureen Fergus. They tell us a story about a goose that does not want to fly south for the winter, but stay behind, doing something different. At first things are great, but then he realizes that winter needs things. Like gathering nuts, or putting on fluff, or snuggling with friends. But that does not feel right to Zander, but before he can find what is right, snow falls. That’s okay until it gets too cold for him, and there is no food or water. Yet, Zander is saved by a young girl (however, before this, there is a scene that might not be for sensitive listeners/readers) and they have many winter adventures. Spring comes, so do his friends and there is an interesting result to how wonderful Zander’s life is now. Scot Richie makes some gaggle of giggles illustrations hat are not overly colorful, but not muted or dull. There are fun, solid, details that gives us what we need, and are cozy, meant to be read by the fire with your best friend. 
If you like to read stories about imagination, we can do that in the book by Elena Ferrándiz. A rock dreams of being something else, that something else wants to be another thing and so on. This goes on until one item dreams of being a little boy who has a strange resemblance to a certain rock. Mostly in grays and some browns, a reddish-brown color is used to show the dream item. Poetic language and images get us lost inside of them. The maturity of things can be lost on the younger readers, but they would be able to just take everything at face value which is what is also is. The dreamworld we find ourselves in is a real as the awake world. But which are we in? This is an experience book, and the right reader is needed.
Both books are due in mid to late October/early November 2023 and read via an online reader copy.
