And if people are lucky, they have family and friends who support their talents and interests.

But, sometimes, that doesn’t happen.

Such is the case for the little matador, the hero in Julian Hector’s picture book The Little Matador (Hyperion Books, 2008). His parents are famous bullfighters, and they want him to follow in their footsteps.

But the little matador doesn’t see the point. He’d much prefer to draw — especially animals. And he’s good at drawing, too. His parents try to dissuade him, but when he persists in drawing, they march him down to the stadium so he can face his first bull.

What happens then? Let’s hear from Ella, today’s guest reviewer.

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Today’s review: Ella

Age: 8

Things I like to do: Swim, play tennis and ride my bike.

This book was about: A little matador whose parents want him to bullfight. He wants to draw instead.

The best part was when: The bull frog was acting like, “He’s stronger than ME?”

I smiled when: The animals posed so the little matador could draw them.

I was surprised when: The little matador wouldn’t fight the bull. I would have run if it was me. Bull horns can hurt.

This book taught me: You should do what you want. You should be what you want.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Funny.” “Creative.” “Happy.”

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “After all, nobody wants to see a matador draw.”

My favorite picture in this book is: When the bull is charging at the little matador.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: The little matador’s drawings.

You should read this book because: It’s funny. I think other kids would like it a lot.

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 Thanks, Ella!

Julian Hector wrote the text and drew the illustrations for this book. Want to learn more about him? You can:

• Visit his website.
• Read this interview about his work on The Little Matador.
• Read his blog.
• Review this biography.
• Check out this kid review of  Monday is One Day, another book he illustrated. Or this kid review of The Gentleman Bug.

Official disclaimer:

Oh, by the way, I won this nifty book in a giveaway sponsored by Mike Jung, a book blogger whose own book – Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities – comes out this fall from Arthur A. Levine Books. Once it’s released you really should get a copy. I’m just saying.

It’s premise is simple enough. It’s a sweltering, oppressive summer day in a series of sweltering, oppressive summer days, and Tessie and her mother have just about had it with the heat.

Tessie is convinced it will rain.

At first, that seems like wishful thinking, but then the reader sees that Tessie has picked up some clues her mother has missed. So when the rain comes rushing down and everyone dances in the street, it’s a well-earned triumph for Tessie.

Hesse’s language is beautiful. Tessie’s voice is spot-on. And Muth’s illustrations gorgeously convey the heat and the rain’s blessed relief. I also loved the diverse neighborhood he created with all the residents waiting and hoping for the same thing.

What else makes this book cool? Or hot?

Let’s ask today’s reviewer.

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Name: Maria

Age: 7.5

Things I like to do: Ride my bike, draw, play baseball. And, I like getting wet.

This book was about: A girl who wanted rain to come and she kept saying, “Come on, rain!” and it came and she got her friends and they danced in the alleyway and then their moms came running out to join in the dancing.

The best part was when: The rain came.

I smiled when: The rain came.

I was surprised when: Most people would be surprised when the rain came, but I knew it was coming.

Three words that best describe this book: “Rain.” “Hot.” “Pouring.”

My favorite line or phrase in this book: ” ‘We sure did get a soaking, Mamma,’ I say. And we head home, purely soothed, fresh as dew.” I also liked all the words describing the rain sounds.

My favorite picture in this book: The one of their feet all running down the street chasing each other in the rain.

Others kids reading this book should watch for: When the rain starts to come.

You should read this book because: It’s surprising and funny.

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Thank you, Maria!

If you’d like to learn more about Karen Hesse, who won the MacArthur Fellowship in 2002 and is most well-known for her Newbery Award-winning young adult novel Out Of The Dust, check out this biography.

If you’d like to learn more about Jon J. Muth, who wrote and illustrated the 2006 Caldecott Honor winning Zen Shorts, watch this video interview.

For some people, that’s a relief. There’s much less pressure. For other people, that realization inspires them to work harder to try and leave their mark, no matter how small.

For the little boy in Light Up the Night (Hyperion Children’s Books, 2011) — a picture book written by Jean Reidy and illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine — that realization is part of an amazing trip throughout space.

But the boy doesn’t leave everything behind. His favorite blanket turns into a rocket to take him on his journey and bring him safely home.

Now, let’s meet Matthew, today’s guest reviewer. He says he would be very interested in going into space, seeing the entire world from above, and possibly meeting some aliens.

Take it away, Matthew!

Our reviewer: Matthew

Age: 7

Things I like to do: Use the computer, play on the iPod, draw and read.

This book was about: Stuff inside of stuff, inside of stuff, inside of stuff. (Editor’s note: This is a great way of describing a cumulative story, which this book is!)

The best part was when: The boy saw the planets and the sun.

This book taught me: About hemispheres.

My favorite words or phrase from the book: “Stars so bright they light up the night in my own little piece of the universe.”

My favorite picture from the book: When the blanket turnes into a rocket!

Three words that best describe this book are: “Space.” “Repeating.” “Night.”

Other kids reading this book should watch for: The aliens with all the eyes.

You should read this book because: It’s interesting.

Thank you, Matthew!

Want to learn more about Jean Reidy?

• Visit her website.
• You also can read her blog, A Totally Random Romp.
• And, just because you can never have too much Jean Reidy, here’s an interview she did with Mindy Hardwick about Light Up The Night, writing, revision and more.
• Want even more? Check out this post from when Jean visited my blog before — when she was doing a fundraising auction for an African library.

Let’s not forget illustrator Margaret Chodos-Irvine.

• She’s a 2004 Caldecott Honor winner for Ella  Sarah Gets Dressed. To learn more about her, you can visit her website.
• Or read this great article about how the story of Ella Sarah came about.
• Margaret’s artwork and process were also featured on the must-see blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. If you’ve ever wondered how picture book art happens, this is a good spot to start your research.

That’s why we’re declaring this “Janet Halfmann Week” on Read, Write, Repeat.

 Today, Will joins us to talk about Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish (Christy Ottaviano Books, 2011).

This nonfiction picture book follows a starfish through a normal day. It features the starfish’s almost continual search for food and its efforts not to be eaten itself. There is drama, fun information about marine life, and enough interesting details to make you say, “Ewwww.”

Janet’s clear, informative text and Joan Paley’s bright, eye-catching illustrations make this a very engaging read. (The illustrations are a collage, using hand-painted papers from which Joan cuts shapes to create bold and colorful illustrations.)

Before he begins the review, Will would like to go on record as saying that he would rather not eat any of the things the starfish considers eating in this book — like mussels. He much prefers pizza with sausage and pepperoni toppings.

With that duly noted, take it away, Will!

Our reviewer: Will

Age: 8

Things I like to do: Play sports like football, baseball and basketball, lift weights, watch the Green Bay Packers.

This book was about: A starfish and the sea and how it got away from a bird that wanted to eat it.

The best part was when: The starfish fell into the sea and away from the bird.

This book taught me: Starfish can grow back their rays, or legs, in a year if they lose one.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Star.” “Fish.” “Interesting.”

My favorite picture in this book is: The picture of all the stars in the night sky. And the picture of the seaweed. There’s lot of detail.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: Things about starfish that they didn’t know before. Like that a starfish eats by pushing its stomach outside its body.

You should read this book because: You will learn something.

Thank you, Will!

This book is doing well.

• It won the Wisconsin Writers Tofte/Wright Children’s Literature Award.
• It also is a Washington Children’s Choices Picture Book Award Finalist.

Want more resources?

• A few days ago, we featured a kid review of another Janet Halfmann book, Fur and Feathers. You can check that out here.
• Janet has two other recent releases, both with animal themes. Check out Home in the Cave , a picture book about bats, and Eggs 1, 2, 3 … Who Will the Babies Be?
• You can find out more about Janet at her website. You also can read this interview.
• You can see more of Joan’s artwork at this website.

The book, written by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by Laurie Allen Klein, features Sophia.

She’s a helpful little girl who offers to sew exactly the right coat for each of her animal friends after they lose their fur, feathers and scales. Animals line up to explain what they need and why. (Polar Bear needs white fur to stay warm and hide in the snow. Fish needs scales, but with slime. Snake needs scales too, but dry ones.)

Today’s reviewer, Danni, was fascinated by Sophia’s efforts to give every animal just what it required.

Here’s what she had to say:

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Today’s reviewer: Danni

Age: 5

I like: Tacos, swimming, panda bears, chocolate, ice cream and going to the park.

This book was about: Animals that lost their fur and stuff. And a little girl who helped them.

The best part was when: Sophia saw the polar bear at the zoo with the heart behind her ear.

I laughed when: The penguin had to put on a dress.

I was worried when: I saw the snake and thought it might be poisonous.

I was surprised that: The fish could stay out of the water for that long.

This book taught me: Dreams are really fun.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: The animals in all of the funny outfits.

Three words that describe this book are: “Animals.” “Sophia.” “Losing their coats.”

My favorite line or phrase in the book was: “That bear has a red heart behind her ear.”

You should read this book because: It is fun, and animals put on clothes.

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Thank you, Danni!

Janet Halfmann and Laurie Allen Klein previously teamed up for another book, Little Skink’s Tail , that explores the various kind of tails different animals need.

You can find out more about Janet at her website. You also can read this interview.

And, you can learn more about Laurie at hers. You also can read this interview.

This is the second Janet Halfmann book Danni has reviewed. She also shared her thoughts in this review of Good Night Little Sea Otter.

Janet has two other recent releases, both with animal themes. Check out Home in the Cave about bats and Eggs 1, 2, 3 … Who Will the Babies Be?

And because Janet is having such a productive year in the children’s book world, we officially declare this week to be “Janet Halfmann Week.” We’ll have a kid review of another one of her titles coming up in a few days.

Please stop by again to see it!

And while I’ve never owned one myself, I’ve certainly seen herds of them grazing as I’ve driven down the highway. I’ve even met several up close and personal at various dairy-themed school, summer camp and community events.

Even in the bustling metropolis of Madison, Wisconsin, one can’t escape cows completely. Once a year, there’s a Cows on the Concourse event where cows are brought in to graze around the state capital building and meet their adoring public.

And, an annual Dairy Expo featuring all things bovine draws enough traffic that entire lanes of the beltline are dedicated to its attendees.

Today’s guest reviewer doesn’t live on a farm, but she’s certainly familiar with cows. That’s why she enjoyed Phyllis Alsdurf’s picture book It’s Milking Time (Random House, 2012). The book is a warm and wonderful look at life on a dairy farm. It features a girl and her dad milking their herd of cows — every morning and every night.

Cows are collected from the field, led into the barn, fed, milked and cleaned up after. Then, the milk is sent to the dairy where it’s turned into butter, cheese or the the milk most of us buy at the grocery store. Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher’s artwork is cozy. The cows seem like family friends. And the Holstein-inspired end papers are beautiful.

Now, let’s hear from Dharma.

Today’s reviewer: Dharma.

Age: 7

I like: Math, going to the children’s museum, my reading buddies and watching “Dancing With the Stars.”

This book was about: A girl’s job milking cows.

The best part was when: She named the calf Buddy.

I laughed when: They said they tapped the cows on the rear ends to keep them moving.

I was surprised when: The girl shoveled manure into the gutters.

This book taught me: You can skim cream off fresh milk.

My favorite line or phrase in the book was: “We swat rumps to keep them moving to the same places every time.”

Thanks, Dharma!

Phyllis Alsdurf, the author, grew up on a Minnesota dairy farm. She even dedicated this book to her father and one of his favorite cows, Jay-Jay.

Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher, the illustrators, have illustrated more than 35 books. You can visit their website to see more of their work. You also can read this interview to learn more about how they work together.

But today’s guest reviewer, Will, might win the prize for being the most excited.

He started talking to me about Herve Tullet’s Press Here (Chronicle, 2011) before we’d even sat down.

“This is a neat book,” he told me as we walked down the hall. “It has, like, actions.”

It does, indeed.

At first, the book looks deceptively simple. It’s white with dots. But, as Will shows, that’s more than enough to engage a reader. Readers press, shake, clap and push their way through the book. After each action, they turn the page and see what the dots have done.

And it holds up to multiple readings. Will read the book to me, and even though he’d done it all before, he was happy to do it again.

So pause here.

And then, read what else Will had to say about this book.

Our reviewer: Will

Age: 7

Things I like to do: Art and video games. Sometimes, I play with my brother.

This book was about: It’s funny. It’s sort of an activity book. It isn’t boring. You can do it over and over again. I liked that the book seemed like it was talking to you. In that way, it reminded me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

The best part was: It reminds me of dancing. Especially when you had to push really hard and shake the book. My favorite part was the clapping.

I smiled when: It says to try it again at the end of the book. I said, “Maybe.”

I was surprised when: The pages went black and the dots got so big.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Funny.” “Active.” “Surprising.”

My favorite line or phrase in the book is: “That’s enough.”

Other kids reading this book should watch for: The funny sentences. The surprising things that happen. The dots can really do stuff.

You should read this book because: You don’t know what’s going to happen next. It’s a seriously good book.

Thanks, Will.

If you’d like to see the book in action, watch this book trailer.

You also can read this interview with Herve Tullet.

He’s a boy with a book. And the book is called The Gentleman Bug (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010) by Julian Hector.

The book is about a quiet, refined, small-town bug who loves reading. When a beautiful lady bug comes to town, she doesn’t seem to notice the gentleman bug. So he tries to spiff up his style to gain her attention.

Of course, things go horribly wrong. But then, they both discover that they have a love of books in common. And that’s all it takes for their friendship to be sealed.

Austin says it’s important for people to be gentlemanly toward each other. He says he is a gentleman because, “I help people. When other people make fun of them, I stick up for them.”

Austin also says that it’s important for people to be themselves and not to try and change just so they fit in better with others.

Here’s what else he had to say about this book:

Our reviewer: Austin

Age: 8

Things I like to do: Lift weights, read, play basketball and skateboard.

This book was about: A bug who was a gentleman and liked to read. Everyone made fun of him, but he didn’t care. Nothing could bother him when he was reading. Then he met a lady bug. She liked to read too, but didn’t tell him. Then, they read together every time they met.

The best part was when: The gentleman bug and the lady bug met.

I smiled when: The gentleman bug was all dressed up and looking in the mirror.

I was worried when: The gentleman bug bumped into someone else at the restaurant and everything spilled all over.

I was surprised when: The lady bug arrived.

This book taught me: To read and really not care what other people might say. I should say, “I don’t care what you think. This is me and nobody can change me.”

Three words to describe this book are: “The.” “Gentleman.” “Bug.”

My favorite picture in the book was: The last page where they are reading books together.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: How to be a gentleman.

You should read this book because: It’s a nice book. And you can learn a lot from it.

Thanks, Austin!

Julian Hector wrote the text and drew the illustrations for this book. Want to learn more about him? You can:

• Visit his website.
• Read this interview about he got the idea for The Gentleman Bug.
• Read his blog.
• Review this biography.
• Check out this kid review of another book he illustrated.

Official disclaimer:

Oh, by the way, I won this nifty book in a giveaway sponsored by Mike Jung, a book blogger whose own book – Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities – comes out later this year from Arthur A. Levine Books. Once it’s released you really should get a copy. I’m just saying.

That’s the question considered in Estie the Mensch (Random House, 2011) a picture book written by Jane Kohuth and illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger.

Estie is a shy girl who is much more comfortable hanging out with animals than humans and enjoys nothing more than pretending to be everything from a dog to a monkey to a fly. Most of the time, her family enjoys her antics, but sometimes, when they’ve had enough, they say, “Estie, be a mensch.”

“Mensch” is a Yiddish term that means to be human. But not just any human, rather, a person of integrity and honor.

Estie isn’t sure exactly how to do this. Until a day at the zoo. After amusing a friend by imitating everything from a snake to an ostrich, Estie discovers that, in some situations, acting like a kind human being is the best thing to do.

Holly says she trioes to be a mensch in the ballet and hip-hop dance classes she takes. Not only does she try to be friendly to her classmates, she also walks like a lady.

Holly also shared her other thoughts about the book. Take it away, Holly!

Our reviewer: Holly

Age: 8

Things I like to do: Dance, swim and play with my dogs — Mystic and Pepper.

This book was about: A little girl named Estie who liked animals and acted like them. Her parents always told her to, “Be a mensch,”  or to behave like a lady. She went to the zoo with her grandma and her grandma’s friend and a boy named Petie. She acted like the animals there and made Petie laugh. Then Petie dropped his ice cream and Estie scooped some off her cone to give to him.

The best part was when: When Estie acted like all the animals in the zoo. But she really couldn’t stretch her neck as far as an ostrich does.

I smiled when: She gave part of her ice-cream to Petie.

I was worried when: Petie dropped his ice cream. I thought he would be upset and just sit and cry, but Estie helped him.

This book taught me: Not to be afraid of animals. To love the animals you love. Oh, and to share.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Fun.” “Creative.” “Adventurous.”

My favorite line or phrase in the book: “Estie, be a mensch.” Her mom and dad said it all the time.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: What they can do to be nice to animals and to your friends.

You should read this book because: It teaches you some words in a different language. You can learn more about sharing and animals.

Thanks, Holly!

If you’d like to know more about author Jane Kohuth, you can visit her webpage , read this interview or read this other interview.

If you’d like to know more about illustrator Rosanne Litzinger, you can read her biography.

Here are some other reviews of Estie:

• Picture Book Reviews.
• The Picnic Basket.
• Cracking the Cover.

I could say that it’s chock full of eccentric, endearing characters, lovely writing, inside jokes and humor designed to appeal to kids and parents.

I could also tell you that it uses language better than any book I remember reading in a good long while without sacrificing story in the slightest.

And all those things would be true.

But I think today’s guest reviewer, Sonia, who absolutely adored this book, is a better authority than I. She is, as they say, the target demographic.

Sonia was in quite the chatty mood when we discussed this book, and here’s how she summed up the plot. She said everything below without taking a breath. I’ve added punctuation  and a paragraph break for clarity.

This book was about a couple of bunnies helping a little girl find her parents because some foxes took them so they could decode a recipe about how to cook bunnies. But the bunnies are very smart bunnies except for Mr. Bunny who just wants the weird marmot to decode the recipe. But the foxes want to decode the recipe too, and then the marmot captures Madeline because he just wants to eat garlic bread and he doesn’t want Mr. Bunny and Madeline to follow him to his new house, but they do and then he just keeps on moving but they keep following him and he does not like it and Mr. Bunny thinks that the butler in the one who is behind it but he isn’t.

And then Madeline’s uncle gets sick so she has to get the bunnies to help her and when  the bunnies move into their new house and there is a new red car there and Mr. Bunny really, really, really wants to drive it but number one he doesn’t know how to get it started and number two Mrs. Bunny does not want Mr. Bunny to drive the car because she is scared that Mr. Bunny  will hurt himself and her while driving the car, but Mr. Bunny puts on some purple disco heels so he can reach the gas pedal and after that they go pick up the marmot and the marmot uses the recipe to wipe after he goes to the bathroom …

Sonia showed every sign of wanting to keep going in this fashion, but then I reminded her that brevity is the soul of wit, and we moved on to the other questions.

(Plus, she hadn’t even mentioned MY favorite parts of the book which included shoes made of dental floss, a lively commentary on the necessity of a monarchy, a game called “What’s that lump?” a cool reference to burying the lead and a character whose speech patterns closely resemble Shaggy from Scooby-Doo.)

But enough about me. Without further ado, here’s more of what Sonia had to say:

Our reviewer: Sonia

Age: 9

Things I like to do: Jump rope, sing, watch TV, and play with my cat and gerbil but not at the same time. (That’s what my mom told me to say.) I also like playing on my mom’s iPod and playing on Webkinz World with my stuffed koala, Esther.

The best part was when: Mr. Bunny had to drive the car wearing high heels. Purple, disco high heels.

 I smiled when: When Madeline met Prince Charles wearing her shoes made out of used dental floss. Mrs. Bunny made the shoes for her.

I was worried when: Madeleine got captured. (I knew it was by the marmot, but I thought he was in cahoots with the foxes.)

I was surprised when: Flo and Mildred couldn’t remember Uncle Runyon’s address. That’s just sad.

This book taught me: You never know if you’re going to talk to a bunny that can solve a case you need help with and drive a car wearing high heels.

 Three words that best describe this book are: “Mr. Bunny.” “Drives.” “In heels.”

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “ ‘It’s not our fault. For such a little girl, you certainly have a big bottom,’  said Mr. Bunny.” My second favorite phrase was, “For so I am called.” Mr. Bunny said it all the time whenever someone used his name.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: The funny lines that Mr. Bunny says. That’s why he’s my favorite character.

You should read this book because: Mr. Bunny’s funny.

Thank you, Sonia!

Sonia and I both strongly suggest you read this book as soon as possible. We haven’t even mentioned the story lines surrounding bonnets, things that explode, industrial rubber and prune plums.

You can learn more about author Polly Horvath by visiting her website.

You can learn more about illustrator Sophie Blackall by visiting her website.

As an interesting sidelight, I was in New York last month and rode the subway. While I was riding, I admired a poster hanging in the train showing  … people on a subway. When I read Mr. and Mrs Bunny — Detectives Extraordinaire, I thought the art looked familiar even though Madeline and the bunnies don’t go anywhere near a subway. Why would they when Mr. Bunny has a red smart car and very cool driving shoes?

Anyway, a little Googling showed me that Sophie Blackall was the artist for the subway posters, too. Exciting!