Tough topic, but something some kids have to deal with.

It's an unpleasant topic, but it's definitely something that there are kids going through who need help coming to terms with it. I've seen this book in lists of "Bad Children's Books," like, ha ha, parents going to jail, but I think it treats the subject in a very respectful manner.

Message

It's okay to feel upset that your parent is going to jail, and it's not your fault.

Simple book about big brothers and new babies.

It's a list of things that big brothers can do that babies can't do. So even though the baby might get more attention sometimes, the parents still spend time with just the big brother. Your parents aren't going to forget about you or love you less when they have a baby.

Message

Babies may need more attention, but big brothers get more perks.

Philosophical and mathematical exploration for children.

It's a good introduction to the concept of infinity and mathematics, especially the fact that it's hard for pretty much everybody to understand. The art is really engaging as well.

Message

Infinity is complicated but interesting.

And for my next trick, I'll climb the Statue of Liberty with my bare hands!

I'm not really sure what the message is. I think it's trying to say that the twin towers, although they are gone, have this happy memory in addition to their sad destruction. But an alternate message is really, "It's okay to do illegal things as long as nobody gets hurt and they're highly entertaining."

Message

Sad events shouldn't make us forget the happy memories. Or, trespassing is fun!

As a commercial once said, “Yo hablo escargot! I'm bilateral.”

I don't know whether people from that culture would think it was sweet, in kind of a quaint way, that they were thought of by only these things, or would be offended. I am not Hispanic, but living in southern California my whole life, I've been exposed to it somewhat, and there's a lot more to it than these trivial things.

Message

None.

I wish all unwanted guests were this easy to get rid of.

I don't get it. Is it supposed to be a metaphor for overcoming social anxiety? I have no idea. It's just weird. I can't get a message out of it. It's certainly not bad, it's just bizarre. It doesn't really have a point. It's just got magic in it for no apparent reason.

Message

None.

And the question I... “mustache”... is, “Why?” (I'm so sorry.)

But it doesn't come across as realistic, so it's not quite a bad book. It's clearly trying to be silly. It's almost like it's a parody, without really having a clear reference point of what it's a parody of. But I'm not sure prejudice is a topic to be silly about.

Message

It's like they're saying that it's okay to discriminate against people with certain mustaches, because your mustache will change to fit your personality.

Spontaneous parade, everybody! Woo!!

A parade is awfully slow. That doesn't seem the right way to go with this. And people don't necessarily all want to go to the same place. So it's solved with a really weird solution. I wouldn't think that anybody in the cars would be happy about being in a parade, because they were trying to go somewhere.

Message

Take turns.

Too long, too wordy, kind of depressing.

TL;DR. It's not a picture book. It's a chapter book with illustrations here and there.

Message

Don't make fun of people for being different.

Bones are people-- er, pigs-- too.

So, yeah. Very deus ex machina ending there, coming out of nowhere. We have a bone and talking animals, and the bone is magic and can imitate sounds, and all of a sudden it can cast spells. But it doesn't know how it knows the spells, or what spells it knows. It apparently only casts them in times of great distress.

Message

Be nice to magic talking bones and they'll be nice back.