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The Very Angry Toolbox
The Very Angry Toolbox follows Leroy, a thoughtful eight-year-old who longs for a toolbox of his own so he can be like his hardworking dad and care for the special tools passed down by his grandfather. When Leroy discovers a lonely grey toolbox in an industrial mart, he sees past its shouting and grumpiness to the fear and sadness underneath. What begins as a story about anger slowly opens into one about kindness, second chances, teamwork, and the quiet pride of doing useful work well.
I found the heart of this book genuinely tender. I appreciated that Leroy isn’t written as perfect or overly saintly. He’s excited, unsure, disappointed, and even a little wary when the angry toolbox becomes his only real option. That hesitation made his compassion feel earned rather than automatic. The book has a lovely idea at its center: anger often comes from loneliness, fear, and feeling unwanted. I liked that the toolbox doesn’t magically become wonderful in one page. He has to practice being different. That’s a message children can actually understand, especially the children who feel big emotions before they know what to do with them.
The writing is earnest and full of detail, more chapter-book than picture book, with a steady, old-fashioned storytelling rhythm. I enjoyed the family warmth around Leroy, his dad, and his grandad, particularly the way tools become tied to memory, responsibility, and pride in craftsmanship. The later scenes with the international tools are playful and imaginative, though the book does ask young readers to sit with quite a lot of explanation. The artwork by Gemma Stanley gives the story a lot of charm. The toolbox’s expressive face, the bright character designs, and the little personalities given to the tools help soften the heavier moral moments. I especially liked how the illustrations make machinery feel friendly without losing the rough, workshop feeling of shelves, dust, screws, and old wood.
The Very Angry Toolbox is a sincere and quirky children’s book with a big emotional engine and a clear respect for patience, effort, and repair, both the practical kind and the personal kind. I’d recommend it for children who enjoy talking objects, tools, building, and hands-on work, and especially for families looking for a story that opens a gentle conversation about anger, kindness, and giving someone a chance to change.
Pages: 47 | ASIN : B09K4W67RN
O Tubarão Que Queria Surfar / The Shark Who Wanted To Surf
The Shark Who Wanted to Surf by Isabel Ricardo is a fun, fact-filled story about a blue shark named Carmel who dreams of surfing like the “two-legged creatures” on the surface. Each time he swims close enough to learn, the humans panic and flee. Carmel is left disappointed. Still, he refuses to let fear or doubt wash away his goal. That persistence gives the book a heartfelt, encouraging tone.
Ricardo introduces a variety of sea creatures who become part of Carmel’s world. Along the way, readers pick up engaging facts about anatomy and behavior. Those details deepen the underwater setting while also tracking Carmel’s emotional journey. Some animals dismiss his dream as silly. That response may feel familiar to young readers who have ever been discouraged for wanting something different. Others respond with warmth. Fizz the dolphin and Tentaclaude the octopus stand out as steady sources of support. Their kindness shows how far encouragement can go when someone is learning, growing, or trying something new.
A standout feature is that the book is bilingual, which adds an extra layer of value to the reading experience. Seeing the story presented in two languages supports vocabulary growth and language confidence without interrupting the flow. It also invites shared reading between children and adults who may be stronger in one language than the other. In a story centered on reaching across differences and refusing to give up, the bilingual format feels especially fitting. It widens the audience, strengthens comprehension, and makes rereading even more rewarding.
The backgrounds are detailed and adorable. The underwater scenes feel lively and full of personality. The color and small visual touches make the setting welcoming, even when Carmel hits setbacks. The illustrations also strengthen the emotional moments, especially when Carmel feels hopeful and determined because his friends believe in him.
I would recommend The Shark Who Wanted to Surf to young readers who enjoy ocean adventures, and especially to anyone who needs a reminder that dreams are worth chasing. Even when others disagree. It’s a gentle, uplifting story about friendship, courage, and self-belief.
Pages: 109 | ISBN : 978-1962185783
