Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“There was no doubt about it; Cristobal was the king of each rodeo, ranch, and Texan bull ring. So why, in that case, did he feel sad? As if something were missing; something he’d never had?”

It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a children’s book and when I find a great one, I need to tell everyone about it! Enter Cristobal Bull from Chris Corbett, another book that fits the bill effortlessly, a book which is memorable and quirky and one which you’ll want to pick up again straight after your first read. I guarantee your children will adore it, and so will you. So thrilled to be sharing my review!

About the book

Cristobal Bull is a fun story of perseverance on the journey of finding one’s identity. It shows us if we continue to pursue our dreams, we will reach a point where we know this is what we were meant to be. That point is a place of power for each of us in our lives, including your children.

My thoughts

As first impressions go, this book had everything. Incredible illustrations (by the talented Richardo Galvao), short, fast paced, rhyming paragraphs which felt fluid, easy and exciting to read through, and a storyline to tug at your heart and help you see the world differently, putting so much into perspective. What more could you want or need from a children’s book?! I read through the book two or three times which surprised me and I just knew it’d be one I’d instantly recommend to all my parent friends. I seemed to take different things from it in each read through, and the author’s talent for writing children’s books is so clear from reading Cristobal Bull’s story alone. There’s so much I want to talk about because I genuinely think this is one of the best children’s books I’ve reviewed to date. (Yes, it really is that good!)

Let’s start with the illustrations. How talented?! I felt each page of illustrations was perfectly paired with the text alongside it, each as detailed or as simple as it needed to be to get the message across. The vivid, striking colours were so eye-catching and I loved spending a minute or two on each page just taking it all in. The illustrator has certainly succeeded in bringing Chris Corbett’s version of this story to life in my eyes! Cristobal Bull’s character design was so quirky and memorable, and to be honest, I couldn’t imagine him looking any other way! Other characters we meet were also filled with personality. I couldn’t fault any of it!

The story itself is surprisingly deep, but in a way that strongly appeals to its target age range as well as the adults who read with their children. I think it’s perfect for children and adult reading sessions, maybe even for children to read alone if they’re older. Cristobal Bull has so much going for him. He’s the strongest, bravest and most handsome bull around, but underneath all this, even though his life might seem perfect on the surface, he feels lonely. Like something is missing in his life. Even this is so easy to apply to real life. It’s the perfect conversation starter and I felt like there was so many opportunities for discussion at different parts of the book. Finding your true self and chasing the things that bring you happiness was one of my main take aways from the book, but there are also references to love and friendship, courageousness and confidence. The words and vocabulary used was just a breath of fresh air. The rhymes, the description used was just delightful and I couldn’t help but smile as I read through Cristobal’s jouney! Simply brilliant.

Overall thoughts

Cristobal Bull is a colourful and thought-provoking children’s book that is perfect for teaching crucial life lessons and opening up discussions about so many important subjects. Not only does it look incredible from start to finish thanks to the pages and pages of fun illustrations, but the story itself is something both children and adults alike can relate to. It provides endless opportunities to bond with your child and talk about life and friendships, wants and wishes, what’s important and what you need to be happy and find your own identity. It basically has everything! A must for your child’s book collection, one that can be enjoyed over and over. Recommending to all my parent friends!

You can grab your own copy of Cristobal Bull over on Amazon now, available on Kindle and in paperback and hardcover.

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