City Summer, Country Summer by Kiese Laymon and Alexis Franklin - ADVISABLE

City Summer, Country Summer by Kiese Laymon and Alexis Franklin. PICTURE BOOK Kokila (Penguin), 2025. $19. 9780593405567 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

When a boy from New York comes to visit Mississippi for the summer, the boys who live next door try to welcome him. But there's a lot to miss left behind in New York, and a friendship isn't going to be easy. 

Wow! Beautiful illustrations! This is a gorgeous book! The text and illustration combined speak their own language, and brought this adult reader back to the summers of my youth. I'm certain there's many more layers to this story than my own culture understood, but I loved it so much, I can believe if you are part of their culture, you will really enjoy it, too. The boys are black. 

Lisa Librarian 

Gnome and Rate Time to Party! by Lauren Stohler - ADVISABLE

Gnome and Rate Time to Party! by Lauren Stohler. CHAPTER BOOK. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2024. $11. 9780593487860 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

This is book 2 of 3 of the Gnome and Rat graphic novel series. Written as a chapter book, each chapter has a different adventure for these two. Some of their adventures includes what to do for Gnome's birthday, how to create a holiday for Rat, and teaching Gnome how to blow a bubble. These chapters are short and entertaining. Young readers will enjoy following Gnome and Rats adventures. My daughter and I liked this graphic novel because of the humor in each chapter. The illustrations were engaging and added more to the plot. We liked how silly Gnome was and how Rat was always trying to fix the problems that arose. 

A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

Why I Love Diggers and Trucks by Daniel Howarth - OPTIONAL

Why I Love Diggers and Trucks by Daniel Howarth. BOARD BOOK. HarperCollins Children's Books, 2024. $12 9780008595401

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

This is a colorful little board book with animal characters interacting with and sharing why they love various construction vehicles ("they're noisy"/"they're strong"/"they're huge", etc.) Fans of diggers and trucks will likely be fans of this book. I like that the little animal characters celebrate not just the real construction vehicles, but their own illustrated drawings of construction vehicles, and their toy versions as well. I really dislike the cutesy font and wish they'd used a more simple sans serif font so early readers might be able to read along and at least easily recognize the letters. 

Angie Campbell - EL Librarian 

Pearl's Lost Pearls by Olivier Dunrea - OPTIONAL

Pearl's Lost Pearls by Olivier Dunrea. PICTURE BOOK HarperCollins Children's Books, 2024. $13 9780547867588 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A sweet little easy reader about a darling gosling named Pearl who loves loves LOVES her pearls. She wears her pearls all the time and everywhere...until she doesn't! The illustrations are really cute and the text is simple enough with quite a bit of repetition making it just right for early readers to help read along and maybe even tackle it on their own. Definitely geared for the younger kiddos with a relatable conflict that's resolved pretty quickly. 

Angie Campbell - EL Librarian 

Sketty and Meatball by Sarah Weeks illustrated by Alex Willmore - ADVISABLE

Sketty and Meatball by Sarah Weeks illustrated by Alex Willmore. PICTURE BOOK. HarperCollins Children's Books, 2024. $6 9780062431615 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

This is a cute story about two dogs who are best friends and do everything together. They go on a fun little adventure that has a silly twist and a sweet ending. 

For an easy reader book, this has some fun substance that a parent won't mind reading over and over again with their new little reader. The illustrations are adorable and the writing is simple but fun, with some great examples of opposites and comparisons, as well as gentle teaching about compromise and cooperation. Mostly, young kids will just really enjoy these dogs and their fun friendship. I let some of my students read and review this one and while the upper elementary kids weren't terribly impressed, the younger students loved it. 

Angie Campbell - EL Librarian 

Dr. Seuss Graphic Novel: Cat Out of Water: A Cat in the Hat Story by Art Baltazar - ADVISABLE

Dr. Seuss Graphic Novel: Cat Out of Water: A Cat in the Hat Story by Art Baltazar. CHAPTER BOOK. Random House Graphic, 2024. $11. 9780593703038

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY 

The last time Cat in the Hat came to Sally and her brother's house, things went a little crazy. In this story, everything starts out as a normal day, until the Cat comes to visit. Their fish is grumpy because of the big mess that the Cat left last time, but the Cat assures he won't make a big mess this time. He then gets the idea to turn the entire house into a fishbowl. Sally, her brother, and the fish are swept away in a water adventure in their own house! 

My daughter and I enjoyed this graphic novel. It had a lot of humor and was easy to follow. The pictures were fun and engaging. 

A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

Who's Writing this Story ?! by Robin Newman illustrated by Deborah Zemke - ESSENTIAL

Who's Writing this Story ?! by Robin Newman illustrated by Deborah Zemke. PICTURE BOOK. Creston Books, 2024. $20. 9781954354296 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

This is a unique way to teach young readers about the five basic story elements. It starts with a writer, writing the story of the Three Little Pigs. The writer is soon interrupted by the characters. The pigs want to change the plot, their names, and the conflict. The writer ends up being a weak character, so she is omitted from the pigs' new story. 

This is a fun way to see how you can changing elements in the plot will affect the story. I liked this book because I think that teachers and children will enjoy it for different reasons. This can be enjoyed as a regular story, or it can be used to teach the different story elements. It could also be used with gifted and talented programs. 

A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher

If Lin Can by Richard Ho illustrated by Huynh Kim Lien and Phung Nguyen Quang - ESSENTIAL

If Lin Can: How Jeremy Lin Inspired Asian Americans to Shoot for the Stars by Richard Ho illustrated by Huynh Kim Lien and Phung Nguyen Quang. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2024. $19. 9781623543723

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Have you ever been told that you weren't tall enough? Good enough? Or weren't able to do something due to your race, ethnicity, or game?Jeremy Lin grew up hearing these types of statements. He wanted to become a basketball player. He didn't let these negative messages affect him. He persevered and went on to become a famous and inspiring player. 

I liked this book because it addressed many negative stereotypes and put downs that children hear every day. It was inspiring to see that despite being told he couldn't do it, Lin didn't let that stop him. The pictures and text were engaging. Jeremy Lin's emigrated from Taiwan. 

A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

The Words We Share by Jack Wong - ESSENTIAL

The Words We Share by Jack Wong. PICTURE BOOK.  Annick Press, 2023. $23. 9781773217970 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Angie's dad only speaks Cantonese. They have moved up to Canada and he relies on Angie to translate restaurant menus and interact with his community. He is able to get a job as a janitor and wants to create signs in English to remind people to clean up after themselves. Angie helps him create signs and sees that translating is a need that her whole community has. She begins helping others, but translates one sign at a laundry mat incorrectly. Will she be brave enough to make this right? Will people still want her to help them with their signs? 

I liked this story because it shows how kids can help newly immigrated families interact with their new community. Angie goes to school and therefore learns English faster than her dad. This book shows how many many people living in places like Little Chinatown have a hard time with language barriers, even though they have lived there for years. The characters speak Cantonese. 

A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher 

All the Pieces: When a Loved One Dies from Substance Use by Hallie Riggs illustrated by Adriana Predoi - ADVISABLE

All the Pieces: When a Loved One Dies from Substance Use by Hallie Riggs illustrated by Adriana Predoi. PICTURE BOOK. (K-3rd grade) Magination Press ― American Psychological Association, 2024. $20. 9781433842184 

Content: PG (This book talks about addiction and a parent dying.)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A young boy has a father who has an addiction. He doesn't understand why sometimes his dad can be so fun, while other times, he gets so mad or sad. The boy's grandmother explains to him that people are made up of many different pieces, and this is just one piece of his dad. After the dad dies, the boy learns how to process and acknowledge his different emotions. 

This book was written by a LCSW and would be a great tool for kids that are going through something like this. I liked this book because many kids are going through this at home and this can help them process and talk about what is happening. I also liked that it was written by a LCSW. There are resources and additional information at the back of the book for adults and children. The pictures are cute and engaging. 

A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher

Tasha's Voice by Carmen Bogan, Floyd Cooper and Daria Peoples - ADVISABLE

Tasha's Voice by Carmen Bogan, Floyd Cooper and Daria Peoples. PICTURE BOOK. Yosemite Conservancy, 2024. $19. 9781951179045 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Written by the same author as who wrote Where's Rodney?, this is about a young African American girl named Tasha, who is the new girl in class and is a little shy. When her teacher calls on her to share, no words come out. The class is going on a field trip to a park on Friday. Once Tasha starts exploring nature with the park ranger, she starts to become more confident with her environment and herself. She might even be brave enough to speak in front of the class. 

This is a story of bravery and friendship. I liked this book because of the overall theme and the illustrations. The characters were multicultural and authentic. This book would help students that are new to a school or any child that loves nature and the outdoors. 

A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher

Mermaids are the Worst by Alex Willan. - ESSENTIAL

Mermaids are the Worst by Alex Willan. PICTURE BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2025. $20. 9781665962599 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

When the Goblin takes a vacation, he discovers that Mermaids are the Worst. They are not quiet. In fact, his island paradise is the location of the Mermaid Tournament of Awesomeness. 

I adore this series. Alex Willan has so many great ideas. I hope he never runs out of magical creatures this goblin can hate. If you don't have Unicorns Dragons Yetis and Elves are the Worst quickly purchase the whole series for your library. 

Lisa Librarian