BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Martin takes us on an adventure through the forest, using a single word with each illustration as a sort of contemplation and guide. I can see an adult using this with a child as a calming tool, like guided meditation, as the illustrations are mostly soothing. I’d even be interested in using it at bedtime.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
At the end of World War II, after a stint in Japan keeping the peace, Orval was gifted a sword from the thousands of swords surrendered by the Japanese people. For almost 70 years Orval cared for the sword, but never talked about it. Then he finally had an idea of what he could do with the sword and still work on spreading peace.
I’m not sure how post WWII fits into the elementary curriculum. If you have a teacher who touches on it, or talks about war, peace, reparations, etc. This is a book worth looking into.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Penguin is hungry, but he’s tired of eating the same old fish. He’s heard rumors of something called a “bolar pear” so he sets off on a very long journey to find this new delicacy.
Of course it is silly that a penguin would travel all the way to the North Pole and back in the space of a single meal - or that the polar bear would follow it the whole way and the penguin not recognize what he is looking for. Your tolerance for this book is going to depend on your tolerance for mildly funny nonsense.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Toro takes us through the migration and mating of the humpback whales along the coast of Chile.
Dipacho’s illustrations have a quality that compliments the non-fiction in a way that doesn’t make it feel too “non-fiction-y”. It is text heavy, though - so not a read aloud.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Lika’s shadow has started misbehaving and then one day it runs away, forcing Lika to come with it to the Circus of Shadows. The two pieces of Lika learn to find joy in each other.
A very atmospheric picture book - while it doesn’t make a lot of sense, it could be a good vehicle to talk about dark things and why we are sometimes afraid of them.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
See the floor from the perspective of a baby as they try to traverse the front room to their ultimate goal - mommy!
I wanted to like this book, but I am confused by who the intended audience is. Baby? Well, a crawling baby isn’t going to understand the words. An older sibling - maybe, but while they might like the idea of setting up a maze for a baby sibling to crawl through - the book is still too juvenile for them. A parent - could be. All I can see is that it is a mildly interesting book about perspective.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Join the party as a bromeliad fills with water in the rainy season and then nurtures life throughout the year, until it is time to start over again.
While very simple, Hevron stills brings enough information to the telling that I felt I learned a lot. Her illustrations have a child-like quality, while still feeling professional.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Come explore the wonders of a redwood forest.
Fleming and Graenick turn the picture book on its side to capture the majesty of the redwoods. The rhythm is based around “This is the church, this is the steeple”. You can also follow certain children from page to page - I always enjoy that. A book to enjoy the majesty of wandering through a forest.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (ADVISABLE) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Jack is talking to the mayor and dreaming of the town he would build if he were in power.
Like the three other books before this, Jack’s imagination is wild and also full of hope. It is a lot of silly fun, with a few good ideas thrown in. Van Dusen has written in a loosely iambic pentameter rhythm, so it can be difficult, when reading aloud, to keep from getting stuck singing the words. THe illustrations are highly engaging.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Go back in time to the origins of the La Brea Tarpits, on through the animals stuck by it and on to the discoveries still being made.
If you have never been to the La Brea TarPits it is worth a visit if you are ever near Los Angeles (or Disneyland). While La Brea might be the most famous, there are at least a dozen sites around the world. Kids love dinosaurs - I think this will be of interest.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
A young scientist and her little brother are going to teach us all about flatulence!
You know you probably need more than one copy of this book - farts are a very popular topic for elementary aged boys - and high school boys - and adult boys. Barton gives the humor and the facts about farts.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
It's the first trip to the salon for our young narrator and she is overwhelmed by all the options she sees on the street. What hairstyle would fit her best? Bobs, buns, coils, and fros and so much more!
I loved this story of our young narrator finding her own kind of beautiful, guided by the women in her life, like her grandmother, mom, and older sister. This book is a beautiful tribute to Black hair and shining the spotlight on one of the things that makes us unique. I think this could be paired really nicely with Hair Love by Matthew Cherry.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
