Wild Brunch by David L. Harrison and Giles Laroche - OPTIONAL

Wild Brunch by David L. Harrison, illustrated by Giles Laroche. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2024. $18. 9781623543945

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Poems about how different animals eat including jellyfish, narwhal, otter, koala, and hippo, to name a few.

The collage style illustrations are amazing. I really loved them. My favorites are the housefly and elephant. The poetry is okay. The poems would probably appeal most to upper grade elementary students. Some are better than others. The back matter includes additional information about each of the featured animals.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

The Smallest Owlet by Georgia Graham - ADVISABLE

The Smallest Owlet by Georgia Graham. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2023. $25. 9781554556144

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A pair of Great Horned Owls care for their young owls through the seasons until they are ready to go out on their own.

A great non-fiction read aloud book. Interesting and beautifully written to an elementary school level. The illustrations are detailed and appealing. The back matter includes additional information about Great Horned Owls.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

My Hand is the Sun by Christine Naumann-Villemin and Geraldine Cosneau - ADVISABLE

My Hand is the Sun by Christine Naumann-Villemin, illustrated by Geraldine Cosneau. BOARD BOOK. Twirl (Chronicle), 2025. $15. 9782408056025

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Eight spreads show a glimpse of a few of the many creations you can make starting with a handprint!

Sized perfectly for a little hand to match-up - and then break out the crayons or watercolors to brainstorm your own!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Carnival of the Animals (My First Story Orchestra), illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle - OPTIONAL

Carnival of the Animals (My First Story Orchestra), illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle. BOARD BOOK. Frances Lincoln (Quarto), 2025. $13. 9780711292444

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Six pages each have a snippet of music from the famous song for young budding musicians to enjoy.

For parents who love classical music, this is a great alternative to most sound-making board books! It does also have an on/off switch. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Suki Cat: Farmer by Grace Habib - ADVISABLE

Suki Cat: Farmer by Grace Habib. BOARD BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2025. $10. 9798887771342

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Suki has donned her best farmer outfit and is out to help do chores and feed the animals.

Nosy Crow is so good at board books.  Bright colors, sturdy tabs to pull. Suki Cat has a variety of other incarnations - some real (astronaut), some imaginary (unicorn) - all kinds of fun.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

You're Going to Love This Book! by Jory John and Olivier Tallec - ADVISABLE

You're Going to Love This Book! by Jory John, illustrated by Olivier Tallec. PICTURE BOOK. Macmillan, 2024. $19. 9780374388539

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Homework? Sprouts? Going to the dentist?  These are just a few things that kids love.  Right?  The narrator, a kangaroo, tries to convince the reader that You're Going to Love This Book is a must read because it contains all the things that kids love most.

I loved this hilarious book!  The kangaroo talks to the reader giving reasons why this is a great book. The illustrations are bright and colorful but some pages only have text.  However, the text is very entertaining and witty.  You're Going to Love This Book would make a great read aloud.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

When We Had to Leave Home by Linda Ravin Lodding and Anna Aronson - OPTIONAL

When We Had to Leave Home by Linda Ravin Lodding, illustrated by Anna Aronson. PICTURE BOOK. Albert Whitman and Company, 2023. $19. 9780807574812

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Mom had told Sofiya to keep her suitcase packed - hey might go on a trip, mom had said. Sofiya didn't want to leave her home with the beautiful garden. The day came and they had to go; Sofiya picked up a sunflower, root and all. Sofiya carried the sunflower  on the train and on their long, long walks. They even had to cross a border into another country, and get on a bus. 

Sofiya and her family had to leave Ukraine because of the war there. ook. The book was delightful and colorful. Illustrations are great!

Ellen-Anita. Librarian

Farmer Eva's Green Garden Life by Jaqueline Briggs Martin and Christy Hale - ADVISABLE

Farmer Eva's Green Garden Life by Jaqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Christy Hale. PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY.. Readers to Eaters, 2024. $20. 9780998047775

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Farmer Eva farms a small field between the ocean and the forest in Massachusetts. She can smell the ocean and she can smell the forest. In her small garden she grows herbs, and lots of vegetables. Because she cannot eat it all herself, she shares it with friends and neighbors. Then she starts selling extras to restaurants and markets in the small town. Everyone wants some of Eva’s excellent produce. Eva learned all she could about gardening, she even learned about the critters in the soil that help aerate and fertilize her soil.

What a great book! The text is in verse and it is an easy and pleasant read. In the back there is information on the author and illustrator and many resources on how to make good garden soil. It is a delightful and very impressive book. I highly recommend it.

Ellen-Anita. Librarian

Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise by Ms. Rachel and Monique Dong - OPTIONAL

Ms. Rachel and the Special Surprise by Ms. Rachel, illustrated by Monique Dong. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2024. $20. 9780593811252

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K  - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Ms. Rachel is looking for a special box with a special surprise in it. She opens box after box but does not find the right one. But, for every box she opens she sings a song.

Finally she finds the right box.

Cute book, and maybe good for little ones, like preschoolers. Cute illustrations, but they lack depth.

Ellen-Anita. Librarian

Charles and Ray: Designers at Play by James Yang - ADVISABLE

Charles and Ray: Designers at Play by James Yang. PICTURE BOOK. Viking (Penguin), 2024. $19. 9780593404829

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Charles and Ray were artists working together. Charles was an Architect and Ray was a painter. They liked to transform things and make something new. They wanted to design a chair that looked like it was born to be a chair. They worked and worked. Finally they had a usable, comfortable chair.

It was interesting to see the processes they went through and how many they made before they came up with the right one. Loved this story, with great illustrations. It shows you to never give up on a good idea until you get it just right. 

Ellen-Anita. Librarian

Patchwork Prince by Baptiste Paul, illustrated by Kitt Thomas - ADVISABLE

Patchwork Prince by Baptiste Paul, illustrated by Kitt Thomas. PICTURE BOOK. Dial (Penguin),  2023. $19. 9780593463444

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Every night a big truck full of fabric straps roars through the quiet village. Some scraps fly off. If you want some of the scraps you have to be so quick, and not afraid.  A little boy was able to gather a lot of scraps and his mother sewed a beautiful, very colorful cape for him. It made him feel like a prince. He runs around the village with his cape flying behind him. He is so happy.

I love this book. It is so full of life, happy colors and emotions show and all faces as they gather straps and make a cape. I just want to pick up and hug the little “prince.” Read and enjoy. My grandson loves this book.

The setting of the book is St. Lucia, an island country in the Caribbean Ocean. The characters in the book are all black.

Ellen-Anita. Librarian

Lucas and the Capoeira Circle by Joana Pastro and Douglas Lopes - ADVISABLE

Lucas and the Capoeira Circle by Joana Pastro and Douglas Lopes. PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum (Simon), 2024. $19. 9781665924771

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Lucas is excited to join the capoeira circle in the park for the first time and earn his green beginner belt. But when his time arrives, he suddenly loses his ginga - his mojo - his courage! How can he get it back?

While I have heard of many Asian martial arts, I had not heard of this martial art from Brazil - originally practiced by slaves brought to Brazil from Africa.. A lovely celebration of Brazilian culture, including a sprinkling of easily understood vocabulary. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS