Tip Tap Went Crab by Tim Hopgood - ADVISABLE

Tip Tap Went Crab by Tim Hopgood. BOARD BOOK. Macmillan Children's Books, 2025. $9. 9781529098983

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

A little crab lived in a beautiful pool that was full of all types of sea creatures, but she was tired of her rock pool.  She wanted to live in the big blue sea, so off she went.  She passed one noisy seagull, two sea lions, three starfish, and more until she reached the sea.  In the sea she saw many more fish as it got darker and darker.   What does the little crab realize?

Hopgood's counting book is a delightful story, and introduces preschoolers to numbers and counting. His illustrations are colorful, interesting, and artistic.

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Whales in the City by Nancy F. Castaldo, illustrated by Chuck Groenink - ADVISABLE

Whales in the City by Nancy F. Castaldo, illustrated by Chuck Groenink. PICTURE BOOK. Macmillan, 2025. $19. 9780374308568

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Before there was New York City, whales swam in New York Harbor.  They filled their bellies with fish, and the water was fresh.  Then people came on ships.  They killed many whales.  The city grew and dumped pollution into the harbor. The water grew too dirty for fish and people.  The whales left for cleaner and safer waters. People along the river protested, marched, and joined together in protest.  Laws were finally made to protect the river.  But would the whales ever return?

Whales in the City is an uplifting environmental success story, showing how people can work hard to make a difference.  I liked how some of the story was told from the Whales perspective.  I also appreciated the backmatter on whales and water pollution around the country.

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Insectarium: Welcome to the Museum by Dave Goulson, illustrated by Emily Carter - ADVISABLE

Insectarium: Welcome to the Museum by Dave Goulson, illustrated by Emily Carter. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Big Picture Press (Candlewick Press), 2024. $38. 9781536241143

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Insectarium introduces readers to the fascinating world of insects.  Insects make up over 80 percent of the living species on Earth.  Most well know insects are discussed as well as  creatures such as the beautiful demoiselle and the gigantic goliath beetle.  We learn why and how these small small creatures have such a huge impact on the world around us.

Insectarium is for the reader who wants to explore the world of insects in depth.  The book is very large, oversized, and of rare quality.  There is lots of text and beautiful detailed artwork of interesting specimens.  FYI Insectarium is a large format book - 15” tall.

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What if Marty Doesn't Like My Party? by Katie Arthur - ADVISABLE

What if Marty Doesn't Like My Party? by Katie Arthur. PICTURE BOOK. Owl Kids, 2025. $19. 9781771476010

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Henry gives out birthday invitations to his friends at school.  He is excited that his new best friend Marty is coming.  As he lays in bed at night, he begins to get anxious and worry that Marty will not like his house, food, or dog.  He talks to his tired sister on the top bunk and tells her his worries.  How can his sister help him feel better?

Arthur tells this story in a graphic novel format. I liked his portrayal of a loving family and a strong sibling relationship to help the main character work through anxieties.

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What Makes a Bird? by Megan Pomper, illustrated by Maia Hoekstra - ADVISABLE

What Makes a Bird? by Megan Pomper, illustrated by Maia Hoekstra. PICTURE BOOK. Owl Kids, 2025. $19. 9781771476133

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A young boy wanders through nature wondering, " What makes a bird?"  Is it a bird because it has feathers, or a beak?  Is it because it has wings?  What is it that makes a creature a bird?

What Makes a Bird? is a thoughtful journey through the facts that we know about birds.  I enjoyed the fresh, pretty illustrations.

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To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell - ADVISABLE

To See an Owl by Matthew Cordell. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Children's Books, 2025. $19. 9780593649893

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

For as long as she can remember, Janie has always thought about owls.  One of her teachers, Mr. Koji, has spent many years learning about and looking for owls.  This sparks Janie’s attention and she begins a careful composition of illustrations, maps of the woods, and a detailed journal of what she has learned about owls.  She and her mother go on many adventures hoping to finally spot an owl.  With a very patient and supportive mom, Janie’s dream of spotting an owl finally happens!

To See an Owl is a sweet story of determination, a desire of learning, and a special bond between mother and child and teacher and student.  The illustrations are done beautifully with colored pencil sketches that show expressions in great detail.  There is a perfect ending with few words and anticipation building until the very end.  Use this  in a unit on owls or the hobby of being a “birder”. 

Reviewer: sl

Penelope Weathervanes's Grumpy Day by James Serafino - ADVISABLE

Penelope Weathervanes's Grumpy Day by James Serafino. PICTURE BOOK. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2025. $19. 9781250350220

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Penelope Weathervane had big plans for a sunny day picnic, but she was having a grumpy day. Cloudy thoughts had taken over her mind.  Her picnic is ruined and she is getting worse by the second.  A stormfront of frustration, and scattered outbursts eventually turned into a torrential downpour of grumpiness and a flood of tears.  How could she ever escape from her grumpy feelings?

Serafino's story is deeply relatable to anyone who has ever found themselves trying to manage stormy emotions. I love the weather metaphor.  Serafino’s illustrations are amazing in helping us feel the range of emotions.

PGPowers

The Cake Problem: Equivalent and Simplified Fractions by Bill Wise and David Lynch - ADVISABLE

The Cake Problem: Equivalent and Simplified Fractions by Bill Wise, illustrated by David Lynch. PICTURE BOOK. Clavis Publishing Inc., 2025. $20. 9798890630285 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Sheep tells Chicken and Goat that Farmer Ed gave them a delicious chocolate cake.  They realize that the cake has six sides and is in the shape of a hexagon.  After some playful bantering, they decide to do some math so that they can divide the cake into three equal pieces.  How can they figure out the correct fraction?

The Cake Problem makes learning fractions pretty easy with engaging illustrations, silly jokes, and fun animal characters.  It is a combination of a graphic novel and a picture book.  I like the end papers which feature examples of the mathematical concepts presented.  

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Bijan Always Wins by Adib Khorram, illustrated by Michelle Tran - ADVISABLE

Bijan Always Wins by Adib Khorram, illustrated by Michelle Tran. PICTURE BOOK. Dial (Penguin), 2024. $14. 9780593325308

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Bijan loves to win.  In fact, it is his favorite thing.  He wins at all kinds of things like playing dinosaurs and tying his shoes.  He even wins at brushing his teeth.  Bijan's friends become tired of his "winning" attitude.  Will Bijan figure out that winning isn't everything before he loses all of his friends?

I really enjoyed the sweet message in this book.  Winning isn't everything is an important but difficult concept for some children to understand.   The illustrations are done in colored pencils with pastel colors and are very beautiful.  Bijan Always Wins would make a great read aloud.

The name Bijan is from Iran but the book does not mention his origins.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe - ADVISABLE

Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe. PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Schuster, 2025. $20. 9781534478206

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Aggie has moved into a house of her own, but it has a ghost that won’t leave her alone and won’t follow Aggie’ rules. If she is successful in getting rid of the ghost - might she miss it?

Forsythe’s books are dreamy and atmospheric. The stories are out of the norm - odd, but not silly. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

At the Rescue Cat Cafe by Anna Humphrey, illustrated by Kari Rust - ADVISABLE

At the Rescue Cat Cafe by Anna Humphrey, illustrated by Kari Rust. PICTURE BOOK. Owlkids Books, 2025. $19. 9781771475402

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

At the Rescue Cat Cafe there are many cat characters.  Handsome Henry, Adventurous Hitch, Mysterious Ming, and many others are waiting for their forever home. But you won't see Mouse - she hides most of the time.  Each day of the week, many different people come in and leave with a new cat friend or two.  Will someone ever find Mouse and take her home?

Humphrey's heartfelt story is about the connection humans can find with animals, and about the importance of adopting animals.  

A gay couple visits the cafe.

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Ten Little Tractors: A Counting Storybook by Amanda Sobotka, illustrated by James Newman Gray - ADVISABLE

Ten Little Tractors: A Counting Storybook by Amanda Sobotka, illustrated by James Newman Gray. BOARD BOOK. Harper Collins, 2025. $15. 9781400346134

BUYING ADVISORY:  Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Ten Little Tractors on a farm are mowing in a line.  After a rooster comes by there are only nine tractors.  Each time the tractors work on a new spot, and a new animal arrives, one of the tractors goes - disappears until there is only one tractor.  What happened to all the rest of the tractors? 

Ten Little Tractors is just a fun simple hands on counting book in easy rhyme.   A child can touch the colorful built-in toys on each page.  I admired the cute and interesting artwork.

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