BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Race cars, hot rods, stock cars, sprint cars, sports cars, and many more speedy vehicles are getting ready for bed in their own special way. Some take a last victory lap. Some get tucked in by their parent pit crew. Does every fast car have a night time routine?
"Where Do Race Cars Sleep at Night? is a great bedtime book for children who love fast cars.
Slade's illustrations are cute and colorful.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
A young girl's schedule is very busy. She has so many important things to do like karate, trumpet lessons, Spanish and coding lessons. Will she ever have time to play with Flamingo and Potato? She tries to learn to find balance in her life.
The message of this book about finding balance in life is an important lesson for kids. Even though the illustrations are bright and engaging, I found the plot to be a little strange. The girl's best friends are a flamingo and a potato. The text is interesting though because it is written in a certain color for each character. The young girl is presumably white.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Have you ever fallen? Have you ever taken a tumble? Feeling confused? Or bruised? Just call out to our friends, your banana friends!
Go Bananas is a must have for every parent and teacher who has little ones needing a “shout out” of love and fun in their young lives. The wording and illustrations of this picture book are spot on. As a teacher and a parent, I imagine this book will be read and loved by many. With bold colors and perfect facial expressions, Watkins is superb! A.B. Peele writes the perfect children’s book that is fun and interactive. This book can be used in a unit on emotions and on motion/ physical exercise.
S. Lewis
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
There is a gang about the farm! They are called The Skunk Gang and they are creating havoc on Old MacDonald’s Farm! Cows now have mustaches, horses have stripes, chickens have hats! Officer Busby from Animal Control is concerned until she realizes what day it is, April 1st! Just wait to see what happens on the 4th of July! The Skunk Gang is already starting to plan.
This a fun side story to the beloved “Old MacDonald Has a Farm”. The illustrations are detailed and very colorful. The farmer’s expressions are life-like and funny. The addition to the Skunk Gang weaved into this story is a fun and unexpected twist. Officer Busby is black.
S. Lewis
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Our Islands takes young readers on a journey to unique islands around the world. Readers will explore each island's location, formation, special plants, animals, extreme environment, and highlights any natural marvel.
Our Islands fuels the reader's natural curiosity with colorful, creative illustrations, and fun fact vignettes. I liked the illustrated world map showing the location of these fascinating islands.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Millie's parents care a lot about the planet. Most of the time they are too busy for anything fun or enjoyable, so Millie passes lonely hours admiring Mrs. Periwinkle's wonderful garden. One day, she gives Millie three potted plants. As they grow, so does Millie's joy. One night a storm threatens to knock the pots over. When Millie goes out to check on them, she meets a hedgehog who gives her valuable advice about how she can show the earth she cares.
Watts weaves a modern environmental fairytale about connecting to nature and discovering joy and hope in plants and animals. I enjoyed Watt's expressive storybook illustrations.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Can you bang, boom, caw, crash, buzz, blub, pitter-patter, pffffft, whoosh, yawn, moo, or roar? Then this read aloud book is for you! just look at the picture and say whatever noise you think the picture is making.
Buzz! Boom! Bang! is a fun and silly, interactive, wordless picture book where readers make sounds based on the colorful illustrations, encouraging creativity and imagination through onomatopoeia.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
A young girl and her basset hound explore nature asking the question, "Who are you?" As the young girl wanders, she finds her identity through her experiences. She is the rock beneath her and the clouds above her. She is the grass and the butterfly. She is the howling wind and the raindrops. In her thoughtful wanderings she gets lost and frightened. What does she realize when she finds her way home?
Keane gives us a thoughtful simplistic story about how every moment, both good and challenging, shapes who we become. I liked Keane's loose style of illustration.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Jim Panzee tries to celebrate Father's Day by bringing his dad breakfast in bed, but his dad is already up. He decides instead to make breakfast for Grandpanzee. Grandpanzee doesn't like a fuss. Jim learns where he gets his own grumpiness. After exploring many humorous different ideas on ways to show appreciation, all three of them decide on the best way to celebrate Father's day.
Father's Day Fuss is a fun way to think about how you would celebrate your own father. I loved all the silly antics of the characters. I was amused with Lang's comical illustrations.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
A young girl decides to draw pictures of how she would joyfully reimagine the world. Everyone would have a home, and no one would be hungry. Treehouse ice cream shops are a thing, and you can always find a kind elephant in case you need to reach something high. Every tall mountain has a slide to come down, and confetti bursts whenever someone does something good. She imagines many more wonderful things. What would you want if you redrew the world?
When I Redraw the World is an endearing and fun celebration of imagination and curiosity. I loved the creativity and the colorful illustrations
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Capybaras are the world's largest and trendiest rodent, and beloved across the world. Wild About Capybaras! is a Giggle and Learn graphic novel full of many facts about this trendy animal. Capybaras can swim like seals, have fourteen toes, eat their own poop, and many more fun facts.
Wild About Capybaras is a quick, fun, and fascinating read for kids of all ages. I really enjoyed the graphic novel format and McCloskey's humorous approach to the facts.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
In an effort to inspire creativity, Marcus Pfister shares with readers his passion for painting and writing incredible children’s books. From Rainbow Fish to Happy Hedgehog and Hooper, we see the different techniques he uses in his illustrations. With fun rhyming, Phister shares his painting journey. “On canvas, in oil, or gouache it’ll go. Watercolor, acrylic, all grand! Funny, fantastic- but digital? No! It’ll only work in my hand.” It was fun to read and recognize beloved pages from Wilson’s many popular books.
S. Lewis
