BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
As you meet a wide variety of animals, each of them has a colorful body part to show off.
I really enjoyed how Prasadam-Halls rhymed the color with the animals’ first names. And Underwood’s illustrations are the right flash of fun and bright.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Follow the animals through this counting book to the surprise at the end.
Interestingly, Prasadam-Halls does not start on one - two is the lucky first number. Underwood’s illustrations are bright and easy to count.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
As Bear is desperately trying to get to sleep, Goose is wide awake and looking for fun.
The miscommunication between the two neighbors is pretty funny.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS – ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
A young Chinese American girl helps her immigrant father navigate the roads at night as they deliver take-out orders from their Chinese restaurant. As they drive around town, her father shares his experiences coming to America as a teenager & the little girl comes to better understand the sacrifices her father went through for her and their family.
It's not often that a picture book makes me cry, but this one did. Both the author and illustrator made a note in the back of the book detailing how their own experiences influenced this work, which made it all the more touching. I think this is an important picture book to have in your classroom library because of how it humanizes the immigrant experience, for this young girl and also for the reader. I found it to be full of heart and a text that could pair very nicely with any other immigrant/refugee experience.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Little ghost gets an invitation to a birthday party. He loves Halloween parties, but has never been to a birthday party. Anya talks him into going. He liked the birthday part of the party, but he wasn't good at any of the games. Little ghost decides to have his own birthday party, but it is summer, and he only likes bats, black cats, and candy corn. Halloween and summer just don't mix. He finally gives up on the birthday idea. But then Anya surprises him.
Little Ghost's Summerween is a warm and funny exploration of identity, friendship, and problem solving skills. Willis' illustrations are expressive and charming.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Father Hedgehog is a reporter for the newspaper and hoping to find a good story today. Little hedgehog is excited to spend the day on a summer adventure. His father reminds him about the rules. Don't talk to strangers, don't lose my bag, and never cross the river alone. While little Hedgehog is playing by the river, he sees that a baby owl has fallen out of its nest across the river and a big bear is creeping towards it. What can little Hedgehog do to help the baby bird without breaking the rules?
Read All About It! is a heartwarming story about speaking up and daring to make a difference. Motzo's watercolor and ink illustrations are fun and interesting.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
As Digger is digging away, as he does, he realizes that digging no longer makes him happy. So he decides to go up! Which isn’t exactly as exciting as he thought it would be. How will this little digger find home?
A cute story about the grass being greener (or is it) somewhere else. Digger is very cute. It would be great as a board book. - with wheels!
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL, MS, HS – ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY
Join a girl and her dog as they go about the city, collecting sounds and discovering there is music in everything.
This stunning picture book is a treasure trove of delights. First of all, the author & illustrator cleverly camouflaged several musical instruments & musical notation within the story, so it is a fun exercise to find them on each page. Secondly, I love the word play and emphasis on how the words sound as part of the storytelling. It’s such a great way to introduce word choice in ELA and in such a beautiful package. Lastly, I think this would be a great read-aloud for your music teachers. I love all the layers to this picture book. I’m obsessed!
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Sheep are herd animals. They all do the same things everyday. They eat, sleep, poop and watch the train go by. But, not Scout. He is different.
Great illustrations. It is fun to try and find what Scout is doing differently on each page.
A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Small Knight and Tiny Bear go on an adventure to explore a cave filled with crystals. But when Small Knight wakes the next morning to discover Tiny Bear is missing, everything changes. During the search, Small Knight accidentally knocks over a jar, releasing Anxiety Monster, who had been trapped inside. To find Tiny Bear, Small Knight must learn how to confront their worries and fears. Along the way, Small Knight discovers that understanding anxiety can sometimes be more helpful than trying to battle it.
Wonderful pen, ink and watercolor illustrations. The story offers a gentle, thoughtful look at anxiety and emotional resilience in a way that is accessible for young readers.
Small Knight is white.
A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
The Moon King captured the legendary Starbird as a gift for his daughter. When the girl saw how sad Starbird was, she released it - and enraged Moon King who vowed to follow Starbird to the ends of the earth to recapture it.
I am enamored with King-Chai’s illustrations! Some pages are a seek-and-find as Starbird hides from the Moon King at night. King-Chai was written and illustrated a lovely new fable.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
Lucien is a little boy who is very frequently worried about when things change: new food, new friends, new school, etc. In fact, he would be happy if he could always stay safe and secure in his room and nothing would ever change again. But that all changes for him when he meets a magical animated fire ember named Seraphin who shows him the wonders of the natural world through all the different seasons. Maybe change isn’t so bad?
I liked how Lucian demonstrated his character growth over the year as he explores the world with Seraphin. The colorful illustrations were wondrous and magical. I think it will resonate well with younger readers, but I don’t think the upper elementary grades will like it as much.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
