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
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
This charming picture book follows the plants and creatures that call a “mossy mountain bog” their home. Readers discover that even the messiest places can be full of magic. Hevron’s illustrations make the mud, moss, and dragonflies feel like you could reach out and touch them. The text is in regular font while the insect and animal conversations are in different font making it easy to differentiate between the two. Bog Buddies is a wonderful reminder that there is beauty in the muck. It’s so easy to look at a swamp or a bog and think it’s just a dirty puddle, but this book helps kids (and adults!) see the life and importance hidden there. It’s simple, soulful, and very, very cute.
The conversations are adorable! Teachers and parents will love reading out loud this picture book as much as little ones will enjoy listening. This picture book can be used in a unit on the ecosystem.
S. Lewis
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
A family of ducklings is trying to navigate their morning routine without waking up the momma duck. Morning is the perfect time to explore the farm so they snuck out of the duck house. Two of the three ducklings know how to be really, really quiet. But the youngest, who is fashioned in a blue scarf, ultimately blurts out, “QUACK” at the hint of any danger. From a house bucking to a fox burrow, the ducklings find themselves in compromising situations. Will the ducklings finally make their way safely back to the duck house?
Howley’s art style is stylish and warm, with expressive characters that perfectly capture the "tip-toeing" energy of the story. The illustrations are the sweetest part of this picture book. There is something so relatable about trying to be as quiet as possible, only for the smallest thing to trigger a giant explosion of noise. I loved the sweet, simple plot and the adorable illustration.
S. Lewis
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Bookie and Cookie have very different personalities—Bookie loves adventure and see’s the world as a playground, while Cookie prefers to stay on the safe side of situations. When Bookie wants to “turn the page,” Cookie is hesitant. “What if we find something bad?” The two friends discover that sharing experiences can be both fun and rewarding and in the end, Bookie’s adventurous side rubs off onto Cookie and the fun begins.
Gomez’s illustrations are simple yet expressive, using soft colors and clean lines that make the story feel warm and inviting. The text is easy to follow, making it a great choice for young readers or for reading aloud. This book delivers a sweet message about being open to new interests and appreciating what others enjoy. It’s a delightful read for children and a nice reminder about the value of friendship and the joy of trying new things.
The boys are illustrated as white and Black.
S. Lewis
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
A little bear who starts to worry about many things, and those worries begin to feel bigger and harder to ignore. “What if this is the last cookie? And the cookie store is about to close? And I miss the last bus to the cookie store?” And so it goes until Bear finally makes it to the cookie store with the very long line of waiting customers. Will Bear get the last cookie? Or will all his efforts and worry be for nothing?
Shaloshvili's illustrations are soft and expressive, perfectly capturing the bear’s emotions and helping readers connect with the story. They are stunning! The simple text makes it easy for children to follow along while also opening the door for conversations about feelings and how to handle them. This book offers a reassuring message that worries are normal and can be managed, especially with support. I understand the author was trying for humor in the final pages but I feel like he missed an opportunity to have the ending be a sweet, comfortable situation that would also lend to discussions about sharing and friendship.
S. Lewis
