Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Short Dog, Long Dog: A Book of Opposites by Anna Hrachovec - ADVISABLE
Up and Down by Jane Burnard and Tracey Turner and Dawn Cooper - ADVISABLE
A Pocket Full of Rocks by Kristin Mahoney and E.B. Goodale - NO
A Pocket Full of Rocks by Kristin Mahoney and E.B. Goodale. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2025. $19. 9780593428542
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - NOT RECOMMENDED
APPEALS TO: SOME
A child gathers rocks in his pocket during the winter, petals in the spring, shells in the summer, and acorns in the fall. His family tells him why he shouldn’t, but he continues for his own reasons, including using each item for the fairies his imagination finds in the forest.
The pudgy androgynous fairies were an odd choice for me, especially since they were naked in the winter, but used blankets in the spring and hats in the fall. I didn’t find the fairy illustrations delightful, as I usually do, instead they were off-putting.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
When the Rain Came Down by Leslie Helakoski, illustrated by Keisha Morris - ADVISABLE
When the Rain Came Down by Leslie Helakoski, illustrated by Keisha Morris. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan), 2024. $18. 9780374390204
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
What happens when a hurricane hits a community? Do people work together and help save each other? What happens after the hurricane is over? These questions and more are answered in this picture book for younger children.
When the Rain Came Down has lyrical text and eye catching illustrations. It teaches students about the effects of natural disasters in an interesting way. The text on each page is minimal and would be a good read aloud for younger grades. This book is a great example of resilience and helping others. Many races are represented in this book.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
Monday, May 19, 2025
Wheetle: A Little Wagon with a Big Heart by Cindy Derby - OPTIONAL
Little People Big Dream: Roald Dahl by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Francis Martin - ADVISABLE
The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice by Amy Alznauer, illustrated by Anna Bron - ADVISABLE
The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice by Amy Alznauer, illustrated by Anna Bron. BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2025. $19. 9781536229479
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice reveals one woman's interest and journey in discovering several five sided tessellating shapes that can cover a surface and fit together indefinitely.
Amy Alznauer tells the fascinating story of how a woman with no formal mathematical training discovers astonishing shapes. It reveals a fun idea to approach geometry through art. Bron's illustrations enjoyably lift the story and show us many of the wonderful shapes and surfaces.
PGPowers
Ford NUMBERS by Gabriella DeGennaro and Emilie Lapeyre - OPTIONAL
Ford NUMBERS by Gabriella DeGennaro and Emilie Lapeyre. BOARD BOOK. Penguin Young Reader, 2024. $8. 9780593753088
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
The book is all about Ford cars. It is a counting book and shows how many windows, mirrors, tires, etc. on a car.
It was OK, and small children might like to look at the book, point out the different things on a car and learn to count to 10 at the same time.
Ellen-Anita, Librarian
Sunday, May 18, 2025
A Mouse Just Ate My House! by Kes Gray and Sebastien Braun - ADVISABLE
A Mouse Just Ate My House! by Kes Gray and Sebastien Braun. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak (Quarto), 2025. $19. 9780711288058
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
The boy is severely stressed because is not just eating his cheese, but his entire home. Nothing seems to be able to stop it.
Kids will probably giggle at the idea that the voracious mouse ate his aunt, uncle, and the exterminator amongst so many other things. The rhymes are a bit forced at times, but you won’t end up singing along as you read. Fun cut-outs scattered throughout add to the fun. You might wish for a happy ending - but you aren’t going to get it. Try to approach this as the piece of silliness that it is.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
Hiding in Plain Sight by Beth Anderson and Sally Wern Comport - ADVISABLE
Hiding in Plain Sight: Kate Warne and the race to save Abraham Lincoln by Beth Anderson, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Calkins Creek (Astra), 2025. $19. 9781635928235
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
President-elect Abraham Lincoln was on his way from Illinois to his inauguration in Washington DC, but in order to arrive, he had to pass through Baltimore, a Southern States stronghold, with virulent anti-Lincoln sentiments. Word has reached the ears of the Pinkertons that an assassination plot was planned, heard by the vigilant ears of Kate Warne, one of Pinkerton's most trusted agents. Can they convince Lincoln to shift his plans even a little in order to avoid the danger?
If your school talks about inaugurations or covers Lincoln’s presidency, I can see adding Anderson’s book. It is interesting reading and the atmospheric illustrations add to the noir feeling of the whole. It all depends on who in your building would use it.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
My Hair is Like Yours by St. Claire Detrick-Jules - OPTIONAL
My Hair is Like Yours by St. Claire Detrick-Jules. NON-FICTION BOARD BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2024. $9. 9781797221854
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
The book shows photographs of different people with the same hairstyles.
It was OK, but not wonderful. Some children might like to look at it.
The characters are African American.
Ellen-Anita, Librarian
Maybe . . . by Chris Houghton - OPTIONAL
Maybe . . . by Chris Houghton. BOARD BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2021 (hc), 2024 (bb). $11. 9781536238099
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
The three little monkeys get restless waiting for mommy to return so they look around and see some yummy, juicy mangoes, but no tigers. They decide to hurry and get a treat. Hopefully they will be safe and there will be no tigers lurking.
Cute book. Children might enjoy finding the hidden tiger in each picture and then turn the pages to see if the disobedient little monkeys will be caught by a tiger. A fun and colorful book for small children.
Ellen-Anita, Librarian
Welcome to Kiss the Book Jr.!
Welcome! Kiss the Book Jr. is for board books, picture books, early readers, and chapter books. Also, any novels and non-fiction that we ag...