BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
As a chicken on a farm, every day was a pleasure for Sabrina Sue. In the past she has always gone on solo adventures, but this time all of her farm friends want to go too.
Sabrina Sue has moved from early reader books to a picture book! Her adventure with her friends is a roller coaster of adventure, fright, and fun!
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
A simple board book to celebrate the Santa side of Christmas with changing sliders.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
The two mice are cold on the city streets in the snow, so they hitch a ride to a sunnier climate, where they thoroughly enjoy their vacation time. They don’t ever want to go back to that city.
Silliness, of course, but it was fun to see all of the different activities the mice enjoyed. A young beginning reader will need some help with words like “vacation”.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL (4-6) – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
You are invited to participate in the feast of friends, otherwise known as Friendsgiving. There are many delicious scenes and just as many delicious words to describe the friends and inclusive communities that are the heart of this story.
I think this would be a good addition to your classroom library of Thanksgiving traditions as it’s just another way to celebrate the holiday. I loved all the vignettes of different groups celebrating together with food and good feelings. It’s a nice reminder that your chosen family can be just as important as the people you are related to by blood.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Keystone animals help every plant and animal within their sphere of influence; if they are removed, devastating consequences result.
Duffield introduces us to several keystone species around the world, enhanced by Salyer’s gorgeous illustrations. Each spread has a poem and a text paragraph, each emphasizing the importance of the species in different ways. Very useful for science lessons on habitats, endangered species, and food webs.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
At midnight on Halloween the ghosts come out to the playground. Rex Magnificus, the king of ghosts, invites all the ghosts to come for a party. No humans allowed! But this year, the noise has woken up two neighbor children who have come to join the fun. Rex is furious and attempts to scare them away.
“The Haunted Playground" is a long poem written in rhyming stanzas making it a delightful read aloud. The full page pictures are detailed and interesting with a hand-drawn look that feels nostalgic. This is a sweet little introduction for children to the world of ghost stories.
Janae S., Reading Teacher
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Kitty has never liked Christmas, but this year he is REALLY trying. Unfortunately his family doesn’t seem to appreciate his efforts. When he finds out that he doesn't even get one Christmas cookie AND his favorite toy mouse disappears, kitty has had ENOUGH and he decides to wreck Christmas for everyone.
Having a kitty myself, I love his little disgruntled face! And the surprise visit from Santa, who has problems of his own, was so sweet.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
It’s finally fall! Explore all the many wonders fall has to offer by going on a walk in the woods to notice all the changes in the flora and fauna as nature prepares for winter. What can you learn from fall?
A gorgeously illustrated exploration of all things fall, I thought this was a really interesting way to talk about several scientific phenomena with younger readers. I really liked how the structure of the book looked at the specific example, like the winter coat some animals grow to keep warm, then a human application of the same principle, then other examples in nature. This would be a great read-aloud connection to the science lesson or paired with a nature walk.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Maclear gives us many different, and highly original ways to be still when you are in need of some slow time.
Ready for nap time? Get this out for your little friends and read to them as they drift off to sleep. Make sure you pause frequently to allow them time to imagine the imaginings that Maclear invokes. Or sit quietly together in a gib pile and admire Suisak’s evocative illustrations.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Three animal friends are excited to get to work when they need to get out their equipment and clear the snow - so that they can then play in it, of course!
I admire their delight in seeing the snow and their work ethic as they get to clearing it. Whether you get snow in your town or not, someone will enjoy reading about it.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
WHen his aunt Morgana gives him a dragon egg before his eighth birthday, Prince Griffin needs to keep it secret, because his Queen mother is allergic to magical creatures. As Griff falls more and more attached to his quickly growing new friend he has to figure out a way to get his mother to let him keep him - he just has to!
The old-fashioned tone to Smith’s illustrations are a lovely backdrop for her story about a prince and a dragon. A dash of heroics and courage and a delightful book for dragon lovers of all ages.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
Everyone knows Jack O’Lantern. He has the scariest face and he is the best at spooking the trick-o-treaters in line. But Jack has a younger brother, Jeff O’Lantern. Jeff has a friendly smile and kind eyes. Does he have to live up to Jack’s scary reputation, or can he find his own path this Halloween?
A sweet story about individuality and self-acceptance from the American Psychological Association, Jeff O’Lantern is flat-out adorable. It’s basically a Pixar short film in picture book format. The illustrations are colorful and eye-catching, and kids are going to eat this up during the spooky season.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
