BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
The witch has great Halloween surprises planned for all of her friends.
Wow! Dext packs a lot of sliding interaction into this board book. Every slider has something - on the front and the back. That’s not as common as you might think for pull-tabs!
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Claire and her mother tour a cathedral on a rainy day. Claire couldn't be more bored. As Claire's mother looks through the cathedral, Claire mopes. Then she sees a stained glass window that is breathtakingly colorful. She starts to see and hear the beauty that is all around her.
Claire and the Cathedral is an enchanting wordless book. The illustrations are intricately drawn in black and white. Splashes of color are purposefully placed throughout the book. Claire and the Cathedral would provoke a great discussion as to why wordless books can be so powerful.
Claire is around 5 or 6 and presumably white.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Poppy is so excited to sleep over at G-Pa and Mimi's house for the first time ever. She'll bake bread and gather pinecones and read all the books her mother used to read. But Home isn't excited. While Poppy is on her big adventure, Home misses Poppy and feels hollow and Echoey. Mom and Dad miss Poppy. Will Poppy start to miss Home too?
Homesick's heartfelt take on a child's first sleepover is very innovative by representing the house as a person with feelings. I enjoyed the yellow colors showing excitement in the illustrations, and the blue showing sadness.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Encyclopedia of Fungi is a reference book that introduces readers to over 300 diverse fungal species from around the globe. It highlights weird, colorful, and unique organisms ranging from glowing toadstools and giant puffballs to zombie fungi. It also includes helpful tips, a glossary, and an index for young nature explorers.
Howard makes this reference very interesting for those who want to know more about the different kinds of mushrooms, and which ones are poisonous. Niumim's gouache illustrations are beautiful, graphic, and interesting.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
How much do you know about Johnny Appleseed? Did you know that he was so much more than a person who planted many apple seeds? In Seed by Seed, a brief and interesting history is given of Johnny "Appleseed" Chapman. Johnny lived by example in five ways. Those ways are explored in Seed by Seed by actual events in his life.
I really loved this book! From the interesting facts about his life to the beautiful lessons we can learn from Johnny, Seed by Seed is very inspirational and interesting! The illustrations have many details and remind me of the art found in Jan Brett's books. In the back of the book, crafts and a recipe are suggested to celebrate Johnny's birthday (Sep 26). Even though this book was written years ago, I think that it will still appeal to students today.
Johnny "Appleseed" Chapman is white.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - SEVERAL
APPEALS TO: ADVISABLE
Have you ever heard of a cow wandering around at night? This cow makes a secret plan to go on an adventure at night. She meets many interesting people and creatures, even aliens! Will the cow ever return to the farm?
I thought this book was hilarious! I think students would enjoy it because the text shows that the cow does not know what is going on but the students can infer from the pictures what is going on. The illustrations are very simple but funny. Would make a great read aloud for younger grades!
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Henry's family loves plants and gardening. Henry struggles to help plants grow even when he follows his mom's instructions perfectly. Henry's mom becomes sick with a serious illness. Can Henry find a way to care for the garden and have hope while his mom is away?
Joseph tells a beautiful story about having hope when life is difficult. The illustrations are eye-catching and vibrant. The text is limited to a few sentences per page. Planting Hope handles the topic of an ill parent in a very gentle and kid friendly way.
Henry is an early elementary aged boy between 1st and 3rd grade. Henry and his parents are black.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Pops and Big Ma start cooking early for the big family feast. Relatives travel from miles away to gather together. Once everyone arrives, aunts, uncles, and cousins all pitch in to help prepare the meal. Family favorites fill the table, and the kitchen buzzes with activity. There is plenty of chaos, laughter, and love as everyone comes together to share a delicious meal and enjoy each other's company.
The fun chaos of a family holiday meal is beautifully depicted in this story. The illustrations are especially wonderful, filled with bold colors, expressive characters, and a sense of constant movement that brings the bustling family gathering to life.
The characters are Black.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Lolly loves to ice skate. When it is just her and her dad on the ice, she can glide, spin, and skate with confidence. But as soon as other people are watching, she freezes and can barely move. Hoping to help her overcome her fears, her dad encourages her to audition for the local ice skating show. The audition does not go well, and Lolly is cast as a snowman whose job is to stand perfectly still. Although she dreams of being part of the snowflake team, she knows performing in front of an audience is too scary. But when one of the snowflakes is injured, Lolly has a chance to step into the spotlight. Can she find the courage to take her place on the ice?
A sweet story about overcoming fears and being brave even when it is scary. Fun illustrations.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
A young black girl goes scuba diving with her family. As they dive deeper, they find a sunken slave ship. The girl wonders about the history of the wreck. She also thinks about her ancestors and how she is connected to them.
The Deepest Blue has the most beautiful illustrations. It is meant to be read vertically. The text is written in verse and is limited to a few sentences per page. The Deepest Blue is more about the feeling the illustrations invoke than about a plot. It is a tribute to black heritage and history. The girl and her family are black.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
A young girl discovers the many ways caregiving flows through her family. She helps her grandfather just as he has always helped her. Her mother cares for her grandmother, just as her grandmother once cared for her. Through these everyday acts of kindness, the child begins to see how love and caregiving connect generations. Like a river, this cycle of care runs through her life, linking her to her ancestors and the generations yet to come.
I loved the message of how multigenerational families love and support one another through every stage of life. The story beautifully highlights the ways care and kindness flow between generations, creating strong family bonds. I also really enjoyed the illustrations, which are warm and engaging. However, I am not sure how much the tone and style of the storytelling will appeal to the intended 3–7-year-old audience. The themes are meaningful, but the reflective narrative may be better suited to upper elementary readers who can more fully appreciate its message. The family is Taiwanese.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
A young boy accompanies his family to the weavers to choose a Kente cloth for his baby brother, Jojo. As he learns about the meanings behind the different patterns and colors, he carefully selects a design he thinks is perfect for his brother. The boy then helps weave the cloth, creating a special gift that celebrates family, tradition, and the rich cultural heritage of Ghana.
I liked the collage-style illustrations, which added warmth and texture to the story. I also enjoyed learning about Kente cloth and its cultural significance. The history, traditions, and importance of Kente are presented in an approachable manner. The additional information at the back of the book provides additional information about Kente cloth. The family is Ghanaian
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
