BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Jingle is not the youngest reindeer, but she is the smallest. Each Christmas Eve, young reindeer compete in three tasks to earn their magic flying bells so that they can help pull Santa’s sleigh. Being so small, the other competitors think she has no chance at all.
Jingle is adorable and Santa’s words to her are kind and uplifting. For me this is a new Christmas classic.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
The oldest sheep of three is determined to stay up and see Santa Claus.
Told in the rhythm of The Night Before Christmas, but breaks sometimes in odd ways. I really like SHeep’s antics, but I do not like having to sing when I read along.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
A wide variety of people ride a wide variety of bikes in this ode to classic, fumeless transportation.
A great fun source for proponents of the Bike Bus concept (https://bikebus.world/), or community riding in general. The variety of bikes and people are sure to represent everyone in your community. The text breezes along like the wind through your hair.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Rebecca, her husband, and their children live alone on an island where they work hard to grow and make the things that they need. When disaster strikes, Rebecca and the children must continue on.
Based on the true history of the author’s family. Rebecca is still a name passed on. An ode to Sorrow. While the illustrations and the sentiment are beautiful, it is not a book that children are going to choose over and over again on their own. And how much does a child who is grieving want to read a book about someone else’s grief?
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Sparrow is ready to start the Christmas celebrations, but none of his other forest friends seem interested in celebrating. Maybe Sparrow can help make room for sadness at Christmas too.
Not gonna lie - I found myself tearing up as I thought of the things that I miss at Christmas too. While children may not understand in a way they can express, they too can feel when those around them are not feeling the joy everyone keeps telling them they should feel. Just lovely.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL (4-6) – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY
So you want to be a wizard? Well, you will need a wand and a familiar. Herein is also a list of rules to follow to be a wizard and see the magic in the world.
I thought the colored pencil illustrations were darling! Any young reader that loves fantasy and magic will adore this picture book about being a wizard. I thought it also was subtly hilarious to read as an adult too. Even though it’s fantasy, the structure of it could be a great mentor text for informational writing - for example: what are the tools, resources, and rules for different career fields or jobs. Super cute picture book!
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Goat is ready to play a game, but when Mole suggests Tiddlywinks, Goat suggests Whack a Moley, which begins a hilarious back and forth between the two friends. Goat thinks this is very funny until Mole turns the table and makes Goat the object of the game.
Whack a Moley is packed with rhymes and plays-on-words. The humor of the word play is delightful, as is the stealthy moral of treating others as we would like to be treated ourselves. The illustrations are bright and add visual whimsy to the dialogue.
Janae S., Reading Teacher
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Lifesize Ocean Animals is the newest addition to the Lifesize animal books by Sophy Renn. It is a larger than average picture book and comes with a fold out page to fit a giant spider crab. Kids will love this book! Containing hand drawn pictures and fascinating facts about creatures from the deep, I believe this will be a very popular book.
Lifesize Ocean Animals is a wonderful introduction for children to the world of sea creatures. The illustrations are drawn but contain attention to details. The readers will love comparing themselves to the size of the animals.
Janae S., Reading Teacher
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Farmer Fran is a busy little bunny working hard on her farm. Then disaster strikes in the form of a giant storm. Farmer Fran doesn't know how to rebuild, but her friends and customers do. They host a community fundraiser which leads to an even better farm than before.
Schmitt introduces us to economics for young children. Farmer Fran sells her produce and uses the profit to buy what she needs. The back of the book has a short glossary, explanation, and discussion questions. A great addition to any elementary unit on money. Animal characters
Janae S., Reading Teacher
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
A young Indian girl named Neela is excited that today her grandfather Dadu will take her to his indigo studio where he turns white cloth into fabric of brilliant blue. In the studio, the white cloth looks an ugly green. How will science work and turn it blue? Will her hands turn blue like Dadu?
Indigo Hands is a heartwarming story about family and tradition. Joshi's illustrations were sweet, colorful, and interesting.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Zora is soaring high on her favorite swing when it begins to rain. Zora notices an umbrella under a bench at the park. A young boy asks her if he can join her. Then two more kids want to join as well. Zora includes more and more kids with the umbrella magically getting bigger each time. All of a sudden the umbrella blows away in the wind. Will Zora and her new friends be able to find it?
The Umbrella is a cute, magical story about the value of friendship, and working together. I liked Walker's illustrations and colorful and expressive illustrations.
The young boys and girls of this book are of many ethnicities.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL (4-6) – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
A twist on the classic fairy tale of Rapunzel, Acacia is a young Black girl stuck in a tower. Her long braided hair is the only way in & out. One day, another young Black girl, Mahogany in her signature red riding hood, comes along to help Acacia escape from her isolation and the wicked witch Ma Gothel.
I liked this retelling of the Rapunzel fairy tale featuring two Black young protagonists. It was a great way to celebrate Black identity through hair and personal expression. I think it would be a great addition to your fairy tale bookshelf. It’s a sequel of sorts to the 2024 picture book Mahogany, a retelling of Red Riding Hood.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
