BUYING ADVISORY: APPEALS TO: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
A peek through a picture book with call and response rhyming that pairs words like spoon/moon, house/mouse, and pear/bear with cute accompanying illustrations.
This book is based on the author's eight-year-old son's original idea and drawings. The result is cute, unexpected, creative, and fun. This would be a good read-aloud book.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Hugo is a monster that is trying to find himself. He is bald. Throughout the book, Hugo imagines different hairstyles and wonders if they will help him fit in. Will Hugo find the right hairstyle or will he decide it is ok to just be himself?
Hugo's Hair has bright and colorful pictures. The story is told through rhyme with a sentence or two per page. Even though this book is cute, it does not have much of a plot. However, it does contain a great message about loving who you are.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
A little girl plants seeds in the spring and visits them every day, telling them that one day they will become jack-o'-lanterns. She watches them grow from tiny sprouts into pumpkins. But one little pumpkin is different. While the others grow big and orange, he just keeps getting greener. Then, one summer day, he is picked too soon. What if he isn't a pumpkin at all?
Choppy offers a delightful twist on Halloween traditions. Why wait until October when you can celebrate "Summerween" with a watermelon jack-o'-lantern? The illustrations are bright and cheerful.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Baby knows only one word—"No!" As she learns to talk, she also leaves a trail of chaos in her wake. Share? No. Get dressed? No. Eat breakfast? No. Every request is met with the same determined response. But when she is asked if she would like a kiss, it may be time to learn a new word.
Parents, and older siblings will easily recognize this stage of toddlerhood as little ones begin to discover both language and independence. The story captures the humor, frustration, and sweetness of a child determined to do things her own way.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Can unicorns be hairdressers? Firefighters? What about bakers? In Unicorns in Uniforms, unicorns do it all. Can the unicorns work together to save their village from a dragon?
Unicorns in Uniforms, with its eye-catching cover, will intrigue students who love unicorns. The text rhymes and is limited to a few sentences per page. The illustrations are adorable with lots of details. Working together is the theme that is emphasized in Unicorns in Uniforms.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Secrets of Bees dives into the hive to uncover the intriguing and hidden lives of bees. Learn through beautiful, fun illustrations and text about how bees have incredible super powers, how they pollinate plants, how they communicate, and how without bees, the world would be a very different place.
Secrets of Bees is intriguing and contains interesting new facts found in short paragraphs under clever, engaging illustrations. It is mostly for older children, but younger children will enjoy the pictures.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Louisa May Alcott was always exploring, playing, dreaming, and creating - the very actions that would one day make her a writer. She treasured her "Imagination Book" given to her by her mother. Louisa and her family went through hard times, but they persevered. She worked many odd jobs, and hoped that one day she would make enough money through her writing to help her family. When the opportunity came, she drew from her own family experience to write her first novel Little Women.
Louisa Learns to Write is a beautiful, heartfelt tale biography that will inspire creativity and spark interest in learning to write.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
When her mother leaves the den, Little Fox expects to spend the next few hours by herself. But then she hears a knock at the door. The visitor's name is silence. Silence is so big and strange. Is silence bad, or can silence teach her something good and be her friend?
The Visit is a tender story about making friends with silence, and learning about mindfulness, self-regulation and alone time. Font's artwork is gorgeous.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Growing up, Kathy Sullivan loved to look at maps and National Geographics and wonder about distant places. When she was six years old and saw Sputnik in the sky, she knew space would be the most amazing adventure of all. Kathy became the first American woman to walk in space. Kathy also became the first woman to travel to the Mariana Trench, the lowest known point on Earth. Kathy never forgot the maps she loved as a child and followed her curiosity to the highest reaches and most sunken depths.
Stanley captures the curious, adventurous, brave spirit of Kathy Sullivan and touts her many accomplishments. The juvenile illustrations are engaging and delightful.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
What do families need to have fun and make memoirs? Each other! and this book that will help you discover 50 fun activities you can do at home or in the backyard or in your local area. Each one encourages families to be in the present, enjoy quality time together, practice new skills, and create treasured family memories.
All Together Now helps families get new, fun, and creative ideas to do together for free or with minimal resources. I enjoyed the sweetly illustrated activities.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
In the heart of the forest stands an ancient tree that Ellie loves more than anything. One night, a comet passes overhead and the tree erupts into shimmering stars that seem to take over the forest and bother all the animals. The animals want to chop down the tree to stop the stars. But Ellie loves the tree and tries to find a way to get rid of the stars. Can Ellie and her friends solve the starry problem?
The Star Tree is an interesting comic book tale of friendship and teamwork that will enchant young readers. I enjoyed the cute characters and illustrations.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Two kids decide it's time to rumble in their living room! They roughhouse and use their imaginations, making sure to stop when someone says the safe word. When a third kid joins the fun, she gets to learn the rumble rules too. "The text is exclusively speech bubbles; the illustrations are colorful and engaging. Tips and information on how to roughhouse and its benefits are included after the story.
The kids have olive skin and dark hair. The youngest boy is illustrated with hearing aids.
Rachel, Elementary library specialist
