The Sands of Shark Island by Alexander McCall Smith - ADVISABLE

The Sands of Shark Island (School of Tobermory, #2) by Alexander McCall Smith, 243 pages.  Delacorte Press, 2016. $16.  

Content: G  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

The school class on the ship Tobermory has a short break from the ship.  The McTavish kids take their friends home with them and have a close call while helping their parents drive a submarine.  After they are on land the friends have an adventure trying to evade Tanya’s mean aunt and uncle.  When returned to the school ship, they go on a crazy trip to the Caribbean and meet new friends and battle old foes.  

I think this book is a fun, clean and enjoyable read.  I like the little bit of mystery and the good values shared by this group of friends.  There are fun little illustrations in each chapter and some interesting facts about sailing at the back.  

C. Peterson 

Standroid and Dandroid: Sharing Does Not Compute by Michael Slack - OPTIONAL

Standroid and Dandroid: Sharing Does Not Compute by Michael Slack. BOARD BOOK. Little Simon (Simon and Schuster), 2018. $8. 9781534405691

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Two robots are going through a toy box and they keep finding the perfect pairings of toys. One finds a wand and one finds a hat and together they have magic, for example. When they find a car and a remote, things gets messy when one of them wants both items. While they are tugging on the item, it opens up and they discover a secret button that activates a dance party. 

I am so confused about this book. It seems like the message should clearly be that sharing is good, but the message ends up being that fighting over toys equals fun discoveries. The pictures are great and kids love robots, plus it is a fun book to read aloud because of robot voices. But the message is a problem.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Checked by Cynthia Kadohata - ADVISABLE

Checked by Cynthia Kadohata, 404 pages.  Atheneum Books (Simon and Schuster), 2018.  $17.  

Content: Language: PG (1 swear); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Conor lives with his dad, who is a police officer, and a Doberman, Sinbad.  Their lives revolve around Conor’s AAA hockey practices and games and both Conor and his dad love it.  When Conor’s much love  Sinbad is found to have cancer, Conor tries to help pay for his treatment by picking up odd jobs.  Also, Conor’s dad seems sad a lot lately and Conor tries to figure out what that is all about.  Conor’s big dream is to play for the NHL and this book gives a glimpse into the amount of time, money and dedication an eleven-year old can put into sports.  A big part of the story is dedicated to Conor’s obsession with hockey but there are the side stories of his dad’s job and his dog’s sickness.  

I enjoyed reading this book because the characters were likable and the story was unique.  The violence includes recounting some of the police calls that his dad responds to.  I think boys who are into sports would enjoy this read.  

C. Peterson  

Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story by Edward Hemingway - ADVISABLE

Tough Cookie: A Christmas Story by Edward Hemingway. PICTURE BOOK. Christy Ottaviano Books (Henry Holt and Company), 2018. $18. 9781627794411

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

With echoes of The Gingerbread Man, this is the story of a cookie who was snatched and then discarded by a wolf because the wolf doesn’t like the way he tastes. This sends the cookie into a desperate search for his identity and the wolf helps him figure out who he is if he is not delicious. Just as the cookie is losing hope, a group of ornaments exclaims their excitement at finding him and ask him to join them on the tree. 

This book is funny, darling, and insightful all at the same time. The search for identity is a fairly unique theme when in the form of a holiday book. The illustrations of an entire town made of holiday treats are inviting and the text reads smooth. The only barrier with this book is if a kid doesn’t know what a salt dough ornament is. That would make the whole point of the story lack any luster. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton - ESSENTIAL

She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton, illustrated by Felicita Sala. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Alfred A. Knopf (Random House), 2018. $18. 9780525579601

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

One holiday Mary is at a beautiful house on a stormy night with her friends, mostly fellow writers. One of them, Lord Byron, declares that they should each write a ghost story and then they will vote for the best one. Mary is stumped as to what to write about, but after piecing together conversations she had previously overheard about science and the human body, her story came to life.

I was worried when I peeked inside this book that there was too much text for a picture book, but my kids and myself were entranced from start to finish. The art is beautifully dark and creepy, while also realistic. The story of Mary is layered, with discussion about her mother’s legacy, her own insecurities, her friendships, and the complexity of science without ethics. The author’s note adds additional depth to the history and discussion of Frankenstein.    

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

The Magical Unicorn Society: Official Handbook - ADVISABLE

The Magical Unicorn Society: Official Handbook. PICTURE BOOK. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2018. $13. 9781250206190

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This books jumps straight into an imaginary world where unicorns are real. The first section of the book is an “About the Author” and it is a fictional account of the president of the Magical Unicorn society who explains that he is ready to pass on his knowledge and experience with unicorns to others. The book then becomes a catalog of his knowledge, from the history of unicorns to the different kinds of unicorns in different parts of the world. 

The art in this book is stunning. The unicorns are drawn with Scandinavian patterns on their bodies, and every page has some kind of bright eye candy. The stories and cataloging in the book are fun and it is hard to remember while reading it that unicorns aren’t actually real. The audience for this book is somewhat narrow though, considering it will primarily appeal to those who already love all things unicorn.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Noodleheads Find Something Fishy by Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss - ESSENTIAL

Noodleheads Find Something Fishy by Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss.  EARLY READER  Holiday House, 2018.  $16.  9780823439379  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  

Mac and Mac are two noodleheads who decide to go fishing.  Because they are noodleheads, their heads are empty and they make brainless mistakes such as trying to walk through two trees with a fishing pole.  When the pole won’t fit instead of moving it another way, they decide to break it in half, which causes problems when the go fishing.  They also encounter other mistakes while trying to go fishing but in the end they felt like they learned some lessons.  

This story is told completely through dialogue bubbles and is formatted with multiple frames per page that illustrate and add to the story.  My two boys (3^rd and 4^th grade) thought this book was hilarious.  The illustrations are fun and their mistakes are humorous.  I think this will be a big hit.  

C. Peterson

Living Through the Civil War by Yvette LaPierre - NO

Living Through the Civil War by Yvette LaPierre. NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK. Rourke Educational Media, 2019. $25. 9781641564151.


BUYING ADVISORY: EL(K-3), EL - NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

This is a nonfiction informational text about life in the USA during the Civil War era. The information is interspersed with numerous photographs and primary source pictures. The chapters go over the basics of why the Civil War started, how slavery was involved, and more.

This book is something of an affront to anyone with a serious mind for history. There were numerous typos and errors that sometimes changed entirely the meaning of a sentence; some of the historical "facts" made me question their precision. And I was straight-up annoyed to find a total lack of footnotes or bibliography of any sort. There are numerous books like this available on the market (some of them even listed at the back of this book!) and I am confident other books do it better than this. I would suggest getting this book only if using it as an example of what not to do when writing history.

Reviewer: TC

We Rise We Resist We Raise our Voices - OPTIONAL

We Rise We Resist We Raise our Voices edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, forward by Ashley Bryan. PICTURE BOOK. Crown Books for Young Readers, 2018. $19. 9780525580423

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book is offered, per the forward, as a safe place to unpack what it means to be a young person of color. The introduction makes reference the 2016 elections and how it was confusing to young listeners to hear speeches about “taking our country back” and how this book can offer hope in that confusion. The book then contains over twenty short pieces by a variety of authors, each accompanied by a piece of art by different artists. Some of the pieces are essays, some poetry, some lists and instructions, and some music. 

I want to clarify that the buying advisory may shift if you have a large population of students of color - it will appeal to those readers and offer community. It is a book that is politically charged, which is neither good or bad, but is something to be aware of. The art is appealing to younger readers with most of the illustration depicting elementary aged children, but a majority of the writing, especially the poetry, is a for a slightly older reader. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Polonius the Pit Pony by Richard O'Neill - OPTIONAL

Polonius the Pit Pony by Richard O’Neill, illustrated by Feronia Parker Thomas.  PICTURE BOOK Child’s Play (Publisher Showcase), 2018.  $17  9781786281869  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW  

Polonius was a pony who helped pull coal from a mine, which was known as a pit pony.  When he was brought out of the mine for a vacation he ran away and joined a group of travelers.  When the owner found Polonius he told the travelers that they could keep him because he wouldn’t be able to get him to work the mine now that he had been free.  Although Polonius was small, he ended up helping the travelers get their goods through a foggy night to a make it on time for one of their important orders and his story became a legend to show others about determination and courage.  

I liked the message of this book that Polonius could do hard things even though he was small.  The pictures aren’t that appealing and there are a lot of words such as “gry” and “sulky” that make the story hard to understand.  There is a super small glossary on the title page that tells what the words mean, but I don’t think young readers will have the patience for that.  

C. Peterson

Outside My Window by Linda Ashman - ESSENTIAL

Outside My Window by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Jamey Christoph. PICTURE BOOK. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2018. 9780802854659

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The narrator of this book is a young girl of color whose backyard has a big tree and a treehouse. She begins the book, which has rhyming text and a poetic cadance, by asking what is outside other windows. We then are taken on a tour of backyards around the world - busy streets in New York, evergreens and trains in Canada, and so forth. 

There is so many details to look at in this book that will help the reader glean clues about what it is like in different places. I appreciated that the end of the book included a key for all the locations depicted in the story and inspired me close the book, flip it over, and start all over again. The beautiful illustrations carry this book, but the text is fun to read too, especially aloud.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Eye Spy: Wild Ways Animals See the World by Guillaume Duprat - ADVISABLE

Eye Spy: Wild Ways Animals See the World by Guillaume Duprat. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. What on Earth Books, 2018. $22. 9781999802851

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This large format book contains a few pages of informational text on eyesight in humans and animals and then each page has an illustration of a head of one animal with flaps over the eyes that can be physically lifted. Above each head is a short description of the animal’s vision needs. The bulk of the information is behind the flaps. Underneath the flaps the reader sees a picture of what the animal is able to see and then on the flaps there is a detailed description of what that particular animal can see, with a lot of emphasis on their capacities to see color. 

This book is a little deceptive because it appears to be a fun read aloud picture book with interactive flaps, but there is really a large amount of information text tucked behind the flaps. This could be a good way to get readers to pick up the book and challenge their reading. Some of the information felt redundant after a bit (different animals seeing similar colors, for example), but this is a good deep dive into animal vision.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968 by Alice Faye Duncan - ADVISABLE

Memphis, Martin and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968 by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. PICTURE BOOK. Calkins Creek (Highlights), 2018. $18. 9781629797182.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: EL, MS - LOW

Lorraine is a young girl in 1968 Memphis when her father and other sanitation workers go on strike. The strike quickly becomes another piece in the Civil Rights movement taking place and Martin Luther King, Jr. even comes to hold a march and draw attention to their cause. While in Memphis for speeches and marches, Mr. King is assassinated by James Earl Ray. Shortly thereafter the federal government sends an official labor representative to negotiate an end to the strike.

This historical fiction picture book is based on the memories of an actual witness to the events of 1968 Memphis, and I liked the way the story was told from the perspective of a child. This is one of those picture books that is generally too long for a good read aloud but has a great story in it. I imagine this would be useful in social studies classes covering the Civil Rights movement--this is a story not as well known as Rosa Parks or Selma but just as important. Teachers might need to tell the story rather than read it as written, but the book would still be useful in a well thought out history lesson.

Reviewer: TC

Wicked Nix by Lena Coakley - OPTIONAL

Wicked Nix by Lena Coakley, illustrated by Jaime Zollars, 163 pages. CHAPTER BOOK. Amulet Books (Abrams), 2018. $17. 9781419728693

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A young fairy is upset because someone has moved into his part of the woods. The fairy tries all his tricks to get the man to leave, but he will not. When the two finally meet face to face we learn that Wicked Nix, the fairy, is not a fairy at all but a young boy. And not just any boy, but the man’s long lost brother who was taken by the fairies and never aged. 

I really enjoy a story set in the woods with characters like Mr. Green representing nature. I loved the setting and the characters and the whimsical nature of fairies mixed with the realities of the human word. What I really didn’t like though was that this story hinges on a young boy being kidnapped as a child and includes one additional child kidnapping by fairies. I think this is more often than not anxiety inducing in young readers.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe by Jo Hackl - ESSENTIAL

Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe by Jo Hackl, 240 pages. Random House, 2018. $17. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Cricket’s grandmother died. Then her depressed mother left town. Then her father died. Now her aunt has conveniently forgotten her at Thelma’s Cash n’ Carry. There’s only one thing to do. Find her mother. She takes a few things from the store and hikes out to the treehouse her dad built near an old, abandoned town. She puts her survival skills to use and searches for clues that will lead her to a mysterious room of paintings her mother stumbled on many years ago.

This book covers many topics that will appeal to middle grade kids. It has adventure and survival on one hand, but a sentimental mother/daughter relationship on the other. Cricket’s mother is mentally ill, but Cricket still finds many things about her to admire. Despite all the tragedy in her life, Cricket is a strong, independent girl, a great role model. This author has a writing style similar to Leslie Connor and Sheila Turnage.

Valerie McEnroe, Media Specialist

Raise the Flag: Terrific Flag Facts, Stories, and Trivia! by Clive Gifford - ADVISABLE

Raise the Flag: Terrific Flag Facts, Stories, and Trivia! by Clive Gifford, illustrated by Tim Bradford. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. QEB Publishing (The Quarto Group), 2018. $15. 9781682973387

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book is divided up into bite size pieces of information on flags. No topic in this book takes more than a two page spread, making all the information short and concise. Some pages tackle the design of the flag, while others cover the history of certain symbols used on flags. There are pages on the history of flags and pages with geography and corresponding flags. The book contains some photography, but mostly illustrations. 

This reads like a basic trivia or fact book, but with more depth, given it is all one topic - flags. My favorite pages were the pages on flags that look similar and why that is and what sets them apart. I never felt like I got a handle of the organization of the book since the maps and corresponding flags are spread out and interspersed with history and descriptions. That inability to organize myself was not a deal breaker for enjoyment. Since it reads so much like a fact book, that flow was unnecessary.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo - ESSENTIAL

Louisiana’s Way Home by Kate DiCamillo, 227 pages. Candlewick Press, 2018. $17. 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Louisiana’s grandmother has abruptly uprooted them due to “the curse of sundering” that she believes they are under. They end up in a motel in Georgia and although things are dire financially and physically (granny has to have all her teeth pulled), they do cross paths with good people. Granny ends up leaving Louisiana alone in Georgia, but Louisiana realizes that she is not alone - she has made friends and she herself is stronger and braver than she once thought. 

This book was such a delight to read - both perfectly heartbreaking and hopeful. The language is beautiful but accessible to a young reader. The thing that most impresses me with this book is that the author takes difficult situations and reveals them gently to a reader who may have never been exposed to those situations. I would recommend this as a classroom read aloud novel for students around third or fourth grade. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience and Fortitude by Josh Funk - ESSENTIAL

Lost in the Library: A Story of Patience and Fortitude by Josh Funk, illustrated by Stevie Lewis. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt & Co., 2018. $18. 9781250155016.
 
BUYING ADVISORY: EL(K-3), EL, ADULTS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: EL(K-3), EL - AVERAGE; ADULTS - HIGH

Patience and Fortitude are the two lions who stand guard outside the New York Public Library. Early one morning--before New Yorkers are awake--Fortitude discovers his best friend, Patience, is missing! Fortitude heads into the library and discovers lots of cool features of the place while he searches for his friend. He finally finds Patience in the children's section reading stories--the very same kinds of stories Patience is always telling him!

This book is a masterpiece for those who love the New York Public Library or children's libraries, in particular. The author's dedication in the front is even to children's librarians! And I loved it. There is a wonderful flow to the rhyming text, the illustrations are beautiful, and I found myself smiling through the entire thing. I especially loved that by the end Fortitude is intrigued by the stories and wants to sneak back in the next night to read more--a great message for young readers about the power of books! This should be in every library.

Reviewer: TC

The Hotel Between by Sean Easley - OPTIONAL

The Hotel Between by Sean Easley, 352 pages. Simon Schuster, 2018. $16.99. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY:  EL, MS – OPTIONAL.

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Walking home from school Cam happens upon a glamorous hotel in an otherwise empty strip mall. The emblem on the door matches the coin given to him by his father before disappearing many years ago. Cam knows there’s a connection between the hotel and his father’s disappearance. When Nico, the bellboy, invites him into the Hotel Between, Cam has no idea what awaits him. The hotel itself is an intricate layout of corridors and doors that enable guests to move between countries instantly. But the hotel is losing its magic and doors are disappearing. Cam wants to help, but he doesn’t know who he can trust. He must go with his gut and take a risk, if there’s any chance of finding his father.

The book cover alone will make you want to read this book. It’s gorgeous and the first few chapters will capture your interest. However, once the hotel becomes the focus, things get confusing. The hotel layout, hinge and pin doors and a concept called binding never did sort themselves out in my mind. This is one of those books that requires you to pay attention. Middle grade readers may have a tough time with the abstract concepts.  

Reviewer: Valerie McEnroe, Media Specialist

Once Upon a Prank by Roy Hinuss - ADVISABLE

Once Upon a Prank (Prince Not-So-Charming #1) by Roy Hinuss, 120 pages. Imprint (Macmillan), 2018. $6.   9781250142382

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL(K-3) – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Prince Carlos Charming wants to be a jester, but his father, the king, will hear nothing of it. He sets Carlos up with a few lessons in sword wielding, then off to slay the dragon. Carlos can’t stand the thought of killing a dragon. Luckily, he and the DINO (Dragon In Name Only) hit it off and no slaying is required.

This is a fast-paced story with a lot of humor, especially the potty variety. All the characters are fun and silly. Kids will love Carlos and the friendly dragon. Illustrations throughout.

Valerie McEnroe, Media Specialist

If Polar Bears Disappeared by Lily Williams - OPTIONAL

 If Polar Bears Disappeared by Lily Williams PICTURE BOOK, NON FICTION Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2018. $18.00 9781250143198

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The sea ice is melting because of climate change. Polar bears depend on the sea ice for hunting, traveling, and caring for their young. Less sea ice means less habitat for the plants and animal that live in the polar regions; climate change affects all of them, seals, whales, shrubs, caribou, even lemmings. 

Williams text seems a little heavy handed - it has a disclaimer "The information in this book is a simplified description of a complex process", so be sure to read the author's note. Includes a bibliography, acknowledgements and additional sources. 

Lisa Librarian

The Sinking of the Vasa by Russell Freeman - ESSENTIAL

The Sinking of the Vasa by Russell Freedman illustrated by William Low, NON FICTION Henry Holt (MacMillan), 2018. $19. 9781627798662

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE;  MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

In 1628, the King of Sweden built a massive warship. At the time, Sweden was the most powerful country on the sea, so a ship of epic proportions was essential. But when the biggest sailing ship ever cast off on its maiden voyage (with over 100 sailors and their whole families on board) it barely made it out of dock before it tipped over and sank. 

Well told with a nice transition to modern day and the discovery and restoration. So beautifully illustrated. A great read for middle school, too. 

Lisa Librarian

Out of the Ice : How Climate Change is Revealing the Past by Claire Eamer - ADVISABLE

Out of the Ice : How Climate Change is Revealing the Past by Claire Eamer, Illustrated by Drew Shannon, NON FICTION Kids Can Press, 2018. $18. 1771387319

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Global warming is melting the glaciers and permafrost revealing long frozen artifacts. Tools, clothing, animals and even ancient people are being revealed as the ice recedes. Radiocarbon dating helps us place the age of organic material, and tools and weapons found along side bodies and animal remains are rewriting history. 

 Short chapters make this so easy to read, illustrations are provided alongside photographs, and boxed text of "additional information" ties everything together. Includes a glossary, timeline, index and bibliography. This is a great springboard for a report on archaeology, climate change or global warming. 

 Lisa Librarian 

Mama's Belly by Kate Hosford - ESSENTIAL

Mama's Belly by Kate Hosford, illustrated by Abigail Halpin. PICTURE BOOK. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2018. $17. 9781419728419. 


BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL(K-3), GIFT - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A young girl anxiously awaits the birth of her baby sister. She talks to her mama's belly, and asks questions about what it will be like to have a baby in their family. She is especially interested to know if her mama will love her just the same, and learns there is enough love for all of them.

This is an excellent book to prepare children for the coming of a new baby into the home. Its ridiculously heartwarming and charming in the tone of its text and illustrations. I do think the book will generally appeal more to girls, and perhaps the hope is to really market it to the mothers-to-be more than even the kids. In any case, I love it. I think this would also be a great selection to gift to anyone expecting their second or third child.

Reviewer: TC

Celebrate with Zaza by Mylo Freeman- ADVISABLE

Celebrate with Zaza by Mylo Freeman, PICTURE BOOK. Clavis Publishing Inc., 2018. $15. 9781605373768

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K- ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Zaza is throwing a birthday party for her stuffed bear, Rosie. They have cake, sing the birthday song, and open presents. All of Zaza and Rosie’s friends are there and Rosie loves her special gift.

This is another take on something toddlers and preschoolers love to pretend. Young readers will relate easily to the story and how much fun it is to throw a party for their good friends.

Shay, High School Librarian, MLS