Douglas You’re a Genius by Ged Adamson – ADVISABLE

Douglas You’re a Genius by Ged Adamson. PICTURE BOOK. Schwartz and Wade (Random House), 2018. $18. 9781524765309

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Nancy and Douglas the Dog are playing in the backyard when their ball goes under the fence. It’s a very tall fence and they get very curious about what’s on the other side. They eventually send a message through the hole and get a message back –in Spanish! They try various ways that Nancy comes up with to go over the fence, will she ever allow Douglas to share his ideas? Large bright artwork.

Pretty sure this book is a commentary on the proposed wall for the US southern border –with the conclusion that we should come together and be friends.  I know parents who would be very upset if their child brought this home. But this book also features themes of taking turns, listening, creativity, and curiosity –so I think it’s a nice fit for a school library collection. I think a fascinating use for the book is to read it to an upper grade class as an introduction to a border wall discussion and brainstorming session.

Reviewer: Stephanie

Thunder Pug by Kim Norman – OPTIONAL

Thunder Pug by Kim Norman, illustrated by Keika Tyamaguchi. PICTURE BOOK. Sterling Childrens Books, 2018. $17. 9781454923589

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3)– OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Percy is a pug and Petunia is a pig, they are great friends. They do everything together. When Petunia wins a blue ribbon at the fair, she suddenly has lots of friends and no time for Percy. He is sad, and decides to become a super hero. Turns out he is not so great at it and needs a sidekick, and just in time he finds one.  Large illustrations with harmonious colors.

First off the illustrations in this book are flat out adorable and so charming!!! The story was just ok- I still don’t get why Petunia all the sudden has time for Percy, that part just doesn’t make sense. Even an extra page where she realizes she misses him then he isn’t at any of their usual play places and then she discovers his antics -would have clarified things. Also Percy’s desire to be a superhero is just for the cape and to feel special –not to help others (though he tries to do so), and that's not great. I wish I could say essential just for the art, but the story just isn’t quite there.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

Stalebread Charlie and the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band by Michael Mahin - ADVISABLE

Stalebread Charlie and the Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band by Michael Mahin, illustrated by Don Tate. PICTURE BOOK. Clarion Books (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), 2018. $18. 9780547942018.


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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

In 1895 New Orleans, a group of homeless boys created their own instruments and formed a band. The music they played was a synthesis of all sorts of musical styles--blues, folks, gospel and more--and became a part of the story of jazz. Though initially disliked and forced to move to another part of town, the band eventually finds a receptive audience and a small place in American musical history. 

This is a niche little historical fiction picture book that tells an interesting tale. The story itself is fun and has a lot of great onomatopoeia in the text; the illustrations fit the story really well and add a great sense of movement and music. There is a nice author's note and more at the back. This would be a fun book to use in a music lesson or a general life lesson about creativity and solving your own problems. And for the record--my kindergartner loves it!

Reviewer: TC

Blues for Unicorn by Molly Coxe - ESSENTIAL

Blues for Unicorn by Molly Coxe.  EARLY READER. Kane Press, 2019.  $6.  9781635921106

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Mule wants to play the blues with Unicorn, but she has way too many rules.  When Mule forms his own group, Unicorn realizes that playing together is much more fun than having rules.

Come ends her exploration of short and long vowels with a whimsical look at a unicorn wanting to play the blues.  I found it amusing that it was the unicorn who was the rule-making fuddy-duddy for a change.  Now buy all ten books in the series!  Will Coxe now do a 21 books series fro each of the remaining letters in the alphabet? I HOPE SO!

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Fun, Fun, Fun (Croc and Ally) by Derek Anderson - ESSENTIAL

Fun, Fun, Fun (Croc and Ally) by Derek Anderson. EARLY READER. Penguin Young Readers (Penguin Random House), 2018. $9.00. 9781524787103

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Crock and Ally go on three separate adventures in this easy reader.  From swimming to hat shopping, and even getting rid of a dreaded bug, Croc and Ally meet each challenge together.    

Perfect for readers transitioning into early chapter books.  It has three simple short stories with mass appeal.  The dynamic between Croc and Ally is hilarious and will easily engage the reader.   

Gina, Media Specialist

Go Home, Goat by Molly Coxe - ESSENTIAL

Go Home, Goat by Molly Coxe. EARLY READER.  Kane Press, 2019.  $6.  9781635921014

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Goat tromps through the snow with a cold nose and col toes, but no one will let him stay with them. It isn’t until someone says the right thing that all of the animals understand that Goat needs some help.

Cute, cute, cute! Molly Coxe outdoes herself with this adorable tale.  This time, while the art is as well-crafted as ever, the story really shines!

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Lessons of a LAC by Lynn Jenkins - ESSENTIAL

Lessons of a LAC by Lynn Jenkins, illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan. PICTURE BOOK. EK Books (Exisle Publishing), 2018. $18. 9781925335828

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

LAC stands for “Little Anxious Creature” and the LACs are indeed anxious. They even go to school to learn about all the dangers in the world. Calmsters, on the other hand, use soothing language to live a happy life. The two creatures become friends and the LACs learn some valuable lessons.

Multiple times since reading this book I have used a phrase from it: “Just because something bad can happen doesn’t mean it will happen.” My slightly anxious nine year old enjoyed this book and read it multiple times to herself. My only resistance to this book is the way the LACs are illustrated - they are all lips and eyes and it is creepy.    

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Perfect Petunias by Lynn Jenkins - ADVISABLE

Perfect Petunias by Lynn Jenkins, illustrated by Kirrili Lonergan. PICTURE BOOK. EK Books (Exisle Publishing), 2018. $18. 978925335583

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A LAC learns from a Calmster that things do not have to be perfect to be just the way they should be. After getting frustrated with homework because he wasn't doing it perfectly, a LAC huffs off to the garden where the Calmster points out that petunias grow in all directions but they do their best.

These illustrations are so odd - creatures with faces that are all lips and eyes - but I will never get enough of books that teach kids tools for settling anxieties and living a fulfilling life.   

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together by Andrea Tsurumi - ADVISABLE

Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together by Andrea Tsurumi. PICTURE BOOK. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019. $18. 9780544959002

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

All the creatures of the sea are busy doing their thing while crab bakes delicious pastries. Life continues as “normal” until a large pile of garbage is dumped into the ocean and over a slice of cake, they problem solve what to do.

I thought the lesson of this book was that food brings communities together and my daughter thought the lesson of this book was not to pollute. Both morals are there and it says something about a book when it can cover two very different topics - conveying the quirky nature of this book.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Owls are Good at Keeping Secrets: An Unusual Alphabet by Sara O’Leary - ESSENTIAL

Owls are Good at Keeping Secrets: An Unusual Alphabet by Sara O’Leary, illustrated by Jacob Grant. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2018. $18. 9781524713317

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

For each letter in the alphabet we learn a secret about the motivations and behaviors of animals. Often these secrets sound a lot like a secret a human child might be harboring as well. Some of the secrets are obvious and some are quirky and some are outright funny.

I giggled my way through this book. It was just so delightful to think about the darling imagined nature of animals and the funny ways we personify them in literature and life. My kids though, found it less amusing than I did.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Loved to Bits by Teresa Heapy and Katie Cleminson - OPTIONAL

Loved to Bits by Teresa Heapy and Katie Cleminson. PICTURE BOOK. Roaring Brook Press, 2018. $18. 9781250186942

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

For every adventure a little boy and his stuffed bear go on, bear ends up a little worse for wear. By the end of their adventuring, the bear is left with only a body and head, which insidentally the boys loves because then he has to stay in bed and cuddle with him.

Any child who has loved a stuffed animal to pieces will appreciate this book. The pastel nature of the illustrations keep the age appeal pretty young. The story is simple, but perfectly sweet.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Want to Play Trucks? by Ann Stott - ADVISABLE

Want to Play Trucks? by Ann Stott, illustrated by Bob Graham. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2018. $16. 9780763681739

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Two little boys meet at the park to play one day. Jack loves playing with trucks, and Alex prefers playing with sparkly dolls. While the initial meet up seems destined for conflict, the two boys work out a new game that involves both of their favorite things.

This is a fun and simple story that young readers will appreciate about working conflicts out on their own. I also like the message that you don't have to like exactly the same thing in order to play together. The illustrations in this book are great and the story is really straightforward. It seems be another book with the "hidden" message that boys can play with dolls, too, and I actually enjoyed this story more than Teddy's Favorite Toy. Overall it will be a nice addition to any library.

Reviewer: TC

Mouse House by John Burningham - ESSENTIAL

Mouse House by John Burningham. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2017. $17.00. 9781536200393

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

There is a little house where a family lives.  Inside their little house, another family makes its home.  A mouse family.  The mouse family stays hidden and quiet until the human family goes to sleep.  One night a child sees one of the mice and tells his parents.  The parents quickly call a mouse catcher.  Worried that the mice might be harmed, the children leave a note of warning to the little furry friends.  Heeding the warning, the mouse family head outside to live.  The children love to watch the mouse children play and soon fashion toys and swings for them to use.  Winter soon comes and the mouse family seemingly disappear.  Then one night, a child sees a mouse in their house. But this time, the boy doesn't say a word.

This is an endearing story about an unlikely friendship between two children and a family of mice. Burningham's illustrations add a fun and classical feel to the the tale.  Although this isn't my favorite mouse story, it is still one worth having. 

Gina, Media Specialist

Peep and Ducky Its Snowing by David Martin – ADVISABLE

Peep and Ducky Its Snowing by David Martin, illustrated by David Walker. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2019. $15 9780763694333

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Peep and Ducky are baby birds who go outside to play in the winter. They have a ton of fun sledding but when they go to build a snowman things go wrong and they end up fighting. They make up just in time for spending time with Momma and Poppa. The story is told in a simple repetitive rhyming scheme.

This was a charming book with adorable illustrations. The rhyming was just perfect –flowing perfectly and using only words young readers and listeners could easily understand. Perfect for Pre-K with a discussion about what they like to do outside.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author..

Lion Spies a Tiger by Molly Coxe - ESSENTIAL

Lion Spies a Tiger by Molly Coxe.  EARLY READER. Kane Press, 2019.  $6 9781635921076

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Lion reads that lions can see for miles at night.  When he tries to prove this to his friend Spike, though, something goes wrong.  Is he really a lion?

This one made me laugh out loud.  I enjoyed Coxe’s clever illustrations and her story this time around.  There are ten books all together and I want ALL of them!

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

At the End of Holyrood Lane by Dimity Powell– NOT RECOMMENDED

At the End of Holyrood Lane by Dimity Powell, illustrated by Nicky Johnston. PICTURE BOOK. EK Books (Exisle Publishing), 2018. $18 9781925335767

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – NOT RECOMMENDED

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Taken at face value this book is about a little girl who hides whenever a storm happens. One day she is trapped out in the storm and she seeks help from a grownup with an umbrella and she is no longer afraid of storms. Large cute illustrations.

I thought this book was sort of strange and lonely, where was the grownup the entire time she was hiding in the house for every storm? Why was she out in the storm alone? Then I noticed on the back of the book that its themes are Domestic Violence, Abuse, Resilience, Trust, and Hope. Wow, ok. I missed the entire analogy. I am not sure that a young reader who is in an abusive situation would read this and make the connection to seek help. Honestly, I think it needs to be more explicit –like when you are scared who do seek? (Cue Trusted adult lecture).  The illustrations are wonderful.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author..

Blended by Sharon M. Draper - ESSENTIAL

Blended by Sharon M. Draper, 308 pages.  Atheneum (Simon), 2018.  $17.  

Content: PG (does mention a noose, a shooting).

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Isabella, 11, is never quite sure where she fits in.  She goes to the same school every day, but one week she lives at Dad’s and the next week she is at Mom’s – neither place feels like home.  Also, she is one of those “mixed” kids – a blend that feels neither black nor white.  Drama at school and anger between her parents make it hard for her to find her footing.

Draper saves the most dramatic, heart-wrenching, and unfortunately too common, scene for the very end.  Isabella’s story can easily read up, at least to middle school.  Students all over will connect with Draper’s look at divorce, blended families, blended kids, and life while not white, and will not forget it any time soon.  Easily a classroom novel and /or read aloud for lots of great discussion.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Greedy Beetle by Molly Coxe - ESSENTIAL

Greedy Beetle by Molly Coxe. EARLY READER.  Kane Press, 2019.  $6 9781635921045

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Beetle, Weevil, and Flea are great friends, until the day Beetle stops sharing.

Coxe’s artistic photographs are still a shining star in this book using the “long e” sound.  The text this time is a little stiff, but it has a clear message and you won’t want to miss one book in the series!

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Tiger vs. Nightmare by Emily Tetri - ESSENTIAL

Tiger vs. Nightmare by Emily Tetri, 63 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. First Second, 2018. $18. 9781626725355

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Tiger’s nightmares don’t stand a chance of reaching her because Tiger has her own personal nightmare guard in the form of a monster. This monster sits watch during the night until the evening when a nightmare shows up that is too powerful for him. Monster and Tiger combine forces to take on this apparition.

Tiger’s courage to take on her nightmare is inspiring and resonate of a lot of young children’s fears. There is also a delightful layer of humor in this book, ever present simply because of the irony that the monster under the bed isn’t the thing to be scared of. This graphic novel is readable in one sitting and accessible to a range of reading levels.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

How Many Hugs? By Heather Swain - ADVISABLE

How Many Hugs? By Heather Swain, illustrated by Steven Henry. BOARD BOOK. Feiwel and Friends, 2017. $8. 9781250175007

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Different animals are capable of giving different numbers of hugs based on how many “arms” they have. This book moves through a host of animals and how many hugs they can give.

The language in this book is a bit clunky and the text too long, but the rhyme is mostly enjoyable and the content interesting. Sliping animal facts into a book about hugs is a cute idea.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Mulan’s Lunar New Year by Natasha Yim - ADVISABLE

Mulan’s Lunar New Year by Natasha Yim, illustrated by Sophie Li. PICTURE BOOK. Disney Press, 2018. $18. 9781368023269

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Mulan is getting nervous that she won’t be able to enjoy the new year because she has made so many mistakes that feel unlucky, like dropping a glass and putting on her robes backward. Her parents teach her more about what luck and the new year really means.

I learned so much from this story. All the details about the Chinese New Year were slipped into the story of a little girl feeling like she couldn’t stop making mistakes. Great layers. I only struggled with the age of Mulan - she seems so much younger than the Mulan of the movies and it felt confusing.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes by Eva Chen - OPTIONAL

Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes by Eva Chen, illustrated by Derek Desierto. PICTURE BOOK. Feiwel & Friends, 2018. $19. 9781250297266

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Juno can’t find her favorite shoes, a pair of basic white sneakers, as she gets ready for school. She discovers magic in her closet as the deeper she goes, the more magical shoes she discovers. She tries on several pairs and is able to dance like a famous ballerina or walk on the moon. Finally she finds her shoes and discovers that they are now colorful with little bits from all the shoes she tried on.

This book fell pretty flat. The illustrations are lovely, but the story never really grabbed our attention. I also didn’t love that the first part of the book defended wearing the kind of shoes you want, and then the ending of the book expressed a need to wear exciting shoes.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Sleep Like A Tiger by Mary Logue - ADVISABLE

Sleep Like A Tiger by Mary Logue, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. BOARD BOOK. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. $13. 9781328482648

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A little girl insists to her parents that she is not sleepy and her parents tell her that is okay, but she should still move forward with the next step in their bedtime routine. With all the steps completed, she naturally drifts into sleep.

This book has been out for a few years, but is now released as a large format board book. The illustrations in this book steal the show. My favorite is a picture of the little girl tucked under her covers “lying as still as an otter” and the bedspread turns into water with an otter in it and a teddy bear floating in an inner tube.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Star Wars: Search Your Feelings by Calliope Glass and Caitlin Kennedy - ADVISABLE

Star Wars: Search Your Feelings by Calliope Glass and Caitlin Kennedy, illustrated by Katie Cook. PICTURE BOOK. Disney, 2018. $11. 9781368027366

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Each spread of this book has a cartoon drawing, an emotion labeled, and a narrative poem. The poem describes an event from the span of the Star Wars stories and is associate with the designated emotion.

This is an entertaining book, but it has a couple of drawbacks. First is that you would have to know the broader Star Wars narrative to understand most of the poems. Second, the emotions are labeled, but they would have been more useful if they were explained and there was some dialogue about their purpose.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher