Nature all Around: Trees by Pamela Hickman –OPTIONAL

Nature all Around: Trees by Pamela Hickman. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, 2019. $18.  9781771388047

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

This book features information about trees; their types, their leaves, their lives through the seasons, life in a tree, and tree watching. There illustrations are simple and bright, with lots of fact boxes, close ups, and fact points.

This is a charming book that many adults would think is absolutely adorable, especially the artwork. However, I really think young students will be fairly bored, the text is sort of dry, and the illustrations are highly stylized and feel like they might belong more in a story than an informational book. I highly recommend something like: Amazing Plant Powers by Loreen Leedy.  It features real images combined with cartoons, it fun and interesting and highly readable for young students.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

Titanosaur by Dr. Jose Luis Carballido and Dr. Diego Pol –ESSENTIAL

Titanosaur by Dr. Jose LuisCarballido and Dr. Diego Pol and Illustrated by Florencia Gigena. PICTURE BOOK. Orchard Books (Scholastic), 2019. $19.  9781338207392

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

When a farmer finds a dinosaur bone on his land in Argentina, it is brought to the attention of paleontologists. Its starts a massive dig for the largest dinosaur bones ever found –from a 100 million year old sauropod, with lots of extra discoveries along the way. Fully illustrated with large pages.

This is a top notch book which, per my wildest wishes, is not only illustrated, but contains fact boxes, tons of photographs of the dig, the bones, the scientists and more. Young readers will love this book and there is just enough information to present for K-2. This book will have students wanting to become paleontologists right away because it reads like a treasure finding story. One of my favorite non-fiction books I have reviewed in a LONG time.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author

Paula knows what to do by Sanne Dufft –OPTIONAL

Paula Knows What to do by Sanne Dufft. PICTURE BOOK. Pajama Press, 2019. $19.  9781772780680

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) –OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

When Paula’s dad won’t get out of bed, his misses her mom, Paula knows what to do. She paints him a story adventure that they both enjoy. This encourages him to get out of bed and start their day. Features large bright illustrations that combine childlike art and more realistic watercolor backgrounds.

This book might work for a school counselor for grief or divorce issues. Its pretty depressing though, that the child has to cheer up the adult in this situation. The artwork is nice and might be a good way for a counselor to start a discussion about grief and strategies to work through the emotions that go with it.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author

Caterpillar and Bean by Martin Jenkins – OPTIONAL

Caterpillar and Bean by Martin Jenkins and Illustrated by Hannah Tolson. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2019. $17.  9781536201703

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book follows a bean seed and a caterpillar egg as they journey through the growing season together. Each stage is explained with question and answers. Features lovely illustrations with a harmonious color scheme.

I sort of thought this book was, well, boring. Its very matter of fact while purporting to be a science storybook.  I prefer “I’m a Seed” by Jean Marzollo, even though it’s from the 90’s –that book reads more like a story with two kinds of seeds comparing what they are becoming, which is unknown to them, a student favorite when one of the plants discovers it is growing ‘orange balls’. I also really like Sadie's Seed Adventures: Learning About Seeds by Tina Dybvik, which takes readers through a grand adventure with a seed.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

How to Take Care of Your Dinosaur by Jason Cockcroft - ADVISABLE

How to Take Care of Your Dinosaur by Jason Cockcroft. PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2019. $16. 9781536205688.

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Taking care of any pet requires a lot of responsibility, but what if your pet was a dinosaur? This silly book takes a look at the special requirements needed to care for a pet dinosaur--from having a very large shovel for scooping up after him (and even that might not be enough!) to using an appropriate amount of soap for evening baths. Do your best and your dinosaur can be a friend for life!

I enjoyed this dinosaur-themed picture book for its wonderful illustrations and silly/serious take on how to take care of a giant dinosaur as a pet. Everything is approached tongue-in-cheek, so adults will especially appreciate the jokes. This will be a big hit with dinosaur fans, and would be a fun book to read with a kid who is learning pet responsibility of any sort.

Reviewer: TC

Don’t go there by Jeanne Willis – OPTIONAL

Don’t Go There by Jeanne Willis and Illustrated by Hrefna Bragadottir. PICTURE BOOK. Anderson Press, 2019. $18.  
9781783447152

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K –OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A little girl adopts a baby martian and quickly discovers that he isn’t potty trained. He likes to potty in unusual places and is just terrified of the toilet. After trying to potty in the fish bowl the girl has had enough and teaches him the potty song.

The illustrations in this book are hilarious and children will howl with laughter. A couple of things that don’t work for me are that the bathroom is referred to as the loo (confusing for an already confused audience) and that the potty song doesn’t have music or reference a song to try to sing the melody to. A child who is having the same trouble as the little alien might try some new places after reading this book –inspiring them to try to potty in even crazier places.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

12 Lucky Animals: A Bilingual baby book by Vickie Lee – ADVISABLE

12 Lucky Animals: A Bilingual baby book by Vickie Lee. BOARD BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2018. $8.  9781250184245

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book goes through the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Each two page spread is a illustration of the animal with the name in English and the Chinese character, and the attributes associated with that animal. The back of the book tells which birth year goes with which animal.

This is a fun multicultural book which lends itself perfectly to a lesson on the Chinese New Year. Pre-K students and even K students would love to know which animal is there birth year and could color a picture and learn to say the word in Chinese. The illustrations are adorable and the pages are sturdy.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

Look, There’s a Tractor by Esther Aarts –ADVISABLE

Look, There’s a Tractor by Esther Aarts. BOARD BOOK. Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2018. $8.  9781536205589

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In this lightly rhyming board book, a farmer travels his far on a tractor, looking for a lost hen. Circle peek through the pages offers little things to look for and do. It feature bright bold colors and easy to recognize shapes

You can’t go wrong with this board book. It’s appealing, well written, and the artwork is fantastic. There are so many things this book can offer when read with an individual child or small group. How many sheep? What fruit is growing on the trees? How many daisies on this page? The pages are sturdy and high quality.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author

Look, There’s a Helicopter by Esther Aarts –ADVISABLE

Look, There’s a Helicopterby Esther Aarts. BOARD BOOK. Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2018. $8.  9781536205572

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In this lightly rhyming board book, a woman pilot flies her helicopter through the sky to rescue passengers on sinking boat. Circle peek through the pages offers little things to look for and do. It feature bright bold colors and easy to recognize shapes.

You can’t go wrong with this board book. It’s appealing, well written, and the artwork is fantastic. There are so many things this book can offer when read with an individual child or small group. How many hot air balloons? Where is the pigeon? How many circles are on this page. The pages are sturdy and high quality.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins by Gail Shepherd - ESSENTIAL

The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins by Gail Shepherd, 297 pages. Kathy Dawson Books (Penguin), 2019. $17. 9780525428459.


Content: Language: PG (7 swears, 0 'F'); Mature content: PG (talk of suicide, PTSD); Violence: PG (fighting, suggestion of gun violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Lyndon Baines Hawkins (Lyndie for short) is an 11-year old amateur historian who loves her life in small town Tennessee. But its 1985 and her father, a Vietnam vet, is struggling with unnamed PTSD and loses his job, forcing the family to move in with Lyndie's grandparents. Lyndie and her very proper grandmother, Lady, butt heads from the get-go and Lyndie is forever being told how a proper young lady should act. Lady is especially vehement that family loyalty trumps all, but Lyndie is a bit lost as to when secrets should be kept and when it is best to reach out for help.

This is by far the best YA novel I have read in 2019 so far, and a wonderful take on the coming-of-age genre. The characters, the setting, the story are all fantastic and realistic in all the best ways. The topic of PTSD is treated fairly and realistically here, as is really the entire story; nothing felt like it was tossed in to fit a YA trope or expectation. This is a total MUST READ for middle readers, though I will note that the mature content might not make it suited for all upper elementary readers. Overall, I loved it and I'm raving about it to anyone who will listen at the moment.

Reviewer: TC

My First Pop-Up Dinosaurs by Owen Davey – ADVISABLE

My First Pop-Up Dinosaursby Owen Davey. BOARD BOOK. Candlewick, 2018. $17.  9781534440043

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K –ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book is a fairly simple collection of dinosaurs. It features a pop-up of the dinosaur on a two page spread with its official name and (thank you!) how to pronounce it. The colors are muted and harmonious.

Normally a pop-up would not be a great fit for a pre-school, but this one is fairly sturdy and the pop-ups are very nice and basic –nothing that requires extra care to fold or manage. I can think of several pre-k children who would absolutely love this book. Its more artsy than realistic with very basic backgrounds of colors and shapes (vs habitats).

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

You are Light by Aaron Becker - ADVISABLE

You are Light by AaronBecker. BOARD BOOK. Candlewick, 2019. $16.  9781536201154

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This is a short sweet book about light using light as a stunning part of the story. The book has twelves circular holes, arranged in a circle with plastic in different colors arranged as part of the story. Readers can hold the book up to a light source and it creates a stunning effect. One of my favorite quotes about light is “It sips the sea to make the rain”.

This is a fantastic book that young readers will be drawn to simply because it so appealing and fun to play with. Teachers would  use it as an intro to color and/or light. The little story about light is just wonderful with a stellar ending that parents will adore reading to their children. Already a fan of Aaron Becker, now a bigger one.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author

Believe: A Pop-Up Book of Possibilities by Robert Sabuda – OPTIONAL

Believe: A Pop-Up Book of Possibilities by Robert Sabuda. BOARD BOOK. Candlewick, 2019. $28.  9780763663971

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K –OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book is a shout-out to achieving goals, standing tall, and aiming high. It features surprising large white pop-ups of ships, rockets, birds in flight, and a giant castle!

“I will strive for my goals and savor the outcome” “When I build my life I will reach high” (pop-up shows a giant castle). As a new parent (and maybe this is generational) but these statements are not exactly what I have in mind for my little one and vaguely make me think very ambitious parents who want to see their child stand taller than all others.  I am more along the lines of seek happiness, be kind, be adventurous, care for our planet, don’t give up. That being said, the pop-ups themselves are shockingly big for such a small book. I think young readers would like them, but the white only color scheme for the pop-ups wouldn’t be as interesting as color versions.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author

Pop-Up Jungle by Ingela Arrhenius – OPTIONAL

Pop-Up Jungle by IngelaArrhenius. POP-UP BOOK. Candlewick, 2019. $12.  9781536205510

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K –OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book starts readers out on a jungle cruise and takes them through simple sights of the jungle. Readers see a variety of pop-up sights such as a tree frog, a flower, an elephant, and even a waterfall. The illustrations are simple and bold.

This is a fun pop-up that any young readers would love. The pop-ups seem fairly simple and sturdy, so they might hold up better than the average pop-up. Also the book is small, about the size of sandwich, so young hands can easily hold the book as well. That being said, a pop-up as a library book has a short life span, but it might be fun for a non-check out item, like an exploration table about the jungles.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

Bee (Tales From Nature)Magali Attiogbé – ADVISABLE

Tales from Nature: Bee by Magali Attiogbe. BOARD BOOK. Words and Pictures (Quatro Group), 2017. $10.  9781786036544

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This book has the reader take a journey with a little bee as is discovers flowers, collects nectar, heads back to the hive, and tours the hive. It features bright cheerful illustrations with interesting cutouts and page shapes.

This is a fantastic book with appealing artwork and perfectly geared language to teach a pre-k student the basics of a bee’s life. I love the creativity with the page shapes and the colors just make you feel cheerful.  

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

Who’s Hiding at the Beach by Katharine McEwen – OPTIONAL

Who’s Hiding at the Beachby Katharine McEwen. BOARD BOOK. Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2019. $10.  9781536205855

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K –OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

This book features a variety of beach and ocean scenes, that offer harmonious color palates and surprise readers with hidden flaps, underneath are animals and sea creatures with information tidbits.

I liked this book and think readers would really enjoy lifting the flaps but the artwork was just so monotone (which does help to hide the flaps, in its defense) but overall that leaves it very unappealing. Even just a photo of a beach is more engaging.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

William Sheepspeare (Wild Bios) by Courtney Acampora and Maggie Fischer – NOT RECOMMENDED

William Sheepspeare (WildBios) by Courtney Acampora and Maggie Fischer.  BOARD BOOK. Silver Dolphin (readerlink) , 2018. $8.  9781684126194

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K –NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Readers learn about the life William Shakespeare as a character called William Sheepspeare, who is, as a sheep. Everything is infused with sheepy word plays like Anne Hoofaway (his wife), how he went to London (flocked) and became who we know him as today (a Baa-rd). Bright illustrations accompany.

This is the second book for this series I have reviewed and I am not a fan. I think they are fantastic for adults, as a humorous gift for an avid fan.  While I like that young readers get introduced to famous biographies, there a couple of things that bother me about this series. Its sort of disrespectful, after all if I accomplished amazing things, I would hate to think of myself portrayed as a pig or camel or some such thing. Additionally the word play would be so confusing for pre-k readers who are just trying to learn basic words to start with. The illustrations are adorable though.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

Silver Meadows Summer by Emma Otheguy - ADVISABLE

Silver Meadows Summer by Emma Otheguy, 231 pages. Alfred A. Knopf (Random House), 2019. $17.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G. 

CONTENT ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Eleven-year-old Carolina and her family just moved from Puerto Rico to Upstate New York and are living with their Aunt and Uncle. Carolina's cousin Gabriela is 2 years older, and both girls are enrolled in a farming summer camp which is a day camp comprised of farm chores, hiking, arts and crafts and playtime. Carolina misses her life in Puerto Rico very much, but is surprised to meet a kindred spirit in Jennifer, whose dad is an artist. Carolina used to take painting classes and draws all the time, maybe New York isn't so bad after all! 

I loved the different perspectives of the family regarding the move - Carolina's frustration with leaving her familiar world behind, her mother needing her daughter to fit in, Gabriela worried that her cousin's friend choices would affect her social life, little brother Dani's easy transition, dad's difficulty finding a job. A nice summer read without too much drama or danger. 

Lisa Librarian

The Fisherman & the Whale by Jessica Lanan - OPTIONAL

The Fisherman & the Whale by Jessica Lanan. PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Schuster, 2019. $18. 9781534415744.

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

In a wordless story told in beautiful watercolors, a boy and his fisherman father notice a large baleen whale caught in fishing line. The father swims out and frees the whale from the nets and tackle.

I'm blanking on titles, but I have previously seen a few different books telling a story nearly identical to this. The illustrations are beautiful, the story is easy to follow, but there is still not a lot to recommend this. I appreciate the author's note that actually points out how dangerous--and in many cases illegal--it is to actually approach a whale in the water. The message is obviously one of being environmentally-conscious and trying to protect whales, but as a story that will interest kids it feels very much like a one-time read and never needing to look at it again.

Reviewer: TC

Home is a Window by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard - ADVISABLE

Home is a Window by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard, illustrated by Chris Sasaki. PICTURE BOOK. Neal Porter Books (Holiday House), 2019. $19. 9780823441563.


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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Home can mean a lot of things, but at its heart it about the familiar things and people that make you feel comfortable--AT HOME! When a family moves from the home they know to a new house, they will also find that home can still be found in the familiar things and people that come along.

I really enjoyed this book from its poetic text to its great illustrations. The theme of home is one that will appeal to many readers since moving to a new house is a regular, but often difficult, change for many kids. This would also be a great gift for kids who are facing a move to a new place.

Reviewer: TC

When Sadness Is At Your Door by Eva Eland - ADVISABLE

When Sadness Is At Your Door by Eva Eland. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2019. $18. 9780525707189


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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Sadness is a common emotion but one children are not always sure how to deal with when it comes. In this book, Sadness is treated as an actual figure who arrives at a child's door and suggestions on how to deal with Sadness are offered--get to know it, spend time with it, find things you can do together, etc. Most importantly, sometimes Sadness is gone the next day.

This is a really lovely little book that deals with an important emotion in a way children can understand. I like that it also offers adults a vocabulary to work with when helping children through sad times, too. The illustrations are very simple and soft, and fit the story well. This is a nice pick for adults to read with children.

Reviewer: TC

Little Monsters of the Ocean: Metamorphosis under the Waves by Heather L. Montgomery - OPTIONAL

Little Monsters of the Ocean: Metamorphosis under the Waves by Heather L. Montgomery, 56 pages. NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK. Millbrook Press (Lerner Publishing), 2019. $24. 9781541528987


BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Many of us have heard of metamorphosis, but assume its limited to c
aterpillars turning to butterflies or tadpoles to frogs. In this slim but packed volume, Montgomery introduces readers to the vast styles of metamorphosis that happen to creatures of the sea--from jellyfish to blue crabs. And as with all great science books, she leaves us wondering about some of the questions science still has yet to discover.

To begin with--this book was fascinating and offered loads of information I didn't even know I wanted to know. That being said, this book is so jam packed with information it also ends up feeling really long. There are great graphics and photographs but the overwhelming foundation of this nonfiction book (that sort of purports to be a nonfiction picture book...in a way) is lots and lots of text. The topic is also so niche, I think it will be hardpressed to find a ready audience in the age-group its aiming to reach.

Reviewer: TC

Circle by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen - OPTIONAL

Circle by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen. BOARD BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2019. $16. 9780763696085.

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Circle invites her friends, Triangle and Square, to play a game of hide-and-seek; the one rule is that you cannot hide behind Circle's waterfall. Triangle immediately breaks the rule and Circle has to brave the darkness behind the water. In the darkness, Circle is surprised and initially scared to discover a totally different set of eyes that don't belong to Triangle! Once back in the light, the 3 shapes ponder what sort of shape the eyes might have belonged to.

I had high expectations of loving this book since its Jon Klassen, but maybe I'm just missing some obvious point to this story. I didn't really get it, nor love it. I found Triangle's immediate breaking of the rule rather funny and so very true to life with kids; I did not understand the point of the ending. Fans of Klassen and Barnett's shape books will probably still want to see how the trilogy "ends" but I don't think its all that fantastic.

Reviewer: TC

Night Night Bible Stories by Amy Parker - OPTIONAL

Night Night Bible Stories by Amy Parker, illustrated by Virginia Allyn. PICTURE BOOK. Thomas Nelson, 2019. $17. 9781400208913

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

With fifteen stories from the Old Testament and fifteen stories from the New Testament, this book includes illustrations and a prayer to accompany each story. The stories average about five pages each.  

This book looks like a board book by the cover, but it has normal paper for pages inside. This is a solid bible story book, but there is some mismatch between the illustrations and the stories. The length of the stories lend themselves to a reader who has a more sustained attention span, but the illustrations are targeted to very young readers.   

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

A Giant Man from a Tiny Town: A Story of Angus Macaskill by Tom Ryan - ESSENTIAL

A Giant Man from a Tiny Town: A Story of Angus Macaskill by Tom Ryan, illustrated by Christopher Hoyt. PICTURE BOOK. Nimbus Publishing, 2018. $23. 9781771086547

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Angus Macaskill was an average height child until his teenage years when he grew to seven feet and nine inches. At that point, Angus worked the fields in his small town for a few years until he decided to see the world by joining the circus. After traveling for a time, he returned home. 

This is a quick and easy informational text about a true figure from history. The story is fairly bare bones and the illustrations are muted and traditional, but it works in this case. Hopefully this will interest readers in learning more about this and other historical figures. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

When the Stars Come Out by Nicola Edwards - OPTIONAL

When the Stars Come Out by Nicola Edwards, illustrated by Lucy Cartwright.  70 pages.  NON-FICTION/PICTURE BOOK  360 Degrees (Tiger Tales), 2019.  $30.  9781944560235  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL : AVERAGE  

This book highlights different interesting aspects about the night time. There is a history of astronomy and an explanation of what makes up the night sky.  There are interesting facts about what the sky looks like from different hemispheres and what animals do in different regions. There is also facts about humans' sleep cycle and their night life, as well as holidays that are celebrated at night.  There are many random facts found throughout this book.  

My favorite part of this book is the illustrations.  They are appealing and supplement the facts.  The facts are interesting, even though they are random and don’t seem to be in much of an order.  This book is more a fun fact type book.  My biggest complaint is that most of the text is super tiny (making it hard to read) and the book is oversized.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson

What to Do When Fear Interferes by Claire A. B. Freeland - ESSENTIAL

What to Do When Fear Interferes: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Phobias by Claire A. B. Freeland and Jacqueline B. Toner, illustrated by Janet McDonnell. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Magination Press, 2019. $17. 9781433829741

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This is a thorough guide for young readers to take them through tackling their fears. The book is very action oriented with instructions, examples, and then space for the kids to fill out their own thoughts. 

I love that this book offers in-depth information, instead of a quick validation of fears. I labeled this as a picture book, but there are chapters and these chapters build carefully on each other. I have already ordered other books in this series for my kids, who loved this one (What to Do When You Worry Too Much, What to Do When Mistakes Make You Quake).  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Cinderella of the Nile by Beverley Naidoo - ADVISABLE

Cinderella of the Nile by Beverley Naidoo, illustrated by Marjan Vafaeian. PICTURE BOOK. Tiny Owl, 2019. $18. 9781910328293

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

This is the Egyptian version of Cinderella and has very old origins. In this tale, a girl is kidnapped and sold into slavery in a few different countries. She is bought by a man who gives her shoes because she loves to dance. When a bird steals her shoe and drops it on the prince, the story we all know, becomes clear. 

I love the discussion the books opens up about the universality of some stories and how they originate in different places and shift as cultures blend. But the story here is a bit long and very depressing, with quirky illustrations.   

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Inside Outside by Anne Margot Ramstein - ESSENTIAL

Inside Outside by Anne Margot Ramstein, illustrated by Matthias Aregui. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2019. $19. 9781536205978

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This is a wordless picture book that utilizes the two page spread to show the inside of something on the left and the outside of something on the right. For example, one spread shows the inside of the egg and the other, outside of the egg. Another shows a heart on one side and someone bungee jumping on the other. 

I love the mix of humor in this book and the way this book asks the reader to look at the world from a new point of view.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

The Magic Boat by Kit Pearson - ADVISABLE

The Magic Boat by Kit Pearson and Katherine Farris, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard. PICTURE BOOK. Orca Books, 2019. $20. 9781459814325

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Sitting on a beach, a young girl and her grandma enjoy the day. As the days pass, the young girl gets bored but she is too shy to talk to the other kids on the beach. When another girl includes her and they go an imaginary journey on a boat she starts to get the courage to reach beyond her shyness. 

I love to see a book with a character who struggles with shyness. The books is not heavy-handed with this character trait, instead focusing on the story of imaginary play, but the message of reaching out past one’s shyness works well.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

A Piglet Named Mercy by Kate DiCamillo - ESSENTIAL

A Piglet Named Mercy by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2019. $19. 9780763677534

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This is a picture book version of how Mercy Watson, the notable chapter book pig, made his way to the predictable Watson family. This introduces us to all the main characters and Mercy’s love for unpredictability and toast.  

I think the chapter books are the ideal format for Mercy Watson, but this may be a way to get new readers interested in the chapter books. Mercy is a charming character and that does come across in this book. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

The Girl and the Wolf by Katherena Vermette - OPTIONAL

The Girl and the Wolf by Katherena Vermette, illustrated by Julie Flett. PICTURE BOOK. Theytus Books (Schchechmala), 2019. $20. 9781926886541

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

On a camping trip, a young girl walks away from her mom and becomes lost. She is prompted by a kind wolf to take a breath and look around and search for clues. This gives the girl the peace and confidence she needs to find her mom again. 

The writing in this picture book feels like a first draft. It may be mimicking old folk tales in its simplicity, but I found the lack of details and imagery in the writing boring and uninviting. The message of this tale is also illusive, and it seems that the message should be important given its folk tale tone.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher