Where’s Rollo? by Reed Duncan and Keith Frawley - ADVISABLE

Where’s Rollo? by Reed Duncan, illustrated by Keith Frawley.  EARLY READER. Penguin Workshop. 2019. $10. 9781524792466

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The little boy is ready to give his dog a treat, but looking high and low, he can’t seem to find Rollo.  Rollo, meanwhile, has the entire box and is following the boy around, just out of sight.

A step up book for those who are ready for less patterned independent reading. Rollo’s antics are amusing and I like the bright illustrations.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

How To Code a Rollercoaster by Josh Funk and Sara Palacios - ADVISABLE

How To Code a Rollercoaster by Josh Funk, illustrated by Sara Palacios.  PICTURE BOOK. Viking (Penguin), 2019. $18. 9780425292037

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Pearl and her robot is ready for a day at the amusement park.  Pearl only has ten tokens, so she needs to put her coding skills to make the most of her day.  Using variables, values, loops, even If-Then-Else, she is able to enjoy rides and ice cream all day.

Funk repeats the pattern used in the first How To Code a … book in #2. While the steps are repetitious, I liked seeing how the same instructions work in a completely different situation. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Pirates Don’t Go To School! by Alan MacDonald and Magda Brol - ADVISABLE

Pirates Don’t Go To School! by Alan MacDonald, illustrated by Magda Brol. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2019.  $18. 9781680101560

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Jake loves his pirate family, but he wants to go to school, too. Though he is a little afraid, he heads off, forgetting that his parrot, Polly, is sleeping under his hat.  When Polly escapes, causing havoc all throughout the school, Jake is afraid that he won’t be allowed to stay.

I think young readers will be happy to read about Jake’s and Polly’s antics. It would be a good platform to talk to young students about classroom behavior. Plus, don’t we all need another picture book for Talk-Like-A-Pirate-Day?

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Blue Planet: Life in our Oceans and Rivers by Butterfield and Woodward - ADVISABLE

Blue Planet: Life in our Oceans and Rivers by Moira Butterfield, illustrated by Jonathan Woodward. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. 360 degrees, 2019. $20. 9781944530969

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

What kind of water is all over the world.  Where does it flow? Who or what uses it?

In broad strokes, but with interesting illustrations and fun details, the author paints an excellent look at the importance of water to life on this earth. A young reader who like non-fiction and science will enjoy pouring over the pictures and the information.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Song of the River by Joy Cowley and Kimberly Andrews - OPTIONAL

 Song of the River by Joy Cowley and Kimberly Andrews.  PICTURE BOOK. Gecko Press, 2019.  $18. 9781776572533

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Cam lives on the mountain with his grandfather, but he wishes to see the sea. One day the small stream near his home calls to him and he follows it all the way down to the wild ocean.

The progression of the river growing from creek to ocean and illustrations are a beautiful.  What disturbs me is the lack of believability that a young boy would run off with nothing and make it all the way to the sea and back in what seems like a single day.  It would have been so easy to have child and grandfather set off on the adventure together and show the progression of time to show how far creek and ocean are from each other.  Plus it teaches that if an adult tells you “not now” that you should just run off and do what you want.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Thupka For All by Ram and Sheela Preuitt and Shilpa Ranade - ADVISABLE

Thupka For All by Ram and Sheela Preuitt, illustrated by Shilpa Ranade.  PICTURE BOOK. Karadi Tales, 2019.  $14. 9788193388983

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Tsering, though blind, unerringly makes his way home for his dinner of Thukpa, noodle soup.  Along they way he invites a few others to share the meal.  Everyone is welcome, but when the power goes out it is Tsering who can help finish making the meal.

The Ladakhis are small group of people in the cold desert of India.  The authors not only introduce us to a bit of their culture, but also show the quiet competence of the blind boy Tsering.  Great to teach about culture and to create empathy.  A little bit of back matter teaches about the Ladakhi and includes a recipe for the soup!

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

curriculum

Look It’s Raining by Mathieu Pierloot and Maria Dek - ESSENTIAL

Look It’s Raining by Mathieu Pierloot and Maria Dek.  PICTURE BOOK. Princeton Architectural Press, 2019.  $18.  9781616898281

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Camille is bored and no one is paying attention to her, so she slips outside into a rainy day. The animals and insects are all whispering and hurrying towards “the show” as they call it and urge Camille to join them.  When she follows them to the sheltering leaves of the big tree, she sees something so wonderful that she rushes home to encourage her parents to join her outside.

So delightful!  A different way to remind everyone at every age that outdoors is filled with wonder and curiosities!

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Snow White: An Islamic Tale by Fawzia Gilani and Shireen Adams - ESSENTIAL

Snow White: An Islamic Tale by Fawzia Gilani, illustrated by Shireen Adams. PICTURE BOOK. The Islamic Foundation, 2016. $14. 9780860375265

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When Snow White’s mother dies, her father remarries an angry, jealous woman obsessed with being the most beautiful in the land.

Gilani has taken the familiar outline of the Snow White tale and adds depth and details reimagining it within Muslim culture. Whether your students are familiar with Islam or know nothing about should appreciate this very clever and interesting retelling.  Honestly, it is so well-written, you could include this with your traditional fairy tales if you wanted to. Otherwise, you could catalog it with Islam books. I am excited to show this to my middle school Geography teachers.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor - OPTIONAL

Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Rafael Lopez.  PICTURE BOOK.  Philomel (Penguin), 2019.  $18. 9780525514121

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

What is different about you? A wide variety of children introduce themselves and their differences – the things that people stare at them for, but never ask them about.

Sotomayor talks about how much she wished other kids and the adults around her would have asked about her diabetes when she was younger.  I do have to wonder how many children are actually comfortable constantly answering the same questions over and over again. As much as I love the celebration of differences, I am not so sure about the “just ask” part.  I’d love to hear from others about this.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Yan’s Hajj: A Journey of a Lifetime by Fawzia Gilani and Sophie Burrows - ADVISABLE

Yan’s Hajj: A Journey of a Lifetime by Fawzia Gilani, illustrated by Sophie Burrows.  PICTURE BOOK. Islamic Foundation (Kube), 2018. 9780860376231 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Yan keeps saving up his money to go on Hajj, but each time he starts the journey he finds other people who need the money more than he does.  When he become so old that he gives up his dream, a miracle fostered by his earlier good deeds comes back to bless him.

What a beautiful look at the principles of Islam framed around a journey for Hajj.  I will add this to my own more informational books about Islam for students to get a greater depth of feeling.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Fly! By Mark Teague - ESSENTIAL

Fly! By Mark Teague. PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane (Simon), 2019. $18. 9781534451285

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The baby bird is adamant that his mother give him his worm – no way is he going out on that branch to fetch his meal!  When he falls out of the nest and lands on the forest floor, he is just as insistent that he won’t fly back up.  It isn’t until dark starts to fall that he finally gives flying his best go.

Teague’s baby bird is a delight!  The wordless story is clear, fun, and charming. Grab your document camera and show this off!

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Santa Mouse by Michael Brown - NO

Santa Mouse by Michael Brown, illustrated by Elfrieda De Witt.  PICTURE BOOK. Little Simon, 2019 (reprint from 1966).  $18. 9781534437937

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

A lonely little mouse is ready for bed on Christmas Eve when he realizes that no one has left a gift for Santa.  When Santa finds the no-name mouse’s favorite bit of cheese, he gifts the tiny creature with a name and takes him along on his journey.

Written back in 1966, I can understand why I never knew about this book.  I even looked up the original album on youtube, because it has never appeared on any of the hipster Christmas compilations I own.  Its just not that good.  DeWitt’s illustrations are charming – the best part.  Brown’s text is ill paced and difficult to read aloud. The song is somewhat cute, but doesn’t give the detail included in the book. There are many much cuter Christmas books out there.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Alexander Hamilton by David A Adler and Matt Collins - ADVISABLE

Alexander Hamilton by David A Adler, illustrated by Matt Collins.  PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Holiday House, DEC 2019. $18. 9780823439614

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Though he was born the son of a failed trader on a small Caribbean island, Alexander Hamilton grew up to be the first  secretary of the treasury – an influential part of the beginnings and growth of the new nation. 

In an elementary library, I would buy every one of Adler’s picture book biographies.  Because the subjects are historical, they are a timeless purchase, with illustrations that won’t feel dated.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Project Me 2.0 by Jan Gangsei - ADVISABLE

Project Me 2.0 by Jan Gangsei, 250 pages.  Aladdin (Simon), 2019.  $19

Content: G (fart jokes, shorts fail)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE; MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When Anna Murphy moves back to town after being gone for five years, Farley, 11, decides its time to improve himself.  He finds a self-help site online and when he clicks on the link and fills out the forms, he finds himself with his own self-help guru – a little 8 bit surfer dude Online Master, Tomy, who isn’t going to actually leave Farley alone until he accomplishes the entire program.  Now Farley has to keep Tomy secret from his family and actually figure out how to improve himself.  And it may not be in the ways he thinks.

Thinking about it after the fact, I kind of like the idea of a little guru in my pocket.  Oh, it would be super annoying, but it would ultimately WORK (I hope). Gangsei manages to write a book about a middle grade boy that isn’t about his being involved in a sport or obsessed with a video – just a book about a kid who wants, somewhat reluctantly, to be a better version of himself. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Strike Zone by Mike Lupica - ESSENTIAL

Strike Zone by Mike Lupica, 249 pages. Philomel (Penguin), 2019.  $18.

Content: G (father arrested) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

While Nick, 12, was born in America, his parents are in the country illegally.  It’s the secret he keeps from everyone except his two best friends on his baseball team.  He keeps it even from the girl he likes because her dad is a cop.  While that is on his mind the most, he is still busy this summer pitching his way up to the tournament champs so that he can win the chance to meet Michael Arroyo, his hero, another boy who started his life in America as an illegal and became a pitching champs for Nick’s beloved Yankees.

Lupica is always on point when it comes to sports novels and I love how he includes life within the pages on an equal level.  This one brings us back into the life of Michael, who was the main character in Heat.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

A Songbird Dreams of Singing by Kate Hosford - ADVISABLE

A Songbird Dreams of Singing by Kate Hosford, 40 pages. PICTURE BOOK, POETRY. Running Press Kids (Perseus Books), 2019. $20.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Did you know that some animals can get enough sleep by taking one minute naps throughout the day? Did you know that some animals only let half of their brain sleep at a time? Hosford teaches readers the odd sleeping habits of several different animals, and then reiterates the information through a rhyming poem -- or two.

Both the factual paragraphs that teach the different sleeping habits of animals and the poems are fun to read, and I like that Hosford made learning fun in this book. The book is also beautifully illustrated, a good combination of appealing pictures and words for a visual smorgasbord.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Hide-and-seek: A First Book of Position Words by Sakshi Mangal – ADVISABLE

Hide-and-seek: A First Book of Position Words by Sakshi Mangal .  PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, 2019. $17. 9781771387941

BUYING ADVISORY:  Pre-K  -ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book features three animal friends, Bear, Fox, and Owl as they take turns playing hide and seek. The reader learns all kinds of position words like Beside, Behind, Through, and many more. There is a surprisingly wholesome ending. Features cute illustrations in harmonious colors.

This is the sweetest book. It has good friends, a happy game, and lots of love. I love books like this because it promotes friendship and I could send it home with any student with no worries. But students might not choose this book on their own because it’s not super exciting and eye-catching. I think students might have more fun with Sebastien Braun’s books which are full of positional words, sounds, as well as being bright and appealing.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell - ADVISABLE

The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell, 261 pages.  Simon and Schuster, 2019.  $18.

Language: G (1 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some death mentioned and danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Vita and her mother have come over from England to bring Vita’s grandfather home.  The family estate, Hudson Castle, has been stolen out from under her grandfather by a shady business man.  Vita is determined to save her grandfather’s beloved home somehow, but she will need the help of two circus boys and a girl pickpocket if she is to succeed.

Though the time period is not specified, but if the Dillinger mentioned is John Dillinger, then it’s about the 1930’s. There are many exciting parts of Rundell’s story. If you have students who liked Rundell’s Rooftoppers book then you should get this also. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Friend or Fiction by Abby Cooper - ADVISABLE

Friend or Fiction by Abby Cooper, 263 pages. Charlesbridge, OCT 2019.  $17.

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Jade’s best friend recently moved away, but it really doesn’t matter because they had a fight before she left anyway.  Now Jade occupies her time with writing stories about an imaginary best friend, Zoe, who does everything with Jade and they get along perfectly.  At night she comes home and shares her stories with her Dad who is battling cancer. Then one day a boy in her school “borrows” Jade’s notebook of Zoe stories and promises her a big surprise in return.  Monday morning who should be at Jade’s school – a girl named Zoe who looks like, sounds like, and acts like the Zoe Abby created.  Everything seems to be perfect, until it isn’t.  What does it mean to be best friends anyway?

Cooper’s book has a lot to recommend it, especially taking a hard look at what it means to be a friend or a best friend.  About letting others be who they are, not what you want them to be.  Or letting go of your assumptions about the people around you whom you have slotted into little boxes. A nice slice of your students should enjoy this.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

How Winston Delivered Christmas by Alex T. Smith - ESSENTIAL

How Winston Delivered Christmas: An Advent Story in Twenty-Four-And-A-Half Chapters by Alex T. Smith, 166 pages. Silver Dolphin, 2019.  $18. 9781684129836

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Oliver rushes to place his Christmas letter to Santa in the mailbox on Christmas Eve, but he doesn’t see that it missed the mark and is blowing down the street.  Only a tiny mouse names Winston sees.  No matter what it takes, Winston is determined to get that letter to Santa tonight!

If you don’t do an advent calendar at home, then you should try an advent book instead!  Not only does Smith have just the right amount of story for each night before Christmas Eve, but he also includes one and sometimes two crafts or activities for the day.  Love it!  Such a great replacement for The Elf on the Shelf craziness.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

The Bookwanderers by Anna James - ADVISABLE

The Bookwanderers (Page & Co #1) by Anna James, 281 pages. Philomel (Penguin), 2019.  $17.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Tilly, 11, has lived with her grandparents above their bookshop ever since her mother disappeared when she was a baby.  As she is wandering around the shop one day her hears her grandmother talking to a old-fashioned dressed woman who disappears as Tilly rounds the corner. Then a atrange girl with red braids appears as Tilly tries to find a quiet spot, followed soon a very energetic blond girl in a blue dress and white apron. What secrets have her grandparents been hiding from her all of these years?  When Anne pulls Tilly and her friend Oskar into her book for a trip to Green Gables, Tilly suddenly needs answers!

Kids ready for a trip through the pages of a book will love Tilly and her adventures.  Since the villain of the piece is still out there, I am sure there will be a sequel.  I love this particular plot theme and James does it very well.  

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

FrostFire by Jamie Smith - OPTIONAL

FrostFire by Jamie Smith, 256 pages.  Chicken House (Scholastic), 2019.  $19.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Sabira’s older brother Kyran should have bonded with a frostsliver, but a party from their evil adjacent country ruined his chances. Then Kyran disappeared into the snow-covered mountains and is presumed dead.  Now its Sabira’s chance to bond with a frostsliver, but in her hesitation she loses her chance.  Before she can descend the mountain and admit her failing, she and her guardians are over come by a huge avalanche.  Sabira’s only chance to rescue herself and the remaining guardian is to bond with a foreign frostsliver and find a path through the heart of the glacier.

Unfortunately I didn’t feel any kind of empathy or sympathy for Sabira or her village.  The evil from the  adjacent village never feels real enough or interesting enough to hold an important part of the story until Sabira finally meets up with them inside the glacier – which is way too late for any young reader.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

The Ball Book by Joshua David Stein and Marcus Oakley - ADVISABLE

The Ball Book: Footballs, Meatballs, Eyeballs, and More Balls by Joshua David Stein, illustrated by Marcus Oakley.  PICTURE BOOK.  Phaidon, 2019. $17. 9781838660123 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Stein takes us through a wide assortment of balls in his silly book.

Oakley’s spare illustrations may seem odd at first, but they actually work well in this format.  At first I didn’t notice that Stein was using slant rhyme in his text – until the pattern become odd and a bit off.  Since I was reading out loud over Facetime, the oddities made me stumble – even with practice it would still be a little off. But as a book about balls of all sorts, it is still great fun.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Little Robin’s Christmas by Jan Fearnley - HIGH

Little Robin’s Christmas by Jan Fearnley.  PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2019. $17. 9781536208252

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Little Robin has seven snuggly vests to keep him warm all winter.  As he ventures outdoors, however, he keeps encountering other animals that need the vests even more. AS he gives away his last vest, it happens to be Christmas Eve and some one kind and jolly has noticed Little Robin’s generosity.

A sweet reminder about the warm feeling that comes from serving those around us.  The Christmas theme ties in nicely.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Be An Animal Tracker by Emily Kington - ADVISABLE

Be An Animal Tracker by Emily Kington.  NON-FICTION. Lerner, 2019.  $28.  9781541555211

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Kington lays out a small variety of crafts to go along with a trip thought the great outdoors.  She includes information of animals you might see and their habits.

No in-depth information here, but enough for a short intro to wild things. Best for a student reading on their own rather than for classroom support.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Stanley’s Train by William Bee - ADVISABLE

Stanley’s Train by William Bee.  PICTURE BOOK. Peachtree, 2019.  $15. 9781682631089

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Hamster Stanley is working with his friend Charlie to ready the train for a trip to the seaside.

Cute as always.  

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Monstrous by Carlyn Beccia - ESSENTIAL

Monstrous: The Lore, Gore, and Science Behind Your Favorite Monsters by Carlyn Beccia, 149 pages. Carolrhoda (Lerner), 2019.  $20.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Meet 8 well-known monsters of the horror universe. 

Not only does Beccia tell us about the monsters as we know them from page and screen, but she also delves into origins of the stories, the science behind the creatures, and historical context. Excellent illustrations and so much informative, fun reading!

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

The Great Grizzly Race by Zoa Lumsden and Monika Suska - NO

The Great Grizzly Race by Zoa Lumsden, illustrated by Monika Suska.  EARLY READER. Lerner, 2019.  $28 (HC), $8 (PB).  9781541542310

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Bear is mad because strangers are in his valley.  He decides to steal bicycles so that no one can beat him in the big race.

My summary doesn’t make sense to you? Well, welcome to this book!  It does not make sense.  I didn’t even tell you about the dogs who use a beaver’s den for their campfire or that the bear tries to hide the bikes by hanging them on a line in the trees. Find an early reader book that actually makes sense.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

The Seekers by Hari and Deepti - OPTIONAL

The Seekers: The Legend of the Silver Fox and the Fire Wolf by Hari and Deepti.  PICTURE BOOK.  Knopf (Random), 2019.  $19. 9781524701529

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Mio and Nao and brave gatherers for their small village.  When something goes wrong with their food and water supply, the pair lead an expedition to find the source of the trouble.

The illustrations in this book are GORGEOUS! Each jumps of the page with glowing colors.  The environmental message is quite heavy-handed, however.  There are good factual picture books about this topic already, like Moth and Wasp, Soil and Ocean by Sigrid Schmalzer or Lily William’s If Sharks Disappeared, that I would use first. But you can’t beat those illustrations!

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Snack Attack by Terry Border – OPTIONAL

Snack Attack by Terry Border. PICTURE BOOK. Philomel, 2019. $18  9781524740115

BUYING ADVISORY: EL(K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This book features three snacks who discover their days are numbered, they will be eaten as snack time by a monster child. They wildly try to come up with survival plans, like hiding and more. Will they survive?

A darkly funny story with memorable characters, a horror version of his other food books. It would be fun for younger readers to brainstorm how the snacks could get away and what their favorite snacks are. The ending is a surprise that is both fun and well, dark. The illustrations are dark and grim and a bit creepy. Save this book for 1-2 graders who are brave.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author

If Pluto Was a Pea by Gabrielle Prendergast –ADVISABLE

If Pluto Was a Pea by Gabrielle Prendergast.  PICTURE BOOK. McElderry Books (Simon), 2019. $18. 9781534404359

BUYING ADVISORY:  EL(K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book is a size that repeats the phrase “if Pluto was a pea” then gives an example for all of the planets and the sun and moon, one by one. For example Saturn would be a pumpkin and so on. The illustrations are simple and feature two children and a host of little animals.

Well, this book is full of nice real life objects like food and beach balls as comparisons for planets, which students will relate to and it could easily be made into a hands on lesson for students. The illustrations are nicely made in harmonious colors.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author