Song in the City by Daniel Bernstrom and Jenin Mohammed

Song in the City by Daniel Bernstrom, illustrated by Jenin Mohammed. PICTURE BOOK (K-3rd grade) Harper Collins. 2022. $18. 9780063011120

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Emmalene, a blind African-American child, is going to church with her Grandma Jean. As they walk through the busy city, Emmalene listens to all of the busy city noises: car honks, yipping dogs, rumbling buses, a marching band, sizzling foods and the tap of her cane. As Emmalene and Grandma Jean arrive at the church, Emmalene hears the wind blowing clothes on a line, rattling branches, and crinkling leaves. All of the sounds she hears she turns into a lively song and she begs her Grandmother to listen and hear, but Grandma Jean is busy and only hears the city noises as they hurry to their destination. Emmalene is frustrated, and sad, but figures out a way for her Grandma to listen as she does.

Mohammed’s illustrations are so colorful, realistic and perfect for the dialog/text, detailing the meaning of the story. The reader will be able to feel the city and the sounds Emmalene hears. The reader will be engaged by the illustrations and text. Song in the City is a an enjoyable and lovely book with several messages for the reader and can help in a discussion of those with disabilities such a blindness. Song in the City would be an opening for a discussion/lesson on disabilities and senses. A must have for any elementary school library.  The characters are African American. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

Share Some Kindness Bring Some Light by Apryl Stott - ESSENTIAL

Share Some Kindness Bring Some Light by Apryl Stott PICTURE BOOK  Simon and Schuster. 2020. $18 97815344623080 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Coco and Bear have been friends ever since they met. Bear is quite sad as none of the other animals in the forest seem to like him and are afraid of him. They believe he is mean because he is big. Coco shares her grandmother’s wise saying of sharing some kindness and bring some light with Bear and they come up with a plan to help Bear’s neighbors see how kind he really is. Sadly, the plan does not work as they thought, but there is an emergency and Bear comes to the rescue.

Stott’s illustrations are so realistic and compliment the text extremely well. The pictures are charming and a young reader will feel as if they are in the forest with Coco and Bear. The first two pages and the last two pages of the book are done in a sepia tone and illustrate the forest characters beautifully and hint at how the story will proceed and finishes. Stott’s Share Some Kindness Bring Some Light  is part of the Coco and Bear series. and will fit into any preschool and elementary library. It would make a wonderful gift for any child as well. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

Whale Done by Stuart Gibbs - ESSENTIAL

Whale Done (funjungle #8) by Stuart Gibbs, 300 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2023. $18. 

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Teddy’s home has burned down – by a kangaroo! So, he is heading to Malibuwith his girlfriend Summer and her mom. Beach time is what Teddy wants – and needs. Instead – he gets a dead whale – that explodes. Something is really wrong on this beach and Teddy is going to have to solve it before even worse things happen. It’s hard to concentrate when the Hollywood media is trying to pair Summer with this season’s “It Boy”.

I love Gibb’s mix of good mysteries for Teddy to solve, plus realistic – not over the top relationship gaffs between Teddy and Summer. God for the readers as they get older, but not too mushy for new, young readers who breeze through the whole series.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Paper Museum by Kate S. Simpson - ADVISABLE

 The Paper Museum by Kate S. Simpson, 242 pages. Union Square Kids, 2022. $18

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Living in a futuristic time period in which technology has made paper completely obsolete, 12yo Lydia loves the Paper Museum, which her family has curated for generations. She has lived with her Uncle Lem ever since her parents disappeared three months earlier and she’s convinced that she can solve the mystery of their disappearance if she can just locate the last book she saw her mother looking at, which is somewhere amidst the thousands of books in the museum. The situation worsens when Uncle Lem leaves on a work trip, her irascible Uncle Renald comes to watch over the museum, three interns (instead of the expected two) show up for their internships, the mayor wants the land the museum is on for a new park initiative, and Lydia submits a missing persons report without realizing that doing so will begin a countdown on losing her home and the museum if her parents don’t return in time. Museum items begin to disappear, Uncle Renald bans them from using their aer readers (which is like a futuristic cell phone), and the technology everyone in the society relies on starts breaking down without explanation. Lydia’s determination will be the key to stopping the plot against the museum, figuring out the reason technology is failing, and finding the truth behind her parents’ disappearance.

This book was a treat to read! I was curious and engaged throughout the reading experience due to suspenseful moments and foreshadowing, and it was genuinely fun to see the unexpected way that all the pieces tied together at the end and the magic contained in the library. The book isn’t really dystopian, but it does have a dystopian feel as it highlighted the problems with an overreliance on technology in a futuristic society. The characterization at times felt a little flat and some of the characters made illogical or abrupt decisions; however, Lydia’s choices were age appropriate and her tenacity and the way she grappled realistically with her feelings and confusion added to the book for me. The main challenge I had was that the plot felt a little rushed at the end, which is where I wanted to spend a little more time because there were such interesting things happening. In spite of that element, I enjoyed the overall reading experience and loved the creative premise. 

Reviewer: Marinda 

Rabunzel by Gareth B. Jones and Loretta Schauer - ESSENTIAL

Rabunzel by Gareth B. Jones, illustrated by Loretta Schauer BOARD BOOK (Pre-K) Harper Collins 2022 $7 9781405298582 0 G 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Rabunzel lives on Furry Tail Hill and has really, really, really long ears. Her mother is very worried she will be eaten by the hungry-eyed creatures who live in the forest. So she took Rabunzel to a tall tower to keep her safe. As in Rapunzel, the mother visits Rabunzel and climbs her ears to bring her food and spend time with her. However, Rabunzel is lonely and BORED. One day, Flash Harry, a hare, came by, saw Rabunzel in the tower window and fell in love. After seeing Rabunzel’s mother call up to her, he climbed up her ears as well to take her to safety. Rabunzel's mother came along at the very moment, they began to argue who was going to take care of Rabunzel. Meanwhile, the hungry-eyed creatures were watching and approaching... "

Rubunzel is a wildly funny story, it is a must have for pre-school through third grade. The illustrations are simple and clean, colorful but not over done. The dialogue has some rhyming aspects which will appeal to the younger students. Jones’ rendition of the classic Rapunzel will engage the younger student and fill the library with deep belly laughs.

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

Pablo Neruda Poet of the People by Monica Brown and Julie Paschkis - ADVISABLE

Pablo Neruda Poet of the People by Monica Brown, illustrated by Julie Paschkis. PICTURE BOOK, BIOGRAPHY Henry Holt (MacMillan) bilingual edition 2022. originally published in 2011. $19. 9781250812520 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Pablo Neruda was born Ricardo Eliecer Neftali Reyes Basalt in 1904 in Chile. Words swirled and whirled around in his head early on. He loved to play in the forest and swim in the river by his home. Neftali was not very athletic like his friends, but he loved to discover magic by reading books, it was from this that he decided to become a writer. When he was a teenager, he moved and changed his name to Pablo. Pablo’s poems were about varied topics, children playing in the ocean, the stones in Chile, opposites, and justice for others. His poems were about things he loved.

Paschkis’ illustrations for this biography are very colorful and authentic for the country Pablo Neruda lived. They lead the reader to imagine what was going through Pablo’s head as he walked through his country and observed so much. The illustrations detail Neruda’s very different and wildly colorful poems, depicting all of the things he loved. Brown’s Author’s Notes at the end are full of interesting facts about her subject. Pablo Neruda Poet of the People is bilingual, informative and colorful. Perfect for elementary library collections, K-5th grade.  The characters appear Caucasian. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

Nightmare Island by Shakirah Bourne - OPTIONAL

 Nightmare Island by Shakirah Bourne, 304 pages. Scholastic, MAY 2023. $18

Language: G (1 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (possession, little blood, danger) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

For six years, 12yo Serenity has had bad dreams. To keep them at bay, she has immersed herself in drawing monsters and making horror movies. Her little bro, 6yo Peace, loves helping with the movies and drawings, but he has started having his own nightmares. Their parents decide to take only Peace to a retreat on Duppy Island – an island Serenity has always heard in haunted. She decides to follow her family and keep Peace safe at all costs – confronting confusion, betrayal, and danger every step of the way. 

The background knowledge needed to understand or be interested in what is going on is kept sketchy until the very end – I had to force myself to keep reading because I was confused about what was happening. Plus the 6yo in the book is well above expected levels of competence – beyond what you might expect even for a gifted child in articulation, conversation, and skill. Confusing, and really only interesting for the last 80 pages. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Lost Legends: The Rise of Flynn Rider by Jen Calonita - ADVISABLE

Lost Legends: The Rise of Flynn Rider by Jen Calonita, 186 pages. Hyperion, 2021. $17 

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (fist-fight and fighting). 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Eugene Fitzherbert is a 12 yo with a good heart and adventuresome spirit. Although he loves living at the orphanage with the other boys and their kind governess, Eugene has a desire to meet his real parents. He also loves the daring stories of Flynn Rider, and wishes to have his own excitement. Enter in the traveling circus, where Eugene finds excitement and danger and learns that some people are trouble and some people are the heroes. Which one will Eugene be? 

 Obviously Flynn Rider is one of the best Disney characters out there, mostly because he has a big heart. Although a bit misguided at times, Eugene wants to do what is right and this origin story shows where his endearing personality started to develop. Calonita always does well with the Disney characters in her A Twisted Tale books and she does the same in Lost Legends. Eugene’s character growth is true to the Flynn Rider from Tangled, but new and enjoyable in its own way. 

Reviewer, C. Peterson

Babajoon's Treasure by Farnaz Esnaashar, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali - ADVISABLE

Babajoon's Treasure by Farnaz Esnaashar, illustrated by Nabi H. Ali.  PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster), 2023.  $19.  9781665901888

BUYING ADVISORY:  EL (4-6) – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Miriam gets to visit her Iranian grandparents for a whole week each summer. It’s a magical time filled with lots of tasty food. This time, Miriam notes some interesting things about her grandfather - he has gold coins in his pocket, he speaks to a friend in a different language, he sings along with parrots. No wonder Miriam thinks he might be a pirate!

The illustrations were what initially caught my eye. I loved the bright myriad of colors bursting from every page. Secondly, I really loved that it was a picture book about a young girl connecting with her grandfather. Lastly, I want to celebrate the Persian storyline with the Farsi language being featured in the text because I don’t see it that often.

Kiera, #bookswithbeddes

Ramen for Everyone by Patricia Tanumihardja, illustrated by Shiho Pate - ADVISABLE

Ramen for Everyone by Patricia Tanumihardja, illustrated by Shiho Pate.  PICTURE BOOK.  Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster), 2023.  $19.  9781665904353

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Hiro wants to make the perfect bowl of ramen, like his father and grandfather before him. He watches his father’s process step-by-step and takes careful notes. Can Hiro make the perfect bowl of ramen, for everyone?

This is a really adorable exploration of growth mindset, cleverly disguised as one child’s attempt to make ramen. Also, the way the illustrations work within the story, it could be a great way to introduce literary ideas like verbs, onomatopoeia, and adjectives.

Kiera, #bookswithbeddes

Afterward, Everything Was Different by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng - ADVISABLE

Afterward, Everything Was Different by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng.  PICTURE BOOK. Greystone Kids, 2023. $20. 9781778400605

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (4-6), MS, HS – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

In this book of very few words, we see the events of prehistoric peoples during the Pleistocene era, that eventually led to the cave paintings like Lascaux Cave in France.

It’s very rare in a picture book for so much of the story (ironically enough) to be told through pictures. The pencil illustrations are so detailed and create plenty of opportunity for the reader to practice valuable inferencing skills. The book shows the inherent danger of everyday life for early hominids between the unforgiving nature and environment, to megafauna that trample and attack. I thought the storytelling was quite interesting, but some of the assumptions of prehistoric society felt a little unsubstantiated.

Kiera, #bookswithbeddes

Some of These are Snails written and illustrated by Carter Higgins - ADVISABLE

Some of These are Snails written and illustrated by Carter Higgins. PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2023. $16. 9781797220185

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A richly illustrated book that explores colors, shapes, and size in a highly engaging and interesting read.

You will blow your little one’s minds with these illustrations. Like the title suggests, some of these (circles) are snails, but not all! The author uses deceptively simple methods to explore complex abstract ideas like imagination and metaphor. I liked how the artist encouraged younger readers to engage with the text through categorization and comparison. Even though I really like this book, I don’t know how useful it would be in K-3 elementary. Those students will have advanced past identifying colors, shapes, and size, and while clever, the book doesn’t offer more than that.

Kiera, #bookswithbeddes

Brothers in Arms by Susan Hood and Jamie Green - ESSENTIAL

Brothers in Arms: A True World War II Story of Wojtek the Bear and Soldiers Who Loved Him by Susan Hood and Jamie Green PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION  HarperCollins 2022. $19. 9780063064768 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

An orphaned bear cub was adopted by a group of Polish soldiers during World War II. The soldiers became the bear's new family. The bear helped the soldiers during the war, got into some mischief, and improved the morale at the camp. This true story teaches children about friendship, teamwork and World War II. 

This is a great, little-known World War II story. The illustrations are detailed and engaging. The material at the end of the book includes photographs, a timeline, and source information. 

Amy Snow, MLS 

Follow Me, Flo! by Jarvis - ADVISABLE

Follow Me, Flo! by Jarvis BOARD BOOK Candlewick Press. 2023. $9. 9781536229912

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

There are things that little duckies should do every day, but little Flo did not do any of these things. Flo only did what she wanted to do. One day, Daddy duck and Flo went to visit Auntie Jenna’s new nest. He told Flo in his most serious voice, “You have to FOLLOW ME all the way or you will get lost.” Flo promised to follow him and off they went. Daddy made up a song for them to sing about how she needed to follow him, and they sang it as they went. Flo decided to sing a different song the way she liked it. Soon she was lost with a fox following her. She suddenly remembered Daddy’s song and was able to catch up to him and lose the fox. That night Flo did all the things little duckies should do. The next day, Daddy let Flo lead them home. 

I really enjoyed Follow Me Flo! I clearly understood the message of the need to obey your parents to keep safe and healthy, but there will be opportunities to express yourself in your own way. The storyline is cute and engaging with colorful expressive illustrations. Young children will love the story read to them and will know what’s going on just by looking at the pictures. 

PGPowers

Anna Maria & Maestro Vivaldi by Jan L. Coated and François Thisdale - ADVISABLE

Anna Maria & Maestro Vivaldi by Jan L. Coated, illustrated by François Thisdale PICTURE BOOK Red Deer (Fitzhenry/Whiteside). 2022. $20 9780889956452 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

8yo Anna Maria lives in an orphanage in Venice. Maestro Vivaldi hears her play her violin and invites her to join his Figlie del Coro. Anna Maria plays beautifully, but she also sees color as she hears the music. Receiving lessons and pointers from Vivaldi during the day, she dreams of the music as "rivers of colour" at night. He encourages her to paint a picture with her music. For inspiration, he takes to a gallery where they view Marco Ricci's painting of Spring Summer Winter and Fall. Vivaldi is inspired by the paintings to write his masterpiece The Four Seasons. Maybe Anna Maria will be in the group that gets to perform it. 

Anna Maria & Maestro Vivaldi is a fictional story based on actual people. It is not known if Anna Maria had synesthesia, or if she was even involved with that particular composition, however, she was one of his students. Thisdale's illustrations are beautiful, I love how color was added to represent how Anna Maria saw the music, but especially loved how it belongs in the pictures, and doesn't look strange. Coates has included a preface that explains synesthesia. Although there were a couple of scenes that started abruptly (I thought I had turned 2 pages at a time) the story is engaging. AJ wanted to listen to "The Four Seasons" after we read Anna Maria and Maestro Vivaldi. 

Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 7)

All About Nothing by Elizabeth Rusch, illustrated by Elizabeth Goss - ESSENTIAL

All About Nothing by Elizabeth Rusch, illustrated by Elizabeth Goss. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2023. $18. 9781623543525

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The authors wrote a book about nothing! But really, they explore the idea of negative space and the concept of nothingness through several beautiful cut paper illustrations.

The art in this book is FANTASTIC. The cut paper illustrations are gorgeous and add so much meaning to the text. I especially loved the message of mindfulness & meditation. It's a beautiful book with a meaningful message about really noticing the world around you.

Kiera, #bookswithbeddes

The Little Scottish Ghost by Franz Hahler and Werner Maurer - OPTIONAL

The Little Scottish Ghost by Franz Hahler, illustrated by Werner Maurer. PICTURE BOOK North South. 2022. $20. 9780735845091 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

A child ghost lives with her parents in the old Scottish Castle they haunt. But no matter how many things they try, she's not weird enough or scary enough. So they sent her away to another castle, for haunting lessons from the best haunter of them all. 

Originally published in 1979 in Switzerland, it is, unfortunately, dated. The story is cute - she discovers that the scariest ghost was (spoiler alert) actually afraid of being in his castle all alone. However, it's a long read - AJ fell asleep before we were finished, and it's dull - maybe the fault of the translation? The illustrations were meant for a different generation - the image of her father the ghost walking across the room with an ax in his head was scary and disturbing. I don't think it aged well. 

Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 7)

The Moth Keeper by K. O'Neill - OPTIONAL

The Moth Keeper by K. O'Neill, 266 GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House. 2023. $22

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Anya is the newest Moth-Keeper. She wants to prove that she is capable of taking care of the moths that keep her night village afloat, especially because she isn't sure she truly fits in. Taking care of the moths is a huge and often lonely commitment. Anya does well with her responsibilities, but longs to spend one day in the warmth of the sun though doing so may cost her everything. 

 The art is vibrant and colorful and reflects a desert landscape. There are numerous pages without any dialogue at all, so the art has to carry the story in many cases. The characters are a sort of mix of anime with animal ears and/or horns. There are themes of friendship, community, and belonging. Anya and her community are likable and supportive. More dialogue might have fleshed out the characters and plot a little more, but readers will love the illustrations. 

Michelle in the Middle

Spaghetti!: An Interactive Recipe Book (Cook In A Book) by Lotta Nieminen - HIGH

Spaghetti!: An Interactive Recipe Book (Cook In A Book) by Lotta Nieminen. BOARD BOOK, INTERACTIVE Phaidon. 2023. $20. 9781838666323 

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K, EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

All the instructions for making spaghetti are contained in this adorable interactive cookbook. The child can interactively pour the oil into the pan, open a can of tomatoes, boil a pot of water, drop in the spaghetti, and even check to see if it's done with the included removable fork. Other pages include draining, grating cheese, and -again with the pop-out fork- twirling the spaghetti and pretending to eat it. 

Spaghetti is so cute! AJ has been playing with it all afternoon. She did all the "fun stuff" (her words). We even made spaghetti ourselves using the directions given in the book (and adhering to the warning about hot oil and hot water) and it was delicious. Perfectly appropriate directions for a child to understand - lots of pictures of the ingredients, and AJ was excited to get a grown-up to help her cook. Highly recommended, but in a library, that removable fork is going to get lost. 

Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 7)

A Bucket of Questions written and illustrated by Tim Fite - NO

A Bucket of Questions written and illustrated by Tim Fite. PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon &  Schuster), 2023. $19. 9781665918312

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) – NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

The author asks a series of questions, but doesn't give any concrete answers. It’s silly and superfluous, but might only appeal to a small percentage of your readers. 

It's a lot of nonsense, but there is a sort of visual narrative as each illustration builds on the last. I personally was overwhelmed by the chaotic nature of the illustrations and put off by the question/answer format of the story. It might catch the attention of a certain type of quirky kid, but I think most readers wouldn't invest the time in it.

Kiera, #bookswithbeddes

The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale and LeUyen - ESSENTIAL

The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink (The Princess in Black #10) by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, 90 pages. EARLY READER Candlewick. 2023. $15. 9781536209785 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

When Princess Magnolia heads to the Flower Festival at Princess Snapdragon's castle. She is surprised when an Emu arrives causing all sorts of trouble. It's aggressively kicking boxes and manages to break a special decoration brought by Princess Magnolia! Luckily, the Emu is vanquished by a Knight in Shining Armor. Princess Magnolia isn't used to being rescued, but she's very grateful to the knight. The Knight is Prince Valerian who was so excited to finally use his special talents, and as the Prince in Pink, he can help save the Flower Festival's ball! 

Hale and Pham have the most wonderful ideas! I love this series, and AJ is just now the perfect age to love it too. We like that the stories are unpredictable and the heroes are clever. The illustrations are so fun, we loved that the Prince in Pink wore a tiara and his catchword was flourish. It’s OK for boys to like sparkles, wear pink and be great at putting the finishing touches on things. Delightful! 

Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 7)

FYI:  Shannon Hale wrote a brilliant response to one of the one-star reviews of the book - one star because the reader didn't like the Prince in Pink. Here is the link to the ThreadReader version.

I Can't Draw by Stephen W. Martin and Brian Biggs - ESSENTIAL

I Can't Draw by Stephen W. Martin and Brian Biggs. PICTURE BOOK Margaret K. McElderry (Simon and Schuster). 2022. $19. 9781534493414 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Max likes to draw, but compared to the drawings of his friend Eugene, Max doesn't think he's very good. So Max asks Eugene to teach him to draw! He lends Max a how-to-draw book, but it isn't helpful, he tells Max to practice by drawing fruit, but that is boring. Finally they just draw together. They draw landscapes and animals and self-portraits. Still, Max feels his drawings aren't very good. Then, Eugene has a great idea that will give Max confidence. 

I adored the illustrations - Max's and Eugene's comparisons, especially the caption bubbles where they talk to each other were hilarious. AJ liked that Eugene was trying to teach Max and didn't give up on him. She thought the drawing lessons looked fun and loved that Max really did learn to draw. AJ wants to show "I Can't Draw" to her art teacher, because other kids are going to love it! Max is white Eugene is black. 

Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 7)

Crayon Racing: Over 100 Tracks for High-Speed Coloring by Alberto Lot - GIFT

Crayon Racing: Over 100 Tracks for High-Speed Coloring by Alberto Lot. INTERACTIVE Odd Dot, (Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC) 2022. $13. 9781250819406 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - GIFT

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A crayon activity book. Racers are asked to grab a crayon and race through the different race tracks on the page. This can be done with other racers or individually against a clock. Fun illustrations with a wide variety of different types of races. This would be a a fun activity book for the car or airplane. Since readers are encouraged to color on the page, I would not recommend this as a library book. 

Amy Snow, MLS

Sharks by Carlee Jackson and Chaaya Prabhat - ADVISABLE

Sharks: What do great whites, hammerheads, and whale sharks get up to all day?  (A Day in the Life) by Carlee Jackson illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat PICTURE BOOK, NON FICTION  Neon Squid Books (Macmillan Children' Publishing Group) 2022. $17. 9781684492190

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A day in the life of the ocean. We learn about different sharks during different parts of the day as they hunt, hide and play. The scientific information is presented in a narrative style along with engaging illustrations. The illustrations evoke a sense of the ocean. The shark facts are interesting and accessible. There is a table of contents, glossary and index. The review copy only included a few pages of the book, making it difficult to do a full review.

Amy Snow, MLS

The Perfect Sushi by Emily Satoko Seo, illustrated by Mique Moriuchi - OPTIONAL

The Perfect Sushi by Emily Satoko Seo, illustrated by Mique Moriuchi. PICTURE BOOK.  Barefoot Books, 2023. $18. 9781646868377

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Miko wants to make the perfect sushi for her grandmother’s birthday. However, every time she tries to make it, it turns out lopsided and ugly. Miko buys a precision perfect sushi platter made by a robot, but later realizes that food tastes better when made with love.

I could see this being used in an elementary school classroom when learning about Asian cultures as Japanese food, culture, and language is featured throughout the book. However, it’s such a niche topic, I just don’t know how many Utah K-3 students are familiar with sushi. The art is fun and different, a mixture of collage and acrylics, and the overall message is sweet.

Kiera, #bookswithbeddes

One Boy Watching by Grant Snider - OPTIONAL

One Boy Watching by Grant Snider. PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle, 2022. $18. 9781797210889 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

A young boy, living in the country, starts his daily, long journey on Bus #4. The ride is an adventure for the day dreaming boy as he sees deer, trees, other children as they travel through the country and town. At three o’clock, the boy starts to day dream again, wondering what he will see on his long journey back home. 

Snider’s illustrations, done with colored pencils and markers, so simple, but saturated with color. The illustrations compliment the text beautifully, bringing the story to life. Many children will be able to imagine what it feels like to ride the bus, whether on a field trip or the ride to and from school every day. One Boy Watching also offers some counting practice which would appeal to pre-school through first graders. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech 

My Love Will Never Leave You by Stephen Hogtun - ESSENTIAL

My Love Will Never Leave You by Stephen Hogtun. PICTURE BOOK. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2021. $18.00 9781547608997 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

An older, wise tree takes care of a young sapling, teaching the young tree about seasons, sheltering the tree from storms, sun and weather, loving and supporting the sapling. Together they take wonderful journeys, share much knowledge and love. One day, the young sapling notices changes in the appearance of the older tree, his leaves are falling. The older tree takes the sapling on a last journey together and then the sapling must stand on his own. 

 Hogtun’s illustrations are delightful, realistic and colorful, children will study them intently. The illustrations help depict this tender, informative story in a superior way. My Love Will Never Leave You will leave the reader wanting to read the book again and again. Perfect for pre school through third grade. 

Deann M. - Elementary Media Tech 

Like a Diamond in the Sky by Elizabeth Brown and Becca Stadtlander - ADVISABLE

Like a Diamond in the Sky Jane Taylor's Beloved Poem of Wonders and the Stars by Elizabeth Brown and Becca Stadtlander. PICTURE BOOK/NON FICTION. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2021. $19. 9781547604272 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Living in the late 1700’s, girls were expected to marry and do domestic tasks, not work outside of the home. Jane and her sister Ann, however, were schooled by their parents, studying nature, the night sky and her father’s engraving work. Books were cherished in Jane’s home, she and Ann read daily. Jane heard words, rhymes and poems in her head and she practiced writing using the art her father engraved. Because women were not allowed to publish books, Jane and Ann wrote under pen names. Eventually women were able to publish and Jane and Ann made their living publishing books. Taylor was one of England’s most famous children’s poets and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is well known by all. 

Like a Diamond in the Sky is a history of Jane Taylor’s life and work. Brown’s book is an informative and interesting history of her life. The illustrations are beautiful, showing what Victorian English life was like and complimenting the text well. The illustrations draw the reader in and allow you to feel as if you are in the country with Jane and her family. There are pages and pages of information about Jane Taylor’s work and life as well as the famous poem. Perfect for elementary school libraries. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech 

If Animals Tried to Be Kind by Ann Whitford Paul and David Walker - ADVISABLE

If Animals Tried to Be Kind by Ann Whitford Paul and David Walker. PICTURE BOOK. Macmillan, 2021. $18. 9780374389635 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

What if animals gave each other gifts, helped stop teasing, and brought food for elderly friends? Porcupine is making a scarf for giraffe, lion is helping wildebeest who is being teased by hyena, squirrel is helping dog dig for his bone and cat is sharing her bed with mouse, purring him to sleep. Animal pairs are shown being kind and helpful in different ways in Paul’s rhyming picture book. The illustrations are adorable, each animal appears very cuddly and friendly as they practice kind acts. 

If Animals Tried to be Kind is a wonderful way to help younger students identify kind acts, what empathy looks like, being a friend, making and giving a gift for fun and helping those in need. Adorable illustrations will keep the children attentive and focused. A great book for a gift and helpful for pre-school to K. If Animals Tried to Be Kind is part of a series of seven books. 

 Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech 

How to Send a Hug by Haley Rocco and John Rocco - ADVISABLE

How to Send a Hug by Haley Rocco and John Rocco. PICTURE BOOK. Little, Brown and Company, 2022. $18. 9780316306928

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Artie loves to give hugs and she is really good at it. She would like to send one to her Grandmother who lives far away. Talking on the phone or via the computer is not the same, so Artie describes how to send a hug in a letter. Hugs are delivered many different ways, via boat, plane, donkey and truck depending on where the hug/letter is to go. The recipients are a multicultural and multigenerational group of people, all over the world.

Rocco’s illustrations are colorful, realistic and pleasing. The illustrations compliment the text well. Rocco’s drawings display the emotions that result from the delivered “hugs”, the reader can feel those emotions from the looks on the characters faces. Learning how to write a letter is a valuable skill and the anticipation in waiting for a reply is something children should experience. How to Send a Hug is a great addition to any elementary school library, perfect for K-3.

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech 

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes by Beginning Baby - ADVISABLE

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes by Beginning Baby. BOARD BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2022. $8. 9781797212128 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes Beginning Baby Board book is a fun, energetic and colorful book to teach babies body parts while singing a catchy tune. The animal characters are modern, whimsical and cute and will draw a youngster’s attention immediately. The repetition of the song and illustrations will help baby move, improve vocabulary by singing and identify body parts in a fun, interactive way. 

Head, Shoulder, Knees, and Toes would make an excellent gift for any family expecting a little one as well as a doctor’s office, or day care/preschool facility. Illustrations are engaging and can be used to help learn colors, increase vocabulary and knowledge by identifying the animal type and instrument each animal plays. Preschool level only. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech 

Happiness Around the World by Kate Baker and Wazza Pink - OPTIONAL

Happiness Around the World: A Global Guide to Joyfulness by Kate Baker, illustrated by Wazza Pink.  NON FICTION Lonely Planet. 2022. $16. 9781838695118 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Different cultures find joy and happiness in different ways. This book explores how people around the world find happiness. In Italy for example, families take an evening walk and in Australia elders pass on stories to the younger generation. 

The illustrations are bright and happy. I enjoyed learning how different cultures find joy in the simply things in life. There are few issues with the layout of the book. There is a typo on the Finland page. The book description mentions Turkey, Denmark and India. Those countries, however, are not covered in the book. 

Amy Snow, MLS

The Big Scream by Kirsti Call illlustrated by Denis Angelov - OPTIONAL

The Big Scream by Kirsti Call illlustrated by Denis Angelov BOARD BOOK  Simon and Schuster 2022. $8. 9781665907392 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

A small boy between the ages of 3 and 5 eats a cookie and then wants another one. After his mother tells him no, he throws a tantrum. The boy's mother puts him in timeout to calm down and think about his actions. 

The pictures in this book are bright and engaging. It teaches children that it is possible to calm down after a tantrum. I think this book would work as a read aloud to preschoolers but may not be very interesting to kids older than that. The main character is presumably white. 

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt - ADVISABLE

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt, 288 pages. Scholastic Press (Scholastic). 2023. $19.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Selah hit another student resulting in a bloodied nose.)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

13yo Selah has a list of rules. Rules she must keep in order to appear as normal as the other 7th graders. They call her weird. But when she gets home, she can put on soft clothes, flap her hands if she needs to and write the poems she loves so much. She knows there is somethin g different about her, but her mother won't acknowledge it. But when she and her friend Noelle attend a fantasy-com, Selah meets other people who are "on the spectrum" and she suspects she might not be completely alone. 

Good Different is a beautifully written novel in verse, I highlighted so many passages! Selah has a kind and perceptive English teacher, a best friend who doesn't understand, and a grandfather who knows just what she's going through. I loved that she found ways to express herself that felt safer than talking. I would hope schools today are quicker to identify neurodiversity in kids than Selah's was, she only needed a few simple accommodations. Includes an author's note as well as resources for autistic folks, a list of books by autistic authors, and helpful resources for educators, The illustration shows Selah as white, no other race or culture was evident in the text. 

Lisa Librarian 

Earth Friend Forever by Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, Sanden Totten, and Mike Orodan - ADVISABLE

Earth Friend Forever by Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez and Sanden Totten, illustrated by Mike Orodan. PICTURE BOOK/NON FICTION. Little, Brown and Company, 2022. $18. 9780316459419

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The Earth is in distress, asking children from all over the world to take better care of the Earth, as they are best friends. Plastic is making the animals sick and covering the Earth so it feels like it will only be plastic one day. The Earth provides many simple but effective ways to eliminate the use of plastic, encouraging children to clean up their BFF, the Earth.

The perspective of the Earth talking as your BFF is a genius way to get the attention of students. Illustrations are colorful, eye catching and almost graphic novel like. The last page included many useful facts about plastic, recycling and science solutions all students will be interested in learning. The illustrations depict diverse, multicultural children and adults doing their part to take care of their BFF, the Earth. A must have elementary book, useful for Earth Day and everyday curriculum to teach how to care for our Earth.

Deanna M - Elementary Media Tech 

Can Sophie Change the World? By Nancy Elizabeth Wallace and Aura Lewis - ADVISABLE

Can Sophie Change the World? by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace and Aura Lewis. PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2022. $17. 9781452181561 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Sophie wants to get her Grandpop a gift for his birthday; he asked for Sophie to change the world by doing kind deeds, a mitzvah. Sophie doesn’t know how to change the world, but she is determined to try. Sophie does many kinds deeds the week before Grandpop’s birthday, but she is worried she did not change the world. When she describes her mitzvahs to her grandpa, she learns differently. 

A perfect read to show young children how they can do mitzvahs on their own. Wallace details the simple acts that Sophie did and how much those kind acts help others. Lewis’ illustrations are colorful, engaging and are plant based, showing how gardening and growing flowers can help change the world. A must have for elementary school libraries to emphasize kindness in the simplest ways. Multicultural characters throughout the story Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech 

The Bird Feeder by Andrew Larsen and Dorothy Leung - ESSENTIAL

The Bird Feeder by Andrew Larsen and Dorothy Leung. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, 2022. $19. 9781525304835

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Grandma has come to live with her family because she is ill. Grandma loves birds and brought her bird feeder with her. She and her grandchild spend many hours together watching, drawing birds and learning from each other, they both love cardinals. A special loving bond is developed between the two main characters. The grandchild dearly loves the Grandmother and their time together is cherished by both. One day the child comes home from school and Grandma is not there.

Larsen’s The Bird Feeder is a tender, loving story that describes the way a young child might feel and deal with a very loved, but ill family member. Leung’s illustrations are engaging and realistic, showing the emotions the characters are feeling. The Bird Feeder details true life emotions, feelings and situations many families experience taking care of their elderly loved ones. The Bird Feeder is a must have for elementary schools. It is not clear for gender or ethnicity.

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech. 

Lily and The Night Creatures by Nick Lake and Emily Gravett

Lily and The Night Creatures by Nick Lake and Emily Gravett, 231 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2022. $19 

Content: G 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Lily is a young elementary school girl whose world is about to become turned upside down - her mom is pregnant! All of Lily's life she has been used to being the only child, and the only child for her parents to give all their attention to, but with the new arrival of a baby, Lily decides to run away. On her journey to find herself, she meets animal friends that help her along the way. 

 Lily and the Night Creatures is a cute little book with adorable illustrations and a beautiful cover. Kids who love nature, animals and exploring will love this book. I thought it was a bit slow in the beginning, but once Lily started her adventure it was enjoyable. Lily is described as Asian American along with her parents, grandma and sibling. The other characters are animals. 

 Kenzie Hoehne 

Eden’s Everdark by Karen Strong - ADVISABLE

Eden’s Everdark by Karen Strong, 261 pages. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Eden is still mourning the loss of her mother when she and her father travel from their home in Maryland to Safina Island off the coast of Georgia, where her mother grew up. Even though the family there does a celebration every year, Eden has never been and all she knows is that her mother had a terrible accident on the island and never returned. Eden immediately loves the island and is embraced by her mother’s family, but strange things start to happen when she finds her mother’s sketchbooks and learns of a spirit realm called Everdark. Eden has terrifyingly realistic dreams about Everdark and then accidentally crosses into the magical realm herself and is trapped by the Witch of Everdark. If she doesn’t find a way to escape soon, then she’ll die and be stuck in this spirit prison forever. Not only that, but she also discovers that all the spirits in this limbo realm cannot pass on due to the witch’s influence. Eden must not only save herself, but also finish the work her mother started by rescuing all the spirits of Everdark.

I loved that the book was entirely about an African American community and delved into the problems of slavery with Eden meeting spirit characters from throughout history who had endured slavery and racism. The descriptive writing and the fascinating premise were also highlights for me. The writing describes how grief feels in powerful language that will resonate with anyone who has lost someone they love. The story did fall flat for me with the characterization making it difficult to feel invested in the characters and to understand their motivations, especially the Witch of Everdark. While I loved how the Witch seemed like a complex villain who also had good motivations at times, there were a lot of unanswered questions about why she did what she did, as well as other world building questions throughout. In addition, the pacing of Eden’s Everdark started out slow, but then picked up in intensity about halfway through the book; however, the slow pacing at the start made it hard for me to sustain interest. The slow pace and the unanswered questions that created confusion throughout led me to rate it as only an average appeal for students even though there were a lot of elements that I liked about the book. 

The ratings of violence were PG because of some of the intense scenes of danger. 

Reviewer: Marinda 

Trashed by Martha Freeman - ADVISABLE

Trashed by Martha Freeman, 295 pages. Simon & Schuster, Inc., 2023. $18 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

11yo Arthur finds his sister, Ramona standing over her now dead pet mouse, who just the day before was rummaging around in her cage. Although the two siblings generally ignor one another, as Arthur thought of many reasons that could be the mouse's cause of death, he considered Ramona's young age and chose not to share his thoughts when she asked. Arthur determines that he and his sister should have a funeral. The siblings lived with their parents in the upstairs apartment of their family-owned store, Universal Trash, a consignment store established by their grandparents and became popular almost immediately. It was the perfect place for Ramona to find a "coffin" for Mouse 4. It also becomes a perfect place for a mystery starting with the reappearance of a vintage chipped teacup, which Arthur noticed out of place because of the clean and good condition in which the secondhand items were found before they were sold. The teacup becomes the perfect fit for Mouse 4's ghost! 

I enjoyed this story with fun little twists and turns as we get to know the characters. Off shoots of stories regarding things that happened earlier in their lives help us get to know the characters better. These stories also help us understand the power of family, friendship, and perseverance. Arthur tries to solve the mystery of the chipped teacup with the help of the ghost of Mouse 4, whom he renames Watson. I liked Arthur’s character and how he was such a kind soul, which was evident through his customer service at his parents store where he worked daily. I thought it was impressive to read about topics of homelessness and racism as they were subtly exposed, and how they are intertwined into and addressed within the characters' conversations. I would have liked to have seen more of the result of those conversations and even a resolution, but they were addressed just on the surface. I think this book would appeal to students in the age range of 6-12 yo. 

Reviewer: Amy Clements 

Hot Dog by Doug Salati - ESSENTIAL

Hot Dog by Doug Salati. PICTURE BOOK. Alfred A Knopf (Random), 2022. $19. 9780593308431 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

During one hot summer in a busy and crowded city, a dog decides he has had enough. He refuses to take another step. The dog and his owner escape to the beach's salty breezes and cool waters where the dog has room to run.

I liked that the illustrations were so descriptive that few words were needed to carry the story. I could easily relate to the message that sometimes it's nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The owner of the dog is white.

Amy Snow, MLS 

The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas - ADVISABLE

The Manifestor Prophecy (Nic Blake and the Remarkables) by Angie Thomas, 351 pages. Balzer/Bray (HarperCollins). 2023 $20. 

Language: PG (4 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (magical violence, monsters, peril, falls, blood, etc - not graphic) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12 yo Nic and her dad have moved around all her life. They are Remarkables - which means they have magical powers, but it's something that must be kept secret from regular people (Unremarkables). When she meets her favorite author at a book signing, and it turns out he was her dad's best friend, Nic's life starts to unravel. Her estranged mother finds her, her dad is accused of kidnapping and Nic discovers she has a twin brother she never knew about. The Remarkables think her dad stole a special tool that can be used to destroy their world; Nic doesn't believe it and goes on a quest with her brother and best friend to find it. 

Thomas' world is fun - the kids have some cool magical gadgets they can use, and the monsters they deal with are both new and familiar - Haints, Ghosts, Vampires, the Devil's Daughter etc. There are also some great connections to African American history including the Underground Railroad. It has all the parts of popular fantasy middle-grade novels - 12yo discovers they are powerful, have a couple of friends along for the ride, fight their cultural gods and demons, and the adults leave them alone to do it. While Manifestor Prophecy cleanly wraps up, there's plenty of stories left to populate a series and I hope it doesn't take forever to get the next installment. Nic is Black. 

Lisa Librarian 

Miss Irwin by Allen Say - OPTIONAL

Miss Irwin by Allen Say. PICTURE BOOK Scholastic Press (Scholastic). 2023. $20. 9781338300406 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

When a boy stops to visit his grandmother, she thinks he is Willie, one of her kindergarten students from many years ago when she was a teacher. Andy has been told by his parents about what's going on with his grandmother, so he goes along with it. She reminds him about the time their class fed the hummingbirds, and when Willie made her a special gift. 

Allen Say's illustrations are, as usual, beautiful. Miss Irwin is a sweet story about a child experiencing a grandmother whose memory is failing. There's hardly any background information, in fact, we don't know what Andy's parents told him about his grandma. Andy is able to successfully negotiate the visit, pretending to be another child - one she remembers. It's scary and confusing when a beloved grandparent no longer knows who you are. Miss Irwin would be a good source to start that conversation with a young child. I found the story heartbreaking and am not sure I would recommend it other than to a child who needs more understanding of the topic. I wish it included resources. There are no textual clues to culture, however, the illustrations represent Grandmother as white and Andy may be Asian.

Lisa Librarian

This Little Wonder: A No-Limits Primer by Joan Holub, illustrated by Daniel Roode - ADVISABLE

This Little Wonder: A No-Limits Primer by Joan Holub, illustrated by Daniel Roode. BOARD BOOK. Little Simon (Simon & Schuster), 2022.  $8. 9781665912068

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The authors focused on people who had different kinds of physical and mental disabilities, but regardless, went on to do amazing things. There are 10 different historical and contemporary figures in the main text, plus 15 additional spotlights in the back of the book.

I reviewed This Little Rainbow previously, and I'm just so impressed by how many incredible people the authors manage to spotlight in such a compact format. A great starting place for further study and an inclusive text to have in your classroom or home library.

Kiera, #bookswithbeddes