BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Follow Arlo and his elementary school class as they learn about, and fall in love with, their class plant. Other classes have normal (boring) animals, but Jerry the class plant is full of surprises.
I never had a pet in any of my elementary classrooms, but this was a fun variation of that theme. It was fun to see the kids grow to appreciate the unique things about Jerry the spider plant. I also liked the subtle growth of the students’ appreciation for their teacher over the course of the year. It’s a clever way to illustrate how students mature a little more each year. The illustrations have great diversity and a great overall message of finding something special in everyone.
Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Gianferrari and Sudyka give us an up-close look at the lifecycle and purpose of fungi - how they grow, how they reproduce, and their many uses.
Fungi Grow features all kinds of fascinating fungi and many things you never knew about their spores and root systems. The whimsical illustrations and interesting text are engaging to the reader.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Dark can be scary - and communities living next to, but not with, each other can make for misunderstandings - hopefully not the kind that will lead to violence.
Hoefler and Luyken weave a mysterious story that can be read and re-read in three different ways to bring out the nuances within. I liked my 3rd and 4th reading even more, as I understood how to access the story more skillfully - but even a cursory 1st reading will bring wonder. I love that Hoefler has turned the traditional book reading experience on its side - while odd at first, I enjoyed it.
Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, ELEM (1-3) ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Finally, a picture book dedicated to all the quiet introverts out there, whose worst nightmare is reading aloud from the text. The book covers all the pitfalls of reading out loud, like not knowing a word, or losing your place, or getting sick of your own voice.
I actually think this was really cute. It's similar in tone to B.J. Novak's picture books, and the word play is something that I think would be a great introduction to class reads like The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster or The 13 Clocks by James Thurber.
Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Horton and his jungle friends hear a loud BOO echoing through their rest. Though his friends are scared, Horton knows you can’t judge a thing until you actually know what it is.
If you want a slightly spooky, but ultimately kind book for celebrating Halloween, Horton is a great candidate. Bradford does a good job on the rhyming text - though I could wish he had added some kind of call and response or a repetitive refrain to draw listeners deeper into the experience.
Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
It’s two for the price of one! Find the hidden image inside each cleverly designed illustration with the help of the simple rhymes (and clues!).
This is my kind of art - simple, but striking, graphic design with a fun twist. I think it would be an engaging read for littles as they connect the concept with the image and learn how one thing can be multiple things, depending on how you look at it.
Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Ashley was so excited to get her witch’s cat, but the pet store ordered her a wombat instead. Wombat’s are nothing like cats and Ashley is embarrassed by her new familiar. She isn’t sure there is anything she can learn to appreciate about this new creature.
Another Halloween book without the big scares - always good to have on hand. Plus, Belote helps us learn to appreciate others for what they are, not for what we think they should be. She created the illustrations in Procreate - but did a great job of helping them not feel like computer creations.
Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Explore all the ins and outs of all things dinosaur-related with this informative, interactive fold out/popup book.
An informative deep dive into all things dinosaurs. It says ultimate in the title for a reason! The interactive elements are super fun - so many pull tabs & foldouts & popups. It’s not really suitable for a class read aloud, but it will definitely enthrall your up-and-coming paleontologists for hours.
Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS: ESSENTIAL; Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
While robots are usually super easy to have around, sometimes even they can have a letdown and need regeneration or a reset.
Griswold does a very cute job of using robots as the role models as a corollary for human meltdowns - I felt it made the story more powerful to help students see themselves in the robots instead of being in-your-face about the topic. As usual, Magination includes great information in the back matter to help the adults apply the lessons from the book. If you haven’t looked at their catalog lately, you can find all kinds of useful subjects covered in very empathetic and caring ways.
Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Barry is all ready for his morning poo, but he can’t find a quiet place for it. Everywhere he goes, other animals are already doing their business. Where does a bear have to go to get some privacy?
Poo jokes at the ready! Funny, funny stuff for story time about #2. Lots to see and enjoy on the pages. No information about how the illustrations were created, but they are very cute.
Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Cheeky Chick doesn’t listen to its mother she gives him warnings to keep him safe. He takes off on his own and is having a blast brushing off all of the animals warning him of danger - until runs headlong into someone who wants him for a snack.
Cheeky Chick is fluffy and has an attitude - funny while delivering a clear point. Of course, most kids will miss the point and just laugh at Fox as he receives his just desserts.
Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Two friends are off for an adventure at a new museum. What they find is - nothing!
Along with Zero is the Leaves on the Tree by Betsy Franco and Mike Bender’s The Book of Nothing, Guaraccia celebrates nothingness in many forms. Lots to read on every page - some will need explanations for younger readers, but many can be enjoyed as is.
Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
When Panda and Red Panda sit down to read about pandas, Red is hurt because nowhere in the book does it talk about her - a red panda! She decides to write her own book but throws it away when she feels inadequate. Some other pandas - red and others - find the book and encourage Red to keep writing so that they can see themselves in a book and so that others unlike them can learn something new.
I see what you did there, Greanias! Bravo! Red Panda does deserve to see herself in a panda book. All of the pandas are adorable and the message is super simple and meaningful.
Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS
