BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO:SEVERAL
Loaf the Cat loves to play with her boy. One day the boy puts on his grass dance regalia and leaves the house before Loaf wakes up from her nap. Not wanting to be left behind, Loaf follows the scent of her boy to the powwow.
DeShaw tells the story from the perspective of the cat. Audibert’s illustrations are fun, colorful and engaging. The boy and his family are Ojibwe.
A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
A family of dragons loves to spend time together going on adventures. But the mama dragon is an astronaut and she has to leave the family behind while she goes on a mission to space. The family finds ways to stay close while she is away.
Told in rhyme, this is a sweet story that would be good for children who are separated from their parents for a time. Menon was a crew member on Polaris Dawn and the story grew out of her own experiences being away from her children while on a mission. Harkless’s illustrations are amazing. They appear to be made from clay with wonderful color and texture.
A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
When Hana learns that both sets of her grandparents are coming for a visit, she wants to make the perfect meal for them. She is at loss for what to make until she remembers the time she spent cooking with both sets of grandparents. She comes up with a dish that will appeal to her grandparents from South Carolina and her grandparents from South Korea.
A sweet story about a girl who finds a way to celebrate her multicultural background. Love is the ingredient that brings them all together. The recipe for Kimchi Gumbo is included at the end. Anthony’s illustrations are great. They have lots of movement and expression.
Hana is and her family are Black and South Korean.
A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
A snapping turtle named Fire Chief is very lucky because he was one of the few turtles to hatch and survive to adulthood. He was also lucky to choose to live in a pond near a fire station. Every fall, Fire Chief crawled out of his pond, crossed the road, and spent the winter burrowed in mud in a larger pond. One fall, Fire Chief was hit by a car while crossing. The firemen found him and wanted to help him. Could they find anyone around who knew how to help a snapping turtle?
Montgomery tells a warmhearted true story about a turtle and the conservationists who helped give him a second chance. I liked reading the extra information in the back matter. Patterson's realistic illustrations are expressive, detailed, and beautiful.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
The biography of author illustrator Barbara Cooney from her beginnings in Brooklyn Heights in 1917 through her career as an artist to her settling in Maine in her final years. Cooney won a Caldecott in 1959 and 1979.
A lyrical writing stlye and beautiful illustrations. This simplified version of Cooney's life will appeal to elementary age children intereted in learning more about the artist and the beauty she brought to the world. The back matter includes additional information about Barbara Cooney.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
An older man ask's, "Where are you Bronte?" His dog has passed away, but he remembers how they first became a family. He remembers Bronte sleeping on his bed, playing with toys, and the many other fun things they did together. He remembers when Bronte went blind. The old man feels so lonely. Where is Bronte now?
Tomie dePaola tells a simple but powerful emotional story about love, loss, remembrance, and overcoming the grief of a beloved dog. McClintock's colorful cute illustrations nicely contrast the sorrow with the beautiful happy memories.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Martina had a very bad day, and when she got home she was steaming mad. She told her grandmother that she had fallen in a mud puddle, swallowed a bug, ruined her lucky socks by stepping on a large wad of gum, and more. Her grandmother tried to cheer her up, but she was still steaming. Soon she heard music coming from the kitchen and went in to investigate. What was her grandmother doing that ended up chasing away her bad mood?
I loved Singer's heartwarming dual-lingual story on how to handle a muy bad day! It is wonderful advise for all of us. Osorio's delightful expressive illustrations enhance the experience.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
A duck sees a free big bike, but he has trouble riding it, and leaves it for someone else. A rhinoceros tries the bike but it is too little. A cheetah finds it too slow, while a turtle finds it too fast. Other animals try it until a little girl finds it the perfect fit. Soon she grows out of it. What will happen to the bike?
Gillis captures all the joy of bike riding in this hilarious and heartfelt tale. I appreciated Souva's use of white space and his simple adorable pictures.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO:MANY
A young girl is hiding in her house. The reader knocks on the door and the young girls screams when she opens the door. She apologizes and explains that she is afraid and thinks there is a bear hiding in the woods watching her. Then a bear actually comes to the door. All of a sudden the reader realizes that all may not be what it seems.
Hannigan takes the reader on a fun, interesting, and contradictory journey in this Goldilocks type tale. Her bold, visual illustrations jump from every page.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Digger and the other trucks are busy Christmas Eve putting up decorations in the town. The last thing they had to do was find a tree out in the forest and decorate it so that Santa would come. They were worried when they realized they had no decorations left. They enlisted the help of a chipmunk, a fox, and a bird. What did the critters find in nature to make the tree beautiful?
Digger and the Christmas Tree is holiday fun for little fans of big trucks. I liked the message that friendship is the greatest Christmas gift of all.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
When adopted siblings Harper and Wyatt hear someone say they are not real siblings because they don't look like, they start to wonder if it might be true. But, the more they think about it, the more they realize that all the love, support, and experiences they share being part of a family, along with Dad and Daddy, does make them real siblings.
A great message that birth alone does not make us family. Families come in all types and varieties. A sweet and simple story with engaging illustrations.
Harper is black and Wyatt is white.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Nate the Great and his dog, Sludge are on the case again! Nate's friend. Pip has lost his drone that looks and sounds like a parrot. The Fourth of July picnic is just two days away and Pip needs his parrot drone to perform with him at the picnic. Will Nate solve the case in time?
Nate the Great and the Star-Spangled Parrot is written by the original author's son. Andrew has written two other new Nate the Great books. The illustrations look more modern than the previous book in the series. This book is written in the same format as the older Nate the Great books. A great read for early readers! Nate is presumably white.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Ernestine Guerrero and her family struggled to make ends meet during the Great Depression. They lived in San Antonio, Texas. She learned the skills of a carpenter from her father. Food was scarce, and they often relied on free food from the government. Ernestine decided to show her appreciation for the food to President Roosevelt by building a beautiful and elaborate wood clock for him. She used wood salvaged from food crates. She carefully carved and glued together 156 pieces to make the clock. When it was finished, she mailed it to President Roosevelt.
A story of a young girl who had little, but still wanted to show her appreciation. Ruiz-Flores’s story will inspire children to do hard things. The illustrations are beautiful. Additional information and source material are in the back matter.
The Guerrero family is Mexican American.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Ember is the cutest little dragon, not fearsome like the other dragons. Ember also doesn't have a hoard of gold. Everywhere he searches turns out not to be a place with gold. But one night a kind baker lets Ember inside to wait out a storm, and when they help they baker, they discover that there's more than one kind of gold.
I was immediately attracted to the beautiful illustrations - it's not just because Ember is the cutest thing, the pages practically glow! Oh, I can imagine reading this darling story at bedtime. Highly recommended.
Lisa Librarian
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Jax (12yo) didn’t make the basketball team, Luke (12yo) didn’t make it into the musical, and if Miley (12yo) doesn’t make friends, then her parents will cut her from public school and homeschool Miley with her eye-rolling cousin. These middle schoolers are not friends, but now they each have reasons to need each other—if everyone is willing to be all in.
At first, it’s difficult for these characters to see where they could fit together, and the beauty is that their diverse team is then not confined to any one teammate’s home court. They bring together everyone’s strengths and support each other’s dreams—even when giving support means getting out of their comfort zones. I also love that Miley’s chapters are told through her notes and stick figure doodles.
Most of the characters are implied White, and Luke’s family comes from Estonians that moved to America. Also, there are a couple of characters that are described as Black or as having “dark brown” skin.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME
Gerda and Orlo are two bears (and best friends) who begin to navigate Orlo’s illness and impending death. Gerda goes through the many stages of grief as she begins to process what it means for her when Orlo is no longer around.
I will admit this book made me cry. It’s a beautiful tribute to the grieving process and a gentle way to introduce it to a young child experiencing loss for the first time. This book won’t hold wide appeal to most of your library community, but it will be good for those that need it.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (4-6) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
Dr. Rose is a marine biologist who wants to find evidence of a mysterious sea creature only known as “Carmella”. Dr. Rose gathers together a crew to go off to search in the murky depths of the ocean for something that might not even exist, but where the possibilities are endless.
Gorgeously illustrated, I was swept away in Dr. Rose’s quest, even if it isn’t 100% real. I think readers are going to be captivated by the illustrations because they will notice something new each time they look at it. In general, I think students might pick it up to look at the pictures, but I don’t really see how you might use it in the classroom.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL (4-6) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
What do you know about patterns? Have you noticed all the patterns around you? This is a fascinating exploration about all the kinds of patterns that infuse every part of our world, all it takes is a little noticing!
I really like this series of books. I read All About Nothing which I thought was fascinating. I really enjoyed the cut paper illustrations. It makes the illustrations so striking and captivating. I also really liked the simplicity of the story. Patterns are more than a print you choose to wear, there can also be a pattern to how we organize our day. I think this would be a great book for younger students who are getting used to the pattern of school, as well as the older grades when they start learning about computer science.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: PreK, EL (K-3) ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
Puddle the frog and Lettuce the snail are best friends who decide to build a treehouse together. Can they work together to make a dream treehouse that both of them can use?
The simple, bright, and colorful illustrations are going to be a major crowd pleaser. The story of two best friends who work to communicate their wants and needs in respectful ways is a great mentor text for the younger students. I think this is a great addition to your classroom library, especially for younger students.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (4-6) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME
Jaden is a young Black boy who wants to paint a mural in his neighborhood to celebrate different kinds of love he sees around him in his family, school, and community. He works with lots of different people to come together and paint the mural in honor of Black Love Day, an African-centered alternative to Valentine's Day on February 13th.
I will say the title is a little misleading as the majority of the book focuses on different types of love in Jaden’s Black community, rather than joy. However, he does have the idea to paint the love mural as a way to bring joy in everyone’s lives, so it kind of comes together in the end. I was excited to see a picture book with a broad range of Black characters and the positive and affirming message of the book.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (4-6), MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME
Discover the pioneering environmental scientist, Ellen Swallow, who was the first woman to study and graduate at MIT in this informational picture book about her life and work. Decades ahead of her time, Ellen worked tirelessly as a water analyst and an advocate for women's education.
Even though I enjoyed reading about Ellen Swallow’s work as a water ecology scientist and found her life’s story fascinating, I do think it’s one that will only appeal to a small number of students. This isn’t one that they will be picking up as they are browsing the shelves and passing along to their friends. However, I’m always a fan of women’s history and new or unsung heroes to celebrate, so I do recommend this as a great addition to your picture book library.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
Follow one very tired family with one very wide-awake baby over the course of a night when the baby decides to stay awake forever. With equal parts humor and sympathy, the author perfectly captures those early sleepless nights with new babies.
I picked this book because I have some friends that are currently in this stage of life, and wanted to get a peek inside their world. Even though I don’t have kids, I still enjoyed the story and I particularly loved the illustrations. I think this will be a hit for anyone with young kids, and could be used as a way to introduce older siblings to the changes that new babies bring to a family. It could find traction in an elementary library, but I see it as more a family library kind of book.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL (4-6) ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
Our friend Piglet, sometimes with his BFF Squirrel, goes on five different adventures to explore five different ways to write a poem. Each vignette is followed by instructions on how the reader can try writing a similar poem, along with writing tips from the author.
I was quite charmed by this picture book that makes writing poetry more approachable for younger students. I think this could be used as a mentor text for a poetry unit for elementary, middle, and even high school students. The illustrations are also sweet, perfectly capturing the innocence of childhood and childlike wonder at the world around them.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
Fox and his friends are at a big music festival where his favorite band is playing. He wants to be as cool as the Bad Apples band. However, when a musical mixup exposes the Bad Apples as lip syncing frauds, Fox realizes he is happiest when he is playing with his friends.
This is part of a series of books that the American Psychological Association publishes as a way to help young children navigate tricky social situations and cope with emotional upheavals. As someone who didn’t read the other ones in the series, I was a little lost, but I did think it was a good overall message for young students. The illustrations are simple and engaging, and young students will enjoy both the story and the moral lesson.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), HS – ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
Life is full of in-between places and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes there is a lot of beauty, magic, and imagination between the known and unknown. What might you find in the in-between places of your life?
On one hand, this is a beautifully illustrated picture book, perfect for K-3 students. On the other hand, it is also a meaningful message for older kids, especially those on the cusp of major change like high school seniors. I thought this picture book would be a perfect companion text for Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” poem.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL
Stalactite and stalagmite are two friends in a cave that slowly grow closer together over millions of years. They interact with a handful of creatures of the millenia. What happens when they finally meet together?
What a fun concept to introduce children to geology! I loved the back-and-forth between Stalactite and Stalagmite. There are also so many fun gems hidden in the illustrations, like the timeline at the bottom of each page. It could be a fun introduction to poems in two voices unit or used in an elementary science class.
Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Tao Hua and her father, Baba, find good fortune by nourishing a young peach tree behind their old stone house in rural China. Baba called the tree a blessing, like good shoes, hot rice, and books. They sold the peaches. Every time Tao ate a peach, she planted the seed in the backyard. Baba worked hard to provide for their family, but soon the peach tree stopped blooming, and they had to move to the city for a new job. When Baba was very old, they came back to their old stone house and found a wonderful surprise.
Baba's Peach Tree is a story about the dreams and sacrifices people make as they journey through life. I thought the illustrations were beautifully done, and the story showed the love a father and daughter had for each other.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Career day at school is coming, but Zia's mom is a seamstress, and is too busy at work to come to school. Zia's mother also can't speak English very well. Zia's mother brings her home a beautiful sparkly dress that she made at work. Zia is still sad until she gets creative and thinks of a special plan to show the class her mother and what she does for work.
Liao's story highlights the struggles Chinese immigrant families have when immigrating to the United states. I enjoyed learning to feel pride and gratitude for the sacrifices their parents make for them to have a better life. Chen's illustrations sweetly and colorfully bring this story to life.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
All day, little Panda played with her friends. When the day was over, it was time for bed, but Panda wouldn't go. Her parents tried many things to get her to sleep including drinks, singing, and stories until they finally realized the real reason she wouldn't go to sleep.
Walker tells a charming cozy rhyming story about a sweet little panda who has trouble falling asleep. I loved Walker's soft, adorable illustrations.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
All the clouds gathered to plan for a storm. Everyone was focused except for little cloud. He tried to sneak away to look at the valley, but Big Gray Cloud pulled him back and told him to start working. Little cloud asked if instead of storming, they could just enjoy the valley below, but no one would listen. Soon something happened that chased all the big storm clouds away.
Fong brings to life a beautiful picture book that encourages us to stay curious and delight in what others might overlook. Her characters are expressive, and the pages are full of dazzling illustrations.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Fleming explores the confusing and adorable world of animal babies in her latest book.
An excellent board book choice for any new baby in your life. Children will love all of the baby animals and probably get a kick out of hearing their baby names. Scott’s illustrations are totally prime fore a line of stuffies.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Follow the timeline and take a trip around the world as you explore the history of the number zero.
Albee does a great job of simplifying zero’s history, letting us see the scope of the concept throughout history and at many different places around the world - including the time when CHristian leaders said that zero was the work of the devil. I showed this to my math teachers and they love it. This might convince a middle school or high school math teacher that picture books are worth reading to their students.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Based on Hans Christian Anderson’s original fairy tale about a soldier who uses a fortune to marry a princess. Translated from a Dutch retelling.
If you want to add to your fairytale picture book collection, children will enjoy the author/illustrator’s illustrations.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Frank N. Stine is hungry for a gingerbread cookie, but he is almost out of his favorite mix. He throws a bunch of random ingredients into the mix, accidentally tosses ina potion - and doesn’t realize he may be set up for disaster!
Mimicking the classic poem, including the gingerbread man’s call, but a spooky twist for a Halloween-style adventure. A teensy bit scary, but mostly good fun.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
The king has had a bad dream about something spoiling his upcoming birthday celebration, but all he can remember is that the thing started with a P. So, in his typical way, he demands that his Royal Advisor remove everything front eh kingdom that starts with that letter - including his sister, the Princess.
Delightfully silly - kids should have a good laugh at the spoiled king’s antics. They would probably love making their own list of things that start with P that also were banished. Joyner’s illustrations emphasize the wackiness of the situation. (Do note - everyone has to walk around in their underwear after even pants are banished.)
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
We should wear helmets in places where things clatter, clonk, bump or crash. We wear headphones to protect our ears when things boom, rumble, bang or whiz. We wear goggles to protect our eyes. Why do we wear masks or gloves?
I like the way Finan uses sound words to make a dull subject seem fun and engaging. Even very small children will be interested.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Hedgehog LOVES wearing underwear, but he is worried he will be laughed at and ostracized if the other hedgehogs find out.
Hedgehog wanting to wear underwear is just so funny. And when the other hedgehogs confess other secrets, it is a great reminder that we all have something that others don’t know about. or it can just be a silly book.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Inky the octopus has lived an playful, yet quiet life in a tank in a New Zealand aquarium. One night his lid is left open just enough that he can squish through and escape!
While based on Inky’s true story - Hanson attributes lots of thoughts to Inky that are no way verifiable. Share this with a class and look up octopus escapes on youtube - lots of them to enjoy! Written in rhyme, which did not bother me at all, for once. I didn’t even notice until halfway through.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
The girl and her rhino are going on vacation , but she has her hands full keeping him under control.
Rhino’s antics are delightful fun - silly, outrageous, impossible. But the rhyme scheme doesn’t always work and as I tried to read it out loud, I found myself starting and stopping to figure it all out. I would have to practice this several times before presenting out loud. Kids will enjoy looking at it, though.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Jeff the bear is ready for a no-stress day. But when the power goes out, that is just the beginning of its problems! And at Anders the hare’s house, things aren’t any better.
Not only will everyone love watching Jeff and Anders’s day get weirder and weirder, they will also like the camaraderie of relaxing and enjoying good company instead. Third in their series.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Trim was a young ship's cat who thought he knew all about life at sea. One day, a storm was brewing. Trim feels afraid. All his animal and human friends are doing new things. Penny the dog and jack the parrot explain why they do all these new things like batten down the hatches. Trim feels better when he knows the ways to prepare for a storm. As he is taking cover, he finds a new frightened albatross friend. Can these new friends help each other ride out the storm?
Trim Sails the Storm is historical fiction about Trim the cat that actually sailed with Captain Mathew Flinders in 1799. The story is very interesting as we all learn how to be helpful, and ride out a storm on a ship at sea.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Otter’s best friend is a rock. Otter takes Rock everywhere. Manatee comes along and sees Otter with rock, She wants to join in! Manatee borrows Rock but drops Rock! Otter is mad. Rock shows up again and manatee and otter have to learn how to be friends again!
Buchet’s book is so cute. In the end it has a bit about otters and manatees, A bunch of information. Zuill’s illustrations are so cute.
Reviewer: Aislyn A, 10th grade
