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
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
The bats and other creatures are getting ready to celebrate Halloween.
Companion to I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home. For families that love their love with a side of spooky - a weird and fun combination of love affirmations and a Halloween celebration.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Freddie is tired of his parade of babysitters - none of them seem to be what he needs. THe latest babysitter seems odd - but in a way that Freddie actually likes.
You can already tell from the cover that Freddie’s babysitter is a trio of raccoons in a trenchcoat - no surprises. Kids will like that Freddie doesn’t seem to catch on to the raccoons for quite some time - even after the raccoons feed him garbage for dinner! More silly fun.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
When the ghosts’ haunted house is torn down for “progress”, Leonard, also a ghost, is in charge of building them a new haunted house. The other ghosts have some issues with his building and design skills, however.
A cute look at how it isn’t the house itself that makes something haunted! I enjoyed the ghosts coming behind Leonard and complaining about his choices - just like any fussy client. Silly fun.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K. EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Cranky is feeling good and excited to get to work. Then the newest carne, Lefty, shows up and Cranky feels like all the other construction trucks like Lefty better. How can Cranky stop from blowing his top?
Cranky’s new story is a decent look at how to communicate with your friends when you are feeling left out. It does come off a little preachy, but young children might not even notice - because, Trucks!
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Big Bear and Little Bear go on a fishing trip together. Little Bear is excited to catch fish, just like Big Bear. As they wait, They talk, explore and enjoy their time together. Little Bear learns the importance of patience and how much joy you can get just from being with loved ones.
Hest’s story is joyful and happy and teaches a really good lesson to little kids. Stead’s illustrations make it so much better. I’m a high school student and I was entertained by this!
Reviewer: Aislyn A, 10th grade
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
The forest animals are so excited about fall! They collect leaves, carve pumpkins and gather nuts and berries to prepare for winter. Can they help Hedgehog stay warm when the wind blows away his leaf nest?
Love and Hugs: Fall is a sweet book that is geared toward preschool and kindergarten age children. This would be a good book to teach young students about fall. The illustrations are done in soft watercolors.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Togo and more then 100 other Alaskan sled dogs led the charge to deliver a life-saving diphtheria vaccine to the children of remote Alaskan villages.
As interesting and exciting as the story is, the first problem is the illustrations - from the cover on through, I found them disturbing, a bit off-putting. The stilted style of the writing didn’t help me to overlook the pictures.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Two friends are walking through the park. One of them is determined to call everything a grape, while the other is constantly correcting them.
I think Heim’s sarcasm will be lost on most kids - they need to be ready for contractions (helps the joke flow more smoothly) and understand double entendre before they can get the jokes here.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Lucas is so happy when he receives a perfect score on his robot report. However, it is soon forgotten when his father's truck breaks down, the power is out at home and all Lucas can see is his run down apartment. That night Lucas follows a light to a gate made of gold. As he walks through, he finds a perfect, beautiful place with perfect people. As time goes on he begins to miss home and his family.
Lucas learns an important lesson that life is not perfect but when we surround ourselves with the people we love that it can be pretty wonderful. The illustrations are bright, vibrant and full of life. Lucas and his family have brown skin.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Old MacDonald is farming away one nice day when a UFO sweeps in and steals his animals! Little does that Old MacMartian know - animals may be more trouble than he can handle!
Such a fun variation on the traditional folk song! Learn the original with your students - and then let them loose on this newest version! Everyone will have much fun.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Mabel, a young fox, always gets what she wants. One day she sees a ball by a bush and wants it. When she gets there, Chester rabbit thanks her for finding his ball and Mabel makes her first friend. But soon she loses his friendship. Mabel misses Chester's friendship. Will she ever learn how to be a friend?
Mabel Wants a Friend is a cute, humorous story about learning to be a friend, and how it takes more than just wanting one. I also enjoyed Rosenthal's simple and expressive illustrations.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Once there were two great lacrosse teams, Team Four Legs and Team Wings, about to play a game. Squirrel and Mouse loved to watch them play. They decided to ask if they could play. Team Four Legs said they were too small, but team Wings got creative and found a way to include them.
The Good Game is actually a Native American tale about the origin of the bat and flying squirrel. It is simple, an I Like To Read Book, and perfect for young readers.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Xiao Xin sees himself as a Red Fire Warrior, but his extended family sees him as a little boy in need of many layers of protection.
I love Ng’s illustrations showing how the adults’ fears are built on traumas from their own pasts. Ping’s book can be a good reminder for parents to stop smothering their child and for children to take some risks (though I don’t recommend an elementary student sneak out of the house at night). A good way to talk about how to earn more independence.
Ping has written this as a bilingual book - with meanings similar, but not necessarily identical in the two languages. If you have Chinese immersion classes at your school, you should also buy this.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Book loves all of her readers. Then one day she is put in a dark closet with a lot of other books. What will her readers do without her?
Sanders gives us a perspective on book banning from the point of view of a book. A simple, poignant way to open a discussion about the current controversy.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Crumpton takes us through a simple look at the life cycle of a brown bear mother with her cubs.
Each spread also includes a second layer of more information. I love it when the secondary info is included on the page. Crumpton’s editor has incorporated it well - informative without being intrusive. Larmour’s illustrations nicely straddle the line between cartoony and realistic.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Doctor Fairytale has a very busy day out in the cold and rain. She needs to help the fairytale characters recuperate from their misadventures.
If you have been reading classic fairytales to your classes, this is a fun way to see if they can identify the tales from whomever the doctor is helping.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: PARENTS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
The child is trying to go to sleep, but so many thoughts - bad ones and good ones - are keeping them awake.
I think almost every child at one point or another finds it hard to drift off to sleep. For parents Greenfield has given them a good tool to start a conversation with their child about calming those thoughts. I actually wish that there was some back matter here to give parents more information.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, El (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
The elves have eaten too many sweets, so it is up to a rambunctious sleighful of bunnies to help Santa on this year’s Christmas quest.
The exuberant chaos of bunnies helping Santa is a sheer delight! It may be a couple of years old, but I don’t think its popularity would ever wane with kids who have read it. Mantle stuffs so much hilarity within each page - you can follow a specific bunny or try to see all of it at the same time.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Ants may have been the first farmers in the entire world - starting soon after the extinction of dinosaurs. Their complex system provides food, safety, shelter, and health for the entire colony. In the rainforest that could be 8 million ants.
Simply explained, with lots of detailed drawings to illustrate and fascinate. You’ll probably want to start an ant farm once you’ve read this.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Leo loves coloring outside the lines. While Mom and MAma are busy with their scrapyard business, he starts looking for more things to color. Maybe a bit too enthusiastically?
Be careful with your audience - it will probably give many of them some ideas. Thankfully real markers would never last long enough to color a whole cat!
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Pavlo doesn’t want to do any of the activities Mama suggests for the day.
We all get the grumps sometimes. Shaloshvili doesn’t try to fix us, but does show that it is possible to overcome them.
Pavlo is a cat and his friends are various animals.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Slice and Cupp take us on a tour through the lives of many people with different types of disabilities, and characters young and old.
Harren’s illustrations are really the star here - a diverse cast of characters abound on each page and a wide range of abilities are visible as readers carefully explore each page. I applaud the effort to highlight the characters’ differences, I do wish that this wasn’t so obviously a didactic book. It does break barriers in showing that differing abilities can easily be illustrated, without a need to point them out. A good first step and way for more children to see themselves within a book.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
A grandmother and her granddaughter peer at the night sky, hoping that this might finally be the one when the night whale will appear and sweep them off to a grand adventure in the sky amongst the stars.
O’Mara’s dreamy illustrations support a book filled with imagination. I love the modern constellations and the feeling of being swept away into the stars. A simple book that some will appreciate.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre- K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
From the tiny dung beetle to the mighty elephant - meet ten members of the animal kingdoms and learn a little bit about each of them. Each animal has three flaps to find and flip for more interesting details.
More for the older edge of the Pre-K crowd, especially as a read together because of the more complex info and delicate flaps. But chock full of good information to fuel creativity and exploration.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Poems about how different animals eat including jellyfish, narwhal, otter, koala, and hippo, to name a few.
The collage style illustrations are amazing. I really loved them. My favorites are the housefly and elephant. The poetry is okay. The poems would probably appeal most to upper grade elementary students. Some are better than others. The back matter includes additional information about each of the featured animals.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
A pair of Great Horned Owls care for their young owls through the seasons until they are ready to go out on their own.
A great non-fiction read aloud book. Interesting and beautifully written to an elementary school level. The illustrations are detailed and appealing. The back matter includes additional information about Great Horned Owls.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Eight spreads show a glimpse of a few of the many creations you can make starting with a handprint!
Sized perfectly for a little hand to match-up - and then break out the crayons or watercolors to brainstorm your own!
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Six pages each have a snippet of music from the famous song for young budding musicians to enjoy.
For parents who love classical music, this is a great alternative to most sound-making board books! It does also have an on/off switch.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Suki has donned her best farmer outfit and is out to help do chores and feed the animals.
Nosy Crow is so good at board books. Bright colors, sturdy tabs to pull. Suki Cat has a variety of other incarnations - some real (astronaut), some imaginary (unicorn) - all kinds of fun.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
