BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
The lizard is trying to educate the reader about rocks, but what is that elf doing there? And those reindeer!
I love the lizard’s commitment to his rocks - and that Collet-Derby is as accurate as they can be in their depiction. Of course it devolves into a Christmas book, but based on community and celebration, not just about receiving gifts.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Dump Truck works around Toyville and is very helpful, but he is also stinky, dirty, and makes other messes as he works. When the other toys band together to change the rules, they don’t realize the smelly consequences of their choices.
So super cute! I love Dump Truck and the consequences of the other toys’ short-sighted rule making. It is even a good lesson for many adults (lawmakers).
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Snake and Lizard are friends who live together - they share a hole under a rock. When Lizard wants to write their names in sticks above their hole, Snake keeps asking why, which is irritating. Snake doesn't help; Lizard does all the work, but Snake is pleased. But when the wind blows down the letters of Snake's name, and in his rush to put them back, Lizard makes a mistake, their friendship might be ruined for good.
A humorous story about surviving a friendship fight. The illustrations were cute and practical - Snake would have a hard time helping with poor vision and no arms, but she still manages to get back at Lizard. An interesting conversation starter about dealing with problems in a friendship.
Lisa Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
A child watches a hummingbird while reading, um, this book, and comments on each page poetically. He tells the hummingbird about itself as he reads the information. A bit surreal, but I don't think a K-3 reader will notice. It's a sort of poetry/non-fiction hybrid. The rhymes are clever and make for a fun read; the information is worthwhile and perfect for a young reader without telling too much about the hummingbirds. However, the information text is in a lighter-colored font, while the poems are in black, I'm afraid the actual info may get skipped.
The child appears white
Lisa Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Sarah's grandfather has passed away, and the family has come to say goodbye. Everyone has stories and memories about grandpa, and Sarah does, too. She lives with her grandparents, but with everyone there, she can't tell her memories; she just cries.
What a sweet story. There are a lot of stories about grieving and losing a loved one. This is one I might share with a child who has lost a grandparent. It's not upsetting; it's uplifting and hopeful.
The family is black
Lisa Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
The Kane family has one very relaxed cat and one very high-maintenance cat, Terry. When they adopt a chihuahua, Brian, Terry is very put out and has a really hard time adjusting to the new situation.
I hope Terry never realizes that Brian got top billing in the title! While Terry’s dramatics are kind of funny, it is really just one family’s pet story - not helpful when trying to introduce new pets to each other.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
During the day all of the diurnal baby animals are busy, but the platypus baby (a puggle) is sleeping away the light. Once night arrives, however, the puggle is wide awake and not alone in its antics as the nocturnal babies start to play.
O’Hara teaches us all kinds of baby animal names and treats us to pages of bright illustrations and funny scenes.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Doris the dog’s life is absolutely perfect until the day she chews a hole in her owner, Bill’s, favorite slippers. She runs away in shame, but some other dogs help her understand that while it may be a mistake, it isn’t the end of everything.
A cute way to look at owning up to your mistakes and they aren’t, mostly, life ending. Say you’re sorry and move on. The little twist on the last page kind of undermines the message, but kids will find it funny.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Play with a few simple construction motions in this brightly colored interactive board book. While I have seen other similar board books with more motions, like Bizzy Bear’s Big Building Book, I have never heard such a great sawing sound and motion! If you love board books, for that alone I would add it to my collection.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Get a simple, yet insightful look into the life and rise of Ed Sheeran, musician extraordinaire.
The Little People series books are short, but they do a great job of distilling a life. And they are so varied in their topics - they cover people that would never have received a kid’s level biography. Pick and choose your favorites.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
It's 1957 and Carlotta is one of the "Little Rick 9." She and other Black high school students would be the first integrated into Central High School. Her Uncle had given her mother money for Carlotta to buy a new dress, and she was excited to go wearing the beautiful store bought dress. But, that first day of school was not to be. Angry crowds and soon the National Guard prevented Carlotta and her classmates from going to school.
An interesting twist on the story of Central High school. I like that it made it personal, giving not just a face but a story to one of the students. I loved the illustrations, and the amount of text was just right. Includes an author’s note (Carlotta is the author) and so we learn a bit more to her story. Also includes a timeline and captioned photographs - yes, one is of Carlotta in The Dress.
Carlotta is Black.
Lisa Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Using a slider on the side, the reader answers a simple question on each page about what the animals are doing around the farm.
The pictures are vibrant and the animals are adorable. It's that slider on the side that worries me the most. I can see my 2yo grandson tearing that off first thing. Board books that you have to guard from little hands are lass desirable for me.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Animal dads interact with their young. Human fathers do too.
What a sweet book about fathers. An appendix describes the fathering skills of the different animals. The illustrations are beautiful. I loved when it shifted to human children and their dads. Easy read for an early reader. Not only informative but poignant. The human dads and kids are mixed races.
Lisa Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Little Hare was sleeping soundly when she was awakened by a giant present falling on her house. She stumbles onto Santa Claus who needs some help cleaning up the spilled presents.
Sweet, but not compelling. This is a board book reprint of the original picture book from 2023.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Suki cat is off to fight fires today. Help her drive the engine, slide down the pole and other things on her journey.
5 sliders and tabs will withstand a lot of abuse.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
The public library can be a busy place, so from the moment the family arrives there's always something going on. Old men reading the newspaper, women in a book club, cooks and mechanics discussing their latest project, even a group of actors who have come to put on a show for pre-schoolers. The family finds a quiet place just perfect for them.
Told in verse, I found this story delightful. It's just like my local library with so much going on no matter when you arrive. I love how all the things somehow floated back to the family and their needs. I'm not sure kids will love this as much as I do but for a librarian, this was a perfect read. Buying a copy for myself and a couple of friends, too. The family was white, but the library was full of a mix of cultures and races.
Lisa Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
You cannot hear sounds in space because there is no air for the sound waves to travel. Sometimes, sound from space can be collected due to some atmosphere or air in an astronaut's helmet. Other space sounds are created from data from telescopes or space probes which computers interpret into sound. This is known as sonification. You can hear the sounds of the following space bodies: shooting stars, satellites, whistlers, zapping of space rocks, solar sun bursts, comets, Saturn's aurora, asteroids, and pulsars.
This battery operated book comes with sound dots that emit the sounds in space. These sounds bring space to life. The information pages that accompany the sounds are informative and astounding. The bright illustrations depict the galaxy clearly so young children can understand. All ages will enjoy reading and learning from this book.
MOMMAC
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, El (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Little snowflakes are drifting to earth.
The anthropomorphized snowflakes in this wordless picture book are so sweet. Together with the evening colors, I felt the sleepiness that could come with slowly looking over each page. Probably more for home use than school use, however.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Mouse and Bear are trying to scare each other for Halloween.
This time I didn’t find the rhyming really helping the scary factor of the book. It was too sing-songy and cheerful. The illustrations are still spot on.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
There are a lot of things a small cat needs - eyes and ears and a tail and the ability to catch food and a place to live, but there is so much more than just those basics.
What a sweet story - not a conflict resolution so much as a long description of a sweet cat and how it gets by. Maybe not for everyone, there's not a lot of story to it.
Lisa Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
A young boy is so excited to go to the barber shop with his father. It is a special time for the two of them to bond and take care of themselves. As they wait their turn, the boy takes in the sights and sounds of the barber shop. The father tells the boy that barbers are magic because they create a new you.
Haircut Day with Dad encompasses the joy of fathers and sons spending time together. It shows that it doesn't matter what you do, the important part is being together. Mikai turns a mundane event into a special and exciting one. Haircut Day with Dad is a celebration of black culture and love between a father and a son. Miaki also wrote a book about mothers and daughters called Wash Day with Mama.
The boy and his dad are black.
Tracie, Elementary School Librarian
