BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED
The family finds it impossible to deal with the sister of the family, who claims absolutely everything is hers.
The payoff or lesson is so late in the book, it might as well not be there. I also don’t like the rhyming text - reading it out loud is too sing-songy. I don’t mind the two LGBT references, but they feel forced, like they are there to make a point.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED
In 1976 Dick Gregory ran from California to New York to bring awareness to the plight of poor, hungry people around the country.
Barnes and Gregory wrote the book in an odd second person voice that made the story feel remote and impersonal. I couldn’t find my way into the story.
Gregory is Black.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - NO
APPEALS TO: SOME
Bob is an adventurous young bird, but his brother Dob is always telling on him to their mother. Mother tells Dob to stop tattling on Bob, but when Bob flies off and gets into real trouble, Dob’s story skills are needed to rescue him.
I’m torn in my feelings about this - when a child does something dangerous or breaks something, a parent wants to know. But also, a little sibling who tells a parent about every slight infraction becomes annoying really fast. I don’t think we want to teach children to lie for each other or to cover up a real problem. Plus Bob needed to learn to tell the truth when he broke that vase. I think this sends the wrong message.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: NO
APPEALS TO: SOME
Witches count down from ten to one as they soar through various Halloween scenes.
The style of the witches doesn’t fit with the other illustrations and they do not work with the other characters in the illustrations to tell a good story.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - NO
APPEALS TO: SOME
A young girl named Sophie has a secret that lives in her brain. She calls him Ady. The doctors told her dad that it is ADHD. Ady contributes to her being late to school. Sophie's teacher is not very understanding. In school, Ady wants to be friends with everyone, doodles on the page, spills paint, and gets distracted during math. Sophie’s teacher takes her to the principal. What will the principal say?
Ady and Me starts out with wonderful insight into the brain of someone with ADHD, but then takes a wrong turn. The Principal is wonderfully sympathetic to Sophie and her ADHD, but then fires the teacher. I don't think that this is a message that should be supported.
PGPowers
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - NOT RECOMMENDED
Bluey and Bingo are practicing the art of romance. They need to clean themselves up, fix their hair, and do their nails. They finish up by eating at a fancy restaurant.
This is a thumbs down book. First of all, why would you write a book about romance for a 1-3 year old? Secondly, they do not even use correct English. Here is the sentence: "And there is nothing more romance than eating in a fancy restaurant". Maybe it's part of the dog thing, but not ok in my book.
MOMMAC
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - NOT RECOMMENDED
APPEALS TO: SOME
A child gathers rocks in his pocket during the winter, petals in the spring, shells in the summer, and acorns in the fall. His family tells him why he shouldn’t, but he continues for his own reasons, including using each item for the fairies his imagination finds in the forest.
The pudgy androgynous fairies were an odd choice for me, especially since they were naked in the winter, but used blankets in the spring and hats in the fall. I didn’t find the fairy illustrations delightful, as I usually do, instead they were off-putting.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - NOT RECOMMENDED
APPEALS TO: FEW
Thanksgiving is incensed - just as his big parade is getting ready to go, all of the stores are already decorating for Christmas. Santa, however, thinks it is funny and just what that turkey deserves.
I did not like the fight between Santa and Turkey - it felt much too petty and violent - spiteful, instead of light-hearted. While Mrs. Claus swoops in and makes everyone see reason and behave, I felt too raw by the wickedness to enjoy the happy ending.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, ML
BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
The girl ghost is not happy with her new haunting assignment - the local school. Not because of the kids, but because of the mean ghoulmates who roam the halls and make fun of her robes that she inherited from her ghost ancestors. Is changing her outfit, forbidden by her ancestors, or changing her attitude the way to change her circumstances?
I was looking forward to a Halloween picture book, but translating the mean girl/fashion dilemma to ghosts didn’t work for me. There was no chill or thrill to it - just an awkward try at a familiar problem in a new setting. I do like Lui’s illustrative style.
Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
A board book celebrating life in general.
OK - the board book audience is maybe up to 5 years old. And usually before they enter school. I can’t tell if this is celebrating preschool kids (who don’t usually ride skateboards or wander the neighborhood in packs without an adult nearby) or homeschooled kids, who at that point aren’t going to want to read a board book.
I can’t understand the purpose, audience, or existence of this book.
Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL(K-3)--NO
AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW
Linus understands that in the town of Linneopolis it is important to stay in line. He is doing his best to fit in, but is learning that sometimes it’s ok to stand out.
Gorgeous illustrations are let down by a story that is heavy handed and inaccessible to young readers. Children will be disinterested in a book whose theme is much too obvious and a story that needs constant explanation because of a vocabulary that is well above the target audience.
AEB
