Oh Dear, Look What I Got! by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury - ESSENTIAL

Oh Dear, Look What I Got! by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2025. $18 9781536235685 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Rosen and Oxenbury have done it again! What an incredible picture book! An adorable little boy goes from shop to shop, requesting various items—a hat, a coat, a cake, a chair—yet instead of his requested items, he is given a completely different (and hilarious) object instead. Each "item" is wrapped in a fun guessing-game manner that will delight readers. 

 "I went to the shop to get me a coat. Oh dear, they gave me..." This repetitive phrase, with the magical answer on the page turn, will excite readers of all ages. What a fun and adorable book! We loved the illustrations. We loved guessing the hidden/wrapped item! This would be a fun book to teach a unit on rhyming. Readers will delight in the little boy's joy in unwrapping his final item. There is a fun rendition of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" near the end of the book. Perfect picture book! 

S. Lewis

Alphie Explores AtoZ: A Seek and Find Adventure by Jeff Drew - ADVISABLE

Alfie Explores A to Z: A Seek and Find Adventure by Jeff Drew, 80 pages. INTERACTIVE Random House, 2024. $22. 9780593813119 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Alfie is an adventurous bookworm and he is looking for Betty. As he goes from place to place he seems to just miss her. 

Photoshopped collages make up the illustrations. Each illustration is accompanied by a poem which is themed by the alphabet, so the first one has A things to look for, like a Alien and an Ape playing the accordion. The poems are really cute. I enjoyed working my way through this adventure, finding all the things mentioned and then seeing bonus objects there as well. Includes "tour guides" at the end identifying everything. 

Lisa Librarian

Remember by Joy Harjo and Michaela Goade - OPTIONAL

 

Remember by Joy Harjo, illustrated by Michaela Goade. PICTURE BOOK/POETRY. Random House Studio, 2023. $18.99. ISBN 9780593484845

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL – OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Originally published in 1983, U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo’s poem asks us to remember: the sky, the moon, the sun, your mother, your father, the earth, other living things, the wind, other people. Remember how we are all connected. They are in us and we in them. 

The Tlingit-inspired illustrations are bold and colorful. The author’s and artist’s notes at the end point out their Native American heritage (Harjo is Mvskoke) and share insights about their inspirations. It is important for everyone to be reminded to remember and make connections. Teachers could use this book to inspire students to think and write about their own special memories, be they universal or personal, ancestral or familial.

Reviewer: P.K. Foster, MLS, elementary school teacher-librarian

The Totally Not Boring Book of Feelings by Jolie Taylor - ADVISABLE

The Totally Not Boring Book of Feelings by Jolie Taylor, 128 pages. POETRY. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $23.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Part illustrated poetry and part rhyming graphic novel, this fun collection of poems is all about emotions. Taylor addresses everything from sadness and anger to adventurous and sentimental with scenarios involving sibling conflicts, dragons, monkeys, piles of garbage, and more!

Every page brings a new surprise and elicits complementing emotions from the readers out of empathy and enjoyment. I love that all of the text rhymes, including in the intro, outro, and even the bio blurbs at the back of the book.

Characters of various skin types are depicted.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Poetry Comics written and illustrated by Grant Snider - ADVISABLE

Poetry Comics written and illustrated by Grant Snider, 96 pages.  GRAPHIC NOVEL.  Chronicle Books, 2024.  $19. 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Poetry Comics is a graphic novel poetry collection that explores big moments and small over the course of the year, throughout all four seasons. It’s a clever way to illustrate the nature of poetry and the fickleness of creativity.

I find Snider's work to be very charming. This collection of visual poems exploring how to write poetry was very meta and also just *chef's kiss*. This would be a great mentor text in an ELA poetry unit for elementary, middle school, or high school.

Kiera, ELA teacher #bookswithbeddes

Robot, Unicorn, Queen: Poems for You and Me by Shannon Bramer, illustrated by Irene Luxbacher - OPTIONAL

Robot, Unicorn, Queen: Poems for You and Me by Shannon Bramer, illustrated by Irene Luxbacher. PICTURE BOOK. Groundwood Books (House of Anansi Press), 2023. $19. 9781773066585

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Bramer shares a collection of poetry that explores what it feels like to be a child. Inside there are poems of playfulness and understanding as children learn more about the world around them.

Not my favorite book of poetry. Some of the poems had fun word play. I enjoyed the mélange of illustrations that accompanied each poem, but enough of it was a little too out there that I didn't connect to it meaningfully. I’m not sure how one would go about incorporating it into the classroom either, unless you had it as part of a larger collection of poetry books.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

I am Made of Mountains by Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs and Vivian Mineker - ADVISABLE

I am Made of Mountains: An Ode to National Parks - The Landscapes of Us by Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs, illustrated by Vivian Mineker. PICTURE BOOK Charlesbridge, 2023. $19. 9781623542603 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

16 different National Parks are celebrated each with a short lyrical poem and a few quick facts. I am made of ... begins each poem, and in very few words Hinrichs introduces the park. Her poems are lovely and poetic. A nice tribute to our beautiful places. Mineker's illustrations are so fun and include multicultural children and their families. I'm sure we will see this soon in (at least 16 of) the National Parks. I love it! I loved the endpapers which show where all the national parks are, too. 

Lisa Librarian

Out of This World: Star-studded haiku by Sally M. Walker and Matthew Trueman - OPTIONAL

Out of This World: Star-studded haiku by Sally M. Walker and Matthew Trueman. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2022. $19. 9781536203561

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Trueman’s illustrations are the star here – mesmerizing and gorgeous. While Walker’s exploration of the haiku form are fine, the information is all shoved into the back matter. While the back matter is arranged in the order the subjects appear on the other pages, I think a little strategically placed info box (and a more succinct explanation) on the actual page would have been more useful.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Counting in Dog Years and other Sassy Math Poems by Betsy Franco, illustrated by Priscilla Tey - ADVISABLE

Counting in Dog Years and other Sassy Math Poems by Betsy Franco, illustrated by Priscilla Tey. NON FICTION Candlewick Press, 2022. $19. 9781536201161 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

They were not wrong when they called their poems sassy. The poems are simple and yet clever and funny. They explain math concepts in a simple way that clarifies the math concepts functions. The illustrations are very fun and inviting. There are silly robots, animals, people, and other unique items to help tell the story. There's so much to see you can spend time just staring at the pictures. 

 I recommend this book to math teachers everywhere. I loved the illustrations and the poems are very silly. There is not anything I didn't like about this book. The ethnicity is very diverse. The male and female genders are equally represented as well as young and old. 

Emilee-School Librarian

The Poem Forest by Carrie Fountain and Chris Turnham - OPTIONAL

The Poem Forest: Poet W.S. Merwin and the Palm Tree Forest He Grew from Scratch by Carrie Fountain, illustrated by Chris Turnham. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2022. $19. 9781536211269

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (4-6) – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Fountain details the life of poet and ecologist W.S. Merwin, who by the end of his life had planted over 3,000 palm trees on his Hawaiian property, later turned into a nature conservatory.

I loved reading William Stanley’s story. I didn’t know that much about him, so I felt like the book did a great job of providing background, while also connecting his love of poetry and nature together in a lyrical, beautiful way. I don’t know what elementary kid is going to be super into a book about a Poet Laureate, however I also could see it being used in a science class to introduce a conservation project.

Kiera, BookswithBeddes

Good Night Little Bookstore by Amy Cherrix and E.B. Goodale - ADVISABLE

Good Night Little Bookstore by Amy Cherrix, illustrated by E.B. Goodale. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2022. $18. 9781536212518 BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE A love poem to indie bookstores and readers of every shape and size, Good Night Little Bookstore follows the end of day process for a little bookshop on a neighborhood corner. The book is clearly a pastiche, not a parody, of the classic Goodnight Moon. It’s a lovely little homage and I loved the multicultural and inclusive community illustrated throughout the story. I don’t know how useful it could be in a school library, but it does celebrate books and the people who read them, so it could be very happy on any reader’s shelf. Kiera, BookswithBeddes

Out Of This World by Sally M. Walker and Mathew Trueman - ADVISABLE

Out Of This World by Sally M. Walker, illustrated by Mathew Trueman. PICTURE BOOK/NON FICTION. Candlewick Press, 2022. $19. 9781536203561

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Galileo ponders space. The Hubble telescope photographs deep space. A minuscule speck grows into the universe. Galaxies, nebulas, planets and flaming stars are born. Space fuels our curiosity. Astronauts land on the moon and scientists search for life on Mars. There are many wonders in the heavens such as comets, shooting stars, and eclipses.

Out Of This World is a delightful sensory experience. It is a wonderful union of art and science. The illustrations are fascinating and luminously beautiful. The Haiku's are fun and instructive adding another layer of beauty to the book. The illustrations will speak to a younger audience while the haikus are enjoyable to an older audience.

PGPowers 

Mardi Gras Almost Didn't Come This Year by Kathy Z. Price and Carl Joe Williams - ADVISABLE

Mardi Gras Almost Didn't Come This Year by Kathy Z. Price, illustrated by Carl Joe Williams PICTURE BOOK Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon and Schuster), 2022. $18. 9781534444256 

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

After the hurricane (Katrina), everything is different. Too much to repair at their house, so they are living with their Aunt. Mamma is sad all the time, and it's almost Mardi Gras! Will they have to miss that too? The 9th ward is still too damaged to live in, no one wants to celebrate a holiday, especially Mamma. So Lala decides to make it special, just for her little brother, but when he starts playing his horn, everyone knows the party has returned. 

Oh the poetry - a great read aloud with a bunch of onomatopoeia. So beautifully illustrated, I was right there in New Orleans, sitting on the porch with Lala. Includes author's note about Katrina and Mardi Gras, and even includes how COVID-19 would affect the celebrations.

Lisa Librarian

At the Pond by David Elliott and Amy Schimler-Safford - OPTIONAL

At the Pond by David Elliott, illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford. PICTURE BOOK, POETRY. Candlewick Press, 2022. $19. 9781536205985

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

At the Pond is a companion book to David Elliott’s other poetry books that focus on different habitats and the animals residing within. Each two-page spread includes bold, colorful illustrations and a poem about different flora or fauna associated with the pond. The cover and illustrations are fantastic and eye-catching and will appeal to all ages. Some of the poems are simple and catchy (“Polly! Polly! Pollywog! Golly! Golly! Golly! Frog!”) while others include overly advanced vocabulary (e.g. enigmatic, prolific, diaphanous, charismatic) that can’t be deciphered using illustrations or context clues. For me, the backmatter made up for what some elementary students might consider confusing or uninteresting poetry. I loved the fun, unique facts included at the back of the book about each of the animals featured in the poetry.

Reviewer: Angie Campbell, EL librarian 

Poem in My Pocket by Chris Tougas and Josee Bisaillon - ADVISABLE

Poem in My Pocket by Chris Tougas, illustrated by Josee Bisaillon. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can, 2021. $17. 9781525301452 

BUYING ADVISORY: El (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A young person had a poem they’d written in their pocket, until it wa ripped away by the wind, jumbled and tumbled and reworked and planted as seeds for a “poetree”. 

A darling way for new poets to look at the creative process of writing and revising and allowing creativity to flow. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

This Poem is a Nest by Irene Latham - OPTIONAL

This Poem is a Nest by Irene Latham, 99 pages. POETRY. Wordsong (Boyds Mills & Kane), 2020. $18.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Latham’s poem “Nest” has four parts. But within that poem, she found 161 other poems hiding and waiting to be found. “Nest” is about more than twigs -- it’s also about bedtime, the color indigo, being confused, Pluto losing its status as a planet, and more!

The found poems inside of Latham’s original poem are short and don’t always make a lot of sense, but I loved seeing how she played with the words. In the introduction and after the last poem is shared, Latham gives readers tips on making their own found poems. She has inspired me to try it myself.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme by Melissa Stewart and Steve Jenkins

Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme by Melissa Stewart, Illustrated by Steve Jenkins PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION Beach Lane Books (Simon and Schuster), 2021. $18. 9781534460393

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

In the rain forest of Manu, there are 14 different species of Monkeys. All sharing the same forest, they live at different heights, have different diets, and may even be active at different times of the day (or night). 

Introduced with a couplet, we learn interesting facts about each species like what they do when they aren't hunting for food, or how they communicate with each other. Includes an infographic for each species showing at which level of the rainforest they spend most of their time, a 2 page spread with monkey silhouettes to see the forest in context, and a fact sheet for each which includes lifespan, diet, predators, and field notes. A fun addition to the animal books in either an elementary or middle school library.

Lisa Librarian

They Only See the Outside by Kalli Dakos and Jimothy Oliver - ESSENTIAL

They Only See the Outside by Kalli Dakos, illustrated by Jimothy Oliver. PICTURE BOOK/POETRY. Magination Press, 2021. $17. 9781433835193 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A book of poetry, some rhyming, and some free form, this is written expressly for children but will delight adults, as well. The topics, illustrations, and words all speak to young souls and their many experiences with friends, school, and family. 

These poems are an absolute joy to read and think through. They are insightful and touching. Ms. Dakos has a gift of understanding and insight. Her poems are a wonderful way to expose young children to the power of poetry. 

Keri, elementary school teacher 

The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park and Robert Sae-Heng - ADVISABLE

The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng, 65 pages. Clarion (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), 2021. $17 

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Ms. Chang gives her class an assignment - to think about this question and be prepared to have a class discussion: "Imagine that your home is on fire. You're allowed to save one thing." From a special sweater to a large collection to a whole bookcase, the children discuss what is important and why. They even manage to influence each other. 

Linda Sue Park's collection of Korean sijo poems is beautiful! I liked seeing the tiny piece of the students represented by what was important to them. I learned so much in so few words. One student said he'd take nothing, and I understood why. My first thought - ooh, this would be a great lesson to replicate. A short read with a class, great topics for further discussions, and it just screams - try this yourself!

Lisa Librarian

Nine: A Book of Nonet Poems by Irene Latham and Amy Huntington - ADVISABLE

Nine: A Book of Nonet Poems by Irene Latham, illustrated by Amy Huntington. PICTURE BOOK POETRY Charlesbridge, 2020. $17. 9781623541163 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL  - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A collection of Nonet Poems, which are nine lines long, the first line having 9 syllables and each successive line one syllable less. All of the poems are about the number nine - 9 years old, a nine-banded armadillo, the 9th planet, the Little Rock 9 and others. 

 A fun collection of poems, Amy Huntington's illustrations are great and complement the poems. A great addition to your library's poetry collection.

Lisa Librarian