Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel and Trina Schart Hyman - ADVISABLE

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel and Trina Schart Hyman. PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 2022 (reprint, gift edition with a poster and 25th anniversary afterword). $25. 9780823452552

Content: PG (goblins, scares, gambling)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Hershel of Ostropol came into town on the first night of Hanukkah tired and hungry. But when he arrived, the village was silent and dark. Not a single Hanukkah candle could be seen. The villagers explained that they cannot have Hanukkah because of the Goblins haunting the synagogue at the top of the hill. Hershel decides to help the village. They tell him that he must spend eight nights in the old synagogue. The Hanukkah candles must be lit one by one each night. On the eighth night, the king of the goblins must light them himself to break their power. Hershel goes up to the synagogue and each night tricks each goblin and lights the candles. On the final night, will Hershel be able to trick the King of the goblins into lighting the candles himself?

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins is delightful and clever. I enjoyed finding out how Hershel tricked each scary goblin. Hyman’s illustrations were magical and masterful.

PGPowers 

Best Christmas Book Ever by Richard Scarry - ESSENTIAL

Best Christmas Book Ever by Richard Scarry. PICTURE BOOK. Golden Books (Random House), 1981 (reprint 2022). $18. 9780593487624

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This classic story has been reprinted with 11 short Christmas stories illustrated with charm. Lowly the Worm is a character you will see in all the stories helping everyone from Santa to other animal friends get out of Holiday predicaments. The final 2 pages have a Christmas word illustration and a song with music included of the well know song Silent Night.

I was a huge Richard Scarry fan as a child. The illustrations are still relevant and timeless. The stories are silly and charming which is what makes it such a classic. My only criticism is Santa doesn't have a beard in the illustration. I guess he is a bear though. It just threw me off a little bit. I like how the text and the illustrations run together in seeable sections so you know what to read next. Let's share this timeless tale with the next generation.

Emilee-School Librarian 

Hello, Horse by Vivian French, illustrated by Catherine Rayner - ADVISABLE

Hello, Horse by Vivian French, illustrated by Catherine Rayner. PICTURE BOOK (w/ facts on each page). Candlewick Press, 2018. $9 (paperback). 9781536223545

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A young boy who is not sure that he likes horses is invited to meet a kind horse named Shannon. His friend Catherine helps him learn about Shannon, how to give her a carrot, why her feet go clip clop, how to brush her, and other fun information about horses. He reluctantly rides her around the pasture while Catherine leads them. Now he has a new friend.

Hello, Horse is a simple and engaging story for young children. French takes us on a small adventure while feeding our curiosity with interesting facts about horses. The illustrations were just the right bridge to fuel our interest and imagination.

PGPowers 

Albert LeBlanc to the Rescue by Nick Butterworth - ADVISABLE

Albert LeBlanc to the Rescue by Nick Butterworth. PICTURE BOOK/ Harper Collins, 2021. $7 9780007250684 (REPRINT)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Sally the Hippo has been bought, and Albert, sitting in the window misses her. Luckily each day she passes in the bag of the child who bought her. But one day, in the rain, Sally falls out and is stepped on by a muddy boot. Can the toys organize a rescue? 

Originally published in 2007, this new paperback edition brings back the gang to put together another plan to save one of their own. Oh the pictures are so cute! A fun story.

Lisa Librarian

Frogs (New and Updated) by Gail Gibbons - ADVISABLE

Frogs (New and Updated) by Gail Gibbons. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 2021. $19. 9780823448340 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A frog’s life begins as a cluster of eggs. The jelly protects the growing embryo. When the embryo is large enough, it hatches into a tadpole. The tadpole grows its back legs first and then its front legs. Their gills eventually disappear and are replaced with lungs. At this time, the frog is ready to leave the pond. Frogs hibernate during winter. Frogs are amphibians, which means “two lives”, one in the water and one on land. 

Gail Gibbon’s updated book relates the most recent information on the life of a frog. Both her illustration and writing are clear and informative. She includes other information about frogs, instructions for telling the difference between frogs and toads. Each elementary library should have one. 

MOMMAC 

Fight the Night by Tomie DePaola - ADVISABLE

Fight the Night by Tomie DePaola. PICTURE BOOK, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020, 1968. $18. 9781534443730

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Young Ronald does not want to quit playing and go to bed so he decides to Fight the Night.  Armed with a flashlight, a cape and a helmet, Ronald is out to defeat Night.  Could he possibly win?

Obviously a blast to the past; a whole new generation of readers who hate to go to bed can identify with Ronald.  Fun art and a relatable storyline make it appealing to adults and kids.  DePaola explains why the high cost of colored inks 50 years ago meant that he could only color half the book.

Michelle in the Middle

Rain Makes Applesauce by Julian Scheer and Marvin Bileck - ADVISABLE

Rain Makes Applesauce (restored edition) by Julian Scheer, illustrations by Marvin Bileck. PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 1964, 2019. $19. 9780823443611

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Silly, merry illustrations join the call and response patterned verse of nonsense. 

There is an extra pattern to learn, but it will be fun once it is. Much fun for a day of ridiculous play, especially for a preschool.  I can see why the illustrations won a Caldecott Honor.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart and Constance R. Bergum - ADVISABLE

Under the Snow by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Constance R. Bergum.  NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK.  Peachtree, 2019 (reprinted from 2009). $8. 9781682631256

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Stewart’s look at what animals are doing under the snow during winter is still enchanting after 10 years. An excellent season book or science book. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild - ESSENTIAL

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild, 268 pages. Random House, 2018 (Reprint). $17. 9780525578611.

Content: Language: G; Violence: G; Mature Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: EL - HIGH, MS - AVERAGE

Pauline, Petrova and Posy were all orphaned and taken in by a kindly old gentleman who promptly left them with his niece while he headed off on years of globetrotting. His absence makes finances tight, so the girls are sent to a training school for dancing, acting, and singing. Pauline proves to be a talented actress, Petrova gets along okay (though she'd rather be training to be a chauffeur!), and Posy's dancing talent is immediately obvious. The story follows their training, their relationships with one another and those they live with, and their eventual successes as the years go on.

This was just a delightful read from cover to cover. I enjoyed it as an adult, but I know I would have loved it even more as a child. This is a classic children's book for a reason and I can't wait to share it with my nieces who have yet to discover the Shoe books.

Reviewer: TC

Where is the Green Sheep? By Mem Fox - ADVISABLE

Where is the Green Sheep? By Mem Fox, illustrated by Judy Horacek  BOARD BOOK.  Houghton Mifflin, 2004. REPRINT.  9781328482662

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

As you leaf through the pages you meet all kinds of fun sheep – but where is that green sheep?

The same problem still bothers me now – there are an awful lots of pages of sheep to wade through until you finally get to that green sheep.  I obviously lack the patience for that green sheep, because I turned to the back of the book to find him first.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS