A Wave of Stars by Dolores Brown and Sonja Wimmer - ESSENTIAL

A Wave of Stars by Dolores Brown and Sonja Wimmer. PICTURE BOOK. Nube Ocho, 2020. $17. 9788417673413

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

When Mimbi the seal hears the legend of the moonbow, she wonders if the tale is true – can crossing the moon’s light really turn a sea creature into a human? When Mimbi and Kipo are caught in the moonbow, however, they all too soon learn it really is true. Luckily they find a kind fisherman who may know a way to return them to their sea creature selves.

Brown and Wimmer have crafted a magnificent new fairy tale for us to enjoy. WImmer’s whimsical illustrations are enchanting and Mimbi and Kipo’s story are as good as other classics such as The Little Mermaid, which it will remind you of.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

The Key from Spain : Flory Jagoda and Her Music - ADVISABLE

The Key from Spain : Flory Jagoda and Her Music by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Sonja Wimmer PICTURE BOOK Kar-Ben Publishing Lerner Imprints, 2019 $18. 9781541522183

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
When Flora's ancestors fled Spain during the Spanish Inquisition in 1492, they took 2 things with them, a key and their Ladino language. By the 1930s, her family was living in Europe, a dangerous place and time for Jewish people, so the family moved again. Flora traveled alone on a train to their next home , but in order to keep her identity a secret, she spent the whole trip playing music on her harmoniku while everyone on the train sang along. Her ancestors carried a key and their language, and she did, too; preserving the Ladino language through songs in America.

Sonja Wimmer's full color illustrations are beautiful, the perfect addition to the well written text. Picture book biographies are my favorite thing right now - I love learning about people who are completely new to me. Flory Jagoda is one of them, and now she's a hero! My goodness, so talented, and what a heartbreaking story. Be sure to scan the QR code key on the last page to hear her sing her famous Hanukkah song "Ocho Kandelikas"

Lisa Librarian

I Love My Purse by Belle DeMont and Sonja Wimmer - ADVISABLE

I Love My Purse by Belle DeMont, art by Sonja Wimmer.  PICTURE BOOK. Annick Press, 2017.  $19. 9781554519545

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Charlie’s grandma gave him a bright red purse and he loves it.  One day he decides to take it to school instead of his backpack. Thru his day different people ask him about his purse and why doesn’t he do things like the rest of them.  But each person he talks also seems wistful, thinking about something they love.

DeMont skillfully addresses the idea of a boy wearing a red purse without making it a gender issue – just a simple choice.  She also shows that pretty much all of us have something that we also want to show the world, but feel afraid to take that first step for fear of being ridiculed.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Sugar and Snails by Sarah Tsiang - ESSENTIAL

Sugar and Snails by Sarah Tsiang, illustrated by Sonja Wimmer. PICTURE BOOK. Annick Press, 2018. $19. 9781773210056

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The book starts with a cross-stich of the old rhyme about girls and boys being made of different things. A grandpa then explains that rhyme to his grandkids, but they challenge him on those descriptions. The grandpa then makes up new rhymes for the kids that bend traditional gender stereotypes, but keep the playfulness. 

My kids fed right into the hands of this author. The minute I read the original rhyme, both my kids complained that that wasn’t really a fair description and then proceeded to love the book. We spent a good portion of time after finishing the book making up new rhymes following the same pattern. The illustrations are whimsical and and it is a fun book to read aloud.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher