Rocket the Brave! by Tad Hills - ESSENTIAL

Rocket the Brave! by Tad Hills. EARLY READER. Schwartz & Wade Books (Random House), 2018. $13. 9781524773465

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Rocket is a little dog who finds that a butterfly has landed on his nose. When the butterfly flies off, Rocket chases it. He chases it around fields and rivers until he is led into the forest. At first he is scared, but when he finds the butterfly he realizes he loves the forest.

This is a great early reader. The illustrations are simple and give clues without being distracting. The reading level is about middles of first grade.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

The Stellar Story of Space Travel by Patricia Lakin -- ADVISABLE

 The Stellar Story of Space Travel (History of Fun Stuff) by Patricia Lakin, illustrated by Scott Burroughs. NONFICTION EARLY READER. Simon Spotlight, 2016. $17.

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

This nonfiction book for young readers explains the history of space exploration, from the first astronomers to the future of space travel. An afterword describes the Earth's rotation, constellations, and science fiction stories that came true (or didn't).

The writing is approachable and fun, and the illustrations are eye-catching. The book manages to pack quite a bit of information into a small space. A good introduction to the topic for younger readers.

Reviewed by Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist

More Adventures with Phoebe by Lisze Bechtold - ESSENTIAL

 Buster the Very Shy Dog, More Adventures with Phoebe by Lisze Bechtold. PICTURE BOOK. Green Light Readers (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), 2018. $13.  9781328900906

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Buster and Phoebe’s dog adventures involve whose bones are whose and finding the garbage bandits. When their owner blames them unjustly, it takes both of them to find the real culprits.

This Level 3 book is an easy chapter book. The pictures are engaging, the story easy to follow. I quite liked it and plan to get more of the set for our library. I think they will be a hit.

Maureen, Library Teacher

Cement Mixer's ABC by Sherri Duskey Rinker - ESSENTIAL

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site: Cement Mixer's ABC by Sherri Duskey Rinker, illustrated by Ethan Long. BOARD BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2018. $7. 9781452153186. 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL; EL(K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

As Cement Mixer goes about his work day, he begins to look for words A-Z around the construction site. Some of the words are clearly construction words--bulldozer, concrete, dump truck--and others are filler to make the rhyming scheme work--"J-is for Jump as I bump along!" The story ends with Cement Mixer falling asleep at the end of his long day.

This is a great ABC book. The rhyming text reads well and the illustrations are colorful and fun. Its not the best for actually teaching ABC's--some of the words are just inside the story and not really highlighted with pictures--but kids are going to love it anyway. This will be a big hit with Pre-K and even up into higher grades.

Reviewer: TC

Peanut Butter’s First Day of School by Terry Border - ESSENTIAL

 Peanut Butter’s First Day of School by Terry Border. EARLY READER. Penquin Young Readers (Penquin), 2018. $15. 9781524784850

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Peanut Butter is nervous about the first day of school. His mother is encouraging, and he finds many enjoyable experiences through the support of his friends.

A fun book! It is level 2-I for Progressing Readers, so many younger children can read it by themselves. The illustrations are photos of ordinary objects with wire added to pose them in life-like ways. The characters are food! Really clever, and children will relate to the first-day-of-school jitters.

Maureen, Library Teacher

Who Eats Orange? by Dianne White - ADVISABLE

 Who Eats Orange? by Dianne White, illustrated by Robin Page. PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane Books (Simon & Schuster), 2018. $18. 9781534404083

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Every few pages the question is asked, who eats a certain color, and then there are three examples of what animal eats that color. Then an animal that doesn’t eat that color is named and the book moves on to the next color. For example, who eats purple? Quetzals, toucans, and butterflies, but not reindeer. 

The colors is the book are bright and engaging and they contrast with a simple white background. The best part of the book is talking about what colors of foods the reader eats. The text is a little bit clunky, given its repetitive nature and the expectation of rhythm that comes with that.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Pocket Bios Set #3 by Al Berenger - ADVISABLE

 Pocket Bios by Al Berenger.  PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Roaring Brook Press, 2015. $15.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE.  

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Each book is divided into about ten sections. Each section has a guiding topic at the top, two or three paragraphs, and a date or date range. These are each paired with a cartoonish illustration. Following the text is a timeline, map key, people to know page, and fun facts. 

I love the way the text is divided up into sections that make the biographies accessible. There is a lot of detail in these biographies without being hard to read. The illustrations are cartoonish which makes it less aesthetically pleasing but less intimating for young readers. These books do a good job covering the whole span of a life - not just the moments they are famous for. I am disappointed that there are only four women covered in the collection so far. 

Coco Chanel 9781250166258 

I learned a lot from this book that I didn’t know. One thing that stands out is learning that her very first design was a women’s riding outfit. 

Rosa Parks 9781250166173 

I learned about Rosa’s mom’s influence on her, teaching her about equality early on. 

Cleopatra 9781250166210 

I learned that Cleopatra took her own life by letting a poisonous snake bite her. 

Marie Curie 9781250166159  

I learned that Marie had to move from Poland to France because Poland would not let women attend college. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

A Boy, A Bear, A Balloon by Brittany Rubiano - ADVISABLE

 A Boy, A Bear, A Balloon by Brittany Rubiano, illustrated by Mike Wall. PICTURE BOOK. Disney Press (Disney Book Group), 2018. $17.  9781368025881

BUYING ADVISORY: EL(K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A picture book reflecting the recent movie about a grown-up Christopher Robin coming back to the Hundred-Acre Wood. The beloved Disney characters inspired by the A. A. Milne books are all there. Christopher Robin is a bit “frownier” and somewhat impatient, but through misadventure he finds he still has affection for his old friends and things end well.

There is humorous appeal for adults as well as children. It is gentle and pleasant like the Disney cartoon. A book to be read to a child, or to yourself.

Maureen, Library Teacher

If You’re Groovy and You Know It, Hug a Friend! by Eric Litwin - ESSENTIAL

 If You’re Groovy and You Know It, Hug a Friend!  (A Groovy Joe song book) by Eric Litwin, art by Tom Lichtenheld.  Orchard (Scholastic), 2018.  $10.  9780545883801

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Litwin has written new words to a familiar song.  Your next story time has a great groovy book to add to the mix.  Get ready to stand up and move those bodies!  

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoet - ESSENTIAL

I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoet.  PICTURE BOOK.  Schwartz and Wade (Random), 2018.  $18.  9781524769550

EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL

After her first day at a new school, a little girl, Vanessa, is bullied on her way home.  Another girl from her class sees the bullying, and the next day she has an idea to help Vanessa.

This simple, yet powerful wordless picture book sends a powerful message about an easy step to take when you see someone being bullied.  Children at any age will be able to understand the message.  There are some clear talking points at the end of the book.  I did have to look hard to find the bully in the final pages, but it is well worth taking the time to point out his reaction.

Cindy, Library Teacher

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins - ESSENTIAL

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins. PICTURE BOOK. Disney, JUNE 2018. $18. 9781368003551. 

EL (K-3), EL – ESSENTIAL

HIGH

Penelope Rex is nervous for her first day of school and things don’t get better when she discovers all of her new classmates are humans – and humans are delicious! She doesn’t want to eat them, but sometimes it is hard to control her T-rex impulses. Then one day Penelope finds out what it feels like to have someone find out you’re a tasty morsel. 

Higgin’s wry humor is full blown. You can choose to be offended by Penelope eating her classmates and then spitting them out, or you can revel in the delightful absurdness and embrace the message of not eating your classmates. It would be easy to turn this into a quick lessons about other ways we “eat” our classmates with meanness and sniping. Pair this with Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller to start the school year out right. Coming out in June – buy both books for your newly minted school teachers. 

Cindy, Library Teacher

Moon by Britta Teckentrup - ESSENTIAL

Teckentrup, Britta Moon PICTURE BOOK Doubleday Books (Random), 2017. $17. Content: G. 978-1524769666

EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL

A beautiful rhyming read aloud, this book goes through the different habitats and animals that enjoy the moon.  In the desert, the forest, the arctic, the beach and the Savannah the animals all use the moonlight for different reasons.  For example, sea turtle hatch-lings use the moon to guide them to the ocean and other animals use the moon to hunt.  

This book has a cut out in each of the pages that shows the moon in it’s different phases, until you reach a full moon and then it starts again.  I love the adorable illustrations of the animals and their habitats.  The words are lyrical and they rhyme making this a fantastic read aloud (especially for bed time). 

Reviewer, C. Peterson.