Wild Horse Annie by Tracey Fern - ESSENTIAL

Wild Horse Annie: Friend of the Mustangs by Tracey Fern, illustrated by Steven Salerno.  NON-FICTION/PICTURE BOOK.  Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2019. $18.  9780374303068

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Velma grew up surrounded by horses, including her beloved wild mustangs.  Even when polio bent her spine, she was undeterred in her love. In the 1950’s “Wild Horse Annie”, as her detractors nicknamed her, led fights to protect mustangs from her own county, to other states, and finally to Washington D.C. to preserve these wild horses for future generations.

The history of mustangs in America is an intriguing and on-going tale.  Annie’s story shows the power of speaking up, the need to protect any species from being used to death by humans, and also would be a great discussion in a Government or Ecology class to talk about the interplay between man and nature.  There is a great non-fiction book by Kay Frydenborg, Wild Horse Scientist, that talks about on-going efforts to limit the population of wild horses that would be a great companion to the picture book.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Flower Talk by Sara Levine - ESSENTIAL

Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate by Sara Levine, illustrated by Masha D’yans. PICTURE BOOK.  Millbrook Press, 2019. $20. 9781541519282 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A purple cactus has information for us humans.  Flowers’ colors aren’t for us humans to enjoy, they are to signal the pollinators to help them. 

The slightly annoyed tone of the purple cactus is a great voice for this book.  The information is actually relayed very simply and understandably.  I think middle school teachers will like this for science class just as much as elementary teachers.  Wherever they talk about pollination.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Goodnight Krampus by Derek and Kyle Sullivan - ESSENTIAL

Goodnight Krampus by Derek and Kyle Sullivan.  BOARD BOOK. Hazy Dell Press, 2016.  $14. 9780996578721

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Santa is coming around to say goodnight on Christmas Eve, before he heads out his big night of deliveries.  But Krampus has other plans – a little mischief to wear himself out before he can settle down.

Considering all of the “wearing down” that I used to do with my kids before bedtime, I totally loved this bedtime board book.  You might think you need to reserve reading this only for December, but I think it works any time of the year. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

I am a Farmer by Baptiste & Miranda Paul - ADVISABLE

I am a Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon by Baptiste & Miranda Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon.  PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION.  Millbrook Press, 2019. $20. 9781512449143

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Tantoh has always been curious about the whys and hows about growing things.  Eventually he is able to go to college and then travel all over Cameroon helping people in small villages do big things and small things to help make their lives better. 

As interesting and important I find Tantoh’s story – especially because he is a young man who is still making a difference in Cameroon, the writing is so stiff that this is almost impossible to read aloud to a class at any level.  I want to share this with my middle school science teachers, but I know they will also find it forced.  

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Construction by Heather E. Schwartz - NO

The Unofficial Guide to Minecraft Construction by Heather E. Schwartz, 32 pages. NON-FICTION. Lerner, 2019. 9781541538849

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

If you are looking for a manual to help become a better builder, this is not the book for you. It is a just a vague look at what building is in the minecraft universe.  I did not learn anything useful to help me actually build.  The information in this book could have been in a pamphlet instead of a hardcover book.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Angry Cookie by Laura Dockrill - ADVISABLE

Angry Cookie by Laura Dockrill, illustrated by Maria Karipidou.  PICTURE BOOK.  Walker Books (Candlewick), 2018.  $17. 9781536205442

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When the reader opens the book, the cookie inside is very angry and also annoyed as the reader keeps turning the pages, interrupting its personal time.  When the cookie finally realizes the reader isn’t leaving, it explains why its so angry – a really awful yesterday!  After cookie able to vent, it realizes that it feels so much better and that maybe the reader is a friend.

Add this to story time – another good selection about feelings and friendship that would make a handy little discussion about listening, about venting anger, about how to process when you have had a set back or even a series of set backs.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Where’s the Duck by Ingela P. Arrhenius - ESSENTIAL

Where’s the Duck by Ingela P. Arrhenius.  BOARD BOOK. Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2019.  $9. 9781536205770

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Peek-a-boo that you can play over and over!  Perfect for 6 months – 3 years old.  The flaps are strong felt pieces that will stand up to lots of wear. The mirror at the end was a never ending delight for the babies I have shared this series with. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Nine Months Before a Baby is Born by Miranda Paul - OPTIONAL

Nine Months Before a Baby is Born by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Jason Chin. PICTURE BOOK. Neal Porter Books (Holiday House), 2019. $19. 9780823441617


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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A soon-to-be-big sister and her parents are excited about the baby coming to their home. For 9 months they plan and prepare as the baby--accurately illustrated on the lefthand pages month-by-month--grows inside mom's womb. Following the story, there are informational pages giving more detail about the development of babies.

I didn't particularly like this book while also recognizing its value to families who want to help children better understand pregnancy and all that entails. The illustrations are impressive and I guess the accompanying pictures of the family getting ready for baby add some emotional oomph to the whole thing. But overall I found the book a little lacking. I also question whether I'd want my kids reading this book on their own in a school library; I'd prefer to discuss all of this material together as a family.

Reviewer: TC

There Are No Bears in This Bakery by Julia Sarcone-Roach - ADVISABLE

There Are No Bears in This Bakery by Julia Sarcone-Roach. PICTURE BOOK. Alfred A. Knopf, 2019. $18. 9780399556654


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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Muffin the Cat narrates the strange tale of the night he helped deal with bears in the bakery. He knows all the sounds in the neighborhood at night and so rightly investigates when he hears a new sound--hungry bears. It turns out bears like sprinkles so he helps them fill their bellies with donuts and other such things and sends them on their way--ensuring there are no bears in this bakery. Anymore.

This book is really a delight in the way the story is told with a definite nod to the great film noir detectives of days past. I liked the text, I loved the illustrations, and my preschooler has quickly commandeered this book for his own. Cat lovers, film noir lovers, and perhaps just those who enjoy a simple fun story...will like this one.

Reviewer: TC

Linus the Little Yellow Pencil by Scott Magoon - ESSENTIAL

Linus the Little Yellow Pencil by Scott Magoon .  PICTURE BOOK.  Disney, 2019. $17.00. 9781368006279

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Linus is a pencil, and Ernie is his eraser. They are going to enter an art contest, but Ernie is concerned that Linus’s art might embarrass them. He starts to erase everything that Linus draws, causing the once happy artist to question his own abilities. Linus seeks the help of a sage in a cave (pencil shavings in the dark pencil sharpener). He regains his confidence and finds a way to work together with Ernie to create a whole new art style. Filled with spectacular artwork that would be fun to share with a group.

I LOVED this book! It’s got so much going for it..themes of friendship, cooperation, confidence, creativity, and finding new solutions. It could be used by an art teacher to encourage budding artists to go with their gut and just create, but I think any teacher could use this book to encourage cooperation and creative thinking. The artwork is top notch, so creative and at time, just beautiful. One of the best picture books I have reviewed in years.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

Who has Wiggle-Waggle Toes? By Vicky Shiefman –NO

Who has Wiggle-Waggle Toes?By Vicky Shiefman and Illustrated by Francesca Chessa. PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 2018. $18. 9780823438648

BUYING ADVISORY: EL(K-3) –NOT RECOMMENDED

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book is a body part “call and answer style” read-a-loud. It has toes, hands, heads, ect. So an example would be “who has peekaboo hands?” and the listeners would yell “I Do”. It features simple illustrations of round headed children showing off the aforementioned parts.  

Although I like the idea of this book had a couple of big flaws for me. One is that the “head” is a “hokey-pokey head”, and it occurred to me –why not just do the hokey pokey with kids, you don’t even need this book at all. The second was that the author chose to include the ‘bottom’ as a “bold bottom” and to "shimmy your bold bottom", which was so hilarious but no one want to explain that to a parent.  I sent a pic of the page to several friends, and one sent back a pic of her birds bold bottom.  

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.

The Splintered Light by Ginger Johnson –NOT RECOMMENDED

The Splintered Light by Ginger Johnson, 404 pages. Bloomsbury, 2018 $17

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Ishmael has a boring life helping his mother and siblings try to survive on their colorless farm. Things were better when his older brother Luc was around and his father was alive. Ishmael decides to find his brother and bring him back to help out. So he enters the commons, a wall/building (?) that no one is permitted to approach. There he discovers that he is a Color Keeper, like his brother Luc, who is there. He can now train to help color little mini worlds, which delights him. Now he must decide to stay and learn or try to get Luc to come home with him. In the meantime a rift forms between he and Luc and Ishmael must try to fix it.

I thought the idea behind this book was intriguing. Colorless worlds with a few people who could see color to fill them. But it really just ended up being long, confusing, and strange. I felt like there would come a time where everything would be explained but that time never came. From an adult perspective I thought it was horrible of him to just assume his mother would be ok. I didn’t buy into Ishmael’s evolution from a small farm boy to a leader that pulls everyone together. On top of everything else, this book was SO SO Long. No way an elementary student would stick with this and the characters are too babyish for a middle school student to keep interest.

Reviewer: Stephanie MLS & Author.