Pocket Bios: John F. Kennedy - ADVISABLE

Pocket Bios: John F. Kennedy. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Mackids (Roaring Brook Press), 2019. $15. 9781250168948

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This short biography briefly covers a variety of major events from JFK’s childhood, including his service in the war, his run for presidency, his marriage, the Cuban missile crisis, and his assasination. Each period includes a title, the years, and an illustration. 

This was a quick read and covers the main event of JFK’s life. That said, I did want to know more and found the lack of depth a bit of a barrier. For young readers this will hopefully lead them to find other books to learn more about the people they are interested in.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Cezanne’s Parrot by Amy Guglielmo - ESSENTIAL

Cezanne’s Parrot by Amy Guglielmo, illustrated by Brett Helquist. PICTURE BOOK. G.P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Random House), 2020. $18. 9780525515081

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Cezanne continually felt like his paintings did not fit in with the work of other painters and often turned to his parrot to hear that he was a good painter. For years he struggled to find a wider audience until finally, with his later pieces that were usually of fruit, he impressed others, people and parrots alike.  

This is a great portrait of a painter’s life and subtly includes the message that the way you see the world may not be accepted immediately, but you may simply be ahead of your time. As always, I wish books like this included images of the artist’s actual painting. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Owly: The Way Home by Andy Runton - OPTIONAL

Owly: The Way Home by Andy Runton, 160 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Graphix (Scholastic), 2020. $23

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Many creatures are scared away by Owly, but he finds a way to charm them and make friends. In particular he makes friends with a worm and a couple hummingbirds. In the second of two stories, the hummingbirds can’t find enough food and, although Owly tries to help them, they realize they need to fly south for the winter. Everyone is disappointed but acknowledges that they will still be friends. 

The main drawback for me is that there really isn’t much reading in this book. The language is limited and the illustrations repeat ideas in a way that doesn’t push the reader to interpret much. The story is sweet but without much depth.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

The Very Short, Entirely True History of Mermaids by Sarah Laskow - ADVISABLE

The Very Short, Entirely True History of Mermaids by Sarah Laskow, 91 pages. NON-FICTION. Penguin Workshop (Penguin Random House), 2020. $13

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

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This is an anthology of text about the cultural beliefs and historical stories about mermaids. This book does not lean into the idea that mermaids are real, but rather explains mythologies from around the world that include mermaids and explores the animals that are often mistaken for mermaids. 

This felt very thorough given it is written for young readers. The information is clear and concise and really quite interesting. A reader will need to realize that they are settling in for a lot of reading and not a picture book experience, which the cover and size could potentially suggest. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

The Animal Awards by Martin Jenkins - ESSENTIAL

The Animal Awards by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Tor Freeman. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books (Quarto), 2019. $20. 9781786037794

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In the same style as The People Awards, this book takes a sampling of animals and assigns them awards given their unique traits. Every ten or so animals and their awards there is an award that is given to a handful of animals. For example, the Giant Panda is awarded the “Fussy Eater Award” and several animals are given the “Cooperation Award”.

There is a lot of fun energy inside this book. The movement of the illustrations and shorter sections of text make the reader want to keep reading and learning. I do wish the illustrations were a little sharper and had less of a sketch-like quality.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

The Magical Unicorn Society: A Brief History of Unicorns - ADVISABLE

The Magical Unicorn Society: A Brief History of Unicorns, 121 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2019. $13. 9781250251879

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

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

In this companion book to The Magical Unicorn Society: The Official Handbook, the narrators take a scientific tone and assume unicorns are real. The book includes a collection of stories about unicorn sightings and the variety of unicorns that are out there. Each story is around 10 pages. 

The illustrations in this book are charming and there is an abundance of them all around the stories. This book straddles the line between picture book and chapter book and this will encourage younger readers to try their hand at sustained reading. That said, the amount of reading may be a barrier for the age that this book is going to appeal to, given that unicorn fans trend younger. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

I Knew You Could Do It! By Nancy Tillman - ADVISABLE

I Knew You Could Do It! By Nancy Tillman. PICTURE BOOK. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2019. $18. 9781250113771

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The narrator speaks encouraging words, presumably to the reader. While things were difficult and hard, the narrator expresses pride that the obstacles were surmounted. The illustrations are a mix of what appears to be photography and paint. They have a very layered feel to them. 

This book is cheery and sends out lots of positive vibes to the reader. Some of the illustrations are absolutely charming while others are a bit cheesy. The dreamlike feel of the illustrations make it feel more appropriate for young readers or as a bedtime story.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Me and the Sky: Captain Beverly Bass, Pioneering Pilot by Beverley Bass - ADVISABLE

Me and the Sky: Captain Beverly Bass, Pioneering Pilot  by Beverley Bass, illustrated by Joanie Stone. BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Alfred A. Knopf, 2019. $18. ISBN 9780525645498

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Starting when she was still riding in a stroller, Beverly loved planes. She dreamed about flying, and never let “can’t” stop her from pursuing her flying goals, even though she heard that word lots. Girls didn’t take flying lessons. A girl couldn’t fly passenger planes. Who would trust a girl in their jumbo jet’s cockpit? But flying planes did not take big muscles, just brains and determination, both of which Beverley had plenty. She became the first female to captain an American Airlines commercial airliner.

Though the illustrations seem fairly flat and ordinary to me, the story is an important one in the march toward equal rights for women. Three pages of back matter provide more information about Beverley’s story, including her experience during 9-11, which became part of an award-winning Broadway musical.

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

Small in the City by Sydney Smith - ESSENTIAL

Small in the City by Sydney Smith. PICTURE BOOK. Neal Porter (Holiday House), 2019. $19. ISBN 978-0-8234-4261-4

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3)  – ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A young child rides a bus, disembarks, and then starts talking about what it’s like to be small in a city as she (gender unclear) walks around. Bundled up in winter clothing, the narrator describes, for example, how different city noises can make your brain feel too full. Then the child starts offering advice. He shares insights about some places he knows, such as an alley, a yard with dogs, a church full of music. As the weather gets snowier, it slowly becomes apparent that the child is talking to someone other than the reader, until she hangs up a lost cat sign, making it clear exactly who she is addressing.

Each reading offers new insights into the feelings depicted in this deceptively simple story. Some pages are wordless, some have multiple panels, but every spread, with or without words or panels, pulls you along as if you are there, walking with the child. If you have ever lived in a big city, you’ll enjoy this child’s perspective of the city, and will appreciate how it would feel to lose a beloved pet there, during a winter storm. If you’ve never had the opportunity to live in a big city, read this book. It will give you that amazing gift, which good books do so well, of experiencing something new without ever leaving your chair.

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

Not a Bean by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez - ESSENTIAL

Not a Bean by Claudia Guadalupe Martinez, illustrated by Laura Gonzalez. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2019. $17. ISBN 9781580898157

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Part Spanish counting book, part moth life cycle narrative, this book follows  a jumping bean caterpillar, inside its “not a bean” seedpod, for a day as it jumps out of the sunlight, away from animal sounds, and around a playing board drawn on the ground. The next day, the saltarine (jumper) is still. The caterpillar inside is now busy spinning a cocoon until, several days later, it emerges as a moth.

A glossary of Spanish words and an author’s note provide additional information for the reader. Told in rhyme, this is an entertaining and educational introduction about a little-known wonder of nature.

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

Tooth Fairy in Training by Michelle Robinson - ADVISABLE

Tooth Fairy in Training by Michelle Robinson, illustrated by Briony May Smith. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2019. $17. ISBN 9781536209396

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A young tooth fairy named Tate is excited to start her training with her older sister May. She is surprised that not all the teeth come from human children. Having almost flown around the whole planet on her first night, her last visit to a human girl unexpectedly proves the most challenging of all. 

Told in rhyme, the pictures feature different habitats with baby animals along with the fairies and their glittery pink trail. The author approaches a familiar topic from an original perspective by focusing on Tate’s training and on her unusual clients. If you have young readers that love anything fairy related, this will be a welcomed addition.

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

2020 TOP 50 - ready, set, buy!

Did any of your favorite books make the lists?  How many have you already read?  Which ones will you add to your collection?

I had so much fun presenting my choices for my favorite books that KTB's reviewers and I read from March 2019 to February 2020.

Here is the link to the lists that I presented.  I will add cute graphics in a longer post later.  But please feel free to print and share these lists far and wide.