Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd and Nneka Myers - ADVISABLE

Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd, illustrated by Nneka Myers PICTURE BOOK Penguin Random House, 2020 $18 9781984895240 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

"When the sun goes down, our hair goes up!" Part of this family's bedtime ritual is preparing their hair for the night. Everyone combs or brushes or smooths or braids or curls (except Grandpa because he doesn't have hair on his head), and then they protect their hair with a durag or a wrap or a cap or a scarf, but the little girl telling the story can't find her bonnet! What will cover her braids?

I loved being part of a whole family bedtime routine. The sweet illustrations were perfect, bright and colorful with great details. Grandpa tells a very funny joke, and everyone is so loving and kind. A great bedtime story for any child.

Lisa Librarian

Can I Play Too? by Samantha Cotterill - ADVISABLE

Can I Play Too? by Samantha Cotterill, PICTURE BOOK Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin Random House), 2020. $17. 9780525553465 

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

 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Two boys are playing together building a train track. But when one of the boys takes control and doesn't respond well to the other boy's body language, the play escalates to argument, and both boys are mad. So, the librarian (or mother or teacher) intervenes and explains about social cues, using red yellow and green cards. 

 "Can I Play, too?" is part of Samantha Cotterill's "little senses" series. Useful when working with children on the autism spectrum, I loved the way social cues were addressed and that the boys had another chance to play and get along. The illustrations helped the reader focus on the story by including only the important parts of the picture. I think this is an important lesson for all the children, and Cotterill's idea is great.

Lisa Librarian

Who Will You be? by Andrea Pippins - ADVISABLE

Who Will You be? by Andrea Pippins PICTURE BOOK Schwartz & Wade Penguin Random House, 2020 $18 9781984849489 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A parent wonders about her own child and what she will be like - reflecting on the fine qualities of the people in her life: Bold like her grandma, kind like her father, loud and joyful like a cousin, curious like her uncle, maybe she will cook, or be compassionate. Best of all, she hopes the child will be her own self.

Andrea Pippins has given us such a beautiful message - it got me thinking about the people who influenced my own children and what they have become because of the great examples of the people in their lives. A gentle, loving, anytime book that remind the child they are loved.

Lisa Librarian
 

Cat Dog Dog : The Story of a Blended Family by Nelly Buchet and Andrea Zuill - ESSENTIAL

Cat Dog Dog : The Story of a Blended Family by Nelly Buchet, illustrated by Andrea Zuill PICTURE BOOK Schwartz & Wade Books (Penguin Random House), 2020. $18. 9781984848994

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

He has a dog, she has a dog and a cat. When he moves in with her, suddenly there is a "blended family" and the three pets must learn to get along with each other. Nearly wordless, the pets are identified by name dog cat dog, and the occasional distraction of a bird or frog.

I am a pet owner - in fact I have a cat and 2 dogs, so I completely relate to this story. The food protecting, the toy sharing - or not, the sniffing, the trouble oh my! I loved the illustrations - whimsical and fun - you can see the personality of each pet, some of the situations made me laugh out loud. Blended family? You better believe it! 

Lisa Librarian

The More We Get Together by Celeste Cortright and Betania Zacarias - ADVISABLE

The More We Get Together by Celeste Cortright, illustrated by Betania Zacarias, PICTURE BOOK Barefoot Books, 2020. $17. 9781782859338 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The more we get together, the happier we'll be, but that's not enough - we also need to save fuel by walking and riding bikes and scooters so our air will be cleaner. We need to help each other out and give back to our community. We should recycle to limit our waste, and we can share ideas, meals and our time! 

This re-imagined sing along of the familiar song comes with a CD and a link to barefoot books audio singalong and video animation online. Includes the music with ukulele or guitar chords and detailed ways to make a difference. Betania Zacarias' illustrations are colorful and fun, the communities are multicultural and diverse - I loved the illustration in the care center. A cute multilayered picture book - fun to read and sing; try the helpful project ideas.

Lisa Librarian

Bee & Me by Alison Jay - ESSENTIAL

Bee & Me Alison Jay. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2017. $16. 9781910646052

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A story of a girl, a boy, and a bee. When a bee becomes trapped in an apartment the young girl who lives there is able to see beyond the threat and help the bee learn to navigate the big city. As the girl learns about friendship and kindness, she reaches out to a lonely boy in her building and together with the bee, they make the city bloom.

Beautiful illustrations move this wordless picture book forward allowing for the imagination of young readers to take center stage. Each read could lead to new versions of the story, but always the themes of friendship and compassion will prevail. The last page provides information on the environment and the impact of bees giving a nice finishing touch.

AEB

Stretchy McHandsome by Judy Schachner - ADVISABLE

Stretchy McHandsome by Judy Schachner PICTURE BOOK Dial Books for Young Readers  (Penguin Random House), 2019. $18. 9780803741218 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Stretchy McHandsome is the butterscotch colored brother in a family of nine cats. One day he's had enough of "too many siblings" so he ventures into town, experiencing a fountain, leaving scratch marks on a tree, visiting a tiger in the zoo, and stretching out to get some sun in a bookstore window. While in the window, he is spotted by a little girl who is smitten! She takes him home, but - what happens when his cat family starts to miss him? 

Super cute whimsical illustrations highlight this darling story. His 2 colored eyes, expressions, his heart-shaped nose, I want this kitty, too! The poetry reminded me of T.S. Elliot's "Old Possums Book of Practical Cats". Cat lovers will adore this.

Lisa Librarian

Bee Heartful : Spread Loving Kindness by Frank J. Sileo and Claire Keay - OPTIONAL

Bee Heartful : Spread Loving Kindness by Frank J. Sileo, illustrated by Claire Keay PICTURE BOOK Magination Press, 2020. $17. 9781433831577

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Bentley the Bee is going to have a bee-utiful day. He's wearing his favorite red scarf and starts his day with a meditation in the meadow, sending loving-kindness thoughts to himself, to his friends, even to friends he doesn't know very well. but when Willie Wasp takes Bentley's scarf and flies away. Can loving kindness and some breaths to calm down help Bentley deal with his anger? I usually like these books - but this one was too cute. 

 Everything works out for Bentley because he is mindful? I'm all about teaching children mindfulness, it's important, but this goes a bit too far. I think there are better examples out there. However, it includes notes for parents and teachers for presenting the concepts in this book to children, and a meditation script. That is valuable for a teacher with no experience in Metta.

Lisa Librarian

Drew and Jot: Dueling Doodles by Art Baltazar - ESSENTIAL

Drew and Jot: Dueling Doodles by Art Baltazar. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Kaboom! (Boom Entertainment), 2019. $15. 

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

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Drew is going to a new school and nervous about meeting new friends, but while he is drawing his comic about a superhero, another kid at the school sees it and reveals that he draws comics about a supervillain. Their comic characters jump into the same comic and adventure ensues. 

This book is bright and energetic and has a clever concept. This has the potential to inspire young artists to make their own comics and even collaborate with friends. It was a little bit hard to jump between the story of the boys and the story they were creating, but I also liked that playfulness.   

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Pocket Bios: Joan of Arc - ADVISABLE

Pocket Bios: Joan of Arc. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Mackids (Roaring Brook Press), 2019. $15. 9781250168924

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Amidst the 100 years’ war, Joan and her family were loyal to France and Catholicism. Because of voices she heard, she was motivated to approach Charles and convince him to let her lead a company of soldiers. Eventually she was captured and burned alive.  

As such an iconic figure, I knew general information about Joan, but I learned a lot of details for this deceptively small book. Even so, the details were hard to put into context because there was a lot of background knowledge still needed. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Pocket Bios: Princess Diana - ADVISABLE

Pocket Bios: Princess Diana. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Mackids (Roaring Brook Press), 2019. $15. 9781250168900

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This was a gently honest look at Diana’s life and her heartbreaks. It begins with how she became princess and the roles she played as a royal, from mother to advocate. Finally it covers her divorce and her death. 

The illustration style in these books works for some of the subjects, but the large head on a small princess body felt awkward the whole time. The wide range of emotions covered in this book made it feel authentic - covering her joy in parenthood to her isolation in marriage.       

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Pocket Bios: Pablo Picasso - ADVISABLE

Pocket Bios: Pablo Picasso. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Mackids (Roaring Brook Press), 2019. $15. 9781250168986

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This smaller format book covers both Picasso’s personal life as well as his contributions to the art world. The book moves through his blue period, to his rose period, to cubism, and finally to surrealism. 

I like the extra details in this book, like the map, timeline, and interesting facts in the back of the book. They add dimension that could potentially make the reader want to want to learn more on their own.  

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher