Harvey Holds His Own by Colleen Nelson and Tara Anderson - ADVISABLE

Harvey Holds His Own (Harvey #2) by Colleen Nelson, illustrated by Tara Anderson. 288 pages. Pajama Press, 2020. $19

 Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

 AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

 Maggie owns a darling West Highland Terrier named Harvey. Maggie has decided to volunteer at Brayside and to give friendship with Austin a chance. She realizes how much Austin wants a dog of his own. Austin takes Harvey for a walk and they discover an abandoned puppy, all helpless and near death. Austin bring the puppy to the animal shelter where he knows it will be taken care of until it is old enough to be adopted. Maggie loves her volunteer time at Brayside and makes friends with the old people. What a heartwarming, delightful story with darling illustrations. 

This is a superb sequel to Harvey Comes Home. I loved this book, too and the stories of Maggie, Austin, the residents of Brayside and of the dogs. I kept reading so I could find out about several things, including the puppy Austin found. There are great human interest stories in these books. Some of the characters are even based on real people. If you just start this book, you are sure to love it. I couldn't put it down and was delighted when I finished. I hope this author will write more books about Austin, Harvey and Maggie.

 Ellen-Anita, LMS 

Baby Loves Smell! By Ruth Spiro and Irene Chan - ADVISABLE

Baby Loves Smell! By Ruth Spiro, illustrated by Irene Chan. BOARD BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2020. $9. 9781623541538 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Spiro applies her talents to the five senses – this one about smell. Using simple language for the most part, she explains what smell is and a simple look at the mechanics of it. Words like “olfactory” will be a little much for the littlest ones, but the bright illustrations can be an enticement for rereading and learning. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS  

When Winter Comes by Aimee M. Bisonette and Erin Hourigan - ADVISABLE

When Winter Comes: discovering wildlife in our snowy woods by Aimee M. Bisonette, illustrated by Erin Hourigan. PICTURE BOOK. $18. 9781632172730 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The quiet of a winter day on the woods is so compelling. I don’t think there can be enough books reminding us of all of the wildlife that is still going on, whether hibernating, foraging, or hunting. Hourigan’s charming illustrations are for kids who know snow and for kids who have never seen it before. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Tiny T. Rex and the Perfect Valentine by Jonathan Stutzman and Jay Fleck - ADVISABLE

Tiny T. Rex and the Perfect Valentine by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Jay Fleck. BOARD BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2020. $8. 9781452184890 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Tiny T. Rex is trying to make a valentine for Pointy, but making a huge mess instead. I haven’t read a Tiny T. Rex book before and I must admit that he is pretty adorable. Valentine’s Day is several months away, but for this cute guy, I don’t think it is too early to start your shopping! 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Note: I have to admit – when I first saw the book, I was taken aback, because I thought it was Sheldon, the tiny dinosaur who thinks he’s a turtle whom I have followed on the internet for many years. Check out Sheldon here 

Christmas Cheer, illustrated by Ingela Arrhenius - OPTIONAL

Christmas Cheer illustrated by Ingela Arrhenius. BOARD BOOK. Chronicle, 2020. $9. 9781452174914 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

The illustrations and shaped pages are absolutely darling. However, the small amount of text is written in the passive voice – which makes it feel awkward. It may get looked at a lot because of Arrhenius’ art and the great feel of the shapes, but I don’t think it will get read and reread. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Counting Kindness: Ten Ways to Welcome Refugee Children by Kurman and Barroux - ADVISABLE

Counting Kindness: Ten Ways to Welcome Refugee Children by Hollis Kurman, illustrated by Barroux. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2020. $17. 9781623542290 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Kurman combines a counting book with information about refugees – things that they go through, things that they need. While the subtitle says it is about ways to help, it really doesn’t come over that way. Besides that misstep, however, it is very much a good way to teach about refugees and to get a conversation going about how a class, a family, an individual can be kind and helpful. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Monsters 101 by Cale Atkinson - ESSENTIAL

Monsters 101 by Cale Atkinson. PICTURE BOOK. Doubleday (Random), 2020. $18. 9780593122808 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Meet the monster scientists – they are all ready to teach you everything they know about monsters! Pay close attention to the details so that you can earn your diploma at the end! 

After teaching us all about Unicorns, Atkinson applies his talents to Monsters – just in time for Halloween! Sure to be a hit – and if you need to make a Halloween gift bag, add this. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Soaked! By Abi Cushman - OPTIONAL

Soaked! By Abi Cushman. PICTURE BOOK. Viking (Penguin), 2020. $18. 9781984836625 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

Bear is dismayed at all the rain. He invites everyone into his cave, but the hula-hooping Moose takes up a lot of space. Back outside after a hula-hoop rescue, Bear deigns to try the hula-hoop and becomes totally distracted. 

Soaked tries really hard to be a cute grumpy bear story, but it doesn’t quite work. The point of view is odd – is the bear the narrator? And the story doesn’t hit the right notes. If you want a rain book, try I Don’t Like Rain! By Sarah Dillard and if you want a grumpy bear book go with Mother Bruce by Ryan Higgins. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen - ADVISABLE

The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen. PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Schuster, 2020. $17. 9781534466968 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Ollie and her cat Pumpkin are out in the woods when they find a lost kitten. Trekking in to the dark woods, Ollie tries to return the kitten to its people. After success, Ollie needs help from her own cat to find her own way home. Definitely an autumn book, with a little Halloween surprise twist at the end. 

 Killen’s illustrations are absolutely adorable. And I read this out loud to make sure that the pacing works for a read aloud – which it does. There are even fun little cutouts in some of the pages. I have to say it though – I was unhappy with the little girl wandering in to the woods alone chasing a cat. That would have to be addressed. (Have I become too much of a paranoid adult now?) 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar - OPTIONAL

The Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar, 272 pages. Scholastic Press, 2020. $18. 

Content: G 

 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

4th grader Betita’s family lives a precarious life on the fringes of East LA. One day her father is picked up in and ICE raid and repatriated to Mexico. Months later, when Betita goes with her mother, aunt, and uncle to visit through a chainlink border fence, her uncle makes a mistake and they end up across the border. As they immediately try to return, their papers are challenged and all of them are separated and thrown into Trump detention facilities. How will anyone know about the plight? Who will be able to find and rescue them? 

Salazar gives us one of the first fictional looks at life in the ICE detention facilities. Instead of letting us look and learn and process, however, she uses an ongoing crane (the bird) metaphor and free verse for the story – the crane metaphor is unnecessary and I wish the 272 pages were filled with actual prose. I would rate this LOW, but I know that many will want to read this look inside Trump detention camps. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Distress Signal by Mary E. Lambert - OPTIONAL

Distress Signal by Mary E. Lambert, 272 pages. Scholastic Press, 2020. $18. 

Language: G (1 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Lavender and Marisol, 6th graders, are best friends – aren’t they? Now Marisol seems to be paying a lot of attention to Rachelle instead. On the three day 6th grade science camp, Lavender sees a chance to pull a prank on Rachelle – instead, the three girls and another classmate, John, get separated from the rest of the class during a flash flood. Now they are trying to survive. Tension between all of the group doesn’t bode well for their chances. 

A good optional selection – the protagonists seem a little young for a three day school camping trip complete with tents. The friendship drama is well done – Lavender’s cluelessness to her possessive personality feels spot on. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Disney Maps: A Magical Atlas of the Movies We Know and Love - ESSENTIAL

Disney Maps: A Magical Atlas of the Movies We Know and Love, 100 pages. Disney Press, 2020. $25. 9781368018678 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Walk your way through 24 magical Disney fantasy worlds. Each land gets a 2-page map spread with significant markers and another 2-page spread of information and characters. A lot of fun for any Disney movie enthusiast. I wouldn’t be surprised if any library copies get significantly battered with use. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS