On Wings of Words: The Extraordinary Life of Emily Dickinson by Jennifer Berne and Becca Stadtlander - ADVISABLE

On Wings of Words: The Extraordinary Life of Emily Dickinson by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Becca Stadtlander PICTURE BOOK, BIOGRAPHY Chronicle Books, 2020. $19. 9781452142975 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Emily Dickinson loved so many things, her dog, birds, nature, her school friends, even her big brother. But she also felt sad about things, like why people get sick and die. Looking for answers at school, church and home didn't help. Eventually Emily spent more time inside than out, writing and writing and writing. After she died, her sister found boxes, drawers and closets full of her poetry. Today, libraries and bookstores have her poetry collections and people fall in love with poetry when they discover Emily Dickinson. 

Beautiful full page illustrations by Becca Stadtlander highlight this sweet biography. I loved that Berne incorporated Emily's poems into the story as well. Includes ideas on becoming a poetry writer, reader and sharer, as well as book recommendations for further reading about Dickinson.

Lisa Librarian

Twinkle Twinkle Robot Beep by Jeffrey Burton and Zoe Waring - ADVISABLE

Twinkle Twinkle Robot Beep by Jeffrey Burton and Zoe Waring BOARD BOOK Little Simon (Simon and Schuster,) 2020. $6. 9781534460096 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A little Robot takes a rocket into space for a fun filled day exploring the galaxy, riding comets and wishing on stars. The text works perfectly as a sing along. A fun read and re-read.

Lisa Librarian

Twinkle Twinkle Mermaid Blue by Jeffrey Burton and Zoe Waring - ADVISABLE

Twinkle Twinkle Mermaid Blue by Jeffrey Burton and Zoe Waring BOARD BOOK Little Simon (Simon and Schuster), 2020. $6. 9781534460119 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A darling mermaid with blue hair spends her day swimming and playing with her friends, a dolphin, sea stars and other ocean creatures. 

 The text works perfectly with the Twinkle Twinkle song. Silly me, I read the story to my grand-daughter not realizing we could sing it, so we read it again and sang, and then sang it again. She loved it immediately.

Lisa Librarian

This is Your Time by Ruby Bridges - Essential

This is Your Time by Ruby Bridges 58 pages. NON-FICTION Delacorte Press, (Penguin Random House), 2020. $16 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

6yo Ruby Bridges was the first black child to attend an all-white school in New Orleans. Accompanied by four Federal Marshalls - for her safety, Ruby didn't understand that all the white parents were angry because of the color of her skin. They wouldn't allow their children to be in class with Ruby, so for that first year, Ruby and her teacher, Mrs. Henry worked alone in the classroom, learning, because Ruby mattered. 

Written as a letter to the readers (young peacemakers of America) this small sized book is a poignant reminder of the resilience of young Ruby Bridges as well as the power in the hands of our young generation, to change things for the better. Each page includes a captioned photograph which adds to the story. An inspiring short read, perfectly written for a young audience.

Lisa Librarian

Simon at the Art Museum by Christina Soontornvat and Christine Davenier - ADVISABLE

Simon at the Art Museum by Christina Soontornvat, art by Christine Davenier PICTURE BOOK Atheneum Books for Young Readers 2020. $18. 9781534437524 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Simon is visiting a museum with his parents. After reminding him to use his inside voice, Simon is interested in the art, but there is just so much of it. Soon, all he wants is cheesecake and a rest. So, when his parents let him hang out on a bench, Simon start people watching. He notices how many different ways people look at art. Maybe there's more to see than just art at a museum. 

What a delightful book! I loved that the art was original (no Blue Boy or David) so it could be any museum. A great introduction for a small child (or even a class) about what is appropriate at a museum. Simon was adorable.

Lisa Librarian

See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka - ESSENTIAL

See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka, PICTURE BOOK, EARLY READER Candlewick Press, 2020. $9. 9781536204278 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Max is trying to take a nap, but the narrator keeps getting the story wrong! Max has to remind the reader that he is not a cat, not wearing a dress or riding a pink unicorn. Until, a pink unicorn arrives with a cat in a green dress; how embarrassing! Just wait, chapter two is called "See the Snake" 

My 5 year old granddaughter enjoyed this book so much, laughing out loud several times. The illustrations are hilarious and the context easily understood by a beginning reader. We read it several times again. Can't wait to share this with other kids!

Lisa Librarian

I'm Feeling School Bus Yellow! by Tina Gallo and Clair Rossiter- ADVISABLE

 

I’m Feeling School Bus Yellow! by Tina Gallo, illustrated by Clair Rossiter. BOARD BOOK. Simon Spotlight, 2020. $7. 9781534464339.

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

AUDIENCE: HIGH

I’m Feeling School Bus Yellow! Is about a yellow Crayola crayon who goes to school. He (or she) talks about different colors used at school for certain tasks and how it makes him feel. He then follows up with the question about how those activities make the reader feel. For example, he talks about coloring with a macaroni and cheese crayon. He says that color is warm and comforting, which he likes to feel when he writes. Then he asks “What colors make you feel warm and comfortable?”

School Bus Yellow is a cute book about feelings, as well as having a fun spin on color names. The Crayola insignia is on the front cover, and the crayon characters all look like the trademarked Crayola crayons. It makes sense that it uses the wild and silly Crayola color names that Crayola normally uses on their crayons. I like that it addresses feelings for children. This book would be an excellent tool for parents hoping to open up conversations with their children about how they feel at school.

Reviewer: AR/SL

Meet Mira by Sascha Paladino and Character Building Studio - OPTIONAL

Meet Mira by Sascha Paladino, illustrated by Character Building Studio. EARLY READER. Disney Press, 2020. $5. 9781368045674.

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Meet Mira is about a little princess on Disney Junior. The book introduces her, her cousin, and her animal friends. The book includes stickers in the back,

Meet Mira is a great book for early readers. Each page only has a few words. The pictures are vibrant and very attractive.  My kindergartner loves this book. It is on level for her even thought the top corner of the book says it is Pre-1, and she is actually an advanced reader.

Reviewer: AR/SL

Curious About Mammals by Cathryn Sill, and John Sill - ESSENTIAL

Curious About Mammals by Cathryn Sill, illustrated by John Sill. BOARD BOOK. Peachtree Petite, 2020. $7. 9781682631980.

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Curious About Mammals is a basic book that introduces what mammals are. The pictures give examples of what they are talking about. For instance, it says that all mammals have hair and drink milk. Some mammals are big, some are small, some swim, some run, and some fly.

Curious About Mammals is a wonderful book that could be used for young children. It is educational, but also basic enough that even a preschooler or kindergartner could read it. As a home school mom, I would have loved to have had this book a month ago when I was teaching a unit on mammals to my children. I am sure that early level school teachers would also find value in having a book like this in their library where students could read them as they please in the class.

Reviewer: AR/SL

Little Elephants by Susie Jaramillo and Abigail Gross- ADVISABLE

Little Elephants by Susie Jaramillo, illustrated by Abigail Gross. BOARD FLAP BOOK. Encantos, 2020. $11. 9781945635557.

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Little Elephants counts to 5, 1 new number on each page. The first elephant is balancing on a spiderweb, adding a new elephant on each page. The left side of each page is in English. The right side is in Spanish. The flap has the number on it, and when you flip it open, it has the English word for one, and the Spanish word for one (uno) displayed. That theme continues through the number 5. Then the elephants crash and say “That was fun! Let’s do it again!” (and repeated again in Spanish).

Little Elephants is a great book for introducing and teaching counting and Spanish. It is written in a way where it could be used to teach English speakers Spanish, and just as fairly teach Spanish speakers English. It is cute with its rhyming. I cannot confirm whether or not the Spanish side of each page rhymes as well, but I would assume that it does. The artwork is very attractive and adorable.

Reviewer: AR/SL

The Birthday Book by Susie Jaramillo and Abigail Gross - ADVISABLE

The Birthday Book by Susie Jaramillo, illustrated by Abigail Gross. BOARD FLIP BOOK. Encantos, 2020. $15. 9781945635427

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE: HIGH

It is Sammy’s birthday and all his animal friends are wishing him a happy birthday. The friends wake him up with a birthday song. They celebrate his birthday with cake, a pinata, and presents. Then you flip the book over and can read the exact same things in Spanish.

The Birthday Book is cute, and an excellent book for a bilingual family. It is a book that would be fun to wake the child up with on their birthday and read to them. The artwork and colors are vibrant, fun, and exciting.  

Reviewer: AR/SL

The Heart of Mi Familia by Carrie Lara and Christine Battuz - ESSENTIAL

The Heart of Mi Familia by Carrie Lara, illustrated by Christine Battuz. PICTURE BOOK. Magination Press, 2020. $17. 9781945635427.

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

AUDIENCE: HIGH

The Heart of Mi Familia is about a young girl who comes from a multicultural family. Her mother is European and has been in the United States for many generations. Her dad moved to the US as a small child from Central America. She talks about the two different cultures between visiting her abuela’s home, and her grandmother’s home. She merges the two cultures in her life to become one beautiful life.

The Heart of Mi Familia is a beautiful celebration of differences in cultures. It talks about the beauty in her one life, even though separately her two different lives are so different.  Even in the text, English and Spanish are used interchangeably, bouncing back between the two languages. It would be difficult to understand, except that the author places many context clues making it actually fairly simple to figure out.

At the end of the book, there is a note to the reader (geared towards parents). It is a wonderful explanation that children of different cultures, backgrounds, race, languages, etc. might experience discrimination. It talks about how these differences need to be celebrated and not put down. It urges parents to understand that it is through their example and attitudes that their children will learn to be loving and accepting to those who might not look and speak the same way as themselves. I marked this review as essential, as I feel that the current social and political climate the United States has been going towards has not exactly been the friendliest towards cultural diversity. It is something that parents need to be speaking about more frequently in their homes, and teaching their children the importance of love, compassion, and kindness to others regardless their heritages. This book does an excellent job at helping to open the conversation with love.

Reviewer: AR/SL