Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh - ADVISABLE

Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh, 368 pages. Harper, 2021. $17 Content: G (some racist language without swears) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Junie has tried to stay low at school, but someone is writing racist graffiti around her school and she doesn’t want to keep quiet. Also, her history teacher has created a project for them, so Junie decides to interview her grandparents, who escaped from Korea in the 1950’s. She is astonished by the danger they lived through and draws strength to change her present from their experiences. 

The grandparents’ stories are told as flashbacks, which makes them more immediate feeling than if Junie had just related their stories. I am loving seeing more books about the Korean War – especially from the perspective of the people themselves, not from only American soldiers’ points of view. 

 Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel and the Golden Acorn by Educational Insights - OPTIONAL

The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel and the Golden Acorn by Educational Insights, illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti. BOARD BOOK. Educational Insights (Candlewick), 2021. $12. 9781536222739.

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel is on the hunt for a special golden acorn. He visits various friends and locations to find it (in lift-the-flap style) and finally finds it back in his own tree. 

This is a pretty bland board book with the only real appeal coming from the flaps kids can lift to look at various hidden objects. There is no real story here to speak of, so if you just want an interactive book for your kids this will be fine. 

Reviewer: TC

D is for Drool: My Monster Alphabet by Amanda Noll, Shari Dash Greenspan and Howard McWilliam - ESSENTIAL

D is for Drool: My Monster Alphabet by Amanda Noll and Shari Dash Greenspan, illustrated by Howard McWilliam. PICTURE BOOK. Flashlight Books, 2021. $19. 9781947277496 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

The boy doesn’t like to count sheep at night, but he does say his ABCs to identify the line of monsters that parade from closet to bed each night. 

Noll and McWilliam’s Monster books are a delight! And this ABC book is no exception. A great combination of story enhanced by illustration – a true picture book. 

 Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Without Separation by Larry Dane Brimner and Maya Gonzalez - ADVISABLE

Without Separation: Prejudice, segregation, and the case of Roberto Alvarez by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Maya Gonzalez. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Calkins Creek (BoydsMill), 2021. $19. 9781684371952 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The school board of Lemon Grove Grammar School decided that children of Mexican heritage were dragging down their test scores, so unbeknownst to most of the community, they had a wooden shack built to only serve the Mexican community. The parents of the children turned away from Lemon Grove got the backing they needed to take the case to the courts in San Diego, where the school district lost and the children were welcomed back to Lemon Grove. 

While the book may not attract a lot of casual readers, in terms of importance Brimner has found an important history story that needs to be shared – especially in light of all the ways racism is again playing too big a part in education. Because we use picture books so much in my middle school, I will definitely have this one on hand. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Alicia Alonso Dances On by Rose Vina and Gloria Felix - OPTIONAL

Alicia Alonso Dances On by Rose Vina, illustrated by Gloria Felix. NON-FICITON PICTURE BOOK. Albert Whitman, 2021. $17. 9780807514542 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

On the island of Cuba, only one studio teaches ballet. Alicia takes to it immediately and learns all she can. Soon enough she has to leave for NYC if she really wants to succeed as a prima ballerina. As she becomes better and starts to get noticed, her eyesight starts to go. Through surgeries, through a year of absolute bedrest, Alicia’s fire doesn’t allow her to give up her dream. 

 The struggles that Alonso went through in pursuit of her dream are amazing. A winner when it comes to talking about grit, and we have few books of any sort about dancers. I don’t see this as being a repeat or voluntary read, though. And I can’t get over the fact that on the cover it looks like Alicia has a moustache. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

A Voice for the Everglades by Vicki Conrad, Ibon Adarne and Rachel Yew - NO

A Voice for the Everglades: Marjory Stoneman Douglas by Vicki Conrad, illustrated by Ibon Adarne and Rachel Yew. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Albert Whitman, 2021. $18. 9780807584965 

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

Once she learned about the ecological diversity and importance of the Everglades in the 1940’s, Marjory remained a staunch protector and advocate for the rest of her life – receiving a Presidential Medal of Freedom at the age of 105. I want a great picture book about the Everglades and Marjory’s role in protecting them – this is not that book. The illustrations are fine, if a bit simplistic. The voice, however, is in third person passive – all ‘This is” and “These are” - and it is very annoying. In fact, you should show this to your Language Arts teachers so they can use it in a unit on revising passive voice. 

I would suggest you use Marjory Saves the Everglades by Sandra Neil Wallace, instead. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel - HIGH

Inside Cat by Brendan Wenzel. PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle, 2021. $18. 9781452173191 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Cat knows the view and the variety of the views from the many windows inside its house. 

Because of Covid, kids will easily relate to Inside Cat and it’s love of windows and views. There are so many fun things to explore here. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Dear Mr. Dickens by Nancy Churnin and Bethany Stancliffe - OPTIONAL

Dear Mr. Dickens by Nancy Churnin, illustrated by Bethany Stancliffe. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Albert Whitman, 2021. $17. 9780807515303 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Eliza greatly admired the writings of Charles Dickens, but his blatantly prejudiced portrayals of Jewish people within his books bothered her. Dicken’s angry reply to her first letter hurts, but she works hard to find a way to get him to understand. Altogether, Eliza and Dickens exchanged just seven letters, but they represent a great collaboration that eased some of the prejudice against Jewish people in England. If you teach a lesson on letter writing or communication, this is a nice book to show the pace of such correspondence. 

 Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World by Michael W. Waters and Keisha Morris - ADVISABLE

For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World by Michael W. Waters, illustrated by Keisha Morris. PICTURE BOOK. Flyaway Books, 2020. $18. 9781947888081 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When young Jeremiah hears about Trayvon Martin, he is concerned. When shots are fired on his own block, he is afraid. He and his sisters attend a vigil with their parents for another Black death. AS Jeremiah is ready to talk, his parents tell him the many different ways they and others are fighting to create a world where Blacks and other can be confident about their futures instead of afraid. 

 Waters brings today’s headlines right into the pages of his book, supplemented by extensive back matter with extension activities for school and home. Very timely and very important – I am betting that many schools will be passively censor this book by omission – afraid of the current school book police. But, as every death mentioned in the book is factual and Jeremiah’s feelings are justified, librarians shouldn’t be afraid. I would rate it higher, but the wordsmithing and craftsmanship of the illustrations don’t reach that ESSENTIAL level for me, though the subject matter does. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The First Christmas by Will Moses (Lyrics by Phillips Brooks) - OPTIONAL

The First Christmas by Will Moses (Lyrics by Phillips Brooks). PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Schuster, 2021. $18. 9781534478787 

BUYING ADVISORY: GIFT - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Will Moses illustrates the verses of the traditional “O lIttle Town of Bethlehem” song. 

I have enjoyed many of the books that Will Moses has illustrated. This not one of them. The Van Gogh-esque painting technique makes the pictures look smudgy and rudimentary. For me it is not engaging. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Where Snow Angels Go by Maggie O'Farrell and Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini - ADVISABLE

Where Snow Angels Go by Maggie O'Farrell, illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini 68 pages. Candlewick Press, 2020. $19. 9781536219371 

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

One night, Sylvie wakes up and finds an angel in her room - an angel who is astonished that she can see him. The snow angel she made last winter has come to save her life. If things work out as usual she will forget by morning, but even after a long illness (he did save her life that night) she can't stop thinking about this amazing visitor and wants him to return. And what about her mother and her friends who have never made snow angels? Who is going to protect them? 

Beautifully illustrated from the swirly shiny bits on the cover throughout the story, this lovely tale is a perfect bedtime read, or a great seasonal choice. I loved the story idea, that children make guardians when they make snow angels. O'Farrell's first children's story is a great read that I would recommend through middle school. Not a quick picture book, there's plenty of story contained within these lovely illustrated pages.

Lisa Librarian

Seasons by Hannah Pang and Clover Robin - ADVISABLE

Seasons by Hannah Pang, illustrated by Clover Robin. NON-FICTION PICTUE BOOK. 360 Degrees, 2020. $19. 9781944530372 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Pang and Robin look at diverse landscapes around the world and the wonderful variety of animals and plants that thrive in each season. 

Beautiful illustrations complement the details in the information with a mild seek-and-find aspect engage readers. A wonderful book to share over a document camera with students. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS