The Hotel for Bugs by Suzy Senior - ADVISABLE

The Hotel for Bugs by Suzy Senior, illustrated by Leire Martín. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2022. $18. 9781680102703

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A swanky new hotel has just opened up and everyone is having an excellent time until the bugs notice that a slug has tried to check-in and been turned away. The mood in the hotel shifts and a young bug has the courage to say that what happened was not right. Amends are made and everyone enjoys themself in the end. 

This is a bright and cheery book to read and it has a good message, albeit a very obvious one. I think the lack of subtlety actually makes it less useful to use as a teaching tool about social interactions with peers because it is so black and white, but still a good message to reinforce with young readers who may casually pick it up. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Just to See by Morgane de Cadier - ADVISABLE

Just to See by Morgane de Cadier, illustrated by Florian Pigé. PICTURE BOOK. Blue Dot Kids Press, 2022. $19. 9781737603207

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Told in first-person narrative, a little girl with red hair notices something new from her perch in a treehouse. When she investigates she finds a deer with antlers that have never been shed and instead have grown and grown. She asks permission and climbs the antlers to see all sorts of delightful surprises. 

Tall and narrow, the physical formate of this book lends itself well to the vertical sense of climbing high into the air and I enjoyed that reading sensation. I found the illustrations whimsical and engaging the whole way through, but the plot never really formed and left the conclusion feeling very flat. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

The Eyebrows of Doom by Steve Smallman - ADVISABLE

The Eyebrows of Doom by Steve Smallman, illustrated by Miguel Ordonez. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2022. $18. 9781680102673

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A bear named Dave is not amused when two bushy eyebrows, which he mistakes for slugs, attach themselves to his face. Their influence on him makes him react unkindly to others.  When the eyebrows have had their fun with Dave, they proceed to invade other animals’ emotional well-being by attaching to their faces. 

I was skeptical at the beginning of this story because the eyebrows just didn’t look natural on the animal faces, but it didn’t take long for the story to grow on me (pun intended). Kids, better than anyone, will understand the power of furrowed brows on others. This book is also fun to read aloud with a catchy rhythm and rhyme. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Before We Stood Tall by Jessica Kulekjian and Madeline Kloepper - NO

Before We Stood Tall: from small seed to mighty tree by Jessica Kulekjian, illustrated by Madeline Kloepper. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, 2021. $18. 9781525303241 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - NO 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

A forest of trees remembers back all the way to their beginnings. 

I tried to appreciate this as a poetic look back into the early life of trees, but that is lost in the figurative language in a non-linear form that confuses rather than invites. I even typed out the lines in case it made more sense as a whole, but I don’t enjoy it enough to fall in love. I would suggest The Second Life of Trees by Aimee M. Bisonette, or Trees by Tony Johnson, as more appealing looks at trees. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS  

When the Wind Came by Jan Andrews and Dorothy Leung - OPTIONAL

When the Wind Came by Jan Andrews, illustrated by Dorothy Leung. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, JUNE 2022. $19. 9781525303395 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

The little girl remembers life before the wind came and the devastation when it arrived. The wreck of their home seems hopeless, but just a tiny bit of levity helps lift all hearts. The family salvages what they can and drives away. 

While the story is tender and heartfelt, I am unsettled by kids thinking that families who go through a disaster can simply pick up everything and walk away – economically that is pretty much impossible for anyone who isn’t independently wealthy. And if this book is set in the past, like during the 1920’s, that is unclear, so not helpful. The family is Black. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Baby-Changing Station by Rhett Miller and Dan Santat - OPTIONAL

The Baby-Changing Station by Rhett Miller, illustrated by Dan Santat. PICTURE BOOK. Little Brown, AUGUST 2022. $18. 9780316459327 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

10yo James is not happy with the new baby in his house. When he finally gets out with his parents for a night of pizza, the parents tell James it’s his turn to change the stinky diaper. Then a secret message board appears, offering James all kinds of cool gadgets in exchange for the annoying baby brother. But does James really want that – maybe that little guy will grow up to be a great sidekick instead. 

Miller writes the story in rhyming tercets. I’m just not sure how much kids want to read about how much they should love any new little brothers and sisters – it comes off as a “THIS IS A LESSON” book. Also, while the different diaper folds on the endpapers are amusing – what family uses that type of old-fashioned diaper any more? I don’t think kids will even understand the pictures. James and his family are all white. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Family Business by Lenore Appelhans and Ken Lamug - ADVISABLE

The Family Business by Lenore Appelhans, illustrated by Ken Lamug. PICTURE BOOK. Harper, JULY 2022. $18. 9780062898869 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Lucky Racoon stays home by himself until he is big enough to join the family business – scavenging for food. When he is finally big enough, he gets a stomach ache when the humans yell at his family and chase them off every place. When he is sent off on his own, he finds there may be a different way to help his family. 

A fine middle-level look at a young family member who sees things differently from everyone else. A positive message about the importance of listening to each other and changing the “traditional” way. The background human characters in the illustrations are a nice mix of representation. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Little Good Wolf by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel - ESSENTIAL

Little Good Wolf by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel. PICTURE BOOK. Clarion (Houghton), AUGUST 2022. $18. 9780358561880 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

The Big Bad Wolf parents are at their wits end – their little wolf is just too good! In desperation they send him off to Bad School. Little Good Wolf “fails” every lesson and gets expelled. Is there any place in the forest for a good wolf? 

An amusing twist on the Big Bad Wolf story. I loved how Little Wolf turned every “bad” lesson into a lesson on being good. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Night on the Sand: a journey toward hope by Monica Mayper and Jaime Kim - ADVISABLE

Night on the Sand: a journey toward hope by Monica Mayper, illustrated by Jaime Kim. PICTURE BOOK. Clarion (Houghton), AUGUST 2022. $18. 9781328884183 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When disaster strikes, the two children are left alone – no home, no parents – just a blanket and an orange. Along with other stragglers, they make beds on the beach and share the little they have with each other, hoping that rescue might arrive soon. 

Oh my heart – a sweet simple look at the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Simple and gentle enough for little children to understand and hopefully begin developing empathy for displaced people. The place and the people are kept neutral (not white, though) to help the book apply to any displaced people. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Pigeon & Cat by Edward Hemingway - ADVISABLE

Pigeon & Cat by Edward Hemingway. PICTURE BOOK. Little Brown, JUNE 2022. $18. 9780316311250 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Cat has lived his life all alone in a broken crate in a deserted city lot. Then one day he rescues a baby pigeon and they become fast friends. Pigeon even ventures out of the lot and brings pretty things back to share with Cat. Until one day Pigeon doesn’t return – what can Cat do but venture out into the city himself in search of his best friend. 

A sweet look at the lonely life built from isolating ourselves and how profound the changes can be if we take a chance and reach out. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Punky Aloha by Shar Tuiasoa - ADVISABLE

Punky Aloha by Shar Tuiasoa. PICTURE BOOK. Harper, MAY 2022. $18. 9780063079236 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Punky wasn’t always a brave explorer ready to spread the Aloha spirit. One day Grandma asks her to go to the market for the very important butter before the fresh banana bread comes out of the oven. Punky’s not sure, but on that trip is when she finds her courage and becomes Punky Aloha by helping others, even when she is unsure. 

The bright, vibrant illustrations evoke the spirit of the islands and emphasize Punky’s adventure. I love that the author is a native Islander of Hawaii. I have island students who would be glad to see people like them on the pages of any book. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Stick and Stone: Explore and More by Beth Ferry and Kristen Cella - ADVISABLE

Stick and Stone: Explore and More by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Kristen Cella, 96 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Etch (Harper), JUNE 2022. $13. 9780358549369 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Follow Stick and Stone through 2 adventures in their beloved woods. Stick is not fond of adventures, but Stone very much is. A fun early graphic novel. Stick and Stone make a great buddy pair. While their adventures might have a very mild danger, the fun far outweighs any anxiety. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS h