Race for the Escape by Christopher Edge - OPTIONAL

Race for the Escape by Christopher Edge, 166 pages. Delacorte (Random), 2022. $17. 

Content: G (mild danger) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Five strangers have been thrown together to play an escape room. Each puzzle they encounter seems to be trying to kill them! Then members of the group start to disappear. 

Edge’s book is very shallow, with a twist at the end that is so unseen that it is shocking and off-putting. While the characters have multicultural names, they have no descriptions, manners, and or cultural characteristics beyond that. Obviously meant for the very immature reader who wants nothing but action. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

A Walk in the Deciduous Forest by Rebecca L. Johnson and Phyllis V. Saroff - ADVISABLE

A Walk in the Deciduous Forest by Rebecca L. Johnson, with illustrations by Phyllis V. Saroff. 48 pages PICTURE BOOK, NON-FICTION Lerner, 2021 $30 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Climate change is endangering our natural deciduous forests. Have you ever visited one? Rebecca L. Johnson's walk takes the reader through the seasons in the forest, introducing the foliage, the insects, and the animals. 

Lush photography is paired with detailed drawings to give the reader a realistically imagined walk. A mindful practice I used to do with my students came to mind while reading. I felt like I was in the forest. Although it talks about predators and prey, none of the photos are violent or disturbing in any way. A simple read for 3rd grade and up.

Lisa Librarian

Thirst by Varshi Bajaj - ADVISABLE

Thirst by Varshi Bajaj, 179 pages. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2022. $18. 

Content: G (mild danger) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

12yo Minni “Meena” and her family eke out a life in the slums of Mumbai, India – within site of some of the richest people in the world. They have little access to clean water and no access to a chance to make a better life for themselves. When Meena’s mother becomes sick, Meena has to perform her job for a rich family or mom will be fired. When Meena’s brother are seen by a gang of water stealers, he and his best friend are sent into the countryside with relatives to hide. 

 While the publicity I’ve seen talks all about the water thieves angle of this book, I found that part to be the least realistic sounding – the gangsters’ speech felt contrived and I never felt that water was what the book was about. On the hand, the rest of the book was wonderful – the look into Meena’s life was golden – her struggles, the neighborhood banding together to help each other, family problems – all of it was rich and rewarding as a look into a life so different from what my students see. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Birders by Rob Albanese - ADVISABLE

The Birders by Rob Albanese. PICTURE BOOK. Little Bigfoot (Sasquatch), 2022. $17. 9781632173638 

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

 AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Mr. Flynn is old and bored. Across the street, Ollie McPhee is young and bored. Mr. Flynn sees a snowy owl outside his window and runs outside with birding equipment to search for it. Ollie’s mother sends him out at the same time and they crash into each other. Ollie is interested in Mr. Flynn’s binoculars and follows him into the woods to look for the snowy owl. Mr. Flynn climbs a tree, falls, and ends up stuck on a branch. Ollie saves Mr. Flynn in more ways than one.

The Birders is very humorous and engages the reader in the first few pages. I was constantly interested in what was going to happen next. The illustrations are fun, interesting, well done, and comical. This book is a great way to create in children a desire to observe nature.

 PG Powers 

Sour Cakes by Karen Krossing and Anna Kwan - ADVISABLE

Sour Cakes by Karen Krossing, illustrated by Anna Kwan. PICTURE BOOK Owl Kid's Books, 2021. $19. 9781771473972 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Two siblings wake up, one in a sweet mood, the other sour. Everything the sweet sister suggests is met by an opposite reaction from the other. Nothing will cheer up the sour sister, even the prospect of making a sweet cake together. But when the cheerful sister embraces her sisters mood and allows her to feel her feelings, it gives her a safe space to express herself. 

A darling story! I loved the illustrations, especially when the younger sister would say, "you do it" the emotions in the illustrations were right there too. Oh my, what a sweet book!

Lisa Librarian

You are Here by Zach Manbeck - OPTIONAL

You are Here by Zach Manbeck PICTURE BOOK Chronicle Books, 2022. $18. 9781797210100 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

Everyone is on a different journey, some are going faster or slower than you. But begin, explore, take your time, fall down but keep going. Be patient and find your way. 

Busy illustrations will keep the intended audience on the page longer than needed for the short text. I really think this is meant for adults to give as a gift to children and teens who are reaching milestones (Oh the places you'll go?). I just don't think picture book readers will care for this. 

Lisa Librarian

Saving the Butterfly by Helen Cooper and Gill Smith - ADVISABLE

Saving the Butterfly by Helen Cooper, illustrated by Gill Smith. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Studio, 2022. $18. 9781536220551

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

A young brother and sister survived a harrowing boat ride to a new place. Luckily they were rescued and were given shelter in a dilapidated house. Soon, the younger brother began to venture out and make friends, while the older sister only felt safe staying inside. One day, her brother brought her a butterfly. She wanted him to set it free, but the butterfly didn't seem to understand how to escape their house. The older sister had to face her fears to help the butterfly.

I liked that Cooper wrote about refugee children. It would help young kids understand what other young kids are going through. It wasn't extremely engaging though. 

 A. Criswell, English Language Teacher 

Frog vs Toad by Ben Mantle - ADVISABLE

Frog vs Toad by Ben Mantle. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2022$18. 9781536223699

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Frog and Toad accidentally meet one day when they both are trying to eat the same fly. They begin arguing who is the better species. Frogs are slimy while toads are dry and lumpy. Toads have small eyes and frogs have eyes that swivel. They continue to argue until they encounter an alligator. He helps them realize that frogs and toads belong to the same family. 

 I enjoyed this book, but thought the banter between the two was a little prolonged. It had humor that my 3yo enjoyed. I liked at the end how the frog and toad mistook the alligator for a crocodile and how annoyed the alligator was at that. 

 A. Criswell, English Language Teacher 

Hold that Thought! by Bree Galbraith, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield - OPTIONAL

Hold that Thought! by Bree Galbraith, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield PICTURE BOOK Owl Kid's Books, 2021. $20. 9781771472944 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In the middle of the night, Finn had a great idea! They tried to tell their brother about it, but Oscar said to go back to sleep, so Finn did. After dreaming about it, and thinking about it on the way to school, Finn was able to share with their best friend. As the day progresses, the idea grows as does Finn's excitement. A bully tried to put doubt in Finn's head, it worked. Finn put the idea away for while, but maybe getting it back out and sharing will do the trick. 

I liked the message that ideas grow and change, and that sharing helps them evolve. Finn is non-binary, and I loved that the story wasn't about that, that Finn is just a regular kid. I was expecting a big idea reveal at the end, and was disappointed there. It may be too vague as an independent read picture book.

Lisa Librarian
 

Billy the Borrowing Blue-Footed Booby by Sheila Bair, illustrated by Amy Zhing - ADVISABLE

Billy the Borrowing Blue-Footed Booby by Sheila Bair, illustrated by Amy Zhing PICTURE BOOK Albert Whitman & Co., 2021. $17. 9780807508121 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Billy likes to sleep in the afternoons, but it rains a lot on the Galápagos Islands. He visits the Selling Seal to buy an umbrella and finds out an umbrella costs 10 sardines. Billy doesn't have it, but the Seal lets him have the umbrella on credit - take it now, but pay 20 sardines in a month. Billy agrees, and works hard to pay off the loan - the next month, with the hard-caught sardines in hand, he chooses to buy something else rather than pay the loan, which will double again the next month. Each month, Billy chooses to buy something he wants right then, rather than paying the mounting loan. Even with his family helping him fish, Billy continues to buy more and more expensive items and fails to pay off the loan. Eventually, Billy is in over his head, and has to pay the consequences - Selling Seal calls the cops. 

I loved that Billy had really good intentions, He worked so hard to pay back the loan every month, but just couldn't resist wanting the latest thing. Part of the "Money Tales" series, Billy the Borrowing Blue-Footed Booby is a great introduction to loans, debt, interest, and accountability. While 1200% is a crazy interest rate, Bair's message is easily understood. Her text is written in verse, helpful to a new reader, but also fun as a read aloud. I also loved Zhing's silly illustrations.

Lisa Librarian

How Old am I? 1-100 Faces From Around the World by The Inside Out Project, Julie Pugeat and JR - ESSENTIAL

How Old am I? 1-100 Faces From Around the World by The Inside Out Project, Julie Pugeat and JR, 216 pages. NON-FICTION Phaidon, 2021. $20 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

The artist JR has created this amazing visual reference book with 100 portraits and 100 stories of people from around the world from age 1 through age 100 (and a bonus "author's note" of JR) For each individual's entry, JR has provided a portrait of the person, then the reader is greeted by hello in the native language, how old they are, where they live, where they were born, what makes them happy and their "story." 

I'd call this a coffee table book - one you can pick up and open to any page, but AJ and I have been reading it together as part of our bedtime routine when she sleeps over. We read about 5 people each time, and it's been fascinating. We've traveled all over the world to meet people of every age and hear them tell us about themselves. It's been a great read. AJ has loved comparing the person in the book to someone she knows who is that age. And she's also commented that some of the older people had her same dreams and wishes when they were her age. How Old Am I has been just as interesting to me. Although marketed to 4-8yo audience, it's great for readers of all ages. 

Lisa Librarian (and AJ age 6)

A Seat at the Table: The Nancy Pelosi Story by Elisa Boxer and Laura Freeman - ADVISABLE

A Seat at the Table: The Nancy Pelosi Story by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Laura Freeman PICTURE BOOK, NON-FICTION, BIOGRAPHY Crown Books (Penguin Random House), 2021. $18. 9780593372517 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Nancy Pelosi's father was the mayor of Baltimore. He would often invite the people of the community to talk with him at his dining room table. Nancy saw her mother support him, not only by continuing the conversations but by actively working in the background to help. When Nancy was an adult, she continued her mother's legacy by supporting causes and political candidates in her own town. Eventually running for office herself. Nancy Pelosi is currently the most powerful woman in politics. 

An inspirational and thoughtful biography. Freeman's illustrations are realistic and powerful. Includes an author's note, a short interview with Pelosi (with a link to the full conversation) and a great bibliography. I love these short biographies, just perfect for an elementary or middle school student getting to know or understand an important person.

Lisa Librarian