See Me Go by Paul Meisel - ADVISABLE

See Me Go by Paul Meisel. EARLY READER Level C. Holiday House, 2022. $16. 9780823444526

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A large group of hyper dogs meet for an adventure on a boat. They go snorkeling and scuba diving. They see a shark and swim back up to the beach where they climb aboard a rocket ship. They journey up and explore the moon and then parachute down to Egypt. They climb down into a pyramid where they meet a very large sphinx. How will their adventure end?

See Me Go is a story told mostly through expressive and enjoyable illustrations. The twenty different simple words used in this book adequately describe what the adventurous dogs are doing and make the book an easy reader for small children. Readers will have fun with the silly antics of these dogs.

PGPowers 

Mighty Reader and The Reading Riddle by Will Hillenbrand - ADVISABLE

Mighty Reader and The Reading Riddle by Will Hillenbrand. PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 2022. $19. 9780823445004

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Inky hurries from his reading intervention to join his class for library time, but once there can't find a book he likes. His friend Hugo switches into his alter identity of Mighty Reader and takes Inky into an adventure book. Inky now has to solve riddles to gain a sword, defeat the dragon, and rescue Merlin.

Hillenbrand does a fair representation of how struggling readers "struggle" to find books they want to read. The character Mighty Reader is a true friend who helps Inky find an adventure that heavily promotes books and library usage. The format is bright and has a comic book like layout that is visually appealing. The text doesn't flow smoothly, which actually encourages the perusal of illustrations as the key to understanding.

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian 

Witch Hazel by Molly Idle - ADVISABLE

Witch Hazel by Molly Idle. PICTURE BOOK Little, Brown and Company/Poppy. 2022 $19. 9780316541138 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Hilda helped Hazel sweep the porch, which let Hazel remember when she was a little girl sent to sweep the porch, and she told Hilda the stories about when she was young, swinging and playing with her cat. Hilda asks for another story, and Hazel tells about herself as an older girl who played the piano and loved a bird. In the fall, Hilda helps with the inside dusting and hears the story of Hazel, a grown woman dancing. But in the winter, can no longer do the housework, so Hilda cares for her. 

Oh, Molly Idle makes beautiful stories! Told through text, but mostly through the glorious illustrations - Hazel's memories appear like white ghosts out of the dust, reliving the experiences. AJ originally read Witch Hazel on her own, but while she recognized that the story continued with the pictures, she didn't make the connection that they were scenes of Hazel's life. Read this with your child or class, and let them tell Hazel's story to you. A beautiful book about memories.

Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 7)

What Do You See? A Conversation in Pictures by Barney Saltzberg and Jamie Lee Curtis - ADVISABLE

What Do You See? A Conversation in Pictures by Barney Saltzberg, Photography by Jamie Lee Curtis. PICTURE BOOK Creston Books, 2022. $19. 9781954353050 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Jamie Lee Curtis takes pictures of things she finds interesting, or that might make fun drawing ideas for Barney Saltzberg. He turns her photos into drawings and sends them back. 

 What Do You See is a whimsical conversation about perspective. I loved trying to decide for myself what it might be. Barney's drawings are so fun! AJ loved it too and wants to try it herself. She thought the pictures were a great surprise? 

 Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 7)

Nana, Nenek & Nina by Liza Ferneyhough - ADVISABLE

Nana, Nenek & Nina by Liza Ferneyhough. PICTURE BOOK. Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin), 2022. $18. 9780593353943

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Nina is a young girl from California who enjoys visiting both of her grandmothers. One grandma lives in England. The other lives in Malaysia. On one page, Nina will be visiting one of her grandmothers. On the adjacent page, Nina is shown visiting her other grandma but they are doing similar activities on both pages.

Ferneyhough shows both the similarities and the differences between the two grandmas and their cultures. I really enjoyed the book because of the new way she compared and contrasted two different cultures. If you were reading this to a class or just to your own child, it would be fun to compare the pages looking for similarities and differences. I also love the theme that all grandmas are essentially the same even if they come from different cultures!

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian 

Night Runners by Geraldo Valerio - ADVISABLE

Night Runners by Geraldo Valerio. PICTURE BOOK. Groundwood Books, 2022. $20. 9781773065694

Mature Content: PG (bloody deer being chased by wolves)

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Deer is following a circle of stars in the night sky. Wolves see deer running and give chase. Deer is frightened and crashes through branches injuring itself. Here is where the story takes an unexpected turn. A story that teaches us to give others a chance at friendship. 

Valerio has illustrated their picture book without text. All the storytelling is in the illustrations which are bright and bold. This is great because it allows for imagination and a different story every time the book is read. A fun way to help young students begin creative writing on their own.

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian 

The Lodge that Beaver Built by Randi Sonenshine, illustrated by Anne Hunter - ADVISABLE

The Lodge that Beaver Built by Randi Sonenshine, illustrated by Anne Hunter PICTURE BOOK Candlewick. 2022 $19. 9781536218688 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Beaver built a lodge, and his children helped. But soon, muskrats moved in too, a turtle burrowed under, a coyote couldn't get in, and a goose built a nest.  Ducklings are hatched nearby, and a heron and moose feed in the water near the lodge. But a flood destroys the lodge. What will the beavers do now? 

A lyrical text tribute to "The House that Jack Built", but without the repetition except for "the lodge that Beaver built". Beautiful illustrations, and some back matter as well about beavers, including websites and videos. AJ was surprised by all the different animals who live near, on, and around a beaver lodge. We loved Anne Hunter's beautiful illustrations. 

 Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 7)

I Color Myself Different by Colin Kaepernick and Eric Wilkerson - ESSENTIAL

I Color Myself Different by Colin Kaepernick, illustrated by Eric Wilkerson. PICTURE BOOK Scholastic. 2022. $19. 9781338789621

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

When Colin is presenting his picture of "family" other kids start asking him questions about why he isn't the same skin color as the rest of his family. The questions made him feel bad. He remembered talking to his mom about being adopted, and how she told him "adopted means special". He knew just how to answer the classes questions! 

A sweet, sweet story, I loved his mother's answers, and also the teacher's response. The illustrations are realistic, and just make me happy. AJ's favorite thing about "I Color Myself Different" is the illustrations. She loved Colin's happy face, and even found a classmate that looked like her! A good book to help a child understand adoption. Colin is black. 

 Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 7)

Friends by Daniela Sosa - ESSENTIAL

Friends by Daniela Sosa. PICTURE BOOK. Paula Wiseman Book (Simon & Schuster), 2022. $19. 9781665911474

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This is not a book with a plot. This is a book of reflections about friendship. Examples of the good and bad things that happen in friendship are used which makes the book meaningful instead of trite. Every child should be able to see themselves in this book. Sosa's illustrations are charming! The color palette of teal and orange is bright and soothing at the same time. The figures of the children evoke emotions and take the reader back to similar experiences in their own lives. The overall hopeful message is one many children need to feel and believe.

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian 

I Hear You, Ocean by Kallie George and Carmen Mok - ADVISABLE

I Hear You, Ocean by Kallie George, illustrated by Carmen Mok. PICTURE BOOK. Greystone, 2022 $18. 9781771647397

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Two children visit the seaside with their family. There they explore the beauty of the ocean, shore, and natural wonders. They have a beautiful sense of curiosity as they indulge in the beauty of the beach. The children interact with animals, play with found objects and more.

If you enjoy seaside stories, come explore with these characters! The illustrations are soothing along with the simplistic words that would be perfect for a bedtime story. I could see this being popular in Florida (where I am from) or other coastal towns. It might be appropriate for an ocean themed curriculum for Prek/K/1st as a starter. Extremely short and easy read- could be great for older ELLs for read alouds. The relationship betwixt text and picture flows nicely. Overall, a fun book, but not necessarily ground breaking or a must have- a nice addition for any library. 

Ash Thompson, Librarian 

Strangeville School is Totally Normal by Darcy Miller, illustrated by Brett Helquist - ESSENTIAL

Strangeville School is Totally Normal (Strangewille School #1) by Darcy Miller, illustrated by Brett Helquist 256 pages. Random House. 2021. $18.

 Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Peril, loose biting animals, a giant rat); 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Harvey Hill is a 5th grader and is the newest kid at Strangeville School. Stella, a reporter for the school paper has been assigned to show Harvey around, and they quickly become friends, along with a girl named Nevaeh. She warns him about the Supply Closet - which seems to be out to get everyone, and Harvey spends his first day dodging escaped crocodiles and a mutant rat which gets bigger every time he sees it - the victim of someone's science experiment. Students and staff are disappearing, and Harvey and Stella get caught up in an adventure trying to save the day. 

Strangeville School is delightful; a mix of Wayside School and Welcome to Nightvale which would make a fantastic read-aloud. The Vice Principal's announcements throughout the day are to die for, and the story's twists and turns will keep everyone's attention. Helquist's illustrations and fun as well. Harvey is white, Stella is Asian and Nevaeh is black.

Lisa Librarian

Strangeville School is Definitely Not Cursed by Darcy Miller, and Brett Helquist - ESSENTIAL

Strangeville School is Definitely Not Cursed (Strangeville School #2) by Darcy Miller, illustrated by Brett Helquist, 227 pages. Random House. 2022. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG - Peril

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

It's picture day at Strangeville School and 5th grader Harvey, along with his friend Stella and classmate Nevaeh are involved in another adventure. Although Nevaeh assures them that curses aren't real, the mysterious lost and found box has certainly seemed to be the source of the latest troubles at the school. 

Brett Helquist's illustrations are the icing on the cake in this series, really bringing everything to life. I really think that the adults will appreciate this as much as the kids do, I certainly got many great laughs at the crazy things that happen. Don't visit the nurse, or eat the food in the cafeteria, and by all means, don't take anything from the lost and found box that isn't yours!  

Lisa Librarian