This Little Wonder: A No-Limits Primer by Joan Holub, illustrated by Daniel Roode - ADVISABLE

This Little Wonder: A No-Limits Primer by Joan Holub, illustrated by Daniel Roode. BOARD BOOK. Little Simon (Simon & Schuster), 2022.  $8. 9781665912068

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The authors focused on people who had different kinds of physical and mental disabilities, but regardless, went on to do amazing things. There are 10 different historical and contemporary figures in the main text, plus 15 additional spotlights in the back of the book.

I reviewed This Little Rainbow previously, and I'm just so impressed by how many incredible people the authors manage to spotlight in such a compact format. A great starting place for further study and an inclusive text to have in your classroom or home library.

Kiera, #bookswithbeddes

Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen - ESSENTIAL

Garlic and the Witch by Bree Paulsen, 160 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Quill Tree (HarperCollins). 2022, $23. 

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Witch Agnes is so busy - lots of villagers need her remedies and she just doesn't have time to get everything done, so, she grows some "living" vegetable helpers to work the garden and help her sell in the marketplace. Little Garlic has noticed something different about her hands, and when she tries to ask Witch Agnes about it, she is sent on an errand with the Count to a magical market for the missing ingredient in the Count's special elixir. While Garlic is happy to go, she is very worried about what might be happening to her, and to her other vegetable friends. 

Book 2 starts with a backstory for book 1, and then jumps ahead. Not confusing because I'd read Garlic and the Vampire, but might seem odd if Garlic and the Witch is picked up first. I can't get over these illustrations - wonderful! I love all the little clothes on everyone! I loved the message about trying your best even in difficult circumstances. I hope there are several more installments. 

Lisa Librarian

Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen - ESSENTIAL

Garlic and the Vampire by Bree Paulsen, 160 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Quill Tree (HarperCollins). 2021. $23.

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Garlic is a clove of garlic that has been animated by a witch to tend her garden and sell vegetables at the witch's market - along with other animated vegetables - Carrot, Celery, Potato etc. One day the vegetables notice smoke coming from the old castle on the other side of the woods. The Vampire has returned! Celery nominates Garlic to go to the castle and defeat the Vampire. She's the sensible choice - after all, she's, well, Garlic! 

Bree Paulsen's illustrations are magnificent! Detailed, gorgeous, and exactly perfect for the story - I felt like I was inside a fairy tale - with walking, talking vegetables, and the nicest witch. The story was exciting and funny and had a great message about being brave and having faith in yourself. So glad to see there's a sequel! 

Lisa Librarian 

The Lucky Ones by Linda Williams Jackson - ADVISABLE

The Lucky Ones by Linda Williams Jackson, 320 pages. Candlewick. 2022. $19

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

11yo Ellis Earl Brown wants to be a lawyer or a teacher when he grows up. Then he'll be able to take care of his mama, and there will be enough food for everyone. Ellis Earl is black and poor, and in 1967 Mississippi, his chances of changing that are slim. He loves his teacher, Mr. Foster, who makes sure his students know current events. So, when Mr. Foster invites Ellis Earl and some other students to welcome Senator Robert Kennedy at the airport in Jackson, Ellis hopes to be able to go - but, like his favorite book character Charlie Bucket, Ellis Earl might have to hang his hopes on a golden ticket, as his mother is worried about letting him go that far from home. 

An eye opening account of the extreme poverty experienced by children at this time. Linda Williams Jackson based parts on her own experiences. I loved the connection with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and that Ellis Earl was surprised to find someone poorer than he. Just enough context (because of Mr. Foster's current events) to help the reader understand the time period. Ellis Earl and his family are Black. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Wishing Tree by Meika Hashimoto and Xindi Yan - OPTIONAL

The Wishing Tree by Meika Hashimoto, illustrated by Xindi Yan. PICTURE BOOK. Harper, 2021. $19. 9780062747167 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Theo is sad, because it is three days before Christmas and there seems to be no holiday cheer in his town. Scrapping his traditional list of gifts for Santa, he instead sends just one wish. To his wonder, he receives a letter back and follows the instructions. It still takes a bit of help from others to help Theo find Christmas cheer. 

Cute Black main character, charming illustrations, but the book lacks in depth – Theo does everything alone, there are only a very few people representing the “town”, so the book feels hollow. Almost there, but just not quite. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Max and the Midknights: The Tower of Time by Lincoln Peirce - ESSENTIAL

The Tower of Time (Max and the Midknights, #3) by Lincoln Peirce, 262 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Crown Books (Random House), 2022. $14

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (animal violence, fist fight, sword fight, death). 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Max is thrown off when she meets a version of herself in town. Mary is equally as shocked to meet someone who looks exactly like her too. This is Max’s town and her people, but Mary is stealing from people and causing mayhem, which the townsfolk mistakenly think is Max. When Max tries to solve the problem and the mystery she figures out that she has a twin sister. In Max’s quest to solve the mix-up she goes on an adventure with her friends and meets witches, trolls and wizards. The Max and the Midknights series is a mix of graphic novel with 4-5 sentences of texts.

Max looks young, maybe elementary age, although it doesn’t specify and she does go on long adventures with her equally young friends unsupervised. Max is endearing and the plot moves quickly, yet develops clearly. Reluctant readers will eat this up because it’s funny, a good mix of reading with illustrations and has a lot of action. I totally enjoyed the storyline and the characters. As this is the third book in the series, I do think that it helps to read them in order so you can understand who the minor characters are, as well as how Max and her friends came to be together.

Reviewer, C. Peterson

Palace of Books by Patricia Polacco - ADVISABLE

Palace of Books by Patricia Polacco. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2023.$19. 9781534451315 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Patricia is sad to leave her grandfather’s farm and go to a new school, but one day when she is walking home from school she is enchanted by a beautiful regal building. When she talks to her mom she learns that it’s a library and that she can check out books. Patricia’s first time in a library is life-changing, and the thoughtful librarian connects to Patricia’s love of birds and art. Although Patricia isn’t good at reading, she falls in love with all the John Audubon paintings and brings her love of birds to her classmates.

A short memoir of a famous author’s first experience with the library is enchanting. Polacco is always able to depict human experiences so sweetly and this book is as well done as her others. My teen boys’ school librarian loved Polacco and it’s cute to see how when they read her books, they still get excited about them. Classic art and great read, especially for library lovers.

Reviewer, C. Peterson

Molly on the Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal, illustrations by Diana Mayo - OPTIONAL

Molly on the Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal, illustrations by Diana Mayo. PICTURE BOOK. Roaring Brook Press, 2022. $19. 9781250259615 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When Molly and her family move to the moon there is only enough room to take one toy. Molly has a big imagination and she learns to have fun with the things she finds. Molly's brother Luke only has one toy too. Molly learns that she and Luke can have more fun if they share what they have and play together. The lessons of sharing, having a big imagination, and getting along with siblings are well illustrated in this book. 

Having the story set on the moon did not make a lot of sense to me. The information at the end of the book about the moon and the moon's gravity adds some interest to the book. The main character is a girl. The characters in the book have brown skin but no specific ethnicity is specified. 

Amy Snow, MLS

On the Corner of Chocolate Avenue by Tziporah Cohen, illustrated by Steven Salerno - ADVISABLE

On the Corner of Chocolate Avenue by Tziporah Cohen, illustrated by Steven Salerno. PICTURE BOOK, NON FICTION, BIOGRAPHY Clarion Books (Harper Collins). $19. 9780358578758 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The story of Milton Hershey, his journey from poor beginnings to the successful establishment of the Hershey Chocolate Company. Milton tried and failed at several candy companies before finding success with caramels and then chocolate. The book highlights his failures, hard work, perseverance, and eventual success. The book also tells about his kindness and the ways he and his wife gave back to the community. 

Interesting, well-written, and sprinkled with chocolate facts. The illustrations are vivid, and fun and help tell the story. I enjoyed that not only were his successes highlighted but also his failures, and what he learned from them. It is a little text heavy and so will probably appeal to the children who are a little older. There are source notes, a bibliography, and a timeline at the end of the book. The book is about a white man. 

Amy Snow, MLS

You're Loved by Liz Climo - ADVISABLE

You're Loved by Liz Climo PICTURE BOOK MacMillan. 2022. $19. 9781250802606  

BUYERS ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

Parents love their little ones, despite wailing, demanding, stubborn babies who are not yet ready to sleep through the night. 

The illustrations in You’re Loved are realistic and the text is true to life, a new parent can easily relate to the concepts presented. The animal characters are adorable, and the text is reassuring and loving.  Climo even includes an animal with special needs which makes You’re Loved useful to many parents.

Deanna M. Elementary Media Tech

You Be Daddy by Karla Clark and Steph Lew - ADVISABLE

You Be Daddy by Karla Clark, illustrated by Steph Lew. PICTURE BOOK (K-3rd grade) MacMillan 2021. $20. 9781250225399

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Daddy is too tired after a long day of work, household chores, riding bikes and playing video games with his kids. He asks his son to take over and do all of the things daddies do to get their small children ready for bed. 

Lew’s illustrations are realistic and very colorful, enticing younger children to linger on the pages to see everything on each page. The rhyming text is charming and will draw in younger children as do the colorful and relatable illustrations. The Daddy and son are Asian. 

Deanna M. Elementary Media Tech

Major Makes History by Jill Twiss and Maribel Lechugo - ADVISABLE

Major Makes History: From the shelter to the White House by Jill Twiss, illustrated by Maribel Lechugo. PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION HarperCollins. 2021. $19. 9780063118768 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A dog was dropped off at a shelter with his siblings. He describes the shelter and lets us into his life after the shelter. 

The dialogue is written from the dog’s perspective. It is a real-life dog journey with illustrations genuinely reflecting the dialogue and what dogs actually do. There is interesting and useful information about past Presidential pets and resources on how to find a shelter to adopt. 

Deanna M. Elementary Media Tech