Like a Diamond in the Sky by Elizabeth Brown and Becca Stadtlander - ADVISABLE

Like a Diamond in the Sky Jane Taylor's Beloved Poem of Wonders and the Stars by Elizabeth Brown and Becca Stadtlander. PICTURE BOOK/NON FICTION. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2021. $19. 9781547604272 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Living in the late 1700’s, girls were expected to marry and do domestic tasks, not work outside of the home. Jane and her sister Ann, however, were schooled by their parents, studying nature, the night sky and her father’s engraving work. Books were cherished in Jane’s home, she and Ann read daily. Jane heard words, rhymes and poems in her head and she practiced writing using the art her father engraved. Because women were not allowed to publish books, Jane and Ann wrote under pen names. Eventually women were able to publish and Jane and Ann made their living publishing books. Taylor was one of England’s most famous children’s poets and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is well known by all. 

Like a Diamond in the Sky is a history of Jane Taylor’s life and work. Brown’s book is an informative and interesting history of her life. The illustrations are beautiful, showing what Victorian English life was like and complimenting the text well. The illustrations draw the reader in and allow you to feel as if you are in the country with Jane and her family. There are pages and pages of information about Jane Taylor’s work and life as well as the famous poem. Perfect for elementary school libraries. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech 

If Animals Tried to Be Kind by Ann Whitford Paul and David Walker - ADVISABLE

If Animals Tried to Be Kind by Ann Whitford Paul and David Walker. PICTURE BOOK. Macmillan, 2021. $18. 9780374389635 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

What if animals gave each other gifts, helped stop teasing, and brought food for elderly friends? Porcupine is making a scarf for giraffe, lion is helping wildebeest who is being teased by hyena, squirrel is helping dog dig for his bone and cat is sharing her bed with mouse, purring him to sleep. Animal pairs are shown being kind and helpful in different ways in Paul’s rhyming picture book. The illustrations are adorable, each animal appears very cuddly and friendly as they practice kind acts. 

If Animals Tried to be Kind is a wonderful way to help younger students identify kind acts, what empathy looks like, being a friend, making and giving a gift for fun and helping those in need. Adorable illustrations will keep the children attentive and focused. A great book for a gift and helpful for pre-school to K. If Animals Tried to Be Kind is part of a series of seven books. 

 Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech 

How to Send a Hug by Haley Rocco and John Rocco - ADVISABLE

How to Send a Hug by Haley Rocco and John Rocco. PICTURE BOOK. Little, Brown and Company, 2022. $18. 9780316306928

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Artie loves to give hugs and she is really good at it. She would like to send one to her Grandmother who lives far away. Talking on the phone or via the computer is not the same, so Artie describes how to send a hug in a letter. Hugs are delivered many different ways, via boat, plane, donkey and truck depending on where the hug/letter is to go. The recipients are a multicultural and multigenerational group of people, all over the world.

Rocco’s illustrations are colorful, realistic and pleasing. The illustrations compliment the text well. Rocco’s drawings display the emotions that result from the delivered “hugs”, the reader can feel those emotions from the looks on the characters faces. Learning how to write a letter is a valuable skill and the anticipation in waiting for a reply is something children should experience. How to Send a Hug is a great addition to any elementary school library, perfect for K-3.

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech 

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes by Beginning Baby - ADVISABLE

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes by Beginning Baby. BOARD BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2022. $8. 9781797212128 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes Beginning Baby Board book is a fun, energetic and colorful book to teach babies body parts while singing a catchy tune. The animal characters are modern, whimsical and cute and will draw a youngster’s attention immediately. The repetition of the song and illustrations will help baby move, improve vocabulary by singing and identify body parts in a fun, interactive way. 

Head, Shoulder, Knees, and Toes would make an excellent gift for any family expecting a little one as well as a doctor’s office, or day care/preschool facility. Illustrations are engaging and can be used to help learn colors, increase vocabulary and knowledge by identifying the animal type and instrument each animal plays. Preschool level only. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech 

Happiness Around the World by Kate Baker and Wazza Pink - OPTIONAL

Happiness Around the World: A Global Guide to Joyfulness by Kate Baker, illustrated by Wazza Pink.  NON FICTION Lonely Planet. 2022. $16. 9781838695118 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Different cultures find joy and happiness in different ways. This book explores how people around the world find happiness. In Italy for example, families take an evening walk and in Australia elders pass on stories to the younger generation. 

The illustrations are bright and happy. I enjoyed learning how different cultures find joy in the simply things in life. There are few issues with the layout of the book. There is a typo on the Finland page. The book description mentions Turkey, Denmark and India. Those countries, however, are not covered in the book. 

Amy Snow, MLS

The Big Scream by Kirsti Call illlustrated by Denis Angelov - OPTIONAL

The Big Scream by Kirsti Call illlustrated by Denis Angelov BOARD BOOK  Simon and Schuster 2022. $8. 9781665907392 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

A small boy between the ages of 3 and 5 eats a cookie and then wants another one. After his mother tells him no, he throws a tantrum. The boy's mother puts him in timeout to calm down and think about his actions. 

The pictures in this book are bright and engaging. It teaches children that it is possible to calm down after a tantrum. I think this book would work as a read aloud to preschoolers but may not be very interesting to kids older than that. The main character is presumably white. 

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Earth Friend Forever by Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, Sanden Totten, and Mike Orodan - ADVISABLE

Earth Friend Forever by Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez and Sanden Totten, illustrated by Mike Orodan. PICTURE BOOK/NON FICTION. Little, Brown and Company, 2022. $18. 9780316459419

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The Earth is in distress, asking children from all over the world to take better care of the Earth, as they are best friends. Plastic is making the animals sick and covering the Earth so it feels like it will only be plastic one day. The Earth provides many simple but effective ways to eliminate the use of plastic, encouraging children to clean up their BFF, the Earth.

The perspective of the Earth talking as your BFF is a genius way to get the attention of students. Illustrations are colorful, eye catching and almost graphic novel like. The last page included many useful facts about plastic, recycling and science solutions all students will be interested in learning. The illustrations depict diverse, multicultural children and adults doing their part to take care of their BFF, the Earth. A must have elementary book, useful for Earth Day and everyday curriculum to teach how to care for our Earth.

Deanna M - Elementary Media Tech 

Can Sophie Change the World? By Nancy Elizabeth Wallace and Aura Lewis - ADVISABLE

Can Sophie Change the World? by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace and Aura Lewis. PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2022. $17. 9781452181561 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Sophie wants to get her Grandpop a gift for his birthday; he asked for Sophie to change the world by doing kind deeds, a mitzvah. Sophie doesn’t know how to change the world, but she is determined to try. Sophie does many kinds deeds the week before Grandpop’s birthday, but she is worried she did not change the world. When she describes her mitzvahs to her grandpa, she learns differently. 

A perfect read to show young children how they can do mitzvahs on their own. Wallace details the simple acts that Sophie did and how much those kind acts help others. Lewis’ illustrations are colorful, engaging and are plant based, showing how gardening and growing flowers can help change the world. A must have for elementary school libraries to emphasize kindness in the simplest ways. Multicultural characters throughout the story Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech 

Lily and The Night Creatures by Nick Lake and Emily Gravett

Lily and The Night Creatures by Nick Lake and Emily Gravett, 231 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2022. $19 

Content: G 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Lily is a young elementary school girl whose world is about to become turned upside down - her mom is pregnant! All of Lily's life she has been used to being the only child, and the only child for her parents to give all their attention to, but with the new arrival of a baby, Lily decides to run away. On her journey to find herself, she meets animal friends that help her along the way. 

 Lily and the Night Creatures is a cute little book with adorable illustrations and a beautiful cover. Kids who love nature, animals and exploring will love this book. I thought it was a bit slow in the beginning, but once Lily started her adventure it was enjoyable. Lily is described as Asian American along with her parents, grandma and sibling. The other characters are animals. 

 Kenzie Hoehne 

The Bird Feeder by Andrew Larsen and Dorothy Leung - ESSENTIAL

The Bird Feeder by Andrew Larsen and Dorothy Leung. PICTURE BOOK. Kids Can Press, 2022. $19. 9781525304835

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Grandma has come to live with her family because she is ill. Grandma loves birds and brought her bird feeder with her. She and her grandchild spend many hours together watching, drawing birds and learning from each other, they both love cardinals. A special loving bond is developed between the two main characters. The grandchild dearly loves the Grandmother and their time together is cherished by both. One day the child comes home from school and Grandma is not there.

Larsen’s The Bird Feeder is a tender, loving story that describes the way a young child might feel and deal with a very loved, but ill family member. Leung’s illustrations are engaging and realistic, showing the emotions the characters are feeling. The Bird Feeder details true life emotions, feelings and situations many families experience taking care of their elderly loved ones. The Bird Feeder is a must have for elementary schools. It is not clear for gender or ethnicity.

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech. 

Hot Dog by Doug Salati - ESSENTIAL

Hot Dog by Doug Salati. PICTURE BOOK. Alfred A Knopf (Random), 2022. $19. 9780593308431 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

During one hot summer in a busy and crowded city, a dog decides he has had enough. He refuses to take another step. The dog and his owner escape to the beach's salty breezes and cool waters where the dog has room to run.

I liked that the illustrations were so descriptive that few words were needed to carry the story. I could easily relate to the message that sometimes it's nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The owner of the dog is white.

Amy Snow, MLS 

Miss Irwin by Allen Say - OPTIONAL

Miss Irwin by Allen Say. PICTURE BOOK Scholastic Press (Scholastic). 2023. $20. 9781338300406 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

When a boy stops to visit his grandmother, she thinks he is Willie, one of her kindergarten students from many years ago when she was a teacher. Andy has been told by his parents about what's going on with his grandmother, so he goes along with it. She reminds him about the time their class fed the hummingbirds, and when Willie made her a special gift. 

Allen Say's illustrations are, as usual, beautiful. Miss Irwin is a sweet story about a child experiencing a grandmother whose memory is failing. There's hardly any background information, in fact, we don't know what Andy's parents told him about his grandma. Andy is able to successfully negotiate the visit, pretending to be another child - one she remembers. It's scary and confusing when a beloved grandparent no longer knows who you are. Miss Irwin would be a good source to start that conversation with a young child. I found the story heartbreaking and am not sure I would recommend it other than to a child who needs more understanding of the topic. I wish it included resources. There are no textual clues to culture, however, the illustrations represent Grandmother as white and Andy may be Asian.

Lisa Librarian