Elephants Big Solo by Sarah Kurpiel - ESSENTIAL

Elephants Big Solo by Sarah Kurpiel. PICTURE BOOK  Harper Collins. 2022. $18. 9780063093201 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Elephant does not like to stand out, although she does naturally, due to her size alone. Her favorite class is music, because she does not have to stand alone. Until the day Mrs. Gator, the music teacher, announces that there will be solos in the upcoming recital. Everyone is excited and signs up for a solo, except Elephant. She does not want to be on stage standing alone. Elephant does not know if she deserves to be heard and shine. When Mrs. Gator has everyone in the music class start playing their solos , for the recital, Elephant runs toward the door. Her friends call out to Elephant, stating that they will play with Elephant so she does not have to be alone on the stage. That gave Elephant an idea, she had written a song and she taught it to all of the other students.

Elephant’s Solo has a powerful message to children who are shy and afraid; they can be heard without having to stand alone. Elephant’s friends stood beside her and helped her through a situation in which Elephant was very fearful and worried. The illustrations by Kurpiel are simple but charming and engaging. Young children will love the colorful animal illustrations and can place themselves in Elephant’s shoes and learn that they are worth shining. A must have for elementary school libraries and school psychologist offices.

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

Dressing Up the Stars by Jeanne Walker Harvey, illustrated by Diana Toledano - ESSENTIAL

Dressing Up the Stars: The Story of Movie Costume Designer Edith Head by Jeanne Walker Harvey illustrated by Diana Toledano. PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing Division. 2022. $19. 9781534451056

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Dressing Up the Stars is a biographical sketch of the famous Hollywood Costume Designer Edith Head. It begins with her early life growing up in the dust bowl of Nevada. She was always dressing up her pets and asking neighbors for scraps of fabric. When she and her mother moved to Los Angeles it opened her eyes to new opportunities. She never gave up her determination to find her passion for costume design and excel at it. 

I loved the flow of the story. Enough time is spent on each area of the timeline of her life. It helps to paint the big picture. They also do a good job highlighting her failures as well as her successes. The final page gives a more in-depth biography highlighting her achievements. It made me want to do more research on the films she created costumes for and more about her career. She was a female in a mostly all-male Hollywood profession. She pioneered women to be in costume design. 

Emilee-Teacher Librarian

Anne and Her Tower of Giraffes by Karlin Gray, illustrated by Aparna Varma - ESSENTIAL

Anne and Her Tower of Giraffes: The Adventurous Life of the First Giraffologist by Karlin Gray, illustrated by Aparna Varma. PICTURE BOOK, BIOGRAPHY Kids Can Press. 2022. $19. 9781525304958

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

4yo Anne went to the zoo in Chicago and saw a giraffe for the first time. The memory of the giraffe did not leave her; she wanted to study giraffes from that point on. All throughout her school career, Anne was made fun of for wanting to study giraffes. She did study zoology, but could not specialize in giraffes. The only way to study her beloved animals was to study in Africa. When she returned home, she applied for many jobs as a professor but she was not allowed to work as she was a woman. Anne became a writer to share her knowledge and love of giraffes, the environment, women’s rights, and animal behavior. 

Anne and Her Tower of Giraffes is an extremely informative and well-documented biography of Anne Innis Dang, a woman who loved and studied giraffes. The illustrations are simple, realistic and assist in portraying the text beautifully. Children of all ages would be interested in Gray’s work. This is a must-have for elementary school libraries. Middle school students would enjoy and learn from Anne and Her Tower of Giraffes as well. There are some illustrations showing African men, but most of the book shows Caucasian individuals. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

My Love Will Never Leave You by Stephen Hogtun - ESSENTIAL

My Love Will Never Leave You by Stephen Hogtun. PICTURE BOOK. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2021. $18.00 9781547608997 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

An older, wise tree takes care of a young sapling, teaching the young tree about seasons, sheltering the tree from storms, sun and weather, loving and supporting the sapling. Together they take wonderful journeys, share much knowledge and love. One day, the young sapling notices changes in the appearance of the older tree, his leaves are falling. The older tree takes the sapling on a last journey together and then the sapling must stand on his own. 

Hogtun’s illustrations are delightful, realistic and colorful, children will study them intently. The illustrations help depict this tender, informative story in a superior way. My Love Will Never Leave You will leave the reader wanting to read the book again and again. Perfect for pre school through third grade. 

Deann M. - Elementary Media Tech 

All by Himself?? by Elana K. Arnold and Giselle Potter - OPTIONAL

All by Himself?? by Elana K. Arnold illustrated by Giselle Potter. PICTURE BOOK Simon Schuster. 2022. $19. 9781534489899

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

A young boy’s Grandmother purchases a new set of blocks for him to play with. The boy builds a magnificent castle all by himself, EXCEPT that the tree was a seedling planted by a farmer, an arborist tended the tree until the woodcutter cut it down and the woodworker cut the pieces of wood into blocks. The painter painted the blocks; a truck driver picked them up and delivered them to a toy shop, where the shopkeeper displayed them and the Grandmother saw them and took them to her grandson. 

Potter's illustrations are fabulous, simple, and very realistic. Text is very thorough, describing the process of the growth of the tree, the care of the tree, and how the blocks are made for play. The story is simple and not that interesting. The characters are Caucasian. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

The World Awaits by Tomos Roberts - OPTIONAL

The World Awaits by Tomos Roberts. PICTURE BOOK  Harper Collins. 2022. $7. 9780008498924 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

A young boy does not believe he is of any significance to the world and would rather stay in bed. Father details what the child might be able to do today, adding to the global good of all. As the father explains, if one does not reach for their potential, the minuses build and the world sees it toughest of times. 

Robert’s illustrations are colorful and simple. The rhyming text is depicted well with the simple drawings. The message is a necessary one for all children, although it is a bit heavy and somewhat difficult to grasp for the younger grades. The father and boy appear to be Caucasian. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

Wallflowers by Mackenzie Joy - ESSENTIAL

Wallflowers by Mackenzie Joy. PICTURE BOOK Harper Collins. 2023. $18. 9780358726463 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

These children are all wallflowers who enjoy being quiet and unnoticed. However, every child does amazing things and has fabulous ideas and dreams. They just don’t like the loud fanfare! Wallflowers affirms that being quiet and a bit shy is alright as it teaches children they can bloom in their own quiet way. 

Joy’s illustrations are so beautiful and creative. Her wallpaper patterns and what the children are wearing are the same patterns, allowing the children to hide beautifully.  As the reader looks at each page, children will see how the patterns work and the characters blend in. The multicultural group of characters brings inclusion to all. The text is affirming and loving, giving permission to be you and bloom anywhere. A must for preschool through 3rd grade. There are multicultural characters throughout the book. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monsen and Abby Hanlon - ESSENTIAL

Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monsen, illustrated by Abby Hanlon. PICTURE BOOK Little, Brown. 2022. $18. 9780759554825

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Chester is a young boy who is very good at rhyming, he does it every day.  One day, Chester woke up and he could not rhyme at all.  It did not feel right that day.   His schoolmates and teacher tried to help him get his rhyming back but to no avail.  He could not rhyme, he was having an off day.

The wordplay in Monen’s very funny text is hilarious.  Young readers will be laughing and giggling as Chester’s classmates try to help Chester get his rhyme back with over-the-top items!  Hanlon’s illustrations are silly, colorful, and engaging.  The young reader will be studying each drawing, while laughing, to see how Chester will finish the rhymes with the help of his friends.  This is a clever way to reinforce rhyming in a fun and silly way.  Elementary students will love it. Chester, the main character is Caucasian while other characters are multicultural.

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

Let's Hide! by Rachael McLean - ADVISABLE

Let's Hide! by Rachael McLean BOARD BOOK (Pre-K) Union Square Kids 3023 $9 9781454943693  

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Bear and Penguin are playing Hide and Seek in the backyard. First Bear hides. Penguin finds him easily. Then Penguin hides. Bear finds her easily. Then frog wants to hide. Bear and Penguin have a hard time finding him. Why is it so hard to find him? 

Let’s Hide quickly engages a young child with fun text and cute colorful illustrations. Mclean also teaches children how to play Hide and Seek, and some techniques for better hiding. 

PGPowers

Beginning by Shelly Moore Thomas, illustrated by Melissa Castrillon - ADVISABLE

Beginning by Shelly Moore Thomas, illustrated by Melissa Castrillon.  PICTURE BOOK  Simon Schuster. 2022. $19. 9781534494435

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A young boy and his father move through the day connecting with nature, seeing the beginning of and ending of many conditions and objects. A caterpillar is the end and a butterfly is the beginning, a sunrise is the beginning and pancakes are the end. The father and the boy experience many aspects of nature, seeing the beginning and what is going to happen in the end. The moral of the story is never fear the end as something wonderful will happen in the beginning of something new." "

The illustrations in Beginning are vivid, bright, and very unique. Near the end, the colors go away and the rest of the illustrations are black and white. The boy and father are very loving and enjoy each other's company and exploring together. Text and illustrations are tender, poetic, and engaging. The last line is my favorite as it is very hopeful and encouraging. Beginning is a wonderfully illustrated and written book, perfect for preschool, daycare and younger elementary students as it encourages hope, love, and courage." The gender of the characters are male, and the ethnicity is Caucasian.

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech

Special Delivery: A Books Journey Around the World by Polly Faber and Klas Fahlin - OPTIONAL

Special Delivery: A Book's Journey Around the World by Polly Faber, illustrated by Klas Fahlin. PICTURE BOOK Candlewick Press, 2023. $18. 9781536229851 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

It is 40 days until Jay’s birthday. At a factory far away, a book is printed and put into a box, then into a container on a truck. The container is put by a crane on an enormous ship. The ship sails to the other side of the world where the container is unloaded and put on a freight train and taken to a warehouse. Next the contents are scanned to see where they go next. The box of books is put in a delivery van and taken to Pip’s Bookshop, The book is placed in the window where someone sees it, purchases it, and puts it in the mail for her grandson Jay’s birthday present and he loves it. He delivers her a thank you card in person. 

Special Delivery did not try very hard to engage me as the reader. I found myself wanting to turn the pages without really reading the lackluster text. I think that children who are very interested in processes, machines, trains, and other vehicles may have fun looking at the colorful and interesting illustrations. Faber does give us a good view of what it takes to get a book from China to the US. The character Cherry who packs the book into the box looks transgender. 

PGPowers

Tomatoes in My Lunchbox by Constantia Manoli and Magdalena Mora - ESSENTIAL

Tomatoes in My Lunchbox by Constantia Manoli, illustrated by  Magdalena Mora. PICTURE BOOK Macmillan. 2022. $19. 9781250763129 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Kwotarrio is new to the country and school. Her name is long and difficult to pronounce. Everything about her doesn't fit in her new school and home. She left her beloved Grandmother and everything else that is familiar. She longs to belong and make friends, she would like a shorter name that is easier to say. One day, another student, Chloe, forgot her lunch and Kwotarrio shares her lunch with her and things begin to change for Kwotarrio. 

Mora's illustrations complement the dialog and text well, they are colorful, beautiful, and very realistic. Readers will be thoroughly engaged with both the text and illustrations. Tomatoes in My Lunchbox is a charming and realistic story many children can relate to if they have left loved ones, their country, and other familiar things behind for a new life. It is a great story for those who have not left a past life to empathize with and learn from. The Author's Notes at the end are very informative and interesting. A must-have book for elementary school libraries. There are multicultural characters and the main character is a Cypriot Greek child. 

Deanna M. - Elementary Media Tech