Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-Floor Ecosystem by Melissa Stewart and Rob Dunlavey - ESSENTIAL

Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-Floor Ecosystem by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Rob Dunlavey. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2023. $19. 9780593380604 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

When a whale dies, their carcass falls to the ocean floor, where a new ecosystem springs up – animals and plants using the nourishment of the whale to grow and live in succession over fifty years. 

Stunning, reverential, and full of information I had never heard before. Dunlavey’s illustrations are the perfect dreamy blues and includes insets with enlarged looks at some of the new denizens. LOVE IT! 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Train (Baby on Board) by Sebastien Braun - HIGH

Train (Baby on Board) by Sebastien Braun. INTERACTIVE BOARD BOOK. Templar Books, Candlewick, 2023. $10. 9781536232592 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K Gift - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Baby likes trains? Let them push, pull, and spin their way through this sturdy book populated by a red train and its mouse engineer. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Where’s the Snowman by Ingela P. Arrhenius - HIGH

Where’s the Snowman by Ingela P. Arrhenius. BOARD BOOK. Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2022. $10. 9781536227833 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K Gift - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Arrhenius applies her trademark illustrative style to a peek-a-boo winter board book. The classic strong, felt flaps are very hardy and will dry after being stuffed into little mouths. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Sensational Senses: amazing ways to perceive the world by Rebecca E. Hirsch - ADVISABLE

Sensational Senses: amazing ways to perceive the world by Rebecca E. Hirsch, 43 pages. NON-FICTION. Millbrook (Lerner), 2022. $32 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Hirsch takes us into the worlds of eight incredible species and the scientists who research them. Each creatures uses at least one of their senses in an extraordinary way. From the star-nosed mole with its super sniffer and the Japanese Sea Catfish with its agile tongue – all show us how little we humans use our senses. Great for kids who love non-fiction animal books. 

 Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Operation Pangolin: saving the world’s only scaled mammal by Suzi Eszterhas - ADVISABLE

Operation Pangolin: saving the world’s only scaled mammal by Suzi Eszterhas, 37 pages. NON-FICTION. Millbrook Press (Lerner), 2023. $31 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

While pangolins are exotic to us in the United States, all over Asia and Africa over 100,000 of them are killed each year for their rare meat and supposed medicinal properties. Thai, a Vietnamese scientist, has been working since he was a child to learn about and save the pangolin. 

Eszterhas takes us into Thai’s world to give us what little we know about pangolins and show us the few ways scientists are trying to save them from extinction. Beautiful color photographs accompany the dense text – definitely not a picture book. 

 Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Hidden on the High Wire by Kathy Kacer

Hidden on the High Wire by Kathy Kacer, 216 pages. Second Story Press, 2022. $14 (paperback) 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (WII violence mentioned, not described) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Irene loves her family’s circus – her work on the high wire is a thrill for her and for those who come to see their shows. Because they and most of their performers are Jewish, however, they are forced to shut down when Hitler and the Nazis come to power. Irene’s father has been conscripted into Hitler’s army, while Irene and her mother try to make a living. It isn’t until another circus owner is willing to lie for them and hide them that Irene sees a chance to make it out of this alive. 

If you have a need for Holocaust fiction, then Kacer brings another dimension to the story. Her writing is not as compelling as Marsha Skrypuch or Ruta Sepetys, but she highlights more of the small stories of WWII in her various series. Audiobook provided by libro.fm; narrated by Gabi Epstein 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Poop for Breakfast by Sara Levine and Florence Weiser - ESSENTIAL

Poop for Breakfast: why some animals eat it by Sara Levine, illustrated by Florence Weiser. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK Millbrook (Lerner), 2023. $21. 9781728457963 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Poop is not just for dung beetles! Other animals need to eat poop too. 

Levine and Weiner give us a straightforward look at animals that eat poop and why they do it. I really like the part about why humans should NOT eat poop. Sure to attract a wide audience - even at a high school. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Time After Time by Sarah Mlynowski and Christina Soontornvat - ADVISABLE

Time After Time (Best Wishes #3) by Sarah Mlynowski and Christina Soontornvat, 192 Pages. Scholastic Press, November 2023. $16. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence Rating: G. (repeated instances of vomit)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Lucy's 5th grade class is going on a field trip to the Natural History Museum where her dad will be doing a presentation. with Lucy, on the museum's gem collection. But when he feels inspired to propose to his girlfriend - Lucy's school librarian - in front of everyone on the field trip, Lucy is embarrassed and upset. Arriving home (after running away from the museum and being picked up by the police) Lucy receives the bracelet and wishes for the most perfect day ever. The bracelet grants her wish by letting her have that Friday as a do-over, but, of course, making the perfect day isn't easy. 

The 3rd installment in the Best Wishes series was just as fun as the other two. I love Soontornvat's perspective, Lucy and her dad are Thai. AJ and I think it's so fun that the previous books' bracelet wearers have sent their stories on and are part of this one. We also love that the girls always learn a great lesson, about family, friendship, or themselves. We are excited to see where the bracelet heads next! 

Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 7) 

I Am Not an Octopus by Eoin McLaughlin, illustrated by Marc Boutavant - HIGH

I Am Not an Octopus by Eoin McLaughlin, illustrated by Marc Boutavant. PICTURE BOOK Candlewick Press, 2023. $19. 9781536225051

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Terry tries to convince himself and everyone else including the reader that he is just a regular guy who loves tuna, has a few extra arms, and that he is not an octopus. If he were an octopus, he would live under the sea unless he were afraid of water. Being afraid of water would make life very difficult for an octopus stuck on dry land, and not being able to see his mom and dad. Luckily he is not an octopus. Terry sees a swimming pool and asks the reader to teach him to swim. He wills himself to fall in. He panics. Does he ever discover that he is an octopus? 

I Am Not an Octopus is a cute and silly story about facing your fears and accepting who you really are. The illustrations are fun and clever adding more comedy to the story. His antics are fun to see and read. I am still wondering how the octopus was born and raised out of water though, but it is meant to be a silly book. There is a touch of bathroom humor. 

PGPowers 

Why Not You? by Ciara and Russell Wilson and Jessica Gibson - ESSENTIAL

Why Not You? by Ciara and Russell Wilson with JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Jessica Gibson. PICTURE BOOK, NON-FICTION Random House Children's Books, 2022. $19. 9780593374405 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL - HIGH 

 A young pair of school children go through their day, along with their classmates, dreaming of their future selves while dealing with the challenges every child faces at school. 

A rhyming text and bright illustrations work together to teach children the idea of, "Why Not You?" The story is upbeat and encouraging. I like how bright and positive this book is. Truly designed to encourage children to dream big and see themselves as capable of achieving those dreams. The main characters are Black, I assume they represent the two authors, class is ethnically diverse and inclusive in that different body shapes are shown as well as one boy in a wheelchair. 

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian 

Rainbow Fish and the Storyteller by Marcus Pfister - ADVISABLE

Rainbow Fish and the Storyteller by Marcus Pfister. PICTURE BOOK (K-3rd grade) North South, 2022. $20. 9780735845008 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A big new fish named Humbert rushes up to Rainbow Fish and tells her he has important news. He tells her that there is a grumpy fish that is going to pull the plug at the bottom of the sea and all the water will drain out of the ocean. The next day Rainbow Fish brings all of her friends to talk to Humbert. Now Humbert tells a new story about fish threatening them.
The next day Humbert tells a story about a blue whale nearby who will eat up all their food. The fish no longer believe anything Humbert says. All the fish won't talk to Humbert any more. Rainbow Fish sees Humbert alone by the rocks. She has an idea that will help Humbert have friends again." 

Rainbow Fish and the Storyteller is a nice story about helping someone with an annoying problem turn it around and find acceptance and friendship. The story seems a bit wordy, but the message is good. The illustrations and shimmery scales are still delightful. 

PGPowers 

Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont by Nick Brooks - OPTIONAL

Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont by Nick Brooks, 236 pages. Union Square Kids, 2022. $14 

Content: G (A boy gets beat up by another boy but the description of the fight is definitely not graphic). 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Ethan Fairmont, going into 7th grade, is an inventor from Ferrous City. He finds an alien in an abandoned car factory. Ethan and his new friend, Juan decide to help the alien fix its ship to get back home. This decision puts their friends and family in danger. They also require the help of former bullies. Can they save the alien before time runs out? 

The plot of this book had a good amount of action. The theme of how to be a friend was also important. This book did not hold my interest but it may be different for an elementary-age student. Ethan is Black American as are many characters in this book. His friend is Hispanic. 

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian