Itzel and the Ocelot by Rachel Katstaller - ESSENTIAL

Itzel and the Ocelot by Rachel Katstaller. PICTURE BOOK Kids Can Press, 2022. $19. 9781525305061 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Itzel is a little Salvadoran child. She lives at the edge of the jungle with her nana. The land is in drought and all the creatures are suffering. After hearing the legend of the giant snake who brings the rain, Itzel sets out on her quest to find him and make the rain come again. Along her journey she meets animals of the rainforest who join along. What will Itzel do if she is unable to find the giant snake? 

Itzel follows the traditional hero's journey plot line. She leaves her home, gains friends to help her in the quest, and realizes she had the courage inside herself all along. The illustrations are bright but simple. They show what the unfamiliar words are which is helpful if the reader hasn't looked at the glossary at the end. The setting is El Salvador. 

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian 

Come On In: There's a Party in this Book! by Jamie Michalak and Sabine Timm - ADVISABLE

Come On In: There's a Party in this Book! by Jamie Michalak, illustrated by Sabine Timm PICTURE BOOK Hippo Park. 2022. $19. 9781662640001 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Lemon heard there is a party and goes looking for it. She knocks on her neighbors' doors and can't find where she is supposed to go. At the end, Lemon realizes that if she wants a party to go to, then she can make that happen. 

This book is told in little rhyming phrases that are enjoyable for a read aloud, but the real draw of this book is the illustrating. Timm has created small scale dioramas for each scene. Young children may enjoy just looking at the pictures and identifying the components used to create the characters and settings. 

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian

How Are You? by Edouard Manceau - ADVISABLE

 

How Are You? by Edouard Manceau. BOARD BOOK. Twirl (Chronicle). 2022. $13. 9791036353246

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The person in the pictures shows us different feelings and how they are expressed on a face. 

A simple, earnest book about recognizing your own feelings with help to recognize those feelings on other people.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

I Cannot Draw a Bicycle by Charise Mericle Harper - ADVISABLE

I Cannot Draw a Bicycle by Charise Mericle Harper. PICTURE BOOK. Union Square, 2023. $18. 9781605822983

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book can draw a cat and a horse, but the horse wants a bicycle! The book cannot draw a bicycle! Especially since none of them know what a bicycle looks like.

I missed the original book “I Cannot Draw a Horse”, but it was fun to read #2. Especially because observant readers will notice something amusing among the pages as they experiment with drawing a bicycle. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Try a Bite, Trilobite! By Jonathan Fenske - HIGH

Try a Bite, Trilobite! By Jonathan Fenske, 30 pages. EARLY READER (Level One). Simon Spotlight, 2023. $18. 9781665932660

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Trilobite is not interested in trying Bug’s snack.  Trilobite only eats noodles.  But what if he decides to give Bug’s snack just one taste?

I like sassy Trilobite and sincere Bug - if I need more Early Reader books, I’d add this one to my collection.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Interrupting Cow and the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing by Jane Yolen and Joelle Dreidemy - HIGH

Interrupting Cow and the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing by Jane Yolen and Joelle Dreidemy. EARLY READER (Level 2). Simon Spotlight, 2023. $18. 9781665914437

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The other cows have run away screaming, and Interrupting Cow wanders out of the barn and spies a funny looking sheep.  Cow very kindly finds out the problem and takes the “sheep” off to meet her real friends.

Cow is a poster child for inclusion and for silliness. These little early reader books are expensive, but some of them are so dang cute -- if you can get students to read them.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Picky Panda by Jackie Huang - OPTIONAL

Picky Panda (With Fun Flaps to Lift) by Jackie Huang. PICTURE BOOK. Abrams, 2023. $17. 9781419762796

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Panda loves the world in only black and white - no shades of gray and NO COLOR!  Then a cute little neighbor gifts him with a red flower!  What is Panda supposed to do with that??

I feel Panda and his dilemma and loved watching him go through his steps and growth. A flap to lift on almost every page, but the flaps are plain paper and won’t last long if a small child grabs this on their own.  Be careful.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker - ADVISABLE

The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2023. $19. 9781536223293

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Once the tree was perched by the river with only its fellow trees for companions. Over the years, the decades, things change slowly and then drastically, the tree always hanging on.

Becker’s newest wordless picture book is as visually engaging as his others, but quieter and more introspective.  If you teaching a lesson on man’s effect on the landscape, the enduring capability of nature, or want have a quieter look at one place over time. Kids will want to know if the place is real.  Is it?

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Free at Last: a Juneteenth Poem by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle and Alex Bostic - ADVISABLE

Free at Last: a Juneteenth Poem by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, illustrated by Alex Bostic. PICTURE BOOK. Sterling, 2022. $18. 9781454943747

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When word finally reached the saves of Galveston Texas that they had been freed by proclamation, each reacted to the news if their own way - all of them trying in some way to grasp their new status in the world.  All of them rejoicing that they are “Free at last”.

Rolle’s poem was written in 2004 and has been used in many Juneteenth celebrations since that time.  Bostic’s illustrations are infused with respect and awe for those first steps taken and are beautiful to behold. Any school with civil rights units, black studies, or American history covering the Civil War can happily use this.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Ups and Downs; a book of emotions by Mike Wohnoutka - ADVISABLE

Ups and Downs; a book of emotions by Mike Wohnoutka. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick,

2023. $18. 9781536227376

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Wohnoutka takes us on a journey of emotions and he illustrates opposites through a child’s

day - not the typical happy/sad, delighted/disgusted, worried/confident and other pairs

not always seen in this kind of opposite book. Sweet illustrations enrich the spare words. I

would love to read through each pages together and talk to students about how the art

brings each pairing to life and also tells a continuous story.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

The Scariest Kitten in the World by Kate Messner and MacKenzie Haley - ESSENTIAL

The Scariest Kitten in the World by Terrifying Kitten (and Kate Messner, illustrated by MacKenzie Haley. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2023. $19. 9780374390051

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Don’t turn that page! The scariest thing you have ever seen is waiting for you on the next page!

Scary? No, Absolutely adorable? Oh my yes! Excellent story time read - you will never regret buying this and read it again and again.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Oink! I'm a Pig: An Interactive Mask Board Book with Eyeholes by Merrill Rainey - ADVISABLE

Oink! I'm a Pig: An Interactive Mask Board Book with Eyeholes by Merrill Rainey. BOARD BOOK. Harper, 2022. $9. 9780063092082 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Pretend to be 7 different creatures on the farm, looking through eye cut-outs. 

A fun interactive board book to encourage pretend play. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS