Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller and Jen Hill - ESSENTIAL

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller illustrated by Jen Hill. PICTURE BOOK Roaring Book Press. 2018. $18. 9781626723214

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When Tanisha spills grape juice on herself in class everyone laughs at her. The main character does not laugh, but instead starts brainstorming ways to be kind to Tanisha to help her feel better. Told in first-person free verse, the child narrator thinks about what it means to be kind. Does it mean helping or giving or paying attention? 

The narrator relates that being kind isn't always easy, but through small things, kindness builds and comes back to you. This book is wonderful for all ages. Children from kindergarten to high school need reminders of what it means to be kind. The main character will usually read as female and white, but androgynous clothes and black hair make them more ambiguous. Tanisha is black, and the other children and characters in the story are illustrated as a wide variety of ethnicities. 

Rachel, Elementary School Librarian

Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld - ADVISABLE

Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld PICTURE BOOK Little Brown and Company 2023 $19 9780316312264

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Finn is in a bad mood and doesn't want to talk with his grandpa. Grandpa suggests they go for a walk even if Finn wants to stay hidden under his blanket. As they walk in the forest, Grandpa explains that what we see isn't all that is going on; we must think of what's beneath. Trees have roots growing under the ground; plants and animals have things going on inside them. Finn learns that people too are more than their outside appearances, and that Grandpa really could know just how he feels. 

Beneath is a fantastic follow-up to Doerrfeld's The Rabbit Listened. This would be wonderful to use for a science discussion and/or an SEL discussion. It would make a great read-aloud, though kids might not initially gravitate to it. I really love the message that we have to look deeper to understand what is really going on. Finn and his grandpa are illustrated as white. 

Rachel, Elementary School Librarian

Bravo, Avocado! by Chana Stiefel and Anna Suessbauer - OPTIONAL

Bravo, Avocado! by Chana Stiefel illustrated by Anna Suessbauer, PICTURE BOOK HarperCollins Children's Books, 2023, $17. 9780063076983

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Avocado wants to be the day's special like the other fruits and vegetables that are for sale. As she searches for what will help her become the special, she encounters other foods that try to help her. Eventually, she learns that her "special" is on the inside and that she is valuable for what makes her an avocado. 

I enjoyed the bright, textured illustrations and creative food puns throughout this picture book. I thought it was a bit of a stretch that "special of the day" (on sale) turned into being special on the inside (self-worth). However, this book would likely work well as an SEL lesson on self-worth. 

Rachel, Elementary School Librarian 

A Beautiful House for Birds by Grace Lin - ADVISABLE

A Beautiful House for Birds by Grace Lin BOARD BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2023. $8. 9781623543471 

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Olivia is painting the roof of a birdhouse - when distracted by the birds who are watching, she has to change her pattern. The child will learn about patterns and be given the opportunity to predict. 

I liked this better than the other story I read in this same series. Olivia is black. 

Lisa Librarian

Perfectly Imperfect Mira by Faith Pray - OPTIONAL

Perfectly Imperfect Mira by Faith Pray. PICTURE BOOK Little, Brown and Company/Hatchette Book Group, Inc. 2022. $18. 9780316541169 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

This gorgeously illustrated story is about Mira, a young girl who has a history of quitting things before giving them a fair try and before being able to really develop her skills. She wants to be perfect at things right away and is afraid of making mistakes or having people laugh at her attempts. Mira eventually realizes that trying is better than giving up, and she begins to develop some skills and feel good about her efforts. 

I absolutely loved the pencil and watercolor illustrations in this book. The characters are darling and diverse. The story has an encouraging and relatable message about trying and not giving up. I imagine this being a lovely lap read with a child or grandchild who struggles with perfectionism or self-confidence. 

Angie Campbell - EL Librarian 

Izzy Paints by Tim Miller - ADVISABLE

Izzy Paints by Tim Miller PICTURE BOOK HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2022. $18. 9780063119758

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

This is a cute, colorful story about a koala who visits a museum, is inspired by the art and decides to become an artist! 

The text is simple and the art is what really brings excitement and life to the story. I loved the illustration style, with bold line drawings and bright splashes of color. I loved Izzy's enthusiasm for experimenting with different ways of painting. This would be a great, quick read-aloud before allowing young students to create art, encouraging them to explore their own unique creativity. 

Angie Campbell - EL Librarian 

Where Are the Eggs by Grace Lin - OPTIONAL

Where Are the Eggs by Grace Lin. BOARD BOOK Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2023. $8. 9781623543464 

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Mei's chickens have laid eggs all over the yard. Can you help her find them? 

Cute illustrations, not much of an egg hunt though - it would have been more fun if the location of the egg was shown after a page turn. Funny that the finding would be so easy when, if you look at the author notes, it's a book about positions, perspective, and orientation, and includes teaching ideas. I hope it's also published in traditional binding because it seems directed to a little older child. Part of the Storytelling Math series. Mei is Asian

Lisa Librarian

Pigs Are Prepared by Hans Wilhelm and Erica Salcedo - OPTIONAL

Pigs Are Prepared by Hans Wilhelm, illustrated by Erica Salcedo. BOARD BOOK Chronicle Books, 2022. $10 9781797203768  

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Three piggies go about various routines in this rhyming board book. They are prepared for different activities like swimming and playing in the snow. They ride their bikes safely, are well dressed for their hike, and help clean up their picnic. 

Pigs Are Prepared would be great for young children working on routines. Most of the words are appropriately simple, but once in a while the author uses more advanced language, like when he said the piggies needed to "dress warmly to counter the chill." It is a board book, so it will likely not be the best purchase for most libraries. The characters are pigs (two boys and one girl). 

Rachel, Elementary School Librarian

Mail Duck Help A Friend by Erica Sirotich - ADVISABLE

Mail Duck Help A Friend by Erica Sirotich. BOARD BOOK  Abrams Appleseed, 2023. $11. 9781419765643

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Mail Quail sends a pink letter to Mail Duck that he is sick and signs it "xoxo, Mail Duck". Mail Duck tells his friends on the computer. They want to help. Mail Duck goes to each friend's house collecting different letters and flowers the colors of the rainbow. All the friends get together and bring Mail Quail presents. Mail Duck gives Mail Quail a beautiful bouquet of rainbow-colored flowers. 

Mail Quail Helps a Friend is a cute story with fun flaps to lift and reveal more of the story and hidden surprises. The illustrations are interesting and engaging. 

PGPowers 

Watch Out for the Lion! by Brooke Hartman and Anna Suessbauer - ESSENTIAL

Watch Out for the Lion! by Brooke Hartman, illustrated by Anna Suessbauer. PICTURE BOOK  Page Street Kids, 2023. $19. 9781645676287  

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

You had better learn how to spot a lion so that you are not eaten! You can recognize a lion by their tail, claws, ears, teeth, and nose. But, it turns into cases of mistaken identity as you find out that tail really belongs to a giraffe, and those claws really belong to a koala. But, pay attention: you still need to watch out for the lion! 

This interactive picture book will get kids giggling as they try to guess what animal is next. The bright illustrations and dynamic text make it the perfect read-aloud. There aren't any human characters. 

Rachel, Elementary School Librarian 

Clementine and the Lion by Zoey Abbott - ADVISABLE

Clementine and the Lion by Zoey Abbott. PICTURE BOOK Kids Can Press, 2022. $19. 9781525305627 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Clementine is an elementary aged girl that has parents who are mean to her. When her mother is carried off by a dragon and her father is lost at sea in a bottle, Clementine decides to paint her house with invisible ink. She wants to live on her own and take care of herself. What will happen when she gets an unexpected houseguest? 

Clementine and the Lion was a very fun read! The plot has the style of Roald Dahl and the illustrations are full of detail. The unexpected twists will keep readers guessing! Clementine is assumed white and her nationality is not specified. 

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat) by Phaea Crede and Terry Runyan - ADVISABLE

Jet the Cat (Is Not a Cat) by Phaea Crede, illustrated by Terry Runyan. PICTURE BOOK. Barefoot Books, 2021. $17. 9781646861668

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Jet is a cat like any other cat, but when other animals tell her that cats do not do the things she loves to do, they tell her she must not be a cat. Since cats do not swim, she must be a frog. But frogs do not sing, so she must be a bird. And so on. It is only when Jet embraces that she is a cat unlike any other that she is happy and helps the other animals feel free to be themselves too.

Bright mixed media illustrations paired with text that is not overly wordy make this a great read-aloud book. I love that it teaches that we do not have to conform to stereotypes, and that we are happiest when we are fully ourselves. In addition to appealing to cat-lovers, this book would be a good addition to an SEL collection. 

 R. Williams, Elementary School Librarian