Maya's Song by Renee Watson and Bryan Collier - ADVISABLE

Maya's Song by Renee Watson, illustrated by Bryan Collier. NON-FICTION, BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Harper, 2022. $20. 9780062871589

Content: PG (teen pregnancy, divorce, abuse and assassinations mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

The biography of Maya Angelou told through poems.

I enjoyed reading about Maya Angelou in a poetry format. Each poem tells of a different event in Maya's life. It is well written and enjoyable to read. I would recommend it for upper elementary through high school age readers. The watercolor and collage illustrations are beautiful. The colors of each illustration emphasis the story being told on the page. There is a timeline included at the end.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

I Want to Read All the Books by Debbie Ridpath Ohi - OPTIONAL

I Want to Read All the Books by Debbie Ridpath Ohi. PICTURE BOOK. Simon and Schuster, 2024. $19. 9781481416306

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

When Hana starts aksing questions about the world around her, her mother gives her a book to read. Hana wants to know more. She reads all the books in her house and all the books at her friends' houses. She wants to read more so her mother takes her to the library. Hana still wants to read all the books but after seeing so many books at the library, Hana wonders if it is possible. However, with a little help from the librarian, Hana gains a new perspective on reading.  

A cute book about reading and the thirst for knowledge. The illustrations are fun and engaging. The main character has brown skin.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

See You on the Other Side by Racehl Montez Minor and Mariyah Rahman - ESSENTIAL

See You on the Other Side by Racehl Montez Minor, illustrated by Mariyah Rahman. PICTURE BOOK. Penguin, 2023. $19. 9780593309421

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

A loving older family member is telling a child that though they will die and leave them, there are ways they can be happy. One of these ways is to remember they will see them on the other side. 

This beautiful story of faith combines ideas for ways our loved ones can be remembered after they die. Minor teaches with simplicity the stages of grief and how they can be handled. The beautiful illustrations remind a child that their loved ones are always with them.

The illustrator shows multiple ethnicities in her paintings.

MOMMAC

Roar-Choo by Charlotte Cheng and Dan Santat - ESSENTIAL

Roar-Choo by Charlotte Cheng, illustrated by Dan Santat. PICTURE BOOK. Penguin, 2024. $19. 9780593531754

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

Dragon has a cold, so when he tries to roar, he sneezes. Phoenix reminds dragon to slow down and get some rest. Dragon struggles to rest, but his friend, Phoenix, continues to support him. 

Cheng’s story is carried by Santat’s delightful, bold illustrations. There is very little prose, but children will be delighted with the playful characters. The author's notes, at the end of the book, bring clarity to why these mythological creatures were chosen as the characters.

This is a story about Chinese mythological characters.

MOMMAC

Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to be a Kitten by Michelle Knudsen and Kevin Hawkes - ADVISABLE

Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to be a Kitten by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2024. $19. 9781536219111

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Luigi is a spider who found a warm home to live in. The lady in the home found him, picked him up, and called him a kitten. Because the woman is nice to him, he pretends to be a kitten. This behavior continues for a time, until the lady invites her friends over and Luigi struggles with an identity crisis.

Knudsen teaches a great moral without preaching. The moral is that people can love you for who you truly are. The adorable illustrations add to the fun. For those of us who don't like spiders, this story is a stretch.

MOMMAC

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore and Tom Browning - ESSENTIAL

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Tom Browning. PICTURE BOOK. Union Square, 2023. $23. 9781454952794

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

It is the night before Christmas when Santa comes to bring his gifts. A young child experiences, first hand, the magic of Christmas. 

Tom Browning classically illustrates this favorite of Christmas stories.  Unique to this picture book is a history of this beloved poem. The book also includes a few other fun children's Christmas songs at the end.

MOMMAC

Feelings Are Wild by Sophy Williams and Gavin Scott - OPTIONAL

Feelings Are Wild by Sophy Williams, illustrated by Gavin Scott. PICTURE BOOK. Odd Dot, 2023. $19. 9781250343239

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Explore numbers and feelings with cute animals. Each number highlights a frustrating feeling. Then as you count back down, each number shares a resolution to the frustrated feeling.

Williams highlights that big feelings are normal. Also, that with a little time, hard feelings pass and are resolved. The animal illustrations are cute and approachable.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Freedom on the Sea by Michael Boulware Moore and Bryan Collier - ADVISABLE

Freedom on the Sea by Michael Boulware Moore, illustrated by Bryan Collier. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt and Company (Macmillan), 2024. $19. 9781250818355

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

The exciting story of Robert Smalls and his daring escape from slavery during the Civil War. Robert along with his family and a few friends take an opportunity to sail a ship out of the Confederate harbor of Charleston to the freedom of the Union blockade.

I enjoyed this little known story of one man's bravery and determination as he sought freedom for his family and friends. The mixed media, collage style illustrations are wonderful. The story was written by Robert Smalls' great great grandson.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Ping-Pong Shabbat: The True Story of Champion Estee Ackerman by Ann Diament Koffsky and Abigail Rajunov - ADVISABLE

Ping-Pong Shabbat: The True Story of Champion Estee Ackerman by Ann Diament Koffsky, illustrated by Abigail Rajunov.  NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK Little Bee, 2024. $19. 9781499816099

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Estee becomes an amazing ping pong player, rising all the way to the finals of the National Table Tennis Championships at the age of eleven. She has only one player to beat to win the gold medal, but the final match is on Shabbat, forcing Estee to choose between her love of ping pong and her love of the Sabbath. 

 A nice rendering of how faith and sports mix. It's nice to see a young person excel and believe in herself enough to believe in something higher. This may be helpful for youth who are making big decisions in their lives. Estee is Jewish. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Grinch Takes a Vacation by Kaeti Vandorn - OPTIONAL

The Grinch Takes a Vacation by Kaeti Vandorn. 90 Children's Fiction, GRAPHIC NOVEL RH Graphic Random House, 2024. $11 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

The Grinch has no idea what a vacation is. Perhaps Max can teach the Grinch how to enjoy sunshine, relax, and have fun. Or not. 

 The bright colorful illustrations will appeal to early readers who like graphic novels or are transitioning from picture books. The plot was fairly predictable and I must confess, I missed the rhymes of the original Grinch. However, it would be an easy sell to get kids to read it. 

 Michelle in the Middle

The Swallow Who Stayed by Philip Giordano - ADVISABLE

The Swallow Who Stayed by Philip Giordano. PICTURE BOOK. Greystone Kids, 2024. $19. 9781778400865

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Every spring Iris returns to the forest where she was born. She hunts insects and enjoys the cherry trees.  Now it is time to fly south for the winter.  Iris asks the other birds, " What happens to the forest while we are gone?" No one knows.  Iris decides to stay and see.  When the snow falls, Iris is freezing and has nothing to eat.  How will she ever survive until spring?

The Swallow Who Stayed is a beautifully illustrated story about having the courage to be different, and how we need to create friendships to help us succeed.  

PGPowers

Finding Grateful by Dianne White, illustrated by Faith Pray - ADVISABLE

Finding Grateful by Dianne White, illustrated by Faith Pray. PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2024. $18. 9781797211237

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

A young girl and her mother start walking home after their car breaks down in the street.  Her mother tells her that she doesn't need a map to find grateful, and that she just needs to notice the little things and be where her feet are.  Can she find grateful in dandelions, drops of sprinkler on her tongue, an ice cream cone, or a warm hug after she falls?  What is this feeling that makes her heart as light as the sun?

Finding Grateful encourages the reader to realize that even when they are going through challenges, they can still find reasons to be light hearted and grateful for the world around them.  Cheerful, positive illustrations help the reader feel connection and hope.

PGPowers