BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Suki is ready for a day on the farm. Join her as she helps the cows and fixes things.
Suki has a variety of adventures to choose from. The books have sturdy tabs that are fun to push and pull.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
Also available in Spanish, translated by Carlos E. Calvo, 9781623544584
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Nana loves living with her extended family and she loves her little dog, Popo. One day Nana and Popo head out on a journey.
Lopez and Matias take us through an emotional journey through the nine levels of Mictlan, the Indigenous Mexican journey to the afterlife. I don’t know how much elementary talks about death traditions, which is the only reason I didn’t rate this as more necessary. It seems like a beautiful tradition.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Avant-Grade and Yangni have an explosion of color and words celebrating those who are called “weird” by those who don’t understand. While I don't usually like the plethora of “feel good" picture books out, I do love Yangni’s exuberant artwork. The pages also have quotes from colorful characters from throughout history.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
Also available in Spanish, Translated by Gabriela Carrion. 9781623544881
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Wanda’s childhood in Puerto Rico fostered her love for nature and of the stars. She followed her dream into college, but when she lost her sight from complications of her diabetes, she thought her dream might be over. Luckily she was surrounded by supportive friends who not only helped her learn how to navigate her new world, but they also helped her find a new way for her to pursue her dreams of the stars - hearing the universe in a whole new way.
Wanda’s story hits so many buttons - conquering challenges, global majority, female, current science - so many reasons to introduce her to students on so many levels. SHow all of your teachers.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Flat Cat loves his flat existence. One day a fresh breeze blows him away, where he ends up hitching a ride to school - a place full of all kinds of unfamiliar smells, sights, and sounds.
I don’t know if Flat Cat will replace Flat Stanley, but I think he has a good chance at it. I’d like more Flat Cat stories.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
After dinner, Little Bunny is ready for a story, but everyone around him seems to be too busy. As he and Mouse travel through the forest, they find a story of different kind.
Most of the book is natural sentences, but when the pair find their story it turns to a lovely rhyme. Bunny also has a spring season board book.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Bob Marley grew up very poor in Jamaica, a bit of an outcast because his father was white. His love for music and for Rastafarian religion helped him create music beloved by people all over the world.
The Little People Big Dreams series has such interesting people in its catalog. A teacher could choose a group of people to have in their classroom library and use them for a simple biography unit or to support different units of study.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Beatrice loves her life with her Gram, her Papa, and her Dad. When Papa gets a new job, however, Gram doesn’t move with them to the new city. Beatrice is not sure that this new place will ever feel like home. But Gram sends Beatrice something to spark her creativity.
Moving - even in the middle of the school year - is common for students. Grady gives us a nice way to share the complexity of those feelings with all of your students and help all develop some empathy.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Luna and Mina are excited for Lunar New Year, but when one of the mooncakes goes missing, they are on the case to find the culprit. As they find clues they eliminate suspects using logic and deduction.
I liked how Luna and Mina used logic to make their deductions. I did not like Luna’s superior attitude, but that goes with the age. I do wish that the girls’ deductions had lead to them the final answer, though - using the power of deduction would have had more power then. The Story-Telling Math series now has 12 diverse titles.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
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BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
It may be only ten minutes until bedtime, but Little Monster has other plans besides settling between the covers!
So cute! Fielding and Chatterton have several other books in this series, with characters like a dinosaur and unicorn - you can choose the one that would appeal most to your little one.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL
APPEALS TO: MANY
Butterfield and Mineker, with the help of Casper the Cloud, brings us a lovely book about all sorts of weather. Each weather piece is simply explained, but in good detail for young scientists. Great for reference, or for parts of a longer weather unit. This is the 6th book in their non-fiction nature series.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Emmie, a little mouse, has made a great life for herself in the attic. When the cat arrives, however, she is scared. She decides to create bigger and bigger monsters to scare the cat away. How big will she have to go?
Crosby celebrates ingenuity and finding new friends with her charming book. Emmie’s Rube-Goldberg-esque contraptions are quite fun to inspect. I would break out all of the building materials afterwards.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
