Safe in a Storm by Stephen R. Swinburne, illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell - ADVISABLE

Safe in a Storm by Stephen R. Swinburne, illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. PICTURE BOOK. Cartwheel Books (Scholastic), APRIL 2016.  $11. 

 As the storm starts to rage and howl, mother and father animals find safe places to harbor with their little ones. When you read that this book is dedicated to the children of Sandy Hook Elementary, it becomes even more tender and more tear-inducing. Each family pair is sweetly drawn and are the focus as the terror of the storm fades to the background. 

This would be a great choice to replace “I’ll Love you Forever” (because I find that book positively creepy), so as soon as this is published, start buying it for your expecting friends and your grandchildren! 

 Pre-K, GIFT – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library teacher

Get Out of My Bath! by Britta Teckentrup - ESSENTIAL

Teckentrup, Britta Get Out of My Bath! PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2015. $16. 

Pre-K – ESSENTIAL

 Ellie the Elephant wants to take her bath, but while she is splashing around some unexpected guests drop in. What can she do to get rid of them? 

 This fun book includes some actions by the reader and lead into bath time – maybe more willingly than usual? 

Cindy, Library Teacher

One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul and Elizabeth Zunon– ESSENTIAL

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Millbrook Press (Lerner), 2015. $20 

EL (K-3), EL  – ESSENTIAL

In country of Gambia, plastic bags are a novelty. They seem to work even better than the woven basket bags, which break so easily. Turns out the plastic bags break too. But unlike the woven bags, which once left to garbage, become a healthy part of the earth –the discarded plastic bags never break down and are instead become a danger to the community. Isatou Ceesay was a woman with an idea –that plastic could be cut and woven together into reusable goods that people would want to buy and clean up the community at the same time.

This is a fantastic story of how one person can make a difference, reuse and recycle, and use their creativity to help their own life and their community at the same time. The illustrations are stunning collages that capture the vibrancy of the country and the mess of the plastic bags. This would be an excellent edition to a school library collection.

 Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Wangari Maathai: The woman who planted millions of trees by Franck Prevot - ADVISABLE

 Wangari Maathai: The woman who planted millions of trees by Franck Prevot. Charlesbridge, 2015. $17.95 PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION

EL, MS  –ADVISABLE 

The biography of Wangari Matthai, Nobel Peace Prize winner of 2004. A resident of Kenya, she was born in a period of time where women's rights and the rights of the native Kenyans were nearly non-existent. She persevered and gained her education, gaining a passion for protecting the environment of Kenya and eventually for political activism. Through her efforts over 30 million of trees were planted in thirty years. Features bright yet vague illustrations.  

This book is fantastic. I was incredibly inspired, wow what a life! The passion, determination and intelligence of this amazing women shines through in the text of this biography. Its appropriate and understandable for 3 grade plus and would be a stellar edition to your collection of strong groundbreaking women. The illustrations are terrible though, failing miserably to show off the beauty of the woman and the vivid country she fought for. Includes photographs, a map, and a timeline in the back.  

Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Up & Down by Britta Teckentrup - OPTIONAL

Teckentrup, Britta, Up & Down. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press. 2013. $17.99

Pre-K -- OPTIONAL

“Little Penguin misses his friend. She lives on a faraway iceberg.” To get to his friend, Little Penguin jumps and dives. He goes up and down, in and out, over and under. Finally arriving at her iceberg, the two friends are finally reunited.

I wanted to love this book, but found it to be just okay. Being a “lift-the-flap” book, it is seemingly geared towards young readers. My 13-month-old is a lift-the-flap fanatic, but this one just didn’t hold her interest. The pictures, while beautifully illustrated, are dark and set on dark backgrounds. This combination proved to be a turn off for my little reader. The flaps were hard for her to find and didn’t reveal anything too exciting. Slightly older reader might enjoy the imagery while still enjoying the simple concept of the story. We’ll have to try this one again when she’s a little bigger.

Reviewer: Rebecca H., Language Arts teacher

The Odd One Out: A Spotting Book by Britta Teckentrup - ESSENTIAL

Teckentrup, Britta  The Odd One Out: A Spotting Book  Big Picture Press, 2014.  $14.99  PICTURE BOOK  Content: G.  

PREK, EL (K-3)-ESSENTIAL

This is a great “I Spy” type book.  Each page spread has a two stanza rhyming poem that gives clues as to which animal is supposed to be different than the rest.  The illustrations show animals of all kinds: camels, penguins, bats, fish, etc.  Then the reader is supposed to find the animal that is doing something different than the other animals, such as: find the camel with one hump among a page full of camels with two humps.  Or find the penguin who is hiding a baby under its wing among a page full of normal penguins.  The illustrations are modern and fantastic.  My five and four year old boys love, loved this book and wanted to look at it more closely when we got to the end.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Run Home, Little Mouse by Britta Teckentrup - OPTIONAL

Teckentrup, Britta  Run Home, Little Mouse Kids Can Press, 2013.  $14.95  BOARD BOOK  Content: G.  

PREK - OPTIONAL

Little mouse is trying to get home, but he can’t remember the way.  As he runs he sees eyes in the night which belong to predators who are watching him.  The book will identify the predator and then say “run home little mouse”.  The last page are eyes that belong to his family who have been waiting for him.  

This book is really dark-the background is dark (it is night) and the eyes are yellow and a bit scary for little kids, especially with the idea that the animals are predators who would do the mouse harm.  The book is cool because one page will show a hole with yellow eyes and then when you turn the page you can see how the eye matches to the animal.  Overall effect is a bit scary for preschool kids, but it’s a cool idea.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Playbook Farm by Corina Fletcher - ADVISABLE

Fletcher, Corina Playbook Farm, illustrated by Britta Teckentrup.  Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2012.  

Pre-K, GIFT – ADVISABLE 

Part board book, and all play mat - I think I’m in love.  A two-sided book that you might think is just a pop-up – however, the whole thing unfolds to a large-sized play area, complete with figures to move around.  My only regret is that the figures supplied don’t really stand up at all.  I managed to fix mine with some binder clips, but not everyone will think to do that.  Most kids will want some farm animal friends that stand up on their own.  

Cindy, Library Teacher

Elspeth by Kate O'Hearn - ESSENTIAL

O’Hearn, Kate Elspeth (Shadow of the Dragon #2) Kane Miller, 2010. $17

Violence: PG

EL, MS – ESSENTIAL

Kira, her siblings and her friends have freed the captive girls and escaped Lord Dorcon’s forces – but something has gone awry. While Kira and most of the group has stayed together, they have been thrust 3000 years into the future. Elspeth, however, has been propelled into the past – just before the beginnings of First Law – with only her dragon and Onnie, the fox, for company. Only with a great sacrifice on the side of Paragon will the two groups be reunited. But even if they do make it safely back to their own time, they still have to contend with King Arden, but more importantly they will have to evade Lord Dorcon. 

I sat down late one night and read this from cover to cover! I couldn’t stop because I was so engrossed. It is so nice that the second book in the series is as good as the first. Is there a third? I don’t know, but I certainly hope so! 

Cindy, Library-Teacher

Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub - ESSENTIAL

Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub. PICTURE BOOK. Putnam Juvenile 2009. $17.

EL - ESSENTIAL

Groundhog day is here and rabbit is so excited, the prediction is that it will be spring. Rabbit puts on his Hawaiian shirt and heads outdoors to find snow on the ground. He writes a letter complaining that maybe the weather groundhog should hire more helpers to cover the weather all over the country. The weather groundhog thinks this is a great idea and soon recruits more groundhogs to help him. They have to go through Groundhog Weather School first. Once the students have learned what seeing their shadow means, how to dig a burrow, and why they hibernate they are ready to help the weather groundhog. On the next Groundhog Day, they all come up and give their predictions. The predictions are sent to the main headquarters, where the weather groundhog predicts that it will be winter for another six weeks. Rabbit is excited and heads outside with a sled. He finds sunshine and realizes that it is hard to predict the weather. 

This is a cute and informative book about groundhogs and explains how Groundhog Day works. 

Anna Mattheus, Elementary Teacher.

Higher! Higher! by Leslie Patricelli - Advisable

Patricelli, Leslie Higher!Higher!, 32 pgs.Candlewick, 2009.

EL (K-3)– ADVISABLE

How far can a little girl go on a swing with her dad and wild imagination? To the stars! This delightful picture book is sure to expand a toddler’s imagination and invoke a few giggles. The images are bold and full of fun surprises. A definite read for storytime!

Jennifer Rodriguez - YA Librarian

Ancient Egypt Explorer by Philip Steele - ESSENTIAL

Steele, Philip Ancient Egypt Explorer (Spotlight), 23 p. Silver Dolphin (Nat'l Geo), 2008. $16

EL - ESSENTIAL

Roam the dark corridors of an Egyptian pyramid, through ruins and tombs and the banks of the Nile with this engaging book. Five spinning wheels make you feel as if you are really shining a flashlight into the hidden corners, while filling your mind with worthwhile facts and tidbits of knowledge. 

I know that there are more books in the series. They would be highly popular, especially at the elementary level or as gifts for a budding explorer. 

Cindy, Library Teacher