Paper Son : The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung - ADVISABLE

Paper Son : The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung and Chris Sasaki PICTURE BOOK Schwartz & Wade Random House, 2019. $18. 978-1524771874

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When Tyrus Wong was only nine years old he immigrated from China with his father - but, because of the Chinese Exclusion Act, he arrived under a false name with a history that wasn’t his - pretending to be of a more important social class. As he grew up he developed an interest and a talent in art, eventually working for Disney and contributing to the success of Bambi. 

I do love picture book biographies. Includes an author's and an illustrator's note, along with photographs of Wong. A beautifully illustrated picture book biography, I hope my art teachers and social studies teachers will love this!

Lisa Librarian

The Pout-Pout Fish and the Bully-Bully Shark - OPTIONAL

The Pout-Pout Fish and the Bully-Bully Shark by Deborah Diesen, pictures by Dan Hanna, BOARD BOOK Farrar Straus Giroux (MacMillan), 2017. $8. 978-0374312220 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre K - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When a bullying shark takes over the playground scaring all the fish friends, Mr. Fish decides to speak up and tell the shark that he is behaving badly, which emboldens Fish’s friends to stand up to him, too.

The illustrations are delightful and busy - lots to look at and point to, so it would make a great shared board book, however, while the message is important, it resolves itself much too easily, and feels a bit heavy handed and trite. I’m afraid a child attempting the same solution might be sorely disappointed.

Lisa Librarian

There’s an Elf in Your Book by Tom Fletcher and Greg Abbott - ADVISABLE

There’s an Elf in Your Book by Tom Fletcher, illustrated by Greg Abbott.  PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2019.  $18. 9781984893444

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

One of Santa’s elves has arrived to give all the children a  test to see if they belong on the nice list.  Will you pass?  Be careful, however, because elvescan be a bit mischievous - don’t get caught by a trick!

Full of silly holiday fun.  This would be an awesome board book. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Bo the Brave by Bethan Woollvin - OPTIONAL

Bo the Brave by Bethan Woollvin, 32 pages. PICTURE BOOK. Peachtree Publishing Company, 2020. $18. 9781682631829

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When Bo’s big brothers refuse to let her go monster hunting with them, she goes on her own adventure. Bo the Brave discovers what makes a monster instead of a friend.

I love the colorful illustrations and the moral about looking at someone’s actions instead of only what they look like. The protagonist of this book is a girl, and I appreciate the promotion of a female hero in a book for children. However, Woollvin promotes the heroine by setting up a contrast that puts down the boys in the story, which I don’t think is a great message to send.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Little Mole’s Wish by Sang-Keun Kim - NO

Little Mole’s Wish by Sang-Keun Kim. PICTURE BOOK. Schwartz & Wade (Random House), 2019.  $18. 9780525581345

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Little Mole is feeling lonely because he is new to the neighborhood.  As he is waiting for the bus, he makes himself a bear friend from the accumulating snow.  When they finally get on the bus, he wakes to find his friend has melted away.  That night he makes wish and in the morning a surprise awaits him.

While comparable to the classic Frosty the Snowman, it has none of the accompanying magic. Little Mole comes off as sad and pitiful instead of full of wonder.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Tree That’s Meant To Be by Yuval Zommer - ADVISABLE

The Tree That’s Meant To Be by Yuval Zommer.  PICTURE BOOK. Doubleday (Random House), 2019.  $18. 9780593119679

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The tree in the forest didn’t grow straight, it didn’t grow tall, so when the people came for their Christmas trees, he wasn't chosen. He feels alone, but when the forest creatures come to celebrate with him, he becomes a part of the woodland community.

If you want a book to help you argue against the Christmas tree industry, this would be it. The sparkly cover is fun to touch and play with; the drawings are sweet.  

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A is for Audra : Broadway Leading Ladies from A-Z by John Robert Allman

A is for Audra : Broadway Leading Ladies from A-Z by John Robert Allman, illustrated by Peter Emmerich PICTURE BOOK Doubleday Random House, 2019. $19. 978-0525645405 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), OPTIONAL, GIFT - ESSENTIAL 

ADVISABLE AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Ahhh! An Alphabet book about the greatest musical theater actresses ever to tread the boards? You better believe it! Each has at least a full page illustration in their iconic role with a caption at the bottom in case you aren’t familiar and the year and title of the show. 

So much fun to read with my drama buddies as we tried to guess the actress by just the picture - the short rhymed text is an additional tribute. Some of the trickier letters are creatively managed by making Bernadette Peters Queen, and including small portraits of an additional 32 divas on X (for extra). Be still my heart. Am I gushing? YES! My favorite part (besides the pictures) is that the end pages are for autographs - challenge accepted!

Lisa Librarian

With a Little Help From My Friends by John Lennon and Paul McCartney - ADVISABLE

With a Little Help From My Friends by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, illustrated by Henry Cole PICTURE BOOK Little Simon Simon and Schuster, 2019 $18 978-1534429833 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Two little girls find each other and become fast friends, but then, when one of them moves away, they “get by” writing letters, calling each other and planning a visit. The text is the lyrics of the Beatles song "With a Little Help from My Friends"

I have loved this series of illustrated classic songs. Even better when you listen to the song while you read. Henry Cole’s illustrations are splashed with color and nicely expressive. Imagining a story based on song lyrics.
Lisa Librarian

If Animals Celebrated Christmas by Ann Whitford Paul

If Animals Celebrated Christmas by Ann Whitford Paul, pictures by David Walker, BOARD BOOK Farrar Straus Giroux (MacMillan), 2018. $8. 978-0374313081 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

There are a lot of Christmas traditions, like writing Santa letters wearing jingle bells, decorating the tree and making gifts. What if Animals celebrated Christmas? What might that look like? 

David Walker has made the dearest illustrations of all sorts of animals (but mostly Koalas) in their habitats celebrating the holidays. The rhyming text makes for a fun read aloud.

Lisa Librarian

Merry Christmas Little Elliot by Mike Curato - ADVISABLE

Merry Christmas Little Elliot by Mike Curato BOARD BOOK Henry Holt (MacMillan), 2019 $8 978-1250209849 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Little Elliot (a toy elephant) asks Santa for Christmas Spirit but is told he has to find that for himself. After visiting several iconic New York Christmas locations, Elliot finds a lost Santa letter, and his Christmas Spirit, too. 

So much fun to find Little Elliot in a Christmas Board book. From Macy’s window to sitting in Santa’s lap, the tree in Rockefeller center and a walk in Central Park, the nostalgic setting reminded me of Miracle on 34th street. A delightful holiday book to share with a little one.

Lisa Librarian

Birdsong by Julie Flett - ADVISABLE

Birdsong by Julie Flett, PICTURE BOOK Greystone Kids, 2019. $18. 9781771644730 

BUYING ADVISORY:EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A young girl and her mother move from the city to a small house out in the country, near an elderly woman named Agnes. Over the course of a year, the young girl helps her neighbor, shares some of her Cree traditions and learns about art and clay from Agnes. 

Flett is a great storyteller using minimal text and beautiful pastel illustrations. I love her illustrations! She brings this simple story of an intergenerational friendship to life in such a sweet way.

Lisa Librarian

Deep Breaths : Sometimes all you have to do is chill! by Carol Thompson - ADVISABLE

Deep Breaths : Sometimes all you have to do is chill! by Carol Thompson, PICTURE BOOK Rodale Kids (Random House), 2019. $15. 9781984893970 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL - AVERAGE

 Dolly and Jack are best friends and have so much fun together, but one day, when they get into a silly argument, they decide they are no longer friends. Dolly is angry and upset and sad, so is Jack. Dolly does some deep breathing to calm down; she takes a warm bath. Jack counts slowly to ten, and rests quietly thinking about good things. So, when they meet up again the next day, they are ready to be best friends again. 

Originally published in Australia, Carol Thompson's darling story about calming yourself down and what to do when friends have a fight is great! Their play is adorable and crazy fun, and their fight is authentic. I really loved that Dolly and Jack first experienced their emotions, calmed down, and then they worked through making up without rehashing the circumstances. A marvelous book to teach simple conflict resolution as well as emotional management.

Lisa Librarian