Kindness Grows by Britta Teckentrup - ESSENTIAL

Kindness Grows by Britta Teckentrup. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2020. $18. 9781680102291 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Is that a crack formed in anger or a tree growing in kindness? Each of us makes that choice as we decide how to act and react each day. 

First – a CUT-OUT COVER! Fun! and then each page also has a cut out! If you want to add another book about kindness (because we definitely need more of that!), Teckentrup’s has a lovely message paired to her beautiful illustrations. Honestly – I think more adults need to read this picture book too. Read it for the message – love it for the illustrations! 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Ella’s Night Lights by Lucy Fleming - ADVISABLE

Ella’s Night Lights by Lucy Fleming. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2020. $17. 9781536212693 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Tiny Ella has the delicate wings of a moth, so she can only go about at night. As she gathers bits of light from candles and such, she shares that light with those who need just a little help. Her friends know that her greatest wish is to see the sun, so they concoct a plan to help fulfill that dream. 

Sparkles on the cover! Yeah! Ella is so sweet and her friends so kind. Sharing the light can be a simple message, or it can become a metaphor for kindness. Sweet, adorable, lovely. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Maurice and His Dictionary by Cary Fagan and Enzo Lord Mariano - OPTIONAL

Maurice and His Dictionary: A True Story by Cary Fagan, illustrated by Enzo Lord Mariano. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Owl Kids, 2020. $20. 9781771473231 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – OPTIONAL; MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Maurice has lived most of his life in Belgium, but when the Nazis invade, they escape and eventually end up in an internment camp in Jamaica. Maurice is determined to become a lawyer, so he finds teachers willing to help him in the camp – spending a lot of time each night with a dictionary to improve his English. Eventually he gets permission to immigrate to Canada to fulfill his dream. 

Based on the life of the author’s father, Mariano illustrated this like a graphic novel. It is very text heavy, so not suitable for lower elementary grades. It is a great addition to a Holocaust picture book collection, though, adding more dimension. The dictionary does not play a very prominent part in the narrative, so I don’t really understand the title. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Elizabeth Warren's Big, Bold Plans by Laurie Ann Thompson and Susanna Chapman - ADVISABLE

 

Elizabeth Warren's Big, Bold Plans by Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Susanna Chapman PICTURE BOOK, BIOGRAPHY Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020. $18. 9781534475809 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Senator Elizabeth Warren grew up in a middle class family, and wanted to become a teacher. But, when her father suffered a heart attack when Elizabeth was 12, she saw what was like to be poor, and to worry about losing your home when you can't pay bills. She became a teacher, a lawyer, a US Senator, and in 2019, campaigned for President of the United States! Always looking for ways to help people, Elizabeth Warren is full of big, bold plans. 

I loved this book about making plans and then following through - even if your plans change. Susana Chapman's illustrations are great, active and colorful - I loved how Warren aged from little girl to woman. Another great addition to my picture book biographies.

Lisa Librarian

Lift As You Climb: The Story of Ella Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell and R. Gregory Christie - ADVISABLE

Lift As You Climb: The Story of Ella Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell and R. Gregory Christie, PICTURE BOOK, BIOGRAPHY Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon and Schuster), 2020. $18. 9781534406230 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Ella Baker asked herself "What do I hope to accomplish?" And then she did - Ella spent her life working against racial injustice and empowering African Americans. She fought for justice, equal pay, voting rights. She helped form the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and worked from the bottom up, helping people solve their own problems. She listened to and helped the students involved in the sit-ins, bringing them comfort in jail. Her motto: Lift as you climb. 

I love picture book biographies - especially those that introduces remarkable women who helped create change and made a difference. Includes a nice author's note, a description of the organizations Baker was involved in (YNCL, WPA, NAACP etc.) a timeline and a bibliography.

Lisa Librarian

Mouse’s Night Before Christmas by Tracey Corderoy and Sarah Massini - ESSENTIAL

Mouse’s Night Before Christmas by Tracey Corderoy, illustrated by Sarah Massini. PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow (Candlewick), 2020. $18. 9781536214406 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

While the classic tale says that not even a mouse was stirring that Christmas Eve, that wasn’t completely true. There was one little mouse who had a wish and maybe Santa could fulfill it. 

 This Christmas mouse is so sweet! Corderoy has managed to write in the same rhythm as the original classic – the reading flows smoothly and fun. Mouse is so cute and earnest. An instant Christmas favorite. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Sea Knows by McGinty, Havis, and Stephanie Laberis - ESSENTIAL

The Sea Knows by Alice McGinty & Alan Havis, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis. PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Schuster, 2020. $18. 9781534438224 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

The authors’ rhyming text and the illustrator’s vibrant pictures will help you fall into the book and fall in love with the sea. Whether you live next to the water or far away, you can’t help feeling mesmerized and calmed by these pages. And the end papers are a delight! 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

I Will Dance by Nancy Bo Flood and Julianna Swaney - ESSENTIAL

I Will Dance by Nancy Bo Flood, illustrated by Julianna Swaney. PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum (Simon), 2020. $18. 9781534430617 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

A young girl was not expected to live even one minute, but now it has been 10 years – 10 years in a wheelchair, because she can only move her body a little bit. She yearns to dance, but it is only when she finds the Young Dance Company that she truly finds a dance home that truly works to incorporate every person type into dance. 

The Young Dance Company is a real place – a place that should be replicated in every dance studio in the world! From the first page you can feel the girl’s yearning and Swaney really visually shows us the magic of connecting through dance. I would pair this with Birgitta Sif’s Frances Dean Who Loved to Dance and Dance! 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

A Very Quacky Christmas by Frances Watts and Ann James - ESSENTIAL

A Very Quacky Christmas by Frances Watts and Ann James. PICTURE BOOK. Doubleday (Random), 2020. $18. 9780593173770 

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

 AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

 Samantha Duck not only loves Christmas for herself, but she also wants to spread the love to very animal in the world. Her best friend, Sebastian Turtle is skeptical, but goes along to help. Eventually all of the animals on the farm get involved and they are ready for Christmas Eve – but there is one last hurdle they need to overcome. 

The cover looks festive and silly, but the book inside is touching and sweet. I love Sebastian’s skepticism, because he is also willing to be supportive all along the way. He is a good balance for Samantha’s enthusiasm. I will be getting a copy for my personal collection! 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Will You Be My Friend? by Sam McBratney - ADVISABLE

 

Will You Be My Friend? by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram.  PICTURE BOOK Candlewick Press, 2020. $18.  9781536217476  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Little Nutbrown Hare wants to play, but Big Nutbrown Hare is too busy.  As the little hare tries to find someone to play with or something to do, he happens upon a Cloudy Mountain Hare.  The two quickly become friends, but due to a misunderstanding of who is hiding during hide-and-seek, they lose each other.  But at the end they find each other and are friends again.  

The sweet illustrations that made Guess How Much I Love You a hit, with adorable hares can also be found in this picture book.  The touching and simply formed friendship helps young readers to not overcomplicate making friends. Sweet, simple and appealing.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Norman: One Amazing Goldfish! by Kelly Bennett - OPTIONAL

 

Norman: One Amazing Goldfish! by Kelly Bennett, illustrated by Noah Z. Jones.  PICTURE BOOK Candlewick Press, 2020. $17 9781536206715  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Norman the goldfish does all sorts of amazing tricks.  Norman’s owner enters Norman and himself into a pet contest, but Norman gets stage fright and can’t perform his tricks.  When his owner starts to play his tuba, Norman starts to sing and then Norman is shaken from his stage fright and shows everyone what he can do.  

Norman is the cutest goldfish, and the illustrations are bright and attractive.  The storyline seemed a bit far-fetched and there wasn’t an applicable strategy for overcoming stage fright for readers.  Cute pictures, but just an okay story.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson

Mistletoe: a Christmas Story by Tad Hills - ADVISABLE

Mistletoe: a Christmas Story by Tad Hills. PICTURE BOOK. Schwatrz & Wade (Random), 2020. $18. 9780593174425 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Little Mistletoe, a mouse, loves the snow, but her best friend, Norwell an elephant, does not. Mistletoe is sad, but she has a great idea to help Norwell get out in the snow – but it involves A LOT of yarn! 

Knitters will definitely love this (“You can never have too much yarn”), but kids will also like that Mistletoe finds a problem and tries to come up with a solution. 

 Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS