Big as a Giant Snail by Jess Keating and David DeGrand - ESSENTIAL

Big as a Giant Snail by Jess Keating, illustrations by David DeGrand. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Knopf (Random), 2022. $18. 9780593300848 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Keating introduces us to a new cast of characters – this time creatures that are considered giant for their type. For Reddit users out there, Keating adds a banana scale (1), such as a blue whale is 200 bananas long, or the largest snail is 1 banana length. Fun and educational – as always. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Out of a Jar by Deborah Marcero - ADVISABLE

Out of a Jar by Deborah Marcero. PICTURE BOOK. Putnam (Penguin), 2022. $18. 9780593326374 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Starting with fear, every time Llewelyn feels a feeling, he locks it away in a jar and tries to forget it. One day, however, There is no more room and the jars all crack. How will Llewlyn deal with all of those feelings now? 

While simplistic in message, Marcero writes a great book about the importance of owning, acknowledging and then releasing feelings. Beyond students enjoying the book for its lively illustrations and cute bunnies, school therapists will love this for sharing and talking to kids who want help. Great end papers and a cover case surprise. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Baby Loves Political Science: Justice! by Ruth Spiro and Greg Paprocki - OPTIONAL

Baby Loves Political Science: Justice! by Ruth Spiro and Greg Paprocki. BOARD BOOK Charlesbridge, 2020. $7. 9781623542283 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre K - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When baby doesn't follow the rules, he has consequences. At school, baby learns that rules keep everyone safe. Grownup's rules are called laws. The constitution lists many laws and rights. A lawyer can help explain the laws and courts are there to ensure fair treatment for all. This is called Justice. 

As a board book for babies, I love the illustrations, I love that there are people of all different cultures. The simple explanation of laws and justice is probably better for a bit older child, but this series is fun. You can't get them started too soon learning about how the government works.

Lisa Librarian

She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer by Kathryn Lasky and Julianna Swaney - OPTIONAL

She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer by Kathryn Lasky and Julianna Swaney. PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY Harper Collins, 2021. $18. 9780062849304 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Little Mina's father was a photographer. She was curious and had lots of questions about how everything worked. She taught school and at 20 married and moved to Boston. She got a job working for the director of the Harvard College Observatory. She was his maid, but again was full of questions. Soon she was working for him as a calculator, creating a map of the Universe. Wow, oh wow. She wasn't allowed to look through a telescope! 

The things we learn about women in these wonderful picture book biographies are remarkable insights into the 20th century. I had to re-read parts several times and am still not sure I understood exactly what she was doing, it's a bit technical. Kids who are into this will really love learning about Williamina Stevens Fleming.

Lisa Librarian

Geraldine and the Anti-Bullying Shield by Sol Regwen and Denise Muzzio - NO

Geraldine and the Anti-Bullying Shield by Sol Regwen, illustrated by Denise Muzzio. PICTURE BOOK. Schiffer Kids, 2021. $17. 9780764361135

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

When Jimmy steps up his playground bullying, Geraldine decides to build a anti-bullying shield to show him what he looks like.

From calling the other child “Jimmy the Bully”, to an odd shield covered with mirrors to reflect Jimmy’s mean face, and on through poorly drawn illustrations – I cannot recommend this.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS h

All We Need by Kathy Wolff and Margaux Meganck - ADVISABLE

All We Need by Kathy Wolff, illustrated by Margaux Meganck. PICTURE BOOK. Bloomsbury, 2021. $18. 9781619638747

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Wolff’s ode to the little things in life is a beautiful tribute to first the basics – air, water – moving on to food and family, through a prompting to share with those around us.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Christina’s Carol by Tomie DePaola - NO

Christina’s Carol by Tomie DePaola. PICTURE BOOK. Simon, 2021. $18. 978-1534418486

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

DePaola illustrates Christina Rosetti’s poem “In the Bleak Midwinter”. For those who collect Christmas picture books, this may be an option. However, there is no backmatter to act as context for the poem, or even Rosetti’s full name, so it is not helpful.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Capybara is Friends With Everyone by Maddie Frost - ADVISABLE

Capybara is Friends With Everyone by Maddie Frost. PICTURE BOOK. HarperCollins, 2022. $19. 9780063021020

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Capybara knows all about being a friend – they have more than 4000 of them, after all. After showing us how good of a friend they are, they run into sloth, who seems to be resistant to capybara’s charms. Maybe Capybara needs to rethink his ideas about friendship.

Capybara’s energy is infectious – quite the drama queen (Capy’s gender is actually unspecified). I love the slight contrasts between Capy’s first ideas about being a good friend and their new perspective – instructive without being didactic.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Night Is for Darkness by Jonathan Stutzman and Joseph Kuefler - ADVISABLE

The Night Is for Darkness by Jonathan Stutzman and Joseph Kuefler. PICTURE BOOK Balzer + Bray (Harper Collins), 2020. $18. 9780062912534 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

2 children start off on a road tip with their dad at night.  It's very late as they are the practically the only ones out on the road. They see deer crossing the highway, rabbits running alongside their car. They pass through woods and see animals hiding in the trees. It rains and they play with flashlights in the car. As they arrive, they see bats in the sky and hear the sounds of the night. But the house they arrive at is bright and mom is inside waiting for them. 

The Night is for Darkness is a perfect bedtime story - the illustrations with their shafts of light through them are great. The beautiful text is calming and happy. Includes prayers and tucking in; gorgeous.

Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 6)

Awake by Mags DeRoma - OPTIONAL

Awake by Mags DeRoma. PICTURE BOOK. Roaring Brook (Macmillan), 2021. $19. 9781250753199

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The little girl is ready to go to bed, but --- SPIDER!! She doesn’t know what to do! She thinks of and discards many plans, before she is successful. BUT – looking into the little spider’s eyes – maybe some kindness is necessary?

While I don’t love the scattered beginning of the read (perhaps echoing the scattered panic thoughts of the girl?), I do like the ending very much, complete with instructions for rescuing insects without killing them. That could be very comforting for kids who are skittish around insects.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Antoinette the Tree Frog by Géraldine Elschner Xavière Devos - NO

Antoinette the Tree Frog illustrated by Géraldine Elschner Xavière Devos. BOARD BOOK. Schiffer, 2021. $9. 9780764361104

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Antoinette has a favorite lily pad for her daily sunbathing. When a breeze blows Mr.Claude’s hat off, Antoinette decides that she has found a new perfect lounging spot. 

Antoinette’s story is just too short. It is part of a series called First Steps in ART, but this first step doesn’t really connect to the art in a meaningful way.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

ABC Factor by Katrina Charman and Tony Neal - ESSENTIAL

ABC Factor by Katrina Charman, illustrated by Tony Neal. PICTURE BOOK. Farshore, 2022. $10 (paperback). 9781405298575 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Dog is famous for appearing in alphabet books, but she wants to create her own ABC with unique animals. The Stick Bus is sure that he can make the cut, but it may take all the way to the end of the alphabet. 

A darling take on an ABC book. Neal’s illustrations add that extra humor with great expressions and interactions amongst the animals. Kids will have so much fun learning the odd animal names and enjoying the pictures. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS