Pip and Zip by Elana K. Arnold and Doug Salati - ESSENTIAL

Pip and Zip by Elana K. Arnold illustrated by Doug Salati. PICTURE BOOK  Holtzbrinck Publishing, 2022. $19. 9781250796981 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

During the lockdown during the pandemic a family gets sick of everything inside and decides to go for a walk in the beautiful spring weather. Along the way they find two abandoned duck eggs that they want to take home and care for and keep them safe. They have a friend, Ted,  who is a wildlife conservator and he helps them and shows them what to do. Ted loaned the family an incubator. While the eggs incubated, the family learned as much as they could about taking care of baby ducks. 

It was fun to learn so much about how to care for duck eggs. Usually the chicks will hatch after 28 days. The story is part true and part made up. I enjoyed the vivid illustrations and especially the Author's Notes at the end of the book. This actually happened to his family during the pandemic! Read and enjoy, share this adorable story with your little one and with your very young students. I believe that if a parent or a teacher reads this book to young students, the interest in the book will be really high. Happy reading! 

Ellen-Anita. Librarian

One and Everything by Sam Winston - ESSENTIAL

One and Everything by Sam Winston. PICTURE BOOK (K-3rd grade) Candlewick Studio 2022 $20 9781536215663 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Stories are everywhere. People in every country and on every continent tell a lot of stories. However, one day a story comes along that thinks it is bigger and better than all the other stories and this story just gobbles them all up. This story that want to be the biggest, the greatest story ever and consumes all the stories about dogs, seas, and everything else. But something bad is happening. Is this story making the world smaller? 

Read this fascinating story and study the abstract pictures and enjoy every minute of reading this wonderful book. It is very unusual and very original. I liked it and it made me think. I will probably be thinking about it for a long time. I think students would like it if this was read to them, and it could lead to some very interesting and deep discussion. Have fun with this one. 

Ellen-Anita. Librarian

If Kids Could Drive by Marisa Kollmeier, Teepoo Riaz, and Brandon Dorman - ESSENTIAL

If Kids Could Drive by Marisa Kollmeier and Teepoo Riaz, illustrated by Brandon Dorman. PICTURE BOOK. Jimmy Patterson (Disney), 2021. $19. 9780316494090

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

If only kids could drive, cars would be more fun, the roads would be magical, and the parents would always be in the back seat.

Hard to describe everything delightful and silly that Dorman crammed into the pages. The illustrations are very whimsical Lean into the silliness adults and enjoy reading with your kids.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Good Books for Bad Children by Beth Kephart, and Chloe Bristol - OPTIONAL

Good Books for Bad Children: the genius of Ursula Nordstrom by Beth Kephart, illustrated by Chloe Bristol. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Anne Schwartz Books (Random House), 2023. $19. 9780593379578

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Ursula spent most of her childhood living at boarding school after her parents divorced. Her first job was at a Harper and Brothers working as a secretary, but after five years she became the assistant for the Department of Books for Boys and Girls, which led to a life ling love of nurturing authors and illustrators of books for young people.

As much as I was interested in Ursula’s story (must admit here that I have never heard of her, because an editor’s job is mostly thankless), I don’t see a long term interest for young readers in this story. She is a worthy person to know if you are involved in publishing

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

The Magic of a Small Town Christmas by Megan Alexander and Hiroe Nakata - ADVISABLE

The Magic of a Small Town Christmas by Megan Alexander illustrated by Hiroe Nakata. PICTURE BOOK Aladdin, 2022. $20. 9781665929806

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A darling story with cure illustrations that show how the people of Heartfelt Falls enjoy each season, but especially Christmas time. It show how they carefully pick out a nicely, scented tree, bring it home to decorate. They hang their stockings by the fire and prepare many treats and a big meal to share. 

It is a most heartfelt and delightful story and the illustrations are just perfect for this story. I loved the cute story and the beautiful illustrations so full of happiness and joy. I am sure little children would want this book read to them again and again. There are so many things to look at in the pictures, too. 

Ellen-Anita. Librarian

Twenty Trucks Presents Truck Tunes by Jim Gardner, Rob Gardner - ESSENTIAL

Truck Tunes: 45 Truck Songs to Sing Aloud Together by Jim Gardner, Rob Gardner PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION PR Kids, 2023. $20. 9780762482139 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

This book has pictures of twenty different big trucks with the story of each in poetry form. All the poems are songs (check the YouTube channel Twenty Trucks.) You and your child can sing along. 

Truck Tunes is full of dynamic pictures of big trucks at work. Every page is colorful and bright all the way to the edge of the page. I love this informative and fun book. My students loved it when I read it to them, and they loved it even more when we sang along with the YouTube channel. The brother duo, Jim and Rob Gardner really have a winner with this book, the lyrics and the songs. I highly recommend Truck Tunes for homes, classrooms and libraries. It is good, clean fun, and a great learning experience. This one is a "must have!" 

Ellen-Anita. Librarian

How the Grinch Lost Christmas! By Alastair Heim, illustrated by Aristides Ruiz - ESSENTIAL

How the Grinch Lost Christmas! by Alastair Heim, illustrated by Aristides Ruiz. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2023. $20. 9780593563168

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Grinch has fallen in love with Christmas and to prove it the Whos, he decides he is going to win the Christmas tree decorating contest on Christmas day. When he plan thwarted, will he return to his grinchy ways, or will Cindy Lou Who step in again to save the day?

I was a little skeptical about a Grinch sequel, but Heim does justice to the original and adds a shiny new chapter to the classic tale. It is wordy like the original, so if you pick it up to read aloud, it is a longer selection.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

Esperanza Caramelo: the star of Nochebuena by Karla Arenas Valenti, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri - ADVISABLE

Esperanza Caramelo: the star of Nochebuena by Karla Arenas Valenti, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. PICTURE BOOK. Knopf (Random), 2023. $19. 9780593488676

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

On the night before Nochebuena, a beautiful sugar figurine is touched by magic and comes awake. She shares her magic with the other sugar figures and they celebrate together the magic of the season. When disaster strikes, the figurines hurry to repair the damage before their baker awakes. 

Christmas magic bringing inanimate objects to life is an important part of many Christmas stories. Valenti’s story is based on her grandmother’s sugar molding talent that brought so much magic to her own life.  The bright illustrations enhance the Latinx tradition on display.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

The Pet Potato by Josh Lacey and Momoko Abe - ESSENTIAL

The Pet Potato by Josh Lacey, illustrated by Momoko Abe. PICTURE BOOK (K-3rd grade) Roaring Book Press. 2022. $19. 9781250834157

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

There was a little boy named Albert who wanted a pet more than anything, but his parents said no. One day, his dad was joking and gave him a potato as a pet. Albert was sad until his imagination kicked in, and that potato became the best pet ever. However, pets, including potatoes, don't live forever, or does it? 

The Pet Potato is so delightful. The illustrations are bold and fun. The characters, especially the joking dad, are so relatable. Every child who has wanted a pet and been told no will love this little story. The illustrations show that the dad is black, and the mom is white, which makes Albert biracial. 

J. Smith

Me and You in a Book Made for Two by Jean Reidy and Joey Chou - ADVISABLE

Me and You in a Book Made for Two by Jean Reidy illustrated by Joey Chou PICTURE BOOK Harper Collins Childrens Books, 2022. $19. 9780063041516 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

This children's book is a poem about togetherness and friendship. When we open our hearts to one another with love, the world becomes a more welcoming place. Children are shown sharing their imaginary adventures, creating excitement, peace, and happiness. 

A rhyming poem is always a fun read aloud with children. The illustrations are bright and engaging. This book is a great starting point for discussions about friendship and creativity. The children pictured have a wide diversity of skin, hair, and eye colors. 

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian

Peep and Ducky It’s Snowing! By David Martin and David Walker - ADVISABLE

Peep and Ducky It’s Snowing! By David Martin, illustrated by David Walker. BOARD BOOK. Candlewick, 2023 (board book edition). $8. 9781536233285

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/2019/01/peep-and-ducky-its-snowing-by-david.html

Loved this as a picture book and love it more as a board book!

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS

We are Afro Unicorns by April Showers and Anthony Conley - ADVISABLE

We are Afro Unicorns by April Showers, illustrated by Anthony Conley. PICTURE BOOK. Little Golden Books (Random), 2023. $6. 9780593704172

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Welcome to the world of the Afro Unicorns. Meet Unique, Divine, and Magical - the Afro Unicorns who are always trying to bring out the best in their fellow Afro Unicorns. 

A very cute Golden Book intro to the Afro Unicorns.  The Unicorns are everything would hope for - shades of brown, gorgeous manes, and super kind to everyone. I had not heard of them before, but I see there is merch available in places like Target, Walmart, and others. I wouldn’t be surprised if a tv show comes soon.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS