Unsinkable Lucile by Hugh Brewster, illustrated by Laurie McGaw - ADVISABLE

Unsinkable Lucile by Hugh Brewster, illustrated by Laurie McGaw. NON-FICTION BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Firefly Books, 2022. $20. 9780228103820

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Lucy Duff spent her younger years growing up on her grandparent’s farm in Canada. When her widowed mother remarried, they returned to England. Later Lucy married James Wallace, but he abandoned her and her daughter, Esme, after six years. Need prodded Lucy to come up with the idea to become a dressmaker. Women loved her designs. Eventually, she opened a dress shop in London under the name "Lucile", then one in New York and Paris. Her designs were famous. As her business grew, she came up with the idea of fashion shows, the first ever to do so.  

Hugh Brewster used quotes from Lucy Duff to enhance his third person telling of her life story. Brewster gives a brief, but clear  glimpse into Lucy's complicated life.  There is a good mix between original photos connected with Lucy Duff's works and beautiful illustrations of the story. Anyone interested in fashion will enjoy the rich history and designs mentioned.

MOMMAC

How to Find a Yeti written and illustrated by Matt Hunt - ADVISABLE

How to Find a Yeti written and illustrated by Matt Hunt. PICTURE BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2025. $19. 9798887772127

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Our nameless protagonist cannot wait to find a yeti in the forest behind his house. He is a self-proclaimed expert - he has read all 27 books available in the library! So he goes exploring with his dog Milo to finally find a yeti, but only time will tell if he actually finds what he is looking for.

It’s a great day to go on a hunt for a yeti with our book’s narrator - the story is a fun adventure story where the reader gets to know something that the main character doesn’t know just yet.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes 

Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth by Joan Schoettler, illustrated by Jessica Lanan - ADVISABLE

Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth by Joan Schoettler, illustrated by Jessica Lanan. PICTURE BOOK. Lee and Low Books, 2011, reprint 2025. $12. 9781643795904

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The Emperor of Korea had called upon Ji-su's mother to live in the royal palace and sew for his household. Ji-su could not go with her. In her sorrow, Ji-su poured her heart and soul into learning how to become a great seamstress by making bojagi, a square cloth of various designs used for multipurpose. One day, the Sanguiwon, the master overseer of sewing at the palace, tells Ji-su that if she could sew a perfect bojagi by the next festival, he would come again to see if she were worthy to live with her mother in the palace.

Schoettler tells a sweet story that also includes the traditions and culture of Korea. She weaves many Korean words into the story which enhance the understanding of Korean society. To help with the Korean words, she created a glossary at the end of the book. Lanan used subdued watercolors to tell this tale of loss, love, and hope. It makes an ideal book to introduce Korean culture. 

MOMMAC 

Mao Mao's Perfectly Imperfect Day written and illustrated by Laan Cham - ADVISABLE

Mao Mao's Perfectly Imperfect Day written and illustrated by Laan Cham. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Children's Books (Penguin Random House), 2025. $19. 9780593710043

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Mao Mao, the perfectionist panda, must learn how to deal with his chaotic, messy, new classmate Olivia. Can he teach her the art of being perfect? Or will he learn an important lesson himself?

As a perennially recovering perfectionist myself, it's an important reminder to embrace the chaos and enjoy life's little messes when you can. I loved the kawaii-inspired art style and I loved the message of the book.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

A Day in the Life of the Desert by Roxie Munro - ADVISABLE

A Day in the Life of the Desert by Roxie Munro  NON-FICTION EARLY READER. Holiday House, 2023. $19 9780823450923 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

There are six North American deserts. They include the Mojave, Sonora, Great Basin, Chihuahua, Painted, and Death Valley. Deserts are fragile ecosystems. The animals and plants that live there have adapted to withstand the heat and low moisture. These animals and plants are interconnected and need each other. If one species dies, it affects the ecosystem forever. We can make a difference by conserving water, decreasing our light pollution, limiting use of recreational vehicles, and reducing energy use. 

The author divided the book into three main topics for each desert which she illustrated. They are: daytime desert animals, nighttime desert animals, and fun facts about animals in each desert. The illustrations are highly detailed with a "find the animal" list at the bottom of each page. Munro has keys to the lists at the back of the book. She also lists organizations that help to protect these wild desert areas.

MOMMAC

Weirdosaurus: Prehistory's Most Peculiar Dinosaurs written and illustrated by Philip Bunting - ADVISABLE

Weirdosaurus: Prehistory's Most Peculiar Dinosaurs written and illustrated by Philip Bunting. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak (Quarto Publishing Group), 2025. $20. 9780711295827

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL (4-6) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Check out over 80 different weird dinosaurs from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods with this detailed and hilarious guide, complete with all the facts and stats that your little dinosaur loving heart could desire.

My eye was caught by the colorful book cover, but I was pleased to learn lots of different things about dinosaurs that I never knew before. Your younger readers might struggle with the Latin names, but the accompanying translation and pronunciation guide will help them out. It’s mostly a reference book with witty commentary from the author, so it will be really appealing to those students who are already interested in dinosaurs, but the illustrations will also draw in those who check it out in passing.

Kiera, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes 

Listen to the Music at Christmas by Mary Richards and Skylar White - OPTIONAL

Listen to the Music at Christmas by Mary Richards and Skylar White. INTERACTIVE PICTURE BOOK. Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2025. $25. 9781836005834

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Sammy and Pip have brought out a special Christmas box with magical objects and a sheet of music that takes them on a magical musical journey around the world to see different ways Christmas is celebrated.

The question you, as an adult, need to ask yourself is - how many times do you want to hear the snippet of music? THe back matter includes the name of each piece. Pip and Sammy’s story is incidental to listening to the tunes.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Fox and Owl’s Winter Adventure by Jackie Lui and Maanlie - ADVISABLE

Fox and Owl’s Winter Adventure by Jackie Lui and Maanlie. PICTURE BOOK. Words and Pictures (Quarto), 2025. $15. 9781836009580

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Fox is awake while his family sleeps snuggly in their den. He goes outside and heads off on an adventure with Owl. 

If you can believe a fox and owl making snow sculptures, then you’ll find Lui’s premise cute. THe illustrations have the perfect wintery feel to them. The back matter includes fix and owl facts, two craft ideas with instructions, and a little game, which help the quality of the book. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Joy to the Whole World by Lucy Brownridge and Sang Miao - OPTIONAL

Joy to the Whole World by Lucy Brownridge and Sang Miao. INTERACTIVE BOARD BOOK. Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2025. $23. 9780711297920

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Travel to eleven homes around the world and learn a little bit about how each of them celebrates Christmas.

While a board book, the pages are large. Each page not only has a lot to discover in the illustrations, but each page has several flaps to lift; the flaps blend into the illustrations, so I had to run my fingers all over the pages to find each of them. The illustrations are very full - almost too much. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Star by Fiona Munro and Laura Hambleton - OPTIONAL

Star by Fiona Munro and Laura Hambleton. BOARD BOOK. Design Eye (Quarto), 2025. $13. 9781805702511

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

If you have worries and troubles, let your star take them away.

Munro has tried to create a little meditation book with cut-outs and a fluffy star. The text  is quite a lot for a board book and the rhyming lines and pattern are quite short, making me feel rushed, rather than calming me like a mindfulness book should. I know my grandson son will try to yank the star out of the book first thing,

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

How Many Sleeps Until Christmas?! by Rebecca Patterson and Luciano Lozano. - OPTIONAL

How Many Sleeps Until Christmas?! by Rebecca Patterson and Luciano Lozano. PICTURE BOOK. Happy Yak (Quarto), 2025. $19. 9781836003021

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

The little girl is so excited about Christmas - she is counting the days.  

While the girl’s enthusiasm is a bit fun to watch, I don’t know how much charm this holds for a child - who wants their own Christmas excitement, not to watch someone else’s. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

As the World Goes By by Jonny Lambert - ADVISABLE

As the World Goes By by Jonny Lambert. PICTURE BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2025. $19. 9781664300552

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Buttons is a cute dog watching the world from his window.  He sees a beautiful blue butterfly go by.  He thinks everyone will want to see this! Buttons rushes outside to share his small wonder with the world, but all the people in the street, and at the cafe don't notice anything.  Two new animal friends pick up the chase.  How will Buttons get people to notice the beautiful butterfly?

As the World Goes By inspires children to find the beauty and stillness in a busy world, and to appreciate the little things in life.  The illustrations are beautiful, interesting and action packed.

PGPowers