We Who Produce Pearls: An Anthem for Asian America written by Joanna Ho and illustrated by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya - ADVISABLE

We Who Produce Pearls: An Anthem for Asian America written by Joanna Ho and illustrated by Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya.  PICTURE BOOK.  Orchard Books (Scholastic Inc), 2024.  $19.  9781338846652

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (1-3), EL (4-6) – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A bold and unapologetic poem celebrating all the things that Asian Americans have contributed to American history and culture, empowering those to stand proud in their heritage against racism and bigotry.

Phingbodhipakkiya’s bold and graphic illustrations complement the text perfectly. They are a great source to practice inference and analysis skills, in conjunction with the allusions in the text. Ho and Phingbodhipakkiya do a really nice job of including so many different backgrounds and cultures that are umbrellaed under the Asian American label. It’s a visually stunning, inclusive, empowering anthem for those of Asian American descent.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

A Stone Is a Story by Leslie Barnard Booth and Marc Martin - ADVISABLE

A Stone Is a Story by Leslie Barnard Booth illustrated by Marc Martin. PICTURE BOOK  NON-FICTION Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2023. $19. 9781534496941

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The Life of a stone begins gushing out from a volcano, and is then affected by roots, glaciers, rivers, wind, new mountains, rain and sea. It has been transformed by the depth and surface of the earth over eras of time. 

Booth has created a lyrical story about where rocks come from. It was very enjoyable to think about all the eras of time and forces working on a stone that you may one day pick up in your hand. The watercolor illustrations are mesmerizing and beautiful. I liked the fact sheet and glossary at the end for more in depth study.

PGPowers 

Ethan and the Strays by John Sullivan and Hatem Aly - ADVISABLE

Ethan and the Strays written by John Sullivan and illustrated by Hatem Aly.  PICTURE BOOK.  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (Simon & Schuster), 2023.  $19.  9781534471320

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A sweet and tender story about a young boy who finds stray kittens in the city and does what he can to help them, with the aid of the trap-neuter-return program at a local shelter. There is no specific reference to the boy’s ethnicity or socioeconomic status, but he is depicted with brown skin and curly afro-like hair.

I really liked how informative this story was about how to help control the feral cat population. As the protagonist, Ethan helps readers channel their love of animals into helpful action. I especially liked how the story has the brothers make use of their community resources, like the local library and animal shelter. This book could be a great way to introduce community needs and resources available to students who might be unaware that they exist.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

The BIG Violet Book of Beginner Books by Dr. Seuss, Alastair Heim, Tom Brannon, and Katie Kath - HIGH

The BIG Violet Book of Beginner Books by Dr. Seuss and Alastair Heim illustrated by Dr. Seuss, Tom Brannon, and Katie Kath PICTURE BOOK Penguin Random House LLC, 2023. $18. 9780593702987 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Kids who can't get enough Dr. Seuss will love counting along with colorful illustrations in Dr. Seuss's 1, 2, 3; reading about all the Seussian animals in the Book of Animals; and dreaming up crazy ideas for their own school with the Cat in the Hat.

This is a compilation of 6 books and includes Dr. Seuss's Book of Colors; Dr. Seuss's Book of Animals; Dr. Seuss's 1, 2, 3; Come Over to My House (with updated illustrations); What Pet Should I Get?; and If I Ran Your School--by the Cat in the Hat.  Come Over to My House is the only one of these stories actually written by Dr. Seuss. The other stories are written in Dr. Seuss style. The first three stories are written on a low level. The new illustrations in Come Over to My House show many ethnicities and cultures without being stereotypical.

For me, this is a take it or leave it book. However, kids will love checking it out from the library. 

Rachel, Elementary Library Specialist

A Girl Can Build Anything by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, Pat Zietlow Miller, and Keisha Morris - ESSENTIAL

A Girl Can Build Anything written by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo and Pat Zietlow Miller, and illustrated by Keisha Morris.  PICTURE BOOK.  Viking Books for Young Readers (Penguin Random House), 2023.  $19.  9780593463741

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This one is for all the dreamers and doers out there. An ode to girls everywhere who start with a dream, who work, and brainstorm, and persevere in order to make something great.

I loved this book! The illustrations were playful and fun - and inclusive! It was great to see so many different kinds of creators illustrated on the page. The content was empowering and encouraged dreamers to keep working, even if something fails at first. This would be great for STEM classes or makerspace labs or in a classroom or school library.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Stomp and Chomp: My First Book of Dinosaurs written by Simon Mole, illustrated by Matt Hunt - ADVISABLE

Stomp and Chomp: My First Book of Dinosaurs written by Simon Mole and illustrated by Matt Hunt.  PICTURE BOOK.  Candlewick Press, 2023.  $20.  9781536231243

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

All the things you wanted to know about dinosaurs big and small, in small manageable poetic chunks. Learn about the meat-eaters and the plant-eaters and everything in-between.

This is a fun introduction to the world of dinosaurs. Each page offers a pronunciation guide so your budding paleontologist can correctly tell everyone what their favorite dinosaur is. The book covers over 30+ dinosaurs in a variety of poetic formats, so this could work in a science class or in an ELA class too.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Beulah Has a Hunch! written and illustrated by Katie Mazeika - OPTIONAL

Beulah Has a Hunch! written and illustrated by Katie Mazeika.  PICTURE BOOK.  Beach Lane Books (Simon & Schuster), 2023.  $19.  9781665903639

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

A biographical account of Beulah Henry, a white upper class woman in the early 1900s America, who had more patents to her name than any other woman in history. She eventually gained the nickname “Lady Edison” and would have several factories in her name.

I wanted to love this story more than I did. A woman in STEM? Heck yes! However, the story was boring and not very inspiring. I think it would only appeal to a small portion of readers.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes 

Big Truck Super Wash by Stephen R. Swinburne, illustrated by James Rey Sanchez - ADVISABLE

Big Truck Super Wash by Stephen R. Swinburne, illustrated by James Rey Sanchez.  PICTURE BOOK.  Holiday House, 2023.  $19.  9780823445882

BUYING ADVISORY: PreK, EL (1-3) – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A series of large working class vehicles - like a tractor, a garbage truck, a semi and more - desperately need a clean up. They all come to the Big Truck Super Wash to get soaped and scrubbed, and made brand new.

This is such a fun story. Any child that loves to play with trucks or is fascinated in the car wash will love seeing the different vehicles go through the Big Truck Super Wash and come out clean in the end. There is also a lot of fun onomatopoeia throughout the story, which can serve a great mentor text. 

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

A Beetle is Shy by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long - ADVISABLE

A Beetle is Shy by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long.  PICTURE BOOK.  Chronicle Books, 2023.  $8.  9781797215877

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (4-6), MS, HS – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A paperback version of Aston and Long’s book on beetles as part of their series of science/nature themed picture books with gorgeous watercolor illustrations.

The watercolor illustrations are beautiful and eye-catching. The text does a good job of being simple and informative, without being overwhelming. This would be perfect for any science collection, and appealing for all ages.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Hedgehog and the Log by Pam Fong - ESSENTIAL

Hedgehog and the Log by Pam Fong. PICTURE BOOK Union Square, 2024 $19.00 9781454948537 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

When Hedgehog builds a new house, a tree falls on it, shattering it to bits! He was so mad at the tree. he shouted at it, he cried, and he felt sorry for himself, but nothing worked. The tree wouldn't move. Can Hedgehog move on and figure out a different solution to his housing problem? 

First of all, the illustrations are one of the best parts of this story. I loved that Hedgehog outgrew his house and that it seemed to be mostly because of all of his books (lol, me too!) I loved the range of emotions identified. Some were mentioned by name, others implied. A great example of resiliency and how we react when bad things happen. 

Lisa Librarian

Sprout Branches Out by Jessika Von Innerebner - ADVISABLE

Sprout Branches Out by Jessika Von Innerebner. PICTURE BOOK Roaring Book Press. 2023. $19. 9781250848789

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Sprout is a potted plant that has only been able to grow two little leaves. She thinks things can't be right for her to grow on her small porch, so she sets off into the woods. But, the woods are too scary. Maybe the jungle will have what she needs? 

Oh, the plant puns! You'd better be-leaf this book has some good puns. The illustrations were quite adorable. I liked the message that we sometimes have what we need all along, we just have to look for it and be patient. 

Rachel, Elementary Library Specialist 

The Little Green Envelope by Gillian Sze, illustrated by Claudine Crangle - ADVISABLE

The Little Green Envelope by Gillian Sze, illustrated by Claudine Crangle.  PICTURE BOOK.  Groundwood Books (House of Anansi Press), 2023.  $20.  9781773066813

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Olive is sad because her friend moved far away and she cannot visit her. The little green envelope wishes it could travel too. Olive writes a letter but will the little green envelope finally get its own grand adventure?

I thought this was so clever with the story being about sending a piece of paper in the mail and having all the gorgeously made illustrations made out of paper too. This would be such a cute story to share with students and then have them write to someone and send the letter or postcard in the mail.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes