A Stickler Christmas by Lane Smith - ADVISABLE

A Stickler Christmas by Lane Smith. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2024. $19. 9780593815281

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

APPEALS TO: SOME

Stickler has his presents ready to go this Christmas season.  A stick for everyone - but not just any stick.  The right stick for each friend. Only one problem, Doug the Fir Tree does not want a stick. Some mice decorated him with lights and tinsel and he is just embarrassed.  But luckily, clever Stickler has an idea.

Stickler, our odd-looking friend, is back for Christmas! His oddity makes him endearing.  And his generous heart really sparkles. I kind of want a stuffie of him for myself.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

It’s Winter by Renee Kurilla - ADVISABLE

It’s Winter by Renee Kurilla. PICTURE BOOK. Little Brown, 2024. $19. 9780316570138

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

For kids who live in a snowy winter climate, there is much to enjoy that they can’t any other time of the year. And there is a variety of holidays that various people can also celebrate.

A cozy little book about many things winter.  The rhyming text flows nicely; the illustrations evoke the snowy days. I hope this will also grow up and become a board book some day.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Doris by Lo Cole - ADVISABLE

Doris by Lo Cole. PICTURE BOOK. Harper Collins, 2024. $19. 9781915801289

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Doris is a shy, red elephant. When she is the center of attention, she shouts, "Stop looking at me" and runs into another page where she hides int he picture. But, when Doris finds herself on a totally red page, she feels completely lost and doesn't like the feeling. Then she meets a blue rhinoceros.....

Cole’s  story will ring true for our little introverts. They so want to be themselves, but find it hard to be in the limelight. The simple story and illustrations allow the reader to focus on the message, with preaching.

MOMMAC

What a Rock Can Reveal by Maya Wei- Haas and Sonia Pulido - ESSENTIAL

What a Rock Can Reveal by Maya Wei- Haas, illustrated by Sonia Pulido. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Phaidon Press, Inc., 2024. $20. 9781838667900

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

There is no boring rock. Take a close look at what it can reveal. Each rock tells a story by it's origins. Rocks tell us about the earth's history. We can even learn things about the moon by it's rocks. We use rocks for all kinds of purposes.

Wei-Haas has created an encyclopedic scope of what rocks are. The dimensions of the book are terrific.  The information presented is clear and concise. But, the book's biggest drawback is the illustrations.  While the illustrations are a good attempt, the problem is that this should have been presented with real photos.  One cannot grasp the beauty and diversity of rock the way these illustrations are presented.

MOMMAC

Eight Sweet Nights: A Hanukkah Story by Charlotte Offsay and Menahem Halberstadt - ADVISBLE

Eight Sweet Nights: A Hanukkah Story by Charlotte Offsay, illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt. PICTURE BOOK. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

A family is gathering together to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah. The food, the games, the presents, the joy are all highlighted.

You have to wait for the back matter to learn why the family is celebrating Hanukkah, but that way the story gets a longer explanation than if it were within the story itself. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Little Red Saves Christmas by Will Hillenbrand - OPTIONAL

Little Red Saves Christmas by Will Hillenbrand. BOARD BOOK. Little Brown, 2024. $8. 9780316578912

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre- K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Little Red and its driver, Katie, are busy in their town as the snow comes down.  It seems like everyone needs a fix of some sort.

Little Red may headline the title of this board book, but Katie seems to do most of the work inside the pages. Also, most of the tasks are winter related, not necessarily Christmas-y.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Most Boring Book Ever by Brandon Sanderson and Kazu Kibuishi - ESSENTIAL

The Most Boring Book Ever by Brandon Sanderson, illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi. PICTURE BOOK. Roaring Brook (Macmillan), 2024. $19. 9781250843661

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

The boy sits on the chair, looks at clouds, and thinks about laundry.  

Sanderson and Kibuishi show us that words don’t always convey the breadth and intensity of a story. What was happening while the boy sat in the chair?  You’ll have to read to see!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Shapes (Touch and Trace) by Sasha Morton and Owen Davey

Shapes (Touch and Trace) by Sasha Morton and Owen Davey. BOARD BOOK. Spring Street (Union Square), 2024. $9. 9781915801456

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Meet nine shapes and trace each of them.

This is the most logical of the topics for a Touch and Trace book. Little ones will enjoy feeling each shape. I even tried with my eyes closed - so fun.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Mouse Family Christmas by Deborah Underwood and Leah Hong - ADVISABLE

A Mouse Family Christmas by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Leah Hong. PICTURE BOOK. Little Brown, 2024. $19. 9780316467186

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

The big house is very quiet downstairs and the Mouse Family upstairs takes notice. Since the old man was kind to them, they decide to secretly decorate his tree too.  Maybe the snowstorm held up his family?

Though you risk your little ones inviting mice to hang out for Christmas, the story is sweet and heartfelt.  Very much in the vein of a traditional Christmas story. The end papers are super cute, too. And the little touch at the end, letting us know the man is not forgotten, is a great heart-tug.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Merry Christmas, Dear Mars by Penny Parker Klosterman, illustrated by Estrela Lourenco - ESSENTIAL

Merry Christmas, Dear Mars by Penny Parker Klosterman, illustrated by Estrela Lourenco. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2024. $19. 9781250870308

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

The inhabitants of Mars are doing all that they can to attract Santa’s attention this year.

Darling! Klosterman syncopates her rhymes and schema to the pattern of the original with no false beats and no clunky verbiage. A truly delightful story that I will happily add to my personal collection, too. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Opposites by Sasha Morton and Owen Davey - OPTIONAL

Opposites (Touch and Trace) by Sasha Morton and Owen Davey. BOARD BOOK. Spring Street (Union Square), 2024. $9. 9781915801463

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Ten two-page spreads look at opposites.

Colorful illustrations delight the eye and a bit of cutout on each page adds some tactile interest.  Not a book for a child with vision problems, but for a child who revels in touch, these can be interesting.  There are 6 books in the Touch and Trace series.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Next Scientist by Kate Messner, illustrated by Julia Kuo - ADVISABLE

The Next Scientist by Kate Messner, illustrated by Julia Kuo. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Chronicle, 2024. $20. 9781452176963

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

When every scientist was young, they were a kid exploring the world, curious about life, reading, playing, being. And when they got older, that curiosity and those skills, were part of their journey into science.

Messner, in a way different from her Next President book, shows us how children grow up to make a difference in the world.  A well-crafted overview of scientists throughout history, even-handedly showing us many women along with the men, and from all over the world.

Cindy, MS Library Teacher