Month: February 2022

Road Trip! A Whiskers Hollow Adventure

Road Trip! A Whiskers Hollow AdventureRoad Trip!: A Whiskers Hollow Adventure by Steve Light
Published by Candlewick Press on February 9, 2021
ISBN: 1536209473
Pages: 40
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Road Trip! is a nice story with a vintage feel that would be a nice addition to any library. When Bear’s car needs a repair, he recruits his friends to go on a road trip with to find the part he needs. Simple story, great illustrations, and the  inexplicably endearing  detail that all of the animals, even the Elephant who owns the junkyard, are smaller than an acorn, makes this a good choice for bedtime or story time. I hope there are more books from Whiskers Hollow.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

four-stars

Shine Like a Unicorn

Shine Like a UnicornShine Like a Unicorn by Maddie Frost, Shelli R. Johannes
Published by HarperCollins on September 21, 2021
ISBN: 0062998331
Pages: 32
Goodreads

This picture book invites the reader to follow the nine super-secret steps to learn how to shine like a unicorn, like the book’s narrator Glitter Poop. With a rainbow pallet sure to catch the eye of any unicorn-lover, this book is bright and fun and packs a fantastic message. Unicorns are curious and polite and unapologetic about being themselves and loving themselves for who they are. Readers will want to look for all of the other creatures in the book who are trying to follow the steps and be a unicorn too. This one will not stay on the shelf for long and is great for any public library or elementary school collection.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

A Hundred Thousand Welcomes

A Hundred Thousand WelcomesA Hundred Thousand Welcomes by Lian Cho, Mary Lee Donovan
Published by Greenwillow Books on October 12, 2021
ISBN: 9780062877727
Pages: 40
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Travel to homes around the world in this  book about hospitality and acceptance, which features the word “welcome” from fourteen languages. The illustrations are delightful, especially the 4-page spread of everyone at the same table, but I found the poetic text to be uninspiring and sometimes confusing. I would have liked more information about the holidays and customs. The “A Note about Pronunciation” at the end of the book was most interesting but think it should have been included on the page it was referring to rather than having to go back-and-forth. The expression of diversity is welcome during these times. This book reminded me of a book my own children enjoyed when they were young – Children Just Like Me by Barnabas & Anabel Kindersley (1995).

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner

Ruby’s Reunion Day DinnerRuby's Reunion Day Dinner by Angela Dalton, Jestenia Southerland
Published by HarperCollins on May 18, 2021
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Each year Ruby’s relatives prepares a special dish to share at their family reunion. Daddy calls it their “signature dish”and Ruby wants one of her own. She wanders through the bustling kitchen looking for inspiration but is told the stove is too hot and the knives are too sharp until she stumbles on the notion that her lemonade is the perfect accompaniment to all the other dishes offered. The rich African American tradition of family reunions with delicious food at the heart of the celebration is conveyed throughout. This book could be paired nicely with Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons or When Grandma Gives you a Lemon Tree by Jamie L.B. Deenihan. Also a good choice to add to your picture book collection to make it more diverse.

 

five-stars

Who Needs a Hug?

Who Needs a Hug?Who Needs a Hug? by Dean Hacohen, Sherry Scharschmidt
Published by Candlewick Press on October 26, 2021
ISBN: 9781536212495
Pages: 24
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
five-stars

Everyone needs a hug sometimes, and for the youngest of listeners, this board book offers the chance to discuss feelings and situations when a hug is appropriate. Hippo has a skinned knee. Penguin has dropped its fish. Raccoon doesn’t like loud noises. Gopher is scared. Bear gets stung by a bee. All scenarios provide ample opportunity for discussion and building empathy. Ending with “Do you sometimes need a hug?” to provide another opportunity for a child to relate his feelings and the awareness that the comfort of a hug can make things feel better.

 

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

We Are One : How the World Adds Up

We Are One : How the World Adds UpWe Are One: How the World Adds Up by Linda Yan, Susan Hood
Published by Candlewick Press on October 26, 2021
ISBN: 9781536201147
Pages: 32
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This book is a billed as a “mind-expanding look at early math concepts like part/whole relationships, fractions, and addition.” I’d describe it as a thinking person’s counting book. This rhyming book provides examples as varied as three lines craft a haiku to the five acts of Shakespeare’s plays to the nine innings in baseball. At the heart of the narrative is the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Factual tidbits are added at the bottom of each page that enlist more food for thought. Diverse and thought provoking ending with concept that all on this earth are one! Best to share this book one-on-one with a child, reinforcing the concepts that best suit the age and interests. Sources and additional information is at the back.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Not That Pet

Not That PetNot That Pet! by Rosalind Beardshaw, Smriti Prasadam-Halls
Published by Candlewick Press on February 1, 2022
ISBN: 9781536217766
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Mabel is allowed to choose the perfect pet for her family. None of the pets she tries out seems like the right fit and many disasters ensue. Preschoolers will love the humor – “Then Mabel’s dad started jiggling, ’cause those tiny ants had marched their way into his UNDERPANTS!” Mabel’s choices go from bad to worse with an elephant to snake to skunk. Readers will love following through several comical reveals until Mabel meets her perfect furry match which you expect to be a cat … but it is not! The rhyming text begs to be read-aloud and the large, colorful  illustrations will have kids giggling. Perfect Story Time choice!

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Sweater Weather

Sweater WeatherSweater Weather by Matt Phelan
Published by Greenwillow Books on October 5, 2021
Pages: 40
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Papa Bear tells his seven cubs to put on the sweaters he knitted for them so they can go outside on this beautiful autumn day. However, as many parents will relate to, this is easier said than done. The brief text consists of primarily these words: “Sweaters on? Not yet.” The humorous illustrations convey much of the story as the plan unravels with the cubs mixing up their sweaters and complaints, such as, “I don’t like this color.” Finally, all the little bears are adorned in sweaters, but when they go outside, nighttime has fallen. Then they look up and see the stars and all is saved. I love that the adult character is a male who wears a pink bathrobe and knits. Even the youngest preschooler will be able to read this story by using only the illustrations and repetitive words. A delightful addition to any library’s autumn book collection.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library.

five-stars

Da Vinci’s Cat

Da Vinci’s CatDa Vinci's Cat by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Published by Greenwillow Books on May 25, 2021
ISBN: 9780063015258
Pages: 278
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A combination of portal fantasy, historical fiction, and time-travel with a bit of art history. Federico, in sixteenth-century Rome, and Bee, in present-day New Jersey, are linked through a cat that emerges from Leonardo Da Vinci’s mysterious wardrobe. Much like this author’s Newbery Honor-Winning book The Book of Boy, I think it would not work for children-  too confusing. However, it received heaps of starred reviews so perhaps I am missing something. Perhaps I am not the right reader?

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Good Knight, Mustache Baby

Good Knight, Mustache BabyGood Knight, Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos, Joy Ang
Series: Mustache Baby #5
Published by Clarion Books on December 7, 2021
ISBN: 0358434688
Pages: 40
Genres: Fantasy, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This preschool picture book is another installment in the Mustache Baby series which started in 2013.  Two babies, one sporting a mustache and the other a mustache and beard, interpret an evening sleepover and take a trip to the public library through the lens of pretending to be knights.  Each sibling interruption, bedtime routine and playtime in the library are seen as troll interference, castles to scale and a festival where the knights of the round table meet to plan a rebellion.  The text provides the babies imaginative play while the illustrations provide the reality.  According to the synopsis of the first book, the mustache is real which may or may not confuse readers.  The story is tongue in cheek with parents being the potential audience.  The illustrations provide a welcomed view of library activity.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services Librarian, Springvale Public Library

 

four-stars