Format: Board Book

Alma and her Family= Alma y su familia

Alma and her Family= Alma y su familiaAlma and Her Family/Alma y su familia (Alma's Words/Las palabras de Alma) by Juana Martinez-Neal
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on 9/5/23
ISBN: 0763693626
Genres: board book
Format: Board Book
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Alma and her Family is a bilingual board book based on the picture book character from Alma and How She Got Her Name.   This book introduces children to some family members and some easy verbs (kiss, paint, squeeze) in English and Spanish.  The text is easy to follow as the English is in black text and the Spanish is in light blue.  The illustrations are large, covering most of the pages.  The colors are soft and not overwhelming.  The pictures match the text perfectly and convey the deep love that Alma and her family feel for each other.  This board book would be a great addition to any public library.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

Peep and Ducky: It’s Snowing!

Peep and Ducky: It’s Snowing!Peep and Ducky It's Snowing! by David Martin, David Walker
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536233285
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Board Book
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
one-star

Peep and Ducky are excited to play in the snow. They go sledding and build a snowman together, but things don’t always go as planned. They begin kicking snow at one another and yelling in anger, until their parents arrive to give them hot chocolate and cookies. 

While there was a great opportunity in this board book to teach about positive conflict resolution, it unfortunately fell short and was a bit problematic. This book is not recommended as a good model for young children. 

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

one-star

Good Night, Little Fish

Good Night, Little FishGood Night, Little Fish by Lucy Cousins
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536224448
Genres: Animals
Format: Board Book
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

On the cover, this book is described as “A perfect bedtime story!”, and I could not agree more. Before Little Fish goes to bed, he says good night to all his friends – Red Fish,  Blue Fish, Yellow Fish, Eye Fish, Sky Fish, Bumble Fish, Scary Fish (shark) and Upside-Down Fish – before kissing Mommy Fish goodnight.  In typical Lucy Cousins style, primary colored, bold illustrations depict friendly and comical characters. Sure to induce giggles from toddlers! Probably best as a book to be owned rather than a library book as kids will want to read it over and over again.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Monsters Play Peekaboo

Monsters Play PeekabooLos monstruos juegan . . . ¡Cucú! by Flavia Z. Drago
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536233315
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Board Book
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Monsters Play Peekaboo” by Flavia Z. Drago is a board book featuring several monsters playing peekaboo with the reader behind flaps. Vampires, ghosts, and skeletons all make different noises under their costumes and the reader lifts the flap to find out who they are. I read the Spanish version and it’s fun to read the different sounds the monsters make: “Auuuu!” for a wolf, or “clic-clac” for a skeleton’s bones. The illustrations are bright and colorful. Babies and toddlers will have lots of fun making noise with the monsters and lifting the flaps!

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

Alma Head to Toe = Alma de pies a cabeza

Alma Head to Toe = Alma de pies a cabezaAlma, Head to Toe/Alma, de pies a cabeza (Alma's Words/Las palabras de Alma) by Juana Martinez-Neal
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on 9/5/23
ISBN: 9781536228878
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Board Book
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Alma Head to Toe=  Alma de pies a cabeza is a bilingual board book based on the picture book character from Alma and How She Got Her Name.   This book introduces children to basic body part vocabulary in English and Spanish. It starts off with a whole body diagram of Alma and the following pages are illustrations of close ups of Alma using specific body parts.  The text is easy to follow as the English in black text and the Spanish in light red.  The illustrations are large and simple and match the text perfectly.  This board book would be a great addition to any public library.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

five-stars

Peekaboo Pumpkin

Peekaboo PumpkinPeekaboo: Pumpkin by Camilla Reid, Ingela P. Arrhenius
Series: Peekaboo #8
Published by Candlewick Press on July 4, 2023
Pages: 8
Genres: Humor
Format: Board Book
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

One of 9 books in the Peekaboo series. Push, pull, and slide the interactive pages of this Halloween themed book. Bold and simple graphic designs will appeal to toddlers. Most of the clever elements are fairly simple to implement and will likely hold up better than most interactive books. The mirror at the end will surely appeal to youngsters. Simple enough that an older child could easily share it with a little brother or sister.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Endangered Animals

Endangered AnimalsMy First Pop-Up Endangered Animals by Owen Davey
Published by Candlewick Press on March 21, 2023
ISBN: 1536228443
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
four-stars

This is more of a 3.5 star book. The subject is important, informing readers about animals that are in danger of disappearing from our world, but the pages work best when open only 3/4 of the way; when fully open, they don’t pop that much nor do they close that easily. And though no fault of its own, a pop-up book has only limited circulation in a public library.

Each double-page spread features one animal, and while there are some very familiar animals like the tiger and the gorilla, there are also some lesser known animals like the okapi and the kakapo. The area of the world in which each animal is found is printed in the top left corner while the name of the animal along with one interesting fact is printed in the bottom right-hand corner. The overall design of the book is very clean and the color palette is appealing and stylish. This is an attractive book but will only have limited circulation due to construction and binding.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars

Where’s the Cat?

Where’s the Cat?Where's the Cat? by Ingela P. Arrhenius
Published by Candlewick Press on March 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781536229844
Pages: 10
Genres: Animals, Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
four-stars

The latest installment in a very popular series, this interactive board book encourages young readers to explore. Bright, clear, and simple illustrations adorn the pages. Readers are asked to find various animals, which are revealed by lifting felt flaps shaped into a castle, couch, tulip, and tree. While the title character is the hidden cat, it’s a guinea pig that steals the show. Other animals include a dog and a goldfish. The final page asks the reader, “And where are you?” Moving a felt door flap reveals a small mirror.

This series continues to be popular with our youngest readers, as it gives them the developmentally appropriate opportunity to interact with books physically. Sure to circulate.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

four-stars

Monsters Play…Counting!

Monsters Play…Counting!Monsters Play... Counting! by Flavia Z. Drago
Published by Candlewick Press on June 14, 2022
ISBN: 1536220523
Pages: 24
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
four-stars

Monsters Play…Counting! is a fun board book for your collection. It takes the counting board book on a sidestep into monsters and their additional body parts! Perhaps eight legs or six arms or four wings will aid your monsters in their pursuit of play. Brightly colored illustrations and friendly monsters help make this an enjoyable little book.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Where’s the Digger?

Where’s the Digger?Where's the Digger? by Ingela P. Arrhenius
Published by Candlewick Press on August 16, 2022
ISBN: 153622782X
Pages: 10
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
four-stars

A reliable hit includes felt flaps that baby can move on their own without fear of ripping pages, and a mirror at the end to try to recognize themselves in their reflection. Where’s the Digger? has all of these elements and pleasing bright colors and blocky illustrations to catch baby’s eye. A worthwhile addition to a burgeoning board book collection.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars