Format: Picture Book Fiction

Hazel the Handful

Hazel the HandfulHazel the Handful by Jamie Michalak, Matt Myers
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536231193
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Family, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Hazel the pooch is a beloved family dog. Is he a handful? Yes, just like his special girl, Bea who he spends all his time with. Together they go about their daily routine, which Hazel calls, “sensational!” Everything changes when the baby is born. Hazel must compete for attention from his special Bea, and he doesn’t understand the smells coming from the baby’s bottom. Everything has changed: the daily walks, the comments from strangers walking by, and the games they used to play. When Hazel makes a big accident, she hides under her special blanket. Bea and Hazel snuggle and find a game they can all play together. Maybe the baby isn’t so bad after all.

A sweet and humorous book about changes in the family after a baby from the dog’s point of view. Cute illustrations. Kids will love Hazel’s sassy speech bubble comments. Lovely Black family representation. For ages 4-6.

Review by Gia Charles, Patten Free LIbrary, Bath

three-stars

A Song for Two Homes

A Song for Two HomesA Song for Two Homes by Charly Palmer, Michael Datcher
ISBN: 0593429362
Genres: Cultural / African American, Emotions & Feelings, Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A Song for Two Homes by Dr. Michael Datcher is a picture book featuring Auset, a Black child devastated by her parents’ divorce. As the adults in her life remind her that this is not her fault, Auset struggles to believe them and instead turns to her heroes like Bob Marley for reassurance. Auset’s problems are real and relatable, like a therapist who “wasn’t good at sewing kids back together,” getting perfect grades to hide her distress from her parents, being bullied, and the consequences of fighting back with words and fists. The book does not shy away from the pain and outcomes of a broken heart.

While this reviewer appreciates the raw honesty expressed, especially with lines such as, “Pretending to be okay is tiring, but it’s easier than showing Mom my real self,” this would likely be a painful story for a parent to read with a child. It’s difficult to say where this book might find an audience, but a school or public library wanting to expand its resources on divorce could benefit from adding it.

Reviewed by Beth Almquist, Lewiston Public Library

three-stars

I Like Your Face

I Like Your FaceI Like Your Face by Brad Davidson, Rachel Más Davidson
ISBN: 1525312979
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

I Like Your Face by Brad Davidson is a celebration of what it means to be a best friend. Two children are depicted in colorful cartoon-like illustrations as they show each other their bond through facial expressions, for example: “Hangry” and “Pretending-to-Be-Brave” faces, alongside sure-to-induce-giggles “Holding-in-a-Fart” face. They imagine what it will be like to grow up and grow old together, assuring each other with their “I’m-There-for-You” face that they will always have each other’s backs. A fun added touch are the equally expressive pets that pop up from time to time.

Children ages 4-8 (and their grownups) will find both hilarious and touching moments in this sweet ode to friendship. We may never know exactly what draws us to certain people, but these young friends express it well when they simply say, “I like your face. It’s super special.”

Recommended for school and public libraries looking to expand their picture book collections featuring diverse children, socio-emotional learning, and how to read facial cues. Would work well as a read-aloud, and this reviewer would definitely ask listeners to name the kinds of faces the pets and other background characters are expressing.

Reviewed by Beth Almquist, Lewiston Public Library.

four-stars

One Day a Mayfly

One Day a MayflyOne Day a Mayfly by Michael Speechley, Shirley Marr
ISBN: 1536243612
Genres: Adventure, Nature, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Today is the day! A mayfly emerges and dries off her wings. She has come out of the city pond and a girl in a yellow raincoat notices her. Mayflies only live for one day, and a frog in the pond tells her so. So with her birthday hat on, she goes to explore the city. She meets another mayfly and enjoys every moment. There are signs throughout the city showing aspects of the daily grind, and the symbolism of “seizing the day” is subtly told through the mayfly’s experience. This has a very basic plot, but relies on the visual storytelling. The story is told through a vertical narrative, where you need to flip the book sideways to read it. A good reminder for parents reading the story, and an interesting story for kids to learn more about the life cycle of mayflies. Ages 4-8.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

The Story Factory

The Story FactoryThe Story Factory by Jam Dong
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536230006
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Once upon a time, all the books in the world were manufactured at one place–The Story Factory!” In this speculative world, stories are simply taken from the story factory, reused and recycled, and then made in a factory to be given out again. Everything was going normally, when all of a sudden the machine breaks. All the characters are wrong! The stories are out of order! The pieces of the stories explode into a million pieces. It’s up to the workers to collect the pieces and put them all into a big mixer. Another big BOOM and books with all new original material start falling from the sky. The villagers open the books and love the new stories. And now the Story Factory is used to create books with completely new and unique ideas.

This is a creative story written and illustrated by Jam Dong; her ode to using your imagination, especially in the age of AI. Her colorful illustrations and collage techniques are eye-catching. The font feels like the wrong choice. Ages 3-7.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

 

three-stars

Do You See the Tiger?

Do You See the Tiger?Do You See the Tiger? by David Melling, Philip Ardagh
ISBN: 153624290X
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

A fabulous rhyming book. The book starts, “One rainy night in London town, Penny and Daddy went down, down, down…” Daddy and Penny take the crowded subway only for her to realize that there’s a stripy tail in amongst the passengers. She exclaims that there’s a tiger on the train to her father, who thinks she is making up stories.

There’s a magical difference between the children on the train who see the tiger in disguise, and the distracted and oblivious adults who don’t notice him. It’s almost as if the tiger and the children are bewitched. The tiger jumps out of his disguise and scoops up a toddler’s bunny toy, acting as a hero! But even still, the father was reading the newspaper and thinks she’s using her imagination. This one is charming and amusing. The illustrations of little Penny cuddling up to the tiger feel very reminiscent of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, a British classic by Judith Kerr. Ages 3-7

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

four-stars

Rez Kid

Rez KidRez Kid by Andrea Landry, Isabella Fassler
ISBN: 1525311255
Genres: Cultural / Native American, Family, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a book that starts with a bullying moment on the bus. “Rez Kid!” a kid shouts as a Native girl gets on the bus and sits at the back, feeling sad and ashamed. When she gets home we see her spend time with different members of her family. She talks about what happened on the bus and asks for their advice.

The sensory writing is what really works here: the smell of herbal tea, the sound of her mothers hands moving through her bowl of beads, the feeling of shade beneath a tree while her horse drinks from a creek. The next time the kid on the bus yells, “Rez kid!” she stands up with pride and tells the kids on the bus how being on the reservation is something she loves. “I know the trails and the paths better than anyone. I grow my own food. My mama makes the best bannock.” she passes around pieces of the delicious dough. “My ancestors lived on my traditional lands. We speak our language, pray, dance powwow, smudge, snare rabbits and more.” She invites the kids to come on Friday after school to see the “rez” for what it is. One by one, the kids come off the bus as she shows them the beauty of the rez. How free it feels to be on the land, and how special her culture is.

This book excels at showing how an insult can be turned around to be used as a title of pride. The illustrations are created with pencil crayons and then finished digitally that beautifully capture the essence of nature on a reservation. A foreward explains what a reservation is and how they exist historically. Ages 4+

Review by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

four-stars

When Auggie Learned to Play Chess

When Auggie Learned to Play ChessWhen Auggie Learned to Play Chess by Meredith Rusu, Stephen Costanza
ISBN: 0593710819
Genres: Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

When Auggie Learned to Play Chess

Meredith Rusu & Stephen Costanza

This is a heartfelt picture book, for ages 4-8, about a boy named Auggie, a shy kid whose dad teaches him how to play chess. Learning the game gives Auggie the confidence to make a new friend.

Auggie and his family have recently moved to a new house in a new town, and Auggie is struggling to make friends at his new school. When Auggie finds an old chessboard that once belonged to his grandfather, he decides he wants to learn how to play chess from his father, his Tatâ. Eventually and with practice, Auggie gets so good at the game that he can beat Tata!

Then, Auggie finds a chessboard in his classroom during a rainy recess. When he sees that another boy looks interested in it, he knows just what to do: he can teach Luke how to play chess, too!

This is not only a touching father-son story about the importance of perseverance, but it is also a great way to teach chess to new players; the book contains illustrations about how each of the chess pieces move so that readers can learn the game along with Auggie. This book depicts how life lessons can be taught through a game of chess but would also be applicable to video games (perhaps more appealing to a younger audience) involving strategy, planning, patience, risk-taking, and connecting with others.

5 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

five-stars

Together we are Sunshine

Together we are SunshineTogether We Are Sunshine by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Raissa Figueroa
ISBN: 0593705416
Genres: Adventure, Emotions & Feelings, Family, Nature
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Together we are Sunshine

Amilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Raissa Figueroa

This picture book for ages 4-8 is about three sisters. The author features Black and Muslim protagonists in her books. Haala, the middle sister, loves to tag along with her older sister, Sanaa, on their outdoor adventures. But her little sister, Munira, always seems to get in the way. Munira blocks the sunshine, intrudes on the wind’s song, and frightens away the goldfish’s secrets with her screams. Haala can’t keep up with Sanaa when Munira’s on her heels. But when the sisters start working with each other, they realize that together they can achieve anything–and that together they are sunshine.
This story is a lovely depiction of sisterhood, to which readers with siblings, both older and younger, can relate. However, Haala very quickly feels guilty about getting upset with Munira, which perhaps is not the most realistic depiction of sibling relationships.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

four-stars

What Color is the Baby? A Celebration of Skin Tones

What Color is the Baby? A Celebration of Skin TonesWhat Color Is the Baby?: A Celebration of Skin Tones by Harshini Vankineni, Neha Rawat
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 153622894X
Genres: Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

What Color is the Baby? A Celebration of Skin Tones

Author: Harshini Vankineni

Illustrator: Neha Rawat

 

This picture book, for ages 4-8, is the publishing debut of Harshini Vankineni, whose own experience with colorism served as the inspiration for this story; As a child, Vankineni, from India, was often told that her light-skinned cousins were more beautiful than she was.  This book is about a young girl named Kundana, who declares her newborn sister, Kuku, to be the prettiest baby in the whole world. Kundana’s parents, Papa and Amma, appear disappointed by the darker shade of Kuku’s skin, especially since the members of the extended family can’t stop asking, “What color is she?” Kundana defends her sister and declares “She is our color!” Everyone agrees that is a beautiful color.

This is a beautifully illustrated story about inclusion and acceptance. Kundana’s adoration of her sister, regardless of her color, will inspire young readers just like she inspired her family members. This reviewer appreciated the subtle reference to normalized breastfeeding. Western audiences can relate to the practice of coveting whiteness, but the book is not overly didactic.

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

five-stars