You’re a POET: Ways to Start Writing Poems

You’re a POET: Ways to Start Writing PoemsYou're a Poet: Ways to Start Writing Poems by Sam Usher, Sean Taylor
Published by Candlewick Press on March 4, 2025
ISBN: 153623933X
Pages: 72
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses, Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

You’re a POET: Ways to Start Writing Poems

By: Sean Taylor and Sam Usher

This picture book is comprised of five stories about the adventures of Piglet and his best friend, Squirrel. Each story demonstrates how to create a different kind of poem: a puddle poem, a comparing poem, a making-a-person-out-of-something poem, an if-I-was poem, and an I-would-give-you poem. Following each story are tips and suggestions to inspire young children to write their own poetry.  This book for ages 3-7 would be best utilized as an educational resource.

3 stars

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

three-stars

The Cookie Vote

The Cookie VoteThe Cookie Vote (Mr. Tiffin's Classroom Series) by Daniel Bernstrom, G. Brian Karas, Margaret McNamara
ISBN: 0593173309
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

The Cookie Vote

Authors: Margaret McNamara & Daniel Bernstrom

 

This picture book for ages 4-8 is the latest in the Mr. Tiffin’s Classroom series. Mr. Tiffin, whose students are learning how bills become laws, announces that the student who comes up with the best idea will have the opportunity to present his or her bill to Representative Noor during their upcoming class trip to the state capitol. Jeremy believes his state needs an official cookie, but his classmates begin to argue over which cookie flavor is the best. As is appropriate for a civics lesson, the class settles the debate with a vote. When the students visit the State House to present their bill, Jeremy learns that every vote counts and that compromise is often a necessary, albeit a frustrating part of government. The end of the book highlights three real student-sponsored bills which led to the appointment of three official state cookies. Additionally, a recipe for Jeremy’s official state cookie is also included. This book would be a nice supplement to a school lesson on government, and may even inspire students to draft their own bills.

3 stars

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

three-stars

Cranky Makes a Friend

Cranky Makes a FriendCranky Makes a Friend (Cranky and Friends) by Pete Oswald, Phúc Trần
ISBN: 0063256304
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Humor, Vehicles
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Cranky the crane is back and today there is a new crane on the construction site. Lefty is geared up to meet everyone – happy to help, he is cheerful and full of compliments and jokes for his new crew. Cranky feels threatened and jealous – what if his friends like Lefty better than him? Cranky puts on a fake smile to try to fit in and then blows a gasket. Cranky’s friends can sense that something is wrong, and reassure him that they like Cranky for who he is. After all, it’s OK to have different kinds of friends, and not everyone has to be the same. The text has plentiful construction puns and the illustrations are colorful, fun, and detailed. This book would be a useful tool to start discussions about more complex emotions like jealousy. Recommended for ages 5-7 (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Ruffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy Ball

Ruffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy BallRuffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy Ball by David Melling
ISBN: 1536241385
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Ruffles is a dog who loves howling, scratching, eating, fetching, sniffing, and more. But most of all Ruffles LOVES his bouncy bouncy ball. But today, he can’t find it. He looks everywhere, and even gets help looking from his friend, Ruby. They continue the search and make the unfortunate conclusion that bouncy bouncy ball is lost. Can Ruby help Ruffles feel better? With the help of a squishy squashy mud puddle, Ruffles recovers and discovers he loves playing with his friend Ruby best of all. A sweet story with cute illustrations, simple text, and a kind message; perfect for the youngest readers. Recommended for toddlers, ages 2-4.

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Smiling Eyes

Smiling EyesSmiling Eyes by Lenny Wen, Linda Sue Park
Published by Allida/HarperCollins ISBN: 035866392X
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Smiling Eyes is a rhyming, feel-good picture book that celebrates the many different kinds of human eyes one sees every day. As we follow a young child throughout his day, we see friends, neighbors, and community members and the various shapes, colors, and abilities their eyes have. There is a nice cadence to the rhyming and the pictures are colorful and bright, making this a good read-aloud choice for school or bedtime.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Freya and the Snake

Freya and the SnakeFreya and the Snake by Fredrik Sonck, Jenny Lucander
Published by Kids Can Press on June 3, 2025
ISBN: 9781525313721
Genres: Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

Freya and her family are working in their garden when her brother, Hugo, sees what he believes to be a worm. It’s actually a snake that Freya names Snakey. Mom and Dad are very worried about Snakey living in the rocks in their garden and the possibility that it could bite and hurt one year old Hugo. They hatch a plan to catch Snakey to rehome him far away but he proves more elusive than they can handle and Dadmakes the tough decision that he needs to kill the snake instead to keep his family safe. Freya is very angry at her father and calls him a murderer while we watch her navigate her emotions as she comes to terms with what her father had to do.

This book is the translation from its native Finnish.

Ages 5-8

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

two-stars

No, Nancy, No! A Dog Chase in New York

No, Nancy, No! A Dog Chase in New YorkNo, Nancy, No! A Dog Chase in New York by Alice Tait
Series: No, Nancy,
Published by Walker Books US on December 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781536232714
Pages: 24
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Third in the No, Nancy, No! series, A Dog Chase in New York is a fast paced romp through the highlights of busting New York City. Nancy and her dachshund, Roger, see the star of the musical Dogs: The Musical, Candy. Anxious to meet her, they approach only for Candy to run off! Nancy and Roger are right on her tail, trying to bring her back.
The lift-the-flap features of this story create the pace moving the reader along, looking forward to the action hidden in them while poor Roger hollers, “No, Nancy, No!” after her with each new situation. The story is a great introduction to the sites and pace of New York City with its action-packed illustrations. It’s bright, colorful, detailed, and downright exuberant in styling from beginning to conclusion. This book is simply a load of fun!

Ages 4-8

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

Octavio and His Glasses

Octavio and His GlassesOctavio and His Glasses by Marc González Rossell
ISBN: 1525313789
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Octavio can see the whole world better, thanks to his new glasses. He is now able to see things far away, close up, and all much more clearly. He is even able to see beyond what lies in front of him, as he enjoys reading at bedtime. A new world of possibilities, adventure, and imagination are opened up.

A fresh illustrative style features bold black and sparse white on a rich yellow background. This book will be reassuring for a child who is getting their first pair of glasses, but it will appeal to everyone who adores the journey of a good book. While the pages contain simple text, the meaning is celebratory and will be widely appreciated. A first choice for picture book collections; recommended for grades 1-2.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta.

five-stars

The Most Magnificent Team

The Most Magnificent TeamThe Most Magnificent Team (Most Magnificent, 4) by Ashley Spires
ISBN: 1525312952
Genres: Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The Most Magnificent Team

Ashley Spires

This picture book for ages 4-8 is the latest in the Most Magnificent book series by Ashley Spires. It is about a girl and her dog who are ready to build something.   After she gathers her tools and supplies, she finds that her neighbor, along with her cat, not only had the same idea but also chose the same space in which to work. The girls decide to work together, but tensions start to rise when they quickly discover that each one has very different ideas and methods.

This book captures the rewards and challenges of working collaboratively as a team. It provides functional strategies to resolve conflicts that arise from teamwork.  It would therefore be an excellent addition to classroom libraries.

4 stars

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

four-stars

The Bigfoot Field Guide to Campers (and Other Mysterious Creatures)

The Bigfoot Field Guide to Campers (and Other Mysterious Creatures)The Bigfoot Field Guide to Campers: And Other Mysterious Creatures by Jami Gigot
ISBN: 1525312634
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

The Bigfoot Field Guide to Campers (and Other Mysterious Creatures)

Written and illustrated by I. M. Furry with help from Jami Gigot

 

This picture book for ages 4-7 tells the story of an unlikely yet serendipitous friendship between Anna, a young camper, and Bigfoot.

To Bigfoot, the most fearsome and dangerous creatures in the forest are human campers. They’re invasive, loud, smelly, and messy. Thankfully, Bigfoot has ten simple guidelines to ensure that everyone is kept safe from them. However, after failing to adhere to Guideline #2 – “Never EVER allow yourself to be seen by a camper.” – Bigfoot can’t help but ignore his own advice. Perhaps he’s had the wrong idea about campers all along?

The text gives advice about what not to do, which is a playful juxtaposition to the illustrations that often contradict it! I laughed out loud reading this book. This book playfully encourages readers to reconsider any preconceived notions about what makes a good friend. It also reminds us that what we fear is often more afraid of us.

5 stars

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

five-stars