Format: Picture Book Fiction

We’re Going on a Treasure Hunt

We’re Going on a Treasure HuntWe're Going on a Treasure Hunt by Kelly DiPucchio
on April 16th 2019
ISBN: 0374306419
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

We’re Going on a Treasure Hunt is a pirate themed animal adventure structured just like the song Going on a Bear Hunt.  There’s a chorus that remains the same for kids to chant alongside you. Brightly colored animals embark on a treasure hunting adventure. The animals reach the treasure and are afraid of one animal, causing them to return back through all their adventures to where they started.  Generally speaking, this would make a fun storytime read-aloud. Just be sure to read ahead so that you don’t have trouble with the spot where the rhyme pattern falls apart. Recommended for ages 3-7.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

four-stars

Between Us and Abuela

Between Us and AbuelaBetween Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border by Mitali Perkins, Sara Palacios
on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 0374303738
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

This charming picture book illustrates a family’s dedication to their history and their grandmother, who lives in Mexico, across the border from San Diego, California. 

 It’s Christmas time, and the children are busy making gifts for their grandmother Abuela, who they haven’t seen in 5 years. We travel with them by bus to Border Field State Park in San Diego, where they gather with others to visit their loved ones across the fence in Mexico.  Border patrol officers direct them in groups to visit for 30 minutes.  Maria and Juan have made simple gifts for their grandma, but rules forbid any items from going through the fence.

 This story is a wonderful introduction to another culture and their struggles, love and simple miracles.  The book explains very simply the celebration of Las Posadas, a nine- day festival celebrated throughout Mexico which remembers the birth of Jesus, and La Posada Sin Fronteras (The Inn Without Borders), celebrated one day during Las Posadas along the border.

 This picture book is a wonderful read aloud, with simple, easy- to- follow illustrations that match the text perfectly.  An unusual Christmas book for a library collection, it will enhance the diversity and love the holiday entails.

 Reviewed By Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine

five-stars

The Love Letter

The Love LetterThe Love Letter by Anika Aldamuy Denise, Lucy Ruth Cummins
Published by HarperCollins on October 8th 2019
ISBN: 0062741578
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

This charming picture book is about a love letter found in the forest.  Each time a little creature finds it, they believe it was written for them, and become remarkably more cheerful and loving.

 The author was inspired to write this story based on the many notes she and her daughter wrote for each other.

 The illustrations are charming, with relaxing colors and simple drawings.  Nothing is hidden or bright or surprising, just nice.  This book would be a very sweet read aloud at night or at storytime.

 Reviewed By Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine

five-stars

Everybody Says Meow

Everybody Says MeowEverybody Says Meow by Constance Lombardo
Published by HarperCollins on November 5th 2019
ISBN: 0062689886
Pages: 32
Goodreads
two-stars

In this one note comical cumulative tale, a cat welcomes the reader to that “magical time when everybody says, “Meow”.  All of his cat friends answer, “Meow” and then a dog sneaks on and says “Woof”.  Although the cat tries to get the dog to change his response, it is obvious that he can’t and the cat changes the parameters of what everyone says.  The same pattern happens for the frog, duck and then “ROAR!”  which clears the page.  Lombard’s childlike cartoon drawings appear stiff, but provide the backdrop of the joke appropriately.  Preschool story times will enjoy the silliness and readers can engage listeners with the inclusiveness shown by the cat’s response each time.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

two-stars

Dino-Halloween

Dino-HalloweenDino-Halloween by Lisa Wheeler, Barry Gott
Published by Carolrhoda Books (R) on August 6th 2019
ISBN: 1512403172
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

The Dino’s in Wheeler and Gott’s popular sports series are now doing holidays.  Halloween provides the Dinos a chance to go to the pumpkin patch, carve pumpkins, buy or make costumes and go trick-or-treating.  The same format found in the sports series is used here, rhyming action phrases littered with large font dinosaur names.  Not as many different dinosaur names appear in this one.  Half way through the story, the action refers to the previous dinosaurs and APATOSAURUS, who seems to always have a problem to solve.  Vocabulary includes grimace, finesse, anxious and feline.    Besides the one item parent’s won’t allow their children to have, apples, this provides a sweet dinosaur story for preschoolers preparing for Halloween night.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

Animal Babies like to Play

Animal Babies like to PlayAnimal Babies Like to Play by Jennifer Adams, Mary Lundquist
Published by Balzer + Bray on February 5th 2019
ISBN: 0062394479
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

This is an alphabet picture book with the letters identifying animals for each entry.  Children in animal suits that zip up to the chin while sporting ears, tail, trunks and whiskers are the illustrated animals.  Each page presents a sentence with the letter and the action of the story follows a romp in the park, sandbox, ice cream mishaps and an ongoing game of hide and seek.  Animals include an Iguana, Jaguar, Narwhal, Quail and Reindeer.   U is represented by Ulysses butterfly, while V is represented by Vulture baby and X by X-ray tetra baby.  The color scheme is soft pastel colors and the cast exhibits multiple skin colors with the same small eyes and cartoon red circle cheeks.  Preschools needing alphabet and animal books for story time will find this alphabet book useful.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

Mary Englebreit’s The World is Yours

Mary Englebreit’s The World is YoursMary Engelbreit’s The World Is Yours by Mary Engelbreit
Published by HarperCollins on April 2nd 2019
ISBN: 006288994X
Pages: 48
Goodreads

 

Maybe I’m overthinking this book. It strikes me as more of a gift for an older person who loves the illustrations of children’s literature. It’s very nicely illustrated but each page has a single quote that might or might not resonate with children. Some might just enjoy looking at the pictures and hearing the quotes read like text but so many kids I know require a lot more information than what’s offered here, including who the person who said it was; why they said it; why it’s on the page with that illustration; what else did this person do; are they still alive; what happened to them!?

Maybe I should just trust it more but I really do think it misses the mark.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

Big Boys Cry

Big Boys CryBig Boys Cry by Jonty Howley
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on June 11th 2019
ISBN: 1524773204
Pages: 40
Goodreads
four-stars

A lovely story about learning and leading by example. Levi is starting at a new school and he admits to his Papa that he is scared. His father is not sure what to say, so he says’ “Big boys don’t cry.” This advice is taken to heart by Levi, but on his walk to school, he says many “big boys” crying for myriad reasons. His first day of school is not so bad and his return walk finds him again confronted with many men who now feel better having shed their tears. Upon his return, he is greeted by his father, who has tears in his own eyes because as he admits, “It was your first day at a new school, and I was scared.” In the end, Levi sees that it is natural and healthy to feel what you feel and to release your emotions in order to deal with them and feel better. This will be a wonderful book for teachers, guidance counselors, and parents to use in the new paradigm for boys where our society lets them not only feel, but express their emotions. Gorgeous, over-sized pages with a nautical theme and a sharp, clear palette of greens, blues, and tans accompany the story perfectly. This will circulate in any picture book collection.

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

four-stars

The Princess in Black and the Bathtime Battle

The Princess in Black and the Bathtime BattleThe Princess in Black and the Bathtime Battle by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale
Series: The Princess in Black #7
Published by Candlewick Press on November 26th 2019
ISBN: 1536202215
Pages: 96
Goodreads
five-stars

This title, number 7 in the series, has upped the hero game with five new heroes who come to the aid of the Princess in Black and the Goat Avenger. When a horrible stink invades the goat pasture, Princess in Black and Goat Avenger try every slick fighting move they know, to no avail. Finally, they come up with the brilliant idea of fanning the stink away, but that just moves the problem to another kingdom, and then another and another, and each attempt brings with it a hero willing to pitch in and fight the stench until there are six heroes and their trusty animal sidekicks battling a losing, smelly cause. When the heroes discover that the stench is attached to a monster, they have the brilliant idea to wash it! But it will take all of the heroes working together to restore that odoriferous beast to its original fluffy self. Pham’s exuberant illustrations together with an entertaining story that builds on the suspense of what is under all that stink will captivate fans of the series (not that you need to have read any other titles in the series to enjoy this, but familiarity with the prior stories adds to the delight of an increasing number of princess heroes) and leave them wanting more. Highly recommend for all school and public library collections with emerging and elementary-aged readers.

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

five-stars

Cicada

CicadaCicada by Shaun Tan
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books on January 29th 2019
ISBN: 1338298399
Pages: 32
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“Cicada” is the story of a cicada who is portrayed as being “almost” human.  He works, sitting in his cubicle,  day in and day out, where it is obvious that he is greatly underappreciated. One day , after “17”  years of work, Cicada has had enough and  retires! “No party, no handshake. Boss say clean desk, Tok, Tok, Tok.” Cicada proceeds to climb to the top of a a tall building.  “Time to say Good-bye,” says Cicada.  Cicada’s  outer “shell/body” then  begins to crack open and a beautiful, red flying insect is seen flying off to join  others –  just like him!

Cicada is a very clever story written for older picture book readers.  The illustration of Cicada standing, ready to leap off a very tall building may be a bit “concerning” to some in that it might  hint at  suicide.   Does the author/illustrator want the reader to think  Cicada IS contemplating  suicide, one might ask.  This fact might dissuade librarians and teachers from purchasing “Circada.”

The ending is a true surprise – unless you are up on Cicada’s life cycle.  However, many young children would not be informed.  Young children might  not understand the story.

The illustrations are done  beautifully in shades of gray and then red, when Cicada does emerge into his new stage of life.  Intriguing and clever.

Shaun Tan is a NYT best selling author who lives in Australia. Other books by the author include:  “The Arrival,” ‘Tales from the Inner City,” and “The Singing Bones.”

Reviewed By Connie M. Smith, Breakwater School, Portland, Maine

four-stars