Format: Picture Book Fiction

Around the Table That Grandad Built

Around the Table That Grandad BuiltAround the Table That Grandad Built by Melanie Heuiser Hill, Jaime Kim
Published by Candlewick Press on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 0763697842
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

The cover sets the tone for this enchanting holiday offering.  Beginning with the table that Grandad built most of the items that find their way to the meal were contributed or made by someone loved by the group.   Be it family members, extended family or friends the characters all have a unique role in this clever progression.  The two-page spreads are well divided as they show the interaction of individuals and the work ethic of the group.  Who would not want to be invited to the table that Grandad built?

Add this to all public libraries, this book should find a home in most primary school media centers.  The facial expressions make this a worthy gift for early grade art teachers and the close relationships exhibited make this book a great addition to church libraries.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

four-stars

Field Trip to the Moon

Field Trip to the MoonField Trip to the Moon by John L. Hare
Published by Margaret Ferguson Books on May 14th 2019
ISBN: 0823442535
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

A picture book that truly needs no words, Field Trip to the Moon provides young readers with the opportunity to make this their own story.   Nearly all the illustrations of the children and teacher share feeling and mood without facial expressions.  It is the emotional response registering on the faces of moon beings that makes this book outstanding.  And I love that a crayon box is the implement of friendship, our lost child returns home having left behind an appreciated gift.

Hare’s first picture book is clever, artistic and imaginative.   From the yellow spaceship to the craters of the moon young readers will be able to identify objects as they narrate the storyline.  Parents and grands will be attracted to the lone student who experiences the field trip in a unique way achieving the bonanza interaction.

Recommended for Cream

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

five-stars

Hold Hands

Hold HandsHold Hands by Sara Varon
Published by First Second on June 4th 2019
ISBN: 1596435887
Pages: 40
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This sweet picture book has very cute illustrations, colorful and clear.  The rhyming simple story explores different times when it is helpful to hold hands.  However, I find some of the messages to be not very appropriate or helpful.  “Hold hands when the day is new… before pancakes and during cheese…”  I loved holding my children’s hands, but not at these moments.

The intent of the text is charming; to hold hands is a very loving, friendly, reassuring gesture.  It also may have been the perfect time to introduce some manners, such as “May I hold your hand?”

Reviewed by Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine

four-stars

This Book of Mine

This Book of MineThis Book of Mine by Sarah Stewart, David Small
on August 27th 2019
ISBN: 0374305463
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

This book confused me.  It is titled “This Book of Mine” but the first and last pages show a little girl clutching a book she just took out of a library.  ”I take this book… to chew on while you read it…”  Wow, please do not chew on my library books!

If I can get past the library references, it is a charming book, with very simple text exploring the love of books.  The illustrations are very simple pen drawings, with a purple wash over for color.  The books on each page have a different color wash to stand out.

This is a very sweet read aloud, with simple text and illustrations.  If I could only change the library illustrations to a bookstore?

Reviewed by Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Library, Castine

four-stars

THOMAS EDISON Lighting the Way

THOMAS EDISON Lighting the WayThomas Edison: Lighting the Way by Lori Haskins Houran, Gustavo Mazali
Published by HarperCollins on November 5th 2019
ISBN: 0062432885
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

This charming biography of Thomas Edison starts off disclaiming a common belief.  Edison did NOT invent the light bulb, but made it better so everyone could use it.  Before he improved it, the light bulb would only stay lit for seconds before it burned out.  Edison studied and experimented and finally came upon a solution to make it usable for everyone in their homes and factories.

This book follows his life as a young boy, and how his love of inventions and making discoveries shaped his amazing contributions to the modern world.  He pursued his dream, becoming a full time inventor!

Children will be charmed with the simple color illustrations, and hopefully encouraged to follow their dreams.  A timeline and actual photos of Edison follow the story. This short book, only 32 pages, is an excellent first biography for children.  It is intended for adults to assist with the reading, as some words will be too difficult for beginning readers.

Reviewed by Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine

five-stars

Make a Wish, Henry Bear

Make a Wish, Henry BearMake a Wish, Henry Bear by Liam Francis Walsh
Published by Roaring Brook Press on April 30th 2019
ISBN: 162672332X
Pages: 40
Goodreads
three-stars

On Henry’s last birthday, Henry wished that his parents were more fun. Be careful what you wish for! For the past year Henry is not allowed to go to bed early and is often late for school, and he can’t wait for his next birthday to roll around so he can wish for more responsible parents. While 4-6 year olds will find enjoy Henry the bear being allowed to stay home and watching TV and eat chocolate cake for breakfast, I thought the plot would have been clearer if told in a chronological order rather than the reader learning about the birthday-wish-gone-wrong two-thirds of the way through the book. The artwork is beautiful with a European feel to the cartoonish illustrations. A fun book to give or read for a child’s birthday and brainstorming what birthday wishes they might make.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library, Liberty

three-stars

No Room for a Pup

No Room for a PupNo Room for a Pup! by Elizabeth Suneby, Laurel Molk
Published by Kids Can Press on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 1525300296
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

A clever retelling of the Yiddish folktale, It Could Always Be Worse. Mia wants a dog but her mother says that there is NO ROOM for one in their small city apartment. So Grandma hatches a plan with Mia and comes to visit with her squawking parrot Roger, the class bunny, a neighbor’s cat, and even grandma’s book club accompanied by their pet pig. Mother is relieved when they all leave and decides there might be room for one little dog. The book has a consistent format throughout building up to the gratifying conclusion. I will use No Room for a Pup for a readaloud during preschool Story Time, inviting kids to join in when mom cries “NO ROOM.” The full-color illustrations of the animals are adorable and characters are fashionably dressed people of varying ages and races. The picture on the last page of only the “pint-sized” pup and Mia will surprise and delight readers of all ages. Primary students could compare and contrast this book with It Could Always Be Worse: A Yiddish Folk Tale by Margot Zemach.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library, Liberty

Reviews: Perfect for young ones yearning for a pet.―Kirkus Reviews; 4.8 out of 5 on Amazon

five-stars

Peg + Cat: Peg Up a Tree

Peg + Cat: Peg Up a TreePeg + Cat: Peg Up a Tree: A Level 1 Reader by Jennifer Oxley, Billy Aronson
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on November 12th 2019
ISBN: 1536209686
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

The unexpected twist of a girl being stuck in a tree instead of a cat and the cat attempting to rescue her will amuse most readers. Cat’s bumbling but good-hearted attempt at building a ladder results in both being stuck in the tree along with their friend Ramone, and then Peg’s yo-yo saves the day. The Peg + Cat is a popular PBS TV series so many kids will be familiar with the characters and won’t mind that Cat is purplish-blue. I was glad to see Ramone depicted as a person of color and who knows how to construct a ladder with parallel sides and rungs. The Level 1 Reader is written at about an end of first-grade/beginning second-grade level with short sentence structure, repetitive words, and in three chapters, with the longest third chapter consisting of half the book. A Table of Contents could have been included. A good addition to any Early Reader library collection.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library, Liberty

four-stars

The Great Santa Stakeout

The Great Santa StakeoutThe Great Santa Stakeout by Betsy Bird, Dan Santat
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 133816998X
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

A really good STEM book doesn’t look like a STEM book. In this one, all the planning concepts and engineering are hidden in an entertaining Santa story. Freddy is obsessed with Santa: Santa costumes at birthday parties and Valentine parties. He collects everything Santa: boot book ends, posters, and even underwear. Try reading that page with a straight face to a group of youngsters! He now wants a selfie with Santa, fresh out of the chimney. And he has a plan. Of course, Santa fools him, but Freddie is not discouraged; he simply makes another plan for next year. 

Don’t miss the endpages – they’re detailed plans of Freddy’s plans – this year’s in the front, and next year’s in the back, making good bookends to the story. And take a peak under the cover!

Full color illustrations, double spreads with close-ups of Freddie’s face with various expressions are visually entertaining.

I field-tested this with first and third grade classes. Seventeen third graders gave it 5 stars (two gave it 4, and one gave it 3). All first graders said keep it for the library, except one student who said I should NOT put it on our shelves because too many students would all want to borrow it and they would argue about who would get it first.

Quality and original Santa stories are hard to come by; this one fits the bill.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Librarian, Old Town Elementary School

five-stars

The Rhythm of the Rain

The Rhythm of the RainThe Rhythm of the Rain by Grahame Baker-Smith
Published by Templar Books on August 20th 2019
ISBN: 1536205753
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

The water cycle has never been so gorgeously depicted as within the pages of The Rhythm of the Rain. The text follows a jarful of water that Isaac pours into the mountainside pool near where he plays. Traveling down the mountainside, over a waterfall, past animals drinking by the water’s edge, its journey continues through a riverside city and is eventually washed out to the ocean, where it is swallowed by a whale, blown out through its blowhole, turned over in a great wave, evaporated in the heat of the sun and rained down in a torrent upon a mountainside.

The text is light; the pictures are stunning. Full-bleed illustrations depict life all over the world, all dependent upon water. Beautiful. A great addition to any school or public library. Grades PreK and up.

Reviewed by Kelly Greenlee, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

 

five-stars