Format: Picture Book Fiction

The Magic of Letters

The Magic of LettersThe Magic of Letters by Tony Johnston, Wendell Minor
Published by Neal Porter Books on April 23rd 2019
ISBN: 0823441598
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

When an award winning author meets an award winning illustrator, the end result is magic! Tony Johnston introduces the reader to the wonder of letters and the magic and power letters have. Beginning with letters, she suggests that the reader say them until they become friends.Then put them together to create powerful words, magical words ,enchanted words. Finally, by putting words together, you can read anything or write down your deepest thoughts. Minor’s illustrations are large and colorful and support the power and feelings that letters possess. An award winning combination have created a book that will engage and excite both  the reader and the listener to explore the value and beauty of words. Use this in those early days of the school year, to those beginning the reading journey and to those who wish to remember the excitement of the power of words. Good for K- 3.

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray

 

five-stars

Hum and Swish

Hum and SwishHum and Swish by Matt Myers
Published by Neal Porter Books on June 11th 2019
ISBN: 0823442861
Pages: 40
Goodreads
three-stars

Hum and Swish is a simple, quiet book about a little girl with pale skin and brown hair. Jamie and her family are at the beach. Jamie is creating a sandcastle project and everyone keeps asking her questions. Finally, a woman comes to sit near Jamie and paint and doesn’t ask her any questions.

The story seems very simple on the surface, opting to show most of what is happening with the illustrations, rather than the text. The acrylic and oil paintings bring a beach-y ocean feel, with brush strokes demonstrating the swish of the ocean waves. Many children might need help articulating what the story is “about” but the illustrations give a lot for children to explore.

Recommended.

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library. 

three-stars

How to Walk an Ant

How to Walk an AntHow to Walk an Ant by Cindy Derby
Published by Roaring Brook Press on March 26th 2019
ISBN: 1250162629
Pages: 40
Goodreads
three-stars

How to Walk an Ant is a humorous and very educational book by Cindy Derby. Amariyah, a little girl with messy black hair and paper-white skin, describes her nine expert steps for how to walk an ant. The story is filled with slightly dark humor (Amariyah gives instructions for how to have an ant funeral and a caption on the back lets the reader know that “seven ants were harmed in the making of this guide”) that will appeal to older preschool and elementary-aged children.

The illustrations feature grey and white hazy backgrounds with characters and ants drawn over them in sharp, spiky, frenetic black ink. Splotches of color, such as Amaryiah’s green shirt, pink cheeks, and colorful leashes (for the ants) liven up the visual.

Some readers may struggle with the font that the book is printed in. Modeled after a child’s handwriting, the words share a similar spiky, shaky quality with the illustrations.

Purchase where humorous and dark books are in demand.

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library.

three-stars

Mermaids Fast Asleep

Mermaids Fast AsleepMermaids Fast Asleep by Robin Riding
Published by Feiwel & Friends on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 1250076358
Pages: 26
Goodreads
three-stars

Mermaids Fast Asleep is a rhyming book that shows a young girl camping by the water. The text of the book takes the form of her wondering about the mermaids that might be below, also getting ready for bed. The text flows fairly smoothly and rhymes well, with a refrain of the couplet “Way down deep, way down deep/ Are there mermaids fast asleep?”. Illustrations show pastel digital paintings of mermaids of many different skin, hair and tail colors. The color palette gives the illustrations a dreamy quality that compliments the tone. There are two instances where the text mentions a specific color that doesn’t appear in the illustrations (“golden eyes” but all characters are drawn with small black ovals for eyes).

A solid purchase for picture book collections, especially where mermaids are in high demand (or where all current mermaid books have mostly white characters).

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library.

three-stars

Harrison Dwight Ballerina and Knight

Harrison Dwight Ballerina and KnightHarrison Dwight, Ballerina and Knight by Rachael MacFarlane
Published by Imprint on April 23rd 2019
ISBN: 1250138582
Pages: 34
Goodreads
four-stars

Harrison Dwight Ballerina and Knight is the second collaboration between author Rachael MacFarlane and illustrator Spencer Laudiero. Harrison loves ballet and dressing up as a knight. He likes to watch football with his mom and pick flowers with his dad. He competes in BMX races in pink gear and likes to paint his toenails. Harrison also talks about being okay with expressing his feelings and talking out problems with others.

What results is not a subtle book about it being okay for boys to like things that are both “traditionally masculine” and “traditionally feminine”. It times, to an adult or older reader, the language in the book may feel stilted or obvious. Still, this book will serve as an excellent starting point for the discussion on gender expression and healthy masculinity. Especially for children who have never had the ideas introduced, Harrison Dwight will give caregivers and children a glimpse at some language that can be used when these situations present themselves in everyday life.

The text is accompanied by digital illustrations showing a boy with brown hair and light brown skin–sometimes realistically and sometimes what he imagines he looks like. He is often accompanied by his mom (blonde with pale skin) and his dad (tanned with curly, brown hair). The background cast of characters includes adults and children of varying skin color, body type, and age. The pictures are a clean and bright way to show the story that will engage children.

Despite a lack of narrative, Harrison Dwight Ballerina and Knight provides a starting point for a very important conversation for all families to have. Recommended for most collections.

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library. 

four-stars

Paws + Edward

Paws + EdwardPaws and Edward by Espen Dekko
Published by Kids Can Press on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1525301357
Pages: 34
Goodreads
five-stars

A heartfelt story of a boy named Edward and his beloved dog, Paws. The story begins with the very senior dog sleeping. In his dreams, he is energetic and chasing rabbits. Unfortunately, this is something the elder dog can no longer do. Edward and Paws are together all the time. Edward encourages Paws to go for walks, and chase sticks but Paws is simply too tired, his paws too heavy. Paws just wants them to be together while he sleeps. As Paws continues to sleep more and more, the reader will sense that the end is near.

The passing of Paws is very gentle.  The two friends are together and Paws can feel Edwards heart beating and wonders why Edward  has wet eyes. Paws licks Edward’s hand for the last time, then he falls asleep – a deep sleep without dreams. The reviewers eyes  were wet as well, when the beloved pet passed on.

Now the house is quiet and empty and Edward can’t read. He goes outside and everything is there, except Paws. The illustrations on this page are dramatic and darkly hued as Edward falls asleep on the park bench . Edward begins dreaming and the the following page depicts the happy pair  together again . A youthful, larger than life, Paws, is racing around happily chasing rabbits while a napping Edward is on his pup’s back.

An important book for anyone who has lost a special pet. A touching story of loss and the importance of fond memories. A book that shows the beautiful friendship between an animal and a human and what joy they can bring to one another.

A recommend purchase for all libraries. This cream-recommended book  may bring a tear to your eyes and sad smile at the same time.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, ME

five-stars

The Real Boat

The Real BoatThe Real Boat by Marina Aromshtam
Published by Templar Books on January 8th 2019
ISBN: 1536202770
Pages: 64
Goodreads
four-stars

Translated from Russian, this imaginative picture book  is a modern fable about the importance of striving for your dreams and moving forward, no matter how difficult the journey may be.

This nautical adventures begins with a tiny paper boat floating in a little pond.  The paper boat was happy and content  until a duck and a frog question that he is a “real” boat. The duck talks about seeing “real boats” sailing on the ocean. The little boat  has never seen the ocean and sets out to find it. The waterways that lead to the ocean get larger and larger as do the boats that the paper boat encounters on his way. The adventure takes a turn for the worse ,when finally at the ocean, he encounters a storm which causes him to sink . Fortunately, he is rescued by a diver from a research boat . The diver brings him to the sea captain who is amazed at the little boat for sailing so far.  The sea captain declares the little boat  a  true seafarer and a real boat. He then  names him Intrepid. and places him inside a glass bottle with his name adorned on the bottle.. The “real boat” is now truly happy. The colorful and imaginative mixed-media illustrations demand your full attention and aptly convey the exciting voyage to the sea.  The illustrations are both whimsical and realistic  throughout the story. This book would be of particular interest to children who are interested in boats with many different vessels included from the simple rowboat to  a naval fleet destroyer and many other in-between. Both the author and illustrator live in Russia  and this Russian translation should please children everywhere.  A strong addition to any library and at the very least a cream consideration.

 

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, ME

four-stars

Bird Watch

Bird WatchBird Watch by Christie Matheson
Published by Greenwillow Books on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 0062393405
Pages: 48
Goodreads
four-stars

With all the multi-media available to our young readers, we often overlook the joy and experience of “communing with nature” first hand. Ms. Matheson  reminds readers of this by urging people to get outside and search meadows, fields, yards for those birds familiar to us and perhaps find new visitors. Her book has the reader identify common birds – chickadees, hummingbirds, and sparrows  through both counting them and finding them hidden on each page. The  text is minimal leaving room for  illustrations that  are soft and colorful,done in watercolor and collage. This selection is for that slightly older reader, as some of the birds are not easily found and counting them may go beyond the page in which they are introduced. What the story does do, is cultivate an interest in going outside and experiencing birds first hand in their surroundings. An author’s note about birding  has been included with facts about the ten birds she has chosen to highlight. Use with units on birds and habitats.

Grades K- 4

submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray

four-stars

See Me Play

See Me PlaySee Me Play by Paul Meisel
Published by Holiday House on June 11th 2019
ISBN: 0823438325
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

This picture book sized easy reader hits all the requirements for new readers.  The popular subject of dogs, a single repetitive sentence in large font per page and clear illustrative two-page spreads with lots of white space make this series a good fit for word recognition and confidence building.  Most sentences only change one or two words.  The humorous story line of the group of dogs following the ball and needing to catch an hot-air balloon, a motorboat, and a pink convertible is told through cartoon animal characters in action that enhance the simple sentence structure.  Suggested for school and library easy reader sections.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

 

five-stars

Babymoon

BabymoonBabymoon by Hayley Barrett
Published by Candlewick Press on March 14th 2019
ISBN: 0763688525
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Often used to describe a trip taken by expecting parents before the baby arrives, this book uses Babymoon in the  way that midwives do for taking the time immediately after a baby is born to form connections and settle into the adjustment of transforming from two to three. Barrett captures the magical period with simple rhyming couplets and Martinez-Neal punctuates the text with soft, glowing illustrations. The gentle message of giving yourselves time to adapt to the newness of parenthood is necessary in a country that offers very little parental leave and has expectations that people will go right back to their pre-baby lives. The illustrations are realistic in terms of body size for a new mother and offer a picture of a non-Caucasian family, which is refreshing. The audience is bit narrow since it is intended for new parents and, since it does it through the lens of just one family, it cannot speak to all of the different types of families that exist. But if the reader accepts that this is not the picture of EVERY family, and applies the message broadly and transfers the love felt by new parents for their baby, it is a beautiful addition to the new baby/bedtime picture book shelf.

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

four-stars