Format: Picture Book Fiction

DUCK

DUCKDuck! by Meg McKinlay, Nathaniel Eckstrom
Published by Candlewick Press on August 13th 2019
ISBN: 1536204226
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

“Duck!” is a very simple but clever picture book for ages 3-6. Duck tries his  darnedest  to  warn Horse, Cow, Pig, and Sheep that there is danger looming.  However, when Duck shouts “DUCK” to warn his friends of  impending disaster,  the animals misinterpret Duck’s meaning and believe he is calling each of them a “duck.”  Horse, Cow, Pig, and Sheep  are  highly offended by the misnomer and begin to strongly scold Duck. In  a turn of the tables, Duck immediately apologizes and  unabashedly says, “I should have said RUN!”  And  there is  very good reason why they all should!

This book can  be used when studying farms and farmyards with toddlers through Kindergarten. In addition “DUCK” would make  a wonderful  introduction  to the concept of words having a double meanings.    The usage of “duck” to illustrate this concept is a good one as most young children may already be familiar with the two meanings of  the word. This book is  age appropriate with a straight  forward and  clear plot line.

Lovely, humorous  illustrations by Nathaniel Eckstrom show the frustration on the faces of Horse, Cow, Pig and Sheep,  thus making  “DUCK” a delight to read and share.

Reviewed By Connie Smith, Breakwater School, Portland, ME

four-stars

Autumn is Here

Autumn is HereTractor Mac: Autumn Is Here by Billy Steers
on August 20th 2019
ISBN: 0374309205
Pages: 40
Goodreads
four-stars

This is the twenty- first picture book in the Tractor Mac series.  Young Fergus the calf was born in the spring on Stony Meadow Farm and does not like the changes that autumn is bringing to the farm routine.  One fall day, the changes seem too much and Fergus runs and hides.  Tractor Mac knows just where to find him, the root cellar.  Tractor Mac tries to ease Fergus into autumn by explaining the changes and the storing of corn, hay and the falling leaves.  Fergus stubbornly holds onto what he likes, but slowly gets use to frolicking in the fall with his friends.  Those new to the series may not be able to know who some of the characters, who have dialog, are by name until half way through the story.  The illustrations provide a complete look at the farm.  Questions about farming such as how corn gets into the silo and what items would be stored in a root cellar are answered.  This is a perfect story for fall themed preschool activities or before a trip to the farm for a hay ride.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

 

four-stars

Horse and Buggy Paint it Out!

Horse and Buggy Paint it Out!Horse & Buggy Paint It Out! by Ethan Long
Published by Holiday House on June 11th 2019
ISBN: 082344256X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

This is an easy reader in a picture book layout for late Kindergarten and early First grade readers.  Horse has his paint brush, bucket and a French beret all ready to start a mural.  Buggy is asking him about his plan but Horse thinks he can do without a plan or help.  After a few messy steps, Horse finally agrees to hear Buggy’s plan.  The text is all interactive dialogs between Horse and Buggy in white dialog bubbles.  The layout consists of full page and half page comic style frames.  The designation of these frames is the slight change of background hue.  Since readers are new to the comic book format, solid black lines delineating the various comic boxes is suggested.  Long’s cartoon style illustrations show expressions such as frustration, smugness, and surprise that add to the simple sentence text.  The end papers show an exuberant happy dance by Horse and Buggy complete with brushes and pails.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

 

three-stars

I Dig

I DigI Dig by Joe Cepeda
Published by Holiday House on May 14th 2019
ISBN: 0823439755
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

This picture book style easy reader follows a boy at the beach.  He finds a shovel, digs a sand tunnel, interacts with a dog and lies down to see the stars in the sky.  The illustrations are full page with a shadow and brush stroke style that provides a feeling of the wind in every picture.  There is a small space of white that presents the brief text for each two page spread.  Generally there are one word, two word and three word sentences which place the reading level at very beginner reader.  The publisher has designed this as Guided reading level C for middle of Kindergarten, but it seems very basic and could be used for younger readers.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

Music for Mister Moon

Music for Mister MoonMusic for Mister Moon by Philip C. Stead, Erin E. Stead
Published by Neal Porter Books on March 26th 2019
ISBN: 0823441601
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

Recommending for cream of the crop consideration.  This picture book for young listeners from PreK to grade 2 has a gentle, ethereal feel that matches the off beat imagination of Harriet Henry, “Hank”, as she works through her performance anxiety of playing the cello.  Hank’s parents want her to perform one day and she only wants to play for herself.  In her mind she changes her parents into penguins and then goes to her room to practice.  She is distracted by an owl that leads her outside and into a relationship with Mister Moon, who is stuck in her chimney.  As they venture out to get Mister Moon a hat, a ride in a boat and eventually back into the sky with the help of the owls, Hank plays only for Mister Moon.   Repeat readings revealed details in the delicately placed illustrations.  The clear, matter of fact text matched with the whimsical faint colors of green and yellow hues bring Hank’s imagination to a perfect crescendo for practicing her cello.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

five-stars

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story

Fry Bread: A Native American Family StoryFry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Juana Martinez-Neal, Kevin Noble Maillard
Published by Roaring Brook Press on October 22, 2019
ISBN: 1626727465
Pages: 42
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Starting with the senses, author Maillard brings the reader into the experience of making fry bread. He then expands to the meaning of it from art to history to place, widening the definition to the world before bringing it back to the child who eats the bread. Martinez-Neal’s soft illustrations rendered in color pencils and graphite in a palate of blues and browns with pops of orange and red are stunning.  Her diverse characters offer many expressions and body types and bring Maillard’s spare and lovely words to life. This own voices book should be on the shelf of every public and school library with a picture book collection. Recommend for cream of the crop.

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

five-stars

I Need a Hug

I Need a HugI Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey
Published by Scholastic Press on December 26th 2018
ISBN: 1338297104
Pages: 24
Goodreads
four-stars

This book was published in Australia in 2015, but this is the first American edition. If you have Pig the Pug fans in your library, they will recognize and enjoy Blabey’s eye-popping creatures and humorous touch. Porcupine needs a hug, but who would hug a prickly creature like that? Not a rabbit or a moose or a bear, but that snake looking for a kiss? Yes, indeed. With simple rhymes and clear, bright illustrations, Blabey shows that sometimes you have to find the right friend to give you what you need. The biggest fault of the book is that it is incredibly brief. It would have been nice to get a few more animals to say no to build up the suspense a bit more as a read-aloud, but even the littlest of readers will understand the idea that friendship can come from unlikely places.

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

four-stars

Unstoppable Me

Unstoppable MeUnstoppable Me by Susan Verde
on July 23rd 2019
ISBN: 0374307385
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Susan Verde has perfectly captured the energy of that child that cannot sit still, the one in perpetual motion. And rather than showing everyone around that child with exhausted faces and hands thrown up in the air, the book shows how this energy can be used for good and celebrated and lived with (the parents calmly eating dinner while their little embodies sound and motion is priceless). Kids who are high energy will love the normalizing of this state of exuberance and parents of this/these kid(s) will nod their heads in recognition and understanding of what it is like to live with a small human who is bouncier than a rubber ball,  faster than a speeding train, and  louder than a marching band. Joyner’s illustrations focus on one boy but locate him within a diverse community of children and adults who seem happy to have his zest for life in their lives. This book would make a wonderful read-aloud and the cover, with the boy, arms outstretched to embrace the world in all of his vigor and joy, invites the reader to open the book and meet him. Highly recommend.

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

five-stars

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