Format: Picture Book Fiction

Monkey Time

Monkey TimeMonkey Time by Michael Hall
Published by Greenwillow Books on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 0062383027
Pages: 48
Goodreads
three-stars

An ambitious picture book that uses a monkey in the jungle with his friends to explain the concept of time. Each orange-yellow dot represents one minute as they march around monkey in his round tree mimicking a clock. Chunky, geographic illustrations in tones of green with pops of color, Hall’s signature collage-style, accompany the story of Monkey attempting to catch a minute for himself . The idea is solid but the book tries to pack in a lot as one of Hall’s minutes cheekily asks Monkey what he will do with a minute when he does happen to catch one of the round friends. Hall also throws in a lesson on the rainforest animals set into the background of Monkey’s lesson on time.  Used as an informational, illustrative text to start the discussion on time, this book could be useful, but it seems to require a deeper level of inference and knowledge than most audience members for the book may have. It could fill a void in a public or school library collection on time-telling books for younger readers, but  would be best in the hands of an educator or parent.

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

three-stars

Wild Baby

Wild BabyWild Baby by Cori Doerrfeld
Published by HarperCollins on March 5th 2019
ISBN: 006269894X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Doerrfeld captures the unfettered joy of a wild baby on the move and the concern of the parent trying to keep that wild baby safe. An homage to any parent who has that fearless little one who might have a little extra wild mixed into their blood (some things translate no matter the animal or human world: “Wild slide. Wild swing. Wild hands on everything!). The jungle setting incorporates minimal words in a rhyming cadence along with a soft palette  with plenty of white space making this a lovely read aloud for story time or for a snuggle time, if one can get the wild baby to sit still long enough to listen.

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

four-stars

Circle

CircleCircle by Mac Barnett, Jon Klassen
Published by Candlewick Press on March 5th 2019
ISBN: 0763696080
Pages: 48
Goodreads
five-stars

Team Barnett and Klassen are back in the third book of the shape series (Triangle and Square being the first two). In this book, the three friends play a game of hide-and-seek in which Circle is clear about the rules, don’t go behind the waterfall. The reason: it’s dark. Square follows the rules; Triangle does not and Circle is forced to face her fear and look for her friend.  In their signature style of simplicity with a touch of wisdom and a sprinkle of humor, Barnett and Klassen have, once again, used their shape characters to tell the story of the trickiness that comes with navigating friendship, of facing fears, and of the leaps of imagination we can make when forced with the unknown. In the end, Triangle is found and forgiven for breaking the rules and perhaps, just perhaps, a new shape will enter the world at the deft hands of these two authors who can speak volumes with so few words and a few touches of graphite. Highly recommend, especially where the other shape books exist in a collection though neither of the other shape books is necessary for readers to enjoy this book.

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

five-stars

Pinkalicious and the Flower Fairy – I can read!

Pinkalicious and the Flower Fairy – I can read!Pinkalicious and the Flower Fairy by Victoria Kann
Published by HarperCollins on December 31st 2018
ISBN: 0062675672
Pages: 32
Goodreads
two-stars

Another fun “I Can Read” book and the Pinkalicious series. Great for the earliest of readers who are already hooked on the Pinkalicious picture books. My granddaughter loves these books and is always happy to tackle a new one!

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan – Retired Youth Services Librarian

two-stars

The Hair Book

The Hair BookThe Hair Book by Graham Tether
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on January 22nd 2019
ISBN: 1524773409
Pages: 36
Goodreads
three-stars

This simple rhyming tale of hair–short, long, curly, straight, and so on, is a great choice for children learning to read on their own.

Filled with words and concepts kids encounter every day, the early reader will enjoy the story as they improve their reading skills.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan- retired Youth Services Librarian

three-stars

Let Me Sleep Sheep

Let Me Sleep SheepLet Me Sleep, Sheep! by Leila Rudge, Meg McKinlay
Published by Candlewick Press on April 16th 2019
ISBN: 1536205478
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

“Let me Sleep, Sheep,” is an adorable, clever  bedtime tale for the 3-6 year old set.  Amos, a yound child, is “counting” himself to sleep when suddenly he hears  a loud THUD.  And then another. Two fluffy, white sheep land in his bedroom because Amos has called them to his room to be counted! The sheep are not pleased by this and suggest  that Amos count pigs instead. “Where’s the fence?” asks one  sheep. When Amos  is puzzled by their request,  the sheep tell Amos  that there must be a fence becuase “it’s in the rules.” Amos  suggests the sheep  try to jump over the cupboard, but,  for one reason or  another, the cupboard  isn’t suitable.  Amos  then builds a fence (of sorts) , and when he’s finished, the sheep insist that Amos test the fence.  So Amos jumps, and jumps, and jumps until he’s finally exhausted  and falls asleep.

Those  sheep know how to put a kid to sleep afterall!

This “turn the tables” tale  is clever, charming  and satisfying. “Let me Sleep, Sheep,”  makes a great nighttime story  for small children.  It’s  both hilarious and endearing at the same time.  The illustrations are colorful, without being overly  bold and bright, and are clearly delineated.

I recommend this book for Cream of the crop.

 

Reviewed by Connie M. Smith, Breakwater School. Portland, ME

five-stars

The Tall Man and the Small Mouse

The Tall Man and the Small MouseThe Tall Man and the Small Mouse by Birgitta Sif, Mara Bergman
Published by Candlewick Press on February 12th 2019
ISBN: 1536201685
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Fantasy, Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

“The Tall Man and the Small House” is a delightful, imaginative picture book for ages 4 through 8. A very tall man lives in a tall house. But so does a very small mouse. And, the two never seem to meet. The tall man is good at fixing things that are at a very tall heigth and the  small mouse is very good at collecting small “missing” things.   However, one day the tall man encounters a problem that he cannot fix.  He does  not know “how to fix the clock that wiould not tick and would not tock.” That night the very small mouse happened to fall asleep on the  tall man’s long boots, and was discovered in the morning when that tall man woke up.   The tall man  saw all of his  missing  things.  The tall man’s heart began to sing. “Mouse,” he said, “you’re clearly clever, small and nimble. I wonder whether I may possibly borrow you, I’ve a most important thing to do.”

“Squeak, squeak, squeak!

The tall man said,  “we may be two of a different kind, but both of us can fix and find.  I’m your friend and you are mine.”

Soft toned pastel illustrations with detail and expression.This book can be used when discussing friendships and also when pointing out the fact that although we may all in some ways be  different, we each have our strengths and talents.  These, joined together,  may indeed allow one (or two)  to accomplishsh many things.  And friendship may be the best thing of all.

 

five-stars

Chicken Talk

Chicken TalkChicken Talk by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Patricia MacLachlan
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on January 15th 2019
ISBN: 0062398644
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Chicken Talk” is a humorous picture book for ages four to eight.  Farmer Otis and his wife Abby love their chickens and their children, Willie and Belle.   One morning they arise to find a note from a chicken scratched into the dirt.  The chickens are becoming demanding and bossy, but no one knows which chicken is the guilty party!  Even, Tripp, the mailman is told that he “drives to fast and that cheerful chickens cross the road.”  Now, the suspect becomes Farmer  Otis, himself.  Tripp is then invited by Otis to “come see for Yourself.”

“Chicken talk is a a fun book to read but is  slightly confusing due to the number of chickens  (there are seven chickens all named Joyce) plus four additional chickens with individual names. It might be a bit difficult too,  for a young child to comprehend  just how Otis and his family  knew for certain that it was chicken “Grace” who did the scrathcing.

The illustrations are nicely done and both the chickens and Farmer Otis and his family are expressive. This book would be fun to use when studing farm animals and farms in general.

Reviewed by Connie Smith, Breakwater School, Portland, ME

three-stars

Mighty Truck: Zip and Beep

Mighty Truck: Zip and BeepMighty Truck: Zip and Beep (Mighty Truck #5) by Chris Barton, Troy Cummings
Published by HarperCollins on December 4th 2018
ISBN: 0062344730
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Mighty Truck: Zip and Beep is an I Can Read! book from the Mighty Truck series. It features a beat-up pickup truck named Clarence who needs a day off. His boss, Hattie (a road roller), tells him she has cousins coming into town, and Clarence offers to watch her cousins for the day. Zip and Beep turn out to be two tiny bulldozers who are fast and rambunctious. They play all day, including when Clarence turns into Mighty Truck, a superhero-like monster truck, until they finally take a nap in the sandbox. Hattie comes to pick up her cousins and offers Clarence the day off again tomorrow to watch more cousins. Clarence declines, saying that days off are too much work!

This book is cute, with easy-to-read text and bright cheerful illustrations. Young readers in preschool through second grade will find the playground games of Zip and Beep familiar and fun. A worthy addition to a reader collection.

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library.

four-stars

What If…? Then We…

What If…? Then We…What If...? Then We...: Short, Very Short, Shorter-than-Ever Possibilities by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Fred Koehler
Published by Boyds Mills Press on February 19th 2019
ISBN: 1629799092
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

This book explores a series of imaginary scenarios in which a lot are used to demonstrate making the best of difficult scenarios. Scenarios include being far from where you are from and not having means of telling time. These scenarios are demonstrated through two polar bears in the ocean. The illustrations have a lot of detail beyond the polar bears to challenge the children to notice. Some of the pages provide clues to what is going to happen on the following pages as well as references to previous pages. The illustrations are pastel with bold accents.

I would recommend this book for kindergarten and above or curious children. I think a younger audience may get confused by the scenes changing so quickly and moving all over the place even though the text is simple. This book could be great for encouraging children to ask questions, curiosity and keeping a positive mind. It helps children to think about answering their own questions. I think this would be a great way to introduce fantasy concepts as these are unrealistic scenarios demonstrated through real things.

Reviewed by Kathleen Powers, Winslow Public Library, Winslow, ME

three-stars