Format: Picture Book Fiction

Storm

StormStorm by Sam Usher
Published by Templar Books on August 17th 2018
ISBN: 1536202827
Pages: 40
Goodreads

It is a windy day and a small boy and his granddad are on their way out to do some kite flying- as soon as the kite can be located! While on the hunt , they find several other  objects that bring back memories of past adventures they had with said object, a telescope, cricket bat, boat. The kite remains missing and the wind is intensifying. When the kite is finally found, an adventure begins that will rival the previous ones.

Sam Usher has introduced his readers to this grandson-granddad duo in his past books: Sun and Snow. He has used the true picture book style, that being sparse text with illustrations of ink and watercolor that are large and expressive. The youngest of readers can “read” the story.

This is a story for a lap read with lots to look at or a story time setting. It is not only an adventure but shows the relationship between two people that enjoy each others company. They really look forward to their time together and have built great memories to be shared long after the adventure ends.

A good choice for units on relationships, grandparents, or just how to have fun on any given day

reviewed by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray, Maine

Hip-Hop

Hip-HopHip-Hop Lollipop by Susan Montanari, Brian Pinkney
Published by Schwartz & Wade Books on October 2nd 2018
ISBN: 1101934824
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Hip-Hop Lollipop by Susan McElroy Montanari and illustrated by Brian Pinkney is a joyful bedtime or anytime celebration made to be read aloud. Full of rhythm and rhyme this hip-hop ode to a happy family will get bodies swaying and fingers snapping. A little girl is sent off to bed, but she cannot contain her dancing. With her sister, “Teeth brushing. Music crushing! Bass thumping! Shoulders pumping! Head rotation. Jubilation!” With the help of dog, cat, mom, and dad, the little girl gets into bed and dreams hip-hop. Brian Pinkney’s ink and watercolor swirls of movement on every page match the beat of the text. Practice reading this aloud, get the rhythm, and enjoy sharing it with a three to seven your old.  Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Margy Soule, Coffin School, Brunswick, Maine.

four-stars

Blue

BlueBlue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Published by Roaring Brook Press on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 1626720665
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

Elegant and deceptively simple, Blue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger explores the many shades of blue. With die-cut  illustrations, the story shows,  with only two words per spread, a child over the years enjoying a dog from puppy-hood (baby blue) to death/grief (true blue  .. so blue) and a new friend with a dog (new blue) years later.  The book invites discussions from multiple perspectives  such as seeing different blues all around us, the joys of having and losing a pet, the passage of time and seasons, and feeling different moods. Children on their own will enjoy looking for the various shapes and locations of the die-cut holes with blues peeking through the pages.  This book can stand alone or be used with Seeger’s Green. The textured artwork is Seeger’s characteristic thick acrylic paint on canvas. Recommended Cream of the Crop for preschool through first grade children.

Reviewed by Margy Soule, Coffin School, Brunswick, Maine

five-stars

Pie is for Sharing

Pie is for SharingPie is for Sharing by Stephanie Parlsey Ledyard, Jason Chin
Published by Roaring Brook Press on May 15th 2018
ISBN: 1626725624
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

“Pie is for Sharing” is a short realistic fiction picture book about a group of children sharing a pie at a picnic.   It then goes onto tell us about other items (a ball, a book, a tree, a jump rope,and a rhyme) that can indeed be shared as well.   However, we learn that it is  not so easy to share a best friend!  Something to which all children can  realte.  It continues to tell about   more things that can be shared, even nature itself,  such as a breeze and the sky.  After a day of sharing,  the children  celebrate at a  Fourth of July picnic where  we’re reminded of the many things that are for sharing, “just like pie.”

The illustrations in “Pie is for Sharing”  are realistic with a fair amount of detail.  Children would enjoy observing the many children and their fun filled activities  that are depicted in the illustrations.

“Pie is for Sharing” does not  have a plot. It focuses mainly on the idea of “sharing,” It  would be a nice book to read when addressing the issue of sharing with a class of children

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

 

three-stars

Sleep, My Bunny

Sleep, My BunnySleep, My Bunny by Rosemary Wells
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on November 13th 2018
ISBN: 076369262X
Pages: 24
Goodreads
three-stars

Sleep, My Bunny by Rosemary Wells is a gentle bedtime book for ages 2 through five.  With impressionistic backgrounds of swirling , soothing shades of blue, happy domestic scenes show a little bunny child with his parents’ help getting ready for bed including sharing a book, taking a bath, listening to music, and hugging a stuffed animal . The text is a six sentence lullaby that could also be read as a gentle nature poem. Preschoolers will explore the illustrations that show happy bedtime routines while they listen to the soothing, quiet music-like text. “Hush now, you hoot owls, and crickets, be wary – the morning is hiding behind the next cloud.” Recommended by Margy Soule, Coffin School librarian, Brunswick, Maine

three-stars

Hide and Seek

Hide and SeekHide and Seek by Anthony Browne
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on November 13th 2018
ISBN: 1536202606
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Hide and Seek by Anthony Browne is a picture book story that will please children ages 4 through 8 who enjoy the surrealistic style and  something-is-about-to-happen mood of the illustrations. Two children are sad because their dog Goldie has disappeared. In their unrest, they decide to play hide and seek outside in the woods. While the younger waits impatiently to be found, the older sibling wanders farther and farther looking. Both begin to worry. The reader/viewer who looks carefully will find many hidden things in the illustrations including a giraffe, dogs, duck, and an ear. The illustrations’ perspectives and somber tones  reflect the increasing fear of the children. All is golden and bright, however, when the lost dog Goldie suddenly appears and finds her boy hidden among the brush. All three go joyfully home to a sweet, homey little trailer decked out with red banners, potted plants, and flowers. This trailer is near a tall cold-looking high rise leaving the reader/listening with the feeling that there is more to think about, a sense that is in all of Anthony Browne’s books.

Reviewed by Margy Soule, Coffin School, Brunswick

four-stars

How To Knit a Monster

How To Knit a MonsterHow to Knit a Monster by Annemarie van Haeringen
Published by Clarion Books on August 7th 2018
ISBN: 132884210X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

“How to Knit a Monster,” is a delightful picture book story about Greta, a goat,  who knits “socks for everyone she knows and for many she doesn’t know.”  One day, she decides to make something different and “click, click clickety”  go her knitting needles.” Before long,  little goats are sliding off her  needles.  Mrs. Sheep complains that Greta’s knitting is messy and that she drops stitches. This upsets Greta a great deal. She becomes angry,  (who likes to be criticized),   doesn’t pay attention to her knitting and before she knows it, a wolf jumps off her knitting needles.  Greta  then proceeds to knit a monster which gobbles up  Mrs. Sheep and a tiger.  But now, how does she get rid of the monster?  Can you guess?

This picture book is very funny, very  clever, and has a wonderful surprise ending.  This is a story that one  should  read just  for fun, taking note of Greta’s quick wit, quick thinking and tenacity as she comes to terms with the “monster” she has created!  A good story to use when wishing to encourage imagination and creativity in writing endeavors.   A wonderful example too, of how sometimes when you think you’ve solved one  problem, another rears its ugly head.

The illustrations match the theme of the story well: knitting. They are bold and colorful but somewhat sketchy,  loose, and scattered,  in part, perhaps,  to reflect the sometimes messiness of a knitting project.  This book will keep you in “stitches!”

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

five-stars

Copy Cat

Copy CatCopy Cat by Ali Pye
Published by Nosy Crow on May 22nd 2018
ISBN: 0763699357
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Anna and Bella are friends.  Bella wants to do everything Anna does, but when Bella wants to to play princess and there is only one crown the two friends end up all huffy-puffy by themselves.  It is not long when Bella picks up a jump rope and practiced, practiced and practiced and is noticed by Chloe who joins in.  When Anna gets tire of Playing alone she joins them and the three have fun jumping rope together until they see Dotty…

A delightful story about playground friendships and also about learning to be by yourself.  Great debut by author/illustrator Ali Pye

Karen Spiliopoulos, Parsons Memorial Library, Alfred

four-stars

Possum and the Summer Storm

Possum and the Summer StormPossum and the Summer Storm by Anne Hunter
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on May 22nd 2018
ISBN: 0544898915
Pages: 32
Goodreads

“Possum and The Summer Storm” is a delightful picture book tale about a Possum and her  family who have lost their home to a Summer storm.   “Thunder crashed.  Wind howled”

“Where will we live?” Where will we sleep?” cried the baby possums. With some help from  their friends,  Possum and her family are able to build a new home. A home that  turns out to be a very suitable home indeed!

Suddenly,  “thunder rumbled.” “Come inside,” invites  Possum.  So Possum and her family and ALL of their friends are invited  to stay warm and cozy  inside the new home while outside  it pours rain once again.  “Come back soon,”   calls Possum. “My home is your home.”

A wonderful (anytime of day story) for demonstrating kindness and the  idea of friends helping friends  in need.  Good reinforcement for The Golden Rule.  Also could be used when learning about small forest,/marsh creatures.  Probably best appreciated by Pre-school through Second grade.

The author/artist’s pictures are both endearing and expressive. Other Possum books: “Possum’s Harvest Moon,”  “Possum and the Peeper” , and “Cricket Song.”

 

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

The Night Box

The Night BoxThe Night Box by Louise Greig, Ashling Lindsay
Published by Clarion Books on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 1328850935
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Soothing bedtime reading, this reassuring and magical evocation of nighttime encourages imaginative exploration and marks the debut of a talented poet and illustrator picture-book pair.

When a little boy opens the Night Box, darkness swoops out, a fox uncurls, and a thousand stars sparkle and shine. Night flows freely then, cavorting and exploring, caring for all its creatures until morning comes, and it’s time for Night to rest again.      With its soothing cadences and air of quiet wonder, The Night Box is sure to charm any sleepy listener who wonders what happens between sunset and sunrise. 

“The Night Box”  is a clever, imaginative picture book fantasy about a little boy who possesses a key that  unlocks  “a box of midnight blue”  when:

“Day is yawning,  Quiet settles in the trees. The birds unfold their wings, the singing stops.”

How the boy comes to possess this  key  is indeed  a  magical mystery. When the boy turns the key in  the box    – “Click . . .  and another click . . . .”    Night suddently slips out as Day slips in.  And Night then shows how gently and carefully it  cares for all nighttime creatures.

This book would make  a soothing  bedtime story. It might also provoke interesting discussions about what Night  really is or perhpas evoke a discussion  about  why and how it is that  a small  boy comes to possess a key that can release Night.    Did  Night  give the key to the small boy  or did the boy  discover it, perhaps, underneath a rock, while playing.  “The NIght Box”  may be  useful in alleviating  a child’s fear of the dark  becuase  Night treats and guards the nighttime creatures so tenderly, thus,  a  reassuring and comforting story.  The  magical element  is  clever and AWEsome,  because , after all,  children do beileve in magic.  And so can we!

“The NIght Box”  is unique, imaginative, and can help to expand a child’s thinking in a variety of areas:  the sky, creatures on the Earth, (both diurnal and noctural),  magic, and being cared for even  by nature!

Ashley LIdsay, the illustrator of “The Night Box,” provides illustrations that are somewhat free flowing and softly portrayed.  However,  the small boy  is shown with carrot colored hair.  Chldren would enjoy pointing to and speaking about the details in the  illustrations!

 

Reviewed by:  Connie M. Smith, Breakwater School Library, Portland, Me

four-stars