Format: Picture Book Fiction

Pop!

Pop!Pop! by Jason Carter Eaton, Matt Rockefeller
Published by First Second Books on July 3rd 2018
ISBN: 1626725039
Pages: 42
Goodreads
five-stars

Does your storytime include blowing bubbles? If not, here is the perfect book to introduce such an activity. Dewey likes blowing bubbles more than playing with other youngsters, which frees up his mind to be creative in his methods of capturing a bubble that floats just out of his reach. In spite of his ultimate failure to pop the bubble, it turns out to be a friendship story.    

Wide pages hold double page spreads and some pages show series of smaller images, urging the reader to move quickly along with Dewey. Text is well-placed and well-paced. Librarians might want to leave the dust jacket unsecured – don’t miss the cover image!

Before reading aloud, I would ask youngsters to think of ways they could reach that last elusive bubble that floats just of their reach, or for older students, discuss why bubbles float and pop. If you’re looking for a book to add to your STEM list, this should be on it, mostly because it doesn’t feel like it’s trying to be a STEM book!

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars

The Ghostly Carousel

The Ghostly CarouselThe Ghostly Carousel: Delightfully Frightful Poems by Calef Brown
Published by Carolrhoda Books (R) on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 151242661X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
two-stars

Great book for some spooky fun poems. There are seventeen poems  “I’m not afraid of bats or bee stings, but late at night I think I see things… Illustrations are acrylic. The poems are mostly cuplets  and short.

Reviewed by Jeri Fitzpatrick, GNG Middle School, Gray

two-stars

Ginny Goblin is not allowed to open this box

Ginny Goblin is not allowed to open this boxGinny Goblin Is Not Allowed to Open This Box by David Goodner, Louis Thomas
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on July 17th 2018
ISBN: 0544764153
Pages: 40
Goodreads
four-stars

Ginny Goblin has a box for her, but she is not allowed to open it until after dinner. She cannot wait to open it, so she tries many different ways to get to the box (ninja suits, catapults, goats, and a motorcycle are just a few things she tries). Nothing works, as her parents are always moving the box out of reach. Eventually, Ginny Goblin gets discouraged and stops trying to get to the box. But now we, the reader, want to know what is in the box!!! Written by David Goodner and illustrated by Louis Thomas, “Ginny Goblin is not allowed to open this box” is funny and smart and will appeal to kids who like silly books, like Jon Klassen’s “This is not my hat.” Kids will enjoy the ridiculous attempts by Ginny and the bright and funny drawings. Aimed at children 4 – 7, this book is a must-buy if you have a large picture book collection.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

four-stars

Imagine

ImagineImagine by Juan Felipe Herrera, Lauren Castillo
Published by Candlewick Press on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 076369052X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

He Is a distinguished author and activist and the U.S. Poet Laureate from 2015 to 2017, but before that, he was a migrant child moving from town to town, never calling any one place home. He entered school not knowing English  or any of his classmates. This is his story, the story of Juan Felipe Herrera, told in the way he knows best-in poetic verse. In it, he challenges the reader – If I can do this- imagine what you can do! If I can leave my home, move to the city, enter a classroom knowing  no one, learn a new language,sing in front of a  class, hone my craft and become a great poet-think of what you can do. His text is supported and expanded by Castillo’s large expressive pen and foam monoprint illustrations. Imagine  is not only a beautiful book to look at, it carries a message of challenge and hope that we can aspire to be and do anything we wish no matter the odds. Use this with units of immigration, poetry and persons who overcame the odds to be their true selves.

grades 2-6

submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

five-stars

Pip & Pup

Pip & PupPip & Pup by Eugene Yelchin
Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) on April 24th 2018
ISBN: 1627793941
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Recommending for cream consideration.  This wordless picture book, for readers from birth to 2nd grade, shows the humorous encounter of a just hatched chick and the barnyard puppy.  The title page provides a play by play of the chick getting out of his shell that stays in two pieces.  He explores the farm.  A clever spread has the chick on the left page looking through his wings like binoculars and the opposite page the shadows of those binoculars with the sleeping pup in the center of each optical circle.  After pecking the pup awake and running away, a quick thunderstorm brings them back together in a comical and comforting way.  A new friendship has formed.  Perfect for lap sharing, reading picture practice and sharing with preschool groups.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library, Springvale

five-stars

Dad’s Camera

Dad’s CameraDad's Camera by Ross Watkins, Liz Anelli
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on October 9th 2018
ISBN: 1536201383
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

This Australian import provides a book for grades 1-4 about the topic of Alzheimer’s Disease.  A young boy’s father has starting to forget things and the places where items belong in their home.  One day the father brings home an old camera and begins taking photographs of different things in their world.  The boy and his mother are conflicted because they believe his is taking them to remember, but he never takes photos of them.  After the father dies, the boy receives his father’s camera in the mail and there is only one picture on the roll of film, a picture of their family together.  The father had taken pictures that he wanted them to remember him by.  Adult readers will want to have the tissue box close at hand.  Anelli’s collage, acrylic and watercolor illustrations set the tone for the scenes and provide much detail, even in the end pages.  Consider for bibliotherapy collections about Alzheimer’s or dementia concerns.

 

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library, Springvale

five-stars

The Bear in My Bed

The Bear in My BedThe Bear in My Bed by Joyce Wan
Published by Farrar Straus Giroux on June 5th 2018
ISBN: 0374300380
Pages: 40
Goodreads
two-stars

A non-descript child, the narrator, finds a bear, not just a teddy bear, in his bed.  The bear provides the frolic of a naughty bear by making a mess with the toys, splashing in the bath, dancing with the toilet paper and wearing underwear on his head in lieu of pajamas.  When they finally settle down to sleep there is no room for the child, so he quickly builds a second bunk.  Wan’s signature graphic novel, flat effect style has an emoji feel to the expressions and covers the space of each spread.  In the group of bedtime routine picture books, this one does not stand out from the pack.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library, Springvale

two-stars

The Dam

The DamThe Dam by David Almond, Levi Pinfold
Published by Candlewick Studio on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 0763695971
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Two award winners; David Almond known for his stories and young adult novels including Skellig ,Kit’s Wilderness and Heaven Eyes, and Levi Pinfold whose picture book Black Dog won the Kate Greenway Medal have created a powerful picture book about the building of a dam and what was lost in the building and what was gained. Based on  a true story , a father and daughter, musicians are going into the area that will be flooded, land lost forever, to play one last time for the people, animals, birds and flowers that will no longer live on the land and for those who lived on the land in past times. But they also play for the new life that the dam creates- a lake which invites people and animals to it and the music binds the old wit the new.

The text is poetic , simple and direct, the illustrations are in browns and blues, somber and striking but not sad. The full page of the new lake formed is hopeful and makes the loss bearable. this is a visually striking book. with a message of hope delivered in a story  not commonly told in a picture book.

Use in art classes to demonstrate how art can tell express feelings and tell a story, use in music classes to explain the power of music to keep the memory of a bygone time alive and not forgotten.

The author’s note explains that such a dam was built in Northumberland, England and that musicians played for what was lost and then what was found.

So often teachers and librarians must encourage older children to take the time to visit the picture book section. Somehow children seem to think they are too old to enjoy this genre. This is one of those books that is to be enjoyed by children of all ages.

Grades 3-6

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

five-stars

Our Car

Our CarOur Car by J.M. Brum, Jan Bajtlik
Published by Roaring Brook Press on January 1st 2018
ISBN: 1626722463
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

The narrator is so excited about his dad’s car and passes that excitement along to the reader. In simple text, the reader learns that the car is red, when it rains the roof must be put up, when it runs out of gas, it must be pushed and at the end- the reader is offered a surprise! Simple and direct text with simple cartoon style illustrations make this a fun book for the car enthusiast. Use with units about vehicles and pair it with selections such as: Byron’s My Car and My Bus.

grades pre-k -2

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

three-stars

There’s a Dinosaur on the 13th Floor

There’s a Dinosaur on the 13th FloorThere's a Dinosaur on the 13th Floor by Wade Bradford, Kevin Hawkes
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on October 2nd 2018
ISBN: 0763686654
Pages: 40
Goodreads
four-stars

Mr. Snore checks in to the Sharemore Hotel for some much needed rest. But each room he is given, already has an occupant. Mr. Snore meets his various roommates- mouse, pig, spiders, and giraffes and requests a different room each time and each time is confronted with yet another surprise guest. As he moves up the floors the guests get more challenging until the 13th floor holds the most challenging! Will Mr. Snore ever get the rest he needs?

Author Bradford’s text and Maine illustrator Kevin Hawkes illustrations make this a fun book to read, a fun book to listen to and a fun book to look at. This is a book for all and a must for Maine libraries.

grades pre-k – 3

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public library

four-stars