Format: Picture Book Fiction

The Things That I Love about Trees

The Things That I Love about TreesThe Things That I Love about Trees by Chris Butterworth
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on February 28th 2018
ISBN: 0763695696
Pages: 32
Goodreads

A little girl loves trees. She introduces the reader to a plum tree and then proceeds to tell the reader why she loves the tree in the spring, summer, fall and winter. In spring, it is the change that takes place, buds that get bigger and produce leaves. Leaves that attract bees and spring begins. She then tells her love of the tree in summer, the look of full leafy trees and the sound, in fall it is the color and in winter, the bareness.  The text that tells of the love of trees is in large print, while lots of information about trees is in small print that does not interfere with the illustrations. These illustrations are done in ink and watercolor. they are soft browns and greens and give a calmness to the story. Through the eyes of a little girl the reader in introduced to the cycle of the seasons and what each season offers and the cycle of a tree, something that  is affected by the seasons. It is reminiscent of Gail Gibbon’s Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree.

This is a great way to begin the spring season. It is a wonderful selection for young readers.

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

Blue

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

Blue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger is simple and elegant  with just two words per spread. This book can be enjoyed on many levels. Children will like peeking through the various die-cuts, one per spread, and see the next shade of blue including berry blue, ocean blue, and midnight blue. There is also a touching story of a little boy and a puppy(baby blue). They grow older, and the dog dies (true blue, so blue). After a passage of time you see an older boy with a girl friend who has a dog (new blue). Seeger’s  textured acrylic on canvas illustrations add richness and depth. This is similar to Seeger’s earlier Green, but this new book is easier to follow as a story. Recommended for Cream of the Crop. Margy Soule, Coffin School, Brunswick

five-stars

Nothing Can Frighten a Bear

Nothing Can Frighten a BearNothing Can Frighten a Bear by Elizabeth Dale, Paula Metcalf
Published by Nosy Crow on January 2nd 2018
ISBN: 0763696277
Pages: 32
Goodreads

A family of bears (mom, dad, Grace, Ben and baby) settle down for the night. Baby awakens when he hears a noise – a ROAR! It must be a MONSTER! Unable to sleep until he knows what made the noise, the entire bear family sets out to look for monsters! With the refrain” nothing can frighten a bear” they continue to hunt for the noise and the reader sees that one by one a member of the bear family disappears until it is just baby and dad. When they turn around and discover mom and siblings are gone, they think maybe there is a monster and they are next!

Large illustrations of mixed media add to the atmosphere of a monster hunt at night. Will dad (and reader) figure out what happened to the family and is there indeed a monster on the prowl.

The text lends itself to exposing the listeners to counting and the emotions of being scared, afraid, and excited about what will happen next. It is a good read aloud and invites the reader to experience feelings they all have- the monster in the room!

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

The Boy Who Went to Mars

The Boy Who Went to MarsThe Boy Who Went to Mars by Simon James
Published by Candlewick Press on November 20th 2018
ISBN: 076369598X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

The Boy Who Went to Mars by Simon James is a story about a little boy who pretends he is a Martian while his mother is away on a short trip. After his mom leaves, he climbs in his cardboard box space ship, takes a quick round trip to Mars, and comes back a Martian. Under his dad’s care, the boy acts up in relatively modest ways, not brushing his teeth, ignoring vegetables at dinner, and shoving a child (not seriously hurt) on the playgroup. Once his mother comes home and asks him how he was, he feels guilty, jumps back in spaceship and returns as a boy, glad to be his old self again. Young child who are trying to figure out how to express their feelings will relate to this child. The father comes off as warm and caring; the brother understanding, and the little boy creative in his rebellion.  The sketchy cartoon illustrations give a sense of lightness to the story. Recommended for ages 4 to 7. Margy Soule, Coffin School, Brunswick

three-stars

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