Format: Picture Book Fiction

Jump

JumpJump by David McPhail
Published by Holiday House on July 17th 2018
ISBN: 0823438899
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

A simple text and sweet drawings will make this Guided Reading Level A book a hit with beginning readers. Each page has an animal or children jumping. The language repeats itself on each page but the animals change. The straight forward but fun drawings help the reader figure out which animal is jumping in the photo, even the silly ones like a hippo, and can then read the word. There are only a few words on each page so reading the whole book is possible for even a new reader. It’s hard to make a Level A book interesting for some readers but McPhail’s illustration and animal choice for sure, make that possible. Cream

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

five-stars

Min Makes a Machine

Min Makes a MachineMin Makes a Machine by Emily Arnold McCully
Published by Holiday House on July 17th 2018
ISBN: 0823439704
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Min decides to take measures into her own hands (or trunk in this case) to get water from the well into the pool so she and her friends can cool down. What a great early chapter book. The book itself is quite sturdy (important for early readers getting a lot of use), has easy to read print, colorful drawings of elephants  and a bit of a scientific principle thrown in to boot. The Guided Reading Level is clearly marked on the book (Level E) which is terrific for folks looking for that information. A cute story with a bit more to it and still a level E book, well done! Cream

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

five-stars

Saving Winslow

Saving WinslowSaving Winslow by Sharon Creech
Published by HarperCollins on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 0062570706
Pages: 176
Goodreads
five-stars

This is a short and sweet novel for upper elementary-aged lovers of animals and/or books like The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and Moo, also be Creech. Louie has had several failed attempts at taking care of the runt animals born at his Uncle Pete’s farm, so when his father brings home a tiny, weak baby donkey, no one expects it to live, not his uncle, his parents, or his quirky new friend Nora.  However, Louie, born two months early so kind of a runt himself, accepts the challenge of proving them all wrong. And while it generally takes more than love and determination to keep something alive, the presence of those two things certainly go a long way to help little Winslow’s chances. Told in short chapters with headings that provide a pretty good hint about what’s going to happen, the story of the bond between a boy and a donkey moves along quickly even as it deals with issues of growing up and accepting change. And the book offers a satisfying and wistful ending that will bring a smile and a hee-haw.

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

five-stars

Mouse House

Mouse HouseMouse House by John Burningham
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 1536200395
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

A family lives in a beautiful house where every evening after supper the children go to bed. They think they are the only family in the  house.  However, a family of mice comes out to look for food and play every night after the human family has gone to bed.  The mouse children are warned not to be seen by humans but one day they are discovered. The human father decides to get rid of the mice but the children warn the mice. So, the mice move outside and the children watch them play at night. The human children are kind to the little mice and make them toys to play on.  Then Winter comes and the mice are nowhere to be seen outside. The story ends with the discovery of a mouse inside, but the secret is safe with the children.  The illustrations are charming and whimsical and are set off against plenty of white space.  A gentle story about kindness that will appeal to toddlers to young readers.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, ME

three-stars

Sun

SunSun by Sam Usher
Published by Templar Books on June 12th 2018
ISBN: 0763699497
Pages: 40
Goodreads
three-stars

A sweet story about a grandfather and grandchild and their picnic adventure  This is the third picture book that features this loving pair.  Deciding to go on a picnic, the two set out to search for the ideal spot. Many of the pages depicting their adventure are full page spreads with full illustrations and little text. The illustrations done in ink and watercolor are detailed and vividly colored.Some of the events that take place are only imagined but the lines between reality and fantasy are blurred which is not a bad thing for this tale.  A story that can easily be reread many times with plenty of details you wouldn’t want to miss.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, ME

three-stars

The Bat Can Bat

The Bat Can BatThe Bat Can Bat: A Book of True Homonyms by Gene Barretta
Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) on February 13th 2018
ISBN: 0805099468
Pages: 40
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a clever word picture book introducing children to “homonyms.” Homonyms are words that are spelled alike and sound alike but have different meanings. The book is filled with vibrant,  lively, cartoon like illustrations of various kinds of animals engaged in playing a variety of sports. Often two homonyms are used in a single sentence, thus making it a bit easier for children to understand the difference in the meanings of the two words – which are spelled alike and sound alike!

Good book to use for teaching a “homonyms” lesson.”

 

 

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

four-stars

The Digger and the Flower

The Digger and the FlowerThe Digger and the Flower by Joseph Kuefler
Published by Balzer + Bray on January 23rd 2018
ISBN: 0062424335
Pages: 48
Goodreads
five-stars

Digger, Dozer, and Crane work together every day building a city. One day, during a break, Digger finds a small flower in the middle of the buildings. He thought it was beautiful and decided to protect it. Eventually, they built up the whole city, and the only spot not built on was the spot the flower sat on.  Before Digger could stop Dozer, he cut the flower down. Devastated, Digger finds seeds where the flower used to sit, and takes them up into the hills for safety.  He buries them in the ground. The final spread is of multiple flowers growing outside of the city.  It’s a lovely little story that can also be used to talk about environmentalism. The illustrations are simply done with muted colors and add to the beauty of the story.  Recommended for purchase.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

five-stars

Building Books

Building BooksBuilding Books by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on October 2nd 2018
ISBN: 1524773670
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

Owen and Katie are siblings who are very different.  Katie does not enjoy reading but absolutely loves to build things.  Her brother loved nothing more than reading books.  They just don’t understand each other and argue over which is the best — building or reading. One day  a librarian steps in to see if she can help them see their worlds a bit differently.  Katie is supposed to read books, while Owen is ask to shelve books.  Both of them are displeased and ignore the librarian’s request.  However, through a twist of fate, while Katie is building with a pile of books, she discovers a book called Castle Engineering.  Immediately intrigued with this book, she begins to read.  Meanwhile, Owen begins building with the large stack of books and realizes he enjoys creating something new.  Both now agree that reading and building are both great things to do and settle into a big library chair and read, together.   The illustrations were created using ink and gouache, and finished digitally. The detailed illustrations are colorful and playful set off against plenty of white space.  The text is well-paced and offers a valid lesson of being open to new things and keeping an open mind.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, ME

three-stars

Ella & Monkey at Sea

Ella & Monkey at SeaElla and Monkey at Sea by Emilie Boon
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on August 7th 2018
ISBN: 0763692336
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Ella doesn’t like good-byes, or sailing across the sea, or playing with other children on the ship, and gets grumpier and grumpier, especially during a hurricane. The reader is never told that Ella is disgruntled, instead, we read about Monkey and his fears. Gradually Ella shows her feelings by saying, “Me too.”  We read how Ella calms him and sings lullabys to him and finally uses Monkey’s crayons to draw sunshine pictures to cheer everyone up.

    Soft, simple illustrations help calm the reader through this upsetting experience. Lots of white space keep the focus on Ella and Monkey. Text has many short, direct sentences; longer sentences are purposely broken into appropriate sections. End papers begin with a Dutch countryside and end with the city skyline.

   This book brings the European immigration experience to the youngest of readers in a gentle, compassionate way. The time frame is vague, but it has an mid 1900’s feel to it. Buy this book for the immigration lesson if you have a need, but definitely buy it it as a wonderful, reassuring story showing ways children deal with fears and anxieties through their beloved favorite stuffed animals, regardless of where they are traveling or what they are doing.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars

Night Job

Night JobNight Job by Karen Hesse, G. Brian Karas
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 0763662380
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

What better way to spend the night than with one’s dad at work! The strong father-son bond is felt during an ordinary experience that feels special as told by a boy. His father is a school janitor. They live in a small apartment. But they seem to make the best of it: they have each other and they have dreams.

    Soft, somewhat simple illustrations with lots of appropriate grayscales and shading for the night setting. Some double page spreads, some half-page panels framed by white thick borders that hold the text. Even though the father doesn’t speak, we feel he is glad to have his son with him.

    Great for discussing figurative language, first-personal narratives, but even better for providing youngsters an opportunity to think about everyday experiences that become special just because they got to spend time with an adult. This is also an excellent example of how some families have unusual routines.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars