Format: Picture Book Fiction

Goldfish on Vacation

Goldfish on VacationGoldfish on Vacation by Sally Lloyd-Jones, Roman Muradov, Leo Espinosa
Published by Schwartz & Wade Books on April 10th 2018
ISBN: 0385386117
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

“Sometimes it’s hard being goldfish….Going around and around in circles… And sometimes it’s hard being a child in the summer in the city.” The introduction of Goldfish on Vacation sets the scene of this fanciful story sure to be a wonderful read-a-loud at home or school. The three children in the story are ready for summer vacation but are stuck inside their apartment. Their three goldfish are stuck in their bowl but are about to spend summer vacation in the renovated fountain across the street.

The release of the goldfish in their vacation fountain creates a “goldfish parade” which brings all the neighborhood children together. The colorful illustrations are contrasted by monochrome flashbacks of the children’s grandfather.

The story promotes the importance of outdoor play, friendship, caring for your surroundings and inclusion.   Teachers, parents, and caregivers can use this story as a tool to get children out of the comfort of their normal routine and go experience the larger world around them.

This book will circulate! Recommend for creme-of-the-crop!

Reviewed by Liz Davis, Children’s Librarian, Waterville Public Library

five-stars

Dance, Dance, Dance!

Dance, Dance, Dance!Dance, Dance, Dance!: A Horse and Buggy Tale by Ethan Long
Published by Holiday House on February 20th 2018
ISBN: 0823438597
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

Horse likes to dance. He can’t figure out why bee won’t dance with him. But then he turns on the music and that changes everything. Te drawings in this book are silly and really fun. Horse gets a bit carried away with getting bee to dance, but young readers will most likely not mind that and enjoy the silly story. The story uses speech bubbles so it almost feels a bit like a graphic novel at times. The Guided Reading Level E is clearly marked on the front of the book which is very handy for teachers, readers or parents looking for that information.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

three-stars

Can You Find Pup?

Can You Find Pup?Can You Find Pup? by Vincent X Kirsch
Published by Holiday House on October 23rd 2018
ISBN: 0823439402
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Tate likes to draw lots of things. Put he doesn’t draw pup, so pup runs off until Tate uses his drawings to find him. This early reader combines easy to read word with lots of search and find opportunities throughout the book. The search and finds are in black and white which aren’t quite as fun as the rest of the drawings in the book. For those interested in knowing the Guided Reading Level of this book (Level D) it is clearly marked on the front.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

four-stars

Squeak the Mouse Likes His House

Squeak the Mouse Likes His HouseSqueak the Mouse Likes His House by Pat Schories
Published by Holiday House on October 23rd 2018
ISBN: 0823439437
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Squeak the mouse likes many things in his house and is sure to squeak about when he sees something he does. A fun early reader for beginners. Large font is spaced nicely on the pages and the illustrations are very good. Squeak is cute mouse that readers will definitely like. Also for readers and others looking for this information, the Guide Reading Level C is clearly marked on the front cover.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

four-stars

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