Format: Picture Book Fiction

Time Runs Like a River

Time Runs Like a RiverTime Runs Like a River by Emma Carlisle
ISBN: 1536243388
Genres: Nature
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Time Runs Like a River

Author: Emma Carlisle

This picture book for ages 3-7 tells the story of a river as a primary metaphor for the passage of time. It highlights how a river can be fast or still, raging or calm, just like people. Similarly, all living things in and around the river grow and change over time. It encourages the reader to both reflect on things that have passed, as well as to embrace those things yet to be experienced. The end includes information about the river ecosystem, as well as a list of multi-sensory activities to learn about the ever-changing nature of nature.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

four-stars

Seven Skies All at Once

Seven Skies All at OnceSeven Skies All at Once by Matt Myers, Ted Kooser
on July 8, 2025
ISBN: 1536229008
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Climate
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Seven Skies All at Once

Author: Ted Kooser

This picture book for ages 4-8 tells the story of seven different skies of clouds, while secondarily depicting the story of two children with a clothesline connecting the tops of their two buildings. The creative verse is full of metaphors and compound sentences that could adversely affect comprehension in younger readers, but the illustrations are so vivid and rich that non-readers could follow the narrative without the text. This would make a fun supplement to a lesson on meteorology.

3 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

three-stars

The House That Floated

The House That FloatedThe House That Floated by Guojing
on October 16, 2025
ISBN: 0593709063
Genres: Family, Nature, Oceans, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A beautiful wordless picture book that offers a subtle but important introduction to the impact of climate change on our world. A family happily lives by the sea and makes their living from the sea. Scenes of a happy family life are beautifully drawn. When the sea-level rises, the family is resourceful and perseveres by literally floating and towing  their house to a new location. There is much to ponder in this small but powerful wordless book. 

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

five-stars

Ruffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy Ball

Ruffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy BallRuffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy Ball by David Melling
ISBN: 1536241385
Genres: Animals, Emotions & Feelings, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Ruffles loves playing and doing all the things that dogs love to do; but his favorite activity is playing with his blue, bouncy ball. However, he cannot find it anywhere. He looks in all the places a bouncy ball could possibly be. When his friend Ruby comes over, they remember it could possibly be in the park. They look everywhere a bouncy ball could possibly be…in the park. They determine that the bouncy ball is lost forever. Ruby helps Ruffles find other ways to play, and they discover a sock to play tug-of-war with.

This book is the seventh in a series of Ruffles books where the dog encounters situations that many preschool children encounter. This one is the situation where toys are sometimes lost, and actually lost forever. Sometimes a friend can help us remember that it will be ok. The Ruffles series are visually attractive with primary colors and sweet illustrations.

Recommended for Ages 2-5.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

Dawn Patrol

Dawn PatrolDawn Patrol: A Father and Daughter Surfing Story by Rob Sayegh Jr.
ISBN: 1536235091
Genres: Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Dawn Patrol

Author/Illustrator Rob Sayegh Jr.

This picture book for ages 4-8 depicts the routine of a father and daughter, who rise early and set out together for the shore to surf, calling themselves the Dawn Patrol.  They spend time on the water together, learn about perseverance, and make memories over the years. At the end of the book, the grown daughter is shown with her own young son, both on surfboards. This book celebrates the parent-child relationship and shows how little moments add up to a lifetime of love. While it may be a more enjoyable book for nostalgic parents than young children, it is a testament to how passions can be passed down generations.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

four-stars

The Haunted Scavenger Hunt: A Spook-tacular Storybook

Genres: Adventure, Holiday, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General, Suspense
Format: Picture Book Fiction
four-stars

The Haunted Scavenger Hunt: A Spook-tacular Storybook

Author: Steve Patschke

This Halloween picture book for ages 3-7 is about what happens when four friends find a mysterious box with the message “Don’t look at it, don’t touch it, don’t open it!” They disregard the warning and by doing so, embark on a spooky scavenger hunt that leads them to the basement of a haunted house. One by one, the friends go missing, until they are reunited in a surprise ending.  This humorous and suspenseful book would be an enjoyable engaging read-aloud, since the characters repeatedly and predictably ignore the warnings given in sets of three.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

four-stars

Winter is Wonderful

Winter is WonderfulWinter Is Wonderful (Emma Dodd's Love You Books) by Emma Dodd
ISBN: 1536243957
Genres: Animals, Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Winter is Wonderful

This picture book for ages 2-5 is the latest in the Love You Books series by author/illustrator Emma Dodd. It depicts a sweet fox family enjoying being together and making memories during the wintertime. The foil illustrations paired with the lyrical rhyming text makes this book a lovely choice for a holiday gift. It’s the perfect read-aloud to read before bed while cuddling by the fire when it’s snowing outside. It’s impossible to read without smiling.

5 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

five-stars

Shoes off please

Shoes off pleaseShoes Off, Please by Helena Ku Rhee, Myo Yim
Published by Random House Children's Books on June 17, 2025
ISBN: 0593649621
Genres: Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Mina and her mom have a household policy of removing their shoes when they enter their house. When Mina’s friends come over they don’t like the hassle of taking their shoes off and Mina and her mom have to clean up the floors after they leave, having a heartfelt conversation about their own cultural traditions, their importance to their household, and how to explain this to her friends. Once she does this her friends are more than happy to respect their house and their traditions.

4-9 years old

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

Daisy Rewilds

Daisy RewildsDaisy Rewilds by Kerascoët, Margaret McNamara, Sébastien Cosset
ISBN: 0593125673
Genres: Nature
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Daisy Rewilds” is a picture book written by Margaret McNamara and illustrated by Kerascoet about a girl named Daisy who grows up loving nature. As a baby she composted her own baby food, as an example of her environmentalism. She starts to sprout greens in her hair and eventually grows into a whole wild garden. The book is fun and beautiful, but some of the words seem a little big for the intended audience. A suggested additional purchase where nature picture books are popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn’s Great Big Wish

The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn’s Great Big WishThe Teeny-Weeny Unicorn's Great Big Wish by Shawn Harris
Published by Random House Children's Books on March 4, 2025
ISBN: 0593571916
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

What happens when a teeny-weeny unicorn has a wish to be big, to have something smaller than his teeny-weeny self in his life? He goes off to find things to wish on but even that is problematic for such a small unicorn that can’t lift or pull much. His frustration grows but he doesn’t quit until his Big Wish comes true. Sweet and silly, and heartfelt all rolled into one.

This book’s illustrations are as colorful and fantastical as anyone would think a unicorn is.

Ages 3-7

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

three-stars