Format: Picture Book Fiction

My Abuela is a Bruja

My Abuela is a BrujaMy Abuela Is a Bruja by Lorena Alvarez Gomez, Mayra Cuevas
ISBN: 0593480635
Genres: Cultural / Latin America, Family, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

An homage to the Native Peoples of Puerto Rico; My Abuela is a Bruja paints a beautiful portrait of what it’s like to be connected to a line of women who practice the art of being a “bruja.” The qualities of being an Island bruja include walks along the island and getting to know the lush flora and fauna, dancing, gardening, cooking, and feeling the magic of her ancestors inside her. The magic of abuela is illustrated beautifully and vibrantly on each page by Lorena Alvarez Gómez who’s known for books such as The Magical Yet, and The Curious Why. The back pages explain in an Author’s Note that the book is based on the author’s own experiences with her abuela and the history of her people, the Borikén. There’s also a Glossary of Abuela’s Spanish Words included in the book and recipes to make Abuela’s Sofrito and Flan. Children of all backgrounds will enjoy getting to know Puerto Rico’s culture a bit better after exploring this book.  It’s published simultaneously in Spanish. Recommended for ages 4-9.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Maisy Big, Maisy Small

Maisy Big, Maisy SmallMaisy Big, Maisy Small: A Book of Rhyming Opposites by Lucy Cousins
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536236292
Genres: Babies/Infants
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Maisy Big, Maisy Small is a re-release in Lucy Cousins’ beloved Maisy series. It now features a new, updated cover different from its release in 2007. Cousins does a wonderful job covering the opposites for children to learn in an entertaining and colorful way. Each page uses the primary colors in Cousins’ classic style. This is the type of book that gets read over and over again in early childhood education, and for good reason. The rhymes are incredibly engaging and Maisy is an irresistible character for kids. Perfect for read-alouds or laptime, this new version is delightful. Recommended for ages 2-5.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath. 

 

 

five-stars

Cats in Construction Hats

Cats in Construction HatsCats in Construction Hats (Cats in Hats) by Leeza Hernandez, Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
Published by Random House on April 8, 2025
ISBN: 0593706846
Genres: Animals, Vehicles
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Reminiscent of both  Dr. Seuss’s One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and Richard Scarry books.  Cats in Construction Hats features colorful cats in colorful hard hats building a cat house. “Yellow cat. Green hat. Dig this. Clear that. Green cat. Orange hat. Mix this. Pour that.” Every four lines is a rhythmic, rhyming quatrain ending with “at”. Except when their carelessness results in a spectacular accident, “BOOM! CRASH! SPLAT!” and an exclamation,“RATS!”. Personally, I am not a big fan of rats but observant readers will be able to spot them on every page. (Cats and rats getting along and working together.) They will also delight in seeing bulldozer, dump truck, cement mixer, forklift, and hydraulic crane. This book could be used for story time but probably a better lap book. Overall, it is a bouncy, fun book that preschoolers will have fun scrutinizing and discussing the illustrations. I imagine an extension sorting activity where children match the cats to their colorful construction hats, perhaps placing them in a cubicle in the cat house. By the way, I love the plentiful scratching posts incorporated in the house design. (A feature I missed until about the fourth reading. This is why this book needs to be read again and again! I started out giving it 3 stars and then went back and changed my rating to 4 stars as I recognized its genius!)

Book 2 – Cats in Conductor Hats: A Train Adventure is schedule to be published in June, 2026.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Little Blue Truck and Racer Red

Little Blue Truck and Racer RedLittle Blue Truck and Racer Red by Alice Schertle, Jill McElmurry
Series: Little Blue Truck #11
Published by Clarion on March 25, 2025
ISBN: 0063387840
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Farm Life, Humor, Vehicles
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This spin-off from the Little Blue Truck series is probably my favorite yet. The usual characters are back with the addition of a sporty red race car. Little Blue and Toad are out for a drive when Racer Red challenges Blue to a race. It’s a neck-and-neck race, with Blue giving it his best, but Racer Red crosses the finish line first. Blue is a gracious loser, happy to know that win or lose, it’s fun to try.

Fans of Little Blue will love this book. Who doesn’t love a good race?! The rhyming is succinct and not forced. The illustrations are adorable. There is solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share that will make this a popular choice for story time.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Our Mothers’ Names: Love in Many Languages

Our Mothers’ Names: Love in Many LanguagesOur Mothers' Names: Love in Many Languages by Rahele Jomepour Bell, Uma Menon
Published by Candlewick on April 22, 2025
ISBN: 153622250X
Genres: Cultural / African American, Family, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

There are many ways to say mother. The narrator is an unnamed dark-skinned girl whose family speaks two languages at home – English and Malayalam. (The most common language in Kerala, India, where her parents and grandparents were born.) She calls her mother Amma, but her friend Angelina, who also lives in the United States and speaks two languages, calls her mother Mamá. She goes on to visit other friends who speak Greek, Arabic, Russian, French, Japanese, and other languages and the name they call their mothers.

I enjoyed the flow of the story and the depiction of the different families, which conveyed much information without being blatant. This is an obvious pick for Mother’s Day story time. But I could also see this being used as a springboard for primary-aged children to research other words, such as for father or grandparent, etc. in different languages. A fact in the “Did You Know …?” section at the back intrigued me: “There are more people in the world who are bilingual or multilingual, which means they can use and understand two or more languages, than there are people who can use only one.”

This is an important book for American children to recognize multilingualism and see the connections between all children in this world, and to reassure others about their place in this country.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Nominated for Cream of the Crop

five-stars

Bianca and the Butterfly

Bianca and the ButterflyBianca and the Butterfly by Sergio Ruzzier
Published by Harper ISBN: 0063295881
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Bianca the polar bear loves her home – the snow and the cold. One day a beautiful butterfly arrives and she leaps onto a nearby ice floe to take a closer look. The ice floe drifts, eventually stopping at a fascinating world, depicted in vibrant hues of red, yellow, purple, and orange. Initially intrigued, Bianca soon becomes homesick. Using a broken branch, she floats home into the arms of her waiting mother.

Spare text and lovely illustrations that contrast the Arctic and the fantastic world makes this a fun book for preschool children. (I especially enjoyed the contrast of the front and back end pages.) Bianca is a rather comical, prominently hooked-nosed polar bear. I felt this was a familiar story for anyone who has read Hans de Beer Little Polar Bear book. Nevertheless, youngsters will relate to Bianca’s feelings of comfort in the familiar and her curiosity about the rest of the world.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Today at School with Yesterday and Tomorrow

Today at School with Yesterday and TomorrowToday at School: With Yesterday and Tomorrow by Jessica Young, Renee Kurilla
ISBN: 0593812751
Genres: Animals, Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Today at School with Yesterday and Tomorrow

Author: Jessica Young. Illustrator: Renee Kurilla

 

This charming picture book for ages 4-8 tells a heartwarming story about the first day of school, told from the perspective of two sisters- Yesterday (a bear), and Tomorrow (an owl), who have very different feelings about the upcoming first day of school. Yesterday prefers to take her time and reflect, while Tomorrow is excited to make new big plans. They meet a new friend, Today (a fox), who helps the sisters be present and enjoy the “now.” This is a lovely and encouraging story, particularly useful for children encountering a new and unfamiliar experience.

4 stars

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

four-stars

That’s Not Funny, David!

That’s Not Funny, David!That's Not Funny, David! by David Shannon
ISBN: 1546123180
Genres: Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

That’s not Funny, David!

David Shannon

This picture book, for ages 3-7, is the newest and sixth in the No, David series. Youngster David is committed to getting laughs out of everyone, although some folks don’t find his antics funny at all! Some of the hijinks shown in Shannon’s recognizable vivid illustrations include doing cannonballs into a pool, messily slurping his spaghetti, and telling jokes at school. Unfortunately, David learns the hard way that sometimes he goes too far; we see David crying at the doctor’s office when he gets a peanut stuck up his nose. His mischievous, fun-loving nature is what makes David who he is. This book is both a celebration of -and a warning to- class clowns everywhere.

4 stars

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

four-stars

Strong Like Me

Strong Like MeStrong Like Me by Kelechi Okafor, Michaela Dias-Hayes
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536241849
Genres: Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Strong Like Me

Author: Kelechi Okafor. Illustrator: Michaela Dias-Hayes

 

This picture book for ages 3-7 tells the story of Karama, a girl whose physical strength makes her stand out from others. At first, Karama is proud to be strong; she can give piggyback rides to her older brother and climb trees with ease. Kamara hopes to fun faster than anyone else and beat her classmate, Benji, in the annual Big Race. Benji accuses Kamara of showing off, but Karama’s friend Josie tries to reassure her that he is just jealous. Auntie Lynda give Kamara advice everyone, especially young people, should hear: “Your friends will shine in different ways, so don’t dim your own light just to please them.”

This story inspires kids to embrace their gifts and be secure in who they are, while also teaching the importance of grace and compassion. It also highlights the importance of different kinds of strength.

5 stars

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

five-stars

A Forest Song

A Forest SongA Forest Song by Evan Turk, Kirsten Hall
ISBN: 0593480368
Genres: Nature, Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A Forest Song

Kirsten Hall & Evan Turk

This picture book is a lyrical cento poem, created from a combination of lines and phrases written by late poets including Robert Frost, Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickinson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and many others.  It brings the reader on a multi-sensory journey through the woods, exploring different animal inhabitants, a forest pool, and a meandering path through rustling tree branches. The end of the book includes instructions and guidance for readers wishing to write their own cento poetry. This book was written for ages 4-8 and will inspire readers to explore the forest in their own neighborhoods. It would also be a useful resource for instruction in creative writing.

4 stars

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

four-stars