Format: Picture Book Fiction

Hilwa’s Gifts

Hilwa’s GiftsHilwa's Gifts by Anait Semirdzhyan, Safa Suleiman
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536229423
Genres: Cultural / African American, Family, Gardening, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Ali is visiting his family in Palestine – his first ever visit during the olive harvest. Above all, Ali is so excited to see Hilwa, his most beloved olive tree, immediately running to climb on her branches and sit in her shade. Ali is surprised to learn how olives are harvested by whacking the branches, and reluctantly learns to accept the technique after trying to pick Hilwa’s olives by hand (one by one). The whole family pitches in with the harvest – singing, clapping, and dancing along the way. The olives from the tree bring many gifts – from oil to soap, and everyone comes together to celebrate the harvest with a delicious picnic. Best of all, Ali comes home with a cutting to grow his own olive tree. Complete with an Arabic glossary and author’s note, this story is a joyous celebration of Palestinian culture, and is recommended for any picture book collection. The sketchy/watercolor illustrations create depth on each page and are full of life. Recommended for ages 6 to 7 (Grades 1 to 2). Cream of the crop nominee.

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

five-stars

What Coco Can Do

What Coco Can DoWhat Coco Can Do by Maribeth Boelts, Stephanie Laberis
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536229482
Genres: Animals, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Coco is a dog with a special talent – he loves to cuddle. There are so many special talents and jobs that dogs have (such as herding, tracking, and rescuing). Coco is a therapy dog. When Coco goes out wearing his vest, he is ready to work and cuddle with whoever needs some extra love and support that day. This book is for any dog lover, and showcases the many exciting and different jobs that dogs have. The digital illustrations are fun and expressive. Diverse people and situations are shown throughout the book. While lacking back matter about service dogs, this would be a great stepping stone to a more in-depth lesson about service dogs. Recommended for ages 5 to 7 (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Willow and the Wildflowers

Willow and the WildflowersWillow and the Wildflowers by Matthew Schufman
ISBN: 0593648307
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Willow is afraid of everything. She gets invitations to go to cool things like pool parties and dances, but declines because of her many fears (like water and the dark). Until one day she gets an invitation for something she simply can’t refuse – wild flower fields blooming for one week only. Willow loves flowers so much that she decides to embark on the long journey to see them. Throughout her journey, she encounters many of her fears. However, she also meets new friends who reassure her at each step of the way. A lovely story for any reader, but especially helpful for kids suffering from fears or anxiety. The illustrations are incredibly fun and vibrant. Recommended for ages 5 to 7 (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

five-stars

Fairy Walk

Fairy WalkGenres: Adventure, Fantasy, Nature
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
four-stars

A trio of diverse kids and their dog head off into the wild world in search of fairies. (The dog comically is the only one who is able to spot quite a few fairies.) The children don’t find a fairy but get much more out of their day of exploration – finding small treasures, a lizard, and the magic found in everyday nature. The digitally colored watercolor, pencil, and collage illustrations are magical and an observant reader will spy a number of fairies, and a ladybug, hidden among the pages. The text is simple and quite poetic. (IMHO a bit too poetic. I would have appreciated more narrative.) And my pet peeve: I find it annoying when authors have flowers that don’t bloom at the same time featured blossoming together. Snow drops are a spring flower and bee balm blooms in mid-summer. Come on authors – do your research! Despite these shortcomings, the pictures are lovely and the book will inspire kids to go on their own fairy walk. It would be a nice addition to book sets and projects about fairy houses.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Lily the Pond Mermaid

Lily the Pond MermaidGenres: Fantasy, Mental Health, Nature
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
three-stars

Lily cares for the plants, obtains algae for the snails, and cleans up garbage thrown into the water. She frets too much and is overwhelmed when a storm ravages the pond. Lily talks through her fears with her friends, and together they restore the pond. A useful text for a child-friendly representation of anxiety and how to deal with it. The illustrations are beautiful. An especially eye-catching full-page image depicts Lily floating on the water’s surface, too worried to sleep. The text sometimes doesn’t doesn’t have a smooth flow of a story, and  I did not find the plot that compelling. This book could be useful for a child dealing with anxiety.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Natterjack Toad Makes a Mighty Crunch

Natterjack Toad Makes a Mighty CrunchGenres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
five-stars

Natterjack Toad, dressed in a yellow shirt, red and yellow-striped shorts, and carrying a picnic basket, only wants to find the perfect place to eat his favorite snack: “CHOCOLATE-CHUNK CRUNCHY-MUNCH COOKIES.” However, their loud crunch will alert his whereabouts to predators so he has to keep moving to a different location from the pond, to the meadow, to the forest. When he ignores the warning and makes a mighty crunch that alerts the wild hog, he saves himself (and the mole and the vole) by giving up his package of cookies. There is a happy ending, but I won’t spoil it for you.

This humorous book is a delightful readaloud. The illustrations are large and bold and add to the silliness of the story. Three insect pals (a firefly, a dragonfly, and a beret-wearing worm) are fun to spot on the pages

I never heard the word “natterjack” before (Isn’t it delightful?!) so I looked it up. A natterjack toad is a small European toad which has a bright yellow stripe down its back. The author lives in England.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Nominated for Cream of the Crop

five-stars

Something Good

Something Goodby Kenneth Kraegel
Published by Candlewick Genres: Fantasy, Humor, Mental Health
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
five-stars

Reminiscent of Alexander, this unnamed girl is having a very bad day and wishes for things to turn around. They do when she finds a found gift of magic socks. It gets even better when a friend joins in on the fun, and then, after a while, they pass the socks along to another child, “someone who needed the socks more than we did.”

I loved the quirky humor from the first sentence – “This morning I woke up with a chicken on my head.” – to the found gift of magic socks which enables her to fly!  Simple text complimented by simple illustrations in colored pencil, gouache, and ink. This will be a big hit at Story Time.  A subtle lesson that even bad days can get better.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Nominated for Cream of the Crop

five-stars

Hatch and Match

Hatch and MatchGenres: Animals, Counting Books, Farm Life, Holiday
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
three-stars

A search-and-match adventure book with colors, patterns, and counting that is filled with vibrant, colorful illustrations and a bouncy rhyming text. The pictures are enchanting but very busy. I think it will be difficult for the target-audience (3-5 year-olds) to be able to ascertain and locate the corresponding illustrations. I confess, I sometimes found it confusing and difficult myself! Onomatopoeic sound effects are incorporated into the text and are depicted in large, boldfaced capitals making it fun to read.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

We’re Moving House

We’re Moving HouseWe're Moving House by Mick Jackson, Rashin Kheiriyeh
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536238929
Pages: 32
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Humor, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

When a little boy learns that his family will be moving house, he’s excited because he thinks that their house will be hoisted up by cranes and moved to the new location.  He becomes fretful when he learns that he is moving to a new house but his old house is not moving with him. Then he realizes that all his special things will be moving with him so he is not so anxious. While the child’s anxiety about moving is relatable, the emotional resolution seems rushed. Still with the whimsical depiction of moving the house,  author Mick Jackson and illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh have created an imaginative and touching story that will be a valuable resource for parents and young children who will be facing a move to a new house.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken!

Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken!Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken! by Nanette Regan, Vivian French
ISBN: 1536239054
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This title is eggs-cellent and met all my ex-peck-tations for a story about chickens. Okay, I’ll stop now. Vivian French has created a picture book that deftly combines a simple narrative about Juliet and her younger brother Bob visiting their grandfather at his suburban oasis with concise facts about chickens that will have readers clucking with joy. Sorry, can’t stop.

Juliet is a young girl, about seven-years old, who is familiar with her grandfather’s chickens. As they stroll about the yard, much information about chickens is conveyed in the dialogue between the characters, in a conversational tone that never appears artificial.

Each page contains text, charming mixed media illustrations by Nanette Regan, and a factoid related to the narrative. The facts are in boldface capital letters and a very different typeface from the narrative, so the reader can easily discern the story from the information. The layout and design of the pages allows the story to flow. 

This is an ideal book for audiences between ages 4-8. It works well as a read-aloud for younger children and readers will enjoy gaining knowledge about chickens. Try it in September for National Poultry Month or anytime an eggs-traordinarily good read-aloud is needed. Stopping now.  

 Highly recommended for school and public libraries.

 Deanna Contrino, SLMS/MILS
K-2 School Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

five-stars