Format: Picture Book Fiction

Firefly Season

Firefly SeasonFirefly Season by Cynthia Leitich Smith, Kate Gardiner
Published by HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks ISBN: 0063274442
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Seven year old Piper’s family lives in Kansas City and she cherishes the trips they take to visit their relatives in Cherokee Nation and Muscogee Nation. When a new friend named Sumi moves next door to Piper, the two become very close, and are upset when Piper’s family has to move away. Life goes on and their bond continues, with each family inviting the friends to visit relatives with them, strengthening the friendship and expanding the circle of family. A great book for anyone feeling stressed about a move or anticipating a big change in family or friend dynamics.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Tenacious Won’t Give Up

Tenacious Won’t Give UpTenacious Won't Give Up by Leanne Hatch, Pam Vaughan
Published by Alfred A. Knopf ISBN: 0593645219
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Tenacious Won’t Give Up” is a picture book written by Pam Vaughan and illustrated by Leanne Hatch. Tenacious is a kid who lives up her name. She does everything she sets her mind to, except when it comes to riding a bike. She falls and wobbles and crashes. With the help of her sister Sage, who has wheel experience from being in a wheelchair, Tenacious learns to try smarter, not just harder, and adjust to get better. Illustrations are cozy and dynamic as we watch Tenacious keep trying. A good read for kids trying to learn new things. A recommended purchase for picture book collections.

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

four-stars

Catnip Mouse

Catnip MouseCatnip Mouse by A. J. Smith
ISBN: 1525313533
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Catnip Mouse” is a picture book by AJ Smith featuring a dog named Gipp and a cat named Vera. Vera is playing with her catnip mouse, but Gipp wants to play with Vera. He interrupts and accidentally breaks the catnip toy with his magic wand. Gipp then spends most of the book trying to use his magic wand to recreate the catnip mouse, but making mistakes (“ketchup joust?” “Cactus house?”). A cute and funny book that will make kids laugh at all the silly-sounding mistakes. This book is geared to ages 4-8. A suggested purchase for picture book collections where animals are popular.

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

three-stars

Ruthie Rose’s BIG IDEA

Ruthie Rose’s BIG IDEARuthie Rose's Big Idea: A Poetry Story by Holly Hatam, John Schu
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536226491
Genres: Arts, Poetry, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Ruthie Rose wakes up with a brilliant idea! She shares her exciting idea with her school librarian, her art teacher, her friend Lily-May (who also love poetry and prose as much as she does), and her class teacher. Throughout her day at school, her idea is visualized as a sparkling, rainbow swirl cloud that follows her around the school as it hums inside her. Finally, her idea is revealed: A space in the school library where kids can perform poetry and prose: The Poetry Place. “A space for everyone, a space for anyone to explore ideas so grand, ideas so great, ideas just waiting to become… big and bright and beautiful.”

This inspiring picture book does a wonderful job of showing children how a simple idea we wake up with can create new possibilities in our communities. The graphic design and font choices were unfortunately lacking for this one, which distracts the reader from believing in the book’s message with as much gusto as one would like. A very basic message, but will likely inspire some children who pick it up.

Recommended for kids PreK-Elementary.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

Bedtime is Boring!

Bedtime is Boring!Bedtime Is Boring!: A Cheery Street Story by Georgie Birkett
Published by Candlewick Press, Candlewick Press (MA) ISBN: 153624127X
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Family, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Bedtime used to be easy for baby tadpole Cosmo, but now that he’s an active froglet, Bedtime is Boring! Cosmo and his mother have a special bedtime routine: a long bubble bath, brushing teeth, choosing pajamas, five stories, seventeen kisses, one sleepy song, and two snuggly hugs, etc. But Cosmo still won’t go to sleep. Every time Mom tries to go downstairs, Cosmo fires off every possible question that comes to mind. Then finally at 3am, Cosmo will finally fall asleep in Mommy’s bed. Only after Cosmo realizes that his lack of sleep is making playing at school harder, he realizes that some things about bedtime have to change. Only a few books, a few questions, and sleeping in his own bed, make him feel like a big grown-up frog.

Bedtime is Boring is from the Cheery Street series of books by Georgie Birkett including Carry Me and Snack, Please! While this book is great at making the topic of being sleepy/struggles with bedtime humorous for kids, every parent knows that it can be a struggle to work through bedtime troubles. This book could be a great tool for caregivers to help kids visualize what a good bedtime routine looks like and why it’s important for everyone to have enough sleep.

The illustrations are digitally created but have the appearance of looking like crayons and pastels. The colors are bright and cheery and are reminiscent of the Pip and Posy series by Axel Scheffler. The font and illustrations are really cohesive and pleasing to the eye.

Recommended for any Early Childhood Programs and Library Collections.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

The Search for Carmella

The Search for CarmellaThe Search for Carmella (Hidden Wonders) by Chloe Savage
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 153623897X
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Emotions & Feelings, Oceans, STEM
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Dr. Rose is a marine biologist, passionate about the ocean and all its creatures. She always loved listening to the tales of old fisherman, especially about the mythical(?) creature Carmella. One day, Dr. Rose is determined to search for Carmella. She puts the word out to her colleagues, recruits a crew for her ship, and sets sail. Dr. Rose explores the deepest waters in a submarine with her partner (and pilot), Anne, and her dog, Stanley. Dr. Rose feels frustrated and impatient when they don’t find Carmella right away. Anne reminds Dr. Rose that they are still seeing so many wonderful new things, and that they have so much to explore. In the end, Dr. Rose is looking forward to having a lifetime of adventures with Anne, even if they haven’t found Carmella yet.

This picture book would be a wonderful addition to any collection. In the forefront, it showcases a female scientist. But it also has other more subtle (or inferred) inclusive references, such as a possible service dog, a character that uses gender neutral pronouns, and a possible same-sex partnership. The main character also practices mindfulness when she struggles in her journey. The illustrations are lovely and fun, celebrating science and the ocean, and include Carmella sneaking up or behind Dr. Rose and Anne throughout their explorations. Recommended for ages 5 to 7 (Kindergarten to 2nd Grade). Cream of the crop nominee.

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

five-stars

Getting Ready for First Grade

Getting Ready for First GradeGetting Ready for First Grade: A First Day of School Book by Debby Rahmalia, Vera Ahiyya
ISBN: 0593810015
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Getting Ready for First Grade by Vera Ahiyya (The Tutu Teacher)

Getting Ready for First Grade paints a great picture of first grade. The book clearly helps students learn what to expect and what first grade might be like for them. This would be a fantastic resource for kids who are reaching the end of Kindergarten or feeling nervous about first grade. While much of the content is to be expected (an overview of circles, going through the lunch line, etc.), there’s also incredible representation in the drawings (many types of people are represented) and the author adds several SEL components. First, the author discusses how it’s okay to be nervous and then also includes a student who is new to the school and the ways in which the other students look out for her and take care of her to help her feel welcome. As someone with a Deaf family member, I also appreciated the inclusion of sign language at one point in the book. While the content is routine, the author and illustrator’s efforts to be inclusive, provide strong representation, and include SEL aspects made this a four-star book for me. The age range is pretty niche since this is about first grade but it could be a good addition to a library that has Kindergarten patrons or to recommend to your Kindergarten teachers or guidance staff.

Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

four-stars

The Wombats Go Wild For Words

The Wombats Go Wild For WordsThe Wombats Go Wild for Words by Beth Ferry, Lori Nichols
on June 17, 2025
ISBN: 059371105X
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

The Wombats Go Wild For Words by Beth Ferry and Lori Nichols

The Wombats Go Wild For Words is about a group of wombats who visit Evergreen Forest, where all of the animals use very simplistic, general words (ex. Hungry, tired, etc.). The wombats start giving each of the animals words they could replace these with: verdant, exhausted, ravenous, etc. and show each animal how fun it can be to use more dynamic language. In the back, the authors include a dictionary of words in the book (which they call a duck-tionary because a duck starts taking on the wombats’ job and becomes an honorary word wombat). This book is cute and fun and will certainly spark great discussions about word choice. It would be perfect paired with a vocabulary activity like the spectrum of describing words on a paint chip. This would be a good read for first through 4th grade but also could be used for older grades to talk about word choice. Since this book is a bit niche (mostly for word choice, no other lesson/bigger ideas, etc.) I would rate it three stars in general, four stars for the context of writing/ELA classes.

Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

three-stars

Rose Weaves a Garden

Rose Weaves a GardenRose Weaves a Garden by Rashin Kheiriyeh
ISBN: 0593705114
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Rose Weaves a Garden by Rashin Kheiriyeh

Rose Weaves a Garden is a beautifully written and illustrated story about a girl named Rose and the special relationship she has with her grandfather. Rose has always admired her Baba’s talent and skill with weaving and hand making rugs. Her Baba joyfully agrees to teach her and she’s astonished by how fast his hands can move. Day by day they work together on a rug that’s as beautiful as their gardens—but one day her Baba becomes ill and can’t work on the rug any more. Rose takes over and her hands move faster and faster as she learns. After a while Baba is feeling better and they finish the rug together. Not only is the story touching and has great representation of a positive grandparent-grandchild relationship but also highlights the path of learning and growth mindset. At the end Rose sees her hands moving faster than his as he’s recovering from his illness and she’s started to become more confident and weaving and knotting. The author’s note in the beginning explains that the story was inspired by her own grandfather in Iran and how she learned to make rugs from him. Her illustrations were inspired by Persian and Oriental rugs and that definitely comes through on the pages. The colors are striking, the illustrations are stunning and engaging, and it really draws us into Rose’s world to see it so colorfully drawn. I would recommend this for Kindergarten through forth grade and definitely rate it five stars! I would recommend it for cream of the crop as well.

Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

five-stars

Crack goes the Cascaron

Crack goes the CascaronCrack Goes the Cascarón: An Eggcellent Not-Just-for-Easter Shellebration! by Rocío Arreola Mendoza, Sara Andrea Fajardo
on February 18, 2025
ISBN: 0593805674
Genres: Holiday, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Crack goes the Cascaron” or “La Explosion del Cascaron” is a picture book written by Sara Andrea Fajardo and illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza about the practice of making cascarones (eggshells filled with confetti and decorated that you then crack on people’s heads). The Spanish version is translated by Yanitzia Canetti. Toti is the King of cascarones and has planned several extra special ones (filled with slime, smoke, glitter!), but when he wakes up, he cannot find his family members. They surprise him with a taste of his own medicine (in a fun way).

This is an egg pun-filled picture book that will inspire readers to make their own cascarones. Illustrations are colorful and humorous and the silly story showcases a family having fun with each other. Both the English and Spanish versions are suggested additional purchases for picture book collections. Aimed at ages 3-7.

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

three-stars