Format: Picture Book Fiction

Mine!

Mine!Mine! by Candace Fleming, Eric Rohmann
ISBN: 0593181662
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

“Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!” by Candace Fleming is one of my favorite books to read-aloud. “Mine!” may be a close second. This rhythmic read and the repetition has the makings of a storytime classic. Greedy animals have their eyes on a single red apple that hangs at the “tip-tippy top” of a tree, poised to fall at any moment. The mouse, rabbit, fox, deer, and bear all declare the apple to be “MINE!” when it falls. This is followed immediately by different descriptions of how each animal hides. Clever phrases, such as Mouse “zippety-eeked” beneath a leaf to wait, Hare “hoppety-boinged,” and fox “waggety-dashed,” along with Rohmann’s colorful, uncluttered art make this an ideal read-aloud for preschoolers. In the end, none of the greedy animals end up with the apple. It lands with an opossum who is not unhappy that the apple has a worm in it!

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Rivka’s Presents

Rivka’s PresentsRivka's Presents by Adelina Lirius, Laurie Wallmark
ISBN: 0593482077
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

This moving historical fiction book is likely one that will appeal more to adults than children. During the flu pandemic of 1918, Rivka can’t start school because her father is sick, so she trades for chores with the grocer, the tailor, and an elderly neighbor in exchange for lessons. It is a charming and beautifully illustrated story  and a lovely addition to a unit study about immigration for elementary-aged students. Rivka’s determination to learn despite her adversity is admirable even if the extremely well-behaved little sister she is minding is a  tad unbelievable. There are Author Notes and Glossaries for English and Yiddish works in the back.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Pepita y Bebita

Pepita y Bebita (Pepita Meets Bebita Spanish Edition) by Gabriel Frye-Behar, Maribel Lechuga, Ruth Behar
ISBN: 0593705033
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Pepita y Bebita” is the Spanish edition of “Pepita meets Bebita” by Ruth Behar and Gabriel Frye-Behar, illustrated by Maribel Lechuga, translated by Yanitzia Canetti. Pepita is a little dog and is the baby of the house, but then things start to change. Papi is building all kinds of things. Abuelo and Abuela bring a blanket instead of treats or toys for Pepita. Inevitably, a baby arrives. Pepita has a very hard time getting used to Bebita and no longer being the center of attention, but things turn all right in the end. Colorful and funny images uplift the emotional story about Pepita learning about Bebita and eventually becoming friends. Written for ages 4 to 8, a recommended purchase (either in English or Spanish) for your picture book collection.

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

four-stars

Vlad the Fabulous Vampire

Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire (The World of Gustavo) by Flavia Z. Drago
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
“Vlad the Fabulous Vampire” is written and illustrated by Flavia Z. Drago. Vlad is a vampire who loves fashion, but has a terrible secret… His cheeks are rosy pink! Too lifelike! Too bright! What would his friends say if they knew?!? So he tries designing different fashion looks to hide his cheeks. The book ends with the theme that it is better to love what makes us unique rather than force ourselves to fit in. I like that the book admits that even when being yourself, you may still feel insecure at times, but your real friends will still love you.

I love the bright crayon-like illustrations. Characters are cartoony and fun and each image has a lot of details to delve into. Written for kids 4 to 8, this book is a recommended purchase for picture book collections, especially where monsters like vampires and ghosts are popular. I read both the English and Spanish editions of this book.

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

four-stars

Esperanza Caramelo the Star of Nochebuena

Esperanza Caramelo the Star of NochebuenaEsperanza Caramelo, the Star of Nochebuena by Elisa Chavarri, Karla Valenti
ISBN: 0593488679
Genres: Holiday
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
“Esperanza Caramelo the Star of Nochebuena” is written by Karla Arenas Valenti and illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. Esperanza Caramelo is a spun-sugar ornament who awakens on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) and begins dancing around the Pasteleria, bringing all the other ornaments to life. All of the ornaments are having a grand time when a cat knocks everything onto the floor! What will they do now?

Inspired by the author’s abuela who made elaborate cakes for Nochebuena, the story is fun and full of movement. The illustrations are bright and dynamic, with the ornaments singing and spinning around the bakery. Written for kids age 3 to 6. I read both the English and Spanish editions of this book. A recommended purchase for libraries with Latinx, Hispanic, and Filipinx patrons, or for large holiday collections.

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

three-stars

Silver Linings

Silver LiningsSilver Linings by Fiona Woodcock
Published by Greenwillow Books on February 28, 2023
ISBN: 0062995901
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
Pip and Parker are great friends who spend a lot of time together. Sometimes they spend time in companionable silence. Sometimes something goes wrong for one of them and they know what to do, which is to offer sympathy, a different perspective, a new activity, or a hug. The message in this picture book will resonate with kids who know that things can go wrong and that it’s nice to have an understanding friend by your side when they do. With a palette of teals and reds, the gentle artwork, created with hand-cut rubber stamps, stencils, acrylic paint, colored pencils, and oil pastels, highlights some of the small catastrophes and the silver linings that can come from the negative. Pip presents white and Parker is Black. A lovely story to use as a read aloud PreK-grade 2 classroom.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

three-stars

This Is Not a Unicorn

This Is Not a UnicornThis is NOT a Unicorn! by Barry Timms, Ged Adamson
Published by Nosy Crow on Jun 6, 2023
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
This large picture book will grab readers from the start with its bright cover and promise of silliness. Using a lively authorial voice, Timms invites the reader to observe all of the ways that the creature in the book, who might *look* like a unicorn, is not. Ridiculous, but clever, rhymes are illustrated to perfection by Ged Adamson as the “not” unicorn demonstrates its other talents. Like the child in the book, listeners will be awed, entertained, and delighted by the surprising things the animal IS. Publisher Nosy Crow also offers a QR code on the back cover that can be scanned by a smartphone and provides a free audio reading of the book. Highly recommend for public library and pre-K and elementary school programs.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

five-stars

Together With You

Together With YouTogether With You by Jarvis, Patricia Toht
Published by Candlewick Press on February 14, 2023
ISBN: 1536223514
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
A sweet, tender story about the love between grandparent and grandchild takes the reader on a walk through the seasons. The relationship between the grandmother and grandson shines through in both the illustrations and words. The rhymes flow well and are read easily. So much so that when I finished it and saw it was described as a rhyming book, I had to go back and check to see that it was so. The poetic texts details and invites readers to reflect on the sites, tastes, sounds and feels of each season – spring rainbow, a chilly ice pop in summer, fleeces and sweaters in autumn, and hot cocoa and peppermint tea in winter. A perfect bedtime story to let a child know they are loved. This active Grandma is pretty cool, too!

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike

Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid BikeWild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike by Dashka Slater, Laura Hughes
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536215678
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Kayla has outgrown her bicycle with training wheels, nicknamed “the pink pony.” Daddy takes her to a store and she picks out a blue two-wheel bike that she names “Wild Blue.” When she tries to ride Wild Blue, she is thrown again and again. Kayla climbs back on and eventually tames Wild Blue in this endearing story about learning to ride a bike. The clever metaphor that exists in the girl’s imagination of taming a wild stallion is effective. The illustrations depict Wild Blue as both a horse and a bicycle. Kayla sometimes wears a cowboy hat and other times a bicycle helmet. Her perseverance rings true despite her setbacks. When daddy says at the end, “Looks like you tamed that bicycle,” she responds, “Nope. She’s still wild! But so am I.” I like her spunk!

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

I Am Hungry

I Am HungryI Am Hungry by Michael Rosen, Robert Starling
Published by Candlewick Press on July 11, 2023
ISBN: 153622510X
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars
The cover illustration of a very hungry squirrel is attractive. Unfortunately, the list of all the items he eats starts out sensibly – a warm roll, popcorn in a bowl – but morphs into nonsensical items, such as a very bad dream, a nasty fright,  a dark and stormy night, and finally, “me?” It seems the items were chosen just because they rhymed and not because they were clever. The cute squirrel character who caught my eye on the cover, does remain adorable throughout the book.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

two-stars