I Am a Baby

I Am a BabyI Am a Baby by Bob Shea
Published by Candlewick Press on June 14, 2022
ISBN: 1536218324
Pages: 40
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

I Am a Baby written and illustrated by Bob Shea is about a new baby and the ways in which this baby affects the loving family members around them.

This book is cute. The textual repetition and the expected-yet-still-sweet reasons for the new ways in which family members change due to this baby are lovely and enjoyable for a read aloud. The illustrations show a tired pair of parents, a charming little baby, and work well with the simple, easily read text.

This is a great read aloud for babies and toddlers, they will start to catch onto the gimmick as the book continues, and will bring a smile to the reader’s face.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Merrill Memorial Library

four-stars

Donut: The Unicorn Who Wants to Fly

Donut: The Unicorn Who Wants to FlyDonut: The Unicorn Who Wants to Fly by Laura Gehl, Andrea Zuill
Published by Random House Studio on April 12, 2022
ISBN: 0593376250
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Fantasy, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Donut: The Unicorn Who Wants to Fly is a story about perseverance and friendship shown by the trials and tribulations of Donut, a unicorn who is determined to fly and tries myriad methods that fail until, with the help of their friends, pulls together a beautiful flying contraption and sails away happily.

This picture book utilizes simple rhyming while also weaving in a graphic novel’s sensibility in using only pictures and symbols to convey meaning, which makes it a good entry into graphic novels for a younger audience. The illustrations are inked and colored beautifully and tell the story with support from the text, rather than the other way around. This would be a good read aloud for Pre K-1 but even younger children would enjoy the colorful illustrations about a unicorn yearning for flight.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

four-stars

If you live here

If you live hereIf You Live Here by Christopher Silas Neal, Kate Gardner
Published by Balzer & Bray/Harperteen on February 22, 2022
ISBN: 0062865323
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a simply worded book exploring different types of dwellings. Each two page spread starts with, “If you live…” and is followed by a whimsical, unexpected, and sometimes comical conclusion. The types of dwellings are unique—from castles to spaceships to trains. It is a fun exploration of creativity and thought. The mixed media illustrations are essential for the book; the text alone does not carry the story. The pictures complete the thoughts of the text and bring life to the story. Recommended for readers 4 and up, this makes a fun read aloud where kids can offer their own interpretations of what needs to happen in each dwelling.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

The Most Magnificent Idea

The Most Magnificent IdeaThe Most Magnificent Idea by Ashley Spires
Published by Kids Can Press on September 6, 2022
ISBN: 1525305042
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The unnamed girl and her pug dog sidekick return in this sequel of The Most Magnificent Thing. In this picture book, the girl is out of ideas about what to create. She tries brainstorming, gathering new supplies, even jumping up and down on one foot to shake an idea loose, all to no avail. The girl realizes with no ideas taking up space in her brain, it is filling with sad instead. Anyone in an artistic slump will be able to relate. Eventually, her neighbor’s cat repeatedly escaping gives her an idea and she is once again on a roll making magnificent things.

The expressive artwork humorously captures the emotions of the girl’s process. This book offers a terrific character education lesson in patience and perseverance. Like the The Most Magnificent Thing, which can be used for story time followed by a craft project using a variety of cardboard tubes, bottle caps, and various other recycled “trash” to have them make their own magnificent thing, this sequel could be incorporated into a similar program. Recommend for grades K-4.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

The Bird Feeder

The Bird FeederThe Bird Feeder by Andrew Larsen, Dorothy Leung
Published by Kids Can Press on October 4, 2022
ISBN: 1525304836
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

When Grandma gets sick and comes to stay at her grandchild’s house, she brings her bird feeder. The child loves the time they now get to have together, watching the birds, drawing pictures, and talking. Grandma’s health declines, and she moves to hospice. Hanging Grandma’s bird feeder outside the window there makes things better. Eventually, grandma dies but the child hangs a bird feeder out the window to remember her by. This book has a sweet premise but there were a few plot points to consider before purchasing or sharing with a class or read aloud group: the grandmother is taken to hospice while the child is at school and the child comes home to find grandmother gone. Although the pictures convey what happened, that grandmother has died, it is never addressed in the text, “I’m glad Grandma saw the baby birds. I’m sad she won’t see them leave their nest.” This picture book could be useful to parents of children whose grandparent has died, but they should be prepared to further discuss the topic with age-appropriate vocabulary.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Lou

LouLou by Breanna Carzoo
Published by HarperCollins on July 12, 2022
ISBN: 0063054051
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Lou is a fire hydrant. Throughout their life, they believe they’re only meant to be a dog toilet, but they feel like they have more to offer the world. One day, a store catches fire, and Lou is finally able to realize their true and full potential.

This books is slightly funny and a little gross with all the dog pee everywhere. Lou is likable and readers will find themselves rooting for Lou when the fire starts. The digitally rendered illustrations are high color and simple but help complete the story and show emotion. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Chickadee Criminal Mastermind

Chickadee Criminal MastermindChickadee: Criminal Mastermind by Monica Silvie, Elina Ellis
Published by Kids Can Press on June 7, 2022
ISBN: 1525303384
Pages: 36
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This humorous picture book is about a criminal mastermind chickadee that is terrorizing the forest and the residences around the forest. There is a short educational piece at the end of the book that offers fun facts about black-capped chickadees. This book is great for kids ages 4 – 8 or grades K-4. The illustrations complement the plotline and go between full-spread and word-bubbled text. This book would be a great addition to in-class libraries and an excellent animal book for both public and school libraries.

Reviewed by Brandon Dyer, Auburn Public Library

three-stars

Anglerfish: the Seadevil of the deep

Anglerfish: the Seadevil of the deepAnglerfish: The Seadevil of the Deep by Elaine M. Alexander, Fiona Fogg
Published by Candlewick Press on April 5, 2022
ISBN: 1536213969
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This books follows the life of a female anglerfish from the moment she hatches to the moment she lays her own eggs. It’s a fascinating exploration of this cool animal from the deep. The text is sparse enough to keep kids interested but includes enough information to still be educational. The digitally rendered illustrations are beautiful and help show the fish’s life. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Little Houses

Little HousesLittle Houses by Kevin Henkes, Laura Dronzek
Published by Greenwillow Books on May 24, 2022
ISBN: 0062965727
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A young light-skinned girl and her grandmother are combing the beach. They find lots of shells and talk about how the shells are actually little houses. The girl wonders about the colors and designs on the shells and of who possibly lived there before. She then wonders about what lies out of sight under the ocean, around the world, and in the minds of animals.

This is a gentle story about the bigger world around us and how we fit in the world. The young girl contemplates some big questions but in a completely age-appropriate way. The acrylic illustrations are deeply colorful, detailed, and really enliven the story. This is a great story for one-on-one sharing perhaps followed by more discussion about the questions raised within. Young readers will certainly have interesting speculations about the way things are. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

The Blanket Where Violet Sits

The Blanket Where Violet SitsThe Blanket Where Violet Sits by Allan Wolf, Lauren Tobia
Published by Candlewick Press on August 30, 2022
ISBN: 076369665X
Pages: 32
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Told in cumulative rhyme, in the vein of “This is the House that Jack Built,” this picture book introduction to the universe begins on a blanket in the park where Violet and her caregivers (one who is brown-skinned) are enjoying a picnic of “a sandwich, an apple, and chips.” As the sky darkens, the headlamps and telescope are brought out. Violet gazes up at the solar system, imagining a rocket ride to another galaxy, but the cumulative rhyme always brings her back to her cozy red blanket. Tobia’s drawings create inviting scenes of a loving family outing and mind-expanding pictures of our universe. Fun read for a preschool-aged story time.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars