Format: Picture Book Fiction

Wherever You Go

Wherever You GoWherever You Go (An All Are Welcome Book) by Alexandra Penfold, Suzanne Kaufman
ISBN: 0593430018
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Under the category of “milestone picture books”, Wherever You Go is another All Are Welcome book by Penfold and Kaufman. As in other books by this literary duo, there are appealing acrylic, ink, crayon and collage representations of all kinds of families, including differently abled, different skin tones, and different cultural and religious signifiers. 

The book is meant as a love letter from parents to their small children and the message is one of unconditional love and support, as well as pride. Simple rhyming couplets support the illustrations, revealing snapshots in a family’s life together: first day of school, talent show, quiet walks, grade school graduations. The text reinforces the idea that the grown up will always be there for those big and small moments. 

The theme of parental love and support for one’s children isn’t new but is always in demand. Caregivers will enjoy reading this book with their small children. Highly recommended for public library collections. 

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, SLMS/MLIS, Young School Librarian, Saco

four-stars

Tate’s Wild Rescue

Tate’s Wild RescueTate's Wild Rescue by Izzy Burton, Jenny Turnbull
ISBN: 0593569075
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Tate is a young girl who loves wild animals. She loves wild animals so much that she hopes to “save” one by inviting it to live with her in the comfort and safety of her home. She proceeds to write letters inviting a series of animals to come and live with her but to her dismay, all the wild animals turn her down.  Some humorously decline while others adamantly refuse Tate’s proposal. In the end, Tate receives a letter from an animal who indeed needs rescuing, companionship, and all of the amenities that the wild animals dismissed. As anyone who has loved a rescue pet can attest, sometimes the humans are the ones really being rescued.
This book would be a fun interactive read aloud for young children, as there are both picture and text clues alluding to the next animal Tate invites on the subsequent page. It would also be a great way to facilitate a discussion on the difference between wild animals and domestic pets. Following the story, the author includes pertinent information and resources about taking care of the environment, contributing to animal conservation areas/efforts, and helping homeless pets.  Readers will also enjoy comparing and contrasting the endpapers at the beginning and end of the story. Written for ages 4-8.
Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay
five-stars

Love, The Earth

Love, The EarthLove, the Earth by Frances Stickley, Tim Hopgood
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536234125
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Juvenile Fiction / Climate
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Love, The Earth is a beautiful rhyming story between the Earth and the young child reading it. Frances Stickley’s gentle words share how the Earth has taken care of humans and how all it asks in return is to be taken care in return. Through Tim Hopgood’s colorful illustrations,  the Earth presents its wonders. We see images of the Earth smiling benevolently upon the child in the book or appearing sad when it’s faced with trash and forest fires. The book focuses specifically on the relationship with the child, giving the book a heartwarming and intimate tone. The last page concludes with the Earth signing off, “With All My Love, the Earth.”

A great addition to any library collection, but especially for those who are sensitive to eco-anxiety. The message is less of a warning and more like an opportunity to connect with the planet we appreciate so much. For that reason, I recommend it for an Earth Day display or storytime.

Reviewed by Gia Pilgrim Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Ten Little Rabbits

Ten Little RabbitsTen Little Rabbits by Maurice Sendak
Published by Harper ISBN: 006264467X
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Maurice Sendak’s delightful trademark illustrations decorate each page, telling the story of a young magician and his eponymous rabbits with minimal words and numbers. Young children will certainly giggle, and even count along, as he first makes rabbits appear from his top hat, one by one, and then, thoroughly overrun by rabbits and looking quite vexed, he makes them vanish, again one by one.

Fans of Sendak, and especially his Nutshell Library books, will find this familiar. Sure to be a favorite! Highly recommend.

Five stars/Cream

Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

five-stars

The Last Zookeeper

The Last ZookeeperThe Last Zookeeper by Aaron Becker
Published by Candlewick Press on March 26, 2024
ISBN: 1536227684
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Aaron Beckler’s third picture book paints the story of a futuristic, flooded world, where NOA, a robot, cares for an assortment of zoo animals that have been abandoned to their fates.

Beckler’s signature is to tell his story through art, not words. The watercolor and pen and ink drawings do this beautifully. Initial pages show us a flooded but seemingly peaceful world, where large zoo animals are tended by a tall, humanoid robot. But then, as in the story of Noah’s Ark, the water rises to what’s-left-of-life-destroying levels. NOA builds an ark and bundles the animals on. They drift in a storm, are shipwrecked on a small island, and, eventually, saved by another robot flying by in a hot-air balloon.

Given our current climate crisis, this book feels both timely and disturbing. Unlike the ancient story of Noah’s Ark, which it is clearly based on, the not-so-futuristic rendering of this story feels like a warning. The illustrations are beautiful and there is a thread of tenderness and empathy running through as NOA cares for the animals; but for young children – or their parents – dealing with climate anxiety, this has the potential to exacerbate those feelings.

Three stars (beautiful illustrations but anxiety provoking story).

Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

three-stars

Baba’s Peach Tree

Baba’s Peach TreePublished by Random House Children's Books Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
four-stars

A definite contender for a “try not to cry” challenge, Baba’s Peach Tree lovingly tells the story of a father and daughter and the peach tree they rely on for years. Tao Hua grows up seeing her father, Baba, working hard to support the two of them, though he always has time for her. When the peach tree that has provided them with food an income dies, Baba must find new work and they move to a city where Tao Hua eventually flourishes. This book has lovely illustrations and would work well as a read aloud for elementary school. Highly recommended for schools and libraries.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Aqua Boy

Aqua BoyAqua Boy (Wonder Kids) by Ken Wilson-Max
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536236640
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Aqua Boy is a beautiful and gentle story of a young boy named Aaron who lives by the sea with his mother, father, and sister. They are very conscious of their role in caring for the environment, referring to themselves as “ocean guardians”. Aaron dreams of one day feeling brave enough to put his head beneath the water, and he is encouraged and supported by his family, who reassure him that he will do so when the time is right.

One day the family is cleaning trash from the beach after a storm, and they find a stranded octopus. The father carefully coaxes the octopus onto a stick and brings it back into the water. Aaron is transfixed. He grabs his goggles, follows his father into the water, dips his head beneath, and shares a special moment of connection with the octopus before it swims away.

The illustrations in the book are gorgeous; they are simultaneously bold and calming and were created with acrylic paint. The characters all have a brown skin tone. Themes of environmentalism are woven throughout but are presented in a way that is not overwhelming to the reader. Brief informational pages at the end of the book detail facts about octopuses and share a resource to learn more about being an ocean guardian.

This book is highly recommended for libraries serving patrons ages 3-6.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

four-stars

BROS

BROSBros by Carole Boston Weatherford, Reggie Brown
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536220418
Genres: Adventure, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Bros by Carole Boston Weatherford is a delight of a book, inspired by the #BlackBoyJoy movement online. In the book, we see a group of Black boys of all abilities spend the day together free of any hardship and living freely in their community. Each page has two words on it, saying, “We smile. We style. We lead. We read… etc.” The “bros” able to fully express their emotions together like, for example, when one boy falls down pretending to be a superhero and gets hurt, his friend is there to sympathetically comfort him. There are beautiful examples of positive Black masculinity in childhood play and the illustrations showing this are colorful and eye-catching. I recommend this for all library collections. Great for ages 0-6.

Reviewed by Gia Pilgrim Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Speck

SpeckSpeck: An Itty-Bitty Epic by Margaux Meganck
ISBN: 0593301978
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Speck is a colorful, uplifting picture book about finding your place in the world. We follow a tiny white speck as it drifts from a tide pool into the open ocean, getting caught up in waves and seeing all sorts of sea life until the sheer size of the ocean feels overwhelming. Fortunately, the speck pushes through its discomfort and ultimately finds its place resting on the skin of a whale. The entire book is beautiful and the close-up illustration of the happy barnacles who have settled in the right place completely steals it. Great for a classroom or kids interested in sea life.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Una Tortuguita

Una TortuguitaUna tortuguita: Read and Wonder (Spanish Edition) by Jane Chapman, Nicola Davies
Published by Candlewick Press on January 1, 2001
ISBN: 1536234753
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Una Tortuguita” is the Spanish edition of “One Tiny Turtle,” a picture book about a loggerhead turtle written by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Jane Chapman, and translated by Georgina Lázaro. Lázaro has done an excellent job translating Davies’ text and keeping the almost lyrical prose throughout the book (which makes sense because Lázaro is a Puerto Rican poet and children’s book author). The story of a tiny loggerhead turtle hatching and growing up, and returning to the beach to lay her own eggs, readers will enjoy the beautiful illustrations and the way that the book manages to tell a story while providing interesting information about sea turtles. Written for ages 4-8, this is a recommended purchase for any Spanish language picture book collection.

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

four-stars