Format: Picture Book Fiction

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodbye?

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodbye?How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodbye? by Jane Yolen
Published by Scholastic Incorporated on December 7, 2021
ISBN: 9781338363357
Pages: 40
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

An addition to the popular How Do Dinosaurs…? series. It is hard to say goodbye, whether to a beloved grandparent or to a parent dropping you off at school. Even though you might want to cry or hide, this books gives ideas about how a preschooler can face the situation with honesty and courage. Teague’s colorful larger-than-life illustrations are comical and the final page of a tarbosaurus holding a heart that has “goodbye!” written on it is heartwarming. This is a book to share at story time along with others in the series.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

There’s A Dodo On The Wedding Cake

There’s A Dodo On The Wedding CakeThere's a Dodo on the Wedding Cake by Kevin Hawkes, Wade Bradford
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2021
ISBN: 1536208841
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Mr. Snore’s hijinks at the Sharemore Hotel continue in this beautifully illustrated picture book. Hired to play the violin at a wedding, Mr. Snore takes it upon himself to protect the delicious cake from various hungry animals after one particular dodo sneaks away with some frosting. Mr. Snore may, however, take his duties a bit too seriously as he unintentionally bats away actual wedding guests, and maybe even some wedding party members in the process of protecting the cake. All is well in the end, except of course for one final mishap, courtesy of Mr. Snore, but the overall day is still so lovely no one really minds!

A lovely addition to the Sharemore Hotel story, the illustrations in this picture book are dynamic and expressive, while the animals that Mr. Snore interacts with are unique and silly. Expectations are subverted as to who would be a wedding guest, and kids will get a kick out of the reveals at the end. 

This book would be a good choice for ages 0-5. The illustrations are strong and the text is entertaining and engaging. 

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

four-stars

Dogs Love Cars

Dogs Love CarsDogs Love Cars by Leda Schubert, Paul Meisel
Published by Candlewick Press on October 26, 2021
ISBN: 1536203092
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a picture book ode to the love of all things dog.  Perfect for preschool listeners or early readers.  A three dog family takes their excited crew to the dog park, a farmer’s market, home to a sudsy car wash and a quiet reading time on the couch.  Each two-page spread presents in large text a statement about dogs such as “Dogs love walks” followed by a listing in prose form describing the statement in more detail.  Meisel’s colorful, happy dog illustrations show action and lots of white space for new readers to navigate the text.  The community pictures show multi-able and diverse cultured owners keeping their happy dogs on leashes in the park and at dog school. Dog lovers will enjoy this story which ends with the promise that dogs love us all the time. 

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services Librarian, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

Where’s Waldo?: Santa Spotlight Search

Where’s Waldo?: Santa Spotlight SearchWhere's Waldo? Santa Spotlight Search by Martin Handford
Published by Candlewick Press on September 24, 2021
ISBN: 1536220132
Pages: 16
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

This is the third in the “Spotlight Search” series, which tucks a wand into the front cover for readers to use to highlight the image on each page. Pictures are printed on acetate and then put against a black background – the wand is black with a white spot and must be used to highlight the images on the acetate. Since “Where’s Waldo” books are gimmick books, it could make sense to try this, but it’s not a necessary deviation from the original books and any book with a part that detaches is a risk for a library. This is a better gift book for kids who have exhausted their Waldo books though with only 6 pages of searches, and more puzzles on the pages rather than in the Waldo pictures, this one can be skipped.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

two-stars

Clarinet and Trumpet

Clarinet and TrumpetClarinet and Trumpet by John Herzog, Melanie Ellsworth
ISBN: 9780358107477
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Clarinet and Trumpet are friends but their friendship falls flat when a new woodwind, Oboe,  garners Clarinet’s attention. Trumpet is jealous and the brass section faces off in a musical duel. The main feature of the book is  a music-making shaker built into the book, which will likely appeal to toddlers and preschoolers. However the pun-filled text is likely to be over-the-head of that audience. Cartoonish musical instruments with faces are featured throughout.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

two-stars

Little Smokey

Little SmokeyLittle Smokey by Robert Neubecker
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on September 3, 2019
ISBN: 1984851047
Pages: 40
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Beautifully told and illustrated children’s book about a small forest fire fighting airplane who earns its name. Great lesson about size and how all sizes are important. Wonderful resources at the end will inspire children to learn more.

Reviewed by Ginni Nichols, Gardiner Public Library, Gardiner

five-stars

I Spy Spooky Night: A Book of Picture Riddles

I Spy Spooky Night: A Book of Picture RiddlesI Spy Spooky Night: A Book of Picture Riddles by Jean Marzollo, Walter Wick
Published by Cartwheel Books, Scholastic on July 30, 2019
ISBN: 1338353136
Pages: 40
Genres: Horror
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A really fun I Spy book that takes you through a haunted house. I always loved reading I Spy books to my students and interacting with them as we tried to solve all the riddles. Unfortunately children have to be able to read to know what to find. Lovely photos and a bonus challenge at the end of the book!

For ages 4 to 8

Reviewed by Ginni Nichols, Gardiner Public Library, Gardiner

three-stars

Saturday

SaturdaySaturday by Oge Mora
on October 22, 2019
ISBN: 0316431273
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Mother’s only day off from work is Saturday and she and her daughter, Ava, have a wonderful day planned.  When all their plans go awry, Ava is annoyed but her mother has a meltdown because of the disappointments. Ava steps up and reassures her mom that the day was special because they spent it with each other. The book is illustrated with simple cut paper collage and the girl and her mother have brown skin and dark hair. This is an important book to share with children during this pandemic when many of their special plans are canceled.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

five-stars

Everybody In The Red Brick Building

Everybody In The Red Brick BuildingEverybody in the Red Brick Building by Anne Wynter, Donna Bray, Oge Mora
Published by Balzer + Bray on October 12, 2021
ISBN: 0062865765
Pages: 32
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Falling asleep can be tough! This picture book depicts an apartment building full of families of different ethnicities finding their way to sleep. Unfortunately, this sleepy building’s nighttime routine is interrupted by baby Izzie waking up, setting off a chain reaction of other kids in the building (along with some pets) finding reasons to stay awake as well, until the parents one by one manage to help their kids (and pets) back to bed and the building is finally able to fall asleep. 

This is a cumulative tale, adding and repeating dialogue and sound effects as the pages go on, which is a highly effective narrative device to help children’s language development. The text in this picture book is unique and evocative: using onomatopoeia and repetition of distinctive sound effects as we follow the reader through a whimsical tour of each apartment.

Illustration-wise, Oge Mora’s multimedia pictures are bright, bold, and textured in a way that keeps the eye engaged throughout the story without sacrificing complexity. The detailed choices for each set piece on each page is gorgeous and colorful. The illustrations complement and elevate the text, tying the story together effortlessly. 

The book would be an excellent choice for ages 0-5, for story times or lap sits. There is so much to spot with each illustration and both reader and listener will get a kick out of the cumulative dialogue of child and pet alike.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

 

five-stars

The Thing Lenny Loves Most About Baseball

The Thing Lenny Loves Most About BaseballThe Thing Lenny Loves Most About Baseball by Andrew Larsen, Milan Pavlovi?, Milan Pavlović
Published by Kids Can Press on October 5, 2021
ISBN: 1771389168
Pages: 32
Genres: Sports
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Lenny is obsessed with baseball and dreams of becoming a baseball great like the ones he constantly reads about. The problem is Lenny is not a natural baseball great. He’s discouraged with the trouble he’s having catching the ball but thanks to a good attitude and a laid-back, supportive father, Lenny decides the game is worth some extra work. Predictably, after lots of practice Lenny gets better. Not as predictably, Lenny comes to accept that he might not end up being a baseball hero but loving the game is good enough.

We all know kids who have the inclination to give up when they’re not immediately good at something and this would be a great book to help them recognize that practice is so important with anything you want to be good at. And sometimes it’s enough to set aside notions of greatness and just love what you’re doing.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars