Format: Picture Book Fiction

Snake’s Big Mistake

Snake’s Big MistakeSnake's Big Mistake by Sarah Kurpiel
ISBN: 0063093219
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Snake’s Big Mistake” is a picture book by Sarah Kurpiel about a snake (named Snake) who wants to make the best piece of pottery in art class. When he finds out that his art fell and broke, snake replaces his work with Turtle’s work and lies about it. The book is about lying, friendships, and apologizing and readers will follow along as Snake decides to come clean and then put in the work to fix his relationship with Turtle. The art is simple and colorful and adds to the humorous nature of the book.

I enjoyed how the book not only focused on Snake apologizing, but how Turtle wasn’t immediately happy afterwards and that Snake had to work hard to earn Turtle’s friendship and trust back. A recommended additional purchase for library picture book collections.

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

three-stars

Hedge Lion

Hedge LionHedge Lion by Robyn Wilson-Owen
Published by Andersen on March 7, 2023
ISBN: 1728492122
Pages: 24
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A story about finding your inner roar and letting it out before it gets too big. Ida lives in a busy town. Hedge Lion also lives in the town, but he insists that he is not a lion, but a hedge. Ida makes it her mission to reawaken the lion inside Hedge Lion. Using many methods, it is finally laughter, or the release that a good belly laugh brings, that unleashes the inner lion. Once Hedge Lion starts roaring, he is not able to stop until he gets out his Big Scary Roar, frightening Ida, himself, and the creatures who live in his mane. Using patience and the power of stories, Ida coaxes the creatures back, and her friendship allows the lion to be who he is and to let out his roars in small doses before they reach Big Scary level. Wilson-Owen’s line drawings are infused with bright yellow and complement the narrative. The message of the book is clear without being scary or too didactic.  A nice read aloud to discuss big emotions and appropriate scale of reactions.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars

B My Name Is Boy

B My Name Is BoyB My Name Is Boy: A Song of Celebration from Australia to Zimbabwe by Dawn Masi
Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers on May 16, 2023
ISBN: 0593487125
Pages: 40
Genres: Cultural / African American
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Dedicated to her son, this multi-cultural, inclusive picture book is a follow-up to the author’s G My Name Is Girl. Following the English alphabet, Masi takes readers on a world tour from Australia to Zimbabwe via the name game. For each letter, a boy, a friend, a country, and a favorite pastime is presented. One of my favorites is “L, my name is Lauris, and my teacher’s name is Ludis. We come from Latvia, and we can Lend”, which is, of course, in a library.

The full-page, muted illustrations enhance the gently encouraging text, reminding every boy of every ability that they can be and do so many things. Recommended for readers in first through third grade.

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, University of Southern Maine – Gorham Campus Library

three-stars

The Night Before Freedom: A Juneteenth Story

The Night Before Freedom: A Juneteenth StoryThe Night Before Freedom: A Juneteenth Story by Glenda Armand, Corey Barksdale
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on May 2, 2023
ISBN: 0593567463
Pages: 40
Genres: Cultural / African American
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

As the family gathers together to hear Grandmother’s annual retelling of the story of Juneteenth, author Armand channels Clement C. Moore’s “The Night Before Christmas” to convey the excitement and promise the day brought to their ancestors. Freedom is a gift and like the coming of Christmas morning, the people of Galvaston, Texas anticipated the joy it would bring. With beautiful, flowing illustrations done in an expressionistic style, illustrator Corey Barksdale evokes movement and highlights the colors and emotions the family experienced on Juneteenth and after.  An author’s note offers a clear historical explanation of Juneteenth and explains Armand’s homage to Moore’s meter and original subject matter (the coming of Christmas). A lovely addition to a holiday or history section in a school or public library.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars

Sari-Sari Summers

Sari-Sari SummersSari-Sari Summers by Lynnor Bontigao
Published by Candlewick Press on April 11, 2023
ISBN: 1536226149
Pages: 40
Genres: Cultural / African American, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Each summer, Nora visits her grandmother (her lola) in the Philippines. Lola runs a small convenience store, and Nora is finally old enough to help out there. Upon her arrival, Nora notices how large the mango tree out front has gotten, and how it is laden with large, green fruit.

Nora has fun restocking, sorting, and measuring dry goods for customers, and it is clear that she and her grandmother adore spending time with each other. One hot day, no customers arrive, and two days stretch into three, four… Lola tells Nora it’s just because of the excessive heat, so Nora suggests they make ice candy. A mixture of the now-ripe mangoes, sweetened condensed milk, and a few other ingredients, the blended liquid is poured into long, thin, plastic ice pop bags and frozen. The pair advertise their new treat, and the customers return. For the rest of the summer, Nora and Lola create various flavors of ice candy, and locals stop by for a cold treat and whatever other daily necessities they might want or need. 

This picture book gives readers a small, joyful glimpse into a culture that most Mainers are likely unfamiliar with, but can relate to nonetheless. A recommended purchase.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

four-stars

Bing Bang Pling

Bing Bang PlingBing Bang Pling by Deb Adamson
Published by McSea Books on June 16, 2023
ISBN: 1954277164
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Bing Bang Pling includes simple, realistic, digital illustrations that are nice and clear for a toddler storytime. The text has short, rhyming sentences and fun onomatopoeias. The focus on everyday tools and building will be exciting and familiar to toddlers.

The book includes fun opportunities for interaction, like counting the nuts and screws or doing an ISpy for all the tools on the final page. I wish the cat was on every page, but the kitty also interacts with objects in the background which can make for great discussions when reading to a smaller group.

This book is not original, but building and construction have mass appeal. It is harder to find books with these themes including feminine-displaying main characters, so the book gets points for that. There is diversity of ethnicities and abilities in the background characters, but not in the main family. Rhyming and onomatopoeias are also big hits with kids. This isn’t an especially outstanding book, but I do think it would make a good addition to library collections.

Reviewed by Katie Drago, Rockland Public Library

four-stars

The Digger and the Butterfly

The Digger and the ButterflyThe Digger and the Butterfly (The Digger Series) by Joseph Kuefler
Published by Balzer + Bray on May 23, 2023
ISBN: 0063237946
Pages: 48
Genres: Mental Health, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

The Digger and the Butterfly is the story of a group of construction vehicles who are very busy, until Digger feed a caterpillar and said caterpillar crafts a cocoon on Digger, causing him to have to sit by and watch his coworkers while he waits for the cocoon to hatch. This book sneakily teaches us about mindfulness very successfully, as Digger begins to notice the world around him in a way he hadn’t before. The illustrations are as colorful and joyful as the subject matter. This is an easy purchase for any collection, trucks and mindfulness? Something for everyone.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

From Here to There: A First Book of Maps

From Here to There: A First Book of MapsFrom Here to There: A First Book of Maps by Vivian French, Ya-Ling Huang
Published by Candlewick Press on May 16, 2023
ISBN: 1536225118
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

From Here to There is a delightful and accessible introduction to maps. Told through the story of Zane inviting his friend Anna over to his house by drawing her a map, Anna and her dad begin to draw maps of their own, inspired by Zane’s creation. The reader learns along with Anna, through beautiful illustrations, different ways to create maps, including family trees. This is a lovely addition to any collection and especially good for those precocious explorers out there.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Desert Jungle

Desert JungleDesert Jungle by Jeannie Baker
Published by Candlewick Press on May 9, 2023
Pages: 40
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Desert Jungle is the story of a young boy going to stay with his grandfather in a desert valley. This book is meticulously illustrated through collage that leaps off the page and gives the reader the sense of mystery, fear, and eventual wonder the protagonist feels when he begins to explore the wilderness around him. A beautiful love letter to a part of the outdoors that is often under-appreciated for its singular beauty, this is a must-have for any collection.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community

You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and CommunityYou, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community by Arun Gandhi, Bethany Hegedus, Andrés Landazábal
Published by Candlewick Press on June 13, 2023
ISBN: 1536217441
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

You, Me, We is a picture book about finding peace in every moment of our life. Wide-ranging, it tells us that peace can be found in the big and the small, the movement and the stillness of everyday. The prose is simple and pairs well with the illustrations, which features a wide variety of people experiencing peaceful moments. A worthwhile addition to a collection: perhaps for those cultivating a mindfulness collection.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars