Format: Picture Book Fiction

Duck Duck Moose

Duck Duck MooseDuck, Duck, Moose by Mary Sullivan
Published by Clarion Books on March 23, 2021
ISBN: 035831349X
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Fantasy, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

In a sparse rhyming pattern of threes, a child runs to the duck, duck and moose playing cards to ask them where is goose.  The animals become frantic and they go across the farm “run, run, run,” and “go, go, go” using the tracker “Big Moe” to get to the gate.  The gate is locked and they try to get the key, but are thwarted by stinging bees.  After being stuck in the mud they make it home to a bath and bed.  In the morning, Goose arrives home from what looks like a planned vacation to the beach.  Most words are in dialogue bubbles providing a guide for new readers.  The whole interchange is high energy and the ending seems slightly anti-climactic.  This is a picture book suitable for readers in pre-k-1.

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

 

three-stars

An Earth-bot’s solution to plastic pollution

An Earth-bot’s solution to plastic pollutionAn Earth-Bot's Solution to Plastic Pollution by Russell Ayto
Published by Kids Can Press on September 7, 2021
ISBN: 1525305387
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This quirky picture book provides young listeners a visual of how plastic is taking over our oceans and ways to decrease plastic use by reduce, reuse and recycle.  Neo lives by the ocean and Neo’s messy room emulates the plastic problems in the ocean.  They both need to be cleaned up.  When Grandpa gives Neo three specific chores to clean his room, he ignores those in favor of playing his video game Space Cabbages.  A seal, penguin and a turtle help Neo get outside and see the problem and the condition of his room in a new way.  All ocean water illustrations contain a patterned grid representing plastic bottles and all characters, including Neo and Grandpa, wear spacesuit gear which provides some humor to the story, along with the cabbages.  The color palette is dark blue hues making some of the text difficult to read.  Ayto gives a short explanation in the back on how everyone can help the planet.

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

three-stars

Time for school, Little Blue Truck

Time for school, Little Blue TruckTime for School, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle, Jill McElmurry
Published by Clarion Books on June 22, 2021
ISBN: 0358412242
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Little Blue is back with all the farm friends of previous books. This time, a pig misses the school bus, and Blue helps get the piglet to school in time. The illustrations are colorful and in the same style as previous Little Blue Truck books.

Recommended for wide purchase where previous Little Blue books are popular. Recommended for readers 3 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

1, 2, 3, off to school

1, 2, 3, off to school1, 2, 3, Off to School! by Marianne Dubuc, Yvette Ghione
Published by Kids Can Press on May 4, 2021
ISBN: 1525306561
Pages: 24
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Pom is so excited to start school, but they don’t start kindergarten for another year. So Pom spends the day visiting the schools of various forest animals throughout the day to see what their schools are like.

As with Dubuc’s previous books, this one is full of detail and can be read over and over with new discoveries each time. The illustrations are colorful, busy, and full of whimsy. Read this with kids who love to explore.

Recommended for readers 4 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Before We Stood Tall

Before We Stood TallBefore We Stood Tall: From Small Seed to Mighty Tree by Jessica Kulekjian, Madeline Kloepper
Published by Kids Can Press on September 7, 2021
ISBN: 1525303244
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a beautifully illustrated book about the life cycle of trees. It deviates from the standard seed-to-tree structure and presents a more cyclical approach to tree growth. It incorporates the relationships trees have to everything around them including animals, other trees, and us. This would be a great classroom books for younger kids and it’s soothing to read aloud. For those wanting more information about trees there is a, interesting, detailed author’s note at the end.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski. Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Lost Things

Lost ThingsLost Things by Carey Sookocheff
Published by Kids Can Press on September 7, 2021
ISBN: 1525305441
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a sparse book, both in text and illustration, that helps kids think differently about what it means to lose something. It follows a few items, like a bear or a ribbon, and shows what becomes of them when they’re left behind. It’s very calm and would be helpful for kids who are upset about a lost item. Even if they’re not though, it’s a nice way to think about the many lives of things and the connections they can draw between people or animals, even if we don’t know it.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Alone

AloneAlone! by Barry Falls
Published by Pavilion Books Company Ltd. on March 2, 2021
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Billy McGill lives by himself on the top of a hill, and he quite enjoys his quiet, solitary lifestyle. When a mouse makes an appearance in his home, Billy stops at nothing to get rid of it, bringing in a cast of characters, both animal and human alike, to fix this unacceptable problem! As the situation at home gets more and more out of control, Billy realizes that perhaps one doesn’t have to be alone all the time.

This rhyming cumulative story (in the same vein as The House That Jack Built and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie) will delight young readers and adults alike. The repetitive verse of ‘”This is my hill,” said Billy McGill. “I live here alone! Always have, always will” ‘ is perfect for an interactive read aloud. Engaging illustrations and a simple plot make this a great choice for PreK-1 collections. Recommended for Cream.

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

four-stars

Looking for a Jumbie

Looking for a JumbieLooking for a Jumbie by Amber Ren, Tracey Baptiste
Published by Balzer + Bray on September 21, 2021
ISBN: 006297081X
Pages: 32
Genres: Folklore
Goodreads
four-stars

What is a Jumbie you may ask? In Caribbean folklore it is a nocturnal creature that comes out at night when the moon is bright.   Mama says they are only in stories, but Nya does not believe this and is determined to find one!  Out of bed and into the moonlit night she sneaks out to find it.  Hopefully a scary one!  Along her journey into the woods, she encounters many fantastic creatures of lore such as – a small, large mouthed, backward footed Douen, a sharp toothed, chain wearing, furry Lagahoo and a bright as a flame skinned Soucouyants.  They all join in her adventure to find the Jumbie.  As the night turns to dawn the mystical Jumbie is never found.  A surprised Mama awakes to find the lot of creatures and Nya in a heap, fast asleep in the front yard.  Because sometimes stories cannot be believed.

This is a brightly illustrated book that exposes the reader to many friendly Caribbean monsters. It is fun book that all children would enjoy and learn about another culture’s folklore.

 

Reviewed by Amy Tobalske, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

four-stars

Peppa Pig and the earth Day Adventure

Peppa Pig and the earth Day AdventurePeppa Pig and the Earth Day Adventure by Candlewick Press
Published by Candlewick Press on March 9, 2021
ISBN: 1536218987
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Peppa Pig fans will enjoy this installment as the pig family has an earth day adventure.  The family plans to go to the botanical gardens and Peppa and George do their chores before they go.  They sort the recycling and talk about what goes in the compost bin.  The family even has an electric car, named Roger.  They pass the windmill field, visit the wildflower garden and learn about bees. On the way home the family is stopped by police because Daddy lets the car drive itself and he doesn’t have his hands on the wheel.  Roger, the car, shows the officers it’s driver’s license.  This story would be useful for preschools talking about Earth Day.  The characters and artwork are taken from the animated TV series which is on Nick Jr.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

The End is just the Beginning

The End is just the BeginningThe End Is Just the Beginning by Diana Mayo, Mike Bender
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers ISBN: 1984896938
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This picture book for children in grades Pre-k to 2, starts with the word “The End”.  A caterpillar reassures listeners that the end of something is the start of something else.  What follows is an illustrative listing of how that is possible:  a fair skinned child, and a dark skinned girl take a bike ride, blast off into space, go snorkeling, have a disagreement on the beach and a get well card is created among other things.  It is unclear if the children are siblings or friends.  Readers will notice the caterpillar making a chrysalis a few pages into the book and at the end of the story a butterfly comes into the picture.  Mayo’s acrylic paint, colored pencil and collage illustrations use a pastel and grey hue except when the children are blasting off into space.  The space pages have the text in a circle around the earth and forming a large infinity symbol.  This concept book provides concrete ideas that preschoolers will understand and will be useful for classrooms or individual lap-sharing.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

three-stars