Format: Picture Book Fiction

The Night of the Hedgehog

The Night of the HedgehogThe Night of the Hedgehog by Chuck Groenink, Tanya Rosie
ISBN: 1536245062
Genres: Animals, Family, Nature
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A father/daughter duo head out into their yard at nighttime to admire a family of hedgehogs. They seem to be expecting the hogs (which appear to be regular visitors), bringing the hogs water to drink and watching as the hogs explore a hog hole that they had previously carved. This book celebrates nature, and presents a great example of kindly observing and interacting with nature in a positive way. It’s also a nice reminder that sometimes, exciting wildlife interactions can happen just steps from home. The sweet rhyming text makes for a nice read aloud. Mixed media illustrations are peaceful, soft, and quiet, just like the nighttime in the story. Recommended for ages 3 to 7 (Pre-K to 2nd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Pajammin’!

Pajammin’!Pajammin': A Reggae Pajama Party for the Whole Family Inspired by Bob Marley's Jamming by Letícia Moreno, Ziggy Marley
ISBN: 0063287196
Genres: Family, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Inspired by the song “Jamming” by Bob Marley, this book as all about a pajammin’ party. The epic slumber party night is full of pillow fights, flashlight tag, music, storytelling, fort building, and late-night snacks. The text reads a bit clunky (not quite rhyming, and not quite singing to the classic song). The illustrations are the star of the show – fun, colorful, full of layers and depth, and depicting light/darkness; the illustrations evoke that magical sleepover childhood feeling that is perfect for this story. Recommended for ages 4 to 8 (Pre-K to 3rd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Anjali Can!

Anjali Can!Anjali Can! (Always Anjali) by Lucia Soto, Sheetal Sheth
ISBN: 0593651227
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Anjali is back in this third book of the Always Anjali series, to prove that there isn’t anything she can’t do. The Community Center, which is at the heart of her community, is being shut down. Anjali feels passionate about keeping it open, so she gathers her friends to organize a protest, write letters, create a petition, and engage with city council. When it seems as though all hope is lost, the community rallies behind the cause, and she gets the attention of a city council member, who in turn organizes a public hearing to keep the center open. This is a heartfelt and inspiring story about peaceful ways to organize change and make your voice heard. The digital illustrations are full of color and emotion, and depict a diverse community. Cream of the Crop nominee. Recommended for ages 4 to 8 (Pre-K to 3rd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

five-stars

How to Make a Bedtime

How to Make a BedtimeHow to Make a Bedtime by Karen Blair, Meg McKinlay
Published by Candlewick Press on January 28, 2025
ISBN: 1536236055
Pages: 32
Genres: Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This sweet poetic story is a celebration of bedtime routines, from a sloshy wash in the bathtub, to cloud-soft pajamas, a huggily hug, and finally a bedtime story just like this one. While the child in this story is clearly tired already, the parent (depicted as a bear), is determined to make it through the entire bedtime routine. While the bedtime routine in the story includes many activities – it did not include teeth brushing. The illustrations are exceptional – with soft sketchy layers of pastel, they feel like a warm bedtime hug. Recommended for ages birth to 4 years.

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Hazel the Handful

Hazel the HandfulHazel the Handful by Jamie Michalak, Matt Myers
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536231193
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Family, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Hazel the pooch is a beloved family dog. Is he a handful? Yes, just like his special girl, Bea who he spends all his time with. Together they go about their daily routine, which Hazel calls, “sensational!” Everything changes when the baby is born. Hazel must compete for attention from his special Bea, and he doesn’t understand the smells coming from the baby’s bottom. Everything has changed: the daily walks, the comments from strangers walking by, and the games they used to play. When Hazel makes a big accident, she hides under her special blanket. Bea and Hazel snuggle and find a game they can all play together. Maybe the baby isn’t so bad after all.

A sweet and humorous book about changes in the family after a baby from the dog’s point of view. Cute illustrations. Kids will love Hazel’s sassy speech bubble comments. Lovely Black family representation. For ages 4-6.

Review by Gia Charles, Patten Free LIbrary, Bath

three-stars

A Song for Two Homes

A Song for Two HomesA Song for Two Homes by Charly Palmer, Michael Datcher
ISBN: 0593429362
Genres: Cultural / African American, Emotions & Feelings, Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A Song for Two Homes by Dr. Michael Datcher is a picture book featuring Auset, a Black child devastated by her parents’ divorce. As the adults in her life remind her that this is not her fault, Auset struggles to believe them and instead turns to her heroes like Bob Marley for reassurance. Auset’s problems are real and relatable, like a therapist who “wasn’t good at sewing kids back together,” getting perfect grades to hide her distress from her parents, being bullied, and the consequences of fighting back with words and fists. The book does not shy away from the pain and outcomes of a broken heart.

While this reviewer appreciates the raw honesty expressed, especially with lines such as, “Pretending to be okay is tiring, but it’s easier than showing Mom my real self,” this would likely be a painful story for a parent to read with a child. It’s difficult to say where this book might find an audience, but a school or public library wanting to expand its resources on divorce could benefit from adding it.

Reviewed by Beth Almquist, Lewiston Public Library

three-stars

I Like Your Face

I Like Your FaceI Like Your Face by Brad Davidson, Rachel Más Davidson
ISBN: 1525312979
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

I Like Your Face by Brad Davidson is a celebration of what it means to be a best friend. Two children are depicted in colorful cartoon-like illustrations as they show each other their bond through facial expressions, for example: “Hangry” and “Pretending-to-Be-Brave” faces, alongside sure-to-induce-giggles “Holding-in-a-Fart” face. They imagine what it will be like to grow up and grow old together, assuring each other with their “I’m-There-for-You” face that they will always have each other’s backs. A fun added touch are the equally expressive pets that pop up from time to time.

Children ages 4-8 (and their grownups) will find both hilarious and touching moments in this sweet ode to friendship. We may never know exactly what draws us to certain people, but these young friends express it well when they simply say, “I like your face. It’s super special.”

Recommended for school and public libraries looking to expand their picture book collections featuring diverse children, socio-emotional learning, and how to read facial cues. Would work well as a read-aloud, and this reviewer would definitely ask listeners to name the kinds of faces the pets and other background characters are expressing.

Reviewed by Beth Almquist, Lewiston Public Library.

four-stars

One Day a Mayfly

One Day a MayflyOne Day a Mayfly by Michael Speechley, Shirley Marr
ISBN: 1536243612
Genres: Adventure, Nature, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Today is the day! A mayfly emerges and dries off her wings. She has come out of the city pond and a girl in a yellow raincoat notices her. Mayflies only live for one day, and a frog in the pond tells her so. So with her birthday hat on, she goes to explore the city. She meets another mayfly and enjoys every moment. There are signs throughout the city showing aspects of the daily grind, and the symbolism of “seizing the day” is subtly told through the mayfly’s experience. This has a very basic plot, but relies on the visual storytelling. The story is told through a vertical narrative, where you need to flip the book sideways to read it. A good reminder for parents reading the story, and an interesting story for kids to learn more about the life cycle of mayflies. Ages 4-8.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

The Story Factory

The Story FactoryThe Story Factory by Jam Dong
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536230006
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Once upon a time, all the books in the world were manufactured at one place–The Story Factory!” In this speculative world, stories are simply taken from the story factory, reused and recycled, and then made in a factory to be given out again. Everything was going normally, when all of a sudden the machine breaks. All the characters are wrong! The stories are out of order! The pieces of the stories explode into a million pieces. It’s up to the workers to collect the pieces and put them all into a big mixer. Another big BOOM and books with all new original material start falling from the sky. The villagers open the books and love the new stories. And now the Story Factory is used to create books with completely new and unique ideas.

This is a creative story written and illustrated by Jam Dong; her ode to using your imagination, especially in the age of AI. Her colorful illustrations and collage techniques are eye-catching. The font feels like the wrong choice. Ages 3-7.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

 

three-stars

Do You See the Tiger?

Do You See the Tiger?Do You See the Tiger? by David Melling, Philip Ardagh
ISBN: 153624290X
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

A fabulous rhyming book. The book starts, “One rainy night in London town, Penny and Daddy went down, down, down…” Daddy and Penny take the crowded subway only for her to realize that there’s a stripy tail in amongst the passengers. She exclaims that there’s a tiger on the train to her father, who thinks she is making up stories.

There’s a magical difference between the children on the train who see the tiger in disguise, and the distracted and oblivious adults who don’t notice him. It’s almost as if the tiger and the children are bewitched. The tiger jumps out of his disguise and scoops up a toddler’s bunny toy, acting as a hero! But even still, the father was reading the newspaper and thinks she’s using her imagination. This one is charming and amusing. The illustrations of little Penny cuddling up to the tiger feel very reminiscent of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, a British classic by Judith Kerr. Ages 3-7

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

four-stars