Format: Picture Book Fiction

Pinkalicious and the Robo-Pup

Pinkalicious and the Robo-PupPinkalicious and the Robo-Pup by Victoria Kann
Published by HarperCollins on May 4, 2021
ISBN: 0063003767
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This is a Level 1 “I can read book” for grades 1-3.  Pinkville is holding a pet contest.  Pinkalicious and her brother Peter enter their new robot puppy that their mother created.  None of Pinkalicious’ friends are interested in what robo-pup can do because they are all interested in the live animals.  When Alison’s new puppy Bella gets spooked and runs away, Robo-pup comes to the rescue and finds the puppy.  There are four and five short sentences per page with many quotes, exclamations and other punctuation marks.  Vocabulary words include: trophy, ordinary, listening, loudspeaker and congratulations.  Fans of the PBS show and the picture books will recognize the computer generated illustrations that show static expressions of smiling or “oo” ovals on all the characters.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

Ducks Overboard!

Ducks Overboard!Ducks Overboard!: A True Story of Plastic in Our Oceans by Markus Motum
Published by Candlewick Press on September 28, 2021
ISBN: 1536217727
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Ducks Overboard!

 

In 1992 a container ship filled with plastic bath toys was buffeted by waves and lost at sea.  This added to what was already a horrific problem of plastic waste.  In Markus Motum’s picture book a little lost yellow duck describes what he sees:  sea turtles stuck in fishing nets, a route that goes to Japan, Hawaii, South America, and the United States, and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch which is approximately twice the size of Texas!  But, in the end there is hope with beach cleanup days and petitions to sign.  This book sheds a light on the problem of single-use plastic waste and how this problem must be attacked.  The illustrations are excellent.  What did concern me was that while many of the words are regular picture book size there are other informational words which are tiny and not very easy to read.  It is a book with a strong message.

 

Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

Sakamoto’s Swim Club

Sakamoto’s Swim ClubSakamoto's Swim Club: How a Teacher Led an Unlikely Team to Victory by Chris Sasaki, Julie Abery
Published by Kids Can Press on May 4, 2021
ISBN: 1525300318
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Sakamoto’s Swim Club

 

In the Hawaiian sugar plantations there are irrigation ditches in which children swim to cool off.  When a teacher, Soichi Sakamoto, sees them he sticks up for them using the ditches and soon becomes their coach.  Even without a pool they practice and train until a pool is built for them.  Soon the Olympics of 1948 arrives in which their own Bill Smith wins a gold medal and sets an Olympic record.  These swimmers were not well known, so this picture book is very valuable.

All the resources in the list included were from hawaiiswim.org which also shows that the so-called Three-Year Swim Club needs to be read about and shared over a large area.  The illustrations are vibrant and excellent.

 

Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

four-stars

Never, Not Ever!

Never, Not Ever!Never, Not Ever! by Beatrice Alemagna
Published by HarperCollins on July 13, 2021
ISBN: 0063076497
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is an adorable book about a young bat’s refusal to go to school. Pascaline watches as all the other animals head off to the first day off school while insisting that she will never, not ever go. In a twist a magical realism, Pascaline’s emotions shrink her parents who she then hides under her wings and, feeling newly confident, brings them along. Once there, Pascaline realizes she wasn’t the only bat who was struggling with the first day, although she is the only one with tiny parents secreted away who embarrass her all day and force her to see that maybe physically toting your parents along isn’t the best tactic to take. This is a funny, beautifully illustrated book that would be great addition to any collection and would be perfect in a display of first day of school/back to school books.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

The Little Things

The Little ThingsThe Little Things by Emma Dodd
Published by Templar Books on September 14, 2021
ISBN: 1536220019
Pages: 24
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

The Little Things by Emma Dodd tells the story of all the little things that matter in life. The story revolves around a giant panda and its baby. The kind message that is portrayed throughout this short book is of all the simple things in life to be grateful for. From starting each new day with kisses to watching the clouds float by, to being helpful and kind to others.

In similar fashion with this author’s other books, there is a strong message of gratitude and being loved for just being you.  This is a colorful book with copper metallic accents in a few of the illustrations. The text is done in a rhyming pattern that makes the book fun and easy to read and hear.

This book is appropriate for a child 2-5 years old. It has a nice feel-good message; however, it would not be a first pick to add to a collection. Would make a lovely book to gift to a new parent.

Reviewed by Amy Tobalske, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

three-stars

I Am A Bird

I Am A BirdI Am a Bird by Hope Lim, Hyewon Yum
Published by Candlewick Press on February 2, 2021
ISBN: 1536208914
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This is a story about how people are alike more than you think.

Every morning a little girl and her father bike through town on the way to school. The child joyfully pretends she is a bird that is flying as they zoom along,  singing out like a bird as they pass the townsfolk.

One day, she sees a woman walking along carrying a large bag. She does not smile or wave at her like the other townspeople do.  The child senses a coldness from her and begins to feel uncomfortable whenever they pass by the woman on their bike ride.

This changes one day when they are running late for school. She sees the woman in the park, feeding the birds from her large bag and singing to them.  She waves and smiles to the woman and this time she gets the same response! This makes her happy again and she realizes they both are a little bit alike.

This bright, expressive book presents the message that we are all connected in some way and that we have more in common with each other than not. This would be a nice addition to any library collection.

 

Reviewed by- Amy Tobalske, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook 

three-stars

Hello Jimmy

Hello JimmyHello, Jimmy! by Anna Walker
ISBN: 9780358193586
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Without actually stating such, the reader assumes that Jack’s parents are divorced. Jack loves staying at his dad’s house but worries about his did when he seems lonely and depressed. Enter Jimmy, an obnoxious parrot. Dad adores Jimmy but Jack is a bit jealous of him. Jack has a scary dream about birds, opens his window, and Jimmy escapes. He awakes and feeling bad about what happened, goes out to find Jimmy, but Jimmy is gone. Of course Dad goes out to find Jack. Jimmy never returns … but someday he may. This book received many starred reviews, but it sort of left me flat. I did like that it featured a boy and his father. It does provide opportunities to talk about feelings with kids.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

two-stars

Bears at the Beach

Bears at the BeachBears at the Beach by David Walker, Shirley Parenteau
Published by Candlewick Press on May 4, 2021
ISBN: 9781536208382
Pages: 32
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Part of series “Bears on Chairs.” The bears try to build a sand castle but the sand is too dry. Then the sand is too wet. They build one “in between” and this one stands until they poke holes in it. They persist and finally make a grand castle. The rhyming text is a bit forced at times and the pastel bears are a bit too cutesy for my taste, but the book will likely be popular with kids who likes the other books in the series.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

two-stars

The House of Grass and Sky

The House of Grass and SkyThe House of Grass and Sky by E.B. Goodale, Mary Lyn Ray
Published by Candlewick Press on April 13, 2021
ISBN: 9781536200973
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

The old white saltbox house describes what makes a house a home from its point of view. Once it housed beloved families, but now it sits empty until the “right” family moves in to build new memories. An abundance of poetic language and pastoral watercolor illustrations create a thought provoking text that gives the reader a sense of time passing. This book can be paired with other books about houses, such as The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (1942), Home Place by Crescent Dragonwagon and Jerry Pinkney (1990), and The Little Blue Cottage by Kelly Jordan (2020) for a compare and contrast lesson or about the meaning of home.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Noah’s Seal

Noah’s SealNoah's Seal by Layn Marlow
Published by Candlewick Press on June 15, 2021
ISBN: 9781536218510
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Fantasy mixes with reality in this endearing book that every Maine library, especially those on the coast, should own. Noah wants his Nana to take him on her sailboat to see the seals, but he has to wait until Nana can repair the sail. While waiting, Noah digs in the sand and makes a seal with shells for speckles, pebbles for eyes, and seaweed for a mouth. A storm blows in and the washes the seal away but a real seal is on the beach. This sweet and simple tale features a brown-skinned boy and his loving grandmother. Perfect for Story Time.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars