Format: Picture Book Fiction

Something About Grandma

Something About GrandmaSomething About Grandma by Tania de Regil
Published by Candlewick Press on August 9, 2022
ISBN: 1536201944
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

In the summer before she becomes a big sister, Julia is sent to stay with her grandmother in a picturesque area outside of Mexico City. The area is full of new smells and tastes as Julia experiences the local foods and flora. The two establish an affectionate bond that is extended to the newborn brother who appears at the end of the book.

Something About Grandma is a cozy, calm love letter to the grandparent/grandchild relationship and to the importance of experiencing small moments with someone who loves and understands you. This would be a nice read aloud book, both at school and at home.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

The Boy Who Loved Maps

The Boy Who Loved MapsThe Boy Who Loved Maps by Kari Allen, G. Brian Karas
Published by Anne Schwartz Books on July 12, 2022
ISBN: 1984852302
Pages: 44
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A young boy absolutely loves maps. He enjoys collecting them, studying them, and making them in his tree house. A little girl comes to visit the young mapmaker and requests a most unusual map. Her map must represent the perfect place! Her descriptions of the place leave the mapmaker perplexed. He does not know of anyplace that is a match. The young girl suggests they go exploring and they begin an adventure around the town — from the library, to a bakery to a park, ending up at her cozy home. The soft, gentle palette done in gouache and pencil is in keeping with the gentle story of the wonders of home and the importance of appreciating our own surroundings. The back pages contain an editor’s note, glossary, more information, map-making instructions and map activities. The story will be of special interest to children who like to draw and may inspire them to make their own maps.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, ME

three-stars

Little Bat Up All Day

Little Bat Up All DayLittle Bat Up All Day by Brian Lies
Published by Clarion Books on July 12, 2022
ISBN: 0358269857
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

As the sun is rising one morning, Little Bat is curious about what daytime is like. His mother says that it’s very similar to the night, just noisier and brighter. She explains that animals that sleep at night just live their lives in the daytime as the bats do at night. Little Bat is intrigued and wants to stay up and experience day and perhaps meet new friends. Little Bat finds daytime very confusing and scary and just in the nick of time, meets a friendly squirrel who saves him. Rusty the squirrel shows Little Bat around and introduces her new friend to many new things, all the while Little Bat struggles to stay awake. Finally, Little Bat can no longer stay awake and the two sadly say goodbye. How can the two friends stay in touch when they live their lives at different times? The story has an satisfying ending when the two become pen pals leaving notes for each other on leaves. The friends are brought to life with the amazing illustrations done with acrylic and watercolor paints and colored pencils. The illustrations of the two friends swinging on the swing together and another of the squirrel ski jumping off a chair are especially charming. The text is spot on — easy to read with perfect pacing set off again the white pages and illustrations that jump off the page. An excellent addition to all libraries. A recommended read for children ages 4 to 6.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, ME

four-stars

Bee

BeeBee by Charlotte Voake
Published by Candlewick Press on July 5, 2022
ISBN: 1536220450
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A little boy enjoys spending warm spring days watching honeybees fly in and out of their hive. He wonders what they do in the hive and also what they do when they are not in the hive. The adventure begins when he hears tiny voices talking. Two honeybees have appeared with a tiny bee suit that includes wings on the jacket. With a stroke of magic, the little boy is suddenly wearing the outfit and is the size of a teeny-weeny honeybee. He can now accompany the bees into the hive! Inside, the hive is dark, hot, and smells of honey. Busy bees are everywhere — cleaning, building, feeding bee babies, and brushing the Queen bee. One bee is even doing a waggle dance showing the other bees where to find the flowers. Next, the boy and his bee friends leave the hive and go off to find the flowers and sweet nectar. The story ends with the little boy planting lots of seeds and flowers to help his bee friends. The artwork consists of cut paper collages with black ink embellishes. The color palette is warm with deep, rich shades of yellow, blue, and orange. The story is imaginative and whimsical yet also includes some basic information about honeybees. A pleasing read that would work best coupled with a non-fiction bee book. A solid addition to any library.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, ME

three-stars

There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me

There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling MeThere Is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me by Alice Walker, Queenbe Monyei
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on June 14, 2022
ISBN: 0063089912
Pages: 32
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This perspective-bending picture book for young children is written with a poetic and repetitive cadence that will work well for read-alouds. Bold, colorful illustrations are in keeping with text. Combination of text and pictures provide a sense of being connected to the world, which is reassuring and even empowering for young people. Recommend for ages 4-8.

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

four-stars

Mommy’s Hometown

Mommy’s HometownMommy's Hometown by Hope Lim, Jaime Kim
Published by Candlewick Press on April 12, 2022
ISBN: 1536213322
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“Mommy’s Hometown” is a picture book written by Hope Lim and illustrated by Jaime Kim about a child and their mother going to their mother’s hometown in Korea from America. Loosely based on Lim’s experience of bringing her family from America to visit her hometown in Korea, the book starts out with the child remembering the stories that their mother has told them about her hometown. Excited to visit, the child is confused when they get to mommy’s hometown and find that it has been built up into a large city now. Things don’t seem to look like they pictured. Is anything the same?

Illustrations are colorful and clean, but with plenty of detail. Even though the city looks different now, the colors and style of the pictures still make it seem warm and inviting. The idea that we can make our own new memories while some things may change  and some things may stay the same is beautifully expressed. Written for children age 3-8, this book is a suggested purchase for your library’s picture book collection.

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

four-stars

Don’t Eat Bees

Don’t Eat BeesDon't Eat Bees: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog by Dev Petty, Mike Boldt
Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers on May 31, 2022
ISBN: 0593433122
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Chip is a wise dog. He knows a lot of things, and most of them involve what to eat and what not to eat. Do eat homework, don’t eat bees. Do eat Thanksgiving turkey, don’t eat bees. Do eat socks…again, don’t eat bees.

This is a funny and fun read that will have kids giggling throughout. Chip is silly and quirky and definitely goofy. The illustrations add even more humor to the story by giving motion and emotion to Chip’s antics and suggestions. They also show a softer side to Chip and how much he cares about his humans (especially the small humans). This is a fun story that would be good as a read aloud for kids 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Also

AlsoAlso by E.B. Goodale
Published by Clarion Books on February 8, 2022
ISBN: 0358153948
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A young girl is visiting her grandmother, and she’s noticing things about her surroundings. Each observation is paired with a memory — sometimes her memories, sometimes other people’s (or cat’s!) memories. It’s a good book for noticing and remembering little things and for making connections between the past and the present. The mixed media illustrations are colorful and help keep memories separate from real-time. This is a good book for one-on-one sharing with readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Long Ride Home

Long Ride HomeThe Long Ride Home by Stephanie Graegin
Published by Random House Studio on June 28, 2022
ISBN: 0593426029
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This is a story about missing a friend. As an adult reader, it’s hard to know if the friend has died or moved until the last page. The main koala character misses her friend. She sees things all around that remind her of things they used to do together, places they used to go, and the fun they used to have. She wonders about what her friend is doing now and if she’s thinking about her as well. The digitally rendered illustrations strongly resemble colored pencil drawings and show the longing that koala is feeling for her friend. They complete the story by showing the things the two friends used to enjoy together. This is definitely a book for one-on-one sharing with kids who are missing someone they love. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

I Was Born a Baby

I Was Born a BabyI Was Born a Baby by Meg Fleming, Brandon James Scott
Published by HarperCollins on April 19, 2022
ISBN: 0063157217
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A rhythmic, playful, and informative picture book that is an excellent selection for story time as well as a fun book for children to read on their own. A human infant leads the way declaring that they were born a baby. We move on to animals that declare what they were born as (a colt, piglet, fawn, kit, and lamb). All is going well, until a baby chick comes into the picture. “No way, no how! That can’t be true!”, declares a fellow chick — who looks nothing like the first chick. Several other “chicks” follow. How can this be? The story continues on in the vein with the refrain, “No way, no how! That can’t be true!” which young readers will love to repeat!

The bold and colorful digitally-created illustrations complement the energetic text throughout the story. Children can predict what the animals are and then look to see if they are correct by looking at the end pages which groups the animals that have the same names. A rewarding ending as well with the baby growing into a kid along with a baby goat that is also a kid! Toddlers to kindergarten age children will laugh and learn. A strong addition to both public and school libraries.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library

four-stars