Format: Picture Book Fiction

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

Peppa Pig and the Great Race

Peppa Pig and the Great RacePeppa Pig and the Great Race by Candlewick Press
Published by Candlewick Entertainment on May 10, 2022
ISBN: 1536224138
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Daddy Pig has a surprise for Peppa, George, and Mummy Pig, but they have to get to the fairgrounds to find out what it is. They take a car, bikes, a train, and a plane to get to their destination in time: a hot air balloon ride. Very small children and fans of Peppa Pig will enjoy the ever-changing modes of transportation. A more rambunctious story time might involve making vehicle noises with each new type of travel. A parent would be bored reading it for the tenth time. Digital illustrations are bright, on point with the series, and relevant to the story. Part of a popular series, but otherwise unexceptional.

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

two-stars

So Much Snow

So Much SnowSo Much Snow by Kristen Schroeder, Sarah Jacoby
Published by Random House Studio on October 25, 2022
ISBN: 0593308204
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

“So Much Snow” is a picture book about a large snowstorm. Written by Kristen Schroeder and illustrated by Sarah Jacoby, this gorgeous book features various animals as the snow begins and grows and becomes a blizzard. Despite the pile of snow, the book is never scary. Eventually the snow melts and it becomes spring-y again… But wait? Is that another snowflake?

Beautiful illustrations  that utilize white space effectively and text that rhymes and repeats, this book is a suggested purchase for picture book collections where it snows. Written for ages 3 – 7, kids will enjoy the repetition and seeing the different animals in the snow.

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

five-stars

Sometimes, All I Need is Me

Sometimes, All I Need is MeSometimes, All I Need Is Me by Juliana Perdomo
Published by Candlewick Press on April 12, 2022
ISBN: 1536218049
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Sometimes, All I Need Is Me by Juliana Perdomo is a beautiful, calm book of affirmation and self-love. This book celebrates togetherness alongside independence for everything the main character loves to do with someone, they are also able to do on their own.

The book touches on being home, playing, listening to music, nighttime thoughts, falling down, and hugs. The book posits that doing these things with others is wonderful, and doing them alone is equally so.

The illustrations are simple and bold, making it a great read for a younger audience or for a large group setting. The main character is a person of color, and the words and illustrations hint that they may be Latinx. The beautiful colors and setting appear almost like stamps.

Sometimes, All I Need Is Me is a great introduction to self-reliance, flexibility, and confidence. It can be used with the youngest readers, or as a discussion starter prompt for older elementary to consider what they can do in their life with others and alone to make themselves feel whole.

Recommended for ages 0 – 7.

Reviewed by Katie Drago, Children’s Librarian, Rockland Public Library, Rockland, ME

five-stars

The Lady and the Unicorn

The Lady and the UnicornThe Lady and the Unicorn by Béatrice Fontanel, Vanessa Hié
Published by Princeton Architectural Press on March 15, 2022
ISBN: 1648961231
Pages: 48
Genres: Fairy Tale
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Gorgeous illustrations inspired by the Unicorn Tapestries held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and Cluny Museum in Paris. Unfortunately, the story was not as enchanting. When the huntsmen chase the unicorn, the creature finds his way into a secret garden in the forest and discovers a young lady who has powers more magical than his own. The writing is  simplistic and a bit far-fetched, even for a fairy tale. The afterword explaining the tapestries and highlighting the details in the hanging used in the book is very interesting. Readers in grades 1-3 will enjoy the pictures, but will not be wowed by the story.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

A Day For Sandcastles

A Day For SandcastlesA Day for Sandcastles by JonArno Lawson, Qin Leng
Published by Candlewick Press on May 10, 2022
ISBN: 1536208426
Pages: 48
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A wordless book about a family of five that journey to the ocean on a hot summer day. Illustrator Qin Leng’s ink and watercolor technique comes to life with every turn of the page. Readers can easily relate to the family’s journey, visiting the beach, playing in the water, and building sandcastles. This picture book is a great conversation starter between friends and family, as well as a resource for teachers who are educating youth about storytelling structure like beginning, middle, and ending. The target audience is all ages and libraries should consider adding this beautiful picture book to their collection.

Reviewed by Brandon Dyer, Auburn Public Library

four-stars

And I Think About You

And I Think About YouAnd I Think About You by Rosanne L. Kurstedt, Ya-Ling Huang
Published by Kids Can Press on September 20, 2022
ISBN: 1525304593
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A mother bear (per the book description, the character is a mother but the character is non-descript enough to be a parent in general) tells her child about her workday. She describes one activity after another and follows each description with “And I think about you.” Illustrations show her at her tasks with a corresponding activity she imagines doing with her child. Turn the page, and the child is shown participating in a parallel activity at school. Reassuring book for both working parents and their offspring. Ya-Ling Huang uses watercolor and colored pencils to create soft, descriptive illustrations that beg to be discussed. The repeated refrain — “And I think about you” — is comforting and relays that even when a child is out of sight, they are never out of their parents’ thoughts. Give to parents whose children are attending preschool or school for the first time to read together.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars