Format: Picture Book Fiction

The Bird Feeder

The Bird FeederThe Bird Feeder by Andrew Larsen, Dorothy Leung
Published by Kids Can Press on October 4, 2022
ISBN: 1525304836
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

When Grandma gets sick and comes to stay at her grandchild’s house, she brings her bird feeder. The child loves the time they now get to have together, watching the birds, drawing pictures, and talking. Grandma’s health declines, and she moves to hospice. Hanging Grandma’s bird feeder outside the window there makes things better. Eventually, grandma dies but the child hangs a bird feeder out the window to remember her by. This book has a sweet premise but there were a few plot points to consider before purchasing or sharing with a class or read aloud group: the grandmother is taken to hospice while the child is at school and the child comes home to find grandmother gone. Although the pictures convey what happened, that grandmother has died, it is never addressed in the text, “I’m glad Grandma saw the baby birds. I’m sad she won’t see them leave their nest.” This picture book could be useful to parents of children whose grandparent has died, but they should be prepared to further discuss the topic with age-appropriate vocabulary.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Lou

LouLou by Breanna Carzoo
Published by HarperCollins on July 12, 2022
ISBN: 0063054051
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Lou is a fire hydrant. Throughout their life, they believe they’re only meant to be a dog toilet, but they feel like they have more to offer the world. One day, a store catches fire, and Lou is finally able to realize their true and full potential.

This books is slightly funny and a little gross with all the dog pee everywhere. Lou is likable and readers will find themselves rooting for Lou when the fire starts. The digitally rendered illustrations are high color and simple but help complete the story and show emotion. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Chickadee Criminal Mastermind

Chickadee Criminal MastermindChickadee: Criminal Mastermind by Monica Silvie, Elina Ellis
Published by Kids Can Press on June 7, 2022
ISBN: 1525303384
Pages: 36
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This humorous picture book is about a criminal mastermind chickadee that is terrorizing the forest and the residences around the forest. There is a short educational piece at the end of the book that offers fun facts about black-capped chickadees. This book is great for kids ages 4 – 8 or grades K-4. The illustrations complement the plotline and go between full-spread and word-bubbled text. This book would be a great addition to in-class libraries and an excellent animal book for both public and school libraries.

Reviewed by Brandon Dyer, Auburn Public Library

three-stars

Anglerfish: the Seadevil of the deep

Anglerfish: the Seadevil of the deepAnglerfish: The Seadevil of the Deep by Elaine M. Alexander, Fiona Fogg
Published by Candlewick Press on April 5, 2022
ISBN: 1536213969
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This books follows the life of a female anglerfish from the moment she hatches to the moment she lays her own eggs. It’s a fascinating exploration of this cool animal from the deep. The text is sparse enough to keep kids interested but includes enough information to still be educational. The digitally rendered illustrations are beautiful and help show the fish’s life. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Little Houses

Little HousesLittle Houses by Kevin Henkes, Laura Dronzek
Published by Greenwillow Books on May 24, 2022
ISBN: 0062965727
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A young light-skinned girl and her grandmother are combing the beach. They find lots of shells and talk about how the shells are actually little houses. The girl wonders about the colors and designs on the shells and of who possibly lived there before. She then wonders about what lies out of sight under the ocean, around the world, and in the minds of animals.

This is a gentle story about the bigger world around us and how we fit in the world. The young girl contemplates some big questions but in a completely age-appropriate way. The acrylic illustrations are deeply colorful, detailed, and really enliven the story. This is a great story for one-on-one sharing perhaps followed by more discussion about the questions raised within. Young readers will certainly have interesting speculations about the way things are. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

The Blanket Where Violet Sits

The Blanket Where Violet SitsThe Blanket Where Violet Sits by Allan Wolf, Lauren Tobia
Published by Candlewick Press on August 30, 2022
ISBN: 076369665X
Pages: 32
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Told in cumulative rhyme, in the vein of “This is the House that Jack Built,” this picture book introduction to the universe begins on a blanket in the park where Violet and her caregivers (one who is brown-skinned) are enjoying a picnic of “a sandwich, an apple, and chips.” As the sky darkens, the headlamps and telescope are brought out. Violet gazes up at the solar system, imagining a rocket ride to another galaxy, but the cumulative rhyme always brings her back to her cozy red blanket. Tobia’s drawings create inviting scenes of a loving family outing and mind-expanding pictures of our universe. Fun read for a preschool-aged story time.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

I love you because I love you

I love you because I love youI Love You Because I Love You by Jessica Love, Mượn Thị Văn
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on January 18, 2022
ISBN: 0062894595
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This book is a celebration of love in all its forms. Each two page spread has two connected lines and illustrations. “I love you because you let me make mistakes. Because I love you, no mistake is ever too great.” The text is good in this book, but the illustrations really elevate it. The mixed media (mostly paints) illustrations are so detailed and colorful, and without them, the story would fall flat. The people and families depicted are very diverse, and the expressions conveyed on their faces are life-like and really bring emotion to the story. Recommended for one-on-one reading with readers 3 and up and for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

Ali and the Sea Stars

Ali and the Sea StarsAli and the Sea Stars by Ali Stroker, Gillian Reid
Published by HarperCollins on May 17, 2022
ISBN: 0063015714
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Why wait to make a dream come true? Ali, a theater-loving girl in Breezy Beach, dreams of starring in a Broadway musical. Together with her friends, they decide to put on a production of Peter Pan for the Breezy Beach community. The only challenge to Ali’s dream is the weather. In this story, creativity, resilience, and a “can-do” attitude – all theatrical hallmarks – make the production a success.

Stroker is a Tony-award winning actress and was the first actress in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway. Ali (main character) uses a wheelchair that is depicted visually as a fast-moving purveyor of Ali and all her theatrical energy, but is never mentioned in the text. The illustrations and text work seamlessly together. Characters are differently abled, have different skin colors. The bright colors in the illustration complement the theater and the “Breezy Beach” vibe.

Readers will enjoy this engaging, fun, well-paced, and deftly written story combining a love of theater with a love of community. It is a great read-aloud for early elementary students. Theater kids (you always know your theater kids) will cheer. The story focuses on all Ali can do, without a heavy-handed message about the wheelchair.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

five-stars

The Digger and the Duckling

The Digger and the DucklingThe Digger and the Duckling by Joseph Kuefler
Published by Balzer & Bray/Harperteen on February 22, 2022
ISBN: 0063062542
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Digger, Dozer, and crew are back for another heartfelt story. This time, they’re busy on the jobsite when a duckling wanders in to their realm. While they’re trying to get work done, the little duckling is following Digger all over. Soon, it becomes clear what they need to do—build the duckling a pond!

As with The Digger and the Flower, this is a book that taps into the more sensitive side of construction machines. The normally rough and tumble machines need to be gentle and sensitive to take care of their little feathered friend. The digitally rendered images bring the story to life by conveying the relationship between the duckling and the machines. They also help carry the story where the text isn’t enough. Recommended for readers who love construction books and for readers 3 and up. This would be a good story time book for kids who can handle a little bit of a longer book.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Leila the Perfect Witch

Leila the Perfect WitchLeila, the Perfect Witch by Flavia Z. Drago
Published by Candlewick Press on July 12, 2022
ISBN: 1536220507
Pages: 40
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Leila is a great witch but what she REALLY wants is to win the Magnificent Witchy Cake-off. It turns out, however, that baking isn’t exactly a piece of cake. Her sisters swoop in to help her, and she ends up a finalist on the show. In the end, Leila doesn’t win, but she learns that having fun is more important that winning.

This is a good book for kids who are struggling to accept losing. The story isn’t mind blowing, but there isn’t anything wrong with it either. This book will fill the role it’s intended to fill—it’ll help kids accept that they don’t win at everything. The mixed media illustrations add depth and humor to the story with movement, expression, and emotion. Recommended for one-on-one reading with readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars