Format: Picture Book Fiction

Family: A Peek-Through Picture Book

Family: A Peek-Through Picture BookGenres: Animals, Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
three-stars

This “peek-through” picture book is one in a series by Britta Teckentrup; the cover of the book has an image of a sun setting on a herd of elephants on the savanna. The setting sun is  a series of cut-outs that continue throughout most of the book, following animal families from dusk to dawn.

Each family grouping is depicted in a different landscape or waterscape and rhyming couplets describe how the adult animals care for the smaller ones. The rhymes are soothing and gentle, if unremarkable (” .. . . near the ocean bed, (p)eaceful creatures are nurtured and fed”).

The oil pastel and collage mixed media illustrations of the animals in their habitats are the strength of this story. The animals blend into their surroundings, as they would in real life. The textures and palettes change from page to page as the sun sets, the moon rises, and we end the story where it began, with the elephants on the savanna, now with the sun rising behind them.

It would be a good bedtime story with its calming illustrations and text. Recommended as an additional purchase.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

 

three-stars

Molly, Olive, and Dexter: Who’s Afraid of the Dark?

Molly, Olive, and Dexter: Who’s Afraid of the Dark?Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
five-stars

This is the fourth title in Catherine Rayner’s picture book  series around Molly (a rabbit), Olive (an owl), and Dexter (a fox). Young children (and adult readers) will appreciate the change in atmosphere that Rayner creates with words and expressive mixed media (watercolor and marker) illustrations as the friends navigate their way from the warm light of the setting sun through the feelings of worry and anxiety that the dark can bring.

There is a quiet, gentle tone to the text and pictures as the sun sets, and the everyday noises and sights of the daylit world. The tone and images shift into something less familiar and more sinister as the shadows lengthen and it gets darker and darker.

The three friends take turns getting worried, and then relieved at the realization that the mysterious sounds, shadows, and sensations are simply the ordinary things they see during the day. This would be a sweet story to read at bedtime, if it ended there. It becomes a better story as the friends are caught in a rainstorm. At first, the three are scared as they try to run from the feeling of something falling on  on their heads, and then the relief and delight that it’s actually just rain – nothing to be fear and an experience to enjoy.

They start seeing the night differently then, and Rayner transforms the shadowy, frightening landscape into something magical. The luminous illustrations and language bring the story depth, humor and real emotion, taking it beyond “don’t be afraid of the ordinary things in the dark” to “the quiet dark can feel magical”.  Highly recommended for picture book collections.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

five-stars

Hello, Tobi!

Hello, Tobi!Hello, Tobi! by Andrea Cáceres
ISBN: 1536222801
Genres: Animals, Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

There is no doubt from the brightly colored cover with a small and scruffy brown and black dog greeting the reader front and center, who Tobi is (his name tag is on his collar), and  how he makes friends (enthusiastically). Tobi and his human family ( a dad, mom and little girl; dad is light skinned and slightly scruffy, mom and little girl have light brown skin) are all are smiling and seem to invite the reader along for their daily walk in the park.

Along the way, they meet dogs and their families enjoying time together. With simple illustrations  and prose, Cáceres demonstrates that just as there are all kinds of dogs, there are all kinds of families that are loving, and worthy of love.  Digitally created, mixed media  (marker, crayon, collage) illustrations with scribblings that evoke the energy and joy that these families are experiencing together.  Families of different colors, different configurations (including “friend families”, which this reviewer found delightful), differing shapes, differently abled  — are all seen enjoying various activities together.

Tobi is friendly and welcoming to all these families, and the families return his affection. It’s an uncomplicated story that is open in its message of inclusion and toward our fellow humans (and their dogs). Highly recommended to read aloud  with Todd Parr’s The Family Book, at the beginning of the school year, when young children are learning that loving families are not all alike, and that is a beautiful thing.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

five-stars

Books on Bikes

Books on BikesBooks on Bikes by Brizida Magro, F. Isabel Campoy, Theresa Howell
Published by HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks on September 2, 2025
ISBN: 0063285126
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Books on Bikes
By F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell; illustrated by Brizida Magro

Lia loves to read. She reads everywhere so goes and whenever she possibly can. Summer comes along and school is closed and the library is so far away limiting her access to books. One day in the park she happens upon a man on a bike pedaling around with free books and she is overjoyed. The only problem is he has many areas to cover to gift books. She gets the idea of people helping him and starts it off herself.

This book is a love story about reading and the culture of reading. Bibliographic material is included in the back of this book.

Ages 4-8
Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

five-stars

Hogbert

HogbertHogbert by Briony May Smith
Published by Candlewick on November 1, 2025
ISBN: 1536245038
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Hogbert is the smallest hoglet in her family but is just as excited as her brothers and sisters to go into the forest with Mommy Boar looking for “truffles and treats” for the very first time! As they head out Mommy Boar tells her brood to stay close with warnings about the Big Bad Wolf.

Before Hogbert even has time to think his snout catches wonderful and distracting scents and his family has moved on without him! Just then he meets up with a little red squirrel who is on her way to visit her granny. They trundle on together nervously hearing crunches in the woods and scurrying to safety only to find a fawn in the underbrush. This threesome continues their fairytale-like search through the beautifully illustrated woods until they are together with their families once again.

This story is as sweet and charming as they come.

4-8 years old

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

The Search For Our Cosmic Neighbors

The Search for Our Cosmic Neighbors (Hidden Wonders) by Chloe Savage
Series: Hidden Wonders
Published by Candlewick Press on September 30, 2025
ISBN: 1536247499
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Everyone wonders at one point or another if there is life “out there”, on other planets, in other galaxies. We stare at the sky and wonder.

Author and illustrator, Chloe Savage, takes us along on a trip into space with Captain Julie and her spaceship crew. Over the course of ten years they visit countless other planets without finding any other life. When they land on their last planet with plans to head back to Earth afterwards they seek and look and search under and over and lo and behold they meet a group of aliens. With their eyes opened to the wonders by this planet’s inhabitants will Captain Julie and her crew ever want to come home?

The watercolor illustrations are beautiful and add an ethereal quality to the book.

3-8 years old

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

three-stars

Family Feast!

Family Feast!Family Feast! by Carole Boston Weatherford, Frank Morrison
ISBN: 059389829X
Genres: Cultural / African American, Family, Holiday, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Time for a Family Feast! This joyous picture book depicts the gathering of family in anticipation of a big dinner together. Big Ma and Pops are hosting in a city apartment setting. There are big hugs when family arrives, and pots clanging in the kitchen. There’s a culmination of different soul food dishes from relatives. A beautiful mantra repeats on each page, “Tastes like home when family meet; a bond so warm, so strong, so sweet.” The illustrations are full of motion and smiles and the rhymes in the text are spot on. This book is an excellent choice to read around Thanksgiving, as a turkey is pictured being carved, however, it doesn’t specifically reference a holiday and could be read during any time of year. The text and illustrations really work in harmony to express the joy and experience of being together with extended family.

Cream of the Crop Nominee

Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

M Is for Mango

M Is for MangoM Is for Mango by Angela Brooksbank, Atinuke
ISBN: 1536241288
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

M is For Mango is a letter sound concept book starring a toddler named Mo in (most likely) Nigeria. The book focuses on M words in a narrative storyline. The reader spends a morning with Mo as he gets ready for the day, interacts with his doting parents, and competes with monkeys to collect the most fruit from the mango tree.

This is Atinuke’s third book using this concept of focusing on a single letter; hopefully, she continues. The multi-media art is well organized, textured, and softly lined. The book represents Nigerian culture (moi-moi and monkeys), but the story is universally relatable (impish toddler, caring parents). This would be a great choice for story time with infants and toddlers.

Reviewed by Becky Cooper, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

four-stars

The Greatest Gift

The Greatest GiftThe Greatest Gift (Emma Dodd's Love You Books) by Emma Dodd
ISBN: 1536241172
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

The pictures are darling, with grassland of metallic gold and an adorable zebra family cuddling throughout an adventurous day. However, everything about its text—its poor contrast (purple on indigo?), forced rhyme scheme, and vague notions (“…but the gift I can give you is greater than the rest, I give you the gift of love, the greatest and the best.”)—makes reading the book frustrating and forgettable. It’s perhaps best for a baby’s sleepy book, but there are better and more versatile choices for that purpose.

Reviewed by Becky Cooper, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

Boar and Hedgehog

Boar and HedgehogBoar and Hedgehog by David Elliott, Eugene Yelchin
ISBN: 1536228710
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Model neighbor Hedgehog continuously helps Boar, a stereotypical crank, until Boar at last sees the error of his ways.

For a story with a pretty basic moral (be a helpful neighbor), there is extensive text with vocabulary both advanced (dyspepsia) and slang (whatevs). There is also a lack of trust in the reader, as every concept is spelled out (Cold and dark, the cave was a reflection of his own miserable heart.). The artwork by Eugene Yelchin is not terrible, but some pages look as if it was quickly uploaded digitally in low resolution. Target audience is unclear; its storyline is too simple for advanced readers, and its length is too long for beginners.

Reviewed by Becky Cooper, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta