Format: Picture Book Fiction

Tiny Barbarian

Tiny BarbarianTiny Barbarian by Ame Dyckman, Ashley Spires
Published by HarperCollins on July 13, 2021
ISBN: 0062881647
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Tiny is tiny, but he’s mighty because he’s a BARBARIAN! He’s committed to conquering everything, even the dark! Throughout the day, Tiny is conquering left and right—a dragon, a troll, and a giant broccoli! When bed time comes, however, he’s not happy and NOT tired. When it gets dark, he’s scared. He decides to conquer the dark only to find the scary thing is just his kitty. They snuggle up and decide he can just be tiny for now. More conquering can happen tomorrow.

This story explores imagination in all its forms—adventure, play, and fear. The illustrations are colorful and done by Ashley Spires so they include humor, emotion, movement, and really bring Tiny’s imagination into reality. Hand this to adventurers and lovers of slightly humorous stories.

Recommended for readers 4 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter

Dakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure HunterDakota Crumb: Tiny Treasure Hunter by Jamie Michalak, Kelly Murphy
Published by Candlewick Press on July 6, 2021
ISBN: 1536203947
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

When the museum closes, there is a tiny creature running all over looking for and collecting tiny treasures. It’s Dakota Crumb, a mouse who loves to explore and collect. Dakota is looking for one special treasure on her map, but she gets distracted along the way by all the treasures the humans have left behind. At the end of the story, it’s clear what Dakota is doing — she has a museum of her own! Her tiny museum is visited by other tiny creatures: bugs, rodents, birds, and they all love what she’s collected and created.

This is a fun and unique story. There isn’t a clear moral message, maybe noticing the beauty in the small things, but even that feels like a stretch. It’s just a story of adventure and a different spin on what happens when the museum closes. The pen, ink, and digitally rendered illustrations are detailed, engaging, and really bring the story and the adventures to life. The last pages include a bunch of items that Dakota didn’t find during the story but that the reader is encouraged to try to find.

Recommended for readers 4 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Super Milly and the Super School Day

Super Milly and the Super School DaySuper Milly and the Super School Day by Gwen Millward, Stephanie Clarkson
Published by Nosy Crow on June 15, 2021
ISBN: 1536217263
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Milly is heading to school, and she’s ready to go as Super Milly! She’s worried though. She’s worried she won’t be able to be a real superhero without some real super powers — she can’t fly, she doesn’t have x-ray vision. When the day seems to go poorly for some of her friends, she realizes her real super power is kindness. She helps all her classmates realize their best potential, and she’s proud of her work.

This is a fun school story that encourages kids to find their skills and celebrate them. Milly is kind to all sorts of kids in all sorts of situations, and that is the best super power of all. The digitally rendered illustrations are colorful and carry the story. Without them, Milly’s kind actions wouldn’t be clear — the text isn’t enough.

Recommended for readers 4 and up, for kids heading to school, and for kids who worry. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Bloop

BloopBloop by Mike Boldt, Tara Lazar
Published by HarperCollins on July 6, 2021
ISBN: 0062871609
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Bloop wants to be emperor of Planet XYZ, but he’s made too many bloopers in his life for that. First, he’s sent to conquer Earth. It’s clear that dogs are in charge there, and so his takeover shouldn’t take too long. What happens when he gets there, however, isn’t what he expected. He begins to love his humans, and he actually wants to stay with them on Earth! This is a fun and funny twist on how things are on Earth between humans and dogs. The illustrations are fun, colorful and help add extra humor to the story.

Recommended for readers 4 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Paletero Man

Paletero ManPaletero Man by Lucky Diaz, Micah Player
Published by HarperCollins on June 1, 2021
ISBN: 0063014440
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

It’s the hottest day of the year, and a young child is really looking forward to seeing Paletero Jose. Paletas are popsicles and other icy treats, and all the neighborhood kids can’t wait to get one. Along the way, the young child meets and interacts with several community members, and when he finally gets to the paletas, he’s found he has no money. These same community members have collected all the money he dropped and bring it to him. Their kindness prompts Paletero Jose to give everyone free paletas.

This is a fun story of community and kindness (and sweet icy treats!). The illustrations are high color, cartoon-like, and really bring the story to life. All the bright colors exude summertime and fit the tone of the book perfectly. The entire book is based on a song with the same title, and young readers will love singing along. Throughout, there are Spanish words intertwined with English words making for a fun and diverse read aloud.

Recommended for readers 3 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Are you a cheeseburger?

Are you a cheeseburger?Are You a Cheeseburger? by Monica Arnaldo
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on June 1, 2021
ISBN: 0063003945
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Grub is a raccoon who lives alone in an alley. He spends his days dumpster diving and doing raccoony things. Then there is seed. Seed is a seed and he is stuck in the trash. When Grub and Seed meet, Seed tells Grub he’s waiting to be planted. Grub wants to know if Seed will grow food—specifically, will he grow cheeseburgers. Seed isn’t sure but the two decide to wait and see. After much time, Seed turns out to be a flower and not food at all. Grub decides that flowers, like cheeseburgers, are something very special—maybe even more special than flowers. This is a unique and creative story of friendship in unexpected places. Grub spends a lot of time caring for Seed before he knows Seed’s fate, and in that time, they learn to love each other. The illustrations are high color, engaging, and add humor and emotion to the story.

Recommended for readers 4 and up and for Cream of the Crop. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

The Nice Dream Truck

The Nice Dream TruckThe Nice Dream Truck by Beth Ferry, Brigette Barrager
Published by HarperCollins on March 23, 2021
ISBN: 0062907832
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Equating dreams to ice cream throughout this bedtime picture book, Ferry suggests children try all types of dreams, “the choices are endless”. When you go to sleep, you may be visited by the nice dream truck that is driven by a dark- skinned girl in a paper ice cream hat.  You may dream about snow, or puppies, or jelly bean scaled dragons.  Dreams can be silly like Narwhals drawing on ice or indulgent like having your birthday come twice.  Barrager’s colorful and whimsical illustrations show ice cream treats on every page with a cast of energetic children with a variety of skin tones. There are a few odd lines in the story such as “Sample some princess” which may cause some to hesitate in reading or purchasing.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

two-stars

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