Format: Picture Book Fiction

Training Day

Training DayTraining Day by Elaine Bay, Raúl the Third
Published by Versify on May 4, 2021
ISBN: 0358380383
Pages: 56
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This is the beginning of a new early reader series by Raúl the Third. The series, El Toro and Friends features the luchadores from his previous picture books. The illustrations are full of color and action, and in Raúl the Third’s style, they’re very busy. Some may find this off-putting, some will enjoy the classic comics aspect of the art. The text is minimal, repetitive in vocabulary and features a mix of Spanish and English.

Recommended for confident new readers ages 6 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Oh Look, A Cake!

Oh Look, A Cake!Oh Look, a Cake! by J.C. McKee
Published by Clarion Books on May 11, 2021
ISBN: 0358380308
Pages: 40
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A sloth and a lemur find a cake. They decide they should have a party but are unsure who to invite as everyone presents a challenge with the cake. Elephant will eat the entire cake. Tiger will eat the entire cake and then eat them. Ants require too many tiny pieces. They finally decide to eat the entire cake themselves. Tiger comes along and accuses them of eating the cake that belonged to them. The story then implies that Tiger eats the sloth and lemur, and the story ends there. This ending could prove traumatic for sensitive kids, but the rest of the book is silly and fun. If not for the ending, this book would be a GREAT one for story time. There is minimal text on each page and the colorful illustrations will keep young readers engaged. Recommended for readers 3 and up (with the warning about the ending).

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Fish and Sun

Fish and SunFish and Sun by Sergio Ruzzier
Published by HarperAlley on June 22, 2021
ISBN: 0063076640
Pages: 48
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Little Fish is bored, and he’s tired of the cold and dark of under water. When he heads to the surface, Little Fish finds a new friend in the sun. The only problem? The sun goes away at the end of the day. When Sun reappears the next day, Little Fish is thrilled and the two new friends continue to play for several days.

This early reader is part of a new I Can Read Comics series. There is information at the beginning of the book about how to follow the comics — directionality of panels, word bubbles, etc. This is a level 1 book and the language is appropriate for that level. The illustrations are colorful, cartoonish and help carry the story. Fish and Sun play lots of games like hide-and-seek so the illustrations really make the story at some points. This is a great book for emerging readers and good for building confidence.

Recommended for readers 5 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Chicken Little and the Big Bad Wolf

Chicken Little and the Big Bad WolfChicken Little and the Big Bad Wolf by Sam Wedelich
Published by Scholastic Press on March 2, 2021
ISBN: 9781338359008
Pages: 40
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A companion book to Chicken Little: The Real and Totally True Tale. Chicken Little isn’t afraid of anything. Or is she? When she encounters the so-called Big Bad Wolf, she is terrified, but her fear is nothing compared to that of the rest of the flock who debate whether to fight or flight. The smart and scientific Chicken Little gets to know the wolf and realizes that he is nothing like the preconceptions of him and invites him to a “pot-cluck” so the other chickens can get to know him, as well. The message of inclusion and acceptance is delivered with humor and grace. Told almost entirely with the use of speech bubbles. Not quite up to the standards of the first book but an enjoyable story with a worthy message.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

How to Apologize

How to ApologizeHow to Apologize by David LaRochelle, Mike Wohnoutka
Published by Candlewick Press on May 11, 2021
ISBN: 1536209449
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Apologizing is important. Doing it well is equally important. This book runs through a variety of reasons why we apologize but also how to apologize. It has a lot of good information in it, but it is also really funny and fun. A snail apologizes to a sloth for stepping on his toes because he was running too fast. The gouache illustrations are colorful, detailed, and funny. They really add the humor to the instructional and informative text.

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

five-stars

The Little Library

The Little LibraryThe Little Library by G. Brian Karas, Margaret McNamara
Published by Schwartz & Wade Books on March 23, 2021
ISBN: 0525578331
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Jake is nervous about going to the new library and about meeting the new school librarian. All his classmates are super excited, but Jake would rather stay back and sharpen pencils. Jake was a slow and careful reader, and he often felt overwhelmed by all the books and the flurry of going to the library. The new school librarian, Beck, notices Jake in the corner, and they bring Jake a book about woodworking. Jake takes the book and reads it over the remaining part of the school year. Beck often checks in with Jake and renews the book for him. When the school year is ending, Jake is dismayed at the idea of having to return the book and also at not being able to visit the library. So Jake builds a little library for outside the school building using the skills he learned in the book Beck gave him. After school closes, Beck sends Jake the woodworking book — they’ve removed it from the library collection because of low circulation before Jake picked it up.

This book has so many things going for it. The librarian is nonbinary, there is a diverse representation of kids presented in the classroom, and Jake builds the little library with his grandfather and not a parent. The illustrations are colorful and bring the story to life, but it’s the actual story that really makes this book.

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

five-stars

The Collectors

The CollectorsThe Collectors by Alice Feagan
Published by Kids Can Press on May 4, 2021
ISBN: 1525302043
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Best friends Winslow and Rosie have a tree house on the edge of the forest. There, they keep all the treasures they’ve collected, and they only have room for one more thing. It needs to be spectacular and something extra special. They set off on an elaborate and long expedition in search of that one special thing. They’re chased home by a bear, and they’re sad to have not found anything to complete their collection. In the end, the thing they were looking for was right outside their window.

This is a fun story about friendship, adventure, and recognizing the good that’s around you every day. The cover suggests the story may be a bit scary, but it isn’t at all. The two friends find all sorts of fun things on their adventure. The paper cut collage illustrations are beautiful and really carry the story. Without the illustrations, the text would not convey the discoveries they make on their expedition. Hand this to kids who love adventure and collecting treasures.

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

four-stars

Imogene’s Antler’s (Celebrating 35 Years)

Imogene’s Antler’s (Celebrating 35 Years)Imogene's Antlers by David Small
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on September 15, 2020
ISBN: 9780375810480
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A reissue of the 1985 book of the same name, and it holds up well. A little girl wakes one morning to discover she has grown antlers and her family is quite distressed. I love her quirkiness and how the servants show her how to embrace her difference. The surprise ending is a delight. A timeless and hilarious tale, with a subtle lesson in acceptance. Wonderful readaloud for Story Time. (Only 4 stars because it is a reissue.)

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Tyrone O’Saurus

Tyrone O’SaurusTyrone O'Saurus Dreams by James Howe, Randy Cecil
Published by Candlewick Press on March 30, 2021
ISBN: 9781536210873
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A follow-up to the beloved Brontorina (2010). Everyone has a dream for this tyrannosaurus, but Tyrone has his own dream – to be a dancer. The funny illustrations complement Howe’s understated text. (I especially enjoyed the cover depicting Tyrone lifting barbells with his short arms.) It’s been quite awhile since this team created Brontorina but the similar story will inspire a new generation to follow their dream. This book will be enjoyed at Story Time when featuring a dinosaur theme. Giggle-worthy!

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Sweet Pea Summer

Sweet Pea SummerSweet Pea Summer by Hazel Mitchell
Published by Candlewick Press on April 13, 2021
ISBN: 9781536210347
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A young girl must stay with her grandparents while her mother is in the hospital. Her Grandpa suggests that she help out in his garden by taking care of the sweet peas to help ease her worry about her mother. When the flowers start to lose buds, she figures out the problem and the sweet peas recover. The analogy between the sweet peas and her mother are not lost on the reader. The graphite and watercolor illustrations are mostly sweet, colorful garden landscapes. Give this book to children who enjoy gardening or who might need to find hope in hard times.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars