Dear Earth…From Your Friends in Room 5

Dear Earth…From Your Friends in Room 5Dear Earth…From Your Friends in Room 5 by Erin Dealey, Luisa Uribe
Published by HarperCollins on December 1, 2020
ISBN: 0062915320
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The kids in Room 5 write a letter to the Earth asking what they can do to help. They’re surprised when they get an answer! This begins a dialog between the kids in Room 5 (later referred to as “Earth Heroes”) and our planet. The kids talk about small changes they’re making—turning off the lights, using reusable water bottles, recycling/reusing paper, etc. As the year goes on, the seasons change, but the kids’ enthusiasm for helping the planet does not.

The text is presented entirely as letters between the class and the Earth. It is a fun way to tell the story and to share important information about helping the planet that will keep readers engaged. There are bits of humor and wit woven in as well to lighten the mood. The digitally rendered illustrations are colorful and detailed enough to bring the story to life. They include a classroom of kids diverse in race and physical ability, and all kids are shown helping the efforts together. This is a fun book about how little changes can make a big difference in the health of our planet. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

The Boy and the Gorilla

The Boy and the GorillaThe Boy and the Gorilla by Cindy Derby, Jackie Azúa Kramer
Published by Candlewick Press on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 0763698326
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A young boy is mourning the death of his mother. He begins a relationship with an imaginary gorilla who helps him process his emotions and who answers many questions young kids have about death in general. The gorilla helps the boy to know it’s ok to be sad, and that the things the boy once enjoyed with his mother will eventually feel less sad and instead a way to remember the good times he had with his mom.

The text is simple and clear. The gorilla’s text is italicized so it’s clear who is talking. the mixed media illustrations are simply gorgeous and carry the heavy emotion of the book with ease. The gorilla exudes kindness and empathy while simultaneously being strong. This is a wonderful book on a very difficult topic. Recommended for wide purchase, for Cream of the Crop, and for readers of all ages dealing with grief.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

Eyes That Kiss in the Corners

Eyes That Kiss in the CornersEyes That Kiss in the Corners by Dung Ho, Joanna Ho
Published by HarperCollins on January 5, 2021
ISBN: 0062915622
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A young girl notices her eyes are different than some of her friends’ eyes, and she knows her eyes are like those of her family members. The book walks the reader through the many ways the girl’s eyes are like her mother’s, her sibling’s, her grandmother’s. The text is far more poetic than can be depicted here—there are references to Asian culture throughout and this will lead to many great discussions and learning opportunities. This is an important windows/mirrors book. Some readers will see people who look differently than they do in this book, and some readers will see themselves. The digitally rendered artwork is gorgeous and colorful. It brings the emotions of a strong familial bond to life while weaving in the poetic details of the text effortlessly. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

I am not a penguin

I am not a penguinI Am Not a Penguin: A Pangolin's Lament by Liz Wong
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on January 19, 2021
ISBN: 0593127404
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A pangolin sets up a sign inviting other animals to come and learn about pangolins. Immediately, there is confusion among the other animals. ” Did somebody say “penguins”? Oooo! I love penguins!” The confusion continues as the pangolin attempts to explain that it is not, in fact, a penguin—or an anteater, or an armadillo.

This is a funny and informative book. Kids will love the silliness and wit throughout the dialog. The illustrations are cartoonish, and the animals are all anthropomorphized in that they stand on two feet. The text is presented in speech bubbles so it can be a bit tricky for super young readers to follow, but this is a great opportunity to help kids begin to develop the skillset of following the dialog. This would be a super fun read aloud, especially for someone who does voices well. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

The Blue Table

The Blue TableThe Blue Table by Chris Raschka
Published by Greenwillow Books on October 20, 2020
ISBN: 0062937766
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This simple book follows the life of a blue table. First, just one child is at the table, then one parent, then two parents, then another family. The people are never fully pictured. They are implied by the items on the table—a cup of milk and some paper and crayons, then a cup of coffee and a newspaper, then another cup of coffee and a book. The book also includes the table being covered in vegetables from the garden, an apple pie being constructed, and more tasks that go along with expecting company. When an extra leaf is put into the table, the feast is ready to begin. Again, none of the people are fully depicted, though we do see their arms and hands, and those illustrations have a variety of skin tones depicted. The text is very sparse with only one phrase per page. The illustrations are watercolor and paper cut collage, and completely carry the story. Since the text is so sparse, the illustrations are essential. Obviously, the blue table is at the center of each page, and there are many small but important details depicted on each spread. This would make a great read aloud and could be used as a story time book provided everyone can see the illustrations well (so maybe not the best for virtual reading). Recommended for readers 2 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Non Stop

Non StopNonstop by Tomi Ungerer
Published by Phaidon Press on September 16, 2020
ISBN: 183866159X
Pages: 48
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

It isn’t often that I see a picture book that reads like a dystopian nightmare but here we are. Ungerer is wonderful in that you never really know what you’re going to get when you open one of his books and in Non Stop you have no idea what you’re going to get page to page. A man named Vasco is apparently a straggler after what might have been a cataclysmic event that forced people to move to the moon. He is repeatedly rescued by his own shadow from tragedy. After he adopts a young creature named Poco, they both evade disaster and end up living in a cake. I absolutely love this book. It’s somewhat alarming with its references to climate change, isolation and pollution but it will present multiple opportunities to discuss these things that might be weighing on young children. The end is reassuring and even if no discussion arises, it’s a provocative story with striking illustrations.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Lift

LiftLift by Dan Santat, Minh Lê
on May 5, 2020
ISBN: 1368036929
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

The illustrations by Dan Santat in this picture book are so spectacular it would be easy to overlook how perceptive and nice the story by Minh Le is. Iris is a young child who lives to press the elevator button in her family’s apartment building; it’s her job and she takes it very seriously. One day her world comes crashing down when her parents let her toddler sibling press the button before Iris can. (They seem nice enough but, wow, was it ever an act of horrible betrayal.) When it happens a second time Iris loses it and presses so many buttons the elevator breaks which has a silver lining because she retrieves the button from the trash and tapes it to her wall and then she gets to go to a space station. This book is excellent in how it describes Iris’s pain and reaction and ultimate redemption.  And it is one of those rare reads in which both kids and parents most likely will identify with the character’s mistakes and then reflect with compassion on both the people in the book and themselves.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Slow Samson

Slow SamsonSlow Samson by Bethany Christou
Published by Templar Books on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 1536215473
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Samson is a sloth, and he has a lot of jungle friends. Samson gets invited to a lot of parties, but he never seems to make it to them before they’ve ended. Along the way, he stops to settle arguments, just to chat with friends, or to lend a helping hand. His friends decide they need to do something to help Samson make it to a party on time. They send him an invite and get to work. When Samson does finally make it to a party, he’s overjoyed and surprised by what he finds.

This is a wonderful story about slowing down, making time for people, and frienship. For a time, Samson decides to rush to the party instead of helping his friends along the way. He still doesn’t make it, and now he realizes he was rude to his friends for no reason. The text is simple, straightforward, and easy to follow. The illustrations are colorful and help to bring the emotion of the story to life. This is sure to be a hit with sloth and nature lovers alike. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Elevator Bird

Elevator BirdElevator Bird by Sarah Williamson
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on November 24, 2020
ISBN: 052564881X
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Elevator Bird is in charge of the elevator. He takes people to all the floors of the hotel, he makes recommendations about the city, and he always has something kind to say. He loves his job, but he wants something more. His cramped quarters in the basement just aren’t enough for him, and his mouse friend helps to change that. All the animals of the city band together to create something wonderful and beautiful for Elevator Bird.

This is a story of friendship. The animals in the city love Elevator Bird, and they had no idea he was unhappy. As soon as they discover this fact, there’s no question they’re going to do something kind for him. The illustrations are colorful and whimsical. Some of the pages have a lot of sidebar style text, and that can be a bit overwhelming for some young readers. The typeface isn’t anything special and somewhat diminishes the quality of the book. This is still a fun read that promotes kindness to all members of the community. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Let’s Play Monsters

Let’s Play MonstersLet's Play Monsters by Lucy Cousins
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 1536210609
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

A young white, blond-haired boy loves to play monsters. He asks several friends and family members to play with him, telling them all what kind of monsters they should be. The simple phrase, “Hee, hee, hee! But you can’t catch me!” is repeated throughout. None of the monsters catch him until his mom plays along, catches him, and puts him to bed.

This is a fun story that young readers will enjoy. The illustrations are classic Lucy Cousins: bright, high contrast, high emotion. They will definitely keep the attention of the youngest readers. There’s nothing particularly wrong with this book, it just isn’t overly compelling. Recommended for readers 2 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

two-stars