Love is powerful

Love is powerfulLove Is Powerful by Heather Dean Brewer, LeUyen Pham
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 1536201995
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Mari is a young brown-skinned girl who lives in an apartment with her mom. Together, she and her mother are using a rainbow of colors to make a sign. Mari wonders who will hear their message, and her mother assures her that the whole world will hear. They join a large crowd of diverse people on the sidewalk and march together for peace, love, and kindness. This is a story of community action, a story of family, and a story of believing in good. Mari is determined to make her message heard. She shouts it to the sky, and the entire crowd joins her.

This is a good story for reminding kids that their voice matters and their voice can make a difference. The illustrations are colorful and carry the story well. Though the crowds depicted are diverse, throughout the book, people other than Mari and her mother have a bit of a muted hue making it easier to find them among the sea of faces. This is a great read aloud for small groups or for one-on-one sharing and further discussion. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Fox Tails: The Great Bunk Bed Battle

Fox Tails: The  Great Bunk Bed BattleThe Great Bunk Bed Battle: An Acorn Book (Fox Tails #1) by Tina Kugler
ISBN: 9781338561685
Genres: Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

First in a series of 3 books. Fox siblings Fritz and Franny have an imaginative debate about whose bunk is best. This series is part of Scholastic’s early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read with easy-to-read text, a short-story format, and color cartoon illustrations. Lots of repetition. The size, similar to a small Golden book, might dissuade some kids. Ridiculous price of $23.99.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog

See the Cat: Three Stories About a DogSee the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle, Mike Wohnoutka
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 9781536204278
Pages: 64
Genres: Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Controlled vocabulary and repetitive text makes this book an ideal first easy reader. The sharp humor and the cartoon-style illustrations that expertly support the text makes it an exceptional one. Recommend this clever book to fans of Mo Willems. Giggles will abound!

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Nominee for Cream of the Crop

Winner of the 2021 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award

five-stars

Fox Versus Winter (My First I Can Read)

Fox Versus Winter (My First I Can Read)Fox versus Winter by Corey R. Tabor
Published by Balzer + Bray on November 3, 2020
ISBN: 9780062977052
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The 5th installment of books about Fox that includes Fox and the Jumping Contest, Fox and the Bike Ride, Fox Is Late, and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award–winning Fox the Tiger (my favorite!) Fox does not like winter so if he cannot escape, he will fight it. Sly Fox makes both an entertaining and sympathetic protagonist, and the text is clever and amusingly dry. The illustrations are clever and delightful. I learned that one library in Vermont used this book as a Story Walk for a snowshoe trail. Seems like a good choice to me!

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Addy’s Cup of Sugar: Based on a Buddhist Story of Healing

Addy’s Cup of Sugar: Based on a Buddhist Story of HealingAddy's Cup of Sugar: Based on a Buddhist Story of Healing by Jon J. Muth
Published by Scholastic Press on October 20, 2020
ISBN: 9780439634281
Pages: 32
Genres: Folklore
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Another Stillwater, the beloved Zen panda, book by Jon Muth. Addy’s cat, Trumpet, is hit by a car, and she seeks Stillwater’s help on how to bring Trumpet back to life. Stillwater tells Addy that she must go to everyone in the neighborhood and collect a cup of sugar. But there is one condition: it can only come from the home of someone who has never been touched by loss. Addy goes from house to house but returns home without a cup of sugar because there isn’t a person who has not felt the pain of loss. In the original Buddhist tale the search is for a mustard seed. I am not sure why the search was for a clichéd cup of sugar, but I would have preferred something else. Nevertheless the heartfelt story and beautiful watercolor illustrations will be cathartic for anyone who has lost a pet or loved one. Add it to your collection of books about coping with death and grief.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey

One Little Bag: An Amazing JourneyOne Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole
Published by Scholastic Press on April 7, 2020
ISBN: 1338359975
Pages: 48
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

In this wordless picture book, a tall tree growing in the forest is transformed to the brown bag at a checkout counter at the grocery store and into the hands of a young boy on the eve of his first day of school. Through three generations of one family the bag eventually becomes the container in which a new tree is planted. Meticulous, detailed black-and-white line drawings in which only the bag is colored. The story is complex and I wonder if some accompanying text may have enhanced it as I had to read through the book several times to get the gist. (I could have been distracted by the incredible illustrations.) Regardless, it is a book to be savored and one to pull out for Earth Day celebrations.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Rocket Loves Hide-and-Seek!

Rocket Loves Hide-and-Seek!Rocket Loves Hide-And-Seek! by Tad Hills
Published by Schwartz & Wade Books on November 10, 2020
ISBN: 9780593177921
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Everyone’s favorite black-and-white puppy returns in this 6th easy reader. In this installment Rocket, Bella, and Owl are playing hide and seek. Rocket loves the game but becomes discouraged because he is always the first to be found. Seeing his hurt feelings, his friends come up with a plan to camouflage him with mud and leaves. There are simple words, lots of repetition, and bright, colorful illustrations to correspond with the text making it a good choice for a beginning reader.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Little Penguin and the Mysterious Object (I Can Read Level 1)

Little Penguin and the Mysterious Object (I Can Read Level 1)Little Penguin and the Mysterious Object by Tadgh Bentley
Published by Balzer + Bray on September 29, 2020
ISBN: 9780062699985
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Little Penguin has found a bicycle, but he’s not sure what it is. So he and his friends set out to solve the mystery with hilarious results. Some of the words may be challenging for the earliest of beginning readers, e.g. mysterious, comfy, scratcher, Reginald, feather, chili, exercise, and launcher. Nevertheless, it can be read with support and readers will be engaged in the humor and the mystery. It appears to be part of a picture book series including Little Penguins New Friend, Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups, Little Penguin and the Lollipop, and Little Penguin Stays Awake. Good for fans of Mo Willems’ books.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom! (My First I Can Read)

Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom! (My First I Can Read)Ty's Travels: Zip, Zoom! by Kelly Starling Lyons, Nina Mata
Published by HarperCollins on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 0062951106
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Ty can’t wait to ride his brand-new scooter at the park. Other kids zip past him, but all Ty can do is wobble. He wants to give up, but a new friend helps Ty give it another try. There is simple, rhythmic text and bright art, featuring brown-skinned characters. It is a good choice for first grade beginning readers. Epitomizes the old phrase, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!”

A 2021 Geisel Honor Book.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

eric

ericEric by Shaun Tan
Published by Scholastic Press on October 20, 2020
ISBN: 1338622080
Pages: 32
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A reissue of Shaun Tan’s 2008 copyright witty tale about a leaf that comes to stay as an exchange student. It has mostly black and white charcoal drawings with some color added in the final two pages. It is a sweet book full of social justice issues and could make for deep discussions in a middle school classroom.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars