Format: Picture Book Fiction

One Diwali Day

One Diwali DayOne Diwali Day: Festivals of the World by Aditi Anand, Dev Kothari
ISBN: 1536247472
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

One Diwali Day by Dev Kothari

One Diwali Day is a picture book not only about Diwali but also about the anxiety that can come with a holiday. The main character, Ronak, is waiting for her sister, Dida, to come home for Diwali and is excited to celebrate with her—but at every turn of the celebration, she’s not there, and Ronak wonders when she’ll get there and how much longer she’ll have to wait. While the book is about Diwali and its specific traditions and events, the unsettled feeling of holidays and having so many people around will resonate with readers who celebrate many different holidays. I appreciated this inside look at the Diwali and getting to learn about the different pieces of it. My favorite part was that at the end there are instructions for a Diwali recipe and craft that readers can make. I think this would be a great addition to any classroom, school, or public library serving elementary-aged readers, especially those in first to third grade. This was a four-star read for me. Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

four-stars

How to Say Thank You

How to Say Thank YouHow to Say Thank You by Jean Reagan, Lee Wildish
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

How to Say Thank You is a very sweet and age-appropriate picture book about finding and expressing gratitude in everyday life. I appreciated that this book broke gratitude down into a sensory experience: What does gratitude look like, feel like, sound like, smell like, etc.? A lot of the time, I feel like children struggle to conceptualize gratitude or identify things they’re thankful for, even when they might feel that way. Regan does a great job giving us examples of things we might feel grateful for and ways to express that gratitude. I like that it wasn’t just “say thank you” or say you’re grateful, but instead the author included multiple ways of expressing gratitude: smiling, writing a note, signing, giving a hug, etc. This would be a wonderful title for Pre-K through 3rd graders and would be a great November/Thanksgiving read as well as for any other time of the year. This one is a five-star read for me because of how it broke down the content and the diversity the author included (especially ASL).  Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner

five-stars

Tiny Owl’s Scary Day

Tiny Owl’s Scary DayTiny Owl's Scary Day by Petr Horáček
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536235873
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

 

Tiny Owl just can’t accept that owls sleep during the day so she slips out while Mama Owl is asleep. As she explores, she runs into a few situations that make her rethink questioning her mother, and she decides that she is probably better suited as nocturnal. As always, Horáček’s illustrations are bright and beautiful, and the humor and warmth will delight readers.  Perfect for young adventurers and a great choice for reading aloud.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Time Runs Like a River

Time Runs Like a RiverTime Runs Like a River by Emma Carlisle
ISBN: 1536243388
Genres: Nature
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Time Runs Like a River

Author: Emma Carlisle

This picture book for ages 3-7 tells the story of a river as a primary metaphor for the passage of time. It highlights how a river can be fast or still, raging or calm, just like people. Similarly, all living things in and around the river grow and change over time. It encourages the reader to both reflect on things that have passed, as well as to embrace those things yet to be experienced. The end includes information about the river ecosystem, as well as a list of multi-sensory activities to learn about the ever-changing nature of nature.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

four-stars

Seven Skies All at Once

Seven Skies All at OnceSeven Skies All at Once by Matt Myers, Ted Kooser
on July 8, 2025
ISBN: 1536229008
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Climate
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Seven Skies All at Once

Author: Ted Kooser

This picture book for ages 4-8 tells the story of seven different skies of clouds, while secondarily depicting the story of two children with a clothesline connecting the tops of their two buildings. The creative verse is full of metaphors and compound sentences that could adversely affect comprehension in younger readers, but the illustrations are so vivid and rich that non-readers could follow the narrative without the text. This would make a fun supplement to a lesson on meteorology.

3 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

three-stars

The House That Floated

The House That FloatedThe House That Floated by Guojing
on October 16, 2025
ISBN: 0593709063
Genres: Family, Nature, Oceans, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A beautiful wordless picture book that offers a subtle but important introduction to the impact of climate change on our world. A family happily lives by the sea and makes their living from the sea. Scenes of a happy family life are beautifully drawn. When the sea-level rises, the family is resourceful and perseveres by literally floating and towing  their house to a new location. There is much to ponder in this small but powerful wordless book. 

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

five-stars

Ruffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy Ball

Ruffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy BallRuffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy Ball by David Melling
ISBN: 1536241385
Genres: Animals, Emotions & Feelings, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Ruffles loves playing and doing all the things that dogs love to do; but his favorite activity is playing with his blue, bouncy ball. However, he cannot find it anywhere. He looks in all the places a bouncy ball could possibly be. When his friend Ruby comes over, they remember it could possibly be in the park. They look everywhere a bouncy ball could possibly be…in the park. They determine that the bouncy ball is lost forever. Ruby helps Ruffles find other ways to play, and they discover a sock to play tug-of-war with.

This book is the seventh in a series of Ruffles books where the dog encounters situations that many preschool children encounter. This one is the situation where toys are sometimes lost, and actually lost forever. Sometimes a friend can help us remember that it will be ok. The Ruffles series are visually attractive with primary colors and sweet illustrations.

Recommended for Ages 2-5.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

Dawn Patrol

Dawn PatrolDawn Patrol: A Father and Daughter Surfing Story by Rob Sayegh Jr.
ISBN: 1536235091
Genres: Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Dawn Patrol

Author/Illustrator Rob Sayegh Jr.

This picture book for ages 4-8 depicts the routine of a father and daughter, who rise early and set out together for the shore to surf, calling themselves the Dawn Patrol.  They spend time on the water together, learn about perseverance, and make memories over the years. At the end of the book, the grown daughter is shown with her own young son, both on surfboards. This book celebrates the parent-child relationship and shows how little moments add up to a lifetime of love. While it may be a more enjoyable book for nostalgic parents than young children, it is a testament to how passions can be passed down generations.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

four-stars

The Haunted Scavenger Hunt: A Spook-tacular Storybook

Genres: Adventure, Holiday, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General, Suspense
Format: Picture Book Fiction
four-stars

The Haunted Scavenger Hunt: A Spook-tacular Storybook

Author: Steve Patschke

This Halloween picture book for ages 3-7 is about what happens when four friends find a mysterious box with the message “Don’t look at it, don’t touch it, don’t open it!” They disregard the warning and by doing so, embark on a spooky scavenger hunt that leads them to the basement of a haunted house. One by one, the friends go missing, until they are reunited in a surprise ending.  This humorous and suspenseful book would be an enjoyable engaging read-aloud, since the characters repeatedly and predictably ignore the warnings given in sets of three.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

four-stars

Winter is Wonderful

Winter is WonderfulWinter Is Wonderful (Emma Dodd's Love You Books) by Emma Dodd
ISBN: 1536243957
Genres: Animals, Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Winter is Wonderful

This picture book for ages 2-5 is the latest in the Love You Books series by author/illustrator Emma Dodd. It depicts a sweet fox family enjoying being together and making memories during the wintertime. The foil illustrations paired with the lyrical rhyming text makes this book a lovely choice for a holiday gift. It’s the perfect read-aloud to read before bed while cuddling by the fire when it’s snowing outside. It’s impossible to read without smiling.

5 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

five-stars