Format: Picture Book Fiction

The Berenstain Bears’ Big Track Meet

The Berenstain Bears’ Big Track MeetThe Berenstain Bears’ Big Track Meet by Mike Berenstain
Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 0062654721
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

In this easy reader episode of the Berenstain Bear family, a track meet with Mama Bear as the coach provides the vehicle for learning comparisons.  In clear, repetitive phrasing and simple sentence structure that corresponds to the #1 Beginning Reader designation, the bear family competes against each other at various track meet events.  Sister and brother bear prove they are the fastest runner, farthest jumper and highest climber.  Some, more and most are presented as well as under, into and over.  Papa Bear never seems to the best at anything, that is, until it’s time to take a nap!  There is plenty of white space in the layout, and the illustrations show each event.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

The All-Together Quilt

The All-Together QuiltThe All-Together Quilt by Lizzy Rockwell
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on October 27, 2020
ISBN: 0375822046
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Fiction based on real situations provides depth to the plot especially when factual information reinforces the text.  Rockwell offers a heartwarming story that crosses ethnic and age lines allowing a community to come together in the development of art.  Children and seniors are paired in the artistic creation of a quilt.  Their enthusiasm and joy are exhibited on each page of this colorful and informative picture book.  Illustrations emphasize the many happy faces and vibrant pieces of fabric selected for the quilt.  A complete construction lesson is taught as the storyline progresses from cutting, layering, painting, to machine and hand sewing the quilt.  Caution, young readers will want to put paint on their own hands in anticipation of an art session.

Rockwell has included back pages which include; the history of her Peace by Piece quilt project, classic quilt blocks, and a distinctive presentation of the origin of each fabric used in the quilt.  Both the hardcover illustration and end pages are eye catching.   This is a book that belongs in all public libraries and would be useful to art teachers in the primary grades.  Community center, youth organizations and  churches would also benefit from adding a copy of this book to their shelves of picture books.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

five-stars

Nick and Nack Build a Birdhouse

Nick and Nack Build a BirdhouseNick and Nack Build a Birdhouse (Highlights Puzzle Readers) by Adam Record, Brandon Budzi
ISBN: 1684379849
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Nick and Nack have popsicles. What can they do with the popsicle sticks? Make a birdhouse, of course! This Level 1 early reader is a great addition to any public library. There are many repeated words to help build confidence in new readers, but there are also some more challenging words to help expand vocabulary. The illustrations are colorful and fun, and several of the pictures include a search and find aspect. This may help to keep some kids engaged, but it may also serve as a bit of a distraction. Recommended for purchase for libraries needing to expand and update their early reader sections. Recommended for kids 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

The Suitcase

The SuitcaseThe Suitcase by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on September 29, 2020
ISBN: 0358329604
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A stranger arrives in town, and he’s carrying a suitcase. Everyone asks him what’s in the suitcase, and he tells them of grand things that couldn’t possibly fit inside one suitcase. Do they trust his word or do they attempt to break into his suitcase while he naps? They decide on the latter, and find the stranger was grossly exaggerating the contents of his suitcase. What the friends decide to do for the stranger before he wakes will warm your hearts and restore faith in humanity.

When first reading this book, I was shocked the animals decided to break into the suitcase. What comes of it, however, touches on friendship, compassion, and how we treat others in need. This is a wonderful book for sharing empathy and teaching kids that there is always room for kindness. The illustrations are simple and colorful. The animals are depicted in a cartoonish way that will resonate with younger readers. The text alternates colors to match the color of the individual speaking. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Where Happiness Begins

Where Happiness BeginsWhere Happiness Begins by Eva Eland
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on August 25, 2020
ISBN: 0593127706
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Sometimes it’s easy to feel happy. Other times, happiness can be a bit elusive. This book reassures kids that even as happiness comes and goes in life, it’s never too far away.

The simple line drawing illustrations are offset by bold color choices. Throughout the book, happiness is depicted as a neon orange anthropomorphized blob (not sure how else to describe it!). The bright color allows readers to find happiness throughout the book, but there are many other aspects of the book that are neon as well. It’s nice that happiness is described as something that isn’t always there. The end of the book focuses on happiness being something that originates from within. This could be reassuring for some but also worrisome for children battling depression. Overall, however, the message and presentation of the book are good. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Mad About Plaid

Mad About PlaidMad About Plaid by Jill McElmurry
ISBN: 0358172446
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

I was excited to see a new book from the creator of the Little Blue Truck series, but this one just misses the mark for me. A young girl finds a plaid purse in the park, and soon the plaid begins to spread over her body and throughout the town. Everything is plaid! She turns the purse inside out to show its blue interior, and soon the entire town is blue! She begins singing and being silly in order to “cure the blues” bringing the town back to its typical multicolored way of life.

The illustrations are fun, whimsical, and bring out the humor of the book. The story, however, isn’t the best. The plaid spreads like an infectious disease so this book could either be helpful or cause kids more anxiety during the Covid pandemic. The ending seemed to come out of nowhere — all of a sudden, the girl knows just what to do to fix it without any lead up or explanation about why she suddenly knows. An additional purchase for larger libraries though demand may be higher because of the author’s notoriety. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Speak Up

Speak UpSpeak Up by Ebony Glenn, Miranda Paul
Published by Clarion Books on July 7, 2020
ISBN: 035814096X
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a great resource for helping kids find their voice. The book features a very diverse school group, and encourages kids to “speak up” in many different ways. I enjoyed that it encourages kids to speak up about positive things as well as things that seem bothersome or unjust. A solid purchase for libraries needing more books like this but not necessary if you already have many books on the subject. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

My Favorite Memories

My Favorite MemoriesMy Favorite Memories by Julie Völk, Sepideh Sarihi
Published by Blue Dot Kids Press on May 12, 2020
ISBN: 1733121242
Pages: 30
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

If you had to move to a different country and you could take one suitcase in which to pack your favorite things – what would you take? this is what faces a small girl when her parents present her with a suitcase and tell her to pack her most favorite things. How do you pack your favorite tree, your favorite bus driver,  the wooden chair your grandfather made you, your aquarium and your best friend!                                                                                                                                                                            So, she packs what she needs and sets out to putting her other treasures into bottles and tosses them into the ocean- that is both where she lives now and where she is going to live. they haven’t arrived yet, but she can wait!                                                                                                                         We can’t always “carry ” things with us physically, but through our memories we can take our favorite things with us wherever we go. Illustrations are simple, straightforward, detailed in grays with some color to accent an item or feeling support the simple text .                                                          Use this quiet, thoughtful book with discussions on what you would carry in your suitcase if you had to move and what you would “carry” in your heart and soul.                                                                    Gr K-4                                                                                                                                                                                       Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray, Maine

five-stars

The Day Saida Arrived

The Day Saida ArrivedThe Day Saida Arrived by Lawrence Schimel, Sonja Wimmer, Susana Gómez Redondo
Published by Blue Dot Kids Press on September 15, 2020
ISBN: 1733121250
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Saida, newly arrived from Morocco doesn’t speak and a classmate and potential friend thinks she has lost all her words. She tries to look for them so that Saida’s tears and silence go away. So, slowly the two of them seek and find ways to communicate – through drawing a hug, a heart, a camel, palm trees, through  patience, and the sharing of their languages, word by word. Slowly, bridge is built and two girls from very different places become friends. With lyrical text and words in both English and Arabic the reader begins  to understand what immigration is about.  Lush illustrations handpainted with  acrylic paint and crayon convey the feelings that words may not.   Blue Dot Kids Press offers books that invite the reader to experience a sense of wonder and empathy that connects them to the global community.  A new approach to the immigration experience, this should be used in units about immigration, feelings and friendship.                             Gr K-4           ( consider for cream)                                                                                                                                  Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray Maine

 

five-stars

If You Come to Earth

If You Come to EarthIf You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall
Published by Chronicle Books on September 15, 2020
ISBN: 145213779X
Pages: 80
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A little boy writes an open letter to a perspective space visitor, telling said visitor what to expect upon his visit. First, where we ae located in the solar system, how to spot our planet from the others – the brown and green are land and the blue is water, where we live – big cities, towns, small villages and out in the middle of nowhere, what we look like,  what  our families are like, what we do, what we value, what is important to our species. Page by page, we get a glimpse of what our earth offers, from the birds that fly, the animals that hop, walk, swim, crawl, what we can see and what is invisible. Ms. Blackall uses sparse text supported by illustrations in muted colors that are clear, calm and detailed. She said the idea for this book came from visits to one room classroom in Bhutan where she asked the children to draw the things they thought were important  to them : families and food, school and home.

This is a book that asks us to think of about what is important to us and in turn, what we need to do to ensure that good care is given all we hold dear.                                                                                          Use this in units on nature, the environment and discussions on what and who we hold important .            Consider for cream                                                                                                                                                                 Gr K-3

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray, Maine

 

five-stars