Format: Picture Book Fiction

Boxitects

BoxitectsBoxitects by Kim Smith
Published by Clarion Books on January 14, 2020
ISBN: 1328477207
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Meg is a boxitect — she can turn a cardboard box into a tunnel, a tiny house, a castle. When she takes her skills to Maker School, she meets blanketeers, spaghetti-tects, and more, but when Simone, another boxitect, shows up, things get heated.

I loved this book. It’s creative, has a good message about teamwork and friendship, and it’s just fun. The illustrations are very colorful and full of detail. The things that the kids create in Maker School are whimsical, and you will likely see some new and interesting detail each time you read it. There are several pages at the end that detail how to make different things out of cardboard boxes as well. Recommended for children 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Alphonse, There’s Mud on the Ceiling

Alphonse, There’s Mud on the CeilingAlphonse, There's Mud on the Ceiling! by Daisy Hirst
ISBN: 1536211176
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Alphonse and Natalie live in a 7th floor apartment, but they want to play in a jungle and sleep in a tent. After slinking around the house in sleeping bags, they build a tent on their balcony and have a jungle adventure.

This book is a fun look at the sibling relationship as well as kids’ imagination. I also love that this book highlights kids who live in an apartment building — this is an underrepresented aspect of life in picture books. I did feel like the book was a little bit of a let down given the title. There is mud on the ceiling is such a small aspect of the story, and the title conveys a lot more zany hijinks than actually occurs in the story. The illustrations are high color, high contrast, and simple. They do add to the story as they depict Natalie and Alphonse in their various adventures. Recommended for children 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Ollie and Augustus

Ollie and AugustusOllie and Augustus by Gabriel Evans
ISBN: 1536209678
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Ollie and Augustus are best friends. Ollie is small and Augustus is huge. Despite their differences (Augustus is also a dog), they do everything together and have a lot of fun together. Sometimes they argue, but they always make up. When Ollie has to go to school, he’s worried Augustus will be lonely so he tries to find him a dog friend. It turns out, Ollie is Augustus’s perfect friend, and Augustus knows Ollie will always come back.

This is a heartwarming story of friendship. The illustrations are just fun, funny, and really add to the story. Augustus really is a behemoth dog, and his expressions are perfect. Even thought the illustrations are relatively simple line drawings, they really make this book. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

David Jumps In

David Jumps InDavid Jumps In by Alan Woo, Katty Maurey
ISBN: 1771388455
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

On his first day at a new school, David is unsure and feeling like an outsider. He feels nervous about making new friends but eventually works up the nerve to ask some other kids to play a game called “elastic skip” with him. He teaches them the game, and it’s a huge hit.

This is a sweet story about friendship and inclusion. It’s well told with compassion and empathy. Any child who has been the new kid anywhere will relate to David’s feelings of insecurity, and watching him overcome his fears may help kids find a way to step up when they’re in that situation. The illustrations are colorful but sparse with lots of white space. They are, however, very effective at conveying David’s emotions before and after making new friends. There is a paragraph on the back pages about the game David plays so kids can learn more about it and its origins. Recommended for children 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

My Ocean is Blue

My Ocean is BlueMy Ocean Is Blue by Ashley Barron, Darren Lebeuf
Published by Kids Can Press ISBN: 1525301438
Genres: Adventure, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

From cover to cover this is a study of the many shades of blue within the ocean.   Lebeuf introducers readers to a charming nameless girl who explores all the natural wonders with this ocean environment.

Her adventures of the day include meeting animals, listening to the sounds around her and playing in the water as well as sand.  Her disability is not an issue and most important is that the adult accompanying her is an active participant in the day’s activities.   A lovely book to peruse and a valuable addition to k and grade 1 classrooms.  Early readers will be able to follow the text and all will appreciate the collage art work.  These illustrations made me think of the art work done by CATHRYN FALWELL.   Small details like the dragon fly, glistening water and sparkling rocks will delight while the dead fish and slimy seaweed offer educational opportunity.

Add to primary grade media centers and public libraries within hundreds of miles from the ocean.  All nursery and grade school children will want to put their feet in the water with sparkly gems!

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth service librarian in Scarborough, ME.

four-stars

Peppa Pig: Story Treasury

Peppa Pig: Story TreasuryPeppa Pig Story Treasury by Candlewick Press
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536213381
Genres: Adventure, Short Stories
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Peppa Pig is a popular character in the age 2 – 5 circles, this book holds lots of excitement for pre-school children as there are six stories included within.  The hard cover is a good choice and the binding appears to be worthy of potential loving abuse.  The price for this collection is a plus as individual copies of the stories would be higher.   Each story  is simple and the illustrations colorfully sweet.

Not a fan of books that follow a TV series I have to admit that a special little one in my life loves Peppa Pig.   Although a good choice as a gift this may not be the best purchase for a library.  Young audiences are more apt to want individual titles that are easier to hold and carry around with their favorite stuffy.    Libraries and K classrooms may prefer paper copies that can be shelved with other books in the same reading level.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME.

four-stars

The Village Blacksmith

The Village BlacksmithThe Village Blacksmith by G. Brian Karas, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
ISBN: 1536204439
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Longfellow’s timeless poem about a blacksmith working for his community and through his loss is brought to life with beautiful illustrations. The illustrations have a modern and understated feel to them, but the use of color to highlight the blacksmith’s work is very effective. Emotions are expertly conveyed despite the simplicity of the drawings. Recommended for children 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Who Will You Be?

Who Will You Be?Who Will You Be? by Andrea Pippins
Published by Schwartz & Wade on April 7, 2020
ISBN: 1984849484
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This book is a celebration of family. It asks the reader, who will you become? Will you be like your daddy, your cousin, your grandma, and so on. Even if children are adopted, this book will resonate because it focuses on personality traits and not physical attributes. Will you be curious, bold, compassionate, grateful?

The illustrations are simple, colorful, high contrast, and compliment the story well. The family depicted is diverse racially as well as in familial make up giving the book a more inclusive feel. It mentions more family members than the traditional family unit. Recommended for children 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring

Goodbye Winter, Hello SpringGoodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak
Published by Henry Holt & Company on February 18, 2020
ISBN: 1250151724
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This is another installment in the series of books by Pak examining the shift in the seasons. Here, a boy and his dog explore the many ways that things change from winter to spring — snow melts, mud appears, the light is warmer, etc.

It is a sweet exploration of the natural world around us, and a welcome addition to library collections, especially if the previous books like this circulate well. Pak’s illustrations are subtle but effective. I love his use of color and how it becomes much warmer as the book moves more towards spring. Recommended for children 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Frog and Toad: Little Book of Big Thoughts

Frog and Toad: Little Book of Big ThoughtsFrog and Toad: A Little Book of Big Thoughts by Arnold Lobel
ISBN: 0062983415
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

I love Frog and Toad, so I was excited to see this book. It is a collection of quotes from the beloved and timeless Frog and Toad series of early readers. It captures some of Frog and Toad’s good times and is a great reminder of why the books are so great.

The premise of the book is to highlight things that make great friends great. If your kids haven’t ever read the Frog and Toad series, they may be confused with this book. It feels a bit more like a book someone would gift to an adult as a reminder of their friendship than a picture book written for children. This is definitely an additional purchase for larger libraries. Recommended for kids 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars