Sun by Alison Oliver 
Sun is a little boy who loves soccer but also feels that he is missing something. He encounters a fox on a walk and through this encounter learns what he is missing and loves to do the most. Loved the illustrations and the story.
For Preschool to 7 years old.
Reviewed by Ginni Nichols, Gardiner Public Library, Gardiner
Don't Feed the Coos! by Heather Fox, Jonathan Stutzman 
They’re cute. They coo. But, DON’T feed the coos! When you feed one, they will all come. And they will never leave you. Ever. And what’s worse? The coos poos. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
This funny book will delight children with it’s silliness, and who doesn’t love a poop joke? The colorful, cartoony illustrations fit perfectly with the mood of the book, and add to the humor. Anyone who has ever fed pigeons in a park (or seen someone doing so) will relate to this situation. This would be a great story time book and is recommended for kids 3 yrs and up.
Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME
¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat by Elaine Bay, Raúl the Third 
Little Lobo is back, and this time he and his friends are delivering food to all the hungry luchadores before El Toro wrestles in the evening. This sequel to ¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market follows the same format with copious Spanish words throughout. The Spanish words are often translated on the same page, and there is also a glossary of Spanish words at the end. The classic, colorful illustrations are extremely detailed. Readers could easily see something new with each reading. Recommended for readers 4 and up.
Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME
Seeds by Carme Lemniscates Seeds is a celebration of the power of seeds — seeds that grow into pumpkins or orchids and seeds of kindness that grow into compassion and friendship. The simple text explains the power of seeds’ ability to multiply — from one seed to many pumpkins full of hundreds of seeds. It then equates this power to emotional seeds: those of kindness as well as those that bring anger and misunderstanding. It concludes by reminding the reader that seeds can only grow what they bring. Pumpkin seeds grow pumpkins, seeds of kindness grow more kindness.
This is a wonderful book. The message is a good one, and it’s conveyed in a way that is accessible to young readers. The illustrations are gorgeous. They’re bright, bold and compliment the story well. This is a great story for one-on-one sharing or could easily be incorporated into story time. Recommended for 1-yr olds and up.
Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME
It's Okay to Be a Unicorn! by Jason Tharp 
The town of Hoofington has a strict “No Unicorns” policy, but little do they know, there’s one in their midst. Cornelius J. Sparklesteed is known for his wonderfully unique hats, but the truth is that they’re there to cover his horn. When he’s given the opportunity to perform the final act at the annual Hoofapalooza, Cornelius decides to come out as the unicorn he really is.
The concept behind this book — be who you are — is a good one, but the execution misses the mark. The setting, all the associated puns and attempts at humor feel forced and like a distraction from the overall message. This isn’t a new theme in picture books and others (eg: Sweety; I Am Enough; or Julián is a Mermaid) just execute it more successfully. The cartoonish, highly colored illustrations are perfectly appropriate for the tone of the book. Best for kids 3 and up simply because there’s a fair amount of text on each page.
Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME
Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family by Andrea Zuill, Nelly Buchet A man has a dog. A woman has a dog and a cat. They move in together, and everyone has some adjusting to do.
This is a wonderful book about a blended family and how things change when two families become one. The text is comprised almost entirely of the words dog and cat — with an occasional bird and frog. The illustrations make the book, and Zuill does not disappoint with her colorful, highly expressive art. Animal lovers will love this book, and kids will love this book. Recommended for kids 3 and up, this would also make a fun book for kids just learning to sound out three letter words.
Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME
The Boy and the Wild Blue Girl by Keith Negley Everyone in town finds the wild blue girl to be a nuisance — everyone, except Poul. The wild blue girl seems to cause distruction and frustration everywhere she goes, but Poul can see that she’s just trying to help. He decides to build something that will show everyone how wonderful and helpful the wild blue girl really can be.
This book is based on the work of Poul la Cour and his invention of wind turbines. The concept is a good one, I’m just not sure how well it will work with the intended audience. The text is very simple which may draw in younger readers, and they may miss the connection betweetn the wild blue girl and the wind. Used as a one-on-one read aloud, however, this book could spark wonderful conversations about energy use, metaphor, and so much more. The bright, pencil drawing illustrations are wonderful and really add to the story. You can feel the energy of the wild blue girl through the movement of the artwork. Recommended for kids 4 and up.
Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME
Elmore and Pinky by Holly Hobbie Elmore, the beloved and somewhat lonely, porcupine is back. He’s made lots of friends since his debut, but now he’s in search of a best friend. His wise uncle tells him that it will just happen, but Elmore isn’t so sure until he realizes his best friend has been right under his nose all along.
I love Elmore so I was really excited to see this follow up book; however, it just doesn’t hit the nail on the head in the same way that the first book did. The message is sweet, and Elmore is still relatable and adorable, but the flow of the book is off. It feels disjointed, and at one point I had to check to be sure I hadn’t skipped a page. The illustrations are colorful and definitely bolster the story and the book overall. Recommended for one-on-one sharing with kids 3 and up.
Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME
The Little Blue Cottage by Jessica Courtney-Tickle, Kelly Jordan The little blue cottage by the sea waits each year for summer and the girl to arrive. Each summer the girl grows until one year she doesn’t come. The cottage is left waiting and empty season after season until the girl returns with her children. This book has lovely illustrations, reminiscent of Barbara Cooney. The writing is lyrical, but I could not decide whether the text was supposed to rhyme or not. The book will be special to summer residents.
Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library
The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann Ernestine is invited by her aunt and cousin to experience her first camping trip. From the cover pages of The Camping Trip a realistic job of expressing a true outdoor adventure is offered. Readers view an illustrated listing of necessary equipment before the story even begins. Within the content a personal equipment list is incorporated and new experiences are explored. Aunt Jackie and cousin Samantha are supportive and compassionate as Ernestine grows to love this new experience. The art work is done in comic style panels that are fun and colorful. This reader appreciates how one of the early two-page spreads is almost identical to a later illustration in the same spot. All ages will enjoy this adventure and perhaps it will influence some families to go camping for the first time.
Bring on the s’mores and purchase this book for both primary school and public libraries. Gift a copy to families who are interested in taking their first camping trip.
Submitted by Jan Hamilton, youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME