Category: picture books

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Night Blooming Jasmine: An evening walk brings discovery

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Night Blooming Jasmine, by Diane de Anda/Illustrated by Kendra Binney, (June 2024, Star Bright Books), $17.99, ISBN: 978-1-59572-976-7

Ages 4-8

A young girl named Jasmine is fast asleep with the night-blooming jasmine vine outside her window calls to her, inviting her to go outside and discover the world that comes to life outside at night. Encountering frogs and crickets, sleeping dogs and hungry opossums, Jasmine explores the world that wakes up when we go to sleep. Written in occasional rhyme, the verses illustrate the quiet wonder of night, with a playful view, as seen through the eyes of a child: “The spotted hound lies on his back; / his feet run in the air. / Deep in his sleep he’s rousting birds / and chasing down a long-eared hare”. Parallel to the plant with whom she shares a name, Jasmine heads back to bed to “end her nighttime bloom”. Soft, blue-hued illustrations set a calming stage for bedtime reading; Jasmine sets herself apart from her world as she wears a pink nightgown. Back matter includes animal facts on the various nocturnals that appear in the story. A bedtime story that promises dreamy adventures, Night Blooming Jasmine is a great choice for collections.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Blog Tour: The Boy Who Found His Voice

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Teen artist and activist Tyler Gordon tells his story in this inspirational picture book. From a kid who once had trouble with words, Tyler painted with his mom, learned to be patient with himself, and became…

The Boy Who Found His Voice, by Tyler Gordon
(June 2024, Farrar Straus Giroux), $18.99, ISBN: 9780374389673

Ages 4-8

The story begins with Tyler, who has all the words right in his head: he’s got jokes, he’s got rhymes, he’s got cool things to talk about, but when he tries to speak, he gets STUCK. Tyler’s mom knows how “frustrated, frazzled and in a funk” he becomes, and helps calm him with breathing excercises, positive self-talk, and painting with him. Eventually, it is artwork that helps Tyler find his voice: he presents his art to his classmates, receiving wild acceptance and praise. Gordon illustrated his story with expressive characters and bright colors. He incorporates pastel watercolor and thought bubbles into his scenes, letting his work pop against a bright white page. Bright and bold fonts emphasize emotions and interactions with Tyler’s mom. Tyler has a multicultural group of classmates and Tyler has brown skin and natural hair. Kids will love Tyler’s self-portrait, included in the story, and a note from the author goes into more detail about how Gordon found his voice through art and the support from those around him.

 

Tyler Gordon is a teen artist and activist. You can follow him on Instagram and visit his Linktree for more info. He also has a page on VR platform where you view his artwork and enjoy a virtual exhibit.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Measuring Me tallies our numbers

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Measuring Me, by Nicola Kent, (March 2024, Kane Miller), $19.99, ISBN: 9781684647873

Ages 4-8

We are made up of all kinds of numbers, and Measuring Me is a great place to start when explaining some of those numbers to young learners. Using an “average five-year-old child in the Western World”, we learn that kids featured in the book are as tall as about 10 tin cans, with the ability to smell about 50,000 different smells, and with enough energy to power a light bulb. Using our bodies as a measuring stick, Kent gives readers information they can visualize, allowing them to play with numbers and their place in this world. Kids will develop a comfort with numbers and their own bodies through the fun facts and pictures. Colorful illustrations look child-drawn and feature an inclusive and diverse group of kids illustrating concepts. Endpapers feature a ruler running along the side of the page – inches in front, centimeters in back – with a wealth of items that appear throughout the book. Playful and easy to read, kids will love coming up with ways to use the world around them to come up with new ways to measure: how many board books high are you? Do you weight as much as a frozen turkey? There is a lot of fun to be had here; readers will want to come back to this one. The book comes with a double-sided height chart inside, measuring – you guessed it – with tin cans, and fun facts like, “A giant panda’s shoulder height is almost equal to seven cans”. One side is colorful and includes the fun facts; the other side is black and white, letting readers color in their own cans and fill in personal information to make it a keepsake. If you’re using your copy in the library or a classroom, you can include the height chart as part of a storytime and have readers see how they measure up.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Zoom off to bedtime with Sleep Little Dozer

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Sleep, Little Dozer, by Diana Murray/Illustrated by Cleonique Hilsaca, (June 20245, Random House), $18.99, ISBN: 9780593119044

Ages 2-6

It’s been a full day for Little Dozer, but when Papa tells him, “Let’s roll! Time for bed!”, Dozer is concerned: Mama is working late! How will Dozer fall asleep? No worries: Papa knows the routine. This sweet rhyming bedtime story is just what a child needs when a parent is working late or traveling and another parent – maybe not the usual parent or caregiver – is left to handle bedtime. Papa Dozer is a large bulldozer with a bushy mustache; Little Dozer is a tiny bulldozer. The vehicles all have bold, friendly expressions and colors are soft, gentle, wonderful for bedtime. Much of the story is Papa’s bedtime rhyme, which Little Dozer chimes in on; it’s relatable to kids who have their bedtime routines down pat. Visions of numbered jeeps fill in for a human child’s “counting sheep”, and various vehicles bed down for the night as Dozer struggles with anxiety over not being able to sleep without Mom. Endpapers show truck-shaped clouds against a night sky. A very cute and comforting story that vehicle fans will ask for at bedtime, and a good addition to collections.

Pair with Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Steam Train Dream Train, both by Sherri Duskey Rinker, for a fun pajama storytime.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

The Paw-sibilities are endless! This Little Kitty in the Garden

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

This Little Kitty in the Garden, by Karen Obuhanych, (Jan 2024, Knopf Books for Young Readers), $18.99, ISBN: 9780593435175

Ages 3-7

Obuhanych spins a delighful rhyming tale about cats and gardening. Endpapers bring readers in with dirty kitten paw prints over bright colored leaves; the verso and recto pages show a cheerful garden with a marmalade cat peeking up from the leaves. Five kittens are ready to “help” their people garden today, and immediately set to rummaging through the tools and starter plants. They play in the garden, sneezing at pollen and poking at various flora and fauna as their humans work around them. When everything has been planted and cleaned up, the exhausted helpers take a nap in the garden bed. Cat lovers will want multiple reads of this sweet and silly story. Mixed media illustration is bold, bright, and textured. A playful story that will make anyone reading it or listening to it happy.

This Little Kitty in the Garden is a companion to Obuhanych’s 2023 book, This Little Kitty. You can see more of Obuhanych’s artwork at her website.

 

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Harold the Iceberg is back!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Harold the Iceberg is Not a Super Food, by Lisa Wyzlic/Illustrated by Rebecca Syracuse, (June 2024, Feiwel & Friends), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250877802

(Ages 3-6)

Harold the anxiety-ridden iceberg lettuce is back, and he’s still stressed out: this time, because he can’t match up to Kayla, who’s clearly a SUPER food: she’s “tall and strong, with glorious full leaves” and everything just seems effortless for Kayla! Harold is so quick to be down on himself, but his friends come to the rescue and let him know that he does great things, too: he helps his friends, whenever they need him, and if he wants to do more, there’s always ways to help. Once again tying in themes of social awareness, Harold’s friends enourage him to volunteer at a charity event. Digital illustrations are bold and bright, with expressive faces that are both sensitive and cheerful. Back matter includes “Harold’s Tips for Helping Your Community”, offering readers ways to get involved with their community, from donating used clothes and toys to picking up litter. Endpapers display a spreaad of food labels. A fun additional purchase, especially where the first book did well. Download a Harold The Iceberg Activity Kit to share!

 

Posted in Intermediate, Non-Fiction, picture books

Else B. in the Sea: A Naturalist’s Picture Book Biography

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Else B. in the Sea: The Woman Who Painted the Wonders of the Deep, by Jeanne Walker Harvey/Illustrated by Melodie Stacey, (June 2024, Cameron Kids), $19.99, ISBN: 9781949480283

Ages 5-8

Scientific artist Else Bostelmann’s story begins in 1930, when she ventures into the sea off the coast of Bermuda to discover the world underwater. Charged with painting what scientist William Beebe may have seen from his bathysphere, Else discovers an entire world below; fascinated, she dedicated herself to finding ways to accurately depict the colors and sights she encountered. Using a microscope, Beebe’s notes, and her talent as an artist, she brought these creatures to life on the page. Harvey tells Bostelmann’s story in verse, with Stacey’s watercolor, gouache, pastel, and pencil illustrations giving new life and bringing a new audience to Bostelmann’s work. Stacey captures Bostelmann, clothed in her red swimsuit and diving helmet, sitting underwater while Harvey explains the process: “Her weighted palette with dabs of apint / and attached brushes / floated within reach”. Back matter includes an author’s note, photos, and samples of Else’s paintings, with notes on the underwater color spectrum and sources for more reading. An excellent addition to picture book biographies and artist collections. Else B. in the Sea has a starred review from Booklist.

The Smithsonian Magazine has an article on Bostelmann. Author Jeanne Walker Harvey has a variety of free downloadable resources to extend a lesson or reading of Else B. in the Sea available on her website.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Building a Beak showcases STEM with a heart

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Building a Beak: How a Toucan’s Rescue Inspired the World, by Becca McMurdie/Illustrated by Diana Hernandez, (June 2024, Page Street Kids), $18.99, ISBN: 9781645678687

Ages 4-8

Based on the true story of an injured toucan and the people who helped her, Building a Beak is a touching story of cruelty and empathy. In the Costa Rican treetops, a toucan later named Grecia went about her days and nights until someone – still unknown – caused her to fall and break her beak. Rescuers found her and brougt her to a veterinarian, who determined that without the beak, Grecia would not be able to eat, sing, bathe, or balance. Grecia’s plight went public, prompting activists from all over to push for the passage of animal welfare law 18,298, making it illegal to harm wildlife. Engineers created a blueprint for a 3-D printable beak, successfully attached during a delicate surgery. Grecia’s story is an uplifting tale of human kindness while bringing to light the problems with animal cruelty and how devastating a thoughtless act can be. Humanizing Grecia goes a long way here, from naming the toucan to McMurdie’s providing an inner dialogue for her. Hernandez’s illustrations show brown-skinned scientists, animal rescuers, and activists coming together not only for Grecia’s sake, but the sake of the planet. An author’s note, timeline, and bibliograpy make up the back matter. A strong addition to STEM/STEAM collections.

There are some good Grecia resources available online, including this article from Costa Rica Ricos. Visit Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center’s webpage to learn more about the center where Grecia recovered and lived after the attack. My Dear Journal has a fun toucan paper plate craft for a post-storytime or extension activity.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Wheels and Springs and Moving Things: School of Monsters talk work

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Wheels and Springs and Moving Things!, by Sally Rippin/Illustrated by Chris Kennett, (May 2024, Kane Miller), $12.99, ISBN: 9781684649211

The Australian School of Monsters chapter book series arrives on American shores with a rhyming picture book/seek-and-find adventure. Each character in Wheels and Springs and Moving Things! introduces readers to a member of their family, offering rhyming clues to their jobs: can you figure out what they do? Spreads alternate between clues and a solution, featuring the occupation and related vocabulary. Frank’s Dad, for instance, is a farmer: clues include “My dad digs the earth to plant seedlings and trees, / which grow into homes for the birds and the bees”. The following spread shows Frank and his father in a tractor and trailer; Frank exclaims, “He’s a farmer!” and readers are treated to a spread filled with farm-related vehicles and equipment, all labeled for expanding vocabularies. The monsters are adorably kid-friendly, colorful, and sport cheery expressions. Additional activities, including seek-and-find challenges, await readers at the end of the story. Endpapers sport bats with different occupations fluttering about: one wears an astronaut’s helmet; another carries a letter. It’s a fun addition to collections where Where’s Waldo and other seek-and-find books do well.

Author Sally Rippin’s website includes a School of Monsters activity pack and parent pack, available for free. Publisher Kane Miller also has a special page dedicated to Rippin, a 2024-2025 Australian Children’s Laureate!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Baby and Toddler Storytime is the best time!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Since our children’s librarian is on vacation this week, I get to be a children’s librarian again – and boy, have I missed it. Today, I did our weekly storytime and I’m pretty sure I enjoyed it more than the kids. Here’s what we did:

Welcome Song: We Clap and Sing Hello
We clap and sing hello,
We clap and sing hello,
With our friends at storytime,
We clap and sing hello!
(Stomp and sing hello; jump and sing hello.)
Credit: Storytime Katie

 

It’s Your Time to Shine, by Dianne White/Illustrated by Nanette Regan, (March 2024, Little Simon), $8.99, ISBN: 9781665932035

Ages 0-3

The Littles enjoyed this story about a little girl growing up and learning that life is full of ups and downs: “Sometimes you’ll feel nervous, embarrassed, or small. / Soon you’re back on your feet with a smile, standing tall”. The child goes from a baby to a young woman, gaining confidence as she goes; she learns that it’s her time to shine and embrace all that she is. Adorable for a graduation or an inspirational readaloud, the verse is empowering and realistic, letting readers know that life is never a straight path, but it all contributes to building resilience and character, making us all ready for our moment to shine. Regan’s colorful illustration sets the characters and settings off against the white background of each page. The main character has light-brown skin and curly reddish-brown hair. A sweet addition to board book collections.

 

Song Break!

Active Rhyme: Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes

Bubble Bubble Pop (I pick colors the Littles are wearing to incorporate into my song)
One little red fish swimming in the water, swimming in the water, swimming in the water.
One little red fish swimming in the water, bubble, bubble, pop.
Two little blue fish swimming in the water, swimming in the water, swimming in the water.
Two little blue fish swimming in the water, bubble, bubble, pop.
Three little yellow fish swimming in the water, swimming in the water, swimming in the water.
Three little yellow fish swimming in the water, bubble, bubble, pop.
Credit: Jbrary

This Baby, That Baby, by Cari Best/Illustrated by Rashin Kheriyeh, (Feb. 2024, Anne Schwartz Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9780593564639

Ages 3-7

This went over so well! The story of two babies who live across from each other really clicked with my Littles. Two city-dwelling babies live in apartments across from one another on a “beep-beep street” and happily greet one another from their windows. The day goes on and the two play with their parents, have diaper changes, eat, and nap, only to discover each other on a walk in the afternoon. It’s a sweet story that reminds me of Mem Fox’s Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, with its joyful storytelling and recognizable moments in Baby’s day; having it set in a city, with all the “beep-beep streets”, “bumpy sidewalks”, and various neighbors visible in their windows, made it something the kids in my community can relate to. Best hits a homer with her descriptive storytelling, and Kheiriyeh’s mixed media illustration creates two adorable, expressive children and a cozy and bustling city. With starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and BookPage, this is a book that should be in your storytime collections.

 

Classics Song Break!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star

I finished up with Finding Grateful, which brought things to a gentle close. We brought storytime to an end with one final song – Yo Te Amo, courtesy of Jbrary – and then we did our Goodbye Rhyme, Tickle the Clouds, courtesy of Laptime Rhymes:

Tickle the clouds (we reach up high)
Tickle your toes (we reach down low)
Now reach up and tickle your nose (tickle noses, make a sneezing sound)
Reach down low (we reach down low)
Now reach up high (we reach up high)
Storytime’s over for now, so let’s wave goodbye! (wave goodbye)

That was it! My first storytime in a while, and I felt pretty good shaking the rust off. I’m hoping to fit some more storytime programming in during Summer Reading. I’ll keep you posted.