Category: picture books

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

When You Joined Our Family explores adoption

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

When You Joined Our Family, by Harriet Evans/Illustrated by Nia Tudor, (Aug. 2022, Kane Miller), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684644759

Ages 3-6

Adoption can bring up a lot of feelings and questions. When You Joined Our Family, written from an adoptive parent’s point of view, connects with them. A warm hug of a story, this could be any number of voices contributing to the narrative; a collection of adoptive parents talking about their experiences: “When you joined our family, I knew you were just who I’d waited and wished for”; “We spent time together, and you learned that I will always keep you safe”; “…I vowed to celebrate the ways you are unique… and the ways we are alike”. Positive, loving observations pair with multicultural, inclusive families of different ages, physical abilities, and households. Colorful digital illustrations are warm and inviting, showing families enjoying their time together. A very good choice for collections. Display with books like Jamie Lee Curtis’s Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born, Carrie A. Kitze’s I Don’t Have Your Eyes, and Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell’s And Tango Makes Three. Adoption & Beyond has a list of adoption books for children at their website.

 

Posted in Intermediate, Non-Fiction, picture books

What About…? Great series for developing minds

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Twirl Books has been great for producing high-quality, fun, and educational board books for the littlest learners. Their What About… series, originally published in France, skews slightly older and are “Illustrated Q&A Book[s] for Kids”.

What About: The Universe, by Bertrand Fichou/Illustrated by Pascal Lemaître, (Nov. 2022, Twirl Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9791036345159

Ages 7-11

If you’ve been around kids, you’ve heard the questions: “Why don’t people on the other side of Earth fall into space?” “Is it cold in space?” “What’s in our solar system?” These questions, and many more, get answered thoughtfully and visually in What About the Universe, which begins with a glossary. I love this: get the vocabulary up front, preparing kids for words they’re going to see along the way! Answers are broken up into bite-sized, step-by-step responses, hopefully answering additional questions that pop up along the way. For instance, the answer to “How are stars born?” goes through a 5-step answer: “1) a nebula drifts through space; 2) the nebula shrinks, 3) everything starts to heat up; 4) the star ignites, and 5) planets form around the star”. Visuals make each concept easier to comprehend, and additional fun facts provide deeper context. Colorful cartoon artwork makes learning fun. An index makes searching for specific information easier, and a Table of Contents at the beginning helps readers locate their big questions with no fuss. A very good choice for reference and STEM collections.

I’m enjoying putting together activity packs these days; if you are, too, consider a few NASA coloring pages, a planets wordsearch from Ana DeSousa on TeachersPayTeachers, and this planet order worksheet from abunchofbrinsons on TeachersPayTeachers.  Have them available for any of your space fans!

 

What About: Philosophy, by Gwénaëlle Boulet & Anne-Sophie Chilard/Illustrated by Pascal Lemaître, (May 2023, Twirl Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9791036353086

Ages 7-11

Kids are like mini-philosophers. Think of the big things they think about: “Why are there wars?” “What’s is fair or unfair?” “Why do I have to go to school?” There are 16 big questions in this book, all illustrated and considered with respect to the reader. Beginning with the biggie: “Why do humans exist?”, the book goes through age-appropriate explanations that consider existential theories and being self-aware. The authors explore concepts like being in love, being brave, and being free; what money is and why we use it, and abstract concepts like time.  Explanations are factual, non-judgmental, and age-appropriate, so younger learners will more easily be able to follow along and gain deeper understanding of emotions like anger or jealousy and how it makes a person feel. Overall, a good addition to the series and a good attempt at putting some big questions into context for younger readers. There is a table of contents, but no index in this volume.

PLATO (Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization) is an organization that offers philosophy and ethics programming to students, educators, and families. Their philosophy toolkit offers free, downloadable lesson plans, organized by grade level, that you can share with your families and school partners.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

You Rule!: The best things is life are measurable in words!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

You Rule!, by Rilla Alexander, (Apr 2023, Chronicle Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781797211794

Ages 3-5

Sure, you can measure quantitatively – length, width, height – but measuring things with your heart is just as important and can be incredibly descriptive. You Rule! follows a child and their dog through the day as they help a caterpillar become a butterfly. They dash through spreads filled with common kids’ questions; imaginative, effusive responses help expand emotional vocabulary: How ready are you? Responses go from “not at all” to “fired up” and “rarin” to go”; How happy are you? calls forth responses like “exhilarated”, “pretty much ok”, “pleased as punch”, and “walking on air”. Bright, bold rubber stap and digital collage illustrations create eye-catching spreads and the positive affirmations for questions and responses make this a feel-good book to read again and again. Put this one in your collections and consider posting some of the words and phrases around your children’s area to keep these uplifting ideas in front of kids.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Underpants humor is a win: I Made These Ants Some Underpants

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I Made These Ants Some Underpants!, Derick Wilder/Illustrated by K-Fai Steele, (May 2023, Chronicle Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9781797202167

Ages 3-5

When a kid gets a day-of-the-week underwear set from his mom, there’s only one thing to do with the lackluster gift: share the wealth! Gathering his art supplies, he gets to work making bright orange underwear to spread far and wide. From his sister, to a line of ants and a pirate. all the way to a robot and the monster under his bed, the boy makes underwear for everyone, but no one seems that thrilled… which brings him to his own hilarious conclusion. The rhyming story is a delight to read, and underwear-based stories are always a home run with my storytime kids. The watercolor, ink, and pencil artwork is cartoony and bold, with expressive characters to keep the joke rolling. Details in the child’s room clue readers in to the underwear recipients. Endpapers show the before-and-after of household items and the Underwear Rampage. Kids will delight in hearing this one again and again.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Storytime Reading: I Did See a Mammoth!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I Did See a Mammoth! by Alex Willmore, (March 2023, Kane Miller), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684645114

Ages 3-6

An expedition heads to the Antarctic to see penguins, but one young explorer has their sights set on a greater prize: a mammoth! Sure enough, every time the party is otherwise occupied, a mammoth appears, but does the group believe the excited kiddo? You never know what could show up on a scientific expedition in this hilariously fun story that makes for a spirited readaloud. Colorful cartoon artwork and bold black fonts add to the child’s exasperation as they desperately attempt to call the others’ attention to the discovery of a lifetime. Back matter features some information on penguins and mammoths, and the chances of meeting one or the other. A great choice for a storytime – pair with Russell Ayto’s Henry and the Yeti for a doubly fun storytime.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

Love is the muse in Maurice

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Maurice, by Jessixa Bagley, (May 2023, Chronicle Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781797211732

Ages 5-8

Maurice is a canine concert musician-turned-busker, motivated by love in this moving tale about the ultimate inspiration. Introducing Maurice as a musician who once played to large music halls until “times and things changed. They always do”, Maurice now brings joy to everyone around him as a street musician. He lives a quiet, kind life and draws inspiration from the many birds who share his apartment: “Though his own joys were small, they were his whole world”. He has named them all; he speaks lovingly to all of them, and they inspire him. Sadly, as “the melody of life change[s] once more”, Maurice’s busking cup runs dry and he must let the birds go, leaving his heart empty. Bagley’s stunning gatefold spread shows the beauty the birds flying off into the sunset and the devastation on Maurice’s face as he watches them leave. Moving toward a resolution, we learn that “hearts remember” kindness. In concert, Maurice is surrounded in the darkness of the concert hall and alone under the spotlight; as a busker, he is bathed in warm colors, surrounded by other canines who delight in his music, really delivering the message that Maurice is motivated by love and sharing his gift. A good choice for collections.

Maurice received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.

Posted in Intermediate, Non-Fiction, picture books

Picture book biography: The Snail by Emily Hughes

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Snail, by Emily Hughes, (Nov. 2022, Chronicle Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9781797204673

Ages 7-10

Themes of contrast and duality frame this picture book biography about Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi, whose life is told in shifting perspectives from past to present, beginning with his invitation to present his artwork in an exhibition. Born the child of a Japanese father and an American mother, raised in Japan, he never felt that he belonged to either country. He referred to himself as a snail, pulling into himself, creating a creative shell around himself where he could “create wonders”. Hughes explores the contrasts in Noguchi’s life with evocative, moving storytelling and beautiful graphite and digital art, making use of gentle color and shades of black, white, and gray to tell Noguchi’s story. Hughes makes wonderful use of warmth for Noguchi’s akari (paper lanterns) display, imbuing the lanterns with internal warmth that radiate from the page. An author’s note on Noguchi’s life provides deeper context into the misunderstood artist; a bibliography provides more resources. A very good choice for picture book biographies.

The Snail has a starred review from Booklist.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

…and a reluctant wombat shall lead them: Wombat, the Reluctant Hero

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Wombat, the Reluctant Hero, by Christian Trimmer/Illustrated by Rachel Gyan, (March 2023, Roaring Brook Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250788573

Ages 3-6

Inspired by the real-life events wrought by the devastating Australian wildfires in 2019 and 2020, Wombat the Reluctant Hero is all about being a good – if sweetly curmudgeonly – friend. Wombat likes her home and her appearance organized and just so, but she can’t say that about her neighbors, who look all out of sorts. Wombat notices that their watering hole is running a little low, so she pulls on her gardening gear and digs down until she hits water, reluctantly accepting their thanks. When Koala shows up at her door in a panic one night, she discovers that the forest is on fire, and quickly moves to gather her neighbors into her fireproof burrow, giving them food and water as they ride out the fire. When they emerge from the burrow, they work together to rebuild their home. Gyan’s digital artwork is colorful and reflects her moods through facial expression and clothing; going from dusky rose coveralls at the beginning to warm tangerine coveralls to show her enthusiasm and hope. Trimmer’s storytelling gives readers some insight into Australia’s problems in 2019 and 2020, and notes from the author and illustrator provide deeper context.

A good way of explaining world events to younger children while also delivering messages of community and empathy. An excellent choice for collections.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Ode to a Bad Day: We’ve all got them!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Ode to a Bad Day, by Chelsea Lin Wallace/Illustrated by Hyewon Yum, (Apr. 2023, Chronicle Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9781797210803

Ages 5-8

Related in a series of dramatic odes to the minor aggravations that make up a difficult day, Ode to a Bad Day puts a humorous, relatable spin on the moments that can push any kid – or adult, let’s be honest – to the edge. From the beginning of a Bad Morning (“All I see is gray ahead. / Can’t I stay inside my bed?”) that gets worse when there’s “Too Much Milk in My Cereal”, the slings and arrows of “Getting Dressed”, and being “Late Again”, through the trials of weathering the “Line Cutter” and discovering the “Missing Pudding Cup” at lunch, all the way through to the optimistic hope for tomorrow: “A day where fish are oopsy-free! A day where lines are led by me!” Soft pencil and watercolor artwork present an amusing, dramatic heroine in a tutu skirt, leggings, and green shirt; her facial expressions and body language are immediately recognizable to readers as she contorts and glares her way through each hurdle. Endpapers show the star of the show and various animals from her day in an aggrieved series of moves.

Hilariously adorable, this is a perfect rhyming accompaniment to Judith Viorst’s classic, Alexander the the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day. A good addition to your storytime collections; great for a full readaloud or for short odes to enhance a storytime.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Harold the Iceberg Melts Down is all about anxiety and climate change

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Harold the Iceberg Melts Down, by Lisa Wyzlic/Illustrated by Rebecca Syracuse, (March 2023, Feiwel & Friends), $18.99, ISBN: 9781250830623

Ages 3-6

Harold is a head of iceberg lettuce with a bit of an anxiety problem, which he calms by watching documentaries. He watches a documentary on icebergs and climate change, though, and that sets off a series of worries: He’s melting! Can he slow it down? How can he survive longer? His friends lead him through some calming exercises in an attempt to calm him and finally help him understand that he has a head of iceberg lettuce, not an iceberg. Relieved that he isn’t melting, Harold now discovers a new worry: climate change! This time, though, Harold has the tools to help him calm down and take action. A delightful read with cartoon art produce, Harold speaks to children’s anxiety and fear while teaching self-soothing techniques and empowering them with ways that they can be part of positive change. Back matter includes helpful ways to “cool down” and tips on combating climate change. Endpapers show a colorful spread of food labels. Narration moves between an omniscient narrator and speech bubbles to denote conversations between characters. All in all, a fun readaloud for kids and a good choice for collections. Download a free activity kit and coloring pages to enhance a storytime.