Category: Preschool Reads

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Tales from the TBR: Hedgehog and the Log

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Hedgehog and the Log, by Pam Fong, (Jan. 2024, Union Square Kids), $18.99, ISBN: 9781454948537

Ages 4-8

Hedgehog outgrows his old home, and finds the perfect spot to build his new one – but his home is destroyed once he’s finished! He’s devastated; he cries, he rages, he feels sorry for himself… but once he changes how he views the situation, he is able to change his circumstances. The artwork is the star here; this story is beautiful, with a minimalist color palette and soft touches that you can almost feel under your fingers. Fong writes a story of resilience with a character that readers will relate to and be inspired by. An easily-read storytime selection, this one will work well in picture book and SEL collections.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Explore anxiety and feelings with Babette: Baa Haa

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Baa Haa, by Audrey Perrott/Illustrated by Ross Burach, (March 2025, Scholastic Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781546134039

Ages 4-8

Babette is a sheep who loves to laugh: so much that her friends have nicknamed her “Baa Haa”. But while it looks like Babette finds everything funny, she’s really covering up some big feelings, and it’s giving her a bellyache. Her friends discover her crying one day and gently let her know that “It’s okay if you’re not okay”, and that they love her for who she is. Filled with fun sheepy puns, Baa Haa examines anxiety and stress and the pressure many of us feel to cover up those feelings, whether it’s to make others feel better or to laugh off our own worries. Babette feels better after her friends support her and bolster her, and the image of the tightly wound ball of yarn in her belly immediately unravels, forming words like “icky”, “sad”, and “grumbly” – and isn’t that the best description of how it feels to embrace one’s true self? Pencil, crayon, and paint illustrations give a hand-drawn feeling to the story and the details are incredible; readers will love seeing Milton (from 2024’s Moo Hoo!) reading a copy of CosMOOpolitan Magazine, or a coffee mug in the principal’s office – Principal Lily Pad – that says, “Coffee makes me hoppy“. Baa Haa delivers a feast for the eyes and a supportive message for young readers. Download free activity sheets for a storytime extension.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Duckie and Snaps meet can they be friends?

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Duckie and Snaps: We Cannot Be Friends!, by Ame Dyckman/Illustrated by Tim Miller, (Feb. 2025, Orchard Books), $14.99, ISBN: 9781338837872

Ages 2-6

The unlikeliest of friendships begins when one egg rolls into another’s nest. Duckie, a bright yellow duckling with a pink bow on her head, boisterously greets a more reserved crocodile and names him Snaps. As she’s describing all of the adventures the two new friends will have her, an adult crocodile shows up on the scene to inform the two hatchlings that they CANNOT be friends, because Snaps’s folks eat Duckies! This doesn’t sit well with either Duckie or Snaps, who just started getting used to his new friend, but when Snaps’s tummy starts a-rumbling, Duckie has to do some fast thinking. Dyckman’s hilarious back-and-forth dialogue, paired with Miller’s expressive facial expressions and body language, makes for a laugh-out-loud tale of friendship against all odds. Illustrations are organized into graphic novel-type panels, with dialogue taking place via word bubbles. The message is clear: friendship (and bananas) wins all. A great add to collections; I can’t wait to see what Duckie and Snaps will do on their next adventure.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Kids will love The Most Boring Book Ever

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Most Boring Book Ever, by Brandon Sanderson/Illustrated by Kazu Kibuishi, (Sept. 2024, Roaring Brook Press), $19.99, ISBN: 9781250843661

Ages 4-8

“A boy sat in a chair”: so begins the boring story of a boy, a chair, and thoughts of laundry and math homework. Or is it? Sanderson pairs with Amulet creator Kibuishi to wink at readers as they take them through an incredible steampunk journey with sky pirates and dragons, soaring through clouds and crashing through clotheslines. Sanderson’s story never veers from the straightforward “boring” storytelling, allowing Kibuishi’s illustrations to run wild. It’s exciting, fun, and will have readers giggling through this not-boring-at-all adventure. The boy, light-skinned and red-haired, dressed in a blue shirt, suspenders, and brown pants, never leaves his chair (mostly) as he careens through the sky dodging airships and explosions. A red, scaly dragon emerges from the clouds and creates further excitement as the boy falls through the sky, quickly doing math to calculate his landing. The Most Boring Book Ever will for sure be a repeat readaloud. Download free activity sheets to share!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

You’re Not Invited! A new garden adventure

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

You’re Not Invited! (An Ooey Gooeys Adventure), by Sylvia Rouss & David Titcher/Illustrations by Rick Penn Kraus, (Jan. 2025, Brandyland Publishers), $15.95, ISBN: 978-1962416672

Ages 3-7

There’s going to be a party in the garden, but Queen Bea doesn’t want any “ooey gooeys” at her party, leaving Shelly Snail, Willy Worm, and Speedy Centipede on the other side of the velvet rope. Things change, though, when a Bigfoot charges through their area wielding a giant monster, and the Ooeys are there to save Bea and the other garden denizens. They watch the seeming destruction of their home together, but realize that the human – you didn’t really think he was a Bigfoot, did you? – is actually creating a paradise: he’s planting beautiful flowers for them to enjoy! Rescheduling their party to enjoy the new digs, Bea invites the Ooey Gooeys to be part of the fun as the guests of honor. You’re Not Invited! is an upbeat story of friendship and acceptance; of a bully who realizes her mistake, and a maligned group that’s courageous and generous enough to forgive. Colorful illustrations show the garden bugs in close-up, cartoon detail; the Bigfoot is actually a human, and the monster is a lawn mower. Plenty of fun for readers, with positive messages about being a friend. I look forward to more life lessons with the Ooey Gooeys!

Visit Sylvia Rouss’s website for more about her books, including her awesome Sammy Spider series!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Aisha’s Colors teach joy

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Aisha’s Colors, by Nabila Adani, (Sept. 2024, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536235401

Ages 3-7

A young girl living in Jakarta wishes her family would go on a vacation somewhere different, somewhere exciting, like her friends do. Her family takes the same trip every year: they drive to her Grandma’s village in the countryside. As her family sets out on their trip, Aisha thinks of the colors her friends have seen: the white snow her friend Jennie sees; the blue water and sky glimpsed by her frien Dimas. But as the trip progresses, Aisha discovers beautiful colors, too: the white of her favorite treat, for instance. As she sees the most beautiful sight of all – her grandmother – Aisha reflects on the colors her friends have seen, compares them with the colors she sees, and decides that “I’m going to stop worrying about what other people’s vacations are like”. Adani brings home the joy of seeing family, the beauty of what we have around us, and the importance of celebrating and appreciating what we have without worrying about what others have or do. Mixed media illustrations are bright and cheerful, depicting warm family relationships. Mom and Grandma wear hijabs and colorful tunics; Aisha is in overalls and a t-shirt. A cheerful story that readers will enjoy again and again.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

It’s hard to share our favorites: Mauntie and Me

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Mauntie and Me, by Rajani LaRocca/Illustrated by Nadia Alam, (Nov. 2024, Candlewick Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781536229417

Ages 3-7

It can be really difficult to share our favorite family members: in Mauntie and Me, Priya is the youngest of her cousins and feels left behind when the family gathers on weekends. But it’s okay, because she has her mom’s youngest sister, who she calls Mauntie: short for My Auntie. Together, Priya and Mauntie play games, share riddles, and have the best time together, but a new cousin, Aditi, arrives on the scene. Only a year older than Priya, Aditi also loves spending time with Mauntie, which doesn’t sit right with Priya. When Priya gets upset, Mauntie gives her an important riddle to consider: “What grows when you share it?” As Priya mulls over the riddle, she also finds herself missing Aditi. The answer dawns on her – love – and she realizes that Mauntie doesn’t halve her attention or her love when Aditi’s around; she doubles it. LaRocca captures the emotion and stress of sharing a loved one’s time and brings Priya on a journey to understanding. She creates a gentle and loving story about familial relationships and the friendships we form within them. Alam’s digital and pencil illustrations captures warm and loving family relationships. The opening spread where Priya and Mauntie greet one another across a crowd of family speaks volumes.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Pavlo Gets the Grumps – we all know it, don’t we?

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Pavlo Gets the Grumps, by Natalia Shaloshvili, (Sept. 2024, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536235548

Ages 3-7

Pavlo is not in a great mood today. Mama has all sorts of great ideas, but Pavlo doesn’t want to do any of them: “The swings are too swingy, the sandbox is too sandy, and… the slide is too SLIDEY!” Pavlo adamantly refuses to admit it: he’s got the Grumps, and Mama gets him out the door anyway, where he discovers the best cure for the Grumps: a hug from a friend. Preschoolers (and their grownups!) will easily identify with Pavlo; we all know when the Grumps strike. Shaloshvili expertly captures a child’s grumpy day in her narration, and her mixed media illustrations make for an adorably cranky kitten and a patient parent. Moody darker colors make up the backgrounds until Pavlo gets a hug from his friend Mila; the greens of the park become lighter and the outside becomes brighter as Pavlo’s mood lightens. A great story to cheer the Grumps away.

Pavlo Gets the Grumps has a starred review from Booklist.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Meet Marc Brown’s newest friend, Hop

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Arthur fans, get ready! Marc Brown has a new group of friends for readers to meet, and they’ll be coming to Max in April.

Hop Helps Out, by Marc Brown, (Feb. 2025, Orchard Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781339035680

Ages 2-6

Hop is a frog who lives in Fair Village with his friends. One day, he and his friend Benny meet a troll named Helga, who’s crying by a bridge. She wants to explore and see the world, but she’s scared. Not to worry: Hop and Benny take Helga by the hand and bring her exploring, introducing her to their friends and enjoying fun things like making ice cream and playing dress-up. Geared toward younger children, the narrative focuses on short, easy-to-read sentences. Marc Brown’s signature style is familiar to any Arthur fan, and the emphasis on friendship and being able to support one another is perfect for a younger age group learning social skills. Brown also creates characters that “are reflective of our communities and friends and inclusive of children who had been underrepresented in the media”, featuring characters with some sort of disability: Hop wears one sneaker that looks like a platform; a depiction of anisomelia (one leg is shorter than the other). Helga is coded as having agoraphobia.

According to Scholastic’s press release, RespectAbility, an advocacy nonprofit organization fighting stigma and advancing opportunity for people with disabilities, was brought on to consult on the series.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Christmas? Hanukkah? We have books for that!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

In today’s “books for holiday storytimes”…

Gingerbread Dreidels, by Jane Breskin Zalben/Illustrated by Thai Phuong, (Aug. 2024, Charlesbridge), $17.99, ISBN: 9781623543655

Ages 4-7

Christmas and Hanukkah fall on the same day this year! Siblings Sophie and Max are confused: they normally celebrate both holidays, but let’s get to the big question: will this mean they get half the presents? This sweet holiday story is all about family, traditions, and yes, the kids get presents. Sophie and Max bake up a mess in the kitchen with their parents until both sets of grandparents arrive and take over: latkes and applesauce! Sweet potato pudding and turkey! It’s a holiday feast to remember, followed by the stories of both Hanukkah and Christmas, singing holiday songs, a few spins of the dreidel, and then it’s time for gifts. A warm story of family, tradition, and blending faiths, Zalben includes a history of the dreidel and a tasty gingerbread dreidel recipe in addition to an author’s note. Grandma Gold, an Ethiopian Jew as clarified in Zalben’s author note, is depicted as brown-skinned; Papa, her son, is darker-skinned. Cheerful illustrations and warm storytelling will have kids asking for this every holiday.

 

 

 

Luna Loves Christmas, by Joseph Coelho/Illustrated by Fiona Lumbers, (Dec. 2023, Kane Miller), $15.99, ISBN: 978168464641

Ages 4-8

A new Luna story is always a fun time! This time, it’s Christmas. Luna gets to decorate and celebrate at Mom’s, and then at Dad’s, but this year, she and Mom are doing something different: they are volunteering! Luna’s a little cold when she and Mom start out, but as she delivers food, plays with a friend, and joins in with a group of carolers, the warmth she feels inside at doing good deeds warms her up and she doesn’t notice the cold. After volunteering with Mom, it’s off to Dad’s, where the two make cookies and hang stockings. On Christmas Day, they eat dinner at town hall with other families – and where Mom is serving dinner! – including both sets of grandparents. When Santa arrives at the end of the day, it’s the best way to end an exciting Christmas. A sweet story about giving and community, Luna Loves Christmas also supports children of divorce by illustrating life between two households. Her parents seem to have a healthy relationship and co-parent their child in a respectful manner. Illustrations are soft and cheerful. Luna is bi-racial and portratyed with light brown skin and curly hair; her father is dark-skinned. There is diversity in all the families depicted in the story. Originally published in the UK in 2023, there are fun details in the illustrations that hint at British holiday traditions, like the wearing of paper crowns. An insert “Christmas Story” lets readers enjoy a story that Luna and a new friend share. A sweet additional holiday purchase.