Category: Uncategorized

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

Halloween Picture Books for Spooky Fun Read-Alouds

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Vlad the Fabulous Vampire, by Flavia Z Drago, (Sept. 2023, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536233322

Ages 3-7

Flavia Z Drago returns to the world of Gustavo the Shy Ghost (2020) and introduces readers to Vlad, a vampire whose passion is fashion – but he’s so worried that his friends will discover that – GASP! – he has rosy pink cheeks that make him look “horribly alive”! He tries to design fabulous fashion to disguise his cheeks, but he know that deep inside, he isn’t being honest to himself or his friends. One day, he discovers that Shelley, his best friend, has been keeping a secret of her own, and the two form an even stronger support system that inspires them to love their unique qualities and encourage uniquene in others. Mixed-media illustrations and folk-art illustrations bring this story to life, with positive, affirming storytelling. Readers will love spotting Drago’s other characters, Flavia and Gustvavo. A delightful addition to picture book collections. Download a free activity kit at publisher Candlewick’s page!

 

 

 

There Was a Young Zombie Who Swallowed a Worm, by Kaye Baillie/Illustrated by Diane Ewen, (June 2023, Kane Miller), $13.99, ISBN: 9781684645787

Ages 3-6

In this Halloween-y take on There Was an Old Lady… a young zombie gobbles up everything around him with amusing consequences. Young zombie, a green-skinned kid with head bandages, a torn green shirt and bright red ragged pants, munches his way through a bevy of creepy crawlies and ghouls, from the titular worm through bats, ghosts, and trolls until his tummy finally gives out. A fun seasonal take on the cumulative favorite, the rhyme scheme makes for a fun readaloud, with phrases like, “He swallowed the bat to catch the worm. / I don’t know why he swallowed the worm. / It made him squirm” and “He swallowed the troll to bother the beast, / Who grizzled and grumbled at being his feast”. As the story continues, kids wll be able to chime in with some passages they remember, and there are plenty of chances to get readers up and squirming, fluttering and flapping, giggling, and cackling. Colorful, expressive characters are cartoony, never scary, and endpapers show everyone who ends up in the Young Zombie’s hungry maw. A fun additional purchase for holiday collections.

There Was a Young Zombie Who Swallowed a Worm was originally published in 2022 in the U.K.

 

 

Billy and the Beast, by Nadia Shireen, (June 2023, Kane Miller), $13.99, ISBN: 9781684645893

Billy is a little girl who can think fast – and she needs to, because she and her trusty sidekick, Fatcat, have to thwart a big, hairy beast from eating some adorable forest friends… and Fatcat! Billy is a girl of color, out on a stroll with her feline friend, saying hello to a Hedgehog, a Fox, some mice, and bunny rabbits, when they come across a big, blue, hairy Beast who’s making a “big pot of TERRIBLE soup” and needs “all sorts of unusual ingredients”. A quick look at the recipe, and Billy realizes that those ingredients include the animals she and Fatcat just encountered on their walk! Her quick mind and resourcefulness helps her come up with ways to keep the animals safe from the Beast, but when he reveals his final ingredient, Billy decides to enact some old-school fairy tale justice in a laugh-out-loud resolution. Cartoon artwork and expressive facial expressions make this a great read-aloud choice. Pair this with Alyssa Satin Capucilli and Tom Knight’s Bone Soup (2018) for a snacky storytime.

Billy and the Beast was originally published in the UK in 2018, and has two companion books, Billy and the Pirates and Billy and the Dragon.

 

The Pumpkin Who Was Afraid of the Dark, by Michelle Robinson/Illustrated by Mike Byrne, (June 2023, Kane Miller), $13.99, ISBN: 9781684647286

Ages 4-7

Boo is an adorable pumpkin who doesn’t like Halloween: she isn’t scary and she doesn’t want to be! All the other spooky pumpkins in Boo’s patch are chosen, but poor Boo sits all by herself. She doesn’t have scary cutout eyes or a wicked smile; she’s round, has big, friendly eyes, and a sweet smile. It turns out that she’s the best pumpkin choice for a brother and sister who venture into the patch: the little boy, dressed as a bat, is afraid of scary things! Told in rhyme, this sweet story takes the spookiness out of Halloween and talks about the fun: being with family, dressing up, and choosing the perfect pumpkin from the pumpkin patch; a pumpkin that will softly glow and keep the creepy stuff away. The brother and sister are brown-skinned, with expressive faces; Boo is softer than her fellow Jack-0-lanterns. She’s round and softly outlined; she’s a colorful orange with slightly more orange cheeks and bright green stringy arms, legs, and hair. A fun rhyming readaloud for holiday collections and a great opportunity to hand out pumpkin crafts!

The Pumpkin Who Was Afraid of the Dark was originally published in the UK in 2022.

Posted in Uncategorized

Update: Not blog-fading!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Hi, all. I know it’s been weeks since you’ve seen an update, and the posts have been fewer and farther between for a while. I’m still kind of learning to juggle life and work these days, so I’ve been posting less, but I am still here, I’m still figuring things out, and I’m still loving to read and share kidlit.

The big news: I was promoted to manager of my branch a few months ago. Hence, the figuring out juggling workload and lifeload. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be; I love my library, my community, and the people I work with.

Other big news: My Kiddo is now a middle schooler! He’s graduated from picture books (Nibbles, we hardly knew ye) to manga. He’s also taking on a preteen (GAH!) schedule, so that’s contributed to the juggle.

And honestly, I just needed a little bit of a break. So I’ve had little breaks, I’ve been doing the juggle, and now it’s time to get back to the posting and booktalking. Thanks for taking this ride with me.

Posted in Teen, Uncategorized, Young Adult/New Adult

Chilling Dystopian YA: The Chaperone by M Hendrix

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Chaperone, by M Hendrix, (June 2023, Sourcebooks Fire), $11.99, ISBN: 9781728260006

Ages 13+

I thought I’d burned out on dystopian YA, but the premise of The Chaperone sounded so plausible, so very close to where we balance these days, that I picked it up. I was rewarded. In New America, things are very different for young women; they have rules: “Deflect attention. Abstain from sin. Navigate the world with care. Give obedience. Embrace purity. Respect your chaperone.” From the moment a girl begins menstruation, men – including fathers – can no longer show affection, treating their female family members as commodities. A chaperone moves in with the family to keep the young woman “safe” at all times, and keep them from sin. The girls learn different from boys and college is a pipe dream. They are here to marry and breed. Stella, a teen living in New America, loves her chaperone, Sister Helen; she’s closer to her than her own mother. Sister Helen’s sudden, violent death sends her into a tailspin, and when her new chaperone, Sister Laura, moves in, Stella is initially reticent to open up. Sister Laura is different. She takes Stella to secret self defense classes. Gives her books that she isn’t supposed to read. Asks her provocative questions. Leaves her by herself in public. As Stella begins seeing the world with new eyes, she starts questioning her life in New America. And when her father starts pushing her into a marriage of his choice as graduation approaches, she knows she has big decisions to make, and soon. A taut thriller set in a frighteningly possible near future, The Chaperone has elements of Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, but puts greater emphasis on Stella and her growth throughout the story. Readers will appreciate the complex relationships Stella has with her parents and the conflicting loyalties to Sister Helen, her first chaperone, and Sister Laura, her latest chaperone. The Chaperone has an optimistic, empowering viewpoint that encourages young women to stay in the fight.

The Chaperone has a starred review from Booklist.
Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

Ready, Set, Sleep! The World Sleep Championship of Animals is on!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The World Sleep Championship of Animals, by Daniel Napp, (March 2023, Kane Miller), $15.99, ISBN: 9781684644964

Ages 4-8

Set in a game show sleeping competition, this bedtime story may have readers laughing too hard to go to bed… but it’s an excellent Pajama Storytime choice! Viktor Frog is your host and Heinz Boar is your judge as they put five animals to the test: can they fall asleep in the wackiest conditions? Who will sleep through the loud construction, steamy sauna, or raucous roller coaster challenges? Read like a sportscaster narrative, this amusing story will keep readers giggling as they see the animals doze off or stay awake in a frazzled panic. A scoreboard pops up throughout the story, providing a good opportunity for a feltboard storytime and some counting and predicting skills. Colorful cartoony artwork is kid-friendly and the animals are expressive, allowing readers to connect with them. Who hasn’t tried to sleep in complete silence and found themselves wanting? We’ve all been either too hot or too cold to fall asleep, so you’ll find readers who can relate. A good purchase for a fun readaloud.

 

Posted in Middle Grade, Non-fiction, Tween Reads, Uncategorized

Just Between Us journals open up conversations between daughters, fathers, and mothers

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Just Between Us: Father & Daughter – The original bestselling no-stress, no-rules journal, by Jonathan Jacobs & Sofie Jacobs, with Meredith Jacobs/Illustrated by Nate Padavick ,(Apr. 2023, Chronicle Books), $16.95, ISBN: 9781797216119

Ages 10+

Father-daughter team Jonathan Jacobs and Sofie Jacobs come together to tell some stories and provide thought-provoking prompts for dads and daughters to communicate. Suggested guidelines help set comfortable boundaries while encouraging open sharing, with pages set side to side for dads and daughters. There are fun prompts that call to mind those “how much do you know about me?” memes we’ve all done through e-mail and social media, and Free Spaces allow for journaling feelings, memories, or stream-of-consciousness writing. Fun illustrations encourage the writers to envision what they’d like to see about themselves on the front page of a newspaper or their social media pages. With Father’s Day coming up, this would be a great way to connect. Not suggested for a circulating collection, but a great suggestion to have in your pocket.

 

 

Just Between Us: Mother & Daughter – The original bestselling no-stress, no-rules journal, by Meredith Jacobs & Sofie Jacobs/Illustrated by Molly Baker, (Apr. 2023, Chronicle Books), $16.95, ISBN: 9781797222219

Ages 10+

Mother and daughter first collaborated on the Just Between Us journal over ten years ago; this revised edition allows for updated prompts and greater writing and creative space. Spaces like “a drawing of my dream outfit” let moms and daughters show their playful side, and “Things I would love for us to do together” breaks down the walls and allows for a wish list that mom and daughter can create together: and then act on it. I miss the playful illustrations that were in previous editions, but I appreciate the copious writing space to allow both writers to put their hopes, dreams, feelings, and ideas on paper. An excellent suggestion for summer journaling.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads, Uncategorized

Big books for little ones: board books and more!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

You know I love a board book bonanza, but I’ve got other interactive books to crow about, too! Let’s go right to it!

Ultimate Spotlight: Caring for Earth, by Sandra Laboucarie & Sarah Reynard/Illustrated by Julie Mercier, (March 2023, Twirl Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9791036353239

Ages 4-6

Twirl’s Ultimate Spotlight series is such fun for pre-readers and emerging readers. Loaded with interactive devices like lift-the-flaps, pull tabs, and spinners, each book is like a little adventure. Caring for Earth, the newest book in the series, is a fun and informative look into conservation and preservation. Spreads on respecting nature, creating gardens, eco-friendly living inform grown-ups and children about the many easy ways we can take action to keep our Earth green: create and support a seed library; compost food waste; switch from liquid soap to bar soap, and take a healthy walk when you can! Spreads on gardening show readers the different layers helpful in creating a layered ecosystem. Translated from the original French, the verbiage runs smoothly and is easy to read to younger learners. Flaps and pulls are sturdy and hold up to use (but I always suggest keeping an extra in your reference collection if you want to hold one for storytime and STEM programming). A good addition to a very fun series.

 

Hello Hummingbirds: Read and play in the tree!, by Hannah Rogge/Illustrated by Emily Dove, (May 2023, Chronicle Books), $12.99, ISBN: 9781797210094

Ages 2-4

This adorable book comes with two hummingbirds, attached to ribbons, that readers can use to swoop and play with the hummingbird narrator. A friendly hummingbird greets readers and takes them through a day in the life: swooping and flying, enjoying flower nectar, sheltering and building a nest. Quick, fun facts thread through the narrative, while the colorful artwork and playful fonts engage readers. The book stands up and pages open to become a tree. The pages are sturdy and the ribbons seem to hold up to extra tugging, making this a good storytime/playtime choice.

Let’s Go to Color Camp!: Beginning Baby, by Nicola Slater, (June 2023, Twirl Books), $12.99, ISBN: 9781797218724

Ages 0-3

The Beginning Baby friends return on a trip to Color Camp – and they need help identifying colors! Tabbed flaps with colors help children turn to a favorite color, or they can page through the story where they’re invited to identify colors in the camp surroundings as the Beginning Baby friends paint, eat lunch, go swimming, and enjoy a day at camp. The retro art and expressive, friendly animals are eye-catching, and the sturdy pages will hold up to multiple readings. Great for a read-aloud and quiet skill-building, this is a fun addition to a fun series.

 

Posted in Uncategorized

Minecraft Cookbook: Great for Teens!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Minecraft: Gather, Cook, Eat! Official Cookbook, by Tara Theoharis, (Apr. 2023, Insight Editions), $27.99, ISBN: 9781647228262

Ages 12+

This is the kind of cookbook I’d put right into my Teen nonfiction section. Over 40 recipes for all skill levels, organized into appetizers and snacks, entrees, desserts, and drinks, and with fun Minecraft-y names, accompanied by color photos and meal planning suggestions? Home run. Minecraft icons on every recipe give cooks difficulty levels and player types that inspired the dishes; Minecraft artwork runs throughout. A chart lets readers see at a glance which are dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian. The dishes are fun and inventive, like Inventory Bread, a pull-apart bread that looks like different types of building blocks, or Nether Portal Rolls; cinnamon rolls with ube frosting to give the roll a deliciously purple sheen that matches Minecraft Purple. Recipes are detailed and easy to follow. Player Notes at the end allow for cooking or gaming notes as you cook. This should be a hit for Young Adult and New Adult cookbook collections.

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 Uncategorized

Happy Book Birthday to Tiny T. Rex and the Grand Ta-Da!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Tiny T. Rex and the Grand Ta-Da!, by Jonathan Stutzman/Illustrated by Jay Fleck, (Apr. 2023, Chronicle Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9781452184883

Ages 3-5

Tiny T. Rex and best friend Pointy, face a series of challenges when they enter a talent show. The two work on figuring out their strengths, ultimately deciding to put on a magic show like their hero The Amazing Presto. As the two work the kinks out of their act, they sweetly build each other up with positive self-talk, and readers will get big laughs out of the humorous moments where they practice on their friends. When Pointy comes down with a case of stage fright, Tiny T. Rex has her friend’s back. Adorable characters, bright colors, and an hilarious marriage between Stutzman’s story and Fleck’s illustrations are a home run for readers. With strong themes of friendship, planning, and practice, Tiny T. Rex makes for perfect storytime reading. If you haven’t already pre-ordered this, make sure you add this to your collections.

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.