Tag: Kane Miller

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 Intermediate, Non-Fiction

Dogs Do Science: a graphic nonfiction series for intermediate readers

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

This is such a fun series with recurring characters and fun, smart science know-how. For readers that may be a little young for Science Comics, Dogs Do Science fits the bill nicely. Read on for more.

Dogs Do Science: Sound, by Anna Claybourne/Luke Séguin-Magee, (March 2024, Kane Miller), $12.99, ISBN: 9781684647804

Ages 7-10

Meet Professor Pooch: a learned and fluffy Bichon Frisé, they’re also the main character fo the Dogs Do Science graphic novel series. In Dogs Do Science: Sound, Professor Pooch is here to explain how sound works, using dogs and their superior hearing as examples for readers. Explained through a series of graphic novel sections featuring different breeds of dogs, readers will love the fun comics and easily understandable explanations of sound: why do dogs go berserk when the postman arrives? Why do our dogs come running when we think we’re shaking that food quietly? Why do chihuahuas have that sharp little bark? It all comes down to science! (By the way: tiny dogs have tiny vocal cords, hence the squeaky barks.) A “Sound Roundup” and pop quiz in the back matter help summarize and test readers’ knowledge. Cartoon illustrations keep things moving.

 

Dogs Do Science: Forces, by Anna Claybourne/Luke Séguin-Magee, (March 2024, Kane Miller), $12.99, ISBN: 9781684647798

Ages 7-10

This volume is all about force: “pushes, pulls, and other forces make things move – or stop, or change direction, or fall over”, as Professor Pooch puts it. A trip back in time with Dr. Whoodle the Poodle introduces readers to Sir Isaac Newton and a discussion on gravity; other comic strips teach readers about centrifugal force, air pressure, and intertia. A section called Spot the Spaniel’s “Spot the Difference” offers a fun activity where readers can search before and after pictures for signs of gravity. A “Force Roundup” and pop quiz summarize and reinforce readers’ knowledge.

 

 

Dogs Do Science: Light, by Anna Claybourne/Luke Séguin-Magee, (March 2024, Kane Miller), $12.99, ISBN: 9781684647811

Finally, we have Light, which starts off with the bright shiny thing that comes through the windows and wakes our dogs up every morning… and sometimes, shiny things blink outside the window. Professor Pooch and their amusingly dull  Doberman assistant are here to help, shedding light on the mysteries behind shadows, reflections, and how dogs see colors differently from humans. A recurring “Dogs in Space” comic takes how light travels in space. Spot the Spaniel has a fun shadow matching activity, and Professor Pooch’s Light Roundup and Poodle’s Pop Quiz complete the volume.

All in all, the Dogs Do Science series is fun, and works well with graphic novel collections where nonfiction is helpful and popular, aka History Comics and Science Comics.

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

A fairy tale retelling and a neurodivergent main character who saves the day

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf, by Craig Barr-Green/Illustrated by Francis Martin, (March 2024, Kane Miller), $17.99, ISBN: 9781684647866

Ages 4-7

Gina Kaminski is an autistic young girl who uses emojis to let readers know how she is feeling. She’s not having a great day at school because it’s hot, smelly, and loud, so she heads to the reading room with Anya, a woman who appears to be a paraprofessional or teacher; there, Anya reads Gina the story of Little Red Riding Hood, which really doesn’t sit well with Gina for a multitude of reasons. Gina decides she’s ready to visit fairy-tale land and correct the mistakes she found in the story, and, in an amusing an inventive retelling, saves the wolf and the day. Gina is so likable: she’s ready to tell readers how she interprets the world and invites us along for the ride, and she clearly lays out how she sets to correcting the holes in the story, using her emojis along the way so we know how she feels and what her triggers are. Endpapers feature a variety of emojis to let readers see a range of emotions, and the simple and direct illustration uses color for emphasis, with bold outlines to define Gina and her world. Fonts change when Gina speaks versus fairy tale characters, helping readers transition back and forth. This British import is the first in a new flipped fairy tale series; with a clever and endearing neurodivergent main character and creative ways to rewrite stories that may be worrisome for some readers, it’s worth reading and adding to collections. Visit author Craig Barr-Green’s webpage for a sneak peek at Gina’s next adventure.

Gina Kaminski Saves a Wolf has starred reviews from Booklist and Kirkus Reviews.

For more information about autism feelings charts, visit the UK’s High Speed Training page or Autism Little Learners, which has a self-regulation chart. Teachers Pay Teachers has a wealth of free emotion charts available for free, and Autism Parenting Magazine has a very good article on how emotion charts are helpful.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

What’s faster than a cheetah? Well…

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

There’s Nothing Faster than a Cheetah, by Tom Nicoll/Illustrated by Ross Collins, (Dec. 2023, Kane Miller), $15.99, ISBN: 9781684647958

Ages 4-7

This uproarious race tale tips its hat to Aesop’s classic fable, The Hare and the Tortoise, while putting a new spin on the hilarity. A cheetah and a snail are set to race, and the narrator tells readers not to have high expectations: “…there’s NOTHING faster than a cheetah!” “Nothing?” “NOTHING.” The race begins, and a laugh-out-loud parade of alliterative animal contestants show up as the story posits whether such wonders could compete: “Not a rhino on roller skates?” “Penguins on pogo sticks?” “What about a hippo on a hang glider?” Meanwhile, attentive readers will notice that the snails are up to something, leading toward a reveal that will delight everyone. The question-and-answer format will make for a fun and interactive read-aloud and alliteration plays with language in a way that invites readers to think of their own animal combinations. Endpapers feature the animals mentioned in the story, and their relative speeds. Bright and colorful illustration shows animals with amusing and dramatic expressions and inventive combinations. A fun addition to storytime collections.

Posted in Non-Fiction, picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Guess Who and What’s on the Menu? Animal non-fiction for kids!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Eye Guess: A Forest Animal Guessing Game, by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes, (Jan 2024, Charlesbridge), $8.99, ISBN: 9781623544478

Ages Infant-3

Play a game of Guess Who? with littles with this illustrated board book that offers clues and extreme close-ups. Spreads alternate question and answer, with close-up illustrations and a brief clue and a full spread of the animal in its environment… and a sneak peek at the next animal for readers to discover. Realistic illustrations are in full color and pay attention to details and are reminiscent of Steve Jenkins’ books. Fonts are easy to read and the repetitive question and answer format will help readers identify animals after a few reads. A good addition to board book collections.

 

 

 

Menus for Meerkats and Other Hungry Animals, by Ben Hoare/Illustrated by Hui Skipp, (March 2024, Kane Miller), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684648306

Ages 6-9

Kids who have ever wondered what’s on the menu for different animals will get a kick out of this friendly book that describes what different animals eat and why: who’s a vegetarian? Who’s a meat-eater? Who dabbles in both? There are 10 profiles of animal appetites in here, including the dung beetle and the different types of poop they snack on, so be ready for a lot of laughs. Spreads alternate between a menu, offering a few general facts about the animal’s eating habits and what they eat and drink, and a dinner spread, which gets into more detail about how they eat what they do: grizzy bears are omnivores who will dig up roots, eat berries, and fish for bears, and they eat most of the time they’re awake because they hibernate through the winter, for instance. Fun fact boxes provide more statistics, like length and weight. A glossary and index make up the back matter. Hot pink endpapers have animal illustrations, and the interior illustrations are colorful, bright, and cheerful. A fun additional add to animal collections, and let’s be honest here: can you ever have enough books on poop? The kids at my library would say no.

 

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Space Pirate Bears to the rescue!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Hi, all! I know I said I was back, but then I gave myself a panic attack by seeing the giant TBR I’ve accumulated. I’m just jumping in, so please forgive the delay and get ready to get caught up. Here we go!

Space Pirate Bears, by Alastair Chisholm/Illustrated by Jez Tuya, (Dec. 2023, Kane Miller), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684647361

Ages 4-7

The storytelling family from The Prince and the Witch and the Thief and the Bears and The Tale of the Valiant Ninja Frog are back! In this latest installment, Dad is working from home on a rainy day and siblings Jamie and Abby are BORED. Luckily, it’s not too difficult to tear Dad away for a quick story! This time, the awful Doktor Drab is using his horrible Boron Beam to make the whole universe as dull as he is. What to do when the usual heroes fall victim to the beam? Call in the Space Pirate Bears! There’s one problem, though: Jamie and Abby can’t agree on whether the Space Pirate Bears are unicorn doctors, secret agents, or ninjas, and the whole universe hangs in the balance! This fun adventure is all about compromise and teamwork, and makes for a fun read-aloud. Colorful illustrations are eye-catching, with fun details for readers: the siblings’ toys are characters in the story, and readers familiar with the previous entries will recognize some familiar faces. Endpapers show the space pirate bears in a variety of action poses. A fun additional purchase for storytime collections.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Everything Changes helps kids cope with divorce

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Everything Changes, by Clare Helen Welsh/Illustrated by Åsa Gilland, (March 2023, Kane Miller), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684644940

Ages 4-7

A family – mom, dad, child – are enjoying a summer vacation at the beach when the parents break the news: they will not be living together any longer. The child goes through a storm of emotions as his parents lovingly explain that they will both always love him. As the seasons change, the boy spends time with both parents, his thoughts and emotions churning; his parents lovingly reassure him each time: while sledding with his mother, sharing hot cocoa with his father, even meeting his mother’s new partner. At the boy’s birthday party, both sides of the family are there as he celebrates his day. Welsh’s validations will reassure readers experiencing similar challenges: “I know things won’t always be easy… but they won’t always be so hard”. The seasons changing show a passage of time that acts as a comfort, reinforcing change as a constant and that love endures. Dad appears brown-skinned, Mom is light-skinned, the child has light-rown skin and curly hair. A helpful book to have handy for collections.

Sesame Workshop has a helpful webpage with resources for dealing with divorce.

 

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Holiday Reads: Eight Nights, Eight Lights by Natalie Barnes & Andrea Stegmaier

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

How was everyone’s Thanksgiving? I hope all who celebrate had a wonderful gathering. Now, it’s time for the winter holiday to kick into high gear! Here’s my first pick for holiday books this season: Eight Nights, Eight Lights.

Eight Nights, Eight Lights, by Natalie Barnes/Illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier, (March 2023, Kane Miller), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684644414

Ages 4-8

A thriving community celebrates Chanukah and readers enjoy each night through a new set of eyes in this story that explores the feeling of community, history, and embracing differences. A young boy named Max rushes home with his grandfather to light his family’s heirloom menorah; a young girl named Lara, alongside her father, shares homemade jelly donuts with neighbors. Families welcome visitors, share food and play games, give gifts, and gather at the synagogue for the story of Chanukah. Children think upon the Biblical king’s determination to force the Jewish people into giving up their religion in mature pondrance: “People can be scared when they see differences in other that they don’t understand. But we are all different… that’s what makes everyone special”. Songs and fireworks close out the last night of the celebration. Sharp-eyed readers may notice Christmas trees in the street scenes, a nod to two dovetailing holidays. Note the London Eye in the background on the final spread – Eight Nights, Eight Lights was first published in Great Britain in 2022. A helpful guide to the menorah on the verso gives readers more context, and endpapers feature menorahs on a background of blue. A great introduction to the holiday for readers.

 

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.