Genre: Picture Book

Saving Kate’s Flowers

Fall is here and Kate, who is a rabbit, is determined to save her flowers from the winter cold. Mom shows her how to scoop the flowers out of the ground, transplant them into pots, and give them water. Kate pots a couple of flowers . . . and then some more … and a few more. ate has filled the house with flowers, but Dad’s sneezes mean the flowers have to go! Kate realizes she needs to find a new place for her flowers to spend the winter, but where?

Saving Kate’s Flowers is a fun story that introduces readers to different types of flowers—black-eyed susans, impatients, geraniums, and goldenrod just to name a few. The story also explains the difference between perennials and annuals. Readers will relate to Kate, who doesn’t want any of the flowers to die. When the overzealous Kate pots too many plants, her mom helps her find a way to save them. With a little help, Kate’s flowers find a new home with her neighbors.

Kate’s world comes to life in beautiful full-colored illustrations that are packed full of details. Readers will enjoy finding the snail that appears on almost every page. Butterflies, worms, and insects are also in many of the pictures. The story includes a 4-page “For Creative Minds” section in the back of the book and a 27-page cross-curricular “Teaching Activity Guide” online. Each page has 1 to 9 sentences which early readers will need help reading. Even though young readers may need help with the vocabulary, the story explains transplanting plants in a way that young readers will easily understand.

Children will love the adorable animals in Saving Kate’s Flowers, from a turtle listing to an ipod to a pug wearing pearls. Kate’s enthusiasm for plants is contagious and her kind actions show the importance of being a good neighbor. Whether you’re looking for a book that teaches about plants or just a fun family read-aloud, Saving Kate’s Flower is sure to delight. Readers who want to learn more about the joy of gardening should also read Mortimer’s First Garden by Karma Wilson.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, DON’T!

If you go to the library and see a poster that says, “You can do ANYTHING AT THE LIBRARY,” it is not giving you permission to put on a circus.

But Magnolia doesn’t see any problem with setting up her own big top. She’s got a whole lot of gusto! Sportsmanship! And a mean human-cannonball routine! So what if her greatest show on Earth won’t fit between bookshelves? It’s not like she’ll wreck the place, right?

Readers will giggle their way through If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, DON’T! The picture book uses bright colors and cartoonish illustrations to bring Magnolia’s circus to life. The diverse cast of characters are drawn with hilarious facial expressions that show the characters’ changing emotions. While some of Magnolia’s daring deeds are met with enthusiasm, others are met with dismay.

Readers will love the mischief Magnolia gets into. Parents can use the story to discuss appropriate ways to behave at the library, at school or any other public place. The text is written with large words. “YOU CAN DO ANYTHING AT THE LIBRARY!” is written in red text and appears over and over, which highlights the fact that there are really so many things that you can’t do at the library. Each page has 1-4 sentences. However, young readers will need help with some of the vocabulary and the complicated sentence structure.

The ending is funny, but it also shows everyone working together to clean up Magnolia’s great big giant mess. Be sure to point out the poster on the last page, because it shows how you really can’t bring a circus to the library. If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, DON’T! blends both text and illustrations into a hilarious book that is sure to tickle everyone’s funny bone.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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13 Ways to Eat a Fly

Thirteen flies become tasty snacks in this clever reverse counting book about subtraction, predators, and prey.

Science meets subtraction in this fresh and funny STEM picture book with plenty of ewww factor to please young readers. A swarm of thirteen flies buzzes along, losing one member to each predator along the way. Whether the unfortunate insects are zapped or wrapped, liquefied or zombified, the science is real—and hilariously gross. The story includes a guide to eating bugs, complete with nutritional information for a single serving of flies.

Each two-page spread shows how a different predator finds a fly to snack on. While the descriptions are not gory, squeamish readers may find the flies’ deaths disturbing. When a fly gets too close to a Venus flytrap, for instance, “Snap! Bye-bye, fly! Digestive juices inside the leaf dissolve the meaty parts of the fly.” The accompanying illustration shows a fly trying to escape from the plant.

13 Ways to Eat a Fly introduces readers to the cycle of life through rhyming lines and illustrations. The story begins with illustrations of different types of flies. Each page has an oversized number with one keyword, such as zapped and wrapped. Even though each page only has 2 to 4 sentences, the book is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. The illustrations use natural colors with pops of brighter colors. In many of the illustrations, the fly’s common name and scientific name appear underneath the fly.

Curious readers will love learning about the many animals, including humans, that rely on flies for food. Any reader who is interested in science and nature will enjoy 13 Ways to Eat a Fly. Readers will even learn about the nutritional value of flies and how humans can use them in their own meals. Readers who enjoy 13 Ways to Eat a Fly, may want to add the Fly Guy Series to their reading list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • The story shows the ways flies die. For example, a wasp “stings a fly, carries it home, and drags it down into a nest.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

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Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

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The Apple Orchard Riddle

Mr. Tiffin’s class is going on another field trip. The class is excited to go to an apple orchard and learn all about apples. The kids will see how apples are harvested, how apples are turned into cider, and how apples are turned into pies and cakes. Mr. Tiffin even shows the class all the different varieties of apples. During the field trip, the class is challenged to find the answer to a riddle: “Show me a little red house with no windows and no door, but with a star inside.”

Each book in Mr. Tiffin’s Classroom Series focuses on a different student. This story focuses on Tara, who likes to daydream and isn’t “good at tests.” Even though Tara is the focus of the story, she doesn’t have a conflict. Without a conflict, the story is flat and lacks suspense. In addition, one of the students is a little snarky.

Each page has large illustrations that show a diverse group of children. Each page has 1 to 6 sentences and almost every page shows an illustration of a different aspect of an apple farm. Even though The Apple Orchard Riddle is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. The end of the story contains a list of apple orchard facts.

As students work to discover the answer to the riddle, they look at a tractor, a barn, and an apple peeler. However, the answer to the riddle is obvious from the start. Throughout the field trip, Tara spends a lot of time thinking instead of participating in the other activities. In the end, she discovers the riddle’s answer. Unfortunately, Tara’s situation doesn’t correspond with apples and the story doesn’t have a life lesson.

The Apple Orchard Riddle isn’t as interesting as other books in Mr. Tiffin’s Classroom Series. However, readers will enjoy seeing the different parts of an apple farm. In addition, Tara’s tendency to spend time thinking and daydreaming is showed in a positive light. Mr. Tiffin’s Classroom Series allows readers to explore and learn about different places from the comfort of their homes.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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I Got the School Spirit

Summer is over, and this little girl has got the school spirit! She hears the school spirit in the bus driving up the street—VROOM, VROOM!—and in the bell sounding in the halls—RING-A-DING! She sings the school spirit in class with her friends—ABC, 123!

The school spirit helps us all strive and grow. What will you learn today?

In this picture book, an African American girl celebrates going to school. The vibrant oil-painted illustrations focus on one girl. When she gets to school, her classmates are a diverse group of children. Several pictures show students who are worried about going to school, which causes tears. However, in the end, all of the students are happy to be in school. From storytime to the bus ride home, the school day isn’t complete until the girl gets a big hug from her mother.

Each two-page spread has one illustration that takes up both pages. Each page has one short sentence that ends with a few words that are in big, bold text. Many of these words are onomatopoeias such as “crunch, munch, sip.” Whether your child is getting ready for their first day of preschool or their first day of kindergarten, I Got the School Spirit will help younger readers feel more confident about going to school.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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Good Sport Gwen

Three cheers for Gwen, sports star! She’s the fastest runner, the highest kicker, and the top-scoring champion of the soccer team. But when her spelling bee team slides into a losing streak, Gwen learns that good sports are the most winning players of all.

While playing soccer, Gwen works with her teammates so they can win the game. After the game, the girls praise each other and work together. But during the spelling bee, not all of Gwen’s teammates are paying attention, which makes Gwen angry, so she says, “Our blue team stinks!” Her teammates are shocked at Gwen’s outburst. But then Gwen comes up with a creative solution—her spelling team can practice spelling while playing soccer.

 When she gets angry, Miss Sparks talks to Gwen about her bad behavior, which makes Gwen think about her behavior. While Gwen and the blue team never win a spelling bee, Gwen learned that “good sports win every time, no matter what the score is.” The story highlights the importance of encouraging each other in every situation. Even though the story revolves around the spelling bees, there is enough action to keep readers interested in the story.

Readers who are beginning to read independently will appreciate the easy vocabulary. Most paragraphs are one simple sentence. Large, colorful illustrations appear on almost every page, which helps the readers understand the plot and the characters’ emotions. Good Sport Gwen uses a relatable conflict to teach the importance of being a good sport, even when you lose. The book includes “Dear Parent” activities at the end that were created by teachers and child specialists to help you nurture your child’s skills, boost their self-confidence, and encourage a lifelong love for learning.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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Mel Fell

Mel, a kingfisher bird, is ready to learn how to fly. Her mother is away from the nest and her siblings, Pim and Pip, both worry that the drop is too long. Mel is a little afraid too. However, Mel reminds herself, “I’ve got wings.” Then she takes the plunge off her perch.

Mel’s fall from her tree introduces readers to a flurry of bright and whimsical characters—from a group of acrobatic squirrels and a chivalrous hive of bees to a helpful spider and heroic snail. Each character tries to save Mel from her fall, but they soon realize that they can do nothing to stop Mel’s descent and Mel is left to her own devices. She reaches the water at the halfway point of the book with a big SPLASH. At first, it appears that Mel has fallen . . . until the readers are asked to turn the book sideways and see Mel fly. Mel bursts from the water— fish in mouth— to race the other animals to the top of the tree and into her mother’s arms.

Mel Fell highlights this beautifully uplifting message through hand-painted watercolor illustrations with earthy tones. Settings of deep water, high forest canopies, and open skies fill the background of every page, immersing the reader in the kingfisher’s specific habitat. Each page has 1 to 4 short sentences written in simple vocabulary, making Mel Fell a wonderful book for an emerging reader. The repetition of certain phrases like, “Mel fell and fell” adds a rhythm that makes the story fun to read out loud. In addition, animated asides from the different animals are given in small, bright pink and blue text bubbles. These comments—exclamations like “Blast,” “Aieee,” or “Do…not…fear…helpless…little….bird….”— bring unique personalities to every animal presented in the book. These exclamatory asides hold a lot of excitement and would be great for any group of readers wishing to trade-off reading certain sections. The overall result is a book that fills the page with movement, both textual and illustrated.

Tactile interactions incorporated in the book, such as the ask to physically rotate the book halfway through, allows readers to engage in the book in a whole new way. This also works to directly show readers that falling (or failing) is all a matter of perspective. Additionally, an author’s note at the end of the story gives a small introduction to the nature of the kingfisher, allowing for an opportunity to teach children about wildlife. All readers, both young and old, will enjoy the young kingfishers in Mel Fell. The small but courageous young Mel will remind everyone that it’s normal to be scared when you try new things. Mel’s confidence also teaches young readers that believing in yourself can open a whole new world of possibilities.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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by Hannah Olsson

Pirates, HO!

Swashbuckling pirates sail the seas, braving storms, battles—and other pirates! From the first mate down to the cabin boy, they are rascals through and through.

But at night, by the light of the moon, they tell each other ghost stories. . . and guess who ends up being scared?

Pirates, HO! is a fun story that shows stereotypical pirates who want to find gold. “There’s Peg-Leg Tom and Angus Black, Dreadful Nell, and One-Eyed Jack. A thieving, lying, rascally crew, the worst you’ve heard of us is true. . .” In addition, one of the pirates has a tattoo of a ship on his chest. Even though the pirates themselves are not unique, the end of the book contains a humorous surprise. Although the pirates are brave, ghost stories make them afraid. Young readers will relate to the pirates who are afraid of the dark and they will giggle when the pirates hide in their beds.

The picture book’s illustrations use bold colors and cartoonish pirates that have lots of fun details such as a scared pelican listening to the pirate’s ghost story. Some of the illustrations use humor. For example, when the pirates are chasing another boat, two people ski behind the ship. Each page has 1 to 3 sentences. The text uses rhyming and pirate words that will capture readers’ attention and make Pirates, HO! an excellent book to read aloud.

Parents looking for a fun book that young readers will want to read repeatedly should add Pirates, HO! to their reading collection! Even though the story is full of scowling pirates, kids will fall in love with the motley crew. But be ready for readers to begin talking like a pirate. The pirates say, “We shout, ‘Avast!’ We cry, ‘Ahoy!'” If you’re looking for more pirate action, you may also want to read All Paws on Deck by Jessica Young.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • The pirates tie a man up with rope. The man is walking the plank. “Our swords are steel and our hearts are stone as we send our foes to Davy Jones. We are pirates, pirates, ho!”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

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Supernatural

  • The pirates tell ghost stories. “Now hear of a captain who sold his soul for the glitter of jewels and the gleam of gold.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

 

Rocket Says Clean Up!

When Rocket goes on vacation to see her grandparents, they spend the day at the beach. Rocket discovers that plastic is taking over the ocean. When Rocket finds a baby turtle wrapped up in plastic, she’s determined to do something. Rocket wants everyone to take action! Rocket’s passion to make the beach a safer place for wildlife inspires the people around her. Together, can they entice the sea creatures to return?

Rocket’s desire to clean up the beach is inspiring and highlights the need for a community to come together to pick up the trash. The illustrations show an explosion of plastic all over the sand, in the water, and wrapped around a tiny turtle. Even though some of the illustrations are humorous, the story still focuses on how trash can be dangerous to sea life. The story even shows how trash can be repurposed to make art. The conclusion has a happy ending which shows the sea turtle being released back into the ocean.

Rocket is a relatable character who isn’t afraid to speak up about the dangers of trash. With the help of her grandparents, Rocket brings a community together and makes the beach trash-free. In Rocket Says Look Up, the story and lesson were completely integrated. However, in Rocket Says Clean Up, the message takes center stage at the expense of a well-developed plot. Despite this, readers will enjoy the story, which ends with a list of ways that readers can reduce waste.

Rocket Says Clean Up is an engaging picture book with bright illustrations that are full of fun details. For example, Rocket buries her brother in the sand and then builds a sandcastle on top of him. The people at the beach are a diverse group that includes people from different races as well as different body types. The large cast of people in the illustrations helps reinforce the concept that it takes a community to clean up a beach.

Even though Rocket Says Clean Up is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for a child to read it for the first time independently. Most pages contain 1-4 sentences, but some of the sentences are complex. Rocket gives a few interesting facts about where trash comes from, and how it hurts animals. These interesting facts appear in quote boxes and begin with, “Did you know. . .”

Rocket, who is African American, looks up to Imani Wilmot, who created the first female surf competition in Jamaica. Rocket’s experiences will encourage readers to learn more about protecting the ocean. The bright, fun illustrations will capture readers’ attention, and Rocket’s enthusiasm will keep readers interested until the last page. Readers who would like to learn more about the ocean should add Shark Lady by Jess Keating and Shawn Loves Sharks by Curtis Manley to their reading list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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The Great Shark Escape

Mrs. Frizzle is teaching her students about ocean life, and her students must complete a report about an ocean creature. Arnold isn’t too happy about the assignment because ocean creatures can be dangerous. When Mrs. Frizzle announces a field trip to an aquarium, Arnold is relieved that the class will not be doing anything daring. But when the class arrives at the aquarium, they discover it had to close because of a flood.

Despite this, Mrs. Frizzle is determined to teach the students about the ocean, so the magic school bus takes the class into the ocean. They end up face-to-face with all kinds of sharks, from great whites to goblin sharks. Then, when things get scary and the class is really swimming in trouble, you’d never guess who helps the class make the great shark escape!

The Great Shark Escape is an exciting story with plenty of suspense. Arnold tells the story and his dislike of danger adds some humor. Black and white illustrations appear every 1 to 3 pages. The illustrations show Mrs. Frizzle’s students, who are a diverse group, under the sea, which will help readers understand the plot. In addition, a sketch of each shark allows the readers to see the differences between each shark.

Shark-loving kids will enjoy a trip into the open ocean to learn all about sharks. Throughout the story, Mrs. Fizzle’s students’ reports appear on notebook paper. Each section is about one paragraph long and contains information about specific sharks as well as general shark information. Readers will learn about a huge variety of ocean life including the whale shark, the great white shark, the angel shark, the goblin shark, and the hammerhead shark. Even though all of the shark information is interesting, some readers may have a hard time jumping from the story to the shark facts and back.

The high-interest topic and the fun format of The Great Shark Escape will appeal to readers. While Arnold’s narration shows his fear of sharks, in the end, Arnold’s bravery allows him to save the class. The Great Shark Escape uses an entertaining story to teach about sharks. Because each book in The Magic School Bus focuses on different topics, readers will never get bored with the series. Shark-loving readers can learn more about sharks by reading Shark Lady by Jess Keating.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • The magic school bus narrowly avoids getting eaten by a shark.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • The magic school bus transforms into a helicopter and then a submarine. “Not only was the sub going down deep, it was shrinking and so were we! Now the sub was only two feet long.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark

Mrs. Clam loses her pearl and Mr. Fish promises he will find it. But when he goes looking for the pearl, he can’t find it in “the busy bottom land.” Then he hears a voice whisper, “It’s further out to sea!”

Mr. Fish is nervous about swimming deeper and his “heart flit-fluttered.” Even though he is scared of the dark, Mr. Fish keeps looking for the pearl. Mr. Fish has to go deeper and deeper into the sea. Miss Shimmer encourages Mr. Fish and “they swam down together. Holding fin to fin.” A lantern fish lights the way, and Mr. Fish finds the pearl.

The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark is a super cute story about friendship and fear of the dark. Young readers will relate to Mr. Fish, who wants to help his friend but is afraid of going into the dark part of the ocean. Throughout the story, Mr. Fish repeatedly says, “I’m fast as a sail ship, I’m strong as a shark, I’m smart as a dolphin, but I’m scared of the dark.” Readers will learn that there is no reason to be afraid of the dark, but that having a friend near will help you overcome your fear. In the end, Mr. Fish learns, “The ocean is wide, and the ocean is deep, but friends help friends—that’s a promise we keep.”

While Mr. Fish is looking for the pearl, he hears a voice whispering. In the end, Mr. Fish finds out that the voice belonged to Miss Shimmer. Even though Miss Shimmer’s words were encouraging, parents may want to talk to their child about the dangers of following a voice.

The rhyming couplets and repeating words make The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark a fun book to read aloud. Each page has 2 to 4 sentences printed in large text and set against a solid background which makes it easy to read. The illustrations perfectly capture the events of the story and show Mr. Fish’s worried expression. Each full-color illustration shows the diverse creatures that are abundant in the ocean. All the illustrations are beautifully colored in shades of blue with pops of color, and many of the illustrations are humorous.

The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark takes a relevant topic and combines it with wonderful sea-creatures that will capture readers’ attention. Young readers will fall in love with Mr. Fish and his friends. The Pout-Pout Fish series will capture readers’ hearts. This is definitely a book series that readers will want to read again and again, both because of the relatable topics and the pictures.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

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Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

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The Snail and the Whale

When a tiny snail wants to travel to far-off lands, he makes a “silvery trail that looped and curled” asking for a ride. The snail meets a humpback whale and the two travel together to far-off lands. It’s a dream come true for the snail, who has never left home before. But when the whale swims too close to shore, will the snail be able to save his new friend?

The Snail and the Whale is a wonderful adventure about two unlikely friends who connect over their desire to travel. The vibrant, full-page illustrations use hues of blue to paint the sea, and splashes of color to create the different “far-off lands.” The two friends visit the penguins that live in “towering icebergs,” monkeys who live where there are “fiery mountains and golden sands,” and other wild places.

The beginning of the story focuses on the beauty of nature. However, the whale ends up going too close to the shore where “there are speedboats, running a race, zigging and zooming all over the place.” The confused whale ends up on the shore. Even though the snail “felt helpless and terribly small,” she didn’t give up. Instead, she crawls into a classroom and makes “a silvery trail saying, ‘Save the Whale.’” With the help of the town, the whale and the sail make it safely back to sea.

The Snail and the Whale is an engaging story that is perfect to read aloud. With rhyming lines, alliteration, and descriptive imagery, readers will want to hear the story again and again. Each two-page spread has 2 to 10 lyrical lines that are intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read independently.

Adventure-loving readers will enjoy traveling with the whale and the snail. The satisfying conclusion highlights the love of travel as well as how two friends can help each other. The “snail with an itchy foot” takes the reader on a wonderful adventure, full of beautifully detailed illustrations. Ocean-lovers will also enjoy Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

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Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure

A mysterious malady has swept through the forest, making the woodland creatures sick. Luckily, Charlotte the Scientist is on the case! She’s determined to find a cure using science. But the grownups don’t take her work seriously, and examining animals of all shapes and sizes with upset tummies can be, well. . . challenging.

In the second installment of the Charlotte the Scientist Series, Charlotte’s big bunny family gets even larger when Grandpa moves in. Grandpa helps and encourages Charlotte in her scientific endeavors. When the forest animals get sick, Charlotte is determined to discover the cause. When the adults begin examining patients, they tell Charlotte, “Run along, little one. This is grown-up work.” Charlotte is discouraged, but when she thinks back to her grandpa’s words, they give her the courage to continue looking for a cure. In the end, “Charlotte realized she didn’t need to be the oldest or smartest. She had stopped the sickness, cured the carrots, and saved the forest!”

Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure moves away from Charlotte’s family life and shows how Charlotte makes a difference in her community. The story’s illustrations bring the forest to life by using bright colors. Charlotte’s large family and a host of forest animals crowd the scenes, which brim with activity. However, Charlotte is easy to recognize because she always has a white lab coat. Even though the story focuses on a serious topic, many of the illustrations are humorous.

The forest animals’ illnesses help incorporate the scientific method and introduce scientific vocabulary. In addition, to discover the cause of the sickness Charlotte collects and analyzes data. This is how she finds the “funky forest fungi” that is making everyone sick. Charlotte also cures the carrots, conducts a clinical trial, and is able to “mend the malady.” While it’s unrealistic that one scientist could accomplish all of that, Charlotte’s activities allow her to be the story’s hero.

Even though Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure is a picture book, readers will need an adult to read the story to them. The story is packed full of alliteration that makes reading aloud fun. Each page has 1 to 4 sentences, but younger readers may have difficultly understanding some of the scientific vocabulary. In the back of the book, readers will find a glossary of scientific words. While the solution to the forest animals’ “malady” is complex, it gives the story many topics that parents or teachers could discuss.

Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure uses humor and a determined bunny to teach readers about illnesses and the process that takes place to find a cure. While the plot is ambitious, young readers will be enthralled with Charlotte and her world. Charlotte the Scientist Finds a Cure would be an excellent addition to your library, whether you’re looking for a fun book to read to your children or you want a book that is a springboard to teaching about illness.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

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Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

Octopus Stew

Ramsey loves to wear his superhero cape, but he never thought he’d ever become an actual superhero. That all changes one afternoon when Ramsey is at his grandma’s house and his grandma decides to make pulpo guisado, octopus stew. When Ramsey and his grandma go to the supermarket, Grandma chooses the biggest octopus in the store. Grandma scrubs the octopus and puts it in the pot, and that’s when the trouble begins.

The octopus grows and grows. When it grows out of the pot, the octopus grabs Grandma and refuses to let her go. Determined to save his grandma, Ramsey grabs his superhero cape. Will Ramsey be able to save his grandma? Or will the octopus have her for dinner?

Ramsey’s tale comes to life in full-colored illustrations that are at times humorous. The oil-painted illustrations pop with bright colors. Young readers will relate to Ramsey, who gets stern looks from the adults in the story. Readers will also appreciate Ramsey’s facial expressions which are full of emotion. The family dog gets a starring role in the illustrations, and readers will love looking for him in each of the story’s pictures. Even though the octopus grabs Grandma in his huge arms, his appearance adds suspense without much little fear factor. The conclusion is surprisingly sweet.

Ramsey’s family is Afro-Latino and the family’s love of telling stories is apparent. The story includes a central foldout that contains a humorous surprise. Octopus Stew would be the perfect introduction to tall tales and will encourage readers to tell their own family stories.

Octopus Stew makes a wonderful read-aloud book because it’s packed full of sound words such as bloop, kerchunk, and thum! The English text intertwines with Spanish phrases and reflects the author’s family, who spoke non-standard Spanish at home. A glossary provides definitions and pronunciations of the Spanish phrases. However, the story’s context clues are sufficient to understand the Spanish words’ meanings.

Even though Octopus Stew is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Each page of the picture book has 1 to 3 complex sentences. A recipe for octopus stew is included at the end of the book.

Octopus Stew shows how oral storytelling can be fun for families, and the story will encourage readers to create a tall tale of their own. The wonderful illustrations and the unique plot make Octopus Stew an entertaining story that kids will love. In addition, the illustrations have enough detail to capture readers’ attention. Octopus Stew is a family-oriented story that will appeal to a wide range of readers who enjoy the humor, suspense, and surprising conclusions.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • A huge octopus grabs Grandma and holds her in the air.
  • The octopus “attacked, spraying ink all over my [Ramsey’s] drawing.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

 

 

The Power of One: Every Act of Kindness Counts

A young girl is devastated after a boy yells at her. Fortunately, another girl sees the confrontation and decides to act. The story shows how “one [person] is a lot bigger and more powerful than you think.” To emphasize this point, each sentence starts with the word one. “One good listener can make even the smallest voice heard. One shy smile can lead to a friendship.” The picture book shows that one person and one act of kindness can start something beautiful.

The story follows three kids—two girls and a boy who is a bully. None of the characters have names, and when the boy yells his words appear as scribbles in a quote box. A small plant represents the two girls’ growing friendship and shows how “one caring friend can open the door for several more.” The bully eventually apologizes, and the girl forgives him. The boy’s words appear as flowers in a quote box. By not showing the boy’s words, Ludwig leaves an opening for parents or teachers to discuss different ways to apologize.

The Power of One’s message is made clear through both the text and the lovely illustrations. The kids in the illustrations have many skin tones. The kids wear neutral colors which allow the red flower (a symbol of friendship) to pop off the pages. On some of the pages, the negative parts of the illustrations appear in shades of gray. Again, this focuses the reader’s attention on the acts of kindness.

Each page has 0 to 1 sentence. The picture book is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently.

Everyone can relate to the kids in the illustrations because everyone has had their feelings hurt, and everyone has used mean words. The Power of One’s message is simple: One person can make a difference and help build a kinder community. “Acts and words of kindness do count.” The picture book gives young readers ideas on how they can make a positive difference. For example, “Acknowledging others presence, so they don’t feel invisible. Standing up to put-downs.” The back of the book includes recommended books and websites so parents can find more resources to teach about kindness.

The Power of One is a must-read because it will allow teachers and parents to start a discussion on acts of kindness and making a positive impact on others. Other books that show the importance of kindness are I Am Enough by Grace Byers and All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. Each book will help parents and teachers encourage children to think about the power of their words.

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Can I Be Your Dog?

Arfy is a hound on a mission! Bound and determined to find a home, Arfy writes letters to everyone on Butternut Street. Honestly, he’s the best dog you could ever want. He’s obedient. He’s housebroken. He even has his own squeaky bone. Who will adopt Arfy in the end? You’ll never guess!

Readers will learn about Arfy’s desire to have a home by reading his letters, which explain why he would make a great pet. Each person gives Arfy a reason why they do not want to be a dog owner. For example, the butcher writes, “I’ve got a bone to pick with you. Last time I let a dog into my shop, a dozen meatballs went missing! Sorry, but there’s no way I’m taking in a pooch.” Arfy’s opinion of each reply is evident through his expressions and his actions. For example, when the fire station rejects Arfy, the upset pooch pees on a fire hydrant.

Dog lovers will instantly connect to Arfy’s story, which is both humorous and heartwarming. The letter format adds interest and could be used to teach readers about persuasive letter writing. Each letter is different and reflects the letter writer. For example, the fire station uses an official letterhead and is signed Station No. 5. The letter writers also use different tones. For example, the junkyard guy writes, “Dear mutt. Get lost!”

The full-page pictures and bold colors will draw readers into Arfy’s story. Arfy and the mail carrier who delivers the letters are consistently shown throughout the story. Each time the mail carrier delivers a letter, the illustration shows the location and people who receive it. Each two-page spread shows one letter. The longest letter is eight sentences. All the letters use simple sentences with easy-to-read vocabulary.

Both dog and cat lovers will fall in love with Arfy. Can I Be Your Dog? is not only a fun story to read but it also can be used to start a discussion on the importance of finding a pet whose personality is a good fit for a family. Arfy’s story is engaging, entertaining, and will appeal to everyone who has a soft spot for animals.

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Yasmin The Explorer

Every explorer needs a map! Baba encourages Yasmin to make a map of her own neighborhood. When Yasmin and Mama go to the farmer’s market, Yasmin adds the different booths to her map. When she sees a playground, Yasmin gets excited and goes to play on the swings. Soon Yasmin realizes that she isn’t sure where Mama is. Can her map bring them back together?

The story has three short chapters and each page has large illustrations that will help readers understand the plot. The full-color illustrations use cheerful colors and show Yasmin’s map. Yasmin is Pakistani and her mother wears a hijab. Yasmin’s mother also uses Urdu words, which are defined in a glossary that appears at the back of the book.

Yasmin The Explorer will help emerging readers feel confident with their reading. Each page has 1 to 4 short sentences which are printed in oversized text. At the end of the book, there are questions that will help students connect to the text, some fun facts about Pakistan, and a recipe to make Mango Lassi, a traditional Pakistani dish.

Yasmin’s curiosity and enthusiasm are contagious; however, the story lacks conflict because the plot focuses on the places that Yasmin puts on her map. However, readers will relate to Yasmin when she is lost. Yasmin The Explorer would make a good conversation starter about the importance of telling your parents where you are going, as well as what to do if you are lost.

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Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau

Once upon a time in France, a baby was born under the summer sun. His parents named him Jacques. As he grew, Jacques fell in love with the sea. He dreamed of breathing beneath the waves and swimming as gracefully as a fish. Jacques spent his childhood playing, experimenting, and creating. He loved making films and exploring the ocean, which leads to his desire to become a manfish. Jacques Cousteau grew up to become a champion of the seas and one of the best-known oceanographers in the world.

Beautifully painted illustrations show the magic that Jacques found under the sea. The illustrations contrast Jacques with magnificent sea creatures that he encounters, from whales to seascape plants. Jacques and his friends’ cameras “captured camouflaged scorpion fish, ugly as toads with poisonous spines. Dorados—brilliant fish that glowed the color of emeralds, sapphires, and rubies.” Large illustrations will captivate readers as they teach about different sea life.

Jacques’ imagination and inventiveness will encourage readers to try new things. In order to spend more time underwater, Jacques invented the “aqualung” which allowed him to swim across miles of ocean. However, Jacques didn’t just explore the ocean for fun. He also made films to educate people. When he saw that pollution was killing the sea and its creatures, Jacques made a move to warn people and save the sea. With the aqualung, Jacques made it possible for anyone to explore the sea.

Jacques’ biography uses poetic text, lovely descriptions, and amazing artwork in order to highlight Jacques’ contribution to the world. While younger readers will enjoy the book’s pictures, the text-heavy pages may make it difficult to keep younger readers’ attention. Each page has up to 13 complex sentences that use difficult vocabulary. Parents will need to read the book to younger children, instead of having them read the book independently.

Every ocean-loving reader should read about Jacques’ life because it shows how one person’s love of the ocean made a lasting impact on the world. Even though readers may have a difficult time understanding all of the biography, the beautiful illustrations make Manfish an excellent choice for readers who dream of exploring the ocean. Young readers who love the ocean should also check out the picture books Shark Lady by Jess Keating and Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck.

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If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t!

An alligator for show-and-tell sounds like tons of fun. What could possibly go wrong?

Magnolia wants to impress her classmates with the best show-and-tell item: an alligator. The other kids bring ordinary objects like a birds nest, a sparkly rock, and a hollow stick. While these things aren’t as exciting as an alligator, they also don’t try to eat anyone.

If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t! is full of funny alligator actions. The best parts of the book are the facial expressions of the teacher, the alligator, and Magnolia. Readers will be able to see Magnolia’s excitement change to frustration as the alligator causes mischief. Her frustration then turns to dismay when the alligator tries to snack on a student. The ending is appropriate and contains a fun display of alligator trouble. Be sure to look inside of the back cover for one last surprising alligator appearance.

The bright, full-page illustrations will draw readers into the story, but the text also has plenty of fun. Each sentence is written in large text and the text size varies to highlight important words. Each page consists of 1-4 sentences which are intended to be read by an adult before children read it independently. Magnolia’s classmates are diverse, but the teacher is portrayed in a stereotypical manner.

Readers will learn a little bit about alligators and a lot about appropriate behavior in this humorous picture book. The surprise ending will have readers laughing out loud. Magnolia and her alligator are full of fun surprises that readers of all ages will enjoy. If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t! is one book that every child should have on their bookshelf.

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Violence

  • Magnolia throws a pie into someone’s face.

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One Girl

One girl sits outside in the dark when a bright book falls from the sky. “One spark. Faint and fading in the dark. Flicker . . . Flicker. . . Flicker. . . Glow.” The book is brimming with ideas, knowledge, and imagination. The “one girl” goes on a magical journey through the book. “One girl. One spark. Glowing. Growing in the dark. Burning. . . Burning. . . Burning. . . Fire.”

Beaty uses poetic text to tell an abstract story showing that “today, more than 130 million girls are denied an education. The story begins with one of these girls. It also begins with one book. The girl reads, and the world opens up to her. She discovers other places, other lives, and other possibilities.”

When the girl goes to school, she is “filled with wonder. Heart takes flight. Words like comets through the night.” One Girl does not have a plot, the text is confusing, and it isn’t until the very end that Beaty explains the idea behind the book. While the book’s purpose is noble, the picture book’s message will be lost on young readers.

While the text is confusing, the illustrations are amazing, beautiful, and full of imagination. Through a book, the girl is able to imagine new worlds, new careers, and new ideas. The fanciful pictures are full of rich colors and clearly shows the girl’s wonder at the world that a book opens up. When the girl goes to school, her class is full of diverse students. Each page has 1 to 6 words that appear in poetry format.

Even though One Girl is a picture book, most young readers will have a difficult time sitting through a reading of the book. While the pictures are amazing, young readers may lose interest in looking at them because the concepts they portray are abstract. One Girl has an important message to tell, but the message gets lost on younger readers who won’t grasp the deeper meaning behind the words and pictures. Parents looking for a picture book with educational value may want to check out Andrea Beaty’s other picture book series. the Questioneers Collection. The Amazing Scientists Series by Julia Finley Mosca would also make an excellent choice for parents who want to inspire their children to reach greater heights.

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Teasing Trouble

Hallie’s two loose teeth are the talk of the classroom! Everyone loves watching her wiggle them. Funny Spencer gets lots of attention, too, when he teases Hallie about her teeth. But when Spencer’s jokes go too far, and Hallie’s feelings are hurt, both children have to find a way to stop the teasing and save their friendship.

Spencer wants people to laugh at his jokes, but he doesn’t realize that his jokes are making his classmates mad. Even though Hallie doesn’t like Spencer’s jokes, she bottles up her emotions. Finally, Hallie has had enough, and she yells, “Spencer, I am tired of your teasing. You are a big, mean bully. . . You didn’t hurt me by pinching or punching. But your words hurt my feelings.”

In the end, Miss Sparks helps Spencer and Hallie resolve their conflict. Spencer learns that his words can hurt others. Hallie learns that she needed to tell Spencer how she felt. Both Spencer and Hallie apologize to each other. Spencer and Hallie show that friends can be angry at each other, forgive each other, and save their friendship.

Teasing Trouble includes “Dear Parent,” activities at the end of the book that were created by teachers and child specialists to help you nurture your child’s skills, boost their self-confidence, and encourage a lifelong love for learning.

Readers familiar with the Hopscotch Hill School Series will enjoy seeing a familiar character in an everyday situation. Readers who are beginning to read independently will appreciate the easy vocabulary. Most paragraphs are one simple sentence. Large, colorful illustrations appear on almost every page, which helps the readers understand the plot and the characters’ emotions. Teasing Trouble uses a relatable conflict to teach the importance of working through a conflict.

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Language

  • When Hallie loses her two front teeth, Spencer says, “Hey, everybody! Hallie has a hole in her head!” Later he says, “You have a hole in your head too, Gwen. It’s your nose!”
  • Spencer tells Hallie, “There’s no such thing as the tooth fairy anyway. Only babies believe in the tooth fairy.”

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On Beyond Bugs!

The Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, and Thing 2 go on a journey looking for the millions of bugs that live in the world. The Cat in the Hat introduces readers to all sorts of bugs from praying mantis, to grasshoppers, and even butterflies. The Cat in the Hat tells readers interesting facts about the bugs he meets. With the help of a magnifying glass, the smaller bugs grow large enough that readers can distinguish each bug’s differences. Fleas, bees, and bugs in trees all inhabit the world, and with the Cat in the Hat, readers will learn all sorts of interesting facts.

Cat in the Hat uses Thing 1 and Thing 2 to introduce bug facts. For example, they hold up a sign that reads, “Spiders aren’t insects! This news couldn’t wait! Instead of six legs, every spider has eight!” All of the bugs are labeled and some pages have diagrams of bug body parts. The book’s format makes it easy for readers to identify bugs and their body parts.

On Beyond Bugs uses full-page illustrations with bright colors to introduce all types of bugs. Each bug’s unique features are shown through pictures. For example, an underwing moth blends into a tree’s bark, and a spittlebug hides from birds by covering itself with spit bubbles. Some of the illustrations are humorous, such as when the queen bee is being taken care of by the worker bees.

On Beyond Bugs is intended to introduce beginning readers to the importance of basic concepts about the world. Each page has 2 to 4 rhyming sentences. Readers will enjoy seeing the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, and Thing 2 throughout the story. The end of the book has a seven-word glossary and a list of books that bug lovers might want to read.

Young readers will enjoy the colorful illustrations and learning about bugs. However, every two-page spread introduces a new insect, which some readers may find overwhelming. On Beyond Bugs teaches the importance of learning about bugs because “The world that we know couldn’t go on without them. The butterfly, ladybug, ant, and the bee make everything better . . . for you. . . and for me!”

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The Bug Girl (a true story)

Sophia loves bugs. When she was in kindergarten, some of her friends would hunt for bugs with her. But as she got older, kids began teasing her because she was a “bug lover.” Sophia was teased so much that she packed all of her bug stuff into boxes. This made her sad.

Then Sophia’s mom sent an email to a bug scientist. The entomologist Morgan Jackson wrote Sophia, encouraging her to keep studying bugs. When Morgan shared Sophia’s story, other bug scientists also helped Sophia see that loving bugs is not weird or strange. Today, Sophia is a fourth-grader who still loves bugs.

Each page of the picture book has large illustrations that look like watercolors. As Sophia’s classmates grow older and begin to tease her, the illustrations show Sophia’s sadness both in facial expressions and in dark colors. Most pages have 5 to 7 sentences as well as speech bubbles. Even with so few sentences, some pages are text-heavy which may make it difficult for younger readers to sit through a reading. Even though The Bug Girl is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child rather than for a child to read it for the first time independently. The end of the book has general information on bugs as well as “super-cool bug facts.” In addition, the book explains the cycle of the butterfly and how to study bugs in the wild.

Any child who has been called weird will relate to Sophia’s struggle. Her story allows readers to see that having a unique hobby is not strange. Sophia realizes that there are many people who love bugs. This realization allows Sophia to enjoy studying bugs without feeling like there is something wrong with her. The Bug Girl will encourage readers to embrace being different and to continue doing what they enjoy, even if others make fun of them. The Bug Girl is a must-read for any child who loves bugs. If you’re looking for another book that encourages children to embrace their differences, add Angus All Aglow by Heather Smith to your reading list.

Sexual Content

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Violence

  • When Sophia takes a grasshopper to school, “a bunch of kids crowded around me and made fun of me. . . Then they knocked that beautiful grasshopper off my shoulder and stomped on it till it was dead.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

  • Sophia’s classmates tease her and call her names such as show-off, bug lover, and weird. The kids wonder, “Why doesn’t she like regular things?

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Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion

Iggy Peck is an architect at his very core: when he’s not making houses out of food, his head is up in the clouds, dreaming of design. So he’s totally blown away when Ada Twist’s Aunt Bernice inherits an old house from ice-cream mogul Herbert Sherbert that is filled with countless rooms from all his favorite architectural periods. But something’s not quite right . . .

Everyone says the house is haunted, and it seems that a number of priceless antiques—which were supposed to help Aunt Bernice pay for the house’s upkeep—have gone missing. If they can’t find those antiques, Aunt Bernice might lose the house forever. It will take all of Iggy’s knowledge of architecture and the help of the other Questioneers—Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, and Sofia Valdez—to solve the mystery and find the treasure!

Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion builds suspense because it has just the right amount of spooky, scary, and strange events. All of the events are eventually solved in a logical way. Iggy and his friends do some sleuthing, but they also research the Mysterious Mansion’s history and Iggy uses his knowledge of architecture to help solve the mystery.

The majority of the story focuses on the Mysterious Mansion’s history. Iggy discovers that two people who lived in the mansion died from the Spanish Flu. “People can still die from the flu, but it’s not as common because scientists invented new medicines and vaccines. People used to die of all kinds of diseases like measles and flu. Vaccines changed that.”

In addition, the spooky story also has humor. For instance, when Mrs. Bernice Twist inherits the mansion, the letter reads, “The Law Offices of Yabba, Dabba & Dew are not responsible for the actions of ghosts or anything that causes shivers, nightmares, heebie-jeebies, or worse. Especially worse.”

Most of the pages have large black, white, and green illustrations that will help readers envision the characters as well as understand the story’s plot. Other illustrations show drawings from Iggy’s notebook. However, younger readers may struggle with the story’s advanced vocabulary and the architectural lingo. However, the story’s use of imagery, onomatopoeia, and alliteration make Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion a fun story to read aloud. The story ends with information about art nouveau and art deco, information about “Weird, Wonderful, and Wonderfully Weird Cats,” and a recipe to make ice cream.

Readers familiar with The Questioneers Series will enjoy seeing the same cast of characters. Iggy and his friends are curious, resourceful, and able to think outside the box. Unfortunately, the conclusion has several events that are unbelievable. Despite this, readers will enjoy the mystery, the friendship, and the illustrations.  If you’re looking for another series that has smart, curious characters, check out the Ellie Engineer Series by Jackson Pearce and the Jada Jones Series by Kelly Starling Lyons.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • Aunt Bernice, Ada, and Iggy try to open the mansion’s door when “the boards of the porch began to rise and fall like piano keys. A wave rolled from one end of the porch to the other and back again. . . Suddenly, the board beneath Aunt Bernice’s left foot rose up and sent her tumbling.” When they jump off the porch, the motion stops.

 Drugs and Alcohol

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Supernatural

  • The town folks believe that the Sherbert House is haunted by Herbert Sherbert and his wife. When Iggy stumbles upon the mansion, he thinks, “There were darker tales of a woman whose cries could be heard late at night if you dared to get close enough to the house to listen. They said the ghosts were looking for something—or someone!”
  • The Mansion begins to play music and then “the shutters of the Great Hall window slammed shut. Almost as quickly, they flew open again. The shutter opened and shut in rhythm with the music.”

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