Author Archives: Midge Livingston

A Little Like Magic

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Written and Illustrated by Sarah Kurpiel

Our narrator doesn’t like to try new things or venture to new places but when she spends the evening at an ice sculpting event she finds herself feeling okay with the crowds and noise as long as her mom is there. When she returns home she finds that she has lost her favorite horse statue and is sad that she will never see it again. After spending the day in sadness they once again go to the sculpting event to see the results from the day before feeling more familiar and comfortable only to see a beautiful sculpture of a horse that looks just like hers. Will she find her horse? Only reading this picture book will tell.

What a beautifully illustrated book about pushing past one’s fears. As the back cover says, “Sometimes you have to brave the cold to experience something special”

Brandon and the Totally Troublesome Time Machine

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Written by Seth Fishman, Illustrated by Mark Fearing

One day, Brandon decides to build a time machine. After doing all the things one must do when building this type tool such as: seeing dinosaurs wish upon a REALLY big falling star, and watching creatures learn to climb and live on land, he decides to venture into his own past and try to fix things like acing the test he failed the day before. He soon starts to depend on his future self to do everything for him. Cleaning, doing homework, and other things that his present self doesn’t want to do. Future self starts to sabotage past self and a humorous battle ensues. Will Brandon realize he is only fighting himself?

What a fun and well illustrated book that sends a great moral. I recommend this book for any elementary library.

Dinosaur Roar!

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Written and Illustrated by Paul and Henrietta Stickland

In a fun and well illustrated way, this book simply discusses opposites. First, what kid doesn’t like dinosaurs? Second, it’s cartoon-like nature will attract all. With two simple sentences on each page such as, “Dinosaur weak, dinosaur strong” as well as rhyming throughout, this book will attract all emerging readers. This will also be a great and short read-aloud for for any librarian or family member.

I strongly recommend this book for libraries who serve preschool and primary readers.

Perla the Mighty Dog

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Written by Isabel Allende, Illustrated by Sandy Rodriguez

Perla has two superpowers. First, she can make anybody love them. Second, she can roar like a lion. When she is adopted by the Ricos, she finds herself in the position to help Nico Rico who is being bullied. Nico learns how to roar like a lion against a bully at school.

Written from the viewpoint of Perla, this is a light story about how a dog’s love can support the boy who cares about him the most.

Stopping by Jungle on a Snowy Evening

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Written by Richard T. Morris, Illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch

A young boy adventures into a jungle, or is it the woods? He stumbles upon a house where he meets the poet, Robert Frost. From there the boy and the poet argue about his famous work, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”. The boy argues that the poem needs more action and needs to include his hippo in the jungle. The poet insists that the poem should be calming and meditative. An humorous adventure ensues with a jingling hippo, meteors, snakes and karate.

This book contains bright and vibrant illustrations. It has the original poem at the end as well. If one has a specific theme to focus upon or the actual Frost poem is a focus within the school, this would be a fun extra purchase for your library.

What Lolo Wants

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Written by Cristina Oxtra, Illustrated by Jamie Bauza

Maria and her Lolo (Grandfather) have a beautiful relationship. They spend a great deal of time together: in the garden, getting ice cream and especially drawing. Lolo can draw anything! But when Maria’s Lolo starts to feel unwell and forgetful, Maria gets worried. Soon, Lolo starts having problems remembering names of things and people. It is a struggle for Lolo to explain what he needs. How will Maria help her Grandpa remember and communicate what he wants?

This lovely picture book has threads of Philippine American traditions and culture within it. It carefully discusses Dementia in a kind way that children can understand. The illustrations are beautifully done in pencil and watercolor. I would recommend this book for any elementary library.

Gorgeously Me!

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By Jonathan Van Ness. Illustrated by Kamala Nair

From bestselling author and star of Queer Eye Jonathan Van Ness, Gorgeously ME! is a book about being true to yourself and accepting who you are even if it isn’t alway easy. It reinforces the concept that being different and unique is okay and it is okay to express it. This nicely illustrated book has characters of many different backgrounds who show confidence and acceptance of all even if they look different or have physical challenges. It encourages kids to admit mistakes and talk through things to make resolutions.

I would recommend this book to all elementary school libraries as it encourages acceptance, kindness and loving one’s self.

The River is My Ocean

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By Rio Cortez. Illustrated by AshLeigh Corrin

In this book our main character travels down to the Hudson River every Saturday with her abuela who has missed to ocean since moving from Puerto Rico. Going there and back, she and her abuela stop and visit people and shops in their neighborhood They also relax and enjoy the river when they arrive at the park. This book celebrates the culture and history of the Afro-Caribbean communities of New York. This would be a good book to purchase if your community has Caribbean or Spanish speaking students. It talks about the powerful goddess Yemaya who represents motherhood and the sea.

Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho

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By William Boniface. Illustrated by Julien Chung

Similar to the original, this book is an alphabet book about letters trying to climb a tree but this time it’s a Christmas tree. As the letters decorate the tree they string themselves along making the reader want to sing the original melody. As they slip and drop they see someone put a square beneath the tree. From there they see many different shaped presents appearing. This is a great book that reinforces the learning of the alphabet but also teaches about different shapes. I would recommend this book to libraries that have preschool classes or need more alphabet book titles.

The Truth About the Couch

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By Adam Rubin. Illustrated by Liniers

From the author of “Dragons Love Tacos” we have another funny addition to children’s literature. Did you know there are FURNITURE POLICE?!? Well YES! there are! They are the “secret elite enforcement squadron that ride dinosaurs and lasso runaway couches with barbed wire”. Apparently there are those that don’t believe this though and want to stop our main character from letting us, the readers, learn more. Our main character, Fox, proceeds to tell us the supposed history of the couch but the Possum does not believe him. Possum soon tries to put black tape on all of Fox’s pictures and argues that he is just making it up. Possum is concerned about the well being of readers and that Fox is filling their minds with nonsense. Is that true? This book is a humorous book about couches, dinosaurs, lion kings, aliens and so much more. But the question is…..what is the truth about the couch?

I highly recommend this silly and humorous book for all elementary libraries.