By David Shannon
David Shannon brings back the incorrgible David in this endearing story of little brother antics. Like most older siblings, David’s older brother doean’t want David around him. Therefore, he blames many things on David but not without reason. With simple sesntences, it is an easy reader that younger student will enjoy.
Written by Scot Ritchie
Pedro is moving and he is so anxious. To ease his mind, his mom invites some of his friends for a sleepover. Mrs. Rivera introduces the children to mindfulness to help ease Pedro’s anxiety. This book is a great introduction to mindfulness with tips on how to accomplish it. There are activities in the back that families can practice along with definitions to help really understand the context of the exercises.
Written by Patty Lovell
Illustrated by Davis Catrow
Patty Lovell brings back the adorable Molly Lou Melon in Speak Up, Molly Lou Melon. Instead of her grandmother’s affirmations, she has her mother’s reminders to use her voice for good. Molly Lou’s mother prompts Molly Lou to do what is right even when it is the bully and difficult. This is an excellent lesson for children to learn without them realizing there is a lesson.
David Catrow comes through again with beautiful bright watercolor and ink drawings.
By Jim Benton
This well known author (Catwad, Dumb Diary and Franny K. Stein, just to name a few) creates an all-age graphic novel unlike anything you’ve read before. It is full of puns, bright illustrations and crazy antics. This book hooks you in with its premise and takes you along on an absurd journey with Bill Waddler. It’s a fast read that would draw in anyone who enjoys silly jokes while also following a long-form story from beginning to end.
Written by Doug Paleo
Illustrated by Aaron Blecha
This graphic novel is full of humor and quirky characters. Also, dinosaurs! The pictures are bright, cheerful and draw the reader into the story. This series-opener does revisit some well-worn narrative arcs, but is a solid, quick-paced text that will draw reluctant and voracious readers equally. Readers will be eagerly awaiting the next installation.
Tilly Pages is part fictional character. She along with many of her family and friends have the ability to wander in and out of books. In this third book in the series, Pages and Co., Tilly Pages and her friend Oskar realize that books are disappearing and people are forgetting their favorite stories. They set off a trip to Washington, DC to search for the Archivists to find out what is going on and end up meeting William Shakespeare. Tilly and Oskar and their friends must fight against the evil Underwood siblings and save bookwandering. Although this wasn’t as catching to me as the first book in this series, I still recommend this book.
The detailed and lengthy author’s note in the back of The Old Man and the Penguin, A True Story of True Friendship, reveals that this is a “true and remarkable story”. Julie Abery’s picture book tells the story of João (pronounce Je-WOW, as noted in the back of the book) and his discovery of a penguin barely clinging to life. Through an unlikely rescue, friendship forms between the retired man and his new penguin pet. Although João repeatedly attempts to return the penguin to his natural environment, the penguin always returns to João. Abery’s choice to to write this story in rhyming verse, “Fishy kisses, beak to nose. Day by day their friendship grows” and “Pecks and strokes for happy friends, a precious bond that never ends” seems unnecessary because it brings a much more primary tone to the story that would potentially be more engaging to upper elementary readers. Pierre Pratt’s full layout illustrations manage to capture the essence of the story making the book a page turner for non or beginning readers. Overall and entertaining story about both unexpected friendship and animal rescue.
Three generations of gardeners work side-by-side to care for the grandmother’s garden. First the small child gives her view of her grandmother and grandmother’s garden, then the view of the child’s mother, followed by a key bit of wisdom having to do with gardens, such as, “Gardens help teach responsibility.”
When the reader turns the page, the child is a little bit older, as is the mother, and grandmother, but they again give their impressions of the garden. The child’s impression always comes first followed by her mother’s. This continues until the child is now a mother herself with her own two children helping in the garden with their grandmother. “Gardens connect us across generations.”
The little girl’s words are always in blue ink, her mother’s words are always in green ink, and the words of wisdom are always in an orangey ink.
Children who help with gardening will identify with the passages, whether they garden at home, in a school garden, or with a grandparent.
Carme Lemniscates’ illustrations make each garden in the book come to life just like Grandmother Dorothy would want them to grow.
Also available in a well translated Spanish version: Los Jardines de la Abuela.
Under the Lilacs is a beautifully illustrated picture book that follows a young girl’s emotion filled afternoon. E.B. Goodale has illustrated other picture books, but this is her debut as an author and illustrator. When the main character finds herself pushed away by a working mom, who is teaching music lessons at home, and a busy sister, who needs her own time alone, she first leaves a note threatening “that I’m leaving and she will never see me again.” When the note receives no response, she seeks comfort and an opportunity for independence out in her yard under the lilacs. Although she flees to the yard in frustration seeking solace, her imagination soon takes over as she builds a home for herself out of cardboard. Lost in the fun, she makes space for her dog, mom, and sister within her hideaway. The mixed media, full layout illustrations really are the star of this book. The theme or lesson of the book might be difficult to decipher for younger readers, making this book better suited for read alouds. This book would be enjoyed by readers who have ever felt out of place and like running away from their own home.
My first impression of Your House, My House, written and illustrated by Marianne Dubucis, is that it is just too big. The book measures over 11 x 14 inches and is quite cumbersome. However, as I began reading the book, it is clear that the size was chosen to allow for Dubuc’s extremely detailed illustrations. Reminiscent of Richard Scarry books, each page contains many opportunities for children to look into the same cross section view of a four floor apartment building inhabited by seven different animal families. It is clear that Dubuc put a lot of effort into showing different families going through different experiences within the apartment complex. The plot follows the Rabbit Family as they prepare for Little Rabbit’s birthday. It is hard to connect the text to the pictures and to not just wonder about the other characters and families filling the pages. The illustrations are slightly confusing and overdone, there are also confusing cameos by the Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and other fairytale characters. Children who love animals and making up stories will find hours of entertainment imagining and telling the stories of the characters and families throughout the apartment.