Monster loves school, but hates the commute. When bird wakes them up and tells them it is time to walk to school, Monster stalls. Even though it is pineapple, pepperoni pancake day, Monster is slow to get to school. Monster has to go back in to get one more thing, hop, skip, stop to smell the roses. Will Monster ever arrive at school?

This story is told through dialog and speech bubbles with a lot of alliteration. The illustrations are colorful and engaging. It is a humorous story about procrastination and the struggle of getting out of the house. I wasn’t sure where the story was going at the beginning and was a bit frustrated with Monster and the delays and that the friends brought things for the breakfast, but Monster did not. This would be an additional purchase for me.

This early reader story follows May and her large family as they decide to make homemade pizza together. With so many siblings helping out, their simple plan quickly turns into a funny and chaotic situation. As the pizza gets more complicated, May and her family must work together to solve the problem. The story shows the humor and teamwork that comes with being part of a big family.

I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a fun, easy-to-read book that highlights teamwork and family life in a way that will appeal to early elementary students. It is also a good addition to early readers or Ready-to-Read collections.

This story follows Ellie, an elevator who works in a busy apartment building and loves helping the people who ride her every day. She especially cares about Thea, a girl who used to be happy and full of energy. But after her best friend moves away, Thea stops smiling, and Ellie wants to help her feel better. Even though Ellie is just an elevator, she finds a special way to bring joy back into Thea’s life. The story shows kindness, friendship, and how small acts can make a big difference.

I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a sweet and creative story with a strong message about caring for others and helping friends through hard times.

This picture book follows Bea as she visits her great aunt Portia and discovers a hidden attic full of records. Portia shows her that there is a song for every feeling, and together they listen, dance, and explore how music can match different emotions. Based on the song “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae, the story is warm and uplifting. It shows how music can help people express feelings and connect with others.

I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a good read-aloud that helps students understand emotions through music.

This picture book, Take Me Out to the Ball Game! by Jack Norworth, brings the classic baseball song to life with colorful, cartoon-style illustrations. A boy tries to convince his father to take a break from work and join him at the ballpark to cheer for the home team. The story captures the excitement, sounds, and energy of a baseball game. The artwork and familiar lyrics make it a fun and engaging read-aloud for young readers and families, especially those who enjoy sports and music.

I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a joyful, easy read that works well for read-alouds and helps share the classic spirit of baseball with young students.

This fun picture book, Can You Grow a Striped Banana?, uses bright illustrations and a sweet story about a mother and her daughter. The daughter asks for silly and impossible things, like growing a striped banana or stretching like a giraffe. Her mom kindly explains that she can’t do those things. The requests keep getting sillier, which makes the story funny and engaging. In the end, the mom shows that even though she can’t do everything, she will always find ways to show love and care for her child. The message is simple and easy for young readers to understand.

I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It would make a fun read-aloud for kindergarten students because of its humor, bright illustrations, and sweet message about love and acceptance.

This lighthearted picture book by Carrie Finison follows Steven, a boy who loves sharing things by making everything perfectly even. He thinks the best way to share is always to split things in half because it feels fair and balanced. But Steven soon learns that not everything can be split evenly, like a nickel, a book, or a playground slide. He begins to explore other ways to share, such as taking turns or giving one to each person. As the story continues, Steven starts to wonder if something can be fair even when it isn’t perfectly even. The playful story helps readers think about sharing, fairness, and problem-solving in real life.

I recommend this book as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a fun and engaging way to introduce the concepts of fairness and sharing, and it encourages class discussion. The humor and simple explanations make it a good fit for primary students learning social skills and cooperation.