Escape from Nuggetville

By Jenine Pastores and Josh Jackson

Nugget 929 has all they need, loving parents yummy food and close friends but when their dunking day arrives they must become a golden nugget all of that must end. 929 realizes that they want to take a different road and not get dunked. These forbidden ideas form them to run and escape from the planet.

This cute graphic novel is a wonderful tale for younger readers about being yourself, not following the path everyone else is on and fighting for what is right for you. The illustrations are vibrant yet have a softness to them. This is a great book one of the Adventures of Tubby Nugget. We will have to see where Tubby’s story goes in future books.

Worm on the Job

Written by Maureen Fergus, Illustrated by Paul G. Hammond

Worm, as head librarian, has read all the books in the library and is now ready for a new adventure. Many feel that worm cannot be successful at many jobs but he knows he can do anything. As a security officer at an invention convention, worm successfully captures a robber. What will worm do next? Will he stay in this job? or will he move on to another adventure. The illustrations are crisp and comical. They storyline is straightforward. I recommend this book as an extra purchase. Readers will learn from worm that they can do anything if they want it bad enough.

Monsters in the Moonlight; A Yalda Night Adventure

By Sina Merabian

Yalda Night is an ancient Persian celebration that occurs on the Winter Solstice. It is a celebration of darkness being defeated by light. Choori and Shooli are young divs (malevolent supernatural beings) heading out on their first Yalda Night to cause trouble and ruin families celebrations. When they join a family and try to ruin the night they only find that nothing can do that as long as loved ones are together.

This adorably illustrated picture book would need some explanation of this Persian holiday for those who may not know about it. It could also be an opportunity to introduce other cultural celebrations from around the world. I recommend this book as and extra purchase for elementary libraries that are interested in holidays and celebrations around the world.

May’s Too-Big PIzza by A.T. Woehling

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.

The Elevator on 74th Street by Laura Gehl

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.

Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae

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.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game! Words by Jack Norworth

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.

Can You Grow a Striped Banana? by Jill Santopolo

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.

Even Steven A Book About Sharing by Carrie Finison

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.

Gwei the Hungry Ghost by Emeline Lee

Gwei the Hungry Ghost by Emeline Lee is a sweet story about a ghost who cannot seem to fill his empty belly. During Ghost Festival, Gwei searches for the perfect food, but nothing satisfies him. When he meets another hungry ghost and decides to share his food, he learns that friendship can be just as important as a good meal. The story introduces readers to Chinese folklore and features warm, colorful illustrations. This book shares a meaningful lesson about kindness, generosity, and friendship.