Category Archives: Recommendation

I am NOT Your Hat!

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By Lisa Bentley

This is a story about friendship and how it is not always as it seems. An outgoing bird has a shy friend, Dot, who sits on their head. No one seems to notice this pink character that is hiding something for Bert. They think Dot is a hat. At first, Dot doesn’t mind as they don’t necessarily want to be noticed but eventually, they get frustrated exclaim that they are not a hat and fly away only to leave Bert’s secret out in the open for all to see.

This is a fun story about friendship and how being shy or outgoing is okay. It also a tale of forgiveness and saying sorry. I would strongly recommend this quirky yet insightful tale for young readers.

Kindness Rocks

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Written by Megan Murphy, Illustrated by JiaJia Hamner

A young boy is having a hard day and as he took a walk he found a rock that was painted and said It’s okay. And, as many of us assume, he creates his own rock for someone else to find and the chain reaction continues.

This is a very colorfully illustrated book that would be wonderful for a collaboration with any art teacher and students. It has a great kindness message and gives kids a way that they can encourage others, spread warm thoughts and be artistic. In the back there are instructions on painting rocks and how to choose the best rock and paint for success. I would recommend this title for any library.

Kersplash! A Cloud Bursts

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Written by Jessica Kulekjian, Illustrated by Zoe Si

This is a wonderful non-fiction title about the water cycle that is well written and with clear illustrations for young readers. Any teacher would be excited to see this book in the library for check out as it is easy to read and gives opportunities for smooth transitions to discussion on the topic. I would highly recommend this book for any elementary library.

Unnaturally Blue

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Written by Dorson Plourde

Illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler

This is a stunningly beautiful picture book that delves into feelings of sadness and depression. The main character feels that she no longer fits with the other kids in the pool and so she swims down to the bottom of the pool, pulls out the drain cover and plunges into another world where she is able to cry blue tears enough to fill an entire pond. The content seems quite maturely written and thus, I would recommend this picture book for older readers. The images are quite stunning and the art is fantastic. “You can’t cry in the pool. It’s already blue.”

Freya and the Snake

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Written by Fredrik Sonck

Illustrated by Jenny Lucander

This is a tale about a girl and her family who see a snake nearby. Freya feels that the snake is harmless and should be left alone but her parents are concerned about her younger brother getting too close and the snake causing him harm. Her father ends up killing the snake and Freya is quite upset by this and will not talk to him. In the end, she and her dad resolve their differences and she is more understanding of the situation. This book is translated from Swedish and I am unsure as to if it is a good translation into English. I feel that there could have been different word choices. For example, It uses the word murderer quite a bit including this last part on the last page: “My dad loves me. I love him. I love a snake-murderer.” While the book reflects loss, mourning and anger, I would not recommend this book for an elementary library purchase.

Seoul Food

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Hana, a young biracial girl is excited that both her grandparents will be visiting. She wants to cook a perfect meal that blends her African American and Korean roots. Hana’s mother and father offer suggestions and encouragement as she wrestles with ideas. The blending of the two food traditions with lots of love results in the creation of Kimchi Gumbo. Hana’s dinner is a huge success and so is the family gathering.

Seoul Food uses a young girls efforts to incorporate her grandparents’ cuisine into a single meal to symbolize both the challenges and the joys of blending two cultures. The cute illustrations clearly portray the characters’ emotions. The recipe for Kimchi Gumbo is included at the end.

The Keeper of Stories

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A library is
a keeper of stories.
     A keeper of memories.
          A keeper of hope.

Founded in 1893, the library at New York’s Jewish Theological Seminary collected the stories of Jewish people from around the world. These stories and the information preserved in this building were particularly precious because historically so many Jewish stories have been erased through war and suppression. The top level of the library’s tower caught fire in 1966, endangering the whole collection. Despite efforts to protect as many of the books as possible, water damage was catastrophic. Neighbors and strangers alike gathered “Operation Booklift” to hand over hand pass the books out of the ruined building. Many methods were tried to safely dry the books until volunteers finally found that repeatedly placing paper towels between every other page dried the books. Ultimately, 70,000 books were turned to ash, but 170,000 books were saved.

A Keeper of Stories is a reminder that even in times of devastation, when individuals work as a community, much can be saved. A library is a keeper of stories, but we are the keepers of stories too.

A Tree for Me

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The book A Tree for Me is a celebration of the diversity of trees found in a temperate climate. A boy, his father, and a dog take a walk through the park and point out noteworthy characteristics of the trees they come across. The details described are typical of what a young child might notice and are usually inadequate to differentiate specific trees. The story ends with the boy choosing a tree from a nursery to plant at their home.

Colorful illustrations lend the book a cheerful feel. A Tree for Me is a good pick for Arbor Day discussions or for a young explorers just starting to notice the world around them. Endpapers include a picture glossary of the trees from the park as well as a bulleted list and resources titled “Why We Love Trees.”

You Are Not Sleepy!

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You Are Not Sleepy!

By Mark Teague

You Are Not Sleepy tells the very relatable story of a pig who, though it is nap time, is not at all sleepy. It begins with the room being too bright, then too dark, then too moth-filled, and continues in this fashion throughout the rest of the story. It’s a great choice for any kids who love the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series as it will feel like a new twist on a familiar structure. Teague’s illustrations are also a delight, and the expressions on the supporting characters are sure to bring joy to young readers.

The Pharaoh vs. the Felines

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Written by: J.F. Fox. Illustrated by Anna Kwan.

The Pharaoh vs. the Felines tells of Cambyses II, ruler of Persia, and Pharaoh Amasis II, ruler of Ancient Egypt. While it might seem challenging to make this historical conflict engaging and accessible for early elementary readers, Fox pulls it off by centering the narrative around one irresistible subject: cats.

The book begins with a brief explanation of the fertile crescent and its historical significance. The author goes on to tell the story of the conflict between Camyses and Amasis that led to the eventual invasion of Egypt. Mixed in with the story are numerous cat puns and cute illustrations, so while this would be a great story to share during a unit on early civilizations, it’s also sure to be a hit with cat fans.