Category Archives: Recommendation

Bouncing Bunnies!

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Written by Fiz Osborne, Illustrated by Tim Budgen

Bouncing Bunnies all around in this tale. When it’s time for the baby bunnies to wake up they do their bestest jumps! After that, they get hungry then it’s time to wiggle. This carries on until it’s time to cuddle snuggle and go to bed.

This happy little picture book can be a fun librarian read for youngers as it would be easy to sing a simple little tune to it. It can also be one that can have movement activities for an audience easily added. I recommend it as an extra purchase if one needs some new books like this for kinders and pre-K.

Sharing the Dream

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Written by Shelia P. Moses, Illustrated by Keith Mallett

This book is another wonderful book about a family traveling to march in Washington DC to fight for rights. Agnes travels by train on an adventure with many others. She is nervous and excited as she does not know what to expect. When they arrive, they walk and walk and in the end, they see many speak about rights, freedoms and the future. It is a day of celebration and smiles. People are hopeful for better days. I recommend this book for libraries that may need to refresh their MLK Day, Black History month books of just want a great historically based book added to their collection.

Wish in a Tree

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By Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

Based on the well known book “Fish in a Tree”, this picture book delves into the concept of learning outside the box and being a student who struggles within a standard learning system. It challenges one to have grit and understand that not everything fits into one perfect package of understanding. It travels with a young boy how has ADHD and struggles to learn with the rest of his class.

This is a wonderful adaptation for yourgers to enjoy.

Precious

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By Carols Aponte

Pedrito lives in Puerto Rico with his family. HIs father is working in the U.S. preparing for his family to follow and settle there. Their family feels empty and incomplete with him. As they adjust to dad being gone, a hurricane is coming their way. They prepare and check on their neighbors and then go through the storm. Afterwards Pedrito finds a puppy alone on the street. The family takes him in and cleans him up. Will they find the dog’s family? If they do, will Pedrito be able to give the puppy up?

This is a lovely story of family, community, and resilience. Many will enjoy this compelling tale. I strongly recommend this book for any library to purchase.

Jollof Day by Bernard Mensah

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A young boy wakes his dad up early one day because it Jollof Day! He joins his dad in the kitchen to chop onions and tomatoes, clang pots and pans, and dance in the kitchen while they make jollof. The cheerful illustrations, the way the text dances on the page, and the onomatopoeia makes you feel the joy in the kitchen. A recipe for Jollof Rice is included at the end of the book.

Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan

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Every Monday Mabel does the same thing. Mabel thinks Mondays are the best day. She drags her chair down the hall and outside to make sure she does not miss her favorite thing. Her family doesn’t seem to understand, but Mabel doesn’t want to miss it and neither does Mikey and many more people. The illustrations are bright and colorful. The changes in font, the onomatopoeia, and the illustrations make you feel the excitement of Mabel about her Monday routine. I can’t wait to read this book aloud and maybe because I was one of those kids excited about the garbage truck!

Fierce Aunties by Laurel Goodluck

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A celebration of the women who help support and the young girl in the story. Aunties do not need to be related to you, but are the people in your life that you can turn to for advice, adventure and support. The illustrations are bright and colorful depicting a wide variety of aunties. The author’s note at the end tells about her Fierce Aunties.

Elvis & Romeo by David Soman and Jacky Davis

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A story of an unlikely pair becoming friends. Elvis and Romeo are two dogs on their way separately to the dog park. Romeo is very excited while Elvis is reluctant. Romeo is excited to run and play. Elvis wants peace and quiet. Romeo decides he is going to make friends with Elvis. Eventually Elvis and Romeo bond over sandwiches. The illustrations in the book show the movement and emotions of the dog and add to the story.

Maybe Just Ask Me! by Katie Mazeika

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On Mazie’s first day at her new school, she put on her favorite scarf and prettiest eye patch. She was nervous but ready. The other students whispered stories about her. Maybe she was in the circus. Maybe she joined pirates. Maybe she lost her hair being scared by a shark or a tiger. Finally she has had enough. She tells them that they just needed to ask and she tells the story of what really happened. The illustrations of the book are bright and colorful. Mazie’s emotions show on her face.

The book is based on the author’s real life experience of having cancer and 3 and having her eye removed. She talks about why people may be afraid to ask and just look away, but to her this feels ruder and makes her feel invisible.

Gecko Girl/Lagartijita by Daniel Chacon

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A young girl falls asleep while her father tells her a story and dreams that she wakes up as a gecko. She sets off to find out what she is. The cat says she’s a toy, the dog says food, the spider says danger. Eventually the girl wakes up to realize that she is still a child.

The book is bilingual with the text on top in English and the text at the bottom of the page in Spanish. One side of a two page spread is text and the other is the illustrations which fill the page.