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Friday, October 29, 2021

How to Apologize by David LaRochelle

When you make a mistake, you need to apologize. Here's how. 

Thoughts: Straightforward advice with a little humor thrown in. The illustrations are soft colored and details. I especially like all the animals' expressions. I think this book would pair well with Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish by Beth Ferry

Themes: Animals, Apologies, Mistakes, How To 

(Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. Candlewick Press, 2021.) 

Wednesday, October 27, 2021

Monet's Cat by Lily Murray


What would happen if Claude Monet's pottery cat Chika magically came to life? 

Thoughts: What a fun concept! A pottery cat who comes to life and runs through Monet's paintings. The illustrations are soft colored and inviting. Chika's expressions and personality come through wonderfully in the illustrations. Cameron does a masterful job depicting Monet's paintings. I think anyone who reads this book will want to know more about Monet. Would pair well with Where Is the Frog?: A Children's Book Inspired by Claude Monet by Géraldine Elschner. 

Themes: Art, Cats, Painting 

(Illustrated by Becky Cameron. Random House Studio, 2020.)

Monday, October 25, 2021

I'm On It! By Andrea Tsurumi

An Elephant & Piggie Like Reading Book 

Goat and Frog are playing a game. As it gets more involved, Frog isn't so sure he wants to keep playing. Can they still be friends? 

Thoughts: Too fun! I would not recommend replicating Goat and Frog's game at home. The illustrations are colorful and I love the expressions. Speech bubbles for the win. I love books that promote tandem reading--parent with child, grandparent with child, or sibling with sibling. 

Themes: Frogs, Goats, Friends, Games 

(Disney, 2021.) 

Friday, October 22, 2021

Stanley's Library by William Bee

A day in the life of Stanley the librarian. 

Thoughts: What a lovely tribute to libraries everywhere. I like that several different aspects of libraries were represented in the book--the physical library building, a mobile library, and storytime. This will be a great addition to a library themed storytime. The illustrations are colorful, realistic, and very appealing. The publisher has a series activity kit available here

Don't miss Stanley's other adventures! 

  • Stanley's Garage 
  • Stanley's Diner 
  • Stanley the Builder 
  • Stanley the Farmer 
  • Stanley the Mailman 
  • Stanley's Store
  • Stanley's School 
  • Stanley's Train 
  • Stanley's Fire Engine 

Stanley's Board Books 

  • Stanley's Shapes 
  • Stanley's Paint Box 
  • Stanley's Toolbox 
  • Stanley's Numbers 
  • Stanley's Opposites 
  • Stanley's Colors 
  • Stanley's Lunch Box 
  • Stanley's Toy Box 

Themes: Libraries, Stanley 

 (Peachtree, 2021.)

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

100 Cats by Michael Whaite


So many cats to count! Can you count them all? 

Thoughts: Such a fun book! The text is fabulous--very rhythmic. You can also chant it. The illustrations are colorful and I love all the depictions of the cats. My favorite cats are art cat, lucky cat, cool cat, grin cay, lynx cat, tangled in your knitting cat, floppy cat, clock cat, stripe cat, and my cat. I think if I use this book in storytime, I'd read it first and then we'd go back and count the cats keeping a running total page by page. 

Themes: Cats, Counting

(Random House, 2019.)

Monday, October 18, 2021

Itty-Bitty Kitty Corn by Shannon Hale


Kitty thinks she's a unicorn. In fact, she's almost certain even though Parakeet and Gecko are always naysaying. But when a real unicorn shows up, Kitty is defeated. She's not a unicorn. But could she be a kitty corn? 

Thoughts: Such a fun book and a great addition to unicorn books. I look forward to adding this to my unicorn storytime. The illustrations are colorful and I love the expressions on all the characters' faces. Some great activity sheets are available here from the publisher. Several of them encourage children to use their imaginations as well as drawing and coloring skills. 

Themes: Cats, Unicorns, Imagination 

(Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2021.)

Friday, October 15, 2021

Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham


A look back at the changes the  COVID-19 pandemic brought to the world both outside and in. 

Thoughts: Such a timely book! Outside, Inside is a great way to start a discussion with the youngest children about the pandemic. Simple text is paired with lovely illustrations. The illustrations are so detailed I found my self going back to look at them several times. I often say that when we find ourselves on the other side of this pandemic (and we're not there yet) I think we need to have some way to remember what life was like then. This book definitely fits the bill. I could see myself sharing Outside, Inside at such an event where we share stories from the time and have a favorite mask show and tell. I know parents, grandparents, and teachers will find this book to be useful. 

(Roaring Brook Press, 2021.)

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

The Bookstore Cat by Cylin Busby


How would you describe the bookstore cat? Here are a few suggestions from A to Z! 

Thoughts: I love the inspiration for this book. I've never heard of the game The Minister's Cat, but I have played a similar one when hosting a Kit Kittredge Party. I think my storytime kids will enjoy this book, but I'm looking forward to sharing it with older kids and playing the game with them after we read the book. I may assign each child a letter and have them write down a few adjectives that start with their letter so we can play quickly. When I visit classrooms, I usually only have thirty minutes. 

Themes: Cats, Alphabet, Elementary 

(Illustrated by Charles Santoso. Balzer + Bray, 2020.)

Monday, October 11, 2021

Tea Time by Beth Ferry


Is it tea time or tee time? Homophones cause a slight confusion during Frannie's time with Grandy. 

Thoughts: Too funny! This will be a great addition to a tea storytime or a grandparents storytime. Explaining homophones to preschoolers should be fun. The illustrations are colorful and detailed. I like the golf terms defined at the end of the book. The ruined tea (hot tea, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and chocolate cake) and the tea at the clubhouse (hot tea, club sandwiches, and chocolate chip cookies) give me and possibly parents and grandparents ideas for extending the story. 

Themes: Tea, Grandparents 

 (Illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2021.)

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

The Capybaras by Alfredo Soderguit


The chicken coop is a great place to live. Peaceful with plenty of food. Then one day some unexpected visitors arrive--the capybaras. They don't fit in with the hen crowd. Can chickens and capybaras be friends? 

Thoughts: I think capybaras are the cutest and I've got to see some a zoos before. They look like gigantic guinea pigs. I like the friendship that develops between the chickens and the capybaras. The text is sparse and there are several two-page spreads that are wordless. The illustrations remind me of picture books from years ago. I like the detail Soderguit is able to convey in the animals' expressions and the limited color palette. I find it interesting you never really see the humans' faces. The ending vignette leaves the possibility for another book. Or if not, you can ask kids to write that story. 

Themes: Farm, Chickens, Capybaras, South America

(Review Copy Provided by Publisher. Translated by Elisa Amado. Greystone Kids, 2021. )

Monday, October 4, 2021

My Dog Banana by Roxane Brouillard

Just a boy walking his dog. Wait...that's a banana, isn't it? 

Thoughts: What a fun book! When I first saw the cover it immediately reminded me of Peanut by Lisa Alsenas. I think this book will make readers and listeners laugh out loud. I look forward to sharing this book with first and second graders. I think they'll understand the humor a bit more than my under five storytime kids. The illustrations are great. They remind me of illustrations from the 1970s and 1980s. The surprise ending is reminiscent of Bark, George by Jules Feiffer. Fruits and vegetables as pets or friends is an intriguing concept. I can only think of one other book and that is Sophie's Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller.

Themes: Unusual Pets, Dogs, Bananas, Fruit, Silly Books, Elementary 

(Review Copy Provided by Publisher. Illustrated by Giulia Sagramola. Greystone Kids, 2021.)

Friday, October 1, 2021

Ideas for Cybils 2021 Poetry Nominations Part 2



Poetry is back as a category for the 2021 Cybils and I wanted to share books that are eligible to be nominated. Part 2 is for books for seventh through twelfth grade. Part 1 was for books for kindergarten through sixth grade.

Collections for Grades 7-9
You Don’t Have to Be Everything: Poems for Girls Becoming Themselves edited by Diana Whitney

Verse Novels for Grades 7-9
Muted by Tami Charles
Home Is Not a County by Safia Elhillo
Your Heart, My Sky by Margarita Engle
Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit by Colby Cedar Smith
Alma Presses Play by Tina Cane
The Girl Who Became a Tree by Joseph Coelho
 
Verse Novels for Grades 10-12
Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne
The Seventh Raven by David Elliott
Me (Moth) by Amber McBride
We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire by Joy McCullough
Thirty Talks Weird Love by Alessandra Narváez Varela

If you're looking for ideas for other categories or if you have a book you'd like to be nominated but you've already used that category, look no further than the Cybils Idea Boards. Here's a link with all the details.  

Ideas for Cybils 2021 Poetry Nominations Part 1



Poetry is back as a category for the 2021 Cybils and I wanted to share books that are eligible to be nominated. Part 1 is for books from kindergarten through sixth grade. Part 2 will be books for seventh through twelfth grade. (Links are to my reviews of the titles.)

Collections for Kindergarten
The Dirt Book: Poems about Animals That Live Beneath Our Feet by David L. Harrison
Delicious: Poems Celebrating Street Food Around the World by Julie Larios
Beyond: Discoveries from the Outer Reaches of Space by Miranda Paul
Girls and Boys Come Out to Play by Tracey Campbell Pearson
An Emotional Menagerie: Feelings from A to Z edited by Alain de Bottom
Snow Birds by Kirsten Hall
 
Collections for Grades 1-2
Coyote’s Soundbite: A Poem for the Planet by John Agard
The Last Straw: Kids vs. Plastic by Susan Hood
Beautiful Day! Petite Poems for All Seasons by Rodoula Pappa
If You Go Down to the Woods Today by Rachel Piercey
Hello, Earth! By Joyce Sidman
My Words Flew Away Like Birds by Debora Pearson
What Are Little Girls Made of? By Jeanne Willis
 
Collections for Grades 2-3
For Every Little Thing: Poems and Prayers to Celebrate the Day edited by June Cotner and Nancy Tupper Ling
Hard-Boiled Bugs for Breakfast: And Other Tasty Poems byJack Prelutsky
Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright!: An Animal Poem for Every Day of the Year edited by Fiona Waters
ICE! Poems about Polar Life by Douglas Florian
I Wish I Had a Wookiee by Ian Doescher
 
Collections for Grades 3-4
Spi-ku: A Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs by LeslieBulion
I Am Odd, I Am New by Benjamin Giroux
My Thoughts Are Clouds by Georgia Heard
The Book of Not Entirely Useful Advice by A. F. Harrold
The Best Ever Book of Funny Poems edited by Brian Moses
Dear Ugly Sisters: And Other Poems by Laura Mucha
 
Collections for Grades 4-6
They Only See Outside by Kalli Dakos
Legacy: Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes
The Little Mermaid by J. M. Farkas
Carry On: Poetry by Young Immigrants edited by Rogé Girard
Growing Up Trans: In Our Own Words edited by Lindsay Herriot and Kate Fry
37 Days at Sea: Aboard the M. S. St. Louis, 1939 by Barbara Krasner
New Royalty by Charles R. Smith, Jr.
What About Will? By Ellen Hopkins 

Verse Novels for Grades 3-4
Samira Surfs by Rukhsanna Guidroz
Reckless, Glorious, Girl by Ellen Hagan
The One Thing You’d Save by Linda Sue Park
Rez Dogs by Joseph Bruchac
The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan
Love, Love by Victoria Chang
 
Verse Novels for Grades 4-6
The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron
Unsettled by Reem Faruqi
Starfish by Lisa Fipps
Alone by Megan E. Freeman
Everywhere Blue by Joanne Rossmassler Fritz
Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca
D-39: A Robodog’s Journey by Irene Latham
Recipe for Disaster by Aimee Lucido
Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz
Miles from Motown by Lisa Sukenic
We Belong by Cookie Hiponia Everman
Ben Y and the Ghost in the Machine by K. A. Holt
The Lost Language by Claudia Mills 

If you're looking for ideas for other categories or if you have a book you'd like to be nominated but you've already used that category, look no further than the Cybils Idea Boards. Here's a link with all the details. 

I Hear You, Forest by Kallie George

A little girl visits the forest and quietly listens to what the forest has to say. 

Thoughts: Lyrical text blends perfectly with soft colored illustrations. I love that this book is about a child simply enjoying nature. Children who read this book will likely be inspired to go explore nature. The story has a repetitive quality that make it almost meditative. I think I Hear You, Forest would pair well with In the Woods by David Elliott and Forest Has a Song by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Themes: Forest 

(Review Copy Provided by Publisher. Illustrated by Carmen Mok. Greystone Kids, 2021.)