Soup's On Around the World by Denyse Waissbluth

Taste the World Book 2

Do you like soup? Let's travel the world and learn more about this delicious and versatile food!

Thoughts: I'm so glad the author and illustrator collaborated again to bring readers an around the world look at soup. Everyone has a soup and I was delighted to learn about some I'd never heard of before. I like that if you're reading this to younger kids in a storytime setting you can just use the large text and abbreviate the description to suit their attention spans. The illustrations are colorful and inviting. I like how detailed the soup ingredients are in the illustrations. I love that the author and illustrator shared their favorite soup recipes at the end of the book. Pair with 10 Hungry Rabbits by Anita Lobel, Is That Wise, Pig? by Jan Thomas, 10 Hungry Pigs by Derek Anderson, House Mouse by Michael Hall, Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic, Carrot Soup by John Segal, or Every Color Soup by Jorey Hurley for a soup-er storytime. Pair with Teatime Around the World and Delicious! Poems Celebrating Street Food from Around the World by Julie Larios to tour the world in food and drink. 

Get a curriculum guide from the publisher here. Don't miss the  first Taste the World book: Teatime Around the World. 

Themes: Soup, Food

(Review copy provided by publisher. Illustrated by Chelsea O'Byrne. Greystone Kids, 2025.)

Flamingos Are Pretty Funky: A [Not So] Serious Guide by Abi Cushman

All you could ever want to know about flamingos and more! 

Thoughts: Facts mixed with fun equals a fascinating nonfiction book for kids. I know so much more about flamingos than I did before I read this book. I love the use of speech bubbles for most of the jokes. If I was sharing this during storytime, I might shorten it and only share parts as it's quite lengthy in text for storytime. Like the other title in the series, Flamingos Are Pretty Funky remind me of The Truth About... series by Maxwell Eaton III. The illustrations are fun. I especially like the different personalities the flamingos get--the makeup artist, the exercise fanatic. Oh, and you can't forget Joey the Snake. His interactions with the flamingos are great. Pair with Fussy Flamingo by Shelley Vaughan James, Sylvie by Jennifer Sattler, Flamingo Bingo by Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle, For Pete's Sake by Ellen Stoll Walsh, Pinky Got Out! by Michael Portis, or Pinky Crashes the Party by Michael Portis for a flamboyant flamingo storytime. There's also a flamingo poem in On the Wing by David Elliott. Visit the author's website for activity sheets and a craft. 

Don't miss the other title in this series: Wombats Are Pretty Weird.

Themes: Flamingos, Elementary 

(Greenwillow, 2024.)

Why Do Elephants Have Big Ears? Questions--and Surprising Answers--About Animals by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

This informative nonfiction book features questions and answers about 19 different animals. 

The animals: camel, bat, aye-aye, zebra, flamingo, spotted skunk, hippo, giraffe, sloth, naked mole rat, giant squid, chameleon, proboscis monkey, red-eyed tree frog, polar bear, wombat, hatchetfish, narwhal, African elephant

Thoughts: If you know me at all, you know that Steve Jenkins and Robin Page are my favorite creators of nonfiction books for children. The cut paper collage illustrations are fascinating and eye-catching. The facts are presented simply. The back matter features more information about each animal as well as a bibliography. Throughout the book, the size of each animal is shown in comparison to average human size. I can't wait to share this new book with first and second grade classrooms. This would pair well with What's Your Favorite Animal? edited by Eric Carle and various animal poetry books like The Beauty of the Beast edited by Jack Prelutsky and National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry edited by J. Patrick Lewis. 

Themes: Animals, Nonfiction, Elementary 

(Little, Brown and Company; Hatchette Book Group, 2023.)

Odd Birds: Meet Nature's Weirdest Flock by Laura Gehl

Look inside for the oddest birds you'll ever encounter! 

Thoughts: Gorgeous, vibrant illustrations paired with simple text make this larger board book perfect for sharing in storytime. Here are the birds: Magnificent Frigatebird, Blue-Footed Booby, Shoebill Stork, Ostrich, Hoatzin, Oilbird, California Condor, and Burrowing Owl. My favorite illustrations are  the Oilbird and the Burrowing Owl. I love the additional facts included at the end of the books. 

Pair with Bring on the Birds by Susan Stockdale, Beautiful Birds by Jean Roussen, and Bird Show by Susan Stockdale. 

Themes: Birds 

(Illustrated by Gareth Lucas. Abrams Appleseed, 2022.)

Wombats Are Pretty Weird: A [Not So] Serious Guide by Abi Cushman

Find out all you could possibly ever want to know about wombats within these pages. 

Thoughts: I've been a wombat fan ever since I read Jackie French's Diary of a Wombat way back in 2011. Wombats are so cute. But now that I've read Abi Cushman's newest book I know know that wombats are also weird. Wombats Are Pretty Weird is the perfect blend of humor and facts. I love the conversations that take place between Joey the Snake and the other characters. The illustrations are colorful and, dare I say it, cute. This book reminds me of The Truth About...series by Maxwell Eaton III. Kids definitely appreciate a little humor with their facts. I think Wombats Are Pretty Weird will be fun to share with first and second graders. Find an activity guide, bookmark craft, and storytime activity sheets on the author's website here. 

Themes: Wombats, Elementary 

(Greenwillow Books, 2023.)

Solitary Animals: Introverts of the Wild by Joshua David Stein

Everyone talks about animal groups, but what about those animals who prefer their own company? 

Thoughts: Solitary Animals is a visually stunning book. I like the juxtaposition of animal groups with the solitary animals. The digitally created illustrations are bright and bold. There's one page in the back with more information about solitary animals. No sources are cited. I think I would like to have that especially if kids want to know even more. 

Themes: Animals 

(Illustrated by Dominique Ramsey. Rise, 2021.)

Line Up! Animals in Remarkable Rows by Susan Stockdale

Kids are often asked to line up. Did you know that some animals in nature also line up? Their reasons are a little different. They're not headed to the cafeteria for lunch, but they line up all the same. 

Thoughts: Susan Stockdale remains one of my favorite authors of nonfiction for the youngest children. Line Up! did not disappoint. I think it's genius to start with a concept children are familiar with (lining up) and then proceed to explore animals in their natural habitats through that lens. I know I learned something from reading the book. The illustrations are colorful and appealing. I love how the style varies some from animal to animal. My favorite are the arctic wolves and the fairywrens. The endpapers are also very interesting with lines of the animals in outlined white on a colored background. The back matter provides readers with more information about all the featured animals (type of animal, location, and why they line up). Visit the publisher's website here for activity sheets and a teacher's guide. 

Don't miss these other books by Susan Stockdale! (Links are to my reviews.) 

• Bird Show
• Fantastic Flowers
• Spectacular Spots 
• Stripes of All Types 
• Fabulous Fishes 
• Carry Me!
• Bring On the Birds

Themes: Animals, Lines 

(Peachtree, 2023.)

Tree Hole Homes: Daytime Dens and Nighttime Nooks by Melissa Stewart

Have you ever wondered about the animals who make their homes in tree holes? Tree Hole Homes explores the homes of fifteen different animals. 

Thoughts: Tree Hole Homes is a lovely, informative book for even the youngest of readers and listeners. I would definitely share this book in storytime. I would probably only share the larger text and then condense down the facets for my little storytime kids. Amy Hevron's illustrations (acrylic and marker on wood, collaged digitally) are colorful and interesting. My favorite illustration is the owls. The back matter (More about Tree Hole Dwellers, Selected Sources, and More Information about Animal Homes Booklist) provides so many extensions for the book. Visit the author's website here for even more extensions. 

Themes: Animal Homes, Animals 

(Illustrated by Amy Hevron. Random House Studio, 2022.)

The Tide Pool Waits by Candace Fleming

A day in the life of a tide pool. Waiting is the name of the game. 

Thoughts: A fun, informative book with colorful, detailed illustrations suitable for the youngest children. Librarians will find this book especially timely as the Collaborative Summer Library Program's theme this year is oceanography. I'll be using this book for my beach themed event for kids ages 7-12. I learned about  many ocean animals that I'd never heard of before reading this book. The acrylic paint and pencil illustrations are perfection. The lack of outlines makes them have almost a dream like quality. The sections at the end of book (An Illustrated Guide to This Tide Pool, Let's Explore, and Where Do They Live?) offer more information for interested readers. Find a lesson plan with fun writing activities on the publisher's website here. 

Themes: Ocean, Beach, Ocean Animals 

(Illustrated by Amy Hevron. Neal Porter Books, 2022.)

Let's Tell a Story! Fairy Tale Adventure by Lily Murray

Are you ready to go on an adventure? This book helps you create your own fairy tale story. You choose all the elements. The options are almost unlimited. (I'm including the back cover so you can see a little more information about the book and the creation process.)

Thoughts: This book is great! I can't wait for kids and parents to read this book and start creating their own stories. I'm also looking forward to using this book with kids when I focus on fairy tales. I'm going to take you through the process (simply) of creating a story. I'm just making the choices, not answering all the supplemental questions and describing everything. 

• Which one of these heroes do you want to be? A bear 
• What do you want to get dressed up in? (Choose as many as you like.) A satchel, a stripy scarf, a cloak, and a pair of glasses
• Where do you want to go? To a magic waterfall
• What do you need to take with you? (Choose three.) A map, a picnic basket, an umbrella 
• Who will come with you? (Choose as many as you like.) An invisible friend, Little Red Riding Hood, a wise owl, Thumbelina 
• How do you want to travel? On foot
• Which route do you want to take? Down the otter river 
• Who's there to greet you? (Choose as many as you like.) 12 dancing princesses, a lion, and a golden fish
• What will you eat at the fairy tale feast? (Choose as many as you like.) Pancakes, porridge, hot cocoa 
• Where's your hero hangout? A teapot
• An enemy has appeared! Which one is it? A big bad bunny
• There's a way out of danger! Which one will you choose? You put on a crafty disguise and clip away. 
• Which one of these things will you choose as your reward? The power to become a mermaid
• What happens next? Choose an ending for your tale. You decide to become a detective. 

I like to write stories and poems so I'm looking forward to fleshing out my story at some point. I can't wait to play with the other books in this series. 

Other books in the Let's Tell a Story! Series

• Space Adventure (out now)
• Pirate Adventure (April 12, 2022)
• Jungle Adventure (April 12, 2022)

Themes: Elementary, Writing, Fairy Tales 

(Illustrated by Wesley Robins. Wide Eyed Editions, 2021.)

A Most Clever Girl: How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice by Jasmine A. Stirling

This charming picture book biography focuses on Jane Austen's love of stories and words. The book follows her as she decides to write and perfects her craft over the years. 

Thoughts: I've been a fan of Jane Austen ever since I saw the 1996 adaptation of Emma on A&E when I was in high school. I didn't actually read her books until I was in graduate school. Her books offer so much enjoyment even more than a century after their publications. A Most Clever Girl is a great introduction to Jane and her love of writing. The illustrations are soft-colored and engaging. Notes from the author and illustrator are included as well as resources and a selected bibliography. I think anyone who reads this book will want to know more about Jane and eventually read her books. 

(Illustrated by Vesper Stamper. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2021.)

A Troop of Kangaroos: A Book of Animal Group Names by Lis Mundorff

A Troop of Kangaroos is a collective noun/animal group name books for the youngest readers and listeners. It features nine animals with six bonus animals at the end of the book. 

Thoughts: I've always been a fan of animal group names or collective nouns. To borrow a phrase from Anne Shirley, there's so much "scope for imagination" in collective nouns both for writing and drawing. I love that A Troop of Kangaroos is for the younger kids. The illustrations are colorful and detailed. There's so much to look at on the two-page spreads throughout the books. An easy writing and/or art activity would be to ask the kids to write a story or draw a picture of one of the bonus animal group names (hummingbirds, giraffes, wombats, narwhals, coyotes, and raccoons). The kids could also seek out other animal group names and write/draw about one that strikes their fancy. I highlighted collective nouns/animal group names during my summer program because the topic fit in so well with the CSLP theme of "Tails and Tales." You could pair A Troop of Kangaroos with An Ambush of Tigers: A Wild Gathering of Collective Nouns by Betsy R. Rosenthal, A Curious Menagerie by Carin Berger, or A Tower of Giraffes: Animals in Groups by Anna Wright for a fun lesson on animal group names. 

Themes: Animals, Collective Nouns, Elementary 

(Feiwel and Friends, 2021.)

The Truth About Parrots by Maxwell Eaton III

Everything you've ever wanted to know about parrots including some rather humorous asides from the birds themselves. 

Thoughts: From the very first I've loved this series! Great facts paired with colorful illustrations and tons of humor. It's a great way to get kids reading more nonfiction. I learned a lot from this book and look forward to sharing with with first and second grade students when I visit classrooms. 

Visit the author's website for some fun activities! 

Don't miss the other Truth About... Books

• The Truth About Hippos 
• The Truth About Bears 
• The Truth About Dolphins 
• The Truth About Elephants 
• The Truth About Crocodiles 
• The Truth About Hawks 
• The Truth About Butterflies 

Themes: Elementary 

(Roaring Brook Press, 2021.) 

Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme by Melissa Stewart

Discover which monkeys live in Manú, a national park in Peru. 

Thoughts: Such an informative book! I like that the actually text is short so I could potentially share Fourteen Monkeys with my storytime kids. The additional information on each page makes this a great book to share with older kids as well. I really could have made use of this book back in the summer when one of my weekly themes was Jungle (South America & Southeast Asia). Steve Jenkins's cut paper collage illustrations are stunning as always. My favorites are the pygmy marmosets and the Emperor tamarins. The included information at the end of the book is great for readers who want to know more. 

Themes: Rain forest, Monkeys

(Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Beach Lane Books, 2021.) 

Teatime Around the World by Denyse Waissbluth

Do you like tea? Let's travel around the world explore tea traditions from different countries and cultures. 

Thoughts: I was excited about Teatime Around the World for two reasons. First, I love tea and second, I'm always looking for books that explore multiple countries or cultures at the same time. The text of the book is simple enough to share with kids during storytime. The added information also makes this a great books to share with older kids. The illustrations are colorful and I think accurately portray the cultures they depict. For tea-tastic storytime, pair with any of the following: Tea Party Rules by Ame Dyckman, Tea Rex by Molly Idle, Tea with Oliver by Mika Song, Miss Spider's Tea Party by David Kirk, The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr, Alice in Wonderland: The Mad Hatter's Tea Party by Joe Rhatigan, Hattie Hippo by Christine Loomis, Brimsby's Hats by Andrew Prahin, The Tiny Baker by Hayley Barrett, and Tea Party Today: Poems to Sip and Savor by Irene Spinelli. 

Download a Companion Guide for Teachers and Parents here. 

Themes: Tea, Around the World, Food

(Illustrated by Chelsea O'Byrne. Greystone Books, 2020.)

Ten Animals in Antarctica: A Counting Book by Moira Court

Count from one to ten and travel to Antarctica explore the animals you'll find there

Thoughts: Such a simple concept that is visually stunning. Court's printmaking and collage illustrations are fabulous. The contrast of colors is amazing and there's so much to see on each page. Though classified as a juvenile nonfiction book, the simplicity of the text makes Ten Animals in Antarctica a perfect book for storytime. The additional information at the end of the book about Antarctica and the animals is great. I have very inquisitive storytime kids who will want to know more. 

Themes: Polar Animals, South Pole/Antarctica, The Poles 

(Charlesbridge, 2021.)

I've Got a Tail! Terrific Tails of the Animal World by Julie Murphy

Book #3 of the I've Got series by Julie Murphy and Hannah Tolson 

I've Got a Tail! is about twelve different animals and how they use their tails. 

Thoughts: Another hit from Murphy and Tolson! I love short, informative nonfiction books with bright. colorful illustrations. They are great for storytime. The animals included in the book are all wild animals you might see at a zoo or aquarium. I love that the ending asks readers to think about what their pets' tails can do. The map showing where the features animals live is great addition to the book. My favorite animals in the book are Anna's Hummingbird, Common Ringtail Possum, and Arctic Fox. My favorite illustrations are the Spinner Dolphin, Giraffe, and Spider-Tailed Horned Viper. 

Pair with What's This Tail Saying? by Carolyn Combs, Who Has This Tail? by Laura Hulbert, Heads and Tails by John Canty, and Tails by Matthew Van Fleet for an tail themed storytime. 

Pair with any of the following for an animal body parts storytime: This Is My Eye: A New York Story by Neela Vaswani, any of the I Spy books by Edward Gibbs (with My Little Eye, Under the Sea, Pets, on the Farm, in the Sky), The Eye Book by Theo LeSieg, Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On by Lois Ehlert, and Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World by Steve Jenkins, The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss, Who Has These Feet? by Laura Hulbert, I've Got Feet! Fantastical Feet of the Animal World and I've Got Eyes! Exceptional Eyes of the Animal World both by Julie Murphy, Creature Features: 25 Animals Explain Why They Look the Way They Do by Steve Jenkins, Butts are Everywhere by Jonathan Stutzman, Animals Brag about Their Bottoms by Maki Saito, and Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black

Themes: Tails, Animal Body Parts, Animals 

(Illustrated by Hannah Tolson. Amicus Ink, 2020)

I've Got Eyes! Exceptional Eyes of the Animal World by Julie Murphy

A sequel to I've Got Feet! Fantastical Feet of the Animal World, this book is all about thirteen different animals and how they use their eyes. 

Thoughts: Great nonfiction for the youngest readers! I like the mixture of common and less common animals in the book. After reading the book, I had definitely learned something. My favorite animals in the book are the camel, four-eyed fish, goat. The illustrations are colorful and appealing. My favorite illustrations are the tarsier, chameleon, and camel. 

Pair with This Is My Eye: A New York Story by Neela Vaswani, any of the I Spy books by Edward Gibbs (with My Little Eye, Under the Sea, Pets, on the Farm, in the Sky), The Eye Book by Theo LeSieg, Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On by Lois Ehlert, and Eye to Eye: How Animals See the World by Steve Jenkins for an eye themed storytime. 

Pair with any of the following for an animal body parts storytime: What's This Tail Saying? by Carolyn Combs, Who Has This Tail? and Who Has These Feet? by Laura Hulbert, I've Got Feet! Fantastical Feet of the Animal World and I've Got a Tail! Terrific Tails of the Animal World both by Julie Murphy, Creature Features: 25 Animals Explain Why They Look the Way They Do by Steve Jenkins, Butts are Everywhere by Jonathan Stutzman, Animals Brag about Their Bottoms by Maki Saito, and Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black

Themes: Animals, Eyes, Animal Body Parts 

 (Illustrated by Hannah Tolson. Amicus Ink, 2018.)

Tiny Monsters by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

Steve Jenkins and Robin Page explore twenty-four tiny bugs "that live on us, in us, and around us." 

Thoughts: As usual, any nonfiction from Jenkins and Page does not disappoint. Simple informative text is paired with vibrant, detailed illustrations. There's a definite gross factor and I think that's one of the main reasons this book will appeal the the students in the first and second grade classrooms I visit. Looking forward to adding it to my outreach book rotation. 

Themes: Elementary 

Other Books by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page I've reviewed: 

• Time to Eat
• Time to Sleep
• Time for a Bath
• My First Day 
• What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo? 
• Creature Features
• Eye to Eye

Books by Steve Jenkins that I love to use when I visit schools that I haven't reviewed: 

• Actual Size 
• Prehistoric Actual Size
• What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? 
• Living Color
• Never Smile at a Monkey
• I See a Kookaburra! 

(Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020.)

So You Want to Be an Owl by Jane Porter

Professor Olaf is quite sure that you, a human, cannot be an owl. However, he'll take you through owl school and the nine lessons it takes to be an owl. 

Thoughts: Too funny. Professor Olaf as a narrator is ingenious. I love how he continually disparages humans throughout the lessons. So You Want to Be an Owl is both fun and informative. My favorite lesson is #7, hooting. I enjoyed trying out the different owls' sounds and even discovered a few owls I'd never heard of...the Barking Owl and the Boobook Owl are now my favorites. The mixed media illustrations are colorful and detailed. The different characters have such personality. This will be a great book to share with first and second grade students when I visit their classrooms. 

Themes: Elementary 

(Illustrated by Maddie Frost. Candlewick Press, 2021.)