A Little Bit Brave by Nicola Kinnear

Logan and Luna are friends but opposites. Logan prefers to stay inside and be safe while Luna bravely explores outside and has adventures. An argument prompts Logan to be a little bit brave and venture outside. 

Thoughts: Such a great story with lovely illustrations. I love that Logan and Luna are opposites because that's the way my best friend and I are. We have a lot in common and enjoy a few of the same things, but we have some marked differences in personality and that's what makes our friendship interesting. The illustrations are lively and colorful. 

Download coloring and activity sheets from the author's website. 

Themes: Friendship, Rabbits 

(Orchard Books, 2019.)

That's My Carrot! by Il Sung Na

Two expert carrot growers get into an argument over a huge carrot. When it disappears, they have to work together to find it. 

Thoughts: I love Na's books and the newest one doesn't disappoint. I love the arguing rabbits. They remind me of Too Tall Houses by Gianna Marino and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett. The ending is a surprise and one I think readers will like. The illustrations are colorful and I like the lack of outlines. 

Themes: Rabbits, Vegetables, Gardens 

(Knopf, 2020.)

The Elephants' Guide to Hide-and-Seek by Kjersten Hayes

Hie-and-seek is not an easy game for an elephant to play. After all, have you ever tried to hide an elephant? 

Thoughts: This book is fun and colorful. I like that the intrusive narrator is another elephant. I can't wait to use this book in storytime. My favorite illustration is the elephant pretending to be a chair. This book would pair well with Hide & Seek by Il Sung Na, Everybunny Count! by Ellie Sandall, and Peek-a-Boo Bunny by Holly Surplice. 

Themes: Elephants, Games, Hide-and-Seek

(Illustrated by Gladys Jose. Sourcebooks, 2020.)

Beehive by Jorey Hurley

One word per two page spread illustration introduces readers to what bees do. 

Thoughts: The brief text and digitally created illustrations that are reminiscent of cut paper collage combine to create a wonderful introduction to bees. I love this format so much and can't wait to share Beehive in storytime and with students when I visit elementary schools. I love that the author's note both explores and explains the words Hurley chose for her book. Beehive would pair well with Beware by Bob Raczka, unBEElieveables by Douglas Florian, and The Honeybee by Kirsten Hall. There are also bee poems in On the Farm by David Elliott and Things to Do by Elaine Magliaro. 

Themes: Bees, Bugs/Insects, Spring

(Paula Wiseman, 2020.)

In the Woods by David Elliott

David Elliott's newest poetry collection takes us In the Woods with fifteen different forest animals. 

The Animals: bear, fox, scarlet tanager, opossum, skunk, porcupine, fisher, hornet, millipede, moose, beaver, wild turkey, bobcat, raccoon, deer 

Thoughts: Another great collection for the youngest listeners and readers. I like that Elliott chose woods for the title instead of forest. All the kids I interact with refer to the forest as the woods. This will immediately make the book familiar to them. Of the fifteen animals, there was only one I had never heard of. My favorite poems are opossum, moose, and beaver. The watercolor and mixed media illustrations perfectly suit the poems and the setting. My favorite illustrations are the scarlet tanager and the bobcat. 

This book would pair well with Forest Has a Song by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater and A Whiff of Pine, A Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems by Deborah Ruddell if you were sharing forest poetry with elementary school students. For storytime, I would pair In the Woods with a few of my favorite forest books like Too Tall Houses by Gianna Marino and Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris. 

Themes: Forest Animals 

Don't miss the other books in David's Poetry Series for Candlewick! (Links are to my reviews.) 

On the Farm

In the Wild 

In the Sea 

On the Wing 

In the Past 

At the Pond (coming Spring 2021)

(Illustrated by Rob Dunlavey. Candlewick Press, 2020.)

Follow the Recipe: Poems about Imagination, Celebration, & Cake by Marilyn Singer

Twenty-six poems function as recipes for various things like love, balance, and courage. 

Thoughts: Such a fun collection. When I was a child there was a plaque beside the wall telephone in the kitchen that was titled something like "Recipe for a Happy Home." Follow the Recipe reminds me of this plaque. The topics are interesting and I like that they all aren't food related. My favorite poems are "recipe for measurement," "recipe for a poem," "recipe for fairy tales," "recipe for reading," and "recipe for magic." Priceman's illustrations are full of color and whimsy. I especially like the incorporation of postage stamps. My favorite illustrations are "recipe for a good recipe," "recipe for a poem," "recipe for love," and "recipe for magic." I think this collection will be fun to share with children and then encourage them to write recipe poems by adding a word to the phrase "a recipe for." "recipe for memories" would also be a great staring point for children (or anyone really) to recall favorite food memories. 

My reviews of other poetry collections by Marilyn Singer: 

Follow Follow: A Book of Reverso Poems 

Mirror Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse 

Twosomes: Love Poems from the Animal Kingdom 

(Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2020.)

Write! Write! Write! Poems by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater

Amy Ludwig Vanderwater's newest poetry collection is a celebration of writing. Twenty-two poems explore all aspects of writing from a child's point of view. 

Thoughts: Writing is one of my favorite things so I've been looking forward to Write! Write! Write!. The poems celebrate both the act and craft of writing as well as children. The poems touch on things kids can relate to like crazy socks, state reports, and essays. I can't wait to share some with kids when I visit schools in the fall. My favorite poems are "Our Alphabet," "How to Begin," "If I Were an Octopus," "Writing about Reading," "Revision Is" Writing Is for Everyone," "Now," "The Pen," "Truth," and "One Wish." The illustrations are colorful and fun. My favorites are the cover, the octopus, and "Writing about Reading." I like that different types of poems are included. I'm especially fond of list poems. 

Don't miss Read! Read! Read! Poems by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater! 

(Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke. Wordsong, 2020.)