When Green Becomes Tomatoes: Poems for All Seasons by Julie Fogliano

This poetry collection takes us through the seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter). The poems take the form of journal entries. 

Thoughts: I can't believe it's taken me so long to review this collection. I loved it from the first time I read it. The journal entry poems are inspired. The poetry is brief but evocative and uses powerful imagery. The illustrations are colorful and detailed. My favorite poems are March 20, May 6, July 10, September 25, October 4, January 30, and February 15. I look forward to sharing a few of these poems during any of my seasonal storytimes. I think When Green Becomes Tomatoes would also be a great way to start a seasonal poetry writing project with students. 

Other Collections of Seasonal Poetry: 

• Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko
• Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth
• Changes: A Child’s First Poetry Collection by Charlotte Zolotow
• The Year Comes Round: Haiku Through the Seasons by Sid Farrar
• Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons by Laura Purdie Salas
• Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka
• Julie Andrews’ Treasury for All Seasons: Poems and Songs to Celebrate the Year
• Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies
• Red Sings from the Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman

(Illustrated by Julie Morstad. Roaring Brook Press, 2016.)

Hard-Boiled Bugs for Breakfast and Other Tasty Poems by Jack Prelutsky

Jack Preltusky's first new collection since 2013 does not disappoint. It's packed with more than 100 humorous poems that are exactly what readers have come to expect from Jack Prelutsky. 

Thoughts: Quintessential Jack Prelutsky! I look forward to sharing these poems with first and second graders when I'm able to visit classrooms again. I used to ask students to pick a number, but so many of them would pick the same numbers. I now put all the page numbers in a basket and have kids draw one out. My favorite poems are "A Giant Easter Bunny," "My Lizard," "My Elephant," "The Leaves Are Drifting," "The Kangarooster," "The Stir-Frying Pandas," "The Skigulls," "My Cow," "Fantelopes," "A Groundhog Speaks," "My Cows Have Stopped Mooing," and "We Are the Oceans." Ruth Chan's black and white illustrations perfectly capture the spirit of the poems. 

Other Books by Jack Prelutsky That I've Reviewed: 

• Camille Saint-Saens's The Carnival of the Animals with New Verses 
• If Not for the Cat 
• I've Lost My Hippopotamus 
• My Dog May Be a Genius 

(Illustated by Ruth Chan. Greenwillow Books, 2021.)

Book's Big Adventure by Adam Lehrhaupt

From the book's point of view, readers get a look at the lifespan of a book. 

Thoughts: As a librarian, I love the idea behind this book. What does happen to a book after it's discarded from the library? I found Book's Big Adventure to be accurate. The illustrations are colorful and detailed. I especially like how Book changes throughout the story. I have the seed of an idea to start a Flat Stanley type photo program with books and their adventures. I think it would work well for summer. The author's note and suggestions of places to donate books extend the story. I look forward to using this book in storytime. Pair with any of the titles listed below for a storytime focused on books, reading, and libraries. 

More Picture Books about Books, Reading, or Libraries

• Otto the Book Bear by Kate Cleminson
• Read to Tiger by S. J. Fore
• Read It, Don't Eat It! by Ian Schoenherr
• I Can Read with My Eyes Shut by Dr. Seuss 
• Hooray for Books by Brian Won 
• Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates 
• Red Knit Cap Girl and the Reading Tree by Naoko Stoop 
• The Midnight Library by Kazuno Kohara

Themes: Books, Libraries, Reading 

(Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell. Simon and Schuster, 2021.)

Anonymouse by Vikki VanSickle

An artistic city mouse leaves his art all over the city. Even though his art fades and nothing new appears, he has inspired the other animals in the city. 

Thoughts: A fun book about animals in the city and art! I love the monochromatic illustrations with those splashes of hot pink throughout to denote Anonymouse's art. Pair with any of the books listed below for an art themed storytime. 

Other Art Themed Picture Books: 

• Art and Max by David Wiesner 
• Mousterpiece by Jan Breskin Zalben
• The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle 
• If Picasso Painted a Snowman by Amy and Greg Newbold 
• If da Vinci Painted a Dinosaur by Amy and Greg Newbold 
• If Monet Painted a Monster by Amy and Greg Newbold 
• Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates 

Find some activity suggestions for Anonymouse here. Download activity sheets here. 

Themes: Art, Animals, Mice

 (Illustrated by Anna Pirolli. Tundra, 2021.)

Animals Brag About Their Bottoms by Maki Saito

I think the title says it all. In this book, you'll meet 20 different animals who are proud of their bottoms. 

Thoughts: A fun book that encourages children to be observant through a humorous topic. The illustrations are soft colored and detailed. For a bottom themed storytime, pair with Butts are Everywhere by Jonathan Stutzman and Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black. 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, I've Got a Tail! Terrific Tails of the Animal World, and I've Got Eyes! Exceptional Eyes of the Animal World all by Julie Murphy. 

Themes: Animals, Animal Body Parts, Bottoms 

(Greystone Kids, 2020.)

See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle

What cat? There's only Max the Dog. You must have the wrong book. Wait a minute...there is a cat in this book! 

Thoughts: This book is hilarious! It's short enough to share in storytime, but I think first and second grade students will be equally entertained. I can hear kids asking me to read it again and again. The dog is suitably disgruntled throughout the book. Grumpy characters always appeal to me. Illustrations are colorful and detailed without being busy. I like that the illustration only occupies one page of each two-page spread. See the Cat won the 2021 Giesel Award and the 2020 Cybils Award for Easy Readers. The author's website has a creative drawing sheet, a mini book, and a See the Cat downloadable board game. See the Cat is the first book in a planned three book series. The second book is See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat and will be published on September 14, 2021. Betsy Bird interviewed David and Mike and revealed the cover of the second book. Read that interview here. David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka have also collaborated on Moo! and This Is Not a Cat!

Themes: Dogs, Cats, Humorous Books, Elementary 

(Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. Candlewick Press, 2020.)

Hat Tricks by Satoshi Kitamura

Hattie is no ordinary rabbit. She's a magician. Can you help her say the magic words? What will come out of her hat? 

Thoughts: Too Funny! I love all the different animals that come out of the hat as well as the surprising end to the book. The illustrations are colorful with great black outlines. Hat Tricks would pair well with Warning! Do Not Touch! by Tim Warnes and The Magic Word by Mac Barnett. I think it would also go well with Bark, George by Jules Feiffer. Visit the publisher's website for an activity sheet and a Q & A with the Author/Illustrator.

Themes: Animals, Magicians

(Peachtree, 2019.)