The Animal Song by Jonty Howley

The animals (Crocodile, Bear, and Weasel) all have instruments and have formed a band. They play for all the other animals in the forest. At least until winter arrives. Will the band find a new audience? 

Thoughts: What a fun book! This is just in time for the music themed storytime I'm planning for summer. I love the different sounds the animals and their instruments make. The illustrations are soft colored and appealing. I think Weasel might be my favorite. There's a free song + story read-along download available on the author's website here. 

Themes: Music, Forest Animals

(Random House Studio, 2023.) 

Party Hearty Kitty-Corn by Shannon Hale

Book #3 in the Kitty-Corn series...Don't miss Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn or Pretty Perfect Kitty-Corn! 

It's a fact...adding a party always makes everything more fun. Unicorn and Kitty are planning a party. It's going to be grand, but they didn't anticipate Puppy's interest or destruction. Can Unicorn and Kitty's friendship survive Puppy? 

Thoughts: Party Hearty Kitty-Corn is bright and sparkly like the other two books in the series. I love the pinks and purples and use of white space in the illustrations. The story itself has an important lesson to impart. True friends always have room in their hearts for more friends. My favorite illustration is Puppy with his ice cream cone horn and hair curlers for cat ears. This book makes me want to throw a kitty-corn party at the library. And I just might! 

Activity sheets for the first book are available from the publisher here. 

Themes: Cats, Unicorns, Dogs, Friendship 

(Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2023.)

Run! by Guilherme Karsten

Run! Quick! Hide! He's Coming! You'll have to read the book to find out who "he" is. 

Thoughts: What a fun book! When you first start reading it, you think the animals are hiding from something bad, but then you realize it's just a game of hide and seek. Using this book in storytime, I think we'd go through it once and identify all the animals and then go back a second time to read the story. The text is so brief, asking about the animals as I read would hinder the narrative. Run! would pair well with Hide & Seek by Il Sung Na. The illustrations look like cut paper collage, but may be digital. I especially like the expressions on the animals faces and the foldout page where you have to find them hiding. 

Themes: Jungle Animals, Hide and Seek

(Owlkids Books, 2022.)

The Secret Garden Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion to the Beloved Classic by Rachel Dodge

I am honored to be a part of the launch team for Rachel Dodge’s latest book, The Secret Garden Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion to the Beloved Classic. 

I’ve only read two books by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden and A Little Princess. While I prefer A Little Princess, the insights Rachel brings out in her devotional make me fonder of the book and make me want to read the book alongside the devotional slowly. I’m a little over halfway through my first reading of The Secret Garden Devotional and it does not disappoint. 

Each chapter which corresponds to a chapter in the original book has a devotional, a personal application, and a prayer for today. The devotional grabs your attention, the personal application makes you think about your own walk with God, and then the prayer gives you words to let God know your heart and what he can do to help you. Rachel seamlessly blends quotes and phrases from The Secret Garden with scriptures and her own thoughts. The result is daily devotionals that the reader can’t help but want to put to use in their own lives. 

The illustrations are lovely and thoughtfully dispersed throughout the devotional. I love the ivy decorations that appear throughout as well. They are a gentle reminder of the garden. I like that Rachel uses different versions of the Bible for the scriptures she includes. 

The Secret Garden Devotional is perfect for fans of The Secret Garden specifically, children’s classics in general, or anyone looking for a thought provoking, insightful devotional. You can purchase The Secret Garden Devotional from Amazon or Rachel’s website. 

Other Books by Rachel Dodge:

• Praying with Jane: 31 Days through the Prayers of Jane Austen
• The Anne of Green Gables Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion for Kindred Spirits
• The Little Women Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion to Louisa May Alcott’s Beloved Classic

(Review copy provided by author and publisher. Illustrated by Anastasia Nesterova. Barbour Publishing, 2022.)

Merry Christmas, Anne by Kallie George

It's Christmastime in Avonlea and Anne is feeling thankful for everything--her first Green Gables Christmas, a dress with puffed sleeves, and beaded slippers. She feels just like the fairy she's supposed to be at the school's Christmas concert. 

Thoughts: Kallie George and Geneviève Godbout are back with another delicious inspired by Anne of Green Gables picture book. This time it's Christmas and this book presents an Avonlea/Green Gables Christmas perfectly. I smiled all the way though the story. For those AOGG fans who have young daughters, these book are just right for introducing the youngest girls to Anne Shirley. The illustrations are soft colored and detailed. I love how Geneviève depicts my favorite characters. This book is not to missed! Find an activity sheet from the publisher here. (Search the page for Anne!) 

Themes: Christmas, Beloved Characters

Other Picture Books by Kallie George about Anne Shirley

• If I Couldn't Be Anne
• Goodnight, Anne

Early Chapter Books by Kallie George about Anne Shirley

• Anne Arrives 
• Anne's Kindred Spirits 
• Anne's School Days 
• Anne's Tragical Tea Party 

(Illustrated by Geneviève Godbout. Tundra, 2021.)

Cold Turkey by Corey Rosen Schwartz & Kirsti Call

Turkey wakes up freezing on a wintery morning. He's one cold turkey. He bundles up and heads outside. All his other farm friends are cold, too, so Turkey shares his clothing with them one by one. Soon Turkey doesn't have any clothes. He's freezing again, but this time he's a cold turkey with a warm heart. 

Thoughts: What a fun book to add to my winter storytime. The text is brief, but impactful. I like the implied shivering as the animals talk. Cold Turkey has inspired me to seek out other winter farm animals books. The illustrations are colorful and I love all the animals' expressions. 

Themes: Winter, Farm Animals, Friendship

(Illustrated by Chad Otis. Little, Brown and Company, 2021.)

Thanks for Nothing! by Ryan T. Higgins

Bruce is preparing a fall feast with his usual grumpy flair. The geese and mice are making messes. Add one moose and no food for a holiday no one will forget. 

Thoughts: Poor Bruce! I really do feel sorry for him. Those geese and mice are always into something. This will be a great book to add to a Thanksgiving storytime. 

Themes: Fall, Thanksgiving, Bruce

Find activity sheets from the publisher here! 

Don't miss the other Bruce Books! 

• Mother Bruce
• Hotel Bruce 
• Be Quiet! 
• Bruce's Big Move 
• Santa Bruce 
• 1 Grumpy Bruce 
• Bruce's Big Fun Day
• Bruce's Big Storm 
• Peek-a-Bruce
• Spring Stinks
• The Bruce Swap 

 (Disney Hyperion, 2021.)