Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez

Federico is going to the store for his abuelo. He's to go straight there and back. A chance encounter with a wolf in the woods changes his story. 

Thoughts: There's so much to love about Federico and the Wolf. I love that Federico is a boy and he's going to visit his grandpa. Almost all the other Little Red Riding Hood variants I've read feature a girl as the title character going to visit her grandma. I like the Spanish words that are included in the text as well as the pronunciation and definitions at the end of the book. The illustrations are bright and colorful. I especially like the wolf's expressions throughout the story. The pico de gallo recipe extends the story. I'd love to see families cooking together after reading this story. I can't wait to add this book to my fairy tale storytime theme and also pair it with my other favorite Little Red Riding Hood stories, Little Red Hot by Eric A. Kimmel and Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith. 

Themes: Fairy Tales, Little Red Riding Hood stories, Bilingual 

(Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. Clarion Books, 2020.) 

Julia's House Moves On by Ben Hatke

sequel to Julia's House for Lost Creatures 

The house is getting restless so it's time to move. Julia has a plan to make sure the move goes smoothly. But you know how it is with plans--they often go awry. 

Thoughts: I'm so glad Julia and her house got a sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and Julia's House Moves On is no different. The text is simple and the illustrations are gorgeous. I love seeing all the different creatures. I think I'd like to use the Julia books for a houses and homes storytime. The illustrations are so detailed, I wish I could give each storytime kid their own copy to look at while I read. 

Themes: Houses & Homes, Imaginary Creatures

(First Second, 2020.)

The Popcorn Astronauts and Other Biteable Rhymes by Deborah Ruddell

Twenty-one poems about food. Some are silly. Some are not. 

Thoughts: Deborah Ruddell's poems are always fun. A few of these are downright silly. Others are a little tongue-in-cheek. I've enjoyed sharing these poems with elementary school students. You could definitely just share one poem during a storytime. For example, "Your Choices at the Totally Toast Café" would go well with a food or breakfast theme, "21 Things to Do with an Apple" is perfect for a fall storytime, and "Menu for a Gray Day" would be good for a rain themed storytime. My favorite poems are "How a Poet Orders a Shake," "Your Choices at the Totally Toast Café," "21 Things to Do with an Apple," and "Menu for a Gray Day." The watercolor illustrations are colorful, detailed and perfectly reflect the poems. 

Themes: Various, Food, Elementary

Other Poetry Collections by Deborah Ruddell: 

• Today at the Bluebird Café: A Branchful of Birds
• A Whiff of Pine, A Hint of Skunk: A Forest of Poems 

(Illustrated by Joan Rankin. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2015.)

On the Wing by David Elliott

Simple poems explore the world of birds. 

The Birds: Hummingbird, Caribbean Flamingo, Crow, Oriole, Woodpecker, Japanese Crane, Great Horned Owl, Australian Pelican, Macaw, Wandering Albatross, Cardinal, Andean Condor, Puffin, Bowerbird, Blue Jay, Sparrow, Bald Eagle

Thoughts: David Elliott's poetry is simple enough to share with preschoolers and yet the images he uses are often profound. I enjoy sharing his poetry with a variety of ages. In fact I used "The Cardinal" from On the Wing in a presentation I gave to college students about poetry for children. After reading all the poems in this collection, I found myself wanting to know more about all of the birds. Elliott's descriptions made me curious. My favorite poems are "The Hummingbird," "The Macaw," "The Bowerbird," and "The Sparrow." The gouache illustrations are colorful and detailed. My favorites are the hummingbird, the flamingo, and the cardinal. I can see myself using this book in its entirety or just using a poem or two. There are many great picture books about all kinds of birds. Pair On the Wing with Bring on the Birds by Susan Stockdale, I Spy in the Sky by Edward Gibbs, Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward, and Plume by Isabelle Simler for a great bird storytime. 

Themes: Birds 

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 
• In the Past 
• In the Woods
• At the Pond (coming Spring 2021)

Other Collections of Bird Poetry for Children: 

• Today at the Bluebird Café: A Branchful of Birds by Deborah Ruddell
• The Cuckoo's Haiku and Other Birding Poems by Michael J. Rosen
• Superlative Birds by Leslie Bulion 
• Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems by Kristine O'Connell George 
• Feathers: Poems about Birds by Eileen Spinelli 

(Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander. Candlewick Press, 2014.) 

Forest Has a Song by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

 

A girl visits the forest throughout the seasons. This is the story of what she found there in poems. 

Thoughts: I really enjoyed this collection when it was first published and meant to review it then, but I guess it escaped me. I love the idea behind this collection because my siblings and I were the girl in the collection. We were in the woods every chance we had. We even discovered lady's slippers. I think the girl's voice and the voices of the forest's inhabitants in the poems are authentic and true. I think this collection will appeal to anyone, children and adults alike, who enjoys the natural world. My favorite poems are "Proposal," "Lady's Slipper," "Moss," "Woodpecker," and "Maples in October." Robbin Gourley's illustrations are soft colored yet vibrant. I like the different layouts used. It adds interest. 

In April 219 when I visited first and second grade classrooms, I highlighted a few of my favorite poets for children. Amy Ludwig VanDerwater was one. I shared the following from her collections: 

• Read! Read! Read! ("Cereal Box," "Word Collection," and "Forever")
• Forest Has a Song ("April Waking," "Lady’s Slipper," and "Waiting for Deer")
• With My Hands: Poems about Making Things ("Tie-Dye Shirt," "Fort," and "Origami")

Here's an interesting fact: Every class of kids I visited asked me to read "Word Collection" at least one more time.

I can see myself sharing Forest Has a Song with older children and highlighting just a poem or two during a forest themed storytime.

Themes: Forest

(Illustrated by Robbin Gourley. Clarion, 2013.)