But the Bear Came Back by Tammi Sauer

When a bear knocks on his door, a boy is sure bears don't belong in houses. He tells the bear to go, but the bear keeps coming back...until he doesn't.

Thoughts: Such a nice story. I like how it changes halfway through with the boy wanting the bear to come back. It was a sweet, short story perfect for storytime. The illustrations are interesting. I like the lack of outlines and the colors used. My favorite illustration is of the bear after he came down the chimney.

Themes: Bears, Friendship, Unusual Pets

Illustrated by Dan Taylor. Sterling, 2018.

Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons by Laura Purdie Salas

2019 Cybils Poetry Nominee

Haiku and riddle combine in this celebration of the seasons.

Thoughts: Very nice! Haiku is one of my favorite poetic forms. These are clever and evocative. I have loved sharing Jack Prelutsky's If Not for the Cat with students for years. I'm thrilled to have a new option. The illustrations are beautiful--soft and detailed. My favorite poems are umbrella, bud, fireflies, fireworks, pencil, squirrel, snow, and stars. Another beauty of haiku: they are short enough to share with the youngest listeners. I love the author's invitation to readers at the end to try their hand at their own riddleku. She also has an activity sheet for this on her website.

If you like the idea of seasonal haiku, you might also check out these collections:
Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth
Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka
Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko

Themes: Seasons, Haiku, Riddles, Elementary

Illustrated by Mercè López. Millbrook Press, 2019.

Boom! Bellow! Bleat! Animal Poems for Two or More Voices by Georgia Heard

2019 Cybils Poetry Nominee

A book of animal poems that are meant to be performed.

Thoughts: What a wonderful collection! I can't wait to use this book when I visit 2nd grade classes in the spring. This book is fun and promotes poetry--what could be better? The poems are great when read alone. I can only imagine how good they'll be when I have a whole class to help me. The digital illustrations are reminiscent of cut paper collage and draw the eye. They are colorful and interesting. My favorite poems are "Animal Songs," "We Don't Say Ribbit!," Fight of the Honeybees," and "Forest Orchestra." My favorite illustrations are the cover, "We Don't Say Ribbit!,"and "Noisy Fish."

Themes: Animals, Animal Sounds, Elementary

Illustrated by Aaron DeWitt. Wordsong, 2019.

Trees by Verlie Hutchens

2019 Cybils Poetry Nominee

Fifteen poems introduce readers to trees in lyrical language with colorful illustrations.

Thoughts: A nice collection of short poems about a subject most kids will be familiar with. The language is lyrical and whimsical. The illustrations are gorgeous--richly colored and detailed. My favorite poems are Aspen and Birch. My favorite illustrations are the cover/copyright page and any others that have a hint of purple. This collection will pair well with Douglas Florian's Poetrees as well as Deborah Ruddell's Today at the Bluebird Café and A Whiff of Skunk, A Hint of Pine: A Forest of Poems. Hutchens' poems are simple enough to share with the youngest listeners.

Themes: Trees, Nature, Forest, Homes, Birds

Illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong. Beach Lane Books, 2019.

Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris

It started with a river and when a bear came along the adventure began.

Thoughts: This book is so fun. I like how all the different animals join the story. It reminds me a little of Lita Judge's Red Sled. I love how the illustrations start out in black and white and then become colored as the story goes on. This was a great book to share during my bear storytime. There are plenty of opportunities to ask the kids engagement questions. I think Pham's illustrations are beautiful. The colored trees are my favorite. I like all the detail she puts into all the illustrations as well.

Themes: Bears, Friendship, Forest

Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. Little, Brown, and Company, 2019.

Ten Rules of the Birthday Wish by Beth Ferry

Everybody has a birthday and I'll bet almost everyone has made a wish before. But did you know there were rules? You didn't? Well, this book is for you.

What I thought: Too funny! I read this book to many classes of first and second graders. I introduced the book by asking them to raise their hands if they had a birthday and again if they had ever made a wish on their birthdays. The illustrations are colorful and interesting. I loved the guest appearance by Moose from This Is a Moose by Richard T. Morris. My favorite rule is No. 9.

Themes: Birthdays, Animals, Rules, Elementary

Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. Putnam, 2019.

The Donkey Egg by Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel

Fox tricks Bear into buying what he claims is a donkey egg. Bear keeps the egg warm, safe, and happy. Will it ever hatch?

What I Thought: Hilarious! I read The Donkey Egg to first and second graders and they were all shouting, "It's a watermelon!" I'd tell them, "Shh. Bear doesn't know." The surprise ending was great. I won't spoil it for you here, but I will ask, who tricked who? The illustrations are colorful and interesting. I like the different styles of illustrations and also the changes in font to show emphasis.

Themes: Tricky Foxes, Bears, Elementary

Illustrated by Janet Stevens. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019.