Board Book Review: The Sun Shines on the Sea by Michael Slack (2021)

Quick Booktalk  

This simple nonfiction text introduces the food chain of ocean creatures. 

About the Illustrations 

The pictures in this book are caricatures of various sea creatures, made cartoonish by their large round eyes. Some pages have lift-the-flap features showing what each animal has recently eaten. There is also one wordless spread where the illustrations provide the story's sole moment of suspense. Will the whale eat the shark? (No, of course not; whales eat krill.)

Story Time Possibilities

I'm all for reading nonfiction to even very young children, and I think this book in particular is entertaining enough outside of its informational content to work as a strong read-aloud. I would not expect a toddler to actually learn anything explicit about the food chain, but the structure of the book is very toddler-friendly, as are the pictures. Even the lift-the-flap elements are infrequent enough that showing them to a story time audience would not be unduly difficult. I'm most likely going to try using this at a story time in the future.

Readers Advisory 

Unlike many other nonfiction books aimed at babies and toddlers, this one isn't just an info-dump dressed up with pictures of babies. The text in this book is simple and straightforward, and the predictable structure in which one animal eats another on every page is well-suited to the interests of toddlers. For kids with an interest in under-the-sea creatures (like my shark-loving 18-month-old son) this is a guaranteed hit.

Disclosure

I received a finished copy of The Sun Shines on the Sea from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: Maybe... by Chris Haughton (2021)

Quick Booktalk

Three little monkeys are warned by their grown-up not to go down to the mango tree because there are tigers down there. The monkeys, thinking they know better, disobey and visit the mango tree anyway. 

About the Illustrations

The pictures in this book all have a red background and most of the time, only monkeys, mangoes, and trees appear against it. The monkeys have large white eyes with black pupils, and bodies of dark blue and green. The tigers, when they appear in the background, are depicted using a dull red color that hides them from the monkeys. When they come out to attack, they are orange with black scribbles making up their features. The illustrations depend largely on facial expression and body posture to tell their piece of the story. Kids will delight in knowing the tigers are present before the monkeys notice them and the visual drama when the tigers finally pounce makes for a very exciting and satisfying climax to the book.  

Story Time Possibilities

This book could probably work for story time, provided the performer points out the tigers when they appear in the background, as they are the only piece of the pictures that may not be noticeable at a distance.  Otherwise, this book suits a plethora of themes: monkeys, the jungle, fruit (mangos), tigers, danger, obedience, and even foolishness. The fact that the ending is left open and the monkeys obviously don't learn their lesson also makes it a good book for sparking discussion with preschool and even early elementary audiences.

Readers Advisory

This book attempts to teach its monkeys a lesson, but they are unwilling to learn. Thankfully, the reader is probably not so foolish and will disagree with the monkeys' future plans as suggested by the final pages of the story. The book is funny, but the lesson about listening to adults and appreciating possible dangers also comes across well and will likely be taken seriously by young readers. I didn't like this book quite as much as this author's Shh, We Have a Plan but the tone in both books is very similar and fans of one will enjoy the other. I read this book to my three oldest kids, ages 3, 5, and 7, and they all enjoyed it and all agreed that the monkeys were not very wise.

Disclosure

I received a finished copy of Maybe... from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: Good Night, Good Night by Sandra Boynton (2021)

Quick Booktalk 

This longer version of the popular The Going to Bed Book is the original 1985 hardcover version with new drawings by the author. As in The Going to Bed Book, several animals are on a boat and they go through their bedtime routine which is described in rhyme. 

About the Illustrations 

The pictures have been changed from the original board book, in that colors of certain things have been altered, certain figures have been placed differently on the page, and there are several additional spreads that are found only in this longer version. There is noting substantively different about the pictures that have simply been altered; the additional illustrations add in a scene showing the characters' sleeping arrangements and the music to sing along with two bunnies who perform a lullaby.

Story Time Possibilities

This is a great read-aloud, but it's important to figure out how to sing the lullaby before sharing it with an audience. The notes are easily picked out on a piano and the tune is not hard to learn, but it would not be ideal to go into a story time without having worked out the tune ahead of time. Otherwise, this is pretty much a guaranteed story time hit. Boynton is beloved for books of this type, and having this nice full-size version to add into a story time repertoire will be a boon for most libraries and classrooms. I will most likely use it in a night-time themed story time at my house this fall. 

Readers Advisory

This book makes the mundane bedtime routine look like fun. The images of the characters rushing around to prepare for sleep are filled with fun energy, but when the characters begin to yawn and get into bed, the mood shifts in a way that can really help little ones make the transition to bedtime. It's an excellent bedtime story and an all-around excellent picture book for Boynton fans to appreciate anew.

Disclosure 

I received a finished review copy of Good Night, Good Night from Little Simon in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: Prehistoric Pets by Dean Lomax, illustrated by Mike Love (2021)

Quick Booktalk 

Filled with facts, this pop-up book introduces the prehistoric ancestors of today's common household pets.

About the Illustrations 

Each page is filled to the edge with colorful digital illustrations and a host of text boxes and other informational blurbs. Each two-page spread talks about a particular animal family and provides drawings of some of the species within that family. The right-hand side of each spread also opens to reveal a pop-up of the prehistoric creature from which these species are descended. The text is really prominent on each page, so the 2-D artwork is mostly background, but the 3-D pop-up images do catch the eye.

Story Time Possibilities

This isn't a story time book because it's just too wordy. Theoretically it would be possible to just read the main bolded text on each page, but the unwieldiness of then having to show the pop-ups to an audience makes it more desirable to simply recommend it as a lap book.

Readers Advisory

This is a book for that kid who wants all the details about everything. There is just so much information packed into every square inch of every page that it's almost overwhelming. I do think the subject matter is fascinating, and I think my first grade daughter who is currently studying the stone age in our homeschool will want to look at it, but I'd be surprised if any child wanted to tackle every word in the book in one sitting. For me, the most interesting piece of each page is the section across the bottom that talks about fossils. I imagine other readers will similarly zone in on the sections that appeal to them most.

Disclosure 

I received a finished copy of Prehistoric Pets from Templar Books in exchange for an honest review.

Family Story Time, 9/22/21 (Farm Theme)

After almost a two-year hiatus, I'm back to doing story time once again. This time around, I'm performing story times in my basement every other Wednesday, and I've invited four other families to join me. We kicked off the season with a very small group: my five kids, ages 7, 5, 3, 18 months and 18 months, and one other family with a 3-year-old girl and 2-year-old boy. (The age range for the story time has been advertised as 5 and under, but my big kids will always happily participate when the group is small). I decided to start with a favorite September theme, the farm. 

Opening Song (with ukulele): Story Time is Starting, Clap Your Hands 

Book: Early One Morning by Mem Fox, illustrated by Christine Davenier
This book relies a little too heavily on the illustrations for me, and I did prompt the kids early on to realize that the boy is looking for eggs. Once we established that fact, they were very happy to let me know that of course gates, trucks, cows, sheep, etc. do not lay them. My older girls also thought the little boy was cute.

Song with Puppets: When Cows Get Up in the Morning
We sang this song with the Melissa & Doug puppets of a a horse, a pig, a sheep, and a cow. I intentionally ended with the cow to transition into the next book. 

Book: Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
For this book, I introduced the refrain of "Click clack moo, clickety clack moo, click clack moo" before I started reading and had everyone practice so they'd be ready to join in when it occurred in the story. It worked great!

Song: Milkshake Song 
I learned this song from Songs for Wiggleworms. My two oldest daughters demonstrated the movements for us. On the way home, my friend texted that her son fell asleep in the car and it was probably this song that did it. Haha.

Book: Stanley the Farmer by William Bee
This is one of my favorite Stanley books. I made sure to point out our family favorite, Little Woo, on every page. 

Song: Bumpin' Up and Down on My Little Red Tractor 
I took the words I normally use for Bumpin' Up and Down in My Little Red Wagon, and just changed wagon to tractor in every verse. Piggyback songs are great for new audiences - it makes it so easy for them to join in with the singing.  

Book: Barn at Night by Michelle Houts and Jen Betton
We ended with this gentle book about what happens in a barn at night. The 2-year-old boy had a lot to say about the pictures, and everyone loved the horses.

Song: Goodnight 

We sang Laurie Berkner's "Goodnight" to each of the animal puppets I introduced at the beginning, bringing the story time full circle.

Closing Song (with ukulele): Story Time is Over, Clap Your Hands 

Picture Book Review: Step by Step by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by Diane Goode (2021)

Quick Booktalk

Inspirational text and lively illustrations encourage young readers to do big things a little at a time.

About the Illustrations 

Using the same style she employed to illustrate books such as the Cinderella Smith series and the Louise the Big Cheese picture books, Diane Goode lends a collection of cheerful figures to McGinty's affirming words. Boys and girls of varying skin tones (and one girl using a wheelchair) welcome an uncertain newcomer into their circle, modeling how they try each day to make a step toward their goals, whether they're working on counting, painting, building, or writing.  The background of each page is stark white, focusing all the attention on the attitudes and movements of the characters. 

Story Time Possibilities

I think the best place to read this book aloud is probably a classroom. It feels like a good positive way to kick off a school year and to encourage kids to try, and keep trying, until they are successful at whatever they wish to achieve. I do think there are story time themes and locations that might lend themselves to sharing a book like this. I used to do story time alongside a yoga instructor, for example, and I think in that context it would have been well-received. Similarly, if there is need of a book on the theme of confidence or perseverance or "growth mindset," this is a strong choice. The rhyme and rhythm work well, and the illustrations are spare enough that they can translate well from the front of a small room to the back. 

Readers Advisory

This book reminds me a bit of I Can Be Anything by Jerry Spinelli, but with a more realistic emphasis on putting in effort to learn new things rather than a hollow blanket pronouncement that anyone can be anything. I don't tend to love books whose sole purpose is to teach a lesson, but this one is a lot more appealing than most. The ideal age range for this book is probably 4 to 6 years. I will most likely give it to my almost-6-year-old to read to herself or to her sister who is almost 4. 

Disclosure

I received a finished copy of Step by Step from Paula Wiseman Books in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: How to Have a Birthday by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrated by Cindy Derby (2021)

Quick Booktalk 

This poetic tribute to birthdays reflects on the many joys and traditions associated with the day.

About the Illustrations 

On the copyright page of this book, it says, "The illustrations were created on the road in a camper van with watercolor, pastels, coloring pencils, gouache, and a few sprinkles." Each page captures a different aspect of birthday celebrations, both the internal emotional experiences and the physical and social experiences that might occur during the day. Each page is really filled with light, which gives the book a very warm and cozy feeling 

Story Time Possibilities

This is a gentle read, and very pleasant. I would not hesitate to read it to my story time audience, which consists of my own kids and my friends' kids, and I think it will work in other small-group settings as well. It would work for a bunch of different themes: celebrations, birthdays and unbirthdays, traditions, the year, the calendar, etc. It would also be perfect to read aloud at a birthday party.

Readers Advisory

This book will definitely please fans of Mary Lyn Ray's other books, especially Stars and Christmas Farm. It has the same poignant outlook and sense of wonder as those earlier titles. It also has the same feel as a lot of Charlotte Zolotow's books, which had such a wonderful way of describing mundane childhood experiences in very interesting and engaging ways. Another obvious read-alike is Happy Birthday to You! by Dr. Seuss. I plan to give this book to my second daughter for her upcoming sixth birthday. 

Disclosure

I received a finished copy of How to Have a Birthday from Candlewick Press 

Picture Book Review: Once Upon a Time There Was and Will Be So Much More by Johanna Schaible (2021)

Quick Booktalk 

 A series of pages decrease in size  as they portray the passage of time from billions of years ago to just one minute ago, to right now, and then increase again as the text wonders what might occur in both the near and distant future. 

About the Illustrations 

The pictures are done with paint and cut paper collages, and each page distills the time period it talks about into a single image.  (Lava erupting from a volcano, a pyramid, etc.) The beginning and ending images mirror each other's landscapes, giving the book a very satisfying sense of everything coming full circle. There is also a strong sense of quiet on each spread, which furthers the thoughtful, almost philosophical mood suggested by the text.

Story Time Possibilities

Because the unique structure of this book includes very tiny pages at its center, it wouldn't be very useful to read to more than a handful of kids at a time. It probably works best shared one-on-one with a child or as an independent read for an early elementary schooler with strong reading skills.

Readers Advisory

This book gives great context for helping kids to understand where we are in time. In terms of the way it breaks down the time periods, it reminds me a lot of Life Story by Virginia Lee Burton, but with a lot less text. I typically do a unit on natural history in our homeschool during each of my kids' kindergarten years, and I can see this being a very useful title for introducing the topic of time in preparation for reading Life Story. It also pairs really well with another recent picture book release, The Day Time Stopped by Flavia Ruotolo, which deals with the passage of time over the course of a single day. 

Disclosure

I received a finished copy of Once Upon a Time There Was and Will Be So Much More from Candlewick Studio in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: The Welcome Chair by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (2021)

Quick Booktalk

A rocking chair carved with words of welcome is passed down through generations of immigrants to the U.S. 

About the Illustrations

As always, Jerry Pinkney's pictures, done in his signature style, are a beautiful accompaniment to the text of this book. He captures each historical time period covered by the story, evoking a particular era with just one or two images. The details of architecture, clothing, furniture, tools, and even a ship are carefully rendered on each page. Facial expressions, too, help convey the emotions of the people in the story and contribute to the reader's understanding of the significance of the chair. 

Story Time Possibilities

The main text of this book, which begins with true events from Rosemary Wells's own family history and finishes with a story from her imagination, would be excellent to read aloud to an elementary audience. My concern, though, is that the preface and author's note politicize the subject by alluding to immigration issues of the present day as though there is only one right way to think about them. This is a much more nuanced topic that requires proper context if one is going to have an informed opinion. I would probably not read the author's note aloud to younger kids, but with older ones it might be possible to use the book as a jumping off point for discussion, provided an adult gave them additional context. 

Readers Advisory

This book reminds me a bit of The Quilt Story by Tony Johnston and Tomie dePaola, but The Welcome Chair covers a much longer time period and has much more depth. While the main focus is on immigration, this book also speaks to themes of family history, community, friendship, and hope. I think it's probably best suited to grades 3 and 4. I also think it would be interesting to read this book with other chair-themed stories, such as A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams and Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats.  

Disclosure

I received a digital review copy of The Welcome Chair from Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing in exchange for an honest review. 

Picture Book Review: Three Ways to Be Brave by Karla Clark, illustrated by Jeff Ostberg (2021)

Quick Booktalk

The fears surrounding three common childhood experiences - thunderstorms, the first day of school, and a check-up at the doctor's office - are addressed in rhyming text and accompanying soothing illustrations.

About the Illustrations

Color is the main focus of the pictures. The colors used in each illustration directly reflect the mood of whatever is happening on the page. The thunderstorm scenes use lots of deep purples and blues, whereas the little girl eating breakfast before school is bathed in yellow sunlight, and the boy throwing a fit because he doesn't want a shot is set against a red and orange background. The illustrations also have interesting points of view that make them feel as though we're seeing them from a child's eye level. 

Story Time Possibilities

The rhyming text in this book contains a lot of rhyme for rhyme's sake. Though there is always some level of demand for bibliotherapy-type books to help kids prepare for and process scary and new situations, the stilted and bland text makes it unlikely that the book would get additional attention outside of that specific type of need. My daughter who has a check-up coming up soon was definitely interested in the check-up chapter, and it did spark a lot of discussion for her, but it was the content and the pictures that won her over, not the text. Reading it aloud was pretty painful for me too. 

Readers Advisory

The old Mr. Rogers books about various childhood milestones are still the standard for this genre, and though this book is new and shiny looking, it just does not compare to the work of Fred Rogers. It's fine for supporting kids going through new experiences, but the text is just very weak, even if the illustrations are appealing. 

Disclosure 

I received a finished copy of Three Ways to Be Brave from Penguin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. 

Picture Book Review: A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott (2021)

Quick Booktalk

In first person, the author relates his experience learning to read and to accept himself as a "slow" reader.

About the Illustrations 

The pictures in this book do a great job of capturing abstract concepts in a concrete medium. The whimsical illustrations really help to convey how the author felt about words, books, and the act of reading and also how his feelings changed and developed over time. The visual comparison of the world of words to a scary, complex forest works really well, as does his shift in perspective at the end of the story toward seeing the world of words as an ocean whose waves he can surf with ease. 

Story Time Possibilities

This is a definite classroom book that will most likely be used to address kids' anxiety about reading. There really is no story here outside of the lesson about learning to read at one's own pace, and that's the kind of thing teachers want to read about on the first day of school to break the ice and set the tone for the year. I think the text is pleasant to read aloud, but I'm not sure I see the book being chosen for anything other than bibliotherapy.

Readers Advisory 

I am not convinced that a child who is reluctant to read is going to be persuaded otherwise by reading a book. I do think such kids will relate to some of the images Talbott uses to describe his journey, so it does have the potential to be a good conversation starter, but it would require just the right touch from adults to get the interest of the child who could most benefit from it. For me, this seems mostly like a picture book that will be loved by adults but not necessarily universally embraced by kids. It's a well-done picture book, but its audience is likely to be limited. 

Disclosure 

I received a finished copy of A Walk in the Words from Penguin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.