Picture Book Review Rundown: September 2022

It's another review rundown, clearing out the backlog of 2022 new releases that have accumulated on my desk. 

Friends by Daniela Sosa

review copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 

Writing: In just a few words per page, this book describes all the various types of friendships and how they come to be. I especially like when the author gets specific, as she does with the things friends might teach you how to do, such as make a dandelion crown or draw a pig. The more general statements are a bit more vague and might be harder for kids to relate to.
Illustration: The children depicted in the illustrations are a mix of boys and girls of many races. One page shows two older ladies who have been friends for a long time, and it feels a bit out of place. The figures have what my husband calls "dot eyes" and generic faces, but there is a sweetness to them.
Content: There is nothing objectionable from a Catholic perspective. I bristled a little at the suggestion at the end that if you can't find a friend you just need to look harder. Sometimes that just doesn't work, and it seemed like an odd way to end a book that was a celebration of friends rather than a guide to making them. 
Overall: This would work nicely for a friendship themed story time and I would have definitely used it for that purpose in the library, but as there's not much meat to it otherwise, it's probably not staying on our shelves.  

Finding Fire by Logan S. Kline 

*Review copy courtesy of Candlewick Press

Writing: This book is nearly wordless, but there is a brief introductory sentence on the first page that really helps place the book in time for kids who might not readily understand that this is a story about a cave child hunting for fire.
Illustration: The illustrations in this book are eye-catching and action-packed They provide details about how cavemen may have dressed and the tools and weapons they might have used, as well as the animals and terrain of theit time. The relationship between the main character and the little mammoth he rescues from the mud adds some sweetness to the book and gives the boy a character to interact with on the last leg of his journey.
Content: This is the perfect addition to our homeschool kindergarten curriculum, which usually includes cavemen. We have just finished reading the Golden book about cavemen and my 5 year old will love reading this as a supplement.
Overall: This is a well done wordless picture book that reminds me a bit of Roar! by Julie Bayless, which was one of  my oldest daughter's favorite books as a toddler. I'll probably keep this book for the twins to read when they get to kindergarten. 

Dinosaur Atlas

*Review copy courtesy of National Geographic and Media Masters Publicity.

Writing: As with most books published by National Geographic, this one simplifies complicated scientific topics for kids to understand without dumbing them down. This book is brimming with content, and each page offers wonderful fun facts about dinosaur characteristics, behaviors, and habitats. There is a table of contents along with helpful back matter, including a dictionary of dinosaurs and a well-organized index.
Illustration: There is a lot to look at in this book and illustrations abound. Kids who revel in the little details of each dinosaur's anatomy will love to pore over these pages. There are also lots of useful maps to help explain where each dinosaur lived.
Overall: This is a well-organized and attractive guide to where and when dinosaurs lived and were discovered. It's slightly more kid-friendly than some of the big dinosaur books we already have, so we'll probably hang onto it. 

Pascual and the Kitchen Angels by Tomie dePaola

*Review copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Writing: This is a book from 2004 which has been redesigned and reprinted. In his typical straightforward style, Tomie dePaola tells the story of a young boy who wants to join a monastery but is dismayed to be sent to work in the kitchen until angels come to his aid.
Illustrations: The illustrations in this book are charming. I love all the details of the friars' faces and hair as well as their living environment and the food in the kitchen. The angels floating around the kitchen are delightful as well.
Content: This is an unapologetically religious picture book and I'm so glad it's been reissued! There aren't enough picture books about angels, in my opinion.
Overall: A must-read for dePaola fans. This one is a keeper.

The Song of Francis by Tomie dePaola

*Review copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Writing: This is a story of few words which relates how St. Francis sang the praises of God and his creation. It has just the right amount of words for toddlers, which I love.
Illustration: The pictures are a bit more abstract than in most of dePaola's books, and this suits the poetic nature of Francis's singing. The colors are also very vibrant, which adds to the visual appeal, especially for very young children.
Overall: This is another wonderful religious title from dePaola. We will be adding this to our collection of Catholic picture books alongside Canticle of the Sun by Fiona French.  

When the Sky Glows by Neil Cross Beckerman, illustrated by David Litchfield

*Review copy courtesy of Beach Lane Books

Writing: A poetic main text describes circumstances under which the sky glows while supplemental sidebars explain the phenomena in more scientific terms.
Illustration: The use of light in the illustrations is the main attraction of this book. Each page glows with color as the pictures depict sunrise, lightning, volcanic eruption, and more.
Content: This book is a good introduction to light for preschool and kindergarten readers. I appreciate that it keeps the information simple and provides one suggested title for each topic at the back of the book.
Overall: This is a solid informational book that will nicely complement our studies of light in BFSU. 

All By Himself? by Elana K. Arnold, illustrated by Giselle Potter

*Review copy courtesy of Beach Lane Books

Writing: This entire story about all that goes into creating a set of building blocks consists of one long run-on sentence, and a second shorter sentence, and that's it. For me, it's difficult to read aloud for that reason, though I do like the pacing of the second half of the book and the way the words match up with what's happening in the pictures.
Illustration: The appeal of the pictures is in the details they show of each person's job: the farmer, the arborist, the artist, etc. They are done in Giselle Potter's usual dreamlike style.
Content: This book suits the segment of our science curriculum about how things are made. It's perfect for helping preschoolers understand how to trace manmade objects back to their beginnings in nature.
Overall: The pictures don't quite suit the more straightforward tone of the text, but the overall concept is well done. 

Hello Moon by Evan Turk

*Review copy courtesy of Atheneum Books for Young Readers 

Writing: A mother talks to her child about the moon and takes him outside to see it and then addresses the moon directly, taking note of its changing phases.
Illustration: The pictures show strong contrast between light and dark. The outdoor scenes do a great job of evoking a wintry nighttime atmosphere, but the figures are drawn in an abstract way that doesn't work for me.
Content: There are so many books about the moon, and this one is more poetic than informative. It's not really what I'm looking for in a book on this topic.
Overall: I found this one pretty forgettable and it will be getting donated.