Picture Book Review: Trees by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Tiffany Bozic (2021)

Quick Booktalk 

Colorful, naturalistic illustrations and concise lines of poetic text celebrate trees and all they provide to our world.

About the Illustrations 

The pictures, which show trees from a variety of vantage points, are really well done. They fill each two-page spread, and they really capture the details of bark, leaves, branches, and flowers. There are some people in some of the images, and I don't like those illustrations as well as I like the ones involving just nature. Somehow the mood of the text seems to be disturbed when there are people on the page. I do love the endpapers, which, at the beginning, show a series of shoots growing from seeds, and which, at the end, show a decaying tree on the forest floor. I also love the pictures showing the view looking up into a tree. 

Story Time Possibilities

Because of its visual appeal, I might try this book in story time with certain audiences. It's a quiet one, so I'd definitely want to pair it with some books or songs that promote movement and participation, but with preschoolers I think a quiet book like this can be used to spark good discussions, especially since most kids will have had some experience with a tree no matter where they live. 

Readers Advisory 

Trees is an attractive picture book that celebrates the natural world. It would be a great addition to a preschool or early elementary program or curriculum focused on trees, plants, nature, etc. Though the text is more poetic than scientific, there are still some good jumping-off points for discussion and exploration of roots, leaves, animal habitats, and other connected topics. 

Disclosure

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

Picture Book Review: Bei Bei Goes Home by Cheryl Bardoe (2021)

Quick Booktalk 

This informational picture book covers the gestation, birth, and life of Bei Bei the panda, who began life at the National Zoo in 2015 and four years later moved to his permanent home in China.

About the Illustrations

This book is filled with wonderful photographs of Bei Bei from every phase of his life. Also included are images of people visiting Bei Bei at the zoo and Bei Bei's first birthday cake. 

Story Time Possibilities

This book is too long to read aloud in a typical story time, but it could certainly be read aloud to an elementary school audience over a couple of sessions. My oldest daughter watched the panda cam with me when Bei Bei was a baby, so she loves the fact that we now have his whole story. My second daughter, who was born around the same time as Bei Bei is also getting a kick out of it. They are probably more motivated to listen to this book than a kid who doesn't have a personal connection to the panda.

Readers Advisory 

This book does a nice job of introducing facts about Bei Bei as well as general facts about pandas and endangered species. For families who visited Bei Bei when he was here, this will be a wonderful walk down memory lane. For kids who have an affinity for pandas, this is also the perfect book, as there is a picture of Bei Bei on nearly every page and lots of details about his life. 

Disclosure 

I received a physical copy of Bei Bei Goes Home from Smithsonian Kids/Candlewick Entertainment in exchange for an honest review.  

Picture Book Review: Baby, Sleep, Baby by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank

Quick Booktalk 

A mother, a father, a grandmother, and a big sister rock a baby to sleep and call down the soothing assistance of wind, clouds, stars, and moon. 

About the Illustrations

The pictures in this book have an ethereal quality, making the reading experience feel very gentle and dreamlike. The affectionate faces of the family members and the sweetness of their interactions with the baby make it an ideal story to read with children under 2. 

Story Time Possibilities

This book is really perfect for a baby story time, as it has spare, beautiful text and lots of faces to look at. It would work well with a plethora of themes: night, bedtime, babies, family, stars, moon, etc.  

Readers Advisory

This book targets a slightly younger audience than this duo's other recent books, B is for Baby and Catch that Chicken. It's still a lovely story, but it definitely has less of a plot than those earlier titles. My toddler twins who like babies really enjoyed the book, and it is primarily here for them, but my older kids were also happy to listen to it. There are a ton of bedtime books out there, and a ton in our home library, but I still feel attached enough to this one that I plan to keep it.

Disclosure 

I received a physical copy of Baby, Sleep, Baby from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: Off-Limits by Helen Yoon (2021)

 Quick Booktalk

A little girl is tempted by all the fun stuff in her dad's off-limits home office.

About the Illustrations

This book is so visually appealing. The little girl's facial expressions as she makes a mess in the office made me laugh out loud. I love the way the illustrator uses colors and patterns to portray the fun she has getting into office supplies and playing with them. Yoon takes a simple concept and really runs with it in a fun way. 

Story Time Possibilities

I read this to my own kids, and they thought it was hilarious. I think a preschool or kindergarten audience would react similarly. The book is very visual, but there is just enough text to make it a decent read-aloud. I suspect that, on the heels of staying home during Covid-19, this book is also relatable to a lot of families where parents and kids were suddenly home together all the time. The ending also gives kids a fun laugh at the fact that sometimes, parents might want to get into kid stuff and play, too. That kind of joke always goes over well at story times with parents in attendance. This could be a fun one for Father's Day.

Readers Advisory

I wanted to be careful with this book with my own kids because we do have an office that is mostly off-limits and I don't love that there are no consequences for the little girl after the colossal mess she makes. But I do think my kids mostly took it as a fantasy story about what might happen and not as a suggestion for how to spend an afternoon. Despite my misgivings, I also found it really entertaining myself, and we'll probably hang onto it for that reason. 

Disclosure 

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