Carla's glasses by Debbie Herman; illustrated by Sheila Bailey

 This is a companion to a picture book released in 2004, Carla's Sandwich. I don't think I ever read that title and there's only one copy in my whole consortium. However, this new book stands well on its own.

Carla, a bouncy young girl with blonde pigtails and a missing front tooth, likes to stand out and is excited about possibly getting classes when her class goes for vision-screening. She prepares by trying out different glasses styles, much to the astonishment of Buster, her shyer friend. After their exam, both are glum - Carla because she doesn't need glasses and Buster because he does! Carla is happy for her friend though, until he explains that, while he knows she likes to stand out, he doesn't like everyone looking at him, although he's not worried about being teased. He just doesn't like extra attention. But Carla has a clever plan for the whole class to enjoy glasses and to make Buster feel better.

The illustrations are a little blurry and the kids' mouths especially have a slightly odd perspective. I've also noticed that the glossy paper Flashlight Press uses seems to tend towards books that fall apart easily. These minor quibbles aside, as well as my perpetual complaint about unrealistic class sizes (15 is better than the usual 10 I guess) this is a fun and relatable story. Carla is a much nicer kid than class clowns usually are, able to see others' perspectives and how they might not enjoy the same things, and her idea is very clever and fun.

Verdict: I wouldn't recommend this so much for kids getting glasses - it's generally not a big deal and I never heard of any modern kids being teased for it (although the cost of frames makes me wince at Carla's carefree fiddling with them at the shop) but this is a nice story about different personalities being friends. Pair it with A home for every bird.

ISBN: 9781947277717; Hardcover/Picture book on Baker & Taylor for $10.61

Published September 2024 by Flashlight Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

We're off to the forest by Katarina Macurova

 I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to read and review more translated and overseas titles, via Publisher's Spotlight, over the past few years and it's been very interesting to experience other styles. One of the things I really like about a lot of European picture books is their nature-centric, peaceful themes and this latest title from Katarina Macurova is no exception.

The story begins with two plump orange squirrels, Dad and a child, setting out into the woods. The child squirrel narrates the story in simple sentences, explaining that they are making a familiar trip to see an acorn they buried last autumn. They talk casually about how they love acorns, the other animals who eat them, and how there are fewer every year. As the two travel through the woods, there is a rich forest life to watch all around them.

Birds flit about and watch them, other squirrels zip up and down the trees, and woodland animals, from bugs to bears, enjoy acorns in their own way. There are colorful leaves falling, rotting logs providing homes to animals, berries and fungi, and a delightful variety of plants. Finally, the two arrive at the largest oak in the woods, from the branches of which they can see their buried acorn, which has sprouted!

They water and care for it and the small squirrel imagines coming back the next day and the next - and finally seeing it grow into a giant tree with acorns for everyone.

There's no explicit lesson or dramatic plot twist, just the quiet enjoyment of two creatures in the woods and the gentle hope for the future. This is a very different style from most American picture books, which tend to have a very specific narrative style, but it's one I find refreshing and peaceful.

Verdict: It might take a little while for storytime audiences to adapt to this different style, but it's a lovely book to accompany outdoor expeditions or storytimes about forests, acorns, or the fall season.

ISBN: 9788000072890; Hardcover on Baker & Taylor for $10.05

Published November 2024 by Albatros Media; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Rafa and the wrong legs by Angie Lucas and Ana Sanfelippo

 There are definitely picture books about kids getting lost, but this new book is the best I've seen, spot-on and realistic, as well as a good story.

Rafa, short for Rafael, promises Mama to stay close if he gets out of the cart. For a while, he does, clinging tightly to her legs with easy to follow blue pants with big white polka-dots. But when he chases down and picks up a berry that falls off a display, he goes to show Mama... and it's the wrong pair of legs!

Rafa panics and runs through the produce section, until he finally finds Mama, but it's the wrong pair of legs again! Finally, he hears the loudspeaker talking about the bakery and remembers getting cookie samples there. So he wipes away his tears, finds the person handing out cookie samples, and asks him to use his walkie-talkie to find Mama. Finally, the right pair of legs arrive! Another child loses their mom at the same time, but all are reunited and it's a happy ending.

There's a short afterword with discussion questions for making sure kids know what to do if they get lost or separated. The author also has an online activity kit to help kids memorize their phone number.

There are some assumptions here, not exactly stereotypes, but close. Many kids don't have a stable adult in their life, let alone a phone number that stays the same. There's also the assumption that the families are shopping at the same (big) store regularly. However, it's reasonable to assume that if a kid's family has the time and bandwidth to read aloud to them and discuss what to do if they get lost, they have enough stability to have said information to pass on to the kids.

The art is friendly and shows a diverse group of people, body types, and fashion choices, mostly from the legs down of course, wandering about the store.

Verdict: A unique and must-have addition to most library collections, this would be something I'd use in a safety-themed storytime, recommend to kids learning basic safety, or even use when covering life skills and critical thinking with older kids - it's funny but relatable. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781958325223; Hardcover/picture book on Baker & Taylor for $18.04

Published September 2024 by Marble Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

No more Senora Mimi by Meg Medina, illustrated by Brittany Cicchese

 Sometimes I get a little tired of the plethora of social-emotional learning picture books and I yearn for a plain old story with dinosaurs or silly cats. Then something like this comes along that's just perfect and I realize that it's a great time for picture books after all, with something for everyone!

Ana, a cheerful elementary-school age girl with brown skin and curly hair has a regular routine. Every day her Mami takes her upstairs and drops her off with Senora Mimi while she goes to work. With Senora Mimi, her baby Nelson and her dog Pancho, Ana gets ready for school, walks there, and then gets picked up again and goes home through the park to spend the afternoon with Senora Mimi until her mom gets off work.

But now things are going to change and Ana is very excited! Her Abuela is moving in and will be living with them! She'll be with Abuela every day before and after school - Abuela will probably let her stop and play any time she wants and there are so many fun things they will do together! But then Tynisha, a kid in her class, reminds her that having Abuela means... no more babysitters - no more Senora Mimi! Ana is shocked at the realization and Mimi's quiet sadness during the day is brought out - she's going to miss Ana too! Fortunately, Senora Mimi has some wise words to help Ana and the story ends with the expansion of the community, showing Ana, Senora Mimi, Nelson, Pancho, and Abuela all in the park together.

Cicchese's illustrations remind me a little of Lauren Castillo's art, but they have a softer, blurry edge. A knitted motif runs through the story - Mimi has knitted matching sweaters for herself and Ana and on the last page she is starting a new project with the same yarn. Ana has a small but diverse class of 9 children of different races, one in a wheelchair, and the brownstone apartments and neighborhood park appear clean and well-kept with no signs of urban decay or other city issues. It raises an interesting question for adults - the two families appear to be single-parent units - there's no mention or sign of a second adult in either one. Mimi appears to be a stay at home mom with her baby and dog and Ana is the only other child she cares for. So, are the two families really privileged to live in an upscale area with a clean apartment building, complete with working elevator and for Ana to attend a small preschool or kindergarten with a small class, or is this just from a child's perspective? All the adults are caring, sensitive people who don't seem likely to pass on worries or problems to young children and with a safe, happy home, young children are unlikely to observe things from a more adult viewpoint. It's an interesting way to look at it.

Regardless of how realistic the background of the story and families is, it's a beautiful portrait of a child who is loved and cared for not just by her family but also by her other caretakers and a touching story of the love and care of caregivers for young children. It's also a charming way to introduce children to changes in their caregivers - it's not unusual in my area for grandparents to take over some childcare and, depending on the grandparent's mobility and state of health, they might be more likely to do so when the child is in school or more independent.

Verdict: Beautifully written and illustrated with thoughtful talking points for both young children and adults, this works equally well as a read-aloud for a group and as a one-on-one story. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781536219449; Reinforced/Picture book on Baker & Taylor for $14.39

Published September 2024 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

No Bear Anywhere by Leah Gilbert

 Although, in my opinion, Leah Gilbert's debut A couch for Llama is still her funniest book to date, her third creation definitely gives it a run for its money.

From the endpages showing two rampaging toddlers, one in a bear suit, to the title page and first spread showing an exhausting mama trying to get the kids ready to go outside, Gilbert definitely knows the exhaustion of dealing with little ones! The mom's messy hair and sleep-deprived eyes will elicit a chuckle from parents while kids will excitedly travel the path with little Bruin, who's eager to see a bear.

However, although he sees lots of cool things, including a pinecone, flower, and more, there are no bears anywhere! Or are there? The brown-skinned baby in the stroller keeps trying to point out something that's just behind them, cleaning up their spilled snacks, playing with their dropped toys.... a family of fuzzy bears! Finally, all three of them see something truly amazing - a real, live family of fuzzy... ducklings!

Verdict: A celebration of the joys of finding things outdoors and the patience of parents, this relatable story will have parents and kids alike giggling. If it's a little long for storytime with younger kids, it can easily be shortened by leaving out Bruin's little songs about what he's seeing. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781547605620; Reinforced at $15.19 on Baker & Taylor

Published May 2024 by Bloomsbury; Added to library order backlist

Beach Hair by Ashley Woodfolk, illustrated by Nina Mata

 This exuberant ode to summer at the beach and messy hair is sure to be a storytime favorite.

The narrator, a child with an exuberant head of soft brown curls and tan skin, wakes up along with their parents to wild hair. Mommy, a Black woman with a natural afro, "says we all have beach hair" and Daddy, an Asian man with straight black hair and a light scruff says "Guess we should go to the beach." They cram on hats and head to the beach, but once they arrive they see that everyone's hair is wild and free and they toss their hats and take off into the water.

Cheeky seagulls zip about the beach and they enjoy a wonderful day in the sun (tubes of sunscreen are featured clearly) and head home after getting ice cream. On the way home, they happily let their hats fly away in the breeze and the upbeat story ends with the cheeky seagulls on the endpages, donning their hats as they zip around the beach.

In addition to being a fun story, full of acceptance and joy, with a range of body types as well as hair styles and types shown, this story is a delightful read-aloud. There's a slew of descriptive phrases, fun vocabulary, and bouncy rhythms, making this not only fun to read-aloud but a great classroom choice for kids learning about descriptive language.

Verdict: Even if you're not near the beach, this is a must-have book for summer storytimes and classroom read-alouds. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781665920988; Published June 2024 by Simon & Schuster; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Let's build a dam by Daniel Fehr, illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio

 This came out at the same time as the humorous There's a cow in my bed but with a different illustrator and publisher. It did require me to let go of my adult viewpoint, since all I could think of was first - you're going to attract cottonmouths (we accidentally did that when I was a kid in Texas and we built a dam in a creek) and second - you really shouldn't move rocks around in the water, it disturbs the wildlife.

However! Putting on my hat of childlike wonder, as well as artistic appreciation, I greatly enjoyed this story. Two girls, one barefoot and one with yellow boots, haul unrealistically giant rocks into a small river to create a dam. They're watched by their little brother, a blonde-haired child with a stubborn expression, who adds a big green stone the size of his head.

The girls continue expanding their dam, but Noah is more interested in watching what's going on in the resultant growing lake, including the far-off shape of a water monster and the arrival of a fishing boat. The layout of the art looks like a theater stage, framed by trees to the side, golden hills at the back, and the text underneath. The next movement in the stage is the arrival of a large sailing ship, complete with bewigged king. The king's men are required to help with building the growing dam, until they are interrupted by pirates. There's no time for battles though, as May and Lily firmly collect the pirates to help in the building process. Just when things are getting really interesting, Noah decides he wants his green stone back...

A rush of water flushes away the fruits of their imagination and the three show up at home looking sheepish and definitely bedraggled, to be tucked up on the couch and given hot chocolate. The illustrator's beautiful art shimmers with sun and water, the children and other people looking like collage cuttings posted on top of the theater-style background.

Verdict: A unique, funny, and beautiful book incorporating outdoor play, imagination, and friendly sibling cooperation. This should be a fun read for slightly older listeners are storytime. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780735845015; Published May 2023 by North South; Added to library order list

The world in our backyard by Jami Gigot

 This gentle story encourages exploration of places near home by children and, hopefully, some ecological awareness for adults.

A slightly overgrown suburban backyard with inflatable pool, sandbox, and compost heap begins the story. A red-headed white child opens the story by observing bugs moving through the clover and dandelions in the tall grass, then an array of children with different skin colors, some with glasses, explore their own yards. Ant heaps become cities, an apartment balcony a jungle, asphalt an art gallery, and a community garden a farm. Lying in the park near a city children imagine cloud pictures in the sky and the story ends with a brown-haired white girl examining bugs in the tall grass.

Gigot's pastel-colored art is friendly and pleasant. There is imagination in the transformation of a pool into the ocean or a street hydrant into a waterfall. Most of the children are too small in the picture to really identify details, but they all appear to have very similar body types and no visible difficulties.

Like many books encouraging exploration of the outdoors this book is more in the realm of wishful thinking than reality. The kids are shown with plenty of time to quietly observe nature, including lying on grass that includes clover and dandelions or lying out on the grass in a park. There are no screens pictured and the few adults who are shown are leisurely reading, hanging up clothes, or just hanging out with the kids.

Verdict: I would pair this with Henry Cole's On Meadowview Street and hope that it encourages kids to carve out a little time to look at the world around them - and for adults to allow that (and also, especially in the suburbs, for people to maybe leave a few things to BE observed, instead of killing every non-grass plant and visible insect). This will make a good addition to our outdoor storytimes that end with expeditions into the library garden space.

ISBN: 9781665935128; Published May 2024 by Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Penelope's Balloons by Brooke Bourgeois

Penelope, a plump gray elephant, always takes ten red balloons with her everywhere she goes. But balloons are fragile and she has to be very careful that none of her friends, from a porcupine to an alligator - pop her precious balloons. When Penelope gets caught in a storm, the fierce wind forces her to let her balloons go and she is devastated. Her best friend Piper, a little porcupine, arrives to comfort her and help her home, but nothing can cheer Penelope up. Even when she arrives home and finds one surviving red balloon, she doesn't stop to talk to her family or thank Piper - she races to her room to protect the precious balloon.

But balloons are fragile and the more she tries to protect the remaining balloon, the more pressure she puts on it until... POP! Penelope is in despair until the other nine balloons return... found by her friends and she realizes that her friends are more important than her balloons. Bourgeois' art is a mix of gray and brown earth tones with a wash of pink and the balloons are bright pops of color against the background.

This story didn't quite work for me - there "moral" felt forced and the whole premise of Penelope and her balloons was odd. There's also a jarring moment where Penelope is described as "perceptible" which is a very odd word choice. I feel that if this book had been produced by a European writer, it could have stood alone just as a quirky story without needing to push it into having a "lesson." As it is, it gives the idea that you are physically close to friends you truly treasure and have to participate with friends, even if you prefer to stand quietly by and watch.

Verdict: This isn't a bad story, but it would have worked better if it had been left alone to stand as just an odd little story without a moral. It might be of interest to parents trying to refocus kids who are more interested in things than people. An additional purchase.

ISBN: 9781454951827; Published April 2024 by Union Square; Review copy provided by publisher

Summer is here by Renee Watson, illustrated by Bea Jackson

Two acclaimed creators come together in a joyous celebration of summer through the eyes of a child.

The story begins with soft life creeping through the window, throwing sparkles of light around the room. A Black girl, her hair in beaded braids and springing out from under a hair bonnet, stretches in the morning sun. She looks out the window, seeing the bright sun, green trees, and swooping birds, anticipating the fun of a summer's day. There's berries and fruit for breakfast in the kitchen with her parents, swimming in the pool with friends, double dutch jump roping, and picnics and treats with family and friends. The crowd of children, and our heroine, end the day by blowing delicate, rainbow-hued bubbles in the air and she returns to her room, peacefully enjoying the cool breeze and the light of the moon. She smiles, her dimple showing, as she wishes summer would stay, looking out at the dandelions bathed by the light of the moon.

The illustrations glow and shine with joy and Jackson has created a truly inclusive celebration showing a wide range of skin colors, clothing, and most uniquely, body types. The main character's mother is full-figured and comfortably wears jeans and t-shirt and hangs out at the pool in a bathing suit. Her friends include children who are white and brown, pudgy and skinny, and they all happily share popsicles, swimming, and all the treats of summer. Her family and friends at the picnic show a wide range of Black hair styles, body types and sizes.

Verdict: Read this aloud in storytime to encourage children to think about all the fun of summer and the simple joys of time with friends and family. Unique for its beautiful art and inclusive depiction of body types, a must-have for most library collection.

ISBN: 9781547605866; Published May 2024 by Bloomsbury; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

I am a rock by Ashley Qilavaq-Savard, illustrated by Pelin Turgut

 This is a beautiful, unique celebration of nature that's just right for bedtime read-alouds

Pauloosie and his mom are having a peaceful pre-bedtime discussion and he asks what it would sound like if his pet rock, Miki Rock, could talk. This branches out into a gentle question and response story of the interaction of rocks with their environment, the passing seasons, and the natural beauty of the Arctic landscape.

The story's rhythms, both in the text and in the passing of seasons, are pitch-perfect for calming rituals. Miki Rock listens to the animals, hears the waves on the beach, watches the seasons pass, and finally goes home with Pauloosie, where they enjoy new experiences. Pauloosie drifts off to sleep, cuddled with Miki Rock, dreaming of the world all around home.

Colorful illustrations show the stark beauty of winter, lush greens of spring and summer, ebb and flow of the ocean, and movement of wildlife. There is a glossary in the back to assist readers in pronunciation of the Inuktitut words.

Verdict: Not only a delightful bedtime story, this would make a great seasonal read for storytime, especially if you have a very rowdy group that needs a calming story. Of course, you'll need to make your own pet rocks at the end, as well as talk about what those rocks have seen in your local habitat! Recommended.

ISBN: 9781772274752; Published April 2024 by Inhabit Media; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

The most delicious soup and other stories by Mariana Ruiz Johnson, translated by Rosalind Harvey

 A key difference between American and European picture books is that European titles are more likely to leave stories open-ended or do slice-of-life style tales while American books tend to be very cut-and-dried, with a definitely conclusion and often a moral. Generally speaking, the open-ended European style isn't very popular in my library, but sometimes, usually because of the illustrations, I'll come across one that I know I will be able to interest families in and this is that book.

I was personally attracted to it because I like detailed illustrations and things in the miniature style, and the description of little stories in a small village was intriguing. The book turned out to be just as delightful as advertised, reminding me a little of some of the stories of my childhood with a modern feel and quirky openings for discussion.

Coco and his mom, both crocodiles, adopt a beetle named Thunder. Coco loves Thunder dearly, but the beetle is sometimes destructive and after leaving a big poop on the floor Mom sends the beetle outside. Fortunately, Thunder is not far away and Mom peeks in to see the two best friends playing a wild game on Coco's bed at night.

Luis spends time with Grandma after school every day. When it's raining, the turtle duo can't make their usual trip to the lake and go to the library instead, where they experience the wonder of a number of classic stories. When they get home, they make banana bread and play video games. Grandma wins!

Gina and her dad, with a younger duckling in a sling, are out shopping and Gina wants a lot of things. She throws a temper tantrum when she can't get everything she wants, but eventually calms down and is ready to move on.

Coco returns with friends Paco, a rabbit, and Tiana, a frog. They set up camp in the backyard, but right in the middle of a scary story it starts raining! They take shelter inside where the story can continue, but it's cut short with the appearance of a monster... who turns out to be Tiana's grownup with a chocolate cake.

The final story brings everyone in Villa Verde together in a version of Stone Soup, where the whole community contributes to delicious soup, no trickery needed, which forms the focal point of a lovely evening event. With a stern reminder from the cook, Mrs. Bear, they all help to clean up and drift home to bed - but the kids are still wide-awake!

The quirky stories, animal characters, and little details are not conducive to a typical storytime, but in small groups or one-on-one this will be a fun book to read and discuss. Younger children will quite happily take the stories at face value without needing a conclusive ending and find the final community gathering a comforting and peaceful end while older, elementary-age students will easily slip into discussions of the stories and behavior of the different characters.

Verdict: This won't be for everyone, but if you have a large audience of older listeners and readers and plenty of families who read one-on-one, it's likely to be very appealing.

ISBN: 9781922610614; Published February 2024 by Berbay; Review copy provided by Publisher's Spotlight; Donated to the library

Giant-Sized butterflies on my first day of school by Justin Roberts, illustrated by Paola Escobar

I would have thought that all the possible "first day of school jitters" aspects had been covered, but this picture book from a song by children's songwriter Justin Roberts is a new perspective.

The rhyming lyrics follow a sad-looking little girl with light brown skin and fluffy dark brown hair as she battles "butterflies in her stomach" on her first day. Her mom and dad try to help her calm down, but nothing helps, until her mother encourages her to embrace the butterflies and be excited about trying something new. Tiny, glowing butterflies erupt into a jungle of color and light in and around the child until the last page shows her happily settled in at school with clouds of butterflies around her and her classmates.

The text is loosely rhyming, but clearly taken from the lyrics of a song. There is a lot of white space in the illustrations, with a rather bare house, wide roads, and spacious sidewalks. There is a diversity of skin tones but not of body shapes - the few people scattered around in the community and school scenes are all the same, varying only in height, and there are no visible disabilities. As in most books in a school setting, only a few children are pictured.

The colors are fresh and bright and the story focuses closely on the unnamed little girl who is the center of the story, with her stylish mother as her guide - the father appears only briefly in the morning and it is her mother who is taking her to school and giving her advice. I was a little surprised there was no link to the original song, but it's easily discoverable online.

Verdict: Although it's not perfect - I would have liked to see more variation in body types, a more realistic (i.e. crowded) school and community setting, and more involvement of the father, this is a very positive way for kids to rethink their worries about starting something new, not just first days at school. A strong addition to any library collection with books featuring social-emotional learning.

ISBN: 9780525516439; Published May 2023 by Putnam; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

A little emotional by Christopher Eliopoulos

Cartoon emotions, in Eliopoulos' recognizable style, fill the endpages, preparing readers for the emotional journey that awaits them. Followed by a giant, glowing yellow ballon character of happiness, the narrator plays with his favorite toy, Funn Supernova. But when he wakes up to find Funn gone, he gets A LITTLE EMOTIONAL.

Worry, fear, and then anger arrive, and when he discovers his toy is broken Anger gets truly monstrous! Then he sees his sister playing happily with her toy and Jealousy joins Anger to spit out some nasty words and accusations. But when the real culprit confesses, how will he deal with the Guilt and Embarrassment? Fortunately, a little Kindness makes everything better.

Kids will love the cartoon art and the personification of emotions will be especially familiar to fans of popular movies like Inside Out. My cynical adult side would like to point out that it's much more likely his little sister DID break his toy playing with it and wonders how he would react in that situation? I'm also skeptical that he'd be content with sharing a stuffed rabbit with her after the loss of his action figure. However, it makes a nice object lesson for kids dealing with emotions and for adults trying to teach them ways to calm down and handle things with words and not feelings, especially when feelings are overpowering.

Verdict: Not a first purchase, but if you are looking for more books about emotions and have a lot of fans of Eliopoulos' art style, this will be popular in your library.

ISBN: 9780593616611; Published May 2023 by Rocky Pond Books; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Mine! by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann

Fleming and Rohmann's distinct styles blend to create a new storytime classic in their latest work.

Rohmann's thick black lines and sharp colors start the story with a generous helping of white space and a single, red apple. Fleming jumps in with a tongue-twisting but irresistible rhyme, "In a tall, tall tree/at the tip-tippy top,/hung a single red apple,/just about to drop." The story continues with a succession of animals, from a tiny mouse to a big bear, all imagining the delight when the apple falls and it is theirs to devour. When the apple finally drops, the animals leap out of their hiding places only to become embroiled in an angry fight over the treat. The apple rolls away and a happy bystander is the winner of the treat, one who is more than willing to share!

There's a mild lesson about sharing and not being greedy, but the real fun of this story is the simple, bold illustrations, cheerful rhymes, and engaging wordplay with compound words like "waggety-dashed" "lumbered" "morsel" and "bolted."

Verdict: There are a lot of picture books coming out now and the bulk of them seem to be designed for older listeners and readers with more complex themes, elaborate art, and layers of meaning. It's a delight to go back to a simpler time with an engaging story that's fun to read aloud and will engage the attention of our littlest listeners. Sure to be a storytime classic, this is a must-have for any library that services toddlers and preschoolers.

ISBN: 9780593181669; Published August 2023 by Schwartz & Wade; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Winter: A solstice story by Kelsey E. Gross, illustrated by Renata Liwska

This debut picture book is a good option for those in the northern hemisphere looking for non-Christmas winter books for storytime.

An owl, speckled with soft browns and whites, invites all the little woodland creatures to prepare for the winter solstice, helping to "shine the light." Each one brings something different to decorate a tree, from nuts to berries, feathers to grasses. The pages fold out to show a pine tree crusted with snow, decorated with treats, and topped with the owl, wings outspread, against the softly glowing moon. As the animals celebrate around the tree, they are joined by a bear carrying a lantern and their initial fear is quickly soothed as the owl welcomes the furry creature to their circle.

Liwska's art, with pastel tones and gentle, furry outlines, is a nice match for this debut author's simple story. There's no nonfiction or realistic aspect to this book, just anthropomorphic animals celebrating the arrival of winter together. The text is a little awkward, with somewhat clonky rhymes "Let every creature see our tree!/It's splendor is a gift of light/and hope for all/this winter's night." but it's no better or worse than any other holiday book and it definitely fills a niche for seasonal titles.

Verdict: My personal preference is for nonfiction or informational titles when looking for seasonal themes, but this will find a ready audience among parents, teachers, and librarians looking for books with a holiday feel to them but no overt religious symbolism. Of course, you can't please everybody, and someone is sure to say solstice is a "pagan" holiday or the tree is really a "Christmas" tree, but it's about as neutral as you're going to get. Liwska's illustrations are adorable and this is a strong addition to any library's holiday or seasonal collection. A companion summer solstice book is scheduled to be released this coming summer.

ISBN: 9781665908139; Published October 2023 by Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library.

It's time for berries by Ceporah Mearns and Jeremy Debicki, illustrated by Tindur Peturs

As shown by the giant gap on my picture book shelf in the nature/seasons neighborhood, I simply cannot get enough seasonal books, specifically those that focus on fall. Every single preschool and elementary school class seems to be focused on the fall season, even as climate change is making the traditional fall season in the midwest look radically different from the past. No, I am NOT happy that it is NINETY DEGREES in September. Anyhow.

This celebration of Inuit culture and seasons makes a great read-aloud for any season, but will definitely fit my community's constant demands for fall-themed books. Siasi and Siloah, a blonde and brunette, visit their ningiuq, a smiling, grey-haired woman with brown skin. Each season has different experiences for them to share; In the spring they drive the snowmobile out and go fishing, in the summer it's time to dig clams. Each season the girls ask eagerly if it's time for berries yet, but Ningiuq says they're not ready yet and takes them on a different expedition. Finally, it's time to pick berries!

They climb the mountain and start picking. Through wind and rain, in the dark and the snow, "Ninqiuq will stop at nothing to get berries!" Finally, berry-picking season is over and it's time to bake and make jam with all their berries. The girls smile happily as they share the treats - and their love of berries.

Brief notes from the creators explain that the story is based on their own daughters and their life in Alaska. There is also a general guide to pronunciation with a resource for more accurate pronunciation included.

Verdict: While this is a great read-aloud for any season and children from many different cultures and backgrounds can enjoy the experiences of harvesting and collecting food with family, it's also a vitally important book for the culture it represents, to give them books that reflect their children's specific experiences. A must-have for most libraries, a book that is an exemplar of a window and a mirror.

ISBN: 9781772274653; Published September 2023 by Inhabit Media Inc.; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

All in a day by Chihiro Takeuchi

This seek-and-find picture book is intended to teach children to read the time on a traditional clock. It's formatted in a vertical rectangle, showing the activity and movement in a tall apartment building throughout the day.

As seen on the cover, the building includes a large clock and it signals the different activities throughout the day. The story starts at 7am with people eating breakfast, the baker opening his shop, and people moving around on the streets. It goes through the day with meals and random activities, from a barber opening his shop to an artist starting work to the ice cream truck. At 11 o'clock, most people are asleep, but Grandma's cats, the artist and the musician are still awake. During the early hours of the morning only the cats and mice move around, but at 4am the baker starts his bread and a child delivering newspapers appears.

The art is small, collage-style with multiple details, the people looking like little wooden dolls. There book has an I Spy aspect, as each spread of a time includes things to look for, like counting cats, seeing which direction the weathervane on the building is pointing, and looking for quirky details like a person with a pet alligator. The skin shades shown are mostly tan and pink, with a few darker brown. A few characters, mostly older men, are shown with a bigger body type and one uses a cane at one point. A child in a wheelchair is shown in one illustration. 

This story is pretty stereotyped - all the people depicted working are males and the women are shown as an artist at home, caring for children, and shopping. Like most picture books depicted urban areas, it's extremely clean and the little cartoon illustrations show a uniform group of people who all appear healthy, happy, and well cared for. The idea of learning to read an analog clock by following the activities throughout the day is not a new one, but most of the events, other than perhaps meal times, are not really tied to any particular time, so this would need a lot of explaining.

Verdict: Despite the drawbacks of the book, I do get regular if infrequent requests for learning to read analog clocks and it has an old-fashioned, Richard Scarry-esque feel that will appeal to some people. The I Spy aspect is fun and offers a challenge to older readers especially. This would work in conjunction with another, more explicit book on reading clocks or as an additional and supplemental purchase.

ISBN: 9781922610546; Published April 2023 by Berbay Pub; Review copy provided by publisher

Papa's Magical Water-Jug Clock by Jesus Trejo, illustrated by Eliza Kinkz

I am absolutely in love with this delightful new picture book. Jesus is super excited because today he is going with Papa to work as a gardener and, even more exciting, he is in charge of the magical water-jug clock! When the big orange jug is almost empty, it will tell them it's time to go home. They say goodbye to Mama, heading off to her own job, gloves, mop, and cleaning supplies in hand, and they are off. As they mow, clip, tidy, and edge, little Jesus finds it's hot work, not just for him but for the animals he meets. He's surprised and delighted when the magical water jug says it's time to come home - but devastated when Papa admits it's not magical - and they still have eleven houses to go!

Some comforting words from Papa, a quick pit stop and refill of the jug, and the two are off to their next house, Jesus having learned from his wise Papa that "Time and water are precious." and feeling confident in his bond with his father.

Kinkz' hilarious illustrations start with the endpages, depicting Papa as a luchador in a dozen different costumes, "El Mower," "Gutter Governor," or "Super Sodder." Jesus, a stocky little boy with messy swirl of curls, bounces his parents awake, hugs his light-skinned mother, and watches his darker-skinned father, with a mustache and mess of curls like his, put on his boots, belt, and hat to get ready for the day. Imagination and his Papa's efforts to make the work day fun are shown everywhere, from the old rope holding the tools labeled "van security" to Jesus imagining the tall shrubs they are trimming as skinny monsters. Even when things get serious, Papa is kind and understanding, explaining "This job, our family business, is hard, hard work. But work is easier when you can play and have fun at the same time."

This is both a celebration of hard work and the father-son bond. The story is sprinkled with Spanish words and many of the houses they visit have families with Spanish names. The story is a little lengthy for younger children, but it would be easy to shorten it and make it accessible. It is also available in a Spanish edition.

Verdict: This is a great portrait of a family where both parents have service jobs, in landscaping and cleaning, and take pride in their work even though it is hard. I am thrilled to see more books that not only showcase the lives of Hispanic, working class families, but do so in a humorous and joyful way. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781662651045; Published June 2023 by Minerva; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library

Just read a great interview with the author here - I hope he does write more books!

The fastest tortoise in town by Howard Calvert, illustrated by Karen Obuhanych

The story begins with Barbara Hendricks, just an ordinary leopard tortoise, starting in big-eyed horror as her owner, a brown-skinned girl with messy black hair, creates an encouraging banner. Because she, Barbara, has... joined a race! She's nervous, scared, and worried. Lorraine, her best friend and owner, helps her train and encourages her to keep going, no matter how anxious she is, while still being understanding if she wants to quit.

Finally, the big day comes and Barbara makes it to the track, only to face the speediest creatures she's ever seen: A slow loris, walrus, snail, and a sloth! She's never going to be able to beat them! However, she keeps putting one foot in the front of the other, going faster and faster, until she's running like the breeze! And she wins! She can't believe it! In the flush of her victory, she happily agrees to race a hair and the story ends with her and the rabbit lined up on the track, "After all, what do I have to lose?"

The art is cute and the twist of the story is funny, but a bit confusing. Barbara has basically won by a fluke - both in being matched to creatures that are supposedly slow (a walrus can actually run as fast as a human on land for example) and with the other racers being distracted and running into various issues on the track. If you have kids who can handle an open-ended story, you could certainly have lots of interesting discussions - is Barbara actually running super fast or does she just feel like it? Who will win when she races the hare? How will she feel about it? Is one week of training really a lot of effort?

Verdict: Bright, bold colors and a light, funny story, albeit with a confusing ending, will make this a nice addition to library collections and fable and folktale-based storytimes.

ISBN: 9781536228359; Published April 2023 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library