Super Potato: The epic origin of Super Potato by Artur Laperla

Super Potato originated in Spain and now his awesome adventures are coming to the US, courtesy of Graphic Universe.

The story begins with Super Max, an amazing superhero with great hair, 737 muscles (he has more than the average human!), and no problem defeating the bad guys... until the villainous Dr. Malevolent turns him into a potato! All hope is lost! Potatoes can't be superheroes!

Or can they?

A quick stop at home for the accessories of his (failed) action figure, and Super Potato is on the job, complete with great hair! Er, maybe no hair. His first task is to get Dr. Malevolent to turn him back to the awesome Super Max, of course, but when that plan goes awry (think giant potato peelers!!) he'll have to decide if he can keep being a superhero - without great hair or his 737 muscles.

The goofy cartoons reminded me a little of the style of Trondheim. Super potato is a, well, a potato while Dr. Malevolent (and his pet rat) are skinny, long-nosed creatures that posture and rant. A quasi-futuristic city, distressed potato-citizens (Dr. Malevolent got a little handsy with his ray gun for a while), and plenty of jokes, both for superhero fans and young readers, make it clear why Super Patata is a popular comic strip in Spain.

Verdict: I've been wrong about European import comics (and vegetable-themed superheroes) before, but I really think this one will click with younger kids. I wouldn't go out on a limb for it if I wasn't sure though, because the library bound titles are expensive at over $20 apiece while the more affordable paperbacks will be so skinny they disappear on the shelf.

ISBN: 9781512440218; Published August 2018 by Lerner/Graphic Universe; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: A walk in the forest by Lisa Manuzak

I'm catching up on board books - I bought a bunch in August to fill in the board book section and I've also, slowly, been opening up a bit more to buying less sturdy titles with toy elements. I'm still careful to assess them for how quickly they will wear out or be damaged, but I'm starting to view this collection as more ephemeral, like magazines. We've also added a little bee sticker and the logo "busy books" to books with a toy element (lift the flap, sliding, wheel, etc.).

This title is produced for Smithsonian Kids and is an exploration of the forest. The book is large - about 8x8 inches - with a curved top and rounded edges. The top is cut out like a handle and also allows the wheels to spin. Each page includes multiple different sections of type. Across the curved handle is the simple narration, "Let's take a walk in a leafy green forest. We can look for animals, plants, and bugs." On the page itself are small chunks of text adding information, describing things in the picture, and giving suggestions for experiencing the forest. There are also captions on the animals and plants and a little "Did you know?" information box on every other page.

Each spread has a spinning wheel. The wheel is thin cardboard and has curved edges, making it easy to turn. The thick cardboard pages are tightly sealed around the edges, so the wheel can't be torn out or the pages pulled apart (hopefully). As you turn the wheel, different animals or plants appear in the picture. One wheel, that of birds in a tree, shows the bird at the top of the wheel and a caption on the turning part of the wheel. It's not designed quite right and bits of the birds show in the edges as you turn it, which could be an issue with kids trying to rip the window open to see the rest of the picture.

The art is colorful and cute, but mostly realistic and although a lot is included the scenes are not too crowded.

Verdict: This is overall a sturdy and fun book that can be used with children in many different ways, both talking and reading. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781680522365; Published December 2017 by Cottage Door Press; Purchased for the library

No boring stories! by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Charles Santoso

I was not a fan of Snappsy the Alligator and so had firmly convinced myself that, ergo, I was not a fan of Julie Falatko. But then I read Two dogs in a trench coat go to school and laughed all the way through. And now I have found myself, however reluctantly, becoming a fan of her latest picture book. Clearly, Snappsy and I just didn't click but everything else is just fine.

The story begins on the end papers, as a cute, fluffy bunny tries a series of writing groups - fluffy bears, cute kittens, cuddly puppies... finally, she comes across the International Society for Writers of Odd and Weird. Trembling with hope, she makes her way past signs prohibiting cuteness, cuddling, and birthdays. At first, it looks like she will be welcomed as Star-Nosed Mole opens the meeting, but no, there are No Bunnies Allowed! The rest of the group shows up; Giraffe-Necked Weevil, Babirusa (a kind of pig), and Yeti Crab and they recap their story so far. Meanwhile, eyes are watching them...

As the story progresses, Bunny keeps trying to join them only to be kicked out at every turn. Finally, she begs to be allowed to join and explains that she doesn't want to be in boring, cute stories anymore! She wants to write weird, exciting stories like they do! Fine, she can listen. But she can't interrupt! The story is progressing nicely, with evil grapes, a babirusa princess, and... no ending. Maybe they do need Bunny's help to pick an ending after all?

Although a picture book, it's written and paced like a comic with panels lightly picked out in gray backgrounds, speech bubbles, and a nice flow between words and pictures. There are definitely some lessons about judging on appearances and finding your own place, not to mention polishing writing skills. However, it's also just a funny story about weird creatures and evil grapes.

Verdict: This is not only a fun story, it's a good choice for teachers to use in classrooms in writing units to encourage readers and writers to explore parts of a narrative and work together to create a story.

ISBN: 9780451476821; Published November 2018 by Viking; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

A frog's life by Irene Kelly, illustrated by Margherita Borin

I don't know how I missed Kelly's books, when I've read so much easy nonfiction! However, even though I had a few listed as having read them, this was the first I bought for the library and which pinged on my mind.

This is one of my favorite kinds of easy nonfiction, having simple sentences in bold or different-colored fonts and then a longer paragraph of information. This makes the books perfect for both storytime and longer reads with classrooms or individual children. Kelly's book has sentences like "Camouflage allows frogs to hide in plain sight" followed by three brief paragraphs on how specific frogs use camouflage. Another example is "When a female frog hears a male singing, she sings back. The two frogs follow each other's voices until they meet." The reader can decide whether or not to read the following paragraphs describing simple how frogs mate and produce fertilized eggs. The book includes a general description of amphibians, behavior and habits of specific and general frogs and toads, and an overview of the dangers frogs face.

Back matter includes an index, list of rescued species, and ways to help and learn more about frogs. Borin's delicate watercolors are a lovely match for the beauty and fragility of these creatures. The frogs' species are identifiable but still artistic, showing soft colors and textures blending to create these marvelous creatures.

Verdict: A great choice for storytime or one-on-one reading as well as classroom research. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780823426010; Published May 2018 by Holiday House; Purchased for the library

Cybils Shortlists; A very long post with data you may or may not find interesting

The Cybils shortlists have been announced and I am especially pleased with the excellent choices made by the category I chair, Elementary and Middle Grade Nonfiction. Now the second round judges will be hard at work, reading and discussing the shortlists, and eventually choosing a winner for each category to be announced on February 14th.

I'll be posting more data/collection development posts over the next few weeks, but here's a beginning! (note - I don't purchase ya fiction, so I did not include those lists.)

Elementary Nonfiction Finalists

• What do you do with a voice like that? by Chris Barton and Ekua Holmes
• Picture book biography, politics/culture, female, black
• 5 copies owned in my consortium, 1 checked out
• Saving Fiona by Thane Maynard
• Animal/science, male, white (female zookeepers are pictured)
• 10+ copies owned in my consortium, 3 checked out
• Added to picture book backlist for eventual purchase
• A frog's life by Irene Kelly and Margherita Borin
• Animal/science
• Purchased for the library, 9 copies owned in the consortium, 2 checked out
• Review in queue
• Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor by Patricia Valdez and Felicita Sala
• Picture book biography, animal/science, female, white
• 10 copies owned in my consortium, 4 checked out
• Added to picture book backlist for eventual purchase
• The true tale of a giantess: The story of Anna Swan by Anne Renaud and Marie Lafrance
• Picture book biography, celebrity/performer, female, white
• 2 copies owned in my consortium
• Flying deep: Climb inside deep-sea submersible ALVIN by Michelle Cusolito and Nicole Wong
• Ocean/science, crew depicts white female, white male, black male
• 6 copies owned in my consortium, 1 checked out
• Added to picture book backlist for eventual purchase
• Chester Nez and the unbreakable code by Joseph Bruchac and Liz Amini-Holmes
• Picture book biography/history, male, native american
• 6 copies owned in my consortium
• Added to juvenile nonfiction backlist for eventual purchase

Middle Grade Nonfiction Finalists

• Hyena Scientist by Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop
• Animal/science, female, white (Kenyan natives are also included)
• Purchased for the library, 9 copies owned in my consortium, 3 checked out
• Death Eaters: Meet Nature's Scavengers by Kelly Milner Halls
• Animal/science
• 3 copies owned in my consortium
• Added to publisher backlist for eventual purchase (I save up items from Lerner and buy them in a group for the discount)
• The ultimate book of sharks by Brian Skerry, Elizabeth Carney, and Sarah Wassner Flynn
• Animal/science, male, white
• Purchased for the library; Review copy donated to the library; 10+ copies owned in my consortium, 3 checked out
• Dog Days of History by Sarah Albee
• Animal/history, primarily Western history but includes social class/economics
• Review copy donated to the library (it was missing but we found it!), 5 copies in my consortium, 4 checked out
• Added to list to purchase a replacement and additional copy
• Frenemies in the family by Kathleen Krull and Maple Lam
• Collective biography, about half white males, also includes contemporary celebrities of color
• Purchased for the library, 6 copies owned in my consortium
• Maya Lin by Susan Goldman Rubin
• Biography, architect/artist, female, asian
• Purchased for the library, 7 copies in my consortium
• Two truths and a lie: Histories and Mysteries by Laurie Ann Thompson and Ammi-Joan Paquette
• History/hoaxes, critical thinking
• Purchased for the library, 6 copies in my consortium, 2 checked out
• Review in queue

Easy Reader Finalists

• Fox the tiger by Corey Tabor
• Animal, male; Beginner level E
• 10+ copies in my consortium, 4 checked out
• Added to 2019 to order list
• Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick and David Serlin
• Animal, male; Beginner lexile 210
• 20 copies in my consortium, 2 checked out
• My toothbrush is missing by Jan Thomas
• Animals; Intermediate lexile 320
• Purchased 2 copies for the library; 10+ copies in my consortium; 4 checked out
• The Perfect Gift by Paula Yoo, illustrated by Shirley Ng-Benitez
• Female, asian; Fluent lexile 470
• 5 copies in my consortium; 2 checked out
• Much too much birthday by J. E. Morris
• Animal, female; Fluent lexile 500
• Purchased for the library; 6 copies in my consortium; 2 checked out
• I want to be a doctor by Laura Driscoll and Catalina Echeverri
• Female, black (diverse adults pictured throughout); Fluent lexile 490
• Purchased for the library; 8 copies in my consortium; 3 checked out

Early Chapter Finalists

• Big Foot and Little Foot by Ellen Potter and Felicita Sala
• Male, white; Fluent, 136 pages, Grades 2-3
• 9 copies in my consortium, 2 checked out
• Megabat by Anna Humphrey and Kass Reich
• Male, asian; Fluent lexile 620, 183 pages, Grades 2-4
• 6 copies in my consortium, 5 checked out
• I used this in a book club (hence all the checked out copies), purchased it as a gift for a friend's kid, and have it on my to order list for 2019
• Owen and Eleanor move in by H. M. Bouwman and Charlie Alder
• Female/male, black/white; Fluent lexile 560, 133 pages, Grades 2-3
• 6 copies in my consortium
• Series added to my 2019 order list
• Polly Diamond and the magic book by Alice Kuipers and Diana Toledano
• Female, black; Beginner lexile 330, 104 pages, Grades 1-2
• 5 copies in my consortium, all checked out or on hold
• I'm using this in my book club (hence all the holds) and it's on my 2019 order list
• Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl by Debbi Michiko Florence and Elizabet Vukovic
• Female, asian; Fluent lexile 590, 116 pages, Grades 3-4
• 6 copies in my consortium
• I didn't review this one
• Zoey and Sassafras: Caterflies and ice by Asia Citro and Marion Lindsay
• Female, black; Fluent lexile 600, 96 pages, Grades 2-3
• Purchased for the library, 7 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• I'm going to have a Magic and Science Zoey and Sassafras party this coming year!

Elementary/Middle Grade Speculative Fiction

• Inkling by Kenneth Oppel
• 7 copies in my consortium, 4 checked out
• Love, sugar, magic: A dash of trouble by Anna Meriano
• Purchased for the library; 10+ copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• Snared: Escape to the above by Adam Jay Epstein
• 5 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• Stone girl's story by Sarah Beth Durst
• Purchased for the library; 9 copies in my consortium
• Sweep by Jonathan Auxier
• 9 copies in my consortium (not including ebooks); 4 checked out
• Thisby Thestoop and the Black Mountain by Zac Gorman
• 2 copies in my consortium
• Nevermoor: The trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
• 10+ copies in my consortium (not including ebooks, audio, LP, etc.), 3 checked out

Fiction Picture Books Finalists

• The day war came by Nicola Davies and Rebecca Cobb
• 4 copies in my consortium
• The day you begin by Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael Lopez
• Review copy donated to the library; 20+ copies in my consortium, 13 checked out
• The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
• Review copy donated to the library; 15 copies in my consortium, 5 checked out
• The rough patch by Brian Lies
• Donated to the library; 10+ copies in my consortium, 8 checked out
• Julian is a mermaid by Jessica Love
• 10 copies in my consortium; 2 checked out
• Added to my picture book backlist to purchase eventually
• Alma and how she got her name by Juana Martinez-Neal
• 10+ copies in my consortium (not including Spanish), 3 checked out
• Added to my to read list
• We don't eat our classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
• Purchased for the library; 20 copies in my consortium, 9 checked out

Board Book Finalists

• Peek-a-Who by Elsa Mroziewicz
• 2 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• Added to my to read list
• But first, we nap by David Miles and Darya Dremova
• 1 copy in my consortium
• Added to my to read list
• These colors are bananas by Jason Fulford and Tamara Shopsin
• 1 copy in my consortium (I have it checked out)
• Why the face? by Jean Jullien
• 4 copies in my consortium, 2 checked out
• Zoe and Zack: Shapes by Jacques Duquennoy
• Not owned in my consortium
• Added to board book list to purchase
• Black bird, yellow sun by Steve Light
• Review copy donated to the library; 10+ copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• Llamaphones by Janik Coat
• 4 copies in my consortium, 2 checked out
• Added to board book back list to purchase eventually

Elementary/Middle Grade Graphic Novel Finalists

• Escape from Syria by Samya Kullab and Jackie Roche
• 3 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill
• 7 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• Be Prepared by Anya Brosgol
• Purchased for the library, 15+ copies in my consortium, 8 checked out
• The witch boy by Molly Ostertag
• 10 copies in my consortium, 3 checked out
• Added to my juvenile graphic novel backlist to purchase eventually
• Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery; graphic adaptation by Mariah Marsden and Brenna Thummler
• 8 copies in my consortium, 4 checked out
• Cardboard kingdom by Chad Sell
• Purchased for the library; 20 copies in my consortium, 4 checked out
• Mr. Wolf's Class by Nels Steinke
• 10 copies in my consortium, 2 checked out

Young Adult Graphic Novel Finalists

• As the crow flies by Melanie Gillman
• 5 copies in my consortium
• I still wish I could have purchased this one, but in the end the $20 for a paperback was just too high.
• Anne Frank's Diary: The graphic edition by Anne Frank, adapted by Ari Folman and David Polonsky
• 10 copies in my consortium, 5 checked out
• The adult services department purchased this for the adult collection
• Grand Theft Horse by Greg Neri and Corban Wilkin
• 4 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka
• 10+ copies in my consortium, 5 checked out
• Added to my ya graphics backlist to eventually purchase
• On a sunbeam by Tillie Walden
• 10+ copies in my consortium, 4 checked out
• Prince and the dressmaker by Jen Wang
• Purchased for the library; 10+ copies in our consortium, 3 checked out
• Quince by Sebastian Kadlecik, Kit Steinkellner, Emma Steinkellner, and Valeria Tranier
• No copies in my consortium. This is not available through our primary vendor and only available as a used paperback from Amazon so it's not likely that anyone will get it, although it looks interesting.

Poetry Finalists

• Mary's Monster by Lita Judge
• 5 copies in my consortium
• H is for Haiku by Sydell Rosenberg and Sawsan Chalabi
• 1 copy in my consortium
• Can I touch your hair by Irene Latham, Charles Waters, Sean Qualls, and Selina Alko
• 5 copies in my consortium
• Long way down by Jason Reynolds
• 20+ copies in my consortium, 3 checked out
• Purchased for our teen fiction (our cataloger buys YA fiction)
• The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
• 10 copies in our consortium
• In the past by David Elliott and Matthew Trueman
• 8 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• On my picture book backlist to order eventually
• Traveling the blue road by Lee Hopkins, Denver Butson, Bob and Jovan Hansman
• 2 copies in my consortium

Middle Grade Fiction Finalists

• Harbor me by Jacqueline Woodson
• Purchased for the library, 15+ copies in my consortium, 6 checked out
• Front Desk by Kelly Yang
• 10+ copies in my consortium, 6 checked out
• On my juvenile fiction backlist for eventual purchase
• The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stephanie McAnulty
• 15+ copies in my consortium, 4 checked out
• Skylark and Wallcreeper by Anne O'Brien Carelli
• 4 copies in our consortium, 2 checked out
• The orphan band of springdale by Anne Nesbet
• 5 copies in our consortium, 1 checked out
• The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson
• 10+ copies in my consortium, 3 checked out
• The doughnut fix by Jessie Janowitz
• 6 copies in our consortium, 1 checked out

Junior High Nonfiction Finalists

• Apollo 8 by Martin Sandler
• 4 copies in my consortium, 2 checked out
• Added to the juvenile nonfiction backlist for possible later purchase
• Capsized by Patricia Sutton
• 4 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• On my to read list
• The disappearing spoon (young reader's edition) by Sam Kean
• 3 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• Adult edition on my to read list
• Spooked! by Gail Jarrow
• 9 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• Added to juvenile nonfiction backlist for possible later purchase
• On my to read list
• Facing Frederick by Tonya Bolden
• Purchased for the library, 7 copies in my consortium
• Chasing King's Killer by James Swanson
• Purchased for the library, 15 copies in my consortium, 2 checked out
• Boots on the ground: America's war in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge
• Purchased for the library, 10 copies in my consortium, 3 checked out

Senior High Nonfiction Finalists

• The Faithful Spy by John Hendrix
• 10 copies in my consortium (multiple being cataloged), 3 checked out
• I bought another story of Bonhoeffer and wasn't sure I needed this one as well, but going by how few people know who he is (even here in WI, land of Lutherans!) I think I need this one as well and have added it to my to order list.
• Bonnie and Clyde by Karen Blumenthal
• 6 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• The Grand Escape by Neal Bascomb
• Purchased for the library, 7 copies in my consortium, 3 checked out
• Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (young reader's edition)
• 7 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• We say #never again: Reporting by the Parkland Student Journalists
• 5 copies in my consortium
• Votes for women by Winifred Conkling
• Purchased for the library, 9 copies in my consortium, 1 checked out
• We are not yet equal (young reader's edition of "White Rage") by Carol Anderson and Tonya Bolden
• 7 copies in my consortium, 2 checked out
• Added to my ya nf backlist for possible future purchase

This week at the library; or, New year, new challenges!

Plump New Year's Squirrel, one of my pack

Happening at the library

• Monday
• Closed for holiday
• Tuesday
• Closed for holiday
• Wednesday
• Worked 8:45-5
• Thursday
• Bookaneers
• Worked 10-6
• Friday
• Worked 10-6

My new associate started work on Wednesday, so we did a lot of training. Wednesday was our first official day of going fine-free on children's and teen items and of course things went wrong. I spent several hours working on end of year statistics and reports and consequently lost all my work. This has destroyed any desire I have to write up data posts this year, so you can all look at the data yourselves if you so desire.

• Program and attendance statistics
• Circulation statistics
• January-May program calendar
• Department goals for 2019
• 2018 End of year report

Edison Beaker, Creature Seeker: The Night Door by Frank Cammuso

Four years ago Edison's dad gave him a flashlight to scare away the monsters in the dark, went out to help a friend... and never came back. The story really begins when Edison and his annoying little sister Tess (Tesla) and Tess' hamster Scuttlebutt have to spend the night with their weird Uncle Earl, an exterminator. When Uncle Earl gets an emergency call, the two quickly discover that he isn't exterminating just bugs - and the creepy story he told them about the monsters on the other side of The Night Door is true! Edison finds himself traveling through the dark and dangerous Underwhere, battling monsters with his flashlight and trying to save his sister (and her hamster) as well as the whole world from being overrun with monsters! He makes an unexpected friend and gets hints of many secrets before the Night Door is closed... forever?

Cammuso's distinctive cartoons, with old-fashioned Disney-style characters that sport big noses, large eyes, and lumpy hair, will draw in readers who were fans of his previous series, Dodgeball Chronicles and Misadventures of Salem Hyde. Red-headed Edison and Tesla sport skinny, stick-like legs and arms and the monsters they face, ranging from one-eyed black globs to dragons and blobby, colored creatures will give readers a little thrill without being too frightening.

The book passes quickly over Edison's father's disappearance and although his journey into the mysterious blackness is scary, it's more "monsters under the bed" scary than "monsters potentially eating your guts" scary. There's plenty of humor with Scuttlebutt's antics and Tess's determination to do exactly what she pleases, and although the Night Door closes at the end of the first volume there are plenty of hints that it hasn't closed forever, from his monster friend Knox's past to the hint that his father may be trapped in the dark.

Verdict: Readers who like fantasy adventure but aren't ready for the more intense action and emotional punch of Amulet or Bone will happily settle down with Edison and his monstrous adventures. This new series is sure to grab your graphic novel fans, both young and old.

ISBN: 9780425291924; Published October 2, 2018 by Viking; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library

Tiger vs. Nightmare by Emily Tetri

Technically, this could be called a picture book, but the content and length feels more beginning chapter to me, and that kindergarten - 2nd grade audience can enjoy both simple chapters and picture books. So I'm calling it a beginning chapter and I'll put it in my juvenile fiction, when I purchase it.

Swashy blue watercolors show a family of humanoid tigers in a futuristic world with space ships parked outside the dome-shaped houses. The wider world is only briefly sketched in though, because the real focus is Tiger, the young daughter of two adult tigers. Her parents think she has an imaginary friend, but it's real - there's a monster under her bed! Monster isn't scary though; she's a small, blue, lizard-like creature. Tiger explains to her parents that Monster came to scare her but they became friends instead - and now Monster scares away the nightmares that come at night. But what happens when a really big, really scary nightmare comes? One too big for Monster to scare away on her own?

The dark blue washes over the pages, showing a terrifying creature with a crocodilian skull, skinny black antlers and claws, and a dark sweep of black trailing in its wake. Tiger and Monster at first cower together in fear, then try strategies, but only when Tiger faces her fears and protects her friend is she able to banish the nightmare in a burst of glorious light.

The art is dividing into loose panels and the book is longer than a picture book at 62 pages. I'd also be hesitant to hand it to a younger child, especially one struggling with nightmares because of how scary the nightmare is. But for a slightly older child, to read alone or with an adult, it's perfect. The warmth of the two friends, their struggle together to banish the nightmare, and Tiger's burst of bravery and courage, are very endearing.

Verdict: Hand this to young readers and listeners who need some encouragement to tackle their fears or just enjoy a good, heartwarming story.

ISBN: 9781626725355; Published November 2018 by First Second; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Wee Beasties: Huggy the python hugs too hard by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Alex G. Griffiths

Huggy the python, a dapper green snake with top hat and blue scarf, loves to give hugs. But there's a little problem. As the title says, Huggy hugs too hard! Despite the narrator's reminders to be gentle, Huggy pops a balloon, splats his ice cream, and then he's going to hug a cute little dog... oh no. Luckily, before Huggy gets his coils on the puppy, readers have a chance to demonstrate a gentle hug with the cute puppy. With the demonstration in mind, Huggy manages a gentle hug and the puppy survives his love (not so a water bottle in his tail, but you can't have everything...)

Griffiths' wacky cartoons are a great match for Dyckman's humorous text. Some of the spreads include simple comic panels, with yellow backgrounds, while others show Huggy snaking his way across the white background, splattered in ice cream, gazing sadly at a popped balloon, and finally celebrating with party hat and confetti.

Verdict: This is a great choice to teach little ones how to use a gentle touch with animals, friends, babies, and other fragile items and will also give a laugh to parents who will pick up on the more subtle humor. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781534410800; Published May 2018 by Little Simon; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

The Epic Adventures of Huggie & Stick by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by David Spencer

My sense of humor is, I have been told, a little weird. Also, I dislike sentiment and infinitely prefer snark and sarcasm. Which explains why I have no strong feelings about Daywalt's bestselling The Day the Crayons Quit and all the love for his new book, featuring a goofily optimistic stick and a surly stuffed bunny.

Told in alternating sheets of torn notepaper, readers follow the exciting adventures of Huggie and Stick. Falling out of a little boy's backpack, they plummet to the ocean, to the delight of Stick and the disgust of Huggie. Their adventures follow this theme with Stick thrilled to test out their new friends' diving board and Huggie barely escaping pirates with his stuffing intact; Stick thrilled to visit a magical forest and get a kiss from a giant bear and Huggie rescuing Stick from being eaten by a panda against his better judgment; the penguins; the sharks; the bugs....

The illustrations are bold swathes of digital color, showing Huggie's disgruntled expression and rapid deterioration and Stick's delighted smile in the face of numerous calamities.

Verdict: This will make a hilarious, if somewhat lengthy, read-aloud. Buy it for reading with older kids and for your own enjoyment.

ISBN: 9780399172762; Published October 23 by Philomel; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library