Small Readers: Kiwi cannot reach! and Bunny will not smile! by Jason Tharp

[Originally published in October, 2019]

I picked these up because the art style reminded me a little of Jonathan Fenske, a very popular easy reader and picture book author in our library. They turned out to be colorful and funny, but not quite up to Fenske's standard.

In Kiwi cannot reach! a flightless little bird is determined to pull a mysterious rope, high above her. She looks like a plump, brown pear! After exhausting all her own efforts, she asks the readers for help. She builds contraptions and helpful, unseen readers push the button or flip the switch, but each effort ends in disaster! But Kiwi does not give up. Her big, cartoon eyes and the little quirk in her beak remain optimistic! Finally, she almost gives up. But no! She has one more idea and YOU the readers can help! With an unexpected ending, this is sure to provoke giggles. The cartoon-style illustrations are fresh and accessible, my only quibble with this title is the interactive element. This is all the rage right now in picture books, and there it makes sense. However, in an easy reader, especially one aimed at younger readers (although the reading level is higher on this, about 450 lexile, the bold text and simple pictures are sure to attract beginning readers) the interactive element is a major distraction to the process of actually reading.


The second title, Bunny will not smile! also encourages interaction with the text, but I think this one works better for beginning readers. A worried blue bear named Big explains that there's a problem. Readers follow her along to find the problem; a purple bunny named Bunny who refuses to smile! Big has tried everything, dressing like a clown, offering carrots, but Bunny says no one can make her smile. So Big needs the help of YOU the reader, to make a silly face and get Bunny smiling! To my mind, this one works better; first, the text is slightly simpler than Kiwi and secondly the actions are simply readers making silly faces and following the words to turn the page.

Revisited: While I still prefer Fenske, Tharp's work is popular as well and we are revisiting Kiwi for book club next week. These are fun fill-in titles and he has continued producing fun early readers and picture books.

Verdict: There's nothing particularly wrong with these; they're funny and definitely attractive to kids. I do think Kiwi would have worked better as a picture book though. Both are good fillers for easy reader sections and will appeal to fans of Fenske, Mo Willems, and Ethan Long.

Kiwi cannot reach!

ISBN: 9781534425125; Published May 2019 by Simon Spotlight; Purchased for the library

Bunny will not smile
ISBN: 9781534425095; Published January 2019 by Simon Spotlight; Purchased for the library

RA RA Read: Chapter books for Reading Aloud to Young Children

 One of the frequently-asked questions at my desk is for chapter books to read aloud, usually to ages 3 to 6. This is a favorite question of mine; there are so many sweet chapter books that these special kids (when's the last time you met a kid who could sit still for a whole chapter?) will enjoy with their parents and I get the warm fuzzies thinking about the happy family memories they will be making.

  I find that older books tend to make better read-alouds, since they're often episodic in nature and don't have the more mature fantasy/action/adventure that's too complex or scary for younger kids.

Newer Titles

• Tumtum and Nutmeg: Adventures beyond Nutmouse Hall by Emily Bearn
• This is a big compilation of three books. The length makes it daunting for actual readers, but they are fine for reading aloud. Slightly twee perhaps, but not too bad.
• A dragon used to live here by Annette LeBlanc Cate
• Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon

Beginning Chapters

• Sprout Street Neighbors by Anna Alter
• This makes a good peaceful read-aloud with five short stories about some quirky neighbors.
• Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke
• This has never worked well as a beginning chapter, much to my dismay; the family-centric story, focused on everyday events, seems more suited to a picture book than a chapter book. Which makes it just right for a child who still loves picture books to listen to!
• Jenny and the cat club by Esther Averill
• These are charming - and that's a good thing in this genre. There is an excellent collection from the New York Review of Books but there are other editions as well.
• Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel

• Because of the length and copious illustration, a lot of people think of these chapter books as beginning chapter books, but they're actually quite complex. They do make hilarious read-alouds though, especially if your listener is old enough to appreciate the snarky humor. There are multiple sequels as well as picture books
• Welcome to Silver Street Farm by Nicola Davies
• This story is about a group of friends who have an urban farm/rescue. It's got some line drawings, is fairly short, and includes lots of animals, which is always a positive. There is only one sequel available in the US but there are several paperback sequels available from the UK.
• Three tales of my father's dragon by Ruth Chrisman Gannett
• This is my favorite go-to for a read-aloud. This is actually a collection of three books, each one with short chapters, lots of black and white illustrations, and the perfect blend of action, humor, and repetitive detail for young listeners.
• Princess in Black by Shannon Hale

• The illustrations really sell this for younger kids as a read-aloud. And, of course, remember that both boys and girls will like this story of a princess who fights monsters! (not at all scary monsters, by the way)
• Digby O'Day in the fast lane by Shirley Hughes
• This is the first in a rather British series. It's a sweet, friendly story and great for the really young children, since it's copiously illustrated.
• Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. LaFevers
• This one is a little older, but it's a nice blend of fantasy/adventure that's not too perilous and emphasizes child-like concerns - being brave, missing your parents, etc.

"Classics"

"Classic" is a totally subjective term of course, and this is in general a rather old, traditional grouping. However, it's what people in my small town are usually looking for and I've tried to curate the list somewhat to remove the most egregiously racist and outdated materials. I certainly wouldn't say that every library should have these, but if your patrons request and read "classics" frequently, they're good to have on hand. 

• Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
• A classic about a family that is expanded with penguins. It makes a nice read-aloud that has held up surprisingly well over the years. Ignore the horrible movie.
• The wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
• Oz books make great read-alouds because each chapter is nicely divided into a different adventure and there are all sorts of weird creatures and funny jokes for the adults. There are some mildly scary moments that may upset sensitive adults and some outdated/racist language that I would just skip over until the kids are older and can discuss it.
• A bear called Paddington by Michael Bond
• There's been renewed interest in this classic bear because of the movie (which I couldn't bring myself to watch), but I've been recommending it for years. Each chapter is a new, funny adventure. They're sweet and silly with a scattering of black and white illustrations.
• The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth
• Just imagine if your chicken hatched....a dinosaur! This delightful story includes excitement, humor, and dinosaurs all in a small-town, friendly atmosphere.
• The Children of Noisy Village and Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
• These are both very different series and I personally prefer the first. Noisy Village is a family/rural story with simple, fun tales of life on the farm. Pippi Longstocking is anarchic and silly - if parents are ok with that, they will enjoy it along with their children. However, even newer translations of Pippi are still including a lot of the racist stories and language. At least if you are reading them aloud, you can skip those parts.
• The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
• This is one of the few classic stories that I recommend in abridged format. Of course, most modern editions you pick up will have the changes put in by Lofting's son, but without them there's a really unpleasant chapter with the African Bumpo wanting to become white. There are still stereotypes in the book, but it's pretty much across the board because basically Dolittle doesn't like ANY humans. But it's still a magical story of a man who can talk to animals and the strange adventures he has with them. I recommend skimming it first to decide which parts to cut out and which to discuss, depending on your audience.
• Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling
• These are one story per chapter and contain wonderful word play and repetitive sentences. Be aware of racist language in unabridged versions and I would recommend cutting out the poetry.
• Winnie the Pooh and The house at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne
• Yes, this list is rather heavy on the British. So, on the one hand this was one of my very favorite childhood read-alouds and it really only works as a read-aloud - by the time kids are able to read the books for themselves they've usually outgrown them. However, kids who have been raised on the Disneyfied pap known as Winnie the Pooh may have trouble picking up the very British humor. I leave this in here just for myself though.

Our Seasons by Sue Lowell Gallion, illustrated by Lisk Feng

This is an interesting 3-D concept, a board book that opens out into a globe with a magnetic section that "clicks" it into place. I previously reviewed Our World, which I added to a kit on geography, but I think this would make a great display object and actually work well as a book too.

From the front, the book looks like a half-globe. Open it up, and each spread is a 2-D representation of a globe. The base includes the text. A few simple sentences on the left describe the season while a paragraph in smaller type on the right gives more information. The first spread is a winter scene, then a flower-dotted meadow, still showing snow in a few spots. The seasons, animals, and people shown fit into the traditional model of four seasons, winter, spring, summer, and fall. There are barnyard scenes with pigs and sheep, foxes and deer eating berries, colored leaves and migrating birds, etc. There is a beach with palm trees shown as part of the summer section.

The last four spreads explain the why there are seasons, with a science of all four traditional seasons, outer space, and simultaneous seasons around the world. The last spread mirrors the first, with the same tree shown now clothed in green with birds, animals, and children picking flowers. Set the book on its base and pull the front and back covers together, and they will "latch" with the magnet inside them, creating a book globe.

There are lots of conventional season stories, but they are more or less accurate for our climate in the Midwest and teachers and parents always want more. This is sturdy enough to circulate well as a book or in a kit, but it would also make a great display object if you have a nature or activity table.

Verdict: Not a necessary purchase, but a fun additional one and the illustrations are very attractive.

ISBN: 9781838664329; Published April 2022 by Phaidon; Review copy provided by publisher

Unicorn Island: Secret beneath the sand by Donna Galanti, illustrated by Bethany Stancliffe

 In her first adventure, Sam (Samantha) discovered the existence of Unicorn Island and has found a new and somewhat more stable home with her uncle while her mom tours. However, there were plenty of questions left unanswered, and lots of adventures left for Sam and her new friend Tuck.

At first, Sam and her friend Tuck are enjoying their work as apprentice unicorn protectors, but when Barloc, the unicorn colt they saved in the first book, begins to show signs of illness again and there are strange happenings on the island, Sam and Tuck must decide if they will obey Uncle Mitch and return to the mainland, leaving him alone to cope with the unicorns, or if they will investigate themselves.

Of course, they investigate themselves and in the process discover more of Mitch's painful past and some shocking secrets about Sam's own origins. There are lessons to be learned about trust and bravery, the consequences of anger and fear, and what's most important as well as lots of exciting appearances of unicorns and other creatures.

The pages are sprinkled with full-page, colored illustrations from Stancliffe showing the unicorns and the characters exploring the island and encountering various strange creatures. Back matter explains some of the things referenced in the book like invasive species and salves and profiles the author and illustrator.

This series falls into what, for lack of a better term, I'm calling intermediate chapters. There's an odd blank spot between older readers who can't handle a full-length, 200-300 page chapter book with no illustrations and younger readers who are academically able to read more challenging books but are not mature enough for the more complex issues often included in middle grade titles. One could discuss falling literacy rates and the changes in the publishing industry and in offerings for readers, but basically the gap is here and I need books to fill it.

From a literary standpoint, this and other series from Epic! are not going to win any awards. They're rather trite and this second title in particular puts in some rather heavy revelations about the characters without fully explaining or developing them. However, it's still just what these intermediate readers will - and do - love and I have a line of eager readers waiting for this sequel. I will not be giving them any spoilers though!

Verdict: I'm realistic about my collection development and am focusing heavily on beginning and intermediate chapter books as that is what my audience wants and needs. This is a satisfying sequel to a popular title and has more depth than the usual run of "unicorn princess" style books with the added bonus of Latinx/Black characters. Purchase if you have unicorn fans and/or own the first book.

ISBN: 9781524871970; Published March 2022 by Andrews McMeel; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Patience, Patches! by Christy Mihaly, illustrated by Sheryl Murray

 Christy Mihaly has produced a really interesting variety of picture books, but the sheer adorable cuteness of this book is hard to surpass.

Patches, a wiggly brown and white puppy, is ready for fun from the minute the sun hits the bed of his people, but they're not! That's ok, Patches is good at being patient. He waits patiently while "my loud-laughing person" a woman with light brown skin and curly dark hair, heavily pregnant, makes a bathroom run. He waits while his "soft-singing person" a white woman with reddish-blonde hair in a short cut gets up and finds his ball. It's time... for fun? Nope, both his people are leaving! Patches waits patiently for them to return - with a mysterious bundle in tow. He waits while they rock, change, and soothe the noisy bundle.

Along the way, Patches helps out with the baby in his own inimitable fashion; he howls along to the crying, "The bundle likes my singing best" and when the baby begins to crawl he teaches them how to play, to share (the food from their high chair) and more important things. But they're waiting for one more thing... finally, after a scary moment, Baby says their first word... Patches! The story ends with the rosy-cheeked baby and Patches happily splashing together in the tub, their moms watching adoringly.

This story takes the standard dog-meets-new-baby and mother-loves-baby themes and weaves them together into a sweet, humorous, unique creation. There's many nods to parents, walking the floor with a crying baby and waiting impatiently for baby's first word; to siblings, learning to adapt to a new baby and their parents' divided attention; to the humorous viewpoint of a dog to this strange new addition to the household.

Verdict: A delightful story to add to read-alouds about babies, dogs, and moms, this is a must-have for most collections that will delight readers young and old.

ISBN: 9780593108291; Published April 2022 by Dial; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library

All around Bustletown: Nighttime by Rotraut Susanne Berner

I've loved Rotraut Susanne Berner's work since I first discovered it in 2008 and was delighted to see Prestel republish In the town, all year 'round as separate, oversized board books. Now, to my great pleasure, she has created a new adventure in Bustletown - at night!

The wordless story begins with a cut-away picture of a multi-family house at night. A woman checks on a baby, a man takes a shower and the annoyed neighbor below bangs on the ceiling, while a closer look will show a few people still abroad. A couple strolls down the street, a person rides a bike, and someone in dark clothes with a sack is walking across the fields with a flashlight.

As the action moves into town, we follow a small group of cats, the walking couple and bicycle rider, while various posters advertising night-time events hint at things to come. Pull into the train station and the police flag down the bicycle rider (no lights!), cleaners work in the station, and more people are up and about. In the next spread children are spending the night at the library in the culture center for a reading sleepover, the cats are joined by another friend, and people can be seen through the windows of their apartments. There's drama on the next page, with the person in dark clothes revealed as a burglar, trying to sneak into the closed bookstore. One of the couple loses their hat, and more people join the procession ending in the final scene: Fireworks in the park, night animals, ice cream, and music.

The back page of the book shows a variety of images from the book to search for. Some of them are formed as questions, like "Who is Officer Tony talking to on the phone?" or "What is this man up to?" adn others are just little treasures to find, like mice in the kitchen, the group of cats, and a sneaky raccoon.

There are many fun details to discover, like an exhibit of "Night pictures from children's books" in the top floor of the culture center, including Mickey from In the Night Kitchen, a piece of art by Axel Scheffler, and a few other pictures I wasn't able to identify, presumably they are German books. More strait-laced American audiences may be shocked to see the back view of a man showering or a few people shown smoking, but the fun and enjoyment of these books, to me, definitely outweighs the possibility of a few prudish complaints.

Verdict: I love the progression of story and the cheerful, intriguing mix of pictures throughout this new adventure in Bustletown and I am thrilled to add it to my library. If you have fans of the series, or readers who like Richard Scarry and seek-and-find books, this one will be a hit.

ISBN: 9783791374901; Published April 2022 by Prestel; Review copy provided by publisher

This week at the library

Note to self - next time you have a pig visiting inside,
 make sure it goes in the entrance
that's right next to the pool where it's going to be.

 Programs

• Reptile show (including library visit from Rec. Dept.)
• Paws to Read
• Book-a-Librarian Sewing
• Art workshop: Sand art (after school visit)
• Day on the Farm
• Lapsit
• Dungeons and Dragons

Projects

• Planning meeting with new school staff
• Reconstructed and completed the summer schedule
• Updated and wrote summer program descriptions through June
• Finished the text for the summer reading program June brochure

About 70 people came to the reptile show and an estimated 400 to the Day on the Farm. I played, instead of being a DM, for the first time at Dungeons and Dragons. Quite frankly, I found it boring. I am not a D&D player at all. I don't mind making up stories as a DM, as long as I don't have to do all the pointless math and tracking of everything, but I wouldn't want to play it. I spent a lot of long hours outside our big programs dealing with the schedule and marketing materials and I am ready for a break!

The ultimate biography of earth by Nick Lund, illustrated by Jason Ford

 This colorful nonfiction book, illustrated with humorous cartoons, takes readers from the formation of the earth and other planets up to the present day.

A colored timeline helps readers keep track of the appropriate eon and, narrated by Earth and the pencil interviewing it, The first half of the book zips through the Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic eons and then the Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian periods. Explanations of the formation of life, development of cells, aquatic life, mass extinctions, and more are briskly and simply explained.

The second half of the book takes readers through the shorter but more lively periods leading up to the contemporary Cenozoic Era. The rise of complex organisms, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, and the catastrophic mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period. A quick overview of the current era, including the threats of climate change and an explanation of glacial periods is included.

Additional material includes a lengthy discussion of ways to help the earth, including our old favorites (yes, I'm being sarcastic) not using plastic straws and walking instead of driving, a variety of questions like "Why is the sky blue?" a nice timeline reference, long pronunciation guide, resources, and index.

My only caveat for the main part of the book itself is that not all the cartoons of various creatures are identified adequately, and it can be hard to tell which illustration the text is referring to. For the resources, the pronunciation guide was excellent and I didn't feel the lack of a glossary, since it was incorporated into the book. I did, as usual, find the "how you can save the earth" section exasperating. It didn't fit into the main text, especially since there was no adequate explanation of the difference between the current extinction and previous mass extinctions. Also, the abrupt jump from talking about mass extinctions caused by meteors and volcanoes to the idea that kids can avoid a future mass extinction by not using plastic straws and begging their parents to walk and bike instead of drive, was frankly ridiculous. However, this is certainly my own personal pet peeve, and this type of section seems to be pretty much de rigueur for any book about natural sciences.

Verdict: This is fairly text-heavy, but written with a light touch that shouldn't be too intimidating even for struggling readers. Pair with Don Brown's Older Than Dirt and Volcanoes: Fire and Life by Jon Chad for a deeper look into geology or for younger readers Elizabeth Shreeve's Out of the Blue to go more in-depth into the evolution of organisms.

ISBN: 9781523513598; Published March 2022 by Workman; Review copy provided by the publisher; Donated to the library

Crab & Snail: The Invisible Whale by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Jared Chapman

 Beth Ferry, who previously collaborated with a different illustrator on the sweet beginning graphic novel Fox & Rabbit, repeats the formula for a younger audience with the addition of funny puns and a seaside scene in this new series.

Crab and Salty Snail are BBFs, Best Beach Friends. They live in the surf zone and enjoy thinking deep thoughts, sunny days, and... wait a minute, it's raining! But only on them? With the guidance of Know-it-all Gull and lots of chiming in from the barnacle brothers, Grip and Drip, the two make a new friend - an invisible whale named Isabel.

Chapman's illustrations, mostly in beige, blue, and orange, show a simple beach scene with goggle-eyed blue crab and orange snail interacting with each other and discovering a few small items on the beach or looking out to the calm blue sea.

This is definitely in the Narwhal and Jelly vein of beginning comics with a theme of two friends, often disparate, mild jokes and humor, and Ferry's own gentle philosophical musings. There isn't a coherent plot or raucous humor, two things that signal a book being closer to middle grade than to an early reader.

Verdict: With a plethora of this type of beginning comic available, including series like Narwhal and Jelly, Shelby and Watts, Baloney and friends, Bonbon and Bunbun, and Ferry's own Fox and Rabbit, this is an additional purchase if you have a voracious audience for easy comics but it doesn't significantly stand out from the crowd.

ISBN: 9780062962133; Published March 2022 by Harper Alley; Borrowed from another library in the consortium; Purchased for the library

Classic Rereads: Look Through My Window by Jean Little, Illustrated by Joan Sandin

One of the first reviews I ever wrote was of Jean Little's Look Through My Window - also one of the first novels by Jean Little I read. I can still remember exactly where I was and how I felt as I read this story of friends, change, and growth. This was written when I was about fourteen!

Emily's life is predictable and normal. The most exciting thing that ever happens to her is being home along for a few hours. But then her aunt becomes ill and she and her parents move to the country, to a big, old house, to care for her four young cousins. She's attending a new school for the first time and is determined to be someone different, someone new. She's spurred on by the discovery of a mysterious box and hopes to make a real friend.

But the first person she meets is prickly Kate Bloomfield. Kate has one adult sister, so is virtually an only child. She sticks out in the suburban/rural area like a sore thumb; her father is Jewish, but doesn't practice, her parents are both very "modern" and run a bookstore. Kate is confused and often bitter and feels like she is unwanted by her family and doesn't fit in anywhere.

Between Emily's mother's struggles to adjust to life with four rambunctious children, and all the emergencies and catastrophes that ensue, both Kate and Emily slowly change and grow, discussing who they are, writing poetry, finding what they have in common as well as what's different about their lives. Kate especially questions her parents' religious choices and her own identity, while Emily is more sure of herself even when she makes missteps. The girls work their way through their own family issues as well as their religious differences, figuring out how to be more than casual friends and learning that they both still have a lot of changes to expect in their life.

Who will read this? Fans of Tara Altebrando's middle grade books and other quiet, reflective stories of girls coming of age.

Bring it back? Absolutely. The book addresses questions like religion and identity not often touched on in middle grade titles and sketches in a dreamy summer with a slowly growing friendship with an expert hand. The story is timeless, needing no updating. The only thing I would change is, much though I love her classic illustrations, Joan Sandin's art should probably be swapped out for something a little more contemporary, at least on the cover.

Availability? Sadly, this has been out of print since the 70s and it's unlikely to ever see the light of day in the US again. Periodically, I check to see if Canada has brought out any new or reissued Jean Little titles, so that's a faint possibility some day!

RA RA Read: Captain Underpants and other gross and silly books

Captain Underpants is a super popular series with kids who love gross humor and off the wall silliness. This series appeals most to younger kids, who aren't ready for the more sophisticated humor (if you can call it that) of Wimpy Kid. Generally the cut-off for which readers will enjoy Captain Underpants is between 4th and 5th grade (what Ms. Yingling calls "The Pilkey Line") Some Captain Underpants books are a mixture of text and comics (what I like to call graphic blends), while others are all comics.

In addition to the classic Captain Underpants books, currently being republished in full color, Pilkey has several other series, including the even more popular Dogman which clicks with older students into middle school.

Read-alikes for Captain Underpants (comics)

• Catwad by Jim Benton
• Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey
• Once upon a space-time by Jeffrey Brown
• Edison Beaker Creature Seeker by Frank Cammuso
• Nico Bravo by Mike Cavallaro
• Wolfie Monster and the Big Bad Pizza Battle by Joey Ellis
• Tyrannosaurus Ralph by Nate Evans
• Max Meow by John Gallagher
• Investigators by John Patrick Green
• Lunch Lady by Jarrett Krosoczka 
• Super Potato by Artur Laperla
• Star Scouts by Mike Lawrence

Read-alikes for Captain Underpants (chapter books)

• Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist by Jim Benton 
• Monster of the year by Bruce Coville
• How to train your dragon by Cressida Cowell

Read-alikes for Captain Underpants (graphic blends)

• Night of the living dead by Hutchison
• AstroNuts by Jon Scieszka
• Locker 37 by Aaron Starmer
• Danny Dragonbreath by Ursula Vernon
• Stick Dog and Stick Cat by Tom Watson

Authors

• Andy Griffiths
• Mo O'Hara

In short, I am busy: We Explore Artist Melissa Sweet

Art Project Part 1: Collages

I encourage kids and parents to cut out words as well as pictures to create their collage.

• Supplies
• old magazines/recycled picture books/galleys
• scissors, glue sticks
• Watercolor paper, heavy cardstock, or thin cardboard

Storytime

• Books
• Carmine a little more red
• Easy as pie
• Baabwaa and Wooliam
• Rubia and the three osos

Art Project Part 2: Watercolors

I've used actual paint for this, but you get better (and less messy) watercolors with watercolor pencils if they're available.

• Supplies
• Watercolor pencils OR liquid watercolors
• Water, paint brushes

Evaluation

In short, I am busy: We Explore Artist Tom Lichtenheld

Art Project Part 1: Sketching
I encouraged the kids to sketch out their ideas with pencils and erasers. I had lots of pictures of Tom Lichtenheld's art processes from Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

Supplies

• pencils, erasers, paper

Storytime

• Sing by Joe Raposo
• Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton
• Ten rules of the birthday wish by Beth Ferry
• Exclamation point by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Art Project Part 2: Colored pencils
The kids color their drawings with colored pencils; there are also activity sheets.

Supplies

• colored pencils
• activity sheets
• paper

Resources

• Tom Lichtenheld's website
• Seven Impossible Things

Evaluation

• 6-28-19
• Attendance: 21
• Notes: I taped the samples of works in progress to a table for the kids to look at. I forgot to bring over toys for the little ones again. Most attendees stayed until 3 and had a great time.

This week at the library

Somebody is already using the library garden

Programs

• Paws to Read
• Dungeons and Dragons
• Pokemon Club
• Family Storytime (2 sessions)
• Outreach storytimes (3 sessions)
• Library on the Go visits (4 sessions)
• Builder's Club maker workshop
• Lapsit
• Book-a-Librarian sewing (2 sessions)

Projects

• Picture book collection development
• Summer preorders
• Summer performers, gardening, etc. meetings
• Schedule prep for May outreach

The library was closed on Friday and I went plant-shopping, among other things.

Standing up against hate: How black women in the army helped change the course of WWII by Mary Cronk Farrell

[Originally published in May 2019]

World War II history is a popular topic in my library for fourth grade and up, but I feel really strongly that if kids are old enough to read about war they're old enough to read about everything. Not necessarily graphic details of atrocities, but definitely the full context of the war; that not everything is black and white, there are not "good guys" versus "bad guys". One of the major points that often gets overlooked in WWII history for kids is the treatment of women and minorities by the army and as more nuanced and honest depictions of the war are being published I've been slowly diversifying my collection in this area.

Farrell has written several titles that tell those overlooked stories from American history, Pure Grit and Fannie never flinched. Her latest title would be a great choice to read alongside Steve Sheinkin's Port Chicago 50, about the treatment of black men in the military, since Standing up against hate depicts the prejudice and even violence that black women faced in the military.

This is the story of Charity Adams, the commander of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only black WAAC battalion to be sent overseas. Farrell talks honestly about the experiences of black women in the military; their struggles to not be assigned as cooks and cleaners and to do the work they had been trained for and which they hoped would improve their lives after the war. They walked a narrow line between standing up for themselves and the possibility that going against the military structure would see them jailed or even executed. In addition, they had to deal with the prejudice, segregation, and open violence of the towns they were stationed in as well as their fellow soldiers.

Despite many obstacles, Adams and her troops succeeded in fulfilling their vital assignments to keep the mail moving and morale up; they experienced a whole new world in England, seeing a place where they were welcomed freely into homes and businesses without encountering the brutal prejudice and segregation of America, and met many obstacles with dignity and determination.

Farrell carefully documents the stories of these brave women with original documents and quotes and her powerful prose. She follows up the story with an author's note talking about how the world opened up for many white women after World War II - but not for black women. She discusses the long-range effect of the black women in the army and their struggle for dignity and equality and the role of black women in the military today. A glossary, notes, bibliography, credits, and index are also included.

Verdict: A powerful and important work, I strongly urge librarians to buy this and include it in their middle grade and/or teen nonfiction sections, recommending it to readers who are interested in World War II so they get a full and complete picture. As young readers are starting to read more critically, it's vital that they see a more nuanced picture of the world events and history and this book is an excellent addition to WWII history sections. Strongly recommended.

Revisited: Still a powerful and strongly recommended addition to any middle grade or young adult section on WWII history.

ISBN: 9781419731600; Published January 2019 by Harry N. Abrams; ARC provided by publisher; Purchased for the library

In short, I am busy: Art Workshop: 3-D Paper Collage

Supplies

• 8x12 white construction paper, cut into halves
• Paint cups (tempera and biocolor) and brushes
• Paper towels, heat tool
• Cardboard (squares left from a different program)
• Scissors, glue
• Aprons

Resources
I adapted this from Art Workshop for Children by Barbara Rucci

How it works

• Show kids how to fan fold the paper, encourage them to paint lightly. Blot dry with paper towels or use the heat tool (it's basically an extra hot hair-dryer).
• When their pieces are dry, they can glue them to the cardboard to create collages

Evaluation

RA RA Read: Wimpy Kids and Notebook Novels

Love them or hate them, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is still going strong. Interest sometimes dies down for a while, but then they get going again. I am, personally, not a fan - as I tell kids, if Greg came into my library I'd probably kick him out. Now Big Nate is different - he's kind of a jerk too, especially towards girls, but he has no sycophantic fans and frequently experiences consequences for his behavior. While there have been a few more read-alikes featuring girls, there is a serious lack of kids of color in this genre.

Wimpy Kid and similar books are sometimes called "notebook novels". They are often written in diary or journal format and include comic panels and/or illustrations, usually in a style that looks hand-drawn. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney is still being published and I regularly replace the titles, since the paper over board format does not stand up to the heavy usage. On the other hand, they're cheaper than a regular hardback so.... I purchase them with library binding when available.

The most popular read-alikes for Wimpy Kid at my library are:

• Dork Diaries by Renee Russell
• The main character is a girl, but both girls and boys read this series avidly
• Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce
• Includes both comic strip collections and notebook novels. Parents who dislike the attitudes in Wimpy Kid will usually prefer Big Nate.

Notebook novel series (middle grade)

• Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger
• Qwikpick papers by Tom Angleberger
• Kate the Great by Suzy Becker
• Charlie Joe Jackson by Tommy Greenwald (weeded)
• Babymouse: Tales from the locker by Jennifer Holm
• Popularity Papers by Amy Ignatow
• Clueless McGee by Jeff Mack (out of print)
• Middle School by James Patterson
• Classroom by Robin Mellom
• Timmy Failure by Stephen Pastis
• My life as a... by Janet Tashjian
• Doodlebug by Karen Young

Notebook novel series (younger middle grade)

• Ellie McDoodle by Ruth Barshaw
• Stick Dog by Tom Watson
• Hank Zipzer by Henry Winkler
• Bea Garcia by Deborah Zemke

Graphic novels

• Amelia Rules by Jimmy Gownley
• Middle School is worse than meatloaf by Jennifer Holm
• Babymouse by Jennifer Holm
• Sunny Side Up by Jennifer Holm
• Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
• Smile (and sequels) by Raina Telgemeier

Novels with a wimpy sense of humor and minimal or no illustrations

• Pickle by Kimberley Baker
• Dear Dumb Diary by Jim Benton
• Beanboy by Lisa Harkrader
• Slacker by Gordon Korman
• Jeremy Bender vs. the Cupcake Cadets by Eric Luper
• Max Quigley, technically not a bully by James Roy
• Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze by Alan Silberberg
• Heartbreak Messenger by Alexander Vance
• Nerd Camp (and sequel) by Elissa Weissman

More titles not owned by my library

• Galactic hot dogs by Max Brallier
• Terrible two by Mac Barnett
• Always Abigail by Nancy Cavanaugh

Bookmark in Publisher format

In short, I am busy: We Explore Artist Eric Carle

Art Project Part 1: Painting

The kids start by painting. The idea is to cover their paper with paint, not necessarily draw specific items. Ideally it should be thinly applied. Once they've finished, they leave them to dry and sit down for storytime, if you are not doing it simultaneously. They can make multiple paintings and if you have a parent or aide available, they should go around and blot the paintings with paper towels to make them dry faster.

Supplies

• Paint (red, blue, green) in spill-proof cups
• White construction paper
• Paint brushes, paper towels, aprons Storytime
• I start with the Very Hungry Caterpillar puppet and book. After this interactive story, we read more Eric Carle books. Depending on the audience, I talk about animal sounds, counting, coloring techniques, imagination, texture, the pictures, etc.

Books

• Very Hungry Caterpillar (puppet program)
• The Very Busy Spider
• 1, 2, 3 To the zoo
• The artist who painted a blue horse
• Hello Red Fox (school age)

Art Project Part 2: Collage
The kids cut up their paintings to make collages. More paper towels may be needed to blot wet paintings and you may need to clean the scissors afterwards.

Supplies

• Cardstock or thin cardboard for the bases
• Scissors
• Glue or glue sticks
• Paper towels

Evaluation

Amy Wu and the warm welcome by Kat Zhang, illustrated by Charlene Chua

 Amy Wu is a delightful character and in her previous adventures has tackled perfectionism and dumplings and finding her own identity as an Asian-American child. In her latest book, she welcomes a new friend to school and learns that being welcoming can mean different things.

Amy Wu's intimate classroom of five children is expanded to include a sixth when her teacher introduces Lin, a recent immigrant from China. Amy and the other children welcome him, but he doesn't say a single word all day long; not responding to Amy's invitation to her dumpling party, joining in their imaginative play, or speaking up at show-and-tell. But Amy notices that when his family picks him up he becomes animated, chattering in his native language to his sister and father.

With the help of her family, Amy sets in motion a plan to really welcome Lin at her dumpling party, creating a banner with Chinese words and practicing them with her grandmother's help. But even with practice, when everyone arrives she just can't bring herself to say the words out loud. She joins in the dumpling party and Lin's quiet kindness encourages her until, at the end of the party, she is ready to present her banner and say "huan ying ni" and make Lin welcome in his own language.

A final spread shows Lin happily joining his new classmates in their game, followed by an activity designed to welcome new students to school or your home. An author note talks about her experience as a bilingual child and the difference it makes to welcome people in their own culture and language.

Chua's bright and colorful pictures show cheerful Amy, her diverse classmates, including different skin tones and a child wearing a hearing aid, and Amy's cartoon-cute white kitten. I didn't like this title quite as much as the two previous titles, both of which I think translate more easily to classroom or library activities, creating your own dumplings and/or dragons, but the welcome banner is a nice idea. I think this one would work well with a little more gatekeeping to guide kids into thinking about their experiences and other's feelings in moving to a new place, especially with a different language.

Verdict: I wouldn't purchase this title on its own, but make sure you have all three and recommend them to classroom teachers to initiate simple discussions on diversity and social-emotional learning for younger children.

ISBN: 9781534497351; Published May 2022 by Simon & Schuster; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

What's cooking in Flowerville? Recipes from balconies, rooftops, and gardens by Felicita Sala

 This combination of story and recipes is similar to Prestel's title from 2021, Pie for Breakfast. Sala's green and brown-toned watercolors take readers to the container gardens, yards, and rooftops of Flowerville with corresponding recipes for the produce the people are growing and the seasons. I will freely admit that I would probably never eat anything included in this book, but I do enjoy reading the recipes and admiring the pictures of fruits, vegetables and gardens.

In spring, a diverse group of adults and children gather in a community garden and a brown-skinned, barefoot child is shown harvesting asparagus, along with a recipe for asparagus quiche. Jumping forward to July, a trailer camp with bare, dry ground is shown - but lush vines of cucumbers in containers with a recipe for tzatzika. In September, we go indoors to where a curly-headed parent with scruffy chin and a Pink Floyd shirt is making pear and ricotta pancakes for their two tousle-headed children. In January an elderly white couple use the herbs and lemons from their balcony garden to make lemony bean dip. In March the year has come full circle and two children, one white, one with darker skin, visit their white-haired grandfather and make herb falafel with tahini sauce from the forest of indoors herbs, waiting for the end of the rainy season so they can go outdoors and camp.

Flowerville is show next as a sea of white and brown rooftops, with the pink of blossoming trees popping up between the houses, then a green park, covered with families picnicking and playing. Final spreads include "gardening actions" showing people from the book harvesting, watering, sharing, and recycling. There is a page of illustrations of seeds, a page of gardening tools, and a lovely spread of seasonal fruits and vegetables.

One of the garden actions includes a boy peeing into a watering can, with the caption "Peeing in your gardening can helps the soil!" which is, actually, true but I can see quite a bit of giggling over it. You have been warned.

Most of the families I know interested in gardening, in my small, Midwestern town, tend more towards canning and preserving their produce - the setting for the story is not clear, but from the lack of snow it must be a fairly temperate climate, probably France since the book was translated from the French. The recipes are also a little more involved than most would be interested in trying, and I have a hard time seeing kids getting excited about, say, "butternut squash cake."

However, I do see an audience for this that would enjoy exploring seasonal gardening, new recipes, and even if they don't actually cook, just appreciating Felicita Sala's art and the descriptions of the seasons, produce, and recipes.

Verdict: A fun, diverse addition, although not a necessary purchase.

ISBN: 9783791375182; English edition published April 2022 by Prestel; Review copy provided by publisher

This week at the library

Houseplants... they do not always live happily in my house

Programs

• Paws to Read
• Aquanauts
• Family Storytime (2 sessions)
• Art Workshop (after school visit)
• Lapsit
• Bookaneers
• Literacy Night (school collaboration)
• Book-a-Librarian sewing
• Teen Advisory Board

Projects

• Monthly report
• Managers' meeting
• Hope Squad meeting
• Summer reading planning meeting
• Picture book collection development - still working on the FUN neighborhood
• Updated reader's advisory bookmarks

Classic Rereads: The Saucepan Journey by Edith Unnerstad, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin

I have searched for many years for the Peep-Larssons Go Sailing by Edith Unnerstad. Recommended by Noel Perrin as one of those rare, but exquisite books, I've never quite managed to get my hands on a copy. But I finally decided to read another in the series, The Saucepan Journey, and located a copy via inter-library loan. It turned out to be the first in the series!

The Larssons are poor. They have so many children there's scarcely room to turn around in their tiny apartment, let alone sleep. When their father's rich half-brother dies and leaves them only two draft horses and drays, Mrs. Larsson comes up with a novel idea - Mr. Larsson, who is an inventor when he's not a traveling salesman, will turn the wagons into caravans and they will spend the summer touring the countryside. Where does the Peep come in? Well, Mr. Larsson has designed a marvelous saucepan, and they will finance their journey by selling it along the way.

It's a wonderful summer. They meet a down-on-his-luck hot dog man, an eccentric old woman, a man who might be a murderer. They discover thieves, wonderful lakes, and fascinating Swedish towns.

Who will read this? Families who enjoy classic family stories such as Taylor's All of a Kind Family, Sidney's Five little Peppers, Eleanor Estes, and Streatfeild's Magic Summer will love this. It won't appeal to kids who are used to the more fast-paced adventures of contemporary children's literature and media, but you might be surprised how many kids are willing to relax and try something different. It's a perfect family summer read, and may be especially appreciated by families who struggle economically or who want their children to be familiar with a wide range of people in different walks of life.

Bring it back? For my library, it would be a great fit. Even if you're not fascinated by Scandinavian children's literature, as am I, this is a wonderfully nostalgic summer read. While it lacks racial diversity, not surprising for the time period and location, it portrays a family that is poor in economic resources but rich in imagination, ingenuity, and love. The original illustrations are colorful and appealing and it's a strong family story that will appeal to readers who like this type of lazy summer reads.

Availability? It's fairly common in smaller libraries - worldcat lists multiple holdings. Used copies also proliferate online for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, it was last reprinted in the 60s so you're unlikely to find a shiny new copy that will stand out on the shelf.

In short, I am busy: Autumn storytime

 

Rhymes, songs, and movement

• Baby bear counts one (felt numbers)
• Squeaky door by McDonald (storytelling)
• Fall is not easy by Marty Kelley
• Apples in a basket
• Leaf rhymes
• Apple rhymes
• Leaf streamers
• Die cut paper leaves, ribbons, popsicle sticks
  

Vocabulary and concepts

• seasonal changes, autumn, fall
• hibernation, migration
• counting

Toddler listeners (*nonfiction)

• Kitten's Autumn by Eugenie Fernandes (laminated big book version)
• Time to sleep by Denise Fleming
• Tap the magic tree by Christie Matheson

Preschool listeners (*nonfiction)

• *Every Autumn comes the bear by Jim Arnosky
• *Rainy, Sunny, Blowy, Snowy by Jane Brocket
• Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert
• *Hush up and hibernate by Sandra Markle
• *Snuggle down deep by Diane Ohanesian
• *Snack snooze skedaddle by Laura Purdie Salas

School-age stories (*nonfiction)

• Winter is coming by Tony Johnston
• Round Robin by Jack Kent
• Goodbye summer, hello autumn by Kenard Pak
• Those darn squirrels by Adam Rubin

In short, I am busy: Chomp! Storytime

 

Rhymes, songs, and movement

• 5 fat peas
• 5 hungry ants
• Jumping beans
• These and more are available online
• Craft: Cardboard circles to decorate as cookies, pancakes, etc.

Vocabulary and concepts

• Counting and substraction
• Movement and regulation (wait to jump)
• Rhyming sounds and rhythms

Toddler listeners (*Nonfiction)

• Shake the tree by Silvia Borando
• Monsters don't eat broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks
• Cow loves cookies by Karma Wilson

Preschool listeners (*Nonfiction)

• Poor little guy by Elanna Allen
• One day in the eucalyptus eucalyptus tree by Daniel Bernstrom
• Barnacle is bored by Jonathan Fenske
• Plankton is pushy by Jonathan Fenske
• Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic

School-age stories (*Nonfiction)

• Woodpecker wants a waffle by Steve Breen
• A Hungry Lion by Lucy Ruth Cummins
• Senorita Gordita by Helen Ketteman
• I will not eat you by Adam Lehrhaupt
• *My awesome summer by P. Mantis by Paul Meisel
• Wild boars cook by Meg Rosoff
• Little Red and the very hungry lion by Alex T. Smith

In short, I am busy: Animals in the snow storytime

 

Rhymes, songs, and movement

• 5 little penguins
• Funny little snowman
• Hibernating bear
• I am Mrs. Penguin
• I am Mrs. Polar Bear
• These and more are available online

Vocabulary and concepts

• Hibernation, migration, torpor
• Rhythm
• Counting

Toddler listeners (*Nonfiction)

• Bunny slopes by Claudia Rueda

Preschool listeners (*Nonfiction)

• Sleepover with Beatrice and Bear by Monica Carnesi
• *Bear report by Thyra Heder
• *Little fox in the snow by Jonathan London
• *Over and under the snow by Kate Messner
• *Best in snow by April Pulley Sayre
• *Under the snow by Melissa Stewart

School-Age stories (*Nonfiction)

• Rabbit's snow dance by Joseph Bruchac
• Loud winter's nap by Katy Hudson
• Mina's white canvas by Hyeon-Ju Lee

A dragon used to live here by Annette LeBlanc Cate

It's been almost ten years since Annette LeBlanc Cate wrote and illustrated the informative and hilarious Look-up! Bird-watching in your own backyard. It's turned out to be an enduring classic for my library, included in all our bird-watching kits and regularly replaced as it's loved to pieces. I was greatly interested when I saw she had a new title coming out but I didn't know quite what to expect; with the prolific output expected of most authors today, they rarely step outside their specific genre or audience, so I was intrigued at the idea of a middle grade fantasy.

Thomas and Emily are playing around the castle while their mother is at yet another conference, when they lose an arrow and encounter a crabby, mysterious woman who just happens to let it slip that she used to know their mother... back before the dragon lived in the castle. A dragon?! Determined to hear the rest of the story, the children return again and again, making friends with feisty, grouchy Meg and her small group of quirky scribes, sharing treats, improving their penmanship, and above all listening to Meg's stories.

Meg weaves a fascinating story of a fire-breathing dragon, elves, trolls, and their mother as a young girl. Thomas and Emily are at first skeptical, finding it hard to reconcile their staid, sensible mother with the young Catherine of Meg's stories, but Emily soon believes wholeheartedly in Meg's tales, while even Thomas is drawn into the depiction of his father's heroic actions as a knight. As they listen to the story, they also pick up hints about the broken friendship between Meg and their mother, and Emily especially is determined to reunite the two friends and bring Meg back into the central life of the castle.

The story is told with a tongue-in-cheek humor, so while Emily and Thomas have archery and tapestry lessons, Thomas plans to be a knight and Meg talks about grinding rocks to make the paints for her art, Emily also yearns to wear a pointy "damsel hat" and they don Victorian-style swimsuits for a swim in the moat. Thomas hits a lot of stereotypical notes, as he decries the drawing of flowers as unfit for a knight-to-be and insists on the knights battling the dragon, but under Meg's crotchety tutelage finally admits his love of drawing a wide variety of things, including flowers. The women's long-ago quarrel hinges on a tennis game and Meg scolds Thomas for being unwilling to learn to sew, since as a knight "I'm sure there will be a lot of upkeep."

Cate's cartoons are strongly in evidence, with copious black and white illustrations sprinkled throughout the book, showing skinny-legged Thomas and Emily, their mother as a young damsel, and even the naughty dragon, breathing puffs of smoke across the pages.

The publisher proclaims this as a "perfect family read" and while I generally don't pay much attention to publisher blurbs I have to admit that this fits this quirky story perfectly. Meg's rambling story-within-a-story will make readers chuckle as she keeps coming up with new twists and turns and intrigue younger listeners as they join Thomas and Emily in trying to decide which parts of the story are true and which are Meg's inventions. The stakes are low, the jokes are witty, and this is a cozy tale for a family to enjoy together before bedtime.

Verdict: This will be perfect for those voracious readers who are too young or sensitive to tackle the more serious middle grade fantasies and will also make a great read-aloud. If you have an audience of these strong younger readers and a culture of reading aloud, this will be a good fit for your library collection.

ISBN: 9781536204513; Published April 2022 by Candlewick; Galley provided by publisher; Purchased for the library

Jackie and the Mona Lisa by Debbie Robin Murphy, illustrated by Jen Bricking

 Cheerful and colorful pictures tell the story of First Lady Jackie Kennedy and her love of art, which inspired her to bring a wide variety of artistic experiences to the White House and finally the most famous painting in the world - the Mona Lisa. After negotiations with the French government, she convinced them to lend the Mona Lisa to the National Gallery of Art in Washington D. C. and then the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. In both places, floods of people gathered to see the famous picture and, as Jackie Kennedy had hoped, stayed to appreciate the beautiful art in the museums. An afterword talks about Jackie Kennedy's contributions to the art world and the history of the Mona Lisa.

The story is briefly and concisely told, starting with Jackie Kennedy's restoration of the White House and ending with her efforts to bring the arts to the American people. Jackie is shown as a youthful, smiling figure with her signature hair style and style of dress. The artists portrayed as visiting the White House are a diverse group, including a ballet troupe with a dark-skinned ballerina, and sprinkling many people of color among the museum and White House visitors.

Frankly, this picture book represents many of the issues I see with picture book biographies and history. It's obviously intended for a young audience and it's not realistic to include the entire, complex context of the time period in a picture book. I can understand that - I wouldn't expect it to talk about Kennedy's love affairs or delve deeply into the current turmoil of the Civil Rights era. But the consistent emphasis on Jackie Kennedy's desire to bring art to "all people" and the portrayal of diverse audiences and artists paints a false picture of the time period. There are no sources or references, but based on the research I did myself, there simply weren't any ballet troupes featuring a dark-skinned ballerina that would have visited the White House at this time. I found what I believe to be the reference picture, from a young artists series of events at the White House, and the ballerinas shown are all white - moreover, based on titles like Misty Copeland's Black Ballerinas, a ballerina with skin that dark did not exist at the time. I'm also skeptical of the art portraying Black people freely mixing with white people at the museum, in the White House, and as performers. The Civil Rights Act was several years in the future and Washington D. C. has a long and troubled history of segregation and prejudice. Could these pictures be accurate? It's possible. I don't know enough about the time period to know. But with no sources or identification of the artists pictured and no context or photographs of actual museum audiences, it's impossible to tell.

I think that if kids are too young to be taught the basics of the darker side of history, they aren't ready to learn about history period. In my opinion, it gives them a false foundation to pick out the lighter aspects and introduce kids to history without giving them the context for events and people. I contrast this title with Parks for the People, which also focuses on a public figure who wanted to benefit all people but does not gloss over the troublesome aspects of Olmsted's work, which involved displacing poor, Native, and Black people.

Verdict: If you have an audience for fluffy, feel-good biographies or want some supplemental material for the time period, this could fill that need, but in my opinion it should not stand alone and the lack of sources and misleading artwork make it a title I would be reluctant to purchase or add to our collection.

ISBN: 9781534111172; Published March 2022 by Sleeping Bear Press; Unsolicited review copy from publisher

Lost and Found by Kate Banks, illustrated by Galia Bernstein

 I am a huge fan of Galia Bernstein's art (and her picture books) some of my favorites being I Am a Cat and her new collaboration with Jo Knowles, Ear Worm, so when I saw she had a new book out with Kate Banks I preordered it for the library right away and was excited to get a review copy as well. Kate Banks is probably best known for the picture books she has written illustrated by Georg Hallensleben including The Bear in the Book and Night Worker but my personal favorite is Noah Builds An Ark, illustrated by John Rocco. Anyways, a new book by these prolific and experienced creators is definitely something to celebrate!

Adorably fluffy critters, framed by lush green leaves, and William Morris-style flowered endpages are a feast to the eyes before the story even starts. (My first thought when I saw the endpages was "I want that on fabric!" and apparently Bernstein does design textiles, so I will be doing some searching...) A bunny and a wood mouse caper across the white space of the first spread, stopping in surprise when they see... a strange thing on the forest floor, a rag doll, shown on the following page. As more and more creatures encounter the rag doll, each compares it to the things they have experienced through sight, taste, smell, touch, and their own likes and dislikes. An irresistibly fluffy squirrel tries to share a nut, to no avail, but when the beaver shows up, they follow his lead and begin a journey through the woods to see where the doll came from, following the tracks of an unknown creature.

They encounter new and sometimes frightening things on their journey out of the forest, but eventually they come to a house and see a familiar figure on a wooden swing - a little girl who looks just like the doll, with brown skin, curly hair, and soft, comfortable clothes. They leave the doll for her, but return the next evening and peek through the window, seeing the girl curled up on her bed reading a story with her doll. Although they have no experience with the things they have seen, heard, smelled, and felt, they all know love when they see it and return happily to their forest.

Banks experience in writing picture books shows in every lovingly-crafted sentence and although it's a little lengthier than many modern picture books, the gentle refrains of the story and the repetition of key sentences make this a perfect storytime choice even for very young listeners. Bernstein's delicate lines show a variety of misleadingly fluffy critters (I mean, I love the fluffy squirrel, but that does not detract from my endless battle with those fluffy-tailed rats!) and her soft greens, browns, and oranges make for a deeply satisfying visual experience.

Verdict: A classic in the making, this is a lovely storytime and individual reading choice and a recommended purchase.

ISBN: 9780358004226; Published February 2022 by Clarion; Purchased for the library; Review copy provided by the publisher