Mindful Nature- Connecting with our Great Green World by Paige Towler and Chris Gaugler - ESSENTIAL

Mindful Nature- Connecting with our Great Green World by Paige Towler, illusterated by Chris Gaugler. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Magination Press, 2025. $32 9781433845185

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Imagine what an animal is doing and feeling. Act like you think they would. Ask yourself questions about their experience and yours. Spending time in nature can improve our health in many ways. 

Children can learn to be mindful in nature as we teach them how to do so. Children will engage with this photo story. This book is a great resource for preschool activity time, thus I included the level of High School in this review. Gaugler formatted the photography and words creatively. The first 2 pages uses personification to grab the child's attention. Then, Towler moves the prose to simile and third person form.  

MOMMAC 

Pet this Book by Jessica Young - ESSENTIAL

Pet this Book by Jessica Young, illustrated by Daniel Wiseman. PICTURE BOOK. Bloomsbury, 2018. $16. 9781681195070

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL. 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Told is bouncy rhyme, this book follows a girl dressed as a veterinarian as she explains how to take care of a series of animals. The cat needs petting, the parrot needs conversing, the dog needs scrubbing and so forth. The narrator invites the reader to preform each of these actions for the animals. The pages are not quite board book thickness, but they have more weight than a normal picture book. 

I don’t think I will ever get tired of this new genre of interactive picture books. It is so engaging for little readers and makes books come alive, which will hopefully create life long readers. On top of this, the book represents children of color, teaches how to be kind to animals and relates that kindness to animals with being kind to each other. A lot of good messages in this book. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Where’s the Bear? by Ingela P. Arrhenius - ESSENTIAL

Where’s the Bear? by Ingela P. Arrhenius. BOARD BOOK. Nosy Crow, 2018. $9. 9781536202519

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL.

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

One page asks the reader where a particular animal is, and the opposite page has a felt flap with the animal behind it. The felt is in different shapes and made with vivid colors. The final page asks where the reader is and has a mirror behind the flap. 

We loved this book. Even as basic as it is, my first grader had fun with it. The art is engaging and the felt shapes are fun. I anticipate that little readers will ask for this book on repeat. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Exotic Fruit by Huy Voun Lee - ESSENTIAL

Exotic Fruit by Huy Voun Lee. BOARD BOOK. Sterling Children’s Books, 2018. $8. 9781454928027

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL.

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

These book covers several exotic fruits with bright illustrations on contrasting backgrounds. For each fruit there is an illustration of the inside and the outside of the fruit, a description of the appearance and a description of the flavor and texture, the country of origin for the fruit, and alternate names. 

I learned about fruit I did not know from this book and my third grade daughter finished the book and wrote down a goal to try to every fruit in the book. My only complaint is that each fruit gets two pages of information, but they are not on one spread - one fruit is on the front and back side of a page. The book even includes tips at the back for how to find some of these lesser know fruits, suggesting you go to a Chinatown market for some. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Dump Truck's Colors by Sherri Duskey Rinker - ESSENTIAL

Rinker, Sherri Duskey Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site: Dump Truck's Colors, illustrated by Ethan Long. BOARD BOOK. Chronicle Books, 2018. $7. 9781452153209.

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

As Dump Truck goes about his day at work, the colors around get noted and highlighted--the blue skies, the gray smoke, the green pipes and more.

I really enjoyed this little board book. The text is written in thyme and the color words are highlighted in their color. The illustrations are very cheerful and fun, and I think this will be a big hit with young readers.

Reviewer: TC

Big Brother Peanut Butter by Terry Border - ESSENTIAL

Big Brother Peanut Butter by Terry Border.  PICTURE BOOK. Philomel (Penguin), 2018. $18.  9781524740061

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Peanut Butter is about to become a big brother, so he visits his friends to find out how be a great older sibling like they are.  It’s his best friend Jelly who gives him the final clue he needs before he becomes the proud older brother to an entire loaf!

I am a Border worshipper. His wit and creativity are epic. I need every one of this series and I would be a happy camper.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Now You Know How It Works by Valorie Fisher - ESSENTIAL

Now You Know How It Works by Valorie Fisher.  PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION.  Orchard (Scholastic), 2018.  $18. 9781338215458

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Genius!  Fisher has taken many common objects that kids are familiar with and add explanations and illustrations to explain what the item is made of (many of them) and how they work.  A great book about mechanics and physics and will fan many curious minds.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Food Hide and Sneak by Bastien Contraire - ESSENTIAL

Food Hide and Sneak by Bastien Contraire. BOARD BOOK. Phaidon, 2018. $10. 9780714877235

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K – ESSENTIAL.  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Each page is simply illustrated in pink and green shades and contains two rows of images, one of which is not like the others.  The catch is that the odd item out looks like the others. 

This book is very fun to look at. My favorite page is full of cans and jars of food plus a lighthouse, which really does blend in. There are no words after the first page and this will appeal to very young readers.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Why the Face? by Jean Jullien - ESSENTIAL

Why the Face? by Jean Jullien. BOARD BOOK. Phaidon, 2018. $15. 9780714877198

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K – ESSENTIAL.  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

One page asks, “Why the face?” and the opposing page has an illustration with someone making a dramatic face. When you lift the flap with the face on it you see what caused the face. 

This book is so much fun. It’s fun to guess what the face is for and it’s funny when you learn whats behind the flap. My favorite is a dazed face with technology behind the flap.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

The Dress and the Girl by Camille Andros - ESSENTIAL

The Dress and the Girl by Camille Andros, illustrated by Julie Morstad. PICTURE BOOK. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2018. $18. 9781419731617

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A girl loves wearing the dress her mom made to do all the simple things that make up her life, and yet her and her dress long for something extraordinary. Then one day they leave their home to move to America and the dress is lost in a trunk. The trunk with the dress travels the world and the girl grows up and has a girl of her own. One day they meet again through the window of a second hand shop. 

The illustrations in this book are gorgeous and behind the story of the dress is the story of leaving one’s country for another and finding the things that matter. This is a thoughtful and well composed book that reads a bit like poetry. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Star Wars Block by Peskimo - ESSENTIAL

Star Wars Block: Over 100 Words Every Fan Should Know, illustrations by Peskimo.  BOARD BOOK.  Abrams Appleseed, 2018.  $17. 9781419728310

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, GIFT - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Every Star Wars fan that has a baby or knows someone who is having a baby will will automatically be drawn to this adorable “little” book (2” at the spine).  The illustrations by the Peskimo husband-wife team are spot–on. They are arranged in chronological order from Episode 1 thru Episode 7.  I demand an update as soon as Episode 9 is out! Of course, Star Wars fans will always argue – this time they can argue over the value of each word and its relative importance – I know my husband and I have had our own discussions (ie, Rey deserves her own page and MUCH earlier!)

Cindy, Middle School Librarian. MLS

Step by Step by Loreen Leedy - ESSENTIAL

Step by Step by Loreen Leedy. PICTURE BOOK. Holiday House, 2018. $18. 9780823439393

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This book uses the tracks of animals to create a guessing game of a text. One page asks which animal makes the tracks illustrated and the next page answers. There is a guide at the end of the book that explains more about each animals’ tracks. 

I don’t find the illustrations of this text particularly crafty, but there is a lot of educational value in this fun book. This could be used in a nature unit or even as a craft project involving recreating track patterns.   

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Hide by Steve Henry - ESSENTIAL

Hide by Steve Henry. PICTURE BOOK/EARLY READER. Holiday House, 2018. $15. 9780823437733

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Pat, a fish, and Mike, an elephant, are on a boat when Pat jumps in and swims after other fish. Pat is taken by a shark and Mike rescues him. Only now, Mike can’t get to the top of the water so the fish help him. 

This is a great book full of kindergarten sight words. The story is easy to follow which is important when a reader is hyper-focused on sounding out words. The illustrations do not distract from the words, but are good aids for understanding. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

What’s Your Favorite Color by Eric Carle and Friends - ESSENTIAL

What’s Your Favorite Color by Eric Carle and Friends. BOARD BOOK. Godwin Books (Henry Holt and Company), 2017. $9. 9781250184207

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In this book, different picture book illustrators describe their favorite color and pair it will an illustration of their own creation. The illustration is dominated by the color they chose as their favorite.There are fifteen colors and illustrations. 

I love the concept behind this book of having different illustration styles and different claims on a favorite color. It was be fun to use in a lesson on the parts of book, specifically talking about the illustrator. It could also be used in a colors unit or a favorite things unit. It would be an easy writing prompt to have students follow the formate of the book by picking a favorite color, writing why it is their favorite color, and drawing a picture. 

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos - ESSENTIAL

Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos, illustrated by Joy Ang.  BOARD BOOK Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. $13  9781328910486  

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K -ESSENTIAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  

Baby Billy is born with a mustache.  A nurse tells Billy’s parents that they will have to wait to see if it’s a good guy mustache or a bad guy mustache, and at first it is obvious Billy is a good guy.  One day however, Billy’s mustache curls up on the ends and he starts to act bad.  When he is thrown into baby jail (in his crib), her starts to realize his wrongs and mend his ways.  His father acknowledges that everyone has bad mustache days and Billy is able to have a playdate with his neighbor (a little boy with a beard).  

This book is adorable.  The criminal acts that Billy commits are hilarious, and the illustrations are funny.  I love the message that sometimes we have a bad day, but everyone gets another chance.  This is a must read!  

C. Peterson

Pretty Kitty by Karen Beaumont - ESSENTIAL

Pretty Kitty by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by Stephanie Laberts.  PICTURE BOOK.  Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2018.  $ 18. 9780805092325

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

When a kitty cat appears on his door step, an old man resists letting it in – and every subsequent cat that appears.  

The predictive text, the call and repeat, and those dang adorable kittens all combine for a fun read aloud.  Cat books are much harder to find than dog books, so it is a wise choice to buy another!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian

Unstinky by Andy Rash - ESSENTIAL

Unstinky by Andy Rash. PICTURE BOOK.  Arthur A. Levine (Scholastic), 2018.  $17.  9780439368803

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Bud the Stinkbug is not very stinky.  No matter what he tries, his stinks keep coming out smelling like flowers.  He tires so many different ways to be a really stinky bug.  But maybe instead of changing his stink Bud instead needs a change of venue!

So cute!  In a stinky way, of course.  Weird to say, but I think the latest crop of fart books are on the spot!  I am a big fan of Bud the Stinkbug!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian

The World’s Biggest Fart by Rafael Ordonez - ESSENTIAL

The World’s Biggest Fart by Rafael Ordonez, illustrated by Laure Du Fay.  PICTURE BOOK.  Nube Ocho, 2018.  $17. 9788494597145

BUYING  ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

After the elephant hears the hippo fart, the animals decide to have a farting contest – as soon as they can stop laughing, that is.  Animals gather from far and wide to participate, but the final winner is a surprise to everyone!

Add this right next to The Gas We Pass by Shinto Cho as a hilarious book about farting.  While I don’t always love fart books, or fart jokes, I can’t resist this funny, funny book!  Any audience you read this to will roll on the floor with laughter.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian

Whale in a Fishbowl by Troy Howell - ESSENTIAL

Whale in a Fishbowl by Troy Howell, illustrated by Richard Jones. PICTURE BOOK. Schwartz & Wade Books (Random House), 2018. $18. 9781524715182.

BUYING ADVISORY: PRE-K, EL(K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Wednesday the Whale lives in a fishbowl in the middle of a city. Its the only place she has ever known and while life is fine, she occasionally catches sight of a bit of blue when she leaps high out of her fishbowl. The blue draws her in a way she can't explain. With the encouragement of a little girl, Wednesday finally leaps high enough to find her way out to sea and a home where she really belongs.

I really loved this story. Its simple, heartwarming, and has a beautiful ending. The illustrations--and especially the blue grey color palate--have a great artistic flair but perhaps will not be immediately appealing to young audiences. I imagine there are a lot of ways to use this book--the animal rights idea of whales belonging in the sea, the impact of one child on somebody's life, Wednesday taking charge and making a difference in her own life, etc. I also think it could be a great pick as a gift book to adults in your life who understand homesickness to any degree. It is an overall delightful book and one I will recommend highly to family and friends.

Reviewer: TC

Huggy the Python Hugs Too Hard by Ame Dyckman - ESSENTIAL

Huggy the Python Hugs Too Hard by Ame Dyckman, BOARD BOOK Little Simon (Simon and Schuster), 2018. $9.  978-1-534-41080-0

BUYING ADVISORY:  PRE-K ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Huggy the Python breaks the things he loves the most, because he hugs too hard. Balloons, ice cream . . . he also loves fuzzy little dogs. Wait, Huggy will need your help to show him how nicely and soft you can hug the dog.

 Oh my goodness, the facial expressions on Huggy are the best! I can't stop handing this to people (even adults) to get their reactions. This is so cute, and so much fun.

Lisa Librarian