Ten-Word Tiny Tales to Inspire and Unsettle by Joesph Coelho and 21 artist friends - OPTIONAL

Ten-Word Tiny Tales to Inspire and Unsettle by Joesph Coelho and 21 artist friends. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2023. $19. 9781536231359

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Coelho has created 21 stories, each told in only ten words, each also illustrated by a different illustrator. Many of the illustrations speak to a young audience, but many of the tales have a macabre twist to the words. I’m going to hand this off to my 7th grade ELA teachers to get their students to weigh in with their opinion. I’m not completely sold on the idea. I promise to update the review once the students have spoken!

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS https://www.kingsenglish.com/book/9781536231359

The Real Dada Mother Goose Jon Scieszka and Julia Rothman - ESSENTIAL

The Real Dada Mother Goose: a treasury of complete nonsense by Jon Scieszka and Julia Rothman. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2022. 9780763694340

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Scieszka takes 6 classic nursery rhymes and messes each them up in 6 totally unique, mostly hilarious ways. Not only a great way to teach nursery rhymes to a new generation, but the clever twists on each rhyme will ignite imaginations. I love that at the end Scieszka encourages readers to take their own nursery rhymes and twist them in new ways. Includes back matter explaining twist, such as Esperanto, that readers may not be familiar with.

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

Arthur Who Wrote Sherlock by Linda Bailey and Isabelle Follath - ADVISABLE

Arthur Who Wrote Sherlock by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Isabelle Follath. PICTURE BOOK, BIOGRAPHY Tundra/PengRanCanada. 2022. $19. 9780735269255 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Even as a young boy, Arthur loved listening to stories; he wrote one himself when he was 6! His family struggled, moving often. At age 9, Arthur was sent away to boarding school (paid for by his uncles), where he delights the other boys with his stories. By his late teens, he's secured a position as assistant to a clever doctor. He works his way through medical school, taking different jobs when he needs to earn money. Finally becoming a doctor, Arthur has a lot of time on his hands waiting for patients so he writes. Eventually, his stories about Sherlock Holmes catch on, but they become too popular. Arthur must kill off his detective 

A nice biography with darling illustrations. I loved that the biography alluded to the source of some of the plot lines of Sherlock Holmes Mysteries.  However, to have a biography of a person who lived more than 100 years ago told in present tense felt odd. Even as the author wrapped up Doyle's personal life, it sounded like he was introducing a speaker. I appreciated the author's note which filled in some of the loose ends, and source materials. 

Lisa Librarian

Bearnard Writes a Book by Deborah Underwood and Misa Saburi - ADVISABLE

Bearnard Writes a Book by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Misa Saburi. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2022. $19. 9781250261458 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Now that Bearnard has his own book, he wants his BFF Gertie to have a book too. He needs some help though, so he follows the map of Storybook Land thru the library for research - Character City, Setting Village, Problem Plaza. With a stop at The Writer’s Room, Bearnard thinks he might be done, but realizes his story is short and boring. Luckily, he can REVISE! 

What a cute look at the story-writing process! I would even read this to any level that teaches Creative Writing. 

 Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

A Poem is a Firefly by Charles Ghigna and Michelle Hazelwood Hyde - ESSENTIAL

 A Poem is a Firefly by Charles Ghigna, illustrated by Michelle Hazelwood Hyde. PICTURE BOOK. Schiffer Kids (Schiffer Publishing Ltd), 2018. $17. 9780764361081 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Join a host of woodland creatures as they explore what makes a poem. Each creature offers up what they see a poem is, although, in the end, the reader comes to understand that a poem can be all these things and more. 

This short and sweet picture book is chock full of metaphors of what poems are as a bear walks in the woods. I loved it. It simultaneously charmed me and made me think about the nature of poetry. It would be a great text to use in a high school ELA class when talking about poetry, and obviously with younger grades as well. 

BookswithBeddes 

The Invisible Alphabet by Joshua David Stein and Ron Barrett - ESSENTIAL

The Invisible Alphabet by Joshua David Stein, illustrated by Ron Barrett. Penguin, 2020. $18. 9780593222775 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Gone, clear, disappeared – an ode to many ways that something is not there. 

Stein has a deft collaborator in the illustrator of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs for his book about many words and situations that can describe something that is not there. I would to share this with almost any age of reader or writer – if only high schools would embrace picture books more frequently! 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

How to make a Book (About My Dog) by Chris Barton and Sarah Horne - ESSENTIAL

 

How to make a Book (About My Dog) by Chris Barton, illustrated by Sarah Horne. PICTURE BOOK. Millbrook Press (Lerner), 2021. $20. 9781541581289 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Chris Barton (and the whole publishing team) gives us a behind the scenes look at what it take to publish a book – this one about his dog, Ernie. With his usual wit and the support dynamic of Horne’s illustrations, we a easily understandable book, that is also a lot of fun. I would use this in any school that has a creative writing class. Truly one to share with everyone! 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

What is Poetry? by Michael Rosen - OPTIONAL

What is Poetry? The Essential Guide to Reading and Writing Poems by Michael Rosen, 186 pages. NON-FICTION. Candlewick Press, 2016. $15.99

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Rosen offers tips and tricks for reading and writing poems based on his experience in doing both. I enjoyed reading Rosen’s enthusiasm for poetry in these pages, and the new ideas have given my mind lots of new poetry techniques to try myself. While this may not be page-turner, this book is full of good information that I’m happy to have read.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Responsive Literacy: A Comprehensive Framework - ESSENTIAL

Responsive Literacy: A Comprehensive Framework by Patricia L. Scharer, Editor. 379 pages. Scholastic, 2018.  $53.  9781338245622

BUYING RECOMMENDATION: ADULTS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Responsive Learning is an almost monolithic resource for an elementary teacher working on creating a nurturing atmosphere for reading comprehension and writing.  I can see this being used in university level courses as a text or as a long-term professional development text for working professionals.  The information is both critical and also compelling for any elementary teacher who wants to develop lifelong readers.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Great Race: Story of the Chinese Zodiac by Christopher Corr - ADVISABLE

The Great Race: Story of the Chinese Zodiac by Christopher Corr. PICTURE BOOK. Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Quarto Group), 2018. $18. 9781786030658

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Once upon a time the Emperor of China wanted to better organize how time was tracked. He announced a race to cross the great river; the first twelve animals to cross would have a year named after them. Starting with the rat and ending with the pig, twelve animals cross the river and thus the Chinese zodiac is established. 

This is a straightforward retelling of the Chinese zodiac story, accompanied with colorful, stylized illustrations. The book cover is bright and will likely attract attention from kids, but I don't think many will really appreciate the book on its own. I do think this would be a great selection for teachers to use in a folktale or storytelling unit, or even for social studies teachers to use when teaching about ancient China.

Reviewer: TC

A Lullaby of Summer Things by Ziarnik and Valentine - ADVISABLE

A Lullaby of Summer Things by Natalie Ziarnik  and Madeline Valentine.  PICTURE BOOK. Schwartz & Wade (Random House), 2018.  $18. 9781101935521

Pre-K, EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE. MS, HS - OPTIONAL

In celebration of family vacation days at the beach – with memories of the little things that made those days so special.  The dusky tinted pages add to the lullaby of evening activities as everyone prepares for bed. 

Parents who grew up with this kind of summer experience will definitely want to buy it for their children. It skillfully evokes the sounds and smells and feels of a day at the beach.  It would be a great way to talk to students about engaging all of the senses in their writing.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian

The Penguin Problem by Oxley and Aronson - ESSENTIAL

Oxley, Jennifer Peg + Cat: The Penguin Problem, with Billy Aronson.  Candlewick, 2016.  $13.

Peg and Cat arrive at the Animal Winter Games just in time to help four penguins with a big problem – because they don’t know over, under, and in-between, they can’t ever finish the course.  Peg and Cat to the rescue!

Oxley and Aronson hit all the right notes again with another problem-solving title.  How can you go wrong?

Pre-K, EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

The Language of Stars by Louise Hawes - ESSENTIAL

Hawes, Louise The Language of Stars, 356 pages.  McElderry (Simon), 2016.  $18.  Language: R (24 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (teen drinking, innuendo); Violence: PG (breaking and entry, set a house on fire).

Sarah used to love hanging out with her very intelligent, funky friends, but when she catches the eye of one of her high school’s Big Men on Campus, her life has become more around of parties and admiring her love of life surfing.  One night, however, the party moves to the secluded home of Rufus Baylor, North Carolina’s native son world-famous poet.  Things get out of hand and kids set the house on fire to stay warm.  As punishment, the kids who are caught must do community service by helping rebuild the poet’s home and also take a summer school class about poetry taught by the famous man himself.  The class rekindles Sarah’s love of language and reignites her desire to be more than what her mother wants her to be and may open her eyes to her main squeeze’s true personality.

Ok – one creepy thing about this book, Sarah keeps referring to Baylor as “my poet” – every time she thinks about him. On the other hand, page 133 describes the class writing a poem together and it is a brilliant description that would make an excellent lesson plan at any school level with a little practice.  I am definitely sharing that part with every Language Arts teacher I know.  This is a great book for girls who like Sarah Dessen, especially with its realistic look at high school romance.

MS – OPTIONAL; HS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

How This Book Was Made by Mac Barnett - ESSENTIAL

Barnett, Mac How This Book Was Made, pictures by Adam Rex.  PICTURE BOOK.  Disney, 2016.  $18.

How does a book get made? The Barnett/Rex super team know all the answers!  In their incredible comedic way, they cover all of the aspects of the process.  I personally love the exchange between author and editor.  I am putting this in my library and will be showing it all of my Language Arts teachers just for that scene.

EL, MS, HS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Will’s Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk by Sutcliffe - ESSENTIAL

Sutcliffe, Jane Will’s Words: How William Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk, illustrated by John Shelley.  PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION.  Charlesbridge, 2016.  $18.  Content:  G.

Sutcliffe tells the story of play-going in Shakespeare’s time, especially goings-on at The Globe Theatre and about Shakespeare’s plays.  She weaves in Will’s own word, including side notes with definitions and origins in his plays.

Any part of this would be a gem to share with theater class, Language Arts and anywhere that Shakespeare or his plays are studied. 

EL, MS, HS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library teacher