No Tooting at Tea by Alastair Heir - OPTIONAL

Heim, Alastair No Tooting at Tea, illustrated by Sara Not. PICTURE BOOK. Clarion Books, 2017. $16.99. 

A young girl is excited to be hosting her friends at a tea party and starts things off by explaining the important rules about manners they will need to follow. But her well-thought lecture keeps getting interrupted by someone/thing 'Tooting!' After her friends plead their innocence, the hostess stalks off only to discover that the tooting culprit was the teakettle itself--announcing that the water was ready for the party. Properly humbled, the party goers reconvene and the tea party goes on in style. 

The best part of this book are the illustrations which are bright and fun and engaging. The story itself is written simply--making it an ideal read aloud--but I overall found the story rather dull and completely predictable. I think there is a small niche of children who are a)interested in tea parties and b)the appropriate age to be amused by the tooting jokes, but otherwise it will not find a wide audience.

EL (K-3)--OPTIONAL. Reviewer: TC

Staying A Hive by Marcie Colleen - ADVISABLE

Colleen, Marcie Staying A Hive (Super Happy Party Bears #3).  144 pages. CHAPTER BOOK.  Imprint (Macmillan), 2017.  $5.99.  Content: Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G  Violence: G.

All the animals in Grumpy Woods are a bit grumpy, except for the Super Happy Party Bears.  They sing and waggle dance whenever they are happy, which is all the time.  When Queen Beetrice and her hive of bees move into Grumpy Woods, the bears are her biggest customers.  But all that sugar puts the bears into early hibernation.  Soon the woods are overflowing with honey.  Can they be woken up by an un-slumber party?

This is the third book in the Super Happy Party Bears series.  The cast of cute, animal characters and bright, colorful illustrations make this an appealing book for young readers.  The author is a former classroom teacher and is currently an educational consultant for the Picture Book Month initiative.  I think that her background helps her create characters and storylines that appeal to the targeted reader.  My eight-year-old son loved this book and has requested the other books in the series. 

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE.  Nancy W.

Willow and the Wedding by Denise Brennan-Nelson - OPTIONAL

Brennan-Nelson, Denise Willow and the Wedding, illustrated by Cyd Moore. PICTURE BOOK. Sleeping Bear Press, 2017. $16.99. 

Willow loves spending time with her Uncle Ash--playing at the park, eating donuts, and even volunteering at the animal shelter. When Ash announces he is getting married to his partner, David, Willow is thrilled and eagerly helps plan the wedding. Even though it has been years since he has danced, Willow helps Ash find the courage to try again; his appearance on the dance floor on wedding day surprises everyone (except Willow!) and helps make it a perfect day all around. 

This is one of those picture books that has an obvious message/lesson to get across to readers--in this case, accepting differences and embracing who you are. I found the length of the text a bit prohibitive for a great read-aloud, and the illustrations are nothing extraordinary. But for those looking for a book about accepting differences--with a huge and obvious emphasis on homosexuality and gay marriage--this is the book for you. There is a need for books like this and Willow is a fine answer. 

EL--OPTIONAL. Reviewer: TC

Super Turbo vs. the Flying Ninja Squirrels by Lee Kirby - ADVISABLE

Kirby, Lee Super Turbo vs. the Flying Ninja Squirrels.  128 pages. CHAPTER BOOK.  Little Simon (Simon & Schuster), 2016.  $5.99.  Content: Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G  Violence: G.

Super Turbo is the pet hamster in Classroom C, at Sunnyvale Elementary.  In this book, Turbo and the other members of the Super Pet Superhero League attempt to battle the flying ninja squirrels, who are in search of their missing Golden Acorn.

This is book number two in the Super Turbo series.  For those familiar with the Captain Awesome book series, Turbo is Eugene’s sidekick, who now stars in his own series. I think the title of this book is a bit misleading, as the flying ninja squirrels don’t actually make an appearance until chapter six of nine.  This book has short chapters and lots of illustrations, including comic panels, which will appeal to young readers.  Fans of the Captain Awesome series will enjoy this new series featuring a character they are already familiar with.  My eight-year-old son really enjoyed this book and had already read the first book in the series.

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE. Reviewer:  Nancy W.

All That I Can Be by Mercer Mayer - ADVISABLE

Mayer, Mercer All That I Can Be. PICTURE BOOK. Random House, 2017. $5.99. REPRINT.  

Readers get two Little Critter books in this paperback reissue. Each of the stories--"When I Get Bigger" and "When I Grow Up"--focus on the same idea of growing up and what kids imagine that will be like. The first story focuses on Little Critter, the second on his younger sister. We are big fans of Little Critter at our house so I was excited to read these new-to-us stories. They are exactly what one has come to expect from Mayer--wonderful illustrations and simple straightforward storytelling that any child can relate to. 

I like that the books have been published together since the first story focuses on more realistic goals for growing up--staying up late, picking out his own clothes, etc.--while the latter title is more dreamlike in its 'grown up' goals--climbing mountains, starring in a circus, etc. I must note that some of the material is a bit dated (ordering things from a catalog, for example) but its still really fun. Overall this is a great pick for fans of Mercer Mayer or even those who have yet to experience the wonderful world of Little Critter.

Pre-K, EL (K-3)--ADVISABLE. Reviewer: TC