Hide and Seek Harry at the Beach by Kenny Harrison- ADVISABLE

Harrison, Kenny Hide and Seek Harry at the Beach. BOARD BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2014.  $6.99.  Content: G. Harry the hippo is the best friend of a little girl and boy.  He loves to play hide and seek.  But he is really too big to hide anywhere that the children can’t find him.  Today they are at the beach.  Harry hides behind a beach ball, in the sand and in the sea. “When we find him… We cheer, “Let’s play some more!”  Harry loves to hide, but he really loves to be found.  This is a fun board book for little ones.  The illustrations are adorable and humorous.  The story is written in simple rhyme with few words.  This would make a great baby gift.  Pre-K.  ADVISABLE. Reviewer: SL.

Hide and Seek Harry Around the House by Kenny Harrison- ADVISABLE

Harrison, Kenny Hide and Seek Harry Around the House. BOARD BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2014.  $6.99.  Content: G. Harry the hippo is the best friend of a little girl and boy.  He loves to play hide and seek.  But he is really too big to hide anywhere that the children can’t find him.  He tries the behind a plant, in the bathtub and under the kitchen sink, but no matter where he hides, he is easily found.  There is one place that Harry can hide where the children have a hard time finding him.  Harry loves to hide, but he really loves to be found.  This is a fun board book for little ones.  The illustrations are adorable and humorous.  The story is written in simple rhyme with few words.  This would make a great baby gift.  Pre-K.  ADVISABLE. Reviewer: SL. 

Count 1,2,3 on the Subway by Paul Dubois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender- ADVISABLE

Jacobs, Paul Dubois & Jennifer Swender Count 1,2,3 on the Subway.  Illustrated by Dan Yaccarion.  PICTURE BOOK.  Random House, 2014.  $14.99.  Content: G. This is a fun and simple book that not only explores counting numbers from 1 to 10 and back down again, but also the fun and exciting adventures that can be found in New York City.  The story begins with the little girl and her mother buying one metro card.  The experiences they have from that moment on increase in counting until the number 10.  The middle of the book shows the inside of the subway where “10 friends sway, boogie and bop to a tunnel beat… Here’s our stop!”  The story is written simply in rhyme with few words.  The story ends again with the number one where the mother and girl end up at “one station, central and grand.”  This is a fun and exciting counting book with illustrations that are unique and playful. This would be a great book to help teach counting to ten.   Pre-K.  EL (K-3).  ADVISABLE.  Reviewer: SL. 

Bears in the Bath by Shirley Parenteau- OPTIONAL

Parenteau, Shirley Bears in the Bath.  Illustrated by David Walker.  PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2014.  $15.99.  Content: G. Four little bears have gotten themselves very dirty in their daily play.  From dust and dirt to mud and cobwebs, there bears need a bath.  Daddy bear is waiting with a tub full of water to clean the bears but they want nothing to do with bath time.  Daddy scoops up, wriggles and giggles with the bears trying to get them into the bath.  Before long, it’s Daddy who needs a bath.  Setting the example of how much fun a bath can really be, Daddy gets in and starts to splish, splash, and sploosh until he gets all clean.  The four little bears see how much fun he is having and decide to finally join him.  Before long all bears are squeaky clean.  The illustrations are simple and cute.  The story is fun but not too exciting.  Pre-K.  EL (K-3).  OPTIONAL.  Reviewer: SL. 

The Farmer's Away! BAA! NEIGH! by Anne Vittur Kennedy- ESSENTIAL

Kennedy, Anne Vittur The Farmer’s Away! BAA! NEIGH!  PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2014.$15.99. Content: G. 

The barnyard animals are thrilled when the farmer heads out for daily chores and they can finally play.  They swim in the stream, have a picnic, ride a roller coaster, go water skiing, ride in a blimp, etc.  All the while we see the farmer in the distance working hard on his chores.  At the end of the day, the farmer is exhausted and heads back to the barn.  The farm animals scamper to get back to the barnyard in time before the farmer notices their absence.

The title of this book led me to believe that the story line might be like others that I have read.  But the illustrations on the cover of this picture book drew me in and I took a peek inside.  And was I surprised!  I loved the unique and ingenious way the author wrote this book!  The story is told mainly in illustrations with all dialogue in rhyming, yes rhyming, animal sounds. This is something I have never seen before.    The final page will have little ones giggling all the way to their own beds.  The illustrations are incredible and detailed. We loved this book and hope it ends up on every library bookshelf and child’s home.

Pre-K.  EL (K-3). ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: SL. 

Wedgieman and the Big Bunny Trouble by Charise Mericle Harper- NOT RECOMMENDED

Harper, Charise Mericle Wedgieman and the Big Bunny Trouble. EARLY READER. Random House Children’s Books, 2014. $3.99. Content: G.  I don’t know, call me crazy, but a superhero named “Wedgieman” and a robot named “P.O.O.P” didn't really thrill me as a teacher or a mom.  I understand how this might entice a child to read the story, and perhaps get students to convince their friends to read the book, but it was a turn off for me.  I thought the whole story line was weird and lost me.  Trying to get the reader to try eating carrots at the end of the story and then convince the characters to give themselves a wedgie was troubling. I even had my kids try reading it and one commented, “I don’t think I’m even going to finish this, I don’t have the patience.  It’s a horrible book.”  I was shocked to see that there were at least two other Wedgieman books in this series.  Perhaps I wasn't the right person to review this early reader?  EL (K-3).  NOT RECOMMENDED. Reviewer: SL. 

Friends by Eric Carle-OPTIONAL

Carle, Eric Friends.  PICTURE BOOK.  Penguin Young Readers Group, 2013. $17.99.  Content: G.  Once there were two friends who were together constantly.  They played together, they danced and ran together.  They even told each other secrets.  But one day, the girl moved away.  The boy was very sad and became determined to find her.  He swam across a river, climbed a tall mountain, strolled through long, damp grass, splashed through rain, waked through a deep forest, dreamed of clouds and ended up in a flower garden.  He picked a bunch of flowers, made a bouquet, found his friend and married her.  The illustrations in this book are stunning and I suppose they could be used to teach about various climates or topography.   Other than that, we thought the book was a little odd and boring.  It was somewhat of a disappointment since we usually like Eric Carle books.  Pre-K.  EL (K-3).  OPTIONAL. Reviewer: SL.

Bunnies on Ice by Johanna Wright-ESSENTIAL

Wright, Johanna Bunnies on Ice. PICTURE BOOK. Roaring Brook Press, 2013. $16.99.  Content: G.

Little bunny considers himself a Champion ice skater.  Champion ice skaters have to wait for perfect skating conditions, eat big breakfasts, wear a lot of clothes, and have a lot of fans.  They can spin faster than anyone else, and make a perfect figure eight, AND land perfectly every time.  They must have an excellent support team and drink lots of hot chocolate. But most importantly, a champion ice skater must be willing to do it all again tomorrow!

This is an adorable book about dreaming big and having confidence in being able to achieve anything you dream of becoming.  Little bunny can't land perfectly, he can't make anything that resembles a figure eight and  his fans are nothing more than branches full of resting birds. But none of this is important to little bunny.  He believes in his abilities and it seems that nothing will stop him.  I loved this book and the message it sends to all children no matter their future dreams or desires.  The illustrations were precious and stunning.

EL (K-3).  EL.  ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer: SL.

brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson - - ADVISABLE

Woodson, Jacqueline brown girl dreaming, 336 pgs. Penguin Group, 2014. $16.99. Language: G; Violence: G; Mature Content: G. 

In this autobiography book in verse, Newbery honor author and National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson tells the story of her childhood, from Ohio to the Civil Rights days of South Carolina and on to multicultural Brooklyn, New York.  We witness her struggles with learning, her family problems, religious beliefs and her memories of home.  

The book is written in verse, the story is beautifully woven and the content is appropriate even for an elementary reader.  Alive with mentions of music, political leaders and styles of the day, this is more than just a slice of life, it is a great insight into the beginnings of one of the greatest children’s writers of our time.  

EL MS - -  ADVISABLE - -  Lisa Librarian

Night School by CJ Daugherty - OPTIONAL

Daugherty, C.J. Night School, 432 p. Katherine Tegan (Harper), 2013.  $18.  Langauge: R (80+ swears, 2 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (drinking); Violence: G (some, but not graphic). 

After her latest act of vandalism, Allie is shipped off to the Cimmeria Academy – a very exclusive school, where everyone has secrets they are hiding from Allie.  Most of the kids, especially the interesting ones, seem to be legacies, but Allie has never heard of the place before.  As she gradually makes friends, Allie notices things – like some of the kids have special classes that take place after dark.  When the secrets start unraveling,  Allie finds out that she has more of a history with Cimmeria and its secrets than she could have ever dreamed. 

Wow – that is all pretty vague.  Probably because when Cimmeria’s secrets started to be exposed, I was kind of underwhelmed.  If you want a series about a boarding school where the students are being secretly raised to run the world, may I suggest Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls, Mercedes Lackey’s Shadow Grail, or Inara Scott’s Talent books instead.  

HS – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

I Am a Witch’s Cat by Harriet Muncaster - ADVISABLE

Muncaster, Harriet. I Am a Witch’s Cat, PICTURE BOOK. Content: G. 

A child dressed as a black kitty chronicles all of the reasons she knows that her mom is a witch (which makes her a witch’s cat). Her mom completes everyday tasks, but the daughter uses her imagination to describe them as things a witch would do (“I know my mom is a witch because she keeps lots of strange potion bottles in the bathroom that I am NOT allowed to touch.”) On Friday nights Mom goes out (because she “needs a break from being a witch”) and the little girl has a babysitter for the evening. By the end, the reader is convinced that the mother is a witch only in the child’s imagination, but there is a twist that shows otherwise. 

The story in this book is very cute, but the real star is the illustrations. They are created using paper, fabric, and mixed media to create the various scenes and they are AWESOME. They are incredibly unique and really make the book stand out. I wish the story was just a little stronger so that this would be an essential pick, but I would strongly suggest you purchase it for the pictures. 

Pre-K, EL (K-3)- ADVISABLE. Reviewed by: Shay, School Librarian

Dangerous Deception by Peg Kehret - OPTIONAL

Kehret, Peg Dangerous Deception, 192 p. Dutton (Penguin), 2014.  

Emmy’s mother works for a local department store and her mother helps with the annual contest for gifts from the store.  When Emmy reads some entries, even though she has always been told to leave them alone, she finds a young girl who is without food for her family.  As part of a class assignment, she decides to collect with her group members anyway, secretly, and tries to remain anonymous.  For some reason, the teacher goes along with the plan.  Emmy’s involvement causes problems, however, not just because the family has secrets, but also because Emmy unthinkingly angers their neighbor, who has even shadier dealings of his own.

Kehret is a little heavy handed in this novel – its not as cleverly plotted as her past books, drawing in a few too many themes and collusions that don’t ring quite true.  For all that, however, it just fine for an upper elementary girl or boy who likes Kehret’s past mysteries.  

EL, MS – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

Huff and Puff Have Too Much Stuff! by Tish Rabe - OPTIONAL

Rabe, Tish.  Huff and Puff Have Too Much Stuff! EARLY READER. HarperCollins Publishers, 2013. $16.99. Content: G. 

Huff and Puff are a train engine and caboose team who like to load around lots of “stuff.”  They load up their cars with toys, books, kites, bikes, and an array of animals.  They can’t pull or push this huge load, but Farmer Fluff needs stuff and animals to fill his farm, and happily lightens the train. This story is in the I Can Read series of books. I felt like it was a little thrown together just to achieve the simple rhyme purpose of the series. The story was cutesy, so were the pictures. If you’re looking for more rhyming books and easy readers, with no particular regard to story, this would be a good purchase. 

PRE-K, EL (K-3) -OPTIONAL.  Reviewed by: Shay, School Librarian