In New York by Marc Brown-ESSENTIAL

Brown, Marc In New York. PICTURE BOOK. Random House Children’s Books, 2014. $17.99. Content: G. 

With Marc Brown’s incredible and infamous illustrations a reader can get lost in this fantastic picture book about New York City.  We read about the fascinating history of New York City. We examine some of the thousands of restaurants and different food experiences.  We learn about special events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the huge Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, as well as everything one can do at night: sporting events, theatre, music, dance, ice shows, magic shows, fairs, festivals and the circus. We explore tourist attractions such as Statue of Liberty, the subway, Empire State Building, Central Park, American Museum of Natural History, and the 9/11 Memorial Visitor Center.  The book lists addresses of many of the sites listed in the book as well as other places a family might want to visit.  The front and back inside covers have “New Your City Sketches and Notes” which lists interesting tidbits such as “The best public bathrooms in New York City are at Bryant Park… with fresh flowers to greet you.”  This is a fantastic book full of information and history.  EL(K-3).  

EL. ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: SL. 

ZooZical by Judy Sierra - ESSENTIAL

Sierra, Judy. ZooZical, illustrated by Marc Brown. Alfred A. Knopf (Random House), 2011. $17.99. PICTURE BOOK. The animals at the zoo are a bit down because of the winter weather, when a small hippo and a kangaroo start hopping around the zoo. They decide to put on a zoo musical and soon every animal is excited to share their talents. People flock to the zoo to see the show. Fans of the Arthur series will recognize the illustrator Marc Brown’s colorful and creative touch. The illustrations practically leap off the page with vibrant color and motion. Pre-K, EL – ESSENTIAL. Samantha, Public Librarian.

Monkey Not Ready For the Baby by Marc Brown - OPTIONAL

Brown, Marc Monkey Not Ready For the Baby (Monkey Not Ready series)  PICTURE BOOK. Alfred A. Knopf (Random House), 2016. $16.99. 

Monkey is going to be a big brother soon, but he’s not quite ready for the new baby.  Eventually, he warms to the idea after helping his parents prepare for the baby’s arrival.  This is the second book in Brown’s “Monkey Not Ready…” series.  Although separate from the Arthur series, children will see minor guest appearances from familiar characters.   

The book is filled with bright, colored pencil drawn illustrations and short, simple sentences.  The colorful, crayon written text adds to the appeal of the book.  There are many books already in print about adapting to a new sibling and this book.  This is a book that parents may want to read to their child to prepare them for a new sibling.  However, I don’t think it needs to be in a school library, especially if there are already books about new sibling anxiety on the shelves. 

Pre-K, EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL.  Reviewer:  Nancy W. 

Wild About you by Judy Sierra –ADVISABLE

Sierra, Judy and Illustrated by Brown, Marc Wild About You! 40 pgs. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2012. $10.79  (Rating: G)

All the animals and creatures at the zoo are having babies. But not the tree kangaroo or the pandas, so they are sad. But when a new egg arrives, none of the animals know what kind of baby is inside. But the kangaroo doesn’t care and is even when it turns out to be a penguin, which wasn’t what she was hoping for, she loves it even more. Every animal at the zoo helps to take care of it. Next its the Pandas turn.

With some great themes about community, adoption, and unconditional love –well you can’t go wrong. Not to mention the great art by Marc Brown. Its slightly lyrical, very colorful, and sweet as can be.

EL –ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian 

Arthur’s Reading Trick by Marc Brown

Brown, Marc Arthur’s Reading Trick, 24 p. Random House, 2009. $3.99. EARLY READER (Step into Reading level 3). DJ tires to trick Arthur into believing that she has taught Baby Kate how to read. Arthur is pretty popular with the early reader set. EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Farmyard Beat by Linsey Craig-OPTIONAL

Craig, Linsey.  Brown, Marc.  Farmyard Beat, 32 pgs.  Knopf Books for Young Readers.  $15.99.  Inside cover:  “The sun goes down- and the animals wake up!  Chick wakes up Sheep, Sheep wakes up Cat… and soon it’s a farmyard dance party, filled with funny animal sounds.  But what happens when all that racket wakes up Farmer Sue?”  The illustrations alone are worth purchasing this book.  Marc Brown does an incredible job telling this story with his vibrant collage art.  The story line is nothing new.  There isn’t anything fresh and exciting about this familiar farmyard plot- but children will enjoy the story from beginning to end. Pre-K.  EL (K-3).  OPTIONAL.  Reviewer: SL.

Ten Tiny Toes by Todd Tarpley - ADVISABLE

Tarpley, Todd and Marc Brown Ten Tiny Toes. 32 pgs. Little, Brown and Company, 2012. $16.99. PICTURE BOOK.

Follows little babies and their ten tiny toes as they grow up from kissable newborns, to toddlers, to children who can ride bikes and skate, to parents themselves.

I admit it - this one made me tear up the first few times I read it aloud to my toddler, and she enjoys seeing what all the different babies are doing. The collage-like illustrations are colorful and lively, and the rhyming text has a nice rhythm, which is only occasionally thrown off by the awkward wording used to achieve said rhymes and rhythm. Seems geared more toward sentimental adults than practical children, but still a lovely bedtime story and one that can open up a discussion about babyhood, growing up, and the possibility that these children will one day become parents themselves.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE. Reviewed by: Caryn.

The Little Shop of Monsters by R.L. Stine -- ADVISABLE

Stine, R.L. The Little Shop of Monsters, illustrated by Marc Brown. PICTURE BOOK. Hachette Book Group, 2015. $17.00.

Two children visit the narrator's favorite monster shop and explore the options there. Should they select the odiferous one whose name rhymes with "Pinky"? Or the one who loves to cuddle -- but also has a perpetual case of the sneezes? Or how about the Yucky-Mucky Twins, with their many slimy arms?

The selection of creative monsters and colorful illustrations would make this one a fun class read-aloud, especially around Halloween. While there's an air of mystery, the monsters are not truly scary. Still, it might work better for second- or third-graders than for, say, sensitive kindergarteners.

EL (K-3) -- ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist

FABULOUS Author Events in Utah

Alert! Alert!

The King's English Bookstore is bringing us many great author events in the coming weeks.  Who is coming you ask?  Get a load of this list.  If the venue is not specified, then it will take place at The King's English Bookstore at the corner of 15th S and 15th E.  I hope I see some of you there!

Tuesday, March 29, 7 p.m.
Carrie Ryan and The Dark and Hollow Places
Salt Lake City Main Library
210 East 400 South

Thursday, March 31, 7 p.m.
Joy Preble and Haunted

Saturday, April 9, 2 p.m.
Bethlene Williams and The Togi Tree

Thursday, April 14, 7 p.m.
Brandon Mull and The Beyonders: A World Without Heroes

Monday, April 18, 5 p.m.
Marc Brown and Arthur Turns Green
Anderson-Foothill Library
1135 South 2100 East, Salt Lake City

Saturday, April 23, 2 p.m.
Carol Lynch Williams and Miles from Ordinary

Thursday, April 28, 7 p.m.
Emily Wing Smith and Back When You Were Easier to Love

Tuesday, May 3, 7 p.m.
D.J. MacHale and Morpheus Road: The Black

Friday, May 13, 7 p.m.
Sarah Dessen and What Happened to Goodbye

Saturday, May 14, 2 p.m.
Gail Carson Levine and Tale of Two Castles

Buying, Training & Caring for Your Dinosaur by Laura Joy Rennert

Rennert, Laura Joy. Buying, Training & Caring for Your Dinosaur, illustrated by Marc Brown. PICTURE BOOK. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. $16.99. Content – G. As the title states, this book has three different dinosaur sections: buying, training and caring. The buying part teaches the reader how to pronounce Diplodocus and other dinosaur names and gives a few facts. Training and caring for your dinosaur is very similar to training a dog; however, million-year habits can be hard to break. The narrative is hodge-podge of facts, tips, and ideas, some quite clever, but they don’t flow together well. The bright and fun illustrations of dinosaurs and kids are what make this book appealing and worth purchasing. EL –ADVISABLE. Samantha, Public Librarian.

Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig

Craig, Lindsey Dancing Feet illustrated by Marc Brown 40 pgs. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2010. $16.99. PICTURE BOOK. This book has the reader guess what kind of animal makes different sounds with their feet as they walk. Some animals like elephants make the stompity stompity noise, while smaller bugs such as ladybugs dance lightly on their feet making tippity tippity noises. This is a fun book for younger readers. It is written in a guess and tell format. The pictures are great, they look like they have been made with scissors. EL(K-3) - ADVISABLE. Anna M, teacher.

Mary McScary by R.L. Stine- ESSENTIAL

Stine, R.L. Mary McScary, PICTURE BOOK. Orchard Books, 2017. $17.99. 

Mary McScary LOVES to be scary. She’ll come up with crazy disguises and dangerous tricks so that she can scare her parents and her pets, even inanimate objects because she’s so scary. The only person she can’t seem to scare, is her cousin, Harry McScary. She takes it upon herself to scare him once and for all. Unfortunately, everything that she does, just doesn’t seem to work. As a final resort she tries to kiss Harry and that does the trick. He runs right out the door. 

Marc Brown (the author and illustrator of the “Arthur books”) has created the artwork for this book and it is really engaging. The look very familiar, but have a different flair than what you are used to seeing in his illustrations. The book is very silly and has a few wild elements that my three year old loved. It’s a fun collaboration from a well known author and a well known illustrator. 

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