Review of Rain, written by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Lisa Congdon

Contemporary, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

Rain

written by Cynthia Rylant
illustrated by Lisa Congdon

Beach Lane Books, 2023. 44 pages.
Review written June 4, 2023, from a library book.
Starred Review

Here’s a new storytime classic for rainy days.

This picture book, with endpapers of flowers, begins before the rain comes. The birds, the squirrels, the children in the park, the cats, and the dogs all know the rain is coming. Most of those hurry home, except many dogs who “stay right there in the yard and wait for the first wet drops on their noses. Just for fun!”

The turning point comes with the duck family.

And who is most happy about the rain?

Oh, the ducks of course.
They can’t wait.
They paddle and paddle
and spread the word.

Mama ducks gather up the babies
and promise them
a glorious day!

Then the rain starts, and the rest of the book is about how it is indeed a glorious day and about all the wonderful things the rain brings.

Rain is good for everybody!

This joyful and brightly-colored book (Really!) gives me a fresh, and happy, perspective on rain. What a delight it will be to share that perspective with kids.

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Very Good Hats, by Emma Straub, illustrated by Blanca Gómez

Delightfully Silly, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

Very Good Hats

by Emma Straub
illustrated by Blanca Gómez

Rocky Pond Books (Penguin Random House), 2023. 32 pages.
Review written February 28, 2023, from a library book.
Starred Review

If you’ve ever been around a toddler or small child, some time or other you’ve played a game that explores the concept of What is a hat? This book puts that silly game into a picture book.

The first page challenges the reader:

Do you know what a hat is?

I bet you think you know what a hat is.

And yes, the next page starts with a haberdashery (okay, I didn’t expect that), but it goes on to acorn caps as hats for your fingers and books as hats for people with excellent posture.

Bubbles make very fine hats, if temporary.
A crown is a hat for a queen, but flowers can be too.

The roof is the house’s hat, and a lid is a pot’s hat.
Everyone knows that.

Pajama pants make for a dangly hat,
and towels are twirly hats, majestic as a unicorn.

I think my favorite spread is this one:

Empty bowls work, but you have to make sure they’re empty first,
otherwise you might have a soup hat instead.

I also enjoy this question, which I’d never thought about before:

If a turtle can tuck its head into its shell,
does that make its shell a hat?

And yes, the illustrations all add to the seriously silly fun.

emmastraub.net

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of In Every Life, by Marla Frazee

Contemporary, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

In Every Life

by Marla Frazee

Beach Lane Books, 2023. 32 pages.
Review written April 3, 2023, from a library book.
Starred Review

I’m a sucker for Marla Frazee’s illustrations. I don’t review even close to every picture book I come across, but I could not resist being charmed by this book. A note at the front says she got the idea from a call-and-response version of a Jewish baby-naming blessing done in a church service she attended.

The text is simple. Every two spreads follow a pattern: “In every [blank], blessed is the [blank].”

On the page with the blessing, we see eight to ten cameo pictures of people in that situation, and then you turn the page to a giant wordless painting where the blessing also applies. (The book is a bit bigger than most picture books.)

The first spread is “In every birth, blessed is the wonder.” The pictures show pregnant women and babies with people who love them.

“In every hope, blessed is the doing,” shows people accomplishing something – building, baking, fixing, making music, flying a kite. The big spread shows a family setting out to hike up a mountain.

I think my favorite spread is, “In every moment, blessed in the mystery.” I love the moments she chose to portray.

It all finishes up with “In every life, blessed is the love.”

And this is another book you need to check out for yourself and enjoy the wonderful illustrations, because my descriptions aren’t enough.

marlafrazee.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great! by Sandra Boynton

Animal Characters, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great!

by Sandra Boynton

Little, Brown and Company, 2023. 36 pages.
Review written April 10, 2023, from a library book.
Starred Review

I’ve loved Sandra Boynton’s work ever since I found her greeting cards in my college bookstore. Recently, she’s moved beyond board books to picture books — and as usual, all ages will enjoy her humor and distinctive style.

I like the flap copy so much, I’m going to quote it here:

We all get overwhelmed sometimes, small people and big people and fictitious animals alike. Probably ESPECIALLY fictitious animals — just imagine how difficult it must be for THEM to believe in themselves.

So if you or someone you know or an imaginary friend of yours could really use a one-chicken cheerleading squad, this is the book for you!

And that’s what this book is about — a one-chicken cheerleading squad, telling various animals they’re doing great.

There’s a fun rhyme scheme, addressing the reader if they might be feeling low.

Or are you feeling quite upended?
Underprepared
and overextended?

If that is the case, you are in luck! Here’s an enthusiastic chicken all set to cheer you on and encourage you!

But when the chicken makes a little blunder, fortunately someone comes along to encourage them.

And that friend reminds us that we can also say these words to ourselves:

WOO HOO! YOU’RE DOING GREAT!

(And you know what? You really are!)

sandraboynton.com

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Elena Rides, by Juana Medina

Animal Characters, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

Elena Rides

by Juana Medina

Candlewick Press, 2023. 28 pages.
Review written March 28, 2023, from a library book.
Starred Review

Oh, this beginning reader is wonderful! Since kids who are learning to read also tend to be kids who have recently learned to ride a bike, the subject matter is perfectly appropriate.

This is a book about Elena, a young elephant, who is learning to ride a bike.

And if kids think it’s hard to learn to ride a bike, well, it’s easier for them to balance than it is for an elephant!

The pictures are delightful. There’s so much joy on Elena’s face each time she gets going. And somehow, Juana Medina makes you believe an elephant actually could balance on a bike.

But the choice of words is also delightful. Sitting here in my home, I simply had to read the book aloud. This would be perfect in a story time, as each fall has an expressive sound with plenty of drama. Here’s how the book begins:

Elena wants to ride.
Elena buckles her helmet.

She readies,
she steadies . . .

she pushes,
she pedals!

She wobbles
and bobbles . . .

KA-BANG!

After the first fall, Elena has a look of worried determination. After the second, she does some crying. When a third fall happens after some exhilarating riding, she needs the encouragement of her bird friend to try again. But the book ends with the triumph of the title repeated:

Elena rides!

This seems like a practically perfect easy reader to me. I hope it gets some Geisel love!

candlewick.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of This Is a Story, words by John Schu, illustrations by Lauren Castillo

Contemporary, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

This Is a Story

words by John Schu
illustrations by Lauren Castillo

Candlewick Press, 2023. 40 pages.
Review written March 20, 2023, from a library book.
Starred Review

Yes, I was predisposed to like this book. John Schu is a librarian I met online before meeting him at library conferences and even being on an ALSC committee with him briefly. But I’m confident I’d love this book whether I knew the author or not.

The story of this picture book is a celebration of reading. It goes well with Mr. Schu’s earlier book, This Is a School.

This Is a Story begins with a word, then a word on a page, a page in a book, and a book on a shelf. But then it shows us the library where the book is waiting on a shelf.

Next we zoom out to a world full of humans. We see a little girl and her family go into the library.

Sometimes humans need help . . .

Then we see a librarian who looks an awful lot like Mr. Schu showing the girl a book that matches the sea horse kite she’s holding. The text simply says, “connecting.”

Then we get:

This is a book.
This is a reader.

And we zoom out to more readers looking at books for answers to questions, ideas to explore, and for sparking hope. All taking place in a busy, happy library setting.

I do love that among her adorable pictures, the illustrator used covers of actual books for the illustrations. My second time through, I looked for ones I could recognize. (There are lots!)

This is a joyful and simple celebration of stories, books, reading, children, and libraries. If I were still working in a branch, I’d immediately set it aside for preschool library tours. The words are short and sweet, so it will work well even for very young kids. But there’s a whole lot for kids to notice in the illustrations.

This lovely book warmed my heart.

This is a story.
And it helps us understand . . .

everything!

JohnSchu.com
laurencastillo.com
candlewick.com

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of From the Tops of the Trees, by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Rachel Wada

Award Winners, Historical, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

From the Tops of the Trees

by Kao Kalia Yang
illustrated by Rachel Wada

Carolrhoda Books, 2021. 32 pages.
Review written 2/3/2023, from a library book.
Starred Review
2023 Asian/Pacific American Literature Award Winner, Picture Books

I’m so glad I checked out award winners and found this book. Kao Kalia Yang has taken an incident from when she was a small child in a refugee camp on the border of Thailand and has made a beautiful picture book from it, assisted by the wonderful paintings of Rachel Wada.

Since Kalia was small and didn’t remember anything but living in a refugee camp, she asked her father if the whole world is a refugee camp. He told her No, but wasn’t able to explain what the wide world is like.

So one day, he had her mother dress her up in her good clothes, and he climbed with her on his back to the top of a tree. From there, she could see far beyond the refugee camp. Her mother took a picture of them.

“Father, the world is so big,” I say.

My father answers, “Yes, it is.” He says softly, “One day my little girl will journey far into the world, to the places her father has never been.”

My father tells me to smile at the camera, but I can’t because I now know that the world is bigger than anything I had imagined. My little legs will have to carry me far.

I love that the Author’s Note at the back includes the photograph that inspired the story.

kaokaliayang.com
rachelwada.com
lernerbooks.com

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Nana, Nenek & Nina, by Liza Ferneyhough

Contemporary, Picture Book Review, Starred Review 0

Nana, Nenek & Nina

by Liza Ferneyhough

Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin Random House), 2022. 32 pages.
Review written January 7, 2023, from a library book
Starred Review
2023 Asian/Pacific American Literature Award Honor Book – Picture Books

For some reason, 2022 saw multiple picture books published about kids visiting grandmas overseas. One of my favorites was I’ll Go and Come Back, by Rajani LaRocca, because it showed parallel things happening when the granddaughter went to visit her grandma and when the grandma came to visit instead. It’s good I read this book after 2023 began, because now I don’t have to compare the two in choosing Sonderbooks Stand-outs!

Nana, Nenek & Nina is also about a child visiting her grandmother in a faraway place, but in this book, the girl (Nina) has two grandmothers who live in faraway places in two directions — Nana lives in England and Nenek lives in Malaysia.

What’s fun about this book is that it shows Nina visiting each grandma on the same spreads, doing parallel activities. For example, here’s the spread about her afternoon activities (accompanied by the wonderful pictures):

Rain drops down as Nina hops from puddle to puddle.
When it gets too wet, Nana calls her inside for a cup of hot chocolate.

They play a game on Daddy’s old noughts-and-crosses board.
Nina lines her crosses up, one, two, three.

Nina uses up all her outside voice in one loud shout.
When it gets too hot, Nenek calls her inside for a glass of iced Milo.

Her cousins get out Mama’s old congkak set.
Nina clacks the marbles, satu, dua, tiga.

It’s all just so beautiful and highlights the similarities and differences between the two places. But in both places, Nina is showered with love. The final page shows both grandmas kissing her goodnight.

stellarbaby.com
penguinrandomhouse.com

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad Wolf, by Davide Cali and Marianna Balducci

Award Winners, Delightfully Silly, Mathematical, Picture Book Review, Stand-outs, Starred Review 0

Too Many Pigs and One Big Bad Wolf

by Davide Cali and Marianna Balducci

Tundra Books, 2022. 32 pages.
Review written January 8, 2023, from my own copy.
Starred Review
2023 Mathical Book Prize Honor Book, Grades K-2
2022 Sonderbooks Standout: #9 Silly Fun Picture Books

This very silly book is a counting book that’s not really a counting book.

Here’s how it begins:

Once upon a time, there were three little pigs.
Then the wolf ate them.
THE END.

This story is too short!
I want a longer one!

In the longer story on the next page, there are four little pigs that get eaten.

And so it progresses, the narrator adding wild things to the story, the “reader” complaining, and the result always the same.

The pigs are drawn from beads on an abacus. There are not more than ten beads on a row, and often they’re grouped by fives, so counting is easy.

The graphics, the silly stories, and the dialogue between the narrator and the objector are simply loads of fun. We never see the pigs get eaten, and there’s a feeling that these are actors that are not really harmed, since the same abacus gets reused. So it keeps things light and silly, despite so very many pigs supposedly getting eaten.

This is another one you’ll enjoy most if you check it out for yourself, as my description can’t do justice to how much fun it is. You can throw in some counting when you read it to your kid, but I don’t think they’ll think of it as a counting book.

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Zero Zebras, by Bruce Goldstone, illustrated by Julien Chung

Delightfully Silly, Mathematical, Picture Book Review, Stand-outs, Starred Review 0

Zero Zebras

A Counting Book about What’s Not There

by Bruce Goldstone
illustrated by Julien Chung

Orchard Books (Scholastic), 2022. 36 pages.
Review written January 8, 2023, from my own copy.
Starred Review
2022 Sonderbooks Stand-out: #6 Silly Fun Picture Books

I love this book in so many ways! In fact, many more than zero ways!

Here’s how the book begins:

I see one wallaby . . .
. . . and zero zebras.

Two tuna splish
and splash
and splosh . . .
. . . with zero zebras.

You get the idea!

As things progress with various jazzy animals, there’s wordplay and visual play:

Ten tigers tiptoe —
that’s how many.

What about zebras?
There aren’t any.

Eleven llamas
like to spit.

It’s zero zebras
that they hit.

But the fun really begins after we pass twelve turtles on the page.

What’s next? What’s here?
What do you see
perching in this tree?
Why, look at that!
By now you’ve guessed.
Zero zebras — obviously.

But that’s not all that isn’t here!
Do you see zero eagles?
You’ll find them next to zero pigs
and zero barking beagles.

Then we’ve got two more spreads with rhymes about all the things pictured that they are zero of.

The finishing thought is this:

So when you want to count a lot,
don’t count what’s there. Count what’s not.

Try counting zeroes with your friends.
The list of zeroes never ends!

The final pages have thoughts from the author about zero and infinity.

So there you have it. A delightfully silly picture book that invites play and imagination and all kinds of fun — while getting kids thinking about the important mathematical concept of zero.

I did quote a lot of this book, but please let that invite you to see it for yourself, because a picture book is always best with the words and pictures together.

brucegoldstone.com
scholastic.com

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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