Mario Makes a Move by Jill McElmurry - ADVISABLE

McElmurry, Jill Mario Makes a Move.  Schwartz & Wade Books, 2012, $16.99.  PICTURE BOOK.  

Mario is a squirrel who loves to create new, tricky moves in order to amuse himself and entertain his friends.  Then Mario meets Isabelle, a girl squirrel who unimpressed by his antics, because she is busy with her own acrobatics.  Mario’s feelings are hurt until he realizes that it really is okay for more than one squirrel or animal to shine.  

The end of the book has some fun and funny facts about squirrels.  Mario is a pretty cute squirrel – almost Scaredy Squirrel cute.  Even better, though is the lesson about sharing the spotlight.  

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

Not Your Typical Dragon by Dan Bar-el - ESSENTIAL

Bar-el, Dan Not Your Typical Dragon, illustrated by Tim Bowers.  Viking (Penguin), 2013.  $17.  PICTURE BOOK.  Content: G.  

When little Crispin, a dragon, tries to breathe fire for the first time, he gets whipped cream instead.  Try as he might, he can breathe pretty much anything but fire.  When the other little dragons breathe fire, he breathes marshmallows.  When the knight tries to teach him the right fierce attitude, Crispin breathes teddy bears.  But, even though it isn’t fire Crispin breathes, just maybe it is the thing that is needed instead.  

Cute and clever and so much fun!  

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

Two Shy Pandas by Julia Jarman - ADVISABLE

Jarman, Julia Two Shy Pandas, illustrated by Susan Varley.  Andersen Press (Lerner), 2013.  $17.  Content: G.  PICTURE BOOK.  

Two little pandas have lived next door to each other for awhile, but each is too shy to actually say ‘hello’.  Then one day, during winter, the pair realize that they haven’t seen the other lately and their concern for each other wins out over their shyness.  Extremely adorable is a good description for this book.  It has a great message about overcoming shyness, and the illustrations are just right.  

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

Stones for Grandpa by Renee Londner - ESSENTIAL

Londner, Renee Stones for Grandpa, illustrations by Martha Aviles.  Kar-Ben (Lerner), 2013.  $7.95.  PICTURE BOOK.  

A little boy has missed his Grandpa in the year since he passed away.  His mother comforts him and with family and friends they visit the cemetery to unveil his tombstone and place the rocks for remembrance on it.  While the book is filled with little Jewish traditions and holiday bits, they are minor characters compared to the little boy and his love for his departed Grandpa.  

I really had a hard not crying at the end.  Just beautiful.  It would be perfect for any child dealing with death.  And I love the thought of special rocks, rather than flowers, at a gravesite.  

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

Stuck with the Blooz by Caron Levis - ADVISABLE

Levis, Caron Stuck with the Blooz, PICTURE BOOK. Harcourt Children’s Books, 2012.  $16.99. 

What do you do when you feel down in the dumps and “the Blooz” comes to visit you?  When one little girl gets a visit she does her best to figure out why the Blooz is so sad and together they come up with multiple ways to make the Blooz cheer up and go away.  

I wasn’t immediately drawn to this book because the cover wasn’t particularly appealing, but I ended up really enjoying it. It was a really fun way to demonstrate a fairly abstract concept.  It gave strong examples of how to pull yourself up when you get sad.  Sometimes it takes a long time to find the thing that will work, but you just have to keep trying. It also helps to have a friend who is willing to give support for you find a way to make it through to a beautiful, sunny day. 

EL - ADVISABLE.  Reviewed by: Shay, Library Media Specialist

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson - ADVISABLE

Woodson, Jacqueline Each Kindness, 30 pgs. Penguin Books, 2012. $16.99. Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content :G; Violence: G. PICTURE BOOK.  

Chloe and her friends exclude a new girl, Maya, who attends their school.  She doesn’t dress the same, so they make fun of her.  Chloe never takes the time to know her or to show her kindness.  At the same time that Maya disappears from the school, her teacher gives an object lesson.  She has the children each drop  a rock into a basin of water as they thought of one nice thing they had done and watch the ripples of the water.  She explained that little acts of kindness ripple out into the world just like the ripples of water. Chloe feels guilt that she had never shown kindness to Maya while she was near. 

This is a touching story and a reminder to send out positive waves to all we come in contact with.  I did not particularly enjoy the regretful ending for a children’s book. Though realistic and thought provoking, I wish Chloe had one more chance to show her caring towards Maya. It would give children hope in redemption and their future. 

EL, MS- ADVISABLE. Reviewer: MOMMC

Elmer and the Big Bird by David McKee - ADVISABLE

McKee, David  Elmer and the Big Bird  Andersen Press, 2012.  $16.95 PICTURE BOOK  Content: G. 

 Elmer the elephant is hanging out with his other jungle friends when he notices that there aren’t any of their usual bird friends there.  When he goes to look for them he finds a cave full of birds that are hiding.  Elmer finds out that the birds are hiding from a huge bird that is bullying them.   When Elmer finds the big bird he is surprised to find how mean he is, so he goes back to the littler birds and hatches a plan where they all join together to make themselves appear to be a bigger bird than the bully.  When the bully sees the huge shadow of the combined birds in the sky he flies away.  

This is a book about how to handle bullies with the solution being that if people join together they can make the world a happy, safe place.  The illustrations are colorful and simple enough that this would be a good book to introduce the topic of bullying with younger elementary kids.  

El (K-3)-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Penguin’s Hidden Talent by Alex Latimer - ESSENTIAL

Latimer, Alex Penguin’s Hidden Talent.  Peachtree, 2012.  $16.  PICTURE BOOK.  Content: G.  

All of the animals have impressive talents to share in the talent show --  except Penguin.  His friends try to help him discover a talent, but it isn’t until after the show is all over that Penguin learns he does have special skills.  

What a great book to share with pretty much any age group!  I loved the illustrations, the quirkiness of the narration and the message can’t be beat.  

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

Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler - ADVISABLE

Cuyler, Margery Skeleton Hiccups, illustrated by S.D. Schindler.  Aladdin (Simon), 2002.  PICTURE BOOK.  $7.  

Skeleton has the hiccups and it is wreaking havoc on his day.  His pal Ghost has some friendly advice, but since Skeleton is only bones, nothing seems to be working.  

I know this book is old, but it is so funny to see Skeleton earnestly trying each of Ghost’s standard hiccup ‘cures’.  Very fun for a Halloween read aloud. 

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

Endlessly Kiersten White - ESSENTIAL

White, Kiersten  Endlessly  HarperTeen, 2011.  $17.99 400 pages.  Content:  Language: PG (1 swear); Sexual Content: PG; Violence:  PG.  

Evie is trying to live a normal life with her boyfriend Lend, but the paranormal agency, IPCA, she used to work for keeps trying to get her to help control the paranormal world.  While IPCA falls under new management and Evie fights for her independence from  the agency, she also has a problem with the Faerie Realm who keeps insisting that she is the only person who can correct the hole that allowed paranormals in the world in the first place.  With threats on her boyfriend’s life and a few friends that manipulate Evie to get her to see what needs to be done, Evie starts to prepare to heal the Faerie Realm.  Evie with the help of her sister and boyfriend creates a gate in the universe for the Fae to return to their own protected world.  

This is a great ending to a fun trilogy.  The main character has a sense of humor and the minor characters are creative and enjoyable.  The ending was satisfying and completed a good series.  

MS-ESSENTIAL; HS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.