When Christmas Feels Like Home by Gretchen Griffith-Essential

Griffith, Gretchen When Christmas Feels Like Home, illustrated by Carolina Farias. Albert Whitman and Company, 2013. $16.99. Picture Book

Eduardo has moved far from his village and is worried he will never feel at home again. His aunt promises that by the time Christmas arrives he will believe he belongs. Eduardo is skeptical, but as the days pass and he makes new friends, learns a new language, and watches the seasons change, he realizes that he may just have discovered a new home.

The illustrations are what make this book special. While the story is appealing and the use of Spanish words mixed into the text is a clever learning device, it is the pictorial representation of Eduardo’s experience that elevates this book.

EL (K-3)—ESSENTIAL. AEB Social Studies Teacher

A Single Pearl by Donna Jo Napoli-ESSENTIAL

Napoli, Donna Jo, ill. by Jim LaMarche. A Single Pearl. Disney Hyperion, 2013. PICTURE BOOK.

Follow the journey of a grain of sand and how it becomes a pearl, gets picked by a diver, and winds up on a little girl’s necklace.

The story is well-written and easy to follow. The pictures are beautiful and detailed wh while complementing the story. Recommended read aloud for any child. PreK, EL (K-3). ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Jessica Moody, Library Media Specialist, Olympus Jr. High.