Pickles to Pittsburgh (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs #2) by Judi Barrett –fNOT RECOMMENDED

Barrett, Judi Pickles to Pittsburgh (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs #2) 34 pgs. Little Simon; Boardbook Edition, 2013. $7.19.  Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

As sequel to Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, we find a dream sequence where

the two children re-visit to the land of Chewandswallow. The original inhabitants have returned and are using the food overload to aid the world with its hunger problems.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a great sequel with a wonderful message about not wasting food and sharing with others. But why they would re-release it as a board book is totally beyond me. The pictures are too detailed to be the needed eye-catching for toddlers that would be given a board book.  There is too much text, squeezed in at a small font size, to make it a comfortable read for grown-up eyes. While I recommend the story for Early Elementary, which has been out since 1997, this re-release in Board book format is a total loss.  

EL- NOT RECOMMENDED Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Bring on the Birds-OPTIONAL

Stockdale, Susan Bring On the Birds. 22 pgs. Peachtree Publishers, 2011. $6.95. BOARD BOOK. This simple board book explores a variety of birds.  From dancing birds to diving birds and hanging birds to hiding birds, this rhyming book will entertain children night after night.  The illustrations are beautifully detailed with bright colors.  Even with few words on each page, the story is interesting and fun to read.  Pre-K.  EL(K-3). OPTIONAL. Reviewer: SL.

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton - ESSENTIAL

Boynton, Sandra The Going to Bed Book  Little Simon, 2012.  $7.99  BOARD BOOK  Content: G.  

This brightly illustrated book is about a group of animals floating on a boat who are getting ready for bed.  The ragtag group includes a moose, rhinosauraus, pig, bear and a bunny.  They take a bath, brush their teeth, put on their pajamas and go upstairs on the deck to exercise.  After they are done with their nighttime routine, the ship rocks them to sleep.  

This book has simple rhyming text that is soothing for a bedtime story.  The illustrations are cute and the animals have great facial expressions while they are doing their activities.  

PRE-K - ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson. 

But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton - ADVISABLE

Boynton, Sandra But Not the Hippopotamus. Little Simon, 1972, 2012. $7.99 Content: G. BOARD BOOK.  

From playing in a bog to taking a jog, every animal is doing it together, but NOT the Hippopotamus.  Celebrating 30 years, this special addition book is a great introduction and teaching tool to young kids on how to involve everyone in all activities.  Love the large font for easy reading, love the rhymes throughout each page, and the catchy tag line, “…but not the Hippopotamus.”  The illustrations are classic Sandra Boynton and this is a great book to read to a group or one on one.

 Pre-K - ADVISABLE, Ashley, CTE Teacher

Peekaboo Baby by Sebastien Braun- ADVISABLE

 Braun, Sebastien.  Peekaboo Baby. BOARD BOOK. 16 pgs.  Candlewick, 2012.  $6.99.  Content: G. This is a great board book where the reader tries to find the baby hidden behind flaps.  He could be hiding behind a block, or a book.  In this “lift the flap book” parents and babies will thrill to play the well-known game of “Peekaboo”.    The colors are bright and inviting. There is no application to a classroom, but parents will enjoy this book with their little ones.  Pre-K.  ADVISABLE.  Reviewer: SL. 

Let's Count by Laura Driscoll-OPTIONAL

Driscoll, Laura, Let’s Count.Disney Press, 2012. BOARD BOOK

Have fun counting as you travel around the world seeing different animals. The pictures are cute. The text is simple and fun to read. Young children who are learning to count or who enjoy having board books will enjoy lifting the flaps and counting the different animals. PRE-K, PUBLIC ONLY. OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.

Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills-ADVISABLE

Hills, Tad.  Duck and Goose Find A Pumpkin.  BOARD BOOK. 22 pgs. Schwartz & Wade, 2012.  $10.99. Content: G.  Thistle has a big beautiful pumpkin.  His friends, Duck and Goose, want one as well.  But where will they find one?  In this large board book, Duck and Goose explore the sights and sounds of autumn by searching for a pumpkin.  They look high and low, and explore the world around them. This is a beautifully illustrated board book.  The words are simple and the story easy to read.  Pre-K.  ADVISABLE.  Reviewer: SL

Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray-ESSENTIAL

Murray, Alison, Apple Pie ABC. Disney Hyperion, 2012. BOARD BOOK.

When a girl makes an apple pie, her dogs smells it and wants it for himself. Will he get it?

A cute alphabet book for young children. The pictures are cute. The text is easy and has made the letters big enough to help young children learn their alphabet. Children who like dogs, board books, and/or want to learn their alphabet will enjoy reading this book. PreK, Public Only. ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Kira M, Youth Services Librarian, WHI Public Library.

I Love You, Little Monster by Ellen Weiss - ADVISABLE

Weiss, Ellen  I Love You, Little Monster Little Simon, 2012, $7.99 Content G BOARD BOOK. 

When a mother’s child is being a “monster” and destroying all that has been done, this mother finds joy  in her child instead of reacting negatively. 

I liked the pictures in the book combining black and white line illustrations with colored ones. I also liked how it celebrated the creativity of little people. This book is more for mothers than their children, but kids will still enjoy the sweetness of the message and the cadence of the words. 

ADVISABLE - EL (K-3). Shauna, Reading teacher.

Mouse’s First Spring by Lauren Thompson - ADVISABLE

Thompson, Lauren. Mouse’s First Spring Little Simon, 2012, $7.99 Content G BOARD BOOK. 

Mouse is discovering his first Spring with his mother. They find many insects, animals and plants as they wander through their day. 

I liked the bright colors and pictures appear to have been painted on a canvas.  The combination of the mother/child relationship and the illustrations give this book a very intimate feeling. 

ADVISABLE, Pre-K, EL (K-3). Shauna, Reading teacher.

Sleepyhead by Karma Wilson - ADVISABLE

Wilson, Karma and John Segal.  Sleepyhead, Little Simon, 2012, $7.99 Content G BOARD BOOK. 

Sleepyhead the teddy bear doesn’t want to go to sleep. He needs more loves, stories, cuddles and extra blankets before he will even try to go to sleep.  This tender book illustrates the struggles that all parents and children experience when it comes to bedtime. 

ADVISABLE, Pre-K, EL (K-3). Shauna, Reading teacher.

Hello Baby by Mem Fox - ADVISABLE

Fox, Mem. Hello Baby! Little Simon, 2012, $7.99 Content G BOARD BOOK. 

When a parent is playing with her child, she tends to pretend and this book shows how a parent can incorporate learning into just about any situation. As the parent is wondering who her child is, she wonders if he is a monkey, elephant, hippo, lion, etc. and in the end decides that her child is the best treasure of all. The pictures in this book are amazing. They are created out of paper of different textures and colors being layered to create depth. Wow. 

ADVISABLE, Pre-K, EL (K-3), Shauna, Reading teacher.

Time by Simon Basher - OPTIONAL

Basher, Simon Time (Go! Go! Bobo). King Fisher Books, 2012. Content G-BOARD Book. 

Bobo goes throughout his day playing, eating and sleeping. Each activity has a picture of the clock telling what time each activity happens.  The simplicity of the pictures seem like a great way to introduce time to a young person. The pictures are cool because they have a matte background with glossy pictures of Bobo and the clocks. 

OPTIONAL, Pre-K, EL (K-3). Shauna, Reading Teacher.

Animals should definitely not wear clothing - BOARD BOOK

Barrett, Judi Animals should definitely not wear clothing, drawn by Ron Barrett.  Simon and Schuster.  BOARD BOOK.  $8.  

Have a child who is not too fond of clothing?  This book will make them laugh – and maybe see why humans, of all of the mammals, are just right for wearing clothes.  If not – then at least you will all laugh along the way.  First time as a board book – and high time!  

Pre-K – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

Humpty Dumpty by Salina Yoon - OPTIONAL

Yoon, Salina Humpty Dumpty.  Simon and Schuster, 2012.  BOARD BOOK.  $6.  

Humpty Dumpty will meet his traditional, terrible fall – but this time with a bunny recuing twist, just in time for spring.  The pages in this book are particularly thick, so even though there are only nine pages, it tops out at over an inch.  I guess this makes for extra chew-resistance.  

Pre-K – OPTIONAL. Cindy, Library Teacher

New Board books by Karen Katz - ADVISABLE

Katz, Karen Where are Baby’s Easter Eggs? Baby Loves Spring AND Where is Baby’s Beach Ball?  BOARD BOOKS.  $7 each.  Simon and Schuster, 2012.  

Just in time for spring and summer, Karen Katz has released a slew of new hide and seek board books.  Each one is of course adorable and suitable for whichever special occasion you need a baby board book for.  

My favorite, if I had to pick, would be Baby Loves Spring, because it has worms and frogs in it!  Pre-K – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Jane Eyre: A Counting Primer by Jennifer Adams - ADVISABLE

Adams, Jennifer Jane Eyre: A Counting Primer (Little Miss Bronte), art by Alison Oliver. Gibbs Smith, 2012.  $10.  BOARD BOOK.  

Count your way through the iconic images of Jane Eyre (1 Governess, 2 trunks…) in this literary board book. 

Any literary parent will be happy to share both of these books with their little ones.  The series also contains a Romeo and Juliet counting primer and a Pride and Prejudice counting primer.  Adams and Oliver continue on with this series, I hope they include more classic children’s lit (Wizard of Oz, Gulliver’s Travels, Peter Pan, perhaps?) with something besides colors or counting (enough of those, thanks).  Maybe opposites, sounds, shapes, feelings, textures, an abecedarian?  

Pre-K – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

Alice in Wonderland: A Colors Primer by Jennifer Adams - ADVISABLE

Adams, Jennifer Alice in Wonderland: A Colors Primer (Little Master Carroll), art by Alison Oliver.  Gibbs Smith, 2012.  $10.  BOARD BOOK.  

Color by color meet the characters and objects central to the Alice in Wonderland story.  Replete with adorable images in an interesting retro-feeling style, including a special “Read Me” potion on back.

Pre-K - ADVISABLE

Cindy, Library Teacher

Elmer's Opposites and Elmer's First Counting Book - OPTIONAL

McKee, David  Elmer’s Opposites  Anderson Press USA, 2012. $7.95 BOARD BOOK Content: G In a simple explanation about opposites, jungle animals depict the difference between such adjectives as fat/thin, hot/cold, tall/short, etc.  The illustrations aren’t great, but the colors are bright and attractive.  PRE-K-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

McKee, Davie  Elmer’s First Counting Book  Anderson Press USA, 2012.  $7.95  BOARD BOOK  Content: G  In this simple counting book, different jungle animals are doing different verbs, such as “One Elmer Smiling, Two crocodiles laughing”.  There isn’t an overall story, and the illustrations are a bit elementary, but the bright colors would engage young readers.  PRE-K-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.