Published by Capstone

Summary:  Poet Bao Phi tells a slice-of-life story from his childhood, growing up as the son of Vietnamese immigrants.  The father in the story wakes his son early on a Saturday morning so that they can get in some fishing before Dad has to go to work.  After a stop at the bait shop, they make their way through the darkness, past a “No Trespassing” sign, to their favorite fishing spot.  Fishing isn’t a sport for them, but a way to feed their family of seven.  As they wait for a nibble, the father tells the boy about how he and his brother used to fish at a different pond in Vietnam.  Later, they were both soldiers, but he was the only one who came home from the war.  After catching a couple fish, they make their way home again.  The boy watches as his parents both get ready for work, leaving him at home with his older brothers and sisters.  He’s a little sad to see them go, but knows they’ll be home in time to eat the fish he helped catch.  Includes notes from both the author and the illustrator about how their childhoods as Vietnamese immigrants in America inspired their work.  32 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  A beautiful story, deceptively simple, showing a loving immigrant family struggling for success in their new country.

Cons:  Many of the recommendations I saw for this book were for K-3, but I think older kids might better appreciate the many layers to it.

Published by Henry Holt

Summary:  When Ben and his mom go to the shelter to find a dog, he settles on the biggest one he can find, Sadie.  Readers will notice what Ben and those around him don’t: that Sadie is a Tyrannosaurus Rex.  When Sadie sits on a car, rolls over through a fruit stand, and fetches a mail truck, Ben’s mom isn’t sure they can keep her (don’t even ask what happens when Sadie “does her business”).  Ben is desperate to find a way to save his beloved pet, and the opportunity arises when they hear the words, “Stop! Thief!”  Sadie springs into action, blocking the robber’s path and fetching him back when he tries to run away.  Sadie’s talents are recognized, and soon she is the most popular dog in town.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Readers will love feeling “in the know” as they recognize what Sadie really is when Ben and those around him keep thinking she’s a dog.  The laughter will continue with the muted, retro-feel illustrations of all the T-Rex’s antics.

Cons:  The whole situation feels untenable.

Published by Candlewick Studio

Summary:  A boy, a black cat, and a blue elephant explore the concept of opposites with rhyming text.  At first it seems easy.  Yes, no, stop, go, in, out, asleep, awake.  But then a new idea is introduced.  There can’t be a big unless there is a small.  Who knows what’s fast if there’s no slow?  And there’s relativity: “Who’s strong and who’s weak is hardly perplexing/But strong can look weak when a new champ is flexing.”  Ahead and behind are different for each person in a line.  Point of view can be everything, and readers are encouraged to look closely to recognize their own perspective in a situation.  32 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  Kids will be flexing their critical thinking muscles in this intriguing look at opposites and how they’re not always concrete.  The somewhat retro-looking illustrations and font are fun; readers will enjoy watching what the cat and elephant do on each page.

Cons:  Some of the more abstract concepts may be difficult for younger readers to grasp.

Published by Little, Brown

Summary:  The sailors are longing to be homeward bound, but when the lookout spies the great white whale, the captain’s orders come through and the chase is on.  A harpoon is thrown and hits its mark.  The whale dives deep, dragging the boats with it.  Then the magnificent white whale rises again to the surface, only…it’s bedtime.  The narrator protests, but Dad’s word is a law above Captain Ahab, and the tale literally goes down the drain.  The boy falls asleep to the sound of one more sea chanty.  An author’s note gives more information about Moby-Dick and the process of how this book was created, along with a link to her website.

Pros:  A picture book based on Moby-Dick?  I was skeptical, but, call me Ishamel, it works!  The story is appealing and understandable to kids, and the amazing collage illustrations will surely be considered by the Caldecott committee.

Cons:  Kids inspired to move directly from this book to Herman Melville’s original may encounter a struggle worthy of Ahab.

Published by Roaring Brook Press

Summary:  Moose the dog loves hellos and hates good-byes.  When his friend Zara goes to school, he finds ways to join her.  Each time he gets into school, it takes more and more people to get him to leave again, until finally, Zara’s parents and teacher, the principal, the librarian, and the lunch ladies are all in on the act.  One of Moose’s favorite parts of school is listening to books, and this gives Zara an idea.  She signs Moose up for therapy dog training, and he proves to be a natural.  With his new certification, he is welcome in school, listening to kids practice their reading each day.  An author’s note gives more information about therapy dogs and how they differ from service dogs; two websites are included for more information.  40 pages; grades K-2.

Pros:  Moose is pretty irresistible, and his antics will amuse young readers.  Zara is in a wheelchair, but this is scarcely touched on in the story and she is fully integrated into her classroom and a capable trainer for her dog.

Cons:  Moose’s behavioral turn-around seemed overly optimistic to me.