Picture books

Not-very-scary Halloween books

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The Haunted Playground by R. J. Palacio, illustrated by Brett Helquist (Random House Books for Young Readers, 50 pages, grades K-3). Even ghosts need a break from being scary, so on Halloween night after midnight, they gather on a playground for a chance to let go, donning discarded costumes to add to the fun. Rex Magnificus, “ruler of the park,” narrates the rhyming story. When a brother and sister show up to play, Rex tries to turn them away, but the kids aren’t scared, and before long, everyone’s having a blast on the playground. It’s so much fun, in fact, that the children want to go home with the ghosts. Rex assures them that this is impossible, then sends them on their way with a promise that he and the other ghosts will return on midnight next Halloween.

Kids who are fans of Caralyn Buehner’s Snowmen at Night series will enjoy this rhyming tale about ghosts who enjoy the same things that kids do. The story felt a big too long–the usual 32 to 40 pages seems like it would have been more effective–but readers looking for a little bit of spookiness will love these ghostly illustrations.

The Great Pumpkin Pancake Party by Celeste Pewter, illustrated by Kelly Wu (Henry Holt and Co., 40 pages, ages 4-8). Lao Ye, the narrator’s grandpa, may be newly arrived from China, but he loves to build community with his new neighbors, especially by sharing food. Before Halloween, Lilly accompanies him on a trip to fill his car’s back seat with pumpkins, and when they get home, the chopping, mixing, and frying begins. Before long, they have a giant stack of pumpkin pancakes. Lilly’s a bit nervous about introducing the neighbors to this unfamiliar food, but Lao Ye is confident that they will love it. A table is set up in front of the house on Halloween night, and trick-or-treaters stop by to show off their costumes and enjoy pancakes. Lao Ye enjoys every minute, practicing his English and making everyone feel welcome. Includes an author’s note about her own grandfather, a Taiwanese immigrant who inspired this story, and a recipe for Lao Ye’s pumpkin pancakes.

This unique–and completely non-spooky–Halloween story is a great way to celebrate both the holiday and the community that it can build. Lao Ye is an inspiring character, embracing his new life and making new friends everywhere.

The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott (HarperCollins, 64 pages, ages 4-8). A skeleton leads a peaceful, solitary life until a black cat shows up who is persistent about friendship. Over the course of five short stories, the cat gently inserts himself into the skeleton’s life, teaching her the joys of knock-knock jokes, dancing, reading with a cat in your lap, and eating a sandwich (that one doesn’t work out as well for the skeleton). By the final story, it’s clear that a new friendship has been forged, and that the cat is there to stay.

This quirky friendship story is perfect for a fall story time; it includes Halloween-ish characters but never mentions the holiday. Everything about the book, from the characters to the humor to the illustrations is quiet and understated, yet kids and adults alike will find some chuckles and have their hearts warmed by getting to know these two new friends.

Summer fun

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Pandamonium! by Annie Bailey, illustrated by Bonnie Wong (Feiwel and Friends, 40 pages, ages 3-6). Pandas gather for their big family reunion, but when it comes time to take a photo, it’s impossible to get everyone looking just right. There’s sneezing, poking, nose-picking…finally, the kids can’t take it anymore, and everyone goes running all over the yard. Pandamonium! Even the adults get in on the fun. One young panda picks up a phone and takes a candid shot. And that’s the one! It’s clear the pandas are having a blast at their family reunion. Includes a ten-question Panda Family Trivia game which gives facts about both giant and red pandas.

The rhyming text and adorable panda illustrations make this a great choice for a preschool story time. Those candid shots are always the best.

Watermelon Pool by Boinsoir Lune, translated from the Korean by Frances Cha (Dial Books, 60 pages, ages 4-8). It’s opening day at the watermelon pool. The first man to get there props a ladder against the side, climbs up, picks out a few seeds, and sinks into the cool, refreshing fruit. It doesn’t take long for others to find out that the pool is open, and soon it’s filled with kids jumping in, hitting each other with watermelon bombs, and enjoying pools of juice. When the sun blazes too hot overhead, the cloud-seller shows up with his cloud parasols and rain-cloud showers. Of course, all good things must come to an end, and after everyone clears out, the last page shows four spoons and an empty watermelon rind. But don’t worry, the watermelon pool will open again next year.

I closed this book and felt like I had just woken up from a strange but delightful dream. Who are these people who swim in a watermelon, and who are the ones eating the watermelon at the end? We never find out, but we get to imagine how fun (if sticky) it would be to swim in a watermelon pool. This Korean import has been a bestseller since its publication in 2015, and now Americans can get in on the fun.

Three bears

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Incredibly Fast and Not at All Fun by Tadgh Bentley (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Did you know the first roller coaster was invented by accident? Bear just wanted a quick way to get from his quiet home to his peaceful beehives, avoiding the more crowded parts of the woods. He had to get used to the speed and steepness of the track his car went on, but it was worth it. Not really enjoying the ride, Bear was surprised when his neighbors wanted to try it. Their wails and squeals made him think they didn’t like it, but no, soon they were lining up for more. He tried adding loops and drops to scare them away, but surprisingly, that only made the ride more popular. Finally, Bear had no choice but to hand over the key and move to a quieter place at the top of a waterfall. He moved the bees to the bottom, then created a log flume to ride down the waterfall….

This is one of those books where everyone is in on the joke except for the main character. Kids will get a big kick out of Bear and his inability to understand the fun of amusement park rides. His efforts to make it less appealing of course produce exactly the opposite results, and his inadvertent invention of a water slide at the end will give everyone one last laugh.

Where Is Pierre? by Emma Clarke (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 32 pages, ages 3-6). Bear’s excited to celebrate his birthday with his penguin friend Pierre, but…where IS Pierre? As Bear wanders through town looking for his friend, there are other penguins, and there are other red berets, but readers will be challenged to locate the red beret-wearing penguin Pierre. Finally, Bear tracks him down, and there’s a birthday surprise waiting for him. Pierre takes over the narration from there, ending with, “Where IS Bear?”

Those not quite ready to find Waldo will have a lot of fun figuring out where Pierre is. He’s hidden enough to make this challenging, but not so much as to cause frustration. The animal illustrations, rhyming text, and birthday surprise make this an appealing choice for the youngest readers.

Bear Hair by Jeff Mack (Henry Holt and Co., 40 pages, ages 4-8). Playing with homophones bear/bare and hair/hare, this story follows a bear and a rabbit who discover a blue wig. The hair is on bear, the hare is on bear, then hair is on hare, who is on a bare bear…you get the idea. The illustrations help sort out the confusion, and eventually the new words tear and share are introduced to come up with a solution that is satisfactory to both the bear and the hare.

This would be a great way to introduce homophones, with cute illustrations that are sure to produce plenty of laughs. The youngest readers, or those just learning English, may need some help understanding exactly what is going on, but they’ll get a kick out of the friendship story and may start to recognize some of the words.

Sporty types

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Offside by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, illustrated by Mari Costa (Graphix, 208 pages, grades 4-8). This year’s middle school soccer team is open to girls for the first time, and just about everyone seems to have an opinion about that. Nicky, who fought for the opportunity to play on a team where she has a better chance of being scouted, is thrilled. Al, whose Brazilian father and grandfather have passed on their ideas about girls and sports, is determined to do whatever it takes to keep the team boys only. Fabiola and Sebastian, newly arrived from Colombia and Peru respectively, speak little English and just want a chance to play the sport they love. Palmer, sidelined with an injury, is bilingual and serves as a translator for the different teammates. As the season progresses, the kids–with some encouragement from their coaches–realize that to win games, they need to put aside their differences and appreciate each other’s strengths. By the end of the story, not only have they become a winning team on the field, but they’ve learned to act together to speak up for equal sports opportunities for everyone.

Those who have followed the World Cup this summer will appreciate this soccer-themed graphic novel with its uplifting message about equal access for all athletes. The different characters are well-drawn (in both senses of the word), showing growth as players and people throughout the story. Spanish and English are cleverly woven together in the dialog bubbles. Includes a glossary of soccer terms and a full-page illustrated explanation of what offsides means. I still don’t get it.

The Long Hike: The True Story of the First Appalachian Thru-Hike by Meghan McCarthy (Beach Lane Books, 48 pages, grades 1-5). Before World War II, Earl Shaffer had planned to hike the Appalachian Trail with his best friend Walter. But Walter didn’t survive the war, and Earl decided to go it alone, to “walk the war out of my system.” Following the motto, “carry as little as possible but choose that little with care,” Earl set out from Georgia on April 4, 1948. He suffered through blisters, mosquitoes, heat and cold (New Jersey prohibited campfires at the time), and a trail that was sometimes difficult to follow. But he also met interesting people along the way and was soothed by the natural world. Finally, on August 6, he stood atop Maine’s Mount Katahdin, the first person to have hiked the entire trail. Earl spent the rest of his life advocating for the preservation of the Appalachian Trail, and did two more through-hikes, including on in 1998, in which he set a record for the oldest person (at the time) to hike the trail. Includes several pages of back matter, with additional information on Earl Shaffer and the Appalachian Trail, as well as resources to learn more.

I love Meghan McCarthy’s quirky nonfiction books, and it’s been a few years since I’ve seen a new one. This one is a lot of fun, detailing Earl Shaffer’s adventures on the Appalachian Trail, along with excerpts from the notebook he kept along the way. The illustrations of different parts of the trail and beautiful and may inspire readers to get outside for a hike themselves. This is a timely story, as the record for oldest person hiking the AT is on track to be broken this summer by 91-year-old Dale Sanders.

A couple of wacky books about dinosaurs

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Unlikely Friends (Diary of a Dinoghost, book 1) by Monica Arnaldo (Scholastic, published August 4, 96 pages, grades 1-3). Cobble is a dinoghost–a brontosaurus who has been a ghost “since the asteroid.” When he can’t remember if this is day 36,599,236,001 or 36,500236,002 of being a ghost, he decides he should start a diary. Good thing, too, because things start to get interesting. He’s been hanging out lately at Kevin’s house, Kevin being a seven-year-old boy who loves to put ketchup on everything. When Kevin adds ketchup to his new goldfish bowl, the fish becomes a ghost as well. Cobble and Bonny begin a tenuous friendship, with Bonny trying to convince Cobble to take her to the ocean. Cobble is reluctant to disturb his well-established routine, but finally he agrees. Without the routine, things get a little…chaotic, but the two new friends persevere, and the last page sees them setting off on their journey.

Another Scholastic Branches series just right for the beginning chapter book audience. It’s a quirky story to say the least, but Cobble and Bonny are an endearing pair, and the diary format with the many cartoon-style illustrations make it a great first chapter book. Look for book 2 in November.

I Used to Be a Dinosaur by Casey Lyall, illustrated by Laurie Keller (Greenwillow Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). A plucky chicken reminds herself and her fellow hens that, “I used to be a dinosaur.” She recalls past glories of a mighty roar, powerful jaws, and tiny arms (actually, that part is still the same). Life on the farm can seem dull by comparison, but when her chicks hatch, she reminds them of their proud heritage and that they can choose to be as strong as their ancestors.

While the concept of evolution may be a bit over the heads of the intended audience, they’ll enjoy the colorful cartoon-style illustrations featuring dinosaurs, the lively rhyming text, and the message of being your best self. This would pair well with Lena the Chicken.

Celebrating heritage

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Celebrate We Gullah Geechee by Yvette R. Murray, illustrated by Tonya Engel (Free Spirit Publishing, 44 pages, grades 1-4). Five children introduce readers to the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor that runs along the coast of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Each child focuses on one of the senses, describing what can be seen, heard, felt, smelled, and tasted in the region. Includes an author’s note with additional information about the area, where she has lived all her life; an artist’s note; and a list of websites to learn more.

The lyrical text and brilliantly colored illustrations will whet readers’ appetite to travel to this region to explore more–it certainly got me intrigued. The author’s note touches on the history of the area, but I wish there had been a little more of that as well as a good map. The list of resources is helpful to seek out more information.

Where They Gather by Teresa Rodrigues, illustrated by Jamiel Law (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, grades K-3). A pecan tree sees many seasons in the generations of a Black family, starting from the time it starts as a seedling on a farm built by a couple recently freed from slavery. Over the years, the tree is witness to happy times as the people gather for big events like a wedding, play in its shade, and gather the nuts in the autumn. But it also sees the hard times, like when the family is burned out of their home by a mob. They persist, though, rebuilding and taking to the streets with signs of protest. The last page shows the tree towering over a small house with a family gathered together in celebration again. Includes an author’s note and photos of the pecan tree in her grandmother’s yard that inspired this book.

A gentle introduction to Black history, with rhyming text and illustrations showing the family and tree through many seasons, both literally and metaphorically. The final message is one of perseverance and hope.

Sibling rivalry

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The Band of Bigs (League of Littles, book 2) by Casey Lyall, illustrated by Sara Faber (Greenwillow Books, 128 pages, grades 3-7). When an older brother babysitter gets locked out of the house by his younger siblings, the Band of Bigs is on the case. Rushing to the house, the Band discovers that the younger siblings have been joined by three members of the League of Littles who have not only locked the doors but rigged up a series of booby traps to prevent entry. A new recruit to the Band of Bigs proves her worth, some kids from the Middles and Onlys Guild show up to mediate, and everything is resolved just in time for the parents’ return. The mysterious Big Big phones in at the end with an approving message and the promise of further adventures. Includes a Q&A session between the author and illustrator about how the book was created.

I missed last year’s book 1 of this graphic novel series, and I recommend reading it, as I did, before moving on to book 2. The premise is an extremely fun one: there are rival spy organizations for older and younger siblings, and each is called on when someone in their demographic is in trouble. I hope book 3 will explain more about the intriguing but slightly mysterious Middles and Onlys Guild. Each book is 128 pages, making it a quick read and good entry point for beginning graphic novel readers.

The Great Escape by Deborah Marcero (G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, ages 4-8). Evie believes in the power of magic and wants a chance to practice hers, but she has no power over her three siblings, Wolfie, Bunnie, and Teddy, who insist on following her everywhere. When a snowstorm hits, Evie sees her chance for escape, but the kids put on scarves and boots and head outside with her. Desperate, Evie grabs a stick to use as a wand, says some magic words, and dives into the snow. She tumbles into a magical world (turn the book upside down to get the proper perspective), and of course, the three younger kids dive in after her. The unfamiliar surroundings arouse Evie’s protective instincts, and she finds herself looking out for her siblings. When Teddy takes off, the others follow and find him helping a whale whose baby is caught in a net of constellations. They help the whales, then, mission accomplished, head for home where they enjoy hot chocolate on the couch before falling asleep.

This ode to siblings and the power of imagination has beautiful, magical illustrations that distinctively show the ordinary world and the magic one. Not only are the styles different, but the whole book has to be turned upside down to see what the kids find under the snow. This book is currently at #13 on the Goodreads Caldecott list, and I’m looking forward to making it part of my mock Caldecott activities in the fall.

Indigenous wisdom

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You Are the Land by Steph Littlebird (Nancy Paulsen Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). From the time she’s born, a Native girl is surrounded by love, both from her family members and the natural world. She compares the two: her grandmother is like a flower with petals to wrap around her and keep her safe; her grandfather is like water, nurturing her and teaching her to use her voice like a thundering waterfall. Her parents, too, take care of her and teach her about the world, lessons that she passes on when she grows older and has a little sister. At her first powwow, she comes to appreciate her community, and she carries those lessons forward as that community works together to protect their land. “My culture teaches me that I am the land,” she concludes, “and the land is me.” Includes an author’s foreword telling how her Atfalati Kalapuya and Clatsop Chinook tribal connections have taught her to take care of the land and encouraging readers to do the same.

I love the environmental message of this book, with its emphasis on family, community, and connection to the land, but it’s the illustrations that make it truly spectacular. showing the girl and her family in a variety of beautiful nature scenes filled with a rainbow of colors. Those familiar with Steph Littlebird’s illustrations in My Powerful Hair will appreciate the way she connects the girl’s hair to the natural world.

The Animals Speak: the Lakota Way by S.D. Nelson, translated by Dakota Goodhouse (Harry N. Abrams, 48 pages, ages 4-8). “If you look with your eyes and listen with your ears, our animal relatives will share their ancient wisdom with you,” the author tells readers on the first page. “This is the Lakota way.” From there, each spread introduces a different animal with both the English and Lakota names and what that animal can teach: buffalo shows how to share and be generous, raven teaches how to listen and make wise choices. There are 16 animals (actually 15 and a tree) in all, with humans being the 17th on the last page. Each animal is shown in its habitat with symbols that suggest interconnectedness. Includes an author’s note with additional information about what humans can learn from animals and the art and traditions of the Lakota that inspired this book.

Another beautifully illustrated book by an Indigenous author, this could be used as a prompt for kids to consider their favorite animals and the lessons those animals teach. Each picture invites contemplation, with its interesting symbols and various portrayals of animals.

Celebrating Black history and culture

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We Are Joy by Chrystal D. Giles, illustrated by Kitt Thomas (Random House Books for Young Readers, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Each spread shows an extended family celebrating joy in some way: “We are joy-filled” as they enjoy dinner together, “We are joy-inspired” as they sing together in church. Even difficult times, when words are ignored or the promise of justice is late, “We are joy-starved.” But Pop-Pop says, “Joy comes in the morning,” and the family focuses on education and their “created culture” that “moves the world.” From connecting with family to connecting with allies who support and lift them, this is a celebration of Black joy.

This is a great introduction to Black history and culture, with text and illustration that could prompt lots of discussions. It doesn’t gloss over more difficult issues, but there is also a sense of resilience and returning to joy.

Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (Crown Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, grades K-5). Black hands are the theme of this poem, from those “clutching memories” and that “reached for kinfolk” after being torn away from their homes and sold into slavery. They helped build a nation, forging iron, stitching clothing, and growing crops. Black hands played music, wrote literature, built colleges, and helped explore space. They broke chains, elected leaders, and were raised in protest, and now Black hands point the way to liberty and justice for all. Includes additional information about those pictured on each page.

This award-winning (multiple times!) author and illustrator team are sure to be considered for more recognition for this beautiful book that traces Black history through Black hands, looking at both literal and metaphorical accomplishments. Students of Black history will enjoy looking for familiar scenes and faces in the illustrations, and the back matter provides information on those they may not recognize.

Making stuff

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Turtle with a Toolbox by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Dudolf (HarperCollins, 32 pages, ages 3-6). Turtle’s toolbox (which is kind of weirdly built into his shell) contains everything he needs to start building. Although he starts working alone, before long he’s joined by a whole team of friendly animals who help him plan, saw, hammer, and refine their work. By the end of the story, the group is ready to celebrate in their new treehouse fit for a king.

This adorable book will be loved by any preschoolers fascinated by tools and construction. The rhyming text and cute illustrations include some pretty advanced construction terms, like laying joists for a floor, framing windows and doors, and plastering walls. This is billed as book 1, so hopefully we’ll get to see more adventures of these industrious animals.

Stubby: A Pencil’s Journey by Sydra Mallery, illustrated by John Hare (Greenwillow Books, 40 pages, grades 1-4). Stubby may be small now, but he used to be one of the biggest things in the forest, an evergreen tree. He loves his life in nature, but sometimes every day seems the same. So when some big machines invade the quiet and chop him down, he’s excited for the chance to travel. All kinds of things happen to him until he winds up as a pencil in a box with nine new friends. A girl with sparkly unicorn nail polish grabs him off the shelf, and Stubby finds himself in a new place: school. There, he bounces from one owner to another, even getting a chance to visit one of the kids at home. Each time he gets sharpened, he can feel himself getting smaller. Just as things seem like they might get existential, a new boy grabs him. “You saw me for who I really am.” Stubby tells him. Now his name is written on his side in permanent marker, and he seems to have found his forever home.

Whew, this is quite the adventure with many interesting stops along the way, including detailed drawings of how a tree is transformed into a pencil. Readers will recognize the journey a pencil can take once it’s in the classroom. It’s a bit long for a group read-aloud, but hopefully the cartoon illustrations, technical details, and humorous situations will keep kids engaged.