Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary:  A boy and his mom make their usual Sunday visit to the laundromat, but this week is different.  It’s their last time, because they have to leave their apartment and move in with his grandparents in their trailer.  While he tries to look at the bright side–being with grandparents, having a dog–he’s sad to be leaving his familiar home and his friends.  He pretends the washing machine and dryer are wishing machines, and he wishes to be able to stay.  While they wait for the machines to run, he asks his laundromat friends what their wishes are: a new scooter, a green card, a cat.  Finally, the laundry is done, and there are enough coins left for a bag of cookies from the vending machine, which he shares with his friends.  As he and his mom leave, she shares her wish with him–to be together and happy–and he realizes that being with his mom is the most important thing.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A poignant story about a family facing hard times, with a resilient mom who helps her son stay focused on the good in their lives.

Cons:  Seems like pretty tough times for everyone at the laundromat.

Published by Holiday House

Summary:  Young mouse Hubert Cumberbun loves stories and can often be found at the branch (in a tree) library.  One day, a blizzard hits when he’s there, and Hubert has to find his way home through the hollow.  A kind woman appears, offering to lead him, and together they make a journey that grows increasingly spooky.  Trees and rocks appear to have faces, and a gatefold page shows a large bear with two frightened-looking cubs.  They make it to a familiar lamppost, and Hubert strikes out on his own.  When he turns back to say thank you, the woman is gone, and he can only see his own footprints.  He finally makes it home, where his family is gathered around the fire drinking hot chocolate and reading books.  “Welcome home,” says his mother.  “It looks like you have a new story for us.”  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A deliciously creepy tale with gorgeous snowy artwork and a reassuringly cozy ending.

Cons:  As I’ve no doubt mentioned before, I have mixed feelings about those fragile gatefold pages in the library.

Published by Kokila

Summary:  Zora loves hearing her Aunt Bea’s stories about family members.  Aunt Bea used to teach acting, and she dresses up and acts out the tales, or reads from the pages of a family scrapbook she keeps.  Lately, though, Aunt Bea has been sick, and Zora has to help with the storytelling.  When her aunt has to go to the hospital, Zora visits and tells her the stories she remembers.  Aunt Bea doesn’t come home from the hospital.  At her funeral, people bring photos and share memories.  Later, Uncle Ralph gives Zora Aunt Bea’s scrapbook with the photos, saying Aunt Bea wanted her to have it, and together they start piecing together the story of Aunt Bea’s life.  40 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros:  A beautifully illustrated book that celebrates the power of stories and family love.

Cons:  This seems like it will have more appeal for adults or older kids than for the recommended age group.

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  The narrator imagines life as a horse, with more freedom to do things like not take a bath, not wear clothes (unless he was in a parade), and getting to go wherever he wants.  He would still enjoy some of the comforts of home, coming into the kitchen when he got hungry and giving his sister a ride to school.  It would be fun to roll in the mud, and the swim team would be thrilled to have him.  The last wordless page shows a boy giving his sister a piggyback ride, revealing the human narrator.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  An ode to the power of pretending, gorgeously rendered with Sophie Blackall’s imaginative illustrations.

Cons:  I assumed this would be one of my Caldecott contenders, but it didn’t quite rise to that level for me.

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Fall is introduced with rhyming text and lively illustrations.  A diverse group of kids, who appear to be in a class together, enjoy apple picking, pumpkin carving, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.  The illustrations reflect the season, with their predominantly yellow, orange, and red shades.  Be sure to check out the endpapers for kid-style drawings of their favorite fall things.  Between that and the question on the last page: “What things to you love about fall?” kids should be ready to write and draw about the season.  32 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  Preschool and kindergarten teachers will be thrilled to see this bouncy introduction to the simple joys of autumn with plenty of material to get kids thinking about what they enjoy about fall.

Cons:  I don’t see similar books about the other seasons, although this is listed on Amazon with a parenthetical “Celebrate the Seasons, 1”, so we can hope they’re on their way.

Published by Simon and Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books

Summary:  When Ethan and his big brother Sam discover three stray cats on their way to school, Ethan wonders if they could take them home.  “You know Dad said no pets,” Sam reminds him.  Ethan worries about the cats when the weather gets colder, despite the research Sam helps him do about how strays survive.  When the boys see a sign advertising a Trap-Neuter-Return campaign, they visit the animal clinic to learn what to do.  Not only do they trap the cats and take them to the clinic to be neutered, but Sam gets three outdoor cat shelters.  When the time comes to return the cats to their street, one of them seems to want to stay with the kids.  They decide to take her home to ask their dad, and the last page shows Dusty and Ethan curled up together on his bed. Includes an author’s note with additional information about strays and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Ethan is a kind-hearted protagonist who finds a way to make a difference in his community and gets a cute pet in the process.  The information about TNR is woven into the story without coming across as preachy, and the illustrations will make readers take Ethan, Sam, and the cats to heart.

Cons:  It seemed like a bit more adult supervision was warranted.

Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  Maple is a lonely tree, surrounded by evergreen cedars and pines who have no time for a tree that loses its leaves for half the year.  Rosemary is a girl who feels friendless and comes to Maple to find solace.  As the years go by, their friendship grows, and each teaches the other.  There comes a day, though, when Rosemary no longer comes to visit.  Maple is lonely, although by now, other maples have grown from her seeds.  One day, a grown-up Rosemary returns, now a teacher who brings her students to meet Maple.  Maple loves the visits year after year, until Rosemary is old and visits by herself.  Maple gives her a stick to lean on, and the two celebrate their friendship, with Maple realizing that true friends are with you forever.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A wonderful celebration of both trees and friendship, richly illustrated to show the beauty of Maple at every season.

Cons:  The ending was–pardon the expression–a little sappy.