Picture books

Mushroom Rain by Laura Zimmerman, illustrated by Jamie Green

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Sleeping Bear Press

Summary:  Mushrooms can suddenly pop up anywhere, especially after a rain.  With a wide variety of colors and scents, the mushrooms are often used as food, including by humans.  The mushrooms may seem to disappear, but they continue to grow underground, the largest stretching for miles after growing for thousands of years.  Mushrooms reproduce by spores, which can even seed clouds and produce the rain that encourages the growth of new mushrooms.  Includes four pages of information about mushrooms, including a craft and additional resources.  32 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  A fascinating look at something many of us may take for granted, with gorgeous close-up illustrations of a wide variety of mushrooms.

Cons:  Is it just me, or are mushrooms just a little bit creepy?

Waiting for Mama by Gianna Marino

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Published by Viking Books for Young Readers

Summary:  A penguin egg narrates what it hears as its mother goes for food and its father keeps it warm and safe, tucked between his feet.  Finally, the egg hatches, and the baby is able to see its dad.  When the mother penguins all return, the baby listens for its mother’s distinctive sounds.  Finally, it recognizes her, and the family is reunited.  Includes additional information about emperor penguins.  40 pages; ages 2-6.

Pros:  Beautiful illustrations depict penguin scenes both close-up and zoomed out, backed by gorgeous Antarctic sky.  Does double duty as a perfect read for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.

Cons:  Cons for a book about animal parents on Mother’s Day? Not on my watch.  

Dress-Up Day by Blanca Gómez

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  The narrator is excited to wear her homemade rabbit costume for dress-up day at school.  But when the big day arrives, she’s home sick in bed.  She’s feeling better the next day, so her mom suggests she wear her costume.  She’s excited to get to school but feels self-conscious when she sees the other kids in their regular clothes.  Turns out that Hugo was out sick the day before, too, and a few minutes later, he shows up at school in his costume…a carrot!  “Be sad no more, little rabbit–your carrot is here!”  Before long, everyone is hopping around the playground, and Hugo is her new best friend.  The next day, the other kids come to school in costume, ready to play more imaginary games.  40 pages; ages 3-6

Pros:  Well, right off the bat, I love Hugo.  Any kid who dresses up like a carrot, then says the line above is someone I’d like to hang out with.  Overall, this is a cute story that will resonate with preschoolers and show them that it’s okay to do their own thing.

Cons:  Getting sick on dress-up day.

Kick Push by Frank Morrison

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Summary:  Ivan is a skateboard champ whose moves have earned him the nickname Epic from his friends.  When his family moves to a new neighborhood, he hits the streets with his skateboard, but he misses having friends around to cheer him on.  He tries to connect with kids through football, soccer, and basketball, but those sports prove not to be his thing.  To cheer him up, his mom gives him money to buy a treat at the bodega.  He travels there by skateboard, practicing his tricks as he zooms past groups of kids.  They’re impressed, and Epic discovers that being true to his skateboarding self has gotten him a new group of friends.  Includes an author’s note (at the beginning of the book) about his own less-than-stellar skateboarding attempts.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The be-yourself message combines lots of skateboarding language and some pretty epic illustrations.  Frank Morrison is overdue for a Caldecott, and hopefully that committee and/or Coretta Scott King will consider this book.

Cons:  Despite Epic’s expertise, I thought a helmet and some other protective gear would have been a nice addition to the illustrations.

Let’s Go to Taekwondo! A Story About Persistence, Bravery, and Breaking Boards by Aram Kim

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Published by Holiday House

Summary:  Yoomi is a dedicated taekwondo student looking forward to earning her yellow belt.  On the day of the test, she and the other white belt kids kick and punch with no problem.  When it comes to breaking a board, though, Yoomi is afraid of getting hurt and stops just short of the board.  Her teacher assures her she can try again, but Yoomi becomes so anxious about not being able to break the board that she stops going to class.  Her grandmother doesn’t try to force her to go but tells Yoomi that she is going to stop trying to learn how to use the computer to call her sister in Korea.  Yoomi encourages her to keep trying, and eventually Grandma succeeds.  Yoomi gets the point and returns to class the next day, where she finally breaks the board and gets her yellow belt.  Includes additional information about taekwondo.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This story of persistence is populated with adorable animals.  Grandma wisely shows rather than tells, and Yoomi shows courage in continuing to try something that is difficult for her.

Cons:  Master Cho is a scarily large rabbit…approximately the same size as one of the adult judges, a tiger, yet the mouse adult judge fits into the palm of the tiger’s hand (paw). 

Sun in My Tummy by Laura Alary, illustrated by Andrea Blinick

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Published by Pajama Press

Summary:  Oatmeal, blueberries, and milk may seem like a ho-hum breakfast, but there is magic in the foods we eat.  The oats and the blueberries grew out of the soil, warmed by the sun, and watered by the rain.  They make food from sunlight, creating seeds which can be used to grow new plants.  The cow was able to make milk because she ate grass that grew with the help of sun and rain as well.  “Inside everything, if you look deep enough, you will find the sun. Warm-hearted. Generous. Giving.”  Includes additional information about photosynthesis.  32 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  This is an excellent science book for primary grades, starting with a concept everyone will recognize and using free verse and whimsical illustrations to foster a sense of wonder about the natural world.

Cons:  I felt like this book could use a subtitle, since “Sun in My Tummy” may not immediately call to mind photosynthesis.

Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings by Laurel Snyder, illustrated by Dan Santat

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Chronicle Books

Summary:  Your mama wakes you up with the news that your granny is ill and you need to take her a basket of food.  Do you put on your faux fur cape (turn to page 20) or your favorite red cape (page 6)?  Each choice leads to a new twist in the story, some intersecting with other fairy tales like Snow White and Jack and the Beanstalk, until an end is reached, either happy or tragic.  One path leads to the last few pages, where Red (a.k.a. you) decides to go on more adventures and is told “But whether you adventure far or sit alone or snooze, the thing you must remember is that every day…you choose.”  92 pages; grades K-3.  

Pros:  I was excited about this book when I read reviews, and it did not disappoint.  I’m looking forward to sharing it with some classes, where I’ll have the kids vote on which path to take.  The rhyming text is fun to read, and Dan Santat’s illustrations add delightful touches to all the stories.

Cons:  I got eaten by the wolf pretty early on.

The Great Zapfino by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Marla Frazee

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Beach Lane Books

Summary:  The action opens at the circus, where The Great Zapfino is climbing a high, high ladder to a platform from which he will jump onto a tiny trampoline below.  One minute he’s there, and the next he’s gone.  He hightails it away from the circus to an airport, arriving at a high-rise building where he becomes an elevator operator.  Each day he meets all kinds of people on the elevator, and each night he goes back to his room and makes toast for supper until one day the toaster catches on fire.  As the room fills with black smoke, Zapfino runs to the window.  With no choice, he leaps to a trampoline rescuers are holding below, finally nailing the jump he ran away from in the circus.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Mac Barnett and Caldecott honoree Marla Frazee have created a winner with this black-and-white nearly wordless book that feels a little bit like an old silent movie.  The illustrations of the elevator throughout the day are particularly well-done, and kids will want to slow down to get a good look at all the people.  I wouldn’t say no to some Caldecott consideration.

Cons:  That’s a lot of smoke for one little piece of burned toast.

I’m Terrified of Bath Time by Simon Rich, illustrated by Tom Toro

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Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  You might suspect a child is narrating this book, but no, it’s a bathtub.  Most of its day is spent pleasantly with Sink and Toilet, but every night a giant appears and twists its eyeballs to make water shoot out of its nose.  When the tub is full of water, an equally terrified child appears, resistant to getting in the water.  Sometimes she kicks the tub’s nose, sometimes she screams in its ear, and once she pooped (a low point for both of them).  “You have all the power in the relationship.  Which is why I’m asking for a favor.”  Be kind: decorate the tub’s nose, sing some songs, and bathtime can be fun for all parties involved.  40 pages; ages 3-5.

Pros:  Authored by a Saturday Night Live writer and illustrated by a New Yorker cartoonist, this book is surprisingly kid friendly…bathroom humor in its purest form.  As the parent of a child who was once terrified of baths, I have a special appreciation for a book with this topic.  

Cons: Bath time or bathtime?

A Good Place by Lucy Cousins

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Published by Candlewick

Summary:  Four insects are seeking a good home: Bee wants flowers, Ladybug is searching for leaves, Beetle needs dead wood, and Dragonfly is looking for a pond.  Each time one thinks it has found the perfect place, humans turn out to have made it less than ideal because of garbage, traffic, or pesticides.  Finally, a passing butterfly hears about their dilemma and leads them to a beautiful garden a boy has created.  The garden has flowers, leaves, a pond, and even a dead log.  All four celebrate on the last page.  32 pages; ages 3-7.

Pros:  And just like that, I have a book to read tomorrow to a class of preschoolers starting a gardening unit.  Lucy Cousins has created four endearing insect characters with a gentle environmental message that even the youngest readers will grasp.

Cons:  It would have been nice to have a little back matter about creating a garden.