Published by Cameron Kids

Summary:  Curmudgeonly Owl T. Fencepost just wants some peace and quiet–so he turns to books.  He sends a letter to the local bookshop requesting the title How to Soundproof Your Forest Dwelling.  Bessie Squirrel writes back that it’s out of stock, but suggests Yes, You Do Want to Live in the Woods: Why Life in the Trees Is the Bee’s Knees.  As Owl reluctantly befriends a group of young animals who keep visiting his house, Bessie keeps sending him helpful books about cooking, crafts, and other ideas for keeping the kids busy and happy.  The youngsters get wind of the correspondence and plan a party, inviting both Owl and Bessie without the other’s knowledge.  Bessie sends one more letter after the party, thanking Owl and asking him what he wants next.  The last page shows Owl in a hat and bow tie with the message, “Don’t send anything, please.  I am on my way.”  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A charming book told in letters with adorable animal illustrations, and a nice message of friendship that can transform even the most hardcore introvert.

Cons:  It wasn’t clear how the snail mail carrier delivered the books.

Published by Anne Schwartz Books

Summary:  “Welcome to Dream Street–the best street in the world!”  As we tour this street, we meet the neighbors, young and old, each one with a story to tell.  Mr. Sidney is a dapper dresser who has vowed never to wear a uniform again after retiring from a career with the post office.  Belle loves butterflies and wants to become a lepidopterist.  The five Phillips boys are all named after jazz musicians and keep their parents busy all day long.  And cousins Ede and Tari love to draw and write, dreaming of someday creating a picture book together.  The children all know that they can become whatever they want but are savoring every bit of their childhood on Dream Street.  Includes a brief note from the author and illustrator and a dedication to their mothers; also a list of the Phillips brothers’ namesakes.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  I did not know that Tricia Elam Walker and Ekua Holmes are cousins until I read this book, which is based on their childhood in Roxbury, Massachusetts (they are Ede and Tari in the book).  The collage art is phenomenal and will undoubtedly receive consideration for both Caldecott and Coretta Scott King recognition.  This would make an excellent mentor text for writing about characters.

Cons:  This came out too late for me to include on my mock Caldecott slideshow.

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  When a family gathers for Sunday dinner, the narrator heads out to the kitchen for cooking lessons from Granny.  Macaroni and cheese, greens, grilled meats: for each one she offers this refrain, “Unless [food] is on the table, it’s not Soul Food Sunday.”  After he follows her instructions, she tells him each dish is the best she’s seen in all her life.  While the food is being carried to the table, the boy remembers one thing they forgot, and works by himself to mix up a pitcher of iced tea.  Once again, Granny declares it the best of her life, adding “unless sweet tea is on the table, it’s not Soul Food Sunday.”  Includes notes from the author and illustrator and a mac ‘n’ cheese recipe.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A heartwarming story of food and family, with brilliantly colored illustrations that will get your mouth watering.  The repeated refrains in the text would make this a fun read-aloud.

Cons:  The text’s font is kind of small and sometimes is hard to see against the intense colors of the illustrations.

Published by Berbay Publishing

Summary:  “The fox is one of the only wild creatures in the world that can successfully make a life for itself in cities.”  One such fox goes under the name of Clive Prendergast (his real name can only be pronounced by other foxes).  He lives in a one-room apartment and works in a factory, putting together the same two parts over and over without ever knowing what they’re for.  Clive pretty much keeps to himself, but he does have one friend: Humphrey, a donkey who is faring less well in the city, with no fixed address or steady job.  One day, Humphrey finds two tickets to the theater, and the friends get to enjoy the premiere of a play called Nobody Owns the Moon, including fancy hors d’oeuvres beforehand and free cake afterward.  As the two of them walk home together, they look at the lights and hear the sounds of the city, declaring, “This is our town!” before hugging each other and parting ways.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Cute animal tale or stinging indictment of capitalism?  One of the best decisions I made around the blog this year was to start reviewing more from small presses, which led me to some really original books like this one.  This could be shared with preschoolers or used with much older kids/people to start what could be a very interesting discussion.

Cons:  I simultaneously loved this book and was totally bummed out by it.

Published by Levine Querido

Summary:  It’s the first day of school for Rashin, who has recently moved to the U.S. from Iran.  She tells readers about her morning, with an emphasis on shapes: the bear-shaped bottle of honey on the table, the round wheels on the cars, the unfamiliar shapes of letters in the classroom.  The teacher asks her new students to tell her where they’re from and starts off the discussion by sharing that she’s from Benin, a country that is shaped like a flashlight.  Other kids are from Japan, shaped like a seahorse; Italy, shaped like a boot; and India, shaped like a Hindu goddess.  When it’s Rashin’s turn, she compares Iran to a cat–a Persian cat–and amuses her classmates with her cat pose.  They decide the United States looks like a whale, and an illustration shows them all riding on its back.  “By the end of the day,” says Rashin, “my classroom is shaped like home.”  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A perfect combination of a first-day-of-school book and a celebration of the diversity that immigrants bring to a group.  The countries are shown as the kids mention them, but you’ll want to have a world map handy to locate each one.

Cons:  Come to think of it, a world map would have been a nice addition at the end of the book.