Published by Greystone Kids

Summary:  Animals and children play through the pages of this book: a rabbit hides in the grass, then hops with a cricket, while a fox and turtle go nose to nose, sniffing and sneaking.  After the animals come the children, jumping and hiding in their own patches of grass.  The refrain “We play too! Kimêtawânaw mîna” appears on all the pages depicting the kids.  The animals are listed at the end in English and Cree, with the Cree words for one animal, more than one, and younger, smaller, cuter versions of that animal.  There’s also additional information on the Cree language and a website readers can visit to hear pronunciations of the words in the book; also a letter from the author with more information about her inspirations for creating this book.  48 pages; ages 2-7.

Pros:  Kids will love the beautiful illustrations of the different animals portrayed on simple white backgrounds, and the pictures of the children may inspire them to get up and move like the animals.

Cons:  The headings on the list of animals were “English”, “One”, “More than one”, and “Younger, Smaller, Cuter”; I had to read the next page to figure out they were in Cree.

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Jenny Mei is sad, but most of the time you can’t tell.  She smiles a lot and is kind to other kids.  Her friend knows, though, and when Jenny Mei acts out at school, her friend waits for her to talk to the counselor, then walks home with her, stopping on the way for a popsicle.  As they approach Jenny Mei’s house, her friend asks, “How are you doing?”  Jenny Mei doesn’t answer, but her eyes fill with tears.  “Being sad is hard,” observes her friend.  “But she knows I’m here for fun and not-fun and everything in between.  Because that’s what friends are for.”  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  School and family therapists will find this a helpful book for all kinds of situations.  The fact that the cause of Jenny Mei’s sadness is never identified makes her emotions universal, and her wise-beyond-her-years friend shows kids how to deal with other children whose behaviors may be confusing.

Cons:  I was hoping for an author’s note and/or some resource lists at the end.

Published by Balzer + Bray

Summary:  One day when Mama’s away from the nest, Mel decides she’s going to try flying.  “It sure is a long drop,” her brother comments, while her sister asks, “Aren’t you scared?”  “Yes,” says Mel, “But I won’t let that stop me.”  Off she goes, spreading her wings and diving straight down, past owls, bees, ants, spiders, and other tree inhabitants, who all try, unsuccessfully, to break her fall.  Finally, Mel lands headfirst–in the water.  She dives deep, catches a fish, and heads out again, flying back up the tree.  The animals she passed on the way down watch in amazement, cheering her all the way back to the nest, where she is joyously greeted by Mama and her siblings (the fish gets released and has his own dive back into the water).  Includes a brief author’s note about kingfishers, which is what Mel and her family are. 40 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  Well, this is just pure fun.  The book is designed to be read top to bottom instead of side to side.  After Mel’s dive, there’s one page that’s read the conventional way, and then the book is turned in the other direction…it’s kind of hard to explain, but the unique design may help win some awards, and definitely will win the hearts of young readers.  A good lesson about trying things when you’re scared is subtly inserted as well.

Cons:  I found myself trying to figure out how I could turn this uniquely-formatted book into a Google slideshow to share on Zoom. Then I remembered that I hopefully will never have to do that again (that part is not a “Con”).

Published by Roaring Brook Press

Summary:  Two animals tell their stories: Monkey is stranded on a dessert island made of chocolate, frosting, and berries, while Fox is stuck on a rocky desert island.  While Monkey is feasting on cake, Fox is going hungry.  When a berry falls off the cake, Fox is thrilled to scoop it up as it floats by.  Fox plants one of the berry’s seeds, and a rainstorm helps grow a plant–and starts washing away Monkey’s cake.  The plant proves key to Monkey’s rescue, and the last berry from the cake allows the two new friends to start over.  The final spread shows the two friends on a desert island with a berry plant flourishing, and their thought: “We are very lucky.”  40 pages; ages 3-8.  

Pros:  This picture book debut tells a simple story, but could spark some interesting discussions about kindness, cooperation, and how quickly fortunes can change.  Monkey and Fox are a pretty cute pair; it would be great to see more about what transpires on their desert island.

Cons:  Despite the berry plant, the desert island situation doesn’t seem sustainable.

Published by Orchard Books

Summary:  “The night wished it was quieter.  The bag wished it was deeper.  The light wished it was brighter.”  The story of a family’s escape from their home in an open sailboat is told with spare text and illustrations, showing them saying goodbye to loved ones, walking a long road with three small children, and traveling by boat on a stormy sea until they are finally picked up by a larger ship and see their destination ahead.  “I didn’t have to wish anymore,” concludes the story, switching into the first-person voice of the young girl narrator. Includes notes from the artist and the author, telling of her family’s escape from Vietnam in the 1980’s and tying it into the story of present-day refugees.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  It’s amazing how much of a story can be told in just a few brief sentences, accompanied by the lush, detailed illustrations, which should not escape the attention of the Caldecott committee.  The back matter fills in details and invites readers to think more deeply about how they can help new refugees.

Cons:  It’s hard to know what age to recommend this book for.  It looks like a 4-8 picture book, but I think older kids would benefit from it and understand it on a deeper level.

Published by Norton Young Readers

Summary:  Lili is thrilled when Nai Nai (her grandmother) invites her to help with baos, dumplings made with dough, filled with a spicy pork filling, and steamed in a basket lined with cabbage leaves.  When they go to steam them, though, Nai Nai discovers she’s out of cabbage.  She sends Lili to Babcia’s fifth floor apartment to borrow some.  Babcia has a head of cabbage, but needs potatoes for her pierogies, and sends her to Granma’s on the second floor.  And so it goes, as grandmothers throughout the apartment building need different ingredients to make their versions of dumplings.  Finally, Lili is able to return to Nai Nai’s, where they finish their bao.  They join all the others in the courtyard for a dumpling feast, which turns into a welcome-home party for Lili’s new baby brother…another dumpling treasure.  Includes a recipe for baos and pictures of all the other dumplings on the endpapers.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This mouth-watering picture book may inspire young cooks to try bao and some of the other yummy foods mentioned in the story.  The party and new baby brother make a perfect ending.

Cons:  I would have liked more information for the other dumplings, especially their countries/cultures of origin.