Published by Candlewick

Summary:  Daniela’s next-door neighbor and best friend Evelyn is moving away.  The girls get together and play one last time as Evelyn’s parents finish packing, and their mothers hug goodbye.  Even though the girls promise to call every day and have a sleepover in the summer, Daniela knows that things won’t be the same after today.  There are plenty of tears as the del Rey family drives away.  Daniela’s mother assures her that she’ll make other friends, but Daniela knows that Evelyn will always have a special place in her heart as her first best friend.  The last page shows a picture of an older Daniela happily looking through a box of letters and photos from Evelyn.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This quiet story by Newbery medalist Meg Medina perfectly captures the emotions of two close friends who have to say goodbye.  It both celebrates their friendship and shows their sadness in ways that will resonate with many readers.

Cons:  Their neighbor, grouchy Mr. Miller, looks pretty darn scary.

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Published by Candlewick (Released October 13)

Summary:  A polar bear is sleeping in the snow…which is shown as a blank white page.  He wakes up, and his nose appears, then his eyes, and finally the whole bear is visible.  Where is he going?  Not to play with (or eat) the seals, not to hunker in a cave, and not to meet a man (there’s a big growl for that one).  It turns out the polar bear is going to the sea, where he dives in, playing among the fish and seaweed, then is silhouetted against the sun.  When he’s done, he climbs back onto the snow.  Where is he going now?  Who knows?  40 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  This simple tale with its beautiful cut-paper illustrations will appeal to the very young, but has enough slightly snarky humor to engage older readers as well.  

Cons:  I guess we will never know where that polar bear is going.

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Published by Kids Can Press

Summary:  When Mario asks his mom why we cry, he gets a poetic answer describing different scenarios that might make a person cry:  sadness, frustration, anger, and loneliness to name a few.  The most important reason for crying, she concludes, is because you feel like crying.  Mario notices his mom is crying, and she tells him that people also cry sometimes when they are happy.  Includes scientific information about tears, as well as two activities.  34 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The lyrical text and illustrations of a young girl experiencing different emotions will help kids name their feelings and be okay with crying, whether it’s their own or someone else’s. 

Cons:  I thought this was a science book and was looking forward to a little more scientific information than this delivered.

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Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Leo and his dad love their blue house, despite its mossy roof, peeling paint, and unreliable heating system.  Astute readers will notice clues in the illustrations that the neighborhood is changing: small houses are being torn down, replaced by larger buildings.  One day, Leo’s dad picks him up from school and tells him that their house has been sold, and they have to move.  Leo is devastated.  Slowly, he and his father pack up their house, painting pictures on the bare walls to make themselves feel a little better.  They move into another small house in the same neighborhood.  “’I hate it,’ said Leo.  ‘That’s okay,’ said his dad.”  Leo’s idea to paint a picture of the blue house on his bedroom wall helps, though, and slowly, the new house starts to feel like home.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  There’s a lot to love about this book: it portrays a single-parent family that is succeeding despite the fact that they clearly are struggling financially; it deals with the sadness of moving and leaving a beloved home; and the illustrations offer tons of details that both help tell the story and are just fun (I loved the record albums).  Both the story and pictures should be enjoyed slowly and savored.

Cons:  It doesn’t seem like a great idea to move to another small house in the same neighborhood that seems to be undergoing gentrification.

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Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary:  “Once we were part of Outside and Outside was part of us.”  But now, even when we’re outside, we can be inside, like when we’re riding in a car.  It’s easy to forget about Outside, but it has a way of reminding us it’s there, by sending sunlight streaming through a window or filling the air with chirps, rustles, and tapping on the roof.  The food we eat, the water we drink, and the materials that make our clothing and furniture all come from Outside.  Answer the call, as the girl in this story does, and make your way outside.  40 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  This gorgeously illustrated ode to nature should find a place in every library and classroom.  It would make a great jumping-off point to talk about the importance of getting outside, and all the parts of our world that come from nature.  The illustrations, which I learned from the verso page are “watercolor and powdered graphite on cold press paper” should definitely get considered for some awards.

Cons:  The idea of Outside as a separate being may be a bit hard for younger kids to grasp.

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Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Bear is sad that his friend Bird has migrated south for the winter.  He plans to write her a letter each day, but by day two, he’s decided to travel to be with her.  Each letter describes a different adventure, with an illustration to go with it.  Bear journeys to the top of a volcano, the desert, a cave filled with drawings, and the sea.  He meets a mermaid and several friendly animals, and witnesses all kinds of marvels.  When he finally arrives at his destination, he learns that Bird missed him, too, and has headed back north so they can be together.  The other birds have an idea: they build a giant nest and carry it back with Bear inside.  The last page shows Bear and Bird embracing, reunited at last.  56 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A dreamy and imaginative book which could be used as a mentor text for letter-writing.  The illustrations are filled with enchanting details, and could be used as inspiring writing prompts.

Cons:  There’s no way ten birds could carry a bear in a nest all that distance.

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