Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  A boy tells of his struggles with stuttering, the sounds that get stuck in his mouth like C, P, and M.  He tries not to talk much, but when his teacher calls on him to tell about his favorite place in the world, he’s forced to make an attempt.  His classmates look at him like there’s something wrong with him.  At the end of the day, his dad picks him up.  “It’s just a bad speech day,” Dad says, and takes him to the river where it’s quiet.  As they walk along the water, his father can tell he’s sad.  Dad points to the river and says, “See how that water moves? That’s how you speak.”  The boy thinks about how the water bubbles, churns, crashes, and then becomes calm and smooth, and that helps him to feel okay about the way he talks.  The next day, he tells the class about his favorite place in the world: the river. Includes an author’s note about his own experience with stuttering.  40 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  There aren’t a lot of children’s books that address stuttering, and this one does it with poetic text and beautiful illustrations.  The kids in the class are blurry, but the boy, his father, and the river are sharp and clear.  The author’s note adds a nice personal touch.

Cons:  While the boy is fortunate to have such a kind dad who helps him move toward self-acceptance, it seems like he needs more support at school.

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Published by Candlewick (Released October 6)

Summary:  Julián from Julián Is a Mermaid is back, and this time, he and his grandmother are going to a wedding.  Julián is rocking a lavender suit, and he and a girl named Marisol are attendants, Marisol scattering flower petals and Julián looking after the brides’ dog Gloria.  “A wedding”, the narrator explains, “is a party for love.”  After the ceremony, the two sneak away from the reception.  Marisol plays with Gloria, while Julián explores a fairy house under a willow tree.  When Marisol’s dress gets dirty, Julián comes to the rescue with his keen fashion sense.  The two grandmothers discover the children, and everyone goes back to the reception for dancing, cake, and a snooze for the kids.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Just like the first book, this one celebrates being yourself.  The children, the brides, and the grandmothers all do (and wear) their own thing, and everything is A-OK.  The illustrations are gorgeous with a beautiful palette of colors and should get a look at Caldecott time.

Cons:  I feel like I should recognize Marisol’s grandmother from the first book, but I can’t place her. 

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Published by Clarion Books

Summary:  It’s a big day for the Robot family when their new baby arrives, boxed up and ready for assembly.  Big sister Cathode (Cathy) is all ready to help out, but the adults are sure they can do it themselves.  One after another they fail: Dad, Mom, Uncle Manifold, and even the Robobaby Emergency Hotline.  Finally, with the help of her dog Sprocket, Cathy manages to get the Robobaby all to herself, and is able to get him up and running at last.  Everyone’s ready for a nap when Cathy takes another look in the Robobaby box and makes a startling discovery…the new baby is a twin!  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros: Caldecott medalist David Wiesner has another winning book with all kinds of interesting mechanical creations.  Unlike his many wordless books, this one is told completely through cartoon-bubble dialogue, which will sure to be a big hit with kids.  There’s lots of humor in the illustrations and robo-conversations.

Cons:  This is probably not quite the Caldecott material of some of Wiesner’s other books.  But since he’s won three medals and three honors, I guess he can afford to share the wealth.

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Published by Reycraft Books

Summary:  There are just three people in Alex’s family: him and his mom and dad.  He knows he has a big family in Cuba, so when his parents tell him his abuela is coming to stay, he’s thrilled.  The next day, his aunt Celia and her three children move in.  Then Cousin Beto arrives.  It’s fun to have so many people in the house, talking, laughing, cooking, and playing.  But it’s also crowded and noisy, and sometimes it seems like too much.  Then one morning, Mom tells Alex that Celia and Abuela are getting an apartment together, and Cousin Beto is moving out too.  Things are quiet again, but not for long…a new baby sibling is on the way!  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The story celebrates family and Cuban culture, while realistically portraying the ups and downs of going from a family of three to a family of nine in a matter of weeks.  I loved the bright, bold illustrations featuring all kinds of patterns and colors.

Cons:  I would have liked to know more about what brought all the relatives from Cuba.

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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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