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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Published by Candlewick

Summary:  Little Crab and Very Big Crab live in a tiny tide pool, but today they’re off to visit the ocean.  It’s a long journey, and when they get there, Little Crab is scared.  As one big wave after another washes over them, Little Crab is ready to turn around and go home.  But with encouragement from Very Big Crab, he manages to slowly make his way into the water.  When they see an enormous wave coming, the two crabs dive down, where they find beautifully colored coral and fish who welcome them to the ocean.  Of course, by the end of the day, Little Crab has fallen in love with the ocean and doesn’t want to leave.  They take the long way home, with Very Big Crab assuring Little Crab that he is now brave enough to go wherever he wants.  48 pages; ages 3-6.

Pros:  The interactions between Very Big Crab and Little Crab are spot on for anyone who has ever tried to encourage a reluctant child to attempt something new.  The artwork, especially the undersea scenes, is beautiful.

Cons:  How do those crabs not get washed out to sea?

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