Published by HarperCollins

Summary:  The Good Egg likes to help others and follow the rules.  The other eggs in his carton…not so much. As they stay up late, eat sugary cereal, and throw tantrums, the Good Egg tries to keep the peace and get everyone to behave.  Finally, the stress is too much, and he begins to crack. His doctor tells him the cracks are from all the pressure he is putting on himself. The Good Egg decides to take a little me time, and leaves the carton for an extended vacation.  Some R & R fixes those cracks, and he returns to the carton with new tools for taking care of himself and not worrying so much. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A little bibliotherapy from the team who brought you The Bad Seed.  Kids will enjoy the antics of the “bad” eggs, and hopefully learn a few lessons about the dangers of perfectionism.

Cons:  It seemed a bit preachier and not quite as much fun as The Bad Seed.  Guess it’s more fun to root for the bad guy than the good guy.

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Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Sadness, portrayed here as a large green blobby creature, can arrive unexpectedly and follow you around.  You might be tempted to try to hide it, but it’s better to give it a name and sit with it. Find activities that you both like to do, like drawing or listening to music.  Take it for a walk and let it know it’s welcome. One morning you may wake up to find that Sadness has gone, and it’s a new day. 32 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  This simple, concrete way of looking at sadness would provide excellent bibliotherapy for kids (or teens or adults) dealing with grief or depression.  The acceptance of sadness and hopeful ending makes it a peaceful, reassuring book.

Cons:  The story may seem a little oversimplified to those dealing with complicated emotions.

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Published by Dial Books

Summary:  Chloe is annoyed that her classmate Adrian Simcox keeps telling everyone that he has a horse.  She has some evidence that this would be impossible: he lives in a small house with his grandpa, his yard is tiny, and he gets free lunch.  One day she calls him on it, yelling on the playground, “He’s lying! Adrian Simcox does NOT have a horse!” She can’t help noticing that Adrian looks sad.  That night, when Chloe tells her mom about Adrian and his horse, her mother responds by suggesting they take their dog for a walk. Instead of their usual route, Mom takes them down a street where “the houses looked like they might fall down, and even though it wasn’t trash day, it looked like it was.”  Chloe recognizes Adrian outside in front of his very small house. While her mom talks to Adrian’s grandfather, the two kids hang out. What Chloe wants to say to Adrian is, “You do not have a horse”, but she sees that sad look again, and instead asks, “Is your horse at a farm?” That brings a smile, and Chloe realizes that Adrian has the best imagination of any kid at school.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A good lesson on kindness, empathy, and looking beyond appearances.

Cons:  The last page felt a little bit flat.

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Published by Greenwillow Books

Summary:  Evan the fox and his dog are best friends who do everything together; the first several pages are bright and cheery, showing the pair eating ice cream, hanging out with Evan’s friends, and, best of all, working in their beautiful garden.  “But one day, the unthinkable happened,” and Evan is shown sadly petting the body of his beloved dog. The fox goes through different stages of grief: shutting himself inside, hacking his garden to pieces, then allowing weeds to grow and the garden to become a desolate place.  One day, though, he finds a pumpkin vine growing and he lets it stay.  He gradually begins to take care of it, and by the end of the season, he has a huge pumpkin, worthy of entering at the fair. He catches up with old friends at the fair and even has some fun. His pumpkin takes third place, and Evan gets a choice of prizes: $10 or one of the pups from a box on the stage.  “I’ll take the ten,” says Evan, but he can’t resist a peek into the box…and the final page shows him driving his truck home, a puppy riding on the seat next to him. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Wow, this is one powerful book; one of my favorites of the year so far.  Anyone who has dealt with any sort of loss will find it a helpful read, and the story is written in a way that even the youngest will understand.  Plus, the illustrations are adorable.

Cons:  I wish we had learned the name of Evan’s first dog.

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Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  “No matter how you start your day./What you wear when you play./Or if you come from far away./All are welcome here.”  Rhyming text and busy illustrations assure a classroom full of children and their parents that all of them are welcome in the school.  The class is a veritable United Nations, with kids and adults of different races, nationalities, and religions.  The kids move through their day, reading, drawing, snacking, and playing outside.  After school, they go home to different homes and foods, but their community binds them together.  The final foldout page shows some sort of open house (maybe a science fair?) with all the parents and kids gathering for food and sharing of different school activities.  44 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Elementary teachers and librarians, if you’re looking for something new for the first day of school, this may be your book.  The rhymes are catchy and the illustrations are appealing–just about any kid is likely to find a picture of someone who looks like him/her.  There’s a lot to look at and discuss.

Cons:  Apparently this book comes with a poster under the jacket, but since I got it from the library, the poster was gone.

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