Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Ava’s mom works six days a week, so Saturdays are extra special for the two of them.  They love to go to the library’s story hour, get their hair done, and have a peaceful picnic in the park.  This week they’re going to a special one-day-only puppet show.  But when Saturday arrives, everything starts to wrong. Story hour is canceled, their hairdos get soaked by a passing bus, and the park is filled with noisy people and animals.  Worst of all, they barely catch the bus to the puppet show, only to discover that Mom left the tickets at home. “I ruined Saturday,” she says. But Ava sees it differently.  “Don’t worry, Mommy. Saturdays are wonderful…because I spend them with you.” They head for home, where they both have the same idea: to kick off their shoes and spend the rest of the day making their own puppet show.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A simple, but heartfelt story that every harried parent will embrace.  The gorgeous collage illustrations are sure to be Oge Mora in the running for another Caldecott recognition this year.  Happy Saturday!

Cons:  A six-day work week.

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Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Faizah is excited about her first day of school.  She has a new backpack and light-up shoes. But most exciting of all is that her older sister Asiya is starting sixth grade and wearing hijab for the first time.  Her scarf is blue, just like the sky and ocean. When the girls get to school, they go their separate ways, but Asiya is on Faizah’s mind throughout the day. She draws a picture of two girls in hijab having a picnic.  Later, she sees her sister on the playground at recess and hears a boy say, “I’m going to pull that tablecloth off your head.” Asiyah runs off with her friends, and Faizah remembers their mother’s advice, “Don’t carry around the hurtful words that others say.  Drop them. They are not yours to keep. They belong only to those who said them.” At the end of the day, the two sisters walk home hand in hand. Includes author’s notes about her own experiences that inspired this story with characters named for two of her sisters.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This beautifully illustrated story celebrates wearing hijab while at the same time showing the reality that girls face when they make this transition.  Readers interested in learning more about Ibtihaj Muhammad can read her excellent memoir Proud: Living My American Dream.

Cons:  There’s always that one bully.

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Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Readers are invited to notice where they are as they are reading the book.  While they focus on their bodies (“You are sitting, or you are standing, or you are wrapped up in a bed. Under your bum, under your feet, is a seat, a floor…”), there are countless activities going on around them.  Underground there are earthworms and fossils. Earth is spinning through space, and so are you. People and animals are all around, working, playing, eating, healing, and having ideas. And all the while, “right here, right now, YOU are becoming.  Isn’t it wonderful?” Includes an author’s note about meditation and how she came to write this book. 40 pages; ages 4-10.

Pros:  A great read for any kind of mindfulness activities, or to help a restless group of kids center and calm down.  The illustrations feature a recurring, multicultural cast of characters doing things that most kids will recognize from their everyday lives.  There could be all kinds of follow-up activities as kids notice themselves and the world around them.

Cons:  Some additional resources on mindfulness and/or meditation for kids would have been helpful.

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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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