Allenby, Victoria. Red Canoe Shows Up at Two! Big, Little Concepts. Pajama, 06/2025. [22]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.95. 978-1-77278-344-5. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Preschool. LOW ADDITIONAL. This inventive concept title strives to show young listeners different types of boats, colors, and time. Starting with one o’clock, readers are shown [continue reading]
Jenny Andrus
This Year, a Witch! Review
Abbott, Zoey. This Year, a Witch! Zoey Abbott, Illus. Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy, 07/2025. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-6659-5602-4. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Sometimes the way we see ourselves doesn’t match what the mirror reflects. This seems to be the case for the aspiring witch in Abbott’s [continue reading]
Pecan Sheller Review
Ruiz-Flores, Lupe. Pecan Sheller, The. Lerner, 04/2025. 256pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 979-8765610527. GRADES 5–8. OUTSTANDING. Life in Texas in 1937 is tough for Petra, a Mexican American girl, whose family faces financial hardship after the death of her father. An excellent student, the thirteen-year-old’s dreams [continue reading]
Where Are You, Brontë? Review
dePaola, Tomie. Where Are You, Brontë? Barbara McClintock, Illus. Simon & Schuster, 05/2025. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-5344-1850-9. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING. Tomie dePaola writes in first person about his beloved dog, Brontë, whom he raised from a puppy for more than twelve years. Tomie reflects [continue reading]
Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe Review
Browne, Mahogany L. Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe, A. Crown, 03/2025. 147pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-5934-8647-4. GRADES 6–12. OUTSTANDING. Weaving together a chorus of voices speaking in a range of accents, styles, and lengths Mahogany Browne evokes the scared silence of [continue reading]
Picking Tea with Baba Review
Bin, Xu. Picking Tea with Baba. Yu Yin, Illus. Translated from the Chinese by Shan Chen. Charlesbridge, 05/2025. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-62354-623-6. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL. Baba brings the two kids, plus mom, up the mountain to their tea farm in China, where the kids are excited [continue reading]
Sea Legs Review
Bakes, Jules. Sea Legs. Niki Smith, Illus. Scholastic/ Graphix, 02/2025. 247 [+7]pp Graphic. Trade $24.99. 978-1-338-83588-5. Paper $14.99. 978-1-338-83586-1. GRADES 3–7. OUTSTANDING. Living at sea on a sailboat built by her parents, Janey finds adventure and confronts her fears. She and her family sail from Florida around the [continue reading]
Teacher Jitters Review
Danneburg, Julie. Teacher Jitters. Judy Love, Illus. Charlesbridge, 08/2025. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-434-8. GRADES Preschool–1. ADDITIONAL. Mrs. Hartwell tells her class that she is very nervous about going to a class for teachers tomorrow, so her students give her ways to calm her jitters. Verbal [continue reading]