Henderson, Judith. Becca the Brave: Becca and Benj. Amy Jindra, Illus. Becca the Brave;
bk. 1. Reycraft, 06/2024. 48pp. Fiction. Trade $15.95. 978-147887-595-6. Paper $9.95. 978-1-
47888-793-5. GRADES 1–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Best friends Benj and Becca celebrate Shabbat and confront a bully in this early reader chapter book. Benj isn’t Jewish but that doesn’t keep him from celebrating Shabbat with his best and bravest friend Becca. Together they spy on the neighbors, learn some Yiddish, and even confront Warren the worst after he pushes them and makes fun of Shabbat calling it “Shabbat-butt-butt.” But Benj and Becca discover that donuts, especially Jewish jelly donuts, might help them all find some Shabbat shalom (peace) after all. Full-color illustrations by Amy Jindra show Benj (and his mom) as Black with dark skin and black natural hair; all other characters are illustrated as white. Becca, her family, and neighbors are Jewish.

Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K–8 / Oakland Unified School District

Buchet, Nelly. Big Sister, Long Coat. Rachel Katstaller, Illus. NorthSouth, 03/2024. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.95. 978-0-73584-551-0. GRADES Preschool–3. OUTSTANDING.

Intending the best day ever, a smiling, freckled, curly-haired teen sister and a rosy-cheeked, light-brown haired younger sister head out into an urban environment. The younger child narrates the excursion with short, simple, colloquial sentences in san-serif text. The weather doesn’t cooperate, plans change, and crowds get in the way. Vibrantly colored, visually arresting colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations capture the indomitable good cheer and creative resilience of the older sister and the palpable love and appreciation of the younger. Charming visual details are tucked inside the many double-page spreads and diverse crowd scenes. A testament to sibling love that begs for multiple reads. The older sister has tan skin, the younger is paler.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

McDonald, Megan. Bunny and Clyde. Scott Nash, Illus. Candlewick, 03/2024. 128pp. Fiction. Trade $16.99. 978-1-53622-873-1. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.      

Bunny and Clyde (a rabbit and a chipmunk) are tired of being good, but don’t know how to be bad, so off they go to the library with their “I heart reading” tote to find the “bad” books.  Rowena, the bird librarian, sends them to the 551s, but books on hurricanes and tornadoes are not the kind of bad they are looking for. Finally, they find Interrupting Chicken and Bad Kitty who inspire a naughty spree that includes messing up their rooms, writing on walls, stealing toilet paper, and eating too much candy. Ironically, for these wannabe gangsters being bad leads to a series of accidental good deeds. The text is delightfully filled with wordplay and puns that both children and their adults will enjoy. The chapters are short enough to encourage new readers to keep going, and the digitally created pen and ink style illustrations by Scott Nash accompany the text on most pages, adding levity and humor to Bunny and Clyde’s mixed-up, madcap adventures.

Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K–8 / Oakland Unified School District

Hevron, Amy. City of Leafcutter Ants: A Sustainable Society of Millions. Amy Hevron, Illus. Neal Porter, 06/2024. [40]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-82345-318-4. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.         

The Central American rainforest and the complex, bustling society of leafcutter ants are recreated in digitally collaged, hand-painted vibrant green, rusty red, and brown cut-paper shapes. Readers follow the city’s development above and below ground, from its founding by a single young queen to a population of eight million and the departure of a new young queen. Specific and sophisticated vocabulary personalizes the insects, explores their jobs, and references their important role in the larger ecosystem. While the emphasis is on specialization and cooperation, plenty of intriguing facts and some dramatic action enliven the story. An excellent choice for a science-based readaloud. Back matter includes additional facts, expanded job descriptions, selected bibliography, additional reading, and a note from the author.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Manley, Curtis. Climbing the Volcano: A Journey in Haiku. Jennifer K. Mann, Illus. Neal Porter, 01/2024. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-82345-166-1. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.        

A school-age child asks “How do you climb a mountain?” as a dark-haired, tan-skinned family sets out from a campsite to reach the summit and return. Haiku verse keeps the child’s observations brief, anchored in sensory observation, and full of small surprises. The illustrations perfectly follow the rhythm of the journey, shifting from comic-style, sequential panels to dramatic, full-page spreads. Textural, richly layered, painterly, and colorful they capture the grand Pacific Northwest setting, the child’s introspection, and the family’s closeness. Line drawing, digital paint, and collograph print-making are melded in photoshop to produce detailed, yet childlike, images of surprising beauty. Perfect for a readaloud, to inspire a poetry unit, or in anticipation of a family hike. The characters’ medium-toned skin, dark hair and eyes make them racially ambiguous. Extensive back matter covers Cascade mountain ecology and geology, what to bring on a hike, pictured plants and animals, and further print and online resources.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Lunde, Darrin. Dinosaurs Can Be Small. Ariel Landy, Illus. Charlesbridge, 09/2024. [32]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-330-3. GRADES Kindergarten–3. ADDITIONAL.

Six small prehistoric creatures (technically, not all are dinosaurs) are described in simple but clear terms in this factual book that resembles a picture book. The creatures are compared to larger dinosaurs like the T-Rex to show their similarities and differences, and include microceratus, micropachycephalosaurus, nemicolopterus, mixosaurus, magyarosaurus, and compsognathus. A paragraph compares the two along with a chart showing their size difference. The full-color, digitally created illustrations realistically show the dinosaurs in a variety of colors and with expressive eyes. This will work well as a readaloud for classrooms or at storytime due to the brief text, attractive illustrations, and popular topic. Review based on an ARC.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool

Dodd, Emma. Dream Big. Emma Dodd, Illus. Templar, 04/2024. 24pp. Picture Book. Trade
$17.99. 978-1-53623-600-2. GRADES Preschool–Kindergarten. ADDITIONAL.

With tender words that express love and appreciation, an adult lion encourages a little lion to try new things and enjoy the adventure of life. Liberal use of metallic ink fascinates, and Dodd’s digitally rendered illustrations express the warmth of the bond between caretaker and cub, the glow of the sunset, and the vastness of the savanna. The first US edition is small and lettering on the dark pages can be hard to read from a distance, so this book might be best shared one-on-one or with a small group.

Keith Chong—Oakland Public Library

Hanaor, Ziggy. Egg Incident, The. Daisy Wynter, Illus. Cicada, 04/2024. [72]pp. Graphic. Trade $19.99. 978-1-80066-043-4. GRADES 1–4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.         

In this clever graphic novel inspired by the nursery rhyme “Humpty Dumpty,” Humpty’s nephew Humphrey (an egg) meets a little human girl and she helps him learn to try new things like crossing the street, playing catch, and even climbing over a wall after they are locked in the park. The message that some caution is smart, but too much can be overly limiting is clear but not didactic. The format features both full-page artwork and paneled artwork, done as cartoon sketches with thin ink outlines and watercolors on white backgrounds, with the text in dialogue balloons. The city depicted shows both humans and eggs dressed in clothing, with Humphrey’s mom shown as a brown egg, and his father as a light-shelled egg. Sure to be popular, appealing to a wide age range. First published in the UK in 2023.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool

Lynas, Em. Goat and the Stoat and the Boat, The. Matt Hunt, Illus. Nosy Crow, 04/2024. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 979-8-88777-052-9. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.       

A stoat floats by on a boat, and a goat in a colorful coat asks if he can float in the boat, too! They argue over who can use the boat until it tips over and they splash in the moat. Filled with rhyming words and using a cumulative pattern to tell this funny story, readers can call out some of the words when this is used at storytime. Young readers will learn several words using the “oa” vowel sound, and there are many action verbs as well. The full-color artwork resembles cut paper collage, using some Day-Glo colors like the fluorescent green boat and the goat’s bright yellow coat. There are a few spreads where the book needs to be rotated to a vertical position for reading. Sure to be popular, this was first published in the UK in 2023.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool

Capetta, A.R. Hocus and Pocus and the Spell for Home. Charlene Chua, Illus. Hocus and Pocus; bk. 1. Candlewick, 05/2024. 96pp. Fiction. Trade $16.99. 978-1-53622-492-4. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.    

Young adult author A.R. Capetta has successfully created an early chapter book series that combines magic, rescued puppies, and diverse gender representation. Hocus and Pocus are two pups still waiting to be adopted from the Shelter for Slightly Magical Pets after their littermates have all found homes. Full-color illustrations show witches and wizards with a variety of skin tones and hair colors and styles as they visit the pups and introduce themselves along with their pronouns. This simple modeling of pronoun usage and the inclusion of a non-binary character are unique but they also work seamlessly within the story. Beginning readers will be clamoring for additional adventures with these two magical mischief makers.

Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K–8 / Oakland Unified School District

Ancrum, K. Icarus. HarperCollins/HarperTeen, 03/2024. 400pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-06328-578-1.  GRADES 9–Adult. OUTSTANDING.     

In this Greek myth remix, Icarus is the son of a brilliant art forger who forces him into a life of crime. Fearing exposure, the seventeen-year-old, with black hair and brown eyes, avoids close relationships with his peers until he is drawn into the orbit of a charismatic teen named Helios (“the sun”). Icarus is a contemporary, believable high schooler, with an intense and suspenseful story arc. Spare prose, rich sensory details, and intricate plotting bring primary and secondary characters, including those in the LGBTQIA+ community, into sharp focus as motivations and desires are revealed. The story includes scenes of parental abuse, a subject addressed in a moving author’s note. Surprisingly, no information is provided about the original tale, but the reimagined story of Icarus and Helios stands firmly on its own.

Jenny Andrus, Independent

Hardinge, Frances. Island of Whispers. Emily Gravett, Illus. Amulet, 08/2024. 120pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-41977-433-1. GRADES 4–8. OUTSTANDING.         

On Milo’s island the spirits of the dead must be quickly transported by his father, the Ferryman, lest they endlessly wander, leaving death and blight in their wake. When a grief-maddened nobleman takes violent action to hold on to the ghost of his daughter, young Milo is the only one able to make the dangerous journey, delivering the boatload of souls to their rest. But can his sympathetic nature resist the pleas of the dead? Sophisticated, yet spare language, rich imagery, and telling details combine with black and indigo spot art and full-page illustrations, rendered in a vintage woodcut style. Evocative and memorable, this shivery and profound legend will appeal to all who love a good ghost story or fairy tale. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Brunelle, Lynn. Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall. Jason Chin, Illus. Neal Porter, 06/2024. [48]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-0-82345-228-6. GRADES Kindergarten–4. OUTSTANDING.         

Readers follow an elderly blue whale as she takes her last meal, expires, and sinks to the sea floor. What happens next is astonishing – a cascade of life, as a new ecosystem is formed and then passes through three distinct phases over the next one hundred and fifty years. Young readers will find their understanding forever shifted, discovering that what lives a mile down is both deeply disturbing and entirely essential. Superbly realistic watercolor illustrations, in atmospheric blues, are strategically enlivened by rare spots of color and multi-hued explanatory drawings and diagrams. Compelling descriptions and captivating marine facts are supported by substantial back matter offering more information on whales and ecosystems, suggested reading, and selected bibliography.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

DiCamillo, Kate. Orris and Timble: The Beginning. Carmen Mok, Illus. Orris and Timble; bk. 1. Candlewick, 04/2024. 80pp. Reader. Trade $16.99. 978-1-53622-279-1. GRADES Kindergarten–3. OUTSTANDING.    

Orris and Timble is an unusual early reader. The story and the illustrations are somewhat dark and complex. The vocabulary is likely to be challenging for young readers, but the storytelling is poetic and many words and phrases repeat as the story unfolds. Orris is a rat living alone in an old abandoned barn and Timble is a young owl who gets caught in a trap in the barn. As Timble calls out for rescue, Orris must decide if it would be “the good and noble choice” to save an owl who is his natural enemy. Orris looks more like a stuffed animal than a real rat, but the deep, rich color palette suits a story about befriending someone who may be dangerous. The storytelling ultimately helps the owl and rat connect with each other and elevates it above other beginning readers.

Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K–8 / Oakland Unified School District

Sparring, Anders. Pinchers and the Diamond Heist, The. Per Gutavsson, Illus. Translated from the Swedish by Julia Marshall. Pinchers; bk. 1. Gecko, 04/2024. 98pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-77657-566-4. GRADES 2–4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.       

The first in a series of transitional illustrated chapter books, this story focuses on a family of thieves with a grandmother, mother, father, sister, and brother. Brother Theo is a bit of an outlier because he doesn’t lie or steal, making for a humorous family dynamic. There are plenty of puns and wordplay, including the parents’ names Rob and Nic (both slang for stealing). The cartoon illustrations on nearly every page appear to be done using ink and watercolor and show the white family in prison striped shirts, including the dog Sherlock. Originally published in Swedish in 2018, this uses many British slang phrases as part of the humor. The next entry in the series, The Pinchers and the Dog Chase, is set for publication in September 2024.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool

Fitzgerald, Louise. Quickest Bedtime Story Ever!, The. Kate Hindley, Illus. Nosy Crow, 04/2024. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 979-8-88777-051-2. GRADES Preschool–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.     

An adult animal (maybe a bear?) begins to tell a bedtime story to several small animals in a bunk bed, asking listeners to clap, stretch, and perform other actions as part of the experience. This funny bedtime story is more about getting ready to hear a story than it is an actual story, but makes a great interactive readaloud. The full-color illustrations take place in the home with the adult and children performing many of the tasks being described. One spread needs to be held vertically, showing the adult stretching and yawning to get ready for the story. Sure to be popular, this was first published in the UK in 2023.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool

Anderson, Justin. Super Swifts: Small Birds with Amazing Powers. Clover Robin, Illus. Candlewick, 05/2024. 25pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-53623-148-9. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

This factual look at swifts, small gray birds that fly faster, higher, and farther distances than any other bird, describes them briefly but clearly. The format is similar to a picture book, with serviceable mixed media illustrations that resemble cut paper collage, but includes an index and list of facts at the back of the book. The dual-level text includes a paragraph on each spread, done in a larger font that is great for a readaloud. The scattered text in a smaller font adds more facts and details and is aimed at readers who might be writing a report. This format is similar to other informational books for younger readers such as Dianna Huttts Aston’s An Egg Is Quiet (Chronicle, 2006).

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool

Wenzel, Brendan. Two Together. Brendan Wenzel, Illus. Chronicle, 04/2024. [44]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-79720-277-8. GRADES Preschool–2. OUTSTANDING.

Two friends with very different personal perspectives share a romping adventure filled with exuberance masterfully portrayed through a flow of dynamic illustrations and the casual ease of near rhymes. At the onset, looking at their own reflections initiates a visual journey of contrasts: the dog’s experience represented by loose and swooping paint strokes, and the cat’s by light and lively textured pencil marks. Everything they encounter is revealed through their unique perspectives; the experience of sudden rain, fellow creatures, and starry skies are all half-drawn in the very different styles. Flowing compositions guide us through full spreads, into and across folds and fields, and ultimately home. End papers start at dawn and end at dusk, fulfilling the promise of  “For a moment. For a day. Two together on their way.” A fun-filled lyrical and artistic expression of the pure joy of friendship based on authenticity and adventure … which of course leads to further adventure.

Alexandre Petrakis—San Francisco Public Library

Gibb, David. Two Wheels. Brizida Magro, Illus. Candlewick, 05/2024. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-53623-139-7. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.     

A little boy describes how his father helps him learn to ride a two-wheeled bicycle by starting with a tricycle, then a balance bike, and finally a bike with training wheels. This relatable story about the desire to ride a two-wheeler like the big kids is smoothly told, with repeated phrases where the boy counts the number of wheels on each type of vehicle. The digital artwork resembles pencil sketches with watercolor, depicting a family with a brown-skinned mother, white father, and light brown-skinned children, living on a suburban street perfect for bike riding. Everyone wears a helmet when riding, too! First published in the UK in 2023.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool

Carson, Mary Kay. Urban Coyotes. Tom Uhlman, Illus. Scientists in the Field. Clarion, 08/2024. [80]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $21.99. 978-0-06327-147-0. GRADES 4–7. HIGH ADDITIONAL.         

In the 1990s coyotes first started showing up in city neighborhoods, and animal control agencies were flooded with anxious complaints. Field scientists formed Chicago’s Urban Coyote Research project, tracking, monitoring, and learning the why, how, what, and where of this new urban-predator phenomenon. Six defined chapters with compelling photographs alternate field accounts with coyote natural history. Both successes and frustrations are highlighted and individual field scientists are spotlighted (including one young woman from San Francisco). An index and clearly titled chapters allow readers to focus on animal-centered facts or scientific procedures. Coyote ranges continue to expand and this fresh installment in an acclaimed series should have wide appeal. Back matter includes a glossary, additional facts, sources, select bibliography, and an index. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Montanari, Eva. What Does Little Crocodile Say at the Birthday Party? Eva Montanari, Illus. Little Crocodile; bk. 4. Tundra, 04/2024. [36]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-77488-157-6. GRADES Baby/Toddler–Kindergarten. HIGH ADDITIONAL.     

Little crocodile enjoys fun and friends at his birthday party until a popped balloon causes tears to flow. The text is filled with onomatopoeia, such as “The wish goes whoosh. The cameras go click,” which can inspire the listeners to help make these sound effects as they pretend to blow out the candles on the cake. The pastel chalk cartoon artwork depicts animals in clothing, with sparse backgrounds that keep the focus on the characters. When used at storytime, the audience can call out both the sounds and “Happy Birthday!” and act out some of the action. This fourth entry in the series makes a great readaloud and fun for one-on-one sharing due to its relatable story.

Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool