Home Is Right Where You Are by Ruth Chou Simons

 A beautifully illustrated picture book based on Psalm 23. 

-Borrowed from the library.

Around the Year by Tasha Tudor*

 I love Tasha Tudor. When I was a young teen, my neighbor introduced me to Tasha Tudor. My neighbor, my mom, and I even attended an event where she demonstrated her illustrations and talked. 

This book illustrates a poem she wrote about the seasons. The items she features for each season instantly transport one to that time of year. I love the illustrations-especially the borders. I wonder if she inspired Jan Brett to create intricate borders. 

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Tomten and the Fox adapted by Astrid Lindgren illustrated by Harald Wiberg

 Adapted from a poem by Karl-Erik Forsslund

A hungry fox, named Reynard, visits a farm hoping to capture a hen. The Tomten, who has watches the farm, approaches the fox and dissuades him from his pursuit with a bowl of oatmeal. The author talks to Reynard directly throughout the story. 

I just learned earlier this summer that tales about Reynard the fox were written during the medieval era. I wonder if the original poem is referencing the medieval fox tales?

-Borrowed via ILL.

Big Enough by Regina Linke**

 When Ah-Fu's grandfather asks him to bring the ox home, Ah-Fu's confidence dwindles as various creatures instruct what he should not do as he bring the ox home. The ox is a gentle creature and assists Ah-Fu to gain confidence.

A feast for the eyes-the reader will linger on each page. The artwork is beautiful and offers unique perspectives. 

A book that celebrates imagination

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Capybaras by Alfredo Soderguit translated by Elisa Amado

 The chickens are content with their mundane lives. Then the capybaras arrive. They are different. Can they be trusted? Until hunting season is over, the chickens agree to allow them to stay. Rules are established. The rules are broken. Then a capybara performs a heroic feat and transforms the chickens' opinions of them.

I liked the dry, subtle humor. The illustrations add to the story. While reading it, I was wondering if the author was trying to express his opinion on immigration. 

-Borrowed from the library.

Fast Cheetah Slow Tortoise by Bette Westera & Mies van Hout translated by David Colmer

 Two-page spread with a poem on each, featuring an animal. Each poem is signed by the animal that "wrote" it.

A great book when discussing opposite and also younger children to develop their vocabulary. 

These poems' rhythm and rhyme did not appeal to me. The poems are free verse and were translated from Dutch. Maybe those two factors are why the poems did not sound so pleasant to me.

-Borrowd from the library.

Ready-to -Read Level 2 Mouse & Spoon series by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Janna Mattia*

 An adorable series by a beloved author!

Ginger, Piper, & Tom are mice who run a bakery in a little town on Littleton St. Whenever customers request specific orders, the three siblings oblige. At a moment's notice they accomplish incredible feats- baking for 216 rabbit children, pound cakes for an elephant's birthday party, sticky buns for a porcupine's wedding and tarts for owlets who won't sleep. 

Perfect length and repetition for beginning readers who are building fluency, stamina, and confidence.

*Highly recommend.

Coming on May 5,2026-Picnic for Giraffes!

One Christmas Wish by Katherine Rundell illustrated by Emily Sutton*

 Theo, a lonely boy, is left alone on Christmas Eve because his parents are more dedicated to work than home and family. Left with a neglectful baby-sitter, Theo spies a "shooting star" and wishes not to be alone. Suddenly, old ornaments hanging on the Christmas tree come to life and give Theo an incredible Christmas Eve.

Substantial length-(64 pages)

The illustrations look old-fashion. Quite a few two page spreads are included. Beautiful.

*Highly recommend.

Considerations/discuss: parents who love work more than child (but this is resolved by the end), the word a** when referring to donkey at the manger

-Borrowed from the library

Earl & Worm Snow Problem and Other Stories by Greg Pizzoli**

 I love this series for beginning readers. These entertaining and relatable stories will appeal to even the most reluctant readers.

This book takes place over one day-Earl's birthday. Worm attempts to create a special day for Earl but, of course, encounters hinderances and frustrations. All ends well, though. 

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Lucky Duck by Greg Pizzoli*

 Susan, the duck, is not having a good day. After each incident, she exclaims how she is unlucky. Then a wolf rings a doorbell and tells her she has won a soup pot. Throughout the day, he continues to drop in with more items that she has "won". The reader will be cringing at the duck's naivety! Just when the reader thinks he has predicted Susan's fate, the day really does transform into her lucky day!

Pair with My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza (I like My Lucky Day better.)

*Highly recommend.

Perfect for beginning/transitional readers.

-Borrowed from the library.

Flora and the Jazzers by Astrid Sheckels*

 Flora, the scullery maid at a grand hotel, dreams of attending a concert. While she scrubs dishes and floors, she hums and allows the music in her heart to swell. Then her favorite band, The Jazzers, arrive to perform at the hotel. Just maybe she can huddle in the corner and listen? The hotel manager soon dismisses that idea with a rebuke. Then she becomes a solution to a huge problem. Her life transforms beyond her comprehension!

I love the illustrations. The dressed up animals are adorable. It's a picture book I would return to to enjoy numerous times because of the illustrations. I especially love the cut-away of the hotel. The end of the story is a bit underdeveloped and predictable. I would buy this book  just for the illustrations (if I was a mom of young girls).

A 1920s Cinderella story

*Highly recommend for the illustrations.

-Borrowed from the library.

If I Built a Town by Chris Van Dusen

 I love Chris Van Dusen's books! He, however, included two dads in the illustrations throughout the book.

Jack relays to Mayor McKay how he would build a town. Very imaginative (& modern-lots of robots doing the work of humans!).

Warning/ points to discuss: two dads (not mentioned that they are two dads in the text-just in the illustrations- walking together with a girl in between them), vs fossil fuels, robots doing most jobs, "everything is free" concept! 😉

-Borrowed from the library

Three by the Sea by Edward Marshall illustrated by James Marshall*

 Lolly, Spider, and Sam are enjoying a day at the beach. After eating they are too full to resume any activities. To pass the time, Lolly reads aloud to them from her reader. They declare the story too boring and create their own stories.

Fun and humorous! Perfect for reluctant and transitional readers

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang illustrated by Hyewon Yum*

 When Luli stays in childcare while her mom attends an ESL class, she plays alone. Everyone plays alone.The children do not share a common language. Then Luli fills her backpack with items to serve tea. Tea connects all of the cultures represented.

A sweet story! I loved the endpages (tea cups from the each of the countries that the children in the classroom used to live).

The author's note about how the different cultures enjoy tea was interesting.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Grandpa's Face by Eloise Greenfield illustrated by Floyd Cooper

 This book is recommend in Soul School by Amber O'Neal Johnston. 

Tamika loves spending time with her grandfather-listening to his stories, taking talk-walks, and watching him perform in plays at the local theater. His face and expressions proclaim that he loves her, even when he is scolding her. One day she witnesses him practicing his lines in front of the mirror. His face and eyes are cold-full of hatred. What if he looked at her with that face one day? Tamika withdraws and misbehaves until Grandpa takes her on a talk-walk.

A sweet story featuring the unique relationship between a grandparent and grandchild

-Borrowed from the library.

Wind Watchers by Micha Archer*

 Through the four seasons siblings enjoy the wind's different moods. The word choice is apt. Because of Ms. Archer's descriptive language, readers can feel and hear the wind in each episode. The collage illustrations are impressive.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Otto and the Story Tree by Vivien Mildenberger

 A cranky bird, Otto, could care less about life and often mutters, "What's the point?".  When he drops a seed on his dirty floor, a tree begins to grow. Each day he tells the tree a story about his marvelous adventures in his younger years. A transformation begins-in Otto and in his home.

I did not find the illustrations appealing.

-Borrowed from the library.

A Cup of Quiet by Nikki Grimes illustrated by Cathy Ann Johnson

 A young girl relates how much she loves spending two weeks at her grandmother's house. Spending two weeks crafting, baking, playing, acting out stories is glorious! This day, however, Grandma thirsts for a cup of quiet. Exiting the house, they find a quiet spot in the back yard where the girl collects sounds of nature in her imaginary cup. Grandma drinks deeply and is refreshed.

A delightful book  I especially like that it features a Black family with no mention of race.

-Borrowed from the library.

Knight Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise*

 Knight Owl is fabulous at his job as Night Knight Owl. When an admirer lands in his rooms chirping away with comments and questions as he is about to drift off to sleep, Owl's compentency is compromised. How can he maintain his reputation when he is exhausted by his annoying new "friend", Early Bird? Eventually he explodes in frustration and sends her away. Can the relationship be restored?

*Highly recommend this sequel to Knight Owl.

-Borrowed from the library.

Knight Owl by Christopher Denise*

Award-winner-Caldecott Honor 

Owl dreams of becoming a knight. When knights mysteriously disappear, the kingdom is desperate for new men to train for the knighthood. Owl is accepted into knight school! Can this teeny knight owl protect the kingdom? 

A fun book! I especially loved the lush illustrations.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.