Picture Book Pick: Lighthouse and the Little Boat

 

Lighthouse and the Little Boat

by Katie Frawley

Illustrated by Ben Mantle

Quill Tree Books

an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers

2024

32 pages 

ISBN: 97800631114234

Lighthouse stands at the harbor: tall, strong and powerful, watching over everything in her harbor and guiding everyone to safety. When a little boat named Brightness visits, Lighthouse protects her. Brightness is happy to hang close to the harbor, but after a bit, she gets braver and wonders what is beyond the safety of her harbor. 

As the weather changes, suddenly Brightness is missing from the harbor. Lighthouse is lonely and sad. She continues to shine brightly with the hope that Brightness will see her beacon and find her home safely. Brightness makes it back and thanks Lighthouse for saving her, but Lighthouse tells her she merely lit the way. Brightness did the hard work. 

Beautifully written with illustrations that any young reader will connect with. Lighthouse and the Little Boat is destined to be an award winner this year and an instant classic. 

Ages 4 and up. 

Dragon Pick: Roar-Choo!

 

Roar-Choo!

by Charlotte Cheng

Illustrations by Dan Santat

Rocky Pond Books 

An imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC 

40 pages 

2024

ISBN: 9780593531754

Never has a dragon been more glorious, gorgeous, awesome, but imperfect! Roar-Choo! celebrates the power of the dragon and the beauty and kindness of the phoenix in this rambunctious tale of a dragon who tries to ROAR, but ends up sneezing and a phoenix who helps the dragon slow down, take a breath, sip some hot tea and take a nap. You see, even dragons need rest, especially when they are sick. 

Sweet Phoenix offers hot tea, bone broth and a nice nap. Dragon believes they must live up to to their hype: a dragon must be loud, a dragon must be strong, a dragon must be scary, a dragon must roar! Phoenix helps Dragon understand that even at their best, even a powerful dragon should learn to take breaks and rest. The friendship and the shared nap at the end is sweet. 

The note at the end about the dragon and the phoenix in Chinese mythology helps young readers understand what the two characters stand for. May everyone find their phoenix and their dragon. 

Art by Dan Santat is inspirational: Dragon is captured and brought to life, practically jumping off the pages and breathing fire. This is one dragon readers won't forget. Roar-Choo! MUST be read out loud with the loud roar-choos! and using two character voices. This book is likely to be a nighttime must before bed. 

Highly recommended and likely to win several awards this year. 

Graphic Pick: Nancy Spector Monster Detective

 

Nancy Spector Monster Detective: The Case of the Missing Spot

by Stephen W. Martin

Illustrated by Linh Pham

Algonquin Young Readers

an imprint of Workman Publishing 

Hachette Book Group, Inc. 

2024

208 pages

ISBN: 9781643750651

A fun graphic mystery adventure with a tenacious protagonist who happens to be the greatest girl detective, Nancy Spector Monster Detective is a gem. 

The invisible man has lost his dog Spot, so he turns to Nancy for help in finding him. There is just one problem that will complicate this case: Spot is also invisible. Nancy is a great detective and she knows detectives never give up. She goes on a mission with her grumpy dog Jinx (who is comic relief to Nancy's serious nature) is against the mission from the onset. The professor (the invisible man) tags along.

Nancy searches the professor's house and Spot's invisible dog house for clues, taking notes. Soon the trio sets off following Spot's scent. Jinx begins sneezing and Nancy figures he may be allergic to Spot's invisible fur. The more Jinx sneezes, the closer they are to their quarry. 

A fun map of Nancy's island features Frankenstein Monster's monster's castle, ice horns, deadly whirlpools and a pirate cove. What reader can resist a cartoon map? Illustrations by Pham are energy-charged and will appeal to an reader who loves superhero comics. 

Nancy Spector Monster Detective is fun frolic full of whimsy and creativity. Recommended for graphic novel readers, mystery lovers, comic book lovers and perfect for reluctant readers. Grades 4 and up. 

Non-Fiction Pick: Unknown New York

 

Unknown New York: An Artist Uncovers the City's Hidden Treasures

by Jesse Richards

Art by the author/artist

Workman Publishing

A division of Hachette Book Group, Inc. 

2024

240 pages

Publication Date: September 10, 2024

Jesse Richards discovers Manhattan and becomes a New York aficionado, exploring interesting places on her weekend walks. Always an artist at heart, she starts an art group to sketch in Central Park. As her group grew, she began to look for new places to sketch and found that many members kept returning because of the new locations she found. The group grew to over 8,000 member and  Richards found that she loved to delve into the history of the places she found.

In chapters like "Hidden New York," she includes The Daily News Building with its rich history and iconic placement in the Superman films of the 70s and 80s as The Daily Planet where Clark Kent meets Lois Lane. She includes the facades of buildings like the Cable Building and the Roosevelt Building and the Shinran Shonin Statue which was gifted to New York in 1955 by a Japanese industrialist. The statue has red burns marks on it from the atomic bomb at Hiroshima in 1945.

The art and historical details give rich descriptions of each choice in the book. Anyone going to New York should take notes from this gem of a book. Even New Yorkers will discover places they've never heard about or visited. 

An interesting tidbit is there are still buildings in New York that use mail chutes: over nine hundred, in fact. A pneumatic tube system connected all of Manhatten across the Brooklyn Bridge and all of Brooklyn. It was too expensive to run and by 1953, the city began using cars and carriers to move the mail. 

Other chapters include Humble Parks, On the Street, Central Park and Excursions. A section at the back of the book includes walks were you can see all the places mentioned in the text. For the seasoned adventurer or new New Yorker, Hidden New York is a treasure trove of information and unlikely places to visit. 

Highly recommended for anyone planning to visit or live in New York and those who love to read about travel and history.  

Dragon Pick: Rory The Remarkable Dragon

 

Rory The Remarkable Dragon 

by Katherine Rammell

Illustrations by the author

Orchard Books

an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.

2024

40 pages

ISBN: 9781546109976

Publication date: September 17, 2024

Rory is a remarkable dragon: she has a beak, she doesn't roar like other dragons, she has much smaller wings and is not good at breathing fire. On her first day at school, the other dragons see that Rory is different. When lunchtime comes, Rory loses her appetite when the dragons are served a chicken dinner. The principal senses something is off with Rory from the moment Rory enters the school, but lunchtime proves her point! Rory is a vegetarian dragon! She then declares that Rory can be the treasure guard, the youngest in history.

Rory takes her job seriously, guarding the treasure from plundering knights. In fact, one look at Rory and the knights run away. She is the scariest dragon they've ever seen. Young readers will love Rory, a chicken who is hatched alongside dragons' eggs. 

Rory the Remarkable Dragon is a whimsical picture book that celebrates standing out in a crowd and accepting your own differences. Young readers will smile at the chicken's moxie and laugh out loud at the runaway knights. 

Highly, highly recommended ages 18 months and up. The cartoon like drawings welcome readers in and the humor captures Rory's personality. 

Colorful Columbian Picture Book: I Am La Chiva: The Colorful Bus of the Andes

 

by Karol Hernandez

Illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gomez

Dial Books for Young Readers

An imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC

2024

40 pages 

ISBN: 9780593529201

La Chiva is the colorful and fun bus of the Andes. Up and around mountains it goes, chugging its way to the town where the passengers will shop and sell their goods at the mercado (market). Each day, farmers, makers and bakers depend on the little bus to take them on the breathtaking ride through the picturesque Andes. 

There are farmers with pigs, ladies with big baskets of baked goods and meat pies, children riding to school and other people eager to go to town. A man plays an accordion and everyone sings along on their journey....until they have a flat tire. Now, it takes everyone to come together to save the day.

Once in town, La Chiva waits patiently outside the market for the people to close up their stalls. The little bus will take them safely to their mountain homes. 

Entertaining, rhyming verse and gorgeous colorful illustrations make La Chiva! The Colorful Bus of the Andes a strong contender for many book awards this year. The illustrations are sheer beauty and deserve the highest of praise. A handy glossary of Spanish words is included for young readers who may not know Spanish. 

Highly, highly recommended for any picture book collection and sure to be a hit in classroom read alouds. 

Picture Book Pick: Seoul Food

 

by Erin Danielle Russell

Illustrations by Tamisha Anthony 

Viking 

an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC

2024

40 pages 

ISBN: 978059346438

Every family, including found families, has foods and dishes with shared experiences and memories. When both sets of grandparents decide to visit Hana's family, she wants to do something nice for all of them. How does she bring two cultural identities together and blend them both into a yummy dish? 

Hana remembers eating gumbo in South Carolina with one set of grandparents and  she remembers the pot of kimchi-jjigae in her other grandmother's kitchen in South Korea. She wants to honor both sets of grandparents and begins by making a roux. She adds andouille and bell peppers and then adds kimchi and gochujang to make a delicious, aromatic stew. 

When the grandparents arrive, they are greeting by the delicious smell of the food. They guess it must be soul food. The others think it smells like Korean food. Hana tells them everyone is right, but it's not soul food, it's Seoul food. The two sides of the family bond over the meal and agree that even though they live a great distance apart, they should visit each other's homes and share their familial bond of love and food. 

Seoul Food is a lovely picture book that celebrates the love and laughter that happens over shared food. Different cultures can come together and make a fantastic recipe for happiness. 

Highly recommended for every picture book collection and every child, especially those with multiracial families like Hana's. 

Picture Book Pick: Gaga Mistake Day

Gaga Mistake Day 

by Emma & Susan Straub

Illustrated by Jessica Love

Rocky Pond Books

an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC

2024

32 pages

When quirky grandmother Gaga comes to visit, life gets more fun! Gaga makes a lot of "mistakes," but it's always a great time for the child and Gaga. Making up new games is Gaga's greatest gift. She claims in order to walk to the park, the rule is: you can only walk backwards. 

Dress up and dance party are the child and Gaga's shared activities, and when lunchtime rolls around, there's no more "eat all your vegetables" or "just try one bite." Gaga makes the plates silly and fantastic; for example, the entire food pyramid, Gaga style, is featured, "The plate has 1 lollipop, 2 pieces of cheese, 3 pretzel rods, 4 slices of cucumbers..." and more whimsical additions climbing up to the count of ten. 

Gaga makes so many "mistakes," and ends up having to apologize to the parents, but grandchild and Gaga both know the mistakes are made on purpose and their purpose is to infuse their day with fun. 

Gaga Mistake Day is a winner! The story is full of love and family, laughter and joy, and memories that will be worth remembering. Everyone needs a Gaga in their life. The last line of the book says it all: "I love Gaga days."

Highly, highly recommended and likely to be in the mix for book of the year, this book treasure is the perfect gift for any new grandparent and/or grandchild. 

Coping and Cool: How To Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide To Keeping Cool When Life Feels Chaotic

 

How To Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide To Keeping Cooll When Life Feels Chaotic

by Carla Naumburg, PhD, LICSW

Illustrated by Letizia Rizzo 

Workman Kids

Workman Publishing

2024

144 pages 

ISBN: 9781523518241

Publication Date: September 10, 2024

Written by a clinical social worker/author of parenting books, this comprehensive guide discusses feelings, emotions, actions, reactions and how to navigate tough situations while maintaining a cool head. 

Quick quizzes, text boxes, highlighted texts, lists and clever acronyms like BuRPing which stands for Button Reaction Practices, will help the reader learn to manage stress and tension. There are techniques for each letter of the alphabet; for instance, W is for Walk, take a walk and M is for move your body. These suggestions apply not only to young readers, but make sense for any person any age. 

Truth Bombs appear throughout set off in highlighted boxes and offer wisdom and guidance for the reader. Suggestions like taking a nap when worn out seems so logical, but few stressed out people will think of it let alone do it. 

Complete with a list of resources, How To Stop Freaking Out is the ultimate self-help book needed by every child ages eight and up (and of course, adults can learn a thing or two as well). Naumburg handles the topic without becoming preachy or condescending. The book, although serious, sets a tone of helpful, enthusiastic and hopeful. 

 

Origin Story: Boy 2.0

 

Boy 2.0 

by Tracey Baptiste

Algonquin Books for Young Readers

Workman Publishing

2024

304 pages

ISBN: 9781643753812

Book available October 1, 2024

Tracey Baptiste has created her own super-hero--dare I say--series? 

Being a foster kid isn't that bad, and Win (Coal) has seen everything and been placed in several homes, but when he has a run-in with an armed neighbor and somehow turns invisible, that's a whole other level of crazy. How did the armed man and later the police not see Coal? He "changed" his skin like a chameleon.

Sure, there's some glitches in turning invisible--like his clothes are still visible so he must be naked to be truly invisible, but it's a small price to pay for being a super-hero. Or is he a super-hero? And how can he learn to use his new-found power and control it? And how did he get this superpower? He knows so little about his birth mother or the man who adopted him. 

When Coal tells his best friend Door about his invisible run-in, Door doesn't believe him at first and refers to Coal's new power as, "a stupid naked superpower." The boys need to figure out how Coal is able to turn invisible and what causes it in order to keep themselves safe, so they turn to where else? The trusty library. Researching humans and chameleons brings up the name of a company: Mirror Tech. Coal is determined to travel to Newark to find out is he is a mutant or an orphan or both. 

The author weaves Coal's story masterfully, and a reader will have much to ponder about how skin color affects people's first impressions and society's treatment of a person based on their appearance. 

Boy 2.0 is a read that will stick with you long after the last page is turned. The novel has huge potential as an extended series and is a stellar win for the author and the publisher. Kudos Tracey Baptiste and Algonquin Books for Young Readers for not only an important story but one packed with excitement, bad guys, evil stealthy doctors, military secrets and a few normal kids who use their friendships and wiles to best a gigantic corporation and expose dark conspiracies. 

Highly, highly recommended grades 5 and up. If you read one superhero book, make it Boy 2.0 which is destined to become a bestseller, the next big thing and perhaps an entire franchise. This book is likely to win Every. Single. Book. Award. This. Year. 

LGBTQIA Dictionary: The Queens' English

 

The Queens' English

The Young Readers' LGBTQIA+ Dictionary of Lingo and Colloquial Lingo and Phrases

by Chloe O. Davis

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Adapted from The Queens' English  published in 2021

by Clarkson Potter 

2024

336 pages

ISBN: 9781665926867

The Queens' English (Young Readers version) is adapted from a 2021 book also written by Chloe O. Davis. This version is aimed at much younger readers (not YA nor adults) who are interested in the language used by the  LGBTQIA+ and drag community. 

This concise compendium is a great asset for any library shelf and also a great gift for teens and/or families of teens. 

From homophobia to deadname (a word with particularly negative connotations for those who have changed their birth names) to the idea of a gingerbread person (used to help all ages understand sexuality and gender), this dictionary covers it all. Simply put, this is a book all of us (every human) needs to read. 

Understanding and accepting are the goals, and Chloe O. Davis has succeeded in making this a teachable moment! Kudos to the author! 

Highly, highly recommended for every library. The ideas and terms are presented in a straight forward way in language easy to understand. This is NOT a book about sex or acting promiscuously. An extensive list of resources offers readers more information and guidance. Full color illustrations, Did You Know? boxes which offer even the most reluctant readers quick, interesting facts and the terms used in sentences for better understanding are highlights. 

Grades 4 and up/ages 10 and up. 

Picture Book Pick: What's New, Daniel?

What's New, Daniel?

by Micha Archer

Illustrated by the author 

Nancy Paulson Books

An imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC

2024

32 pages

ISBN: 9780593461303

What's New, Daniel? is a quiet picture book filled with love, wonder and discovery. Daniel meets his grandpa at the park, and the elder asks, "What's new, Daniel?" This question set Daniel off on a quest for discovering really, "What's new?" He climbs up and his favorite, giant boulder and watches as the blackbirds have returned. 

Spring has indeed sprung. New ducklings are hatching, polliwogs are growing legs, leaves are unfurling, squirrels are building nests and even snakes are changing by shedding their skin. Daniel discovers he, too, is changing and growing. He's getting a new tooth, he can run faster than ever before, and he's growing like the polliwogs. Daniel recounts all the things he's seen and asks, Grandpa, "What's new?" 

The author's illustrations and  collages are beautiful and make this book an artistic gem. 

This picture book is a lovely interpretation of a grandpa with a special bond with his grandchild. Full of love, heart and family connection, What's New, Daniel? is that sweet book every child needs to read, even if they are far away from their grandparents. It is reminder to families to make more time to enjoy the outdoors, nature, the changing seasons and love. 

Highly recommended ages 2-6. 

 

Fun Picture Book Pick: The Book That Almost Rhymed

The Book That Almost Rhymed 

by Omar Abed

Illustrations by Hatem Aly

Dial Books for Young Readers

an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

 2024

 32 pages 

ISBN: 9780593406380

What's a rhyming older brother supposed to do when his loud, interfering detective younger sister keeps messing up his stories and rhymes? Play along, of course! 

Funny text by Omar Abed will keep young readers in giggles as they try to finish each rhyme with the obvious rhyming word that will fit and make sense only to realize each time little sister interrupts and throws out silly and sometimes outrageous lines that make no sense to the older brother, he's nice enough to go with with his sister's help as she takes the story into outer space, back in time to kingdoms, knights and you guessed it: DRAGONS, and aboard a pirate ship where they dance their way out of trouble. 

The pirate ship encounter begins, "On deck they faced a frightful sight/ The pirates were prepared to--"

Readers will guess "fight" is the rhyme, but Little Sister interrupts, shouting, "DANCE!" The picture of pirates dancing with the brother/sister duo is unexpected and clever. The Book That Almost Rhymed is a great way to teach rhyme and predicting what will happen next in the story, an important reading strategy for any reader. 

This picture book is bound to be a favorite at story time and must be read aloud. Savvy parents will not read this one at bed time as the young readers will want to interact with the story and shout out obvious word choices. 

Highly, highly recommended. The sibling relationship is lovely and lovingly depicted by Abed. Everyone will wish for this kind of fun with their siblings. PreK-grade 3 and older to teach rhyme. 

Important Graphic Novel: Puzzled: A Memoir About Growing Up With OCD

 Puzzled: A Memoir About Growing Up With OCD

by Pan Cooke

Illustrations by the author

Rocky Pond Books

An imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC

2024

224 pages 

ISBN: 9780593615621

Puzzled is an important book about growing up feeling different from other people. Pan is ten-years old when he begins to feel a little off kilter. His mind feels like a puzzle and he worries about "what if". What if he makes a scene in church? What if he blurts out curse words in class? Pieces of the puzzle float around his mind and are pictured in illustrations by the author as puzzle pieces.

He begins to think of all the dreadful things that could possibly happen and develops rituals to try to insure that they don't. Anxiety overwhelms him. The story follows Pan through puberty when things are always changing and GIRLS become a huge anxiety for Pan. What if he says something stupid? How is he supposed to act? Although these questions are common for most tweens and teens, Pan dwells in his anxiety-filled puzzle pieces. By age fourteen, Pan begins to have questions about his body and about food. Food becomes a terrible puzzle. While other students eat tons of french fries and candy, Pan is disgusted (yet jealous) to see they seem to have no problems with fatty, over-processed junk food. 

The author dispels popular myths about OCD, including being neat and tidy and a stickler for organization. Those things are not OCD. Overthinking and anxious thoughts are as is creating rituals to try to manage these thoughts. 

Pan seeks help once he realizes there might be a doctor who can help. 

The Afterword by Cooke is hopeful and honest. He's now an adult and a WRITER! He still has OCD, but he knows how to use tools to help himself. OCD can vary greatly from person to person. There is not one simple symptom to look for. Most people go eleven years or longer before they are diagnosed for the condition. 

The graphic nature of this book make it easily accessible even for the most reluctant reader. Colorful, understated art appears fun and happy, the opposite of most of Pan's thoughts and interactions with others. 

Recommended ages 10-up. Middle grade readers will be drawn to Puzzled. 

Ethereal PIcture Book: In My Dreams

 

In My Dreams

by Effie Lada

Illustrations by the author

Clavis Publishing Inc. 

2023

332 pages

ISBN: 9781605378657

Originally published in Belgium and the Netherland,

2022Translation from Dutch by Clavis Publishing, Inc. 

Simply transformative and ethereal art work by the author in grayscale pencil and pages with overlay that reveal hidden illustrations for the reader to discover make In My Dreams a treasure trove of artistic expression. 

A young girl tries to stay awake to "catch" her dreams and see for herself where they come from, but, alas, she always drifts off to sleep. Color is introduced to the story: the green of the girl's outfit, gorgeous pink feathers as the child drifts over the rooftops of her town, a red umbrella and a school of orange fish. The girl wakes in the morning to a world filled with color, and she is "herself." 

Sleepy, understated prose and beautiful images will make this book a nightly bedtime read. 

Highly, highly recommended ages 2 and up. Libraries must buy at least two copies; one for the shelf  (which is likely to be damaged after a few reads) and one for story time that will last years.