Picture Book Pick: The Day We Got Lost

 




The Day We Got Lost

by Faith Pray
Illustrations by Faith Pray
Little, Brown.
Aug. 2024.
40p.
ISBN 9780316541176.


This review appeared in School Library Journal Magazine.



PreS-Gr 2–Smudge’s family packs up the car and drives to the mountains for a picnic and a day in the great outdoors. His grandpa tells them that moss grows on the north side of trees and cautions him to stay on the trail because the paths are marked with trail markers and stones, but Smudge is a busy, playful child and moves the rocks as he frolics through the woods. He does not need markers, he claims. He is an explorer. Smudge ventures far away. It is not until he hears animals snorting and snuffling in the undergrowth that Smudge becomes afraid and realizes he is lost and alone. As fear sets in, Smudge tries to retrace his steps, but he is lucky his family is looking for him, too. When they reach each other, Mama, Grandpa, and Smudge work together to find the right path out of their predicament. Following the moss on the trees just as Grandpa taught them, they make their way back to the clearing and to where they left their car. Being lost isn’t such a bad thing after all, if they are lost together. Pray uses subtle watercolors and colored pencils to capture the beauty of the surroundings and the facial expressions of each character. Smudge is shown as a brave adventurer and a bit of a troublemaker. Baby Willa appears sweet and angelic, and Oni the dog is playful and joyous.


VERDICT An additional purchase, this is nevertheless a sweet book celebrating family, togetherness, belonging, and love.
Reviewed by Pamela Thompson McLeod , Jul 01, 2024

My First I Can Read Pick: Fox Plays Ball

Fox Plays Ball

by Corey R Tabor 

Illustrated by Corey R. Tabor

Greenwillow (My First I Can Read)

32 pages 

Oct. 2024 

ISBN 9780063370913

This review appeared in School Library Journal.  

A fun read about a mixed group of animals who are competitive no matter their size. Fox wants to play ball, and soon is joined by Elephant, Bear, and Rabbit in a game officiated by Penguin. Snail does not want to miss out, even though he is such a small creature. Elephant kicks the ball to start the game. It soars. Illustrations show the ball going far away, into the mountains and trees, and the animals scurry to claim their prize. Fox is elated when he gets to the ball first. Little does he know the punishment his body is about to take: Rabbit, Bear, and Elephant pile on top of him, causing the ball to squirt out. Snail claims victory, proving that underdogs can win, even if the odds are against them. Readers will love seeing unlikely friends playing together.

 Lively illustrations capture the game and the players’ emotions as they chase the ball. A spread with the animals chasing the ball as it repeatedly goes “boing” off trees, rocks, and hills is laugh-out-loud funny. The expression on Bear’s face as he concentrates while trying to catch the ball is phenomenal. For further whimsy, Rabbit uses a kitchen colander as a football helmet.

 This book will appeal to parents and caregivers as a solid teaching tool. A note before the story offers guidance on using I Can Read titles for shared reading, reading with help, beginning reading, and reading alone.VERDICT A must-have for all elementary collections.

Picture Book Pick: The Quiet Forest

 

The Quiet Forest

by Charlotte Offsay

Illustrated by Abi Cushman 

A Paula Wiseman Book

An Imprint of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

2024

40 pages

ISBN: 9781665926423

A mischievous mouse sets this story in motion in a cumulative tale about a not-so-quiet forest. The mouse rattles the rabbit which bothers the beaver who soaks the deer who bumps a giant moose which wakes the bear from her den.

The hero of the story is the bear cub who quiets his mama who then calms down. The forest gets a little more quiet but not too quiet. The animals "sing" in their lovely forest. 

Beautiful illustrations by Abi Cushman capture each animal's personality and feelings. The deer looks startled, the bear looks angry with her "serious side-eye," and the moose looks miserable indeed. 

Readers will love the interactions of the animals with each other and the fact that they are all friends in the forest. Parents can follow up with a few non-fiction (but fun) picture books on forest creatures mentioned in The Quiet Forest. Readers who live near forests can attest that forests are not usually quiet at all.

Recommended pre-K to grade 2. Ages 3 and up. 

Humorous Pick: Peg Gets Crackin'

 

Peg Gets Crackin'

by Jo Renfro

Illustrations by the author

Beaming Books

2024

32 pages

ISBN: 9781506492070

Peg is an egg, and is quite happy to be an egg. It's safe inside her shell surrounded by all the other eggs, but one morning Mama says it's time to wake up and get out in the world. Peg is afraid. There might be danger lurking out  there in the world. 

She hears cracking all around her as the other chicks bust free. Then it's scary quiet. She wonders what to do next. She stays in the egg, safe. Soon Peg begins to outgrow her shell. Suddenly it's not comfortable, she's squished. She has no choice but to break free. 

The world is bright, the sun is shining, Peg has LEGS! She's excited to see what the world is all about. She searches for her mama and the other chicks while enjoying freedom and the outside. Peg is no longer afraid to be outside her shell. 

Colorful and joyful illustrations bring Peg's personality to life. Readers will love Peg and empathize with her struggle to be safe or to take a risk. Savvy children may realize that Mama chicken would not put her babies in danger, and even savvier children will point out that Peg becomes brave when left alone. The mama chicken doesn't coddle Peg nor baby her. Parents may learn a lesson from Peg Gets Crackin'. 

The fun story told with heart and gorgeous illustrations are stand-outs. 

Highly, highly recommended ages 4 and up.