Funny Picture Book: Vinny Gets a Job

 

Vinny Gets a Job

by Terry Brodner

Illustrated by the author

Aladdin

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2020

40 pages

ISBN: 9781534413566

What a fun and FUNNY picture book! Vinny the dog notices Mom puts on nice clothes and leaves the house every day. He asks his brother, the smart cat, where does she go? The cat says she goes to her job. Vinny decides that sounds like a fun idea and wants a job of his own. He dresses in his best suit and goes out looking for a job. At the first place, the restaurant gives him a job cleaning tables. Being a dog, as Vinny certainly is, he cleans the tables HIS way. The nice lady who hired him promptly fires him. 

His next position is at a flower shop where he's told to water the plants and flowers. You can imagine how a dog waters the flowers! Young readers will giggle and squeal at Vinny's antics. He goes to the natural art museum and is told his job is to watch the T Rex display. Being a dog, those bones look delicious! It's too much for poor Vinny. He grabs a leg bone and runs home. Mom assures Vinny his real job is waking her up in the morning and being a good dog. The museum, meanwhile, is still looking for its missing bone!

Kids will love the dog/cat relationship in which the cat, clearly, is the more intelligent of the two. Vinny is priceless as an adorable, lovable dog who's only trying to do what his bosses tell him to do. 

A MUST READ for every family who loves their four-legged siblings! 

Highly, highly recommended as a bedtime story and fun read-aloud. 

Picture Book Pick: Here Comes Ocean

 

Here Comes Ocean

by Meg Fleming

Illustrations by Paola Zakimi 

Beach Lane Books

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division

2020 

40 pages 

ISBN: 9781534428834

A boy and his playful puppy enjoy a day at the beach in this fun rhyming picture book. Putting his toes in the sand, the boy meets a friendly crab and spots bird tracks left by sand pipers. A big wave crashes over the boy and his dog but they are still happy and safe. The boy and his family to watch the sunset and tells the ocean goodnight.

Beautiful illustrations b Zakimi show the sea's creatures and every shade of blue and green and in between highlight the beauty of a day at the beach. End papers have each sea creature and its name.  A picture book does not have to teach a lesson or morals. Here Comes Ocean captures a family outing, a memorable moment a child will always remember. 

Highly recommended ages 2 and up. 

Beautiful Art! Dinosong

 

Dinosong

by Tim McCanna

Illustrated by Richard Smythe

A Paula Wiseman Book

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

2020

ISBN: 9781534430020

32 pages

Rhyming yet sparse text is brilliantly brought to life with glorious and colorful artwork by Richard Smythe. Three dinosaurs set off on an adventure to explore their world. They encounter rain, volcanos, thunder and lightning, and earthquake before finding a safe place to call home. 

Young readers who love dinosaurs will see A sauropod, a triceratops and and ankylosaur. A page of fascinating dinosaur facts follow the story. 

Rhyming text MUST be read aloud: "Chip chop/Trip trop, Flip flap/Flunk. Dinosong will be a favorite for many young readers. 

Highly recommended ages 3-8 and all dinosaur fans. 

MG Pick: Music For Tigers

 

Music For Tigers

by Michelle Kadarusman

Pajama Press Inc.

2020

192 pages

ISBN: 9781772780543

Governor General's Award Finalist

Kirkus Starred Review

Music For Tigers is a life-changing book bound to stick with you long after you finish it. Kadarusman takes readers on a journey to the other side of the world into the thick growth of the Tarkine forest of gum trees, lush vines, giant spiders, weird creatures and the elusive (and thought to be extinct) Tasmanian tiger. This unique setting introduces stunning wildlife: bandicoots, devils and the special tiger will capture the interest of even the most reluctant reader. 

Louisa is sent to stay with her strange and silent Uncle Ruff, an uncle she doesn't know and barely understands. Ruff is ROUGH--a man of few words and not one to coddle a child. Besides playing her beloved violin, Louisa begins exploring her surroundings deep in her family's wilderness sanctuary and reading her grandmother's notebooks. She meets Colin who is on the spectrum and they become fast friends. Learning about the land and its "extinct" tigers fills Louisa with hope and love. When she realizes there is one tiger in danger because its home will soon be destroyed, Louisa (with Colin and Uncle Ruff) has to locate, capture and relocate the cat. Using her music, Louisa draws the beautiful cat to her. 

This coming of age story with the elements of conservation, an appreciation and acceptance of the neurodiverse, a celebration of aboriginal peoples, the importance of saving the planet, practicing love and hope will pull on your heartstrings. Pages that follow the story give us hope as a planet--the Tasmanian tiger might still exist! 

Highly, highly recommended for ages 8 and up! An excellent whole class read which could be taught across several subject areas: geography, history, science, reading, ecology, and perfect for discussions about empathy. A MUST READ and a MUST HAVE for every library and every middle grade reader. 

Board Book Pick: Tomorrow I'll Be Kind

 Tomorrow I'll Be Kind

by Jessica Hische

Illustrations by the author

Penguin Workshop

2020

40 pages

ISBN: 9781524787059

A gentle board book for little hands that will inspire tenderness and kindness. Some words and behaviors for children to practice each day are: gentle, grateful, patient, honest and kind. Different animals illustrate each behavior in lovely rhyming verse by Hische. 

A MUST HAVE for every child. If we all practiced this book, the world would be a much better place. 

Highly recommended pre-school ages 2-7 and up. 

Picture Book Pick: I Am the Storm

 

I Am the Storm 

by Jane Yolen & Heidi E.Y. Stemple

Art by Kristen & Keven Howdeshell

Rise X Penguin Workshop

Penguin Random House, LLC

2020

32 pages

ISBN: 9780593222751

Beautiful artwork that mirrors four forces of nature: tornados, hurricanes, wildfires and blizzards is paired with gentle family bonding moments like playing cards in the basement, roasting marshmallows and hot dogs, picking wildflowers and visiting cousins quiet the storms. The weather is powerful, dangerous and unpredictable. Mother/daughter authors Yolen and Stemple remind parents and young readers the storms will pass and skies will clear. The constant throughout the story is the family unit staying together and comforting the children. 

"It's okay to be scared..." the book teaches because YOU are powerful like the weather. YOU are strong, wild and fierce and like the storm,  you are the calm. 

Well-done! I Am the Storm will be a favorite read aloud book for any family who lives in areas that experience fierce weather. 

Highly recommended! Fans of Yolen's work will love this book! 

Ready To Read Pick: Cat Has a Plan

 

Cat Has a Plan

Ready-To-Read series

written by Laura Gehl

Illustrations by Fred Blunt

Simon Spotlight

2020

32 pages

ISBN: 9781534454118

Cat Has a Plan is a hilarious romp with three comic characters: Cat, Dog and Mouse. Beginning readers meet the three on page one and learn about words and word families that will appear in the story; for example "ad" which appears in the words: glad, sad and mad. Sight words like a, an, can and has are also on the page before the story. Questions at the end of the story help readers discuss. the story and new words. With a story this fun, young readers will thrive and learn to read while being entertained! 

Cat has a plan to scare dog. Dog gets mad and formulates his own plan which makes cat mad. Mouse is glad when both of them are mad. When the two realize they can make a plan together and "play" together everyone is happy. Illustrations of the "evil" (smart) cat and adorable, but unsuspecting, dog will captivate beginning readers. This book is on a number BEST lists for 2020. Don't miss this book!

Highly, highly recommended. The format of sight words, word families, new words, cute story, and questions at the end motivate readers to try the next book. Happy learning and happy readers! 

Picture Book Pick: Prairie Days

Prairie Days

by Patricia MacLachlan 

Illustrated by Micha Archer

Margaret K. McElderry Books

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

2020

40 pages 

ISBN: 9781442441910

Newbery winner MacLachlan depicts days gone by and harkens readers back to much simpler times (Wyoming, 1940s)  when the sky was big, life was slow, families were close, dogs slept on front porches and horses grazed in nearby fields. Farm life as the author remembers it is tranquil and lovely. 

Mixed media illustrations done in ink, acrylic, tissue paper and origami create a unique texture in the art by Micha Archer. This little picture book could win it all! 

Heartfelt, lyrical prose capture moments in time and childhood bliss. Every childhood should have memories of complete happiness! 

Highly, highly recommended. Prairie Days is the most beautiful picture book of 2020! 

Board Book Pick: Love Counts

Love Counts 

by Jo Parker

Illustrated by Matt Kaufenberg

Grosset & Dunlap

2020

20 pages, board book

ISBN: 9780593382615

Available December 29, 2020 

What a fun and unique counting book! Instead of counting up, this book counts down from 10 to 1. Captivating rhymes will keep kids entertained and lively illustrations are colorful and HAPPY! The characters are full of life and love. The message is to remember thank all the people who work hard for us every day: the farmers who grow our food, doctors and nurses who help us stay well, truck drivers who deliver products for our use, teachers who impart wisdom, and neighbors who need a smile.

Sure to become a favorite in every child's reading time. This is one board book that toddlers will will memorize. 

Highly, highly recommended for little hands and learning brains! 

 

Middle Grade Pick: Echo Mountain

 

Echo Mountain

by Lauren Wolk

Dutton Books For Young Readers

2020

368 pages

ISBN: 9780525555568

The Great Depression impacts twelve-year old Ellie and her family. Losing everything forces them to move from town to the wilds of Echo Mountain. Her father, a tailor by trade, must now learn a new life and  become a rugged “mountain man.” Her mother tries her best to make things work and hold the family together.

Feeling free, Ellie explores the vast richness of her surroundings reveling in nature and finding joy by discovering this new world and its secrets, but when a terrible accident injures her father, Ellie takes unfair and silent blame from her family. She feels she must make it up to them, so she seeks out the help of a healer far up the mountain known only as “the hag.” Whispered about by the locals, the “hag” has become a mysterious (and feared) legend. Ellie believes her father’s only hope lies in a natural treatment the healer is sure to provide. In her quest to find the hag, Ellie finds her own inner strength.

Prose as beautifully resplendent as the mountain setting, Wolk delivers in this brilliant tale of resilience, determination and finding yourself. Echo Mountain is the rare coming of age story that will resonate with readers of all ages. Recommended for any classroom reading group or book club, and Echo Mountain would be a fine read for background history of The Great Depression.

HIghly, highly recommended grades 4 and up. Don't miss this book!

Awesome Picture Book: Hurry Up! A Book About Slowing Down

 

Hurry Up! A Book About Slowing Down

by Kate Dopirak

Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

Beach Lane Books

2020

40 pages

ISBN: 9781534424975

Hurry Up! A Book About Slowing Down is brilliant! A young boy and his dog hurry everywhere. They hurry up and down and all around until they finally STOP! When the boy slows down and LISTENS, he hears and sees nature and wonder everywhere. He is able to enjoy the stars at night and listen to the buzz of insects. When he slows down, he can take a breath and relax. The joy of slowing down and finding the end of one's own rainbow is celebrated. We all need a happy story about slowing down right now.

Illustrations by Christopher Silas Neal shows the boy's harried, manic state in the beginning of the story and later nighttime illustrations in deep blue mimic the end of the day and bedtime. This is sure to become a favorite bedtime read. A must have for any child! 

Highly recommended! 

Non-Fiction MG Pick: How To Build A Story...or, The Big What If

 

How To Build a Story... or, The Big What If

by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Illustrations by Stacy Ebert

A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

2020

128 pages 

ISBN: 9781434438422

If you know a young person who wants to be a writer, this book is a MUST HAVE! If I were still teaching creative writing, I would make each student own a copy of this amazing, informative and FUN book about writing. While geared for grades 4-8, anyone who wants to be a writer or learn about writing will love this book. Unlike adult writing books, Dowell's book breaks the art of writing down to where it's understandable and fun. Her captivating sense of humor is echoed in the illustrations by Ebert. 

Every writer wanna-be needs to realize that rough drafts are just that: rough and EDITING is a must. Rewrites and re-do will happen again and again. It's part of the process. Writing takes time, effort and PRACTICE! 

Every story needs a character, the character needs a problem (if there's no problem, you have no story), there has to be some sort of resolution, whether it's good or bad. Also, your story needs the have some background but start with ACTION. Your protagonist needs to have something happen right away. There will be sticks and stones in the protagonist's way, but if there's a MONSTER (you'll have to read the book, to figure out what this means, wink), it makes your story much more interesting and the stakes are heightened. 

There are brainstorming activities, "the big take home," and "let's write" for students, teachers, writers, everyone! I've read many craft books, but How To Build a Story...Or, the Big What If is by far the most fun. It's adorable! 

So highly recommended, YOU NEED THIS BOOK NOW! Teachers of writing, YOU NEED THIS BOOK NOW! Writers, YOU NEED THIS BOOK NOW! 

Picture Book Pick: I Don't Want To Be Quiet!

 

I Don't Want To Be Quiet! 

by Laura Ellen Anderson

Illustrations by the author

Philomel Books

Penguin Random House LLC

2020

32 pages

ISBN: 9780593117286

A young girl rebels when her mother shushes her because her baby brother is sleeping. "Stairs are for stomping..." the girl says. It's more fun to make noise. Quiet is boring. 

A trip to the library where her peers ask her (peer pressure!) to be quiet, they're reading, forces the girl to sit still and open a book. Suddenly, she's "spellbound!" Hours pass, and she's imagined pirate adventures, kings and queens, and whole other worlds. The next day, she learns more at school because she's still and LISTENS. She realizes there's a time to be quiet and time to be noisy, and when she is quiet, she notices things in her own world.

This is a sweet book with illustrations sure to please young readers. 

Ages 2 and up. 

Non-Fiction Pick: If You Love Robots You Could Be...

 

If You Love Robots, You Could Be...

Ready to Read, Level Two

Simon Spotlight

by May Nakamura

Illustrated by Natalie Kwee

2020

32 pages

ISBN: 9781534465237

This exceptional and informative non-fiction pick is for young readers who love robots or who have never even thought about robots--really, for every young reader. Vocabulary words in the glossary help kids understand jargon of robotics and various trades that work with robots in unique fields. 

There are several types of engineers who build and use robots: mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and software engineers. Some other jobs in robotics are animatronic technicians and robotics research scientists. Robots are found on movie sets, in hospitals, at industrial sites, in warehouses, construction sites, and even in protheses, artificial limbs for people who have lost an arm or leg. Using sensors, the prothesis moves the way a body part does. 

The publisher ages this book at five to seven years old, but this reviewer feels a wide range of ages would gain knowledge about careers in fields they may know little about. 

Recommended age 6 and up to middle school. Illustrations and glossary make this a great choice for reluctant readers. 

MG Mystery Pick: Coop Knows the Scoop

 

Coop Knows the Scoop

by Taryn Souders

Sourcebooks Young Readers

2020

304 pages

ISBN: 9781492640189

Thirteen-year-old Coop (don't call him Cooper) lives with his gramps and his momma in Windy Bottom, Georgia, a quaint, quiet  town where the sheriff knows everybody and Miss Ruth and Miss Merriweather, the town gossips, are only too glad to share secrets with everyone the cafe /bookstore Gramps runs. Coop keeps his ear to the ground on the day the body is found. He knows the quirky ladies will know intel about the dead body, and he's keen to have a listen.  

Funny colloquialisms and Southern charm are found in every character's dialog. Coop's best friends are Liberty and Justice--no, really, that's their names! The kids agree to deliver donuts and coffee to the sheriff and his team down at the crime scene (the kids' secret plan to snoop), but when the blame begins to fall of Coop's gramps, Coop knows he needs to solve the mystery. There's no way his grandfather murdered somebody! 

Unique and funny characters will keep the pages turning and kid readers interested. Twists and turns abound, keeping the reader glued to the story. Souders does a great job with character interaction, believable dialog, and small town drama. Liberty and Justice are exactly the type of friends all kids will want to have. 

The author's nod to Shakespeare's tragedies and how the main character "kicked the bucket" is hilarious. They are: "stabbed, poisoned, or baked into a pie (that one's from Titus Adronicus)...". Coop's hair is "shaggier than a dog." Suds O'Leary owns the gas station and bait shop and wears a T-shirt promoting his business with "Suds Gave Me Gas," which backfires (yes, pun intended) his marketing plan! 

A very funny, punny book, indeed! 

Highly recommended ages 9 and up, and anyone in the South will hear their relatives' voices when they read Coop Knows the Scoop.