I say:
There’s a lot to like about this book, including the bold, digitally colored illustrations; multiple humorous scenes; and perfect lead-ins for important parent-child discussions on bullying, not being afraid to be honest with others, and finding your niche. Personally, I loved the expressiveness of the various jungle animals. The big-eyed frog is a favorite.

Angel says:
Love it! It’s a very cute book with great talking points about bullying. 

I say:
I love this one! It has a wonderful simplicity but has some stunningly effective nuances in the illustrations. The mostly red, black, and white pencil drawings with their sepia background are charming and elegant. The text and the illustrations work together perfectly to tell a story encouraging individuality, empathy, and imagination. Pre-readers could even enjoy the story through the pictures alone. One of my favorites.

Allison says:
I love the seemingly opposing themes and ideas that go hand in hand! Refreshingly simple example of children who might feel different or out-of-place who follow their gut instinct to be who they are. And the illustrations are SUPERB!

Pam says:
Oh my! That little bear is the cutest. Do I like this story? Absolutely! It is a wonderful father/son story, beautifully illustrated.

Several of us were charmed by the amusing, authentic sibling relationships and the quirky illustrations and side characters. Allison is hoping for a story about the dragon with an interesting smirk, and I would love to know more about the mysterious mouse who quietly pops up in the background throughout the book. And the message is one we all love.

Monty says:
This is a fun read featuring many colorful illustrations. The story can help children realize that everyone has wonderful ideas that should be shared and that no matter what others may believe about your ideas, you should believe in yourself for nothing is impossible.

Cheryl says:
I love this book. How much fun you can have with a story that has a make believe language included. Awesome!

I say:
This is such a relatable story for anyone who comes from a large family or has overachieving siblings. Through the story of a dog named Ed who is determined to match the excellence of his loving family and enjoy the same privileges as the Ellis children (like sitting on the couch and eating at the table), readers can discover or talk about the things that make them excellent, even if they are less obvious than being a math whiz or a star athlete. The crayon and grease pencil illustrations are perfect for the story, conveying warmth,  movement, and Ed’s loyalty and mischievousness. And the final page is perfection.

Allison says:
I love it! Vocabulary, school subjects, all related to the life of a dog. It’s humorous enough to keep an adult entertained, busy and visual for children.

Monty says:
This book shows a loving relationship between a boy and his dog and how they learn together. The illustrations are great and add much character to the story.

I say:
We’re cheating a little bit picking this one since it was originally published in 2015 in the UK, but its first US printing was in 2016. This cute story of a little boy playing hide-and-seek with an elephant is sure to elicit smiles all around. Little kids familiar with the game will get a giggle at the boy’s obliviousness and be proud of finding Elephant for themselves. There are also lots of fun details for observant kiddos (seriously, keep your eye on the dog), or perhaps the book can help kids who are less sharp-eyed to become more observant. As Allison pointed out in our deliberations, this one will encourage kids to look beyond the text and pay attention to visual cues and their own observances.

Cheryl says:
I really enjoyed this book, and a child will identify with the story about a favorite toy. The imagination in the book is fun and it gives a happy feeling.

I say:
This is a beautiful, heartbreaking story with nuance that still remains relatable for children. It’s blunt in places, but still appropriately gentle. I love the scenes illustrating that it is okay to still laugh, to be angry, or to want to be alone. The text is great for vocabulary building, and the writing does a fabulous job of capturing both the energy of the city and the intimacy of the characters’ friendship.

Allison says:
I like the gentle way that this story brings hope to struggle and grief. I like that Gus finds a way to move on, though he is sometimes troubled. This is a must for the list, if not for the beautiful yet simple illustrations, then for the gentle way the subject matter is handled.

I say:
I really enjoyed the mixed-media style. The effect is somewhat reminiscent of Lois Elhert, though the tone and art are actually quite different. Conversational prose poetry addresses both the everyday and a few more elevated topics, like war. I particularly liked the war illustration where the bomb turns into a fish and the final image where Wednesday dreams of a blue squirrel that recalls a paint-splatter horse from earlier in the book. It’s an even, thoughtful story about imagination and creation and offers many interesting opportunities for discussion between children and their parents or educators.

Allison says:
This book seems so simple at first glance, and the mixed-media made me wince. I don’t generally enjoy the style, but this time it fits the seemingly disjointed, but oh-so-connected storyline. I think this book will encourage children to notice what is around them in a way that is all their own, and encourage them to discuss their thoughts. And, it isn’t often easy to discuss abstract thoughts with young children, but this book not only gives us an example, but instruction on how to start that process. LOVED IT!

I say:
Excellent comic timing, richly-colored illustrations, and a touch of the bizarre make this twist on a traditional folktale so much fun to read!

I say:
I LOVE these interactive picture books, and so does my 3-year-old niece. I bought her this one for Christmas, and she had me read it to her over and over, twice in one session before she would let me leave her house to go home! It was so much fun to see her enthusiasm and wonder as her actions seemingly affected the outcome of the next page. And in addition to being a great deal of fun to read together, the book is also wonderful for helping children with following directions and learning colors, counting, and other concepts, Let’s Play joins Press Here and Tap the Magic Tree on my list of interactive favorites. Za-za-ZOOM!

I say:
This a story of the first day of school from an entirely news perspective: the school’s! It will be a great first day of school or back to school read, especially for kids who are feeling a little self conscious. Plus, there are a few truly fantastic moments, such as the water fountain incident and School’s resulting embarrassment. 

Allison says:
This book reads like a how-to, while keeping a story behind the words. I love the asides, the rhythmic flow of the storyline, and the call to greatness in everyday life. There’s a good lesson in how we can think of the stereotypical version of things, and realize that sometimes reality is better than fiction. I also like the comic book feel; this one’s in my top 10.

Pam says:
I so enjoyed this book. The facial expressions of the sister and dog add humor to the story. Five stars, definitely! Smiles turn to laughter while reading this one.

I say:
This is a cute little adventure story that also helps build vocabulary and narrative skills. It’s extremely inventive in the way it unfolds, with lots of little details to ponder and discuss. There’s great use of dramatic effect and humor, and the shifting settings, colors, and moods are wonderful. Animal and nature lovers are sure to enjoy. Also, I like that although the protagonist is established as a boy, readers can easily imagine the protagonist to be a girl if they wish. One word of caution, though: There has been a bit of controversy over this one, with some readers expressing concern over stereotypical representations of native peoples due to the use of the word “tribe.” Whether you view the book’s kids as simply a group of primitive children or something else, you might want to be mindful of  possible connotations or questions,

Angel says:
I love the illustrations. I love that there are several talking points and the language used in named  each group of animals, I love that in the end, the main character finally finds his place.

Pam says:
This book is unique. It is different from the books I have been reading, the illustrations stand out. There is a softness to the pictures and yet they are so colorful.

I say:
This book is a wonderful, visual exploration of perspective and can do much to help children think about other’s points of view and their own perceptions. If you’re reading with a scientifically-minded kid, it can be a great jumping off point for talking to kids about how certain animals see differently (e.g., in black and white or through vibrations) than human or other animals. There’s been a lot of buzz about this one as a likely Caldecott contender.

Cheryl says:
This was a good story with a good rhythm. You can do hand claps along with it to make it more interactive and exciting. The illustrations are really good, too.

Monty says:
This is a cute story perfect for teaching about reading and how it helps you learn new things.

Allison says:
The illustrations are superb! And even though the author is better known for wriiting for older readers, the book isn’t overly texty, instead focusing on the clues in the text and illustrations to make the points. I love the spirit of the character, and his yearning to be himself. The sky is the limit! 

I say:
I love the deadpan humor and visual cues Klassen uses in his hat books. This one shares many similarities with the other two wonderful books in the trilogy, but with a fun Western feel and a new moral. The result is a surprisingly sweet story about friendship and resisting temptation.

Pam says:
So much is expressed in so few words. There is only one hat, but two turtles. Klassen is able to resolve the issue in such a way that it brings out the true meaning of friendship.

Pam says:
The illustrations are beautiful. Each page is a beautiful work of art. They tell an emotional story. The rhyme scheme adds to the story. This was the life of a slave. It was a life that was repeated week after week. This was the rhythm of their life.

I say:
Marvelous artwork creates an eerie, haunting picture that is echoed in the poetic text. Haunting, exciting, mysterious. Brilliant.
*BCPL copies are on order*

I say:
Tonatiuh’s stylized art is even more gorgeous and dynamic here than usual, probably because the flattened, Aztec-influenced illustrations are so perfectly suited to the story, a retelling of a Mesoamerican legend. The story itself is bittersweet—as so many legends are—but also very compelling and ultimately triumphant.

*Available on Hoopla*

I say:
This is a wonderful true story to encourage children’s artistic aspirations and to promote understanding of  less traditionally “pretty” art styles. The book also does a fantastic job of dealing with sensitive issues with relatable language and expressions. And the illustrations are dynamic, bold, and perfectly reflective of the subject.

I say:
This book is light on actual fact/detail except for the appendix-like end, but that is perfect for the short attention spans of toddlers. Yet the appendix helpfully provides the info older readers might be looking for or that parents may need to answer curious kiddos’ barrage of questions. I also like the illustration style and the rhythm of the text. Great for animal lovers.

Angel says:
This is a good book for learning about animals that live on the African Savanna. There are just enough facts that children can learn about the animals but not be overwhelmed with information.

Pam says:
The question at the end—”What will we do with THEIR GREAT GIFT?”—really makes a person stop and think. What a wonderful conversation that could evolve from this book. Not only does it make you think about the cultural differences we see in each other, but it also reminds us that we have ancestors that went through the same sort of things.

Pam says:
There is so much fun packed into this easy reader. The humor begins right from the start. Big Cat is willing to tolerate many things for the love of his family. Absolutely a good read!

I say:
Adorable. This book introduces new vocabulary through the context of synonyms so that kids can easily decipher the meanings, and it also teaches about math and sharing. There’s a great use of humor, with engaging text and standout illustrations. I’m loving this new Elephant & Piggie spin-off series!

Monty says:
I enjoyed this beginning reader book and believe children will also. The story is cute and teaches the importance of listening and following directions. The illustrations are colorful and fun and add much to the story.

Allison says:
This reminds me of Frog and Toad and their adventures. I like the illustrations, which will keep kids busy, as well as the way the text appears for beginning readers. There is a little vocabulary here as well, and concepts old and new to entice children.

Cheryl says:
This book is a really exciting beginner reader. It has all kinds of emotions in it and then a real good, feel good ending.

Monty says:
Everyone likes Ferris wheels and this tells the story of how the Ferris wheel was invented. The illustrations are very good. I believe early readers will enjoy this book.

Cheryl says: 
Come on, Mo Willems…nuff said! Great!

I say:
What a fantastic way to teach kids a little history while holding their interest and helping them strengthen reading skills. Slightly more advanced beginning readers who prefer nonfiction over fiction will get a kick out of this one!

Monty says:
The personification of the grass with each blade having its own personality adds to the humor and will keep children’s attention along with the large repetitive words. This is a great beginning reader book!

I say:
I just love Dory and her big imagination. In her latest escapades, Dory struggles with the idea of reading since she’s always so busy making up her own stories. Her reluctance may be familiar to many kids, but her journey will have kids proud of using their own reading super power. I hope there will be many, many more in this series so I can buy them all for my niece when she’s ready for chapter books (assuming I can wait that long!).

I say:
Delightfully silly. This is a fun and funny chapter book with crowd-pleasing illustrations. Plus, it can serve as a great primer in using deductive reasoning.

I say:
This is a fantastic early chapter book for boys who pride themselves in being tough, though girls might enjoy too. The story makes good use of repetition and irony to keep the kids feeling confident and engaged. The book is especially strong in its realistic depiction of a sibling relationship—even if the characters are “hood” rats—and the author does a fabulous job of including hints of more serious family issues without making it the focus of the story. The illustrations compliment the text perfectly without distracting from it. 

I say:
Abundant full-color illustrations are a welcome addition to this fun opener to a new series about a bright and energetic Colombian girl. This should be a hit with Judy Moody fans!

Cheryl says:
Really a cute chapter book. It has Lola’s diary entries, which are cute and so true and full of drama for that age. The little brother is just what you would expect, annoying. 

Angel says:
As the story beings, Waylon experiences some big changes all at once, and he struggles to fit in with the most popular boy in school. This is a story children will be able to relate to.

I say:
This is a really, really good easy chapter book. It’s longer than some, but it’s broken down into easily digestible sections and chapters. There’s a great overarching theme about Max becoming accustomed to the new living situation, but each “weekend” section can stand on its own as well.  Although the reality of  divorce or separation lurks in the background, the story stays very upbeat and never feels issue driven. Laced with humor and the adventure to be found in everyday situations, this is a wonderful portrait of a loving and deepening relationship between a father and son.