Harold Hates to Hibernate

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In Harold Hates to Hibernate, a young bear named Harold doesn’t want to hibernate because his three crow friends may forget about him while he sleeps. As the snow begins falling, Harold feels hungry. Certain that he can stay awake if he is full, Harold’s three crow friends bring him a fish feast. When the wind blows, Harold feels cold, and his three friends fly off to find warm clothes.

As the forest becomes icy, Harold’s crow friends help him with a soft place to rest. Even as Harold shouts that he doesn’t need to hibernate, his eyes grow heavy and, thanking his friends, he asked them not to forget him. The crows fly to their nest, but return to snuggle next to Harold, so he knows they’ll never forget.

Vern Kousky, who is also the author of Harold Loves His Woolly Hat, has written a delightful story for either nap time or bedtime. The text sends subtle messages about the enduring power of friendship and the undeniable need for sleep. This book might prove a particularly good choice for that young listener who fights sleep for fear of being left out of something interesting.

(Review originally published on Portland Book Review and book donated to Maltby Food Bank.)

The Band in Our Basement

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Two youngsters are sent upstairs to bed when Daddy’s band convenes in the basement. Although they are supposed to be sleeping, the siblings hear the music below and cannot help but dance. Soon, they are sneaking downstairs, past Mama in the kitchen, to see the band in action. On they continue down to the basement, where they are in for a surprise. Their hearts thump to the beat, and they can’t help but want to move. Very quickly, they are discovered, but just as quickly, they are asked to join in the music! Later, when the children begin to yawn, they are sent back to bed, but they dream of joining Daddy’s band again.

One word perfectly describes The Band in Our Basement: alive. Kelly J. Baptist’s text has both rhythm and rhyme that is irresistible. Jenin Mohammed’s lively illustrations with wild swaths of color literally dance off the page. Readers can almost hear the music in the basement and feel the beat as they hold the book in their hands. Warning: some may be hard pressed to resist a spontaneous jazzy dance party of their own.

(Review originally published on San Francisco Book Review and book donated to Maltby Food Bank.)

In The Groves

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A little girl travels each summer to California to visit her familia, including her abuelo. The little girl wants so much to see her abuelo’s orange groves because her family tells stories of the groves at meals: there’s magic, mischief, and monstruos in the groves! Still, Abuelo won’t take her because the dusty groves aren’t someplace to take a visitor.

Determined, the little girls sneaks into Abuelo’s truck to see the magical groves. There she spends the day with her Abuelo singing to the oranges, defending the grove against gophers, eating delicious tacos, listening to Abuelo tell of the difficulties he faced in coming to CA, and eating one of Abuelo’s spicy chiles. Returning from her adventure in the groves, the little girl finally has her story to share with the familia!

In the Grove is a beautiful, bilingual debut picture book by Floren that honors the importance of family and shared stories while gently exploring the hardships of the immigrant families who worked in California’s orange groves. Floren wrote this book with her own Abuelo in mind, and I have to believe he would be proud.

(Review originally published on Manhattan Book Review and book donated to Maltby Food Bank.)

The Bear, the Book, and the Blanket

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Bunnies must be quiet because it’s Baby’s bedtime, but Baby is awake and needs a bear, book, and blanket to sleep! The Bunnies first search for and collect a pile of bears. The Bunnies then go to find Baby’s book and take all the books off the shelves. Finally, the Bunnies search for Baby’s blanket, but it’s been through the wash and is stiff, clean, and smells wrong. So, the Bunnies hug and tug the blanket until it’s just right. Still, Baby is crying, so the Bunnies line up to give Baby a goodnight kiss. That’s not the end, though. Now the Bunnies line up for their bear, book, blanket, and goodnight kiss.

The Bear, The Book, and The Blanket is a charming story. The text is filled with wonderful alliteration and wordplay. The endpaper illustrations are particularly fun: each bunny is given a name starting with “B” at the front, while the Bunnies are sound asleep as Baby crawls away at the end. This book could quickly become a bedtime or nap-time favorite.

(Review originally published on the Los Angeles Book Review and book donated to the Maltby Food Bank.)

Around the World with Friends

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Raccoon is reading an exciting adventure story and decides he would like to go around the world. Raccoon goes to Badger to borrow a boat, and Badger joins the adventure. At the market, they meet Fox, who offers to cook if she can join. Next, they meet Bear, who says he will protect them. As they reach the river, they find Crow, who wants to join as a lookout. Soon, they set off down the river. On their trip, they run into a snake and some rough water. Finally landing on a sandy shore, the group eats, plays, and swims. When the rain begins and becomes increasingly heavy, however, each critter wants to go home for a different reason. The group packs up quickly, delighted with their first-world adventure and ready to go again.

Translated from German, this is a delightful story about friendship, adventure, and exploration, even if not far from home. This picture book may well whet young listeners’ appetites for more advanced stories like Frog and Toad are Friends or The Wind in the Willows.

(Review originally published on the Portland Book Review and book donated to the Maltby Food Bank.)

Sharing is UnBEARable!

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Orson the bear finds a big rock just perfect for napping. Another bear, Izzy, finds the same rock. Although the rock is big enough for both of them to nap, bears don’t share! Orson and Izzy bicker, until Izzy suggests they take, turns napping. When Izzy goes first, Orson dumps a bucket of water on her because he doesn’t like taking turns. Orson brings another rock, but it’s too pointy for napping. After they break the rock into pieces while fighting and glue it back together, a bird decides to take a nap on it. Together, the bears scare the bird away but decide to share the rock with the bird after seeing the bird on the cold, wet ground. All three take a nap together … until another critter shows up to share the rock with them!

Sharing is UnBEARable is a cute story that drives home the message that sharing is the best alternative. Along the way, Morris provides a subtle lesson in compassion and teaches a few new vocabulary words. For little readers who have difficulty sharing, this book could prove a good choice.

(Review originally published on the Chicago Book Review and book donated to the Maltby Food Bank.)

The Yowlers

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Grumpiness is the Yowler family’s preferred attitude. Papa grumbles. Mama shrieks. The girls wail, and the baby yowls day and night. One day, the Nicely family moves in next door. When the Nicely boys ask the girls to play, the girls are sure something must be wrong. But the boys show the girls how to play, and the girls have a nice time.

The next day, the girls choose to behave better. This confuses Mama and Papa, who think they must be sick. When Papa meets the neighbors, they offer to mow his lawn and give him cookies. This makes Papa offer to clean up with the baby at home, confusing Mama. When she sees the sparkling kitchen her family cleaned, even she begins to change however. Soon the house is filled with laughter, and grumpiness has been banished… mostly.

Stacy Lynn Carroll employs some very nice word play, especially at the beginning of the text, and Molly Ruttan cleverly transforms the Yowler family from monsters to friendly, approachable people by the end of the text. This is a cute story that might prove very useful if certain little listeners are challenged by bad attitudes.

(Review originally published on the Chicago Book Review and the book was donated to the Maltby Food Bank.)

Puff: All About Air (A Science Pals Book)

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Puff is a tiny bit of air who, along with all of his friends, surrounds our planet and protect it from space rocks and radiation. Puff and his friends help regulate our temperature and, when they move, create wind. When Puff carries Drop, a bit of water, we have rain. And when Drop carries Puff into the ocean, life can breathe underwater. Puff also gives us oxygen from plants and carries our carbon dioxide to plants.

Puff is everywhere! He even mixes with soil so living things underground can breathe. Puff is what all airborne creatures float on. Sometimes Puff spins out of control in a tornado when hot and cold air mix too fast, but he usually moves gently, sometimes spreading pollen and seeds to create new life.

Emily Kate Moon has cleverly conveyed fairly advanced STEM concepts in a fun, understandable way. Her illustrations are lovely and make the concepts all the more accessible. This is a great book to open children’s eyes to the world around them and would make a great choice for any budding young scientist.

(Review originally published on San Francisco Book Review and book donated to Maltby Food Bank.)

Ruby René Had So Much to Say

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Ruby Rene is a young lady with a lot on her mind, and she wants to share with everyone. She absorbs facts and sees them as gifts to share with others. A problem arises when her exasperated teacher can’t teach because Ruby Rene can’t stop sharing her knowledge. Ruby’s father gives her a journal to write down her thoughts, but how does that help if she can’t share her facts? During PE, Ruby is so busy reciting facts that she gets hit in the head with a ball and sent to the school nurse. There, her principal asks what happened and alights in a brilliant solution: Ruby Rene gets her own podcast where she gives one new fact each day during morning announcements.

This book sends a wonderful message. When so much of the time, children are told to be quiet, this book celebrates and values their voices. At the same time, author Ashley Iman gently reminds young readers that there are more appropriate times to speak up when their thoughts can really be appreciated. This book is a wonderful choice for those bright minds with a whole lot to say.

(Review originally published on the Portland Book Review and book donated to the Maltby Food Bank.)

Teaching Eddie to Fly (Katarina’s Small Wonders)

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In Teaching Eddie to Fly, a bear named Arthur realizes his friend, an ostrich named Eddie, doesn’t know how to fly. Arthur immediately sets out to remedy this problem by offering to teach his friend. At first, Arthur tries books and lectures, but that doesn’t suit Eddie, who buries his head in the sand. Next, Arthur devices several zany attempts, which include a hot air balloon and stilts, to help Eddie, who is adorably adorned in a crash helmet and knee pads. All fail.

After a last attempt, Eddie offers Arthur a ride on their long walk home. As they walk, Eddie’s speed increases until he’s walking as other birds fly! Together they realize that Eddie doesn’t need to fly! Instead, Arthur decides Eddie needs to learn to swim.

Katarina Macurova has written a truly funny picture book. No doubt, children will laugh will laugh out loud at Arthur’s crazy schemes as depicted in Macurova’s delightful illustrations. Just as importantly, little listeners will receive a valuable lesson about finding one’s own strengths, although they may not be expected ones.

(Review originally posted on the Los Angeles Book Review and book donated to the Maltby Food Bank.)