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3 weeks ago | 
kirkusreviews.com | Becky Kennedy |Marilyn Sadler |Stephanie Laberis |Carin Bramsen
A purpose-driven tale about grappling with big emotions; unlikely to entice kids, but potentially useful to caregivers. Charlie is all set for a day of fun, but when he notices his little sister, Pia, playing with his new fire truck, he sees red. In an attempt to get his favorite toy back, Charlie hits Pia. Mom defuses the situation by speaking gently to him about his emotions: “You’re a good kid having a hard time. And I’m here. I’m right here with you.” There’s no mention of a timeout, no yelling.
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1 month ago | 
kirkusreviews.com | Laura Hughes |Marilyn Sadler |Stephanie Laberis
An encouraging story about hope and positivity even in the darkest of times.
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1 month ago | 
kirkusreviews.com | David Mas Masumoto |Lauren Tamaki |Laura Hughes |Marilyn Sadler
A mouthwatering gem to share with young gardeners everywhere. “A peach, like a story, needs time to grow.”Midori, a young Japanese American girl, strides into her family’s orchard, followed by her Jiichan (Grandfather), to find ripe peaches. She takes a bite of one but…“crunch!” It’s still too hard.
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Jan 14, 2025 | 
kirkusreviews.com | Laura Hughes |Marilyn Sadler |Stephanie Laberis
Recommended for preschool and elementary collections on family topics. A child struggles with complex feelings as their parents divorce. The brown-haired, light-skinned narrator and their parents are a tightknit family. With their mom, the protagonist bakes, draws, and builds cardboard houses; with their dad, they go on walks, make up stories, and roughhouse. They love their time with each parent, but when all three are together, things don’t always go as smoothly.
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Dec 10, 2024 | 
kirkusreviews.com | Vera Ahiyya |Debby Rahmalia |Marilyn Sadler |Stephanie Laberis
A most welcome tale to help youngsters celebrate Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air. Kai’s family is excited for the upcoming holiday. Everyone makes valentines, Kai and Dad hang decorations, and Mom bakes heart-shaped cookies. At bedtime, Kai signs “I love you” to Mom and Dad (though Kai doesn’t appear to be deaf). The next morning is extra special. Dad hands Kai a huge valentine, Mom whips up heart-shaped pancakes, and Dad snaps a photo of Kai to send to Nana.
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Dec 10, 2024 | 
kirkusreviews.com | Alice Walstead |Andy Elkerton |Marilyn Sadler |Stephanie Laberis
Having attempted to catch the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and the Gingerbread Man, a group of kids set their sights on a groundhog. After two score and counting How To Catch books, this latest addition suggests that there’s nothing left to capture. The verses are feeble (“But I’m chilled to my bones deep inside / I feel the wind across my backside”), while the illustrations are mundane. On one page, a child crouches in a drift eating “stick cheese” (apparently because it rhymes with “trees”).
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Nov 19, 2024 | 
kirkusreviews.com | Leo Espinosa |Marilyn Sadler |Stephanie Laberis |Erin Guendelsberger
Try your best to find this great storytime pick. The titular character, introduced in The Creature of Habit (2021), returns for a lesson in perseverance. Clever wordplay immediately elevates Smith’s story beyond mere moralizing about the value of a growth mindset: “Habit” is the name of a tropical island, home to the eponymous creature, a large, rabbitlike being who prefers the tried-and-true to the new and unfamiliar.
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Nov 12, 2024 | 
kirkusreviews.com | Scott Sollers |Laura Hughes |Marilyn Sadler |Stephanie Laberis
A tale with a dash of mild suspense and peril, relatable young characters, and offbeat artwork. Two boys break summer camp rules and discover the truth behind a spooky rumor in Sollers’ picture book. Best friends Felix and Harry always look forward to activities at Camp Horizon, which include swimming and diving in Lake Omigosh. One night, the camp’s counselor gathers the boys and girls around the fire to tell them that the lake’s name refers to sightings of a giant, turtle-like creature there.
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Nov 12, 2024 | 
kirkusreviews.com | Nadia Alam |Laura Hughes |Marilyn Sadler |Stephanie Laberis
While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of... Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol. The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip.
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Oct 21, 2024 | 
kirkusreviews.com | Marilyn Sadler |Stephanie Laberis
Shrinking, crowded forests force the animals to agree that some will become nocturnal. Thanks to farms, homes, and development, the forest is getting smaller and smaller. Animals who used to live in harmony find themselves in a cramped, loud environment. At an emergency meeting, a committee decides that some of the animals will be active during the day, while others will be active at night.
