272. The Words We Share. Jack Wong. 2023. [October 10] 40 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: Angie!
Premise/plot: Angie helps out her immigrant parents by translating. The family has [relatively recently] moved to Canada and Angie speaks the best English. She turns entrepreneur--in a way--and makes a 'business' of writing signs in English for others to use in their businesses. But sometimes things get lost in translation....
My thoughts: This is semi-bi-lingual. It is a family-focused picture book that celebrates community. I enjoyed this one.
273. The Yellow Handkerchief. Donna Barba Higuera. Illustrated by Cynthia Alonso. 2023. [March] 40 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: My abuela wears an old yellow handkerchief that her grandmother gave to her.
Premise/plot: A young girl is VERY conflicted about her grandmother's yellow handkerchief. She both loves her grandmother--abuela--and is ashamed of that old yellow handkerchief. She seems to wrestle with embarrassment that her family--particularly her grandmother--is different from her friends' families.
My thoughts: This one has a mini coming-of-age lesson within. This one celebrates family and community. I liked it.
274. The Umbrella. Beth Ferry. Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. 2023. [March] 48 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: Dreary.
Weary.
Dim.
Grim.
Drip.
Drop.
Nonstop
Gotta go--rain or snow
Come on, pup.
ETA: I read this one in April 2023. When a physical book-book copy came into the library I had to check it out and reread it a couple of times.
Premise/plot: There have been plenty of books about rainy days--featuring umbrellas or other rain gear--published through the years. I've never seen a rain-themed book with this big a twist. So the premise, a girl and her dog live in a community where it is seemingly ALWAYS raining, ALWAYS gray. But maybe just maybe change is coming!
My thoughts: I LOVED,
LOVED, LOVED this one. I loved the text. I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the
rhythm and rhyme of it. I am very particular when it comes to rhyming
books. I can be harsh if the rhythm is off or weird. The lyrical
flow--the rhythm--of this one is perfectly perfect in every way. I love
the language--the onomatopoeia. I love how relatable it is. Rainy days
CAN feel endless and always gray. Literally and figuratively--I think
this one works. I also love the repetition. Every time we came back to
Come on, pup...I just smiled.
I love the illustrations. I
absolutely love the use of limited colors. Thematically, this one just
works really well. I love that the illustrations are capable of carrying
the story on their own. So little ones who can't quite read yet, can
"read" the pictures.
275. I Am Cat! Peter Bently. Illustrated by Chris Chatterton. 2023. [May] 32 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: I am Cat. Cat is me. A most superior thing to be. I like stretchy-stretchy paw. I like scratchy-scratchy claws. Cat is hungry. Pad, pad, pad. Human sleeping. That's too bad.
Premise/plot: Cat narrates a lovely rhyming picture book.
My thoughts: I ENJOYED this one oh-so-much. It was a delight. I loved the rhythm and rhyme. I loved the subject! The cat is ADORABLE. The story was amusing. Definitely recommend to cat lovers of all ages.
276. Jack the Library Cat. Marietta Apollonio. 2023. [May] 32 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: Jack snuck through the doors of the library each morning.
Premise/plot: Jack, the starring cat of our picture book, LOVES the library. The allergic-to-cats librarian does not appreciate Jack and his desire to be IN the library. She frowns upon those who let the adorable Jack inside the building. But Jack has fans and supporters who understand his need for STORIES. Will the librarian realize that Jack deserves to be in the library?
My thoughts: What a cute story. I enjoyed this one. I liked the library setting. I loved Jack. I loved that it celebrated BOOKS, stories, and CATS.
277. The Digger and the Butterfly. Joseph Kuefler. 2023. [May] 48 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: It was spring, and the big trucks were busy. Working. Building. Transforming.
Premise/plot: Digger makes friends, in a way, with a caterpillar/butterfly.
My thoughts: I'm not quite sure what to think of this one! Digger gets a chance to SLOW down and relax when the caterpillar makes its cocoon literally ON him. His construction buddies continue to do the work, Digger not so much.
This one is cute enough, I suppose. It stars construction vehicles (talking ones of course) but also celebrates nature and the natural world. This is definitely an interesting combination. It is part of a series, apparently. I have not read the other books.
278. Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Extraordinary Animals. Linda Ashman. Illustrated by Aparna Varma. 2023. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [Poetry book]
First sentence: Calling all contestants! Think you're tops? The most? The best? Are you bigger....taller....faster....smaller....stronger than the rest?
Premise/plot: A collection of animal poems. The two-page spreads do NOT go together. This has to be intentional. The poem acts like a RIDDLE asking children to guess the animal. There is nonfiction facts about each animal as well.
My thoughts: I didn't love this one as much as I wanted to. I like the premise well enough and the fact that it includes poetry and nonfiction facts.
© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers
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