Elem./MG – The Eyes and the Impossible

Eggers, Dave. The Eyes and the Impossible. Illustrated by Shawn Harris. Knopf. 2023. 978-1-524-76420-3. 249 p. $19.99. Grades 3 and up. 

Meet Johannes. A dog who lives on an island with all sorts of friends, various types of birds, raccoons, squirrels, and buffalo. Johannes is free and lightning fast, but the buffalo are not. He is the eyes of the island who works with the other helpers to report back to the buffalo nightly. Johannes loves beauty. He is mesmerized by the rectangles that are being brought into the new building and appreciates all of the natural beauty he is surrounded by. When a large herd of goats are brought onto the island to clean up weeds, Johannes’ world expands in a way he never thought possible. Would his life be forever changed by meeting a new friend? The art in this book is existing landscapes that Shawn Harris added Johannes to in a seamless manner.

THOUGHTS: This Newbery winning title is interesting. Very thought provoking, funny at times, heart wrenching at others. The altered illustrations are fascinating. Harris has added Johannes to each landscape, and it seems like he has always been there!

Fantasy

Elem. – Dear Rosie

Boehman, Meghan, and Rachael Briner. Dear Rosie. Alfred A. Knopf. 2023. 978-0-593-57186-6. $20.99. Grades 3-6.

Millie has an amazing friend group: Millie, Rosie, Gabby, Florence, and Claire. Sadly, Rosie passed away in a car accident and everything changed. All four girls have had their world completely rocked by grief over the loss of their friend. As each girl struggles with their grief over the loss of their friend, their friendship also becomes rocky. Together, the girls begin to heal and learn how to cope with loss and change in different ways.

THOUGHTS: A heartbreaking story of grief, friendship, and overcoming hardships. This story will touch the hearts of readers, many of whom may have dealt with their own loss and grief.

Graphic Novel

Elem. – We Are Going to be Pals!

Teague, Mark. We Are Going to be Pals! Beach Lane Books, 2023. 978-1-665-91186-3. $18.99. Grades K-2.

Egret, the egret, sees Rhino, the rhinoceros, from a tree up above. An egret and a rhinoceros have a symbiotic relationship, which is also known as becoming best friends! Egret explains to Rhino how they have a great relationship and friendship. Their friendship is about eating together, playing and having fun together, and being there for one another. It is also about communication and respecting boundaries. Egret kindly informs Rhino of their great friendship throughout this story.

THOUGHTS: A fun story of opposite characters who were destined to become best friends due to their symbiotic relationship. This fun story is one that describes how opposites can attract!

Picture Book

Elem. – You Go First

Bernstein, Ariel. You Go First. Illustrated by Marc Rosenthal. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-1-665-91151-1. unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-3.

Cat and Duck are excited for the playground, and the new very curvy slide. Although Cat isn’t so excited, he’s nervous to try the new slide. Cat tries to persuade Duck to do anything except go on the new slide. Eventually, Duck doesn’t want to try the new slide anymore, and that is when Cat realizes he has sucked all of the excitement out of the playground for Duck. Sometimes being a good friend means putting others’ wishes first.

THOUGHTS: This is a great book to share the idea that putting your friend’s wishes first is what it means to be a friend.

Picture Book 

Elem. – Pocket Full of Sads

Davidson, Brad. Pocket Full of Sads. Illustrated by Rachel Mas Davidson. Rodale Kids, 2023. 978-0-593-56456-1. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-2.

For no specific reason, Bear’s “heart feels heavy / like [his] pocket’s full of sads.” It is hard to explain. A physical ailment isn’t the cause. It’s more like how one would feel if a brand new toy broke or a friend chose to sit with someone else. Rabbit is determined to fix Bear, but it isn’t as simple as telling a  funny joke or using the internet for an answer. Finally, things become too hard. Will Rabbit fix Bear’s pocket full of sads, so they can go fishing, or will this be one feeling that’s too big to fix?

THOUGHTS: Davidson’s story is perfect for morning meetings or a counseling/Social Emotional Learning lesson.  Told in a simple, gentle manner, young learners will understand how little things can cause big emotions. Rachel Mas Davidson’s colorful illustrations add brightness and hope to a book about facing sadness. Highly recommended.

Picture Book

Elem. – Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great!

Boynton, Sandra. Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great! Little, Brown and Company, 2023. 978-0-316-48679-8. Unpaged. $17.99.  Grades K-3.

Woo Hoo! You’re Doing Great! is a motivational book that features a chicken who follows you and screams about how you are doing great at whatever you are trying to do. The book starts with asking if you have ever felt low or down? Maybe what you need is a chicken to wave and cheer. As the book goes on, the chicken cheers for multiple animals until finally they cheer for a sleeping bear which does not go well. The chicken has made a mistake and learns that everyone makes mistakes. A mouse steps in and teaches the reader what the best woohoo is that you can do.

THOUGHTS: This is such a fun book to read aloud and will be a great addition to any elementary collection. This book would also make a great read aloud for any elementary guidance counselor lessons.

Picture Book

Elem. – The Ice Cream Vanishes

Sarcone-Roach, Julia. The Ice Cream Vanishes. Alfred A. Knopf, 2023. 978-0-593-30985-8. unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-2.

Meet Squirrel, a magician at making snacks disappear. Finding an ice cream cone that a little girl dropped, the squirrel is determined to make this cone disappear. He places it on a hot rock in the sun while waking Bear up, and it disappears! Squirrel believes he is a magician. He is determined to show all of his friends just how his magic can make ice cream disappear. Does ransacking an ice cream truck count as magic??

THOUGHTS: This cute little book is a good end of the year read!

Picture Book 

Elem. – Oslo Learns to Swim

Cushman, Doug. Oslo Learns to Swim. Simon Spotlight, 2023. 978-1-665-92648-5. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades 1-3.

Oslo Learns to Swim follows two best friends Oslo a bird and Rex a warthog on a hot summer day Rex is going swimming. Oslo has a lot of questions such as, are there sharks or giant squid?  Eventually it comes out that Oslo doesn’t know how to swim, so Rex teaches him. At the end of the story there are two crocodiles headed to go swimming as well.  One crocodile tells the other he is afraid of warthogs.

THOUGHTS: This book is perfect for fans of Elephant and Piggie or just funny easy readers. Must have for any elementary library collection.

Beginning Reader
Humor

Elem. – Bryson the Brave Bison

Davenport, Nate, and Luke Freshwater. Bryson the Brave Bison. Illustrated by Richard Cowdrey. Zonderkidz, 2023. 978-0-310-15310-8. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

Though smaller than most, Bryson the bison is part of a herd who is “taught to be brave and be true.” Such a large group of strong animals have fun together and can protect each other from things that seem scary, but when “Thunder and lightning…boom like a drum” the herd is terrified and runs away. Despite never being the “tallest…the strongest, the fastest,” Bryson’s strength is his smarts. Knowing how to think and use reason, Bryson is able to find a problem’s solution. Amidst a fun afternoon of play, a sound suddenly signals “A storm’s on the way!” Will Bryson be able to use his smarts to lead the herd to safety, or will the storm be too much for the tiny bison? Only a strong herd who listens to and helps each other will know.

THOUGHTS: This rhyming picture book is a perfect SEL title for elementary readers. Use it to discuss fears, teamwork, or strengths.

Picture Book

Elem. – Our Playground Rules!

George, Kallie. Our Playground Rules! Illustrated by Jay Fleck. Rodale Kids, 2022. 978-0-593-37874-8. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades K-2.

From the beginning a variety of animals are having a good time at a community playground. Because they “say hello” “listen to each other” and “say we’re sorry when something goes wrong,” this title provides a great opportunity to discuss appropriate behaviors. Readers will recognize many fun activities and enjoy looking for fun examples of the characters demonstrating their rules (like the worm on a swing asking, “Can you give me a push?”). There are many opportunities for lessons within this picture book. With the title teachers can use the word rules as a multiple meaning word and have a wonderful discussion about how rules means guidelines we follow and it’s the best. Students then can brainstorm their own rules for class and/or the playground. Fleck’s pencil and digital illustrations bring the animals to life in this adorable picture book.

THOUGHTS: Highly recommended for elementary collections, this title will become a favorite beginning of school read aloud, especially when discussing behavior expectations and classroom rules.

Picture Book          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD