Elem. – Sometimes Love

Posted on January 9, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Moore, Katrina. Sometimes Love. Illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2022. Unpaged. $17.99 978-0-593-32382-3. Grades K-2.

Sometimes an author’s words and illustrator’s drawings blend together perfectly. This is one such time. Moore pens a sentence or two per page, and Ruiz brings the story to life visually. A toddler is introduced by her parents, dark-skinned father and white military mother, to a puppy, and it’s love “at first lick.” Additional pages and pictures show how the girl’s bond with the dog grows through a variety of situations, discipline, compromise, and fun. Then, the parents share sad news with their daughter then lead her away from a Pet Center to a vehicle packed with change, to a place her dog cannot go. “Sometimes love is letting go.” In her new home, the girl makes new friends, shares memories of her dog, and weathers a year (or two) until her family moves again. Once again at the “Pet Care for Serving Soldiers” center, the girl reunites with her dog in a scene of happiness, “where love has grown” (author’s emphasis). The closing page spread shows more ‘photos’ of the girl growing up with her dog, and a message from the author about helpful organizations such as Dogs on Deployment, which offer military personnel in-home boarding with volunteers until the military commitment is over.

THOUGHTS: A winning combination of words and illustrations to send the message, “Changes come and changes go. Love through changes makes love grow.” Highly recommended.

Picture Book Melissa Scott, Shenango Area SD

Elem. – Every Dog in the Neighborhood

Posted on January 3, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Stead, Philip C. Every Dog in the Neighborhood. Neal Porter Books. 978-0-823-44427-4. 48 p. $18.99. Grades K-5.

Louis and Grandma are walking through their urban neighborhood when Louis mentions his desire for a dog. Grandma says there are enough dogs in the neighborhood already, and that makes Louis wonder exactly how many dogs do live nearby. He decides to conduct his own census, going door-to-door and collecting information about how many dogs each neighbor has. During his interviews, he meets many dog breeds as well as a diverse group of neighbors. While Louis is gathering his information, Grandma is busy with a project of her own: turning an overgrown lot into a neighborhood dog park. This story bursts with go-getter spirit, and readers will cheer for both Louis and Grandma as they each work to build connections and make their neighborhood a better place.

THOUGHTS: This book has some civic tie-ins, as both Louis and Grandma write letters to City Hall, and the replies they receive inspire them to action. It also features characters canvassing a neighborhood, compiling data, and working toward causes they believe in. The idea that you’re never too young or too old to make a difference in the world shines through, and readers will love picking out each of the dogs and their owners as they all enjoy the new dog park on the final spread.

Picture Book Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Library Book

Posted on October 31, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Butler, Dori Hillestad. King & Kayla and the Case of the Lost Library Book. Peachtree, 2022. 978-1-682-63215-4. 47 p. $14.99. Grades K-2.

King (a dog, and the narrator of the King & Kayla series) wants to play with his owner Kayla, but she doesn’t have time. She’s busy searching the house for her missing library book. She needs it so she can participate in book exchange at the library. King loves listening to Kayla read him stories, so he decides to help her look for the book. When Kayla’s friend Jillian stops by, she joins in the search, too. Together, Kayla and Jillian create a list of things they know about the missing book and what they don’t know. (King wants to contribute to the list, but unfortunately for him, the girls don’t understand dog-speak). The girls then determine a plan of action to try to locate the book. With a little help from King, the book is found and the crisis averted.

THOUGHTS: This delightful early chapter book will hold great appeal for readers. It serves as an excellent gateway to mystery/detective stories and could also be used in lessons about problem solving or even in a talk about locating lost library books. The book incorporates humor through the character of King, who can be somewhat excitable in his efforts to solve the mystery.

Early Chapter Book Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg SD

Elem. – I’d Like to be the Window for a Wise Old Dog

Posted on October 24, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Stead, Philip. I’d Like to be the Window for a Wise Old Dog. Doubleday Books for Young Readers. 2022. 978-0-593-37509-9. $18.99. Grades K-3.

I wonder if I’ll ever be, I wonder if I’ll ever see are all common questions in this book. I wonder if I will be the dawdle of a penguin or the tumble of a honeybee. Throughout all of this, the reader knows that I would like to be the window for a wise old dog. The questions and wondering of things that are possible or things that are not possible are filled in this book, making the reader wonder about these impossibilities, too.

THOUGHTS: This is a book filled with the thoughts of things we can never be and wondering what it would be like to be those impossible things. It is gentle book, with colorful illustrations decorating these questions, presenting the reader with imaginary thoughts.

Picture Book Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD

MG – The Supernatural Society

Posted on October 12, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Ogle, Rex. The Supernatural Society. Inkyard Press, 2022. 978-1-335-42487-7. 281 p. $16.99. Grades 4-7.

Will moves with his mom and his dog, Fitz, from New York City to a new school in East Emerson because his parents have recently divorced, and he is not pleased. Will deals with quite a bit of culture shock as he acclimates to small-town life and realizes that East Emerson isn’t just a sleepy, boring town; his new home is also overrun with monsters! Eventually, though, he befriends Linus and Ivy, two siblings from his neighborhood who help him deal with the monsters and make him feel as though he has found a “tribe” among all the upheaval and heartbreak in his life.

THOUGHTS: Good for students who want more scary stories, those who are fans of Stranger Things and groups of smart, multicultural kids finding monsters and solving mysteries. Linus is unapologetically smart, Ivy is strong, and Will is the glue that holds the band together. Students will be waiting with excitement for future books as well! This story will also serve as an unusual but interesting way to lead students to Free Lunch, Rex Ogle’s gritty and fascinating memoir.

Mystery Fiction Erin Faulkner, Cumberland Valley SD
Supernatural Fiction

Elem. – Two Dogs

Posted on September 22, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Falconer, Ian. Two Dogs. Michael DiCapua Books, 2022. 978-0-062-95447-3. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-1.

Ian Falconer of Olivia fame returns with another silly bit of fun, this time featuring dogs not pigs. Percy and Augie are two dachshunds who have been with their family since puppyhood. The family played with them a lot as puppies, but once the children were old enough to go to school and the parents went to work, the pair found themselves alone and bored. Of course, they would follow the usual indoor routines of most dogs, like chasing each other, playing with a ball and barking at squirrels. Even some unusual behaviors are not enough to amuse them, and the pooches decide they have to go outside. After figuring out how to open the lock, the dachshunds proceed to have a grand old time in the yard. They swim in the pool, play on the swings, roll in some unpleasant raccoon droppings and “water” the flowers. Then they spot a tiny hole in the lawn and cannot resist enlarging it. Suddenly the pair hear the approach of the family car, and Augie and Percy “hightail” it back inside. Will the canine duo come up with a clever way to avoid being blamed for the giant hole? Falconer has created humorous artwork that shows the animals with all their doggy characteristics, but with a slight human touch, as he did with Olivia.

THOUGHTS: This laugh out loud picture book is sure to be a hit with young readers who will ask for it to be read again and again. Highly recommended for all elementary collections.

Picture Book Denise Medwick, Retired, PSLA Member

Elem. – Life in the Doghouse: Elmer and the Talent Show

Posted on September 22, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Velasquez, Crystal. Life in the Doghouse: Elmer and the Talent Show. Aladdin, 2022. 978-1-534-48260-9. 140 p. $17.99. Grades 2-4.

Elmer, a long-haired dachshund, is thrilled when a family chooses to adopt him from Danny and Ron’s Rescue. Even though he’s a senior dog who’s undergone a lot of surgeries on his eyes and jaw, he has lots of energy and love to share. When Elmer is adopted by the Cruz family, his number one job is to cheer up their son, Benny, a quiet boy who changes schools frequently since his Mom is an Army Sergeant. Benny and Elmer begin working together during agility classes at a local rec center, and the training helps build both Benny and Elmer’s confidence and cements the bond between dog and boy. This title is the first in a new series inspired by the real-life dogs at Danny and Ron’s Rescue in South Carolina. Readers may also recognize Danny and Ron from their streaming “Life in the Doghouse” show. Backmatter includes pictures and details of the real Elmer the dog who inspired this story.

THOUGHTS: Share this title with dog lovers who are transitioning to chapter books. This is also a great pick for students who are building new friendships themselves or students who are interested in dog handling or training.

Animal Fiction Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – Don’t Eat Bees (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog)

Posted on September 12, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Petty, Dev. Don’t Eat Bees (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog). Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2022. 978-0-593-43313-3. $23.99. Grades K-2.

Chip is a very smart dog. You see, although he is only 7 years old in people years, he is very old in dog years. Chip has learned lots of lessons along the way, most of them being about things that you can eat and things that you cannot eat. For example, you can eat shoes, or plants, or the important papers the small human being brings home. You cannot eat, however, bees. Peas are fine, but bees are not! It is very important to remember that you cannot eat bees… even if you really, really want to… at least, you should try your best to remember not to eat them more than once!

THOUGHTS: An adorable book filled with simple life lessons from a dog! After all, it is important to remember not to eat bees, even when you may really want to!

Picture Book Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD

Elem. – PAWS: Gabby Gets It Together

Posted on June 27, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Assarasakorn, Michele, and Nathan Fairbairn. PAWS: Gabby Gets It Together. Razorbill, 2022. 978-0-593-35186-4. 176 pp. $12.99. Gr. 3-6.

Fifth grader Gabby and her best friends, sixth graders Mindy and Priya, absolutely love animals, but none of them can have a pet due to parental preferences, landlord policies, and allergies. Longing for some furry friends in their lives, the three girls form PAWS: Pretty Awesome Walkers, and begin walking a small group of neighborhood dogs. They face a series of obstacles in the process of building their after-school business. Some are humorous – who will pick up the dog poop? should they wear matching uniforms? – while others stem from the girls’ different goals for PAWS, varying commitment levels, and lack of communication. Gabby especially feels like she is always out-voted by her slightly older, sometimes bossier friends. All three girls learn from their mistakes and Gabby does, indeed, get it together!

THOUGHTS: PAWS is essentially a Baby-Sitters Club for animal-loving tweens; the next installment, due in November, will focus on Mindy. Sunny artwork, friend and family dynamics, and plenty of adorable pups lend broad appeal to this graphic novel series starter.

Graphic Novel Amy V. Pickett, Ridley SD

Elem. – Pugs Cause Traffic Jams

Posted on June 7, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

McGrath, Jennifer. Pugs Cause Traffic Jams. Kids Can Press, 2022. 978-1-5253-0340-1. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-2

Pugs Cause Traffic Jams is a funny picture book that shows how pugs are not the same as other dogs, as they can cause traffic jams! When the book starts and our main character is looking for her pug Kirby, we are getting a look into all the chaos that Kirby is causing while she is hunting for him. The conversations the main character is having with the other characters in the book are set in a different font, so the reader will easily be able to tell. The illustrations are enjoyable and add to the overall charm of the book.

THOUGHTS: This is a cute book and would make a wonderful addition to any elementary school collection.

Picture Book Mary McEndree, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter Academy

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