Elem. – Mud!

Bailey, Annie. Mud! Illustrated by Jen Corace. Abrams Appleseed, 2022. 978-1-419-75097-7. 36p. $17.99. Grades PK-2.

Annie Bailey entices young readers to join two siblings as they romp and rhyme their way through a day of outdoor play in… Mud!  Full of imagination and mischief, this book explores mud building, mud cooking, mud fights, and plain mucking about… followed by clean-up time (and maybe a little more mud). Jen Corace’s gouache, pencil, and ink illustrations reflect the book’s spirit of play and adventure, and Annie Bailey’s use of onomatopoeia reflects the muddy world she has created for her characters to explore.

THOUGHTS: This book is pure fun and outdoor exploration… and a welcome reminder that readers can still have fun outdoors even on a soggy spring day (as long as their caretakers tolerate the mess!). Readers will enjoy the word play on the pages with both rhyme and onomatopoeia and the joy the artist portrays adds to the fun. A welcome addition to libraries looking to promote outdoor play or add to their spring collections.  

Picture Book          Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD

YA – With a Star in My Hand: Rubén Darío, Poetry Hero

Engle, Margarita. With a Star in My Hand: Rubén Darío, Poetry Hero. Atheneum, 2020. 978-1-534-42493-7. 144 p. $17.99. Grades 7-12. 

Based on the life of Rubén Darío, Margarita Engle’s With a Star in My Hand depicts a fictionalized account of the poet’s rise to fame. Coming from humble origins, a mother who abandoned him to a poor working aunt who encouraged his love of literature, Rubén Darío rose to become the father of a literary movement. From a young age his poems inspired and awed those around him as he took chance after chance offered to him. However, his road to fame wasn’t all gold; there were many hiccups along the way that added texture to his poems. Traveling helped to color his world and determine the kind of poet, and person, he wanted to be.

THOUGHTS: A delightful and inspiring novel-in-verse account of a young boy striving against almost insurmountable odds to find his place in a world that frequently rejected him. 

Realistic Fiction          Samantha Helwig, Dover Area SD

Elem. – Be You!

Reynolds, Peter H. Be You! Orchard Books, 2020. 978-1-338-57231-5. 32 p. Grades K-5.

Beginning with a page of whimsical adjectives in a rainbow of colors, Reynolds tells readers, “You were born to be so many things.” With a diverse cast of characters, Reynolds celebrates individuality in a simple way: “Be connected,” for example, is illustrated with riders on a two person bicycle. Each simple statement is elaborated upon on the next page which will lead to great discussions of how individuals can live the ideals presented throughout the text in their own lives. Stunning, brightly colored illustrations complement the text without detracting from the message. Teachers and counselors can use one page spreads to teach a whole lesson or enjoy the book in its entirety, asking children to pick their favorite “Be _____” as a prompt. This work is sure to be a beloved gift for new births or graduates much in the way Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is.

THOUGHTS: Fans of Reynolds’ previous work will rejoice with this newest book. A must have for all elementary collections, this title will make a great read aloud or addition to a Social Emotional Learning lesson.

Picture Book          Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

A baby smiles from the first pages of this book, along with the text, “You were born to be you.” In the pages that follow, various children (of many ethnicities) are illustrated to accompany the “Be” statements offered by Reynolds. “Be you, be ready, be curious, be adventurous, be connected, be persistent, be different, be kind, be understanding, be brave, be your own thinker, be okay being alone, be patient, be okay reaching out for help….no matter what, you will always be loved.”  Each “Be” statement includes some further example, such as: “Be brave./Try new things. Take a deep breath and plunge forward into new experiences.  It gets easier every time you try.” Reynolds’ book doubles as an inspirational graduation (or baby) gift and a helpful social-emotional learning text for any age. Readers could be encouraged to add their own description or definition to the “Be” statements, or they may wish to create additional personal “Be” statements. The book’s hopeful yet realistic feel will encourage many young people that it’s okay to be unique, to have needs, and to help others.

THOUGHTS: This book is a useful addition to libraries for young elementary readers. The success of Reynolds’ previous picture book titles (I am Love; I am Human; The Word Collector) using the same artwork, will guarantee interest in this title.

Picture Book            Melissa Scott, Shenango Area SD