Elem. – Getting Sick and Feeling Better

Brown, Carron. Getting Sick and Feeling Better. Kane Miller, 2022. 978-1-684-64282-3. Unpaged. $12.99. Grades PreK-1.

A new addition to Kane Miller’s Shine-A-Light series, this book covers the basics of germs, illness, hygiene, and staying healthy. These concepts are broken down for young children through the use of simple questions and answers. Readers are able to use a flashlight to see through the pages and find the answer to each question that is posed. This interactive feature, along with the uncomplicated explanations, make this book very relatable and child-friendly. 

THOUGHTS: My kids (ages 6 and 4) LOVE the Shine-A-Light books! They enjoy shining the flashlight through the page to make images magically appear. The educational aspect of the book is an added bonus. This would be a welcome addition to any health or science collection that serves young children.

Picture Book          Julie Ritter, PSLA Member

Elem. – Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings!

Snyder, Laurel. Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings! Chronicle Books, 2022. 978-1-452-14482-5. $18.99. 27 p. Grades K-3.

Illustrated by Dan Santat, this picture book is a choose-your-own adventure take on common fairy tale tropes. The whimsical and winding path of the multiple possible story combinations includes familiar characters like Red Riding Hood; Hansel and Gretel; Sleeping Beauty; Snow White; and a whole host of stock fairy tale creatures, settings, and conundrums. As the story progresses, the reader is presented with choices leading to different pages containing alternate plot turns and story twists which result in different story-line outcomes. Some choices result in a scary ending, some in a victorious ending, and some in a comical ending. Ultimately, the message is that we each make choices every day, and our choices determine the outcome of our stories. 

THOUGHTS: Witty and clever, this is an absolute must-have for elementary libraries. Will pair well with lessons on fairy tales, discussions about choices and consequences, and helping students to understand story structure. Santat’s illustrations are humorous, and the story-telling delightful – no matter which path is chosen.

Picture Book          Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD