Tag Archives: New Experiences

Elem. – Wonder & Awe

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Herzig, Annie. Wonder & Awe. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-665-94753-4. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PreK-3.

One winter morning a young girl builds a snowman. Because everything is so new and exciting to the snowman, the young girl names her Wonder and then wonders, “How did I miss this before? I’m in awe.” Beautiful illustrations show winder days full of magic. Though they know their magical time is coming to an end, spring comes early and the young girl is not prepared to say goodbye to her friend. After many days, she is able to “open [her] eyes again…to the wonder all around [her].” Beautiful warm days follow until a crisp, cool breeze reminds her winter isn’t far away. When she awakens to a snowy morning once again, the two friends reunite and share all they missed during their time apart.

THOUGHTS: This is a beautiful friendship story that truly shines with incredible illustrations. Readers will enjoy paging through to look at all of the wonderful things and then reflect on the things they see in their own lives. Highly recommended.

Picture Book

Elem. – The Hospital Book

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Brown, Lisa. The Hospital Book. Neal Porter Books, 2023. 978-0-823-44665-0. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-3.

The Hospital Book follows our main character as she navigates having appendicitis and going through the process of the emergency room, having surgery, and going through her recovery. The illustrations also showcase the different things happening in the hospital and help to engage the reader as they follow our main character. There is an author’s note at the end, which addresses the timing of when the book was written, an explanation of why she included certain illustration details, as well as a thank you to the various doctors and medical staff that helped her with her book.

THOUGHTS: This was a lovely picture book that deals well with a delicate topic of hospitals and sickness. This book would be a wonderful addition to any elementary  collection.

Picture Book

Tags: hospitals, surgery, nurses, doctors, appendicitis, feelings, families.

Elem. – Mama Shamsi at the Bazaar

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Hassani, Mojdeh, and Samira Iravani. Mama Shamsi at the Bazaar. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-593-11061-4. $18.99. 40 pages. Grades PK-2.

Samira is a sweet young girl who is heading out to the bazaar in Tehran for the very first time, accompanied by her beloved grandmother. Samir is nervous. What will the bazaar be like? Will it be crowded? Loud? Samira begs to wrap up in her grandmother’s chador, where she will be safe and comfortable. Grandmother gently amuses Samira by explaining that wrapped in the chador with the girl, the two would look like a turtle, a kangaroo, even a giraffe. Grandmother recommends instead that the two hold hands and stick close together to get the shopping done. Samira is no longer afraid.

THOUGHTS: This mother-daughter author team wanted to write a children’s book demystifying the veil. In the author notes each describes their own memories of playing within the loving warmth and comfort of their grandmother’s chador as children. The book depicts a beautiful grandparent relationship full of love and wisdom. While amusing her young charge, the grandmother distracts Samir with comical descriptions to ease her fears. Gentle, delightful illustrations by Maya Fidawi.

Picture Book

Elem. – A Year of Everyday Wonders

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Klein, Cheryl B. A Year of Everyday Wonders. Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2020. 978-1-419-74208-8. Unpaged. $16.99. PreK-2.

Beginning on the first day of a new year, this story follows a young girl through all of a child’s “firsts” within the course of the year. There’s the first snowfall, the first green, the first beach trip, the first new teacher, the first Christmas gift–and much more in between. Not all of the experiences are positive; for instance, there are colds, storms, and many sibling fights. However, it is these everyday moments that ultimately make up a year’s worth of memories. This is an endearing story about living in the present and cherishing the small moments, good and bad.

THOUGHTS: This book would be a great story to read with beginning readers, as the text is very succinct and somewhat repetitive, and the illustrations provide wonderful context clues. It would also make an excellent introduction to the four seasons in a preschool or kindergarten classroom. Have students bring in photographs of their “firsts” throughout the year and create scrapbooks. This book provides many possibilities for learning and connecting with students and should therefore be a strong consideration for purchase by preschool and elementary teachers and librarians.

Picture Book          Julie Ritter, PSLA Member