Tag Archives: Teamwork

Elem. – Start Your Engines

Posted on by

Duffield, Katy S. Start Your Engines. Illustrated by Chiara Galletti Sourcebooks Jabberwocky,  2026, 9781464223457. $12.99. 40 pgs. Grades PK-3

Four Wheeler, Frankie, is ready to race, and it’s his friend Pipsqueak’s first race ever. The race gets started, and the ATVs are on their way, Frankie is leading the charge, but Pipsqueak gets stuck in the mud. With the finish line in sight, Frankie has to make the decision on if he will turn around and help his friend or win the race. 

THOUGHTS: For kids who like the Pixar movie, Cars, they would love this book. With similar messaging and the theme of not leaving friends behind, young readers will certainly enjoy this book. Younger elementary students (K-2) would really like this especially as they learn to read. 

Picture Book

Elem. – The Most Magnificent Team

Posted on by

Spires, Ashley. The Most Magnificent Team. Kids Can Press, 2025. 978-1-525-31295-3. Unpaged. $19.99. Grades K-2.

The girl from The Most Magnificent series is back, this time heading outdoors with her dog to build something new. But when she arrives at her favorite place, she finds a neighbor girl and her cat already there, planning away! It’s the planning part that’s part of the trouble. The girl is ready to build, but the neighbor is measuring, considering, and calculating. They want to work together, but they have such different ways of doing things. This leads to a fight after which the girls return to working on their own, but later they are less than thrilled with what they each build. “Suddenly, they get a most MAGNIFICENT idea.” They decide to work “as a team,” asking each other for help and sharing ideas when stuck, and “when they DISAGREE, they take a BREATH.” This time, their work culminates in something they–and their pets–all love, and they plan to work together tomorrow. 

THOUGHTS: This hopeful story provides some specific ways to work out problems when, not if, disagreements arise, making this a useful book to teach and reinforce positive interaction.  

Picture Book

Elem. – Bitsy Bat, Team Star

Posted on by

Windness, Kaz. Bitsy Bat, Team Star. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. 978-1-665-94755-8. Unpaged. $19.99. Grades K-5.

Bitsy Bat (of Bitsy Bat, School Star, 2023) returns with her classroom of wildlife characters in this story about welcoming a new student. Enzo is another “flyer,” and he is a nonverbal owl who uses a tablet and sign language to communicate. When teacher Mr. Nibbles explains the next day’s Critter Games, Bitsy begins to worry, as she’s always been the one fantastic flier. In a practice round during recess, Enzo beats Bitsy, and she doesn’t take it too well. Bitsy has to take a break and visit the sensory room (she’s autistic). At the end of the day Bitsy still is too tired to fly home. Her parents encourage her to focus on being a star teammate, but Bitsy isn’t too sure. All morning while her classmates prepare the the race course, Bitsy practices her fast flying. As each race passes, Bitsy becomes more nervous. At race time Bitsy sees Mo still tucked and tumbling and heading towards the woods. Will she fly off course to make sure Mo is okay and risk losing the race to Enzo, or will Bitsy be the fastest flyer? Specific details about autism and an author’s note provide more information that may be helpful for teachers, counselors, and young readers. 

THOUGHTS: This inclusive picture book highlights everyone’s unique abilities and shows readers that being a friend and teammate is more important that being the fastest (or best). Highly recommended for elementary collections. 

Picture Book

Elem. – Bear in the Air

Posted on by

Wortche, Allison. Bear in the Air. Illustrated by Cat Min. Alfred A. Knopf, 2025. 978-0-593-70482-0. 32 p. $18.99. Grades Pre K-2.

Bear is in the air and is so brave to be up there all by himself! He sees all of his forest friends below as he floats by. When Bear begins to feel that he wants to come down, he’s moved to take his bravery one step further by asking for a little help. 

THOUGHTS: This is a great read-aloud book for the Pre K-1 crowd when introducing the concept of self-awareness, asking for help when someone needs it, and how brave that action can be. The reader also sees that teamwork among friends can go a long way when one of them needs a little assistance, making everyone feel good and content in the end. It has soft rhymes, flows nicely, and the illustrations are lovely.

Picture Book 

Elem. – Author vs. Illustrator

Posted on by

Lemke, Donald. Author vs. Illustrator. Illustrated by Bob Lentz. Capstone Editions, 2024. 978-1-684-46997-0. 40 p. $18.99. Grades K-3.

Presented initially as a “how to make a book” graphic novel, the readers watch how the author, Don, and illustrator, Bob, may not always agree when they work together. Bob narrates the story within the story about a self-inserted superhero saving the town of Sprinkletown from a ferocious beast. Don draws the pictures, which do not match Bob’s vision at all, and he self-inserts another superhero of his own. The book is complete with humorous puns, adorable illustrations, and the dual storylines of the author and illustrator’s writing process and the superhero book within the book.

THOUGHTS: Overall, this graphic novel is a great way to introduce the writing process and how authors and illustrators create books and work together. The messages about creativity, conflict resolution, and teamwork would be beneficial for both classroom and library lessons.

Graphic Novel 

Elem. – Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions

Posted on by

Khiani, Darswana. Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-802-85547-3 Unpaged. $17.99. Grades K-3.

In the Thai village of Koh Panyee, a group of boys are crazy about soccer.  But in a village floating on stilts in the Phang Nga Bay, there is little space to play. The boys use a beach (at low tide) but are thwarted when new homes are built. Even the most ardent of soccer fans in their village tells them to ‘stick to boat racing. It’s tradition.’ But the boys enjoy soccer and long to play (and win) against the mainland boys. They had an idea: build a floating pitch (field). Adults shook their heads as the boys collected materials, worked out the problems, and began to play. The floating pitch tested their patience and their balance, and the boys improved. Soon the villagers cheered them on as they practiced, and the boys headed to the mainland for the district tournament. They didn’t win, but opposing teams admired the ‘sharp skills’, and the villagers were proud of their accomplishments. 

THOUGHTS: This positive story highlights and celebrates the determination and dream of a group of boys. Recommended for early grades.

Picture Book 

Elem. – Baller Ina

Posted on by

Casal, Liz. Baller Ina. Alfred A. Knopf. 2023. 978-0-593-56709-8. $18.99. Grades K-2

Swish! Ina loves ballet! She loves her sparkly pink tutu, her leaps, and her pirouettes. She also loves to play basketball. She loves to dribble, be a guard, and wear her shorts over her leotard. Despite some negative cheers that can be heard, Ina is confident and knows that no matter what she does, she is a superstar!

THOUGHTS: A fantastic story of being whatever you want to be! You can dance and play basketball and be fantastic at both!

Picture Book

Elem./MG – Swim Team

Posted on by

Christmas, Johnnie. Swim Team. HarperAlley, 2022. 978-0-063-05677-0. 256 p. $6.99. Grades 3-6.

Bree and her single dad, Ralph, move from Brooklyn to Palmetto Shores, Florida, where he has both an IT training program and a job as a delivery driver lined up. To calm her nerves about moving and starting at a new school, Bree focuses on her favorite things (doing homework with her dad, cooking, and the library), but sometimes intrusive negative thoughts make her doubt herself. Bree, who can’t swim and hates pools, is crestfallen to be placed in the only open elective at Enith Brigitha Middle School: Swim 101. Now her anxious internal dialogue, depicted as heavily outlined, grayscale thought bubbles that are in stark contrast to her sun-drenched surroundings, really run wild. When Bree accidentally falls into the condominium pool and is rescued by her neighbor, Ms. Etta (who happens to be an outstanding swimmer), Bree realizes that she’s found the perfect swimming instructor. Ms. Etta agrees to give Bree lessons – and an informal mini-history of Black people and swimming. Bree surprises everyone, including herself, by winning her first race. Despite some botched flipturns and belly flops, Bree develops into a strong member of Enith Brigitha’s team, which suddenly has a shot at the state championship. Meanwhile, the school district plans to sell the land where the pool is located to Smoothie Palace, but if the swim team starts winning, maybe the plans will change. A rival-to-“swim sister” subplot reinforces the theme of teamwork and adds a layer of drama that middle grade readers will love. 

THOUGHTS: Swimming is often under-represented among sports stories, and this one works on every level: an endearing protagonist, bright artwork (including gorgeous underwater panels), representation of young Black swimmers, and exciting races. Readers of Living With Viola by Rosena Fung and New Kid by Jerry Craft will adore it!

Graphic Novel          Amy V. Pickett, Ridley SD

Elem. – Sloth & Squirrel in a Pickle

Posted on by

Ballou Mealey, Cathy. Sloth & Squirrel in a Pickle. Kids Can Press, 2021. 978-1-5253-0238-1 p. 32. $17.99. Grades K-2. 

Teamwork. Perseverance. Flexibility. Problem Solving. Sloth & Squirrel in a Pickle, a children’s book written by Cathy Ballou Mealey, shines a spotlight on all the qualities mentioned and models a growth mindset with character development. Sloth and Squirrel are loyal friends who work together to achieve a common goal; purchase a new shiny bike that they can enjoy together. However, they find a job in a pickle factory to buy the bike to earn some money. Although loyal within their friendship to each other, Sloth and Squirrel find themselves in a pickle at work when they realize they have different strengths and weaknesses, different styles of learning, and different abilities. Will they be able to work together, complete the job, and earn their wages? Or will everything fall apart, even their friendship? In this heartwarming story, two friends stumble together and remain kind to each other as they learn a few lessons along the way. Who would have thought that a squirrel and a sloth could be such a resourceful team! 

THOUGHTS: This picture book would be a great addition to character education. There are hilarious moments, darling illustrations by Kelly Collier, and many opportunities within the story for educators or parents to discuss growth mindset. Perfect for a read-aloud within a classroom or school library (or even a snuggle at bedtime), young readers will love the silly duo- Sloth and Squirrel! 

Picture Book          Marie Mengel, Reading SD

MG – Taking Up Space

Posted on by

Gerber, Alyson. Taking Up Space. Scholastic Press, 2021. 978-1-338-18602-4. 259 p. $17.99. Grades 5-9.

Sarah has a lot of aspects of her life she really loves: basketball, her best friends Ryan and Emilia, and detective novels. She also has aspects of her life that she wishes would change; for example, she hates that her mother has issues with eating and never has enough food in the house for Sarah to eat. In fact, sometimes her mother forgets to make meals which makes Sarah feel unimportant. How can you matter when the people in your life who are supposed to take care of you forget that you have to eat? Sarah also discovers that as her body is changing in her teen years, so are her basketball skills. She is slower lately, making more mistakes on the court. As a way to take control over her sluggish performances on the court, Sarah starts restricting what she eats, trying to lose excess weight so she can be faster and stronger. This is not a challenge at home, but it does become an issue when Sarah partners up with her crush Benny to compete for a spot on Chef Junior, a televised cooking show holding auditions at Sarah’s school. Eventually, the stress of the competition and diet restrictions catch up to her, and Sarah has to learn for herself how a person becomes physically and mentally healthy.

THOUGHTS: Taking Up Space shines a spotlight on the pressure teenage girls are under to look a certain way. A very unique aspect of this book, however, is that the character’s mother is also struggling with eating, demonstrating to young readers that sometimes adults don’t always have all the answers and have to seek help, too. This book is a must-have for middle grade libraries and could be a thoughtful option for a book club.

Realistic Fiction          Danielle Corrao, Manheim Central SD