Tag: picture book

St. Patrick’s Day Picture Book Recommendations for Kids
Children's Book Recommendations

St. Patrick’s Day Picture Book Recommendations for Kids

The Retired School LibrarianLeave a comment

St. Patrick’s Day picture book recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Mrs. Ferraris may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. The Retired School Librarian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. (These titles can be found on my Amazon Storefront under St. Patrick’s Day Picture Books– https://www.amazon.com/shop/mrs.ferraris/list/2F2OI0W33ZUGF?ref_=aipsflist .)

❗This cumulative list grows over time, with the newest books always appearing at the top.❗

Ten leprechauns in various sizes are in the forest with a rainbow coming in

Ten Little Leprechauns 

by Molly Murphy (Author), Howard McWilliam (Illustrator)

Summary:  We start with ten different-sized leprechauns playing in the forest, who then enter a nearby household, wreaking havoc. The countdown continues with more leprechaun shenanigans.

Comments: The story is written in rhyme, making it a fun and engaging read-aloud. The illustrations are vibrant, detailed, and hilarious. I found myself stopping to count all the leprechauns.

For larger groups, I would project the book on a screen or whiteboard so everyone can fully enjoy the artwork. The book’s backward counting from ten adds an extra layer of interactive fun for listeners

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Sam and Tiny dressed as leprechauns. Tiny is a giant dog crouched in clover next to a path.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Tiny! 

by Cari Meister (Author), Rich Davis (Illustrator)

Brief summary:  Sam and Tiny get dressed up as leprechauns for the St. Patrick’s Day festivities. They participate in a scavenger hunt, but kindly stop searching for clues to help a girl who has lost her shoe.

Comments: The Tiny series is so cute, with Sam always helping Tiny learn about new things. The books are written for primary grades as primary readers and have a nice sense of humor, with this being no exception.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

This is one of the Tiny series. If you are interested in more from this series, they can be found on their Amazon page.

Book cover of The St. Patrick's Day Alphabet. The background over is green with four leaf shamrocks, snakes, horse shoes, coins, leprechauns playing harps, and one on top of a rainbow.

The St. Patrick’s Day Alphabet

by Liz Saunders (Author), Lindsay Dale-Scott (Illustrator)

Brief summary: In this nonfiction picture book, young readers will discover the origins, customs, and symbols associated with St. Patrick’s Day.

Comments: Leprechauns are hidden throughout the book for readers to find and count.

This book is perfect for teachers to read aloud to explain how and why we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. The pages also provide additional information about the topic in text boxes.

The illustrations were created using Procreate on an iPad Pro.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Watercolor cover of Eily looking for her father in the fog

The Fog Catcher’s Daughter 

by Marianne McShane (Author), Alan Marks (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Eily and her father live on the coast of Ireland across from the isle of fairies, Lisnashee. Her father is the Fog Catcher and must row to the island and collect the magical fog on it every Midsummer. Eily helps prepare to keep her family safe from the Good People. Her father rows out to the island. Eily is worried as she has found his protection charm in a tree.

Comments: Young readers will be enchanted by Eily’s adventure to find her father and keep him safe. Beautifully illustrated with dreamy watercolors.

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 4.5 /5 📗📗📗📗1/2

St. Patrick's Day cover with the saint and other Irish symbols to celebrate the special day

Leprechaun vs. Easter Bunny

by Todd Tarpley  (Author), Stephanie Laberis (Illustrator)

Brief summary: A leprechaun and the Easter Bunny battle over the space in a garden. The leprechaun wants to hide his pot of gold for St. Patrick’s Day, and the Easter bunny wants to grow tulips to hide colored eggs. Cupid comes along and wants to make plans for next year’s Valentine’s Day, moving all of their things out of the way.

Comments: This is the first of the Festive Feuds series. It is written in rhyme. Definitely a hilarious read-aloud.

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

St. Patrick on the cover with a large cross around his neck, bible, and shamrocks scattered on one side of the cover.

Saint Patrick the Forgiver: The History and Legends of Ireland’s Bishop 

by Ned Bustard  (Author)

Brief summary: Young readers will learn about Saint Patrick’s life as a child, being kidnapped to become a slave in Ireland, and his escape back home. Saint Patrick continues to explain how he forgave the Irish people and decided to preach Christianity there.

Comments: If you’re looking for a more religious take on Saint Patrick, this book is perfect. Told in rhyme from the saint’s own viewpoint, it begins with Patrick introducing himself: “Hello, my name is Patrick. You may have heard my story. I walked the span of Ireland to tell of God’s great glory.”

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Book cover to St. Patrick's Day with the saint himself, shamrocks, a leprechaun, all inside of a yellow circle

St. Patrick’s Day

by Gail Gibbons (Author & Illustrator)

Brief summary: This nonfiction picture book describes the customs celebrated on St. Patrick’s Day. Readers will also learn about St. Patrick’s life and some of his legends.

Comments: The illustrations include labels and captions identifying St. Patrick’s Day symbols. A lot of green is used to capture the holiday’s spirit. The author used black ink and watercolor to illustrate this book.

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Rating 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Gail Gibbons has an impressive collection of nonfiction picture books that she both wrote and illustrated. Her books can be found on her Amazon page.

Tim and Maureen looking out the window that has a flower basket of shamrocks with leprechauns all over the house that has a tree next to it and a flag that has a rainbow with a pot of gold

The Night Before St. Patrick’s Day 

by Natasha Wing (Author), Amy Wummer (Illustrator)

Brief summary:  Tim and Maureen, siblings, set up leprechaun traps all over the house the day before St. Patrick’s Day while decorating the house in green with shamrocks, streamers, and rainbows. The next day, they wake to find the house in a mess, but they caught a leprechaun. Will they be able to get his gold?

Comments: This would make a great read-aloud and a lead-in for students to make leprechaun traps in art class or the classroom.

Books in this series are for primary readers, offering humorous stories and teaching about various holidays and events.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

This is one of the The Night Before series. If you are interested in more from this series, they can be found on their Amazon page.

A small leprechaun with a green hat, green suit, four leaf clover in its hand, a pot of gold, mushroom ring on the cover

The Littlest Leprechaun 

by Brandi Dougherty (Author), Michelle Todd (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Liam is the littlest leprechaun in the Enchanted Forest, but he’s eager to help his family. His parents send him to help his siblings, then to help his uncle carry gold–but each time, he’s too small for the task. While wandering in the forest, he discovers a group of leprechauns trying to help a little unicorn. In the end, Liam realizes that being little doesn’t mean he can’t make a difference–his small size can be a strength after all.

Comments: This is a sweet story for toddlers to kindergartners who may be in the same situation as Liam, being the smallest in the family.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

This is from the Little series. For more details about the series or to buy, please see its Amazon page.

Old Pat playing his harp while leaning on a tree by the fire with a leprechaun listening nearby

The Leprechaun’s Gold

by Pamela Duncan Edwards (Author), Henry Cole (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Old Pat, a harpist, and Young Tom, also a harpist, travel together to attend a harp contest. Young Tom proves to be a cheat and leaves. During the night, they hear cries of help. Old Pat goes in search of a leprechaun in need of assistance. The leprechaun helps Old Pat in return for his help.

Comments: There are many two-page spreads in this book with rich colors, and several pages feature illustrations in black frames with decorated borders.

This will make a fun read-aloud for older elementary students. There are themes of kindness, generosity, and sharing.

Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Jamie dressed in oversized boots, hat, a green sash and playing a flute while his dog runs beside him

St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning 

by Eve Bunting (Author), Jan Brett (Author, Illustrator)

Brief summary: Jamie, the youngest of three Irish brothers, is told he is too young to walk in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. He gets up early and takes his dog, Nell, to prove he can walk up Acorn Hill, where he places the Irish flag at the top, proving to himself he can do it.

Comments: This is an oldie but a goody. This picture book is illustrated by Jan Brett in black ink with green and yellow watercolors. This book’s themes are perseverance, independence, and proving your belief in yourself. Great for primary and intermediate grades.

Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗

ieContinue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Three whimsical leprechauns dressed the same in green jackets, yellow plaid pants, red shoes are messing about on the rocks and field with a black and white cow in the background field

That’s What Leprechauns Do

by Eve Bunting (Author), Emily Arnold McCully (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Three mischievous leprechauns–Art, Boo, and Col–spot an approaching storm and must hurry to dig up a buried pot of gold before the rainbow appears. Along the way, they play pranks and get into all sorts of silly antics, showing the playful and rascally side that leprechauns are famous for.

Comments: The illustrations are beautiful watercolors and perfectly complement the story.

Eve Bunting and Emily Arnold McCully have won several book awards. Their collaboration with this story makes a great read-aloud for intermediate students.

Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

The selected children’s books are chosen by a certified, retired elementary school librarian who passionately reads and recommends picture books to teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book enthusiasts.

Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris recommends are checked out from the public library. The only exception is for the complimentary copies that she receives for an honest review, which are duly noted.

Children's Book Recommendations

Like You, Like Me

The Retired School Librarian1 Comment

Like You, Like Me Children’s Book Recommendation is by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)

Tulsi and Vanessa are looking at each other with the world behind them. Little paper airplanes are flying. Like You, Like Me book cover.

Like You, Like Me 

by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw (Author)

Brief summary: Tulsi lives in America, and Vanessa lives in Tanzania. The girls become pen pals and learn about what is different and alike in their cultures. 

They learn that even though they are continents apart there are things they both share. They have brothers, enjoy music, have pets, and like Nature.

The things that are different are also shared and help to bring on friendship across the globe.

Comments: The phrase “Like You, Like Me” is throughout the book to emphasis what they have alike even if sometimes it’s a bit different.

The illustrations were made with painted papers and oil sticks.

I would share this book before a pen pal project or for making a Venn Diagram of their likes and differences.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.

Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted. 

Children's Book Recommendations

What Makes Us Human

The Retired School Librarian1 Comment

What Makes Us Human children’s book recommendation is by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Mrs. Ferraris may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)

What Makes Us Human book cover with four picture splits. The top has the top part of an orange curly head. Next, are the eyes of a man. Third is the mouth of an elderly woman. Last is the hands of a woman.

What Makes Us Human 

by Victor D.O. Santos (Author), Anna Forlati (Illustrator)

Brief summary: What is it that makes us human? As the book progresses, young readers will slowly learn that the answer can be written, signed, spoken, or felt. It has been around for thousands of years and effects everyone today. Some are disappearing, while others are more popular.

Comments: The illustrations are created with collage and digital materials.

Part of the author’s royalties will be donated to organizations working to preserve languages around the globe.

I would ask students, “What Makes Us Human?” and then read the book, reminding them that if they think they know the answer, they should keep it a secret until it is revealed at the end. 

Rating: 5/5 –📗📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.

Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted. 

*I received a complimentary copy of this picture book in exchange for an honest review.

Children's Book Recommendations

Gravity is Bringing Me Down

The Retired School Librarian1 Comment

Gravity is Bringing Me Down Children’s Book Recommendation is by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)

Leda is being moved down the slide by gravity with four action figures of herself which are joyful at the top of the slide to grumpy at the end of it.

Gravity Is Bringing Me Down 

by Wendelin Van Draanen (Author), Cornelia Li (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Leda wakes up and falls out of bed blaming gravity for the beginning of a clumsy and “off” sort of day. She has breakfast where gravity visits again causing her to spill food. Leda goes to school having more gravity related incidents. She says gravity is having a bad mood.

After school, her parents take Leda to a children’s museum where she plays and is able to adjust her mood for the rest of the day.

Comments: This book could be a bibliotherapeutic read to show how a person can start in a grumpy mood but can turn it around.

There is a gravity theme throughout the book.

Rating:3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.

Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted. 

Children's Book Recommendations

Garmann’s Summer

The Retired School Librarian1 Comment

Garmann’s Summer Children’s Book Recommendation is by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, she may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)

Garmann's standing in water with two orange floaties on each arm with a ship in the background.

Garmann’s Summer 

by Stian Hole (Author), Don Bartlett (Translator)

Brief summary: Garmann’s three elderly aunts come to visit just as the summer is about to end and school begins. The boy talks to his aunts and parents about what scares them. What scares Garmann?

Comments: This book is a translation from Norway, initially published in 2006.

I like this book’s candid humor about what scares us, death, and new beginnings.

The illustrations are collages of mixed media.

My students enjoyed these Garmann books and would read them together.

*I was sent a complimentary copy to give an honest review.

Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.

Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted. 

How I Evaluate and Recommend Picture Books
Children's Book Recommendations

How I Evaluate and Recommend Picture Books

The Retired School LibrarianLeave a comment

How I Evaluate and Recommend Picture Books is written by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

Picture book recommendations first photo of children reading while sitting on giant books

I have many questions as I evaluate children’s books to make the best picture book recommendations. I’ve read and shared thousands of books as an elementary school librarian. Contrarily though, I may only chose one from a stack of thirty books I can recommend.

Enjoy the Book

I taught my students to read the book, feel the emotion, and hear the words. Above all, get the aesthetic experience. (I still do that when I first pick up a book). Undoubtedly, I never asked questions while reading a picture book aloud for the first time during story time. It was afterward that I examined the book more closely…or not. Sometimes, it’s enough to enjoy a picture book. With this in mind, my main goal was to teach the joy of reading.

Having a mock Caldecott Read-In with my students was one of the best ways I taught how to evaluate books and give picture book recommendations to others. I borrowed about a hundred picture books that were stand-outs. However, I also threw in(without telling them) those that were…(well)…not ones I would recommend.


I allowed the students to grade with a 😁😐☹️ face. They then voted for the one they thought would win the Caldecott Medal Award (a medal given annually to an American illustrator). Next, we had thoughtful conversations about how they evaluated picture books. Lastly, they would use persuasive thinking to get others to vote for the same book they nominated.

An important issue I emphasized was that when the award was announced and their book was not chosen, it did not mean it was unworthy. Subsequently, we would talk about famous books from the past everyone loved that have not won any medals.

The Questions

I still use these questions when I recommend a book, but ONLY AFTER I first read the book on its own. Undoubtedly, I love the beauty of picture books and want to feel their “soul. ” Analyzing them is secondary.

The Words

  • Are these words appropriate for an elementary-aged child? Are they using these words in a child’s everyday life?
  •  Do the words flow in a legato style when they should? Are they short and choppy when they are supposed to be?
  •  How do they sound when read aloud? Does it sound like a tongue twister but not supposed to sound like one?
  •  Are there patterns? Rhyming? Rhythms? How do the words sound to the ears? Do they sound awkward? Are they forced?
  •  Do the words convey the correct emotions and mood of the book? Do the word choices match the emotion? Is it supposed to be funny? Sad? Silly?
  •  Do the page turns of the book interrupt the idea?
  •  Is the story unique, or has it been done several times already?
  •  Is the font a good fit for the book? Is it large enough for a child to read?
  •  Where do the words appear on the page? Are they all over and difficult to follow?
  •  How is the story being told? Are there too many characters? Is it confusing to follow? Predictions? Surprises?
  •  Is the topic of the story something children can relate to currently in their lives? Is it too complicated? Should it be a board book instead? Babyish?
  •  Dialogic reading? Is this story something they talk about with others? Or is it more of a listening book that someone reads aloud? Or is this one better read alone?
  •  What is the perspective of the story? Who’s telling the story?
  •  Are the words talking down to a child? Are they morally heavy?

Illustrations

  • What is the medium(s)? Was it digitally rendered? Was it a hybrid?
  • What is the level of technique? Does it stand out? Is it unique? Is there a style?
  • What are the visual elements? Line, shape, color, value, form, texture, space. How is the white of the page being used?
  • What colors are being used? Are the colors symbolic? Is color therapy being used? Complimentary colors? Bright? Dark? Contrasting?
  • Do the text and illustrations go well with one another?
  • Are there details in the illustrations not told in the text?
  • Would I know the book’s story if I took the text away?

The Cover

  • Is the title prominent? Or is the author’s?
  • Are the colors matching with the tone/mood of the book?
  • Is the font style easy to read?
  • Is there a blurb on the back?
  • Do the front and back covers correlate?
  • Does the cover represent the story inside?
  • Does it grab your attention?

Flaps

  • Does the front flap give a summary of the book?
  • Does the back flap tell about the author/illustrator?

End Pages

  • Are the pasted-down end pages white? Are they illustrated? Does the story begin or end on them?

End of the Book

  • Is there an author’s note? An illustrator’s?
  • If a nonfiction–is there a timeline, biographical notes, bibliography, index, suggestion reading, or photos? More information?

Misc.

  • Who is the author? Is this their first book? If a nonfiction picture book, is this person an expert on the subject? Is this a celebrity? What country are they from? And does that matter?
  • Is this a well-known author? Is it just like the others they have already written? Is there a repeated formula?
  • Is this book being translated? Was something lost in the translation?
  • Who is the illustrator? Is this their first book? Are they an artist well-known in other mediums?
  • Is this book political? Have an agenda? Age appropriate for elementary students? Developmentally appropriate? Is this a topic a child would care about in elementary school?

Star Rating Explained

Another key point of my evaluations is that I do not share picture book recommendations that deserve a half to two and a half stars. I’m not going to be that person. As shown below, the lowest star I give is a three, while the highest is a five.

If I’m on a site that does not allow half stars, I round up.

Picture Book Recommendation star rating of three to five

In Conclusion

 While I read these books, I always remember that the person or persons creating this book in my very hands is someone’s dream, someone’s “baby,” that they worked really hard on and are willing to share with the world. This is why I don’t share bad reviews. I simply put it back in my tote bag to return to the library. In addition, it may be a child’s favorite book, and I don’t want them to read online that I did not recommend that piece of literature and with the reasons why it was not up to par.

Even after retiring, I still read children’s books, especially picture ones. I was lucky to have found my passion and was paid for sharing it. I still enjoy my love and can now share it online with a broader audience of book lovers and book worms. The picture book recommendations are ninety-nine percent ones I check out of the public library. I appreciate the Central Library Consortium and am thankful for being in an area in the USA with such outstanding library systems.

Narrative Nonfiction Picture Books
Children's Book Recommendations

Narrative Nonfiction Picture Books

The Retired School LibrarianLeave a comment

Narrative nonfiction picture book recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.

(The content below contains Amazon affiliate links. When you buy through these links, Mrs. Ferraris may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.)

Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book Cover of Finding Family: The Duckling Raised by Loons with a fuzzy little duckling riding the back of a loon in the water

Finding Family: The Duckling Raised by Loons 

by Laura Purdie Salas (Author), Alexandria Neonakis (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Millbrook Press ™ . 2023. Grades PreK-2. Hardcover Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1728442990.

Brief summary: A mother and father loon raise a mallard duckling. The duckling learns the ways of the loons, like eating minnows and taking food from them.

Comments: This story in verse is based on a true story in 2019 in a Wisconsin Lake as part of the Loon Project, where researchers observed a loon pair taking care of a duckling. What makes this unique is that loons usually drive away mallard ducks.

The back pages include sections such as Is This Story True?, The Intruder, and Very Different Birds(with a Venn Diagram).

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Rise to the Sky cover of the narrative nonfiction book that tells about tall trees with tall trees with deer eating grass underneath

Rise to the Sky: How the World’s Tallest Trees Grow Up 

by Rebecca E. Hirsch (Author), Mia Posada (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Millbrook Press ™. 2023. PreK-3. Hardcover Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1728440873.

Brief summary: Young readers will learn about a tree’s life cycle from a tiny sprout to a tall tree.

Comments: Back sections include How Does a Tall Tree Grow?, Where Do the Tallest Trees Live?, and two activities.

The illustrations are cut-paper collages with watercolor but have photographs of the tallest trees in the back of the book.

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Special Delivery cover with sky blue background with various means of transportation all done in cartoon style

Special Delivery: A Book’s Journey Around the World 

by Polly Faber (Author), Klas Fahlén (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick Press. 2023. K-3. Hardcover Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book. Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick Press.

Brief summary: A book is made and journeys in various forms of transportation across the city, sea, and through the country until it reaches Pip’s Bookshop, where it is bought and sent to a grandson.

Comments: The back has Special Delivery Numbers of interesting statistics about the book’s journey.

Full, detailed illustrations with bright colors. I stopped and looked at each page to get more details of the transportation story from them.

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 4.5/5 📗📗📗📗1/2

Cover of Yoshi with a little green turtle swimming in the ocean with other fish and plants

Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius: A True Story About an Amazing Swimmer 

by Lynne Cox (Author), Richard Jones (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anne Schwartz Books. 2023. PreK-3. Hardcover Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593425688.

Brief summary: A Loggerhead hatchling finds her way across the Australian beach when the moon is full. She swims for the first time in the Indian Ocean, encountering many marine and land animals and fish on her journey.

The turtle is tangled in a net until a fisherman rescues her and helps her return to good health. Unable to keep the turtle, the fisherman gives her to an aquarium, where she is released into the sea with a tracking device. People can watch where she swims in the ocean. Will she make it back to her home?

Comments: This is a true story with more information in the Author’s Note.

I kept reading to find out more about Yoshi and if she was going to be okay or not.

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Cover of Poop for Breakfast with various animals around a kitchen table with pile of poop on a plate

Poop for Breakfast: Why Some Animals Eat It 

by Sara Levine (Author), Florence Weiser (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Millbrook Press ™. 2023. Grades 1-4. Hardcover Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1728457963.

Brief summary: Young readers will learn about why some animals eat feces. One can read a simple narrative or include a more correlating detailed description as the story continues teaching readers everything they need to know, including the correct terminology of why animals eat poop.

Comments: Well, I learned a lot from reading this book and recommend it to children and adults who desire to learn more about this topic, which was done in a very tasteful manner (excuse the pun).

The back sections include The Scoop on Poop, Be a Book Detective, By Any Other Name, and Further Reading.

Continue reading for more details and buying options on this book’s Amazon page.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

Book cover of Jumper with a closeup of a jumping spider on the grass

Jumper: A Day in the Life of a Backyard Jumping Spider 

by Jessica Lanan (Author, Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Roaring Brook Press . 2023. PreK-3. Hardcover Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250810366.

Brief summary:  As soon as I open the book, I meet the main character as big as bean, Jumper, a jumping spider. Jumper is hungry and goes hunting for food in the family’s backyard. She jumps without worry as her silk is a safety line. Vibrations help the spider know if a predator or prey is nearby. Will Jumper ever find dinner, or will she become dinner?

Comments: Excellent back sections with more details about his spider, with close-ups illustrated by hand. A few other spiders are discussed, along with the life cycle of a jumping spider. There is a Glossary, Author’s Note, Finding and Identifying Spiders, and Resources sections.

This book begins and ends on the paste-down end pages. There is a fold-out demonstrating how a spider sees with eight eyes.

This book asks readers questions to pause and reflect upon the spider’s life. Dialogic reading.

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Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗

The Forest Keeper– The True Story of Jadav Payeng 

by Rina Singh (Author), Ishita Jain (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ NorthSouth Books. 2023. PreK-3. Hardcover Narrative Nonfiction Biography Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0735845053.

Brief summary: Jadav Payeng, a tribal boy living in India, went to the elders in 1979 when the Brahmaputra River took large parts of the islands’ land mass away when it flooded. He wanted them to help him plant trees on an island called Majuli to help prevent the island from disappearing.

The forest department gave him bamboo seedlings and told him to plant the forest himself. So, he did. Has the past thirty years of his hard work helped the area and animals?

Comments: The front and end pages give more details about this passionate individual whose hard work and dedication completely changed Mujuli Island and the Molai Forest(named after him). It can take just one person to make a significant impact in a positive way.

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Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

Nobody Likes Frogs: A Book of Toadally Fun Facts 

by Barbara Davis-Pyles (Author), Liz Wong (Illustrator). Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little Bigfoot. 2023. PreK-2. Hardcover Narrative Nonfiction Picture Book. ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1632173355.

Brief summary: A turtle narrates how much it does not like frogs while learning all about them as the story progresses. Does the turtle have a change of heart? Will the reader?

Comments: The back sections are Frog Facts and Be Somebody Who Likes Frogs by Helping Them!. The pasted-down end pages are full of different types of frogs.

This is a general book about frogs. I learned that frogs can live as long as twenty years.

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Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

Children’s book titles are carefully handpicked by a certified elementary school librarian who, although retired, still enjoys reading children’s books, especially picture books, and recommending them to busy teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book lovers.

Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris reads before recommending are checked out from the public library, except for those much-appreciated complimentary copies sent to her for an honest review. Those are noted.