Sleep: How Nature Gets Its Rest

Sleep 2Written and Illustrated by Kate Prendergast

This cute nature story explores all the many ways animals sleep. All animals sleep. Cats and dogs sleep curled up. Geese like to be near a pond, while chickens like their henhouse. Horses often sleep in a field, while cows sleep in a barn. Meerkats sleep in a heap, while rhinos sleep alone. Some animals sleep in the heat, while some are in the cold. Some even sleep upside down.

An appendix gives some further information about animal sleep habits, such as the fact that cats sleep as much as 20 hours a day. Ants for only a few moments at a time. The Find Out More section has several websites for exploration, including National Geographic and The World Wildlife Fund.

Adorable mixed media illustrations enhance the story and effectively show how the animals sleep.

This is a great place to start learning about this aspect of animal behavior and a jumping off place for exploring other aspects. It’s probably best read at bedtime or together with a class.

  • Title: Sleep: How Nature Gets Its Rest
  • Author/Illustrator: Kate Prendergast
  • Published: Candlewick Press, 2019
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
  • Grade Level: PreK to 2
  • Genre: Nature, Animals
  • ISBN: 978-1-5362-0798-9
  • Extras: How Do They Sleep? A Closer Look and Some Other Fun Facts, Find Out More

Sadie and the Silver Shoes

Written by Jane Godwin
Illustrated by Anna Walker

Sadie loves her shoes. She has three older brothers and sometimes the only new clothes she gets are underwear and shoes. When her mother buys her very special silver shoes, she doesn’t want to take them off. So she loses one shoe in a stream. Of course, she has to wear one silver shoe. The other girls at school find that a reason to tease her. When a new girl moves in, Sadie eventually finds out she has the other shoe. They become fast friends.

Readers can learn so much about being yourself and about what can make a good friendship from this simple story. The illustrator has managed to capture Sadie’s joy in her silver shoes and in her new-found friend – from Sadie kicking her feet with the new shoes on to Sadie and Ellie dancing together at the end.

Lots to enjoy and lots to discuss from this cute tale.

  • Sadie and the Silver Shoes2Title: Sadie and the Silver Shoes
  • Author: Jane Godwin
  • Illustrator: Anna Walker
  • Published: Candlewick Press, 2019
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
  • Grade Level: PreK to 2
  • Genre: Friendship, Self-determination
  • ISBN: 978-1-5362-0480-3

Silent Swoop: An Owl, and Egg, and a Warm Shirt Pocket

Written by Michelle Houts
Illustrated by Deb Hoeffner

Based on a true story, this is a wonderful outline for caring human beings. A great horned owl chooses to lay her two eggs beneath the conveyor belt at a coal mine yard. Rather than destroy the eggs, the miners call a local bird sanctuary. Walter, the man from the sanctuary, simply puts the eggs in his shirt pocket and takes them to the incubator at the shelter. One hatches! Careful to treat Coal, the owlet, like a bird rather than like an oddly shaped human, Walter helps raise the chick. Coal takes on the job of educating children and seniors. Soon, the miners find another egg. This one hatches too.

Beautifully and realistically illustrated, this is a wonderful place to start learning about owls and about wildlife rescue in general. The activities and information at the end make the next steps for learning easy to find.

  • Silent SwoopTitle: Silent Swoop: An Owl, and Egg, and a Warm Shirt Pocket
  • Author: Michelle Houts
  • Illustrator: Deb Hoeffner
  • Publisher: Dawn Publications, 2019
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Paperback, 32 pages
  • Grade Level: 1 to 2
  • Genre: Animals, Nature, Wildlife Rescue
  • ISBN: 978-1-58469-647-6
  • Extras: Explore More for Kids, Explore More for Teachers and Parents

Give Me Back My Bones!

Written by Kim Norman
Illustrated by Bob Kolar

Part skeletal primer, part pirate adventure, this is a fun way to learn about the bones in the human body. A long-dead pirate finds his bones scattered when a huge wave hits him. He spends the rest of the story looking for individual bones and reconstructing himself. First his head, then his nose and jaw, then his shoulders and ribs. Written in rhyming form and lyrical language. The author uses the scientific names for the bones, adding to the learning experience. The illustrations show an underwater quest with everything from jellyfish to giant clams to sharks helping in the search.

At last! I’ve got my lost bones,
no longer skull-and-crossed bones,
my milky ocean-tossed bones …
avast! I need …
a ship!

The dust jacket is a poster summarizing all the bones discussed. The end papers also reflect the summary of bones. Perfect for a health unit in school. Also perfect for Halloween.

  • Give Me Back My BonesTitle: Give Me Back My Bones!
  • Author: Kim Norman
  • Illustrator: Bob Kolar
  • Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2019
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
  • Grade Level: PreK to 3
  • Genre: Physiology
  • ISBN: 978-0-7636-8841-7

My Grandma and Me

Written by Mina Javaherbin
Illustrated by Lindsey Yankey

In a sweet and quiet story, the author takes a look at her strong relationship with her grandmother. As a child, she did everything with her grandmother. She helped clean and cook. She helped buy bread by lowering the bread basket from their apartment. She visited her friend Annette and her grandmother. They spent many happy hours together. She would use Grandma’s chadon in play. For Ramadan, she got up early to eat with her grandmother, even though she was too young to fast during the day. And she ate with Grandma after sunset. She prayed with Grandma for their friends to go to heaven.

Illustrations are often subdued, but are a beautiful addition to the story, borrowing motifs from Iranian culture. They help make this a wonderful quiet-time and bedtime story, best read with another family member.

  • Grandma and MeTitle: My Grandma and Me
  • Author: Mina Javaherbin
  • Illustrator: Lindsey Yankey
  • Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2019
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
  • Grade Level: PreK to 3
  • Genre: Family, Culture
  • ISBN: 978-0-7636-9494-4

Pick a Pumpkin

Written by Patricia Toht
Illustrated by Jarvis

Each year brings exciting new ways to honor children’s favorite holidays. This year is no exception. A new rhyming take on the activities of Halloween with kid-friendly, detailed illustrations, Pick a Pumpkin fits the bill. Starting in the pumpkin patch, observers must pick their favorite size, color, and shape.

Vivid orange,
ghostly white,
or speckled green
might be just right.

After a cursory clean up, it’s time to cut the top and clean out the insides. Next comes the face carving, followed by the addition of light.

Its fiery grin
will blaze and snicker,
to guard your house
while you have fun.

And it’s time to celebrate.

The author does such a great job of making the reader anticipate the next step, while the illustrator makes you want to linger over the wonderful scenes. Traditional costumes and images are mentioned and seen throughout.

  • Pick a PumpkinTitle: Pick a Pumpkin
  • Author: Patricia Toht
  • Illustrator: Bagram Ibatoullin
  • Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2019
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Picture book, 40 pages
  • Grade Level: PreK to 2
  • Genre: Holiday, Fun
  • ISBN: 978-1-5362-0764-4

Mr. Posey’s New Glasses

Written by Ted Kooser
Illustrated by Daniel Duncan

This enchanting new story combines the ideas of seeing through someone else’s eyes, walking in their shoes, and their grass is greener. One morning, Mr. Posey is feeling the sameness and dullness of his existence. Same kitchen, same newspaper, same neighbor playing with his dog. He walks to the local thrift store and digs through a barrel of glasses, looking for a new outlook. Whether it’s imagination or magic, Mr. Posey gets more than he bargained for. Each set of glasses brings him to a new and exciting view. He’s in the nighttime, observing bright and beautiful stars. He’s underwater with many sea creatures surrounding him. The room is swirling about him. Finally, his young friend points out the filth on his current glasses. Sometimes, all it takes is a small adjustment.

In the beginning, all the illustrations are the same dull color. Even the flowers look tired. Each new Posey experience is shown in shining detail. The colors are definitely brighter on Mr. Posey’s way home.

Recommended for learning about empathy, but also just for the fun of it.

  • Mr. PoseyTitle: Mr. Posey’s New Glasses
  • Author: Ted Kooser
  • Illustrator: Daniel Duncan
  • Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2019
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
  • Grade Level: 1 to 4
  • Genre: Picture book, Perspective
  • ISBN: 978-0-7636-9609-2

Going Down Home with Daddy

Written by Kelly Starling Lyons
Illustrated by Daniel Minter

Touching and enlightening, this is the story of one family in particular and every family, at the same time. Lil Alan and his immediate family make their annual trek to the farm where his great grandmother lives. They start out early in the morning and arrive just as Granny is feeding her chickens. They spend the weekend playing with cousins and attending services at Granny’s church. On Sunday evening, the children each makes a presentation based on what the family means to them. Lil Alan worries that he won’t have anything to present, but he discovers that whatever he feels is legitimate.

Throughout the story, the author and the illustrator show images of growth and branching, relating Lil Alan’s experience to the family tree and how that tree has been cultivated by each family member. Granny is both the root and the branches of that tree. Even her chickens are part of the cultivation. The story and the illustrations are both gorgeous.

The story shows the strength and importance of family and family history, especially among those of African descent.

  • Going Down HomeTitle: Going Down Home with Daddy
  • Author: Kelly Starling Lyons
  • Illustrator: Daniel Minter
  • Publisher: Peachtree Publishers, 2019
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
  • Grade Level: PreK to 3
  • Genre: Picture book, Family
  • ISBN: 978-1-56145-938-4

Noah Builds an Ark

Written by Kate Banks
Illustrated by John Rocco

It seems a little silly to call this a quiet book, since the central event is a storm that lasts four days, but quiet it is. In it, the reader learns a lot about what it takes to survive such a storm and how beneficial it is to be helpful to those around us.

As Noah’s family readies for a big storm, Noah worries about the small creatures he regularly meets in his backyard. As his father boards up the windows, Noah prepares his wagon for the salamanders, field mice, hummingbirds, and spiders to take shelter. He removes the wheels and adds a roof and walls. As his mother and sister stack groceries in the kitchen, Noah gathers seeds and other foods for the animals. With the yard flooded, the animals are indeed safe inside Noah’s ark.

As always, Rocco’s beautiful illustrations are important part of the story. Imagine living through such a big storm and being in the ark.

Though it’s somewhat doubtful that all of Noah’s creatures would share this type of space, the heartwarming way in which the story is presented make this a tale worth embracing. It makes the reader wonder how they can help others, especially those animals mentioned.

  • Noah Builds An ArkTitle: Noah Builds an Ark
  • Author: Kate Banks
  • Illustrator: John Rocco
  • Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2019
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska                                                                              
  • Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
  • Grade Level: PreK to 2
  • Genre: Ecology, Empathy
  • ISBN: 978-0-7636-7484-7

King and Kayla and the Case of Found Fred

Written by Dori Hillestad Butler
Illustrated by Nancy Meyers

Kayla really needs to learn to speak – or at least understand – dog-lish. Because King often has all the answers for solving the mysteries they confront. In the latest installment of the King and Kayla series, they are trying to figure out where a stray dog came from. Kayla quickly realizes he is not a stray because he knows tricks. King gets his name – Fred – and clues to his family’s location. Not until King has a chance to show Kayla the answer is Fred reunited with his family.

Kayla’s well thought out approach to problem solving is an excellent model for readers to learn. She always lists what they know and what they need to discover to solve the mystery. Plus, she has fun while she helps the lost dog. Outstanding illustrations accompany every page, helping to draw the reader into the story. They can truly feel the fun to be had a vacation lake.

  • Found FredTitle: King and Kayla and the Case of Found Fred
  • Author: Dori Hillestad Butler
  • Illustrator: Nancy Meyers
  • Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company Inc., 2019
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska                                                                                                                                             
  • Format: Hardcover, 48 pages
  • Grade Level: 2 to 4
  • Genre: Fiction Chapter Book, Mystery
  • ISBN: 978-1-68263-052-5
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