Miss MacDonald Has a Farm by Kaylee Gwarjanski and Elizabet Vukovic

 

Miss MacDonald Has a Farm

by Kaylee Gwarjanski Illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic 

Published March 2024

Double Day Books for Young Readers

Fiction

Picture Book

Hardcover 32 Pages

Review copy provided publisher

Goodreads Summary

In this female-forward spin on the traditional children's song "Old MacDonald", readers can join Miss MacDonald on her vegetable farm and see all the work that goes into growing healthy and delicious produce.
"Miss MacDonald has a farm,
She loves things that grow!"
E-I-E-I-GROW! With a "weed-weed" here and a "pick-pick" there, young readers can follow Miss MacDonald as she tends to her vegetable farm. It's a rollicking, rhyming read-aloud that ends in a community feast and celebrates themes of healthy eating, plant-based meals, local produce, gardening, seasons, and female farmers.

My Thoughts

Miss MacDonald takes her garden from planting to tending, harvesting, preparing, and cooking her produce. Readers will be exposed to the vocabulary of gardening in this rhythmic, rhyming text. While you can read it to the tune of "Old MacDonald", this text is not as predictable and offers more information as Miss MacDonald tends to different types of vegetables. 

The illustrations are bright and colorful and show the planting configuration and growth patterns of each unique veggie. 

This adorable book just might have kids eating (and planting) their veggies!

See What Others Have to Say

Kirkus

KALEE GWARJANSKI is a homeschooling mom to four book-loving children living in the woods of Maine. She holds a BS in mechanical engineering and an MS in teaching from the University of Maine. Between degrees, she followed her passion of food by attending Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute in Ottawa, Ontario and worked as a personal chef before turning to picture book writing full time. Miss MacDonald Has a Farm is her debut picture book. Learn more about Kalee at kaleegwarjanski.com and follow her on Twitter at @KaleeGwar.

ELIZABET VUKOVIĆ is an illustrator from Rotterdam, the Netherlands with a degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She is the illustrator of a number of picture books, including An Ordinary Day (Beach Lane/S&S, 2020), which received two starred reviews. See more of her work online at elizabetvukovic.com and follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @elizabetvukovic.

Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic by Margaux Meganck

Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic 
by Margaux Meganck

Published March 2024

Knopf Books for Young Readers

40 Pages

Picture Book

Library Binding

Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Received a starred review from Kirkus

Goodreads Summary

Everything and everyone has a place in the universe, but for a little speck, lost at sea, it will take an extraordinary journey to find it.

Deep in a tide pool, too small to see,
Thousands of tiny specks go forth.
Each one searching
for a place to stay, and grow, and thrive...

The little speck does not know what it is, only that it wishes to find out. And so it embarks on a journey across the sea. From sun-flecked surf to darkest depths, past schools of fish, storm-tossed ships and hungry eels.... Until, at last, it finds exactly what it was looking a place to belong.

In vivid watercolor paintings, Margaux Meganck brings this tale to life, seamlessly shifting perspective to show how even the tiniest creatures—every barnacle, every child, every star in the sky—contributes to something greater than itself.

My Thoughts

The sparce text makes this book seem simple, but this beautiful picture book is more than it seems. On the surface (pun intended) it appears to be a story about little specks in the ocean finding a place to land. But it serves as a metaphor for each individual living thing having a place to belong. 

The illustrations are outstanding! Meganck uses colored pencil and watercolor to create a wonderous underwater world that readers will be drawn to. 

I will definitely be adding Speck: An Itty-Bitty Epic to my school library. 

See What Others Have to Say

Kirkus

Cracking the Cover

Mom Read It

Learn more about the work of Margaux Meganck from her website. 

No Cats in the Library by Lauren Emmons

No Cats in the Library 
by Lauren Emmons

Published March 2024

Paula Wiseman Books

Hardcover

Picture Book

32 Pages

Fiction

Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

A stray cat follows her love of books all the way to a new library home in this charming debut picture book, perfect for fans of The Library Fish and Kitten and the Night Watchman .

Clarisse is a clever cat who loves books. She may not understand the dark, squiggly lines, but she can’t get enough of the pictures. One day, she stumbles upon a magical building where people walk in empty-handed and come out with an armload of books. She has to find a way inside!

There’s just one NO CATS are allowed in the library! That’s not going to stop clever Clarisse, though. Once she sneaks in, she stumbles upon exciting new stories and even helps a little girl practice reading aloud. But when the librarian comes looking, will Clarisse be allowed to stay?

My Thoughts

Young readers will love this sweet story and will be begging for read aloud cats in the library. They will be rooting for this little kitty to find its way into the library. Initially the librarian, or "keeper of the books" shoos the cat out. But she eventually agrees to let the cat stay to be a read aloud cat to the children who visit after she sees how much it helped the readers.

The illustrations are done in a limited color palette. The people in the book represent different races and cultures.

I am always looking for new books about libraries and can't wait to share this one with my students.

Visit Laura Emmons' Website.

The Wonderful Wisdom of Ants by Philip Bunting

The Wonderful Wisdom of Ants 

by Philip Bunting

Published March 2024

Crown Books for Young Readers

Nonfiction Picture Book

Hardcover

32 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

Take a peek under the rock, and discover what we can learn from the world of the ant, in this delightful blend of nonfiction and inspirational humor by author-illustrator Philip Bunting!

There are ten quadrillion ants in the world, and yet I bet you never thought they could teach you anything. But these tiny creatures can do big things when they work together--just like people!

With his signature humor and graphic illustrations, Philip Bunting delivers facts, laughs, and heart all in this special book that teaches that the answers to many of life’s biggest questions can be found in your own back yard (once you’re ready to look).

My Thoughts

Did you know that there are ten quadrillion ants on the planet? I learned that fact, and so many more facts about these amazing insects from this book. It is simple and straightforward filled with engaging information and equally impressive graphics. 

Image from Amazon.com

I can't wait to share this book with my students! 

It's Your Time to Shine by Dianne White & Nanette Regan

It's Your Time to Shine 
by Dianne White

Illustrated by Nanette Regan

Published March, 2025

Little Simon Books

Board Book

Copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

Inspire readers to go off into the world as the bold and brave person they are with this empowering board book that tells them now is their time!
It’s your time to shine.
Show the world who you
confident,
courageous
a bright rising star!

Growing up means there are times for feeling your best, succeeding, feeling uncertain, and failing—and everything in between. Things may be ever-changing but this moment, right now—whether it’s a regular day or a pivotal occasion like a graduation—is the reader’s time to take charge.

My Thoughts

Reminicent of Oh the Places You'll Go!, This book takes a positive futuristic view of a young life's ups and downs. With fun rhyming text, little ones will want to hear it read over and over again. I liked how the child in the book grows up throughout the book and she is seen achieving goals and overcoming challenges. The illustrations are very sweet and soft around the edges. 

It's Your Time would make a great baby gift! 

Here is some info about the author.
Dianne White is a writing teacher and the author of many award-winning picture books, including Blue on Blue, illustrated by Caldecott medalist Beth Krommes, and Dark on Light, illustrated by Felicita Sala. Forthcoming publications include It's Your Time to Shine, illustrated by Nanette Regan and Finding Grateful, illustrated by Faith Pray. Dianne loves small moments of quiet, big plans, and making new memories with her family. For more, visit diannewrites.com.

Sourgrass by Hope Lim & Shahrzad Maydani

Sourgrass 

by Hope Lim & Shahrzad Maydani

Expected Publication March 26, 2024

Beach Lane Books

Fiction

Picture Book

Hardcover

40 Pages

Review Copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

What do you do when your best friend moves away? This hopeful and resonant book filled with soft, vibrant illustrations tells the story of two friends who find a way to keep their special friendship alive, no matter the distance.

Every day, Sofia and May meet at the door of their shared fence. Sofia can always count on May to show up and May can always count on Sofia to wait for her. One spring day, Sofia and May discover a field of wild sourgrass flowers beyond their yards. The field becomes their favorite place, and the two friends grow closer than ever. But when May moves away, Sofia starts to Will their friendship last?

As the girls navigate a long-distance friendship, Sofia realizes that some friends are forever, even when they’re apart.

My Thoughts

What a sweet, gorgeous book! 

May and Sofia's friendship is like the Sourgrass, consistent. They can count on each other like they can count on the sourgrass showing up each spring. When their friendship is tested by distance, readers will need to read on see if they can remain friends (I won't spoil the ending here).  

This scenario is very familiar and relatable to children. They will enjoy reading how the long-distance friendship fares after the letters slowly stop coming. 

The story is told beautifully with rich word choices and figurative language. The illustrations are lovely with soft, colorful images. 

Image from Amazon.com

Pair Sourgrass with Evelyn Del Ray is Moving Away by Meg Medina. 

This Little Kitty in the Garden by Karen Obuhanych

This Little Kitty in the Garden 

by Karen Obuhanych

Published January, 2024

Knopf Books for Young Readers

Fiction

Picture Book

32 Pages

Hardcover

Review Copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

Spring is blooming, and what better way for rascally kittens to celebrate than by causing mischief in the garden in this charming picture book!
Spring has sprung on Sakura Way.
The five little kittles will garden today!

My Thoughts

This is a very cute book. Readers will learn about the steps of planting a garden in the spring through the experience of the cats. The rhyming text adds to the book's appeal and readers are exposed to terminology like tendril, rascals, and seedling. The cats are all different with various personalities and a fluffy bunny even makes an appearance. The target audience for this book is toddlers through kindergarten in my opinion. It would make a nice addition to your spring, garden or cat books. 

Image from Amazon.com