Fancy Dogs written and illustrated by Tini Malina and translated by Tammi Reichel, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

 

Summary: Fancy Dogs is a fun and funny rhyming picture book celebrating dogs in all their glory—fancy and silly alike. The striking (mostly) three-color illustrations are beautifully stylized and reinforce the playful text, captivating young readers with a retro vibe.  The story starts by showing and writing how the main character dog is fancy.  Then it goes on to show how the dog still has to be an everyday dog.  

Straight Talk for Librarians: In the classroom, teachers can use it to explore IB PYP themes of identity and community, discussing how we appreciate others despite their quirks. The rich vocabulary—including words like taboo, gnaw, and prance—sparks meaningful language conversations. With its perfect blend of visual appeal, clever rhyming structure, and sophisticated word choices, Fancy Dogs will make for a good read aloud.This German translation deserves a place in elementary school libraries for its engaging rhythm, perfect for echo reading and early literacy development. It also made my 11 year old laugh out loud at a few page spreads, so it might even be a hit with slightly older readers.

Thanks to NetGalley, NorthSouth books for an ARC of this book.  It will be available for purchase on October 6, 2026.

Lizzy Longlegs written by Kai Lüftner, translated by Tim Mohr and illustrated by Wiebke Rauers, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Lizzy Longlegs comes from a stern musical family that insists on playing every note the same way, without smiles or dancing. Lizzy, a punk-spirited little spider, longs to feel music in her body and to improvise and move. Tired of rote performances, she secretly organizes a lively music festival that fills her family home with diverse instruments, dancing, and joy. At first her relatives are shocked, but the contagious energy of the festival opens their hearts. By the end they loosen up and discover that music can be both precise and full of feeling. The story, told in playful rhyming verse and quirky illustrations, celebrates individuality, creativity, and the many ways people can experience music. 

I loved this book as a reader and a musician! Lizzy’s yearning to improvise and to feel the beat resonates with anyone who’s wanted to move beyond strict interpretation. The festival scene captures the transformative power of communal music-making and shows how diverse musical approaches can coexist and enrich one another. In a school library setting this book supports IB PYP transdisciplinary inquiry by connecting who we are (identity, creativity), how we express ourselves (arts), and how we organize ourselves (community events). It prompts open-ended questions and opportunities for student-led investigations into cultural music practices, improvisation, and performance etiquette. Music teachers can use the book to launch units on improvisation and listening by comparing strict vs. expressive performances. They can facilitate ensemble activities where students experiment with style, tempo, and movement. All teachers can encourage interdisciplinary projects—designing a class “music festival” that integrates art, language, and social studies. Promote social-emotional learning: empathy, respect for different musical tastes, and collaboration. The illustrations blend vintage, Regency-inspired settings with a playful punk aesthetic, using bold colors and quirky details that give each insect character clear personality. The lively, textured artwork enhances the book’s humor and emotional beats, inviting readers to linger on expressive faces and inventive costume choices.  I think most readers will enjoy this book!  A great choice for any library serving elementary aged readers.

Mayhem at the Museum written and illustrated by Hannah Brückner translated by Laura Watkinson and reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: During a museum visit, Yuri is startled by a parakeet and accidentally knocks down a giant dinosaur skeleton. At first Yuri feels humiliated and sure the damage is a catastrophe. He calms himself by taking deep breaths and then asks for help. Visitors of all ages and backgrounds—children, adults, tall, short, and people with different abilities—come together to sort the bones, follow a careful plan, and rebuild the dinosaur. The community’s teamwork turns embarrassment into a surprising, magnificent result that delights everyone. It has a beautiful 4 page pull out spread of the completed dinosaur.

Straight Talk for Librarians: Children should read this book because it models healthy emotional regulation and the power of asking for help. Yuri’s simple strategy—pause, breathe, and seek support—shows kids a practical way to manage fear and shame. I like that some of the rhymes were able to stay in the translation.  The playful language and detailed illustrations invite close looking, build observational skills, and spark curiosity about museums and science. In a school library, this book supports social-emotional learning and cooperative play. It pairs well with a display on community helpers or museum visits and can prompt group activities where students practice calm breathing and collaborative problem-solving. Yuri feels what he did was a major life catastrophe, but after a while the author reassures the reader that the catastrophe was not as bad as it first seemed. The book aligns well with the IB Learner Profile trait “Communicator,” as characters share ideas, listen, and work together to rebuild what was broken.  It's a lovely book for any school or public library.  Perfect for dinosaur enthusiasts!  Highly Recommended.

My Friend the Paintbrush: The Colorful World of Marcus Pfister written and illustrated by Marcus Pfister , Translated by David Henry Wilson, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary: My Friend, the Paintbrush is a sweet, rhyming book that describes the possibilities and opportunities when creating art with a paintbrush. The pages include images of many different animals, and showcase many textures that can be achieved with different shapes and sizes of brushes. A few pages include information and images about additional forms that can be created with paintbrush, including calligraphy and cubist designs. An author’s note at the end of the book captures Pfister’s love of creating with a paintbrush, and explains that most of the animals featured in the book have appeared in his other published books, including, most notably, The Rainbow Fish. Four pages of detailed back matter showcase one image each from the author’s other books, along with the title of the book, the medium(s) that he used to create the art in each book, a few short notes about those mediums and techniques he used to apply them, and a short summary of the book itself. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: My Friend, the Paintbrush shares a love of art, specifically painting, is an accessible and fun way. The rhyming text and the colorful images make this a delightful book for a read aloud for younger students in early elementary. The information shared about art techniques could make this a nice instructional or anticipatory book for slightly older elementary students as they begin a painting project, or start learning about texture in art. These components would lend themselves nicely to a collaboration between the school library and the art teacher. Young readers will be delighted to see characters that they know from other books, including The Rainbow Fish books and the Milo series, which may encourage further reading as they reminisce. The writing style, which breaks the fourth wall a bit as the reader speaks directly to the audience, is unique and may appeal to kids who have not read a book with a similar style in the past. My Friend, the Paintbrush would make a charming addition to any elementary school library, especially one where collaboration with the art department is strong or where Pfister’s other books are popular.

Fabulous Creatures: Legendary Animals from Around the World by Cornelia Funke , translated by Anna Schmitt Funke and illustrated by Ruby Warnecke, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: This is a beautiful picture book by Cornelia Funke, featuring vibrant illustrations by Ruby Warnecke. This book introduces young readers to 19 mythical creatures from diverse cultures. The book starts off with a Qilin "that reveal themselves where things are just and peaceful."  It follows with an Egyptian Phoenix, a Balinese Barong, a Aotearoa (New Zealand) Tumu-Rai'i Fenua who is tasked with teaching humans to live in peace and harmony.  My favorite is the Thunderbird, which might be the most North American mythological creature. Each creature is brought to life with anecdotes and colorful, imaginative illustrations. The book fosters curiosity by providing cultural and historical context without overwhelming detail, making it an engaging read for children aged 4-12. The illustrations, with their whimsical and vibrant style, enhance the storytelling, allowing readers to explore the enchanting world of mythical creatures. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book is perfect for fostering global connections. The book’s approachable style and vivid imagery make it both educational and entertaining. Young readers will enjoy discovering new creatures and learning about different cultures, sparking their imagination and encouraging further exploration into mythology and folklore. The book aligns with the IB Learner Profile by encouraging students to be "Inquirers." It fosters curiosity and promotes exploration of global cultures and myths. 

All teachers can use this book to discuss diversity, cultural understanding, and the art of storytelling, creating opportunities for students to develop critical thinking and appreciation for different traditions. It's a great addition to any library's mythology section and sure to be popular. This book could kick off a larger cultural research project, where each student would get a different mythical creature from a different culture/country to research.  Students could also have fun with a Creature Comparison Chart (and learn a research skill).  Finally, all ages could have fun with a Mythical Creature map, where students could utilize a large world map to locate where each mythical creature is said to originate.  This can help them visualize the global diversity of myths.  So many ideas from this one book!  As an adult, I enjoyed the collaborative process outlined in the notes at the end of the book.  So fun to have the insight as to how to book came to be.

This book's expected publication date is March 31, 2026 by NorthSouth Books.  Thank you to the publisher for a advance review copy.

Selma: the Story of a Stellar Spider written by Tini Malina and translated by Tammi Reichel, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: "Selma - The Story of a Stellar Spider" by Tini Malina is an adorable picture book about a little spider with big dreams. Unlike her family, Selma doesn't spin webs to catch flies. Instead, she weaves artistic creations, capturing the beauty of the world around her. Despite criticism, Selma follows her passion and climbs to great heights, both literally and figuratively. Her journey is about being true to oneself and pursuing dreams, culminating in an extraordinary web that reflects her unique vision. This story, with its beautiful illustrations, encourages children to embrace their individuality and creativity. 

Straight Talk for Librarians:  I loved this picture book!  The color palette and the illustrations are really unique. The story of Selma teaches kids the importance of staying true to oneself, even when others disagree. The vibrant and playful illustrations enhance the narrative, making it engaging for young readers. The unexpected twist at the end adds excitement and reinforces the theme of embracing differences. IB PYP librarians will love that the book promotes Learner Profile attributes such as being open-minded and reflective. Teachers can use it to discuss the value of creativity, perseverance, and respecting diverse perspectives. It encourages students to think independently and pursue their passions. Any school librarian can use this book to spark discussions about creativity and individuality. It can be featured in a display about art and self-expression, or included in a storytelling session to inspire young readers to think about what makes them unique.  There are lots of crafting opportunities to go along with this book.  Students can make their own web designs on black construction paper using white crayons.  There could also be all kinds of spider crafts like this one or these ones.  I think this could also pair well with a math lesson on patterns.  At the high school, it would be interesting for German language learners to compare this book to the original written in German.  All in all, a great purchase for any level school library.

The expected publication date for this book is March 24, 2026.  Thank you to NorthSouth books for an advance copy of this book.

Time to Split written by Daniel Fehr , illustrated by Raphaël Kolly , translated by Marshall Yarbrough and reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: "Time to Split" by Daniel Fehr, illustrated by Raphaël Kolly, is a charming picture book about a frog who lives a routine life in a greenhouse. Frog wakes up, takes a bath, takes a stroll, drinks banana juice and remarks on his life being "Simply marvelous!" He sees the outside world and can tell when seasons change. He considers leaving, but has plenty of reasons why staying is better. Each day is the same until Bird arrives, bakes muffins, and introduces Frog to new experiences. After Bird departs for winter, Frog reflects on his life and decides to take a risk and try to make muffins. Little does he know this small risk will lead to an even bigger opportunity.  This story encourages readers to discover new things and find courage in new adventures. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Readers will enjoy "Time to Split" for its humor, delightful illustrations, and engaging story. The expressive artwork brings Frog's adventures to life, while the narrative gently encourages curiosity and exploration. Young readers will relate to Frog's journey and the joy of discovering new experiences. Librarians in a IB PYP school will notice that the book aligns with the Learner Profile traits by fostering curiosity, open-mindedness, and risk-taking.  In class, students could create their own stories about trying new things, encouraging them to reflect on their experiences. Any school librarian can use this book for a read aloud. Then focus on themes of growth and discovery. A fun activity after reading the story could include students writing or drawing a new adventure for Frog.  What happens after he leaves the greenhouse?  Where does he go next?  For a super exciting day, there could be muffins!  There could be a class discussion of the ingredients and the baking process, just like Bird did with Frog.  Then students could enjoy muffins together.  The illustrations are beautiful.  They are soft and earthy, but adorable and appealing to any reader who loves animals.  This book is also super high quality.  The binding, the paper, the cover.  This book should be able to withstand lots of circulation.

What's for Dinner? written and illustrated by Larysa Maliush, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: In this delightful picture book, Big Gray Wolf encounters a lost baby bunny named Bunkins in the woods. According to Wolf Rules, he should eat the bunny, but Bunkins' innocence and a note promising a delicious meal for his safe return challenge the wolf's instincts. Navigating a series of humorous and challenging situations, Big Gray Wolf decides to take Bunkins home, pondering the ethics of his choices along the way. The story is enriched by Maliush's captivating illustrations, which depict a charming cast of characters in a moonlit setting. This tale of unexpected friendship and moral dilemmas explores themes of kindness, generosity, and questioning societal norms, making it a captivating read for both young children and older readers. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This beautifully illustrated book offers a whimsical story of friendship and ethical decision-making. Children will enjoy the humorous interactions between Big Gray Wolf and Bunkins, as well as the rich, dynamic artwork. The characters are engaging and relatable, inviting children to explore themes of empathy and kindness. The story's gentle suspense and humor make it an ideal bedtime read, captivating young imaginations while subtly introducing complex themes. If you are in a IB PYP school, this book aligns with the IB Learner Profile by fostering traits such as empathy and critical thinking.  Students can explore how Big Gray Wolf embodies caring and reflective traits as he navigates his choices. All elementary school librarians can feature this book in story time sessions, focusing on its themes of kindness and friendship. It can also be part of a display on empathy, encouraging children to think about different perspectives. The engaging story and illustrations make it a perfect addition to any school library collection, inviting young readers to linger and explore.  I loved it!  Highly Recommended.

Our LIBRES group received an advance copy of this book.  Book is set to be published March 17, 2026.  Thanks to NorthSouth books for a copy.