Click! Snap! Picture That! written by Dieter Böge, illustrated by Benjamin Gottwald, and translated from German by David Henry Wilson and reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: Admittedly the first time through this book I was picture walking as I do this often with my elementary school students, especially in the younger grades. I was smitten by the quirky wonder as each animal is seen before they show how they wish to be seen. There are some surprises along the way, too, which will lead to some discussions, I bet. Reading the simple text of the animals and their dreams of how they want others to see them makes this a much deeper book than I thought the first time through it. I like books that are fun and interesting and capture my students attention, but really love when they are teachable, too. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: How we share ourselves in selfies, photographs of our favorite people, places, and activities is not often dealt with in children's books. I noticed that this book was translated from German by David Henry Wilson (original publication date in German in 2024), I did a bit of reading about the book and the intentions. I can definitely use this book when we talk about our future selves (career education), digital literacy (understanding photographs), and using illustrations to expand stories. This book has lighthearted illustrations by Benjamin Gottwald that will attract readers and likely lead to students repeating some of his style. My favorite spread is the cockatoo who dreams of being depicted by a famous artist while surrounded by the cockatoo in many frames in the style of famous artists. My art teacher and I will be having conversation about that spread, for sure! I read over 500 books a year and I really rarely return to books. This one will be revisited and shared as it struck me as unique. I recommend this Dieter Boge book for elementary school collections.

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.

Right Now!: Real Kids Speaking Up for Change written by Miranda Paul illustrated by Bea Jackson, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: This picture bookwritten by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Bea Jackson, a local Michigan illustrator. The book features eleven inspiring young activists, including Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, and Jaylen Arnold, who are making significant impacts on various social issues such as climate change, education, and equality. Each profile is presented on a double-page spread, complete with engaging factoids and quotes that highlight the commitment of these young innovators. The language is simple and approachable, making it easy for young readers to connect with the content. The book's backmatter includes an author's note, actionable steps for making a difference, and resources for further exploration. Jackson's illustrations beautifully capture the diverse backgrounds of the featured activists, showcasing their determination and passion through colorful and relatable imagery. Her artwork brings a dynamic energy to the pages, enhancing the overall message of empowerment and hope. Overall, this book serves as a motivating reminder that age is no barrier to making a positive change in the world. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: School librarians can effectively integrate "Right Now!: Real Kids Speaking Up for Change" into the curriculum by using it as a springboard for discussions on social justice and activism. Librarians can organize thematic reading sessions focused on the issues highlighted in the book, encouraging students to explore topics like climate change, equality, and bullying. This can be supplemented with research projects where students investigate local or global initiatives related to these themes. Additionally, librarians can host workshops where students create their own activism projects inspired by the young activists in the book, fostering a sense of agency and community involvement. Collaborating with teachers, librarians can also align these activities with curricular goals in social studies, language arts, and art classes, enhancing interdisciplinary learning. By promoting this book, librarians can empower students to recognize their potential as changemakers and engage them in meaningful conversations about the world around them.

Little Red and the Cat Who Loved Cake written by Barbara Lehman, reviewed by Terry Wahrman

Summary:  Little Red and Big Red bake a cake for Grandma.  Wolfie, the cat, thinks he’ll be getting cake until it’s boxed up and put in a basket.  Sneaky Wolfie, follows Little Red all through town and through the park hiding behind things for the right opportunity to grab the cake.  Little Red greets several people, but the timing is off for Wolfie.  Wolfie gets into Grandma’s house, puts on her clothes, and gets in bed, but Wolfie does not know that Little Red and Grandma have a surprise for him.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  This fractured fairytale of Little Red Riding Hood is told through pictures.  It is wordless, but not worthless.  The colorful pages tell a strong story and incorporate other fairytale figures along the way.  There is a find me section in the back pages of the book to find certain items or characters. Having the students look for items is a precursor toward learning to be observant and detail-gathering for later comprehensive reading.  Great for teaching fractured fairy tales or rewriting a story too.  Goes to show, you don’t need words to tell a story.  Highly recommended. 

 

Louis written by Tom Lichtenheld and illustrated by Julie Rowan-Zoch, reviewed by Terry Wahrman

Summary:  Louis is a teddy bear who thinks he is unloved.  He is left on the subway train.  He is splashed with milk and he has been bitten by dinosaurs.  Louis wants to leave and find another home that will love him.  Louis feels underappreciated so he makes plans to run away.  With his decision made, now he has to find the right time to leave. He can’t do it during the tea party with cake, nor during bedtime struggles, he ferrets out that maybe he likes it right here at home.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Things look different if you take the time to see it.  It’s not always bad.  This would make a great group read in a classroom or an individual building up reading skills.  A lesson plan could be about how to treat others and dealing with empathy.  Not everyone will find fun in everything you like to do. Colorful big pictures and large words will provide viewing from the back of any reading circle.

 

Gossie and Friends: Ruby & Rufus Love the Water written by Olivier Dunrea, reviewed by Debra Gantz

 

Summary:  A friend story that shows their love for the pond throughout the year. Ruby and Rufus like to play on the pond and Olivier Dunrea uses one sentence per page paired with color illustrations of joyful play when the pond is ice and when it is water.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  If you have a space for tiny picture books, this one will be loved! (The book is quite small at about 9 x 9.) I bet that if you buy one of his Gossie & Friends books, you will want to buy them all!

Be a Friend written by Salina Yoon, reviewed by Debra Gantz

 

Summary:  Dennis is a quiet boy that wears black and white stripes and communicates through mime, like his hero Marcel Marceau of stage and screen fame. It can be lonely to not speak with words as other kids do not always understand. During show and tell, he mimed. When students climbed a tree, he became a tree. One day that all changed when Dennis kicked an imaginary ball and a classmate caught it. Together they played and discovered that play does not need words to fill our hearts with joy!

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Wow! What a special book this is and I have already added it to both of my school collections. Salina Yoon has found a way to help students treasure the differences in communication in our school communities. I have shared this book with all of my classes. I see the joy of students who are a part of both a small special services class and included into their grade level class for specials when I share this book in both library times. I see this book as a first purchase.

This Is the Day! written by Amy Parker and illustrated by Leeza Hernandez , reviewed by Terry Wahrman

 

Summary:  Psalm 118:24 says This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.  Today,  we will wake up and rejoice.  God created this day - He made it for you.  Get up; get ready to go. Go see and do all the things God has created for you.  Sing songs and ride rides.  Even if you are feeling sad, you can make this the best day you’ve had.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  This Christian book references Psalm 118:24.  This is the Day encourages small children to see the new day as one of wonder.  It brings the promise of a new joyous beginning and tells of all the happy things and sites to see in the new dawn. They talk about God and how he is present and gives us all these wonderful things.  This is a good fit for any school library catering to a Christian community.  This love and goodness book can be a welcome addition to an elementary library.  Recommended. 

Tiny Monsters: The Strange Creatures That Live On Us, In Us, and Around Us written by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, reviewed by Debra Gantz

 

Summary:  In Jenkins amazing style, each insect is shown enlarged with an actual size note and details about how dangerous they can be or what is unique about them. The illustrations are cut and torn paper collage with coloring for highlighting the insect descriptions. 

Straight Talk for Librarians:  I love microorganisms, but no so much insects. Yet, this book may have changed my mind. My first graders for years have researched insects and I cannot wait to share this book with them! I see it as a first purchase! I will be using the Tiny Monster facts at the end in a Kahoot, I believe. The introduction for this one will be so fun to create. This book will be perused by many students over years. It should be in every library that serves elementary students! 

Thank you, Mr. Panda written by Steve Antony, reviewed by Terry Wahrman

Summary:  Mr. Panda has bought a gift for each of his friends.  He and his friend Lemur deliver them.  In all cases the gift doesn’t fit.  Each of his friends thank him, but get a surprise as each gift has an issue.  Octopus’ sweater came with only 6 leg holes and Goat’s bow was too long.  Lemur reminds all of Mr. Panda’s friends, that it is the thought that counts.  Lemur is surprised by his own gift of underwear being way too big and is reminded by Mr. Panda, it’s the thought that counts.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Steve Anthony reminds us, it is not the gift that matters, but the thought that counts.  In many different ways he presents different animals with gifts from Mr. Panda and each gift is not usable.   Mr. Panda's little sidekick Lemur reminds us all that it’s the thought that counts. This wonderful little book which has colorful boards will attract lots of readers. The same message is delivered on every page. The repetition gives us consistency in a lesson to be learned- It’s the thought that counts- and hopefully young readers will begin to see the pattern and learn from it. This book is good for a read along or for an individual reader. Recommended.   

Maybe A Bear Ate It! written by Robie Harris, reviewed by Terry Wahrman

Summary:  This highly amusing interactive book keeps readers wondering what the next page will bring.  This little catlike animal is dressed for bed and cannot find his book.  He looks high and low while the narrator asks us questions about how we feel, what do we see, and what do you think happened to the book?

Straight Talk for Librarians:  This is an early reader book with discussion questions built in.  The questions were created to interact with a child that talks.  The questions were different so that it was not the normal one word answer.  It was refreshing to have the opportunity to stop and examine our feelings and have a discussion. Great for a classroom group read or for a parent and child time.  In the back you will find What am I? - animal riddles.  Imagination station - finish the sentence. Mystery solved - learn how to solve mysteries. Picture time- draw pictures. All wonderful ideas to do with students.   Highly Recommended.

The Shark Book written by Steve Jenkins, reviewed by Terry Wahrman

Summary:  Diagrams of shark bodies and parts fill the pages with loads of physical details, behaviors and dietary information.  Interesting facts include which sharks are born alive and which are hatched from eggs.  Discover which sharks gulp their prey and which chomp it. While looking at each illustration, you will be able to see the size of a shark while next to a shadow image of a human. Some sharks are many times larger than us and some can fit in your hand.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Recommended for shark lovers and others. This book contains a plethora of information about 50+ types of sharks and it is all compacted on 33 pages.  This is perfect for young emerging botanists.  The information displayed is so fascinating that others will find it interesting too.  Plenty of pictures on each page for a younger elementary student and detailed information for older students.  The facts are endless in this well written book.  It could be used when covering animals of the sea or a group read aloud, but it’s best read alone so that one can digest all the details.   Highly recommended.   

Whole Hole Story written by Vivian McInerny, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  Zia finds a hole in her pocket and seems unphased by what stays and what is lost. That is until the day she notices it is bigger and wonders what would happen if she fell into it. Cue all the wonder of the rabbit hole from Alice in Wonderland and the Wild Rumpus from Where the Wild Things Are as Zia will offer humor, wonder, and entertainment for a new generation of children! The word play in this story will most certainly entertain parents and teachers who share this story and may lead to it being requested again and again. 

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Zia is a charming African American child with a wild imagination that allows her to travel far until she returns from this magical journey and puts the hole back in her pocket. 

Once Upon a Dragon's Fire written by Beatrice Blue, reviewed by Suzanne Schug

Summary: Once upon a time, before fire was created, people in a magical kingdom wrote stories about a terrifying dragon who was so mean he ate kittens for breakfast, was so scary he made children scream, and was so evil, he blew huge storms out of his jaws. Everyone was afraid of the dragon except for children Freya who is dark skinned, and Sylas, who is light skinned, who loved reading stories about the dragon to each other. A bitter storm blew all the warmth out of the town. The children determine it was the bad dragon’s doing and decide that he must be stopped. They packed books and supplies and traveled to the dragon’s lair to discover it was nothing like what they read in their books. Freya and Sylas befriended the dragon and wrote a new story that highlighted the dragon’s kindness. Hearing the story gave the dragon the ability to breathe fire and warm the kingdom’s houses. This book reminds people that even in the coldest of times, we all carry the warm spark of friendship inside of. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This sweet, simple story would work well as a read aloud to teach SEL relationship skills to younger elementary students. When someone goes through a cold, dark time, the warmth of friendships can help warm hearts is an example of seeking and offering help to others when needed. The color used in the illustrations of the dragon shows the transformation of a cold, scared, and very lonely dragon to a warm and loved one. It also reminds the reader that what they read is not always the truth, which ties into the social skill of resisting social pressures. Seeking out the truth is very rewarding, just like building a new friendship when reaching out to someone in need. Working together, problems can be solved and friendships can be celebrated.

Up On Bob written by Mary Sullivan, reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary:  Bob, a dachshund, is seeking the best place to settle in for a peaceful nap. After several corrections to his napping spot, he settles in unaware that he is being watched. Spectacular fun ensues as the kitten also readies the selected napping spot on top of Bob. After a bit of mayhem, both pets are settled in for an afternoon snooze. 

Straight Talk for Librarians:  There are no concerns at all here. Pet owners and those who wish they owned pets will be equally entertained by these expressive images of both the dog and the cat. This art is adorable and will produce much laughter when I read it aloud to my classes!

El Ratoncito, La Fresa Roja Y Madura Y El Gran Oso Hambriento: Spanish/English The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear, written by Audrey Wood and Don Wood, reviewed by Amanda Davies

Summary:  This board book is about a mouse who has picked a beautiful strawberry and is now trying to hide it from a bear. The narrator keeps emphasizing how the bear is going to steal the strawberry from the mouse and convinces the mouse to share half of the strawberry with them.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  This is a lovely board book for two important reasons. It could easily be used in an early Spanish classroom so students can use the English translation to help them comprehend the Spanish. It could also be used in a higher level Spanish classroom where students could evaluate the accuracy of the English translation. In addition to its use in a Spanish classroom, it's a great example of a tricky first-person narrator who is unseen in the story but plays and important role in the plot. English and ELA classes could use it as a mentor text for surprising and creative ways to play with the point of view of a children's story.
 

What Do You Say Little Blue Truck? written by Alice Schertle, reviewed by Terry Wahrman

Summary:   Little Blue Truck takes a ride and greets all of his friends as he passes by with a friendly beep.  Learn how each friend replies back in real live sound.  “Does Pig say “Beep” like Little Blue?  No! Pig says “Oink!” as all pigs do.  There are seven different animal sounds and Little Blue's horn sound.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Learn in rhyming prose how Blue and his friends communicate in visual and audio.  This well crafted and written picture board book is battery operated and has many useful purposes in preschool for group read aloud or art projects.  The battery has a shut off which will help lengthen the battery life and prevent unwanted interruptions in class.

Jill McImurry the illustrator has her website here.
 

Only My Dog Knows I Pick My Nose, written by Lauren Tarshis, illustrated by Lisa Bronson Mezoff, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary:  Lauren Tarshis (I Survived) makes her picture book debut with this sweet story about the relationship between a boy and his dog. The boy is a helpful, brave, broccoli-eating, toy-sharing brother - but only his dog sees the more mischievous burping, nose-picking, wild, silly side of him. Light watercolor illustrations depict the boy and his dog on their adventures together.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  This picture book is a beautiful representation of the special relationship between people and pets, and shows a flawed but well-meaning boy whose dog "knows everything about me, and loves me all the time." Hand to young dog-lovers or read aloud as an illustration that no one is perfect.

Sydney & Taylor Take a Flying Leap, written by Jacqueline Davies, illustrated by Deborah Hocking, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary:  Hedgehog Taylor and skunk Sydney are best friends, back again for this second installment of their series. Taylor is ready to share his next Big Idea with Sydney: Taylor wants to fly. Several failed attempts - a blanket held by birds, building his own bat-like wings - end with Sydney breaking his fall, although Sydney continues to remind him that "hedgehogs cannot fly." When they come across a remote-control plane, Taylor at last has his chance to fly - and quickly comes close to crashing into a tree, then must flee from a great hawk. Throughout Taylor's hijinks, Sydney remains a loyal, if reluctant, friend and supporter.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  Sydney and Taylor remain the same upbeat, silly pair from the first installment of this early chapter book series, and fans of the first book - as well as fans of Mercy Watson, Frog & Toad, and illustrated chapter books - will be delighted with Taylor's hijinks and Sydney's loyalty in this volume. Use as an impetus for a STEM lesson (What invention could we make to help a hedgehog fly?) or as a science lesson on the categorization of animals.

A Parade of Elephants, written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, reviewed by Terry Wahrman

Summary:  What do elephants do all day?  They parade.  They gather and march.  Up and down, in and out, over and under until it's time to go to sleep.  Even sleeptime has its ritual of yawning and stretching, lifting your trunk and trumpet, and then falling asleep.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  A great first book for any preschooler-Kindergarten.  A fun way to learn to count to five.  Use it as an action book.  March like an elephant.  Participate in the elephant parade.  Be creative as they pass by up and down, over and under, and in and out. After marching all day, they yawn and stretch and take their nap,  Great addition for a kindergarten classroom.