Everything is Awesome: A Search-And-Find Celebration of Lego History

Everything is Awesome: A Search-And-Find Celebration of Lego History by Simon Beecroft - 32 pages

Goodreads:

A uniquely illustrated search-and-find format, perfect for LEGO® fans young and old!

Find hidden toys, pirates, ghosts and more in fantastic scenes based on classic LEGO® playsets. This full-color hardcover activity book will entertain LEGO® fans ages 6 to 8 as they pour over the highly detailed scenes! With its focus on the iconic toy’s history, this book will make a great gift for LEGO® fans and collectors of all ages.

Taylor Swift: Unofficial Search & Find Biographies

Taylor Swift: Unofficial Search & Find Biographies by Gus Morais - 40 pages

Goodreads:

Are you ready for it? This one-of-a-kind biography takes you on a visual exploration of Taylor Swift’s groundbreaking career, celebrating every album era, iconic outfit, and unforgettable moment. From singing “Tim McGraw” at the start of it all to her Midnights confessionals, this book is packed with Easter eggs that only her most loyal fans will uncover.

Dive into masterfully illustrated spreads, each inspired by a pivotal era in Taylor’s life. Seek her out in the snake-adorned chaos of Reputation, find hidden treasures among the glitter-dusted allure of 1989, and follow a trail of butterflies and rainbows through the dreamy world of Lover. Each page brims with secret details Swifties will instantly recognize—can you spot the “13”s or the infamous cardigan? Don’t forget to look for cameos from Meredith, Olivia, and Benjamin Button!

This isn’t just a game; it’s a love letter to Taylor’s evolution—from fearless teen to worldwide pop icon, through heartbreaks, triumphs, and re-recordings. Relive the defining moments that have shaped her narrative, from her first Grammy win to her iconic vault door teases and surprise album drops. Find your way through every glitter-drenched, heartbreak-tinged, revenge-laced era Taylor Swift has gifted us. Swipe on that red lipstick, put on your headphones, and start your scavenger hunt—because where Taylor goes, we follow.

The Haunted Mansion (Disney Classic) by Lauren Clauss, Glen Brogan

 The Haunted Mansion (Disney Classic) by Lauren Clauss, Glen Brogan-24 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a Little Golden Book based on the ride. I've been on the ride at Walt Disney World several times and it's one of my favorites. This little book is really good for fans of the ride. 

New Picture Books

Bird Is Dead by Tiny Fisscher - 32 pages
Several birds find their companion dead and deal with what that means.
I thought this was a great book to explain death, grief, and the funeral process to children.

Flamingos Are Pretty Funky by Abi Cushman - 32 pages
A book all about flamingos with comments from the flamingos themselves.
This book was both very informative and also a lot of fun.  The "comments" by the flamingos were hilarious.

Metal Baby by Stephen W. Martin - 32 pages
The Mumfords are a quiet couple who enjoy quiet activities.  However, their new baby is a Metal Baby who loves to ROCK all night long.
This book was pretty funny.  I think it's the illustrations however that really makes the book.

Do I Have to Go to the Party? by Jonathan Fenske - 32 pages
Puffer fish is nervous to go the party.  He's afraid he'll do something wrong and puff up in embaressment. 
Another great book from Jonathan Fenske in his comic book style format.  I love the twist that the puffer fish is the one thing to make the party perfect.

The Yellow Bus by Loren Long - 32 pages
The story of a bus throughout time.
This kind of reminded me of "The Little House" cartoon I loved as a kid.  The bus just wants to be used and filled with happy passengers.  I love how it keeps finding new uses and purposes to make it happy.

The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster by Mo Willems

40 pages

"Buckle up for twists, turns, and emotional loop-de-loops in the most roller coaster-y Pigeon book ever! The Pigeon WILL be ready. Will YOU!?"  --from the publisher

Very cute, but not brilliant like so many of Willems' other books. I give it three out of five stars.

New Picture Books

 The Little Things by Emma Dodd - 32 pages

This book describes how to live your lives with kindness and thoughtfulness for others.  It is a simple book that gently gives its message to little ones.


I'm Sorry by Michael Ian Black - 32 pages

This is the latest book in the author's series about Potato, Flamingo, and the Little Girl.  This book deals with how difficult it is to say you're sorry.  I thought the book was pretty well done.  It gets the point across in a humorous way.


A House by Kevin Henkes - 32 pages

This latest picture book by Kevin Henkes seems almost to be a primer in how to interact with a child while reading a book.  It gives examples of simple questions to draw the child's attention to the illustrations.  I think this would be a great book for one-on-one or with smaller groups of children.


We Give Thanks by Cynthia Rylant - 32 pages

This book is a simple listing of things we are thankful for -- from clothes to family to food.  Although it is not a Thanksgiving book, it would be a great addition to "thankful" story times in that season.

New Picture Books

 A Tree for Mr. Fish by Peter Stein - 32 pages

Bird and Cat are chased out of a tree by Fish.  Fish claims it is HIS tree.
I can really only say one thing about this book -- it is odd.  The concept of a fish living in a tree is strange.  The humor lies in how does a fish live in a tree without water.


Where Is the Dragon? by Leo Timmers - 32 pages

The king is scared of the dragon and sends his brave knights to get rid of it.
I really loved the illustrations in this book.  It makes a fun text better.


The Mysterious Sea Bunny by Peter Raymundo - 32 pages

This picture book explains all about the sea bunny in a fun way for kids.  The narrator interacts with the listener to explain that the sea bunny is actually a sea slug, how the sea bunny's features work, and how it moves.  I really liked this book!


Doggie Gets Scared by Leslie Patricelli - 26 pages

Boy's little stuffed Doggie gets scared in the dark, going to day care, and many other times.
I love Leslie Patricelli's board books.  They are right at a toddler's level with the text, illustrations, and emotion of the story.  This book ends with a spread of things that can be scary as well as ways to deal with being scared.

New Picture Books

 The Bear in My Bed by Joyce Wan - 32 pages

This is a sequel to Whale in My Swimming Pool.  I didn't care for this one as much.  The story didn't seem to flow very well.

How to Apologize by David LaRochelle - 32 pages

I thought this book did a pretty good job of explaining why and how we should apologize.  I would definitely recommend this book for young children.

A Pizza With Everything On It by Kyle Scheele - 32 pages

This was a strange book.  A boy asks his dad to make a pizza with everything on it.  So they keep adding more and more ingredients until it implodes on itself and turns into a black hole.  I was thinking of using this with our Book and Cook program but I don't think I like it enough to use it.

Dessert Island by Ben Zhu - 32 pages

This was another strange book.  A monkey is on dessert island (chocolate cake) while a fox is on a desert island with no food.  The story continues showing what is happening on each island until finally they meet.  I like this book and might consider using it for a Book and Cook program.

Something Stinks by Jonathan Fenske - 32 pages

Skunk smells something . . . something stinky!  What could it be?
I loved this book.  The interactive aspect was fun as well as the asides.  The humor was very spot-on for kids.  I will definitely keep this book in mind for a future story time.

The Incredible Painting of Felix Clousseau by Jon Agee - 32 pages

Felix Clousseau's painting were hailed for being so life-like . . . until they start to come to life.  
This is classic Jon Agee.  It is a picture book with a slightly off-beat sense of humor and twist.  

More New Picture Books

Trouble by Katherine Battersby - 32 pages
A bear moves in next door to a squirrel.  She knew he was Trouble.  But was he really scary and trouble?  Or was she the one that was trouble?
I liked this story of not judging people at first sight.  

Not Now, Cow by Tammi Sauer - 32 pages
Through the seasons, the animals on the farm do seasonal activities -- all except cow.
This is my favorite picture book of the year so far.  I loved it!

The Poop Song by Eric Litwin - 32 pages
This is the latest picture book from Eric Litwin.  It's all about going to the bathroom.  Not my favorite book of his.  

New Picture Books

Triceratopposite by Bridget Heos - 32 pages
Triceratopposite always does and says the opposite of what mom and dad tell her to do.  
This was an interesting way to introduce the concepts of opposites while still telling a story.  It also includes a heartwarming story of making friends with those that might scare us.

Line and Scribble by Debora Vogrig - 60 pages
Line is always straight.  Scribble goes every which way.  They are constantly trying to outdo the other.
I love these kinds of books where the author and illustrator have fun with the graphics.  It was interesting to see what can be drawn with straight lines vs. scribbles.

Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued by Peter Sis - 64 pages
Nicky was a young man who helped hundreds of children escape the Nazis by finding them families to live with in England.  Vera was a young girl that was saved because of Nicky's efforts.
This was a very simple and touching look at a story of heroism during World War II.  I would definitely recommend this for children.

The Rock from the Sky by Jon Klassen - 96 pages
Turtle is standing in his favorite spot.  Armadillo and Snake are standing in a nearby spot too far away to hear him.  So he moves closer and a rock falls from the sky onto his favorite spot.
This book contains several stories about Turtle, Armadillo, and Snake.  All of the stories are just a little twisted which I enjoyed.  I would recommend this to those who enjoy Jon Klassen's other books.

The Bruce Swap by Ryan T. Higgins - 32 pages
Bruce is no fun.  When he tells the others "No" to having fun one too many times they wish for a new, FUN Bruce.  They're shocked when it appears as if their wishes came true.
I always enjoy the Bruce stories by Ryan T. Higgins.  He is just so grumpy.  I like that in this book that the other characters finally come around to appreciating Bruce and his grumpiness.

The Big Bad Wolf in My House by Valerie Fontaine - 32 pages
The Big Bad Wolf moved in and started yelling, breaking things, and hurting others.
This book covers the very serious topic of abuse in a way that is understandable and a little less frightening for children.  I would highly recommend this book.

New Children's Books -- May

 The Bookstore Cat by Cylin Busby - 32 pages

The bookstore cat is an adorable cat, a bossy cat, and a cuddly cat.  He has characteristics and does actions for each letter of the alphabet. 
I found this to be a cute alphabet book for preschoolers.


Bear Can't Wait by Karma Wilson - 32 pages

Bear is throwing a surprise party and he can't wait for it to start.
While this is another solid entry in Karma Wilson's Bear books, it is not my favorite.  It's not quite up to the standards of Bear Wants More and Bear Stays Up for Christmas.

New Picture Books

 

Don't Hug Doug (He Doesn't Like It) by Carrie Finison - 32 pages

This is a great book to remind us that not everyone wants a hug and to respect their wishes.  Always ask before trying to hug someone.

Snakes on the Job by Kathryn Dennis - 32 pages

Snakes are on the job using their construction equipment to build a park.  I really enjoyed this picture book and plan to get a copy for the Arnold Branch.

This Is Gus by Chris Chatterton - 32 pages

Gus the dog doesn't like anything - baths, making friends, birthdays, etc.  The only thing he likes is sausages . . . and maybe me, the new puppy in the house.
This was a fun book.  I really liked the illustrations and how grumpy Gus looked.

Baz and Benz by Heidi McKinnon - 32 pages

Benz reassures Baz that they will always be friends.
I really liked this book.  It is very reassuring.  I'm already figuring out how to use it in story time.

Blanket: Journey to Extreme Coziness by Loryn Brantz - 32 pages

Enjoy the coziness and warmth of being in a blanket cocoon.
This was a very cute book.  It would be fun to do one-on-one with a kid.  They could make their own cocoons and have fun thinking of how they might transform.

New Picture Books for November

 Turtle Walk by Matt Phelan - 32 pages

Turtle family is going for a walk -- nice and slow.  Where are they going?  When will they get there?  And what's their plan once they arrive?

This was a very cute picture book.  I absolutely loved it.  The illustrations bring the story to life.  I would recommend this book to anyone!

Louis by Tom Lichtenheld - 32 pages

A teddy bear is mistreated by his boy and can't wait to escape.

While this book was fun I was really wanting more for some reason.

Dr. Tenth by Roger Hargreaves

The Doctor is on vacation when the Sontarans attack the planet.  Will the Doctor be able to stop them?

This is one of the Little Men series of Doctor Who books.  As a Doctor Who fan I loved it and can't wait to read the others.

What We'll Build by Oliver Jeffers

 48 pages

"Inspired by the birth of his daughter, and in the same vein as Here We Are, What We'll Build is a rhythmic and heartwarming father and daughter story from the beloved Oliver Jeffers. Told in rhyming text with Oliver's signature art, What We'll Build is the perfect story to cherish together." --from the publisher

The artwork is very good, and I love the theme of working together to improve the future. I thought the writing was just okay. It gets three out of five stars from me. 

New Picture Books @ Arnold Branch

Hello, Arnie! An Arnie the Doughnut Story by Laurie Keller - 32 pages

Arnie knows every doughnut in the bakery . . . every doughnut except one. 
He's never seen a doughnut like this one before. 
It's big!  It's giant!
It's not a long john.  It doesn't have a hole. 
It doesn't even have sprinkles!
Arnie is determined to figure out what kind of doughnut it is!

I love the Arnie the Doughnut stories.  They are some of my favorites.  This is a great addition to the series.  It's funny!  It also includes the reader in on the joke.  I would definitely recommend this book -- to those who already love Arnie and those meeting him for the first time.

Rot: The Bravest in the World! By Ben Clanton - 32 pages

This book is about mutant potatoes -- mutant potatos that love mud!
And Rot loves mud more than any other mutant potato.
Until, his brother Snot tells him about the Squirm that lives in the mud. 
Now Rot must become brave to face the Squirm!

This book is a lot of fun.  The illustrations are hilarious showing off how the potatoes look just a little weird and the mud is everywhere.  The story of two brothers trying to one up each other is also great.  I would definitely recommend this book.

How to Catch a Mermaid by Adam Wallace

 

How to Catch a Mermaid by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Andy Elkerton

(How to Catch series)

40 pages

"Many claim to have caught a mermaid, but can YOU? How do you catch a mermaid? You must be very clever. With mirrors, crowns, and pearls galore, this quest can't last forever!"  --the publisher

This is a bestseller and highly rated, but I thought the rhymes and the story were forced. It is a fun subject for a picture book, but I was disappointed. Two out of five stars from me.

New Picture Books

These were my favorites of our latest new picture books at the Arnold Branch.

Hat Tricks by Satoshi Kitamura - 32 pages
A bunny in a magician's hat pulls out various animals. 
This would make a great story time book.  It is set up for the kids to guess what animal is going to be pulled out next.

Gnome by Fred Blunt - 32 pages
Gnome is rude on every occasion . . . but this time he runs into some consequences.
It's fun to read a book where the characters are apologetically rude.  This book made me chuckle out loud.

The Yawns Are Coming! by Christopher Eliopoulos - 32 pages
Two boys try to stay awake even though the Yawns are chasing them.
I both liked and didn't like this book.  There were parts of it that were absolutely hilarious.  And the illustrations of the yawns reminded me of little blue Pac-Mans.

Llama Unleashes the Alpacalypse by Jonathan Stutzman - 32 pages
Llama replicates Alpaca and unleashes them onto the world.
This is the sequel to Llama Destroys the World.  I might actually like this one a little better.  I think kids will get it more than the original.  I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment about Llama.

What About Worms? by Ryan T. Higgins - 55 pages
Tiger is not afraid of anything . . . except worms.  Worms ruin EVERYTHING!
This is the latest Elephant & Piggie Like Reading beginning reader book.  I found it funny.  I especially liked the twist ending.

New Picture Books

Over the Moon by James Proimos - 32 pages
Don't Feed the Coos by Jonathan Stutzman - 32 pages
Goodnight Veggies by Diana Murray - 32 pages


We just got in some new picture books.  I really liked these three.

Over the Moon by James Proimos
Two wolves find a baby girl drifting down the river.  One wants to take her home and teach her everything.  The other wolf wants to take her home and eat her.
This book is all about going with the flow -- which is my persona manta.  I go where the river takes me and deal with things as they come -- exactly as the characters in this book do.

Don't Feed the Coos! by Jonathan Stutzman
A book all about the dangers of feeding the birds.  It leads to . . . poo.  Poo on everything.  And there is no way to get the coos to leave you.
A very funny book like the others by this author.

Goodnight, Veggies by Diana Murray
The veggies in the garden are getting tired and going to bed.
This is a very simple book.  I'm looking forward to doing it in story time.

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings

Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings, 36 pages

Can I Be Your Dog?  is an adorable book about a dog looking for a home.  He mails letters to everyone on Butternut Street, but no one wants to be his owner.  Until, surprise, he finds the perfect owner in the mail lady.

Daniel Feels Left Out adapted by Maggie Testa

Daniel Feels Left Out adapted by Maggie Testa, 30 pages

Daniel feels left out when he can't play with his friends.  He talks about his feelings with his parents and feels better.  This is a great book for teaching kids it is ok to be left out and it is ok to have feelings.