Can Composting be Fun?

Lynn: I would have thought composting would be one of the last subjects that could make an engaging picture book but Brianne Farley has done just that with Worm Makes a Sandwich (Putnam/Penguin Random, 2025). Farley comes at the subject somewhat sideways but this approach takes a potentially muddy subject and makes it funny and appealing to a young audience.

Pink and very polite, little worm asks readers if he can make them a sandwich.

“I know what you’re thinking…Worms don’t have hands. Worms cannot make sandwiches!”

Worm starts making the sandwich with delectable garbage, Sorry – NOT for your sandwich, the garbage is for me he tells us. And over the next pages, worm narrates while a little girl goes through the processes of adding garbage to a compost pile, then insect poop and the resulting dirt to the garden. Seed planting is next, and a lot of waiting for the plants to grow.

At one dark moment, worm has deep self-doubts about the success of this sandwich, but a red ripe tomato on the vine saves the day. And, indeed, the child makes a delicious sandwich with the tomato, allowing the worm to preen. A comic little touch at the end is a perfect dessert to follow.

Kids will love the story and the illustrations, which are created in watercolors, gouache, and colored pencils, and have wonderfully varied perspectives. Along the way with all the giggles, kids will learn a LOT about composting and how to do it.

Helpful back matter includes more information on composting, how to do it, what to use, the equipment needed, and why we should all be doing this.

The story is a fun read-aloud for classrooms, story hours, and laptime reading, and is an ideal STEM book. If you had no hands, could you make a sandwich?

Want to Escape? Try The Zebra’s Great Escape!

Lynn: Many of us may be looking for books about escapes, good over evil, and with touches of humor, now more than ever.

Katherine Rundell’s latest, The Zebra’s Great Escape, (S&S, 2024), is a perfect example, her first for a younger audience, and it is a delight. Longer than the usual picture book, this is divided into 3 parts, which makes handy stopping points for a younger child’s bedtime reading. But who will want to stop???

Meet Mink, a child who doesn’t believe in bedtimes. Out late playing, she meets a baby zebra and discovers he and all animals can talk through colors and feelings in her mind. When the baby begs for help, Mink takes him home where he tells her his story of his parents being stolen by an evil man and taken away in a cage. Gabriel, for that is the zebra’s name, has been searching ever since.

Mink, with the help of the grumpy dog next door and other nearby animals, discovers the zebras are being held in a faraway country house by an evil man, Mr. Spit. They are off to the rescue.

Rundell uses words with magical skill. She respects her young readers and her vocabulary choices are challenging but the meaning is made clear through context. The story is paced to increase the readers’ engagement and suspense and she provides a terrifically evil villain they will love to hate. The conclusion is delightfully satisfying.

Enhancing the story are Sara Ogilvie’s illustrations, which have a slightly Edward Gorey feel to them. She uses digital and hand-drawn illustrations, rich colors, and details with a perfect humorous touch.

The entire package is a delight and one that is bound to be read over and over. I missed this one when it came out but please grab this for a your own great escape.

Pack Your Bags! Border Crossings Will Have You Booking a Trip!

Lynn: I have never wished to be 20 years younger any more intensely than while reading Border Crossing: A Journey on the Trans-Siberian Railroad (Harper Design, 2022) by Emma Fick! Every page made me yearn to rush out, buy railroad tickets and set out on this Trans-Siberian journey. Fick ‘s unique and entrancing tale of the train journey she and her husband Helvio took from Beijing to Moscow made me yearn to pack my backpack and replicate this trip. Travel books are hard to write! Too often they turn into a dull list of places seen, food eaten and history learned. Emma turns the genre on its head and this journal-style story is crammed with vividly evocative watercolor illustrations and hand-written observations. I learned an amazing amount while falling in love with the intrepid Emma and Helvio who saw, explored, tasted and enjoyed everything they encountered. Somehow there is a wealth of information, history, geology, and culture shared but it is never boring! I loved the descriptions of the opulent interiors of the Mongolian Gers, etiquette for sharing train couchettes, visits to markets, the views from the train windows, Russian subway stations and the food – especially the food! I’m not sure I’d be as delighted as Emma with “Herring Under a Fur Hat” dish as Emma was but I loved her enthusiasm for sampling so much. I had no idea that the largest fresh water lake in the world is in Siberia or that Russia has ELEVEN time zones! The friendliness of the people was encouraging but there were also real challenges and bureaucratic roadblocks. The charm of the story underplays a bit the actual demanding nature of the conditions but it is also guaranteed to amplify any traveler’s itch residing in readers everywhere. This is a not-to-be missed book and I sincerely hope that Emma will undertake and chronicle another exotic journey! I am ready to travel with her and I think teens will be too,

Moving Day – for the House!

Lynn: I loved this interesting and inviting picture book about a very unusual subject – physically moving a house! Teri Roche Drobnick’s debut picture book, Moving Day (Margaret Ferguson/Holiday House, 2025), is based on a true event—moving the Englander House in San Francisco to a new location 6 blocks away. The practice was common in the early 1900’s and later. My best friend in childhood had a father whose business moved all sorts of buildings and I remember watching some of those. Few children today, however, ever witness such an effort and this book adds to the fun by making the house itself the narrator. Readers hold their breath as the house tells of teetering and tottering and even walloping a light post before settling into its new home.

Jennifer Black Reinhardt’s watercolor and ink illustrations are comedic and charming, adding whimsical details like feet to the house and its own colorful carpet bag luggage. The perspectives are wonderfully designed to add interest including a two-page spread featuring a long long hill with the top of the house just peeking over the summit.

Backmatter includes an Author’s Note with additional information and a photograph of the Englander House being moved. Don’t miss the end pages either as they are peppered with colorful sketches of crazy house all with feet.

This will make a great read-aloud as well as a discussion starter for conversation about moving and all the emotions surrounding that experience.

Don’t Go in the Basement – Unless You Are Ben Hatke Readers

Lynn: Everyone who watches horror movies KNOWS you should never go down in the basement! But Ben Hatke may change our minds with his wonderful new graphic novel, Things in the Basement (First Second, 2023.) For one thing, reading will solve the mystery that plagues us all – where do the missing socks go??

Ben Hatke may be my favorite graphic novelist and this new book checked every box for me. The storytelling, art work, pacing, world building, and characters were all richly created. I read this in one sitting and then went back and re-read it more slowly and I can see that each additional reading will yield more.

Young Milo, his mom, and infant twin siblings have just moved into a new rather spooky-looking house. One of the babies has lost a sock, specially knitted for her, and Milo’s mom asks him to go find it – IN THE BASEMENT! If the house was spooky, the basement is terrifying but Milo wants to help his mom. Following a mysterious creature who has stolen the sock, Milo finds a previously unnoticed door. Behind that door is a whole other huge world and it is full of incredible creatures. Some of those creatures are friendly and some, like the Gobbler, are hideous and dangerous. As Milo explores the basement world, he makes some friends and learns just what it takes to really be a true friend.

Hatke’s illustrative work is masterful, brilliantly using light and shadow to intensify the suspense, mystery, and danger. Light touches add moments of relief only to plunge back into the foreboding murky dark. The world’s inhabitants are wonderfully imaginative including the Gobbler and the skull who speaks in pictures. What a great touch.

The story comes to a satisfying conclusion but clearly, the creaky door is wide open for another adventure. A must-purchase for all libraries where kids love graphic novels…. all libraries!

The Labors of Hercules Beal and Grief

Lynn: What, you might ask, do the Labors of Hercules, grief, and middle-grade books have to do with each other? Everything, if it’s in the hands of masterful author Gary Schmidt. In his new book, The Labors of Hercules Beal (Clarion, 2023),12-year-old Hercules Beal is laboring under a heavy burden of grief and loss after the hit-and-run accident that killed his parents. His older brother has returned from his dream job to take over the Beal Brothers Farm and Nursery and care for Hercules. Neither brother can talk about their pain and daily life is a question of survival. To add to Hercules’ burdens, his brother switches him to a new school he can walk to AND his new teacher, ex-marine, Lt. Col. Hupfer’s assignment of the Classical Mythology year-long project is to consider the Twelve Labors of Hercules and how they would be performed today.

As Hercules labors over the project, life adds much more to his burdens but he also discovers the powers of friendship, love, trust, and being able to heal—and the ability to write in ways that satisfy his demanding teacher.

Hercules and all the characters around him on Cape Cod won my heart and half the fun was seeing how he tackled the 12 Labors and how that affected him. Hercules is a kid that young readers can relate to and his voice is wonderfully authentic. Schmidt understandably writes often of grief and. sadly, its heavy weight is carried by many of today’s kids. Hercules’ struggles to manage that burden are deeply moving and accessibly depicted. His ultimate management of that pain is one every reader can cheer for.

Another reviewer I read has dismissed Schmidt and his books because the readers in her library won’t pick them up to read. That is a criticism of books that I have heard often over the years and while that may be true, it is also true that there are many readers for whom this book will be a truly memorable and enjoyable experience. We live in a world where young people often have little experience with books that take some time or are of places and people far different from their own. Part of our role as teachers and librarians is to open those doors for kids and help them to experience different worlds. Schmidt’s books beg to be read aloud in a classroom, to be discussed and to enable readers to walk in other people’s shoes. I feel it has always been crucial and, especially so today where focus and empathy are lacking, all the more important.

Libraries should have a wide range of popular books and formats and they should also have masterfully written stories that are deeply rewarding and that take time to unfurl. Gary Schmidt’s newest is one of those. Will a lot of kids know anything about the Labors of Hercules? Not at the beginning, but do they know about grief and sadness and the daily struggle to get through a day? Absolutely! And here, a wonderful writer reflects on those issues in ways that will make young readers laugh and cry and perhaps help them in their own struggles. I think this is a must-purchase and a wonderful book to share.

Are You Ready for Snow? Just One Flake Maybe…

Cindy: I’m not happy that it’s SNOWING here in Travis Jonker’s part of the world, where Lynn and I live too, and on HALLOWEEN, no less, but I’m chilled with delight over his latest book, Just One Flake (Abrams, 2023). This one had me at the cover as a young child sticks out his tongue to catch a snowflake. This story features Jonker’s debut as an illustrator of his work, and what a fabulous start. Knowing that Travis often highlights the covers under the picture book jackets in his popular children’s literature blog, 100 Scope Notes, the first thing I did was peek under the jacket to check—and I wasn’t disappointed. A collage of paper snowflakes is made even better when you learn that they were each created by some of the luminaries of the children’s lit world along with family members, each credited at book’s end.

Liam is eager to catch just one snowflake and gives it multiple tries but is foiled each time. A final attempt, just as he is called inside, is alllllmoooost successful, but successful enough to spark wonder and a new idea for him to explore inside with a cup of hot chocolate. The story and illustrations appear simple but the themes (perseverance, success can come in many levels, wonder at nature, and creativity is power) are subtle and important. This is a gem not to be missed.

Lynn: In Michigan, like many Midwestern states, we have a saying that if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute. Our 6-9 inches of Halloween snow has quickly melted and yesterday it was 54 degrees! But snow is always a factor in our winters and Travis’ wonderful picture book is going to delight kids everywhere—even those who seldom see a snowflake.

This is a perfect book to use with very young children. The use of simple sentences and language make it wonderfully toddler appropriate and the sound effects make for a fun read-aloud. Travis’ illustrations have black line outlines and bright primary colors that do a great job of enhancing the text for small readers.

I second Cindy’s thoughts on this charming story. Quick! Add this to your collections before the next snowflake falls!

Squash the Cat Makes a Big Mistake

Lynn: It’s fall so squash is a common topic! But this time I don’t mean the vegetable – I mean the cat! Sasha Meyer’s new and very funny picture book, Squash, the Cat (Random Studio, 2023) introduces a cat named Squash and his best friend Maggie. Squash is the perfect name for this orange and definitely squash-shaped cat.

Squash is “an early breakfast followed by a mid-morning nap kind of cat.” Maggie, however is a later riser but a “wild playdate” kind of girl. But Maggie and Squash are perfect for each other just the same. Together they take on all challenges and always have each other’s back. Until, that is, Squash, thinking he is saving Maggie, makes a BIG mistake!

This sweet and appealing story shows what happens when a best friend makes another sad. Small children will understand both Squash and Maggie’s feelings and cheer when Maggie decides that even if best friends forever aren’t perfect, that is OK. Meyer’s large bright illustrations wonderfully convey both friend’s experiences and gently underscore the idea that friends forgive each other. This is a wonderful book to use to start discussions about friends and what happens when someone makes a mistake.

I adored the illustration in this tale! Just looking at Squash makes me laugh. But I may have a slight bias here Will on couch since I share a house with a remarkably similar and squash-shaped cat.

Seeing the Truth – Ritter’s Jackaby Returns for YA Readers

Lynn: For fans of the Jackaby series, it has been a long wait since the last installment but it was worth it! The new installment, Rook (Algonquin, 2023), takes place 6 months after the dramatic events of The Dire King (2017). Jackaby’s assistant, Abigail Rook, has acquired all of Jackaby’s extraordinary Sight abilities. Abigail now clearly sees the essential truth of all things, human, supernatural, natural and inanimate, and is struggling to use them effectively. But the city of New Fiddleham can’t wait as a new and more horrifying crisis is gripping the city.

As one gifted magical being after another disappears, Abigail and Jackaby take on the case alongside several other officials who may or may not want to see them succeed. In the city itself, the uneasy alliance between humans and supernatural beings is fraying and Abigail’s shapeshifter fiance, Charlie, is frantically trying to heal the rift.

And then, Abigail’s proper English parents arrive to bundle her back home and marry her to some noble but awful husband. Which crisis will culminate first and will Abigail and Jackaby and friends survive?

It is pure reading joy to be back in the intriguing world of New Fiddleham! William Ritter’s world-building is masterful, the characters deeply engaging and the plot enthralling! It took me only a few minutes to catch up with the situation and then I was off on a whirlwind story. It is always more fun to start at the beginning of a series but I think first-time readers could hop in here and quickly catch up. Ritter’s cast of supernatural creatures is one of the highlights for me, each one more imaginative than the last! Here’s hoping that there are more adventures in this series soon. And if you and your young readers haven’t found this terrific series, get reading!

Cindy: Count me in as a new-to-Jackaby reader who had no problem getting immersed in this world and Ritter’s new story. When Lynn and I worked together we often didn’t read books we knew we’d love in an effort to read a wider variety to booktalk to our students. She had the Jackaby series covered, and our middle school fans were legion. Still, why didn’t she TELL me that I would love this series as much as Jonathan Stroud’s Lockwood & Co. series? Teens with special abilities to save their cities from paranormal entities and snarky humor in spades? Yes, please! She probably did tell me, but I don’t always heed her wise advice. Lesson learned. Now that I’ve read Rook, I’ll be psychically hunting down book one in the series, Jackaby, to start at the beginning.

The Joy of Curiosity – New Nature Picture Books

Lynn: One of the great traits of humanity is curiosity. It blossoms in childhood as we absorb and wonder about the world around us. Encouraging and nurturing that ability is a focus of two new and outstanding picture books that I am reviewing today.

How Birds Sleep (Astra/Mineeditionsus, 2023) by Sally Pedry and David Obuchowski.
How DO birds sleep? It’s a question I’ve often thought about myself as the night settles in and the world quiets. Obuchowski was also curious about this question, later stumbling on a book in a used book store that examined the science around the question. Like most things about birds, it varies from species to species. This is a fascinating exploration of a question that many children ask too and done in a lovely bed-time book style. Sarah Pedry’s illustrations are beautiful and soothing. Using familiar and unfamiliar birds labeled on each page, the book takes readers through the world of sleeping birds and their fascinating ways of sleeping. Some sleep in huddles, some hanging upside down and some even fly in their sleep.

Back matter includes much more information about the subject, how the book came to be and suggestions of how to help birds being affected by climate change.

The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish: What Magic Lies Beneath? (Candlewick, 2023) by Chloe Savage. This charming picture book celebrates the magic of following your curiosity.

Dr. Morley has always yearned to discover the truth about the fable of the Giant Arctic Jellyfish. Is it real or just a lovely sailor’s yarn? While this scientific journey is an imaginary tale, much about such a research effort is true. As Dr. Morley and her crew search the Arctic seas they encounter Narwhals, a pod of Belugas, freezing temperatures, monotony, frustration and even a Polar Bear. And, of course, there is something under the water all the time that trails the scientists.

Chloe Savage’s intricate whimsical illustrations reveal a cutaway view of the research vessel from top to bottom. The scientists and crew, clad in matching red and white sweaters, go about their tasks in labs, engine rooms, kitchens and bathrooms or out on ice flows and scuba diving into the icy seas. Each page is a delight, filled with small touches of humor that reward careful perusing. The book is one of those delightful gems that provides more each time it is read.