Aponte, Carlos. A Season To Bee. illus. by Carlos Aponte. 32p. Price Stern Sloan. Jan. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781101995709.

PreS-Gr 2 –Bright illustrations reveal the hottest trends for this season as told by Miss V. McQueen, editor of Buzz fashion magazine. As members of the press ask questions, McQueen goes through each color in the rainbow and gives a rhyming phrase to endorse wearing that hue. “Bee bold like the sun/that melts snow…wear GOLD!” Each spread shows off stylish bugs on the catwalk, featuring outfits, lights, and backgrounds in that color. When pressed at the end and asked, “What’s the most important thing of all to be?” the queen bee replies: “YOU!” VERDICT A “chic introduction to the colors” and a positive message make this book a fun but additional purchase for most collections.–Emily E. Lazio, The New York Public Library

Chou, Yih-Fen. Mimi no quiere pintar. ISBN 9788416648580.

––––. Mimi usa el orinal. ISBN 9788416648597.

ea vol: illus. by Chih-Yuan Chen. 40p. (Mimi). Picarona. Jan. 2017. Tr $12.95.

Toddler-PreS –Mimi is a little animal with an upturned nose and typical toddler spunk. She does things her way, and that’s OK. In Mimi no quiere pintar (Mimi Doesn’t Want To Draw), Mom has gone on a trip and Grandma comes to look after Mimi. Mimi enjoys playing with the toys Grandma makes and crafting objects out of clay; she loves piling blocks up and playing with water—and what fun it is to make footprints in the sand and gather leaves and shells. But throughout, Mimi doesn’t draw. When Grandma leaves, she presents Mimi with drawings she’s made of their time together. This inspires Mimi to do the same for Grandma. Except she doesn’t draw; she makes artwork out of leaves and clay and handprints. In Mimi usa el orinal (Mimi Goes Potty), Mom is trying to encourage Mimi to use her potty but Mimi is constantly having accidents. When Grandma suggests that Mimi may not be ready, the child goes back to wearing diapers. One fine day, Mimi is ready—and what a fine day it is. Puzzlingly, given that both books have been nicely translated from English, Mimi’s toy rabbit remains “Bunny” in the Spanish version. VERDICT Both books have a clear message for the adults reading them to toddlers in their charge—stand back and allow children to be themselves. A good choice for Spanish-language early childhood collections.–Lucia Acosta, Children’s Literature Specialist, NJ

Conigliaro, Phil. My First Baby Signs. illus. by Tae Won Yu. 20p. Workman. Feb. 2017. Board $15.95. ISBN 9780761189480.

Baby-Toddler –“When baby wants food, baby signs EAT.” Simple text is complemented by an illustration of a baby and a pull tab that creatively moves the baby’s hand to her mouth, demonstrating the motion needed to sign “eat.” The book goes on to teach children how to sign “milk,” “more,” “all done,” “help,” “thank you,” “bath,” and “bed.” A diverse group of cartoon toddlers display the relatively easy-to-follow hand motions. If a child or parent needs additional assistance mastering the sign, the back of the board book contains step-by-step instructions for each sign. VERDICT A general purchase for board book collections and a useful selection for baby/toddler programs to help model communication through sign language.–Kristen Todd-Wurm, Middle Country Public Library, NY

Dawnay, Gabby. If I Had a Dinosaur. illus. by Alex Barrow. 32p. Thames & Hudson. Feb. 2017. Tr $14.95. ISBN 9780500650998.

PreS-Gr 1 –A little girl really wants a new pet. She thinks dogs are nice and cats are cute. But she wants something a bit bigger. What about a dinosaur? She starts to imagine how awesome life would be with this enormous creature. She already knows her dinosaur would bring back the biggest stick while playing fetch in the park. She would take the beast to school and everyone would find her new pet not only cool but also smart. She visualizes the huge amount of food she would need to feed it and how she would fill a swimming pool so it would have plenty of water to drink. Life would be great with a pet dinosaur. This is a fantastic story conveyed through the vivid imagination of a child. The tale is told in an amusing rhyme that will delight young children. For example, “Dinosaurs make smashing pets,/as dinosaurs can do/much better stuff than dogs or cats./Just watch out for the...!” The illustrations give young ones a good idea about the enormous size of the pet. Vibrant colors are used to enhance the pictures. The illustrations make good use of white space and capture the attention of little listeners. A portion of the text is shaped around the dinosaur to make reading the book entertaining. VERDICT The large pictures and simple text make this book perfect for storytime or for newly independent readers. Dinosaur enthusiasts and young children will love it.–Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA

Emiliani, Lucia. ¿Un unicornio en una granja? illus. by Tina Perko. 32p. Obelisco. Aug. 2016. Tr $15.95. ISBN 9788416648061.

K-Gr 3 –On a farm in the mountains, the animals are falling over themselves trying to guess the identity/species of a new arrival. For some undisclosed reason, the animals are certain that regardless of what it is, it will be “blanco como la nieve”—white as snow. Then, based on a glimpse of the creature’s white tail, they all assume that they’ve been graced with a unicorn. When Henry, the ordinary, white-maned, brown horse, becomes aware of the other animals’ expectations (Farmer Smith has hidden him away in a bolted stable), he gets depressed. Henry fakes an illness so he doesn’t have to meet and disappoint everyone. The animals, as a result, decide that he must be a snob—until the farmer has an accident. Farmer Smith’s leg is trapped under a tree that he’s chopped down, and none of the barnyard critters can move it. In spite of the stable door remaining bolted, Henry shows up and rescues the farmer. The animals agree that while not a unicorn, Henry the horse is, indeed, a marvelous creature. This story, which has been translated into European Spanish from Slovenian, plods along in a disjointed fashion. Although the book addresses the folly of judging someone on preconceived notions, it doesn’t acknowledge the importance of apologizing. Perko’s illustrations save the day; they are colorful and lighthearted. On each page, mice or meandering insects add interest to the charming scenes. The detailed facial expressions successfully convey the personalities of each animal character. VERDICT A serviceable addition for large Spanish-language collections.–Mary Margaret Mercado, Pima County Public Library, Tucson, AZ

Fliess, Sue. How To Trap a Leprechaun. illus. by Emma Randall. 32p. Sky Pony. Feb. 2017. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781510706705.

PreS-Gr 2 –As far as holiday mascots go, the tiny elves who visit every March may very well be the most elusive. Leprechauns are known for stealing treasure and wreaking havoc, but the payoff for catching one of these tiny men is great—he’ll grant a wish to his captor. On St. Patrick’s Day eve, you must gather your supplies, build a trap complete with gold rocks and a rainbow slide, and hope for the best. Readers follow along as four friends learn about leprechauns and construct their best snare to no avail—all they find in their trap is a tiny shoe holding a letter from Liam the Leprechaun. Vibrant illustrations match the catchy verse, which begs to be part of a St. Patrick’s Day read-aloud. Also notable is that the four children in the story have skin color shades spanning from light to dark. The book concludes with instructions for parents and educators on building a leprechaun trap at home or at school, and a quick primer of leprechaun folklore. VERDICT A fun offering for March that will work well read aloud or independently.–Lindsay Jensen, Nashville Public Library

Hooks, Gwendolyn. Block Party. illus. by Shirley Ng-Benitez. 32p. Lee & Low. Jan. 2017. Tr $14.95. ISBN 9781620143414.

K-Gr 2 –Padma is embarrassed about bringing an Indian dish to share with friends at a neighborhood block party. She wishes her family’s contribution could be pizza. When her mother asks her to take the pot of lentil soup outside, Padma places it on the beverage table, carefully hiding it behind the drinks. But when the pot is discovered and the other children enjoy the delicious soup, Padma is proud to have helped her mother prepare the meal. With three very short chapters, controlled vocabulary, and lots of cheerful illustrations, this title conforms to the familiar structure of many beginning readers. The included soup recipe is a charming extra feature. This beginning reader distinguishes itself with its strong representation of children from a variety of cultures, addressing the need for greater diversity in this format. VERDICT A strong addition for all libraries serving new and emerging readers.–Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

Legorreta, Brenda. Ivo y la piedrita. ISBN 9786079344719.

––––. Ivo y la zanahoria. ISBN 9786079344702.

––––. Ivo y los lobos. ISBN 9786079344726.

ea vol: illus. by Elsie Portes. 44p. (Ivo). Uranito. Sept. 2016. Tr $7.95.

PreS-Gr 1 –In this whimsical trio of books featuring Ivo, imagination reigns supreme. In Ivo y la piedrita, as Ivo walks down the street, he realizes he’s not enjoying it, not one bit. He’s tired and bored. When he finds a small stone to play with, his mundane surroundings change. The pedestrian walkway becomes a giant piano, the construction cranes become giraffes, and the city buses become accordions. When he eventually loses the stone down a drain, Ivo finds he has now discovered a new way to look at the city and appreciate his walk. In Ivo y los lobos, Ivo does not like wolves, not one bit. When he finds a piece of coal, everything changes. Ivo draws a beast to defend him that is so fierce-looking, it scares him—until Ivo realizes it is there to protect him. In Ivo y la zanahoria, Ivo does not like being alone, not one bit—until he finds a plant and everything changes. As he pulls on the plant, he finds it’s a carrot, and attached to the carrot is a rabbit, and attached to that is a hat, and so on. Eventually Ivo finds himself in plenty of company. Making ample use of white space and a limited palette of mostly grays, with touches of color on each page that make the illustrations pop, Portes’s lighthearted depictions go hand in hand with the text. The empowering message that imagination can help conquer boredom, fear, and loneliness is delivered with a light touch. VERDICT Recommended for any school or public library with a Spanish-language picture book collection.–Lucia Acosta, Children’s Literature Specialist, NJ

Lovera, Maria Gabriela. Duendes caseros. illus. by Daniela Guglielmetti. 72p. Obelisco. May 2016. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9788441436251.

Gr 3 Up –Over 21 house sprites are introduced and celebrated in this delightful Spanish-language picture book for older readers. According to Venezuelan author Lovera, these camouflaged tricksters love to live in homes of the truly eccentric. If kids like to “hypnotize chickens or impersonate a vase,” chances are good they’ll attract anything from a toaster sprite to a broom closet sprite. Each of these diminutive house elves has a full page of poetic prose and a verse dedicated to their habitat and habits. The rhyming descriptors are fanciful and replete with lush vocabulary. Lovera’s creative word portraits can be enjoyed en masse or individually. Paired with Guglielmetti’s Picasso- and Dalí-esque illustrations, this homage to whimsy beguiles the imagination. Thieving ants keep company with an ornate sentient flower pot while an unflappable cat and dog stroll nonchalantly among the unorthodox tenants. These detailed graphite and watercolor images invite hours of perusal. VERDICT The sophisticated vocabulary and turn of phrase beg for an adult to share aloud with an appreciative child or classroom.–Mary Margaret Mercado, Pima County Public Library, Tucson, AZ

Meshon, Aaron. Delivery. illus. by Aaron Meshon. 48p. S. & S./Atheneum. Jan. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781481441759.

PreS-K –The central premise of this near-wordless picture book is that love is far-reaching because it is transported by many types of vehicles. In this case, these are literal vehicles, but in discussion, the term can easily be applied more liberally. The source, and beginning of the journey, is a grandmother who has baked heart-shaped cookies for her grandson. These she passes on to a courier, who passes them on to a farmer, and so on and so forth until they reach their destination. Whenever the cookies are placed on a new vehicle, the white coating obtains a red heart to symbolically remind readers that it is carrying precious cargo. The journey itself is rather extreme, especially since the end pages reveal the destination was next door all along, but it does make a point, and children will enjoy seeing all the different vehicles. Meshon’s naive-style digital paintings are unremarkable, but his design choices (such as the white vehicles that pop on the colored backgrounds and characters) will appeal to a young audience. VERDICT For those who are in love with cars, trains, ships, and other transportation methods, Delivery delivers—and it comes with a message of love, too.–Rachel Forbes, Oakville Public Library, Ont.

Messenger, Norman. An Artist’s Alphabet. illus. by Norman Messenger. 48p. Candlewick. Sept. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780763681234.

K-Gr 4 –This oversize art and alphabet book is stunning to browse and pore over. Each letter is beautifully represented in both its uppercase and lowercase forms by intriguing illustrations and lush design. For example, curved caterpillars nibbling on leaves form the letter B, and snakes circling and hanging from a branch form the letter Q. There is an enormous amount of depth to the illustrations, and the quality watercolor and pencil artwork will be a draw for children of all ages, while younger readers will be eager to explore the book again, relishing every detail. VERDICT While there is no shortage of artfully done alphabet books, this one would grace any library’s shelves and coffee tables.–Betsy Davison, Cortland Free Library, NY

Pechter, Lesley Wynne. Alligator, Bear, Crab. illus. by Lesley Wynne Pechter. 28p. Orca. Feb. 2017. pap. $6.95. ISBN 9781459815070.

Toddler-PreS –This is a lovely little alphabet primer that will delight children and also their quirky adults. Simple and extremely attractive and effective graphic-style paintings of animals appear on each page, but they are not, for the most part, the usual alphabetic subjects. Instead, they feature “Deer,” “Eagle,” “Frog,” “Goose,” “Hare,” and “Iguana.” Pechter picks up later with “Urchin,” “Vole,” “Wolf,” “oX,” “You,” and “Zebra.” The colors are soft and pleasant pastels, and most of the critters are portrayed head-on and with pleasing expressions. Unfortunately, in many cases, just the animals’ heads and upper bodies are shown and they all appear to be the same size. VERDICT A sunny, appealing choice to practice the alphabet with the very young. Other books are better for identifying animals.–Ellie Lease, Harford County Public Library, MD

Rex, Adam. XO, OX. illus. by Scott Campbell. 40p. Roaring Brook/Neal Porter Bks. Jan. 2017. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781626722880.

K-Gr 2 –In this epistolary picture book, Ox, who has admired the lithe and lovely Gazelle from afar, finally sits down with paper and pencil to profess his admiration and affection. Gazelle replies with a form letter and a signed photo of herself. Not one to be dissuaded, Ox writes again, and the vain gazelle’s response is exactly the same. Ox tries flattery, complimenting her intellect as well as her beauty. Not wishing to be repetitive, Gazelle personalizes her reply: “There is no need to write me again.” Ox next commends her sense of humor. Gazelle lashes out in frustration and states emphatically that she could never love someone “so thick and ungraceful and awful and unlovely. And unlovable.” The thick-skinned ox retorts that at least she is able to admit to having a fault, which makes him love her all the more. This gives Gazelle pause and forces her to reassess her feelings… at least enough to continue the correspondence. This tale of the attraction of opposites and the power of words is simply told and charmingly illustrated. Campbell’s whimsical watercolor and colored pencil artwork features sepia outlines and earthy hues on Ox’s pages and more textured patterns and shades of pink and purple on Gazelle’s. The notes are easy to read, and the sensibilities, emotions, and body language are child-centric and brimming with humor. VERDICT A sweet and tender Valentine choice for storytime or one-on-one sharing.–Luann Toth, School Library Journal

Sauermann, Marcus. La princesa, la vaca y el jardinero. illus. by Uwe Heidschötter. 30p. Obelisco. Aug. 2016. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9788416648498.

Gr 1-4 –When readers first meet the Princess in this Spanish-language tale, she is loudly proclaiming herself to be a wonderful artist. All those around her hasten to agree---the Princess is an incredible artist; in fact, she is incredible at everything! However, when she brings her beautiful drawing out of the castle (so even her subjects can enjoy the beauty), one of the royal gardeners isn’t so sure. Initially, she has him thrown directly into a dungeon, but after further conversation with the gardener, she decides to experiment with some new drawing techniques. But has the Princess really reformed? The Princess’s over-the-top attitude and slapstick high jinks will amuse many younger readers. Each page contains a lot of text, so this would work better as a read-aloud for elementary groups or for one-on-one reading. VERDICT A funny Spanish-language story, better suited to longer attention spans or one-on-one sharing.–Gesse Stark-Smith, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

Štusej, Irena. La pequeña nunca-jamás. illus. by Kristina Krhin. 24p. Obelisco. Aug. 2016. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9788416648276.

Gr 1-4 –In this strange, poetic tale, a young girl waits for day, commiserating with the books that she believes must also be scared of the dark. The slightly spooky illustrations lend the work a dreamlike feeling as children follow the young girl through the night, rejoicing with her when the day finally returns. The amount of text and advanced vocabulary make this a better pick for an elementary rather than a preschool group. VERDICT Young readers may recognize how frightening it can be to read scary stories at night, but only those with a longer attention span will make it until day arrives. An additional purchase.–Gesse Stark-Smith, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR