Firsts and Lasts: The Changing Seasons
by Leda Schubert, Clover Robin (Illustrator)

3 out of 5 stars

Two sisters chronicle their activities through the seasons, listing all the firsts and lasts of each time of year. In Spring, it’s the last time for a snow day, but the first time for a picnic in the park. In Summer, they wear their flannel pajamas for the last time, and run barefoot for the first time. In Fall, it’s the last time to pick fresh vegetables, and the first time to eat hot soup. In Winter, they watch the geese fly south for the last time, and drink hot chocolate for the first time.
The lovely thing about this book is that you know all these first and last times will come around again next year!

The Song of the Nightingale
by Tanya Landman, Laura Carlin (Illustrator)

3 out of 5 stars

At the beginning of the world, the animals had no colors. So the painter lines them all up and gives each animal its stripes, spots, and colors. The ladybugs, lions, elephants, flamingos, and crocodiles all get their distinctive colors. The zebras and tigers get their stripes. Even the whales get their deep blue color. With the last pot of paint, the painter gives a special coat of gold paint to the golden scarab beetle. But when the day is done and all the animals have gone, a shy nightingale approaches the painter. There is only one drop of golden paint left on the painter’s brush, and the painter drips it down the nightingale’s throat. Golden notes of music echo through the cool night air!

Nour’s Secret Library
by Wafa’ Tarnowska, Vali Mintzi (Illustrator)

4 out of 5 stars

Nour and her cousin Amir must hide in the basement with their family while the Syrian civil war rages through their beloved city of Damascus. In the rubble of abandoned buildings, Amir finds books that he brings home. Amir and Nour collect so many books that they open their own secret library for the civilians of the city to enjoy. Their neighbors begin to rescue books from the war-torn streets as well, and soon they have a flourishing library. In the middle of destruction, they create something beautiful!

This was such touching and emotional story! I loved the way the story puts you right into Nour’s shoes, showing her love for her family and her love for books. You really get a sense of the terror and uncertainty of living in the middle of a war. But there is also hope and light!

Rooftop Garden
by Danna Smith (Author), Pati Aguilera (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

A group of neighbors decide to plant a rooftop garden. They plant the seeds, water them, and weed. They encourage pollinators like butterflies and bees, but they gently remove the pesky bugs and snails. Finally they can harvest their crop of vegetables and have a big feast!

I liked the illustrations, and I especially appreciated that the neighbors are from all types of ethnicities and ages. On each page, we see them all working together to build their garden. The art style is simple and attractive with bright colors.

What Goes Inside? (Neatly Organized Things)
by Magda Garguláková, Federico Bonifacini (Illustrator)

5 out of 5 stars

A dog named Bruno invites the reader to explore what goes inside various containers and places. We look inside a fridge, a washing machine, and a toolbox. We explore items in a classroom, a gym, and a camper. We even take a look inside an Inuit igloo!

I think my favorite places to look inside were the artist’s suitcase and the rock band’s van, because I am a musician and my brother is an artist. I also really loved looking inside a book of fairy tales and identifying Snow White, Cinderella, and other fairy tale characters!

Amazing Plants of the World
by Štěpánka Sekaninová

4 out of 5 stars

The mysterious botanist, Dr. Carnation, gives us a tour of his secluded gardens, where weird and wild plants are growing. We see carnivorous plants and stinky flowers. There are strange shapes in the blossoms and fungi. We learn about orchids that look like flies or babies or dancing girls.

Unfortunately there is also a “naked man orchid” with a little appendage hanging down. I found that in poor taste for a children’s book. Even if it is a flower common to the Mediterranean, that doesn’t mean it should be included in a children’s picture book. The text says, “Luckily they are unashamed of their nakedness. Quite the opposite.” I guess it’s supposed to be cute or funny, but I found it to be very inappropriate.