Tag: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

The Little Bear continues the charm and love that Killen’s books evoke

It’s a fine line between déjà Vous and going back to the well once too often. The process of critiquing that can get thrown a curve ball when you factor in that authors and illustrators have a style that they’re known for. Dance with who came with, goes the old adage. Nicola Killen has a way with illustrated books. Her drawings match the style and flow of each book of hers so perfectly that it’s a case of hand in a well-fitting glove. The Little Bear is the fourth book in the My Little Animal Friends series and has elements of what made the other three books such a joy, but blazes its own path for those young elementary school ages.

The Little Bear is a joy of an illustrated, first day of school book. It’s the fourth in the My Little Animal Friends series that hasn’t lost an ounce of overwhelming charm.
The quality, cuteness and love is deep with this one

Tater Tales #1: The Greatest in the World! expands Rot’s empire and story

Rot and Snot go through a lot. Previously we saw them in an illustrated book, now it’s many more pages in a book that they took. Tot, their little sister, joins the fray for this adventure. Tater Tales #1, The Greatest in the World!, takes the mutant potato adventures one step further than their previous jaunts in an illustrated book. Tater Tales #1 is an early reader chapter book that heavy on illustrations. One could call this a first graphic novel, but it’s more in line with an emerging reader’s graphic novel. It’s a subtle distinction, but one that will make the book very comfortable for third graders and older, plus a step up for most second graders.

Tater Tales #1: The Greatest in the World! takes Rot and Snot, the two mutant potato, gives them a younger sister and adds chapter that extend beyond the illustrated book reach.
It’s rot and snot, in an early reader chapter book/graphic novel all-skate

Lizzy and the Cloud, an illustrated allegory and a great goodnight read

Allegorical illustrated books can be about many things or they can be about nothing at all. Maybe they reference amorphous feelings, or perhaps it’s just about a kid who’s having an off day. The tricky part in quantifying these books is that sometimes your interpretation of the book will differ from mine, but that’s OK because we’re both correct. Lizzy and the Cloud is an illustrated book of a Rorschach test that leads to an M. C. Escher painting that you’re looking at through dreamy, haze-colored glasses. And by that I mean, readers might come away from the book with different interpretations of what Lizzy and her cloud actually mean, but they’ll all be on the same page when it comes to singing the book’s praises.

Lizzy and the Cloud is a great good night book, with illustrations that speak beyond its text and a story ages 4 and up will smile at.
A great-goodnight book that can be read once or multiple times in a sitting

Beautifully Me, a well-intentioned book kids won’t want to read

The Venn Diagram of authors, publishers, and readers is complex. Authors want everyone to read their books. Publishers love books that sell and readers have a variety of entry points. That last category could be a book that’s entertaining, fun to read (or look at), makes you think, teaches a lesson, or educates. It’s those last two classifications that are often the trickiest to maneuver in illustrated books. Beautifully Me is the story of Zubi, an overweight kid who is starting pre-K. It’s an illustrated book whose message about accepting everyone for who they are needs to be heard by young readers.

Beautifully Me is a book that wears its noble intentions on its sleeve, but doesn’t stick the landing due to the illustrations and ironically, the message.
A message that kids need in a book that’s preachy

If Dominican Were A Color, is poetic, color driven love

If Dominican Were A Color is a beautifully illustrated book that has a lot to love with a message that will introduce the Dominican Republic to many elementary-aged readers. The colors in the book are big, vibrant, and will be attractive to poetry fans through middle school and their younger students who will be stimulated by the colors, as the words relax their minds. The book operates on two levels. One of them is immediate and universal, while the other one channels Deee-Lite.

If Dominican Were A Color is a beautiful illustrated book that uses poetry to demonstrate the Dominican Republic and its people.
Poetry, with standout art on the Domincan Republic

Sharing A Smile, illustrated comfort pandemic food for masks and more

When I lived in Japan I saw civilians wearing masks in public for the first time. Sure, the pollution wasn’t great, but I just couldn’t get comfortable with wearing them. Fast forward to today and manufacturers have made quality, comfortable masks that you can purchase as many stores. Unfortunately, this was due to the worldwide pivot that everyone had to make due to COVID. Sharing A Smile is an illustrated book that looks at a neighborhood during this through a young girl’s eyes. It’s a sweet book that has a very calming vibe for early through middle elementary school students. However, is this just a COVID book, or does it have legs to push to a more universal and timeless appeal?

Sharing A Smile is a glass half full look at how one little girl and her grandfather handle the pandemic’s impact on their neighbors.
What difference can one girl and her grandfather do doing a pandemic?

That Thing About Bollywood, growing pains for all, with an Indian twist

My knowledge of Bollywood is limited. I know that they’re very popular and loaded with catchy songs. You do not need to know anything about Bollywood or Indian culture to enjoy That Thing About Bollywood. The local college radio station we listen to has an Indian program on and we’ll listen to it as a palette cleanser. Similar to the book, you don’t need to know the songs or understand the language to tap your toes when you hear the music. Sonali is a typical 11-year-old girl whose family is going through challenging times. She’s a little shy and realizes that things are even more unusual when she starts singing and dancing during a school trip. Moreover, even the background colors are changing with colors that pop and contrast more than they do in real life.

MGLIT for kids going through changes

Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon slays the sophomore slump

In a literary corner in the elementary book wing of life, Lola Dutch and Amy Wu are best friends, hang out together and do crafts. Lola Dutch is a ridiculously cute rhyming illustrated book about a young girl and the power of imagination. Amy Wu is the titular character in the series from Kat Zhang and Charlene Chua that is just as entertaining. However, Wu demos a little bit higher and shows aspects of Asian, specifically Chinese heritage in a way that’s fun, relatable, and educational for elementary-aged readers. Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon is the second book in the series and continues its broad appeal to young readers aged four and up.

We love a sophomoe book series that surpasses its first release
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