Mark Sperring, illus. by Alys Paterson. Bloomsbury, $14.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-59990-962-2
Part concept book and part poem, this eye-catching picture book is a reassuring valentine for any day of the year. Despite the emphasis on shapes, Sperring (The Sunflower Sword) isn’t offering an introduction to circles, squares, and triangles: “This
READ FULL REVIEW
Mark Sperring, illus. by Sarah Warburton. Scholastic Press, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-545-70822-7
Adults who fondly recall Gilda Radner’s “Judy Miller Show” sketch on Saturday Night Live may see a glimmer of that same frenetic showmanship in Max, who is presenting his “world-famous and death-defying PUTTING OFF BEDTIME FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE...
READ FULL REVIEW
Mark Sperring, illus. by Sébastien Braun. Tiger Tales, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-58925-160-1
Though they are bears, Daddy Grizzle and Little Pip aren’t hibernating for winter, but there’s still a fair amount of sleeping to be done before Christmas. In the days leading up to Christmas, Little Pip wakes Daddy Grizzle up first thing each...
READ FULL REVIEW
Mark Sperring, illus. by Maddie Frost. Little, Brown, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-316-48434-3
In bright, layered art that calls to mind Eric Carle’s collages, Frost depicts animals of all varieties expressing their affection through embrace. Baby mice and their parents cuddle in a lazy wheat field: “When we cozy up in our sweet comfy nest,/...
READ FULL REVIEW
Mark Sperring, illus. by Britta Teckentrup. Scholastic Press, $15.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-545-80642-8
Two speckled mice—one big, one little—wander together through a wooded landscape, beginning their walk under light snowfall and meandering throughout a cycle of seasons. A sweet, simple poem with a tone and cadence reminiscent of Oh, the Places You’l
READ FULL REVIEW
Mark Sperring, Author, Jonathan Langley, Illustrator , illus. by Jonathan Langley. Scholastic/Chicken House $15.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-439-68329-6
Who needs pony rides or a clown at a birthday party when the cake is custom-baked and delivered by celebrities from the fairy tale and nursery rhyme world? Preschoolers will have a field day spotting all the characters as the cake makes it way from...
READ FULL REVIEW
Mark Sperring, Author, Alexandra Steele-Morgan, Illustrator , illus. by Alexandra Steele-Morgan. Scholastic/ Chicken House $15.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-439-53162-7
Prehistoric lizard lovers will glom onto this fantastical tale from a first-time team. "There must be some dinosaurs somewhere," says Marty, a boy with a very active imagination who envisions all the fun to be had hanging out with one....
READ FULL REVIEW
Mark Sperring, Author, Kate Pope, Illustrator, Liz Pope, Illustrator , illus. by Kate and Liz Pope. Scholastic/Chicken House $15.95 (32p) ISBN 978-0-439-62773-3
Like the hero of Charlotte Middleton's Enrico Starts School
(reviewed above), Wanda feels like a fish out of water on her first day of school. She's the only witch amid an entire school of candy-colored fairies with names like Tulip...
READ FULL REVIEW
Mark Sperring, Author, Kate Pope, Illustrator, Liz Pope, Illustrator Chicken House $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-439-79610-1
The bedtime storytelling tables are turned when a young heroine spins out an aquatic (and intentionally time-stalling) fantasy for her mother in this tale from the creators of Wanda's First Day. As Meriam reluctantly gets ready for bed, various sea...
READ FULL REVIEW
Mark Sperring, illus. by Lucy Fleming. Tiger Tales, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-68010-173-7
When pals Esme and Bear find one last gift under their tree on Christmas morning with a tag reading “For Little Bunny Boo-Boo, Love Santa,” they set out to find its intended recipient. Following a series of highly specific signs (“For Little Bunny...
READ FULL REVIEW
