Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

GOAT'S COAT
By Tom Percival (Illustrated by Christine Pym)

Release date: 12/4/18

In Goat's Coat, we meet a caring and resourceful goat who uses parts of his coat to help others in need. Percival's cleverly rhymed text pairs brilliantly with Pym's brightly colored illustrations. The power of kindness shines in this fun story. Perfect for small and large group story times, this book is sure to become a read-again favorite with children everywhere.

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Operation Rescue Dog by Maria Gianferrari (Illustrated by Luisa Uribe)
 
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Operation Rescue Dog is a sweet story about a lonely young girl who journeys with her Abuela to meet and adopt a rescue dog. Told from both the point of view of the girl and the dog she rescues, it is a wonderful story of the transformative power of friendship and love.
 
The language such as, “Can a dog feel like a hug?” is poetic and beautiful and the soft hues of the illustrations are a perfect compliment.
 
The story is followed by an author’s note which discusses pet rescue and even includes a glossary of Spanish words used in the text.
 
Beautiful language, illustrations, and a wonderful message make this a clear picture book winner but beware- you may end up welcoming a furry friend into your life at the end!

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Construction Site on Christmas Night By Sherri Duskey Rinker & Ag Ford.
(Publication date: Chronicle Books, 10/16/18)

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Rinker, author of the hugely popular Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series has created another bedtime masterpiece to add to the collection - a Christmas edition.

Once again, perfect rhymes tell a tale about construction site vehicles. In this story, the vehicles have an important job to do and are rewarded with Christmas gifts! This is a delightful read-aloud with beautiful, detailed art in the same style as the original book. The perfect Christmas gift!

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Marwan’s Journey by Patricia de Arias (Illustrations by Laura Borràs)
 
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
 
This powerful picture book follows the journey of a young boy, Marwan, a refugee seeking a new home. The writing conjures beautiful images and is relatable to anyone on a journey to find a new home. Despite his situation, Marwan’s voice is filled with hope for a brighter future.
 
This is an ideal picture book for explaining the plight of refugees and an ideal mirror for those on such a journey themselves. The beautiful illustrations are a perfect complement to the wonderfully crafted text.

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Hazelnut Days by Emmanuel Bourdier (Illustrations by Zaü)
 
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
 
Hazelnut Days depicts a difficult, underrepresented situation— being a child with a parent in prison. The text is honest and contemplative, and the characters are well developed.

The length of the text and the way the story is told make it more suited to older readers.

​It is heart-warming that despite his father’s faults, this young boy is able to find things he admires in his dad. The illustrations pair well with the seriousness of the text. 

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Shark Nate-O By Becky Cattie & Tara Luebbe (Illustrated by Daniel Duncan)
 
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
 
Nate loves sharks and knows a whole lot about them. He especially loves chomp, chomp, chomping around the house. But he has a problem. As skilled as Nate is at being shark-like, he can’t swim.
 
Nate heads to swim lessons armed with a bunch of shark facts swirling in his mind and plenty of determination. He practices his tail off learning to blow bubbles, kick, float, and paddle. But will all his hard work in the pool be enough to land him a spot on the Amity Sharks Swim Team and prove to his brother that he really is Jawsome?
 
This cute story includes many interesting shark facts and will be an instant winner with shark enthusiasts and anyone who knows how tough swimming lessons can be. Although the ending seemed a little unrealistic, the sentiment —the importance of hard work and practice in goal acquisition — was spot on.
 
Three cheers for Shark Nate-O!

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The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose At School by Laura Murray & Mike Lowery
 
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
 
If you are looking for a St Patrick’s Day read, look no further than The Gingerbread Man And The Leprechaun Loose At School. A fun, comic book style story about a mischievous leprechaun wreaking havoc at a school and a gingerbread man intent on catching him.
 
The leprechaun messes up the music room, the boy’s bathroom, and even the library! Luckily, the gingerbread man has a papery plan to catch the cheeky green-hatted creature once and for all.
 
Told in rhyme, this is a fast-paced, witty read perfect for elementary school students. It is one of a series of books about the gingerbread man by the same author/illustrator team.
 

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Don't Forget Dexter By Lindsay Ward
 
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
 
The moment you see the cover of this book, which features a close up of Dexter T. Rexter, you’ll fall in love and want to know more. And if that isn’t enough to draw you in, the “Hello?” which begins the story certainly will.
 
Dexter, a toy dinosaur, finds himself alone in the doctor’s waiting room, unsure where his friend Jack (a young boy) is. He asks for the reader’s help in finding his friend and so from page one, the reader embarks on a page turning collaboration to help Dexter reunite with Jack.
 
My four-year-old was captivated from the first reading and instantly started stomping around the house reciting the tune Dexter sings to entice Jack back. Even now, days after reading the book, that song keeps bursting forth from my son’s lips at random times of the day.
 
This book is a must read for all dinosaur lovers and will be guaranteed to be a read-again favorite in no time!

Welcome To My House. A Collection of First Words by Gaia Stella

(Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.)
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So many first-word books group objects into standard, predictable categories and list the same simple objects. The brilliance of Welcome To My House by Gaia Stella, lies in the unique, and sometimes cute or comical, categorization of items, as well as the types of items included. For example, “everything for tinkering” includes items such as a toolbox, sewing machine, and painting easel. And “everything that gets lost” includes items such as crackers, the cat, and keys.
Younger children will enjoy naming objects they know, while older children will enjoy the way objects are classified as well as some of the more unique and obscure items listed. “Rotten apple” was my favorite!
Not to mention, a cute cat travels through the pages with us!

Professional Crocodile by Giovanna Zoboli & Mariachiara Di Giorgio

(Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.)
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Professional Crocodile by Zoboli and Di Giorgio is an absolute delight. The crocodile starts out getting ready for what appears to be a typical day at the office. But his final destination is far from a traditional business setting. A wonderful ending awaits!

Readers will be eager to turn the pages to see what happens next in the crocodile’s day and thanks to a clear story sequence, will easily be able to follow the plot. The watercolor illustrations are beautiful and small details will capture the imagination and hold attention.

My early-reader loved this story; the wordless element gave her the confidence to tell a story to match the illustrations, without any concern about struggling to read difficult words. My pre-reader loved the wordless aspect too as it gave him the confidence to read like a ‘big kid.’