There was an email in my work email inbox that first was thanking the booksellers who had nominated several titles from the publisher for the Indie Next newsletter. They then asked us to consider some other titles for the next one (as the deadline was in a few weeks). This made me browse the titles they were promoting and found one that worked for my particular mood at the time.
The one that caught my eye was the picture book, Is This a House for Hermit Crab? by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Katherine Tillotson. I decided to give it a shot when I found an online reader copy (it is due mid-February 2024). I am not sure I am “jumping up and down” over it, but I did find it to be a simple, cute story about how a little crab (who is out growing his old shell) needs to find a new shell or home. Of course, like a golden-haired girl and three bears and their property, the crab must find “just the right fit.” It is not an easy journey, but has some humor as it is lightly presented and even the “scary moment” is not a “cue the Jaws music” situation. A couple of the potential finds (a tin bucket and a plastic bucket) are nods to environmentalism. After all, a tin or plastic bucket left behind on a beach is not a good thing. There is also an afterwards with a traditional format giving more information. There are a lot of great colors and while not “too busy” there is a busy feeling to the illustrations. Also, while you cannot physically hear it, there is an “audio” component of the sound the crab makes going along the sand or sea floor. This is a fun book to add to your personal or classroom library. Both educational and simply an enjoyable tale, home has never been as sweet.
And since I was in a mood to find more new books, I found (from another publisher, but also due in February and read as an online reader copy) A Happy Place by Britta Teckentrup. This is traditional Teckentrup style. The text is sweet, bouncy and not rhyming, and has a poetic element. It is a sweet story that has a clever way of counting up (and then back down) with animals and a young child having a dreamy situation to calm them before bed. While the theme is familiar, the illustrations are strong, sweet, dreamy, but also are solid. The way the moon “sparkles” on the water is unique and perhaps my favorite part. It actually was “bright” and popped. There was one issue I had, as it was an online reader copy, there were “circles” that seemed to perhaps be flaps, but could not be shown. Otherwise, it is an easy to read story. I think it is best for a bedtime or “calming down time” read. This would make a fun gift for a new baby or first birthday to be read as the child grows. Also, due to the easier and repetitive text, an early needs help reader could read as well, even though it too is in the picture book format..
Then I said, “One more new one,” and located Imperfectly Perfect: A Story That Cherishes Beauty in Imperfection by Perry Emerson. Now, the story itself was nice, but was not an OMG my favorite book ever! It does have a nice message, that even if something is “broken” that does not mean it does not have a piece of perfection to it (such as the bowl that was fixed with gold glue, or the sidewalk crack that has a flower holding it together, or the book that our young narrator accidentally broke that belonged to her brother) and was presented in a perhaps bit ideal way, and with a spiritual overtone, but not religious. The artwork of Hoang Giang is soft, colorful, mediumly detailed that fits the tone well. Due mid-March 2024, this read via an online reader copy, will be a fun read aloud for the classroom or your personal reading pleasure. I do look forward to finding the finished product as I am curious of the actual size and/or dimensions as it gives off being a smaller than usual sized picture book.