Picture Book Saturday

Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug!
By Mem Fox, illustrated by Laura Ljungkvist
Published 2013 by Beach Lane Books
This is sure to be a popular book with kids. It's your typical seek-and-find - Ladybug loves to hide and kids will love to search for her in various scenes. It's definitely for a younger age than the I Spy books - the pages are not as detailed as the ones found in the popular series. It's perfect for the younger set, though - it's fun and bright and kids will love looking for the ladybug.


Mary Wrightly, So Politely
By Shirin Yim Bridges, illustrated by Maria Monescillo
Published 2013 by HMH Books for Young Readers
Mary is the most polite girl you'll ever meet - she might even be too polite. She is soft-spoken and shy but with perfect manners. Until, that is, someone gets between her and the toy she has picked out for her baby brother. Will Mary finally speak up? I like the illustrations here and I like the message that it's not impolite to speak up when you think you're being wronged. However, the rest of the book is a little muddled for me - Mary apologizes for some things which are clearly not her fault and I don't think that's a good message at all. Mixed bag for me.

Isabella Star of the Story
By Jennifer Fosberry, illustrated by Mike Litwin
Published 2013 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
This is the third story starring Isabella. In this installment, a trip to the library sets Isabella on a grand adventure through a number of beloved stories. There's nothing terribly complicated about this story - each spread features Isabella starring as the main character in a new story, including The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan. The illustrations evoke each story nicely and there are short notes to introduce unfamiliar stories to readers at the end of the book. I imagine this will be a favorite for book lovers.