Seeking and finding

This Is How to Spot Animals!

Aline Portman
Eerdmans, 40 pages

This delightful picture book opens with a bear offering to share his best tips for spotting animals. The endearing bear (who is conspicuously clad in bright orange pants) advises readers to never lose focus and then to take a good look around and explore the area—looking down and looking up, albeit from a comfortable position. To bear’s disappointment, however, he thinks he is out of luck that day because there appears to be nothing to see: “That doesn’t happen to me very often, because I’m very, very good at this.” But Aline Portman’s simple pencil, pastel, and marker illustrations reveal that there’s more to the story, and young children will be amused as other animals make their appearance on each page spread—all right under bear’s nose. A lovely selection to add to the family library. Ages 3–7 —K.C.

The Patriots and the Pox

Beth Anderson
Calkins Creek, 40 pages

During the Revolutionary War, George Washington battled against not just the Redcoats, but also a dreaded red rash: smallpox. While Washington was immune from prior exposure, the highly contagious disease complicated his military plans and threatened to decimate his Continental Army. At a time when 10 times more soldiers died from disease than war wounds, Washington worried his soldiers “should have more to dread from [smallpox] than from the Sword of the Enemy.” A carefully executed plan of mass inoculation and quarantine, however, kept smallpox at bay. While families might not concur with the author’s note comparing Washington’s work to the government’s during the COVID-19 pandemic, the book still pre­sents an interesting slice from our nation’s founding. Ages 7–10 —K.C.

The Boy Behind the Wardrobe

Suzanne Poulter Harris
Eerdmans, 56 pages

In Belfast, Ireland, young Jack struggles at school and mourns the death of his mother, but stories help him deal with the pain. Jack grows up and becomes known to the world as C.S. Lewis. Harris recounts Lewis’ journey from telling clever boyhood tales to penning The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in his early 50s. Fantastical illustrations by Mira Miroslavova contrast the distinction between industry in the early 1900s and Lewis’ mythical imagination. Young aspiring writers will enjoy hearing how Lewis became a celebrated author despite many obstacles. This book omits references to Lewis’ Christian faith but focuses more on the ­childhood creativity that followed him into adulthood and his own challenges that inspired the beloved Narnia stories. Ages 6–12 —J.C.

Too Loose, Too Tight, Just Right

Stan & Jan Berenstain with Mike Berenstain
Random House, 48 pages

Jan and Stan Berenstain started this new release but then never published it. Son Mike Berenstain found the treasure of 50-year-old drawings and developed it into a classic Berenstain-style children’s book. A simple plot about a snowy day teaches opposites while developing confidence in early word recognition. The familiar, adorable bears find out what is “just right” about wintertime. An extended note at the end from Mike Berenstain details the history of the bears, who moved from the pages of small cartoons in magazines to the Beginner Books series under the direction of Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. This book highlights what made the classic bear books so popular—­illustrated stories with cherished characters perfect for learning to read. Ages 3–7 —J.C.