SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: The Goodnight Train Easter
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.junesobel.com/
CITY: Westlake Village
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 393
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born May 11, 1950, in Oceanside, NY; daughter of Arthur A. (a certified public accountant) and Clara Levine (an occupational therapist) Sobel; married Mark A. Raudonis (a post-production executive), June 28, 1986; children: Adam.
EDUCATION:Skidmore College, B.S., 1972; Stanford University, M.F.A., 1976.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and illustrator. Elektra and Atlantic Records, New York, NY, graphic designer, 1972-74; Anderson Collection, Atherton, CA, curatorial assistant, 1975-76; Stanford University, Stanford, CA, teaching assistant in painting and drawing, 1975-76; California State University, Northridge, CA, instructor in basic design, 1979; freelance illustrator, 1979-94; children’s author, 1998—. Exhibitions: Work displayed at museums and galleries throughout the U.S., including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
AVOCATIONS:Travel, photography, yoga, Pilates, gardening, reading, and genealogy.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Children’s Literature Council of Southern California.
AWARDS:Graduate fellowship, Stanford University, 1975-76; National Endowment for the Arts grant, 1977; New York Society of Illustrators Award, 1980; Best Children’s Book of the Year list, Bank Street College of Education, for B Is for Bulldozer.
POLITICS: Democrat RELIGION: JewishWRITINGS
Contributor to The Family Bedtime Treasury: Tales for Sleepy Times and Sweet Dreams, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, 2012.
SIDELIGHTS
June Sobel is a picture book creator, graphic designer, and artist. Born in New York, she moved to California and completed an M.F.A. in painting at Stanford University. Her work has been exhibited in museums across the United States. Sobel is the author of the abecedarian stories B Is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC and Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC. Additionally, Sobel has written several books in the “The Goodnight Train” and “Tow Truck Joe” series.
(open new1)In an interview in Jewish Books for Kids, Sobel talked about the importance for incorporating Jewish themes in her books for children. She shared: “I grew up in a Conservative Jewish family where all the practices were part of everyday life. With so many mixed marriages, including my own, preserving our heritage becomes challenging. Jewish themed children’s books provide an opportunity to insure the continuity of our beloved traditions.”(close new1)
B Is for Bulldozer tells the story of the building of a new amusement park one letter at a time, in rhyming couplets, from the point of view of two children who peer through the fence around the construction site. The children, and the other town residents who sometimes join them, watch expectantly as the seasons pass and the multi-ethnic, male and female construction crew progresses in their work, from bringing in the “Asphalt” to pave the park’s roads through taking down the “Scaffolding” as the park nears completion.
“Sobel has missed none of the details a young aficionado would revel in, from huge loaders to nails to pipes,” noted a Kirkus Reviews contributor. Finally, the watchers get to experience the “Z-O-O-M” of riding the new roller coaster for the first time. “This is a well-thought-out story that allows children to follow the progression of events,” Marlene Gawron commented in School Library Journal.
Illustrated by Henry Cole, Shiver Me Letters follows the adventures of a crew of swashbuckling animals who embark on a high-seas quest to capture the letters of the alphabet. Under orders from their reptilian captain, the creatures retrieve an “A” by dropping the ship’s anchor, secure a “D” by digging up doubloons, and gather an “S” from a sword before ending their busy day by catching some “Z’s.” Sobel’s comical narrative earned praise from critics. “This rollicking, rhyming, seafaring caper is an inventive alphabet book,” Julie Cummings observed in Booklist, and a writer in Kirkus Reviews noted that the author “artfully inserts multiple examples of each letter into her lines of verse for observant young readers to spot.”
The Goodnight Train, featuring colorful artwork by Laura Huliska-Beith, was inspired by a cross-country train ride Sobel took with her son. As evening falls, youngsters board the Goodnight Train for a spirited journey up and down hills, through tunnels, and over bridges to Dreamland. “The cheerful and rhyming text paired with the frothy art creates an enchanting trip,” a contributor remarked in Kirkus Reviews. In The Goodnight Train Rolls On!, a gathering of rambunctious sheep threaten to delay the locomotive’s trek until the engineer devises a clever solution to the problem. A Kirkus Reviews contributor described the follow-up as a “[p]erfectly charming” tale.
In the picture book Tow Truck Joe, Tow truck Joe and Patch drive around Riverdale helping other vehicles with their flat tires and dead batteries. An accident involving a milk truck and a cookie truck gives them a break from their regular routine. A bulldozer shovels up the cookies and puts them into a cement mixer with vanilla and sugar. Patch pours milk in from the truck. After it is mixed, it is put inside an ice cream truck to freeze it. When it is all done, everyone enjoys the cookie crunch ice cream, and traffic returns to normal. A Kirkus Reviews contributor remarked that, using “an easy, conversational rhyme with clear and bright illustrations, this story is a good read-aloud, but it’s an even better one-on-one read.”
With the picture book Santa and the Goodnight Train, the Goodnight Train is travelling on Christmas Eve. The train, loaded with young children, travels through a town made of gingerbread and the woods. The train stops abruptly when they see Santa’s sleigh blocking the tracks. He and his reindeer are asleep. The sleigh is loaded on the train and Santa is brought to the North Pole to get some much-needed rest after delivering all the presents. A Kirkus Reviews contributor described it as being “a Christmas train book that gets derailed by a lacking story arc.”
In Tow Truck Joe Makes a Splash, Tow Truck Joe and Patch try to stay cool in summer. They keep busy fixing the broken bells on ice cream trucks, beach busses that have stalled, and camper vans with flat tires. After a hard day’s work, they plan to cool off in the car wash. They find large truck stuck in the car wash, though, leaving them no choice but to help get it out. While Tow Truck Joe isn’t strong enough to get the truck out by himself, they all brainstorm and find a solution. A Kirkus Reviews contributor found it to be “unchallenging, easygoing summertime fun guaranteed to please young truck aficionados.”
With Goodnight Train Halloween, the Goodnight Train is full of kids dressed in their Halloween costumes. The train travels through autumn settings while Halloween themes frequently appear. Writing in School Library Journal, Robin Sofge suggested that “this creative book will be popular with parents and caregivers who want to introduce the holiday to younger children.” A Kirkus Reviews contributor observed that the die-cut circles gives “caregivers a chance to test young readers’ predictive skills while providing small hints at what’s to come.”
(open new2)Apples, Apples, All Year Round! covers a year full of Jewish holidays. The book uses apples as a repeating theme across the holidays, including Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu B’shevat, Purim, Passover, and Shavuot. Writing in School Library Journal, Amy Lilien-Harper suggested that “the lack of explanation makes this book most effective for a knowledgeable Jewish adult to share with a child.”
With Ho Ho Ho! Tow Truck Joe Lift-the-Flap Board Book, Tow Truck Joe is happy that it is Christmas time. While driving through town, he sees everything—even the cars—decorated for the holiday. When the candy cart slips on the ice, Tow Truck Joe and Patch step in to help. In a review in School Library Journal, Shana Shea insisted that “this lift-the-flap board book is a delightful holiday story for the smallest vehicle enthusiasts.”
In The Goodnight Train Easter, children and animals hop on board the fun train to celebrate Easter. Everyone is getting ready for the arrival of the Easter Bunny as they all wear extravagant clothing. Again writing in School Library Journal, Sofge opined that “it will likely engage both young readers and their adults.”
With The First Day, Hooray!, common emotions of starting a new school year are expressed in big letters across the page, from embarrassment to happiness. Images of children playing together at recess and all sorts of mishaps that can also happen at school show kids that a lot can happen and that is fine. A Kirkus Reviews contributor called the picture book “a validating and comforting look at big emotions.”(close new2)
Sobel told SATA: “Shortly after I was born, my paternal grandfather, Abe Sobel, became my ghostwriter. He would write poems for me, from me, to my parents on holidays, birthdays and sign my name. My grandfather’s poetry was simple, the most important feature being the soothing cadence of the rhyme. As a child I loved picture books that rhymed and longed to hear them over and over again. Once I learned to read and write I created my own poems as well as family newsletters. I still have my first published poem pasted and preserved on pink paper, My Trip to Dreamland. This was an eerie premonition of my book The Goodnight Train published decades later. I always wrote, even when my career focus was freelance illustration and design. As a vociferous reader, I cherished the written word. My rediscovered love of picture books came with the birth of my son, Adam. I can pinpoint the time and place when the seed of my shift to write for children began. Adam was eighteen months old and yelled out from the back seat ‘Big trucks.’ His obsession with construction equipment led me to write the book I couldn’t find—B Is For Bulldozer.
“Writing books of less than 350 words to tell a complete story is a tedious process. Persistence is the key to finding the right words, the right meter and the perfect rhyme to please readers and their listeners who usually under five years old. Once I have an idea for a picture book story, I create a messy first draft. The hard work comes crafting that concept into a precise rhyming story that will inspire the illustrator. Often there are a few pages I will have to rewrite once the illustrator starts his or her preliminary drawings. Sometimes I have spent days rewriting two stanzas. What inspires me to continue through difficult passages is the knowledge that I have been there before and always manage to dig out of the hole after finding the words that fit.
“The most surprising thing I have discovered as a writer is the connections I have established with my readers. I am touched by the stories I have heard about the unexpected role my books have played in the lives of children and families I have never met. Picture books are one of the few genres that can be woven into a family’s memories as they can be read over and over and over again. Nearly every adult remembers his or her cherished childhood books. The Goodnight Train is my favorite book as the idea arose from a personal experience, a cross-country train ride with my son after our airplane was hit by lightning. I started to write this book on the train when I couldn’t fall asleep distracted by sounds and sights outside my window. I am heartened that this book still resonates with so many and has been developed into a series by my publisher.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, June 1, 2006, Julie Cummings, review of Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC, p. 89.
Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2003, review of B Is for Bulldozer: A Construction ABC, p. 757; May 1, 2006, review of Shiver Me Letters, p. 467; August 1, 2006, review of The Goodnight Train, p. 796; August 1, 2018, review of The Goodnight Train Rolls On!; June 1, 2019, review of Tow Truck Joe; September 1, 2019, review of Santa and the Goodnight Train; April 1, 2021, review of Tow Truck Joe Makes a Splash; July 15, 2022, review of Goodnight Train Halloween; April 1, 2024, review of First Day, Hooray!.
Publishers Weekly, April 21, 2003, review of B Is for Bulldozer, p. 60; June 5, 2006, review of Shiver Me Letters, p. 62.
School Library Journal, July 1, 2003, Marlene Gawron, review of B Is for Bulldozer, p. 106; June 1, 2006, Maura Bresnahan, review of Shiver Me Letters, p. 127; October 1, 2006, Amy Lilien-Harper, review of The Goodnight Train, p. 128; June 1, 2022, Robin Sofge, review of Goodnight Train Halloween, p. 56; October 14, 2022, Amy Lilien-Harper, review of Apples, Apples, All Year Round!; September 22, 2023, Shana Shea, review of Ho Ho Ho!: Tow Truck Joe Life-the-Flap Board Book; December 1, 2023, Robin Sofge, review of The Goodnight Train Easter, p. 65.
ONLINE
Jewish Books for Kids, https://jewishbooksforkids.com/ (July 31, 2022), author interview.
June Sobel website, https://www.junesobel.com (August 18, 2024).
About June
Biography
Few babies are fortunate enough to have a ghostwriter in their first weeks of life, but I was one of the lucky ones. My grandfather, Abe Sobel, took it upon himself to compose poems for my parents and sign my name. Looking back, these early verses may have foretold the rhyming career I would later pursue.
Born in Queens, New York, I am the eldest of four sisters. My father, Arthur Sobel, a CPA, crossed paths with my mother, Clara, when he winked at her across the dance floor at Grossinger’s Hotel. Growing up in the quiet Long Island suburb of Oceanside, New York, my mother, an avid reader, instilled in me a lifelong love of books. Weekly trips to the local library were part of my childhood routine. When I wasn’t reading, I loved to draw and paint. Attending Saturday classes at the Art’s Student’s League in New York City influenced my decision to major in art during my college years. I earned a Studio Art degree from Skidmore College.
After a brief stint working as a graphic designer in the music industry, I was accepted at Stanford University to pursue an MFA in Painting. Upon graduation, I received an individual grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
When I moved to Los Angeles, my painting and drawings were exhibited at many museums and galleries throughout the country, including the Smithsonian and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In addition to my fine art pursuits, I established a free-lance illustration business, creating works for clients primarily in the gift, housewares, and stationary industries.
The birth of my son, Adam, reignited my love of the read aloud magic of books for the very young. I collected picture books long before I became a mother. My toddler’s fascination with heavy equipment prompted me to write the book I couldn’t find – B IS FOR BULLDOZER – A Construction ABC (Illustrated by Melissa Iwai.) My first book was soon followed by another alphabet adventure, SHIVER ME LETTERS – A Pirate ABC (Illustrated by Henry Cole.) A cross country train trip inspired the bedtime travels of my best seller THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN (Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith.)
THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN has grown to a popular series of 7 books, several to be published through 2025. TOW TRUCK JOE is my second series. Joe is an animated, problem-solving tow truck with a helpful best friend, a pup named Patch. TOW TRUCK JOE MAKES A SPLASH brought summer fun in 2021. Readers can look forward to HO! HO! HO! TOW TRUCK JOE in the 2023 holiday season. My new back to school picture book FIRST DAY! HOORAY! (June 2024) helps children playfully explore all the feelings that follow them on the first day of school.
I live in Westlake Village, CA with my husband, Mark Raudonis. I work in a room with a spectacular view of the Santa Mountains and an ever-changing sky. It’s the perfect place to dream up my next book!
A Message From June
Welcome…
I write for little listeners and future readers. Picture books are a magical doorway to a lifetime love of reading. The seeds of literacy are often sown upon the laps of parents and caregivers. I was inspired to create picture books to share the same joy, sense of wonder that I experienced reading to my young child. Children’s picture books hold a unique place in the realm of literature, bridging generations and creating family memories. It is never too early to expose a baby to hear a simple story, that begs to be retold over and over and over, again.
Please explore my website to learn more about my books and future publications. I love hearing from my readers, so drop me a note if you wish.
FAQ
How long did it take you to get published?
My true story sounds like a lie. I got an agent in an hour and a book deal in five months. The seed of B IS FOR BULLDOZER was planted when my 18-month-old son, Adam, said, “big trucks” from the back seat of the car. From that moment on, he was obsessed with construction vehicles. In his sleep, he would yell out, “A bulldozer has no wheels!” We spent countless mornings parked on the side of the road identifying tractor scrapers, excavators, and jackhammers. Before this time, I couldn’t tell a loader from a backhoe and viewed road construction as a traffic nuisance rather than a form of entertainment. I read my son every book published on the subject but at that time I could not find an ABC book on construction. I decided to write the book I couldn’t find.
After I had written B IS FOR BULLDOZER, a personal tragedy reunited me with an old friend who was an agent for cartoonists. I needed advice on how to proceed with my picture book idea. She sent it to a literary agent she knew in New York. When I arrived home that day, I received a call from the agent willing to represent me. Five months later, Harcourt offered to publish my first book.
With your background as an artist, why don’t you illustrate your own books?
I submitted my first manuscript with my own sketches and a finished illustration. The editor was interested in my words not my artwork. My illustration experience did not include the ability to create a narrative, which is crucial to a successful picture book. I put my ego aside and welcomed another’s vision of my words. The results have been wondrous, as I fear I would have been too literal in the interpretation of my own text. It is so much fun to see a parallel visual story emerge.
Is it easy to write a picture book?
NO! NO! NO! I write, write, and rewrite. My books have been continuously tweaked and re-written until they feel perfect. The rhyme and sparseness of words make this process extremely difficult at times. I find writing hard and scary. I am never sure if my idea will gel into something beyond a vague vision. My ideas usually come to me when I am driving on a curvy road or taking a walk in the dark without a pen. Writing is an adventure. I am never sure where my words will take me. When all is said and done, it is gratifying that the simplicity of a book seems like an effortless endeavor.
The other factor in creating a successful picture book is you have two people to please – a parent or teacher and a child. The content must appeal to both if a book is to become a tattered classic in the home or a classroom.
Why do you write in rhyme?
I love rhyme. I grew up with Mother Goose and a grandfather who fancied himself a poet. My father repeatedly read the wonderful rhyming poem The Duel by Eugene Field about a gingham dog and calico cat that ate each other up! I didn’t even understand the poem until I was older. I just liked the sound of it. Since picture books are usually read aloud, it is important to write for the ear. I am very conscience of the cadence of words even when I write in prose.
What are your favorite picture books?
I am a great fan of Bill Martin and Eric Carle since their books teach as well as entertain. I am inspired by the work of E.B. White whose books connect with the wonder of childhood. Making a list of some of my favorite picture books is no easy task so here are some off the top of my head!
Dr. De Soto – William Steig
Time for Bed – Mem Fox
Chrysanthemum – Kevin Henkes
The Sneetches – Dr. Suess
Gregory the Terrible Eater – Mitchell Sharmut
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus – Mo Willems
A Porcupine Named Fluffy – Helen Lester
The Bunny Planet – Rosemary Wells
Roberto the Insect Architect – Nina Laden
The Runaway Bunny – Rosemary Wells
The Little House – Virginia Lee Burton
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom – Bill Martin
What do you do besides write?
I like to read – a lot. I am often in the middle of more than two books at a time. I love to take photographs especially of the ever-changing view of the mountains from my office window. I enjoy travelling, getting out of my comfort zone, like being 10 feet from a lion on a recent trip to Southern Africa. A trip to Lithuania several years ago ignited my interest in genealogy. Unearthing my family’s history has proven to be a fascinating pastime. Even though I’m a bad farmer, I like to make things grow in a little garden next to my house. I also enjoy laughing and having fun with my friends, both old and new.
Interview with June Sobel, coauthor of APPLES, APPLES, ALL YEAR ROUND: A CELEBRATION OF JEWISH HOLIDAYS
July 31, 2022
It is especially sweet to interview June Sobel, my dear friend and coauthor of APPLES, APPLES ALL YEAR ROUND (Apples & Honey Press, 2022) illustrated by Ruth Waters. June is an acclaimed author of numerous picture books, including the ever-popular GOODNIGHT TRAIN series. She and I have been friends for many years and collaborating with her was a delight. We are also happy to share that it is a PJ library selection.
APPLES, APPLES launches this week and is available for purchase. The book features collage illustrations that follow woodland animal characters as they celebrate Jewish holidays with treats including apples dipped in honey on Rosh Hashanah, latkes with applesauce on Hanukkah, and more.
Welcome, June! It is an honor to celebrate our partnership.
How was working on APPLES, APPLES different than working on your other books?
For over twenty years, I have been writing picture books. It is a solitary pursuit that requires discipline, often filled with doubt and uncertainty. However once I find the rhythm of my story, I absolutely love the tweaking and rewriting to get my text to sing. I had never worked with a partner before writing APPLES, APPLES with Barbara Bietz. Neither of us had experienced the joy of creative collaboration. Together, we braved through the anxiety of submission and celebrated our good news, such as winning the PJ Author Incentive Award. It is wonderful to have someone with a shared enthusiasm and creative vision by your side.
June Sobel
Tell me a bit about the creative process when working with a partner?
Working with a partner on a rhyming short book resembles a game of poetry ping-pong. We would go back and forth, scribbling ideas, fine-tuning the cadence of our story until we felt it was ready for submission. Partners can teach each other by having two sets of eyes to examine the work in progress. It was refreshing to build on our individual visions to distill the text of APPLES, APPLES to 95 words. Our work process grew organically over time. We developed a schedule of sorts, coming together, working apart and reconnecting until we both felt we were done. Best of all writing together is fun! We reached a point where we could finish each other’s sentences.
What were your first thoughts on Ruth Waters’s illustrations?
Before Apples & Honey Press announced the illustrator, I imagined clean, colorful illustrations on a white background in the style of Eric Carle for our book. I was delighted to find Ruth Waters’s work fit the bill. Her animals celebrating the various Jewish holidays is the perfect bit of whimsy for our story.
Do you have advice for other authors who may want to collaborate?
I would tell authors, if they have an opportunity to collaborate, they should take the leap of faith to embrace a new experience. It is certainly easier to work with someone with whom you have a rapport. You must be ready to replace the notion of “my” with “our.”
Illustration by Ruth Waters from APPLES, APPLES ALL YEAR ROUND
Why was writing a Jewish-themed book important to you?
I write books for the very young, books that create a connection between parent and child. I can think of no better way to pass down Jewish values and celebrations than to start by introducing these themes to children in a simple picture book. I grew up in a Conservative Jewish family where all the practices were part of everyday life. With so many mixed marriages, including my own, preserving our heritage becomes challenging. Jewish themed children’s books provide an opportunity to insure the continuity of our beloved traditions.
Thank you, June!
June Sobel loves picture books for the way they awaken the wonder of words in children and keep the child alive in adults. After a career as an illustrator and graphic designer, June wrote her first book B IS FOR BULLDOZER when she couldn’t find an ABC book on construction for her bulldozer obsessed three year old. Her rollicking SHIVER ME LETTERS – A Pirate ABC and the soothing bedtime verse of the best-selling THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN are story time and bedtime favorites. THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN ROLLS ON and SANTA AND THE GOODNIGHT TRAIN continue the adventures of the beloved train. TOW TRUCK JOE is the first in a series of picture books about a helpful, problem solving tow truck. A graduate of Skidmore College and Stanford University, June lives in Westlake Village, California and continues to enjoy the challenge of creating pictures with words and writing for those very young pre-readers. Visit June’s website at junesobel.com and Instagram june_sobel.
Sobel, June FIRST DAY, HOORAY! Clarion/HarperCollins (Children's None) $19.99 6, 11 ISBN: 9780063265783
The first day of school overflows with feelings.
Children starting school experience conflicting emotions; the racially diverse youngsters in this book are no different. Throughout, they exhibit excitement, nervousness, fear, happiness, and anxiety. Sobel acknowledges these universal emotions, which stand out on the page in colorful capitals letters: "EMBARRASSED! / Oops! Paint in my hair!" "Hello HAPPY soaring by. / A joyful bird loves to fly." Lively digital illustrations depict a variety of realistic school scenarios: a child having a meltdown after breaking a pencil and losing a folder; children excitedly playing at recess. The author makes clear that we all experience a range of feelings and that our emotions matter; she also acknowledges that feelings depend on circumstances. The illustrations provide jumping-off points for discussion, so grown-ups reading this book aloud should encourage youngsters to talk about how starting school--or navigating any new life experiences--made them feel and what events triggered the feelings. Helpful backmatter includes questions that adults can ask kids as they read. The author includes comforting, mindful messages: Breathe deeply when you're upset, don't be afraid to try new things, and "take time out" when angry. Perhaps most reassuring: "Feelings are not right or wrong. / They find a spot where they belong."
A validating and comforting look at big emotions. (Picture book. 4-7)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Sobel, June: FIRST DAY, HOORAY!" Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A788097065/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=f0bdd228. Accessed 28 June 2024.
SOBEL, June. The Goodnight Train Easter. illus. by Laura Huliska-Beith. 14p. HarperCollins/Clarion. Jan. 2024. Board $10.99. ISBN 9780063325647.
PreS--Join this joy-filled train ride adventure with children and animals, including a hen in a bubble bath, announcing that the Easter Bunny is coming soon. Readers are invited to climb aboard with their teddy and get Easter baskets ready. Illustrations are magical and sweet, and they include a frog sitting on a bright pink mushroom playing a banjo, a sheep dressed up in a top hat and button-down vest, and bumblebees and a caterpillar peacefully sleeping on flower petals. Of course, there are also bunnies. The text is lively: "Cottontail Crossing! Our next stop. Bouncing bunnies. Hop! Hop! Hop! Eggs crack open here and there. Baby chicks are everywhere!" In addition to all kinds of bunnies outside the tree home of E. Bunny, chicks dot the lawn, some hatching from colorful Easter eggs. Children will enjoy repeating phrases throughout, such as "Chugga! Chugga! Quack! Quack," and "Clickety-clack! Clickety-clack! Peep! Peep!" at Cottontail Crossing. Many illustrations are done in Easter colors, including pink, purple, and green. This delightful title is a home run on illustrations and text. VERDICT Highly recommend as a fun, light Easter gem. This book introduces children to some key holiday concepts, including eggs, rabbits, ducks, and jellybeans. It will likely engage both young readers and their adults.--Robin Sofge
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Sofge, Robin. "SOBEL, June. The Goodnight Train Easter." School Library Journal, vol. 69, no. 12, Dec. 2023, p. 65. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A779118585/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=2ef1f8e6. Accessed 28 June 2024.
SOBEL, June. Ho Ho Ho! Tow Truck Joe Lift-the-Flap Board Book. illus. by Patrick Corrigan. 14p. Clarion. Sept. 2023. Board $10.99. ISBN 9780063296152.
Toddler-PreS—Ho Ho Ho! It's Christmas time, and Tow Truck Joe is excited! With Christmas Eve approaching, Tow Truck Joe is driving his friend Patch through the busy streets. On the street, readers see a blue car with a hat, a red car with antlers, a taxi with Christmas lights; each vehicle they pass is decked out for the holiday. The candy cart had an accident, spinning on some ice and sending candy into nearby trees. Thankfully, Joe and Patch can help. The mail truck is frozen and needs relief, so Joe and Patch arrive with just the fix. With many stops along their way, Patch and Joe help their friends in all their holiday messes. The illustrations are cute and well-formatted to identify the different kinds of vehicles and navigate the flaps. With a positive lesson about working together, this lift-the-flap board book is a delightful holiday story for the smallest vehicle enthusiasts and those looking for holiday stories about helping others.
VERDICT: A recommended purchase for all libraries.—Shana Shea
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2023 Library Journals, LLC
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Shea, Shana. "Ho Ho Ho! Tow Truck Joe Lift-the-Flap Board Book." WebOnlyReviewsSLJ, vol. 69, no. 9, 22 Sept. 2023, p. 1. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A768838619/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=e7aac666. Accessed 28 June 2024.
BIETZ, Barbara & June Sobel. Apples, Apples, All Year Round! illus. by Ruth Waters. 24p. Apples & Honey. Aug. 2022. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781681155951.
PreS-K—This deceptively simple story celebrates a year of Jewish holidays using apples as the through line. With sparse, rhyming text, each spread celebrates a different Jewish holiday, beginning with Rosh Hashanah and continuing through Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu B'shevat, Purim, Passover, and Shavuot. While the minimal text doesn't explain much, each short rhyme includes something about the holiday, whether it is the apples and honey eaten on Rosh Hashanah or the trees planted on Tu B'Shevat. The illustrations are collage style on solid white backgrounds. A fox, bear, and raccoon are depicted fairly realistically, with a slightly cartoony feel. They wear no clothes, but do sit at tables and wave flags. The simple, bold illustrations pop on the white backgrounds and will catch and engage the attention of toddlers and preschoolers. The sparse text and bright illustrations would work equally well for a story time or a one-on-one reading. The lack of explanation makes this book most effective for a knowledgeable Jewish adult to share with a child; the general appeal of food and holidays will speak even to the uninitiated. Brief back matter includes a short author's note on the back cover.
VERDICT: This will be a welcome addition to Jewish schools and libraries looking for holiday books for their youngest readers. Public libraries will benefit from including this title as well.—Amy Lilien-Harper
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Lilien-Harper, Amy. "Apples, Apples, All Year Round!" WebOnlyReviewsSLJ, vol. 68, no. 10, 14 Oct. 2022, p. 1. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A724831404/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=2398a9ec. Accessed 28 June 2024.