Don't Blow Your Top!

A young volcano learns to manage potentially explosive emotions in this gratifying geological picture book with text by Dyckman. As pages open with a "beautiful day in Paradise," heart- and animal-shaped smoke emanates from Big Volcano and Little Volcano. But when an errant bird accidentally drops an object on Little Volcano, the crater begins to boil with upset, inspiring Big Volcano to suggest calming strategies, including breathing, counting, and thinking happy thoughts. The protagonist is soon tested again, this time resulting in an explosion. "I blew my top," the younger says with an expression of regret. "Sometimes it happens," the elder generously reassures. Luckily, the third time's the charm when yet more items arrive: "Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!" Vibrant colors saturate Alwar's digital art, which expressively animates the story's characters. Little Volcano's tools for emotional regulation offer readers simple and memorable skills for moments when they might feel themselves getting hot-tempered. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2--Short sentences create a simple yet effective message in this book that uses volcanoes to illustrate staying calm amid pressures from the outside. Vibrant colors depict Big Volcano sitting behind Little Volcano as a bird drops what appears to be a coconut on Little Volcano's head. Watching Little Volcano struggle to keep their temper, Big Volcano reminds them to take some deep breaths, count to calm down, and think happy thoughts. This reminder is effective the first time around, but eventually, another coconut incident occurs, and Little Volcano blows their top, having forgotten all the aforementioned strategies. Following the event, Little Volcano learns to shake it off and carry on knowing that next time an unsettling event occurs, they will be prepared. Young children will certainly be able to relate to losing their cool from time to time, as well as the struggle to maintain composure. The cartoon-style illustrations, with simple lines and forms, keep this story firmly in the realm of fiction; this book could be a stepping stone to a lesson on real-life volcanoes and what makes them blow. VERDICT Knowing that mistakes happen and that improvement is possible is an important message for all ages.--Tracy Cronce

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Deals with feelings in a gentle, easy-to-understand way.

Vibrant saturated colors and thick outlines bring energy to the offbeat tale.

★ Dyckman's warm-hearted story stars two surprisingly relatable landform characters... Alwar's animated digital illustrations give the expressive volcanoes lots of personality. Vibrant saturated colors and thick outlines bring energy to the offbeat tale. — The Horn Book, starred review

This cute, soothing story will help children learn to cope with and temper those explosive, potentially overwhelming emotions that we all feel from time to time... The vibrant, cartoonish digital illustrations are lively, with expressive protagonists and a tropical setting as a backdrop. Deals with feelings in a gentle, easy-to-understand way. — Kirkus Reviews

Praise for Hamsters Make Terrible Roommates by Cheryl B. Klein, illustrated by Abhi Alwar:

★ "Funny, cleverly building dialogue by Klein... Debut illustrator Alwar creates two highly and equally expressive rodent protagonists... readers should get a tickle out of how the freewheeling digital compositions open up the tiny world of the hamster cage in unexpected ways." — Publishers Weekly, starred review

Praise for Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Scott Magoon:

"The over-the-top humor, comical asides from the TV crew, and Magoon's boisterous, candy colored artwork, in thick lines and cartoonish shapes, will lure in many a reader. The sneaky shark facts will go down easy in this uproariously silly picture book." — Booklist

"Magoon's cartooning is both funny and visually striking... and the playful typography used for Dyckman's rapid-fire dialogue makes her blooper-reel humor even funnier." — Publishers Weekly

"Fun and playful... or so Shark would have us believe." — Kirkus Reviews

"Dyckman hits the mark of both hilarious and sweet... Make no mistake, this is a fun addition to any collection, best for reading close-up and one-on-one." —School Library Journal

Praise for Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don't Eat Friends by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Scott Magoon:

"In this delicious sequel... the action picks up without a hitch... Definitely one to dish up alongside Ryan T. Higgins' We Don't Eat Our Classmates... and other culinary-themed disquisitions on social proprieties." — Booklist