THE WILDERNESS, by Steve McCarthy, Candlewick, Oct. 3, 2023, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 4-8)

A young boy is forced to face his fear of the outdoors in The Wilderness, a delightful new picture book by Steve McCarthy.

The Vasylenko family are all adventurers who love wild places and wild things. All, that is, except young Oktober.  

He also dreams of adventure, but it’s the kind that takes place between the pages of a book, indoors, where it’s safe and warm. Unlike the rest of his family, he dreads venturing out where it’s cold, wet, and home to a creature he calls the Wilderness. His father assures him the wilderness isn’t a monster, but out there, Oktober can only see slimy tails and sharp teeth and so many places for the terrible Wilderness to hide.  

One day on a hike, Oktober gets separated from his family, and because he doesn’t believe he’s brave enough to be an adventurer, he’s certain his fate is sealed. But maybe getting lost is just what Oktober needs to find courage and a new perspective . . . and an unexpected friend. —Synopsis provided by Candlewick

It’s hard to know where to start when talking about The Wilderness. It’s just a fantastic book from beginning to end. The story in and of itself is spot-on. This metaphor for facing fears is something kids will immediately relate to. Steve McCarthy’s prose is conversational and his pacing perfect.

Equally enjoyable is McCarthy’s vibrant, stylized illustrations that immediately draw you in. His use of color and texture is fantastic, with his images always giving you just a little bit more to explore.

The Wilderness is an excellent picture book that kids and their grownups will love.

Copyright © 2023 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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THE WHEELS ON THE COSTUME, by Cindy Jin and Lauren Lowen, Little Simon, July 18, 2023, Board Book, $7.99 (ages 1-5)

Get ready to go trick-or-treating on Halloween night with this wheelchair-themed novelty board book with moving wheels that showcases creative costumes to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus!”

Little ones will love seeing how a wheelchair can transform into an awesome racecar, a mighty bulldozer, a lovely princess carriage, and more! This festive book celebrates disability and inclusivity in a fresh, fun way and proves that kids of all abilities have the magic to transform into whatever they want to be on Halloween night.

 IT’S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN (Peanuts), by Kara McMahon, Charles M. Schulz, Scott Jeralds, July 18, 2023, Board Book, $14.99 (ages 1-5) 

A spooky season classic gets new life in this lap board book edition of the Peanuts gang’s whimsical Halloween adventures!

It’s Halloween night, and the Peanuts gang is busy dressing up in costumes, trick-or-treating, and bobbing for apples. Meanwhile, Linus waits for the Great Pumpkin to rise from the pumpkin patch and bring toys to all the children of the world. Could this be the year it finally appears?

APPLE VS. PUMPKIN: The Battle for the Best Fall Treat Is On! by Jeffrey Burton and Lydia Jean, Little Simon, July 18, 2023, Board Book, $7.99 (ages 1-5)

It’s the ultimate seasonal showdown between autumnal characters Apple and Pumpkin in this festive fall board book!

Apple and Pumpkin make their case for being the most beloved fall characters. Are pumpkin spice drinks superior to warm apple cider? Do kids prefer pumpkin patches or apple orchards? Time to decide which household favorite will reign supreme!

HAPPY HALLOWEENIE, by Katie Vernon,  Little Simon, July 18, 2023, Board Book, $7.99 (ages 1-5)

A loveable hot dog named Weenie gets dressed up for Halloween in this fun and festive board book that will have little ones laughing out loud.

“Weenie loves Halloween,
but try as they might,
just can’t decide
what to be on this night.”

What will Weenie choose to be? Should they be cute or scary? Hairless or hairy? On a night like Halloween, the choices are endless!

EEK! HALLOWEEN! (Boynton on Board), by Sandra Boynton, Boynton Bookworks, July 18, 2023, Board Books, $7.99 (ages 1-3)

In this holiday favorite, it’s time for Halloween in a board book that’s all treat and no tricks from the one and only Sandra Boynton.

Strange things are happening. One chicken saw a pumpkin with flickering eyes, another spied a mouse of enormous size. They all saw a wizard and a witch, and a spooky robot, too. “WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? Relax, silly chickens! It’s HALLOWEEN!”

“There’s a big round moon
in a dark, dark sky.
The chickens are nervous.
Do you know why?”

Copyright © 2023 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.

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FIVE LITTLE THANK-YOUS, by Cindy Jin and Dawn M. Cardona, Little Simon, Sept. 3, 2019, Board book, $7.99 (ages 0-5)

This short book of five important thank yous — family, food, friends, love and self — is a great introduction to the Thanksgiving holiday. Inspired by the construction paper Thanksgiving turkeys kids learn to draw with their hands, this novelty book has a collage art style that are bright and appealing.

The suggested age range is 0-5, and at first glance, it skews a bit younger. However, my 5-year-old was immediately drawn to it and was even inspired to create her own Thanksgiving art.

THE GOLDEN RULE, by Ilene Cooper and Gabi Swiatkowska, Harry N. Abrams, March 1, 2007, Hardcover, $17.95 (ages 1-8)

A young boy learns the meaning of the golden rule — So unto others as you would have them do unto you — from his grandfather. The golden rule, his grandfather explains, is a simple statement that can be practiced by everyone.

In a time when it seems like everyone is taking sides, this book is a simple reminder that kindness is is most often the best choice. Impressionist paintings are warm and inviting.

SWEEP, by Louise Greig and Julia Sarda, S&S Books for Young Readers, Sept. 3, 2019, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 4-8)

Ed’s bad mood begins as something really small, hardly a thing at all. But before long it grows, gathers pace, and spreads through the whole town. Can Ed sweep his troubles away?

Sweep is bold and charming and a perfect way to help children visualize feelings. The vibrant colors and striking illustrations are delightful.

GULP, GOBBLE (READY-TO-READS), by Marilyn Singer and Kathryn Durst, Simon Spotlight, Sept. 24, 2019, Softcover, $4.99 (ages 3-5)

Gulp, Gobble brings a whole host of animals to a picnic. This is a perfect feast for beginning readers that features 24 rhyming words and pronunciation guide. See how a frog “gulps,” a shark “gobbles,” a chicken “pecks,” and more.

The bold colors and charming illustrations are a great compliments to the text.

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“Apples A to Z,” by Margaret McNamara and Jake Parker, Scholastic, Aug. 1, 2012, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 3 and up)

Did you know that every year about 68 million tons of apples are harvested? Or that apple leaves are oval shaped, with small points? How about apple trees can grow to be 100 years old?

These fun apple facts and many more can be found in “Apples A to Z.”

With the help of Fox, Bear and their friends, young readers make their way through the alphabet with simple statements like “C is for Cider” followed by more detailed information, “Bear makes cider by pressing apples — skins, seeds, and all — into a cloudy, pulpy juice. Cider can be served hot or cold.” This mix of text helps make the book interesting for young and older readers alike.

At the end of the book is a list of apple activities, a quick snapshot of Johnny Appleseed, apple fun and apple jokes. Tie everything together with charming illustrations, and you’ve got a crisp, juicy book just ripe for the picking.

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“A IS FOR AUTUMN,” by Robert Maass, Henry Holt and Company, Aug. 16, 2011, $16.99 (ages 3 and up)

With vibrant illustrations and lyrical text, picture books transport readers to worlds of imagination. “A is for Autumn” helps young readers look at the magic in the world that surrounds them.

“A is for Autumn and Apples, of course. B is for Birds that fly south to warmer winter homes. C is for Colors as leaves begin to change.”

Photographs of nature, animals and families accompany each letter of the alphabet in this colorful alphabet book. And each image is thoughtfully arranged to highlight each individual letter.

Perfect for preschoolers who are just learning their letters, “A is for Autumn” will help little ones match up letters with objects.

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