Month: December 2018

Archie and the Bear

Archie and the BearArchie and the Bear by Zanni Louise, David Mackintosh
Published by Clarion Books on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 1328973417
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Archie and the Bear is a charming story of identity, cooperation, and ultimately friendship. The boy, Archie, wears a bear suit and believes he is a bear. The bear believes he is a boy and wears a sweater. After their meeting in the forest, they walk together, eat honey sandwiches and learn how to do bear and boy things. Ultimately they share their homes with each other and settle down under a cozy quilt to stop the shivers. A lovely example of imaginary play.

With the whimsical artwork of illustrator David Mackintosh, this book will appeal to preschoolers three to five years of age. The colors are on the cool side, reflecting the winter setting. The text is large enough for prereaders to follow along with.  This title is only available in hardcover and considering the target audience, it would be better suited in board book form. 

Overall, Archie and the Bear would be a quality addition to any library collection.

Reviewed by Liz Davis, Children’s Librarian, Waterville Public Library

four-stars

Mission Alert: Lab 101

Mission Alert: Lab 101Lab 101 by Benjamin Hulme-Cross
Published by Darby Creek Publishing on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1541525817
Pages: 72
Goodreads

In Mission Alert, a new series from author Benjamin Hulme-Cross, simple language, action, and limited text per page are rolled into a quick chapter book. The storyline of  Lab 101  finds twin secret agents, Tom and Zilla sent by Mission Control to find out what is really going at a new robot center whose owners have criminal ties.  What is behind the guide’s “bright” blue eyes and why do the students have to have a 3-D body scan as they enter the facility? The book jumps right into the story with little character development and predictably concludes making the reader feel like there should be more.  

The book is well illustrated in manga style by Kanako and Yuzuru. There are comprehension questions at the end of the book that will be helpful to tutors and teachers.

Overall, Mission Alert: Lab 101 will appeal to older readers with limited reading skills and at the same time is appropriate for younger readers on a higher literacy level.   

Reviewed by Liz Davis, Children’s Librarian, Waterville Public Library

Step by Step

Step by StepStep by Step by Loreen Leedy
Published by Holiday House on May 8th 2018
ISBN: 0823439399
Pages: 32
Goodreads

“Who walks in the mud? A puppy.” Loren Leedy’s Step by Step leads the youngest of readers on a journey to learn who makes what footprint. Each of the animal’s footprints cascade across the pages with a question and clue along with it.  The answer is revealed when they turn the page and find the animal in question. Leedy’s illustrations are quite realistic although the background colors are slightly on the muted side. highlighting the featured animal. 

Not only will the reader benefit from learning the shape of the footprint, the correct term for each animal as a newborn is presented. For example, the reader learns “fawn”, sea turtle “hatchling”, rabbit “kitten”, and so forth. At the book’s conclusion, more in-depth information is given about each of the animals from birth to “toddler.”

This is a wonderful title to read for an animal storytime. Parents and caregivers will be asked to read it over-and-over again. Step by Step is certain to become one of any toddler’s favorite books.

Reviewed by Liz Davis, Children’s Librarian, Waterville Public Library

Alabama Spitfire

Alabama SpitfireAlabama Spitfire: The Story of Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird by Bethany Hegedus, Erin Mcguire
Published by Balzer + Bray on January 23rd 2018
ISBN: 0062456709
Pages: 40
Goodreads
I have fond memories of reading To Kill a Mockingbird when I was young. So, I was excited to read this picture book about Nelle Harper Lee. As an adult reader, I loved learning more about Lee and her connection to Capote, and I think the author and illustrator created a beautiful text. However, the intended audience is 4-8 year olds, and I’m having a hard time imagining how a young reader could relate to the historical context of the book, the images that conjure memories of Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch, or the quotes from the novel embedded throughout. Perhaps it would be more suited to a teacher read aloud at the middle or high school level when students are experiencing To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time. 

 

Reviewed by Amy Roberson, Librarian, Scarborough Middle School, Scarborough

Cottons – The Secret of the Wind

Cottons – The Secret of the WindCottons: The Secret of the Wind by Jim Pascoe
Published by First Second on July 3rd 2018
ISBN: 1250157447
Pages: 272
Goodreads
five-stars

Cottons is a story where rabbits and foxes inhabit a world where magic, technology and art are used for beauty and war.

Bridgebelle the rabbit appears to all around her to be an ordinary rabbit who works all day in the carrot factory and goes home at night to care for her auntie. However, Bridgebelle is not ordinary, she is a rabbit of many talents. She uses cha – a mysterious fuel made from carrots , that enables rabbits to create thokchas which are magical works of art. Cha is not only used for art but also to create weapons of war. The rabbits aren’t the only ones who use cha, so do the foxes, which leads to fierce fighting to control it.

In this first of a new series the reader learns all about cha, the rabbits and the foxes and their uses and fight for cha.

This series is sure to be a big hit with the middle school reader.

Reviewed by: Melissa Madigan, Orr’s Island Library, Orr’s Island

five-stars

The Magical Unicorn Society Official Handbook

The Magical Unicorn Society Official HandbookThe Magical Unicorn Society Official Handbook by Selwyn E. Phipps
on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 1250206197
Pages: 128
Goodreads
four-stars

The arresting cover with its gold foil and prancing unicorns will instantly draw in fans of the one-horned creatures. Lush artwork throughout will keep readers captivated as they read about the seven types of identified unicorns in the world. Phipps, current president of the Magical Unicorn Society, details the origins, likes and dislikes, and characteristics of each type. Maps and food preferences and lore that reads like something passed down from generation to generation will convince any skeptical reader that unicorns do, indeed, exist. If possible, school libraries should purchase two of this title as I predict it will rarely be on the shelf and hold lists will be lengthy. Public libraries will want to have at least one copy and may want to keep it back in the folklore section only to be shown to those true believers. A delightful book in every way.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

four-stars

BabyMouse Tales from the Locker

BabyMouse Tales from the LockerMiss Communication by Jennifer L. Holm
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on July 24th 2018
ISBN: 0399554416
Pages: 208
Goodreads

Tales and adventures of BabyMouse in Middle School continue in this next book of the series.

In this book, BabyMouse gets a cell phone, like all her classmates have. The only problem is that unlike the other kids, BabyMouse has difficulty learning how to navigate life through a cell phone. It takes her a while to learn how to build a following , what all the symbols and shortcuts mean in tech language to the point of distraction! Being tired of kids making fun of her inabilities with the cell phone, BabyMouse decides that perhaps technology is not for her and gives up on it.

Reviewed by: Melissa Madigan, Orr’s Island Library, Orr’s Island

Super Potato: The Epic Origin of Super Potato

Super Potato: The Epic Origin of Super PotatoThe Epic Origin of Super Potato by Artur Laperla
Published by Graphic Universe (TM) on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1512440213
Pages: 56
Goodreads
three-stars

Fans of Glorkian Warrior and Dav Pilkey books (both Dog Man and Captain Underpants) will gravitate toward this funny, ridiculous (in a good way) graphic novel about a handsome, competent superhero, Super Max, who is turned into a potato by his nemesis, Doctor Malevolent. Sadly for Max, now Super Potato, he does not retain his super stylish hair; luckily for Max, he has retained his super powers. Hijinks ensue as Super Potato attempts to get Doctor Malevolent to create a new potato-reversing machine. Sadly for Super Potato, the machine does not work. Luckily, for us there is another book with further adventures of the spud-who-can. Large, clear illustrations and readable text with some good, challenging vocabulary complement the newest, most delicious superhero.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

three-stars

The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo: The Monster Mall

The Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo: The Monster MallThe Creepy Case Files of Margo Maloo: The Monster Mall by Drew Weing
Published by First Second on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 162672492X
Pages: 128
Goodreads
four-stars

This small graphic novel for your middle grade horror fans picks up at chapter four and while it is readable thanks to a recap in the introduction, be ready for readers to ask for book one (and book three when it publishes as this one ends on a cliffhanger). Charles and Margo are back, following up on the monster problems in Echo City. Charles is the reporter of the duo while Margo Maloo, she of a mysterious background, is the keeper of monster knowledge. It’s great to see a heroine of Indian descent at the heart of a dark, fast-paced GN. With displaced imps, moody teen vampires, and a hungry troll, this book offers a twist as we find that Margo is sympathetic with the disgruntled monsters who are facing issues as people knock down old buildings to make way for new developments and teens sneak around with smartphones in hand hoping to grab a vid of a monster in the wild. The price of progress for humankind is unsettled monsters ready to fight back. Margo knows that she and Charles need help, but they have to be careful. And where did the imp’s family go…
Great for fans of Coraline, the Hilda and the Troll series, and readers who appreciate a good monster hunt.

Review by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

four-stars

Eleanor Roosevelt’s in my garage!

Eleanor Roosevelt’s in my garage!Eleanor Roosevelt's in My Garage! (History Pals, #2) by Candace Fleming, Mark Fearing
Series: History Pals #2
Published by Schwartz & Wade Books on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 1524767867
Pages: 336
Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

In this, book 2 of the History Pals series, Eleanor Roosevelt time travels to the home of Nolan and Olive. At first the brother and sister don’t  know who she is, but soon they begin to recognize Eleanor from some of her many quotes such as “ You must do the things you think you cannot do”. And oh the great adventures the duo have with Eleanor! From hot roding a lawn mower to teaching Eleanor about cell phones, to meeting one of Eleanor’s best friends Amelia Earhart! Eleanor also teaches the children a number of life lessons. This was a fun and interesting read. I highly recommend this book and the History Pals series, they are sure to strike a cord with fans of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous series, and Magic Treehouse series.

Reviewed by: Melissa Madigan, Orr’s Island Library, Orr’s Island 

four-stars