Above and Beyond: NASA’S Journey to Tomorrow

Above and Beyond: NASA’S Journey to TomorrowAbove and Beyond: Nasa's Journey to Tomorrow by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Published by Feiwel & Friends on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 1250308461
Pages: 160
Goodreads
four-stars

Space travel is well covered in this new and snazzy nonfiction presentation.  Students as young as intermediate classes and those in middle school will respond favorably to this large book offering.

Most questions about training of astronauts and space travel will be answered in text or informational boxes provided throughout the text.  The history and progress of the USA National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) beginning in 1958 and looking forward to 2020 is discussed and reviewed with middle readers in mind. NASA provided excellent photos of rockets and space travelers but it is the profile and fast fact sections that add the most to the often drawn-out text.  Above and Beyond is sure to make research easy and its bibliography will send the most interested students to additional sources of information about space exploration.

Intermediate and middle school media centers will want to consider this for their space collections.  Public libraries should also place this new book on their shelves, replacing older materials.  Most libraries will find that some students just want to peruse the photos, this exposure to science is worth the book’s cost.

 

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

four-stars

Class Pets: Fuzzy’s Great Escape

Class Pets: Fuzzy’s Great EscapeFuzzy's Great Escape (Class Pets #1) by Bruce Hale
Published by Scholastic Paperbacks on June 26th 2018
ISBN: 1338145185
Pages: 192
Goodreads
three-stars

Class Pets: Fuzzy’s Great Escape is the first of a new series written by master of early readers Bruce Hale.  This Class Pets title is enjoyable as an animal adventure and a humorous fiction for grade 2-4 readers. Hale introduces readers to six animals (a snake, bunny, guinea pig, mouse, iguana, and a tortoise) who live in classrooms of a primary school.  The story is tightly woven and fun complete with suspense and action.  Each classroom pet has personality as well as skills far beyond expectation.  

This is a series that is bound to do well with the intended readers, those who enjoy humor and suspense. Hale has again penned a winning storyline for his avid readers.  Early classroom teachers will want this paperback title in their collection and public libraries are bound to hear request for the new series from their young library card holders.  Gift to early readers.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian from Scarborough, ME

three-stars

Earth Verse: Haiku from the Ground Up

Earth Verse: Haiku from the Ground UpEarth Verse: Haiku from the Ground Up by Sally M. Walker
Published by Candlewick Press on February 13th 2018
ISBN: 0763675121
Pages: 48
Goodreads
four-stars

With its palette of reds and blues shot through with black & white, Walker and Grill have created a work of art and science. Combining geology with impressionist-style illustration and exposition told in haiku (5-7-5 syllable poems), the two ruminate and wax poetic about all of the aspects that make the Earth what it is. The book touches on the make-up of the mantle and core of the Earth, the rock that has formed and even fossilized plants and bones, natural phenomena like volcanoes, earthquakes, and glaciers, and finally to the water cycle that makes our planet habitable. The palette is soft and lovely, though there were times that I wished that the images were sharper. Some of the drawings feel almost like drawings of the human body (tissue, organs, muscles) than of hard rock, surging tidal waves, and sharp cave formations. The audience has got to be an older elementary reader as the choice to use poetry to explain scientific concepts and the language introduced to support the explanation are not for the younger set. There is unknown vocabulary (with no glossary) and illustrations that ask the reader to fill in some blanks with their fuzzy depictions. It’s a wonderful, creative effort and fits into the need for excellent STEAM resources, but it might assume a bit too much sophistication of its audience to make it a browseable book by the usual picture book-aged reader. The nine pages of end matter explaining all of the concepts touched on in the book are excellent.  Recommend for science collections, particularly in schools where a teacher can answer any questions that arise.

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

four-stars

Out of the Past: How Climate Change is Revealing the Past

Out of the Past: How Climate Change is Revealing the PastOut of the Ice: How Climate Change Is Revealing the Past by Claire Eamer, Drew Shannon
Published by Kids Can Press on September 4th 2018
ISBN: 1771387319
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Climate change, we hear about it and know its effects. It is not something that is a welcome change to our world. Scientists are fighting it each day. Claire Eamer has written of the one good thing that has come from the snow and ice melting. The earth  is giving up some of its secrets. Who and what lived in the areas that for thousands of years has been covered with glaciers and permafrost.  In the Yukon of Canada, caribou dung 2400 years old has been found and later, artifacts, feathers and broken sticks.

In other parts of the world, receding snow and ice have given up human remains . Humans that lived and died thousands of years ago that now can tell their story .

Mountains that have lured climbers for hundreds of years are giving up their dead, those that challenged the mountain and lost. this has given closure to their families.

Scientists now have a window to how civilization started and how we got to where we are.  The one good thing about climate change!

The text is straightforward yet understandable for young scientists with information boxes for added explanations.

Illustrations and photographs support the text with a glossary, timeline and further info  offered in this slim but informative selection.

Reviewed by Kathy George, Gray Public library, Gray Maine

good for grades 3 and up.

 

four-stars

Soccer School: Where Soccer Rules the World

Soccer School: Where Soccer Rules the WorldSoccer School Season 1: Where Soccer Explains (Rules) the World by Alex Bellos, Ben Lyttleton, Spike Gerrell
Published by Walker Books US on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 1536204358
Pages: 208
Goodreads
three-stars

The first in a new series, Soccer School: Where Soccer Rules the World was a fun and somewhat educational read.  So many facts, historical tidbits of information and fun illustrations dotted this first book that readers will want to progress to the second title in the series.  The composition of this fist book is well done, making a good impression on all soccer loving readers. Informational boxes like stats and facts dot the text providing a professional viewpoint to an early reader illustrated text.   The illustrations are silly while the cartoon blocks find just the correct tone relating to the text.

Readers will enjoy the presentation and might just like to answer the quiz questions at the end of each chapter.   Having the answers is a nice tough as all of the information is not found in the text.   Add this to intermediate media centers and consider for public libraries where soccer within the community is a primary sport.  Younger students will enjoy the illustrations.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

three-stars

The Wishmakers

The WishmakersThe Wishmakers by Tyler Whitesides, Jessica Warrick
Published by HarperCollins on February 27th 2018
ISBN: 0062568310
Pages: 336
Goodreads
four-stars

The Wishmakers is a new series by the author of The popular Janitors series. This book contains lots of adventure, and mystery. It also at times hard to follow. The main character, Ace , thinks he’s opening a jar of peanut butter only to discover a genie is in there. This genie ( Ridge” has a mission to carry out, and he needs to get Ace to agree to “help him” ) He of course gets as many wishes as he wants, not know that for every wish granted there is a consequence to be paid. So Ace has ro decide things like does he want his house to fill up with peanut butter sandwiches, or have his legs turn to pogo sticks. I think 3rd and 4th graders will really enjoy the silly humor.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan – retired Youth Services Librarian

four-stars

The Things That I Love about Trees

The Things That I Love about TreesThe Things That I Love about Trees by Chris Butterworth
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on February 28th 2018
ISBN: 0763695696
Pages: 32
Goodreads

A little girl loves trees. She introduces the reader to a plum tree and then proceeds to tell the reader why she loves the tree in the spring, summer, fall and winter. In spring, it is the change that takes place, buds that get bigger and produce leaves. Leaves that attract bees and spring begins. She then tells her love of the tree in summer, the look of full leafy trees and the sound, in fall it is the color and in winter, the bareness.  The text that tells of the love of trees is in large print, while lots of information about trees is in small print that does not interfere with the illustrations. These illustrations are done in ink and watercolor. they are soft browns and greens and give a calmness to the story. Through the eyes of a little girl the reader in introduced to the cycle of the seasons and what each season offers and the cycle of a tree, something that  is affected by the seasons. It is reminiscent of Gail Gibbon’s Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree.

This is a great way to begin the spring season. It is a wonderful selection for young readers.

Reviewed by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray, Maine

Sawkill Girls

Sawkill GirlsSawkill Girls by Claire Legrand
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on October 2nd 2018
ISBN: 0062696602
Pages: 450
Goodreads
five-stars

A heart-stopping tale somewhere between thriller, hero story, and horror, Claire Legrand takes an empowering, feminist spin on the genre with Sawkill Girls. Told in the shifting, close third person perspective of three girls–Marion, who has just moved to Sawkill Island; Zoey, whose best friend was the latest in the long line of girls who’ve disappeared over the years; and Val, the queen bee whose life is not a perfect and simple as it seems–Legrand will scare and inspire readers. The Collector is the horrifying local legend that might turn out to be not such a story after all. Marion, Zoey, and Val find themselves united in a unlikely trio to try to stop this creature.

Legrand shows impeccable ability to create characters that grip the reader’s heart as much as the action and horrors. High school readers won’t be able to put this book down, desperate to find out what happens. As each mystery starts to unravel in a predictable way, Legrand suddenly sends readers down a different path. The result is a fresh perspective on a classic story, one that will capture even those who don’t usually like the genre.

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library.

five-stars

West

WestWest by Edith Pattou
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on October 23rd 2018
ISBN: 1328773930
Pages: 528
Goodreads
five-stars

Edith Pattou returns in West, the sequel to her 2003 novel, East. The story picks up three years after Rose and her prince-turned-white-bear-turned-man, Charles have returned from his rescue in a place that is “east of the sun and west of the moon”. The troll queen they thought defeated has returned, grown strong and bitter in the time between her last appearance and now and is ready for revenge. Rose must steel her grit, courage, and resourcefulness against a battle fought not just for her own love, but for the world.

Pattou once again takes a more obscure fairy tale and weaves it into a breathtaking adventure, populated by characters who fight hard for what is good in the world. Stunning, heroic, and a perfect follow up to East, a book that helped many young girls define who they could be, just by embracing the things that made themselves special and working hard. Strongly recommended.

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library

five-stars

Junior Ninja Champion: The Competition Begins

Junior Ninja Champion: The  Competition BeginsJunior Ninja Champion: The Competition Begins by Catherine Hapka
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on June 5th 2018
ISBN: 1328710580
Pages: 176
Goodreads
three-stars

Based on the hit reality competition show American Ninja Warrior, this first book in what is a planned series takes a group of 5 unlikely friends through the first rounds of the junior ninja champion contest.  The kids all work out at a local gym for different reasons, some for fun, some because they’ve gotten in trouble.  But they all bond together when they find out the show is holding a junior competition and the tryouts will be near their town.  Very unlikely, 4 out of the 5 kids make the finals, and the last one makes it on as an alternate.  Book 2 will feature the group at the finals competition.  The end of the book includes an interview with American Ninja Warrior favorite competitor and teacher Allyssa Beird.  Best for grades 3-6.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

three-stars