Month: September 2019

Bird Watch

Bird WatchBird Watch by Christie Matheson
Published by Greenwillow Books on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 0062393405
Pages: 48
Goodreads
four-stars

With all the multi-media available to our young readers, we often overlook the joy and experience of “communing with nature” first hand. Ms. Matheson  reminds readers of this by urging people to get outside and search meadows, fields, yards for those birds familiar to us and perhaps find new visitors. Her book has the reader identify common birds – chickadees, hummingbirds, and sparrows  through both counting them and finding them hidden on each page. The  text is minimal leaving room for  illustrations that  are soft and colorful,done in watercolor and collage. This selection is for that slightly older reader, as some of the birds are not easily found and counting them may go beyond the page in which they are introduced. What the story does do, is cultivate an interest in going outside and experiencing birds first hand in their surroundings. An author’s note about birding  has been included with facts about the ten birds she has chosen to highlight. Use with units on birds and habitats.

Grades K- 4

submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray

four-stars

See Me Play

See Me PlaySee Me Play by Paul Meisel
Published by Holiday House on June 11th 2019
ISBN: 0823438325
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

This picture book sized easy reader hits all the requirements for new readers.  The popular subject of dogs, a single repetitive sentence in large font per page and clear illustrative two-page spreads with lots of white space make this series a good fit for word recognition and confidence building.  Most sentences only change one or two words.  The humorous story line of the group of dogs following the ball and needing to catch an hot-air balloon, a motorboat, and a pink convertible is told through cartoon animal characters in action that enhance the simple sentence structure.  Suggested for school and library easy reader sections.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

 

five-stars

Polar Bears: Survival on the Ice

Polar Bears: Survival on the IceScience Comics: Polar Bears: Survival on the Ice by Jason Viola
Published by First Second on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 1626728232
Pages: 128
Goodreads
five-stars

Another excellent entry in the Science Comics series. This graphic novel, aimed at an upper elementary or middle grade reader but of interest to almost any age, focuses on polar bears and challenges the reader to explore the world of these bears that we think we know so much about (they are white, they live in the Arctic, they eat seals, they are losing their habitat). Reading this book was so informative; it was a deep dive into the lives of this animal. The reader will learn just how important ice is to polar bears; how they live and hunt and why; about mating and dining and stalking. Like all of the other books in the Science Comic series, Viola uses humor to discuss some of the more delicate areas like the subadult years of a polar bear and mating. And he is careful about how much gore to show when discussing hunting and eating.  Readers of the series will not be disappointed. Perhaps it will even inspire one or more of them to work on ways to protect this magnificent animal.

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

five-stars

The Sticky Rice Caper

The Sticky Rice CaperThe Sticky Rice Caper (Graphic Novel) by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1328495787
Pages: 144
Goodreads
three-stars

This graphic novel is based on the Netflix show which is based on an old computer game “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” The game was created to teach geography skills as Carmen hopped from country to country stealing items. The player was asked geography-related questions to determine where she was. In the Netflix series, Carmen has left a life of crime with VILE (Villains’ International League of Evil) and is determined to thwart them before they can commit crimes. She still travels all over the world and the show, and this graphic novel, focus on one or two countries peppering facts about them into the dialogue and action. In this case, one of VILE’s agents is in Indonesia so Carmen leaves France and heads to Jakarta to figure out their dastardly plan and stop them. Filled with danger, banter, and gadgets, the GN captures the action of the show and is a nice companion for kids who might want to slow it down and rehash the story (it follows the plot line of episode 3 exactly). Carmen and her team succeed, of course, and inform the reader that they are off to Ecuador for another adventure. The endpapers include additional information about France and Indonesia and a hint for The Fishy Treasure Caper. This is not a must-buy, but it will be popular in collections where readers are familiar with the show and may give kids without the means to watch Netflix an “in” to the conversations about the show. And any book that highlights geography and informs the reader about another part of the world is a good thing.

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

three-stars

The Singing Rock and Other Brand-New Fairy Tales

The Singing Rock and Other Brand-New Fairy TalesThe Singing Rock & Other Brand-New Fairy Tales by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer
Published by First Second on June 18th 2019
ISBN: 1596437502
Pages: 112
Goodreads
three-stars

A collection of four original fairy tales from Lachenmeyer, these stories are steeped in classic tropes: a genie, a nasty witch, dueling wizards, and a cruel ogre. But Lachenmeyer puts his own spin on the stories in a delightful way. The genie is trying to elicit wishes out of a frog who has accidentally rubbed the lamp; the witch’s magic is not strong enough to squash the power of music; a parrot is the key player in the war of the wizards; and that cruel ogre helps a painter see the folly of his ways. Blocker’s illustrations are clearly digitally rendered as they have a cartoonish quality and soft edges, but they work well to illustrate the tales in full-color and with enough distinction and clarity. Lachenmeyer mentions being heavily influenced by fairy tale books from his childhood, so there is clearly a deep affection for the genre, but it would have been nice not to have the only female character not be the inflexible, disagreeable witch; all of the stories feature males (even the frog feels male as the genie offers it gold, a race car, an airplane, and a speedboat). Elementary and middle school readers will enjoy this  graphic novel.

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

three-stars

Babymoon

BabymoonBabymoon by Hayley Barrett
Published by Candlewick Press on March 14th 2019
ISBN: 0763688525
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Often used to describe a trip taken by expecting parents before the baby arrives, this book uses Babymoon in the  way that midwives do for taking the time immediately after a baby is born to form connections and settle into the adjustment of transforming from two to three. Barrett captures the magical period with simple rhyming couplets and Martinez-Neal punctuates the text with soft, glowing illustrations. The gentle message of giving yourselves time to adapt to the newness of parenthood is necessary in a country that offers very little parental leave and has expectations that people will go right back to their pre-baby lives. The illustrations are realistic in terms of body size for a new mother and offer a picture of a non-Caucasian family, which is refreshing. The audience is bit narrow since it is intended for new parents and, since it does it through the lens of just one family, it cannot speak to all of the different types of families that exist. But if the reader accepts that this is not the picture of EVERY family, and applies the message broadly and transfers the love felt by new parents for their baby, it is a beautiful addition to the new baby/bedtime picture book shelf.

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

four-stars

Island Book

Island BookIsland Book by Evan Dahm
Published by First Second on May 14th 2019
ISBN: 1626729506
Pages: 288
Goodreads
four-stars

A gorgeous graphic novel for readers in upper elementary and above that packs a lot of meaning into each seemingly simple page. Set in a world in which a young girl lives on an island where The Monster threatens and no one knows for sure what this monster is or from where it comes.  Sola is cursed because when the monster came, she did not back down or run away. Tired of being picked on, she gets in her rowboat and ventures out into the vast sea to find answers. To her wonder, her quest brings her in contact with other islands, other people and, eventually, The Monster. Does Sola finds the answer she seeks? Does she conquer The Monster? Letting his exquisite illustrations do most of the talking, Dahm captures a Yoda-esque feeling from the wisdom Sola does gain, which is very different than what she expected. A quiet book that illustrates how other does not have to mean enemy and that a monster is not so bad when you look it in the eye. The book has a number 1 on the spine; hopefully Dahm is not finished with Sola and her quest for enlightenment. This is a book that will be set apart by its size (8×8 square), the feel of it in your hands, and by the surreal illustrations and spare text which let the reader do the thinking.

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

 

four-stars

Snakes on a Train

Pages: 32
four-stars

In her debut picture book, Dennis has taken snakes and trains and put them together. A simple rhyming text with a recurring refrain, young readers accompany  the snakes as they get on the train.Then, both reptile and reader take a train ride. They learn about switches, tracks, whistles, gears and even a brakesnake! Colorful, simple artwork makes it both fun to read and fun to listen to. A selection for pre-K -1, it can be used for units on trains, snakes? and imagination.

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray

four-stars

Hello, I’m Here

Hello, I’m HereHello, I'm Here! by Helen Frost, Rick Lieder
Published by Candlewick Press on March 20th 2019
ISBN: 076369858X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Helen Frost’s latest book is a poem about the first day in the life of a sandhill crane. Her rhyming text is short and has the voice of the small child, “I’m out in the world-I don’t know where. Mama? Papa? Hello, I’m here!” What makes this book special is the pairing of Ms. Frost’s words with the striking, detailed photographs of Rick Lieder. The reader is there as this chick stands, walks, and finds its first meal. As with their other collaborations: Step Gently Out, Sweep up the Sun, Among a thousand Fireflies, they offer a glimpse into the natural world. Information about the sandhill crane can be found at the back of the book. This is a book easy to read aloud with photos that will hold the listener’s attention. It is STEAM at its best. Offer it in units about babies, poetry about the natural world, or birds.

for ages pre-K- 3

Submitted by Kathy George

Gray Public Library, Gray

 

five-stars

Puddle

PuddlePuddle by Richard Jackson, Chris Raschka
Published by Greenwillow Books on March 26th 2019
ISBN: 0062651951
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

A puddle, deeper and bigger than its siblings, bemoans the fact that it isn’t as dainty and shallow as those puddles around it. The day goes from bad to worse as a seagull swoops in, a basketball splashes into it, feet  stomp in it and the worse- a dog pees in it! But as the children gather around it- they discover something beautiful as the sun hits the water. Readers are engaged by Chris Raschka’s signature bright, bold, water colored illustrations and text with such action words as swish, swoosh, splat, and euwww! This selection has an energy to it and readers will get caught up in the plight of the puddle and never look at one quite the same again.  Use with units on water, language and colors. Good for ages pre-k-3.

submitted by Kathy George

Gray Public Library, Gray, Maine

five-stars