Month: October 2019

She’s the Liar!

She’s the Liar!She's the Liar by Alison Cherry
Published by Scholastic Press on May 28th 2019
ISBN: 1338306146
Pages: 208
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This novel about siblings and misunderstandings is a good addition to any middle school realistic fiction collection.  6th grader Abby has recently transferred to her sister’s boarding school in Vermont. Making this big change to a new school is exactly what withdrawn and scared Abby needs to become someone new.  She is now Abbi, an outgoing and friendly girl and is loving her new life until she has to go head to head with her popular and powerful 8th grade sister Sydney. Syd also acts very differently than she did in elementary school and Abbi is shocked to see how much sway (and fear) she holds over the student body.  The novel is divided into two sections, first offering a glimpse at Abbi’s perspective and then delving into Syd’s thoughts and motivations. Both girls are not what they portray to the school and it is only because they are sisters that they can let their guard down with each other. While the title (She’s the Liar!) implies that there is one big issue they both are fighting about, the story goes a bit deeper into identity and self-actualization.  A nice read for young middle schoolers, this story explores how hard it can be to show your real self.

Reviewed by Suzanne Dix, Westbrook Middle School, Westbrook

three-stars

The Fishy Treasure Caper

The Fishy Treasure CaperThe Fishy Treasure Caper (Graphic Novel) by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 1328495795
Pages: 144
Goodreads
three-stars

The second graphic novel 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. In this book, Carmen is off to Ecuador and the book jumps right into the action as Carmen appears in full scuba gear searching for a sunken ship containing treasure. The treasure in this book is an old doubloon which, it turns out doesn’t have a lot of monetary value, but has cultural significance to the Ecuadorians.  Carmen has plenty of gadgets and a crew to help her navigate her mission and she has VILE operatives to fight. As the VILE villains try to acquire the doubloon, assuming that if Carmen wants it, it must be worth a lot, the reader is introduced to the importance that the fishing industry plays in Ecuador.  Action, decent pacing, and interesting geographical facts combine to make a readable book. This series will be popular in collections where readers are familiar with the show or where readers like adventure stories mixed with a little geography.

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

three-stars

Ginny Goblin Cannot Have a Pet

Ginny Goblin Cannot Have a PetGinny Goblin Cannot Have a Monster for a Pet by David Goodner, Louis Thomas
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on July 23rd 2019
ISBN: 0544764161
Pages: 40
Goodreads
four-stars

If you can’t have a goat for a pet, how about giant monster or fire-breathing monster or petrifying monster? No? Well, then, compared to those, maybe a goat IS the best option! 

The reader is invited into the story from the second page, “Maybe if we help Ginny…”.. Text is well-spaced in dark brown font  and is large enough for beginning readers to attempt reading. A few dark pages have text contrasted in white. Sentences vary in length with some interesting words such as ‘unequivocally’ and ‘tentacles’. 

Simple, cartoonish illustrations done in gouache and pen & ink rely on eyes to show emotions. Mostly white background helps keep the reader’s eye drawn to the important elements

This book could provide much humor with lower elementary ages in discussions of pet acquisition! A good purchase where ‘Ginny Goblin Cannot Open This Box’ is popular.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town.

 

four-stars

Nya’s Long Walk: A Step at a Time

Nya’s Long Walk: A Step at a TimeNya's Long Walk: A Step at a Time by Linda Sue Park, Brian Pinkney
Published by Clarion Books on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 132878133X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Although similar to other picture books about African children having to walk to get water, this story adds suspense of the little sister falling ill during the walk. Set in Sudan, fictional Nya represents many real villagers’ struggles for safe drinking water.

Brian Pinkney’s signature sweeping, swirling full-color illustrations intensify the emotion and sense of the dry, hot land.

This could be paired with Christine Ieronimo’s “ A Thirst for Home” (2014); William Kamkwamba’s “Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” (2012); Herb Shoveller’s “Ryan and Jimmy and the Well That Brought them Together (2006); or Susan Verde’s “The Water Princess” (2016). For libraries owning these titles, “Nya’s Long Walk” would be an additional purchase.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town.

four-stars

Experience Nature: How Time Outside Makes You Feel

Experience Nature: How Time Outside Makes You FeelExperience Nature: How Time Outside Makes You Feel by Jean C. Lawler
Published by Red Chair Press on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1634403770
Goodreads
three-stars

Would you rather go to the mall, be outside with friends, or watch a movie at home? This initial question of the book clearly has one ‘right’ answer, as the two inside choices are not discussed at all. Organized into three chapters, nature is explained and the reader is encouraged to use their senses, explore, interact, and listen to their ‘inner voice.’

Special features include a Power Point, a Try It Out, and Moving On. Each of these only appears once but could have been repeated with additional ideas and points. 

Clear, crisp photos (some are full page, some are insets) invite the reader to try a small variety of outdoor activities; more examples could have been included. The brief index points readers to unusual topics such as ecosystems, human-made, and inner voice. Predominance of green borders and green tones help set the outdoors mood.

One of several titles in the “Experience Personal Power” series that includes topics such as “…Food You Eat…”, “…Your Media Choices…”, and “…Quiet Time…”

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town.

three-stars

Bug Off! A Story of Fireflies and Friendship

Bug Off! A Story of Fireflies and FriendshipBug Off!: A Story of Fireflies and Friendship by Cari Best, Jennifer Plecas
on June 25th 2019
ISBN: 0374380627
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Let’s take a vote. How many of us think fireflies are bugs? Well…they are beetles, and beetles ARE insects, and bugs are insects, but fireflies and bugs are two different classes of insects. Confusing? It is to Maude, a newcomer in the neighborhood. She’s trying to make friends, and when she sees a poster advertising the Bug-of-the-Month Club, she thinks it’s the perfect way to meet other children and share her new passion for fireflies. However, it’s not at all confusing to club leader Louise, who rejects Maude’s bid for membership based on the fact that fireflies are NOT bugs!

The text weaves in basic information about bugs and lots of information about fireflies and how to create a firefly-friendly environment. It’s not preachy or dry – just the right balance to inform and entertain. The cartoonish, full color illustrations show mostly night scenes with the contrasting bright yellow fireflies and proportionately large white eyes of the children.

This book could be used to initiate a study of animal kingdom orders and classifications, but probably more useful as a how-to-be-a-friend’ story. Now, could we have a discussion about the terms firefly vs lightening bug?

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town.

five-stars

Amazing Origami Dinosaurs

Amazing Origami DinosaursAmazing Origami Dinosaurs (Amazing Origami) by Rob Ives
Published by Hungry Tomato (R) on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 1541542827
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Fold and turn and push and rotate and… voila! A dinosaur! Directions and information about six popular dinosaurs and a prehistoric tree are given, along with basic origami strategies. 

The Contents lists the dinosaurs; the index lists topics such as legs, craft shop, fish, and vegetation.

Each set of directions are done in a different color origami paper with contrasting background colors with adequate white space – helps set each one apart. Each fold is numbered, some are completed on a two-page spread, others fill 3-4 pages.  A few facts about each dinosaur are also provided

Now, to find some origami paper…and a youngster to try these with!

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

four-stars

Just Like Us! Cats

Just Like Us! CatsJust Like Us! Cats by Bridget Heos
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on January 15th 2019
ISBN: 132879184X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

How are cats ‘just like us’? Young readers may find a few similarities, but many facts given are not connected to humans. Some pages have no mention of the comparison. The cartoonish illustrations that dominate the pages attempt to provide a little humor and are superimposed over a few photographs. Each two-page covers one topic, such as ‘Kittengarten’ or “Take Your Cub to Hunt Day’ with fact boxes that are quite text-heavy for younger readers, and most have an easy-to-read font but some are in another hard-to-read style.

An index or table of contents would be helpful. The verso page shows reading levels for Lexile (850), Guided Reading (T), Fountas & Penell (R), and the interest level (grades 2-6). “Say What” provides the glossary, and a helpful bibliography are included. This author has previously published Fish, Birds, Ant and Plants in this series. 

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

three-stars

Dinosaur Farm!

Dinosaur Farm!Dinosaur Farm! by Penny Dale
Published by Nosy Crow on June 4th 2019
ISBN: 0763699365
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

“Dinosaur Farm!” by Penny Dale is a picture book that has different dinosaurs running a farm. The dinosaurs are plowing, building, digging, and picking things. What a busy farm! The illustrations are bright and busy. The text does not rhyme, but has a bouncing cadence, and a lot of onomatopoeia like “clatter,” and “rumble.”

The front and back papers identify various dinosaurs and farm equipment, though many kids will probably already be experts in both subjects. The book is aimed at kids age 3 to 6 and would make a fun read-aloud. The story itself is fairly basic, so this book is not a must-buy for your library collection, but if you have extra money in the budget, it would make a good additional purchase.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

three-stars

A Tale Magnolious

A Tale MagnoliousA Tale Magnolious by Suzanne Nelson
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on June 18th 2019
ISBN: 1984831747
Pages: 368
Goodreads
three-stars

Nitty Luce and Magnolious the elephant are meant to be together. Both are orphans; both are running away from a lonely past. After Nitty, on a whim, steals a pouch of gleaming seeds, she runs headfirst into Mags, who is about to be hanged for killing her trainer. The elephant senses Nitty’s compassionate nature and shields her from one of the many dust storms that have plagued the town for more than a decade. The runaways soon meet up with Windle Homes, a cantankerous farmer whose past has left him as lonely as Nitty’s and Mags’ past have left them. With the help of those magic seeds and some hard work, the three revive Windle’s farm, despite the dust storms, which have all but destroyed the little town. With the help of a cast of misfit characters, Nitty reveals the secret of those mysterious dust storms before the town is completely destroyed.

A charming adventure filled with misfit characters, who each find friendship and belonging in each other. There is humor and wacky adventure with a little bit magic rolled in. Dastardly deeds, fun wordplay and the story’s oddball caricatures make the romp clever and amusing. A good read for grades 4 to 6.

Reviewed by Kelly Greenlee, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

three-stars