Month: August 2020

McTavish Goes Wild

McTavish Goes WildMcTavish Goes Wild by Grace Easton, Meg Rosoff
ISBN: 1536203319
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Summer vacation is here, and the Peachey family decides to go camping. McTavish couldn’t be more pleased with this decision because he gets to come along. When McTavish decides the Peachey family is being too lazy and grumpy, he goes rogue and leads them on a woods adventure.

This is a great story of family, adventure, and fun. The text is interesting in that the story is written for young readers, but it has a lot of advanced words. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend this book to a struggling reader because it’s only likely to cause more frustration. The story, however, is a good one. There are a few illustrations, but they do little to further the story and really just break up the text a bit. Recommended for 3rd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

This is a Dog

This is a DogThis Is a Dog by Ross Collins
on August 1, 2019
ISBN: 1536212008
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This book is just cute and fun. The dog is stealing the stage from all the other animals mentioned in this book, and he’s adorable while he does it. The funny ways he’s interacting with the animals will delight readers of all ages. The text is very simple so this would be a good book for very beginning readers. The illustrations are highly emotive and really bring the story to life. Recommended for children 2 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Boxitects

BoxitectsBoxitects by Kim Smith
Published by Clarion Books on January 14, 2020
ISBN: 1328477207
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Meg is a boxitect — she can turn a cardboard box into a tunnel, a tiny house, a castle. When she takes her skills to Maker School, she meets blanketeers, spaghetti-tects, and more, but when Simone, another boxitect, shows up, things get heated.

I loved this book. It’s creative, has a good message about teamwork and friendship, and it’s just fun. The illustrations are very colorful and full of detail. The things that the kids create in Maker School are whimsical, and you will likely see some new and interesting detail each time you read it. There are several pages at the end that detail how to make different things out of cardboard boxes as well. Recommended for children 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Alphonse, There’s Mud on the Ceiling

Alphonse, There’s Mud on the CeilingAlphonse, There's Mud on the Ceiling! by Daisy Hirst
ISBN: 1536211176
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Alphonse and Natalie live in a 7th floor apartment, but they want to play in a jungle and sleep in a tent. After slinking around the house in sleeping bags, they build a tent on their balcony and have a jungle adventure.

This book is a fun look at the sibling relationship as well as kids’ imagination. I also love that this book highlights kids who live in an apartment building — this is an underrepresented aspect of life in picture books. I did feel like the book was a little bit of a let down given the title. There is mud on the ceiling is such a small aspect of the story, and the title conveys a lot more zany hijinks than actually occurs in the story. The illustrations are high color, high contrast, and simple. They do add to the story as they depict Natalie and Alphonse in their various adventures. Recommended for children 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Nesting

NestingNesting by Henry Cole
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 0062885928
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This book is a beautiful look at the American Robin — a very common bird often taken for granted. It follows a pair of robins from nest building in the spring to growing their fledglings to gathering together for the winter. The illustrations are black, gray, and white except for robin’s egg blue highlights throughout. The illustrations are pencil drawings that are exquisitely detailed and gorgeous. They may not engage the youngest readers, though, due to the lack of contrast. Recommended for children 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Ollie and Augustus

Ollie and AugustusOllie and Augustus by Gabriel Evans
ISBN: 1536209678
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Ollie and Augustus are best friends. Ollie is small and Augustus is huge. Despite their differences (Augustus is also a dog), they do everything together and have a lot of fun together. Sometimes they argue, but they always make up. When Ollie has to go to school, he’s worried Augustus will be lonely so he tries to find him a dog friend. It turns out, Ollie is Augustus’s perfect friend, and Augustus knows Ollie will always come back.

This is a heartwarming story of friendship. The illustrations are just fun, funny, and really add to the story. Augustus really is a behemoth dog, and his expressions are perfect. Even thought the illustrations are relatively simple line drawings, they really make this book. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

David Jumps In

David Jumps InDavid Jumps In by Alan Woo, Katty Maurey
ISBN: 1771388455
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

On his first day at a new school, David is unsure and feeling like an outsider. He feels nervous about making new friends but eventually works up the nerve to ask some other kids to play a game called “elastic skip” with him. He teaches them the game, and it’s a huge hit.

This is a sweet story about friendship and inclusion. It’s well told with compassion and empathy. Any child who has been the new kid anywhere will relate to David’s feelings of insecurity, and watching him overcome his fears may help kids find a way to step up when they’re in that situation. The illustrations are colorful but sparse with lots of white space. They are, however, very effective at conveying David’s emotions before and after making new friends. There is a paragraph on the back pages about the game David plays so kids can learn more about it and its origins. Recommended for children 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Life on an Island

Life on an IslandLife on an Island by Holly Duhig
Published by Crabtree Publishing Company on July 31, 2019
ISBN: 0778764761
Pages: 24
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

One of a series of Human Habitats for young readers. Readers will get a glimpse of the life on an island with boats, fishing and volcanoes. The photos that highlight each area are excellent and the text is appropriate for young readers. This book contains a glossary. It will be a great resource for the classroom.

Reviewed by Ginni Nichols, Gardiner Public Library, Gardiner

four-stars

When You Were Everything

When You Were EverythingWhen You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk
Published by Delacorte Press on March 10, 2020
ISBN: 1524715913
Pages: 400
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Woodfolk has crafted an emotionally wrought but ultimately beautiful tale of friendship, love, and relationships.  Cleo is a wonderfully quirky teen who loves jazz music, her best friend, and Shakespeare.  Layla is that best friend, or used to be, and has a stutter and a love for musical theater.  The full story of Cleo and Layla is told in alternating timelines, so we don’t find out exactly what happened to ruin their friendship until near the end.  Cleo  takes an amazing journey through grief, anger, forgiveness, and acceptance.  While her friendship is falling apart, she’s also dealing with the divorce of her parents, lingering difficulty with the death of her beloved grandmother, and meeting a new love interest.  Cleo struggles but ultimately comes out on top with a new lease on life and new relationships.  Anyone who has lost a friend will feel a deep connection with Cleo and this book.  This is a lovely emotional journey that ultimately ends up hopeful.  Recommended for grades 7+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

five-stars

My Ocean is Blue

My Ocean is BlueMy Ocean Is Blue by Ashley Barron, Darren Lebeuf
Published by Kids Can Press ISBN: 1525301438
Genres: Adventure, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

From cover to cover this is a study of the many shades of blue within the ocean.   Lebeuf introducers readers to a charming nameless girl who explores all the natural wonders with this ocean environment.

Her adventures of the day include meeting animals, listening to the sounds around her and playing in the water as well as sand.  Her disability is not an issue and most important is that the adult accompanying her is an active participant in the day’s activities.   A lovely book to peruse and a valuable addition to k and grade 1 classrooms.  Early readers will be able to follow the text and all will appreciate the collage art work.  These illustrations made me think of the art work done by CATHRYN FALWELL.   Small details like the dragon fly, glistening water and sparkling rocks will delight while the dead fish and slimy seaweed offer educational opportunity.

Add to primary grade media centers and public libraries within hundreds of miles from the ocean.  All nursery and grade school children will want to put their feet in the water with sparkly gems!

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth service librarian in Scarborough, ME.

four-stars