Month: November 2020

Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell

Joni: The Lyrical Life of Joni MitchellJoni: The Lyrical Life of Joni Mitchell by Selina Alko
Published by HarperCollins on February 25, 2020
ISBN: 0062671294
Pages: 48
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This picture book biography is beautifully written and illustrated. The illustrations consist of acrylic paint, collage, found objects, and wild flowers. They are full of detail drawing the reader in so as not to miss anything. Joni’s story begins in a small town in Canada. As a child, Joni painted, played piano, danced, and then contracted polio. She recovered and was encouraged by a teacher in junior high to look deep inside herself. Later, her music took her to many places. She connected and worked with a variety of other musicians. She created the artwork of many of her own album covers. She experimented with different types of music. Her life story is an inspiration to budding musicians and artists. The author’s note relates her personal connection to Joni Mitchell. A discography and bibliography are included.

Reviewed by Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars

The Nut That Fell From the Tree

The Nut That Fell From the TreeThe Nut That Fell from the Tree by France Cormier, Sangeeta Bhadra
Published by Kids Can Press on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 1525301195
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This cumulative rhyming story is inspired by “The House That Jack Built.”  The first line “This is the house where Jill plays” shows her in a treehouse in an oak tree. An acorn falls and then the journey begins. Various woodland creatures get a hold of that acorn until its cycle is completed. It grows into an oak tree that holds a treehouse for Jack. The colorful and cheerful illustrations are rendered digitally. Many of the illustrations are full page. It’s a pleasant story that children will enjoy and learn about the life cycle of an oak tree.

Reviewed by Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars

Finally, Something Mysterious

Finally, Something MysteriousFinally, Something Mysterious by Doug Cornett
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on April 14, 2020
ISBN: 1984830031
Pages: 256
Genres: Adventure, Humor, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Paul Marconi lives in the small town of Bellwood. He and his two friends call themselves “The One and Onlys.” They like to solve mysteries. The story takes place in the summer before they enter the sixth grade. Hundreds of yellow rubber duckies suddenly appear in a neighbor’s yard. No one seems to know how they got there. Finally, it looks like they have a real mystery on their hands. There is an upcoming contest called  “The Bellwood Bratwurst Bonanza.” It is very competitive and adds to the fun of the story. A wildfire is burning outside of their town. Signs are appearing around Bellwood with the slogan, “The Conquistador is Coming.” There’s a lot happening in this humorous adventure filled mystery. Middle grade readers will enjoy this delightful and suspenseful story.

Reviewed by Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

four-stars

Circus Rose

Circus RoseThe Circus Rose by Betsy Cornwell
Published by Clarion Books on June 16, 2020
ISBN: 1328639509
Pages: 288
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Ivory and Rosie are twin sisters working in a travelling circus with their mother, the ringmaster. Ivory is interested in building and learning how things work. She works behind the scenes. Ivory has a close relationship with a Faerie magician, Tam who is referred to as “fer” and “fe.” Rosie is a performer. She and Bear are constant companions. An accident takes places that changes everything for everyone. A fanatic religious fundamentalist group is part of the quickly moving plot. This retelling of Snow White and Rose Red is told in alternating chapters. Ivory’s chapters are in prose and Rosie’s are in free verse. Sexual identity and gender roles are explored and questioned. This sensitive story is well told and will appeal to a mature audience.

Reviewed by Kris Zuidema, retired school librarian, Standish

 

 

four-stars

How To Catch a Keeper

How To Catch a KeeperHow to Catch a Keeper! by Connie Rand, Stephanie Mulligan
on March 19, 2019
ISBN: 1732302057
Genres: Adventure, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Going out on a lobster boat can be a grand experience no matter how many times you’ve done it before. Author Stephanie Mulligan shows us this in her book based on her own experience of working on a Maine lobster boat for 8 summers. Captain Tom and his ‘The Lucky Catch’ boat are real!

The excitement and anticipation are felt in her rhyming text as she describes fictional Lucy and Luke’s first trip on the boat with their dad. Captain Tom’s dialogue is presented in italics, helping the reader discern his words from the others.  The smells, sights and sounds of being out on a lobstering boat are woven into the story and illustrations.

A fine example of ‘write what you know.” This boat and Captain Tom are real and the basis for the story. She obviously respects the Captain and his work.

Maine nature artist Connie Rand did the illustrations, which follow and explain the text. She presents a variety of sizes: small, single images, and full-page spread. Her paintings reflect the experience of being out on the ocean where you can, in good weather, see for miles; yet sometimes your attention is brought up close to details, such as how to band the lobster’s claws. Her illustrations help the reader remember the smells and sounds of the ocean.

This reviewer was given a free copy in exchange for a review. Also included were the “Activity Book” and a little stuffed toy lobster. The activity book is a perfect addition: with terminolgy and fact mini-quizzes, a lobster diagram to label, coloring pages, and a graphic organizer for aspiring writers to try their own hand at composing a story. This book earned Silver in the Moonbeam Childrens’ Book Award. The hardcover edition is now available.

Next time you’re near Casco Bay, catch a ride with Captain Tom and see what the excitement is all about. If you can’t make it, listen to the author read aloud her book on Facebook. You’ll almost feel like you are there – you can even hear the seagulls crooning in the background.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town

five-stars

In a Jar

In a JarIn a Jar by Deborah Marcero
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers on January 21, 2020
ISBN: 0525514597
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

What can you catch in a jar? In Maine, fireflies and other insects are popular in the summer. But can you catch a sunset, or the smell of spring or the sound of the ocean? Llewellyn and Evelyn do! Until the sad day Evelyn moves away… and they discover a unique way to stay in touch.

My favorite line: “With Evelyn gone, Llewellyn’s heart felt like an empty jar.”

Llewellyn and his friends resemble rabbits from the world of Richard Scarry, but the backgrounds give the reader a chance to pause and enjoy the lovely scenery or Llewellyn’s vast and growing collection of jars. Various colored leaves adorn the end paper, and don’t forget to peek under the dust jacket!

Recommended as a pre-read to a nature walk, but you may want to brainstorm ways to catch nature other than in glass jars.

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

four-stars

Over the Moon

Over the MoonOver the Moon by James Proimos, Zoey Abbott
ISBN: 1452177155
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

There are many books for various ages titled “Over the Moon” but this one aimed at preschoolers will help them understand this expression as one of discovery and happiness. Two wolves find a baby floating in the river. They agree to take her home where the first wolf wants to “ …nourish her and teach her about good and evil, light and dark, right and wrong.” The second wolf, however, “…was planning on eating her.”  Readers will find the humor and sensitivity as the second wolf grows to love her as much as the first wolf. 

Simple cartoonish illustrations in soft colors on mostly double-page spreads show the various emotions of fear and comfort and curiosity.

Feels like a message for adults in a book aimed at children, but it could be used as a warm, snuggly book to show preschoolers (and their caregivers) that separation is natural: they do grow up, find other interests, go to school, and learn to read, but still come home to where they are loved. Each time this reviewer reads this book, she enjoys it more.

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

four-stars

Such a Good Boy

Such a Good BoySuch a Good Boy by Marianna Coppo
Published by Chronicle Books on February 11, 2020
ISBN: 1452177740
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

What makes Buzz a good boy? He does what good dogs do, day after day, but one day he dares to drop into a puddle. After being taken to the groomer, he escapes to be ‘free’ to stop, taste, and dig. When he sees ‘Missing’ posters and discovers his owner really misses him, he goes home.

The ending is a bit confusing – Buzz goes home but there is a cat in the window. Buzz is rolling in the mud, but the reader is left wondering if he’s been replaced by the cat or have his owners decided to have an indoor cat while allowing Buzz to be an outdoor dog? 

Buzz’s image is singular-dimension, small and simple. He is white, and, opposite of the appealing cover, doesn’t show up well on the many pages of white background. Variety of double and single page spreads with text of small but simple dark font. 

Could be used for point of view but there are many better books out there for that for preschoolers.

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

two-stars

Memoirs of a Turtoise

Memoirs of a TurtoiseMemoirs of a Tortoise by Devin Scillian, Tim Bowers
Published by Sleeping Bear Press on May 15, 2020
ISBN: 1534110194
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Add this to the other “Memoir…” books by this author, but more importantly, add it to your shelf on how to talk to children about the death of anyone, be it a pet or family or friend. 

Told in monthly installments from April to April, (which is Oliver’s favorite month) the reader shares the tortoise’s excitement and pleasure in his life with his pet, Ike (an elderly man) and then confusion and hurt when Ike suddenly disappears. Details about Ike and Oliver are gently distributed throughout the memoir, rather than dumped into the first few pages. Likewise, it takes a few pages and possibly some rereading to realize Ike has died. The reader struggles along with Oliver to understand loss and then develop gratitude for “…all those beautiful days we were lucky enough to have them (our pets) with us.” The sweet humor of the humans being the pets nicely balances the topic of death in a satisfying and compassionate manner.

This books joins the author’s collection illustrated by Tim Bowers:  Memoirs of a Goldfish (2010) …Hamster (2013) …Elf(2014) and …Parrot (2016: which was the 2018 Chickadee Award Winner),  

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

five-stars

The Box Turtle

The Box TurtleThe Box Turtle by Vanessa Roeder
on February 11, 2020
ISBN: 0735230501
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

When is a box turtle not a box turtle? When he’s born without his ‘box’! Can he truly be a box turtle without his box? What’s a young, shell-less turtle to do? 

Terrance, the shell-less box turtle, experiences a variety of emotions but perseveres through the ups and downs as he tries on a variety of possible shells. After discovering that each one has its own problems – a boom box was a little too loud; a pirate’s chest was a little too dangerous – he finally realizes that “…this little box turtle was so much more than his shell.”

Cartoonish illustrations contain enough detail for the reader to ‘see’ what is happening, but not so much detail that the reader is distracted. Some pages hold up to 4 small frames (that help build up the frantic pace), or maybe a double-page spread (that draws out the suspense).  End pages show the various ‘boxes’ Terrence tries.

To introduce this story, the reader could try to name possible replacements for a turtle’s shell. Recommended for sharing 1:1, or small group read alouds to allow time to examine the illustrations and discuss Terrance’s options to try to find an appropriate shell. Using the end pages, a compare/contrast activity could follow the reading to further comprehension by telling the pros and cons of the various shells he tried.

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

four-stars