Month: January 2021

When You Look Up

When You Look UpWhen You Look Up by Chloe Garcia Roberts, Decur
ISBN: 1592702937
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

I just read this and I can’t even wait to read it to my kids. What a strange and wonderful book. This graphic novel uses drawings and cut paper illustrations to tell the story of Lorenzo, a young boy attached to his phone who is (begrudgingly) adapting to a new house after moving with his mother. He finds a notebook in an old writing desk and becomes more and more intrigued with the stories in it and their author. The stories are vague but disquieting and Lorenzo sets out to discover more about what had happened to the notebook’s owner. The illustrations are striking and surreal and even border on frightening at times and the book continually surprises the reader. Aside from the notebook story line, When You Look Up gently suggests that staring at a screen all day can cause missed connections and experiences but does it in such a unique way maybe it will be taken to heart. I would recommend this for any age as there is so much happening descriptively and visually it will have something to offer every reader.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

I’ll Be the One

I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on June 16, 2020
ISBN: 0062936921
Pages: 328
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Recommending for Young Adult cream consideration.   In a fresh, first person voice of an aspiring K-pop singer and dancer, Korean- American Skye Haneul rocks the auditions for the latest K-pop competition in Los Angeles.  From an early age in ballet class up to these auditions, she has had a grueling, abusive, daily reminder from her mother that “fat girls can’t dance” and other body shaming behaviors.  Skye’s passion and talent for K-pop fuels her confidence and enables her to shake off the various microaggressions and speak up when they come from the judges of the competition.   Along the way, Skye snags the eye of the fetching young Korean celebrity Henry Cho and their new relationship goes viral.  They are both bisexual, some secondary characters are queer, and the majority of characters are Korean or Korean-American.  A fun romance that will have readers searching to see if there is a real K-pop competition to watch.   The copy reviewed was a library copy.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

five-stars

You’re Invited to a Moth Ball

You’re Invited to a Moth BallYou're Invited to a Moth Ball: A Nighttime Insect Celebration by Ellen Harasimowicz, Loree Griffin Burns
ISBN: 1580896863
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
In typical Griffin-Burns style, this citizen science book invites the reader to become a moth scientist! The photos are up close and personal, with everything moth! Local moth scientists are given all the tools and equipment needed to set up their own moth laboratory, both inside and out. The project includes creating an outdoor light station to lure local moths to be studied. Step by step our young scientists are led through the process to entice moths to come .Make moth snacks ( rotten bananas, mixed with brown sugar) to brush on backyard trees, hang a sheet between two trees with an ultraviolet collecting light set behind it and a few other instruments and then just wait till dark. The text is written simply and accurately for young scientists and coupled with incredible photos this is an excellent STEM book to be used in summer. There is an author’s note and photographer’s note in the back with a glossary and added resources to make this book the complete STEM offering.

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

Grades 2 and up

consider for Crm

five-stars

Wave of Stars

Wave of StarsA Wave of Stars by Dolores Brown, Sonja Wimmer
ISBN: 8417673415
Goodreads
A moonbow is a rarely occurring natural phenomenon. It may appear after a sudden storm in the night Its beauty is otherworldly.

The legend says that if a sea animal gazes upon a moonbow, they will transform into a human and the only way to return to their natural state is to dive under a wave of stars. In  this story, 2 sea creatures, a seal and sea turtle, playing in the reef and unaware of the lateness of the hour gaze upon a moonbow and change into a little boy and a little girl. No longer creatures of the sea, they must reach shore, find safety and try to find a way back to their true selves and their home in the sea. They are befriended by a fisherman who knows the legend and offers to help them in their quest.

This story reads  and feels like the fairy tales of old. The illustrations are detailed and  breathtaking. The blues, greens with shocks of color take the reader into the story.

Curriculums looking at fairy tales could add this to the list. It can also be used in studies about the ocean  and the the rarity of a moonbow.

submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

consider for crm

Houndsley and Catina at the Library

Houndsley and Catina at the Library by James Howe, Marie-Louise Gay
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 0763696625
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
In an ode to libraries and talented librarians, Howe provides a three chapter easy reader for grades 1-3 in his Houndsley and Catina series.  Regular Saturday mornings find the two friends, and Bert the stork, going to the library. Houndsley is a reading tutor, Catina attends the yoga class and Bert helps Trixie the librarian by shelving books.  This Saturday is unusual because Trixie the librarian didn’t seem like herself.  As the friends leave the library they see that Trixie is retiring and the library will be closing.  The friends go see Trixie at home and find out that she is not sad but excited to start a new career by going to circus school.  As the friends all prepare for Trixie’s goodbye party, Bert has the perfect present for her.  He offers to take over as librarian so the library can remain open.  From a librarian’s perspective, leaving to join the circus was hilarious.  Howe also plants the idea that librarian’s go to school, too.  Gay’s colorful illustrations provide many details for the setting and the interactions.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

Moon Keeper

Moon KeeperThe Moon Keeper by Zosienka
Published by HarperCollins on March 10, 2020
ISBN: 0062959522
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars
Emile, the bear, is a member of the night creatures, and they have honored him with the job of moon keeper. this job requires Emile to look after the moon each night. Most nights there isn’t much to do but talk to the moon and come to recognize how beautiful the moon is. One evening Emile sees that the moon is getting smaller – he has failed his job! with the help of a small green bird – Emile learns the secrets of the moon.  The sparse text that accompanies large full page illustrations done in gouache and colored pencils that lend to this quiet, gentle story about nature and friendship. this is a true picture book. Pair it with the many books of fiction and non fiction on the moon.

submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

consider for cream

 

five-stars

Stand Up, Yumi Chung!

Stand Up, Yumi Chung!Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim
on March 17, 2020
ISBN: 0525554971
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Yumi Chung just wants to be a stand-up comedian like her hero Jasmine Jasper. Her parents just want her to excel in school and enroll her at the hagwon (a Korean academy) to help her prep for a scholarship test so she can continue to attend a prestigious private school. On her way to the library to study, Yumi stumbles across a new comedy club and ends up attending comedy summer camp with her hero Jasper. The problem is that they think Yumi is someone else. While Yumi’s parent struggle to keep their restaurant afloat, Yumi must find the courage to stand up for herself and to come clean on who she really is.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

five-stars

Plasticus Maritumus: An Invasive Species

Plasticus Maritumus: An Invasive SpeciesPlasticus Maritimus: An Invasive Species by Ana Pêgo, Bernardo P. Carvalho, Isabel Minhos Martinis
Published by Greystone Kids on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 1771646438
Pages: 176
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

By giving plastic polluting our oceans a scientific name (Plasticus maritimus), the author is hoping to use scientific study to help solve the problem of too much plastic. Readers will learn how can they help, from cleaning beaches to buying less plastic. The book is published with a heavy cardboard — not plastic! –cover.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

four-stars

Pout-Pout Fish Goes to the Doctor

Pout-Pout Fish Goes to the DoctorThe Pout-Pout Fish 8x8 (Doctor) by Dan Hanna, Deborah Diesen
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) on February 25, 2020
ISBN: 0374310505
Pages: 24
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars
This new addition to the Pout-Pout Fish series contains information concerning a visit to the doctor.  Although Mr. Fish is pouting about his upcoming doctor visit, he manages to put others at ease.

The illustrations are detailed while being amusing.   Various ocean characters reveal their emotional state; readers can determine their feelings by glancing at the facial expressions. Young readers will be reassured by the content and delighted with the stickers.

As a paperback, Librarians might not include this tile in their collections.  The Pout-Pout series will be welcome in primary grade classrooms but the stickers may create a problem.  Families may want to purchase for home reading .

 

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

three-stars

The Dozier School for Boys

The Dozier School for BoysThe Dozier School for Boys: Forensics, Survivors, and a Painful Past by Elizabeth A Murray
Published by Twenty-First Century Books (Tm) on September 3, 2019
ISBN: 1541519787
Pages: 120
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars
Certainly, a difficult story on an emotional level, The Dozier School for Boys is not a recreational read.  As in many books that proceeded this title the horror stories which took place within this institution are revealed.   The author does credit the men who stepped forward to reveal their personal tragic stories of abuse suffered at the hands of the staff.  It is noted that several boys vanished, many later found in a cemetery on the property.   Murray does explain some of the forensic evidence but leaves details without adequate explanation.

The audience is unclear as the appearance will attract preteen readers, yet the subject matter may well be suitable for YA.   Within the text there are explanations that are unnecessary for readers who would have interest in the subject matter.  The bibliography is extensive and the old photos add to the content. This is not an essential purchase for media centers or public libraries who have other materials on the subject matter.

 

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

three-stars