Month: April 2021

Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True Friendship

Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True FriendshipThe Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True Friendship by Julie Abery, Pierre Pratt
Published by Kids Can Press on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 1525302086
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Penguins in Brazil. That might be the first amazing fact in this true story. Joao nurses him back to health, and tries to return him to the sea where he belongs. But the penguin comes back, so Joao gives him a name: Dindim, and gives him the freedom to be wild.

Illustrations by Pierre Pratt show various angles and views, giving the reader a fuller feel for the blues and greens of the Brazilian beach setting.. Sparse rhyming text does the story justice.

Pair with any books about Harry Goodridge and Andre the seal of Rockport, Maine, or narratives about oil-soaked animals being rescued or stories of penguins for early to middle elementary levels.

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

five-stars

What Grew in Larry’s Garden

What Grew in Larry’s GardenWhat Grew in Larry's Garden by Kass Reich, Laura Alary
ISBN: 152530108X
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Larry is a gardener and a teacher – in real life! He used gardening to teach life skills. We could all take a lesson from him! In this story based on his life, he helps little next-door neighbor Grace some problems they encounter in trying to grow unusual vegetables.

Colorful gouache illustrations (Kass Reich) are adequate.

What grew in Larry’s garden? Much more than plants! Use this book for lots of life’s lessons!

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

five-stars

Peppa Pig and the Day of Giving Thanks

Peppa Pig and the Day of Giving ThanksPeppa Pig and the Day of Giving Thanks by Candlewick Press
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 1536216607
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Fans of Peppa will enjoy joining her and her family on their outdoor fall walk, giving thanks to various things: clouds, flowers, apples, etc.  Daddy Pig running from the spider provides a bit of humor (which could also be an opportunity to discuss why spiders should be thanked instead of feared). When it starts raining, readers are also afforded the opportunity to look at such events from more than just their own dislike or inconvenience.

Colorful illustrations provide enough detail for preschoolers to stop and count or name, and perhaps segue into making a gratitude list or a walk around their own neighborhood.

Purchase for Peppa fans.

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

three-stars

When I Draw a Panda

When I Draw a PandaWhen I Draw a Panda by Amy June Bates
Published by Simon Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books on September 22, 2020
ISBN: 1481451480
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Is less-than perfect art OK? Is it the effort that matters? What if I “run out of space” or my “lines come out of our pencils and they are not going anywhere in particular”? This young girl loves to draw. Her not-perfect circles end up creating a panda, who then also draws his own way, and they end up with lines that “…are just going somewhere that makes up happy.”

Sparse text with illustrations combine for a full message of self-acceptance. 

Not to be missed – especially the cover under the dust jacket! Pair with “Ish” by Peter Reynolds.

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

five-stars

One Girl

One GirlOne Girl by Andrea Beaty, Dow Phumiruk
Published by Harry N. Abrams on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 141971905X
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A book can be a spark that flickers and grows, especially for one who has not had access to them. Readers who have experienced this will find familiarity with the feeling of having a book become “Brighter. Brighter. Brightest bright.” 

Beautiful illustrations (Dow Phumiruk) show the main character surrounded with other children and details many possibilities of what books & reading can open our minds to.  Although this seems aimed at a particular segment of an unnamed group there is a wide variety of ethnic/races shown in her class – perhaps the range of appearances are to represent all children? Sparse text flows across each page loaded with figurative phrases to explore.

Younger children may simply enjoy the illustrations. This could be used to initiate a discussion on equality for girls in education, but it feels like a fictional “Malala” and may need explanation on how a book can be a spark to ignite a passion for learning. If I were a boy, I might ask, “Can’t boys be “Brighter. Brighter. Brightest bright,” too? Which would lead a discussion to come back around to the inequality of education for many girls in other parts of the world.

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

 

four-stars

Otis P. Oliver Protests

Otis P. Oliver ProtestsOtis P. Oliver Protests by Daniel Duncan, Keri Claiborne Boyle
ISBN: 1534167064
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The cover tells the story – Oliver, with dirt smudged on his face, stands in his underwear with his arms crossed in front of the bathtub. How attention grabbing is that? After he stages his protest, Mom is willing to compromise.

Looking serious (such as wearing a sports coat), getting backup (by delivering a fiery speech to his pals), marching, and picketing are reasonable steps when one is protesting. Toss in some hand-written notes between Otis and his mother during negotiations and we have a satisfying outcome!

Cartoonish illustrations (Daniel Duncan) add to the story with humor and just enough relevant details. 

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

four-stars

Mae the Mayfly

Mae the MayflyMae the Mayfly by Denise Brennan-Nelson, Florence Weiser
ISBN: 1534166742
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Oh, the delights of a day in the life of a mayfly! aFter saying goodbye to her mother, May explores her surroundings, barely escapes being lunch for a trout, and then ends up saving him after he becomes entanglesd in fishing line.

Beautiful, rich illustrations on double page spreads pull the reader in. Rhyming text flows well and gives facts and information about a mayfly’s life. Back matter includes more facts about mayflies, and how to practice mindful breathing exercises. 

Could be paired with Aesop’s “The Mouse and the Lion” or David Shannon’s “Jangles: A Big Fish Story”. Could also be used to show children how to slow down and enjoy nature’s beauty. 

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

five-stars

My Best Friend

My Best FriendMy Best Friend by Jillian Tamaki, Julie Fogliano
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 1534427236
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Young readers won’t mind that standard capital letters and punctuation aren’t used, but they will enjoy the reassurance of friendship; hiding, laughing, pretending. You don’t have to like the same things, and you don’t even have to know their name to be ‘friends’.

Illustrations capture the mood through facial expressions, various angles, and inclusion of images suggested in the text. For example, the child says, “…turn our hands into ducks and run away quacking…” and the picture shows them, hands in the air, running away from two ducks.

The colors, though, are limited to red and green hues. Some children may notice that the text describes the friend as having black hair but it looks mostly green. Near the end, the child narrator imagines the next day when they will write their names in red and green. Even without punctuation, the text flows, has natural breaks, and it pleasant to read.

A great story for pre-K and early elementary to open the world of possibilities when one thinks they have found a friend! Pair with any friendship books, including “We Disagree” by Bethanie Deeney Murguia (c2020) and start a discussion about finding common ground. 

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

four-stars

Flying Over Water

Flying Over WaterFlying Over Water by N.H. Senzai, Shannon Hitchcock
Published by Scholastic Press on October 20, 2020
ISBN: 1338617664
Pages: 272
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

What if you were a refugee who finally arrived safely in Tampa, Florida, but your best friend drowned during her trip? What if you’re a champion swimmer who suddenly panics during a meet? What if these two middle school girls’ lives connect and they help each other be brave? Then you’d have a successful book about friendship and courage like “Flying Over Water”.

This chapter book, told in alternate voices of the two girls, intertwines refugee history, current events (such as the 2017 mosque arson in Tampa) and challenges in a sensitive but not too political manner.  Author notes are as interesting as the book for background info, which may invite readers to find out more about any of the possible threads that hold this fictional account together. The ending acknowledges that there will always be challenges, but hope and determination, especially among friends, will help one deal with whatever tomorrow or next week or next year will bring.

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

five-stars

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First PaleontologistDinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers, Marta Álvarez Miguéns
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. on July 7, 2020
ISBN: 172820951X
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Mary Anning was unique for her time, having lived in the first half of the 1800’s. She was curious, observant, and perseverant in her quest for knowledge and recognition of her dinosaur fossils and bones discoveries. 

Text include many descriptive phrases, such as “scrambled over crumbling cliffs” and repeats the theme that Mary wasn’t afraid. The author wasn’t shy about describing bezoar stone:  fossilized poop! Full-color, digitally painted illustrations by Marta Alvarez Miguens are mostly double-page spreads and show enough dinosaur bones to grab younger reader’s attention.  Backmatter includes a proportional timeline (including a few details not described in the text), author’s note, and bibliography.

Additional but worthy purchase where collections need updating or don’t include Laurence Anholt’s “Stone Girl, Bone Girl” (1999) or “Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon” by Jeannine Atkins (1999). All three of these have inviting titles, but only Skeers’ book lists Mary Anning as being named “One of the ten most influential British women of science” by the Royal Society of London since that happened in 2010.

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

four-stars