Month: June 2021

The Girl From the Sea

The Girl From the SeaThe Girl from the Sea by Molly Ostertag
Published by Graphix on June 1, 2021
ISBN: 1338540572
Pages: 256
Genres: Fantasy, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

A stunning graphic novel from the author of the Witch Boy trilogy, this one aimed at a slightly older audience. Morgan lives on an island with her divorced mom and her angry younger brother. She is gay but has not come out to anyone, not even her three closest friends; she is afraid of being different preferring to stay closeted and blend in. When she kisses a mysterious girl on the beach, she unknowingly binds that girl to her because she is a selkie and a kiss is a promise. Morgan is simultaneously thrilled and terrified by this new development. Instead of dealing with it or talking with anyone, she hides Keltie and their growing involvement. A story that illustrates the difficulty a teen can have coming to grips with who they are and how to communicate with others, even those who seem to be accepting and open. The artwork is lovely and Keltie is a full-bodied girl who seems fearless yet has a secret of her own. Hand to fans of Tillie Walden and  Vera Brosgol, or to those who enjoy a strong coming of age story.  Highly recommend.

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

five-stars

Earth Hour

Earth HourEarth Hour: A Lights-Out Event for Our Planet by Bao Luu, Nanette Heffernan
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing on January 21, 2020
ISBN: 1580899420
Pages: 32
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

One of the most difficult parts of dealing with our climate crisis is explaining it to kids in a way that doesn’t make them shut down and feel helpless and overwhelmed (I suppose that’s true for everyone, not just kids). Earth Hour is about an event I had no idea existed but from now on my family will be taking part in it. Every year around the equinox in March, people across the world turn off their lights at 8:30 p.m. for one hour. It’s an international energy conserving effort that started in Sydney, Australia and has spread worldwide. I love that this simple act can unite us all and draw attention away from the sheer enormity of climate change and toward what we can do if we work together globally. More information at www.earthhour.org

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Wheels

WheelsWheels by Brian Lovelock, Sally Sutton
Published by Candlewick Press on June 2, 2020
ISBN: 1536211087
Pages: 32
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

There are so many vehicle books out there. So. Many. But if you have a vehicle-obsessed toddler or preschooler you’ve probably experienced feeling like you’ve read all the books and that there can never be too many books about “big things that go”.  Wheels is a welcome new addition to that genre; it’s fast-paced and loud and colorful and exciting. It’s easy to memorize the pattern in the text and kids will immediately catch on to when they’re supposed to shout. Fun (and loud) book to read to preschoolers.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten free Library, Bath

four-stars

From Ed’s To Ned’s

From Ed’s To Ned’sFrom Ed's to Ned's by Gideon Sterer, Lucy Ruth Cummins
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on June 2, 2020
ISBN: 0525648070
Pages: 48
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a fun rhyming book about a neighborhood of kids moving from house to house using different modes of transportation. They climb, zip-line, parachute, and even cannon-ball blast themselves to the house next door and pick up two more friends at each stop. The illustrations are as entertaining and light as the text and the book reminds me a lot of my own neighborhood, where it wouldn’t seem out of place at all to see all the kids tightrope walking between all of our houses. The page of the kids happily surrounded by boxes is priceless. Great read aloud book, especially for active tinkerers.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

All of Sudden and Forever

All of Sudden and ForeverAll of a Sudden and Forever: Help and Healing After the Oklahoma City Bombing by Chris Barton, Nicole Xu
Published by Carolrhoda Books (R) on February 4, 2020
ISBN: 1541526694
Pages: 40
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Chris Barton uses a single American elm tree that withstood the devastation of the Oklahoma City bombing as the center of this book about grief and perseverance. The year after the bombing seedlings from the tree were started and eventually used for a memorial and for gifts given to those also grieving major losses. The seedlings continued to be propagated and became symbols for the strength of the human spirit. This book has sparse, but effective, text and minimal, but lovely, illustrations. It’s restrained and heart-wrenching and reverent.  I can only imagine how difficult it is to write a children’s book about grief, and especially one that embraces how long it can take for a single person, or a nation, to recover, but Chris Barton has done it beautifully here. This isn’t a book I would choose as an everyday read aloud but it has its place as a discussion starter or a comfort after a traumatic event.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free library, Bath

five-stars

Honeybee

HoneybeeHoneybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera by Candace Fleming, Eric Rohmann
Published by Neal Porter Books on February 4, 2020
ISBN: 0823442853
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This book fills me with absolute awe for honeybees. I thought I knew bees are busy and I thought I knew that they work altruistically and tirelessly for their entire, short, lives for the sake of the hive but, really, I had no idea. The book follows the life of one worker bee, Apis, as she emerges from larvae-hood and embarks on her journey. She immediately starts working and the book follows her from one task to the next and stresses how much work is accomplished before she even leaves the hive to look for nectar. This book is really fascinating and is beautifully illustrated. It’s perfect for younger grades but could also be used for slightly older students (4th-5th grade) looking to learn about bees.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Regina is not a little dinosaur

Regina is not a little dinosaurRegina Is Not a Little Dinosaur by Andrea Zuill
Published by Schwartz & Wade Books on April 13, 2021
ISBN: 0593127285
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Regina is a young dinosaur and though her mother disagrees, Regina is ready to hunt! She practices all her hunting skills—her glare, her stalk, her bite! When an unsuspected animal frightens Regina (a bee), she’s sent running back to her mom for comfort. Regina’s mom gives her a list of things she can hunt, and Regina is off and hunting! This is a cute, somewhat humorous story of growing up and being little at the same time. The ink illustrations are full of emotion and humor and really help bring Regina to life. Recommended for fans of Zuill’s previous work and dinosaur fans everywhere. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

The Midnight Fair

The Midnight FairThe Midnight Fair by Gideon Sterer, Mariachiara Di Giorgio
Published by Candlewick Press on February 2, 2021
ISBN: 153621115X
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a beautifully illustrated wordless picture book about what happens at the fair during the night when it’s closed. Not surprisingly, the animals of the forest come out and take full advantage of all the fun the fair has to offer—they ride the carousel, they play the games, they eat the food. The mixed media illustrations feature gorgeous and brightly colored watercolors that really convey the magic of the fair at night. Hand this book to fans of wordless books who love a little imagination and fun in their stories. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

The Mending Summer

The Mending SummerThe Mending Summer by Ali Standish
Published by HarperCollins on May 25, 2021
ISBN: 0062985655
Pages: 368
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Realistic Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Georgia is having a rough time at home—her mother is super busy with school work, and her father is working nights. The man that comes home at the end of his shifts often doesn’t resemble her father at all, he stumbles, he’s angry, and she refers to him as the Shadow Man. Georgia’s mom sends her to live with her great aunt Marigold in the country. When she gets there, she’s perplexed by how Marigold lives alone and off the land. As she’s exploring the woods around the house, Georgia meets a girl named Angela and the discover a lake in the middle of the forest. The lake turns out to be magical, granting wishes when the girls throw in wishing stones. As the summer goes on and things get more and more difficult for Georgia at home with her parents, the magic seems to both help and confuse her.

This middle grade fiction book tackles alcoholism and addiction in a very accessible and graceful way. It is a story of friendship, finding your voice, and family with a little magic on the side. Recommended for fans of realistic fiction and for readers 4th grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite

Burt the Beetle Doesn’t BiteBurt the Beetle Doesn't Bite! by Ashley Spires
Published by Kids Can Press on June 1, 2021
ISBN: 1525301462
Pages: 56
Genres: Animals, Humor, Non-Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

Burt is a June Beetle, though he insists he likes May just as much! This is a funny and educational look at beetles by well-loved author, Ashley Spires. In her typical mix of humor and fact, Spires reaches audiences who may not otherwise pick up nonfiction. The book is set up in the graphic novel format so it will also appeal to reluctant and emerging readers. The illustrations are humorous cartoons with anthropomorphized animals. Mixed in with the facts about bugs, there is a story of perseverance and friendship. Recommended for wide purchase and for readers 2nd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars