Month: March 2024

My Dad THINKS He’s a Pirate

My Dad THINKS He’s a PirateMy Dad Thinks He's a Pirate by Katrina Germein, Tom Jellett
Published by Candlewick Press on August 23, 2023
ISBN: 1536225029
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

An homage to the dad joke, pirate-style. As a family prepares to head to the beach, a young child informs the reader that their dad thinks he is funny, and when the joke that follows is told, we learn that it is a pirate joke and that, in fact, the dad thinks he’s more than funny, he think he’s a pirate. Jokes, puns, and wordplay follow, all pirate-themed and mostly cringe-worthy but in a fun dad-joke way. The illustrations are large and bright and include an entire red-headed family with dad sporting a beard worthy of any pirate. Not necessarily a first purchase, but if pirates are popular and appreciated, this will circulate and would be a good read aloud (in one’s best pirate voice, of course).

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

three-stars

Black Girls: A Celebration of You!

Black Girls: A Celebration of You!Black Girls: A celebration of you! by Dominique Furukawa, Erika Lynne Jones
Published by Harper on September 26, 2023
ISBN: 0063205319
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

An oversized picture book filled with exuberance from its cover to the last page. Depicting Black girls with all skin tones and body types, this is a celebration of all that a child, a Black child, a Black girl can be. It would be nice to get away from heavily-gendered picture books, but since there are a plethora of books about “wonderful you” and “special child”, it is not a bad thing to center all of the talents and paths that a Black girl, one of the most marginalized of all demographics, can exhibit and take. And there are situations depicted in the book that don’t show up in a lot of picture books like a Black girl living with foster parents or shredding at the skate park. The rhyme scheme is often imperfect and a bit forced in places, but with a careful reading, it would make a decent read aloud. There was a missed opportunity to not include a page of back matter listing the Black female history-makers on the last few pages; all of them were recognizable to an adult, but since this is aimed at future innovators and influencers, it would have been a helpful and, perhaps, inspiring inclusion.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

three-stars

Cantora: Mercedes Sosa, the Voice of Latin America

Cantora: Mercedes Sosa, the Voice of Latin AmericaCantora: Mercedes Sosa, the Voice of Latin America by Melisa Fernández Nitsche
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on 9/12/2023
ISBN: 0593645979
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

A solid picture book biography of Argentinian singer Mercedes Sosa for readers in grades 1-3. The book starts with her childhood when she first discovers the power of her voice and moves readers through her escalating fame and her increasing influence with the people of Argentina who were protesting a tyrannical regime. As the book is written for children, the book does not get into any detail about the political climate but makes it clear that the government did not approve of her music and even put her in jail. The book avoids the word exile at first explaining that Sosa had to “flee to Europe” but then does mention that “Three years in exile felt endless…”. The book focuses on the power of Sosa’s songs and the emotions evoked by her presence and her voice. The palette of reds and browns, purple, grey, and ochre is subdued and peaceful, even when dealing with the strife happening throughout Argentina. The author’s note explains the influence Sosa’s music had on her childhood and offers back matter with an extensive timeline, glossary of Spanish phrases, a playlist, and bibliography. A photo of Sosa would have been a welcome addition to that back matter. A thoughtful biography about a lesser-known Latinx icon for an American audience.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars

Runaway Pond

Runaway PondRunaway Pond by Bagram Ibatoulline, Nancy Price Graff
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536219983
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This picture book tells the true story, albeit in a tall-tale sort of way, of a man who outran the charging torrent of an overflowing pond to save a woman who was working at a mill in the water’s path.

The pictures are lovely and capture the seasons of Vermont perfectly. The telling of the story is a little hard to reconcile with the actual event (there is a description of what really happened at the end of the book), but it will appeal to young fans of historical fiction, nonfiction, and American folk legends.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Extraordinary Animals

Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Extraordinary AnimalsChampion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Extraordinary Animals by Aparna Varma, Linda Ashman
on June 6, 2023
ISBN: 1525303503
Genres: Animals, Humor, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems is a collection of poems celebrating the extraordinary features of different animals. The format of this book is fantastic; and it will keep the reader turning pages until the end. The poems about the animals are located on one page and the reader must turn the page to learn what the name of the animal is and what their extraordinary skill is. Examples of the extraordinary skills include: Fastest Flyer, Best Engineer, Most Well-Traveled, Deepest-Dwelling Fish, Stinkiest Animal, etc.

The penciled illustrations are beautiful and eye-catching, giving the reader just a hint of who the animal is on the page with the poem, so when you turn the page you get the full illustration of the animal in their habitat and what their skill is. Very educational with the delight of rhyming poetry, and an added informational paragraph for older readers. Highly recommend this for any library’s poetry collection. Recommended for ages anywhere from 4-10. Five Stars!

five-stars

Breathe Like a Bear First Day of School Worries

Breathe Like a Bear First Day of School WorriesBreathe Like a Bear: First Day of School Worries: A Story with a Calming Mantra and Mindful Prompts (Mindfulness Moments for Kids) by Anni Betts, Kira Willey
ISBN: 0593486722
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Bear, Bird, and Fawn are anxiously making their way to their first day of school – each one worried about being different. They meet a wise owl who gives them a mantra to remind them to take a deep breath and remember their similarities. Full of prompts to spark conversations between caregivers and children, and the (somewhat repetitive) mantra, this book specifically addresses childhood anxiety for big firsts. The story itself is kind and sweet, but the prompts and mantra make this book more for addressing a difficult topic, rather than an everyday go-to read aloud. Recommended for ages 5-6.

Reviewed by Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

two-stars

In the Dark

In the DarkIn the Dark by Corinna Luyken, Kate Hoefler
Published by Alfred A. Knopf on August 29, 2023
ISBN: 0593372832
Genres: Cultural / African American, Folklore
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Witches walked through the trail in the dark woods, making witches brew around a fire, and flying on broomsticks through the air.

~OR~

People walked through the woods, admiring the wildlife, making a campfire for light in the darkness, and crafting beautiful kites to fly in the breeze.

This story begins alternating between two very different perspectives (one of the so-called “witches” and the other of the townspeople), showcasing misunderstandings and spreading stereotypes, until their stories intertwine and everyone realizes they are actually more alike than they thought. This book has lovely illustrations and an important message. However, the book itself is rotated so that the pages turn from bottom to top, making it cumbersome to hold. The alternating storyline also seems potentially difficult for children to follow. Recommended for ages 6-7.

Reviewed by Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

three-stars

Bear with me

Bear with meBear with me by Kerascoët, Marie Pommepuy, Sébastien Cosset
ISBN: 0593307674
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This beautifully illustrated and nearly wordless picture book perfectly captures the life of a growing child and their favorite teddy bear. The child and teddy bear are inseparable – that is, until the first day of school. The child bravely leaves Bear behind, but sweetly remembers Bear throughout the day, and joyfully reunites with Bear after school. This adorable story is easy to relate to, especially for the first day of school jitters, or needing to wean from a security blanket or lovey. A great addition to any picture book collection. Recommended for ages 4-6.

Reviewed by Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Where I Live: Poems about My Home, My Street, and My Town

Where I Live: Poems about My Home, My Street, and My TownWhere I Live: Poems About My Home, My Street, and My Town by Hyewon Yum, Paul B. Janeczko
Published by Candlewick on March 14, 2023
ISBN: 1536200948
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Where I Live is an anthology of children’s poems about everyday life in different homes and communities.  The poems are from a diverse group of poets and the watercolor illustrations reflect the diversity found in different places. Some of the topics most children will be familiar with, like shoes, cats, and school.  Others highlight a more urban or rural experience, like a block party or playing in the sprinkler.  Kids might enjoy checking this out as an introduction to poetry. Teachers could also use this anthology to show what happens in different types of communities or to teach literary elements, as many are utilized in these poems.  This would be a great addition to any children’s poetry collection.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

Bear and Bird: The Stars and Other Stories

Bear and Bird: The Stars and Other StoriesBear and Bird: The Stars and Other Stories by Jarvis
Published by Candlewick ISBN: 1536234575
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The second installment in the “Bear and Bird” series, Jarvis hits the mark once again with his knack for blending whimsical, lively illustrations with equally witty stories. Bear and Bird are best friends, on the fast track to being up there with the greats, a la Frog & Toad. This irreverently funny collection of short stories starts with Bear and Bird in the middle of a mutual silent treatment, and though neither of them can remember exactly why they’re fighting, they DO know they both need a new best friend. As they separately set out to find a new bestie, Bear & Bird are drawn back together in an unlikely way & this theme of unwavering support and friendship is woven through each story and each goof-up and misunderstanding along the way.

Short story collection for newly independent readers, this series has the feel of an instant classic. The illustrations will capture prospective readers’ eyes and Bear & Bird’s flawlessly flawed dynamic will keep kiddos coming back for installments yet to come. 

 

Reviewed by Paiten Price – Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, ME

four-stars