Pete the Cat and the Family Tree

July 22, 2026

Pete the Cat and the Family Tree (I Can Read Phonics): Learn to Read with Pete the Cat in a Phonics-Based Story for Beginning Readers (Ages 4-8) by James Dean, Kimberly Dean
Published by Harper ISBN: 0063350491
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Designated by the publisher as a Level 2 early reader focusing on long vowels and consonant digraphs, this decodable Pete the Cat title prioritizes phonetic pattern practice over complex plot.

The straightforward storyline follows Pete as he builds a family tree, learning about his relatives’ hobbies and connecting them to his own through his imagination. While the narrative serves strictly as a vehicle for decoding practice, emerging readers will benefit from the highly controlled vocabulary, short sentence structures, and predictable text patterns.

Dean’s signature bright, cheerful art style remains highly appealing and provides visual scaffolding for decoding unfamiliar words. Because the confidence boost of independent reading successfully offsets the minimal narrative action, this title is an excellent tool for families seeking high-interest, familiar characters to extend at-home practice. A valuable addition to school and public libraries building out structured literacy and decodable text collections.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS/MLIS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough School District

RV There Yet?

July 22, 2026July 22, 2026

RV There Yet? by Suzanne Nelson
on May 12, 2026
ISBN: 0593567056
Genres: Adventure, Family
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Cricket, Flossie, Parker, Newt, and Darwin are new step-siblings preparing for summer vacation when their newly-wed parents show up with a rundown RV and plans for a familymoon – a honeymoon for the whole family. Along with their dog, Archimedes, and a stow-away snake, the family heads to Yellowstone National Park to explore the park. As with any road trip, things don’t always go as planned. Cricket, the oldest sibling, is upset about missing her writing camp and resents having to look after the other four mischievous children. When Flossie runs away and a bear shows up, everyone must learn to bend and compromise for this new family to work together.

This book will appeal to upper elementary students who like humorous, cozy stories. While all of the events fit together, many of the events are shorter which might help students who are building their reading stamina for longer story arcs.

It also tackles issues about blending a family, without being too serious. There are some nice geography and travel connections for teachers looking to make content connections to ELA and social studies.

Reviewed by Jaime Beal, RSU 40, Waldoboro

The Cat Prophecies: Claw Quest

July 21, 2026July 21, 2026

The Cat Prophecies: Claw Quest Claw Quest (The Cat Prophecies #1) by Jorge Enrique Paz, Nik Korpon
Published by Labyrinth Road on June 9, 2026
ISBN: 0593906284
Genres: Adventure, Cultural / Latin America, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Set in modern-day Colombia, this story is a fun revamp of a classic plot structure about a young teen boy struggling to fit in, only to discover, with the help of other outcasts (and a cat), that he may be the chosen one destined to defeat the forces of evil. Ideal for upper elementary and middle grade readers, Claw Quest stands out for its celebration of Latine culture and its dual use of Spanish and English. The bilingual text should not dissuade non-Spanish readers from enjoying it, as most Spanish words and phrases are translated in context of the story. It is clear that the authors put care and effort to make this story accessible to a vast audience while remaining faithful to Colombian culture.

The writing is fluid, well-paced, and engaging. Characters feel well fleshed-out with their own uniquely identifiable traits. The main character has Tourette Syndrome, and is an empathetic representation of children with disabilities or neurological conditions who struggle with being bullied. The Juaica, warrior cats whose bodies transform when in their realm of Iguakay, are a fun magical element. However, a weakness of the writing is the description of the Juaica in their magical form. It is hard to tell if the author intended for them to move like humans with cat-like features, or simply like oversized, muscular cats. Either way, this detail likely won’t detract from the readers’ enjoyment of the book’s message that anyone may be the ‘chosen one’ if they choose kindness and embrace their individuality.

This book would be a wonderful addition into a library’s Fantasy Fiction section. The vibrant cover would also look great on a book display!

Reviewed by Jada Gastia, Williams Elementary School, Oakland, ME

Bear for a Day

July 15, 2026

Bear for a Day by Corey R. Tabor
ISBN: 0063373602
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Ahem.

POV: you’re a bear, and your best friend is a mouse, and you ride a motorcycle. Corey Tabor (creator of the Fox early reader series and Cranky, Crabby Crow: Saves the World (2025)) takes readers on a delightful meta romp as a boy explores a day in the life of a bear. We open from the perspective of the bear, watching its eyes crack open and let in the sun. It’s unclear at first who is narrating this experience, as we only see the life of the bear, and the simple black text on white background below. But soon enough there’s a second voice – a green speech bubble interrupts our narrator’s text at the bottom of the page. Slowly a second narrative emerges, as more unseen voices chime in with questions, incredulity, and some suggestions, portrayed with different colors and speech bubbles below the images. Just as Bear and its best friend Mouse are reunited, the perspective shifts. Suddenly we’re in a classroom, and we can see who has been voicing the narrative this whole time: a boy (who suspiciously shares the name of our author) and his classmates, whose speech bubbles jump into the illustrations and are paired with individuals for the first time. Corey’s teacher also chimes in, indicating that his wild motorcycle and hot air balloon story may or may not have fulfilled the assignment for “animal presentations.”

This unconventional narrative structure may be convoluted to describe, but comes across elegantly and easily with Tabor’s careful pairing of text, color, and images. Friendly multi-media illustrations made using crayons, pencil, watercolors, and other styles ground our perspective in the bear’s, and allow for fun comparisons between the bear’s life and that of our narrator. Humor is infused throughout, from the opening “ahem” to the audience’s interjections, to a final gag in the endpapers. This is a fun way to subvert story time expectations and keep elementary age readers guessing.

Reviewed by Carolyn Gallmeyer, Lithgow Public Library, Augusta

I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea

July 15, 2026

I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Chris Raschka, Jan Milusich, Janice Milusich
Published by Random House Children's Books on October 7, 2025
ISBN: 0593308174
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This extraordinarily rich picture book is a sensory feast told from the perspective of Nevaeh, a young, blind girl with light brown hair and blue eyes. Drawing on her experience as a teacher of the blind and visually impaired, Milusich takes readers on a journey through the seasons. Nevaeh serves as an expert guide, illustrating how the year smells, feels, sounds, and tastes: spring smells like hyacinths, summer feels like floating in the ocean, fall sounds like the “Honk, honk, honk” of migrating birds, and winter tastes like fresh snow.

Nevaeh lives a rich, full life, enjoying the same seasonal milestones as her sighted peers. Her mindful awareness and joy are perfectly captured as she jumps into leaf piles, smells spring blossoms, and builds a snowman. Raschka’s watercolor and oil pastel illustrations strike a beautiful balance between representation and abstraction, giving sighted readers a luscious understanding of the world experienced through non-visual senses.

This title serves as an excellent mentor text for discussing how a character’s unique perspective shapes a narrative. Highly recommended for public and school library collections.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS/MLIS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

Wombat Waiting

July 14, 2026

Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate
on 5/5/26
ISBN: 0063221179
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Wildfires have struck California and Henry and his family, like many others, are evacuating to a shelter. Animals, too, are fleeing to safety, but Wombat, a stray dog, is hearing a message to go towards the fire, not away from it. Wombat ends up at the shelter, trying to determine who his destiny is. He stays on the bench outside but doesn’t allow any people to get close to him. Eventually Wombat realizes that his destiny, her human, is Henry. Wombat quickly learns that Henry is afraid of dogs and she works hard to show Henry that she is actually friendly and loving. It takes some time, but Wombat finally finds who she belongs with, and she waits at the shelter with Henry, his moms, and sister, until they find a new place to call home.

Fans of Katherine Applegate will love this sweet novel in verse about belonging, community, and perseverance. It’s not easy for Wombat to trust, but she learns to trust her instincts, especially when it comes to Henry. Henry loves animals, but a previous incident has caused him to be afraid of dogs. As he heals after the loss of his house, Henry opens himself to Wombat, who helps. This book would be a great addition to libraries serving elementary students.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

That Which Feeds Us

July 12, 2026

That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall
Published by Random House Genres: Horror, Suspense
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
four-stars
Nineteen-year-old Lehua’s twin sister Ohia is missing, and desperate to find her and fix their recently damaged relationship, Lehua tracks her down to an isolated Hawaiian resort. Panic sets in when Ohia isn’t there, and Lehua is offered a spot at the resort for a few days until she can catch a boat home.

Things are off immediately, with both the guests and the manager, and Lehua’s situation gets more dire the more she discovers about the island and its guests.

A hunger for immortality meets The White Lotus in this YA horror about the atrocities of colonialism, sugar plantations, and the exploitation of the Native Hawaiian population. Like many Gothic stories, it’s very slow for about two thirds, but it’s worth pushing through for the last hundred pages or so, which are gory, action-packed, and full of unsettling reveals. A good recommendation for folk or Indigenous horror fans who can withstand a sluggish start.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

Galaxy Mapper

July 10, 2026July 10, 2026

Galaxy Mapper: The Luminous Discoveries of Astrophysicist Hélène Courtois by Allie Summers, Sian James
on November 18, 2025
ISBN: 1536228974
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
If readers haven’t already heard of Hélène Courtois and her marvelous contributions to astrophysics, this picture book biography illuminates her amazing life. This picture book, through mit Kids Press, starts at Courtois’ early years mapping her French countryside and onto her experiences being a woman in the sciences. Allie Summers writes a compelling tale of how she discovers Laniakea in 2013, a special supercluster of galaxies that includes our Milky Way.

This is a great contribution to any picture book biography section. The graphic design illustrations are bright and eye-catching and the writing is full of new science terms for kids to learn in tandem with Courtois’ life story. End papers include her Timeline, a Glossary of Galactic Terms, “Other Fiercely Intelligent Women in Astronomy,” and a guide to putting your telescope in the right location. Recommended for Ages 5-9.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

El Toro & Friends: Tough Times

July 9, 2026July 9, 2026

El Toro & Friends: Tough Times Tough Times: A Graphic Novel―A Funny Lucha Libre Wrestling Story with Spanish words for Kids (Ages 6-10) (World of ¡Vamos!) by Elaine Bay, Raúl the Third
ISBN: 0063396289
Genres: Cultural / Latin America, Juvenile Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Humorous, Sports
Format: Graphic Novel, Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
El Toro & Friends is back with another installment of luchadores stories. In Tough Times, we learn about what El Toro was like when he was starting out as Kid Toro and how he rose to the top. Raul the Third illustrates how Kid Toro was defeated time and time again and how he wonders if he’ll ever win a fight. His hero pulls him aside and reminds him that he also had to lose many times before he became a champion. Renewed in his determination to get to the top, Kid Toro beats Al “The Crane” Scorpio and remembers to have fun, too!

Another great release from Raúl the Third’s world of El Toro & Friends. For multilingual readers, these books are excellent at blending English and Spanish in world bubbles. These books can be shelved as graphic novels, picture books, or early readers which checks a lot of boxes for different readers. Recommended for Ages 6-10.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

Bing’s Cherries

July 9, 2026July 9, 2026

Bing’s Cherries Bing's Cherries by Julia Kuo, Livia Blackburne
Published by Random House Children's Books Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Folklore
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
A new American tall tale about Ah Bing has been created by Livia Blackburne and Julia Kuo. This story is inspired by the real-life Chinese Immigrant horticulturalist who dedicated much of his life cultivating the popular Bing Cherry in Oregon. Blackburne’s story is about a father and daughter eating dark red cherries in their backyard in July. “At night, after I’ve washed the cherry juice off my hands, I imagine Ah Bing’s life.”

She imagines Ah Bing is larger than life walking through the San Francisco shore. The gentle giant is given a bag of seeds to plant in the ground. As he sings of the sadness of being a Chinese Immigrant in America, a giant tear falls from his face into the ground where he planted the seeds. From the ground sprouts the most magnificent cherry saplings with snow white blossoms and beautiful dark cherries. Bing’s cherries will forever be remembered.

A well-written and eye-catching folktale picture book based on a real Chinese American immigrant to read alongside stories such as Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan. Ages 4+

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath