At the Poles

November 7, 2023

At the Poles by David Elliott, Ellen Rooney
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536205990
Genres: Animals, Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Following his other poetry books, “At the Pond,” “In the Woods,” and “On the Farm,” Elliot takes readers from the Antarctic to the Arctic in this beautifully illustrated book of fifteen poems about creatures that inhabit the North and South poles. There are the commonest oceanic and land animals, such as penguins and walrus, to some lesser known ones, such as krill, Antarctic shag, tardigrade, and Greenland shark. The poetry is clever and humorous at times but always shows respect for the featured creature. Rooney’s accompanying digital and patterned-paper collage portraits of the animals are beautiful and depict the sparseness of the landscape. In comments at the end, the author expands on the animals in the verses. This book will compliment a unit study about polar regions and perhaps serve as a model for students to write their own poetry.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Mine!

November 7, 2023January 17, 2024

Mine! by Candace Fleming, Eric Rohmann
ISBN: 0593181662
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

“Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!” by Candace Fleming is one of my favorite books to read-aloud. “Mine!” may be a close second. This rhythmic read and the repetition has the makings of a storytime classic. Greedy animals have their eyes on a single red apple that hangs at the “tip-tippy top” of a tree, poised to fall at any moment. The mouse, rabbit, fox, deer, and bear all declare the apple to be “MINE!” when it falls. This is followed immediately by different descriptions of how each animal hides. Clever phrases, such as Mouse “zippety-eeked” beneath a leaf to wait, Hare “hoppety-boinged,” and fox “waggety-dashed,” along with Rohmann’s colorful, uncluttered art make this an ideal read-aloud for preschoolers. In the end, none of the greedy animals end up with the apple. It lands with an opossum who is not unhappy that the apple has a worm in it!

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Bears Are Best!: The scoop about how we sniff, sneak, snack, and snooze!

November 7, 2023

Bears Are Best!: The scoop about how we sniff, sneak, snack, and snooze! by Joan Holub, Laurie Keller
ISBN: 0525645330
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

It was difficult to decide if this should be classified as fiction or nonfiction, but there is a lot of factual information about bears so decided on nonfiction. This tongue-in-cheek introduction to the bear family follows a similar design as I Am the Shark (2021) by the same author and illustrator. Each bear believes it is unique but discovers there are other species. Readers will meet a brown bear, a polar bear, an American black bear, a sloth bear, a spectacled bear, a sun bear, a giant panda, and an Asiatic black bear and learn about their distinguishing physical features, habits and habitats, and favorite foods. Finally, a bear-masked octopus tries to join the group, which leads to them discussing bears’ many similarities. The author concludes with a summary of the eight species and reminders that bears can be dangerous but are also threatened around the world. Lighthearted illustrations feature cartoon animals with large eyes and makes use of a fair amount of speech bubbles. This book will appeal to ages 5-9 who like information with a dose of comedy.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Rivka’s Presents

November 7, 2023

Rivka's Presents by Adelina Lirius, Laurie Wallmark
ISBN: 0593482077
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

This moving historical fiction book is likely one that will appeal more to adults than children. During the flu pandemic of 1918, Rivka can’t start school because her father is sick, so she trades for chores with the grocer, the tailor, and an elderly neighbor in exchange for lessons. It is a charming and beautifully illustrated story and a lovely addition to a unit study about immigration for elementary-aged students. Rivka’s determination to learn despite her adversity is admirable even if the extremely well-behaved little sister she is minding is a tad unbelievable. There are Author Notes and Glossaries for English and Yiddish works in the back.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Call Me Adnan

November 6, 2023November 6, 2023

Call Me Adnan by Reem Faruqi
on June 13, 2023
ISBN: 0063284944
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Adnan loves playing table tennis and dreams of becoming a champion. When he wins a local competition, he is excited to qualify for a championship tournament in Florida. His family decides to turn the trip into a “cousin vacation” and to spend Eid with their family while traveling to the tournament. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes the family in Florida and Adnan gives up table tennis. The author uses the analogy of flight (thrust, weight, drag, lift) to tell Adnan’s story. Poignant and heartbreaking, this middle-grade verse novel is a story of grief and the power of family and friends.

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

The Ghost Job

November 3, 2023November 3, 2023

The Ghost Job by Greg Van Eekhout
Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 006325333X
Genres: Horror
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
“The Ghost Job” by Greg Van Eekhout is a thoroughly enjoyable middle grade novel for fans of ghost stories and heist fiction alike. When seventh grader Zenith and her three best friends are killed in an unfortunate science class lab experiment gone wrong, they’ll do anything to try to get out of the afterlife (basically the school auditorium), even if it means stealing a magical device from a very evil, very alive necromancer. Pooling the talents they had when they were alive, and the new powers they find themselves with as ghosts, they pull off a series of heists in preparation for the biggest job of their undead lives. Witty dialogue, snarky humor, delightful side characters (both living and dead), and a few poignant moments between the friends make this a really solid choice for a middle grade collection. This book has universal appeal for all types of readers, and the humor, friendships and bittersweet emotions of the kids make what could be a scary premise a really fun read.

Recommended for grades 5-7.

Lee Remick, York Middle School, York

Two-Headed Chicken: Beak to the Future

October 30, 2023

Two-Headed Chicken: Beak to the Future by Tom Angleberger
Published by Walker Books on 9/12/23
ISBN: 1536223220
Genres: Humor, Science Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
The two-headed chicken is back in this entertaining graphic novel sequel. In this adventure, the two-headed chicken experiences time travel as they search for their missing Astrocap, which allows them to jump from universe to universe. In their quest, they travel to random points in time and encounter a hungry dinosaur, face an angry moose, and meet poet Emily Dickinson. The chaotic plot is fast-paced with many unexpected twists and turns. There is some type of humor on every page and kids will no doubt laugh out loud. One thing that distinguishes this graphic novel from others are the interactive activities readers find along the way, like funny quizzes, a maze, and spot the difference (between two pages). Elementary school readers who appreciate humor and randomness will love this graphic novel.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

Hoops

October 27, 2023

Hoops Hoops: A Graphic Novel by Matt Tavares
Published by Candlewick Press on March 14, 2023
ISBN: 1536201367
Genres: Historical Fiction, Sports
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Hoops is a graphic novel inspired by the true story of the first women’s high school varsity basketball team in a town in Indiana. The girls on this team love to play basketball, but are forced to overcome many obstacles on their path to the playoffs, obstacles the boys’ team doesn’t have to deal with. The girls refuse to be quiet about the inequities and find different ways to fight for what they need. This graphic novel is perfect for upper elementary students. It revolves around the basketball team and their amazing first season, but it also offers a glimpse into life for women in the 1970s and includes elements of friendship and some romance. The pace of this graphic novel is pretty quick and there is a great balance between text heavy panels and pages and panels and pages that are solely illustrations. This would be great for any school or public library collection.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

The Alchemyst – The Graphic Novel

October 26, 2023

The Alchemyst – The Graphic Novel The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Graphic Novel by Chris Chalik, Michael Scott
ISBN: 0593304675
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars
The new graphic novel version of “The Alchemyst – The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel” by Michael Scott is adapted by Nicole Andelfinger and illustrated by Chris Chalik. Twins Sophie and Josh discover that magic is real and that Josh’s bookseller boss is actually the immortal Nicholas Flamel. When a magical book is stolen, the twins must face danger to get it back and save the world. This adaptation of the bestselling young adult fiction series may satisfy fans of the original. The storyline is very close to the original book. Artwork seems a bit stilted and some of the word bubble lettering is very tough to read, but the plot is engaging. Written for ages 12-14, this book is recommended for large YA graphic novel collections where fantasy is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

The Little Match Girl Strikes Back

October 24, 2023

The Little Match Girl Strikes Back by Emma Carroll, Lauren Child
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536233358
Genres: Fairy Tale, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
The Little Match Girl Strikes back is a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic folk tale, but with a social justice focus. In this version, the little match girl has a name- Bridie. She sells matches made in the factory where her mother works. Despite long hours in dangerous working conditions, their family struggles to pay rent and put food on the table. Bridie decides to strike her last three matches instead of selling them, and experiences a bit of magic that shows her a better life for her family and how to accomplish this. Once the magic wears off, Bridie helps to lead a strike at the match factory, demanding pay increases and a safer work environment. The author’s note reveals that this is based on a true story of a London strike in 1888. This chapter book would be most appropriate for upper elementary/middle school students. Readers will enjoy Bridie’s tenacious and fiery spirit, which is reflected in the illustrations that are black and white, save for Bridie’s red hair and the red of the match flame. This is a quick read as the pages are small in size and the font is larger, but the living and working conditions described in the text and the power of the women to improve them, will stick with readers long after they finish reading.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library