Category: Book Reviews

Bugging Out

Bugging OutElinor Wonders Why: Bugging Out by Jorge Cham, Daniel Whiteson
Series: Elinor Wonders Why
Published by Kids Can Press on June 6, 2023
ISBN: 1525306219
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

Elinor Wonders Why: Bugging Out is a story about a group of animal friends deciding which insect they will dress up as for school. Elinor chooses a butterfly, and through her costume-making the reader learns all about butterflies. This graphic novel does a good job of integrating scientific factoids about the insect without overwhelming the reader, with more information given at the end of the story for those interested. A nice addition to nonfiction sections, and a good graphic novel to hand to a child going through their insect phase.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

The Digger and the Butterfly

The Digger and the ButterflyThe Digger and the Butterfly (The Digger Series) by Joseph Kuefler
Published by Balzer + Bray on May 23, 2023
ISBN: 0063237946
Pages: 48
Genres: Mental Health, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

The Digger and the Butterfly is the story of a group of construction vehicles who are very busy, until Digger feed a caterpillar and said caterpillar crafts a cocoon on Digger, causing him to have to sit by and watch his coworkers while he waits for the cocoon to hatch. This book sneakily teaches us about mindfulness very successfully, as Digger begins to notice the world around him in a way he hadn’t before. The illustrations are as colorful and joyful as the subject matter. This is an easy purchase for any collection, trucks and mindfulness? Something for everyone.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Where’s the King?

Where’s the King?Where's the King? by Ingela P. Arrhenius
Published by Candlewick Press on April 4, 2023
ISBN: 1536234079
Pages: 12
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
three-stars

Where’s The King is a peekaboo board book, with felt pieces for baby to remove and find out where the very British answers to the questions are hiding. This feels as though the audience was meant for a UK audience, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good teaching tool for the younger crowd. A fine addition to a board book collection, but be prepared to replace and repair the felt flaps.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

From Here to There: A First Book of Maps

From Here to There: A First Book of MapsFrom Here to There: A First Book of Maps by Vivian French, Ya-Ling Huang
Published by Candlewick Press on May 16, 2023
ISBN: 1536225118
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

From Here to There is a delightful and accessible introduction to maps. Told through the story of Zane inviting his friend Anna over to his house by drawing her a map, Anna and her dad begin to draw maps of their own, inspired by Zane’s creation. The reader learns along with Anna, through beautiful illustrations, different ways to create maps, including family trees. This is a lovely addition to any collection and especially good for those precocious explorers out there.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Desert Jungle

Desert JungleDesert Jungle by Jeannie Baker
Published by Candlewick Press on May 9, 2023
Pages: 40
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Desert Jungle is the story of a young boy going to stay with his grandfather in a desert valley. This book is meticulously illustrated through collage that leaps off the page and gives the reader the sense of mystery, fear, and eventual wonder the protagonist feels when he begins to explore the wilderness around him. A beautiful love letter to a part of the outdoors that is often under-appreciated for its singular beauty, this is a must-have for any collection.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Jackie Ormes Draw the Future: The Remarkable Life of a Pioneering Cartoonist

Jackie Ormes Draw the Future: The Remarkable Life of a Pioneering CartoonistJackie Ormes Draws the Future: The Remarkable Life of a Pioneering Cartoonist by Liz Montague
Published by Random House Studio on May 16, 2023
ISBN: 0593426541
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Jackie Ormes Draws the Future is a biography about the artist Jackie Ormes. The book’s illustrations are an homage to Ormes’s drawing style and highlight the ebbs and flows of the story well. The biography spotlights her life from childhood through to her final largest illustrative success: Patty-Jo. An oft-overlooked figure in American history, this is a worthwhile supplement to any biography section.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community

You, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and CommunityYou, Me, We: A Celebration of Peace and Community by Arun Gandhi, Bethany Hegedus, Andrés Landazábal
Published by Candlewick Press on June 13, 2023
ISBN: 1536217441
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

You, Me, We is a picture book about finding peace in every moment of our life. Wide-ranging, it tells us that peace can be found in the big and the small, the movement and the stillness of everyday. The prose is simple and pairs well with the illustrations, which features a wide variety of people experiencing peaceful moments. A worthwhile addition to a collection: perhaps for those cultivating a mindfulness collection.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

What Matters Most

What Matters MostWhat Matters Most by Emma Dodd
Published by Templar on May 2, 2023
ISBN: 1536229784
Pages: 22
Genres: Animals, Realistic Fiction
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
five-stars

Emma Dodd’s What Matters Most is a lyrical poem musing on the meaning of life. It uses a parent horse and a foal to illustrate the point, with highly evocative artwork that reflects the poetry on each page. A worthwhile addition to any collection, this is a rhyming read aloud that is sure to leave both reader and listener feeling loved.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

One Tiny Treefrog: A Countdown to Survival

One Tiny Treefrog: A Countdown to SurvivalOne Tiny Treefrog: A Countdown to Survival by Tony Piedra, Mackenzie Joy
Published by Candlewick Press on February 14, 2023
ISBN: 1536219487
Pages: 43
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

One Tiny Treefrog is a counting nonfiction book that takes young readers through the life cycle of a treefrog, starting with 10 tadpoles growing in their eggs and ending with 1 treefrog. Along the way, the tadpoles encounter predators, causing their numbers to decrease. This book is a gentle introduction for young children to predators. The bold, colorful illustrations dominate each page and include the English and Latin names for the predators. The text is minimal with only one sentence or less per page. Most of the content is found in the back matter including information about the predators and a diagram of the red-eyed treefrog life cycle. This book would be great for preschool age kids who love animals and are ready to start learning about natural selection. Kids will no doubt love the vivid illustrations that capture the Costa Rican habitat of the treefrog.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

five-stars

Conjure Island

Conjure IslandConjure Island by Eden Royce
Published by Walden Pond Press on June 27, 2023
ISBN: 0062899619
Pages: 320
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Due to her grandmother’s illness, Del must spend the summer with her great grandmother, who she didn’t know existed. Her great grandmother, Nana Rose, lives on an island in South Carolina and runs a school that teaches “conjure magic” with the goal of preserving the rich culture of formerly enslaved people. Del is skeptical but slowly starts to believe in this magic and realizes she is in the perfect place to find the answer to questions her family won’t answer. Specifically, why did her grandmother leave Nemmine Island so long ago and why won’t she talk about Nana Rose? This summer is important for Del as she learns about the importance of friendship and she develops a connection with her family that she didn’t know was missing. Middle grade readers will enjoy this stand alone fantasy novel. The setting is unique and there is enough intrigue and potential danger to keep readers engaged.

Reviewed  by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars