Category: Book Reviews

Maisy’s Town

Maisy’s TownMaisy's Town by Lucy Cousins
Published by Candlewick Press on July 19, 2022
ISBN: 153622443X
Pages: 20
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
three-stars

A board book full of Lucy Cousin’s charm, with the quintessential font and illustrations needed to let the reader know they are still operating in the Maisy oeuvre. Each page is a new scenario that may be necessary in the reader’s future: a supermarket, a library, a clothing store and more. This is a solid addition to a board book collection.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

Shermy & Shake: The Not-So-Nice Neighbor

Shermy & Shake: The Not-So-Nice NeighborShermy and Shake, the Not-So-Nice Neighbor by Kirby Larson, Shinji Fujioka
Published by Candlewick Press on May 9, 2023
Pages: 96
Format: Early Reader
Goodreads
five-stars

A story of an unlikely pair of friends; Shermy and Shake are polar opposites in every way. Shermy is the bookworm, Shake is the get-out-and-go type of kid. Shake is visiting for the summer and time moves quickly with the storyline highlighting the moments where they just don’t understand each other. As the summer progresses, they find more and more in common. This is a good story about finding ways to make friends and finding commonality with those around you. It has an easygoing prose and a nice smattering of illustrations, and any young child will resonate with some of the frustrations (and hunger) that the two main characters feel!

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

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