Category: Book Reviews

Building

BuildingBuilding by Henry Cole
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on June 21, 2022
ISBN: 0063136554
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Henry Cole returns with another beautifully illustrated book about nature. This time, it’s the life and work of beavers. From building dams to building families, this book covers all aspects of beaver life. As with many of Cole’s books, the illustrations really make the book. The story is good though a bit slow for younger readers and those who desire a more fast-paced picture book. The story also ends a bit abruptly and unexpectedly. The line drawings coupled with a few splashes of acrylic color turn this book into a real work of art. The details drawn into each illustration are impressive and really give the works a life-like quality. Recommended for one-on-one reading for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

A Gift for Nana

A Gift for NanaA Gift for Nana by Lane Smith
Published by Random House Studio on May 10, 2022
ISBN: 0593430336
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Rabbit wants to find the perfect gift for his grandma. It’s not a holiday or her birthday, he just really wants to give her a gift. Convinced by a crow to go on a long journey, rabbit encounters all sorts of things—the moon, a volcano, and more. Though they all have gifts to offer, none of them seems just right. When rabbit gets to the gift mentioned by the crow, it turns out to be just right.

This is a sweet story of kind hearted adventure. Rabbit is thoughtful and conscious of things that would make his grandmother happy. The illustrations are full of little details, loads of colors, and really help bring life to the story. Recommended for one-on-one reading for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Welcome the New Kid/The New Kid Welcome

Welcome the New Kid/The New Kid WelcomeThe New Kid Welcome: Welcome the New Kid: A Flip-It Story by Suzanne Slade, Nicole Miles
Published by Rodale Kids on July 1, 2022
ISBN: 0593426320
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Plot twist! Or rather, book twist! Two different stories, two different outcomes, same words. This palindromic narrative literally turns the moment and thoughts around newcomers into the community on its head. The stories are told back-to-back, in first person plural, (the “we” voice), creating a powerful sense of control about the outcome for its readers. Text from The New Kid Welcome, “Check them out. So different from me – and my friends.” becomes “They’re not so different from me – and my friends. Check them out.” in Welcome the New Kid.

The illustrations of The New Kid Welcome depict a group of unsmiling children with different skin tones, differently abled, excluding the “new kid” (a White girl) from activities while Welcome the New Kid, the illustrations show the same children, smiling and inclusive, interacting with the same new kid. Illustrations play with “right-side up/upside-down” concepts as well.

The New Kid Welcome, the less charitable story, is the front cover (Welcome the New Kid includes the ISBN on its cover) and provides a less interesting arc than if it were the “second” story, but provides a happier ending this way. Readers will find this form engaging and will be excited to point out where and how the narrative flips. A helpful layout in the center of the book shows the text of each story side-by-side. Pair this with Someone New by Anne Sibley O’Brien.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

four-stars

Alexander von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist & Environmental Pioneer

Alexander von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist & Environmental PioneerAlexander Von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist & Environmental Pioneer by Danica Novgorodoff
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on February 22, 2022
ISBN: 1524773085
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Alexander von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist & Environmental Pioneer Novgorodoff, Danica (au. & ill.)

This picture book by Danica Novgorodoff (award-winning graphic novelist), blends sparkling text and captivating illustrations to tell the life story of Alexander von Humboldt, known as the Father of Ecology for his scientific work demonstrating interconnectedness of living things within an ecosystem. Quotes from Humboldt’s personal narratives are woven through the text and illustrations.

Novgorodoff presents a full picture of Humboldt (1769-1859), whose curiosity about the natural world put him “out of step” with his family and those around him. She is careful, through text and illustrations, to tell his story without generalizing the indigenous people he encounters during his travels, and acknowledges that many of the primary accounts were Eurocentric. The illustrations and diagrams are simple and vivid but provide detail and information for visual learners and readers.

Primary and secondary resources are an important feature of this picture book biography. The book is rich in back matter: timeline, quotation sources, maps as endpages, notes on the text – all work together (a backmatter ecosystem!) to enrich this account of his life.

Naturalists (any child who lays on the ground to examine a bug’s progress) will see themselves in this story about where curiosity can take a person. This is a wonderful example of how a picture book biography can provide enough information for a deep dive about an interesting subject, and still deliver the story in a way that is accessible to younger readers. This book would be a great read-aloud for younger children, and could be used with students through fifth grade, with attention to all the resources within the covers, outside the narrative. Highly recommended! Ten out of ten!

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

five-stars

The Notebook Keeper

The Notebook KeeperThe Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border by Magdalena Mora, Stephen Briseño
Published by Random House Studio on June 28, 2022
ISBN: 0593307054
Pages: 40
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border” is a picture book based off of a true story. A mother and her daughter travel to the border, seeking asylum in the United States. They must first speak with the notebook keeper there, who writes down their names and gives them a number. Once their number is called, they are allowed to cross the border. We find out that the notebook keeper is a volunteer who eventually passes the duty along to another. This continued until the covid-19 pandemic began.

Written by Stephen Briseño and illustrated by Magdalena Mora, this book features bright and colorful large-scale illustrations that draw you in to the story. Themes of kindness and helping others make this book a suggested purchase for most libraries. An author’s note about the true story, a photograph of one of the notebook keepers, and a list of sources are included at the back of the book. Written for children age 4 – 8, this book is recommended for elementary level library collections.

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

four-stars

Chester Keene Cracks the Code

Chester Keene Cracks the CodeChester Keene Cracks the Code by Kekla Magoon
Published by Wendy Lamb Books on July 5, 2022
ISBN: 1524715999
Pages: 293
Genres: Mystery, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Chester has never known his father but is convinced his father is a spy because his father sends him occasional gifts like binoculars, books on espionage, and spy kits. When Chester discovers an email address in one of the packages, he begins corresponding with his father. When a mysterious clue appears on his front door, Chester believes his father is in trouble and he must solve the puzzle to save his dad. At school a classmate named Skye appears at his lunch table with another mysterious clue and they realize that they must work together to solve the mystery. Spending their afternoons at the local bowling alley, Chester and Skye stumble upon a criminal conspiracy and mistakenly think this is the crime they must solve.

Chester is a loner so it is a challenge for him to work with Skye. He is anxious and compulsively cleans his apartment and regiments his schedule because he hopes this will please his father. His relationship with his mother becomes strained as she grows closer to her boyfriend. Chester is also being bullied. Middle school is certainly stressful for Chester!

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

five-stars

Booked (Graphic Novel)

Booked (Graphic Novel)Booked by Dawud Anyabwile, Kwame Alexander
Published by Etch/Clarion Books on July 12, 2022
ISBN: 0358161819
Pages: 320
Genres: Sports
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

The graphic novel adaptation of Alexander’s popular verse novel about a soccer-obsessed middle schooler will be very popular. Nick is dealing with his parents’ divorce, bullies, and having to compete against his best friend on the soccer field. Best of all is the cool school librarian sporting a mohawk and always there with life advice and a book to read. Nick’s father has created a dictionary just for Nick which might be one reason Nick has a flair for words, especially malapropisms and writing in blackout style. In addition to Alexander’s gift for wordplay, he also writes realistically about depression and middle school.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars

Rise of the School for Good and Evil

Rise of the School for Good and EvilRise of the School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani
Published by HarperCollins on June 7, 2022
Pages: 356
Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
This book is the prequel to the popular series School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. This is an exciting adventure for readers familiar with the series, but it is also enjoyable for those who are new to it. Rhian and Rafal are immortal brothers, one Good and one Evil. They are School Masters at a school of magic. Their goal is to maintain the balance of Good and Evil in the Woods, which they are able to do for a long time. But now that balance seems off, and each brother is forced to do things that test their loyalty to each other and to the school they are entrusted to run. This book, appropriate for 3-7th graders, has new and familiar characters, and is full of unexpected plot twists. It is an entertaining book for fans of fairy tales or fantasy because not only is it face-paced and full of intrigue, it also forces readers to question who is Good and who is Evil.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

If the World Were 100 Animals: A Visual Guide to Earth’s Amazing Creatures

If the World Were 100 Animals: A Visual Guide to Earth’s Amazing CreaturesIf the World Were 100 Animals: A Visual Guide to Earth's Amazing Creatures by Aaron Cushley, Miranda Smith
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on July 5, 2022
ISBN: 0593372352
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars
If the World Were 100 Animals: A Visual Guide to Earth’s Amazing Creatures focuses on 100 of the Earth’s most amazing creatures, using statistics to demonstrate that all the animals of the Earth need to be safeguarded. The book asks and answers the questions kids want to know (if there were only 100 mammals in the entire world, how many of them would still be wild?), in a way that will have them poring over the pages.

The language is clear, concise, and compelling. The featured facts are emphasized through clean graphics and bright, colorful illustrations. The slightly oversized dimensions of the book (approx. 9.5” x 11”) and the full-bleed, double-page spreads are used to full effect.

Animal-loving fact addicts (the ones who greet you with the cheetah’s top speed) from kindergarten through fourth grade (and possibly older) will find this browsable picture book fascinating. The organization of information, combined with the illustrations and graphics, allows the reader to picture concepts that otherwise might be difficult to grasp.

If the World Were 100 Animals dials in on compelling facts across the broad category of animals on Earth. Students researching endangered animals or a particular sub-group (such as invertebrates) will unearth interesting factoids but this would not be the book to turn to for information about one specific animal. A bibliography in the front matter lists the resources used to gather the information used in the book. An annotated bibliography and index would have been very useful as well.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library

four-stars

The Final Cut

The Final CutThe Final Cut by Denis Markell
Published by Delacorte Press on April 26, 2022
ISBN: 0593180666
Pages: 304
Genres: Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Alex returns to school after a summer of skateboard camp with a new nickname (Xan) that just won’t stick and to make 7th grade even worse, he doesn’t get to take the video game design class he has been dreaming of all summer. Instead he ends up in film class. Film is so big at their school, they have 2 film teachers and several successful alumni who are successful filmmakers. Alex must work with classmates to create a film for the annual film contest while overcoming computer hackers, protests over a building permit (Alex’s Dad is on the building commission), and some kind of animosity between the two film teachers. Students will enjoy this clever, humorous mystery set in an elite NY middle school.

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

three-stars