Category: Book Reviews

Merci Suárez Plays It Cool

Merci Suárez Plays It CoolMerci Suárez Plays It Cool by Meg Medina
Published by Candlewick Press on September 13, 2022
ISBN: 1536219460
Pages: 352
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

In the third book in the Merci Suárez trilogy, Merci Suárez Plays it Cool, Newbery Medal winner Meg Medina’s main character is now in 8th grade, the final year of middle school. Merci and her friends are very excited for a big overnight field trip away from their families, but in her quest to figure out her place, Merci makes some choices that upset her friends. This trip also forces Merci to think about what she wants and she begins to really confront her growing feelings for her good friend, Wilson. Throughout the novel, Merci learns what true friendship is (and isn’t), juggles increasing responsibilities at home and school, and deals with the declining health of her grandfather who is battling Alzheimer’s.

This book wraps up storylines introduced in the previous books in a way that is still understandable for those who haven’t read any of the other Merci Suárez books, making this book enjoyable for middle grade readers familiar with Merci and those who aren’t. Readers who like realistic fiction will appreciate the mistakes, learning opportunities, and real-life problems Merci faces. Medina weaves Spanish words and phrases throughout the book, adding to the authenticity of Merci’s character.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

Blue Bison Needs a Haircut

Blue Bison Needs a HaircutBlue Bison Needs a Haircut by Scott Rothman, Pete Oswald
Published by Random House Studio on October 18, 2022
ISBN: 0593428161
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Blue Bison Needs a Haircut is both the title and an excellent summary of this Rothman and Oswald picture book collaboration. Bison has a bit of trouble finding a place to get his signature haircut, and though friends and family try to assure him he looks great, he doesn’t truly find peace until his sister buzzes all his hair off with a lawnmower, unexpectedly giving him his new favorite look.

This book’s illustrations and text pair very well together, and the illustrations are engaging, dynamic, and expressive. The text is funny and has a few big words for kids to puzzle over, but otherwise the book flows well and the conclusion is both funny and a relief! This book would do well for a broad range of early readers, anywhere from K-3rd grade.

Reveiwed by Mary Randall, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

four-stars

Scaredy Squirrel Visits the Doctor

Scaredy Squirrel Visits the DoctorScaredy Squirrel Visits the Doctor by Mélanie Watt
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on October 25, 2022
ISBN: 0593307437
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Scaredy Squirrel Visits the Doctor is another solid installment in the Scaredy Squirrel series, in which our squirrel protagonist goes to the vet. The book is packed full of ailments that Scaredy Squirrel thinks he might have, as well as advice on how to avoid said ailments. The illustrations are cute and help clarify the text, which can be a bit overwhelmingly packed on each page. A solid addition to a collection where subject matter on visits to the doctors might be a source of anxiety. Good for readers in grades K-2.

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

three-stars

Hiding in Plain Sight

Hiding in Plain SightHiding in Plain Sight by Jorge Cham
Series: Elinor Wonders Why
Published by Kids Can Press on September 6, 2022
ISBN: 1525306197
Pages: 40
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

This adapted story in a graphic novel format, is from an episode of the animated TV series “Elinor Wonders Why.” Written for emerging readers, it follows a young bunny Elinor and her two friends on a nature adventure. Elinor is very curious and is always asking questions. Oliver her elephant friend is a big reader who has an excellent memory and loves words and facts. Ari is a jokester bat who loves to clown around and make his friends laugh. He is good at figuring out problems.

In this nature adventure, the characters start out playing hide and seek with two goats who can always find them due to their special eyes. They go on to find things hiding in nature and learn about camouflage. Let’s find out! panels appear throughout the story educating readers on katydids, camouflage, goats eyes, nocturnal toads, and sparrows. The back pages contain sections like “Hide-and-See in Nature,” “Let’s Experiment!”, and “We Need More Observations!”. The brightly colored illustrations are presented in two or three panels per page. This is an interesting story that is educational and fun and will have particular appeal to viewers of the PBS series, but will also appeal to those emerging readers who enjoy an educational graphic novel.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, ME

four-stars

The Lodge that Beaver Built

The Lodge that Beaver BuiltThe Lodge That Beaver Built by Randi Sonenshine, Anne Hunter
Published by Candlewick Press on September 27, 2022
ISBN: 1536218685
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

In “The Lodge That Beaver Built”, Sorenshine tells the story of Beaver, building his lodge to the lilting rhythm of “The House That Jack Built”. Along the way we meet the other denizens of the marshland and learn their relationship to the environment. It is brief but informative with the help of ink and colored-pencil illustrations that simply but accurately show what the text tells. For younger readers, this book will make them more curious about the fascinating lives of beavers. The back matter contains Beaver Facts, a glossary, and recommends online resources (websites and videos). It is too simple to support research (although the back matter helps) but it does an excellent job explaining the engineering of a lodge in a marsh. For early elementary classrooms researching Maine animals, this is a great read-aloud. You could also hand it to a naturalist who will love the way the illustrations and text work together.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

five-stars

The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back

The Mouse Who Carried a House on His BackThe Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back by Jonathan Stutzman, Isabelle Arsenault
Published by Candlewick Press on August 30, 2022
ISBN: 1536216798
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

In this beautifully illustrated book, about the bounty of sharing what you have, the main character is Vincent, a nomadic mouse. His house is small enough for him to carry but still manages to be large enough to welcome any animal in need of shelter. As the story progresses, his home grows (inside and outside) to accommodate these guests. At the climax of the story, when a hungry bear needs help, the smaller animals protest against allowing him entry. Vincent simply says, “(I)n my house, all animals are welcome.”

The illustrations (created with gouache, ink, and cut paper) support the story. The animals in need note that the house is bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside, however as more animals seek shelter, the house “grows” with architecturally different additions that pop up as the story goes along.

Preschoolers through second grade could find much to discuss in this sweet simple story about being generous and open to those who need help.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

four-stars

Books Aren’t For Eating

Books Aren’t For EatingBooks Aren't for Eating by Carlie Sorosiak, Manu Montoya
Published by Walker Books US on September 20, 2022
ISBN: 1536214965
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

A simply told story about finding that magical book that opens up the world of reading for the choosiest reader. Told from the point of view of Leopold, a goat who owns a second-hand book store and derives great joy from handing “just-right” books to various kinds of readers. Then he meets a tough customer (a fellow goat – most of his other customers are human). This goat savors the books Leopold hands to him but as a literal feast, instead of a literary one. In the end, Leopold finds the perfect book for the choosy goat to read.

The illustrations are fun with interesting details that immerse the reader more fully in the story. Young children will enjoy the silliness of the goat eating the books he should be reading. I thought Leopold was a little too invested in the goat customer seeing things his way. It is better than some other “the magic of just-right books” (talking to you, Goldie Socks and the Three Librearians) and not as good as Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I Don’t) by Barbara Bottner and Michael Emberley.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

two-stars

I’m a Unicorn

I’m a UnicornI'm a Unicorn by Helen Yoon
Published by Candlewick Press on September 13, 2022
ISBN: 1536219762
Pages: 32
Genres: Fantasy, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This romp of a picture book follows our narrator, a bull with one horn, through the emotional ups and downs and ups of self-identity. Using “Unicorn Facts & Myths” criteria as a guide, the bull declares himself a unicorn but begins to question this. Luckily he encounters some magical creatures that support his self-discovery. Yoon uses humor both sly and over-the top (be prepared for the poop jokes) to let readers know that it’s best to be who you are, not worry about what you’re “supposed to” look like and, equally importantly, support others who are being true to who they are.

Unicorns are (as always) having a moment, as is poop humor. Preschoolers through grade 2 will appreciate the expressive illustrations and simple language that delivers the message in a clear, creative and convincing way. This will make a fabulous read-aloud with lots of giggles.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

five-stars

Whales to the Rescue: How Whales Help Engineer the Planet

Whales to the Rescue: How Whales Help Engineer the PlanetWhales to the Rescue: How Whales Help Engineer the Planet by Adrienne Mason, Kim Smith
Published by Kids Can Press on September 6, 2022
ISBN: 1525305379
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

An interesting nonfiction picture book that shows the importance of whales to a healthy ecosystem. Mason’s author note contains a reference to research papers that back up her hypothesis . The writing is illustrative and engaging. Did you know that a blue whale’s tongue is “heavy as two hippos”? In addition to a table of contents and sidebars, the back matter contains a glossary (bolded words in the text), index, and resources that tell readers how to help whales and where to find more online information about them.

The book starts by explaining whales’ feeding and pooping habits (poop plays a big part in the whales’ ecological engineering – spoiler alert!) and then outline various aspects of the environment (such as carbon and its affect on global warming). Mason then explains in clear detail with supporting illustrations and diagrams how whales’ habits positively impact the ecosystem.

The illustrations are realistic but at times, less helpful than they could be. For example, there is a “Know your Whales” diagram, showing several species of whales, beginning with blue whales, with a diver drawn to scale next to it. However, the other whales aren’t drawn to the same scale, which is confusing. It also discusses a history of whales being over hunted but doesn’t cover current controversies about whales and fishing vessels.

This would be a good addition to books on the ecosystem and offers some information on whales.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

four-stars

Little Ellen

Little EllenLittle Ellen by Ellen DeGeneres, Eleanor Michalka
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on May 3, 2022
ISBN: 0593378601
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
one-star

In this picture book, Little Ellen uses rhyming couplets to share the message that it’s best to be one’s most authentic self through love, kindness, and caring. It starts with Little Ellen questioning what makes Ellen “Ellen” – not what she says or things, but what she does for others. Between the subplot of a secondary character that Ellen cheers up and and then leaves in a gazebo, inelegant rhyme schemes, and illustrations that are colorful to the point of sensory overload, the message is obscured.

Between rhymes that contort themselves to fit the theme and illustrations that are overwrought, this is not a useful or enjoyable book.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

one-star