Category: Book Reviews

Chickadee Criminal Mastermind

Chickadee Criminal MastermindChickadee: Criminal Mastermind by Monica Silvie, Elina Ellis
Published by Kids Can Press on June 7, 2022
ISBN: 1525303384
Pages: 36
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This humorous picture book is about a criminal mastermind chickadee that is terrorizing the forest and the residences around the forest. There is a short educational piece at the end of the book that offers fun facts about black-capped chickadees. This book is great for kids ages 4 – 8 or grades K-4. The illustrations complement the plotline and go between full-spread and word-bubbled text. This book would be a great addition to in-class libraries and an excellent animal book for both public and school libraries.

Reviewed by Brandon Dyer, Auburn Public Library

three-stars

Anglerfish: the Seadevil of the deep

Anglerfish: the Seadevil of the deepAnglerfish: The Seadevil of the Deep by Elaine M. Alexander, Fiona Fogg
Published by Candlewick Press on April 5, 2022
ISBN: 1536213969
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This books follows the life of a female anglerfish from the moment she hatches to the moment she lays her own eggs. It’s a fascinating exploration of this cool animal from the deep. The text is sparse enough to keep kids interested but includes enough information to still be educational. The digitally rendered illustrations are beautiful and help show the fish’s life. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Little Houses

Little HousesLittle Houses by Kevin Henkes, Laura Dronzek
Published by Greenwillow Books on May 24, 2022
ISBN: 0062965727
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A young light-skinned girl and her grandmother are combing the beach. They find lots of shells and talk about how the shells are actually little houses. The girl wonders about the colors and designs on the shells and of who possibly lived there before. She then wonders about what lies out of sight under the ocean, around the world, and in the minds of animals.

This is a gentle story about the bigger world around us and how we fit in the world. The young girl contemplates some big questions but in a completely age-appropriate way. The acrylic illustrations are deeply colorful, detailed, and really enliven the story. This is a great story for one-on-one sharing perhaps followed by more discussion about the questions raised within. Young readers will certainly have interesting speculations about the way things are. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

The Blanket Where Violet Sits

The Blanket Where Violet SitsThe Blanket Where Violet Sits by Allan Wolf, Lauren Tobia
Published by Candlewick Press on August 30, 2022
ISBN: 076369665X
Pages: 32
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Told in cumulative rhyme, in the vein of “This is the House that Jack Built,” this picture book introduction to the universe begins on a blanket in the park where Violet and her caregivers (one who is brown-skinned) are enjoying a picnic of “a sandwich, an apple, and chips.” As the sky darkens, the headlamps and telescope are brought out. Violet gazes up at the solar system, imagining a rocket ride to another galaxy, but the cumulative rhyme always brings her back to her cozy red blanket. Tobia’s drawings create inviting scenes of a loving family outing and mind-expanding pictures of our universe. Fun read for a preschool-aged story time.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Fish and Wave

Fish and WaveFish and Wave by Sergio Ruzzier
Published by HarperAlley on May 17, 2022
ISBN: 0063076675
Pages: 48
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Early Reader, Graphic Novel
Goodreads
three-stars

Fish from Fish and Sun is back for another adventure. This time, Fish meets a small friendly wave but when Wave grows and grows, what’s a little fish to do? After a scary encounter with a really big wave, Fish rides on Wave’s back to endure the rise and fall of Wave’s natural way.

This is a gentle book for new readers. The text is sparse and perfect for those working on independent reading. It is in graphic novel format, so it’s a great opportunity for young readers to learn how to read panels. Ruzzio’s watercolor and line drawing illustrations bring the story to life and help carry the sparse text. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Beware the Burmese Pythons and Other Invasive Animal Species

Beware the Burmese Pythons and Other Invasive Animal SpeciesBeware the Burmese Pythons: And Other Invasive Animal Species by Etta Kaner, Phil Nicholls
Published by Kids Can Press on October 4, 2022
ISBN: 1525304461
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction, Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

This book is a hybrid graphic novel and informational book. The cover art is sure to grab the attention of upper elementary and middle school children. However, the title is a bit misleading in that the book only contains 4-pages about the Burmese Python, but the rest of the book is about other invasive species, such as Nutria, Cane Toads, Starlings, Crazy Ants, Feral Cats, Rabbitfish, Killer Shrimp, Snakehead Fish, and Cactus Moths. Despite that, the information is fascinating and is presented in an appealing, kid-friendly format. The variety of ways that invasive species get into new ecosystems and the damage they cause is explored in a consistent manner for each animal. Most importantly, it conveys what scientists are currently doing to solve the problems and what you can do to help. Contains a glossary, sources, and further reading at the end.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

My Big Book of Outdoors

My Big Book of OutdoorsMy Big Book of Outdoors by Tim Hopgood
Published by Candlewick Studio on February 8, 2022
ISBN: 1536215333
Pages: 128
Genres: Animals, Arts, Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a beautifully illustrated book that celebrates nature in all seasons. The book is broken into sections based on the seasons, and each section contains information, poetry, and activities to do. Spring covers many birds and includes a recipe for chocolate bird nests. Summer covers bees, flowers, summer nights, and more and includes instructions on how to paint a butterfly. In addition to the great information throughout the book, the mixed media illustrations are simply gorgeous. They’re large and cover most every page. The colors used do a wonderful job conveying the feelings of each season. Recommended for readers and explorers 5 and up. This could be a fun book to share parts as a read aloud followed by a craft idea from within the book.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

I love you because I love you

I love you because I love youI Love You Because I Love You by Jessica Love, Mượn Thị Văn
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on January 18, 2022
ISBN: 0062894595
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This book is a celebration of love in all its forms. Each two page spread has two connected lines and illustrations. “I love you because you let me make mistakes. Because I love you, no mistake is ever too great.” The text is good in this book, but the illustrations really elevate it. The mixed media (mostly paints) illustrations are so detailed and colorful, and without them, the story would fall flat. The people and families depicted are very diverse, and the expressions conveyed on their faces are life-like and really bring emotion to the story. Recommended for one-on-one reading with readers 3 and up and for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

Ali and the Sea Stars

Ali and the Sea StarsAli and the Sea Stars by Ali Stroker, Gillian Reid
Published by HarperCollins on May 17, 2022
ISBN: 0063015714
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Why wait to make a dream come true? Ali, a theater-loving girl in Breezy Beach, dreams of starring in a Broadway musical. Together with her friends, they decide to put on a production of Peter Pan for the Breezy Beach community. The only challenge to Ali’s dream is the weather. In this story, creativity, resilience, and a “can-do” attitude – all theatrical hallmarks – make the production a success.

Stroker is a Tony-award winning actress and was the first actress in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway. Ali (main character) uses a wheelchair that is depicted visually as a fast-moving purveyor of Ali and all her theatrical energy, but is never mentioned in the text. The illustrations and text work seamlessly together. Characters are differently abled, have different skin colors. The bright colors in the illustration complement the theater and the “Breezy Beach” vibe.

Readers will enjoy this engaging, fun, well-paced, and deftly written story combining a love of theater with a love of community. It is a great read-aloud for early elementary students. Theater kids (you always know your theater kids) will cheer. The story focuses on all Ali can do, without a heavy-handed message about the wheelchair.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

five-stars

The Digger and the Duckling

The Digger and the DucklingThe Digger and the Duckling by Joseph Kuefler
Published by Balzer & Bray/Harperteen on February 22, 2022
ISBN: 0063062542
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Digger, Dozer, and crew are back for another heartfelt story. This time, they’re busy on the jobsite when a duckling wanders in to their realm. While they’re trying to get work done, the little duckling is following Digger all over. Soon, it becomes clear what they need to do—build the duckling a pond!

As with The Digger and the Flower, this is a book that taps into the more sensitive side of construction machines. The normally rough and tumble machines need to be gentle and sensitive to take care of their little feathered friend. The digitally rendered images bring the story to life by conveying the relationship between the duckling and the machines. They also help carry the story where the text isn’t enough. Recommended for readers who love construction books and for readers 3 and up. This would be a good story time book for kids who can handle a little bit of a longer book.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars