Category: Book Reviews

Family: A Peek-Through Picture Book

Family: A Peek-Through Picture BookGenres: Animals, Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
three-stars

This “peek-through” picture book is one in a series by Britta Teckentrup; the cover of the book has an image of a sun setting on a herd of elephants on the savanna. The setting sun is  a series of cut-outs that continue throughout most of the book, following animal families from dusk to dawn.

Each family grouping is depicted in a different landscape or waterscape and rhyming couplets describe how the adult animals care for the smaller ones. The rhymes are soothing and gentle, if unremarkable (” .. . . near the ocean bed, (p)eaceful creatures are nurtured and fed”).

The oil pastel and collage mixed media illustrations of the animals in their habitats are the strength of this story. The animals blend into their surroundings, as they would in real life. The textures and palettes change from page to page as the sun sets, the moon rises, and we end the story where it began, with the elephants on the savanna, now with the sun rising behind them.

It would be a good bedtime story with its calming illustrations and text. Recommended as an additional purchase.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

 

three-stars

Make Me a Monster

Make Me a MonsterMake Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron
on September 30, 2025
ISBN: 1547615869
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Make Me a Monster by Kalynn Bayron 

Though a unique take on the classic Frankenstein, the unsteady pacing of this book may distract readers from the important reflections on grief and love that it provides. 

Meka is your average teen: close friend group, supportive parents, adoring boyfriend. So what if she spends most of the time with the deceased as a mortician’s assistant at her family’s funeral home? When a sudden tragedy strikes someone closest to her, she struggles to adjust to her new normal. Everything feels so strange afterwards, made worse by the fact that those around her aren’t staying dead… 

This story is great for readers who like retellings of classic tales and are looking for relatable and personable characters. Its strength lies in these relationships the characters have: great examples of healthy, supportive parents and a sweet first romance that could appeal to younger teens. Though the pacing is steady for most of the book, readers may get frustrated at how drastically the plot escalates into “what is even happening” territory. Overall, I’d recommend this book less to horror fans as the plot gets a bit murky and more to those just looking for a tender read. 

Reviewed by Hannah Doktor, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

three-stars

Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Making Enemies

Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Making EnemiesLoki: A Bad God's Guide to Making Enemies by Louie Stowell
Series: Loki: A Bad God's Guide #4
Published by Walker Books US on 6/24/25
ISBN: 1536241741
Genres: Fantasy, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Loki’s punishment on earth continues as he tries to earn his way back to Asgard.  In this novel, he has to deal with two enemies. One, Georgina,  is a friend from school who he got in big trouble with, and the other is Vinir, who has challenged Loki to a duel in order to avenge his father’s honor.  On top of being forced to take the form of a mortal human who must go to school, Loki and the gods he lives with, also disguised as humans, must contend with Frost Giants who are planning an attack during the school’s Winter Fair in order to bring about a terrible winter on earth.

This book for upper elementary students has humor on every page.  It is narrated primarily by Loki in his magical diary, but the diary does often interject, calling Loki out on his lies or commenting on Loki’s occasional good behavior.  The diary also keeps track of Loki’s virtue points and describes why he gained or lost points, usually in a sarcastic manner.  The plot of this book is primarily text, though every page has drawings with captions which always add humor to the story.  Libraries that have the other books in this series will want to add this one to their collection.  It is fast-paced and laugh out loud funny and would be easy to hand to most readers.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

A Girl Walks Into the Forest

A Girl Walks Into the ForestA Girl Walks Into the Forest by Madeleine Roux
on June 10, 2025
ISBN: 0063284847
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

A Girl Walks into the Forest by Madeleine Roux 

 This empowering folktale-inspired horror showcases a strong main character who uses her feminine rage to redefine her role in the world. 

Valla, a girl known for her “extraordinary beauty”, is excited to finally leave her small village, meet her betrothed and live happily ever after. However, when her face is torn to shreds in the sinister Gottyar Woods on her journey, her preconceived chance at a new beginning and a happy arranged marriage quickly comes crashing down.  

Though the story lulled a bit in the middle, it overall was a quick read with fully fledged characters that students will enjoy both rooting for and against. Due to its depictions of violence and gore for some of the fight scenes, this book is best suited for high schoolers. Great for fans of The Hunger Games and The Grace Year, this is a must for collections looking for a fresh take on dystopian novels and dark fantasy.  

Reviewed by Hannah Doktor, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

 

four-stars

Trash Truck: Trash Day

Trash Truck: Trash DayFormat: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
three-stars

Families with Trash Truck (book and Netflix) series fans will enjoy this leveled reader by Max Keane. The book is designated “My First I Can Read” book, meant for emergent readers to read with fluent readers (“shared reading”). The publisher promises “basic language” and “word repetition” and the book delivers on these fronts.

The story takes place on Trash Day and alternates between the experiences of Trash Truck and his friend Hank , a little blond boy with fair skin. Trash Truck (an anthropomorphized, friendly looking garbage truck) is very busy, going along his route, and caring for small creatures (turtles, rubber duckies, children retrieving balls from the road) along the way. Hank is trying to be patient as he waits for Trash Truck to arrive at his house, but the digitally created illustrations depict Hank getting more and more despondent

Meanwhile, seeing the children playing  makes Trash Truck realize he has forgotten to stop by Hank’s house. Trash Truck then goes to Hank’s house but Hank is not there. Trash Truck is disappointed, and then sad, but doesn’t allow his feelings to get in the way of his garbage collecting duties. He arrives back at the truck depot, to find Hank there. The friends decide to spend the afternoon building a robot (that picks up trash, naturally).

While adults might wonder why Hank walked to the truck depot alone, Trash Truck fans may imagine themselves enjoying an afternoon with their favorite municipal service vehicle. The digitally created illustrations are occasionally grainy, blurry, or peculiarly shadowed, but that will not discourage readers who can’t get enough of the adventures of Trash Truck and Hank. Recommended for library collections where television-based early reader titles are popular.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

three-stars

Molly, Olive, and Dexter: Who’s Afraid of the Dark?

Molly, Olive, and Dexter: Who’s Afraid of the Dark?Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
five-stars

This is the fourth title in Catherine Rayner’s picture book  series around Molly (a rabbit), Olive (an owl), and Dexter (a fox). Young children (and adult readers) will appreciate the change in atmosphere that Rayner creates with words and expressive mixed media (watercolor and marker) illustrations as the friends navigate their way from the warm light of the setting sun through the feelings of worry and anxiety that the dark can bring.

There is a quiet, gentle tone to the text and pictures as the sun sets, and the everyday noises and sights of the daylit world. The tone and images shift into something less familiar and more sinister as the shadows lengthen and it gets darker and darker.

The three friends take turns getting worried, and then relieved at the realization that the mysterious sounds, shadows, and sensations are simply the ordinary things they see during the day. This would be a sweet story to read at bedtime, if it ended there. It becomes a better story as the friends are caught in a rainstorm. At first, the three are scared as they try to run from the feeling of something falling on  on their heads, and then the relief and delight that it’s actually just rain – nothing to be fear and an experience to enjoy.

They start seeing the night differently then, and Rayner transforms the shadowy, frightening landscape into something magical. The luminous illustrations and language bring the story depth, humor and real emotion, taking it beyond “don’t be afraid of the ordinary things in the dark” to “the quiet dark can feel magical”.  Highly recommended for picture book collections.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

five-stars

Hello, Tobi!

Hello, Tobi!Hello, Tobi! by Andrea Cáceres
ISBN: 1536222801
Genres: Animals, Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

There is no doubt from the brightly colored cover with a small and scruffy brown and black dog greeting the reader front and center, who Tobi is (his name tag is on his collar), and  how he makes friends (enthusiastically). Tobi and his human family ( a dad, mom and little girl; dad is light skinned and slightly scruffy, mom and little girl have light brown skin) are all are smiling and seem to invite the reader along for their daily walk in the park.

Along the way, they meet dogs and their families enjoying time together. With simple illustrations  and prose, Cáceres demonstrates that just as there are all kinds of dogs, there are all kinds of families that are loving, and worthy of love.  Digitally created, mixed media  (marker, crayon, collage) illustrations with scribblings that evoke the energy and joy that these families are experiencing together.  Families of different colors, different configurations (including “friend families”, which this reviewer found delightful), differing shapes, differently abled  — are all seen enjoying various activities together.

Tobi is friendly and welcoming to all these families, and the families return his affection. It’s an uncomplicated story that is open in its message of inclusion and toward our fellow humans (and their dogs). Highly recommended to read aloud  with Todd Parr’s The Family Book, at the beginning of the school year, when young children are learning that loving families are not all alike, and that is a beautiful thing.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

five-stars

Ballet Besties: Indu’s Time to Shine

Ballet Besties: Indu’s Time to ShineBallet Besties: Indu's Time to Shine by Paula Franco, Yasmine Naghdi
Series: Ballet Besties #2
Published by Candlewick Press on 9/9/25
ISBN: 1536243809
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

The friends of Shimmer and Shine Dance Studio are back in this second installment of Ballet Besties.  This time, the focus is on Indu, a shy girl who learns to use her voice to help herself and others.  The Shimmer and Shine kids are putting on another show, this time Cinderella.  To help inspire them, they take a field trip to see the ballet performed at a local theater.  Not wanting to miss out, but also not wanting to admit that she can’t afford the tickets, Indu forges her mom’s signature and lies about the money and goes on the trip with her friends.  After coming clean to her dance teacher and her mom and realizing that other kids also struggled to pay for their ticket, Indu suggests they create a scholarship so everyone can enjoy learning to dance, not just the rich kids.  Indu and her friends and their families put on an auction after their own performance of Cinderella, which they opened up to the public as an additional fundraiser.  

This novel for readers beginning their independence with chapter books, is ideal for kids who like dance or stories about friendship and perseverance.  Indu and her group of diverse friends support and encourage each other.  Readers will enjoy the black and white drawings throughout the book, as well as the ballet hand and feet positions found at the back of the book.  Libraries that have the first book in the Ballet Besties series will want to add this one to their collection, not only because it’s a fun series, but it addresses a common concern of affordability for extra curricular activities that many families have to navigate.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

AJ Torres and the Treasure of Captain Greyshark

AJ Torres and the Treasure of Captain GreysharkAJ Torres and the Treasure of Captain Grayshark by José Pablo Iriarte
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on June 24, 2025
ISBN: 059370374X
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

AJ Torres and the Treasure of Captain Greyshark
By José Pablo Iriarte

When AJ and his best friend Jayden find a gold dubloon washed up on the shore after a hurricane they think they may have found the answer to many of their problems. Jayden’s mom is out of work and they may need to move for her to find a new job. AJ’s parents’ business if flailing. If they could find a hidden treasure that could solve all of their problems!

Plenty of adventure and anticipation follow the crew as they team up with a local ghost hunter, Andrea, and a charter boat captain, Gil, to head out in search of the treasure. Mishaps and misunderstandings and a crew of ghost pirates follow them as they search on and around Scream Island.

Ages 8-12 years
Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

Across the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe Horse

Across the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe HorseAcross the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe Horse by Darcy Whitecrow, Heather M. O'Connor, Natasha Donovan
Published by Candlewick on September 16, 2025
ISBN: 1536229458
Genres: Cultural / First Nations
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Across the Ice: How We Saved The Ojibwe Horse
By Darcy Whitecrow and Heather M. O’Connor; illustrated by Natasha Donovan

This story joins an Ojibwe family on a very special night. This is the night the Ojibwe horses are coming home to First Nations land. The children are so excited they cannot sleep so Nookomis retells the story to them to help them relax and sleep. The story is one of how the four remaining Objibwe horses had been driven across the ice to safety in Minnesota from Lac Le Croix to help begin a breeding program to save the native breed from extinction
This historical picture book is set with a tone of hope, joy, and excitement. Backmatter is provided.

Ages 4-8
Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars