Category: Book Reviews

Go Wild: Sea Turtles

Go Wild: Sea TurtlesSea Turtles by Jill Esbaum
Published by National Geographic Kids on April 1, 2021
ISBN: 1426371586
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is the Sea Turtle edition of National Geographic’s Go Wild series. These books are picture books with loads of information and phenomenal images. The book covers sea turtles of all types and compares and contrasts their different features. There are maps showing the ranges of the different species so readers can see who they may encounter in local waters.

Recommended for readers 4 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

2022 Almanac

2022 AlmanacNational Geographic Kids Almanac 2022, U.S. Edition by National Geographic Kids
Published by National Geographic Kids on May 4, 2021
ISBN: 1426372027
Pages: 352
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is the next National Geographic Almanac. It’s full of fun information for kids accompanied by National Geographic gorgeous images. Hand this to all those who love trivia, information, and gorgeous pictures.

Recommended for readers 7 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Weird but true: ocean

Weird but true: oceanWeird But True Ocean by National Geographic Kids
Published by National Geographic Kids on June 8, 2021
ISBN: 1426371810
Pages: 208
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is the latest in the Weird but True series put out by National Geographic, and it follows the same format as previous books. Each page has a gorgeous and/or dramatic image of some aspect of the oceanic world. The images are combined with large colorful text providing some information or fun fact about the image. This book will delight ocean enthusiasts and science lovers of all types.

Recommended for readers 6 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Gigantosaurus: The Scary Cave

Gigantosaurus: The Scary CaveGigantosaurus: The Scary Cave by Cyber Group Studios
Published by Candlewick Entertainment on July 13, 2021
ISBN: 1536219223
Pages: 14
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
three-stars

This is a board book based on the Gigantosaurus TV show. The characters from the show decide to explore the the spookiest place they know—the scary cave! Once there, they encounter a number of potentially scary beasts until they realize they’re all harmless dinosaur friends. Everything is harmless until Giganto appears in the cave. The young dinos are chased out of the cave and they realize there is one thing even spookier than the cave, and that’s Giganto! This is a silly and fun board book for fans of the show or of dinosaurs in general. It has a fair number of words on each page so it’s better for a bit older crowd.

Recommended for readers 3 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Look what I found in the woods

Look what I found in the woodsLook What I Found in the Woods by Jesús Verona, Moira Butterfield
Published by Nosy Crow on April 20, 2021
ISBN: 1536217239
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This book takes readers on a woods adventure with a diverse group of kids, exploring all the different aspects of the woods and what you can find in them. Each page is full of information about the natural world—leaf types, trees, animals, and more. There are search-and-finds peppered throughout and every other page has a list of different things to find in nature. This book will surely inspire young explorers to notice even more about the world around them. The digitally rendered illustrations are colorful and very detailed. At times, they feel a bit busy but it works for this book given the exploration theme.

Recommended for readers 4 and up, this is a book you can revisit many times over. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Paletero Man

Paletero ManPaletero Man by Lucky Diaz, Micah Player
Published by HarperCollins on June 1, 2021
ISBN: 0063014440
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

It’s the hottest day of the year, and a young child is really looking forward to seeing Paletero Jose. Paletas are popsicles and other icy treats, and all the neighborhood kids can’t wait to get one. Along the way, the young child meets and interacts with several community members, and when he finally gets to the paletas, he’s found he has no money. These same community members have collected all the money he dropped and bring it to him. Their kindness prompts Paletero Jose to give everyone free paletas.

This is a fun story of community and kindness (and sweet icy treats!). The illustrations are high color, cartoon-like, and really bring the story to life. All the bright colors exude summertime and fit the tone of the book perfectly. The entire book is based on a song with the same title, and young readers will love singing along. Throughout, there are Spanish words intertwined with English words making for a fun and diverse read aloud.

Recommended for readers 3 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Are you a cheeseburger?

Are you a cheeseburger?Are You a Cheeseburger? by Monica Arnaldo
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on June 1, 2021
ISBN: 0063003945
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Grub is a raccoon who lives alone in an alley. He spends his days dumpster diving and doing raccoony things. Then there is seed. Seed is a seed and he is stuck in the trash. When Grub and Seed meet, Seed tells Grub he’s waiting to be planted. Grub wants to know if Seed will grow food—specifically, will he grow cheeseburgers. Seed isn’t sure but the two decide to wait and see. After much time, Seed turns out to be a flower and not food at all. Grub decides that flowers, like cheeseburgers, are something very special—maybe even more special than flowers. This is a unique and creative story of friendship in unexpected places. Grub spends a lot of time caring for Seed before he knows Seed’s fate, and in that time, they learn to love each other. The illustrations are high color, engaging, and add humor and emotion to the story.

Recommended for readers 4 and up and for Cream of the Crop. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

The book no one wants to read

The book no one wants to readThe Book No One Wants to Read by Beth Bacon
Published by HarperCollins on June 15, 2021
ISBN: 006296254X
Pages: 176
Genres: Humor
Format: Early Reader
Goodreads
three-stars

This is the follow-up to Bacon’s I Hate Reading, and it follows the same format. The book is written as if the book itself is having a conversation with the reader. It is full of humor and fun activities to keep young readers engaged. Each page asks the reader to do something to or with the book — complete a maze, wink, make silly faces, and more. This reviewer’s 6-yr old new reader found the entire thing amusing and read the entire 176 page book in one sitting. The only criticism is that some of the humor will go over the heads of young readers and the concept of having a conversation with the book can be a little confusing. Recommended for reluctant readers and new readers who enjoy some humor in their books.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Ivy Lost and Found

Ivy Lost and FoundIvy Lost and Found by Cynthia Lord, Stephanie Graegin
Published by Candlewick Press on September 28, 2021
ISBN: 1536213543
Pages: 80
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is the first book in a new chapter book series for readers in grades 2-4.  When Ivy the doll was given to Anne as a gift, her whole world was complete.  Anne would play with her, sew her clothes and tuck her in with blankets on cold wintry nights.  As Anne grew older, Ivy was regulated to an attic box and forgotten.  Finally, Ivy is brought out of the box and taken to the library to be a book buddy, where Anne is a librarian in the children’s room.  Ivy meets the other toys that have been put on the book buddies shelf.  They are checked out by children for 2 weeks with a journal that children can write about their adventures.  Ivy’s feelings of abandonment change as she listens to the Fern, the first child to check her out.  As Fern works through step sibling issues, Ivy finds new purpose as she goes through adventures with her new book buddy friends.  Five page chapters with various size drawings by Graegin every other page, makes this a perfect series for newer independent readers.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

The Nice Dream Truck

The Nice Dream TruckThe Nice Dream Truck by Beth Ferry, Brigette Barrager
Published by HarperCollins on March 23, 2021
ISBN: 0062907832
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Equating dreams to ice cream throughout this bedtime picture book, Ferry suggests children try all types of dreams, “the choices are endless”. When you go to sleep, you may be visited by the nice dream truck that is driven by a dark- skinned girl in a paper ice cream hat.  You may dream about snow, or puppies, or jelly bean scaled dragons.  Dreams can be silly like Narwhals drawing on ice or indulgent like having your birthday come twice.  Barrager’s colorful and whimsical illustrations show ice cream treats on every page with a cast of energetic children with a variety of skin tones. There are a few odd lines in the story such as “Sample some princess” which may cause some to hesitate in reading or purchasing.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

two-stars