Category: Book Reviews

Pizza and Taco: Best party ever!

Pizza and Taco: Best party ever!Pizza and Taco: Best Party Ever! by shaskan, Stephen Shaskan
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers, Random House Graphic on January 26, 2021
ISBN: 0593123344
Pages: 72
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

What’s not to like about pizza and tacos? Especially when they are the main characters in a graphic novel for very young readers aged four to seven!  Everyone gets bored sometimes and Pizza and Taco decide to have a party to liven things up. So, they get busy planning a party. Things start to get tough when their party location is closed on the day of the event. Then, the lettering on their sign is messed up,  some of the guests do not get along,  add in food allergies, loud noises, no party favors with the final straw… rain. So, in the end after cleaning up they decide they are experts on how NOT to throw a party and learn from their mistakes.  The little readers will get plenty of laughs throughout the book  An early reader graphic novel with short chapters that will makes kids laugh and build reading skills at the same time. The colorful illustrations are engaging and playful with silly, loveable characters.  For children ages 4 to 7.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Graves Memorial Public Library.

four-stars

Quiet down, loud town

Quiet down, loud townQuiet Down, Loud Town! by Alastair Heim, Matt Hunt
Published by Clarion Books ISBN: 1328957829
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

What a way to start the day, with loud honking horns and chirping birds! Mr. Elephant’s day  has started out loudly and it’s only getting louder!  As he strolls through the town, he is met with barking dogs, clanking dishes, banging drums , noisy flip flops, along with clops, clinks, taps and pops. He’s is going to SNAP if the noise doesn’t STOP! Finally, he yells to the loud town to Quiet Down.  The animals in town are annoyed but they do quiet down and Mr. Elephant heads home for bed. Unfortunately, he can’t get to sleep…it’s just TOO quiet for him to sleep. So, he gets up and starts making all kinds of noises himself and falls asleep while snoring LOUDLY.  He is now waking up all the other animals with the loud noises coming from his apartment.  The animals confront him and he explains he didn’t MEAN to be so loud… and that maybe they didn’t either. The story ends with the elephant giving out free coffee to all his tired new friends.  The brightly colored mixed media illustrations are playful and engaging. Children aged four to seven will enjoy this picture book about a cranky elephant who gets what he thinks he wants… but  be careful what you wish for! This rhythmic tale would make a fun read aloud with all the various sounds. The story also opens up discussions on having different perspectives.  A strong addition for either public or school libraries. Reviewed by Terri Bauld,  Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library — Kennebunkport, ME.

four-stars

The Lights & Types of Ships at Night

The Lights & Types of Ships at NightThe Lights and Types of Ships at Night by Annie Dills, Dave Eggers
Published by McSweeney's on October 20, 2020
ISBN: 1952119073
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

I’ve never wondered this before but is it possible to have illustrations be too good? So good that they maybe even detract, or at least distract, from the text? I guess it’s a good problem to have. The illustrations in this book are startling and I found myself begrudgingly reading  the text because I couldn’t wait  to get to the next page, which was a shame because the text is informative and has Eggers’ natural and easygoing sense of humor.  Each page is a different kind of water vessel at night, illuminated by their lights in the dark. Eggers describes each vessel’s function but the book is mostly about how majestic they all are. He’s right and it’s always nice to take a step back and think about the beauty of something we might take for granted.  The backdrop of stars on the pages makes each one look like some kind of glowing space ship, so Eggers’ text is helpful in bringing us back down to earth.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick

five-stars

Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True Friendship

Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True FriendshipThe Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True Friendship by Julie Abery, Pierre Pratt
Published by Kids Can Press on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 1525302086
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Penguins in Brazil. That might be the first amazing fact in this true story. Joao nurses him back to health, and tries to return him to the sea where he belongs. But the penguin comes back, so Joao gives him a name: Dindim, and gives him the freedom to be wild.

Illustrations by Pierre Pratt show various angles and views, giving the reader a fuller feel for the blues and greens of the Brazilian beach setting.. Sparse rhyming text does the story justice.

Pair with any books about Harry Goodridge and Andre the seal of Rockport, Maine, or narratives about oil-soaked animals being rescued or stories of penguins for early to middle elementary levels.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars

What Grew in Larry’s Garden

What Grew in Larry’s GardenWhat Grew in Larry's Garden by Kass Reich, Laura Alary
ISBN: 152530108X
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Larry is a gardener and a teacher – in real life! He used gardening to teach life skills. We could all take a lesson from him! In this story based on his life, he helps little next-door neighbor Grace some problems they encounter in trying to grow unusual vegetables.

Colorful gouache illustrations (Kass Reich) are adequate.

What grew in Larry’s garden? Much more than plants! Use this book for lots of life’s lessons!

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars

Peppa Pig and the Day of Giving Thanks

Peppa Pig and the Day of Giving ThanksPeppa Pig and the Day of Giving Thanks by Candlewick Press
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 1536216607
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Fans of Peppa will enjoy joining her and her family on their outdoor fall walk, giving thanks to various things: clouds, flowers, apples, etc.  Daddy Pig running from the spider provides a bit of humor (which could also be an opportunity to discuss why spiders should be thanked instead of feared). When it starts raining, readers are also afforded the opportunity to look at such events from more than just their own dislike or inconvenience.

Colorful illustrations provide enough detail for preschoolers to stop and count or name, and perhaps segue into making a gratitude list or a walk around their own neighborhood.

Purchase for Peppa fans.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

three-stars

When I Draw a Panda

When I Draw a PandaWhen I Draw a Panda by Amy June Bates
Published by Simon Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books on September 22, 2020
ISBN: 1481451480
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Is less-than perfect art OK? Is it the effort that matters? What if I “run out of space” or my “lines come out of our pencils and they are not going anywhere in particular”? This young girl loves to draw. Her not-perfect circles end up creating a panda, who then also draws his own way, and they end up with lines that “…are just going somewhere that makes up happy.”

Sparse text with illustrations combine for a full message of self-acceptance. 

Not to be missed – especially the cover under the dust jacket! Pair with “Ish” by Peter Reynolds.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars

One Girl

One GirlOne Girl by Andrea Beaty, Dow Phumiruk
Published by Harry N. Abrams on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 141971905X
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A book can be a spark that flickers and grows, especially for one who has not had access to them. Readers who have experienced this will find familiarity with the feeling of having a book become “Brighter. Brighter. Brightest bright.” 

Beautiful illustrations (Dow Phumiruk) show the main character surrounded with other children and details many possibilities of what books & reading can open our minds to.  Although this seems aimed at a particular segment of an unnamed group there is a wide variety of ethnic/races shown in her class – perhaps the range of appearances are to represent all children? Sparse text flows across each page loaded with figurative phrases to explore.

Younger children may simply enjoy the illustrations. This could be used to initiate a discussion on equality for girls in education, but it feels like a fictional “Malala” and may need explanation on how a book can be a spark to ignite a passion for learning. If I were a boy, I might ask, “Can’t boys be “Brighter. Brighter. Brightest bright,” too? Which would lead a discussion to come back around to the inequality of education for many girls in other parts of the world.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

 

four-stars

Otis P. Oliver Protests

Otis P. Oliver ProtestsOtis P. Oliver Protests by Daniel Duncan, Keri Claiborne Boyle
ISBN: 1534167064
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The cover tells the story – Oliver, with dirt smudged on his face, stands in his underwear with his arms crossed in front of the bathtub. How attention grabbing is that? After he stages his protest, Mom is willing to compromise.

Looking serious (such as wearing a sports coat), getting backup (by delivering a fiery speech to his pals), marching, and picketing are reasonable steps when one is protesting. Toss in some hand-written notes between Otis and his mother during negotiations and we have a satisfying outcome!

Cartoonish illustrations (Daniel Duncan) add to the story with humor and just enough relevant details. 

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

four-stars

Mae the Mayfly

Mae the MayflyMae the Mayfly by Denise Brennan-Nelson, Florence Weiser
ISBN: 1534166742
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Oh, the delights of a day in the life of a mayfly! aFter saying goodbye to her mother, May explores her surroundings, barely escapes being lunch for a trout, and then ends up saving him after he becomes entanglesd in fishing line.

Beautiful, rich illustrations on double page spreads pull the reader in. Rhyming text flows well and gives facts and information about a mayfly’s life. Back matter includes more facts about mayflies, and how to practice mindful breathing exercises. 

Could be paired with Aesop’s “The Mouse and the Lion” or David Shannon’s “Jangles: A Big Fish Story”. Could also be used to show children how to slow down and enjoy nature’s beauty. 

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars