Category: Book Reviews

Elevator Bird

Elevator BirdElevator Bird by Sarah Williamson
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on November 24, 2020
ISBN: 052564881X
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Elevator Bird is in charge of the elevator. He takes people to all the floors of the hotel, he makes recommendations about the city, and he always has something kind to say. He loves his job, but he wants something more. His cramped quarters in the basement just aren’t enough for him, and his mouse friend helps to change that. All the animals of the city band together to create something wonderful and beautiful for Elevator Bird.

This is a story of friendship. The animals in the city love Elevator Bird, and they had no idea he was unhappy. As soon as they discover this fact, there’s no question they’re going to do something kind for him. The illustrations are colorful and whimsical. Some of the pages have a lot of sidebar style text, and that can be a bit overwhelming for some young readers. The typeface isn’t anything special and somewhat diminishes the quality of the book. This is still a fun read that promotes kindness to all members of the community. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Let’s Play Monsters

Let’s Play MonstersLet's Play Monsters by Lucy Cousins
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 1536210609
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

A young white, blond-haired boy loves to play monsters. He asks several friends and family members to play with him, telling them all what kind of monsters they should be. The simple phrase, “Hee, hee, hee! But you can’t catch me!” is repeated throughout. None of the monsters catch him until his mom plays along, catches him, and puts him to bed.

This is a fun story that young readers will enjoy. The illustrations are classic Lucy Cousins: bright, high contrast, high emotion. They will definitely keep the attention of the youngest readers. There’s nothing particularly wrong with this book, it just isn’t overly compelling. Recommended for readers 2 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

two-stars

Love is powerful

Love is powerfulLove Is Powerful by Heather Dean Brewer, LeUyen Pham
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 1536201995
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Mari is a young brown-skinned girl who lives in an apartment with her mom. Together, she and her mother are using a rainbow of colors to make a sign. Mari wonders who will hear their message, and her mother assures her that the whole world will hear. They join a large crowd of diverse people on the sidewalk and march together for peace, love, and kindness. This is a story of community action, a story of family, and a story of believing in good. Mari is determined to make her message heard. She shouts it to the sky, and the entire crowd joins her.

This is a good story for reminding kids that their voice matters and their voice can make a difference. The illustrations are colorful and carry the story well. Though the crowds depicted are diverse, throughout the book, people other than Mari and her mother have a bit of a muted hue making it easier to find them among the sea of faces. This is a great read aloud for small groups or for one-on-one sharing and further discussion. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Mañanaland

MañanalandMañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Published by Scholastic Press on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 1338157868
Pages: 247
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A complex and compelling story that packs a lot of punch in 250 pages. Aimed at a middle grade audience, the book centers around three generations of a family living in a small village in what could be a Mexican or South American country. The men in the family are bridgebuilders and keepers of the stories of the guardians who help those seeking out a better life. Max dreams of being a fútbol star and playing on the national team like his Buelo, but when the matter of a missing birth certificate threatens his dream, his Papa sets out to the big city to see if he can find the important document. Max ends up caught up in the family legacy of moving “Hidden Ones” to safety and learns that his own mother, who left when he was a toddler, was once fleeing a dangerous life. She made the decision to leave Max in the hands of his father and grandfather and went off to seek Mañanaland, in the hope of securing the promise of a better, safer tomorrow for all of them. The growth and awareness that Max experiences is beautiful in Ryan’s capable hands and readers may not even realize the universality and timeliness of the story as our current news stories are still filled with people seeking their own Mañanaland where they can be safe from political persecution or terror from an aggressor. The adoration felt between the males in the Córdoba family and the loving way that they protect and then support Max is fantastic. Highly recommend.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

five-stars

Flash and Gleam: Light in Our World

Flash and Gleam: Light in Our WorldFlash and Gleam: Light in Our World by Khoa Le, Sue Fliess
on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 1541557700
Goodreads
five-stars

Through the eyes of a group of diverse children, author Sue Fliess , reminds us of the importance of light in the world. Light is all around us;  sun light, moonlight  rainbows, Northern Lights,    even fireflies. There are birthday candles and lights used to comfort in sad times.  There are festivals that revere the power of light: Hanukkah, Diwali, Yi Peng, Christmas, and what would the the Fourth of July be without fireworks. All the forms and uses of light are introduced through simple rhyming text and the vibrant full page illustrations of Khoa Le. The science of light and celebrations described in the book can be found in the back of the book. This is a wonderful choice for introducing young readers to both the science of light and how light is such a part of our lives.  Use in science units, cultural units and units of poetry and art.

grades preK- 3

Consider for Cream

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray Maine

 

five-stars

Wondrous Rex

Wondrous RexWondrous Rex by Emilia Dziubak, Patricia MacLachlan
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on March 17, 2020
ISBN: 0062940988
Pages: 88
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Grace spends a lot of time with her Aunt Lily as her parents are both doctors and busy much of the time. Grace’s Aunt Lily is a writer and has taught her the words a writer experiences as she writes her stories. Grace loves her aunt’s writing world, the words, the stories, the writing group her aunt is part of – she loves EVERYTHING about writing but doesn’t consider herself a writer even though her teacher sees the writer in her.

When Aunt Lily faces writers block, she puts an ad in the paper- “Writer of books needs an assistant, a coach, a helper, for inspiration and some magic!”

The  next day Rex, the dog, appears at the door ready to take on the job. He is  a magician’s  assistant who is bored and sad, in need of a new  assignment. He has come to stay. He has come to help both Lily and grace. He has brought some magic!

Maclachlan has, in this slim, simple volume, created a story with words of wisdom and a bit of magic. The reader will come away with a smile and the message that words are important and magical and are there for anyone to use and enjoy.

consider for Cream

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public library, Gray, Maine

Grades 3-6

five-stars

Crossings :Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals

Crossings :Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary AnimalsCrossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals by Katy S. Duffield, Mike Orodan
Published by Beach Lane Books on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 1534465790
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

With more and more interactions between animals and humans due to urban sprawl, animals are losing ways to migrate safely, be it across a road or a country. Author Duffield, upon reading an article about an underpass built specifically to aid and protect the endangered Florida panther, began to research other ways of safely delivering all sorts of animals from one area to another. World wide, crossings have been built – be they tunnels, bridges, and  overpasses to aid and protect many kinds of animals . Duffield has partnered with illustrator Mike Orodan to bring this story to young readers and future engineers and animal activists.

Simple text with side bars for those wanting more information are found on  facing pages of large vivid illustrations done with  graphite pencils and adobe photoshop that draw the reader in. They  are there watching elephants going through tunnels  in Kenya, and Fairy penguins using tunnels in New Zealand, bridges for millions of red crabs to cross safely in Australia, and tight rope bridges for the Titi monkey in Costa Rica. Because of dedicated activists urging these crossings to be built, countless animals have been saved. Younger readers can “read” the information through these large  vibrant , detailed illustrations.

This non fiction offering is both beautiful to look at and relevant and inspiring. It is a book  much needed if humans and animals are to co-exist on this planet.

Pair it with Faraway Fox by Jolene Thompson and Wild Bridges and Buildings  by Etta Kanter that explains how humans have borrowed various  forms of architecture from animals to make life better and safer.

all ages can benefit from this book

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray Maine

consider for Cream

five-stars

Summer We Found the Baby

Summer We Found the BabyThe Summer We Found the Baby by Amy Hest
Published by Candlewick Press on August 4, 2020
ISBN: 0763660078
Pages: 192
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Known for her picture books: the Baby Duck series, the Reader and  its companion books: When Grandpa Met Charlie and Charlie’s First Night , Amy Hest has written family stories that are heartwarming and tug on the emotions of the reader. This chapter book is no exception. The setting: Belle Beach, Long Island during World War ll. The characters: summer residents, Julie and her younger sister Martha with their widowed author father, year round residents:  Bruno Ben-Ellis, his parents and his brother Benjamin Ben- Eli fighting in the war, an abandoned baby and Eleanor Roosevelt.

On the day of the library party, Julie and Martha want to be the first ones there, hoping to get their picture taken for the local newspaper. As they approach the library steps, they find a basket with a baby  in it! Julie, without hesitation , picks up the basket and heads down the beach. Told in the voices of the 3 main characters, the reader is given their backgrounds and how this baby influences the choices they make as the story continues.

This slim, simple story is rich in the feelings, thoughts and emotions of both the characters and the time period the story is set in.  It is a book to be shared with readers who enjoy books with these attributes.

grades 3-6                                                                Consider for Cream

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public library , Gray Maine

five-stars

You Call This Democracy?: How to Fix Our Government and Deliver Power to the People

You Call This Democracy?: How to Fix Our Government and Deliver Power to the PeopleYou Call This Democracy?: How to Fix Our Government and Deliver Power to the People by Elizabeth Rusch
on March 31, 2020
ISBN: 0358176921
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

You Call This Democracy? is an accessible examination of America’s government. Rusch tackles this topic in a measured  yet impassioned voice and makes clear that while we do enjoy many important freedoms in the United States, our democracy is broken and we have the power to change it.

Twelve chapters cover issues such as gerrymandering, money in politics, voter disenfranchisement, and more. Examples of these issues are representative of both sides of the aisle giving balance to otherwise polarizing topics. Graphics help to break up the text and provide strong visualization of heavy information. Each chapter ends by telling teens what they can do to take action, allowing this book to not just teach, but to inspire our young citizens to get involved and make real change. Sections for further reading and source information are included.

Recommended for grades 6 and up.

Nominated for Cream of the Crop.

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

five-stars

Private Lessons

Private LessonsPrivate Lessons by Cynthia Salaysay
Published by Candlewick Press on May 12, 2020
ISBN: 1536209600
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars
A cautionary tale, that allows the reader to become immersed in the world of classical music. Claire Alalay, the main character, desperately wants to attend a college for classical music. To increase her chances of winning scholarships, Claire begins taking piano classes from Paul Avon. The book uses a slow pace to build the mounting feelings of anxiety that Claire feels as it becomes more and more important to earn Paul’s praise. In the end, this student-teacher relationship veers into sexual assault. The book dealt with the sexual assault well enough and I appreciated that it didn’t end there but allowed the reader to see Claire reclaiming herself. The one issue this book has is overly descriptive writing. If you love classical music or play a classical instrument then I’m sure the writing would be more engaging. If you aren’t a fan of classical music then this book will be hard to get through. Recommended for ages 14-18.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library

three-stars