Category: Book Reviews

The Coolest Stuff on Earth

The Coolest Stuff on EarthThe Coolest Stuff on Earth: A Closer Look at the Weird, Wild, and Wonderful by Brenda Scott Royce
Published by National Geographic Kids on November 3, 2020
ISBN: 1426338589
Pages: 192
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This National Geographic book is loaded with information that will wow readers of all ages. Dolphins have their own language and call each other by name. There are beetles that shoot chemicals that are heated up to 100 degrees at potential predators. It is separated into sections—animals, history, technology, sports, etc. There are loads of gorgeous photographs throughout, as one would expect from National Geographic. The book is also full of interesting sidebars and infographics. Recommended for readers 8 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

Kids vs. Plastic

Kids vs. PlasticKids vs. Plastic: Ditch the straw and find the pollution solution to bottles, bags, and other single-use plastics by Julie Beer
Published by National Geographic Kids on December 1, 2020
ISBN: 1426339100
Pages: 128
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This is a great overview of the effects that plastics have on our environment. It includes some easy, real life examples of small steps kids and their families can take to reduce plastic use and thus, the plastic waste they generate. There are compelling photographs, infographics, sidebars, and stories throughout that will inspire readers to assess their reliance on plastics. Recommended for readers 8 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, ME

four-stars

Avocado Asks

Avocado AsksAvocado Asks: What Am I? by Momoko Abe
ISBN: 1408358220
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Everything is going well for Avocado in the grocery store until one day, a dark skinned young customer asks her mom if an avocado is a fruit or a vegetable. When the mother doesn’t directly answer the question, Avocado’s life is thrown upside down. Avocado checks all the different areas of the store but can’t seem to fit in anywhere. That’s when an unexpected, and often misunderstood friend helps Avocado realize it doesn’t matter how other people see them, as long as Avocado knows they’re amazing, that’s all that matters.

This is a wonderful book. The message of loving yourself is a good one, and the story is easy to follow and fun. The digitally rendered illustrations are colorful and add emotion and humor to the story. This makes a great read-aloud. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Nice Try, Charlie

Nice Try, CharlieNice Try, Charlie! by Matt James
Published by Groundwood Books on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 1773061801
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Charlie is a fixture in town. He pushes a cart loaded with treasures, and he picks up many things other people consider to be trash. He finds ways to use things other people throw away. Charlie helps a neighbor get her cat back, and then he stumbles upon a box with an entire pie in it. He makes an effort to find the owner of the pie, but when he’s unable to find the owner, he shares the pie with his community of friends.

This is an important story because it focuses on the type of person often overlooked by many people in society. Charlie exudes kindness, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by his friends. The mixed media illustrations are beautiful and add so much depth and dimension to the story. The combination of thick strokes of acrylic paint with collage give the sense there’s actually three dimensional texture on the page (this reviewer’s 5-yr old tried to touch one page and was confused/disappointed when it was still flat). This is a wonderful story about friendship, community, and finding kindness and value in all people. Recommended for purchase and for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Can You See Me?

Can You See Me?Can You See Me? by Libby Scott, Rebecca Westcott
Published by Scholastic Press on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 1338608916
Pages: 362
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Tally is an autistic 6th grader, and she’s dreading many things about starting school—scratchy uniforms, changing schedules, being without her friends in all her classes. Until now, Tally has never been ashamed of being autistic. It’s part of what makes her the person she is. When she starts 6th grade, though, she’s the brunt of a fair amount of bullying, and it makes her keenly aware of her differences. Suddenly, she feels as if she needs to fit into a mold that doesn’t feel quite right.

This is a wonderful #OwnVoices book co-written by a young autistic girl, Libby Scott. The way Tally expresses her autism and what it means for her really brings to light some of the often misunderstood aspects of autism. The story is relatable, well paced, and easy to read. Recommended for readers 4th grade and up and for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

In The Half Room

In The Half RoomIn the Half Room by Carson Ellis
Published by Candlewick Press on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 1536214566
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Half a cat lies on half a rug, on half a floor, in half a house. Everything in this story is half of something until a knock comes at the door. This is a whimsical and quirky story with no major plot. The text is simple and sparse. The gouache and ink illustrations are beautiful and bring the half house to half life. Hand this to fans of quirky reads. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Space Matters

Space MattersSpace Matters by Jacque Lynn, Lydia Nichols
ISBN: 1328801470
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Space matters, spaces matter. This is a fun book about perspective. Spaces make sentences, they help you to see the whole picture, they keep pudding from tasting like pickles. The text is simple and easy to follow when paired with the illustrations. The illustrations are mixed media with clean lines and bright colors. Without the illustrations, the text wouldn’t make sense at all. They are critical to the story. The premise of this book is a good one, but the concept will be lost on the youngest of readers. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Trowbridge Road

Trowbridge RoadTrowbridge Road by Marcella Pixley
Published by Candlewick Press on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 1536207500
Pages: 336
Genres: Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

It’s the early 80s, and June Bug Jordan’s father has recently died from complications from AIDS. June Bug’s mother is having a really hard time with the loss and has all but ceased functioning as a parent. She is overcome with grief and fear and spends the entirety of each day locked in their house. She requires June Bug to disinfect any time she ventures out. The more June Bug ventures out, though, the more she connects with other people, and the more she longs for those connections. She befriends a young boy, Ziggy, and he and his grandmother become a pivotal part of June Bug’s life and her mother’s road to recovery.

This is a beautiful and gut wrenching story of family, loss, grief, and mental illness. June Bug’s mother is rapt with anxiety and fear about the HIV and the potential to get it. The story is set in the early 80s, so the fear and misunderstanding about HIV/AIDS is appropriately represented. Some of her mother’s practices border on child abuse, though, so sensitive readers beware. The author does a great job capturing the hold that mental illness and grief can have on someone. This book is a great read albeit sometimes a hard one. Recommended for readers 5th grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Dear Earth…From Your Friends in Room 5

Dear Earth…From Your Friends in Room 5Dear Earth…From Your Friends in Room 5 by Erin Dealey, Luisa Uribe
Published by HarperCollins on December 1, 2020
ISBN: 0062915320
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The kids in Room 5 write a letter to the Earth asking what they can do to help. They’re surprised when they get an answer! This begins a dialog between the kids in Room 5 (later referred to as “Earth Heroes”) and our planet. The kids talk about small changes they’re making—turning off the lights, using reusable water bottles, recycling/reusing paper, etc. As the year goes on, the seasons change, but the kids’ enthusiasm for helping the planet does not.

The text is presented entirely as letters between the class and the Earth. It is a fun way to tell the story and to share important information about helping the planet that will keep readers engaged. There are bits of humor and wit woven in as well to lighten the mood. The digitally rendered illustrations are colorful and detailed enough to bring the story to life. They include a classroom of kids diverse in race and physical ability, and all kids are shown helping the efforts together. This is a fun book about how little changes can make a big difference in the health of our planet. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

The Boy and the Gorilla

The Boy and the GorillaThe Boy and the Gorilla by Cindy Derby, Jackie Azúa Kramer
Published by Candlewick Press on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 0763698326
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A young boy is mourning the death of his mother. He begins a relationship with an imaginary gorilla who helps him process his emotions and who answers many questions young kids have about death in general. The gorilla helps the boy to know it’s ok to be sad, and that the things the boy once enjoyed with his mother will eventually feel less sad and instead a way to remember the good times he had with his mom.

The text is simple and clear. The gorilla’s text is italicized so it’s clear who is talking. the mixed media illustrations are simply gorgeous and carry the heavy emotion of the book with ease. The gorilla exudes kindness and empathy while simultaneously being strong. This is a wonderful book on a very difficult topic. Recommended for wide purchase, for Cream of the Crop, and for readers of all ages dealing with grief.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars