Category: Book Reviews

SNOW SONG

SNOW SONGSnow Song by A.K. Riley, Dawn Lo
Published by Kids Can Press on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 1525302353
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A picture book for ages 3-7 that charmingly shows us a “celebration of snow.”  Written in rhythmic free verse at a sometimes slow/sometimes quicker pace . SNOW SONG is sure to be enjoyed by young children as they, themselves may relate to a similar experience.

A little girl explores her own neighborhood after a snowfall.  She  delights in experiencing the many sensations of the snow as she eagerly engages in sledding, skating, and playing,  along with friends.  The text is rich and “lush.”  And one  “knows”  that the little girl is experiencing a winter wonderland with love and delight! The ending depicts the little girl staring at the sky out her bedroom window,  Concluding lines:

All the stars

Bright falling stars

Are made of

Snow.

A nice book for a winter themed books, poetry, and for shows us  that a few friends can enhance the experience of the out of doors.  Soft, “drifty and  dreamy,”  expressive and sweet, illustrations compliment SNOW SONG story so nicely.  Perhaps pair with “The Snowy Day,” by Jack Ezra Keats.

 

reviewed by Connie M. Smith, Breakwater School, Porltand, ME

three-stars

LITTLE WISE WOLF

LITTLE WISE WOLFLittle Wise Wolf by Gijs van der Hammen, Hanneke Siemensma
Published by Kids Can Press on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 1525305492
Pages: 34
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

LITTLE WISE WOLF is  charming and endearing picture book for ages 4 through 8 years.  It’s  about the importance of relationships and community all  “disguised” in  a lovely, folktale like story. about a  wise little wolf who loves to read and  thinks he knows just about everything.   This fact made Wise Little Wolf feel VERY PROUD! In fact,  he reads so much that he cannot  find the time to answer his friends (animals, also) questions.  “I don’t have time for your questions,” he muttered.  One day, the kIng’s crow beckons Wise Little Wolf to visit the ailing kIng immediately because he thinks only Wise Little Wolf can heal  him.   Reluctantly, Wise Little Wolf sets off, but soon finds that he is not up to the journey.  He becomes  tired and hungry on the long journey.  Reluctantly, at first, but knowing it’s the right thing to do. his  friends decide to help him out.  After completing his journey AND  healing the the King, Wise Little Wolf  is  humbled as he realizes that, indeed, he does not know everything and that sometimes one needs to  rely on friends.

This book has vivid and engaging  illustrations that compliment the pace of the text and the plot  .For discussion purposes with chidren,  WISE LITTLE WOLF  shows us that it sometimes “takes a village” and that it’s okay, in time of need,  to accept help form others.

Reviewed by Connie M. Smith, Breakwater School, Portland, ME

four-stars

After Dark: Poems About Nocturnal Animals

After Dark: Poems About Nocturnal AnimalsAfter Dark: Poems about Nocturnal Animals by David L Harrison, Stephanie Laberis
ISBN: 1629797170
Genres: Animals, Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Figurative language seamlessly mixed with facts in free verse describe each of 21 animals. Many of the facts tell it like it is – which may make some readers squirm a bit. The poems often describe mating, physical characteristics, dietary habits and other behaviors. 

Some cute animals (owl, mouse, fox) and some not considered as cute (slugs, tarantula, cockroach) are all illustrated ( by Stephanie Laberis) in realistic one- and two-page spreads. White font is easy to read against the dark night background. The “And Did You Also Know…?” feature gives more details about each animal  using bullets. The raccoon is featured on the back cover.

This book could be used in many elementary lessons: poetry, nocturnal animals, figurative language, or just for the pleasure of reading aloud or silently.

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

five-stars

The Problem with Problems

The Problem with ProblemsThe Problem with Problems by Rachel Rooney, Zehra Hicks
Published by Andersen on March 5, 2020
ISBN: 1783448717
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The reader will need to infer what ‘The Problem” is with problems. Rather, this book helps the reader identify various types of problems and how to deal with them. It recognizes that some situations are problems for some people, but not others. Reads easily like a narrative, but there are no main characters or story line.

Some solutions are specific, such as “ignore them”; figurative language describes others (…will wilt when they’re left in the shade) and may need adult explanation if warranted. Overall, it is a welcoming way to introduce, explain, or brainstorm ways a child could deal with most any problem they may encounter – big or small. The final message to share them is critical, and a lesson even adults could consider doing.

Cartoonish, bright, full-color illustrations show children in various situations dealing with creatures of non-descript shapes

UsePair with “What Do You Do With a Problem?” (Kobi Yamada, 2016) or “Penguin Problems” (Jory John, 2016).

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

four-stars

Calvin Gets the Last Word

Calvin Gets the Last WordCalvin Gets the Last Word by Margo Sorenson, Mike Deas
Published by Tilbury House Publishers on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 0884488225
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

“I’m Calvin’s dictionary, and I’m tired.”  Why is Calvin’s dictionary telling this story? Why is it tired? Who is Calvin? This humorous vocabulary-building story introduces the reader to big words, such as mayhem, subterfuge and retaliation. Even though young readers might not remember these words, they will remember and possibly relate to the irritations of siblings.

Full-color illustrations mirror the text as well as give a deeper understanding of the big words used. Green and gray hues are dominant, but the brothers are in bolder colors, and the yellow-with-red-stripe dictionary is easy to locate on each page.

Great to use an introduction to dictionaries, or vocabulary-building, or what’s most important in “family”.  Fun pairings could include “Tony Baloney” (Pam Munox Ryan, 2011), or “Word Collector” (Peter Reynolds, 2018).

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

five-stars

I Am the Storm

I Am the StormI Am the Storm by Heidi E y Stemple, Jane Yolen, Kevin Howdeshell, Kristen Howdeshell
Published by Rise X Penguin Workshop on October 27, 2020
ISBN: 059322275X
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Comparing our behavior to nature and weather in children’s books isn’t new, but Yolen’s book brings a new face to the category. Readers are shown resilience in a tornado, a blizzard, a wildfire, and a hurricane. Most importantly, readers are shown the calm after the storm – whether the storm is outside in nature or inside ourselves: our emotions. Each natural event shows nature’s fury, and what people may do during and after the event.

Full-color, double-page spreads (done by Yolen’s daughter) helps the reader feel the expansiveness of nature’s storms.

Older fans of “Quick as a Cricket” (Audrey Wood, 1982) will quickly recognize some of the comparisons. “I Am the Storm” could be used for weather studies but  might be better used for helping youngsters understand that we can’t control the weather (or the storms of life), but we can control our reaction to it through acceptance, adaptation and perseverance.

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

four-stars

Rain Before Rainbows

Rain Before RainbowsRain Before Rainbows by David Litchfield, Smriti Prasadam-Halls
Published by Candlewick Press on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 1536212830
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A young girl and her fox friend move through many landscapes an encounter struggles along the way. They find support from each other and friends along the way and emerge hopeful and surrounded by light and rainbows.

This is a story about challenges, courage, and friendship. The text is sparse and rhymes, and the story is a bit weak. The illustrations, however, are wonderful. David Litchfield’s characteristic style of high color and whimsical illustrations really carry the book. Though the illustrations are beautiful, there are certainly better books with the same message out there. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Julián at the Wedding

Julián at the WeddingJulián at the Wedding (Julián, #2) by Jessica Love
Published by Candlewick Press on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 1536212385
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Julián is a brown skinned elementary aged kid who lives with their abuela. Today, they’re going to a same sex wedding. At the wedding, Julián and a young girl go on adventures and end up getting dirty. Julián has an idea for how to fix the problem, and the two kids are discovered having tied branches to their backs like wings.

As with its predecessor, Julián is a Mermaid, the art is really what makes this book. The story is wonderfully sweet and inclusive (it is refreshing to see queer People of Color represented in a picture book), but the gorgeous watercolor illustrations bring it to another level. The bright colors, the emotions, and the way the illustrations convey movement are all magical. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Brenda is a Sheep

Brenda is a SheepBrenda Is a Sheep by Morag Hood
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on November 17, 2020
ISBN: 0593173805
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Brenda is a sheep. She’s like all the other sheep — except Brenda has a long snout and sharp teeth and sharp claws. Brenda is planning a feast for all her sheep friends with her delicious mint sauce. She just needs to find the perfect thing to eat with it.

This is a quirky twist on the classic ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ story, and it will appeal to a wide audience. The story is sweet and has a good message of friendship. The illustrations are high contrast in green, orange, grey, black and white and are simply done. This is a cute story but there isn’t any major wow factor. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Muck and Magic

Muck and MagicMuck and Magic by Michael Morpurgo, Olivia Lomenech Gill
Published by Candlewick Press on November 10, 2020
ISBN: 1536212881
Pages: 64
Genres: Animals, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Bonny has always dreamed of being an Olympic cyclist, but when a crash on her new bike lands her outside a small farm, something shifts for her. Bonny then finds herself intentionally biking (and taking breaks) near the farm so she can see “her” horses and give them carrots. She is intrigued by the woman who lives in the house but never comes to say hello as well as by all the statues adorning the woman’s yard. When the woman, Lizzie, does finally come talk to Bonny, she offers her a job helping her on the farm, and this changes the course of Bonny’s life forever.

This is a short and heartwarming story of friendship and finding your true passion. Bonny is likable, courageous, and at times, sarcastically funny. The relationship she forms with Lizzie and the horses pulls the reader into their lives quickly and effectively. Though the ending was a bit predictable, the story is a good one overall. Throughout, there are beautiful mixed media illustrations that really bring the story to life. There are line drawings as well as full two-page spread paintings, and they’re just really beautiful. The story would be fine without the illustrations, but they enhance it and could help keep reluctant readers engaged. Recommended for readers 3rd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars