Category: Book Reviews

The Willoughbys Return

The Willoughbys ReturnThe Willoughbys Return by Lois Lowry
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on September 29, 2020
ISBN: 0358423899
Pages: 192
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

One does not need to read “The Willoughbys” to enjoy this follow-up in which the mean and presumed dead parents thaw out and return home after 30 years of being frozen in the Alps.

Lowry is known for her clever writing, and this book is no disappointment. Each chapter begs the reader to keep reading. In spite of a lot of technical terms about finance, medicine, and manufacturing, these are not distracting, and can add to the humor for older readers. Lots of footnotes directed to the reader add to the entertainment, and some describe certain historical events, which may prompt further investigation by the reader.

Would make a great read aloud for middle elementary and perhaps younger grades. As a pre-reading activity, students could try to list things not heard of 30 years ago, such as Google, Uber, and Tesla.

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

four-stars

Flight For Freedom: The Wetzel Family’s Daring Escape from East Germany

Flight For Freedom: The Wetzel Family’s Daring Escape from East GermanyFlight for Freedom: The Wetzel Family’s Daring Escape from East Germany by Kristen Fulton, Torben Kuhlmann
ISBN: 1452149607
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Quick. Make a list of all the ways someone might escape from East Germany during the Cold War… 

Did you have ‘balloon flight’ on your list? I didn’t either, until I read this incredible account of not only one, but two families who made their escape in a home-made hot-air balloon!

This event is made accessible to middle elementary readers as historical fiction with clear but informative sentences and limited text on each page. The reader is introduced to young Peter Wetzel and how he lives with the differences between life in the East and West. The events leading up to the final escape attempt and the escape are told through Peter’s eyes. Upper elementary readers would find this an easy to understand account of a dramatic true event.

Realistic photos, some double-pages spreads and some single, with dark, shadowed tones appropriate to the confinement and night time escape. A map of their route from East Germany to West appears on the end pages. Back matter includes information on how their balloon was made and functioned, author notes, photos of the actual balloon and landing site sign, and the Cold War and the Berlin Wall. 

Highly recommended for all post-WWII collections and historical fiction shelves. This could be used with middle to upper elementary readers as an introduction to the Cold War, personal narrative writing lessons, or historical fiction examples.

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

five-stars

A is For Another Rabbit

A is For Another RabbitA is for Another Rabbit by Hannah Batsel
on April 7, 2020
ISBN: 1541529502
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The title gives the reader a clue that this will not be a standard alphabet book, which will be a surprise to the ‘wise’ owl who is expecting a nice little ABC book of various animals. By the end of the book, he is exhausted from the effort of trying to stay on track and overwhelmed by the deviation from a usual ABC book and the sheer number of rabbits.

Text in clear font is carefully placed, and sometimes slips into rhyme. Many unusual words are included such as overzealous, rambunctious, tenacious, and will stretch a youngster’s adjective vocabulary. Lots of humor in the cartoonish illustrations showing rabbits doing an enormously wide range of activities. Adults will appreciate some of the humor, such as one rabbit singing “Bunny and the Jets,” an art museum boasts “The Rabbit with the Pearl Earring” and “The Mona Rabbit.”

Be sure to spend time examining and comparing the front and back end papers. A fun addition to your alphabet book collection.

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

four-stars

The Little Penguin

The Little PenguinThe Little Penguin by Kip Noschese, Margo Gates
Published by Lerner Publications (Tm) on August 1, 2019
ISBN: 1541558677
Pages: 16
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This easy reader book is part of a series by Lerner showcasing animal habitats.  It meets all the criteria for beginner readers with two simple sentences in large print per page.  The story sequence is that the little penguin sees the snow then says “Let’s play in the snow”, which is repeated for ice, water and then a nap with Dad penguin.  The vocabulary promotes success in basic identifying words and the nap at the end adds humor.  The illustrations by Kip Noshese consist mainly of the penguin planted into the landscape of lines and mountains in the background.  All the colors are white with a blue tint and gray, which are not distracting from the text, but are not that exciting either.  The layout includes a table of contents which consists of the story, and the back page matter.  The last page provides visual clues of specific words and then an index of where various words such as:  Dad, friends, huddle, ice, jump are located in the book by page number.  Useful for school libraries and easy reader sections.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

 

three-stars

The Berenstain Bears’ Big Track Meet

The Berenstain Bears’ Big Track MeetThe Berenstain Bears’ Big Track Meet by Mike Berenstain
Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 0062654721
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

In this easy reader episode of the Berenstain Bear family, a track meet with Mama Bear as the coach provides the vehicle for learning comparisons.  In clear, repetitive phrasing and simple sentence structure that corresponds to the #1 Beginning Reader designation, the bear family competes against each other at various track meet events.  Sister and brother bear prove they are the fastest runner, farthest jumper and highest climber.  Some, more and most are presented as well as under, into and over.  Papa Bear never seems to the best at anything, that is, until it’s time to take a nap!  There is plenty of white space in the layout, and the illustrations show each event.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

four-stars

The All-Together Quilt

The All-Together QuiltThe All-Together Quilt by Lizzy Rockwell
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on October 27, 2020
ISBN: 0375822046
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Fiction based on real situations provides depth to the plot especially when factual information reinforces the text.  Rockwell offers a heartwarming story that crosses ethnic and age lines allowing a community to come together in the development of art.  Children and seniors are paired in the artistic creation of a quilt.  Their enthusiasm and joy are exhibited on each page of this colorful and informative picture book.  Illustrations emphasize the many happy faces and vibrant pieces of fabric selected for the quilt.  A complete construction lesson is taught as the storyline progresses from cutting, layering, painting, to machine and hand sewing the quilt.  Caution, young readers will want to put paint on their own hands in anticipation of an art session.

Rockwell has included back pages which include; the history of her Peace by Piece quilt project, classic quilt blocks, and a distinctive presentation of the origin of each fabric used in the quilt.  Both the hardcover illustration and end pages are eye catching.   This is a book that belongs in all public libraries and would be useful to art teachers in the primary grades.  Community center, youth organizations and  churches would also benefit from adding a copy of this book to their shelves of picture books.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

five-stars

Banned Book Club

Banned Book ClubBanned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, Ko Hyung-Ju, Ryan Estrada
on May 19, 2020
ISBN: 194582042X
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

This graphic novel tackles a piece of South Korea’s modern history. Set in 1983, under a military regime that uses censorship and torture as forms of control. This book is a compilation of real-life student experiences blended into one and told through the eyes of a new college student, Kim Hyun Sook. On Hyun Sook’s first day at university, she must walk through a protest to get to class and she encounters a protest for the first time. As a literature major, Hyun Sook joins a book club, only to find out it is a banned book club and that she could go to jail and lose her scholarship if the club is discovered. The rest of the story follows Hyun Sook’s awakening from a timid observer to an active participant in the political struggle for democracy in South Korea. Many teen readers will respond to the relevancy of this graphic novel given the parallels to the Black Lives Matter protests in our current society. The art is done in black and white sequential panels. This book is a solid addition to any young adult graphic novel collection. Recommended for grades 7 and up. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

five-stars

Field Notes on Love

Field Notes on LoveField Notes on Love by Jennifer E. Smith
on March 5, 2019
ISBN: 0399559442
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
British high school graduate Hugh has big plans: traveling across the USA with his girlfriend, Margaret.  He finds himself in a bit of a nonrefundable, nontransferable ticket pickle when she breaks up with him before the trip.  As one of a group of septuplet children, he decides he really needs some time away, and sets off to find someone who shares Margaret’s name to accompany him on the trip.  Also a recent graduate, Mae (Margaret) is looking to experience more life before she heads to college.  She answers his ad and away they go on a train trip across the USA.  They end up on a real coming of age journey, with both coming to grips with parts of themselves that they’d been avoiding.  It’s a lovely light romance with a brilliant supporting cast of relatives for both characters.  Best for grades 7+.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

four-stars

Punching the Air

Punching the AirPunching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam
Published by Balzer + Bray on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 0062996487
Pages: 400
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Punching the Air, written by American Street author Ibi Ziboi and Yusef Salaam, one of the Exonerated Five, belongs in all libraries serving young adults. The novel-in-verse is inspired by Salaam’s experience of being wrongly convicted and unjustly incarcerated. Like Walter Dean Myers’s Monster, Punching the Air covers both the court experience and time incarcerated of a black boy assumed to be guilty because of the color of his skin. The main character, Amal, is a student at a diverse art school where students seem to appreciate differences but he is still considered “disruptive” by his teachers, one of whom even testifies against him at his trial. Punching the Air will appeal to fans of Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Jason Reynolds, Jacqueline Woodson, and readers of Ziboi’s other work.  Put this book in the hands of any student interested in social justice or the power of art as self-expression and healing. Librarians be prepared to guide students to learn more about Yusef Salaam and the Exonerated Five after they read this book. Recommended for grades 8 and up.

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

five-stars

Nick and Nack Build a Birdhouse

Nick and Nack Build a BirdhouseNick and Nack Build a Birdhouse (Highlights Puzzle Readers) by Adam Record, Brandon Budzi
ISBN: 1684379849
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
Nick and Nack have popsicles. What can they do with the popsicle sticks? Make a birdhouse, of course! This Level 1 early reader is a great addition to any public library. There are many repeated words to help build confidence in new readers, but there are also some more challenging words to help expand vocabulary. The illustrations are colorful and fun, and several of the pictures include a search and find aspect. This may help to keep some kids engaged, but it may also serve as a bit of a distraction. Recommended for purchase for libraries needing to expand and update their early reader sections. Recommended for kids 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME