Category: Book Reviews

Honey, the Dog Who Saved Abe Lincoln

Honey, the Dog Who Saved Abe LincolnHoney, the Dog Who Saved Abe Lincoln by Chuck Groenink, Shari Swanson
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on January 14, 2020
ISBN: 0062699008
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This beautifully written picture book biography is about young Abe Lincoln living in Knob Creek, Kentucky. One day he rescues and cares for a honey colored dog with a broken leg. Soon Honey and Abe go everywhere together whether it’s dropping off grain at the mill or going out on adventures. One day Abe ends up trapped between two boulders in a cave. Honey returns to Abe’s mother and leads the town folk to Abe. The soft and colorful illustrations enhance the well written text. The story is a wonderful read aloud. Not only will is appeal to animal lovers, but also to those who enjoy a well told story that happens to be about one of our most famous presidents. There is a fascinating timeline entitled Abraham Lincoln and His Animal Encounters. The timeline includes his childhood in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, and continues to his years as the president depicting his lifelong compassion for animals The author’s note explains how this story came to be known. There is also an illustrated map around Hodgen’s Mills where the story takes place. This is the author’s debut picture book.                                                                                          I highly recommend this for children ages 4-9.

Kris Zuidema,  retired school librarian, Standish.

five-stars

THE SECRET GARDEN

THE SECRET GARDENThe Illustrated Secret Garden: 100th Anniversary Edition with Special Foreword by Anna Clark, Charles Robinson, Frances Hodgson Burnett
Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 1950435989
Genres: Adventure, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A lovely adapted version of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic book, ‘The Secret Garden.”  This picture book is for young readers – ages 4-8.  It is an easily read, straight forward rendition accompanied by lush, colorful illustrations  by the Swedish illustrator and designer, Adelina LIrius.

This is  the story of a lonely child, Mary Lennox, who was moved into  Misselthwaite Manor in Northern England. Mary hates the cold dreary Manor, until  an old gardener tells her about  a hidden, secret garden. And soon, a  Robin helps Mary to  discover the key that unlocks the  the  ancient  and  unkept garden.  One day, Mary hears cries coming from one of the manor bedrooms and searches to discover a young boy, Colin, (brother  of Martha, the maid, who is sick and weekly.)  Mary brings him to the garden in his wheelchair  for fresh air and sunshine.  A  transformation occurs in the children  while working together  to  bring the old garden back to  life.  And slowly, as the  new garden  emerges, so does a new friendship between Mary and Colin.

Great for when studying classic literature with children.  A beautiful  read aloud with beautiful engaging artwork.

 

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

five-stars

THE STARS JUST UP THE STREET

THE STARS JUST UP THE STREETThe Stars Just Up the Street by Christine Davenier, Sue Soltis
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 0763698342
Genres: Adventure, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“”The Stars Just Up the Street,” is a sweetly told picture book about a Mabel who loved to watch   the 37 stars she could count  from  her backyard.  When Mabel shares this fact with Grandpa, he recalls  memories  of his own childhood in the prairies where he was able to view thousands of stars.   Grandpa and Mabel climb the hill “just up the street” where Mabel is able to count 103 stars.   On their walk through town, Mabel had noticed that many houses and porches were brightly lit!  Mabel then has an idea. “Maybe people would turn off their lights!  But The townspeople protest until Mabel is to convince them  ( all but the mayor, that is) to all come outside and see for themselves.  Finally she sends the mayor an email saying,  “When was the last time you saw thousands of stars?” And suddenly,  recalling  her own childhood  –  “lying on a striped blanket under the darkest of summer skies, she had tried to count them all.- the mayor types back, “Let’s give it a try!”

A fun read when studying the night sky.  Pastel watercolors lend an air of nighttime and gentleness to the story about a grandfather sharing with his granddaughter.

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

four-stars

World’s Best (and Worst) Monster Jokes

World’s Best (and Worst) Monster JokesWorld's Best (and Worst) Monster Jokes by Jessica Rusick
Published by Lerner Publications ISBN: 1541576985
Genres: Humor
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads

This title is part of the 10-title series “Laugh your socks off” from Lerner. Purchasing the entire series would be an expensive way to add joke books. This reviewer would love to see some of the big library-market publishers like Lerner publish a complete joke book that includes all 10 titles and for a lower cost; most kids who enjoy joke books don’t require that they be contained to one topic. The binding is strong and the layout is colorful and appealing with a mix of photographs and illustrations. Most major monsters are covered. A few of the jokes could be better written (“where do aliens stay when they visit Earth? At alie-inns” could’ve been “where do Martians or extra-terrestrials stay…” for a better set-up), but there are also some genuine laugh-out-loud gems (“what’s the first thing the werewolf ate after he had his teeth cleaned? The dentist”. This book would circulate better in an elementary school library though its price point and limited topic make is a non-essential purchase.

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

Brian Wildsmith’s animal Gallery

Brian Wildsmith’s animal GalleryBrian Wildsmith's Animal Gallery by Brian Wildsmith
on February 1, 2010
ISBN: 1536212350
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This is a true picture book!  done in colored pencil, chalk, watercolor and goache, the animal groups are depicted in their groups, with the only text being the collective nouns by which the groups are identified. Some are familiar, ” a pride of lions” and some are not as familiar, ” a game of swans, a siege of herons, an ambush of tigers.” It is stunning in the art, vibrant,double page offerings that keep the reader wanting to see what the next page brings. It is also fun to figure out why each group has been identified as they have. simple in its presentation, it can be read again and again. Use in animal units and in art classes.

“Wildsmith’s illustrations were a;ways as important as his text.” Michael Rosen’s reaction when first seeing his work. ” Floods of color exploding across the pages with a name to match.” I remember feeling envious: why hadn’t I had books as wild and lush as these.”

grades pre-k thru 2.     Consider for Cream

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

five-stars

Bowl Full of Peace:a True Story

Bowl Full of Peace:a True StoryA Bowl Full of Peace: A True Story by Akira Kusaka, Caren Stelson
ISBN: 154152148X
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Between 2010 and 2015 the author traveled to Nagasaki, Japan to interview Sachiko Yasui, a survivor of the Nagasaki bombing on August 6, 1945. Sachiko is the subject of the book: Sachiko: a Nagasaki Bomb Survivor’s Story. During the interviews, Sachiko spoke of a bowl that had been in her family forever, handed down from mother to daughter. Caren Stelson felt the bowl itself had a story to tell. Sachiko and her family were less than a mile from ground zero the day the bomb fell. though she survived, her youngest brother died and then within days her surviving brothers pass away. When they go back to their home- the only thing that can be found is the green leaf bowl.It becomes the touch point that keeps the family looking forward- her grandmother had touched it, her brothers had touched it . It is a reminder of that fateful August day that must never be forgotten and must never happen again. As the years pass, Sachiko loses her sister, mother and father to radiation sickness- she and the bowl are the only long term survivors. After fifty years have past, Sachiko feels that she must tell the story to children. Sachiko brings her bowl to gatherings of children to tell of her experience.

This story is told quietly,  in simple language with soft muted illustrations. It is told in a peaceful way with a non threatening message. In the back of the book there is an author’s note with photos of Sachiko and her family, speaking to students and the green leaf bowl itself. readers will  also find an illustrator’s note too.

This must be added to units on war and its horrors, units on the atomic bomb and its effects, units on the need to find paths to peace. It can also be used in units about family heirlooms and their importance to family history.

Use in grades 3 and up. consider for Cream.

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

five-stars

The Compton Cowboys: Young Readers’ Edition: And the Fight to Save Their Horse Ranch

The Compton Cowboys: Young Readers’ Edition: And the Fight to Save Their Horse RanchThe Compton Cowboys: Young Readers’ Edition: And the Fight to Save Their Horse Ranch by Walter Thompson-Hernandez
Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 0062956841
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Inspired by a New York Times article The Compton Cowboy’s Young Readers addition tells the story of a group of men and women from Compton, California who fought to save a horse ranch where they had found redemption and healing. This book is great for the 13-16 age range and I enjoyed the underdog aspect of it. I’m also a firm believer that animals always inspire healing and happiness. Not to mention horse books tend to circulate a lot. I would recommend this for any YA nonfiction collection that is looking for something a little different.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library

three-stars

A Sporting Chance: How Paralympics Founder Ludwig Guttmann Saved Lives with Sports

A Sporting Chance: How Paralympics Founder Ludwig Guttmann Saved Lives with SportsA Sporting Chance: How Paralympics Founder Ludwig Guttmann Saved Lives with Sports by Allan Drummond, Lori Alexander
Published by Houghton Mifflin on April 1, 2020
ISBN: 1328580792
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A Sporting Chance tells the story of Ludwig Guttmann, the creator of the Paralympics. With a mix of biographical information about Ludwig and brief glimpses of paraplegics through history, this book weaves together the practical and medical reasons that the Paralympics came to be. This book is text with archival photos and is great for the 9-11 age range. I would recommend this for and Junior nonfiction section.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library

four-stars

The Moon Keeper

The Moon KeeperThe Moon Keeper by Zosienka
Published by HarperCollins on March 10, 2020
ISBN: 0062959522
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Emile gets a letter from the night creatures, and he learns they’ve chosen him to be the new moon keeper. He’s thrilled and excited for his new job, and he enjoys his time with the moon even though it is a solitary existence. One day, he notices the moon is getting smaller. He didn’t anticipate this problem, and he’s unprepared to stop it from disappearing altogether. Wise words from a feathered friend give him renewed hope and a positive outlook for the future.

This is a gorgeously illustrated picture book, and the message is a good one as well. The illustrations are colorful and detailed paintings, and they really help bring the story to life. The message of things coming and going in life is a good one that while presented mostly metaphorically, is laid out quite clearly by the end. Recommended for kids 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Amelia Fang and the Rainbow Rangers

Amelia Fang and the Rainbow RangersAmelia Fang and the Rainbow Rangers by Laura Ellen Anderson
ISBN: 0593172493
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Amelia and her friends are back for the fourth installment in this fun and lighthearted vampire/fantasy series. This time, they’re going on their first camping trip with the Rainbow Rangers under the guidance of two unicorns, Ricky and Graham. While exploring and earning badges, Ameila and her friends unearth a curse and are shrunked to the size of tiny bugs! How can they get back to the camp site when everything is now so huge, and they’re so tiny?

As with previous Amelia books, this is a great vampire series for younger readers as it isn’t scary at all. There are black and white illustrations throughout, though they really just break up the text more than add to the story. They will, however, make the book more appealing and accessible to younger readers. Recommended for readers 2nd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars