Category: Book Reviews

Yes No Maybe So

Published by Balzer + Bray Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
four-stars

A great example of a cross-cultural romance between two young adults trying to find themselves. The romance in this novel is somewhat of a slow burn, which I prefer when compared to an insta-love romance that can be found in YA novels lately. In addition to a sweet romance, this book highlights teens becoming active in local politics while overcoming personal insecurities. I would recommend this book for ages 13 and up.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library

four-stars

Peppa Pig: Story Treasury

Peppa Pig: Story TreasuryPeppa Pig Story Treasury by Candlewick Press
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536213381
Genres: Adventure, Short Stories
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Peppa Pig is a popular character in the age 2 – 5 circles, this book holds lots of excitement for pre-school children as there are six stories included within.  The hard cover is a good choice and the binding appears to be worthy of potential loving abuse.  The price for this collection is a plus as individual copies of the stories would be higher.   Each story  is simple and the illustrations colorfully sweet.

Not a fan of books that follow a TV series I have to admit that a special little one in my life loves Peppa Pig.   Although a good choice as a gift this may not be the best purchase for a library.  Young audiences are more apt to want individual titles that are easier to hold and carry around with their favorite stuffy.    Libraries and K classrooms may prefer paper copies that can be shelved with other books in the same reading level.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME.

four-stars

The Village Blacksmith

The Village BlacksmithThe Village Blacksmith by G. Brian Karas, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
ISBN: 1536204439
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Longfellow’s timeless poem about a blacksmith working for his community and through his loss is brought to life with beautiful illustrations. The illustrations have a modern and understated feel to them, but the use of color to highlight the blacksmith’s work is very effective. Emotions are expertly conveyed despite the simplicity of the drawings. Recommended for children 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Who Will You Be?

Who Will You Be?Who Will You Be? by Andrea Pippins
Published by Schwartz & Wade on April 7, 2020
ISBN: 1984849484
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This book is a celebration of family. It asks the reader, who will you become? Will you be like your daddy, your cousin, your grandma, and so on. Even if children are adopted, this book will resonate because it focuses on personality traits and not physical attributes. Will you be curious, bold, compassionate, grateful?

The illustrations are simple, colorful, high contrast, and compliment the story well. The family depicted is diverse racially as well as in familial make up giving the book a more inclusive feel. It mentions more family members than the traditional family unit. Recommended for children 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring

Goodbye Winter, Hello SpringGoodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak
Published by Henry Holt & Company on February 18, 2020
ISBN: 1250151724
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This is another installment in the series of books by Pak examining the shift in the seasons. Here, a boy and his dog explore the many ways that things change from winter to spring — snow melts, mud appears, the light is warmer, etc.

It is a sweet exploration of the natural world around us, and a welcome addition to library collections, especially if the previous books like this circulate well. Pak’s illustrations are subtle but effective. I love his use of color and how it becomes much warmer as the book moves more towards spring. Recommended for children 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Kitty and the Sky Garden Adventure

Kitty and the Sky Garden AdventureKitty and the Sky Garden Adventure by Jenny Lovlie, Paula Harrison
Published by Greenwillow Books on March 3, 2020
ISBN: 0062935496
Pages: 128
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Cat fans, rejoice! This early chapter catastic adventure is the third book in a series featuring Kitty — “Girl by day. Cat by night. Ready for adventure.” In this book, Kitty has a school assignment to design a garden, but she has no idea where to start. She and her cat friends visit a garden in the night to get inspiration. When visiting the garden, many other city cats come and cause trouble. How will Kitty and her clan clean up the mess, and can they do it before the garden’s owner wakes up?

This is a fun early chapter book for young readers who like adventure without the scare factor. Kitty is likeable, and her feline companions all have unique personalities bringing further depth to the story. The text is large print and easy for young readers to follow. There are black, white, and orange illustrations throughout that add whimsy and break up the text a bit. Recommended for 2nd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Frog and Toad: Little Book of Big Thoughts

Frog and Toad: Little Book of Big ThoughtsFrog and Toad: A Little Book of Big Thoughts by Arnold Lobel
ISBN: 0062983415
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

I love Frog and Toad, so I was excited to see this book. It is a collection of quotes from the beloved and timeless Frog and Toad series of early readers. It captures some of Frog and Toad’s good times and is a great reminder of why the books are so great.

The premise of the book is to highlight things that make great friends great. If your kids haven’t ever read the Frog and Toad series, they may be confused with this book. It feels a bit more like a book someone would gift to an adult as a reminder of their friendship than a picture book written for children. This is definitely an additional purchase for larger libraries. Recommended for kids 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

On the Horizon

On the HorizonOn the Horizon by Kenard Pak, Lois Lowry
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on April 7, 2020
ISBN: 0358129400
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Be it poetry, historic fiction, or a biography this book is a major contribution to juvenile literature.   Lowry spent part of her childhood in Hawaii and Japan; personal knowledge is added to excellent research in this powerful and moving book.   On the Horizon is enhanced by the inclusion of actual sailors who served on the Arizona at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Told in poetic form this book takes on a personal and dynamic approach to the horror of war.  Admitting that the first chapter (Pearl Harbor) is hard to read it does not hold a candle to the emotional response to the second (bombing of Hiroshima).  Certainly, the text delivers a painful portrayal of the effects of that bomb but it is buffered by compassionate images.  The final section of this short book deals with the aftermath in Japan.

A lovely treatment of war and loss that will be well received by most middle grade students and adults of all ages.  The content may be overwhelming for some young readers but the honest and open approach is appreciated.   Kleenex should be close at hand.  Recommended for parent-child book groups.  Place in middle school media centers and all public libraries.  This retired librarian loved the reveal that Lois Lowry and Allen Say had seen each other as children in Tokyo.

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

five-stars

Oasis

OasisOasis by Katya de Becerra
Published by Imprint on January 7, 2020
ISBN: 1250124263
Pages: 320
Genres: Adventure, Horror
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

If going on an archaeological dig with your four best friends sounds like a plan for a great summer vacation, Oasis if for you.    Alif is our talented heroin who has previous dig experience but for her four less enlightened friends this will be a new adventure; an adventure none will ever forget.   DeBecerra obviously knows her subject and does a good job bringing readers to the edge of their chairs.  Expectations of the damage down by a sandstorm are exceeded in this new thriller.   The oasis is a nurturing environment where magical experiences happen yet it spells danger from the beginning.   Various types of science are explored including decomposing of human flesh. What is this place, why are these teens here and will they ever be rescued?   This is not your typical teen romance yet hormones are evident in the plot.   The cover does represent the heat of the desert sun and warmth of the sand.

Oasis is worthy of consideration for most YA school and public library collections.  Grade 8-10 readers will identity with the characters and may understand the draw for a different vacation.

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

four-stars

War is Over

War is OverWar Is Over by David Almond, David Litchfield
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536209864
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

So well written and illustrated, War is Over is bound to be a new classic.  The story takes place during WWI in an English town where the women work in a munitions factory while the men are off fighting the war.    John is a sensitive boy who questions the situation attempting to find an answer to his one question: when will the war end?  Almond had provided readers with a text full of historic information, personal struggle and the seeds of peace.  Readers may begin to question the validity of conflict, blind obedience to negative instruction and the beliefs of conscience objectors.

Litchfield’s illustrations are mostly done in gray scale, adding another layer of sadness to the text.  It is so difficult to think of children playing in a war environment, yet leaves that turn to birds that turn to bombs helps to illuminate the text.

John has an out of body experience where he meets with a young boy living in Germany.  The richness of this interaction adds to the deep compassion and desire for peace that this book provides to readers.   While this may not be the perfect book for all students it belongs in the media center of all intermediate and middle schools.   In addition it is a necessary purchase for all public libraries.