Category: Book Reviews

Girl Mogul

Girl MogulGirl Mogul: How to Create Success in all Areas of Your Life by Tiffany Pham
Published by Imprint on April 2, 2019
ISBN: 1250298962
Pages: 208
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
two-stars

A how to book that offers somewhat unattainable steps to success in life and business. While this book does offer some sound advice a lot of it seems out of reach. The timeline Pham presents from being born to being the CEO of Mogul is outrageous. Though her success does stem from very strict work and study habits you can’t help but feel that she lived a somewhat blessed life and it probably had some influence on how far and fast she rose in her business career. I would recommend this to older teens who are very academically focused.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species

Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of SpeciesCharles Darwin's on the Origin of Species by Sabina Radeva
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on October 29, 2019
ISBN: 1984894919
Pages: 64
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

An adaptation of Charles Darwin’s influential work, Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species is visually engaging, beautifully illustrated, and full of information. Endpapers are comprised of detailed illustrations of butterflies and beetles; the author encourages young readers to become naturalists and to observe these insects in nature, as Darwin did. Radeva highlights relevant quotes from Darwin’s work, and expands upon his ideas in a manner that is clear and understandable to a young audience. The conclusion page at the end of the book summarizes Darwin’s theory into five simplified points. Author’s note, appendix, a page addressing common misconceptions, glossary, and recommended readings all add to the enrichment of this book. Intended for children ages 8-11, this book is a valuable addition to public and school libraries, providing a digestible resource for Darwin’s work.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library

five-stars

The Fierce 44: Black Americans Who Shook Up the World

The Fierce 44: Black Americans Who Shook Up the WorldThe Fierce 44: Black Americans Who Shook Up the World by Robert Ball, The Staff of The Undefeated
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on December 24, 2019
ISBN: 1328940624
Pages: 96
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

An important highlighting of influential Black Americans, The Fierce 44 provides profiles of people throughout our culture: entertainment, sports, science, politics, and the military. The number 44 is a nod to Barack Obama, the 44th president, and the first Black president of the United States. Each double spread includes a compelling painted portrait, which captures the essence of the person and brings the figure to life. A brief phrase in bold text highlights the main reason why the person was included in the book, and a page of informational text provides an overview to the person’s accomplishments. Aside from a table of contents, there is a notable lack of supplemental information. Intended for children ages 10 and up, the Fierce 44 is an inspiring collective biography, and illuminates the valuable contributions of many Black Americans throughout history. This book is a great addition to public and school libraries, and would be recommended for children looking to be inspired.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library

four-stars

Leading the Way: Women in Power

Leading the Way: Women in PowerLeading the Way: Women in Power by Alexandra Bye, Hilary Rodham Clinton, Janet Howell, Kylie Akia, Theresa Howell
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on October 8, 2019
ISBN: 1536208469
Pages: 144
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Profiling 50 women who have helped to shape our political landscape, Leading the Way enlightens children on the roles strong and powerful women have played, and continue to play, in United States politics. Leadership roles highlighted include (but aren’t limited to) Supreme Court Justices, Secretaries of State, First Ladies, Senators, and State Representatives. There is a prominent acknowledgment of diversity, featuring many nonwhite women. A double spread is dedicated to each profile, which includes a painted portrait, quotations, and approximately one page of informational text. Power symbols are also provided alongside each portrait, denoting a strong demonstration of a particular quality: integrity, community, courage, etc. A guide to these power symbols, with a more expansive explanation of the quality, is included at the start of the book. Table of contents, index, source notes for further exploration, a take-action guide, and a list of more leaders to discover that were not highlighted in the book, provide valuable supplemental information for the reader. Intended for readers ages 10-13, this is an informative resource to inspire children, and to remind them of the strength and leadership of women throughout the course of history. Leading the Way would be a terrific addition to any public or school library.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library

five-stars

Planet Earth

Planet EarthPaper World: Planet Earth by Bomboland
Published by Big Picture Press on September 17, 2019
ISBN: 153620854X
Pages: 30
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

An engaging overview of our planet, Planet Earth explores a wide variety of topics (e.g. tectonic plates, glaciers, deserts, weather). The bold colors and graphic design of the book, coupled with sturdy flaps for young readers to lift, provide an engaging format to explore. Page cutouts and visual layering add depth to each double spread, and pull the reader into the text. Information is presented in short, factual text blocks. Planet Earth provides a solid overview to pique a child’s interest, and can provide the foundation for deeper exploration of a given topic. A clear table of contents and glossary are useful for the reader. Intended for children ages 6-8, this book is well suited for tactile and visual learners, and those looking to explore a wide range of geographical and atmospheric features of our planet.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library

five-stars

Deep Breaths

Deep BreathsDeep Breaths by Carol Thompson
Published by Rodale Kids on October 1, 2019
ISBN: 1984893971
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

While originally published under a different title a decade ago (2010 in Australia; 2011 in the US), Deep Breaths has stood the test of time as a sweet story of friendship and reconciliation. Thompson’s loose and whimsical illustrations are a joy, and effectively illustrate the range of emotions that best friends Dolly the Pig and Jack the Rabbit experience throughout their interactions in the book: happiness, love, anger, sadness, and contentedness. Deep Breaths presents young children with relatable friendship scenarios and emotions, and illustrates tangible self-care and self-regulation strategies for when their emotions overwhelm them. It shows the value in acknowledging big feelings, taking time alone to self-regulate those feelings, and then reconciling negative emotions with your friend in a gentle and mutually agreed upon manner. Intended for children aged 3-7 years, Deep Breaths is not only a delightful story, but also a valuable teaching tool for parents, caregivers, teachers, and guidance counselors.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library

five-stars

Hair: Animal Fur, Wool, and More

Hair: Animal Fur, Wool, and MoreHair!: Animal Fur, Wool, and More by Julie Colombet, Marilyn Singer
Published by Millbrook Press (Tm) on January 1, 2019
ISBN: 1512449156
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A distinguishing characteristic of mammals, the topic of hair is explored in Hair: Animal Fur, Wool, and More. This engaging book provides a sound foundation of knowledge about the different types and purposes of hair on a wide variety of mammals. From humans to cats to dolphins, Hair informs with fascinating facts about this common and taken-for-granted trait. Detailed photographs paired with conversations depicted in speech bubbles between an illustrated sheepdog and bird will draw the reader into the text and keep them turning pages. Hair includes two double spreads of trivia information (How many hair follicles do we have? What is the hairiest mammal in the world?), as well as a glossary, selected bibliography, and further text and web resources. Intended for children ages 7-10, Hair is an entertaining and informative resource that will be popular with inquisitive children. It would be a great resource to have on-hand in a classroom library when studying the subject of mammals.

 Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library

four-stars

Animazes: Extraordinary Animal Migrations

Animazes: Extraordinary Animal MigrationsAnimazes: Extraordinary Animal Migrations by Katie Haworth, Melissa Castrillón
Published by Big Picture Press on September 3, 2019
ISBN: 1536208531
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Readers explore the migratory journeys of 14 creatures in Animazes: Extraordinary Animal Migrations. From Antarctic krill to wildebeests, readers enjoy a wide range of animals and environments. Each double-page spread includes a concise description of the journey the animal makes, and a highly illustrated maze of their migratory paths. Readers are instructed to start the migratory journey at a red flag, and end at a checkered flag; these flags are not always obvious to spot, as they get lost in the wealth of visual information presented. The maze routes provided are fairly straightforward, and many readers will not have a need to consult the answer key at the end of the book. Textual information about the animals’ migratory paths is presented along the maze routes in short, factual sentences. Animazes provides readers with a brief overview of the migratory journeys of these animals in an eye-catching and engaging format. Intended for children aged 6-9, the book would appeal to children who are tolerant of a wealth of visual information and enjoy puzzle formats.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library

three-stars

Even More Lesser Spotted Animals

Even More Lesser Spotted AnimalsEven More Lesser Spotted Animals by Martin Brown
Published by David Fickling Books on July 30, 2019
ISBN: 1338349619
Pages: 56
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A companion to Lesser Spotted Animals (2016), Martin Brown continues to educate and entertain with Even More Lesser Spotted Animals. Spotlighting 21 lesser-known wild animals, Brown increases readers’ awareness of and encourages conservation for these compelling creatures. Brown’s endearing illustrations, interspersed with humorous speech bubbles, grab the reader and pull them into the text. Each double page spread features an animal, providing an illustration, informative text, and a stand-alone box with quick facts including the animal’s size, diet, locale, and conservation status. Brown’s clear, humorous, and delightfully illustrated table of contents and glossary provide readers with a wealth of information in an easily digestible format. Recommended for ages 7-10, this informative book will pique the curiosity and spur the interests of its readers, and may even encourage budding conservationists to take action on behalf of their new favorite animal.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library

five-stars

Olga: Out of Control

Olga: Out of ControlOlga: Out of Control! (Olga, #3) by Elise Gravel
Published by HarperCollins on September 24, 2019
ISBN: 006235132X
Pages: 192
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

The third book in the Olga series, Olga Out of Control! will not disappoint fans of this science-loving protagonist. As the discoverer and caretaker of a new species of animal, the Olgamus ridiculus, Olga’s days are never boring. The most recent surprise discovery is that Olga’s beloved pet Meh has given birth to seven baby Olgamuses. Olga is a strong, smart, resourceful protagonist, with an endearing supporting cast of characters (including her favorite pierced and tattooed librarian, Ms. Swoop). With the perfect balance of scientific inquiry, humor, and support from her friends, readers will delight in watching Olga navigate through her adventures with the newborns. Elise Gravel’s illustrations are bold, with a limited color palette, eliminating an excess of visual information, and allowing readers to enjoy the storyline without distraction. Recommended for ages 7-11, this hybrid of middle grade fiction/graphic novel will easily grab the attention of already established Olga fans, reluctant readers, as well as those simply looking for a light, entertaining read.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library

four-stars