Category: Book Reviews

Ruffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy Ball

Ruffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy BallRuffles and the Bouncy, Bouncy Ball by David Melling
ISBN: 1536241385
Genres: Animals, Emotions & Feelings, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Ruffles loves playing and doing all the things that dogs love to do; but his favorite activity is playing with his blue, bouncy ball. However, he cannot find it anywhere. He looks in all the places a bouncy ball could possibly be. When his friend Ruby comes over, they remember it could possibly be in the park. They look everywhere a bouncy ball could possibly be…in the park. They determine that the bouncy ball is lost forever. Ruby helps Ruffles find other ways to play, and they discover a sock to play tug-of-war with.

This book is the seventh in a series of Ruffles books where the dog encounters situations that many preschool children encounter. This one is the situation where toys are sometimes lost, and actually lost forever. Sometimes a friend can help us remember that it will be ok. The Ruffles series are visually attractive with primary colors and sweet illustrations.

Recommended for Ages 2-5.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

Hikaru in the Light

Hikaru in the LightHikaru in the Light! Vol. 1 by Mai Matsuda
ISBN: 1546140980
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Hikaru in the Light” is a middle grade manga by Mai Matsuda. Hikaru is a middle schooler who loves to sing while working in her family’s bathhouse. Her friend Ran became a singer in a pop group and Hikaru dreams about doing the same. When she runs into Ran, her friend asks her to try out with her for a new singing group, but does Hikaru have what it takes?

Hikaru is a very likeable character, and readers will enjoy following her attempt to become a singing idol. Readers will relate to Hikaru’s anxiety while she pushes to make her dream come true. Grit and friendship are clearly major themes in this book and will appeal to readers, especially middle graders. A suggested purchase for middle grade graphic novel collections where manga is popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

Dawn Patrol

Dawn PatrolDawn Patrol: A Father and Daughter Surfing Story by Rob Sayegh Jr.
ISBN: 1536235091
Genres: Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Dawn Patrol

Author/Illustrator Rob Sayegh Jr.

This picture book for ages 4-8 depicts the routine of a father and daughter, who rise early and set out together for the shore to surf, calling themselves the Dawn Patrol.  They spend time on the water together, learn about perseverance, and make memories over the years. At the end of the book, the grown daughter is shown with her own young son, both on surfboards. This book celebrates the parent-child relationship and shows how little moments add up to a lifetime of love. While it may be a more enjoyable book for nostalgic parents than young children, it is a testament to how passions can be passed down generations.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

four-stars

The Haunted Scavenger Hunt: A Spook-tacular Storybook

Genres: Adventure, Holiday, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General, Suspense
Format: Picture Book Fiction
four-stars

The Haunted Scavenger Hunt: A Spook-tacular Storybook

Author: Steve Patschke

This Halloween picture book for ages 3-7 is about what happens when four friends find a mysterious box with the message “Don’t look at it, don’t touch it, don’t open it!” They disregard the warning and by doing so, embark on a spooky scavenger hunt that leads them to the basement of a haunted house. One by one, the friends go missing, until they are reunited in a surprise ending.  This humorous and suspenseful book would be an enjoyable engaging read-aloud, since the characters repeatedly and predictably ignore the warnings given in sets of three.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

four-stars

Winter is Wonderful

Winter is WonderfulWinter Is Wonderful (Emma Dodd's Love You Books) by Emma Dodd
ISBN: 1536243957
Genres: Animals, Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Winter is Wonderful

This picture book for ages 2-5 is the latest in the Love You Books series by author/illustrator Emma Dodd. It depicts a sweet fox family enjoying being together and making memories during the wintertime. The foil illustrations paired with the lyrical rhyming text makes this book a lovely choice for a holiday gift. It’s the perfect read-aloud to read before bed while cuddling by the fire when it’s snowing outside. It’s impossible to read without smiling.

5 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

five-stars

Sabrena Swept Away

Sabrena Swept AwaySabrena Swept Away by Karuna Riazi
ISBN: 0063098717
Genres: Adventure, Fairy Tale, Fantasy
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Sabrena Swept Away

Author: Karuna Riazi

This middle grade novel for ages 8-12 is about a young Bangladeshi girl named Sabrena, who recently moved with her mom, Baba, and Aunt Keisha into her Grandma’s house, as Grandma is having memory deficits due to dementia. Sabrena, who is thought to be a descendent of the legendary sailor Sinbad, falls through a puddle on the floor of her Islamic school into the land of the One Thousand and One Nights Middle Eastern folktales. Sabrena makes friends with Marjana, Ali Baba’s adopted daughter, and Idris, the Prince of the Black Isles. The Black Isles is a kingdom sunk beneath the sea whose Queen is possessed by an ifrit (vengeful spirit). Sabrena must liberate the Black Isles and find a way reunite with her family.

The Middle Eastern and Arabian Nights references may be largely lost to young Western readers. The climax was underwhelmingly simplistic and rushed, but overall, the story is faced-paced portal fantasy adventure that highlights the connective power of storytelling.

3 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

three-stars

Shoes off please

Shoes off pleaseShoes Off, Please by Helena Ku Rhee, Myo Yim
Published by Random House Children's Books on June 17, 2025
ISBN: 0593649621
Genres: Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Mina and her mom have a household policy of removing their shoes when they enter their house. When Mina’s friends come over they don’t like the hassle of taking their shoes off and Mina and her mom have to clean up the floors after they leave, having a heartfelt conversation about their own cultural traditions, their importance to their household, and how to explain this to her friends. Once she does this her friends are more than happy to respect their house and their traditions.

4-9 years old

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

Daisy Rewilds

Daisy RewildsDaisy Rewilds by Kerascoët, Margaret McNamara, Sébastien Cosset
ISBN: 0593125673
Genres: Nature
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Daisy Rewilds” is a picture book written by Margaret McNamara and illustrated by Kerascoet about a girl named Daisy who grows up loving nature. As a baby she composted her own baby food, as an example of her environmentalism. She starts to sprout greens in her hair and eventually grows into a whole wild garden. The book is fun and beautiful, but some of the words seem a little big for the intended audience. A suggested additional purchase where nature picture books are popular.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

three-stars

Maisy Loves Butterflies

Maisy Loves ButterfliesMaisy Loves Butterflies: A Maisy's Planet Book (Educational Board Book About Nature - For Toddlers and Kids Ages 1-3) by Lucy Cousins
Series: Maisy's Planet #5
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on May 20, 2025
ISBN: 1536240397
Genres: board book
Format: Board Book
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Our long-loved friend Maisy loves butterflies! This board book is a mix of a fictional story with Maisy interacting with butterflies and basic, clearly illustrated facts about butterflies. We finish our visit with Maisy in her carefully planted butterfly and moth-friendly garden.

Ages 1-3

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

four-stars

The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn’s Great Big Wish

The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn’s Great Big WishThe Teeny-Weeny Unicorn's Great Big Wish by Shawn Harris
Published by Random House Children's Books on March 4, 2025
ISBN: 0593571916
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

What happens when a teeny-weeny unicorn has a wish to be big, to have something smaller than his teeny-weeny self in his life? He goes off to find things to wish on but even that is problematic for such a small unicorn that can’t lift or pull much. His frustration grows but he doesn’t quit until his Big Wish comes true. Sweet and silly, and heartfelt all rolled into one.

This book’s illustrations are as colorful and fantastical as anyone would think a unicorn is.

Ages 3-7

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Elementary Librarian. Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston, Maine.

three-stars