Category: Book Reviews

Between Us and Abuela

Between Us and AbuelaBetween Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border by Mitali Perkins, Sara Palacios
on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 0374303738
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

This charming picture book illustrates a family’s dedication to their history and their grandmother, who lives in Mexico, across the border from San Diego, California. 

 It’s Christmas time, and the children are busy making gifts for their grandmother Abuela, who they haven’t seen in 5 years. We travel with them by bus to Border Field State Park in San Diego, where they gather with others to visit their loved ones across the fence in Mexico.  Border patrol officers direct them in groups to visit for 30 minutes.  Maria and Juan have made simple gifts for their grandma, but rules forbid any items from going through the fence.

 This story is a wonderful introduction to another culture and their struggles, love and simple miracles.  The book explains very simply the celebration of Las Posadas, a nine- day festival celebrated throughout Mexico which remembers the birth of Jesus, and La Posada Sin Fronteras (The Inn Without Borders), celebrated one day during Las Posadas along the border.

 This picture book is a wonderful read aloud, with simple, easy- to- follow illustrations that match the text perfectly.  An unusual Christmas book for a library collection, it will enhance the diversity and love the holiday entails.

 Reviewed By Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine

five-stars

Super Potato’s Galactic Breakout

Super Potato’s Galactic BreakoutSuper Potato's Galactic Breakout by Artur Laperla
Series: Super Potato #2
Published by Graphic Universe (TM) on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 1512440221
Pages: 56
Goodreads
three-stars

In the second book of this comedic graphic novel series aimed at readers in grades 2-4, Super Potato is minding his business, flying along, when he is captured by Zort the Third, the Slug King, an alien who is collecting one specimen per planet. Unfortunately for Zort, he picked the wrong Earthling! Once aboard Zort’s ship, Super Potato hatches a plan to free himself and all of the other captive aliens. Using the programming of Zort’s dutiful Robot against itself, Super Potato soon has command of the situation though he didn’t take into consideration that not all aliens get along peacefully. In the end Super Potato is returned to Earth with the promise of future adventures. With humor, wham-bam action and appealing colorful, cartoonish illustrations, Laperla should continue to get fans for his superhero spud extraordinaire.

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

three-stars

The Love Letter

The Love LetterThe Love Letter by Anika Aldamuy Denise, Lucy Ruth Cummins
Published by HarperCollins on October 8th 2019
ISBN: 0062741578
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

This charming picture book is about a love letter found in the forest.  Each time a little creature finds it, they believe it was written for them, and become remarkably more cheerful and loving.

 The author was inspired to write this story based on the many notes she and her daughter wrote for each other.

 The illustrations are charming, with relaxing colors and simple drawings.  Nothing is hidden or bright or surprising, just nice.  This book would be a very sweet read aloud at night or at storytime.

 Reviewed By Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine

five-stars

Hack Your Cupboard: Make Great Food with What You’ve Got

Hack Your Cupboard: Make Great Food with What You’ve GotHack Your Cupboard: Make Great Food with What You've Got by Alyssa Wiegand, Carla Delgadillo
Published by Zest Books (Tm) on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 1541578546
Pages: 168
Goodreads
five-stars

Recommending for cream consideration.  Perfect for high schoolers who will be living on their own either in the dorm or with a roommate.  The cookbook is divided into four sections:  First kitchen, Dorm Room Dining, First Apartment and first Solo Kitchen.  The table of contents clearly explains what to expect in each section.  The focus of the cookbook is providing helpful hints or “hacks” that any seasoned parent wants to convey to their teen about cooking, financial tricks and basic cooking skills.  Learn how to set up to cook in a dorm room (brownies in a mug), when to dispose of smelly dishes, roommate etiquette and transforming those magical staples….Ramen Noodles.  Simple popcorn flavors to more sophisticated cooking like Brie, Goat cheese Salad and Herb Braised Pork are included.  Most recipes and the knife kitchen skills presented for each section are accompanied with large, clear photos.  A conversion chart for measurements and temperatures are provided as well as an index.  Reviewed the sturdy, hardcover edition.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

five-stars

Tiger Time – True Tales of Rescue

Tiger Time – True Tales of RescueTiger Time by Kama Einhorn
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on October 29th 2019
ISBN: 1328767078
Pages: 144
Goodreads
two-stars

This tale of life in an animal sanctuary is told from the point of view of Kamal the tiger.  Kamal, along with 500 big cats and other animals, live at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado.

This is a very colorful book with lots of photos and brief chapters outlining the rescue, recovery, rehabilitation and “release” of animals.   The goal of the sanctuary is to enable animals to live out their life, healthy and happy, in as natural a habitat as possible.

The author runs the sanctuary, and is very much opposed to zoos, circuses and shows.  I agree that animal “acts” in circuses and shows should be a thing of the past, but I have a problem with the sweeping generalizations applied to all shows and zoos.  Modern zoos and educational animal presentations have a place in the world. IF done properly and humanely, they help to educate and motivate the children and visitors to protect our environment and these endangered animals.

The chapters can be a little difficult to follow.  The author, speaking as Kamal, jumps to talking about other animals in the sanctuary and then jumps back to talking about the tiger issues.  I often found myself going back a page to see if I missed a heading or chapter change.

This book is very long; it took me quite a few sittings to get through. The audience it is aiming at is grades 4- 6.  There is a glossary, bibliography and index in the back of the book.  This small 140- page hardcover is durable, with lots of photos and text boxes, and is fairly easy to read.

This is not a bad book, but I would not recommend it, as I don’t feel it is balanced well.   I believe the author shows her bias for sanctuaries, and possible non-involvement with modern zoos.

Reviewed By Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine

two-stars

Big Mouth Elizabeth

Big Mouth ElizabethBig Mouth Elizabeth by Rachel Vail, Paige Keiser
Published by Feiwel & Friends on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1250162173
Pages: 128
Goodreads
five-stars

This is an adorable first chapter book of a second grade little girl Elizabeth and her real life 7 year old problems!  Problems like fitting in, being in the right “club” and friends.

 Elizabeth is hurt because her friend Anna loses her first baby tooth before Elizabeth does, and is now part of the Big Mouth Club. Elizabeth wants to be part of that club too, and struggles with how it feels to be left out.

 This book has large print, short chapters and cute drawings. It explores realist concerns of age-appropriate problems and possible creative solutions.

 I would highly recommend this to beginning readers ready for chapter books, and as a great read aloud.  Children will easily relate to Elizabeth’s problems and might be inspired by her solutions!

Reviewed By Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine

five-stars

A is for Elizabeth

A is for ElizabethA is for Elizabeth by Rachel Vail, Paige Keiser
Published by Feiwel & Friends on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1250162122
Pages: 128
Goodreads
five-stars

This is an adorable first chapter book about a second grade little girl Elizabeth and her real life 7- year- old problems!  Problems such as fitting in, being first in line, and friends.

 Elizabeth is hurt because her “friend” Anna comes first in the alphabet and therefore gets to be first in many activities. On a list of what Elizabeth believes in, “I want to be first” comes in at number 4. She and her friends work together to find solutions agreeable to everyone, including the teacher.

 This book has large print, short chapters and cute drawings. It explores realist concerns of age-appropriate problems and possible creative solutions.

 I would highly recommend this to beginning readers ready for chapter books, and as a great read aloud.  Children will easily relate to Elizabeth’s problems and might be inspired by her solutions!

Reviewed By Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine

five-stars

Everybody Says Meow

Everybody Says MeowEverybody Says Meow by Constance Lombardo
Published by HarperCollins on November 5th 2019
ISBN: 0062689886
Pages: 32
Goodreads
two-stars

In this one note comical cumulative tale, a cat welcomes the reader to that “magical time when everybody says, “Meow”.  All of his cat friends answer, “Meow” and then a dog sneaks on and says “Woof”.  Although the cat tries to get the dog to change his response, it is obvious that he can’t and the cat changes the parameters of what everyone says.  The same pattern happens for the frog, duck and then “ROAR!”  which clears the page.  Lombard’s childlike cartoon drawings appear stiff, but provide the backdrop of the joke appropriately.  Preschool story times will enjoy the silliness and readers can engage listeners with the inclusiveness shown by the cat’s response each time.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

two-stars

Dino-Halloween

Dino-HalloweenDino-Halloween by Lisa Wheeler, Barry Gott
Published by Carolrhoda Books (R) on August 6th 2019
ISBN: 1512403172
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

The Dino’s in Wheeler and Gott’s popular sports series are now doing holidays.  Halloween provides the Dinos a chance to go to the pumpkin patch, carve pumpkins, buy or make costumes and go trick-or-treating.  The same format found in the sports series is used here, rhyming action phrases littered with large font dinosaur names.  Not as many different dinosaur names appear in this one.  Half way through the story, the action refers to the previous dinosaurs and APATOSAURUS, who seems to always have a problem to solve.  Vocabulary includes grimace, finesse, anxious and feline.    Besides the one item parent’s won’t allow their children to have, apples, this provides a sweet dinosaur story for preschoolers preparing for Halloween night.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

Go, Goats!

Go, Goats!Go, Goats! by Kama Einhorn
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on October 29th 2019
ISBN: 132876706X
Pages: 144
Goodreads
five-stars

I love goats so much. I love their attitudes and their eyes and how they head butt each other to get food at petting zoos. This book informed me that despite loving goats, I actually didn’t know much about them. I also didn’t know anything about animal rescue and rehabilitation. The book is written from the point of view of an elderly female goat named Lucia. She describes daily life and the challenges caretakers face when trying to rehabilitate rescued animals. It’s surprisingly engaging and I have a whole new appreciation for rescued animals and those who help them. Go, Goats! Is compassionate, affectionate, funny, and doesn’t shy away from the sadness that can accompany these rescues. It would be great for older kids to read alone but I think younger children would love it too and it would be a real benefit to a classroom unit about goats or animal care in general.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars