Category: Book Reviews

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

The Woolly Monkey Mysteries: The Quest to Save a Rain Forest Species

The Woolly Monkey Mysteries: The Quest to Save a Rain Forest SpeciesThe Woolly Monkey Mysteries: The Quest to Save a Rain Forest Species by Sandra Markle
Published by Millbrook Press (Tm) on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 1512458686
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

Sandra Markle is a whiz with an animal story and this book is no exception. Upon learning about a project in Peru where camera traps were being set high up in rainforest trees, she had to know more. Her curiosity led to a scientist who was using the camera traps to study a seldom-seen, but necessary rainforest creature, the woolly monkey. Considered the rain forest’s gardeners, these animals are central to the spreading of seeds throughout the rainforest. Markle loves to find out why scientists study animals and how these animals fit into the ecosphere they inhabit and she conveys that intellectual curiosity and passion through her storytelling. This book explains the function of camera traps and delves into the information gathered about the woolly monkey from these devices. Readers will learn about the ecosystem of a rain forest and will hopefully be inspired to continue to learn more about keystone species and the need to fight for and protect the natural resources on Earth before it is too late. Plenty of beautiful photographs accompany Markle’s clearly written text and a few QR codes are included in the book so readers can further explore this topic and see/hear the woolly monkeys in their natural habitat. A glossary, index, and list of sources for further reading are all included. This book would be appropriate for school libraries with students in grades 3-6 but could also be put in public libraries and given to readers interested in the scientific process and/or fascinating animal stories.

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

five-stars

Animal Babies like to Play

Animal Babies like to PlayAnimal Babies Like to Play by Jennifer Adams, Mary Lundquist
Published by Balzer + Bray on February 5th 2019
ISBN: 0062394479
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

This is an alphabet picture book with the letters identifying animals for each entry.  Children in animal suits that zip up to the chin while sporting ears, tail, trunks and whiskers are the illustrated animals.  Each page presents a sentence with the letter and the action of the story follows a romp in the park, sandbox, ice cream mishaps and an ongoing game of hide and seek.  Animals include an Iguana, Jaguar, Narwhal, Quail and Reindeer.   U is represented by Ulysses butterfly, while V is represented by Vulture baby and X by X-ray tetra baby.  The color scheme is soft pastel colors and the cast exhibits multiple skin colors with the same small eyes and cartoon red circle cheeks.  Preschools needing alphabet and animal books for story time will find this alphabet book useful.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

Joe Quinn’s Poltergeist

Joe Quinn’s PoltergeistJoe Quinn's Poltergeist by David Almond
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 153620160X
Pages: 80
Goodreads
four-stars

A strange, dark book that will take a few reads to truly appreciate. The title and cover suggest that this is a horror story, and it does have a few ghosts in the plot, but one of the most important “ghosts” is the memory of the narrator’s sister,  Barbara, who died when she was a little girl. The poltergeist in Joe Quinn’s house is the plot device that allows Davie, the narrator, to process Barbara’s death and to question the point of being alive. A rumination of death, loss, religion, and purpose, this highly illustrated novella packs a lot into 80 pages. McLean’s mixed media illustrations have a surreal quality and are haunting and evocative; they make Almond’s story that much more nuanced and gripping. Upper middle grade and high school readers who are fans of dark graphic novels like Gaiman and (Gareth) Hinds as well as fans of other collaborations by Almond & McKean will want to sit with this one and savor it and “the world and all that’s in it will continue to hum and sing, to shake and shine, to hold us in its darkness and its light.”

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

four-stars

Mary Englebreit’s The World is Yours

Mary Englebreit’s The World is YoursMary Engelbreit’s The World Is Yours by Mary Engelbreit
Published by HarperCollins on April 2nd 2019
ISBN: 006288994X
Pages: 48
Goodreads

 

Maybe I’m overthinking this book. It strikes me as more of a gift for an older person who loves the illustrations of children’s literature. It’s very nicely illustrated but each page has a single quote that might or might not resonate with children. Some might just enjoy looking at the pictures and hearing the quotes read like text but so many kids I know require a lot more information than what’s offered here, including who the person who said it was; why they said it; why it’s on the page with that illustration; what else did this person do; are they still alive; what happened to them!?

Maybe I should just trust it more but I really do think it misses the mark.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath