Category: Book Reviews

The Bone Garden

The Bone GardenThe Bone Garden by Heather Kassner, Matt Saunders
Published by Henry Holt & Company on August 6th 2019
ISBN: 1250296897
Pages: 272
Goodreads
three-stars

The Bone Garden

Irreelle is a girl who is controlled by Miss Vesper and believes that her life could be ended at Miss Vesper’s whim.  She is often sent to gather bone dust and is chastised when she is not quick enough.  But when Irreelle meets a boy she names Guy and a girl named Lass, her life changes for the better as she finally has friends that she will risk her life for, as they will for her.

Miss Vesper had been overwhelmingly in love with someone with the initials N.M.H. and Irreelle and her friends set out to find his grave.  But they learn that he was never buried in a grave and his bones are near a tree that was extremely significant to him and Miss Vesper.  In the end their bones are joined together in a final death, which had always been their wish.

Miss Vesper had been very cruel to all three of the children and it was difficult to feel sympathy towards her quest to find her lost love.  None of the three children cared what the others looked like and their friendship was based on kindness and courage.

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

three-stars

Crossing on Time Steam Engines, Fast Ships, and A Journey o the New World

Crossing on Time Steam Engines, Fast Ships, and A Journey o the New WorldCrossing on Time: Steam Engines, Fast Ships, and a Journey to the New World by David Macaulay
Published by Roaring Brook Press on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1596434775
Pages: 128
Goodreads
three-stars

In David Macaulay’s newest book we learn through text and illustrations how scientists and others improved methods for creating power that lead to the development of the steam engine, that lead to faster and more reliable boat travel. The illustrations explaining the development of these engines are beautiful and well detailed.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan

three-stars

Super Summer

Super SummerSuper Summer: All Kinds of Summer Facts and Fun by Bruce Goldstone
Published by Henry Holt & Company on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1250120152
Pages: 48
Goodreads
four-stars

Most books about seasons either are very general or focus on one topic. What makes this a standout is the broad coverage of facts about the summer season. Clear bright photographs from many angles and views show vacation destinations, foods, insect and other animal behaviors, clothing, cooling, plants, and activities. 

Creative presentations of facts include “What does summer sound like?” with the crack of a bat when hitting a baseball instead of just saying baseball is a summer sport. There is also variety in the layout of each two-page spread. Some pages simply label the items in a particular category while other pages provide a paragraph of detailed information, such as explaining why a sunflower follows the sun across the sky. A table of contents would be helpful.

This reviewer will be ordering the companion books, Awesome Autumn (2015), Wonderful Winter (2016), and Spectacular Spring (2018) for her school library collection.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

four-stars

My Digital Future

My Digital FutureMy Digital Future by Ben Hubbard, Diego Vaisberg
Published by Lerner Publications (Tm) on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 154153879X
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Only the last 2 chapters (4 pages) directly address the uncertain future. There are a few statements scattered throughout, such as

MInecraft/lego fans will grab this book just for the block-style images and characters with speech bubbles. The font digital-style font was very difficult to read as it was small and pale against dark fact boxes.

Includes a table of contents, glossary, list of helpful websites and index. Each chapter is a two-page spread on topics such as “Dating Digital Devices,” “Explaining the World,” or “Educating the World.” There are a number of misleading statements, such as “Clever digital citizens want to live in a world of online uses who can use technology well.” Clever?? How about ‘responsible’? This particular page uses that statement to tell children how to teach older people who didn’t grow up with online technology, and the list of suggestions given are directed to children. 

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

two-stars

Mother Goose of Pudding Lane

Mother Goose of Pudding LaneMother Goose of Pudding Lane by Chris Raschka, Vladimir Radunsky
Published by Candlewick Press on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 0763675237
Pages: 48
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Folklore
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Is this a collection of Mother Goose rhymes? Is it a biography of Mother Goose? Is it entertaining? Yes, yes and yes! Raschka has outlined a brief biography of Elizabeth Foster who married Isaac Goose in 1692. Their large family needed stories, rhymes and lullabies for entertainment and instruction, which Elizabeth made up as the children grew. 

Each colorful double page spread begins with a short rhyme. Strung together,Raschka’s original rhymes tell the story of their life from marriage until they “at last grew old and gray.” He then placed on each page traditional Mother Goose rhymes that reflect that aspect of the family’s life. On the “Elizabeth Goose – the family goose – did counsel and advise” page, the reader finds “For early to bed and early to rise is the way to be healthy and wealthy and wise.”

Vladimer Radunsky’s illustrations depict 17th century dress. Animals, objects and people are spaced around the page. Some images are painted, some are simple pencil or charcoal sketches.

If you need something unique for Mother Goose, this book deserves a place in your collection.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

four-stars

Flippers & Fins

five-stars

Do youngsters understand the invention process? Or that many tools we use are inspired by nature?  “Flippers & Fins” is one book in the ‘Animal Tech’ series which includes “Fur & Claws,”

“Creepy & Crawly,” and “Wings & Beaks” all by this author published in 2019.

Clear photos, insets, colorful layouts, fact boxes, labels, and activities invite the reader to read the text to find out exactly how scientists use these animal concepts. The text is detailed enough to cover how each example of biomimicry works, yet is easy to understand for middle aged elementary youngsters. Readers will also be drawn by the seemingly odd connections. For example, Otto Schmitt studied squid axons in his work to develop the ‘Schmitt trigger’ which is a critical part for electrical switches. Other examples include sharks and swimsuits, cephalopods and camouflage, and whales and wind turbines. 

This book would be a great introduction to science projects, and would make a good partner book to Dora Lee’s “Biomimicry: Inventions Inspired by Nature” (2011). 

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars

Get Me Out of This Book!

Get Me Out of This Book!Get Me Out of This Book!: Rules & Tools for Being Brave by Kalli Dakos, Deborah Cholette, Sara Infante
Published by Holiday House on June 11th 2019
ISBN: 0823438627
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

What are the three basic rules for being brave? Ask any Navy SEAL, or any child who has read this book!

Max, a bookmark, used to be scared of images in books, like snakes. He went back to school to learn “rules and tools for looking right at scary.” After that, he used these to face down the scariest images, like sharks, cockroaches, and skeletons.

What are these rules & tools?

  1. Breathe deeply
  2. Make a plan
  3. Think good thoughts

Anyone can employ these for any situation – this book is entertaining and a great teaching tool!

Plenty of white space separates the images and text. Simple black font in several sizes emphasize emotions, like SHOOK and SCREAMED.

Author’s Note includes critical information about the influence of the Navy SEALS training methods.

Includes an actual bookmark in the image of Max attached to the back endpaper. 

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars

You Can Make a Friend Pout-Pout Fish!

You Can Make a Friend Pout-Pout Fish!You Can Make a Friend, Pout-Pout Fish! by Deborah Diesen, Dan Hanna
on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 1250064287
Pages: 24
Goodreads
three-stars

Pout-Pout Fish is feeling sad as he doesn’t think he has any friends, and he feels like he doesn’t know how to make friends. To his surprise some of the undersea creatures, help Mr. Fish to see that there is nothing to be afraid of in getting to know someone new and making friends.
This is a wonderful book for the Beginning Reader.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan

three-stars

Estranged: The Changeling King

Estranged: The Changeling KingThe Changeling King (Estranged, #2) by Ethan M. Aldridge
Published by HarperCollins on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 0062653903
Pages: 256
Goodreads
five-stars

The second book in the Estranged series is as beautifully illustrated, engaging, and action-packed as the first. The boy changeling Edmund Carter has been returned to his human family and the Fay Cinder has been returned to the World Below to rule as king. When there is a threat to all magic in the World Below, Cinder must call upon his family and his friends to help him solve the problem. Plot twists, battles, magic, and family allegiances are part of this sweeping, dense, engaging graphic novel.  The ending hints at a third volume to tie up a loose end from this book and it would be very welcome. Give to readers of the Amulet series or Gregor the Overlander series. Recommended for more sophisticated upper elementary readers and then middle school and up.

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

five-stars

Mac B. Kid Spy: The Impossible Crime

Mac B. Kid Spy: The Impossible CrimeThe Impossible Crime (Mac B., Kid Spy #2) by Mac Barnett
Published by Orchard Books on December 26th 2018
ISBN: 1338143689
Pages: 160
Goodreads
four-stars

Mac B. is back and the Queen of England needs him to help keep her Crown Jewels safe. She has had a threat referring to an old feud and promising revenge and she is sure that her jewels will be the target. Written in a conversational style that is engaging and hilarious, Mac brings the reader along with him as he travels from the US to England to help stop a crime before it happens. Unfortunately, Mac’s presence doesn’t prevent the predicted threat and the jewels are stolen but from a LOCKED ROOM with Mac and a guard in it! The book would make an excellent mentor text/introduction to tropes and characteristics of this subset of mystery books, the locked room mystery. The conversations between Mac and the Queen are sure to crack up any audience if read aloud (the difference between pants and trousers in British English and American English is fantastic and is riffed on throughout). Filled with humor, riddles, travel, suspense, and even some British history, this second book in the series will delight fans or hook new readers to the series as it’s not totally necessary to have read book 1 to appreciate this one. The artwork rendered in black, orange, and green is vibrant and appealing; it contains movement and perfectly accompanies the text. The ending promises another adventure, so there is more fun in store. Hold on to your trousers!

For grades

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

four-stars