Category: Book Reviews

Dasher

DasherDasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever by Matt Tavares
Published by Candlewick Press on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 1536201375
Pages: 40
Goodreads
four-stars

Dasher is a reindeer in a traveling circus with a cruel owner. She dreams of escape, into the cool nights and soft snow that her mother has so often described. When her gate is left open, she leaps at the chance of escape and soon runs into Santa and Silverbell, Santa’s horse, who is tired from pulling the too-heavy sleigh. Dasher offers to help, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Children will like this new take on the story of Santa’s reindeer, but parents might find it shallow. The story is carried by Matt Tavares’ gorgeous artwork. The story itself is on the weak side, barely acknowledging surprising details, like Dasher’s reaction to her first time in flight. That the remaining reindeer in Santa’s entourage are Dasher’s family, saved from circus living, is unimaginative, neat and altogether too expedient.

Dasher is a good addition to a Christmas collection, particularly a collection that may feel tired and in need of new life. Will Dasher go down in history? Not likely.

Reviewed by Kelly Greenlee, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

 

 

four-stars

The Missing Piece of Charlie O’Reilly

The Missing Piece of Charlie O’ReillyThe Missing Piece of Charlie O'Reilly by Rebecca Ansari
Published by Walden Pond Press on March 5th 2019
ISBN: 006267966X
Pages: 400
Goodreads
three-stars

Charlie knows his brother Liam existed and he can remember so many things about him. But everything about Liam has been erased, no one, not even his parents, remember Liam. Only Charlie still knows he once existed. So when Charlie and his best friend Ana learn that there is a place children are taken to and that Liam is probably there, they know they have to find the place. The trick is going to be how to find the place and then, not get stuck there themselves forever. An interesting twist or two in this one. The place where the children are kept is a bit spooky as are the dreams that Charlie has leading up to his finding where the children are kept. For ages 10 and up.

Mary Lehmer, Youth Services Librarian, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME

three-stars

Famous in a Small Town

Famous in a Small TownFamous in a Small Town by Emma Mills
Published by Henry Holt & Company on January 15th 2019
ISBN: 1250179637
Pages: 312
Goodreads
three-stars

Sophie is trying to raise enough money so her high school marching band can march in the Rose Parade. She decides that the only way that will happen is if she gets county singer Megan Pleasant to come home to their town, Acadia, and perform to raise money for the band. She can’t do it alone though and asks for help from all of her friends including new comer August. The banter between the friends is sharp and really fun. The friends support each others ideas and thoughts and even when they get miffed at each other, find ways to use humor to work stuff out. The storyline was just ok. The “trying to get Megan to come perform” parts were not nearly as interesting as the conversations the friends had together. For ages 14 and up.

Mary Lehmer, Youth Services Librarian, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

three-stars

A Squirrelly Situation (Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet #5)

A Squirrelly Situation (Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet #5)A Squirrelly Situation (Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet #5) by Jacqueline Kelly
Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 1627798773
Pages: 112
Goodreads
four-stars

In this fifth installment of the Calpurnia Tate, Girl Vet series, the family cat, Idabelle, has one giant kitten they affectionately call Thud. When Travis brings home a baby squirrel, Idabelle adopts and cares for the squirrel despite Mother’s initial objections. As Fluffy, the squirrel, grows and his needs expand, it becomes clear that perhaps a squirrel isn’t the best family pet. The text of this series is perfect for newly independent readers or to be read aloud to younger children. The clear, black and white illustrations support and further the story well. The author does a great job of writing historical fiction for young readers, it’s accessible but not overdone. This series is recommended for libraries looking for early chapter book series and as a great introduction to the world of Calpurnia Tate.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

four-stars

Jungle

JungleAnimal Families: Jungle by Nosy Crow, Jane Ormes
Published by Nosy Crow on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 1536208310
Pages: 14
Goodreads
two-stars

This colorful, lift-the-flap board book takes the reader through a variety of farm animals from sheep to donkeys. As part of a series of board books with the same overarching theme, it is informative as it teaches children about the names for male/female/baby animals for different species. The anthropomorphizing of the animals as “mommy” and “daddy” and the reference to animal “families” moves it from being informative to cutesy and old fashioned. The illustrations are bright and bold, and small children will love the flaps and the repetitive/predictable text. This book is best shared one-on-one, but would not be well suited for diverse family types as it only refers to daddy and mommy.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

Wolfe Monster and the Big Bad Pizza Battle

Wolfe Monster and the Big Bad Pizza BattleWolfie Monster and the Big Bad Pizza Battle by Joey Ellis
Published by Graphix on June 25th 2019
ISBN: 1338186035
Pages: 144
Goodreads
three-stars

Monster brothers Wolfie, Jackson, and Roy run the local pizza joint, though it’s pizza isn’t very good and they are barely keeping the doors open.Then a large corporate pizza company, Happy Leaf, comes to town. The boys are ready sell out, that is until Wolfie discovers that the CEO, Lord Mudpant, of Happy Leaf has a plan to turn the people of Oak Hollow into zombies and robots through their good tasting pizza. Can the boys thwart Mudpant’s nefarious plans?

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan

three-stars

The Time Museum vol. 2

The Time Museum vol. 2The Time Museum (Time Museum, #2) by Matthew Loux
Published by First Second on June 11th 2019
ISBN: 1596438509
Pages: 208
Goodreads
two-stars

In this second volume of the Time Museum , Delia and her team of time travelers head to Versailles in 1778. Apparently they have help from Richard Nixon! Really? I find the premises presented in this book not only hard to follow but also really hard to accept. I just cannot recommend this book.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan

two-stars

Guts

GutsGuts by Raina Telgemeier
Published by Graphix on September 17th 2019
ISBN: 0545852501
Pages: 213
Goodreads
four-stars

Guts is Raina Telgemeier  4th graphic novel. It is the story of 9 year old Raina and her learning to deal with an anxiety disorder. The school year starts with the typical stresses of school life. You’re friends, then in a blink of an eye you’re not, you get teased and other issues.  Raina starts getting sick to her stomach, but because her mom does too it gets chalked up to a stomach bug. However the stomach issues continue and Raina becomes so stressed out that her mom enrolls Raina in therapy.
This engaging story does a wonderful job of normalizing therapy, and presenting useful coping skills that kids can use themselves.

Reviewed by Melissa Madigan

four-stars

Farm

FarmAnimal Families: Farm by Nosy Crow, Jane Ormes
Published by Nosy Crow on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 1536208302
Pages: 14
Goodreads
two-stars

This colorful, lift-the-flap board book takes the reader through a variety of farm animals from sheep to donkeys. As part of a series of board books with the same overarching theme, it is informative as it teaches children about the names for male/female/baby animals for different species. The anthropomorphizing of the animals as “mommy” and “daddy” and the reference to animal “families” moves it from being informative to cutesy and old fashioned. The illustrations are bright and bold, and small children will love the flaps and the repetitive/predictable text. This book is best shared one-on-one, but would not be well suited for diverse family types as it only refers to daddy and mommy.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

Little Penguin’s New Friend

Little Penguin’s New FriendLittle Penguin’s New Friend by Tadgh Bentley
Published by Balzer + Bray on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 0062699954
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

Little Penguin’s New Friend is an easy reader that tackles preconceived notions and things not being as one might expect them to be. Penguin and his friends are excited for polar bear’s first visit to the Antarctic, but they all have ideas about what polar bears do and don’t do. When she finally arrives, it turns out that polar bears do, in fact, tell really bad jokes as suspected by Franklin, the killer whale. The text in this book is simple and appropriate for beginning readers, but the content misses the mark a bit. The bad jokes and puns will mostly be lost on younger readers (I had to re-read one several times to get it). The illustrations are colorful, engaging,  and follow the story well. This book is best used for one-on-one sharing or perhaps with a smaller group where you know they may actually understand the jokes. A secondary purchase where easy readers circulate well and need expansion.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

three-stars