Category: Book Reviews

Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry)

Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry)Smile: How Young Charlie Chaplin Taught the World to Laugh (and Cry) by Gary Golio, Ed Young
Published by Candlewick Press on March 26th 2019
ISBN: 0763697613
Pages: 48
Goodreads
four-stars

Featuring hazy, dream-like collage and ink illustrations, “Smile” tells the tale of Charlie Chaplin’s youth and rise to fame.  The title page looks like a silent movie screen, which sets the scene.  Chaplin grew up in London to parents who were both performers.  From a young age, he loved the spotlight, and the book tells us of joining his first theater group at age 9 and moving on to America where he started making silent movies.  We learn how he ended up creating the Little Tramp character by chance and went on to make 80 movies.  The book also includes quotes from Chaplin’s autobiography; a list of facts; and a resource list that includes books, movies, and a website.  This is a good addition to picture book biography collections.  Best for ages 8-12.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

four-stars

A Drop of Hope

A Drop of HopeA Drop of Hope by Keith Calabrese
Published by Scholastic Press on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 1338233203
Pages: 320
Goodreads
four-stars

The title and the content of this book are just what is needed right now – Hope.   Calabrese offers a suspenseful and fantastically interesting book that is full of good people in a community with a lot of hurt in need of good deeds. This title offer hope, while expressing the wishes and dreams of students and adults.

A wishing well appears to be folklore but becomes the center of the storyline.  The author has weaved several stories into the plot that help to define the primary characters and other residents of Cliffs Donnelly.  Readers become acquainted with three unlikely friends, an astounding teacher, a mysterious deceased grandfather and a very special neighbor.  Each character seems plausible and human, they become instant positive influences on the reader.

The layout is fresh, chapters have several sections with subheadings.  Grade 4-6 readers will find the layout easy to follow and enjoy the peek at content that the headings provide.  This book should find its way to  intermediate school media centers and to public library shelves.

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

four-stars

Right as Rain

Right as RainRight as Rain by Lindsey Stoddard
Published by HarperCollins on February 12th 2019
ISBN: 006265294X
Pages: 304
Goodreads
five-stars

Twelve year-old Rain and her parents move from rural Vermont to an apartment in Washington Heights in New York City. As Rain adjusts to her new life in the city, she is harboring guilt associated with the death of her older brother along with a secret that she can’t share with her parents. Grief is also ripping apart her parents’ marriage. Rain’s father spends his days in bed isolated and depressed while her mother spends long days at work. Rain spends her free time exploring her new neighborhood where she is in the minority as one of the few white residents. When Rain is recruited by the track coach to run on the girls’ relay team, she begins to make friends and feel more at home. Stoddard weaves a lot of issues into the story including themes of grief, friendship, acceptance, family and community. The book eloquently captures the overwhelming feelings related to loss and how people deal with their grief in different ways. At one point the story teeters on the edge of becoming a “white savior” book where the white main character helps save the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood community center from demise, but the book ends up striking the right balance by the end. Give this book to readers who enjoyed Patina by Jason Reynolds and The Ethan I Was Before by Ali Standish. (Grades 4-6) Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Reviewed by Cathy Potter, Falmouth Middle School

five-stars

The Strangers

The StrangersThe Strangers (Greystone Secrets, #1) by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on April 2nd 2019
ISBN: 0062838377
Pages: 416
Goodreads
four-stars

Siblings Chess, Emma and Finn Greystone live in the suburbs with their mother. Chess is a bit more serious and reserved than his siblings. Emma spends her time solving math problems for fun while young Finn can be a goofball at times. When Emma notices twenty-three “weird things” in one day, she begins to worry that something might be wrong. That same evening,  the Greystones are startled when a news story details the kidnapping of three children in Arizona. The kidnapped children share the same names and ages as Chess, Emma and Finn. After hearing the news of the kidnapping, Mrs. Greystone mysteriously disappears leaving the children with another family in town. Out of concern for their mother’s safety, the Greystone children investigate the strange occurrences and are shocked by what they discover. The narrative switches from Chess, to Emma and Finn giving readers a sense of what each character is thinking and feeling. The blend of mystery, adventure and fantasy will appeal to many Haddix fans. A sense of excitement builds as the characters solve codes to help locate their mother. Margaret Peterson Haddix’s new middle grade series will keep readers guessing right up until the end. If you add The Strangers to your library collection, be prepared to buy the next book in the series when it hits shelves. (Grades 4-7)

Reviewed by Cathy Potter, Falmouth Middle School, Falmouth

four-stars

Prince Harry and Meghan

Prince Harry and MeghanPrince Harry & Meghan: Royals for a New Era by Jill Sherman
Published by Lerner Publications (Tm) on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1541539451
Pages: 48
Goodreads
three-stars

There’s something here for many of us: Harry’s military background; Meghan’s acting career and their romance; and even though this book is aimed at middle/upper elementary, those of us who remember Princess Diana will enjoy the depth of information included about her. 

The book seems heavier with details about Harry and the text feels strained to discuss Meghan’s background. Browsers will enjoy the full-color photos, but it will take a very interested reader to access all the interesting information in the text. Backmatter includes a time-line, source notes, selected bibliography, books and websites for further reading, and a detailed index. Students needing a print source for a report would find this acceptable.

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

three-stars

Lurid London

Lurid LondonLurid London by E. Merwin
Published by Not Avail on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1684026709
Pages: 24
Goodreads
five-stars

Creepy pictures and scary text will send chills through young readers looking for a ‘scary’ book. They might not even care what ‘lurid’ means, but that’s OK. The text is minimal but descriptive, and the photos and drawings will invite younger and middle elementary readers to look for the grossest image to share with their friends.

This slight book provides the necessary non-fiction access features, including a map of London identifying the locations mentioned with a United Kingdom map inset on top of a world map.

Librarians looking for books to add to their ‘scary’ shelves for young readers should consider this and/or one of the seven other titles in this “Tiptoe Into Scary Cities” series.

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

five-stars

Sealed with a Kiss

Sealed with a KissSealed with a Kiss by Beth Ferry, Olivier Tallec
Published by HarperCollins on January 8th 2019
ISBN: 0062475770
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

How do you make new friends? Do you go out and introduce yourself or do you wait for them to welcome you to your new home? Seal’s feelings are crushed when she tries to say hello but is rejected by the animals already living at her new zoo home. “Zey zink I stink!” she laments in her French voice. They finally realize their mistake and write a poem to apologize, offering a peppermint shrimp so her breath won’t stink.

Full-color cartoonish illustrations have some background details but mostly white to keep the reader’s attention on the animals and action. Many of the animals have the same oblong odd shape but are distinguishable by the markings and colorings.

This book could be used as an introduction to homonyms, rhyming, alliteration, color words to describe feelings, making apologies, making new friends, zoos, and a discussion on whether it’s a good idea to grab and kiss a stranger. In this case, the seal was only doing what was culturally appropriate for her, and given it’s her new home and she’s trying to introduce herself and make new friends would add to the conversation. Perhaps a more important discussion about this story is how we react when meeting someone new and they have very different customs and appearances AND smells!

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

four-stars

Earth-Friendly Earth Day Crafts

Earth-Friendly Earth Day CraftsEarth-Friendly Earth Day Crafts by Veronica Thompson
Published by Lerner Publications (Tm) on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1541524209
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

 What better way to recognize Earth Day than using repurposed items for crafts and learning how to revamp everyday objects? This slim craft book (only 9 crafts are offered) starts with how to choose and clean reused materials, and a reminder to stay safe. The use of a blender, hot glue gun, and oven and several other tasks instruct the crafter to have adult assistance. The book also suggests using a little creativity to repurpose common items, such as plastic jugs, bags, and egg cartons. 

Each craft is described on a two or three-page spread with bright full-color photos for each step. Most have 3-7 steps.QR codes are included for each craft. These offer a few better photos for each craft but no additional instruction or ideas.

This “Green STEAM” book could be used in an Earth Day discussion to help describe the difference between repurposing, reusing, recycling and reducing materials.

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

three-stars

Slime Sleepers: Parrotfish

Slime Sleepers: ParrotfishSlime Sleepers: Parrotfish by Ellen Lawrence
Published by Not Avail on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1684026970
Pages: 24
Goodreads
four-stars

“Slime” in the title will attract early and middle elementary readers, but they’ll stay for the vibrantly colorful and clear photographs which include labels and fact-bubbles. The most striking feature of this book is the close-up images of various parrotfish. Who knew there were so many different kinds of parrotfish?

Simple format lends well to use as research or entertainment. Each colorful double-page spread has a heading in large letters and black text is in easy-to-read font that adequately explains but doesn’t overwhelm the reader. Backmatter includes Science Words, index, books and online sites to read, plus a Science Lab activity where youngsters can make and explore slime bubbles.

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

four-stars

Me, Toma and the Concrete Garden

Me, Toma and the Concrete GardenMe, Toma and the Concrete Garden by Andrew Larsen, Anne Villeneuve
Published by Kids Can Press on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1771389176
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

What do young friends do with a box of dirt balls in the city? Toss them into an empty lot just for fun, and be surprised when plants sprout from them! And also be surprised when they attract butterflies and neighbors, including Mr. Grumpypants!

Cartoonish illustrations start out mostly in very pales shades which bloom as the garden grows. However, even in full-color, the colors are a bit subdued, and may not hold listeners’ attention. Small text lends itself better to a read aloud rather than an independent read for younger elementary. The last line, “We’re going to see what else we can grow.” leaves the reader with an opening for insights about friendships, patience, gardening, and serendipitous situations.

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

four-stars