Category: Book Reviews

Dance, Dance, Dance!

Dance, Dance, Dance!Dance, Dance, Dance!: A Horse and Buggy Tale by Ethan Long
Published by Holiday House on February 20th 2018
ISBN: 0823438597
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

Horse likes to dance. He can’t figure out why bee won’t dance with him. But then he turns on the music and that changes everything. Te drawings in this book are silly and really fun. Horse gets a bit carried away with getting bee to dance, but young readers will most likely not mind that and enjoy the silly story. The story uses speech bubbles so it almost feels a bit like a graphic novel at times. The Guided Reading Level E is clearly marked on the front of the book which is very handy for teachers, readers or parents looking for that information.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

three-stars

Can You Find Pup?

Can You Find Pup?Can You Find Pup? by Vincent X Kirsch
Published by Holiday House on October 23rd 2018
ISBN: 0823439402
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Tate likes to draw lots of things. Put he doesn’t draw pup, so pup runs off until Tate uses his drawings to find him. This early reader combines easy to read word with lots of search and find opportunities throughout the book. The search and finds are in black and white which aren’t quite as fun as the rest of the drawings in the book. For those interested in knowing the Guided Reading Level of this book (Level D) it is clearly marked on the front.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

four-stars

Squeak the Mouse Likes His House

Squeak the Mouse Likes His HouseSqueak the Mouse Likes His House by Pat Schories
Published by Holiday House on October 23rd 2018
ISBN: 0823439437
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Squeak the mouse likes many things in his house and is sure to squeak about when he sees something he does. A fun early reader for beginners. Large font is spaced nicely on the pages and the illustrations are very good. Squeak is cute mouse that readers will definitely like. Also for readers and others looking for this information, the Guide Reading Level C is clearly marked on the front cover.

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

four-stars

Jump

JumpJump by David McPhail
Published by Holiday House on July 17th 2018
ISBN: 0823438899
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

A simple text and sweet drawings will make this Guided Reading Level A book a hit with beginning readers. Each page has an animal or children jumping. The language repeats itself on each page but the animals change. The straight forward but fun drawings help the reader figure out which animal is jumping in the photo, even the silly ones like a hippo, and can then read the word. There are only a few words on each page so reading the whole book is possible for even a new reader. It’s hard to make a Level A book interesting for some readers but McPhail’s illustration and animal choice for sure, make that possible. Cream

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

five-stars

I Like My Car

I Like My CarI Like My Car by Michael Robertson
Published by Holiday House on October 23rd 2018
ISBN: 0823439518
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Each page of this early reader has a different animal, in a different car, in a different color. Sound repetitive? It is and it’s perfect for a young reader. The cover alone will capture a new reader’s eye, the bright colors and the animals- a shark, a rhino and a giraffe just can’t be missed. It’s tricky to make early readers fun and different but still use a vocabulary that is simple and easy to sound out. The variety of animals in this one make that possible. And, Holiday House Publishing makes it easy for teachers, parents and readers to know exactly what Guided Reading Level it is (it’s a B) by putting it on the front cover. Cream

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

five-stars

Min Makes a Machine

Min Makes a MachineMin Makes a Machine by Emily Arnold McCully
Published by Holiday House on July 17th 2018
ISBN: 0823439704
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Min decides to take measures into her own hands (or trunk in this case) to get water from the well into the pool so she and her friends can cool down. What a great early chapter book. The book itself is quite sturdy (important for early readers getting a lot of use), has easy to read print, colorful drawings of elephants  and a bit of a scientific principle thrown in to boot. The Guided Reading Level is clearly marked on the book (Level E) which is terrific for folks looking for that information. A cute story with a bit more to it and still a level E book, well done! Cream

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

five-stars

Kitten Construction, Meet the House Kittens

Kitten Construction, Meet the House KittensKitten Construction Company: Meet the House Kittens by John Patrick Green
Published by First Second on September 4th 2018
ISBN: 1626728305
Pages: 80
Goodreads
five-stars

The kittens in this story are frustrated. They have some pretty awesome construction skills but no one believes that. Most people think they are just cute little kitties. Now they do get distracted occasionally but on the whole, they are spot on and can build like you wouldn’t believe. The books terrific illustrations are quite colorful and capture not only the cats’ building abilities but also their personality. Readers will definitely identify with the their frustration at not being recognized as expert builders and root for them to be discovered as the true builders of the best mansion of all. Fun book all the way around. Cream

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME 04032

five-stars

Al Capone Throws Me a Curve

four-stars

Moose reappears in this fourth book in the Tale from Alcatraz series. While his father is a guard on Alcatraz, Moose once again finds himself living on top of an adult correctional institution in 1936. This historic fiction/sports novel will transport readers to an entirely different time and reality. Moose’s passion for baseball is revealed in the first novel and continues through this the fourth title in the series. Choldenko has created a real character who has family relationships and community interactions that would challenge any adult.

Readers of at least one of the previous novels will support Moose as he navigates his way through the criminal system and society off island. Family members are well depicted and several friends help to draw in readers. This is a book that should be handed to historical novel and sport readers. Add to intermediate school media centers and to public libraries where the previous series titles are collected.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian

four-stars

Saving Winslow

Saving WinslowSaving Winslow by Sharon Creech
Published by HarperCollins on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 0062570706
Pages: 176
Goodreads
five-stars

This is a short and sweet novel for upper elementary-aged lovers of animals and/or books like The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and Moo, also be Creech. Louie has had several failed attempts at taking care of the runt animals born at his Uncle Pete’s farm, so when his father brings home a tiny, weak baby donkey, no one expects it to live, not his uncle, his parents, or his quirky new friend Nora.  However, Louie, born two months early so kind of a runt himself, accepts the challenge of proving them all wrong. And while it generally takes more than love and determination to keep something alive, the presence of those two things certainly go a long way to help little Winslow’s chances. Told in short chapters with headings that provide a pretty good hint about what’s going to happen, the story of the bond between a boy and a donkey moves along quickly even as it deals with issues of growing up and accepting change. And the book offers a satisfying and wistful ending that will bring a smile and a hee-haw.

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

five-stars

Undercover Princess

Undercover PrincessUndercover Princess by Connie Glynn
Published by HarperCollins on September 4th 2018
ISBN: 0062847805
Pages: 448
Goodreads
three-stars

Undercover Princess is the debut novel of Connie Glynn, perhaps better known by her youtube name of Noodlerella. Glynn crafts a story of Lottie Pumpkin, a hardworking and kind orphan, who has received admission to the prestigious Rosewood Hall, a british boarding school for the children of dignitaries, lords, and other lofty personage. Her roommate is the mysterious and slightly punk-rock Ellie Wolf. A rumor soon goes around the school that one of the classmates is the princess of the small country of Maradova. Classmates think it must be Lottie, who plays along with the role, especially after she finds out that Ellie, who has become her best friend, is the actual princess. Drama of both the teenage and international variety unfolds in a plot that could ensnare Lottie, Ellie, and others in true danger.

This story for readers in 7th grade or higher feels much the same as watching a Disney Channel Original Movie: the characters are far too capable for their ages and the plot ends up feeling sugary sweet, like cotton candy. It makes for an enjoyable read, but not a substantial one. The characters, who are mostly 13 year olds, encounter adults more as obstacles on their way to defeat international abduction and assassination plots, and many problems come together a little too easily. Still, there are those readers out there who will devour the book and clamour for the sequels. A good effort, recommended for large collections or those in need of more fluffy sweetness for younger teens.

 

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library.

three-stars