Category: Book Reviews

School People

School PeopleSchool People by Lee Bennett Hopkins
on 2018
ISBN: 9781629797038
Genres: Poetry
Goodreads
three-stars

School People is an anthology of poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Ellen Shi. Thirteen of the poems are about school employees (bus drivers, nurses, music teacher, etc.) and the opening and closing poems are in the voice of the school itself. Poets selected include well known ones such as  J. Patrick Lewis, Hopkins himself, and Alma Flor Ada. Less known poets are also represented. The librarian and theater teacher are males; the principal is also a mother of a student, and the coach and bus driver are women. The poems are brief and  direct. Some rhyme, and many do not.  Digital artwork is light and fresh in the style reflecting the poems’ mood. Multiple skin tones on students and staff are shown. Primary classes k-2 will recognize themselves or others much like them in this book. Recommended by Margy Soule Coffin Library, Coffin School, Brunswick

three-stars

Evil Emperor Penguin Strikes Back

Evil Emperor Penguin Strikes BackEvil Emperor Penguin: Strikes Back by Laura Ellen Anderson
Published by David Fickling Books on May 29th 2018
ISBN: 1338185934
Pages: 64
Goodreads
three-stars
A series of comic vignettes detailing Evil Penguin’s plans for world domination. Fortunately for the world, Penguin’s sidekicks are fluffy, fuzzy, and accident-prone (messing up most diabolic inventions before they have a chance to enact whichever dastardly deed they are supposed to carry out). Though a slim volume, this graphic novel has dense text and advanced vocabulary making it a great challenge for emerging readers (who will delight in the bright, clear illustrations) and a perfect fit for older elementary and middle school readers who appreciate silliness coupled with wry humor. Fans of the first Evil Emperor Penguin graphic novel will enjoy further exploits of this bird with a chip on his shoulder and zero skill at follow-through.

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

three-stars

Unclaimed Baggage

Unclaimed BaggageUnclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll
on September 18th 2018
ISBN: 0374306060
Pages: 384
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Three teens are thrown together and find support as a group when they work at a store in their small Alabama town that sells lost airline luggage in this poignant realistic fiction novel that explores a host of difficult issues.
Doris, who is a manager at Unclaimed Baggage and a lifelong resident and misfit in her conservative town instantly recognizes a kindred spirit in Nell, who is newly arrived from Chicago and missing her boyfriend terribly. She hires her and the two quickly become friends, expanding their circle to include Grant, whose anxiety and alcohol use disorders have recently resulted in a car accident that caused his suspension from the school football team, where he had been a star. In alternating narration, the three teens tell both their own backstories and the tale of their burgeoning friendship, including an attraction between Doris and Grant, who have a complicated history with one another. Each of these nuanced characters’ stories are told with compassion and include experiences of mental health concerns, sexual assault and an attack motivated by racism. Things wobble a bit as the novel moves from what seems to be a quirky comedy to something more serious, but not enough to derail this likable, moving story of coming to grips with self and with life’s losses.
High school readers who are fans of authors like John Green, Rainbow Rowell and Maureen Johnson will be a natural audience for this.
Reviewed by Brooke Faulkner, McArthur Public Library, Biddeford

four-stars

Write to Me: Letters from Japanese Children to the Librarian They Left Behind

Write to Me: Letters from Japanese Children to the Librarian They Left BehindWrite to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left Behind by Cynthia Grady, Amiko Hirao
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing on January 9th 2018
ISBN: 158089688X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Write to Me: Letters from Japanese American Children to the Librarian They Left Behind by Cynthia Grady and illustrated by Amik oHirao is narrative nonfiction for children ages 6 through 10. Grady researched postcards of librarian Clara Breed to and from the Japanese American children (her former public library patrons) who were imprisoned in internment camps during WWII. She selects just enough details and letters from the children to make a compelling story of both shame on America for locking these children up and hope for the world through acts of goodness continued during the war. The San Diego children’s librarian gave the children postcards with postage included so they could write to her, and they did throughout the war years. She also sent them books, seeds, and craft supplies. She visited them in the prison/internment camps and spread the word through radio,  newspaper, and magazine articles. At the end of the book there are five pages of additional information including sources, bibliography, selected dates, and credits. Illustrator Amiko Hiraw is herself a Japanese American, and her pastel colored drawings add a softness to this true tale.  Recommended by Margy Soule Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick, Maine

four-stars

Shake the Tree

Shake the TreeShake the Tree!: A Minibombo Book by Chiara Vignocchi, Paolo Chiarinotti, Silvia Borando
Published by Candlewick Press on January 2nd 2018
ISBN: 0763694886
Pages: 48
Goodreads
four-stars

A little mouse spies a yummy nut in a tall tree and tries to shake it down for a treat. But things don't always turn out the way you want them to as the little mouse soon discovers! Thus begins the adventure of the little mouse as she runs back up the tree to escape the hungry fox that fell down instead of the nut. Next the fox shakes the tree to get the mouse and instead he gets a hungry warthog. The crazy antics continue with a bear who finally manages to shake down the nut and gobbles it up instead of the other creatures. Young readers will enjoy this interactive story. From all the shaking of the book to the required turns of the book due to the mixture of horizontal and vertical layouts, this book will keep readers busy! The pages are sparsely illustrated with plenty of space to make the colorful tree and creatures really pop. An entertaining read for both story times and lap reads.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library

four-stars

Lyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian

Lyric McKerrigan, Secret LibrarianLyric McKerrigan, Secret Librarian by Jacob Sager Weinstein, Vera Brosgol
Published by Clarion Books on September 4th 2018
ISBN: 0544801229
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars
Recommending this title to the Cream of the Crop committee for consideration. This is a picture book graphic novel that will inspire future super heroes in grades 1-3 to read and save the world with the power of books. Dr. Glockenspiel has escaped and demands “one billion trillion dollars” from the world or he will release an army of giant moths to destroy the world’s books. Only Lyric McKerrigan, secret librarian has the special disguises and the perfect book to match each situation. She is able to break into the evil doctor’s fortress, evade the henchman, save the other super heroes and pull the giant moths into a story time; allowing her to thwart Dr. Glockenspiel’s evil plan. Brosgol’s comic illustrative style captures the darkness with purple tones, the superhero powers in bright yellows and oranges while introducing young readers to the comic book layout. Some pages are in frames of action and others are full page illustrations that show intense energy with singular setting identifiers that will keep readers from being overwhelming with background items. Older readers will enjoy the humor of the different book titles that Lyric Mckerrigan distributes to meet the various needs of the moment. This adds a level of sophistication in the many illustrative details that enhance the text.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Springvale Public Library, Springvale

five-stars

Giraffe Problems

Giraffe ProblemsGiraffe Problems by Jory John, Lane Smith
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 1524772038
Pages: 42
Goodreads
four-stars

Giraffe Problems by Jory John and illustrated by Lane Smith is a tale of a giraffe who learns to accept his long neck with the help of an understanding turtle. Like the author’s and illustrator’s earlier Penguin Problems, this work is quirky. The illustrations are done in quiet tones of browns and neutrals much like a giraffe’s natural colors with olive greens for the turtle. There is one fold-up page that emphasizes the giraffe’s height. Giraffe longs to have a neck that is like everyone else; the turtle feels limited by his physical shortcomings too. Together they learn to like themselves and enjoy their new friendship. This is a quietly humorous and unexpectedly sweet tale of two friends who gain a new perspective on life and on themselves. Recommended for children ages 4 – 8. Margy Soule, Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick, Maine.

four-stars

The Secret Life of Little Brown Bat

The Secret Life of Little Brown BatThe Secret Life of the Little Brown Bat by Laurence Pringle, Kate Garchinsky
Published by Boyds Mills Press on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 1629796018
Pages: 32
Goodreads

The Secret Life of the Little Brown Bat by Laurence Pringle and illustrated by Kate Garchinsky is a narrative nonfiction for children five through eight. This is a true life, compelling tale of survival by a young bat and his mother. Although he gives a name to the bat, Pringle avoids anthropomorphism as he tells of the actions of the bat’s first year of life in a hollow tree with his mother, in an abandoned barn with other young males, and in a cave for the winter. There are natural adventures as he first flies, catches insects, leaves his mother, and avoids being eaten himself .Pringle manages to include lots of information about the little brown bat’s body and flying ability within the narrative. In the three pages of small print information at the end of the book, readers and listeners learn that about 90%of brown bats in eastern North America have died from a fungus over the past ten years. The book concludes with a glossary. The illustrations are impressionist swirls of color highlighting the flying ability of this agile mammal. Since many primary age children have a hard time understanding that paintings can be informational “real” books, librarians, teachers, and parents may need to promote this book.  It would be a great read-aloud and is highly recommended for ages 5 through 8.
Margy Soule, Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick.

Johnny Tremain: A Story of Boston in Revolt

Johnny Tremain: A Story of Boston in RevoltJohnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, Lynd Ward
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 1328489167
Pages: 300
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This 75th anniversary edition of Esther Forbes’ Newbery-award book is a must have. Nathan Hale (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales) has added a superb graphic novel introduction to this edition which also includes the original artwork by Lynd Ward. Set in Boston during the revolution, silversmith apprentice Johnny Tremain falls on hard times but ends up helping Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere as they spy on the British and plan what would come to be known as the Boston Tea Party. Seventy-five years later, this book still holds up as a must-read historical novel for middle grade students.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

 

 

five-stars

The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden

The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden GardenThe Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 1328770028
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

The follow-up to The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street (soon to be a motion picture!), the continuing adventures of twins Isa and Jessie, their brother Oliver, and their sisters Hyacinth and Laney. When their beloved neighbor Mr. Jeet has another stroke, they decide they will reclaim the abandoned lot next to Triple J’s church (Triple J, also known as the Pastor James Joseph Jackson) and turn it into a beautiful garden. Unfortunately, Mr. Huxley has plans to sell the lot to balance the church budget. Will the Vanderbeeker children be able to create a beautiful garden before Mr. Jeet comes home from the hospital? Will they find a way to save the lot from development? It will take a neighborhood to solve all the problems. Includes beautiful pen-and-ink drawings by the author that grow more elaborate and detailed as the garden grows and a map of their neighborhood on the end papers.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

 

five-stars