Category: Book Reviews

The Animal Song

The Animal SongThe Animal Song by Jonty Howley
Published by Random House Studio on January 10, 2023
ISBN: 0593381467
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A crocodile playing a snare drum, a big brown bear with a bass, and a weasel with a banjo form a traveling band to play for the other animals in the woods. From spring to fall, they always attract an eager crowd. But when winter comes, the animals in the audience go off to bed and the band searches for a new stage in town. At winter’s end, the band is exhausted so they return to the woods to sleep.

Catchy rhyming text:  “Snap went the croc on the little snare drum. / Poom poom, the big, brown bear thumped with his thumb. / Jingle, jangle, strummed the weasel, all steady and strong. / Snap-poom-jingle-jangle went the animal song.” Colorful, comical illustrations will make it a fun read for story time. There is a musical score at the back of the book and readers can listen to the “free accompanying song and read-along” at https://jontyhowley.com/shop/theanimalsong-songandstory

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Uni the Unicorn: Tooth Fairy Helper

Uni the Unicorn: Tooth Fairy HelperUni the Unicorn: Tooth Fairy Helper by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Brigette Barrager, Christy Webster, Kaley McCabe
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on January 3, 2023
ISBN: 059317805X
Pages: 32
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Book 10 in the Uni the Unicorn series.  Saccharinely sweet and predictable. The unnamed little girl who lost her tooth has long blond hair and light skin. The overwrought tooth fairy has dark skin and black curly hair. Uni saves the day by chauffeuring the Tooth Fairy through her night deliveries. This reviewer wonders if Rosenthal wrote all these books before she died in 2017. Young unicorn-obsessed readers will love it.

three-stars

Izzy’s Dog Days of Summer

Izzy’s Dog Days of SummerIzzy's Dog Days of Summer by Caroline Adderson
Series: The Izzy #3
Published by Kids Can Press on September 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781771387347
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Izzy and her friend Zoe did not have the fun they were expecting at Summer camp, so they decided to create their own in Izzy’s back yard. They enjoy jumping on the trampoline, doing crafts and telling stories, much to the annoyance of Izzy’s grumpy neighbor. The third book in The Izzy series, designed for emerging chapter book readers,is a story of friendship, first between the girls, and later between Izzy and her neighbor. The font is large and the language is appropriate for readers at this stage. There are fun illustrations scattered throughout the text that add to the humor of the story. Readers who enjoyed the previous Izzy books will enjoy this installation, but this book also works well as a stand alone.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

Doodleville: Art Attacks!

Doodleville: Art Attacks!by Chad Sell
Series: Doodleville #2
Published by Random House Children's Books, Knopf Books for Young Readers on November 1, 2022
Pages: 256
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
four-stars

This fun sequel to Doodleville by Chad Sell finds the characters trying to fix a major disruption caused at the Chicago Art Museum by their doodles. The art club must find a way to work together when everyone has very different ideas on how to solve the problems. Their creative teamwork and friendship really shine through in this diverse and colorful graphic novel. A great addition to your shelves!

Erin Scott Woodside Elementary School Topsham

four-stars

The Way Champs Play

The Way Champs Playby Naomi Osaka, Kamala Nair
Published by HarperCollins, HarperCollins US on December 6, 2022
ISBN: 9780063283688
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Sports
Format: Picture Book Fiction
five-stars

The Way Champs Play by four-time Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka is a colorfully illustrated and diverse picture book featuring differently abled children playing in a variety of sports. This book sends a positive message that doing your best with a good attitude, kindness, and teamwork can lead to lots of fun.  It’s rhyming prose makes it a fun read aloud and will be loved by elementary students. Definitely a great addition to your shelves.

five-stars

Isaiah Dunn Saves The Day

Isaiah Dunn Saves The DayIsaiah Dunn Saves the Day by Kelly J. Baptist
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on August 2, 2022
ISBN: 0593429214
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This diverse sequel to Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero follows poetry-loving Isaiah and his friends as they navigate middle school. Isaiah has a lot on his plate with a younger sister, his mother going back to school, joining a mentoring group, and attempting to mentor a third grader who isn’t an easy match. This book shows Isaiah dealing with everything life throws at him and learning a lot of lessons along the way. It is a well written, easy-to-follow story and will be a big hit with readers in grades 3-5.

Reviewed by Erin Scott. Woodside School Topsham ME

four-stars

Confessions of a Candy Snatcher

Confessions of a Candy SnatcherConfessions of a Candy Snatcher by Phoebe Sinclair, Theodore Taylor III
Published by Candlewick Press on August 15, 2023
ISBN: 1536213683
Pages: 336
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Jonas and his buddies have a tradition of snatching candy from unsuspecting trick-or-treaters.  This year, one of Jonas’ victims fights back and Jonas injures her.  The guilt of this sticks with Jonas and it gets worse when someone leaves notes for him in his locker.  The harassment escalates when signs and balloons are plastered at school saying “JONAS DID IT” causing Jonas to get in a fight with one of his friends.  Another friend, Concepcion, tries to help Jonas process what he did through a zine she is writing.  On top of all this, Jonas’ parents are separated and living in different homes but their boundaries are blurry which is frustrating for Jonas and confusing for his sister.  Middle grade readers will enjoy the unique writing style of this novel which is broken up by drafts of the zine Jonas and his friend are working on.  At times the pace of this story is slower, but it matches the contemplative mood of the book as Jonas wrestles with difficult issues such as peer pressure, consent, bullying, and friendship. The end of the novel moves quicker, bringing readers to a somewhat surprising and very satisfying ending.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

The Cricket War

The Cricket WarThe Cricket War by Sandra McTavish, Tho Pham
Published by Kids Can Press on October 3, 2023
ISBN: 1525306553
Pages: 160
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Based on the author’s life, this is the story of the Vietnamese “Boat People” escaping Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. It’s a short and compelling story. After Pho’s best friend and older brother were smuggled out by their families, it was Pho’s turn. His mother took him to his aunt’s house – an all-day bus trip – where he was taken by small boat to a larger boat. As if enduring seasickness, crowded conditions, and little food and water wasn’t enough, Pho’s boat was attacked by pirates on a daily – and sometimes more than daily – basis. He decided to hide on a pirate ship after one raid and helped the pirate fish until they passed him off to a fishing boat. Finally, after weeks at sea, he was rescued by a German rescue ship, the Cap Anamur, and eventually taken to a refugee camp in the Philippines. After writing to his family, he heard from his brother who had made it to Canada; eventually Pho was invited to move to Canada as well. I can’t help but wonder if this powerful story would reach a wider audience as a verse or graphic novel. I also was hoping for a longer historical note and photographs.

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

 

three-stars

Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a Blue MoonOnce in a Blue Moon by Sharon G. Flake
ISBN: 0593480988
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

James Henry can’t bring himself to leave his house ever since that night at the lighthouse with Ma. He lives in the south during Jim Crow with his twin sister and his Gran. Gran and his sister Hattie Mae encourage him to face his fears during the upcoming night of the blue moon. When James finally works up the courage to leave the house with Hattie and her new friend Lottie, they encounter the Baker brothers who bully them, have a near-miss with white supremacists, and encounter a few kind strangers on their trip back to the lighthouse to make sense of the event that changed their family. A powerful story told in verse.

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

four-stars

House Party

House PartyHouse Party by Justin A. Reynolds
ISBN: 0593488156
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“House Party” is a young adult novel edited by justin a. reynolds. The setting is the biggest house party of the year and the chapters focus on different characters (“The Popular Girl,” “The Influencer,” “The New Girl,” etc.) and are written by various acclaimed YA authors. Each character is dealing with their own problems, which occasionally intersect with those of other characters. There is plenty of drama, romance, and humor and unlike most high school house parties, this one ends with most stories tied up neatly. It is occasionally a little confusing to jump from one character’s point of view to another in each chapter, but the characters feel genuine and the drama will keep readers wondering what will happen by the end. Characters learn to be true to themselves and what is truly important in life. Written for teens, this book is a recommended addition for all teen/YA collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars