Category: Book Reviews

How to Ride a Dragonfly

How to Ride a DragonflyHow to Ride a Dragonfly by Anne Wilsdorf, Kitty Donohoe
ISBN: 0593175646
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A child takes readers along on a Thumbelina–esque adventure in this whimsical and beautifully illustrated book. The shrunken blond caucasian little girl explores the world of flowers, bees, beetles, and fairies on the back of her dragonfly friend Priscilla. An element of suspense is that she will stay shrunk unless she returns to the same spot by sunset. Thin-lined watercolor and ink illustrations cleverly bring to life the dragonfly-filled landscapes and endearing characters. A fun bedtime story for preschool to primary children and can be used as a model for writing adventure stories in elementary classrooms. Pair with Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One by Kate Duke (1994).

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Sam With Ants in His Pants

Sam With Ants in His PantsSam with Ants in His Pants by April Reynolds, Katie Kordesh
ISBN: 059356460X
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Sam just can’t settle down for nap time. When he is sent to his room he opens a book of African wildlife and soon his room is filling up with packs of wild animals. This wears him out, and after enjoying a comforting bowl of soup with his mother, he finally naps.

Naptime books are popular, as are books about collective nouns (a crash of rhinoceroses! a charm of hummingbirds!), so this is an easy one to add to the shelves and would make a good choice for story time.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Good Luck, Anna Hibiscus

Good Luck, Anna HibiscusGood Luck, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke, Lauren Tobia
Series: Anna Hibiscus #3
Published by Candlewick Press on January 10, 2023
ISBN: 153622524X
Pages: 112
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Originally published in 2009, this is the third book in this series. Anna Hibiscus is a little girl who lives in Nigeria with a loving extended family. Each chapter is a short story and there is usually a moral dilemma. In the second half of the book, Anna Hibiscus is looking forward to visiting her grandmother in Canada, where she will see snow for the first time. But before she goes, she must find warm clothes to wear in the cold winter weather. In the last chapter, she shares a universal worry about missing her family while she is away. Children beginning to read chapter books will find this book enlightening and entertaining. Also a fun read aloud.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Hooray for Anna Hibiscus

Hooray for Anna HibiscusHooray for Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke, Lauren Tobia
Published by Candlewick Press on January 10, 2023
Pages: 112
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Originally published in 2011, this is the second book in this early chapter book series. Anna Hibiscus is a little girl who lives in Nigeria with a loving extended family. Readers might relate to Anna’s nervousness about singing a solo for a visiting president from another country, but may have an eye-opening experience when Anna accompanies her aunty and uncle on an errand to another part of the city where children beg and scavenge through trash to survive. All is told with humor and through a loving lens. The books provide young readers with a unique view of life in urban African. Children beginning to read chapter books will laugh at Anna’s adventures. An enjoyable read aloud and a wonderful conversation starter.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Dazzle Makes a Wish

Dazzle Makes a WishBook Buddies: Dazzle Makes a Wish by Cynthia Lord, Stephanie Graegin
Series: Book Buddies #3
Published by Candlewick Press on March 21, 2023
ISBN: 9781536232417
Pages: 80
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Book 3 in the Book Buddies series. The first two books in this series about the adventures of toys borrowed from the library are enjoyable, and book three does not disappoint. Dazzle is a unicorn that sprinkles glitter. Maya borrows Dazzle from the library and then is so desperate to obey her mother and to make a friend  that she allows another child, Isabelle, to Dazzle and her “collectable” fairies that were a gift from her Mexican grandparents. The lesson of standing up for oneself comes across loud and clear when Maya reaches her snapping point. The story offers conflict resolution done in a positive manner. The grayscale illustrations add to the story, especially the journal Maya writes about Dazzle’s visit. Children’s Librarian Anne is a positive role model. Readers who enjoyed the other books in this beginning chapter book series will also enjoy this one.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink

The Princess in Black and the Prince in PinkThe Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink by Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, LeUyen Pham
Series: Princess in Black, #10, #10
Published by Candlewick Press on April 11, 2023
ISBN: 1536209783
Pages: 96
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

In book 10 of the Princess in Black series, Princess Magnolia accepts the help of a new hero, Prince in Pink (aka Prince Valerian), when a grumpy emu tries to destroy the Flower Festival Fair Ball. Typical Princess in Black outrageousness ensues. The characters have silly names, such as Princess Sneezewort, and the illustrations depict a variety of skin tones and Princess Snapdragon is of Asian descent. The large emu and his sidekicks, the Ostrich Twins (aka The Flightless Bird Herd), are comical. This early chapter book with numerous colorful illustrations will be enjoyed by the many fans of the series.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Queen Bee

Queen BeeQueen Bee by Amalie Howard
Published by Joy Revolution on April 4, 2023
ISBN: 0593483502
Pages: 368
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“Queen Bee” is a young adult historical fiction novel by Amalie Howard. This book is Bridgerton with a healthy dose of revenge. After being betrayed and having her reputation ruined, Ela dreams of getting revenge on her former friend, Poppy. Years later Ela returns to London under a new persona, but right in the way is Keston, a former childhood friend, now a handsome marquess. Alternating between the past and the present, Howard slowly builds up the reader’s understanding of Ela and her motivations. A recommended purchase for a young adult historical fiction or romance collection.

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

three-stars

The Cartographers

The CartographersThe Cartographers by Amy Zhang
Published by HarperCollins on January 31, 2023
ISBN: 0062383078
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Amy Zhang’s “The Cartographers” is a young adult realistic fiction novel about a teen named Ocean Sun who decides to defer going to college in order to try living in New York City. As expected, Ocean has a difficult time settling in. She meets an interesting boy on the subway named Constantine Brave and they become friends, traveling across the city together. A story about finding oneself, this book covers some very heavy topics like suicide, depression, and anxiety. At times the existential dialogue can be confusing and hard to follow. Not a must-buy, but a potential additonal purchase for young adult collections.

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

three-stars

The Notorious Scarlett and Browne

The Notorious Scarlett and BrowneThe Notorious Scarlett and Browne by Jonathan Stroud
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on April 25, 2023
ISBN: 0593430409
Pages: 432
Genres: Adventure, Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Notorious Scarlett and Browne”is the second book in the Scarlett and Browne young adult series by Jonathan Stroud. Scarlett and Browne are outlaws in a dystopian world filled with zombies (the Tainted) and where some people have special powers.  Scarlett is a thief who saved Browne in the last book and discovered that he has mind-reading powers. They formed a deep friendship which continues in this book. This book has the duo attempting to save their friends from the clutches of criminals. Interspersed with information about Scarlett’s past, this sequel fleshes out her background, much like the first novel did with Browne’s past. Themes include found family, friendship, and facing trauma. A recommended purchase for young adult collections where dystopian fiction is popular, as long as you have the first book already.

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

three-stars

HiLo: Gina and the Last City on Earth

HiLo: Gina and the Last City on EarthHilo Book 9: Gina and the Last City on Earth: (A Graphic Novel) by Judd Winick
ISBN: 0593488091
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

“Gina and the Last City on Earth” is the 9th book in the middle grade graphic novel series “HiLo” by Judd Winick. The title character, HiLo, was a robot boy with powers who has recently been turned into a human boy without powers. Along with his friends Gina and DJ, they have saved the world and fought off numerous threats. This book features the friends traveling through time to save the world. Characters in the series are diverse and each book teaches kids about difficult situations and emotions, such as loss, responsibility, friendship, and love, while still managing to be extremely funny. This book series is very popular among middle graders. I would recommend purchasing the first book in the series if you don’t already have it to see if the books will be popular in your library.

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

four-stars