Oak: The Littlest Leaf Girl

February 11, 2025

by Lucy Fleming
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 978153623882
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
four-stars

Tiny Oak spends her days blissfully playing in a tree with her family and a wide circle of forest animals. When the days cool off and her family starts packing to move into a warmer home for the winter, Oak panics at the idea of leaving the life she loves so much. So she doesn’t; she determinedly stays in the tree, alone, until she realizes that her home isn’t the tree-it’s wherever your loved ones are.

A cozy, nicely illustrated book about the difficulty of change and the ways family can help us through it.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

The Café at the Edge of the Woods

February 6, 2025February 6, 2025

The Café at the Edge of the Woods by Mikey Please
on October 1, 2024
ISBN: 0063345498
Genres: Fantasy, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

I have been holding off on writing a review about this one. If I could, I would give it 4 ½ stars. If you like the humor in Jon Klassen books, you will likely enjoy this one, too. Rene opens a café beside an enchanted forest and hires Glumfoot, a gnomish-like creature, as a waiter. Nobody shows up to sample her fine cuisine so Glumfoot goes out into the forest to solicit a customer. An ogre comes to the café and orders pickled bats, slugs, and battered mice! Rene cooks a bowl of rice but Glumfoot transforms it into a maggot fondue. The ogre loves it and returns with his friends. Rene and Glumfoot make a great team and the café is a success. The cartoon-like illustrations are colorful and appealing. Not surprising since Mikey Please is an award winning animator. The plot is taut and the rhyming solid. Some may be disturbed by the disgusting dishes and “A bag of bats! That smells like fart!” Others will be enchanted and find it hilarious. Choose your audience.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Go Well, Anna Hibiscus

February 6, 2025February 6, 2025

Go Well, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke, Lauren Tobia
Published by Candlewick Press on April 3, 2014,2024
ISBN: 1536238112
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The 6th book in the reissued Anna Hibiscus series, a beginning chapter book with numerous black-and-white drawings throughout. As in the other books in the series, Anna lives in Africa in the country Nigeria in a city called Lagos. In this installment, Anna is going with her family and grandfather on a trip to the village where her grandparents used to live. This involves a ride on a packed, sweaty bus through the rainforest and scrubland, and through fields of bananas and oranges and sugarcane. It is still a long walk away through the bush from where the bus dropped them off. Anna has never been to the bush before and there is no road, no running water, and no electricity. Anna is a spirited little girl who likes to learn new things. There are few books that depict an adventurous girl with a white mom and a Black father, growing up in Africa. This series exposes children to life in Nigeria – both city and bush – and can expand a study of Africa beyond the amazing animals that live there. Approximately a 2nd-grade independent reading level but can be enjoyed as a readaloud with much younger children. (A 5-year-old at my library loves this series!)

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

Thank You

February 6, 2025

Thank You by Jarvis
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536235865
Genres: Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

A simple, sweet book about all the things the young boy is thankful for – “the moon for the nighttime” to “tyrannosaurus for being the longest word I know.” Incredibly creative collage illustrations accompanying the single thing he lists that he is thankful for on each page. The boy presents as white but some of the other children are other ethnicities. However, you will always recognize the boy by the red hat he wears. The end pages are covered with words for “thank you” in different languages . This book could be used at Thanksgiving (or anytime) to enlighten kids about some of the unusual things that enrich their lives followed by a discussion about what for which they are grateful.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

No More Señora Mimí

February 1, 2025February 11, 2025

No More Señora Mimí by Brittany Cicchese, Meg Medina
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536219444
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Young Ana’s daily routine includes hanging out with her upstairs neighbor señora Mimí (and Mimí’s baby and dog) both before and after school while Ana’s mother is at work. Things are about to change, however, with the arrival of Abuela, who will be moving in with Ana and helping with the childcare. Ana is super excited about this until she has the realization that the routine she loves will end, as will the role that Mimí has played in her life.

What could have been a more straightforward picture book about change is transformed by Medina into a nuanced exploration of mixed emotions in young children and a glimpse into the bond that caretakers and children can have. The book would be easy to recommend for all kinds of life events that might feel overwhelming, but it also fills a niche yet crucial need for children struggling with saying goodbye to caregivers, making it a terrific addition to any library.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

Sir Callie and the Witches War (Book 3)

January 31, 2025

Sir Callie and the Witch's War by Esme Symes-Smith
Published by Penguin Random House ISBN: 0593711084
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This third installment in the engaging and diverse Sir Callie series is another winner for middle grade fantasy lovers looking for queer and nonbinary main character representation. Symes-Smith grapples with very difficult topics, including discrimination, trauma, complicated families and more, in a way that is very real and appropriate for middle grade readers, neither shying away from these things, but also not including them just to drive a plot point home. A book that will circulate with current fans easily and a must-have for any library that owns the first two in the series.

Reviewed by: Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

Chang’e on the Moon

January 30, 2025

Chang’e on the Moon (Everlasting Tales, #1) by Cornelia Li, Jaime Chu, Katrina Moore
on September 3, 2024
ISBN: 0063295806
Genres: Folklore
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Everlasting Tales: Chang’e on the Moon

Retold by Katrina Moore

In this picture book for ages 4-8, Katrina Moore and Cornelia Li re- tell the Chinese legend of Chang’e, the moon goddess. Chang’e is a kind and beautiful woman who deeply loves her husband, Hou Yi, a talented archer who travels from village to village to purge communities from monsters and create caring communities. One morning, multiple suns rose in the sky, scorching the earth and threatening life. Hou Yi shoots arrows to destroy the extra suns until only one remained. To reward Hou Yi, the heavenly goddess presented him with a single elixir of immortality. Hou Yi and Chang’e’s love was so strong that they both declined the elixir, choosing to remain together on Earth. Despite hiding the elixir for safety, Hou Yi’s apprentice, Peng Meng, found it and wanted to use it to rule the world forever. Chang’e realized she must get rid of the elixir once and for all. With the help of her animal friends, Chang’e took back the elixir and drank it herself, which caused her to float way to the moon (considered part of Heaven). Hou Yi was heartbroken to be parted from Chang’e, but he spent the rest of his life sharing the story of her sacrifice everywhere he went.

Chang’e’s bravery and selfless sacrifice not only saved her people but also inspired the annual Mid-Autumn Festival, during which participants give thanks to the moon for their harvest. To this day, friends and family gather every year to share mooncakes and to tell the tale of Chang’e. This lovely story of courage, altruism, and enduring love is underscored by the beautiful and vivid painted illustrations.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

Even Better Than Sprinkles

January 30, 2025January 30, 2025

Even Better Than Sprinkles: A Story About Best Friends by Heather Fox, Linda Skeers
ISBN: 0593705513
Goodreads
three-stars

What could be Even Better Than Sprinkles? It turns out friendship is the most important thing in this new picture book by Linda Skeers and Heather Fox.

The story takes us through playdates between two friends, though one friend (with the orange hair and white-presenting skin color) is more inclined to do what the other friend (Black presenting) wants to do. Our narrator tells us that a good friend will be “the back half of the unicorn costume,” or “will let you be the knight” of the castle, “even though you were the knight last time—and the time before that.” The playdates continue this way, until a big birthday party incident happens and causes a falling out. Will a glittery, hand-written apology solve everything? Yes, it will.

Caregivers will appreciate this story that encourages relationship skills and how to apologize when there’s a rift. The rainbow sprinkled cover will catch the eye of any child browsing the picture book stacks, but the story’s generic illustrations and predictable story-line might render it forgettable. Ages 4-8.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

Near Misses and Cowboy Kisses

January 30, 2025

Near Misses & Cowboy Kisses by Katrina Emmel
on July 23, 2024
ISBN: 0593708148
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Near Misses and Cowboy Kisses” is a YA romance by Katrina Emmel. Riley Thomas is 17 and dealing with moving from California to Nebraska due to her parents’ jobs. Beyond that, she also has to go on an Oregon Trail-themed family vacation (yes, involving wagons). While there, she meets Colton Walker, an 18-year-old cowboy working for the Oregon Trail Adventure. He is quiet and she is angry. Their awkwardness turns into friendship and then more. This is a slow-moving cowboy romance that at times is frustrating due to the main character’s miscommunication and assumptions. A suggested purchase where YA romances are popular.

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

A Queen’s Game

January 30, 2025

A Queen's Game by Katharine McGee
on November 12, 2024
ISBN: 0593710703
Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“A Queen’s Game” is the first in a new YA historical romance series by author Katharine McGee. The three main characters are all based on actual historical women from 19th-century Europe. Alix of Hesse is expected to marry Prince Edward, but she has fallen in love with Russian prince Nicholas. Former French princess Helene d’Orleans meanwhile meets up with Prince Edward and falls for him. And lastly, May of Teck wants to marry royalty to get away from her family.

There is a lot of drama, political twist, and romantic scenes, so readers who enjoy a twisty historical romance will like this one. It reads a bit like a Victorian Gossip Girl at times. It unfortunately ends on a cliffhanger, so readers will have to wait for the sequel. This is a suggested purchase where YA historical romances are popular.

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