Category: Book Reviews

The Midnight Panther

The Midnight PantherThe Midnight Panther (A Poonam Mistry Fable) by Poonam Mistry
ISBN: 1536238716
Genres: Folklore
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The outstanding feature of this book are the gorgeous illustrations! In this fable, Panther feels he is not special like the other big cats in the forest. He doesn’t have stripes like Tiger, a mane like Lion, or spots like Leopard. Panther despairs until Moon encourages him to embrace his blackness which sparkles in the dark like the night sky. Inspired by her Indian heritage, Mistry creates the most stunning artwork. The story is not all that original but takes on a folkloric quality of a pourquoi tale and one can always use a reminder of seeing the beauty in oneself. This book can be used as a Story Time readaloud but children will want to examine the illustrations more closely in an intimate setting.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Shadow Fox

Shadow FoxShadow Fox by Carlie Sorosiak
on April 11, 2024
ISBN: 1536228966
Genres: Animals, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

First of all, I would read anything that Carlie Sorosiak wrote, but this book was probably my least favorite of her books. Perhaps a bit too fantastical, bordering on magical realism, for my taste. It is told from the viewpoint of a fox named Shadow who lives near the shore of Lake Superior. (The front cover depicting Shadow is adorable.) Food is scarce. Shadow is thin with patchy fur and likes to steal shoes from rooms at the motel. Nan, the old woman from the motel, used to feed her, but Nan is gone and replaced by her granddaughter, Bee. Meanwhile, the island of Whistlenorth, accessed through a portal on Lake Superior, is the site of imminent devastation. The Night Islanders’ have destroyed much of the magic of the island which threatens Minnesota’s forests. Bee and Shadow bond together to drive the Night Islanders from Whistlenorth.  At times, I felt the environmental theme overshadowed the story. However, Shadow has a dry humor and makes for an interesting narrator.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Sink or Swim

Sink or SwimSink or Swim (Just Roll with It #2) by Lee Durfey-Lavoie, Veronica Agarwal
on June 4, 2024
ISBN: 1984897020
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

More of a companion book with Just Roll With It rather than a sequel. Middle school student, Ty, is recovering from a broken arm so he is anxious about getting back to practicing with the swim team. He’s out of shape and afraid of failing in front of them. Easy-to-follow panel art in subdued colors helps set the summer-camp scene. It’s rare to see a book that  deals with body image issues for boys. It also deals with mental health issues – isolation, sadness, panic attacks, and LGBTQ. Ty reaches out to the camp counselor for help who listens and offers support. A touching coming-of-age story. Perhaps a good choice to give a tween to read before going away to sleep-away summer camp.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Where’s Waldo? The Mighty Magical Mix-Up

Where’s Waldo? The Mighty Magical Mix-UpWhere's Waldo? The Mighty Magical Mix-Up by Martin Handford
Series: Where's Waldo?
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536216860
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

The eighth book in Martin Handford’s series starring the iconic Waldo.  This is the first new one in 15 years. Where’s Waldo was hugely popular with my own children – who are now approaching 40 – and I am seeing a resurgence of interest in young children at my library. Perhaps a bit of nostalgia for their parents? Anyway, in this book Waldo and his friends are on a quest to find the mayhem caused by Wizard Whitebeard’s missing magic staff. Twelve marvelously mixed-up scenes and hundreds to look for, making it a bit more confusing than the original concept of finding the red-striped shirted fellow wearing glasses and a hat. I am sure that the assiduous child will love it!

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Before the Seed

Before the SeedBefore the Seed: How Pollen Moves by Gina Triplett, Matt Curtius, Susannah Buhrman-Deever
ISBN: 1536226572
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Bright flowers bloom off the pages of Before the Seed by Dr. Susannah Buhrman-Deever with illustrations by Gina Triplett and Matt Curtius. This picture book is a fantastic addition to the mit Kids Press imprint by Candlewick Press that focuses on children’s books in STEM research. Dr. Buhrman-Deever gives us a breathtaking array of unique examples that plants and animals work together to pollinate plants on Earth. The illustrator team created the illustrations digitally, incorporating scans of ink and acrylic paint, which give it a unique and vibrant appearance.

There is a large font on each page that carries a main narration of the pollination process and then a smaller font that gives more in depth information about specific species that interact to create pollination; and it is these examples that makes the book really shine. However, due to some formatting, there is some lack of harmony and flow on the pages that made me enjoy the book less. Overall, I would recommend this book for libraries looking to add to their pollination sections. I definitely learned a lot. Recommended for ages 6-9.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Gracie Under the Waves

Gracie Under the WavesGracie Under the Waves by Linda Sue Park
Published by Allida/HarperCollins on September 17, 2024
ISBN: 006334629X
Pages: 162
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Gracie loves the water and she particularly enjoys snorkeling. She would love to go to the Maldives to snorkel, but the cost is too high. She is thrilled, however, when she suggest Roatan, Honduras and her parents agree. The action of the book quickly moves to the trip. Gracie has a younger brother Ben, who is person with autism and a constant source of frustration to Gracie as he wants to do everything she does and be where she is. Once in Honduras, Gracie meets some locals and gets to snorkel. On her first excursion, she cuts her leg and when it becomes infected, she is sidelined from going in the water. This is a great disappointment, but Gracie also notices that the reef is in danger due to boats and pollution, so she turns her attention to raising awareness about the health of the reef. Embedded in the story are tips about using reef-safe sunscreen and ways kids can raise awareness and funds to help fight the deterioration of underwater landscapes. Hand to a reader who likes books about social issues and who enjoy a story about getting out of your usual life and experiencing something new.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Elementary School

five-stars

Give Me Something Good To Eat

Give Me Something Good To EatGive Me Something Good to Eat by D.W. Gillespie
Published by Delacorte Press on August 13, 2024
ISBN: 0593651812
Genres: Horror
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The town of Pearl is obsessed with Halloween and the entire community goes all out every year with a massive party. Only middle-schooler Mason Miller realizes that there is something very wrong with this annual event, and that while the townsfolk celebrate, a child goes missing and is immediately and completely forgotten by their families and friends. Mason is devastated when this year his own sister Meg is the one to disappear. With the help of his friends, Mason discovers the town is controlled by a witch who throws her own diabolical party every year in a monstrous place called UnderPearl, a haunted mirror image of Pearl.

For readers looking for a scary step up from Goosebumps, this is an excellent choice. Young horror buffs will appreciate the nods to horror classics like Evil Dead and UnderPearl has a real Tim Burton feel to it.  Gillespie does a terrific job building UnderPearl; it’s a genuinely creepy place and he doesn’t shy away from making the monsters truly frightening. While the terror of the witch’s plan for Meg, and of the fate of the previously missing children might seem too bleak, it is balanced out with the humor and emotional growth of Mason and his friends and their determination to take their town back. A great addition to a middle grade horror collection!

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

King Alfred and the Ice Coffin

King Alfred and the Ice CoffinKing Alfred and the Ice Coffin by Chris Riddell, Kevin Crossley-Holland
ISBN: 1536238805
Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction
Format: Middle Grade Fiction, Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

King Alfred loved stories and had a wish for his people to read books in their native language. So, he learned Latin in order to translate important texts and stories into English. One day, a sailor named Wulfstan comes to the King’s court to tell a tale from the northern seas. After enduring a terrible storm, Wulfstan and his crew had become shipwrecked in Maarahvas. During their stay, they witnessed the celebration of life of one of the town’s leaders, which included viewing the deceased leader in an ice coffin, and dispersing his riches in a horse race. Captivated by the story, King Alfred pledges to record it so that it will never be forgotten. This book is formatted as a long picture book, with stunningly detailed monochromatic illustrations. Recommended for ages 9-11 (4th to 6th Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

V. Malar: Greatest Host of All Time

V. Malar: Greatest Host of All TimeV. Malar: Greatest Host of All Time by Archana Sreenivasan, Suma Subramaniam
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536229113
Genres: Cultural / African American, Realistic Fiction
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

It is time for the South Indian celebration of Pongal (the harvest festival). Malar’s cousins have come all the way from Seattle to join in the four-day celebration. She tries to be a super host after her mom reminds her, “we will treat our guests like gods, no matter what.” But that turns out to be difficult when her jet-lagged homesick cousins routinely act out (ruining the kolam rice powder decoration, complaining that everything is small, and more). Despite their misadventures and squabbles, they find camaraderie by the end of the festival and are very sad to say goodbye. Such a sweet story of reuniting families with different cultural experiences. Fun illustrations break up the text and help the reader to visualize the celebrations (though the illustrations may have missed an opportunity by being in black and white, given the vivid and colorful descriptions throughout the text). Glossary at the end. Recommended for ages 8-9 (3rd to 4th Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars

Harriet Hound

Harriet HoundHarriet Hound by Kate Foster, Sophie Beer
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536238104
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General, Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Harriet lives with her family in Australia and helps run their dog rescue. She has a very special super power – she can call on any of the dogs in her shelter and they will magically appear, understand what to do, and help her!  Harriet uses her super power to help solve problems in three different adventures, finding her shelter dogs forever homes in the process. The problems she faces are appropriate for the youngest readers (for example, vanishing vegetables at a friend’s garden), but may be lackluster for the more thrill-seeking readers. Harriet is also autistic, and the book does an amazing job at explaining what that means for Harriet in an understandable and relatable way (such as wearing headphones in the car, or stimming when she’s nervous). There are also so many fun facts about different dog breeds throughout the book. A solid addition to any juvenile fiction collection, particularly for animal lovers and increasing autism awareness. Recommended for ages 7-8 (2nd to 3rd Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars