Category: Book Reviews

Just be YOU!

Just Be You! by Karl Newson
Published by Templar Books on February 4, 2025
ISBN: 1536241199
Genres: Mental Health
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

The repetitive line, “Whoever you are, whatever you do, however you feel…be YOU!” is intermixed with diverse children dressed as their favorite animal. Intended as an inspirational book, the real strength lies in naming the animal illustrations. The rhythmic, uplifting text encourages readers to believe in themselves. The costumed characters may  inspire some fun dress-up play or Halloween costumes. Ages 3-5.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

three-stars

Bob and Dob: A Tale of Tattling

Bob and Dob: A Tale of TattlingBob and Dob: A Tale of Tattling by Sean E. Avery
Published by Candlewick Press on May 20, 2025
ISBN: 1536236047
Genres: Animals, Emotions & Feelings, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

A retelling of the fable of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Dob is a “dobber” (Australian slang for a tattletale) who watches his brother’s every move and delights in tattling to their mother until both brother and mother have had enough.  When Bob is attacked by a crocodile, Dob must use his storytelling skills to rescue his brother. Avery employs a narrator’s description as well as word bubbles within the illustrations.  Bold illustrations with Bob as blue, Dob as red, and Mother as an purple. Every library needs some books about tattling and its repercussions. This one wil resonate with 4-7 year olds.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

The Silver Shadow

The Silver ShadowThe Silver Shadow by Mariesa Dulak
Published by Walker Books on May 13, 2025
ISBN: 1536239402
Genres: Animals, Family, Oceans, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

A brown-skinned girl discovers a baby shark stranded in the tidepools. She worries for the shark’s safety because her brother Sam and his friends want to sell the creature to fishermen.  She watches over the shark until dusk, when her parents and, eventually, Sam come help look after the animal until high tide comes and washes her back out. Marley’s luminescent illustrations bathe the pages in colors typical of the Caribbean setting. Dulak takes a skillfully light touch about what you should do if you capture something in a tidal pool or find a stranded animal. In the back of the book, she explains that she drew inspiration from her dad’s memories of growing up in Barbados. Ages 4-8.

four-stars

Interrupting Chicken Saves the Nutcracker

Interrupting Chicken Saves the NutcrackerInterrupting Chicken Saves the Nutcracker by David Ezra Stein
Series: Interrupting Chicken
Published by Candlewick Press on September 9, 2025
ISBN: 1536207799
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Book 4 in the “Interrupting Chicken” series. During winter vacation, Papa takes Interrupting Chicken to see the Nutcracker ballet. Donned out in tutu and ballet shoes, Papa premeditatedly warns her to be on her best behavior, while the reader assuredly knows that high jinks will occur. Stein gives readers a bit of the ballet’s story in the ensuing 3 chapters intermingled with Chicken’s interruptions. Children who love other stories in the series, as well as those who are familiar with the Nutcracker story, will enjoy this book.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

The Bestest Big Brother Ever

The Bestest Big Brother EverThe Bestest Big Brother, Ever by Ben Mantle
Published by Candlewick Press on October 7, 2025
ISBN: 1536245070
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Nano and his older brother, Felix, are best friends who do everything together. When Felix bans Nano from his treehouse, Nano is crushed.  This is the classic story of squabbling siblings—the younger one adoring, the older in need of space. The comical illustrations brings visual humor to the storyline. A  relatable tale to big brothers and sisters everywhere. Ages 4-8.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake

The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy CakePublished by Alfred A. Knopf on October 7, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Holiday
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
four-stars

What an intriguing title! This is the sequel to The Bakery Dragon. Ember the  dragon has mastered the art of baking bread but is stymied when Princess Turnip of the Vegetable fairies orders a birthday cake for the fairy queen’s birthday. After a few humorous attempts, Ember figures out how to make a lovely cake by going to the library and seeking out a recipe. He is so fired-up (pun intended) that the bakery now specializes in beautifully decorated cakes.  This a magical book about trying new things, and I am looking forward to what pastry Ember will tackle next. For 4-8 year olds.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Seven Babies

Seven BabiesSeven Babies by Forest Xiao
Published by Candlewick Press on Aug 26, 2025
ISBN: 1536245097
Genres: Babies/Infants, Counting Books, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

One Thursday morning, a box of seven babies is delivered to a  man and woman. They take the babies in, feed them, take them to a playground, bathe them, read to them, and put them to bed. The babies have another idea. They sneak out for further adventures when the exhausted couple have fallen asleep. You cannot find a sweeter book! Much of the story is told by the Xiao’s expressive illustrations. The text is very simple and preschool children will be delighted by this book. Diverse-appearing characters throughout.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

When Sally O’Malley Discovered the Sea

When Sally O’Malley Discovered the SeaWhen Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea by Karen Cushman
Published by Alfred A. Knopf on March 25, 2025
ISBN: 0593650573
Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This is the sort of historical fiction I love to read but find it a tough sell to children. Orphan Sally O’Malley makes her way across 1894 Oregon in the company of a spoiled kid, a persnickety donkey, and a wise woman. 13-year-old Sally is determined to see the sea. Her colorful vocabulary and the well-developed secondary characters make for a rollicking adventure with a happy ending. Warning: there is a death towards the end of the book that may affect sensitive children.  Recommend this book to  7-12 year olds who are fans of  Little House on the Prairie. It also would make a good family readaloud.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

five-stars

The Fangirl Project

The Fangirl ProjectThe Fangirl Project by Beth Reekles
Published by Delacorte Press on November 4, 2025
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Fangirl Project” is a young adult romance by Beth Reekles. Cerys is a teen with a huge crush on her best friend, Jake. She is worried that she will miss her chance at dating him when they go to different schools. She concocts a plan where she will become a huge fan of Jake’s favorite fantasy book/tv series and win his affection that way (by becoming a fangirl). Unfortunately, Jake’s friend Max keeps getting in her way in person, so she decides to use Discord to reach Jake. The book switches between regular first person narration and Discord exchanges.

Cerys slowly learns that you don’t have to pretend to be someone different for people to like you. A lot of teen embarrassment and situations that could have been solved easily with a little communication occasionally made this a tough read, but fans of rom coms will enjoy it. An additional purchase where YA romances with a bit of humor are popular.

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

three-stars

Trail Rides and Starry Eyes

Trail Rides and Starry EyesTrail Rides and Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel
ISBN: 0593904060
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Trail Rides and Starry Eyes” is a young adult romance by Katrina Emmel. Cassidy works at her family’s ranch. Wilder is an actor trying to learn how to ride a horse to hopefully get his big break in a Western miniseries. We get both Cassidy and Wilder’s points of view in different chapters while we watch their relationship grow. They learn the importance of being willing to try something new and that being very different from each other doesn’t mean things can’t work out. This is an enjoyable YA western romance and a good additional purchase where teen romance is popular.

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

three-stars