Gorgeously Me!

July 19, 2024

Gorgeously Me! by Jonathan Van Ness, Kamala M. Nair
ISBN: 0593622847
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Gorgeously Me! is a sweet picture book from Jonathan Van Ness, star of Netflix’s Queer Eye. Using a simple rhyming scheme, this story reinforces the idea everyone is perfect just the way they are, no matter how they appear or what they love to do. Even when things are a struggle – for example, when you’re feeling sad, nervous, or made a mistake – you’re the best version of yourself when you’re living authentically.

The illustrations in this book focus on showing kids of all different skin, clothing, and body types, so readers will find someone to relate to right away. Each subsequent page shows these children bright, happy, awash with color as they celebrate the things that make them happy.

This book is best suited for younger readers, a quick and easy read with a message that resonates. It would be perfect for an SEL lesson on self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-acceptance.

Reviewed by Amie Martin, H.B. Emery Jr. Memorial School, Limington, Maine

The Wonderful Wishes of B.

July 18, 2024

The Wonderful Wishes of B. by Katherin Nolte
ISBN: 0593565142
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

The Wonderful Wishes of B. Katherin Nolte

This novel is about a 10-year-old girl named Beatrice. Bea has experienced much grief and loneliness lately- her beloved grandmother Glad passed away, her father is absent from much of her life, and her best friend moved to another state. Her mother is also struggling to keep Glad’s barber shop in business. Beatrice believes that if she transforms into the Tin Man, she will no longer feel sad and forlorn. She makes a handful of wishes, but wishing in fountains proves unsuccessful. An unusual new boy in town, Caleb, claims that his grandmother is a witch with magic powers. Beatrice makes a deal with the witch, which predictably goes awry.

This book, targeted for ages 8-12 (grades 3-7), had some plot inconsistencies which left the reader with questions. For example, we are led to believe that Caleb’s grandmother (the witch) stole money from a store. If she indeed has magical powers, what is her motive for the robbery? The reader never finds out if she is caught for the crime. Beatrice has 8 rescue cats, named after the planets. The cats accompany her to school, sit at the table for meals with Bea, and go into stores with her. The inclusion of the cats in the story was largely superfluous, especially if we are to believe that Bea and her mother can barely afford to feed themselves. Bea’s loneliness would have been more profound and relatable without the inclusion of these farcical feline companions.

While this book may be a good fit for children of divorced parents or children experiencing grief, Bea felt quite unrelatable as a result of the magical realism that was absurd at times and distracting from the narrative. Bea receives a written message from her deceased grandmother, one word at a time, in the pocket of doll. Bea’s father does make a brief appearance before predictably leaving again, but not before Bea gives him an expensive family heirloom to help his fraudulent money-making scheme. Bea is naively trusting for a character we are made to believe is smart and discerning. The dialogue of the young characters also felt unrealistic.

Two stars.

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

The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice

July 17, 2024

The Wishkeeper's Apprentice by Rachel Chivers Khoo, Rachel Sanson
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536231207
Pages: 227
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Ten-year-old Felix Jones’s biggest problem at the moment is loneliness. His best (and only) friend has just moved away, and his big sister, who is seven years older, finds him annoying. Then he spots the strange little man fishing pennies out of the wishing fountain in the square. The man explains that he is the town Wishkeeper, and that he is collecting wishes. More importantly, he is invisible! He cannot explain why Felix can see him, but he does offer Felix a job as his apprentice.

In fact, Rupus Beewinkle is a Wishkeeper with a problem, and in desperate need of the help an apprentice could provide. His wishes are hitting snags at an unprecedented rate, and he can hardly keep up with the fixes. Some are going up in flames (literally!) He is afraid there is only one explanation: a Wishsnatcher, thought to be extinct, has moved into town. Wishsnatchers feed on hope, and if it catches Rupus, it will reverse all of Rupus’s granted wishes. That will spell the end of all that is good in the town of Whittlestone.

Things heat up for Felix when he accidentally discovers that Rupus broke a law of magic a decade ago and granted a wish that never should have been allowed. Seven-year-old Rebecca Jones had wished for a little brother, which means that Felix himself…is a wish. Suddenly, defeating the Wishsnatcher is more than just helping Rupus – it becomes a fight for Felix’s very survival!

A gently suspenseful transitional chapter book that will appeal to younger readers who enjoy magical tales and are ready for a longer text and more complex plot, without being overwhelmed. Grayscale pencil/digital illustrations enliven the text and round out the storyline.

4 Stars. A great addition to library shelves. Easy to offer to eager readers transitioning to middle grade books.

– Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

The Big Cheese

July 15, 2024July 15, 2024

Published by HarperCollins Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
four-stars

Classic Jory John, “The Big Cheese” is the newest in The Food Group series. Big Cheese is a big deal. No seriously, a BIG deal. Haven’t you heard of him? Big Cheese’s reputation precedes him: he’s the best at everything! The best speller, the best soccer player, the coolest guy in any room, and the center of every conversation. Oh yeah, and also the most humble! Until of course, Wedge Wedgeman moves to town. At first Wedge keeps to himself, but on the day of the annual Cheese-cathalon (a VERY big deal), Wedge smokes the Big Cheese in every single event in front of the whole town! After 6 years in a row of winning, the Big Cheese is shocked to his gooey center, going through every stage of grief until he realizes it felt kind of … good … to lose? To not have to live up to his own impossible standards. The weight falls off his shoulders as he comes to realize the world won’t end if he doesn’t win everything. The Big Cheese wraps up neatly as the title character befriends Wedge & has his very first conversation NOT all about him, thus leading our hero to gain humility, become a team player, and cheer on those around him. Great for ages 4-8 & a good storytime book to boot.

Reviewed by Paiten Price – Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth ME

A Best Friend for Bear

July 15, 2024

A Best Friend for Bear by Petr Horáček
Published by Walker Books on April 7, 2022
ISBN: 1406397547
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

First US edition 2024. Published in UK in 2022. This book is sublime in its simplicity. Black Bear decides to look for a friend. He meets Brown Bear who is also looking for a friend so the bears decide to search for a friend together. They search everywhere, but a friend is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile they help each other and play hide-and-seek much like friends would do, and leave the woods laughing and holding hands on the final page. The simple, colorful artwork featuring either the black bear or brown bear is joyful and the text is heart-warming. Highly recommended for preschool storytimes.