Alfred Blooms

January 3, 2026

Alfred Blooms by Carmen Mok, Carrie Kruck
Published by Random House Children's Books ISBN: 0593647602
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Alfred is a young boy who believes that growing a garden is something of value he can share with people, like Lulu, who lives at the other end of the street and has “so much to share”. Lulu’s whimsical garden is lavish with outsized blooms and outlandish colors and filled with children playing together. In comparison, no matter how hard Alfred tries to grow things in his yard, it remains brown, lifeless and barren. Alfred is despondent but determined to try one more time, picking up a package of wildflower seeds and hoping this will be the ticket.

Through a remarkable series of events, the seeds take root on Alfred, and purple wildflowers begin blooming all over him — in his hair, his nose, the pockets of his clothes. He feels embarrassed and conspicuous, especially as the birds and butterflies begin fluttering around the garden growing on him, but doesn’t let that stop him from his customary Friday meet up with Lulu.

The reader learns that Lulu considers Alfred a good friend who always shares blueberry muffins with her. Lulu is delighted to see Alfred in bloom, and transplants one of his wildflowers to her own garden. In sharing his wildflower with Lulu, Alfred becomes aware of all that he does have to share (with Lulu as well as with pollinators) and the friends enjoy their day together.

It’s a sweet story about learning to value what we have to share, and realizing that it doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s gift. The story may leave the reader with questions about why Alfred is so despondent when he has a good friend in Lulu, or why he doesn’t ask her for help with his garden but the illustrations, done in colored and graphite pencil and gouache include charming details, that may distract from the unanswered questions.

Recommended as an additional purchase for public and school libraries.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

Hello, Sun!

January 3, 2026

Published by Random House Children's Books Format: Early Reader, Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
three-stars

Norbit (a cheerful pink earthworm in a red bandana) and Sun are friends, enjoying their day together with other playmates (teddy bear, chick, ladybug, butterfly) in this title from Seuss Studios, an imprint, where “emerging authors and illustrators” create beginner books, using “never-before-seen” images by Theodor S. Geisel as inspiration.

Readers learn about different ways to enjoy time outside while practicing reading skills with the repetitive sentences (“I can . .. “, “We can . . . “) and (mostly) one-syllable words. The images are simple, lively and bright; the characters are smiling and rosy-cheeked as they sing. dance, swim and relish their time outside with enthusiasm.

Recommended for public and school library collections.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

The Faerie Isle: Tales and Traditions of Ireland’s Forgotten Folklore

January 2, 2026

The Faerie Isle: Tales and Traditions of Ireland’s Forgotten Folklore by Dermot Flynn, Síne Quinn
Published by Candlewick Press on February 4, 2025
ISBN: 1536240710
Genres: Fairy Tale, Non-Fiction
Format: Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The cover of The Faerie Isle: Tales and Traditions of Ireland’s Forgotten Folklore is a good indicator of its content, if the reader is paying attention. The mermaids and water horses look enchanting but also like they might have something unsavory in mind for people who mistake them for the Disney-fied fairy tales. These creatures may not wish you well.

In this collection of informational spreads and tales of sixteen Faeries from Irish folklore, Síne Quinn shares stories (the King of the Cats) and informational spreads about characters you thought you were familiar with, and leans in on the ominous and sinister. There were many Faeries I had never heard of (like the Sheerie – malicious faeries who may lead travelers to their death). The writing style is conversational and cautionary. The longer format (80 pp.) and tone of this book makes it just right for middle-grade readers who are looking to go deeper and darker into faerie stories.

The mostly muted and shadowy illustrations contribute to the book — mysterious, entrancing, moody. Occasionally the design of the book ( dark print on dark pages) makes it more difficult to read but those looking for a spooky fix will not be deterred.

It must be said that Faeries are not all bad. The author recommends that the best way to protect oneself from faerie mischief is to be “kind, generous, good to animals and those around you”. Recommended to lift the tenor of a typical Halloween display. Reading aloud from a selection within the book may pique interest in its subject. Recommended for libraries where there is an interest in Faeries.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

Murray and Bun!: Murray the Knight

January 2, 2026

Murray the Viking (Murray and Bun!) by Adam Stower
Published by Random House Children's Books Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General, Juvenile Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Humorous
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This is the second early chapter book in a series starring Murray (a cat who loves routine, creature comforts, and predictability). Each story starts with a preamble explaining that the “rubbish” wizard Fumblethumb creates disasters of a magical kind that make Murray’s life interesting, including turning a frosted bun into a bunny named Bun and enchanting Murray’s cat flap so that it leads to an adventure in another realm, instead of a relaxing stroll in the garden.

As Murray and Bun leave through the cat flap, there is a “Pa-Poof!” and they are transported to a medieval castle with some very curious characters, including the grumpy Princess Rubytoes and Sir Nasty — a dastardly knight, complete with villainous mustache. We learn that Princess Rubytoes is surly because she will be forced to marry Sir Nasty, even though she and the gardener, Muddy Michael, are in love, unless someone steps in. Because of a misunderstanding of the word “joust”, (Murray believes it involves trampolines, funny hats and raspberry tarts), Murray volunteers to help.

Many hilarious antics and unexpected events lead to Murray winning the joust, saving the day and being feted as a hero, as in the first book (Murray the Viking), but alas Murray will miss out on the feast (again).

Readers looking for series with fast-paced action and humor will snap this up — the cover is attractive, the humor is immediately apparent. (I have labeled it a “graphic novel”, but it is more of a heavily illustrated story, like The Bad Guys series.) Murray and Bun are goofy and adorable. The language is witty, cheeky, and dynamic. It would make a boisterous read-aloud.

Highly recommended for public and school libraries.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

Two-Headed Chicken: Chaos in the Cosmic Library

January 2, 2026

Two-Headed Chicken: Chaos in the Cosmic Library by Tom Angleberger
Series: Two-Headed Chicken #3
Published by Candlewick Press on 9/23/25
ISBN: 1536237051
Genres: Humor
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The fun and randomness of the time traveling two-headed chicken is back in the third graphic novel in this series. Their archnemesis, a shape-shifting moose, is still after them, eager to catch them so he can fry them! To escape, they travel to the cosmic library, where they jump in and out of (parodies of) beloved children’s books like Winnie the Pooh, Charlotte’s Web, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and more. The graphic novel is completely absurd, which will no doubt appeal to readers who gravitate to humorous books. The colors are bold and vibrant and help to create the fun energy and quick pace of this book. Readers do get small breaks along the way as they encounter mazes, quizzes, seek and finds, and drawing activities throughout this book. Given the large text and crazy content, this series is best suited for elementary school readers. Readers who enjoyed the first two graphic novels in this series will certainly devour this one as well.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

Murray and Bun!: Murray the Viking

January 2, 2026January 2, 2026

Murray the Viking (Murray and Bun!) by Adam Stower
Published by Random House Children's Books Genres: Humor, Juvenile Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Humorous
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This is the first book in a series starring Murray (a cat who loves routine, creature comforts, and predictability). Unfortunately, Murray lives in a house with an inept wizard by the name of Fumblethumb, prone to mistakes of a magical kind that make Murray’s life interesting. He turns Murray’s “last and best” frosted bun into a bunny named Bun and enchants Murray’s cat door, so that one never knows if there is a relaxing stroll through the garden on the other side or an unwanted (if you’re Murray) exploit in another realm.

In this outing, Murray and Bun, his adventure-loving sidekick, are transported to the land of Vikings. The Vikings need Murray to solve the problem of the trolls, who they believe have eaten their leader, Eggrik. The trolls turn out to be delightful, friendly, and willing to share food, but they also have a problem they hope Murray can solve — a scary, hairy, very stinky something is in the wood, causing them a lot of distress. Intrepid readers will jump ahead and guess that the stinky, hairy something is Eggrik, and they will be right.

Eggrick is very stinky and very lonely, but he has a bigger problem that only Murray, through his unique brand of skills, can fix. Fix it he does and returns Eggrik to the Vikings. There is a celebration! There is a feast about to start! There is Murray, whisked magically back to his own cat flap place and time, and disgruntled about missing the feast.

Readers will learn that amazing adventures await when you are willing to step outside your comfort zones. Lots of jokes, visual and otherwise; cartoonish line drawings on every page. (I have labeled it a “graphic novel”, but it is more of a heavily illustrated story, like The Bad Guys series.) Murray and Bun are goofy and adorable. This is for students who like theirs stories with lots of fast-paced action, adventure and humor. The language is witty, cheeky, and dynamic.

Children of all ages will laugh at Murray’s obsessions with food, and his solutions to hairy problems. Readers will enjoy “Bun’s Bonus Bits” in the back matter, including “How to Draw Murray” and a “Family Album”. This would be a great gateway series to get students hooked on other magical adventure series with lots of humor, and would make for a rollicking read-aloud.

Highly recommended for public and school libraries.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

Squash, the Cat: Stuck in the Middle

January 1, 2026January 1, 2026

Squash, the Cat: Stuck in the Middle by Sasha Mayer
Published by Random House Children's Books on February 4, 2025
ISBN: 0593566564
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Squash is a very orange, very round cat living the good life with his best friend, Maggie — a wildly imaginative, energetic girl with curly red hair, fair skin and freckles. Squash’s days involve a lot of napping and sitting happily on the sidelines while Maggie partakes in a wide variety of adventures. The best part of the day for Squash, is bedtime when he and Maggie fall asleep in “a cozy Squash-Maggosh circle”.

Mayer depict the coziness of Squash’s existence and the excitement of Maggie’s with dynamic, colorful illustrations that convey what’s happening in the text. As in any story of contentment, an antagonist must enter the picture, to keep things interesting. In this case, Pirate Lou, a swashbuckling “pillow pirate” stuffie, is a willing participant in all of Maggie’s most active adventures.

Squash is still on the periphery but it feels much less comfortable with Pirate Lou horning in. And now bedtime is ruined. While Maggie is willing for all three friends to share the bed, Squash with his generous contours, falls gracelessly to the floor and decides to “lose” Lou while Maggie sleeps. Unfortunately, Maggie discovers Squash in the middle of his nefarious act and banishes him from the bed.

Squash, determined to regain his spot in the bed, attempts, for a second time, to remove Pirate Lou from the scene. As he tries to get the plump pillow pirate out to the trash truck in the morning, they gets stuck half-in, half-out of the cat door. Readers will find Squash’s expressions as he tries to maneuver his way out of the predicament comical.

Poor Squash is clearly worn out by all his failed machinations and capitulates to a nap, realizing that Pirate Lou is truly a comfy nap buddy. In the happiest of endings, the three individuals now become inseparable. Squash is still cheers on from the sidelines while Maggie and Pirate Lou play, but now his naps include Pirate Lou.

Stuck in the Middle is not an inventive story but it is enjoyable. Recommended for public and school library collections.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

A Summer Without Anna

January 1, 2026

A Summer without Anna by Kate Jenks Landry, Risa Hugo
ISBN: 1525310259
Genres: Family
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Junie is spending the summer without her older sister, Anna. Junie will be with the grandparents in the country, while Anna and their parents remain in the city, promising to return when Anna is “well enough”. The nature of Anna’s illness isn’t mentioned, but we get the sense that it is something chronic and serious.

As her parents and Anna leave, Anna hands Junie a box containing her beloved, and previously off-limits camera, along with a note, “In case you find Edmund.” The camera is a source of connection, comfort, and distraction for Junie. The estrangement from her family and the worry about Anna are always present, but the camera It acts as her companion, forcing her to focus on the natural world around her, as she looks for Edmund.

Junie is a pale young girl, often in green overalls, as she explores the meadow and the lake around her grandparents’ place. The illustrations done in gouache, colored pencils and soft pastels, are reflective of the feelings of anxiety and worry that Junie carries throughout the summer.

There are many small moments within the story, as Junie and her grandparents try to keep busy with pleasant tasks (minnowing, baking, swimming) but Anna’s absence, and the seriousness of her illness are keenly felt. Landry doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects or emotions.

This is a story of a summer without the companionship of a sibling, without knowing all is well. And yet, there is hope. Junie finds ways to quiet the worry she feels in routine and enjoyable activities; she locates Edmund ( a giant snapping turtle), even as she is acutely aware that Anna isn’t there to see it.

And eventually, Anna gets well and Junie is reunited with her sister. Recommended for picture book collections lacking titles discussing siblings’ feelings around chronic illness.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

New

December 31, 2025

ISBN: 9780063318250
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
five-stars

Told from the point of view of a young Filipina girl transitioning from a life in a small village to life in the US, in this picture book about the highs and lows on her first day of school in a new country. “New” is imbued with many different emotions: the hopefulness of possibility (sharpened pencils, blank notebooks, the idea of new friends); the discomfort of feeling out of place (misunderstanding of school rules, loneliness in the middle of a crowd); and the exuberance of adventure (a new friend who speaks a new language).

Her experiences on the first day of school are told through spare, lyrical text and expressive illustrations that grab you with their emotional honesty — from excitement to embarrassment to loneliness to joy. She becomes uncomfortably aware that her eyes, accent, and lunch are different, through her own awareness and comments from thoughtless school mates but is brave enough to venture forth and reach out to someone else who is feeling new.

The front end pages show a map of her old (familiar) village where all the important things (school, bakery, and many cousins) are small and close by; while the back end pages maps out her new world, a city with everything at a much larger scale, and new possibilities (a library, a friend in a nearby apartment building).

During a read-aloud at the beginning of the school year, this story will create an awareness within the reader that “new” can mean different things and feel different ways, that “new” can be scary, exciting or both. Highly recommended for school and public library collections.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS
K-2 Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

Girls of Dark Divine

December 31, 2025

Girls of Dark Divine by E.V. Woods
on August 5, 2025
ISBN: 0593812123
Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural
Format: Young Adult
Goodreads
two-stars

E.V. Wood’s debut novel, Girls of Dark Divine, will entice readers with its unique premise and descriptive writing style, but the story’s weak character development and lack of world building might let them down. Though it is written in the 3rd person, Wood only gives you the perspective of Emberlyn, the star ballerina in a legendary troupe that is being magically controlled by an evil puppet master, Malcom, who calls the troupe his “Marionettes”. Malcom controls what they eat, what they can talk about, where they go, and he beats them viciously. The curse that controls the Marionettes also took all of their pre-Marionette memories, and is slowly killing them from the inside out. The stakes are high, but everyone except Emberlyn has submitted to their doomed situation. Her only hope for breaking the curse and saving more girls from harm is to kill Malcolm, which Emberlyn decides she must do alone.

The limited perspective really hinders the story. Because Emberlyn has no memories, can’t go outside, and isolates herself from the other dancers she considers sisters, the reader only hears her thoughts for almost 400 pages. A big disappointment is the lack of character development for the other dancers who are little more than their names. Many of the girls don’t even have one line of dialog in the book, let alone a personality. A love interest who turns to dust in the light and sneaks around the theater, also cursed by Malcolm, is introduced halfway through the story, but their insta-love hidden romance barely affects the plot. Wood’s writing style could really make or break the reader’s enjoyment of Girls of Dark Divine. On the one hand, Wood’s flowery writing style paired with the slightly gothic, romantic vibes of the story will be enough to please some readers. On the other hand, the near constant repetition of previously established facts, the brutal descriptions of physical violence, and the incredibly slow build of the plot will have many readers putting it down only a few chapters in.

Skip Girls of Dark Divine unless you have readers who only want to read about beautiful, sad ballerinas.

Reviewed by Ivy Burns, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth