Harmony and Echo

March 22, 2024

Harmony & Echo: The Mermaid Ballet by Brigette Barrager
ISBN: 1984830422
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Harmony and Echo: The Mermaid Ballet” is a picture book written and illustrated by Brigette Barrager. Harmony and Echo are mermaids and are also best friends. Their ballet recital is coming up and Echo is very nervous about it, while Harmony is calm. Harmony helps her friend practice and they come up with a hand squeeze to silently communicate between each other that it will be okay. The illustrations are colorful and bright. Aimed at children ages 4 through 7, this book is a worthwhile read for children who are having their own worries. Themes of friendship, anxiety, and kindness make this a suggested purchase for picture book collections, especially where mermaids are popular.

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

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn

March 22, 2024

The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla
on July 11, 2023
ISBN: 0063268795
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn” is a middle grade realistic fiction novel by Sally J. Pla. Maudie McGinn is a neurodivergent middle schooler who is hiding the fact that her stepfather, Ron, abuses her. She can’t wait to go spend the summer with her father. When wildfires threaten her father’s cabin, they spend the summer in his hometown, where Maudie makes friends and learns how to surf. She finds that she’s stronger than she thought and that there isn’t anything wrong with her.

Maudie is very well written and readers will feel the hopelessness and pain that she feels. Her strength in the end promises a better life for her, away from her mother and stepfather. Scenes of abuse in the book are hard to read, but her scenes with her kind and understanding father and friends are uplifting. The novel switches between prose and poems from Maudie. A recommended purchase for every library’s middle grade collection.

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

The Goblin Twins

March 21, 2024

The Goblin Twins by Frances Cha, Jaime Kim
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on 2023
ISBN: 9780593480212
Genres: Folklore
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Although they are goblin twins, Doki and Kebi are not much alike. Doki is a gentle bookworm while Kebi is a mischievous trickster. They are relatively young for dokkaebi, only 601, but they have spent their entire lives in one house in Korea. When they learn that the house is to be demolished, Kebi persuades Doki to go to New York City with him, claiming that the people there want to be scared. (He is a little confused about Halloween.) After a bit of a search, Kebi finally finds the perfect house for the brothers. Touchingly, it has a huge library for Doki. A neighboring ghost helps them prepare for Halloween and when the big night arrives… the Trick-or-treaters scare the goblin twins right up into the chandelier!

A delightful Author’s Note at the end of the tale explains that dokkaebi are traditional mythical creatures of Korea that have been around for thousands of years. This story is Frances Cha’s way of bringing the dokkaebi into the modern world and introducing them to a new audience. Jaime Kim’s bright, cartoonish, digital illustrations keep the story amusing and welcoming for young readers.

This book, recommended for 3-7 year olds, would be a fun read-aloud for Halloween or any other time of the year.

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, Gorham Campus Library, University of Southern Maine

Come and Join Us! 18 holidays Celebrated All Year Long

March 21, 2024

Come and Join Us! 18 holidays Celebrated All Year Long Come and Join Us!: 18 Holidays Celebrated All Year Long by Chaaya Prabhat, Liz Kleinrock
Published by Harper on Oct. 17, 2023
ISBN: 9780063144477
Genres: Cultural / African American, Holiday, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
The author explains in a note at the end of the book that she wants “to encourage people who celebrate what I call ‘dominant culture holidays’ to be inclusive and respectful of holidays beyond their own” and she accomplishes this goal admirably. The text for each holiday names a child of that culture then gives examples of ways they celebrate their respective holidays which occur throughout the year. Riotously colorful illustrations show examples of clothing, food, and activities for each holiday. Some of the celebrations include Holi (Hindu), Passover (Jewish), Juneteenth (African-American), and Obon (Japanese), as well as many others.

Throughout the book, the themes that join all these holidays are the gathering of communities and the joy of celebrating together, via parades, dances, feasts, and other events. The glossary at the end of the book defines terms that may be unfamiliar to readers. This book provides a colorful, joyful glimpse into other cultures and would serve as an excellent starting point for further conversation. (Ages 4-8)

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, Gorham Campus Library, University of Southern Maine

Basketball Town

March 21, 2024

Basketball Town by Darnell Johnson, Scott Rothman
Published by Candlewick Press on 2023
ISBN: 9781536219777
Genres: Sports
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Vibrant digital illustrations bring this basketball-lover’s dream to life, along with a considerable amount of basketball jargon. Fortunately for the uninitiated, like myself, there is an explanation of terms at the end of the story.

Maxwell loves basketball and his dreams take him to Basketball Town where he discovers some valuable lessons. His own skills aren’t that great, but he can practice at Skillsville to improve. Then, when it’s time to compete, he learns the value of teamwork to help win the competition. When he wakes, Maxwell goes to practice with his own team and it is revealed that his father, their coach, looks a lot like the mayor of Basketball Town.

I appreciated that this book is very inclusive. The players, in both dreams and real life, include diverse genders and races. I did find it very odd that there were screaming and cheerleading giraffes in his dream, but no other animals. To be fair, there is a stuffed giraffe on Maxwell’s bed, but it’s still a little weird to see giraffes standing on their hind legs, waving pom-poms around.

Recommended for young basketball enthusiasts, especially if they need a little confidence boost or a nudge towards teamwork. (Ages 4-8)

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, Gorham Campus Library, University of Southern Maine

Invisible Son

March 17, 2024

Invisible Son by Kim Johnson
on June 27, 2023
ISBN: 0593482115
Genres: Suspense
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Set in the year 2020, against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest, 17-year-old Andre Jackson returns to his grandparent’s house, after a two-month stint in juvenile detention for a crime he didn’t commit, with an ankle monitor and a question hanging over his head–where is his best friend Eric Whitaker? The Whitakers are a white family that lives next door, who adopted Eric and his sister Sierra (who also happens to be Andre’s longtime crush) as well as a Hispanic boy named Luis. While the Whitakers have been instrumental in helping Andre and his family through his incarceration, Andre can’t shake the feeling that there is more to their story that Eric simply “ran away.” This slow-burn thriller tackles gentrification, racism, privilege, the juvenile criminal justice system, and transracial adoption–dropping hard truths into readers’ laps and giving them plenty to chew on. Fans of Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, and Angie Thomas won’t want to miss this. Highly recommended for grades 9-12.

Nominated for Cream of the Crop.

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

Welcome to Consent

March 17, 2024

Welcome to Consent: How to Say No, When to Say Yes, and How to Be the Boss of Your Body by Dr. Melissa Kang, Jenny Latham, Yumi Stynes
Published by Walker Books US on March 28, 2023
Pages: 224
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars
This nonfiction book features short chapters and colorful graphics to inform teens about consent. Content includes why consent matters, how to talk about it, puberty, self-awareness, setting boundaries, and more. There is also a second section entitled ”For When You Are Ready” which delves into sexual relationships. This information is particularly valuable for high schoolers but the cartoon illustrations skew younger which may lead to that audience dismissing this particular title. Glossary and additional resources pages included. A worthy addition to growth and development collections for grades 7 and up.

Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

What It’s Like to Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers): From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing and Why

March 17, 2024

What It’s Like to Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers): From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing and Why What It's Like to Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers): From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing--What Birds Are Doing and Why by David Allen Sibley
Published by Delacorte Press on Oct. 3, 2023
ISBN: 9780593430187
Pages: 208
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
This gorgeous, fact-filled book opens with general information about wild birds, then goes into accounts of individual bird species. Most entries are two pages, but some specific topics receive more detailed illustrations and text (ex. the nesting cycle of Robins). This oversized edition includes one beautifully detailed, full-page illustration for each bird, with smaller illustrations included to depict other typical behaviors described in the text (ex. flight, variations in plumage, etc.). Text for each species lists common traits, but also includes information uniquely applicable to each bird. Based on Sibley’s adult version of the same title, this book contains entries for a wide range of North American birds, including woodpeckers, cardinals, eagles, turkeys, gulls, loons, and many more, all made easily accessible to younger readers.

While this book is suggested for readers 10-12 years of age, I think it holds appeal for bird-lovers of all ages. This book does for birds what National Geographic’s 2-volume Book of Mammals does for world mammals, providing hours of potential entertainment. What It’s Like to Be a Bird is an excellent resource for information on specific bird species, but is also a fascinating book for general browsing. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, Gorham Campus Library, University of Southern Maine

What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing and Why

March 17, 2024

What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing and Why What It's Like to Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers): From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing--What Birds Are Doing and Why by David Allen Sibley
Published by Delacorte Press on 10/3/23
ISBN: 0593430182
Pages: 171
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
The young reader’s edition of Sibley’s 2020 adult book What It’s Like to Be a Bird, this book is shorter and includes more facts about what birds do than how to identify birds. The book includes the most common or familiar in the continental US and Canada and can be read from cover to cover or browsed casually in any order. The book starts with an Introduction that includes generic bird information then jumps into the pages describing each bird. Sibley warns that the book is not complete; that it covers the topics that he has found most intriguing while researching birds over the years. Sibley’s illustrations are stunning and the detail for each bird is enaging and insightful. The one flaw in the book is that is does not include an index or a table of contents listing the included birds, but this seems intentional as Sibley does not intend for this to be a research book, but one to be flipped through and savored. Young bird enthusiasts, or those just foraying into the birding world will appreciate this beautiful book.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

That Flag

March 16, 2024

That Flag by Nikkolas Smith, Tameka Fryer Brown
Published by Harper on January 31, 2023
ISBN: 9780063093447
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Keira and Bianca, two best friends, live across the street from each other but are never allowed to visit each others’ homes due to the Confederate Flag flown by the white girl’s parents. The Black parents see the flag as a “symbol of violence and oppression” while the white parents claim it is a “celebration of courage and pride”. The girls maintain their friendship until their class takes a field trip to the Southern Legacy Museum where Keira finally starts to learn why her parents are so opposed to That Flag. Keira starts to avoid Bianca when the white girl completely fails to acknowledge the revelations of the museum. A tragic, racially motivated shooting in the community finally causes the white family to reconsider their beliefs enough to remove the Confederate Flag from their home.

The author admirably conveys the weight of the issues while avoiding a feeling of heavy-handedness. I particularly appreciate that instead of a “happily ever after” ending, there is a much more realistic attitude of cautious hope between the two girls. This book is highly recommended as a great conversation starter. Intended for ages 6-10.

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, Gorham Campus Library, University of Southern Maine