Category: Book Reviews

Ways to Play

Ways to PlayWays to Play by Lyn Miller-Lachmann, Gabriel Alborozo
Published by Levine Querido on August 8, 2023
ISBN: 1646142594
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Riley likes to play in ways that his bossy older cousin Emma says are all wrong. Emma and her little sister, Violet, make a lot of noise when they play. Riley, however, can sit for hours doing one particular thing, like tearing paper or sharpening crayons or lining his stuffies up by size. Riley finally takes the girls out into the yard to play ball with Charlie the dog. Charlie doesn’t play ball right so they have a grand time chasing after him around the yard illustrating Riley’s point that there are lots of ways to play. Although it’s never explicitly mentioned that Riley has a diagnosis, it seems likely the child is autistic, like both the author and illustrator; many neurodivergent children will feel affirmed. There are cartoon-like illustrations of fair-skinned children with big heads and no adults present. Reminiscent of the Peanuts comic strips.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

I Am a Dragon!: A Squabble & a Quibble

I Am a Dragon!: A Squabble & a QuibbleI Am a Dragon!: A Squabble & a Quibble by Sabina Hahn
Published by HarperCollins on July 18, 2023
ISBN: 0063253992
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

A squad of frogs spot a Very Big Frog in their pond, but then the creature says that he is a dragon. The frogs insist that he’s the one who is wrong and this results in a fiery loss of temper from the dragon. This is a hilarious readaloud and  the  simple, cartoon illustrations are perfection. However, the heart of the story is about being believed and the courage to stand up and say it.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Snail and Worm, of Course: Three Stories About Two Friends

Snail and Worm, of Course: Three Stories About Two FriendsSnail and Worm, of Course (Snail & Worm, #4) by Tina Kugler
Series: Snail & Worm #4
Published by Clarion Books on July 4, 2023
ISBN: 0358521203
Pages: 32
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The 4th book about these two invertebrate friends and has three stories: snail is dismayed by the cloud and the flower that floats away, snail gifts a tree to worm, and being too small to stay safe. Clever, humorous tales with limited text. The cheerful illustrations enhance the humor.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Wacky Weather: All About Odd Weather Events

Wacky Weather: All About Odd Weather EventsWacky Weather: All About Odd Weather Events (The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library) by Alan Batson, Aristides Ruiz, Todd Tarpley
Series: The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library
ISBN: 0593433831
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Part of  The Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library. With a little help from Thing One and Thing Two, the Cat in the Hat introduces beginning readers to 17 strange but true weather events. A lot of information about Northern lights,  waterspouts, dust devils, ball lightning, snow donuts, fire whirls, red sprites, sundogs, ice tsunamis, clouds shaped like UFOs and cinnamon rolls, diamond rain, and metallic snow is packed into this rhyming text. A fun introduction that likely will cause young learners to further research these topics.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Spread Your Wings

Spread Your WingsSpread Your Wings (Emma Dodd's Love You Books) by Emma Dodd
Series: Emma Dodd's Love You Books #5
ISBN: 1536232556
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Part of Emma Dodd’s Love You Books. A small cockatoo and large cockatoo celebrate their unconditional love for each other in this sweet story full of gentle rhymes. Simple text makes it easy for young children to understand. Affirming and the colorful illustrations are enhanced with shiny gold embellishments.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Gigi and Ojiji: Food for Thought

Gigi and Ojiji: Food for ThoughtGigi And Ojiji: Food for Thought by Melissa Iwai
Series: I Can Read #16
on September 5, 2023
ISBN: 0063208113
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Book 2 about “Gigi and Ojiji.” As in Gigi and Ojiji: What’s in a Name? , multigenerational relationships, Japanese culture, and social and emotional learning are highlighted in this sweet biracial story. It’s breakfast time and Gigi makes her favorite meal — Peanut Butter Toast. But Ojiji doesn’t like peanut butter. He prefers Japanese foods — like natto, made from fermented soybeans. Plenty of topics for discussion. Colorful digital artwork. A glossary in back of book for meaning of Japanese words but does not include pronunciation.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

four-stars

Bear and Bird: The Stars and Other Stories

Bear and Bird: The Stars and Other StoriesBear and Bird: The Stars and Other Stories by Jarvis
Series: Bear and Bird #2
ISBN: 153623138X
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Book 2 in series “Bear and Bird.” A delightful new easy-to-read series in the vein of Henry and Mudge. Includes 4 tales: a misunderstanding that has something to do with a spoon, the cake that Bear ate then tries to recreate, Bird mistakes a turtle for a rock, and stargazing and wishing.  Muted backgrounds enhance the dark outline of the main characters. Cozy stories about two friends. This would also makes a  delightful readaloud for children who are ready for a beginning chapter book. Can be read as a single story or all at once. Interactive, at times, such as “Would you have tried a slice of Bear’s cake?”

(Will not be submitting since it is second in series.)

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

The Terribles: Clash of the Gnomes!

The Terribles: Clash of the Gnomes!The Terribles #3: Clash of the Gnomes! by Travis Nichols
ISBN: 0593425790
Genres: Fantasy, Humor
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Clash of the Gnomes” is the third book in Travis Nichols’ “The Terribles” middle grade mixed prose/graphic novel series. On an island where monsters/aliens/cryptids can live in peace without humans trying to destroy them, Nichols follows the daily life of the children of the monsters. In this installment, each chapter follows a different story. The monster children are challenged to a game of creepoball by gnomes from a nearby island, the invisible boy and his friends form an “EXTREME” club, the band “Vlad and the Maggots” put on a show, and more!

The monsters show friendship, acceptance, and humor throughout the story. The book is a mixture of graphic novel style illustrations and prose, similar to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Readers will enjoy the silly antics and the funny ways that the monsters go about their lives. Aimed at ages 8 to 12, this series is a good addition to collections where middle grade graphic novel/prose hybrid books are popular.

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

three-stars

Frankie and Friends: Breaking News

Frankie and Friends: Breaking NewsFrankie and Friends: Breaking News by Alea Marley, Christine Platt
Series: Frankie and Friends #1
Published by Walker Books on October 10, 2023
ISBN: 1536222097
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars

Frankie’s mother is a famous journalist who has to travel for work to cover important events.  While she is gone, Frankie, a budding journalist, decides to work on a broadcast of her own.  With the help of her dolls and toys, Frankie goes undercover and then does a human interest story with her older sister to share what she learned.  This early chapter book would be good for kids who are interested in learning about journalism.  New terms are explained within the text and there is a glossary in narrative form at the end of the book with explicit definitions.  The size of this book, larger font, and thicker glossy pages lends itself more as an early reader, but the vocabulary, content matter, and the amount of text makes the audience of this book a little older.  The colorful, expressive illustrations break up the text and add visual interest for readers.  The dialogue at times doesn’t seem realistic and the book seems very didactic, but the camaraderie between the sisters and the broadcast they make together brings the story to a satisfying conclusion.  

 

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

two-stars

Champion of Fate

Champion of FateChampion of Fate (Heromaker, #1) by Kendare Blake
on September 19, 2023
ISBN: 0062977202
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Champion of Fate” is the first book in Kendare Blake’s Heromaker young adult fantasy series. It follows Reed, an orphan who is selected to try out for the Order of Aristene, a group of immortal and very powerful female warriors, similar to Amazons. She must guide a hero as part of her first trial, but if she fails, she must leave the group. There is obvious chemistry between Reed and the hero she must guide to glory, Hestion, but Aristene are forbidden from making bonds with regular humans. The idea of fate and whether it’s worth attempting to change it if it goes against your beliefs is a clear message in the book. Written for older teens and young adults, this is a recommended purchase for YA fantasy collections.

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

three-stars