Category: Cream of the Crop Nominees

Granny and Bean

Granny and BeanGranny and Bean by Karen Hesse, Charlotte Voake
Published by Candlewick Press on September 27, 2022
ISBN: 1536214043
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A beautifully illustrated picture book that follows the simple yet lyrical text expected from author Hesse. Regardless of the gray sky, Granny and Bean enjoy a near perfect walk on the beach and readers are drawn in to their magical beach walk. The text is bold and easily read. Illustrator Voake’s choice of bright primary colors bring the characters to the forefront in each illustration, and even within all the gray, there is constant movement on each page. Newly arriving beach walkers are interesting with their colorful umbrellas and dogs but it is the birds who steal the show. Add this to primary school media centers and to public libraries, particularly those within driving distance of a loved beach though land-locked communities would benefit from placing this book on their shelves.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired children’s librarian

five-stars

A Bear Far From Home

A Bear Far From HomeA Bear Far from Home by Susan Fletcher, Rebecca Green
Published by Anne Schwartz Books on September 27, 2022
ISBN: 0593181891
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A beautiful nonfiction picture book that will amaze and educate readers from pre-K to grade three. Rachel Green’s attractive cover immediately reminds readers of Jan Brett’s illustrations. Based on a true story from around 1251 when the King Henry III of England was gifted a polar bear from the king of Norway. The bear is out of its element, but King Henry orders that the bear be allowed to swim and fish in the Thames. Fletcher invites readers to imagine what it would have been like to  be so far from home.  Green uses colors to distinguish time periods and emotional changes in the bear’s life. The author and illustrator notes are an excellent addition to a nicely crafted and packaged children’s nonfiction picture book.

The title would be useful in a presentation on a study of fiction vs. nonfiction picture books and art teachers in all grade levels could appreciate the incredible illustrations. Public librarians can put this in the hands of young readers who enjoy stories about wild animals.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired children’s librarian

five-stars

Poopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out Your Bottom

Poopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out Your BottomPoopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out Your Bottom by Edward Kay
Published by Kids Can Press on September 6, 2022
ISBN: 1525304135
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A hilarious, too-interesting-to-be-cringy (but still pretty gross!) book about poop. Kay covers a new poop topic on every page: science, history, medicine, food, animals, outer space – and beyond. Sidebars also include quirky related notes. Writing is engaging and brief; some bigger words are used but partly because each topic is short, and partly by use of context, the text is accessible. Cartoon illustrations compliment the text on every page.

This is definitely an audience-specific book, but it will be a popular one. Highly recommend.

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

five-stars

Bill & Rose: Forever Friends

Bill & Rose: Forever FriendsBilly and Rose: Forever Friends by Amy Hest, Kady MacDonald Denton
Series: Billy & Rose, #1, #1
Published by Candlewick Press on October 11, 2022
ISBN: 1536214191
Pages: 48
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Early Reader
Goodreads
five-stars

Four sweet stories about friendship that express compromise and communication. Billy, a sheep, and Rose, a pig, are best friends who enjoy sharing time and minor adventures. Much like Frog and Toad, these new characters learn to work together despite having different approaches to a situation. Hest’s newest animal pair are authentic and timeless, their friendship is playful and sincere. MacDonald Denton’s illustrations are expressive; the soft coloration and vast white space allow the characters to have center stage. Readers will look forward to other stories about these friends.

Librarians might shelve this book as an early reader or a seasonal concept book. The illustrator’s choice of clothing and environmental markers places the four stories in distinctive seasons. Recommend for grades K-1 classroom collections and on the shelves of public libraries.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired children’s librarian

five-stars

I Rise

I RiseI Rise by Marie Arnold
Published by Versify on August 2, 2022
ISBN: 0358449049
Pages: 320
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Ever since she was born, it’s been Ayo and her mother. Rosalie Bosia is the founder of “See Us” – an activist, a social justice warrior in Harlem, and a force to be reckoned with. Ayo’s whole life has been spent working side by side for the cause with her mom. She believes in what they are doing, and while she revels in the beauty of the songs, poetry, and art of her culture and heritage, she also recognizes the systemic racism that is part of her daily life. But now Ayo is in high school, and just wants to be a “normal” teenager. After a confrontation with her mom in which she is released from her “See Us” responsibilities, she starts to enjoy her newfound freedom. Tragically though, her mom is shot during a protest, and Ayo must decide whether her future includes taking over her mother’s life work.

This novel is a stunning look at systemic racism, police brutality, and a close up look at what it is to grow up Black in America, set against the backdrop that is the beauty of Harlem. Ayo’s voice is powerful, and the references to Black art, music, and poetry make the story that much richer. A must have for every library’s YA section. Recommended for grades 8 and up.

Reviewed by Lee Remick, York Middle School

five-stars

Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky

Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the SkyBlue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, Daniel Minter
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on February 15, 2022
ISBN: 1984894366
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond has teamed with Maine illustrator Daniel Minter to produce a picture book tracing the history of the color blue. Not only is the history fascinating, but the illustrations are breathtaking. Blue is not only the most expensive color to make but it has become more than a color. It is a feeling, a music genre, a symbol of royalty, and when we say “out of the blue” it denotes something rare. The history of blue goes back thousands of years, from the ancient Egyptians who wore the lapis lazuli blue stone as jewelry and later as makeup around their eyes. Years later, artists used the crushed rocks as paints. Always available to only the rich, throughout history people sought an inexpensive way to produce this color. Author and illustrator work together to make the text easily understood and the illustrations of acrylic wash on heavy watercolor paper make what could be a rather dry story come to life. This is STEAM at its best! Use this in art and music classes, geology units, and as a general history lesson. It is a book to be looked at for general pleasure. It may not fit easily into a single category but it should be in every library.

Reviewed by Kathy George, retired children’s librarian

five-stars

The Ogress and the Orphans

The Ogress and the OrphansThe Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
Published by Algonquin Young Readers on March 8, 2022
ISBN: 1643750747
Pages: 392
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This story has all the elements of a fantasy: ogres, dragons, orphan children, the ability to speak to animals and birds, and danger. It a great fantasy story, but look closer, read deeper, and one will see it has all the elements of society today: bigotry, needless hatred, greed, and the distrust of one’s neighbor. The setting is a small village with good-hearted people, a village anyone would love to live in until the library mysteriously burns down. Within what seems like minutes, a new mayor appears and though outwardly kind and caring, he plants the seeds of distrust and soon neighbor turns against neighbor.

Within this story is the story of a kindly ogress, the lone survivor of her village’s destruction. She quietly moves into the outskirts of the village. She is not seen or known until one of the orphan children goes missing and is found by the ogress. Her reward? She is accused of kidnapping the child and is threatened with being run out of town. What becomes of the town, its townspeople, and the mayor is up to the bravery of the orphans and the ogress. The book is a page-turner as a fantasy and, for older readers, a story ripe with discussion as to its inner meanings. Themes of good over evil, love and trust of neighbor, care of the needy, and seeing through facades make this a must read. It should be in every library and in every reader’s hand!

Reviewed by Kathy George, retired children’s librarian

five-stars

Those Kids from Fawn Creek

Those Kids from Fawn CreekThose Kids from Fawn Creek by Erin Entrada Kelly
Published by Greenwillow Books on March 8, 2022
ISBN: 0062970356
Pages: 336
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Fawn Creek, Louisiana, where every day is just like the day before, day after day, week after week and year after year. It is the same at the Fawn Creek School where each class has been together since kindergarten and each class has its cliques, geeks, jocks, “god squad”, royalty (their parents are prominent in the community), and outsiders. Erin Entrada Kelly sets her story in the seventh grade class and uses its two outsiders Greyson and Dorothy as the narrators of what life is like in a small, rural town. That is until the day Orchid joins the class!

Orchid is NOTHING like anyone in Fawn Creek in her looks, her style, and her outlook on the world. She is a breath of fresh air to some and a threat to others. With her willingness to accept her fellow students for who and what they are, she slowly shows them possibilities they had never thought of and they respond to her. But there are secrets in this class, including the one Orchid has, and her presence brings these secrets to the surface forcing all of the kids to face them and decide who they are – their true selves. Though the stereotypes may seem trite they are still found in schools today and Orchid’s story may act as a mirror for the reader. Themes of authenticity, friendship, and belonging will challenge the reader to think about staying true to who they are.

Reviewed by Kathy George, retired children’s librarian

five-stars

Snowy Owl Scientist

Snowy Owl ScientistThe Snowy Owl Scientist by Mark Wilson
Published by Clarion Books on April 19, 2022
ISBN: 0358329590
Pages: 96
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Come June of each year on the North Slope of Alaska in its northernmost town, the hunt is on for nesting snowy owls. These owls have been coming to this region to nest for thousands of years. It has been a passion for researcher Denver Holt who, since 1992, has been gathering data on one of the few owl species that actually make a nest. This is one of the latest in the “Scientist in the Field” series and it does not disappoint. The reader follows Holt as he treks this arctic region – the only region in the world where snowy owls raise their families. It is the only region that has the right temperature, food source, and isolation for the owls.  Understandable, non-scientific language paired with incredible photographs offered by Mark Wilson allows the reader to come away with a fascination and understanding of these birds and their importance to the ecosystem. With the Arctic warming, the permafrost thawing, and the encroachment of man leading to a decrease in lemmings (owls main food source), the fate of these incredible birds, like many other species, depends on how we care for them. Recommend for grades 3-7.

Reviewed by Kathy George, retired children’s librarian

five-stars

Finding Fire

Finding FireFinding Fire by Logan S. Kline
Published by Candlewick Press on September 6, 2022
ISBN: 1536213020
Pages: 40
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A breathtaking wordless book filled with oil paintings that details the  discovery of fire during the ancient stone age era. A cave family loses fire after their bonfire one night. Everyone is saddened over the loss and does not know how to get the fire back. A brave young boy volunteers to leave his secure family to discover fire. Readers will follow the young boy on his journey and will be captivated by the landscapes he sees. They will also fall in love with the companion he befriends on the way, and readers will hold their breath at all the crazy obstacles he needs to go through to discover fire. Young readers ages 5 through 8 or fans of the DreamWorks Animation movie, The Croods, will gravitate towards this amazing picture book.

Reviewed by Brandon Dyer, Auburn Public Library

five-stars