Category: Cream of the Crop Nominees

Cast Away: Poems For Our Time

Cast Away: Poems For Our TimeCast Away: Poems for Our Time by Naomi Shihab Nye
Published by Greenwillow Books on February 11, 2020
ISBN: 0062907697
Pages: 176
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Young People’s Poet Laureate, Naomi Shihab Nye has created a set of poems about the unwanted and discarded products of our world today. Each poem reflects on a discarded item, whether it is an old sock found lying around, apiece of trash and even a pine cone that was found on a daily walk. Everything has a story, even trash and discarded items, but they also send a warning about how and why, we as a society regard trash in general.

Recommended for grades 5 and up. Would be an ideal book for teaching poetry that doesn’t fit in the normal realms of writing.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars

Ready to Fly

Ready to FlyReady to Fly: How Sylvia Townsend Became the Bookmobile Ballerina by A. LaFaye, Jessica Gibson, Lea Lyon, Sylvia Townsend
Published by HarperCollins on January 28, 2020
ISBN: 0062888781
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

 

An enchanted family tale staring a little girl who wants to learn ballet.   This is a biography about Sylvia Robertson Townsend who grew up poor in goods and wealthy in family love and support.  Told in rich and distinctive text by first time author Lea Lyon is the story of Sylvia’s childhood desire to dance.  Her personal story is shared with authors Lyon and LaFaye who bring the character to life.   Gibson’s illustrations add sparkle to the storyline.  Period clothing and household technology do not date the book, they add to the richness of the content and help expose the racism of the period. Colors are lavishly used and movement is throughout.

It may have taken a small group to write, illustrate, and produce this book but the completed picture book is a quality product.   All young girls who dream of flying (be it performing arts, sports or academics) will be reassured that they are capable.  All it takes is interest, practice, supportive parents, and a local helpful librarian.   An added plus is the short history of the bookmobile, many children may be hearing about this institution for the first time.  Add to all primary school media centers and to every public library as this book is lovely and faces issues of our past and present.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

five-stars

A Girl Like Me

A Girl Like MeA Girl Like Me by Angela Johnson, Nina Crews
Published by Millbrook Press (Tm) on February 4, 2020
ISBN: 1541557778
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A lovely powerful poem complimented by vibrant active illustrations combine to make this book a winner.  Not only do we learn of the dreams of each character but we feel a sense of their spirit. Three girls have places to go and things to achieve; the first dreams of flying; the second of walking over tall buildings; and the third dreams of swimming deep in the ocean.   Johnson’s poem is simple yet powerful and Crews has provided a dramatic bird’s eye view of each dream using her stunning collages.   Readers will identify with the primary and secondary characters who are brave and strong girls on their way to future success.

Girls from the age of 4 to adult will cheer for the individuality shown in the photos and introductions of each character.  The interaction between the various girls is playful and dramatic especially against the stunning backdrops.  Purchase this book for primary school media centers and add to public library collections.  Consider this as a gift of an art teacher and for any future strong women that you may know in your family or social circle.

Cream of the Crop

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

five-stars

Invisible Differences

Invisible DifferencesInvisible Differences by Julie Dachez
on August 31, 2016
ISBN: 162010766X
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

This is a terrific graphic novel about a young French woman who learns in her twenties that the social difficulties she has experienced her entire life are a result of being on the autism spectrum; she is diagnosed specifically with Asperger’s Syndrome. We meet Marguerite and see how easily she is overwhelmed by her surroundings at work, parties, outside, etc. Her office rides her for not being social enough, despite the fact that she’s a solid employee. Her relatives and boyfriend are impatient and imply that the trouble she has with social situations is all in her head. She finally reads up on the symptoms of ASD and recognizes herself enough to seek help and diagnosis. The book gets even more interesting here as it becomes critical of France’s understanding of ASD. You root for Marguerite because getting this diagnosis is so crucial to her acceptance of herself and each dismissal by a doctor or friend feels like such a blow.

Beyond being a touching story with great character development, Invisible Differences includes a section in the back that describes Asperger’s in more detail and an extensive resources section. I would love to see this in all high school libraries.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

 

 

five-stars

Chowder Rules! The True Story of an Epic Food Fight

Chowder Rules! The True Story of an Epic Food FightChowder Rules!: The True Story of an Epic Food Fight by Anna Crowley Redding, Vita Lane
Published by Islandport Press on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 1944762825
Pages: 32
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
Which is better: Manhattan Clam Chowder or New England Clam Chowder? That question has been argued for decades. Mainer Cleveland Sleeper, Jr., thought there was only one way to enjoy the traditional comfort-style  milky broth. But when people from New York City tossed in tomatoes, Cleveland saw red, and called it vegetable soup. He sought to have a law passed, but failing that, he proposed a culinary duel. And the winner was….

Great imagery and prose: “…it was the entire stature of Maine in a single bite…”

Full color illustrations show many of Maine’s famous icons, and perspective is given by including a map of the United States, and having the Statue of Liberty hoisting a tomato atop her torch. These visuals assist younger readers in accessing the locals and history. 

One detail about the debate is how the state of Iowa had a huge tomato industry at the time so some residents were very much against such a law banning tomatoes. This book would be an interesting way to introduce how laws are made, advertising hype, and how to debate an issue. This would also be a fun book for Maine or culinary history for middle elementary students.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

Follow Your Breath! A First Book of Mindfulness

Follow Your Breath! A First Book of MindfulnessFollow Your Breath!: A First Book of Mindfulness by Scot Ritchie
Published by Kids Can Press on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 1525303368
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
How can we use our senses to help calm ourselves? Pedro is anxious about moving to a new house, so his mom guides him and his friends through various situations to learn about mindfulness. Told as a story, each page also has explicit instructions on how to use your senses, your breath, certain environments, even your pet, to slow yourself down and notice what’s around you.

Simple font can be easily read by middle elementary readers, but would be very useful in the hands of an adult to introduce mindfulness or extend and develop a regular habit of learning how to slow down oneself and take notice of what’s around you.  One page says, “…pay attention” in an encouraging way with specific actions to take which could be very helpful to students who hear that phrase in an not-so encouraging tone.

Readers could use the Table of Contents to select various topics, and it could be read as a story. Full color, cartoonish illustrations capture the intent of each page.

Very good purchase for children’s health collections, but adults: Beware! Adults may find some ideas YOU could use!

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars

Louis

LouisLouis by Julie Rowan-Zoch, Tom Lichtenheld
ISBN: 1328498069
Genres: Animals, Fantasy, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
We read lots of stories about teddy bears, but in “Louis” we hear from the bear himself. He thinks his life has been ‘downhill…from day one.”  He describes all the mistreatment and intends to leave…just as soon as…the party and show-and-tell are over, and the light is turned off in his boy’s bedroom. However, when he is scooped up and cuddled, he decides “a bear could do worse.”

Large, simple full-color illustrations show Louis’ disgruntled face amidst the day’s activities.

Use for humor, 1st person, and figurative language for lower-middle elementary, but most of all, read and enjoy it with a preschooler!

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars

Monsters 101

Monsters 101Monsters 101 by Cale Atkinson
ISBN: 0593122801
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
We often fear what we don’t know, so knowledge with a bit of humor thrown in can reassure most of us, especially when we find out the object of our fear is often more afraid of us than we of it!  Engaging ‘facts’ in 10 ‘chapters’ describe and explain monsters in the most kid-friendly way. The reader learns about their diet, activities, habitats, and even their fears!

Full of silly, colorful illustrations, graphs, side bars, charts, the opening endpaper shows a scientific-looking graph that actually identifies the chapters. The last page offers a “Monstronomy Diploma” for successfully finishing this ‘course’ and identifies the reader now as a ‘Monster Scientist.’ Format lends itself to either reading through or skipping around, but busy pages encourage taking time to scour the illustrations.

A fearful child could be encouraged to identify ‘their’ monster’s attributes throughout this book, and if not found, could make their own little book showing and describing their own monster. If monsters aren’t your thing, you might be interested in the author’s 2019 book “Unicorns 101.”

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars

Let’s Explore Honey

Let’s Explore HoneyLet's Explore Honey! by Jill Colella
ISBN: 1541582977
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Part of the “Food Field Trips” series by Lerner, this book first introduces honey, then takes the reader out to see an apiary in crisp, up-close photos. Clean, accessible text nicely describes each photo. Open-ended, thinking questions are posed throughout. Backmatter includes a recipe, activity, brief index and list of additional books and websites to read.

Recommended for any food collection, and as an introduction to the importance of bees in our environment. Pair with Gerald Kelley’s 2017 “Please Please the Bears.”

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars

A Long Road on a Short Day

A Long Road on a Short DayA Long Road on a Short Day by Elizabeth Stickney, Eugene Yelchin, Gary D. Schmidt
Published by Clarion Books on November 10, 2020
ISBN: 0544888367
Pages: 64
Genres: Adventure, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
After Mama’s expresses the need for a milk cow for their baby, Papa takes Samuel on a trading expedition. Starting with his hunting knife, they visitsone person after another, making trade after trade until he secures a milk cow. Papa treats Samuel as a partner, discussing various decisions they need to make along the way.

The phrase “Long road on a short day” is repeated by Papa and Samuel as they trod through the thickening snow and impending winter darkness.  At just 59 pages of widely-spaced lines, this is a great read aloud for elementary students to discuss and an independent read for transitional readers. Occasional full-color illustrations add to the mood and tone.

Trading up emphasizes the importance of starting small if you’re thinking big, and how different people assign different values to various objects. 

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars