Category: Cream of the Crop Nominees

One Little Bag

One Little BagOne Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole
Published by Scholastic Press on April 7, 2020
ISBN: 1338359975
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This is a gorgeously illustrated wordless picture book. It follows the life of one paper bag as it is reused and repurposed throughout one person’s entire life. It begins with a tree and ends in a surprising full circle way. Henry Cole’s illustrations are detailed, and full of character. The book is almost entirely black and white, except for the paper bag. Even though the focus is the bag, there are so many other things wrapped up in this story — family, love, environment, compassion, and more. Highly recommended for readers 3 and up and recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

How We Got to the Moon

How We Got to the MoonHow We Got to the Moon: The People, Technology, and Daring Feats of Science Behind Humanity's Greatest Adventure by John Rocco
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 0525647414
Pages: 264
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This book is phenomenal. The book takes the reader from the very idea of landing on the moon all the way to lunar landing and the journey home. The level of research that went into writing this book is evident in the vastness of what’s covered as well as the detail with which it’s presented. Add to the astounding amount of information the gorgeous and detailed illustrations, and this book really has it all. It is definitely for a more advanced reader and someone who is really interested in space. However, even if the reader doesn’t read every word, the illustrations alone are enough to keep interest and increase knowledge. The back pages have more information about the timeline and the lunar mission. It’s worth noting that People of Color and women were given appropriate credit throughout and their efforts, contributions, and necessity were definitely not overlooked. Recommended for readers 10 and up and recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

When You Look Up

When You Look UpWhen You Look Up by Chloe Garcia Roberts, Decur
ISBN: 1592702937
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
five-stars

I just read this and I can’t even wait to read it to my kids. What a strange and wonderful book. This graphic novel uses drawings and cut paper illustrations to tell the story of Lorenzo, a young boy attached to his phone who is (begrudgingly) adapting to a new house after moving with his mother. He finds a notebook in an old writing desk and becomes more and more intrigued with the stories in it and their author. The stories are vague but disquieting and Lorenzo sets out to discover more about what had happened to the notebook’s owner. The illustrations are striking and surreal and even border on frightening at times and the book continually surprises the reader. Aside from the notebook story line, When You Look Up gently suggests that staring at a screen all day can cause missed connections and experiences but does it in such a unique way maybe it will be taken to heart. I would recommend this for any age as there is so much happening descriptively and visually it will have something to offer every reader.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

I’ll Be the One

I'll Be the One by Lyla Lee
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on June 16, 2020
ISBN: 0062936921
Pages: 328
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Recommending for Young Adult cream consideration.   In a fresh, first person voice of an aspiring K-pop singer and dancer, Korean- American Skye Haneul rocks the auditions for the latest K-pop competition in Los Angeles.  From an early age in ballet class up to these auditions, she has had a grueling, abusive, daily reminder from her mother that “fat girls can’t dance” and other body shaming behaviors.  Skye’s passion and talent for K-pop fuels her confidence and enables her to shake off the various microaggressions and speak up when they come from the judges of the competition.   Along the way, Skye snags the eye of the fetching young Korean celebrity Henry Cho and their new relationship goes viral.  They are both bisexual, some secondary characters are queer, and the majority of characters are Korean or Korean-American.  A fun romance that will have readers searching to see if there is a real K-pop competition to watch.   The copy reviewed was a library copy.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

five-stars

You’re Invited to a Moth Ball

You’re Invited to a Moth BallYou're Invited to a Moth Ball: A Nighttime Insect Celebration by Ellen Harasimowicz, Loree Griffin Burns
ISBN: 1580896863
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
In typical Griffin-Burns style, this citizen science book invites the reader to become a moth scientist! The photos are up close and personal, with everything moth! Local moth scientists are given all the tools and equipment needed to set up their own moth laboratory, both inside and out. The project includes creating an outdoor light station to lure local moths to be studied. Step by step our young scientists are led through the process to entice moths to come .Make moth snacks ( rotten bananas, mixed with brown sugar) to brush on backyard trees, hang a sheet between two trees with an ultraviolet collecting light set behind it and a few other instruments and then just wait till dark. The text is written simply and accurately for young scientists and coupled with incredible photos this is an excellent STEM book to be used in summer. There is an author’s note and photographer’s note in the back with a glossary and added resources to make this book the complete STEM offering.

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

Grades 2 and up

consider for Crm

five-stars

Wave of Stars

Wave of StarsA Wave of Stars by Dolores Brown, Sonja Wimmer
ISBN: 8417673415
Goodreads
A moonbow is a rarely occurring natural phenomenon. It may appear after a sudden storm in the night Its beauty is otherworldly.

The legend says that if a sea animal gazes upon a moonbow, they will transform into a human and the only way to return to their natural state is to dive under a wave of stars. In  this story, 2 sea creatures, a seal and sea turtle, playing in the reef and unaware of the lateness of the hour gaze upon a moonbow and change into a little boy and a little girl. No longer creatures of the sea, they must reach shore, find safety and try to find a way back to their true selves and their home in the sea. They are befriended by a fisherman who knows the legend and offers to help them in their quest.

This story reads  and feels like the fairy tales of old. The illustrations are detailed and  breathtaking. The blues, greens with shocks of color take the reader into the story.

Curriculums looking at fairy tales could add this to the list. It can also be used in studies about the ocean  and the the rarity of a moonbow.

submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

consider for crm

Moon Keeper

Moon KeeperThe Moon Keeper by Zosienka
Published by HarperCollins on March 10, 2020
ISBN: 0062959522
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars
Emile, the bear, is a member of the night creatures, and they have honored him with the job of moon keeper. this job requires Emile to look after the moon each night. Most nights there isn’t much to do but talk to the moon and come to recognize how beautiful the moon is. One evening Emile sees that the moon is getting smaller – he has failed his job! with the help of a small green bird – Emile learns the secrets of the moon.  The sparse text that accompanies large full page illustrations done in gouache and colored pencils that lend to this quiet, gentle story about nature and friendship. this is a true picture book. Pair it with the many books of fiction and non fiction on the moon.

submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library

consider for cream

 

five-stars

Chance

ChanceChance: Escape from the Holocaust by Uri Shulevitz
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 0374313717
Pages: 336
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A middle school level memoir, Chance might be a perfect book for helping kids learn about the Holocaust. Shulevitz was a small child living in Poland when his parents decided to flee. What follows is, at times harrowing and at times touching, a memoir of his family’s ability to avoid being captured by Nazis. Shulevitz writes so easily, so conversationally, that it seems he’s sitting there with you, telling you his story. He never shies away from the horrors of his ordeal but he also relays some fond memories of the time, especially of his mother, who seemed to be  a wonderful person. Drawing is a major theme and his current illustrations are mixed with illustrations he did as a child. This is an exceptional book, both for its readability and its potential to educate.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

The Mermaid, The Witch and The Sea

The Mermaid, The Witch and The SeaThe Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
on May 5, 2020
ISBN: 1536204315
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
Set in a fantasy world that has been taken over by Imperialism, with the only territory that remains free of Imperialistic control, is the sea. Main characters, Flora aka Florian, a pirate prodigy, and Lady Evelyn Hasegawa, a noblewoman on her way to an arranged marriage, meet aboard the ship The Dove, a pirate ship that lures unsuspecting passengers aboard, but in all actuality is a slave ship with a valuable cargo — the passengers! But Flora and Evelyn escape, defying the Imperial forces and find themselves in a swashbuckling adventure filled  with mermaids, witches, sea gods and the love they find for themselves.

Recommended for grade 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

The Upside of Falling

The Upside of FallingThe Upside of Falling by Alex Light
Published by HarperTeen on February 18, 2020
ISBN: 0062918052
Pages: 288
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Becca is disillusioned with love, her parents divorce didn’t help her cause. So she delves into romance novels and their happy endings, because in real life, love never ends well. Until one day, when she finds herself in a “fake relationship” with her high school’s golden boy, Brett. What leads from here, is a fake relationship that realizes that love does end well and that friendships return and blossom when love is real and sincere.

Fans of Sarah Dessen and Deb Colasanti will enjoy this light hearted read. Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

five-stars