Category: Cream of the Crop Nominees

The Camping Trip

The Camping TripThe Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536207365
Genres: Adventure, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Ernestine is invited by her aunt and cousin to experience her first camping trip.  From the cover pages of The Camping Trip  a realistic job of expressing a true outdoor adventure is offered.  Readers view an illustrated listing of necessary equipment before the story even begins.  Within the content a personal equipment list is incorporated and new experiences are explored.  Aunt Jackie and cousin Samantha are supportive and compassionate as Ernestine grows to love this new experience.   The art work is done in comic style panels that are fun and colorful.  This reader appreciates how one of the early two-page spreads is almost identical to a later illustration in the same spot.  All ages will enjoy this adventure and perhaps it will influence some families to go camping for the first time.

Bring on the s’mores and purchase this book for both primary school and public libraries.  Gift a copy to families who are interested in taking their first camping trip.

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

five-stars

Not So Pure and Simple

Not So Pure and SimpleNot So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles
Published by HarperTeen on January 21, 2020
ISBN: 0062349198
Pages: 304
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Edgar Award-winner and founding member of We Need Diverse Books, Lamar Giles, steps away from mystery to write a YA romantic comedy; however, readers should not expect a typical love story. Giles takes the classic boy-gets-girl trope and tackles toxic masculinity and societal expectations to create an original love story that is fresh and honest. Del has a reputation as a ladies’ man, so when the girl he has a crush on volunteers to be part of the purity pledge group at Church, he shocks everyone by joining too. Del works under the false assumption, that if he is nice, girls will owe him something; so when that doesn’t work, Del is confused and angry. Luckily, Del has friends and family who will be brutally honest with him. As he begins to listen to their assessments of his behavior, he begins to be more honest with himself. At times it reads like a much-needed, how-to-manual for teen boys. Girls will shake their heads in recognition and laugh at the humor, but there will not be any revelations for them. Boys will be able to laugh along with Del and possibly even at themselves as Giles tackles serious coming-of-age themes. This book should be on the shelves of all libraries working with teens! Recommended for grades 8 and up. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

five-stars

The Blunders: A Counting Catastrophe!

The Blunders: A Counting Catastrophe!The Blunders: A Counting Catastrophe! by Christina Soontornvat, Colin Jack
Published by Candlewick Press, Candlewick Press (MA) on February 11, 2020
ISBN: 153620109X
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A funny story about the Blunder children who never can seem to get things right. Mother sends them out to play with instructions to come home at a certain time. when it is time, they count heads, only to find one missing! Will they find the missing child in time? A really cute story which incorporates learning to count for younger ones.

Preschool to 1st grade

Reviewed by Ginni Nichols, Gardiner Public Library, Gardiner

five-stars

Spring after Spring

Spring after SpringSpring After Spring: How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement by Stephanie Roth Sisson
Published by Roaring Brook Press on August 14th 2018
ISBN: 1626728194
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
An interesting biography about Rachel Carson and how she inspired the environmental movement. Spring after spring, year after year, she observed how all living things are connected. And as an adult, Rachel watched and listened as the natural world she loved so much began to fall silent. Spring After Spring traces Rachel’s journey as scientist and writer, courageously speaking truth to an often hostile world through her book, and ultimately paving the way for the modern environmental movement.

The Grand Escape: The Greatest Prison Breakout of the 20th Century

The Grand Escape: The Greatest Prison Breakout of the 20th CenturyThe Grand Escape: The Greatest Prison Breakout of the 20th Century by Neal Bascomb
Published by Arthur A. Levine Books on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 1338140345
Pages: 256
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
The  German POW camp of Holzminden, better known by those that were  there as Hellminden, is where the prisons  were sent that have repeatedly  escaped from other camps and unlucky enough to have survived recapture.  A group of defiant soldiers that have become infamous amongst their ranks as “escape artists” have succeeded in tunneling out of the camp, unbeknownst to the ruthless commandant,  manage to escape. Approximately 29 men escaped and 19 were recaptured and court martialed.  Neal Bascomb has written a compelling, action packed history of POWs in WWI. Avid history fans will enjoy.

Well organized with a List of Participants at the beginning of the book along with a bibliography, source notes section and a complete index. There are diagrams and time period photographs dispersed about the chapters in detail with the text.  Great resource on World War I POW history.

Recommended for grades 10 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford

five-stars

Queer: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens (2nd ed.)

Queer: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens (2nd ed.)Queer, 2nd Edition: The Ultimate Lgbtq Guide for Teens by Kathy Belge, Marke Bieschke
Published by Zest Books (Tm) on October 1, 2019
ISBN: 1541578589
Pages: 208
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
A useful and informative guide for teens that deal with important questions that they may face such as self-identity and dating. Well written and comfortable with sidebar excerpts from the authors’ own experiences. Excellent resource section available in the back of the book listing organizations, religious websites, and books that teens will find useful. Full index and Table of Contents.

Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Kristin Taylor, Biddeford High School, Biddeford.

 

 

 

five-stars

Just Breathe

Just BreatheJust Breathe by Cammie McGovern
Published by HarperTeen on January 7, 2020
ISBN: 0062463357
Pages: 352
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Goodreads
five-stars
Just Breathe is valuable advice, thanks to McGovern for allowing readers to slow down and breathe as they turn pages.  The author has given us two somewhat fragile characters who are in personal painful struggles, one physically and one emotionally.  During his senior year David’s CF has landed him in the hospital where Jamie (a sophomore) is a volunteer.  Their relationship deepens to true friendship during personal exchanges and emails.   Physical and mental challenges direct the story line even as strong emotional ties become obvious.   The text is crafted beautifully offering a complex romantic coming of age story complete with parental conflict.  Readers may wonder about the cover illustration but will soon learn how a simple craft activity can center a person and provide healing benefits.

This is a powerful story that will take readers by surprise and challenge what they know about mental health.  Copies should be provided to school social workers and gifted to parents of ill or depressed teens.  Do place on public library and high school media center shelves.

Nominated for Cream of the Crop

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

five-stars

Yogi: The Life, Loves, and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra

Yogi: The Life, Loves, and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi BerraYogi: the Life, Loves, and Language of Baseball Legend Yogi Berra by Barb Rosenstock, Terry Widener
Published by Calkins Creek on February 5, 2019
ISBN: 162979824X
Pages: 48
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Yogi Berra was the man who loved baseball, but baseball didn’t love him back – until he persevered and overcame personal, cultural, and sports obstacles.

Mostly two-page, expressionistic spreads, with Yogi quotes relevant to the event described in the text on that page. The rounded lines and full shapes resemble Yogi’s distinct appearance. Interesting, descriptive and well-thought out text in simple black font is well-placed on light background. Soft shading and hues with predominance of blue remind the reader of his life-long team, the Yankees. Each image of Yogi has a white outline, helping it to stand out in the layout, reminding the reader that he is indeed a standout player in the history of baseball. 

Extensive backmatter includes photos, author’s note, “Yogi-isms,” quotes about him, bibliography, the URL to the ‘Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center,’ and source notes. The author explains that Yogi-isms are difficult to prove, thus providing an important reminder that we cannot always prove exactly what was said or done in the past. 

This would be a great book for teachers to use as a mentor text for biographies, to inspire, to spark an interest in baseball legends or for any baseball fans wanting an in-depth look at one of our American heroes.

 

Reviewd by Lynn Mayer, Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town

five-stars

I’m Not Millie!

I’m Not Millie!I'm Not Millie! by Mark Pett
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on November 26, 2019
ISBN: 1101937947
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
Millie denies her own existence every time her parent tries to tweak her behavior, whether eating at the table, playing in the house, or getting ready for bed.

Each spread has a speech bubble on the left showing the adult’s words (the adult is never shown, allowing for various interpretations). The opposing page shows an animal matched with a characteristic: a dawdling child could be a tortoise, a splashing (in the tub) child could be a dolphin. Each animal declares in some variation of “I’m not Millie!”. Large simple font is easy to read. 

The animals are drawn in realistic style. Each background shows just enough detail to identify the room in which the action is taking place.

The text, all dialogue between parent and child, builds to a very satisfying ending as Millie finally reveals her true self when tempted by bubble gum ice cream. 

Preschoolers will see themselves trying to evade the inevitable bedtime.

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

five-stars

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to ReadThe Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Oge Mora, Rita Lorraine Hubbard
on January 7, 2020
ISBN: 1524768286
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
History, inspiration, and entertainment all in one book! A former slave, Mary Walker never found time to learn to read until she was 116 years old! Although this might be considered more historical fiction than biography (due to the lack of known facts about most of her life) the author weaves her life into a realistic and believable account. 

The book is large with mostly two-page spreads. In the illustrations we see Mary at various points in her life, and her mood of fatigue or hope is evident. End papers hold photos of Mary. 

This is one of those books that the more I read it, the more I like it. I think your middle and upper elementary readers will, too.

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

five-stars