Category: Cream of the Crop Nominees

It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

ISBN: 0525582169

Set against the backdrop of Apartheid, It’s Trevor Noah is the young reader’s adaptation of Noah’s bestselling adult memoir, Born a Crime.  Born to a South African mother and a European father, Noah explains how he is “born a crime” because he is proof of a mixed-race relationship.  Each chapter holds vignettes from Noah’s childhood in South Africa, often leaning heavily on humor to tell his tales of mischief, scheming, and tragedy.  This book, which delicately adapts the often very mature adult memoir,  will have readers laughing out loud, thinking deeply, and crying by the end.  The book features excellent information in the back matter with a historical essay about Apartheid.  Recommended for grades 6 and above.

Reviewed by Noelle Gallant, Saco Middle School 

Stargazing

StargazingStargazing by Jen Wang
Published by First Second on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 125018388X
Pages: 224
Goodreads
five-stars

This graphic novel about friendship is based on an experience in Wang’s childhood. The main character, Christine, is struggling with living up to the expectations of her parents and many of these include stereotypical behavior in the Chinese American community: do well at math, play violin, always obey your parents and strive to be the best. But Christine is not great at math and she is just okay at violin. When she meets Moon, another Chinese American girl, she realizes that not all Chinese Americans are the same, nor do they have to be. Moon is relaxed and fun, she is a Buddhist, and she loves to draw and dance to K-pop music. Christine really likes Moon, but she is also jealous at the ease in which Moon seems to move through life. When her jealousy leads her to do something unkind, she must come to terms with her behavior. Adding to this is the fact that Moon is sick. Did Christine contribute to the illness with her unkindness? Will there be time to make it up to Moon? Wang layers in her message about the difficulty of being a good friend and the consequences of decisions we make with a gentle touch. Gorgeously drawn and colored, this graphic novel will be a hit with fans of Jenny Holms, Raina Telgemeier, and Shannon Hale.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth

five-stars

Glitch

GlitchGlitch by Sarah Graley
Published by Graphix on May 14th 2019
ISBN: 1338174517
Pages: 192
Goodreads
five-stars

Izzy can’t wait to play the new Dungeon City video game that she and her friend Eric have been waiting forever to come out. They are supposed to wait to play it together but Izzy just can’t and tries the game out. When she does, she actually enters the game. In the game she encounters a robot that tells her she is the hero they have been waiting for to save the Dungeon City, but the robot isn’t telling her everything. Great illustrations, terrific use of pronouns, and a sweet video game that the character actually becomes part of. So much fun as well as relatable for many gamers and non-gamers. Cream

Mary Lehmer, Youth Services Librarian, Freeport Community Library, ME

five-stars

Pippa by Design

Pippa by DesignPippa by Design: A Story of Ballet and Costumes by Claudia Logan, Chesley McLaren
on September 24th 2019
ISBN: 0374359563
Pages: 192
Goodreads
five-stars

This is a book about ballet, fashions and sisters. The story is about 2 sisters, both want to be the best at something- one a ballerina, the other a fashion designer. Sometimes they get along and other times the don’t, a sibling relationship many readers will identify with. It is filled with facts about ballets and costumes from the past as well as how the costume department in a ballet company works. Loads of illustrations are sprinkled throughout the book. At our library there are so many young readers that are looking for books about fashion and fashion designers that this one would be a fantastic book for them to try. It offers some history, a solid story and an area of fashion design that many may not have thought of. It also describes all the work that goes into designing a costume. Grades 4 and up. Cream

Mary Lehmer, Youth Services Librarian, Freeport Community Library, ME

five-stars

All the Impossible Things

All the Impossible ThingsPublished by Roaring Brook Press on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 1250202868
Pages: 384
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Fantasy
Format: Board Book, Chapter Book Fiction
five-stars

Red (her real name is Ruby), is in foster care waiting for her mom, a drug addict, to get out of prison. Red is literally counting the days. Every foster home she has been in has not worked out and the anger she feels manifests it self in the wind, just like it does for her mom. She doesn’t want to get close to anyone, especially her new foster family because she wants to live with her mom, if she can just get her to change. But her new foster family seems different and she loves the animals there and begins to care for the them until things happen with her mom. Suddenly her wind begins to destroy things, and even threatens the new foster family she is beginning to love. This book is what I would describe as magic-realism. The wind piece adds so much to the story. The ending with her mom and the foster family, is so hopeful but still has many sad and real elements to it. And Tuck the tortoise on the farm, well, he is just a terrific character and readers will have him tugging at their heart strings just like he does to Red. Grades 5 and up. Cream

Mary Lehmer, Youth Services Librarin, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME

five-stars

Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons

Lion of the Sky: Haiku for All SeasonsLion of the Sky: Haiku for All Seasons by Laura Purdie Salas, Mercè López
Published by Millbrook Press (Tm) on April 2nd 2019
ISBN: 1512498092
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Haiku, a form of poetry made up of three lines : five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line and five syllables in the third line. Author Salas has taken this form as an invitation to the reader to explore the four seasons – but with a twist! These haiku poems are riddle-ku and mask poems.Something non human narrates the poem and asks the reader to guess what the narrator is- that is a mask poem  and instead of the well known haiku form that describes something, a riddle -ku invites the reader to guess what object the poem is. Each page offers a riddle with large illustrations that reflect the season where the object can be found. the illustrations may be a bright sand pail found in summer or a snow globe on a gray-blue page that feels like winter.

There are many books of poetry available but there are some that are unique, that make a  school or library collection richer- this is one of those books.

Use with any poetry unit , units on the seasons, or just a mystery read aloud. Good for grades k – 6.

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray Maine.

five-stars

Suffragette: The Battle for Equality

Suffragette: The Battle for EqualitySuffragette: The Battle for Equality by David Roberts
Published by Walker Books US on October 8th 2019
ISBN: 1536208418
Pages: 128
Goodreads
five-stars

A comprehensive, historical account of the women’s suffrage movement, from its beginnings in the mid- to late-1800s in both the United Kingdom and the United State. David Roberts brings to life the women and men behind the movement, with engaging, accessible text and lively illustrations that are at once playful, descriptive and captivating. His gentle and instructive voice tackles the hurdles many brave women and men overcame and their astounding courage and determination in pursuing the fight to the end. The sheer brilliance and grit of the suffragettes, who, again and again, found new ways to defy the government makes this hefty non-fiction book one that keeps you reading.  The illustrations serve as tempting bait to draw you in to each chapter.

This is would be a great addition to any school or public library, particularly as we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment. Grades 2 and up.

Reviewed by Kelly Greenlee, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

five-stars

A Place to Land: Martin Luther King and the Speech that Inspired a Nation

A Place to Land: Martin Luther King and the Speech that Inspired a NationA Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation by Barry Wittenstein, Jerry Pinkney
Published by Neal Porter Books on August 27th 2019
ISBN: 0823443310
Pages: 48
Goodreads

Barry Wittenstein and Jerry Pinkney  has given the reader the story behind Martin Luther King’s  “I Have a Dream” speech in both a conversational  text and classic Pinkney illustrations of watercolor, color pencil and graphite. King was once asked what was the hardest part of writing a speech. His reply was “knowing where to end.” “It’s terrible to be circling up there without a place to land.”  The night before the 1963 March on Washington, King and men he looked to for guidance met to write what would become his greatest sermon ever. The reader meets his inner circle and is invited into that hotel room as these men strategized. Wittenstein’s text is more a conversation and the reader feels like part of the group. Pinkney’s illustrations are large and expressive and take the reader through the night and onto the National Mall. This is a must for all collections  as it gives insight into how one of the greatest speech’s for freedom was written. There is a note from the artist ,short biographies of the men involved nd her voices , who spoke at the March and sources used to write this book.This is not only a visually inspiring book but sheds light into a piece of the Civil Rights Movement. Use in units about the Civil Right movement, Martin Luther King, and American History. Best for grades 4 and up.

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray Maine.

Let Me Fix That for You

Let Me Fix That for YouLet Me Fix That for You by Janice Erlbaum
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) on July 23rd 2019
ISBN: 0374308101
Pages: 304
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Gladys is a fixer. She spends her school lunch periods helping her peers come up with excuses and cover ups for their problems. But now Glad has a personal issue that needs her attention– putting her family back together. Between home and school, the situations become more complicated and Glad might just find that she needs some help herself.

Perfect for 5th-8th grade readers, this book shows the complications of middle school life and the difficulties of fitting in, making friends, and being yourself. The story is relatable and funny and moves along at a steady pace. Most importantly, it shows that consequences are not avoidable forever and the best thing you can usually do is own up to your mistakes and learn from them.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Reviewed by Kerrie Lattari, York Middle School, York

four-stars

Saving the Tasmanian Devil: How Science is Helping the World’s Largest Marsupial Carnivore Survive

Saving the Tasmanian Devil: How Science is Helping the World’s Largest Marsupial Carnivore SurviveSaving the Tasmanian Devil: How Science Is Helping the World’s Largest Marsupial Carnivore Survive by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on August 20th 2019
ISBN: 0544991486
Pages: 80
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

When author Dorothy Patent caught up with college friend , Jenny Marshall Graves, she was shocked to hear that the symbol of Tasmania- the Tasmanian Devil is on the verge of extinction! Graves, a respected geneticist in her home country of Australia, told her she was part of a group of scientists, including a cancer researcher, ecologist, and a graduate student in genomics that are in a race against time to save this Australian symbol from a fatal disease known as Devil Facial Tumor Disease – DFTD.  Where did it come from, how is it transmitted, is it viral or bacterial She was invited to join the group in Australia to see first hand the what is being done to save these animals.

This new addition to the Scientists in the Field series introduces the reader to the plight of the Tasmanian Devil and the people, from the government down to volunteers in the field in their search for a cure or a vaccine that may save this species. In the meantime, scientists have captured healthy devils and put them into “insurance populations” where they will be monitored and hopefully kept safe until they can be reintroduced into the wild.

This addition has all of the qualities that has made this series a must for libraries. The material is presented in a manner that can be understood by the average reader with  photographs and information boxes to support the information. It is STEM at its best!

Reviewed by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray Maine

five-stars