Category: Cream of the Crop Nominees

Gondra’s Treasure

Gondra’s TreasureGondra's Treasure by Jennifer Black Reinhardt, Linda Sue Park
Published by Clarion Books on April 2nd 2019
ISBN: 0544546695
Pages: 40
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Biography/Autobiography, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Gondra, a little dragon with an Eastern dragon dad and a Western dragon mom, celebrates her uniqueness in this sparkling collaboration between Newbery medalist Linda Sue Park and rising star artist Jennifer Black Reinhardt.
Gondra has inherited traits from both her eastern (Asian) dragon dad and western (European) dragon mom and enjoys them all. She's especially happy that she's a combination of both. Cheerful banter and hilariously adorable dragon portrayals present a warm, appealing family portrait. The beautiful and fanciful illustrations are rich in whimsical details that invite repeated readings.

“Gondra’s Treasure” is told from the perspective of a baby dragon who has a Western Dragon  mom and an Eastern Dragon dad.   Gondra sports characteristics of each and is curious as to the origin of each talent and power that she witnesses.   Gondra’s parents appreciate their own differences  as well, sometimes lovingly  teasing   one another regarding  their varying traits. (a trait perhaps observed in a loving and happy family)  Learning to apprecite what she  has inherited form both parents is encouraged and praised, thus helping little Gondra appreciate what she herself   has inherited.  Gondra wonders: Will she be able to fly like mom? Will she live in the clouds and rivers like her dad?  Will she have bronze scales like mom or green and blue  scales like dad? Gondra replys that she likes classy and she likes flashy both.  Her parents marvel at her traits in spite of whichever ones come forth. Rather than possessing and guarding  treasure in  caves,  as the Western dragons do –  or carry  around  a pearl in their  claw,  as the Eastern dragons do,  Gondra has enough conficence to declare “Oh, that’s right . We don’t need them anymore – because I’m  your treasure.”

This clever story points up the importance of learning to appreciate and value one’s own talents and abilities. This story would be good to use for increasing self confidence and allowing  one to be prous of their heritage.   A good book for recognizing  one’s uniqueness and learning to appreciate who we each are.

The illustrations are quite remarkable – well defined and humorous – whimsical and reminicent of Steven Kellog perhaps.  Children will enjoy their  humour and detail.  The author’s  note included at the end is well worth reading –  informative and interesting.

Reviewed by Connie M. Smith, Breakwater School. Portland, ME. 

Hats off to Mr. Pockles!

Hats off to Mr. Pockles!Hats Off to Mr. Pockles! by David Litchfield, Sally Lloyd-Jones
Published by Schwartz & Wade Books on January 29th 2019
ISBN: 0399558152
Pages: 32
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

“Hats off to Mr. Pockles” is an  imaginative and clever  picture book for ages 4  through 8.  Mr. Pockles, an odd little dog,  has a huge collection of hats.  “For Mr. Pockles,  going without a hat was like going around without any pants on.” Mr. Pockles owns  “an eating cornflakes hat, a drinking a cup of tea hat, and a going to bed hat among many others  BUT  a scarcity of  friends.  “It’s funny how wearing a hat cheers a personage up,” said Mr. Pockles.  But one day it didn’t and Mr. Pockles desperately wanted to attend “hat day” at the PandaPolitan Club. But Mr. Pockles was not a black and white  panda  and not allowed to attend.   To cheer himself up,  he dicided to buy a treat at the “Treat House,” whereupon he meets  Mrs. Lady Coco Fitz-Tulip sporting a hat decorated with banans, grapes, and pineapples. What happens,  after some bunny rabbits begin to snack upon her hat is well . . . both funny and very silly

A nice book to utilize when discussing how it feels to be left out and to not have many friends.  Young children will  enjoy the silliness of this story while  learning about  kindness, compassion, generousity and inclusiveness.  This book wonderfully demonstrates the  fact that  our similarities are much more significant  and universal in nature  than our perceived differences.  The story ends on a positive note by showing the happiness that can result from making new friends, sharing, and by discovering the pure joy of being alive and celebrating life all together.

The illustrations in the book are bright, lively and humorous while  accentuating and supporting  the text nicely.

Reviewed by Connie M. Smith, Breakwtaer School. Portland, ME

five-stars

You Are Light

You Are LightYou Are Light by Aaron Becker
Published by Candlewick Studio on March 26th 2019
ISBN: 1536201154
Pages: 16
Goodreads
five-stars

A board book like no other, this title is a piece of art that literally shines in sunlight.  Each page contains circular paper cuts, some containing colored inserts. The simple but thought provoking text complements the colors chosen for each individual page.  And then there are the circular illustrations which carries the theme and intent of the book. There is great emotional value within the text that will not be missed by children and adults.

You Are Light is the complete package, it is a perfect book for toddlers at home and nursery school environments. Try to read this book where there is a source of light so viewers can appreciate the full experience.  All public libraries need to make this purchase and families are encouraged to use as a gift book for preschool events/parties. A special recommendation for religious institutional collections.

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

five-stars

The Rabbit The Dark, and the Cookie Tin

The Rabbit The Dark, and the Cookie TinThe Rabbit, the Dark, and the Cookie Tin by Nicola O'Byrne
Published by Nosy Crow on March 12th 2019
ISBN: 1536205761
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals, Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

“The Rabbit The Dark and the Cookie Tin is a clever, fun, and intriguing story for children ages 4-8.  Rabbit does not want to go to bed.  “I don’t wan t to go to bed, “said Rabbit, (with an attirtude) “and if it doesn’t get dark, I won’t have to.”  Then Rabbit has a very clever idea. He grabs a cookie tin,  containing the last cokie, and ” storms”  outside to find the dark.  The dark, which is  personified, reaches out with one dark hand to snatch the cookie, and “SNAP,” the dark is captured.   Will the dark ever be able to convince Rabbit to let him/her go free?

This book portrays  cleverness and a very playful imagination – just what  many teachers love to see in young children.  The way in which  these three very different  elements , – a cookie tin, a rabbit, and the dark,  interact  to serve up  a simple and delightful story is amazing.

This is a book to read just for fun or/and to provoke the use of imagination. Appropriate for any season of the year.  The animals in the story are expressive and brightly colored,  standing out nicely from a mostly white background. The predominantly white background  sets up a nice contrast for when an  “explosion” of dark erupts from the cookie tin.  Young children will find this story to be intriguing and surprising.

Reviewed by Connie M. Smith, Breakwater School, Portland, ME

 

five-stars

Say Something!

Say Something!Say Something by Peter H. Reynolds
Published by Orchard Books on February 26th 2019
ISBN: 0545865034
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

Say Something is unique in its diversity and level of kindness shown between children.  Reynolds acknowledges all children and motivates them to raise their voices concerning justice and personal power.   Interactions within this book are positive and express empathy, we all need more of the ability to reach out to others and to speak up.

The illustrations are fairly simple and direct, they appear on backgrounds featuring many dots and vivid colors.  On one page the dots turn into birds reinforcing the message to “Keep saying it…and you may be surprised to find the whole world listening”.  Imagine how that sentence sounds to a shy child who has yet to find her/his voice. 

Building self-confidence and honoring the freedom of expression needs to be part of the educational process for all youngsters.   Add this to primary school media centers, put on public library shelves and gift to K – second grade teachers.  In addition school guidance counselors would appreciate a copy to use with students.

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

five-stars

Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don’t Eat Friends

Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don’t Eat FriendsMisunderstood Shark: Friends Don't Eat Friends by Ame Dyckman, Scott Magoon
Published by Orchard Books on January 29th 2019
ISBN: 1338113887
Pages: 42
Goodreads
five-stars

In the first “Misunderstood Shark” book, Bob the jellyfish ends up getting eaten while interviewing Shark for his TV show, Underwater World with Bob.  The opening endpapers of this sequel give us a brief recap of that by showing Bob in Shark’s stomach.  The action begins right away on the title page with Bob being burped up as his camera crew begins filming the next episode of his show.  In this episode, Shark claims NOT to have eaten Bob; that he was just giving him a tour.  While Bob and Shark argue about whether or not Shark did, in fact, eat Bob, they also teach us some actual facts about sharks.  In the end, both Bob and Shark apologize and remain friends.  This book, along with the first in the series, is a first purchase.  Great for all ages.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

five-stars

Right as Rain

Right as RainRight as Rain by Lindsey Stoddard
Published by HarperCollins on February 12th 2019
ISBN: 006265294X
Pages: 304
Goodreads
five-stars

Twelve year-old Rain and her parents move from rural Vermont to an apartment in Washington Heights in New York City. As Rain adjusts to her new life in the city, she is harboring guilt associated with the death of her older brother along with a secret that she can’t share with her parents. Grief is also ripping apart her parents’ marriage. Rain’s father spends his days in bed isolated and depressed while her mother spends long days at work. Rain spends her free time exploring her new neighborhood where she is in the minority as one of the few white residents. When Rain is recruited by the track coach to run on the girls’ relay team, she begins to make friends and feel more at home. Stoddard weaves a lot of issues into the story including themes of grief, friendship, acceptance, family and community. The book eloquently captures the overwhelming feelings related to loss and how people deal with their grief in different ways. At one point the story teeters on the edge of becoming a “white savior” book where the white main character helps save the predominantly Hispanic neighborhood community center from demise, but the book ends up striking the right balance by the end. Give this book to readers who enjoyed Patina by Jason Reynolds and The Ethan I Was Before by Ali Standish. (Grades 4-6) Recommended for Cream of the Crop

Reviewed by Cathy Potter, Falmouth Middle School

five-stars

Lurid London

Lurid LondonLurid London by E. Merwin
Published by Not Avail on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1684026709
Pages: 24
Goodreads
five-stars

Creepy pictures and scary text will send chills through young readers looking for a ‘scary’ book. They might not even care what ‘lurid’ means, but that’s OK. The text is minimal but descriptive, and the photos and drawings will invite younger and middle elementary readers to look for the grossest image to share with their friends.

This slight book provides the necessary non-fiction access features, including a map of London identifying the locations mentioned with a United Kingdom map inset on top of a world map.

Librarians looking for books to add to their ‘scary’ shelves for young readers should consider this and/or one of the seven other titles in this “Tiptoe Into Scary Cities” series.

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

five-stars

Undefeated

UndefeatedThe Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
Published by Versify on April 2nd 2019
ISBN: 1328780961
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

An oversize picture book that offers readers an experience from cover to cover. Stunning artwork from Kadir Nelson paired with the earnest, lyrical poetry of Alexander tells the story of the many black Americans who have contributed to the story and glory of this country. Alexander shared the poem on ESPN’s The Undefeated. He wrote the ode after his second daughter was born so that she would see heroes who looked like her, but this book can resonate with any audience and should be read widely. Mention of the slave trade, the bombing in Birmingham that killed four girls, and the police shootings of unarmed black citizens like Sandra Bland and Trayvon Martin make this a book for an older audience in terms of discussion, but it is not only a tool for conversations. It should be read with all children because it is necessary for our continued humanity for kids to see heroes of all skin colors.  Recommend for Cream of the Crop and for all library collections, public and school, elementary through high school.

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

five-stars

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote SunriseThe Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart
Published by Henry Holt & Company (BYR) on January 8th 2019
Pages: 352
Goodreads
five-stars

In Dan Gemeinhart’s The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise, readers dip their toes into the unforgettable world of Coyote and her father, Rodeo, who have been on the road for five years, traveling wherever they want in their home, Yager – a worn schoolbus converted into a mobile living space.  Gemeinhart’s knack for accessing the inner thinking of adolescents shines again in this heart-wrenching read.  As the story progresses, readers learn that Coyote and her father are on the run from their emotions after the tragic death of Coyote’s mother and sisters.  While driving from place to place feels freeing at first, Coyote soon realizes that she misses the stable feeling of “home.”  Along the way, Coyote and Rodeo begin to pick up other world-weary travelers and embark on a memorable, special quest.  This book will leave an imprint on readers’ hearts.  Ideal for readers ages 10-13, though I think many others would love it.

Review by Noelle Gallant, Saco Middle School

five-stars