Category: Cream of the Crop Nominees

Jump

JumpJump by David McPhail
Published by Holiday House on July 17th 2018
ISBN: 0823438899
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

A simple text and sweet drawings will make this Guided Reading Level A book a hit with beginning readers. Each page has an animal or children jumping. The language repeats itself on each page but the animals change. The straight forward but fun drawings help the reader figure out which animal is jumping in the photo, even the silly ones like a hippo, and can then read the word. There are only a few words on each page so reading the whole book is possible for even a new reader. It’s hard to make a Level A book interesting for some readers but McPhail’s illustration and animal choice for sure, make that possible. Cream

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

five-stars

Min Makes a Machine

Min Makes a MachineMin Makes a Machine by Emily Arnold McCully
Published by Holiday House on July 17th 2018
ISBN: 0823439704
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Min decides to take measures into her own hands (or trunk in this case) to get water from the well into the pool so she and her friends can cool down. What a great early chapter book. The book itself is quite sturdy (important for early readers getting a lot of use), has easy to read print, colorful drawings of elephants  and a bit of a scientific principle thrown in to boot. The Guided Reading Level is clearly marked on the book (Level E) which is terrific for folks looking for that information. A cute story with a bit more to it and still a level E book, well done! Cream

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport ME 04032

five-stars

Kitten Construction, Meet the House Kittens

Kitten Construction, Meet the House KittensKitten Construction Company: Meet the House Kittens by John Patrick Green
Published by First Second on September 4th 2018
ISBN: 1626728305
Pages: 80
Goodreads
five-stars

The kittens in this story are frustrated. They have some pretty awesome construction skills but no one believes that. Most people think they are just cute little kitties. Now they do get distracted occasionally but on the whole, they are spot on and can build like you wouldn’t believe. The books terrific illustrations are quite colorful and capture not only the cats’ building abilities but also their personality. Readers will definitely identify with the their frustration at not being recognized as expert builders and root for them to be discovered as the true builders of the best mansion of all. Fun book all the way around. Cream

Mary Lehmer, Freeport Community Library, Freeport, ME 04032

five-stars

Saving Winslow

Saving WinslowSaving Winslow by Sharon Creech
Published by HarperCollins on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 0062570706
Pages: 176
Goodreads
five-stars

This is a short and sweet novel for upper elementary-aged lovers of animals and/or books like The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and Moo, also be Creech. Louie has had several failed attempts at taking care of the runt animals born at his Uncle Pete’s farm, so when his father brings home a tiny, weak baby donkey, no one expects it to live, not his uncle, his parents, or his quirky new friend Nora.  However, Louie, born two months early so kind of a runt himself, accepts the challenge of proving them all wrong. And while it generally takes more than love and determination to keep something alive, the presence of those two things certainly go a long way to help little Winslow’s chances. Told in short chapters with headings that provide a pretty good hint about what’s going to happen, the story of the bond between a boy and a donkey moves along quickly even as it deals with issues of growing up and accepting change. And the book offers a satisfying and wistful ending that will bring a smile and a hee-haw.

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

five-stars

The Digger and the Flower

The Digger and the FlowerThe Digger and the Flower by Joseph Kuefler
Published by Balzer + Bray on January 23rd 2018
ISBN: 0062424335
Pages: 48
Goodreads
five-stars

Digger, Dozer, and Crane work together every day building a city. One day, during a break, Digger finds a small flower in the middle of the buildings. He thought it was beautiful and decided to protect it. Eventually, they built up the whole city, and the only spot not built on was the spot the flower sat on.  Before Digger could stop Dozer, he cut the flower down. Devastated, Digger finds seeds where the flower used to sit, and takes them up into the hills for safety.  He buries them in the ground. The final spread is of multiple flowers growing outside of the city.  It’s a lovely little story that can also be used to talk about environmentalism. The illustrations are simply done with muted colors and add to the beauty of the story.  Recommended for purchase.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

five-stars

A Stitch In Time

A Stitch In TimeA Stitch in Time by Daphne Kalmar
on June 19th 2018
ISBN: 1250154987
Pages: 256
Goodreads
five-stars

Set in Vermont in 1927, Dorothy (aka Donut) never knew her mother and becomes an orphan at eleven when her father passes away. Her Aunt Agnes from Boston comes to take care of her, but Donut learns that her aunt plans to eventually bring her to Boston to live. Still grieving her father’s death, Donut cannot imagine life without her friends from her small Vermont town. Donut is feisty. She speaks her mind and acts on her impulses. She is Scout Finch from a different time. Before Aunt Agnes can pack her up for Boston, Donut runs away, but after a few close calls she returns home to a worried and grateful Aunt. The interesting imagery of taxidermy is woven throughout the story which adds a level of symbolism for readers to ponder. Overall, this a quiet novel of friendship, community, and family. It will transport readers away to a simpler time. This is a  great novel for a small group or classroom read! Recommended for grades 5 and up.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

five-stars

Sex Plus

Sex PlusSex Plus: Learning, Loving, and Enjoying Your Body by Laci Green
Published by HarperCollins on September 25th 2018
ISBN: 0062560972
Pages: 528
Goodreads
four-stars

If you have questions, this book has answers! Laci Green, known for her Sex Plus series on YouTube, has been involved in advocacy and sex education work since high school. Knicknamed, the “millennial Dr. Ruth, “ Green is a certified domestic violence advocate and has worked for Planned Parenthood. This book covers it all in a healthy, nonjudgemental, sex-positive tone that will appeal to young adults. There are eighteen chapters with titles like “Clitical” Thinking, Gender Identity, Your Sexual Debut, Safer Sex, Consent and Communication, Relationshipping, and Dating Violence. Green points out many times that she is not a medical professional, however, the book was fact-checked by two doctors and an expert on human sexuality. Resources are listed for each section at the back of the book, as well as an index. Graph, illustrations, and bullet points are used to highlight information and make the text very friendly for teen readers. This is book would be a welcome addition to the 613 section of libraries serving teens. As Green says, “Knowledge is pleasure.” Recommended for grades 9 and up.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

four-stars

Ella & Monkey at Sea

Ella & Monkey at SeaElla and Monkey at Sea by Emilie Boon
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on August 7th 2018
ISBN: 0763692336
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

Ella doesn’t like good-byes, or sailing across the sea, or playing with other children on the ship, and gets grumpier and grumpier, especially during a hurricane. The reader is never told that Ella is disgruntled, instead, we read about Monkey and his fears. Gradually Ella shows her feelings by saying, “Me too.”  We read how Ella calms him and sings lullabys to him and finally uses Monkey’s crayons to draw sunshine pictures to cheer everyone up.

    Soft, simple illustrations help calm the reader through this upsetting experience. Lots of white space keep the focus on Ella and Monkey. Text has many short, direct sentences; longer sentences are purposely broken into appropriate sections. End papers begin with a Dutch countryside and end with the city skyline.

   This book brings the European immigration experience to the youngest of readers in a gentle, compassionate way. The time frame is vague, but it has an mid 1900’s feel to it. Buy this book for the immigration lesson if you have a need, but definitely buy it it as a wonderful, reassuring story showing ways children deal with fears and anxieties through their beloved favorite stuffed animals, regardless of where they are traveling or what they are doing.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars

Night Job

Night JobNight Job by Karen Hesse, G. Brian Karas
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on September 11th 2018
ISBN: 0763662380
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

What better way to spend the night than with one’s dad at work! The strong father-son bond is felt during an ordinary experience that feels special as told by a boy. His father is a school janitor. They live in a small apartment. But they seem to make the best of it: they have each other and they have dreams.

    Soft, somewhat simple illustrations with lots of appropriate grayscales and shading for the night setting. Some double page spreads, some half-page panels framed by white thick borders that hold the text. Even though the father doesn’t speak, we feel he is glad to have his son with him.

    Great for discussing figurative language, first-personal narratives, but even better for providing youngsters an opportunity to think about everyday experiences that become special just because they got to spend time with an adult. This is also an excellent example of how some families have unusual routines.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars

Who Invented the Light Bulb?: Edison vs. Swan

Who Invented the Light Bulb?: Edison vs. SwanWho Invented the Light Bulb?: Edison vs. Swan by Susan E. Hamen
Published by Lerner Publications (Tm) on January 1st 2018
ISBN: 1512483214
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

    What are patents? Why are they important? What if someone in another country creates almost the same invention at the same time? These and other questions about inventions in general underlie this volume in the “Alternator Books” series. Readers are encouraged to think beyond basic facts to compare and contrast information and inventors in another way.

    The cover with its bright yellow text and facial photos of Edison and Swan set atop bodies preparing for a boxing match draw the reader’s attention to open this book and find out who won.

    Just the right amount of text for middle and upper elementary readers. Lots of photographs, drawings, fact boxes in a clear layout. Source notes, glossary, timeline, index and “Further Information” make this a solid non-fiction presentation. It’s unique format of “vs.” makes it a standout in the new wave of STEM books.

    Some of the explanations are simplified (such as vacuum pumps), and may be inadequate for advanced middle school students, but this is a great read for entertainment, or as an introduction to these inventors and the process of inventing.

Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

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

five-stars