Format: Board Book

My little pond

My little pondMy Little Pond by Katrin Wiehle
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on June 11, 2019
ISBN: 1328544850
Pages: 16
Genres: Animals
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
three-stars

This board book explores things found on, in, and around ponds. It is a very simple book best for the youngest readers. The color illustrations are simple and provide context for the words in the book. Each page simply names different animals, plants, etc. found in the pond environment. It is a good exploration of pond life. The board book is made of 100% recycled materials, but feels like it won’t hold up long with heavy use (or heavy chewing by babies).

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Where’s the astronaut?

Where’s the astronaut?Where's the Astronaut? by Ingela P. Arrhenius, Nosy Crow
Published by Nosy Crow on May 14, 2019
ISBN: 1536207527
Pages: 10
Format: Board Book
Goodreads
four-stars

Where’s the engineer? Here she is! Where’s the astronaut? Here he is! This simple board book will be loved by many babies and could be used as well for early readers. There’s gender and racial diversity in the people, and the animals and aliens aren’t immediately assigned a gender. The flaps are felt rather than the usual paper so they may hold up over time a bit better. The colorful illustrations paired with the brightly colored felt flaps will help to keep babies engaged while providing different textures as well. Definitely recommend this for anyone with a child who’s in the phase of flaps and exploring with touch.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-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

Lois Looks for Bob at the Museum

Lois Looks for Bob at the MuseumLois Looks for Bob at the Museum by Nosy Crow, Gerry Turley
Published by Nosy Crow on June 4th 2019
ISBN: 1536205893
Pages: 12
Goodreads
five-stars

This fun board book is about a cat named Lois looking through a museum for a friend (of unknown species) named Bob. Lois goes through exhibits and each page has a flap that can be lifted to reveal a hiding animal. It serves as a quick tour through a museum and the animals have funny names if you, like myself, have a soft spot for animals with regular human names, i.e. a bat named Lars. Brightly colored and sturdy, it’s good for very young children or even slightly older children who have maybe just visited a museum and would enjoy recognizing any similarities.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten free Library, Bath

five-stars

First Words

First WordsFirst Words: Early Learning at the Museum by Nosy Crow, The Trustees of the British Museum
Published by Nosy Crow on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1536205842
Pages: 22
Goodreads
four-stars

I opened this simple board book at work and thought that it was beautiful and that my kids would have enjoyed it as toddlers. Each panel has a single word combined with an artifact from the British Museum and the background colors are warm and pleasant. Easy enough review, right? Well, then two of my favorite young patrons, aged 7 and 11, came over and pointed out that none of the items in the book look like they do in real life. They were particularly contemptuous of an antique, chipped plaster and canvas sphere that says “Ball”. This threw me; they’re right, of course, but then again so many kids’ books ask them to stretch their imaginations.

 

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Be, Bold Baby: J.K. Rowling

Be, Bold Baby: J.K. RowlingBe Bold, Baby: J.K. Rowling by Alison Oliver
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 1328519937
Pages: 20
Goodreads
two-stars

Be Bold, Baby! is a series of board books that feature famous women such as Oprah and Michelle Obama and lists some of their attributes along with quotes.  This entry in the series features J.K. Rowling.  Most of the two page spreads have a piece of advice, i.e. “Be a Rebel” followed by a Rowling quote that emphasizes that point.  Page two is an illustration that features a young girl in a situation that is supposedly showcasing that point, with a heavy Harry Potter fan vibe. Some of the quotes are quite awkward, grammatically, leaving me wondering if there weren’t better quotes that could have been used.  The final page is a mirror that says “Be You!” On the inside back cover is a short biography of Rowling.

This book (and series) has a great premise and means well, but it doesn’t quite meet its goal of encouraging girls to be strong and independent.  Not worth purchasing. For ages 1-4.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

two-stars

Chocolate Me!

Chocolate Me!Chocolate Me! by Taye Diggs, Shane W. Evans
Published by Feiwel & Friends on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1250207851
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

Chocolate Me follows a young, dark-skinned boy from being ashamed of his chocolate skin to him embracing and celebrating the way he looks. It is a charming story that will help kids learn to love themselves just as they are. As a picture book, this would be great, as a board book, it misses the mark. There are too many words on the pages for kids who read board books, and so it gets three stars only because this isn’t the right format. This book would be best shared with kids aged 5-7 in a one-on-one setting or in a small group read aloud.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Jungle

JungleAnimal Families: Jungle by Nosy Crow, Jane Ormes
Published by Nosy Crow on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 1536208310
Pages: 14
Goodreads
two-stars

This colorful, lift-the-flap board book takes the reader through a variety of farm animals from sheep to donkeys. As part of a series of board books with the same overarching theme, it is informative as it teaches children about the names for male/female/baby animals for different species. The anthropomorphizing of the animals as “mommy” and “daddy” and the reference to animal “families” moves it from being informative to cutesy and old fashioned. The illustrations are bright and bold, and small children will love the flaps and the repetitive/predictable text. This book is best shared one-on-one, but would not be well suited for diverse family types as it only refers to daddy and mommy.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

Farm

FarmAnimal Families: Farm by Nosy Crow, Jane Ormes
Published by Nosy Crow on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 1536208302
Pages: 14
Goodreads
two-stars

This colorful, lift-the-flap board book takes the reader through a variety of farm animals from sheep to donkeys. As part of a series of board books with the same overarching theme, it is informative as it teaches children about the names for male/female/baby animals for different species. The anthropomorphizing of the animals as “mommy” and “daddy” and the reference to animal “families” moves it from being informative to cutesy and old fashioned. The illustrations are bright and bold, and small children will love the flaps and the repetitive/predictable text. This book is best shared one-on-one, but would not be well suited for diverse family types as it only refers to daddy and mommy.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta

two-stars

Bizzy Bear: Race Car Driver

Bizzy Bear: Race Car DriverBizzy Bear: Race Car Driver by Benji Davies
Published by Nosy Crow on April 2nd 2019
ISBN: 1536205591
Pages: 8
Goodreads
three-stars

“Bizzy Bear: Race Car Driver” is a board book by Benji Davies with manipulable tabs. The book follows Bizzy Bear, a bear who is taking part in a car race. The illustrations are bright and fun. All of the characters are animals and the text is short and rhymes, which will appeal to younger kids who are being read to. Tabs that turn the start lights from red to green, make Bizzy Bear drive around the track, and other actions are fun and give kids practice with finger dexterity.

Aimed at ages 2-3, this board book will be enjoyed by most kids, especially those who are into race cars. Not an original idea, but a lot of fun, this is recommended as a secondary purchase for libraries with board book collections. Bear in mind that the tabs will get a lot of use if this book is part of a library collection.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

three-stars