Format: Board Book

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

Who’s Hiding On the Farm

Who’s Hiding On the FarmWho's Hiding on the Farm? by Nosy Crow, Katharine McEwen
Published by Nosy Crow on May 14th 2019
ISBN: 1536205869
Pages: 10
Goodreads
five-stars

Another in the series , Who’s Hiding, by Katharine McEwen, this  board book takes the youngest of readers to the farm for a day. With a statement about the farm on one page and the question, “who’s hiding here” on the facing page, readers lift flaps to see who indeed is on the farm. As each flap is opened, a fact about the farm occupant is given. The simple statement and question and the mystery of who is under each flap will engage the reader and offer a bit of knowledge  about the animals on and about the farm. It is STEAM at its basic. The soft , adorable illustrations only add to the reader’s enjoyment.  Use this with farm units for Pre-K-K students.

submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray

five-stars

Who’s Hiding at the Beach?

Who’s Hiding at the Beach?Who's Hiding at the Beach? by Nosy Crow, Katharine McEwen
Published by Nosy Crow on May 14th 2019
ISBN: 1536205850
Pages: 10
Goodreads

There are lots of creatures at the beach. Where are they hiding and what are they doing? In this innovative lift-the-flap book, little ones can pore over the beautiful collaged pages and explore under rocks, shells, and seaweed to find out lots of interesting facts about seaside wildlife. This is the perfect introduction to the outdoors.

Our youngest readers will spend a day at the beach, lifting flaps and discovering who and what can be found at the beach in this sturdy board book for preschoolers  by Katharine McEwen.  The text is minimal- a statement  about the beach on one page and a question about the inhabitants on the facing page.  Finding the inhabitants under sturdy flaps with a fact about each animal found, solves the mystery of who lives at the beach. Soft, colorful illustrations done in mixed media add to the fun of the search. STEAM at it’s simplest!  An excellent way to introduce the beach to those who live near one or readers far from the shore. This offering is one of a series which includes Who’s Hiding on the Farm, and Who’s Hiding in the Woods coming next year.

Submitted by Kathy George

Gray Public Library, Gray Maine