Format: Picture Book Fiction

Northbound: A train ride out of segregation

Northbound: A train ride out of segregationNorthbound: A Train Ride Out of Segregation by Eric Stein, James E. Ransome, Michael S. Bandy
Published by Candlewick Press on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 0763696501
Pages: 40
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Michael lives in Alabama, and he loves trains. When he and his grandmother board a train to Ohio, he’s excited for the adventure ahead. What he doesn’t expect is that as they move from one state to another, the rules on the train change. When they start on their journey, he and his grandmother are in the “colored only” train car, but when they move into Atlanta, the conductor removes the segregation sign between the two cars. When they make their way into Chattanooga, the segregation sign goes back up. Along the journey, Michael befriends a white boy named Bobby Ray. When they’re allowed, the two boys play together, and when the segregation sign goes back up, they are forced to sit separately. This is a really well done book about a part of Black history many people may not know. It highlights the inequities felt throughout parts of the country and the varied pace of desegregation. The illustrations are life-like watercolor and do a wonderful job bringing the story to life. The story is easy to follow and will appeal to readers young and old. It will definitely spark some questions from younger readers. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

My Words

My WordsMy Words by Grant Snider
Published by HarperCollins on October 27, 2020
ISBN: 0062907808
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

At the beginning of the book, the narrator announces that she loves words. She then goes back to talking about when she was a baby and didn’t have any words. The story carries the reader through babbles to first words to a growing vocabulary. It ends with the narrator using her now expansive list of words to write. The illustrations in this book are simple, colorful, and complete the story. The text is sparse so the illustrations add a lot of the context to the story. Overall, the book isn’t bad, but the message isn’t very clear. A second purchase for larger collections. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Sun Flower Lion

Sun Flower LionSun Flower Lion by Kevin Henkes
ISBN: 0062866109
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This simple picture book is presented in 6 Chapters. It starts with the sun, the sun becomes a flower, the sun becomes a lion. The text is very simple, and this would be a great book for new readers. The illustrations are entirely in black, white, and yellow. The shape of the sun is carried throughout, even as it transforms from sun to flower to lion. This book would make a great read aloud as it has some opportunities for interaction. The book is, overall, pretty simple but Henkes recognition will ensure its popularity. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Evelyn del Ray is Moving Away

Evelyn del Ray is Moving AwayEvelyn del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina, Sonia Sanchez
Published by Candlewick Press on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 1536207047
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Evelyn del Ray and Daniela are best friends, they always have been. One day, everything will change — Evelyn is moving away. The two friends spend one last afternoon playing together in Evelyn’s apartment among the chaos and boxes of moving. They promise to keep in touch and always be each other’s numero uno. This is a heartwarming story of friendship and real life. Evelyn del Ray really does move away. It’s sad, but it’s real. There is racial diversity as well as families living in apartments — not a common dwelling for picture book families. The illustrations in this book are colorful, detailed, messy, and beautiful, and they really bring Evelyn’s and Daniela’s emotions to the forefront. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

A Polar Bear in the Snow

A Polar Bear in the SnowA Polar Bear in the Snow by Mac Barnett, Shawn Harris
Published by Candlewick Press on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 1536203963
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

It starts with a blank page and builds to following a polar bear on adventures in the arctic. The text in this book is really sparse and simple, but the illustrations really make it. The paper collage art is so texturally pleasing, it begs to be touched (even though the book itself isn’t textured). Kids will delight in the art, and trying to predict what the polar bear will do next. Recommended for wide purchase and for readers 2 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Arlo & Pips King of the birds

Arlo & Pips King of the birdsKing of the Birds (Arlo & Pips #1) by Elise Gravel
Published by HarperAlley on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 0062982214
Pages: 64
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Arlo is a crow and Pips is a small yellow songbird. Arlo goes on and on about how crows have huge brains and are the best birds in all the animal kingdom. Pips isn’t having any of it. Pips isn’t afraid to tell Arlo when they’re being annoying and calls them out on their exaggerations. The combination of witty humor and factual content about crows and other birds works really well in this new young graphic novel series. The illustrations are simple, cartoonish, and characteristic of Gravel’s previous works. Young readers will find this series easy to follow and fun. Hand to fans of Chick and Brain, Dog Man, and the like. Recommended for readers 7 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Pete the Cat: Super Pete

Pete the Cat: Super PetePete the Cat: Super Pete by James Dean, Kimberly Dean
Published by HarperCollins on September 29, 2020
ISBN: 0062868535
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

When there’s trouble in town, it’s up to Super Pete to save the day. He has a fancy watch, a fancy vehicle that changes with the touch of a button, and can catch a speeding boat with a rope. This is a Level 1 I Can Read book, so it’s a good early reader for kids who are already reading sentences. It can also be shared as a read aloud for younger readers. There’s nothing particularly wonderful about the story, but kids will gravitate toward Pete the Cat for his familiarity. Most Pete the Cat stories have some redeeming message about friendship or the like, but this book is simply good vs. bad. There are better early readers out there, but this will definitely circulate well because it’s Pete the Cat. Recommended for read aloud for kids 3 and up and for independent reading for readers 6 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

two-stars

Starcrossed

StarcrossedStarcrossed by Julia Denos
on October 7, 2020
ISBN: 0358153956
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Eridani is a student of the stars, and Acamar is made of stars. The two friends long to be in each other’s worlds, and when they’re given the opportunity to wish for it, they both jump at the chance. Things, however, have an unexpected outcome.

This book is a really sweet and heartwarming story of friendship regardless of differences. The illustrations are very colorful and busy. At first glance, the cover was a bit off putting, but after reading the story, it seems less so. The illustrations really make the story come alive, and the story wouldn’t unfold in the same way without them. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Find Fergus

Find FergusFind Fergus by Mike Boldt
Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers on November 3, 2020
ISBN: 1984849026
Pages: 36
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This book starts with a list of things to find — Fergus is the only thing on the list. It turns out Fergus isn’t very good at hiding, but his skills pick up throughout the book. This book is just fun. Kids will love Fergus’s antics and trying to find him as his hiding skills get better. The highlight of the book is the double fold-out full page flaps where Fergus is actually quite hard to find. The added bonus is on the back pages. There’s another list: Fergus’s List of Other Things to Find on the Huge Fold-out Page. This book will definitely be popular and is recommended for purchase. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

The Paper Kingdom

The Paper KingdomThe Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee, Pascal Campion
on February 18, 2020
ISBN: 052564461X
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

We have stories in which parents work, but few that describe in detail what their work is. When Daniel’s nightime caregiver is ill, his parents take him to work with them. They entertain him with stories of the Paper King and Queen, and the dragon to explain the messes they have to clean and why they have to make the office clean. 

Fairly simple but complete illustrations (by Pascal Campion) support and extend the text to show the work and envelop the reader in the mood of hard work and imagination.

Pairs well with “Night Job” (Karen Hesse, 2018) to compare and contrast, or just to add depth to the variety of ways families work hard to make ends meet. The story may also help build empathy to encourage daytime workers (and children) to keep their workplaces neat!

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

four-stars