Format: Picture Book Fiction

Kaia and the Bees

Kaia and the BeesKaia and the Bees by Angela Dominguez, Maribeth Boelts
ISBN: 1536201057
Genres: Animals, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Kaia is super brave, but when it comes to bees, she’s terrified. Her father is a beekeeper, and he always offers to let her help, but she’s too scared. After some friends laugh at her for being afraid of bees, she decides to visit her dad’s rooftop beehives. She sees the bees, they find the queen, she holds a frame covered with thousands of bees, and she helps refill their water. When she takes off her glove, she gets stung by a bee. She’s still afraid of the bees, but she helps extract honey, and she decides maybe she’ll help her dad again sometime soon.

The image on the cover of this book clearly conveys that Kaia is afraid of the bees. I was really hoping she’d work through her fear a little better than she did in this book. By the end, she was considering helping her father again, but she still seemed very afraid. It is a good book in that it recognizes the real fear that some kids have about bees, but it missed the mark on helping them process that fear. The illustrations are colorful and help bring the story and Kaia’s emotions to life. Kaia’s family is biracial, and it is refreshing to see People of Color keeping bees in a kid’s book. I also appreciated the nod to rooftop beekeeping as it is more common in cities than most people realize. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Lights on Wonder Rock

Lights on Wonder RockLights on Wonder Rock by David Litchfield
Published by Clarion Books on September 8, 2020
ISBN: 0358359538
Pages: 40
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Each night, Heather sits at a place called Wonder Rock. She shines her flashlight up to the sky in the hopes that aliens will see her and take her to live among the stars. When it finally happens, she makes a wonderful new alien friend, but she also sees that her family misses her greatly. She continues to visit Wonder Rock throughout her life, again hoping to see her alien friend again. Will they return for Heather? Will she decide to stay with the aliens or embrace the love and adventure she already has on Earth?

This is an interesting story with breathtaking illustrations. The color and imagery throughout really make the book. The story is ok, but some younger, sensitive readers may be scared by the notion that aliens are going to come take them away. The message of appreciating what is in front of you is a good one, it just isn’t presented in the best way. Without the wonderful illustrations, this book would get 3 stars from this reviewer. Recommended for readers 3 and up (who aren’t super sensitive).

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Robobaby

RobobabyRobobaby by David Wiesner
Published by Clarion Books on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 0544987314
Pages: 32
Genres: Humor, Science Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A new robot baby arrives, and when the adults attempt to put it together, they’re repeatedly stumped by technological difficulties. Luckily, big sister, Cathode, comes to the rescue.

This book is fast paced, humorous, and just fun. Tech savvy adults will get extra laughs with the geek humor found throughout. The illustrations from three-time Caldecott winner, David Wiesner, do not disappoint. They’re high color, and highly detailed and definitely bring the story to life. The text is laid out in text bubbles, graphic novel style. There are also some pages with panels as found in graphic novels. It can be a little difficult to know which direction to read, even for seasoned graphic novel readers. For this reason, I’d recommend this book to readers 5/6 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Diggersaurs Explore!

Diggersaurs Explore!Diggersaurs Explore by Michael Whaite
ISBN: 1984850172
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

The Diggersaurs are back for another adventure, and this time, they’re encountering all sorts of obstacles. They dig, blast, crush, and climb their way under, through, and over everything.

Truck, construction, and dinosaur enthusiasts will rejoice with this book. Give to fans of Dinotrux and the like. Throughout the book, young readers can look for buried treasures in the illustrations. The illustrations are high color and very expressive. There’s nothing overly amazing about this book, but young readers will enjoy it. Recommended for readers aged 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Playing Possum

Playing PossumPlaying Possum by Jennifer Black Reinhardt
Published by Clarion Books on July 7, 2020
ISBN: 1328782700
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

When a possum feels nervous, it freezes and plays dead. This is unfortunate for Alfred — he’s a very nervous possum. When he meets Sophia, a very nervous armadillo, they discover they have something in common. With time and patience, they feel more comfortable around each other, and they realize they can afford the same compassion to other nervous animals.

This is a very sweet book. The message of compassion and patience and letting people be themselves is an important one, and it’s presented well here for young readers. I especially loved the end pages that share more information about the different animals in the book and their defense mechanisms. The illustrations are whimsical and highly detailed. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Ducks!

Ducks!Ducks! by Deborah Underwood, T.L. McBeth
Published by Henry Holt & Company on February 11, 2020
ISBN: 1250127092
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Duck wanders away from the pond and returns to find all the other ducks are missing. This mostly wordless book tracks Duck’s search for the other ducks in a variety of unexpected places. The illustrations are simple and silly and somewhat reminiscent of the Pigeon books. This would make a great read aloud book and a fun one for story time with audience participation. This book is also great for very new readers learning to sound out words. Recommended for babies and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

The Blue House

The Blue HouseThe Blue House by Phoebe Wahl
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Leo is a long-haired white boy who lives with his father in a little blue house, and that’s the way it’s always been. The paint is peeling, the whole place is drafty, and the heater only works part of the time. It’s their house, though, and they love it. They cook, dance, grow food, and explore together. When eminent domain takes the house from their landlord, they’re forced to move. Leo and his dad are really upset, and frankly quite MAD. To work out their anger, they have a jam session where Leo does “a special scream solo.” When they move to their new house, it isn’t the same, but slowly and surely, it begins to feel like home as well.

There are so many things to love about this book. First, a boy living only with his father in dilapidated old house. Second, displays of love, affection, and wonderful coping mechanisms for processing emotions. Third, the illustrations are gorgeous and really bring the emotion out in this story. This sort of a father-son relationship is rarely depicted in picture books, so it is refreshing to see. The text is simple and not overdone. There are enough words to convey the story without being overly wordy. Recommended for wide purchase and for Cream of the Crop. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

five-stars

KHALIL AND MR. HAGERTY AND DTHE BACKYARD TREASURES

KHALIL AND MR. HAGERTY AND DTHE BACKYARD TREASURESKhalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures by Elaheh Taherian, Tricia Springstubb
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536203068
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“Khalil and Mr. Hagerty and the Backyard Treasures,” is a sweet story about friendship between Khalil, a young boy, and an older gentleman.  Khalil  lives upstairs and Mr. Hagerty lives downstairs – in a  house  – where both share the same backyard. Khalil likes to read and explore. Mr. Hagerty loves to take care of his garden. While Khalil sometimes struggles to read words, Mr. Hagerty struggles to “remember,”  the names of his garden  tools. One very hot day, day, while Khali is  digging in the yard for buried treasure,  Mr. Hagerty harvests some very shriveled carrots.  Agreeing that this is indeed “discouraging,”  Mr. Hagerty invites Khalil  inside for a large piece of chocolate cake and a tall glass of cold milk.  “Maybe we’ll be luckier tomorrow,” says Khalil.”  And they are!  During the night, each has an idea of how to cheer up and surprise the other.   As a result, a lovely friendship grows between them.

The lovely cut-out illustrations are expansive and expressive, conveying well  the growing appreciation that Mr. Hagerty and Khalil have for one another.

Good for intergeneration and cross cultural studies.  Also, when promoting the  building of  new and less common types of friendships.

 

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

four-stars

THE SECRET GARDEN

THE SECRET GARDENThe Illustrated Secret Garden: 100th Anniversary Edition with Special Foreword by Anna Clark, Charles Robinson, Frances Hodgson Burnett
Published by HarperCollins ISBN: 1950435989
Genres: Adventure, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A lovely adapted version of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic book, ‘The Secret Garden.”  This picture book is for young readers – ages 4-8.  It is an easily read, straight forward rendition accompanied by lush, colorful illustrations  by the Swedish illustrator and designer, Adelina LIrius.

This is  the story of a lonely child, Mary Lennox, who was moved into  Misselthwaite Manor in Northern England. Mary hates the cold dreary Manor, until  an old gardener tells her about  a hidden, secret garden. And soon, a  Robin helps Mary to  discover the key that unlocks the  the  ancient  and  unkept garden.  One day, Mary hears cries coming from one of the manor bedrooms and searches to discover a young boy, Colin, (brother  of Martha, the maid, who is sick and weekly.)  Mary brings him to the garden in his wheelchair  for fresh air and sunshine.  A  transformation occurs in the children  while working together  to  bring the old garden back to  life.  And slowly, as the  new garden  emerges, so does a new friendship between Mary and Colin.

Great for when studying classic literature with children.  A beautiful  read aloud with beautiful engaging artwork.

 

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

five-stars

THE STARS JUST UP THE STREET

THE STARS JUST UP THE STREETThe Stars Just Up the Street by Christine Davenier, Sue Soltis
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 0763698342
Genres: Adventure, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“”The Stars Just Up the Street,” is a sweetly told picture book about a Mabel who loved to watch   the 37 stars she could count  from  her backyard.  When Mabel shares this fact with Grandpa, he recalls  memories  of his own childhood in the prairies where he was able to view thousands of stars.   Grandpa and Mabel climb the hill “just up the street” where Mabel is able to count 103 stars.   On their walk through town, Mabel had noticed that many houses and porches were brightly lit!  Mabel then has an idea. “Maybe people would turn off their lights!  But The townspeople protest until Mabel is to convince them  ( all but the mayor, that is) to all come outside and see for themselves.  Finally she sends the mayor an email saying,  “When was the last time you saw thousands of stars?” And suddenly,  recalling  her own childhood  –  “lying on a striped blanket under the darkest of summer skies, she had tried to count them all.- the mayor types back, “Let’s give it a try!”

A fun read when studying the night sky.  Pastel watercolors lend an air of nighttime and gentleness to the story about a grandfather sharing with his granddaughter.

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

four-stars