Format: Picture Book Nonfiction

My Antarctica: True Adventures in the Land of Mummified Seals, Space Robots, and So Much More

My Antarctica: True Adventures in the Land of Mummified Seals, Space Robots, and So Much MoreMy Antarctica: True Adventures in the Land of Mummified Seals, Space Robots, and So Much More by Corban Wilkin, G. Neri
Published by Candlewick Press on March 5, 2024
ISBN: 1536223328
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Think Rick Steeves visits Antarctica … but replace Rick with Gregory Neri. Fulfilling a childhood dream, adult Neri had a chance to realize his ambitions by taking a grant-funded trip to Antarctica in 2017. Along with other artists and writers, he joined researchers (“mostly white, but I see a few folks of color like me”) living and working at McMurdo Station. Illustrated with exceptional photos, which Wilkin enhances with superimposed cartoon images, that capture the essence of the place. The author’s caricature looks on as scientists engage in a range of projects, meets penguins, surveys a photo gallery of outdoor toilets, and informs what life is like at the South Pole. Maps, galleries of rugged vehicles and outerwear, and multiple lists are included.  A great book for anyone to experience what it might be like to visit Antarctica. Extensive notes (10 pages) at the end of the book.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

A Song for August: The Inspiring Life of Playwright August Wilson

A Song for August: The Inspiring Life of Playwright August WilsonGenres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
three-stars

I always have a difficult time with how I feel about these picture book biographies about a person that no child is familiar with or should be knowledgeable about. That being said, this is a lovely book. August Wilson (1945-2005) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His father, a German immigrant, abandoned the family when he was quite young and his mother, a Black woman, earned a living by cleaning houses. August learned to read at an early age, but he struggled in school where he was bullied. He wrote a report about Napoleon for an assignment of an important in history.  His teacher refused to believe August had written the paper, so he stopped going to school and instead spent his days reading in the public library and wrote about people. Eventually he created the Century Cycle, a series of plays each representing a different decade of the 20th century, capturing the experiences of Black Americans. Writing in straightforward prose, Denmead illustrates how August Wilson turned a difficult childhood into a body of literature with major cultural impact. The detailed author’s note provides enlightening context about August’s work. Harris captures enhances the text with period details. Share this with a reader who you think may enjoy it and learn from it. Two plays, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Fences have been adapted into films so older students may want to know more about August Wilson.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

The Wonderful Wisdom of Ants

The Wonderful Wisdom of AntsThe Wonderful Wisdom of Ants by Philip Bunting
ISBN: 0593567781
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Lighthearted and informative. Such as, all the ants on Earth weigh roughly the same as all the people. Ants recycle, help others, and take naps. Bunting’s comparisons invite young readers to observe the natural world more closely and to reflect on our connections to it. He goes on to describe different sorts of ants within the colony, how they communicate using pheromones, and how they get from egg to adult. In the simple illustrations, generic black ants have little googly eyes, scurry about the pages gathering food, keep their nests clean, and carry large loads. The funny text conveys major concepts about this familiar insects. Ages 4-8. Published in Australia in 2020 but first American edition in 2024.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Cosmic Collisions: Asteroid vs. Comet

Cosmic Collisions: Asteroid vs. CometGenres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
five-stars

First in a series with a similar setup as the wildly popular “Who Would Win” series. What happens when two massive hunks of hurtling space debris slam into each other? This is a smackdown between the veteran asteroid fighter and the dazzling comet. Asteroid vs. Comet starts by comparing the two opponents, then encourage readers to use science to form a hypothesis. The head-to-head premise keeps readers entertained as they learn about comets and asteroids. Action-packed full-color illustrations with a comic book feel will attract kids, especially budding astronomers ages 7-9. Back matter addresses fact versus fiction, how to become a citizen scientist, and comets and asteroids in the news. Highly recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Arboretum

ArboretumArboretum: Welcome to the Museum by Katie Scott, Tony Kirkham
ISBN: 1536235016
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The latest edition of the Welcome to the Museum series is Arboretum with illustrations by the talented Katie Scott with writing by Royal Kew Gardens Arborist, Tony Kirkham.  Arboretum is an oversized children’s non-fiction book that celebrate the many different biomes on our planet, the vast variety of trees that populate them, and their extraordinary role they play in our ecosystem.

The first few pages introduce us to a color coded map of the Earth to show the different biomes; a page titled “What is a Tree?” showing the main components of what makes up a tree, “How Trees Communicate,” describing the complex root system that trees rely on to survive, and “The First Trees” describes the prehistoric trees that pre-date humans, and ones that still exist. The rest of the content in the book are specific trees and their habitats with stunning illustrations that show the intricate details of their trunks, leaves, branches, fruit, and buds.

The oversized nature of this book paired with the stunning illustrations and the curated words of Tony Kirkham is where this book really shines. The key-to-plate infographic is something that feels a bit disorganized, as do some other areas of the book, which might fatigue a young reader. The back cover notes that this book is meant for ages 8-12+, but I would argue that this book would work best for ages 10+. Otherwise, this book is strikingly beautiful and a real treasure for tree enthusiasts.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

The Mighty Pollinators

The Mighty PollinatorsThe Mighty Pollinators (Step Gently, Look Closely) by Helen Frost, Rick Lieder
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536229105
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The Mighty Pollinators by Helen Frost, and macrophotography by Rick Lieder, is an exploration of all our well-known, but also lesser-known, pollinators that help our plants on Earth grow. This is the seventh book Frost and Lieder have collaborated on, and fans of science-based poetry will enjoy their new collection of poems and up-close shots of insects collecting pollen.

The rhymes are delightful and informative, celebrating butterflies, moths, wasps, and even houseflies. The poems are short enough to be a bedtime story, or a storytime book. The back pages have further information on what pollen is–in all its colors!–and why it’s important.

The colorful, detailed images is where this book really shines since it gives the reader’s eyes access to witnessing the insects covered in pollen dust up close. For those who are looking to add more to their nature poetry collection, or are doing a unit on pollinators or poetry this informational picture book is a great addition. Recommended for ages 3-7

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

K9 Mattis on the Job: A Day in the Life of a Police Dog

K9 Mattis on the Job: A Day in the Life of a Police DogK9 Mattis on the Job: A Day in the Life of a Police Dog by Mark Tappan
ISBN: 140024658X
Genres: Animals, Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

K9 Mattis On the Job follows a typical day in the life of Mattis, a police dog, with his partner Sergeant Mark Tappan. As part of the Alpharetta Police Department, Sergeant Mark and Mattis hand out assignments, practice important skills such as tackling and tracking, and use their custom police car with a kennel in the back to report for duty. But today is Mattis’ favorite day: he and Sergeant Mark get to visit an elementary school to show off all the skills Mattis has learned. 

Being a police dog is more than just learning how to sit, stay, and high five. Mattis also practices tackling in the park and rescuing someone from the lake. In showing off for the students, Mattis not only finds a student’s stuffed turtle, but also Sergeant Mark’s hat, lost inside his police vehicle. 

A fun additional fact can be found on every page. These facts include details about Mattis and Tappan’s career together — Mattis has more awards than any other police dog in their department! Other facts are about police dogs in general, such as that German Shepherds can run up to 30 miles per hour. These tidbits add a wealth of information and provide additional context to this nonfiction read. 

This would be a great book for a lesson on community helpers, first responders, or even the life of a working dog. The realistic style of the illustrations feel kid-friendly without coming across as whimsical or childish, which helps kids relate to the story. This book would be perfect for early elementary students (PreK through grade 2) but maybe be adapted to be part of an older curriculum. 

Reviewed by Amie Martin, HB Emery Jr. Memorial School, Limington

four-stars

Brave Volodymyr: The Story of Volodymyr Zelensky and the Fight for Ukraine

Brave Volodymyr: The Story of Volodymyr Zelensky and the Fight for UkraineBrave Volodymyr: The Story of Volodymyr Zelensky and the Fight for Ukraine by Grasya Oliyko, Linda Elovitz Marshall
Published by Quill Tree Books on 2023
ISBN: 0063294141
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

With a gentle sense of humor and large-eyed digital illustrations, Linda Elovitz Marshall and Grasya Oliyko simply and clearly intertwine the modern history of Ukraine with Volodymyr Zelensky’s life story.  The author does an excellent job of showing the influences on young Volodymyr’s life that shaped his world view. He was an only child in a Jewish family who spent his first thirteen years in a Ukraine under Soviet rule. Then, while a young man attending university to become a lawyer, he met his future wife and eventually decided to become an entertainer in order to make people laugh. His television show about an honest high school teacher who gets fed-up with the political corruption within his country, runs for president, and actually wins, was prophetic. The author explains that in 2019, Zelensky realized making people laugh wasn’t enough and ran for president in real life. As the Ukrainian President, he has not only refused to leave his country, but has led his people in an extended effort to repel the Russian invasion that began in Feb. 2022 and continues to this day (Aug. 9, 2024).

This colorful, positive book ends with an author’s note, timeline, and a brief bibliography.  It is recommended for 4-8 year-olds.  I think it would make an excellent introduction to both Zelensky and Ukrainian current events.

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus Library

five-stars

Imagine Counting All the Stars

Imagine Counting All the StarsImagine Counting All the Stars by Gabriel Evans, Raewyn Caisley
Published by Candlewick Press, Candlewick Press (MA) on June 4, 2024
ISBN: 1536228311
Genres: Non-Fiction, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Maddie loves math and learning about it from her father. Her mind loves thinking and figuring in mathematical terms. The way she feels and thinks about math sometimes separates her from her friends in her class who are interested in seeing things in different ways. When a new girl, Priya, arrives it challenges Maddie to try even harder to be the best she can. Through the process she realizes that Priya is very similar to herself and during a long-awaited trip to the observatory with her father the girls realize their special bond.

This is a book about math, about love, and about finding friends you can be yourself around encompassing both non-fiction and fiction. Beautiful illustrations depict not only the solid facts of the math functions described in the text but also the feelings the characters explore and the world they live in.While math is about facts the illustrations softly guide the reader through the story.

This book could be used for many purposes; be it an introduction to the math principals, an exploration of how differently people think and how they approach the world, the love of family, or the joy and challenges of friendships.

Reviewed by MaryAnn Lopes, Lewiston Public Schools, Lewiston

four-stars

I Was: the Stories of Animal Skulls

I Was: the Stories of Animal SkullsI Was: The Stories of Animal Skulls by Katherine Hocker, Natasha Donovan
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536223131
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

First of all, GREAT cover! The book is about what animal skulls can reveal about their previous users’ senses and behaviors. The writing is first person (first animal?) and poetic. The backmatter gives more expansive descriptions of what the size and placement of these skulls’ might suggest about the eyes, noses, and diets of the six once-living creatures. (Seven if you count the human skull.) I’d give the writing and the information conveyed a starred review. I do not care for the dark, blue renditions of the skulls. I found it difficult to recognize what the text was conveying. I wished the illustrations were more distinct and colorful like the rest of the book. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it for the lesson in deductive reasoning for ages 7-10.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars