Format: Picture Book Nonfiction

Mae Makes Way: The True Story of Mae Reeves, Hat & History Maker

Mae Makes Way: The True Story of Mae Reeves, Hat & History MakerMae Makes a Way: The True Story of Mae Reeves, Hat & History Maker by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Andrea Pippins
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on May 24, 2022
ISBN: 0525645853
Pages: 48
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This picture book biography of Mae Reeves (1912-2016) tells the story of a significant figure in our country’s history. Reeves was a successful milliner, civic organizer, and Black business owner in a time when these accomplishments were more difficult than they are now. Items from Reeve’s millinery shop including many of her stunning hats are on display in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

Reeves made hats for the biggest names of the day (Lena Horne, Marion Anderson, Ella Fitzgerald), as well as for wealthy White women and less well-off Black women. The narrative puts Reeve’s accomplishments into historical and cultural context: “Hats were a way for these queens (Black women) to be SEEN, shining a light on the dignity they always had.”

Rhuday-Perkovich includes many specifics from Reeve’s story, putting Reeve’s societal and personal struggles and successes into context, so the reader understands how remarkable she was. Occasionally, the details get in the way of the narrative’s flow, but the specifics are fascinating.

The attractive, stylized illustrations support the text but don’t do justice to the actual hats. In the back matter are interviews with Reeve’s daughter and the NMAAHC Head of Collections, as well as photographs of some of Reeve’s hats in the museum collection. The photographs of her gorgeous hats help the reader understand the artisanship involved in creating them and why she is such an icon.

This could be an excellent story for students in middle school studying the Civil Rights era. The depth of the story makes it a good fit for students in grades 3-6, interested in history and finery. It could be an accompaniment to a maker activity about hats. If possible, share photographs of the actual hats.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

four-stars

Building

BuildingBuilding by Henry Cole
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on June 21, 2022
ISBN: 0063136554
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Henry Cole returns with another beautifully illustrated book about nature. This time, it’s the life and work of beavers. From building dams to building families, this book covers all aspects of beaver life. As with many of Cole’s books, the illustrations really make the book. The story is good though a bit slow for younger readers and those who desire a more fast-paced picture book. The story also ends a bit abruptly and unexpectedly. The line drawings coupled with a few splashes of acrylic color turn this book into a real work of art. The details drawn into each illustration are impressive and really give the works a life-like quality. Recommended for one-on-one reading for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Alexander von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist & Environmental Pioneer

Alexander von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist & Environmental PioneerAlexander Von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist & Environmental Pioneer by Danica Novgorodoff
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on February 22, 2022
ISBN: 1524773085
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Alexander von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist & Environmental Pioneer Novgorodoff, Danica (au. & ill.)

This picture book by Danica Novgorodoff (award-winning graphic novelist), blends sparkling text and captivating illustrations to tell the life story of Alexander von Humboldt, known as the Father of Ecology for his scientific work demonstrating interconnectedness of living things within an ecosystem. Quotes from Humboldt’s personal narratives are woven through the text and illustrations.

Novgorodoff presents a full picture of Humboldt (1769-1859), whose curiosity about the natural world put him “out of step” with his family and those around him. She is careful, through text and illustrations, to tell his story without generalizing the indigenous people he encounters during his travels, and acknowledges that many of the primary accounts were Eurocentric. The illustrations and diagrams are simple and vivid but provide detail and information for visual learners and readers.

Primary and secondary resources are an important feature of this picture book biography. The book is rich in back matter: timeline, quotation sources, maps as endpages, notes on the text – all work together (a backmatter ecosystem!) to enrich this account of his life.

Naturalists (any child who lays on the ground to examine a bug’s progress) will see themselves in this story about where curiosity can take a person. This is a wonderful example of how a picture book biography can provide enough information for a deep dive about an interesting subject, and still deliver the story in a way that is accessible to younger readers. This book would be a great read-aloud for younger children, and could be used with students through fifth grade, with attention to all the resources within the covers, outside the narrative. Highly recommended! Ten out of ten!

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

five-stars

The Notebook Keeper

The Notebook KeeperThe Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border by Magdalena Mora, Stephen Briseño
Published by Random House Studio on June 28, 2022
ISBN: 0593307054
Pages: 40
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border” is a picture book based off of a true story. A mother and her daughter travel to the border, seeking asylum in the United States. They must first speak with the notebook keeper there, who writes down their names and gives them a number. Once their number is called, they are allowed to cross the border. We find out that the notebook keeper is a volunteer who eventually passes the duty along to another. This continued until the covid-19 pandemic began.

Written by Stephen Briseño and illustrated by Magdalena Mora, this book features bright and colorful large-scale illustrations that draw you in to the story. Themes of kindness and helping others make this book a suggested purchase for most libraries. An author’s note about the true story, a photograph of one of the notebook keepers, and a list of sources are included at the back of the book. Written for children age 4 – 8, this book is recommended for elementary level library collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

If the World Were 100 Animals: A Visual Guide to Earth’s Amazing Creatures

If the World Were 100 Animals: A Visual Guide to Earth’s Amazing CreaturesIf the World Were 100 Animals: A Visual Guide to Earth's Amazing Creatures by Aaron Cushley, Miranda Smith
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on July 5, 2022
ISBN: 0593372352
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

If the World Were 100 Animals: A Visual Guide to Earth’s Amazing Creatures focuses on 100 of the Earth’s most amazing creatures, using statistics to demonstrate that all the animals of the Earth need to be safeguarded. The book asks and answers the questions kids want to know (if there were only 100 mammals in the entire world, how many of them would still be wild?), in a way that will have them poring over the pages.

The language is clear, concise, and compelling. The featured facts are emphasized through clean graphics and bright, colorful illustrations. The slightly oversized dimensions of the book (approx. 9.5” x 11”) and the full-bleed, double-page spreads are used to full effect.

Animal-loving fact addicts (the ones who greet you with the cheetah’s top speed) from kindergarten through fourth grade (and possibly older) will find this browsable picture book fascinating. The organization of information, combined with the illustrations and graphics, allows the reader to picture concepts that otherwise might be difficult to grasp.

If the World Were 100 Animals dials in on compelling facts across the broad category of animals on Earth. Students researching endangered animals or a particular sub-group (such as invertebrates) will unearth interesting factoids but this would not be the book to turn to for information about one specific animal. A bibliography in the front matter lists the resources used to gather the information used in the book. An annotated bibliography and index would have been very useful as well.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library

four-stars

Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas

Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma ThomasAblaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas by Jeanne Walker Harvey, Loveis Wise
Published by HarperCollins on February 22, 2022
ISBN: 0063021897
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

The picture book memoir about the artist Alma Thomas is also a story about segregation and perseverance. Alma was born in Georgia and was not allowed to attend the white school in her neighborhood. Her family bought books and invited teachers to their homes to help educate their children. Alma loved to learn but she also loved to be outside and her artwork reflects the colors of the natural world. Thomas grew up to be an educator and did not work on her own art until she was 70 and became the first African-American woman to have a solo show at The Whitney Museum of American Art and to have her work become part of the White House Collection. The illustrations in this book reflect the style of Thomas and many of her works are recreated for readers to see. With words from President Obama, an Author’s and Illustrator’s Note, a timeline, and source notes, this book is a wealth of information for readers of all ages. This book should be part of any library’s picture book biography collection and would make for a fabulous resource and display for Women’s History Month and Black History Month.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Andersen, Dyer Elementary School

five-stars

I’m A Virus

I’m A VirusI'm a Virus! by Bridget Heos, Mike Ciccotello
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on April 12, 2022
ISBN: 0593302931
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Using friendly text, the most “common” virus, rhinovirus that causes the common cold, explains how viruses work and spread. It uses fairly scientific language, with the exception of snot, but the cartoonish illustrations do much to illustrate the concepts. It discusses the new coronavirus that NO ONE has ever seen so can get EVERYONE sick. It does support vaccines which could bother some but it is not written strongly. Also included are a glossary of terms, recommendations for further reading, and a bibliography. Good information about illnesses.

Recommend for grades 2-5

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Up Your Nose

Up Your NoseUp Your Nose by Seth Fishman, Isabel Greenberg
Published by Greenwillow Books on June 7, 2022
ISBN: 0062953389
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Fact-based and relatable information about germs that can be found inside and outside the human body. Fishman identifies germs and microbes as five different kinds: bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, and helminths. The cartoonish and often hilarious illustrations add a bit of levity to a concerning and complicated subject. The Author’s Note at the end reads, “Even though no one likes getting sick, I hope this book has shown you that germs don’t mean any harm. These simple creatures are following their own simple ways of life, trying to survive in a world filled with giant creatures called humans.” Mission accomplished!

Recommend for grade K-4.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Firsts & Lasts: The Changing Seasons

Firsts & Lasts: The Changing SeasonsFirsts and Lasts: The Changing Seasons by Leda Schubert, Clover Robin
Published by Candlewick Press on March 1, 2022
ISBN: 1536211028
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

What are the last signs of winter? And what are the first signs of spring? This nonfiction picture book is about transitions using everyday occurrences during the seasons of the year to illustrate the changes throughout the year. Each season, sans calendar months, is introduced with a two-page spread of items on forthcoming pages. The cut-paper collages are stunning and the greens of spring and summer transition to fall colors to muted winter ones. Children will delight in the illustrations and the relatable experiences. The seasons and activities depicted are set in Northeast and definitely familiar to children in Maine.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Whose Bones Are Those?

Whose Bones Are Those?Whose Bones Are Those? by Chihiro Takeuchi
Published by Candlewick Studio on July 5, 2022
ISBN: 1536221457
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

A scattering of tiny bones, assemble into an animal skeleton when you turn the page revealing the form of a snake, lion, crocodile, elephant, or flamingo. I was confused by the additional clues, which I thought at first were what the animal eats but does an elephant eat apples? The bold cut-paper illustrations are reminiscent of Byron Barton’s simple, clean design (and who also has a book about bones). Clever concept. Fun facts about animal’s bones at the back. Not an essential purchase.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars