Format: Picture Book Nonfiction

Love in the Library

Love in the LibraryLove in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Yas Imamura
Published by Candlewick Press on January 25, 2022
ISBN: 1536204307
Pages: 40
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and illustrated by Yas Imamura is the love story of two Japanese-Americans who were placed in internment camps during WWII. It is honest in its portrayal of the injustice suffered among our citizens, while also portraying the hope and humanity that allowed these two characters (based on real people) to find love and miracles within one another during a terrible time in our not-so-distant past. The story weaves the words, miracle, human, throughout and reminds us again and again what it is to be truly resilient. The illustrations are warm, emotive, and evocative and add the final layer of beauty to this story, with a muted and tender color palette that helps ground the reader in a 1940’s timeframe.

It’s a hard story, but a necessary one. It leans toward the older picture book readers, but anyone would benefit from this story of the full moral spectrum of humanity. 

Reviewed by Mary Randall, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, ME.

five-stars

The Book of Labyrinths and Mazes

The Book of Labyrinths and MazesLabyrinths and Mazes by Finn Dean, Silke Vry
Published by Prestel Junior on September 14, 2021
ISBN: 3791374745
Pages: 96
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars
This ambitious book lost me immediately. I was so excited to start this because I love labyrinths and mazes (and Minotaurs!), but the entire first section read more like a child’s self help book and I was confused about where it was going and why it was going that way. I think there is a lot of excellent material here; there are interesting ways to think about labyrinths and mazes and apply them to our lives. The scope of it, though, could have benefited from a different organizational structure and maybe some editing. Every page has a new direction and while a lot of the information is useful, it all came across as frantic to me.  This is not a must-have but some kids are fascinated by mazes and it might be worth it to have it for them.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

A Hundred Thousand Welcomes

A Hundred Thousand WelcomesA Hundred Thousand Welcomes by Lian Cho, Mary Lee Donovan
Published by Greenwillow Books on October 12, 2021
ISBN: 9780062877727
Pages: 40
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Travel to homes around the world in this  book about hospitality and acceptance, which features the word “welcome” from fourteen languages. The illustrations are delightful, especially the 4-page spread of everyone at the same table, but I found the poetic text to be uninspiring and sometimes confusing. I would have liked more information about the holidays and customs. The “A Note about Pronunciation” at the end of the book was most interesting but think it should have been included on the page it was referring to rather than having to go back-and-forth. The expression of diversity is welcome during these times. This book reminded me of a book my own children enjoyed when they were young – Children Just Like Me by Barnabas & Anabel Kindersley (1995).

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

We Are One : How the World Adds Up

We Are One : How the World Adds UpWe Are One: How the World Adds Up by Linda Yan, Susan Hood
Published by Candlewick Press on October 26, 2021
ISBN: 9781536201147
Pages: 32
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
This book is a billed as a “mind-expanding look at early math concepts like part/whole relationships, fractions, and addition.” I’d describe it as a thinking person’s counting book. This rhyming book provides examples as varied as three lines craft a haiku to the five acts of Shakespeare’s plays to the nine innings in baseball. At the heart of the narrative is the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Factual tidbits are added at the bottom of each page that enlist more food for thought. Diverse and thought provoking ending with concept that all on this earth are one! Best to share this book one-on-one with a child, reinforcing the concepts that best suit the age and interests. Sources and additional information is at the back.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Where Do We Get Water?

Where Do We Get Water?Where Do We Get Water? by Karen Latchana Kenney
Published by Bearcub Books on January 1, 2021
ISBN: 1647474930
Pages: 24
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars
Where Do We Get Water?

 

In a nonfiction picture book format Karen Kenney explains the water cycle from rain to purification plant to pumps to water tower to the tap.  The illustrations, (photographs and drawings), add to the appeal of the book.  There is a Glossary, an Index, and print and online sources for learning more, as well as Teaching Tips.

For a beginning nonfiction book on the water cycle this should appeal to K-2nd grade readers.

Reviewed by Ellen Spring, Oceanside High School, Rockland

 

 

three-stars

A Tree Is A Home

A Tree Is A HomeA Tree Is a Home by Pamela Hickman, Zafouko Yamamoto
Published by Kids Can Press on September 7, 2021
ISBN: 1525302361
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals, Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars
As a large old tree grows it shelters a variety of animal families.  This non-fiction book reviews the seasons using both the changes of the tree and that of the six animal families who use it as a home.  Hickman’s text reveals some mysteries of animal habitats while it accurately describes the changes of season in the north.  Lush expanding illustrations of the tree allows little readers to search for the animal homes.  Yamamoto’s up-close views of animal habitat and behavior may produce an interest in children to learn more about nature.  By adding the house to the story, the author connects readers to the seasons. This book is story time worthy across many age groups.

A Tree is a Home is a nonfiction picture book which will make a good addition to any public library concept book collection. Preschool classrooms through grade 2 will find this title an excellent addition to their shelves.  Once school media center librarians have shared this title, they will be unable to keep the book on the shelf.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

four-stars

Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma

Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo MaPlaying at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma by Joanna Ho, Teresa Martínez
Published by HarperCollins on September 28, 2021
ISBN: 0062994549
Pages: 40
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Playing at the Boarder is a biography of Yo-Yo Ma which reveals  his musical training and  community projects.  As a world-renowned cellists Ma has shared his music with all ages and received a multitude of awards.   This book highlights his educational tour entitled the “Bach Project”.  Young children may not have previous knowledge of Yo-Yo Ma or grasp an understanding of his project but they will gravitate to the enlightening text and lively illustrations. Martinez has provided illustrations that bend and sway with the musical notes dancing across the pages.  This reader loves the large eyes drawn on each character as they listen with rapture.  The major emphasis of the book surrounds a concert Ma preformed on the edge of the Rio Grands for the benefit of people living on both sides.  His message that we need to build community not walls is timely and appreciated.

A great early biography for primary school assignments and good reading for music lovers of all ages.  Recommended purchase for primary and intermediate media center libraries.

The paper weight is questionable as each page is wavy to the touch giving the impression that the book has been wet.   This book was provided by the publisher and shelved in a temperature controlled library.

Recommended by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME

 

four-stars

She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer

She Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: AstronomerShe Caught the Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming: Astronomer by Julianna Swaney, Kathryn Lasky
Published by HarperCollins on January 19, 2021
ISBN: 0062849301
Pages: 34
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars
This is a great biography about Williamina Stevens Fleming, an exceptionally bright young Scottish woman who, through her persistent curiosity and question-asking, would end up becoming the first woman given an official title at Harvard and, in 1906, the first woman elected to an honorary membership in England’s Royal Astronomical Society. Wow!

Fleming was supported in her quest for knowledge from the time she was an infant. Her constant questions got her a job working for the director of the Harvard College Observatory (after she started as his maid). She was young, widowed, and expecting and she eventually worked, raised her son,  and argued that his female employees should be paid as well as the male employees were. AND she discovered the Horsehead Nebula.

This is one of those biographies I read and think “Why didn’t I know about her?!” It’s a great read for her story alone, but I also love the emphasis on lots of question-asking being a sign of intelligence; I hope it encourages more and more questions.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Fearless: The Story of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Defender of Free Speech.

Fearless: The Story of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Defender of Free Speech.Fearless: The Story of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Defender of Free Speech by Gattaldo
Published by Candlewick Press (MA) on September 14, 2021
ISBN: 1536219185
Pages: 32
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars
While the story of Daphne Caruana Galizia is absolutely one that needs to be told, it might have to be handled a little more delicately than it is in this book. Galizia was a journalist in Malta whose bravery and refusal to be silenced, both through her peaceful protests and her journalism, eventually led to her death. This book reads as though it is written for young children and, while I firmly believe small kids can handle most anything when it’s explained well, the book is very vague and frightening (although sometimes the fright works; there is a phenomenal illustration of the men in power as a Hydra). There are almost no details about what Galizia was fighting so hard to uncover and report but there are details such as her dog being killed in retaliation against her.  It doesn’t mention her untimely death unless you read an additional section in the back, and if you do, my worry is that the message is that fighting for free speech can potentially lead to the death of your pets and, ultimately, a bomb being placed under your car. Galizia was amazing and her story needs to be known and shared but the book’s tone just isn’t quite right for its intended audience.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

Lights Day and Night: the Science of How Light Works

Lights Day and Night: the Science of How Light WorksLights Day and Night: The Science of How Light Works by Ellen Rooney, Susan Hughes
Published by Kids Can Press on September 7, 2021
ISBN: 9781525303197
Pages: 32
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars
Book 2 in “The Science of How” series. Kid-friendly introduction to the science of light. A young girl and her cat on a journey of scientific discovery during a summer to find the answers to these questions: Where does light come from? How does it work? What is it made of? Discusses aspects of light, including natural and artificial light; the many uses of light; how light can be absorbed, reflected and refracted; the meaning of opaque, translucent and transparent; how the eye sees light; and why some animals need less light to see than humans. The graphics are appealing. The book includes a glossary and instructions for a shadow puppet show. A recommended book for early learners as the information is presented in an easy to understand manner and  applies real life examples. I plan to get the first book in the series Sounds All Around: The Science of How Sound Works, too. Similar to the “Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1” series so unsure if you want both.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars