Format: Picture Book Nonfiction

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of SoulR-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford, Frank Morrison
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers on August 25, 2020
ISBN: 1534452281
Pages: 48
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Whether you’re a music lover or civil-rights defender, you’ll find this inspirational overview of Aretha Franklin’s life a meaningful and inspirational read.

Narrative poetry is always a challenge, but here it works as smoothly and rhythmically as Franklin’s voice itself. Using the spelling out of words method, each two-line stanza is headed with an important word: B-L-E-S-S-E-D, G-I-F-T-E-D, V-O-I-C-E, etc.  This book could only be improved with it’s own soundtrack and a few photos.

Illustrations (Frank Morrison) are big and bold, reflecting the big and bold influence of Aretha Franklin in real life.

Another book to add to your women, Black history, or music shelves for middle and upper elementary levels!

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

five-stars

Lord Help Me Inspiring Prayers for every day

Lord Help Me Inspiring Prayers for every dayLord Help Me: Inspiring Prayers for Every Day by Brenda Figueroa, Emme Muñiz
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on September 29, 2020
ISBN: 0593120086
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This is a picture book, for pre-3 grade,  features a young girl who prays throughout her day.  Written from the point of view of a child, inferring that it is Emme’s voice, she asks the Lord to help her with basic daily tasks that a young person may encounter.  Getting ready for school when you feel rushed, paying attention in class, telling the truth, caring for her pets and getting along with her brother are simply stated and clearly illustrated on each two page spread.  The text or prayer then extends to a world view by saving sloths, flips back to the personal of being grateful and then switches to taking care of the world.  The prayer ends, as the girl ends her day, with a standard thanks to Jesus and a request for calming to fall asleep easily.  The end papers includes the standard “Now I lay me down to sleep” prayer and a note from Emme, who is twelve and the daughter of celebrity parents, about why she wrote this book.  Figueroa’s illustrations provide a few extra details to the topic by adding a sloth or two on most pages.  Although the book does not have a stand out quality, it will be useful for discussions about prayer in various Christian settings due to the honest portrayal of various child struggles.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services, Springvale Public Library

three-stars

Crossings :Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals

Crossings :Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary AnimalsCrossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals by Katy S. Duffield, Mike Orodan
Published by Beach Lane Books on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 1534465790
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

With more and more interactions between animals and humans due to urban sprawl, animals are losing ways to migrate safely, be it across a road or a country. Author Duffield, upon reading an article about an underpass built specifically to aid and protect the endangered Florida panther, began to research other ways of safely delivering all sorts of animals from one area to another. World wide, crossings have been built – be they tunnels, bridges, and  overpasses to aid and protect many kinds of animals . Duffield has partnered with illustrator Mike Orodan to bring this story to young readers and future engineers and animal activists.

Simple text with side bars for those wanting more information are found on  facing pages of large vivid illustrations done with  graphite pencils and adobe photoshop that draw the reader in. They  are there watching elephants going through tunnels  in Kenya, and Fairy penguins using tunnels in New Zealand, bridges for millions of red crabs to cross safely in Australia, and tight rope bridges for the Titi monkey in Costa Rica. Because of dedicated activists urging these crossings to be built, countless animals have been saved. Younger readers can “read” the information through these large  vibrant , detailed illustrations.

This non fiction offering is both beautiful to look at and relevant and inspiring. It is a book  much needed if humans and animals are to co-exist on this planet.

Pair it with Faraway Fox by Jolene Thompson and Wild Bridges and Buildings  by Etta Kanter that explains how humans have borrowed various  forms of architecture from animals to make life better and safer.

all ages can benefit from this book

Submitted by Kathy George, Gray Public Library, Gray Maine

consider for Cream

five-stars

Dinosaurs are not extinct

Dinosaurs are not extinctDinosaurs Are Not Extinct: Real Facts About Real Dinosaurs by Drew Sheneman
Published by HarperCollins on October 20, 2020
ISBN: 0062972340
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This book is a funny and educational look at dinosaurs and their bird descendants. It’s loaded with facts but totally accessible to younger readers. The humor interjected throughout will keep kids engaged and giggling. There is standard text as well as speech bubbles, so the flow of the text may be a bit challenging for the youngest readers but this is a good place to start learning that skill. The illustrations are highly emotive, very colorful, and really enhance the text. Hand this book to kids who love dinosaurs, humor, and science in general. Recommended for readers 3 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

If You Want to Visit a Sea Garden

If You Want to Visit a Sea GardenIf You Want to Visit a Sea Garden by Kay Weisman, Roy Henry Vickers
Published by Groundwood Books on September 1, 2020
ISBN: 1554989701
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Come for the art, stay for the text! Sea gardens, also known as clam gardens, are best appreciated early in the morning during low tide. This book refers to those gardens in the Pacific Northwest, and the beautiful, silhouette art in deep, pure, rich colors by local Roy Henry Vickers subtly depicts his Indigenous people of the area. The backmatter explains the science; the text lures the reader to come, explore, and appreciate these man-made walls that protect and provide a nourishing environment for clams and other edible sea life to flourish. 

Great introduction to the Pacific Northwest Peoples, or man-made attempts at sea life preservation, ecosystems, or for an art lesson with middle elementary ages.

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

five-stars

The Voice That Won the Vote: How One Woman’s Words Made History

The Voice That Won the Vote: How One Woman’s Words Made HistoryThe Voice That Won the Vote: How One Woman's Words Made History by Elisa Boxer, Vivien Mildenberger
on March 15, 2020
ISBN: 1534166734
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Historical Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Most new lawmakers don’t have much influence, but most new lawmakers don’t have Febb Burn as their mother. After reading his mother’s recent letter, Harry Burn changed his tie-breaking vote from Nay to Aye, which allowed women in Tennessee the right to vote. Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment thus allowing all women in the United States the right to vote.

Full-color illustrations are adequate, and facial expressions and images of newspaper headlines add to the emotional atmosphere of this crucial vote. Text in various sizes, colors, and boldness help the reader grasp some of the important details.

What did his mother say in her letter? “Hurrah and vote for suffrage and don’t keep them in doubt.”

Use this book anytime you need a story on courage, speaking up, Suffrage, or women’s history in the US. Be sure to pair this with “I Could Do That: Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote” (Linda Arms White, 2005).

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

five-stars

No Reading Allowed

No Reading AllowedNo Reading Allowed: The WORST Read-Aloud Book Ever by Bryce Gladfelter, Chris Carpenter, Raj Haldar
Published by Sourcebooks eXplore ISBN: 1728206596
Genres: Humor, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Homonyms made easy and fun, while building awareness, vocabulary and importance of carefully placed punctuation. Ptolemy the Pterodactyl is back from “P is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever” (2018).  Now he’s helping readers see humor and how language can confuse, confound, and entertain.

Each side of the double-page spread has a sentence underneath a framed, full color pictures (Bryce Gladfelter, illus). Many known and silly creatures help describe each sentence. “The hair came forth” is opposite “The hare came fourth.” Many of the words are included in “The Worst Glossary Ever…Again!” 

Shelve this right beside “How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear?” (Brian Cleary, 2005), or mix it in with picture books as young readers will enjoy examining the illustrations. There are many opportunities with this book to extend learning into a variety of directions for elementary learners. Can you figure out the homonym for “No reading allowed.”?

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

 

five-stars

Jane Goodall: A Champion of Chimpanzees

Jane Goodall: A Champion of ChimpanzeesJane Goodall: Champion for Chimpanzees (Rookie Biographies) by Gustavo Mazali, Jodie Shepherd, Sarah Albee
Published by Children's Press on September 1, 2015
ISBN: 0531214265
Pages: 32
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This emergent reader introduces the reader to the life and accomplishments of Valerie Jane Louise Goodall. In text that is informative yet not overwhelming, readers meet a young Jane and follow her as her love of chimpanzees leads her to Dr. Leakey who sets her on the path that changed her life forever. Large, colorful illustrations support the text with photos of Jane and more information about her to be found in the back of the book. This slim book is a great introduction to this scientist who changed the way we look at animals.

submitted by Kathy George

Gray Public Library , Gray Me

cream

five-stars

Fauja Singh Keeps Going

Fauja Singh Keeps GoingFauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon by Baljinder Kaur, Simrat Jeet Singh
Published by Kokila on August 25, 2020
ISBN: 0525555099
Pages: 48
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Oh my goodness, I loved this book. It’s the inspirational story of Fauja Singh, a 108 year old marathon runner who didn’t start running until he was 81. Singh was born with a weakness in his legs that led people to believe he would be unable to walk. With daily encouragement from his mother he worked at it until, at five years old, he was able to. He grew up to have a farm and family and was happy. After his children were grown his wife passed away and he moved in with family in England but was lonely and depressed there as he didn’t speak English. After seeing people running a race on TV he decided he needed to run and he hasn’t stopped. This man is amazing! He found a coach and ran his first marathon at 89! A great book about running, determination, and even how difficult a move to a new country can be, this book is uplifting and it would be a great addition to any upper elementary school classroom.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

A Ben of All Trades: The Most Inventive Boyhood of Benjamin Franklin

A Ben of All Trades: The Most Inventive Boyhood of Benjamin FranklinA Ben of All Trades: The Most Inventive Boyhood of Benjamin Franklin by Matt Tavares, Michael J. Rosen
on March 17, 2020
ISBN: 1536201219
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

BEN OF ALL TRADES is a lovely biography for ages 4- 10 and up,  about young Benjamin Franklin . Ben desperately desires to become a man of the sea.  HIs father, Josiah, tries over and over –  unsuccessfully,  to convince young Ben that this is not a good choice. “Son of mine,” says Josiah, “I will not see another Franklin lost to the sea.”  Ben tried many jobs during his early years: a joiner, a boot closer, a turner and a chandler. None were to his satisfaction. Eventually  Josiah  tells Ben  that he will sign indentures with his brother James’s print shop where Ben was to  become a journeyman.  “Perhaps you will read and study and write to the contentment of your heart.,” And so it was there, at the print shop,  that Ben, from his roots as a reader and a “woolgatherer,” blossomed. In time,  he became an inventor,  ambassador, political leader, journalist, editor, college president, scientist and postmaster!

A GORGEOUSLY  illustrated book depicting the activities of young Ben Franklin. Children will be pulled in by the engaging  and realistic illustrations of artist,  Matt Tavares.

BEN OF ALL TRADES shows us a deeply determined  and curious young boy, willing to  experiment with the many activities that ultimately lead to his successful career.

Could be used to exemplify the valuable traits of persistence and of knowing oneself well

Also, very useful when studying “childhood biographies of famous people.”

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

 

five-stars