The Sun by J.P. Press 
Part of series “Off to Space.” Learn about the closest star to Earth and all it does. Simple text and engaging photos make this an excellent book for K-2 units on space or for examining components of a nonfiction book.
Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library
What's Inside a Flower?: And Other Questions about Science & Nature by Rachel Ignotofsky 
Book 1 in series “What’s Inside.” The distinctive art style and engaging text clearly answers any questions you have about flowers. It’s both a picture book to read to kids and a book for them to sit and search through. Although it is very informative, the stunning artwork is what truly makes this an exceptional book.
Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library
Flying Paintings: The Zhou Brothers: A Story of Revolution and Art by Amy Alznauer, DaHuang Zhou, ShanZuo Zhou This picture book biography, published in 2020, details the “beautiful and the terrible” of the world-renowned artists’ lives in a clear and engaging way. Whether playing, fighting, creating or going their own ways, the two brothers carry with them the love and wisdom of their Po Po’s stories. They lived through Chairman Mao’s oppression of their family’s bookstore and their own art to come together and begin a new journey of painting together. The illustrations are rendered by the artists themselves which holds more meaning to the survivalist story. The time frame and the content may be the focus of more high school level study, but this picture book provides a useful introduction to both the time period and the art that is accessible for grades 3-6.
Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services Librarian, Springvale Public Library
Rise Up and Write It: With Real Mail, Posters, and More! by Anoosha Syed, Nandini Ahuja This non-fiction picture book, for readers in 3-6 grades, lays out the steps needed to community organize through the story of Farah Patel. Farah wonders why there are no butterflies where she lives in the city. She does a casual assessment of her neighborhood and then contacts the mayor with a solution. The steps to success require Farah and her enthusiastic friends to write a petition, attend a public forum, make slogan signs and create their own activist program. Interspersed between the bright illustrations are large pockets that represent addressed envelopes that hold removable examples of each type of correspondence, signs and buttons that Farah uses throughout the book. Useful for letter writing curriculum, community issues and civic units. Libraries will need to evaluate if the book’s loose pieces will hinder circulation.
Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services Librarian, Springvale Public Library
Extremely Gross Animals: Stinky, Slimy and Strange Animal Adaptations? by Claire Eamer 
Sure, readers know the skunk is a stinky animal but how many know that the bombardier beetle unleashes a more horrendous smell when threatened? The author has selected over 30 animals into groups of seven using like behaviors as her classification method. Part of the appeal is the gross factor yet not all readers will be disgusted or disturbed by these animals. Readers might be surprised what animals will vomit as a defense or who east poop for breakfast.
This book will introduce scientific thought to young readers and may lead some to perusing biology. Employing techniques like observation and research Eamer will open the eyes of many budding scientist. The photo illustrations are excellent, many are close-ups from the field while others are taken in a laboratory environment. The after pages include a glossary of scientific terms and selected sources. Most of the sources are as current as three years. Add this to public libraries and to primary school media center collections. Once introduced to student readers this book will rarely remain on the shelf.
Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian in Scarborough, ME.
This book is a fun exploration of musical terminology in a really great format. Each word has two, two-page spreads. The first is just the word (staccato, allegro, adagio, etc.) with a conductor facing away from the reader dramatically conducting the word. The second two-page spread is of a grouping of animals the personify the action of each word. Staccato has kangaroos, goats, frogs, and rabbits, for example. The animals are also accompanied by descriptive words like bouncing, popping, etc. This is a unique book and format for exploring musical terminology and is a great introduction to the topic.
Recommended for readers 4 and up. Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME
Out of the Blue: How Animals Evolved from Prehistoric Seas by Elizabeth Shreeve, Frann Preston-Gannon Before the text begins, Elizabeth Shreeve cleverly has readers guess, among hippos, dolphins, and sharks, which two animals are the closest relatives? Shreeve, complimented by Preston-Gannon’s illustrations, impressively chronicles life on Earth from its beginning until mammals arrive on the planet. The kid-friendly text makes the subject entertaining and easy to follow. The time periods (noted at the bottom) and notes accompanying various creatures are a nice addition. This will surely be the go-to book for teachers and parents when teaching evolution.
The total package is simple and effective.—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
A book to be read over and over for its intriguing story, illustrations, and captions. —School Library Journal (starred review)
Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library
Treemendous: Diary of a Not Yet Mighty Oak by Bridget Heos, Mike Ciccotello The CIP lists this as fiction, but I think I will put it in the nonfiction section of the library. Told in the diary entries of an acorn, this picture book follows a young acorn and its long life as an oak tree (yes, the acorn and tree have smiling faces and talk so I can see why it was considered fiction). But the text conveys basic simple science with clearly depicted root systems and labeled diagrams along with wry humor that is just right for new nonfiction readers. I recommend its use for teachers and parents of preschool and early elementary children when learning about plants in general and especially trees. I had no idea that oak trees didn’t start producing flowers and hence acorns until they were 20 years old. “Oh, my heartwood!”
Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library
Bruno the Beekeeper: A Honey Primer by Aneta Františka Holasová The subtitle of the book is A Honey Primer, and it is completely accurate. This is a long picture book that is full of information about honeybees, beekeeping, and bees in general. The book is separated into the four seasons and features information about what the bees and those who keep them do in each season. The watercolor illustrations are simply gorgeous and elevate the already wonderful nature of this book. Recommended for wide purchase and for readers of all ages. Recommended for Cream of the Crop.
Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME
The Last Straw: Kids vs. Plastics by Christiane Engel, Susan Hood This is a timely and factually augmented poetry collection to help kids (and adults) understand the dangers of plastic. I felt that the book tried to do too much and would have been stronger as an informational book as I found the poetry in different formats uninspiring. However the factual tidbits included on each spread were fascinating. (When I reviewed the book I said that the sources were not given however upon closer examination, I did find that were provided.) This is part of the problem with the book in that it is too busy with 13 pages of additional information provided as end pages. The bright, colorful illustrations are appealing and compliment the ideas presented. This could be combined with other books about the topic, such as Taming Plastic: Stop the Pollution by Albert Bates (2020) and Join the No-Plastic Challenge!: A First Book of Reducing Waste by Scot Ritchie (2019) for a theme study about this timely environmental issue. (I also think it was a missed an opportunity when choosing not to title the book “Are Plastics Fantastic?”)
Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library