Format: Picture Book Nonfiction

The Tale of the Mandarin Duck: A Modern Fable

The Tale of the Mandarin Duck: A Modern FableTale of the Mandarin Duck by Bette Midler, Joana Avillez, Michiko Kakutani
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on February 16, 2021
ISBN: 0593176766
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Bette Midler’s “The Tale of the Mandarin Duck: A Modern Fable” is a story about an unusual duck that found its way to NYC’s Central Park. The duck is so beautiful and different that people look up from their phones to see it and take photos. Photographs of NYC and the beautiful bird in the book are taken by Michiko Kakutani and are accompanied by black and white illustrations by Joana Avillez.

The two distinct styles of art in the book may seem a bit jarring at first, but eventually they complement each other in telling the story. The idea that we are missing out on things while burying our heads in our cellphones is not new, but the fact that this is based on a true story and the great artwork brings a uniqueness to the story.

For children age 4 to 10, this book is not a must-buy for your picture book collection, but would make a good additional purchase for large collections or for readers who love birds.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook.

three-stars

My bed: Enchanting ways to fall asleep around the world

My bed: Enchanting ways to fall asleep around the worldMy Bed: Enchanting Ways to Fall Asleep Around the World by Rebecca Bond, Salley Mavor
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on October 27, 2020
ISBN: 0544949064
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

An unusual and creative book for bedtime that highlights the many sleeping traditions from around the globe.  Each spread begins with a bolded headline that provides a detail about the sleeping customs in that specific country. Next comes an embroidered image of an animal animal followed by  a brief explanation of the tradition. The amazing visuals that accompany the text are unique illustrations creating using fabric, beads, wire and yarn on embroidered fabric backgrounds. These outstanding visuals take up 2/3 of the page leaving 1/4 of the page to text.

This book provides a great resource for children to get a global perspective of what they have in common with other children and also how they are different. The fabric illustrations  are very rich and detailed and entice the reader to pore over the pages looking at the amazing artistry of the page. The back pages include a note about the stitching provided by the illustration.  A beautiful way to travel around the world and take a glimpse into children’s bedtime rituals. For children ages 4 to 7. A solid purchase for both schools and public libraries.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Children’s Librarian, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library — Kennebunkport, ME.

four-stars

The Lights & Types of Ships at Night

The Lights & Types of Ships at NightThe Lights and Types of Ships at Night by Annie Dills, Dave Eggers
Published by McSweeney's on October 20, 2020
ISBN: 1952119073
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

I’ve never wondered this before but is it possible to have illustrations be too good? So good that they maybe even detract, or at least distract, from the text? I guess it’s a good problem to have. The illustrations in this book are startling and I found myself begrudgingly reading  the text because I couldn’t wait  to get to the next page, which was a shame because the text is informative and has Eggers’ natural and easygoing sense of humor.  Each page is a different kind of water vessel at night, illuminated by their lights in the dark. Eggers describes each vessel’s function but the book is mostly about how majestic they all are. He’s right and it’s always nice to take a step back and think about the beauty of something we might take for granted.  The backdrop of stars on the pages makes each one look like some kind of glowing space ship, so Eggers’ text is helpful in bringing us back down to earth.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Curtis Memorial Library, Brunswick

five-stars

Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True Friendship

Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True FriendshipThe Old Man and the Penguin: A True Story of True Friendship by Julie Abery, Pierre Pratt
Published by Kids Can Press on October 6, 2020
ISBN: 1525302086
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Penguins in Brazil. That might be the first amazing fact in this true story. Joao nurses him back to health, and tries to return him to the sea where he belongs. But the penguin comes back, so Joao gives him a name: Dindim, and gives him the freedom to be wild.

Illustrations by Pierre Pratt show various angles and views, giving the reader a fuller feel for the blues and greens of the Brazilian beach setting.. Sparse rhyming text does the story justice.

Pair with any books about Harry Goodridge and Andre the seal of Rockport, Maine, or narratives about oil-soaked animals being rescued or stories of penguins for early to middle elementary levels.

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

five-stars

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First PaleontologistDinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers, Marta Álvarez Miguéns
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. on July 7, 2020
ISBN: 172820951X
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Mary Anning was unique for her time, having lived in the first half of the 1800’s. She was curious, observant, and perseverant in her quest for knowledge and recognition of her dinosaur fossils and bones discoveries. 

Text include many descriptive phrases, such as “scrambled over crumbling cliffs” and repeats the theme that Mary wasn’t afraid. The author wasn’t shy about describing bezoar stone:  fossilized poop! Full-color, digitally painted illustrations by Marta Alvarez Miguens are mostly double-page spreads and show enough dinosaur bones to grab younger reader’s attention.  Backmatter includes a proportional timeline (including a few details not described in the text), author’s note, and bibliography.

Additional but worthy purchase where collections need updating or don’t include Laurence Anholt’s “Stone Girl, Bone Girl” (1999) or “Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon” by Jeannine Atkins (1999). All three of these have inviting titles, but only Skeers’ book lists Mary Anning as being named “One of the ten most influential British women of science” by the Royal Society of London since that happened in 2010.

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

four-stars

Equality’s Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America

Equality’s Call: The Story of Voting Rights in AmericaEquality's Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America by Deborah Diesen, Magdalena Mora
on February 18, 2020
ISBN: 1534439587
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Rhyming text briefly introduces the history of America’s legislative changes to voting rights since its founding. It recognizes the Founding Father’s intentions, and briefly explains why they need updating and revisiting.  Repetition of the phrase “a right isn’t right till it’s granted to all” invites readers to investigate other civil rights laws.

The clever illustrations (Madgalena Mora) show a classroom of students being taught this history. As time marches on, so do those seeking more privileges, and the number of marchers increases. Backmatter describes a few citizenship and voting legislative acts, and a list of voting rights activists, which includes abolitionists, social reformers, politicians, and even George Washington. There is a difference from various sources concerning the year Native Americans got the vote; the year Diesel listed does not match my other sources.

Recommended for middle-upper elementary to introduce voting rights but would need considerable discussion of concepts like ‘franchise’, the importance of various Constitutional amendments, and the connection between citizenship and voting rights. The children shown in the illustrations who are studying this issue seem a bit young for the audience who would understand or be studying this topic.

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

four-stars

Rocket Science

Rocket ScienceRocket Science: A Beginner's Guide to the Fundamentals of Spaceflight by Andrew Rader, Galen Frazer
Published by Candlewick Press on November 3, 2020
ISBN: 153620742X
Pages: 64
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This nonfiction picture book is perfect for the budding space scientist or those looking for a bird’s eye view of the science behind space travel. The text is informative without being overwhelming. The digitally rendered illustrations are colorful and help bring some context to the facts presented. They’re colorful and will engage young readers. This is a great launching point for further research into space and space flight. The back pages include a glossary and a list of links for further reading. Recommended for space explorers 5 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Tiny Monsters

Tiny MonstersTiny Monsters: The Strange Creatures That Live On Us, In Us, and Around Us by Robin Page, Steve Jenkins
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on November 17, 2020
ISBN: 0358307112
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This nonfiction picture book highlights small organisms that live in, on, and around humans. The subtitle is a bit misleading in that many of the animals found in the book live on the forest floor. Other than that misnomer, this is a great book that kids will enjoy. The illustrations are detailed and colorful, and each illustration is accompanied by an image of the actual size of the creature (sometimes just a dot because they’re so small) as well as the magnification scale of the drawing. This detail will help kids with perspective. Throughout the book, I wished there was information about where in the world each organism was found, and that information (and a little bit more) is included in the back pages. Overall, it is a fun exploration of often ignored or completely unknown organisms. From the more common mosquito to the little known eyelash mite, there’s something to pique the interest of most young readers. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Breaking the Ice: The True Story of the First Woman to Play in the National Hockey League

Breaking the Ice: The True Story of the First Woman to Play in the National Hockey LeagueBreaking the Ice: The True Story of the First Woman to Play in the National Hockey League by Angie Bullaro, C.F. Payne
Published by Simon Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books on October 20, 2020
ISBN: 1534425578
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Score another goal for the girls! Inspiring story of following one’s dreams with determination even when they say, “It can’t be done.” Canadian Manon Rheaume becomes the only female to play in the National Hockey League, or any of the four major North American leagues.

Pane’s slightly caricature style is here on large, double-page spreads with text carefully placed. Afterword, Time Line, and Fun Facts round out the details of Manon’s life and dreams fulfilled.

Great to use with elementary students and excellent addition to any female studies or sports section.

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

five-stars

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