Format: Picture Book Nonfiction

Life on an Island

Life on an IslandLife on an Island by Holly Duhig
Published by Crabtree Publishing Company on July 31, 2019
ISBN: 0778764761
Pages: 24
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

One of a series of Human Habitats for young readers. Readers will get a glimpse of the life on an island with boats, fishing and volcanoes. The photos that highlight each area are excellent and the text is appropriate for young readers. This book contains a glossary. It will be a great resource for the classroom.

Reviewed by Ginni Nichols, Gardiner Public Library, Gardiner

four-stars

Nature All Around: Plants

Nature All Around: PlantsNature All Around: Plants by Carolyn Gavin, Pamela Hickman
ISBN: 1771388196
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Another great addition from the Nature All Around series, this book combines beautiful and colorful illustrations with factual information about many different kinds of plants. It includes information about how animals interact with plants, how plants survive and thrive in different seasons, how to grow plants, and a bit on which plants to avoid. This book is definitely a launching point for young naturalists to further explore the wonderful world of plants. The illustrations are vibrant and provide context for some of the plants mentioned. That being said, I always prefer actual images of the real plants when discussing the science. Images provide a more accurate representation of the parts of the plants. Recommended for 3rd grade and up and a recommended purchase for most libraries.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver

The Secret Garden of George Washington CarverThe Secret Garden of George Washington Carver by Frank Morrison, Gene Barretta
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on January 14, 2020
ISBN: 0062430157
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This is an adorable non-fiction picture book of the young life and development of a celebrated botanist, early environmentalist, humanitarian and voice for racial harmony.  The pictures are colorful and delightful.  The text is simple but very informative.

The last words in the story are splendid, “Regard Nature, Revere Nature, Respect Nature”.  The book ends with a timeline, bibliography, and further reading suggestions.

I would highly recommend this book to all libraries, and to teachers and parents as a great read aloud.

I would rate this book a 5.

Reviewed By Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine

five-stars

THUMP GOES THE RABBIT, HOW ANIMALS COMMUNICATE

THUMP GOES THE RABBIT, HOW ANIMALS COMMUNICATEThump Goes the Rabbit: How Animals Communicate by Fran Hodgkins, Taia Morley
Published by HarperCollins on January 7, 2020
ISBN: 0062491016
Pages: 40
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Level 1 Science, Let’s Read and Find Out

This simple non-fiction picture book explains simple communication used by a variety of animals.  The illustrations are cute, very child friendly, the text informative.  I was pleasantly impressed that the facts in this series are checked for accuracy by experts in the relevant field; in the case of this book, Dr. Fred Wasserman, Associate Professor of Biology at Boston University.

I especially liked the end of the book, with instructions to children on how to make observations just like a scientist.  Very simple, but wonderfully engaging, and very doable for children.

The author, from Rockport Maine, has written a very lovely, simple, beginning science book.  I would recommend this book to libraries looking to expand their collection of beginner science books.

I would rate this book a 4.

Reviewed By Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine

four-stars

How Submarines Work

How Submarines WorkHow Submarines Work by Walt Brody
Published by Lerner Publications (Tm) on August 1, 2019
ISBN: 1541555686
Pages: 24
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This very short non-fiction picture book has very engaging photos and facts about submarines.  It includes a history of submarines, parts of a sub, and some facts on the current and future uses of subs.

This book is part of a series of books, Military Machines, so this book only describes military submarines.  There is no mention of submarines used in any other venture.

A glossary, suggested further reading sites, and index are in the back of this 24 page book.  Children interested in military submarines will thoroughly enjoy this beginner book.

I would rate this book a 3.

three-stars

SUSAN B. ANTHONY, Her Fight for Equal Rights

Susan B. Anthony: Her Fight for Equal Rights by Maike Plenzke, Monica Kulling
ISBN: 0593119835
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This beginning picture non-fiction book tells the story of Susan B. Anthony and her lifetime fight for the right for women to vote. In very brief, but informative text, and accompanied by simple but very clear illustrations, the story explains a simplified history of women’s rights.

This would be a good first read for parents and teachers wanting to expand the knowledge and background of their students/children.  It will certainly begin the conversation of the evolution of women’s rights, and help children understand that these rights we have today were not always available.

I would rate this book a 4.

Reviewed By Irene Hall, Witherle Memorial Public Library, Castine

four-stars

Bringing Back the Wolves

Bringing Back the WolvesBringing Back the Wolves: How a Predator Restored an Ecosystem by Jude Isabella, Kim Smith
ISBN: 1771386258
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

For 70 years, there were no wolves in Yellowstone National Park. In 1995, wolves were reintroduced to the park in an attempt to bring the ecosystem back to balance. This book chronicles the impacts that both the absence and the presence of wolves has on the Yellowstone ecosystem. How did the reintroduction impact coyotes, bison, ravens, plants, soil, and more? The answers may surprise you.

This book is very well done and will appeal to a wide audience. There are beautiful, colorful, detailed illustrations throughout, and the text is informative without bogging the reader down with too many details. It touches on, and explains, several ecological principles and does so in context making them easier to comprehend. Throughout the text, there are bolded words that are found in a glossary at the end of the book. The vocabulary is a bit advanced, but not so much that a young reader would be unable to follow the story. There are many animals pictured in the illustrations that are not identified, and this seems like a missed opportunity for further education. Recommended for 2nd grade and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Happy

HappyHappy: A Beginner's Book of Mindfulness by Katie Hickey, Nicola Edwards
ISBN: 0593121198
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

“Mindfulness is all about connecting with ourselves and the world around us.” These opening words set the tone for this wonderful introduction to mindfulness for kids. The book goes through several aspects of being — tasting, touching, feeling, relaxing, discovering — it talks about the ways to experience this in your life, and each page ends with questions for the reader to contemplate about how to experience these thing in their lives.

This is a great introduction to mindfulness for kids while simlutaneously being a good reminder for the adults reading to the kids. The illustrations are gorgeous, colorful, and wonderfully detailed. Recommended for kids 4 and up, this would be a great book to spark discussion or to help kids wind down at bed time.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars

Wait, Rest, Pause

Wait, Rest, PauseWait, Rest, Pause by Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Published by Millbrook Press (Tm) on September 3, 2019
ISBN: 1541561929
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This is a non-fiction picture book for readers in grades pre-k to 2nd.  Beautiful nature pictures showing how various plants and animals survive the cold temperatures.  There are varying degrees of hibernation or dormancy which are explained in almost rhythmic prose such as “waiting, resting” or “you would pause.”  Bears, trees, ladybugs and unusual ones like chickadees and an alligator are also pictured.  The large font and rhythmic prose makes this a useful non-fiction choice for preschool story times and browsing.  The back matter includes a full page explanation of Dormancy differences:  Plant, Diapause, Hibernation, Torpor, Brumation and Estivation, as well as book recommendations and websites, although bibliography information is not provided.

Review by Sheila Dube, Youth Services Librarian, Springvale Public Library

five-stars

Beneath the Waves

Beneath the WavesBeneath the Waves by Helen Ahpornsiri, Lily Murray
ISBN: 1536210404
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This book is simply stunning. The artwork makes the book, no question. Illustrated by Helen Ahpornsiri, each image is a collage of pressed, dried seaweed and flowers. The text of the book is a very general overview of different parts of the ocean. Broken into four main sections: coast, open ocean, tropics, and polar waters, each section has 7-8 pages with a different topic from within that section. It is very much a skimming the surface of the science situation, and it really just presents a handful of interesting facts about specific oceanic creatures.

This was a difficult book to review because the illustrations are so gorgeous, but the setup of the book seems misaligned with the intended audience. Kids will definitely learn things by reading this book, and the illustrations may entice them to read it when they otherwise wouldn’t. It could be a good launching point for further research as well. The information presented is appropriate for readers as young as 6 or 7, but the text size and varying fonts doesn’t lend itself to beginning readers. I’d recommend this book to kids aged 7 and up who have a general interest in science, the ocean, or art.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars