Format: Picture Book Nonfiction

Super Summer

Super SummerSuper Summer: All Kinds of Summer Facts and Fun by Bruce Goldstone
Published by Henry Holt & Company on May 7th 2019
ISBN: 1250120152
Pages: 48
Goodreads
four-stars

Most books about seasons either are very general or focus on one topic. What makes this a standout is the broad coverage of facts about the summer season. Clear bright photographs from many angles and views show vacation destinations, foods, insect and other animal behaviors, clothing, cooling, plants, and activities. 

Creative presentations of facts include “What does summer sound like?” with the crack of a bat when hitting a baseball instead of just saying baseball is a summer sport. There is also variety in the layout of each two-page spread. Some pages simply label the items in a particular category while other pages provide a paragraph of detailed information, such as explaining why a sunflower follows the sun across the sky. A table of contents would be helpful.

This reviewer will be ordering the companion books, Awesome Autumn (2015), Wonderful Winter (2016), and Spectacular Spring (2018) for her school library collection.

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

four-stars

My Digital Future

My Digital FutureMy Digital Future by Ben Hubbard, Diego Vaisberg
Published by Lerner Publications (Tm) on January 1st 2019
ISBN: 154153879X
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Only the last 2 chapters (4 pages) directly address the uncertain future. There are a few statements scattered throughout, such as

MInecraft/lego fans will grab this book just for the block-style images and characters with speech bubbles. The font digital-style font was very difficult to read as it was small and pale against dark fact boxes.

Includes a table of contents, glossary, list of helpful websites and index. Each chapter is a two-page spread on topics such as “Dating Digital Devices,” “Explaining the World,” or “Educating the World.” There are a number of misleading statements, such as “Clever digital citizens want to live in a world of online uses who can use technology well.” Clever?? How about ‘responsible’? This particular page uses that statement to tell children how to teach older people who didn’t grow up with online technology, and the list of suggestions given are directed to children. 

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

two-stars

Mother Goose of Pudding Lane

Mother Goose of Pudding LaneMother Goose of Pudding Lane by Chris Raschka, Vladimir Radunsky
Published by Candlewick Press on September 10th 2019
ISBN: 0763675237
Pages: 48
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Folklore
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Is this a collection of Mother Goose rhymes? Is it a biography of Mother Goose? Is it entertaining? Yes, yes and yes! Raschka has outlined a brief biography of Elizabeth Foster who married Isaac Goose in 1692. Their large family needed stories, rhymes and lullabies for entertainment and instruction, which Elizabeth made up as the children grew. 

Each colorful double page spread begins with a short rhyme. Strung together,Raschka’s original rhymes tell the story of their life from marriage until they “at last grew old and gray.” He then placed on each page traditional Mother Goose rhymes that reflect that aspect of the family’s life. On the “Elizabeth Goose – the family goose – did counsel and advise” page, the reader finds “For early to bed and early to rise is the way to be healthy and wealthy and wise.”

Vladimer Radunsky’s illustrations depict 17th century dress. Animals, objects and people are spaced around the page. Some images are painted, some are simple pencil or charcoal sketches.

If you need something unique for Mother Goose, this book deserves a place in your collection.

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

four-stars

Flippers & Fins

five-stars

Do youngsters understand the invention process? Or that many tools we use are inspired by nature?  “Flippers & Fins” is one book in the ‘Animal Tech’ series which includes “Fur & Claws,”

“Creepy & Crawly,” and “Wings & Beaks” all by this author published in 2019.

Clear photos, insets, colorful layouts, fact boxes, labels, and activities invite the reader to read the text to find out exactly how scientists use these animal concepts. The text is detailed enough to cover how each example of biomimicry works, yet is easy to understand for middle aged elementary youngsters. Readers will also be drawn by the seemingly odd connections. For example, Otto Schmitt studied squid axons in his work to develop the ‘Schmitt trigger’ which is a critical part for electrical switches. Other examples include sharks and swimsuits, cephalopods and camouflage, and whales and wind turbines. 

This book would be a great introduction to science projects, and would make a good partner book to Dora Lee’s “Biomimicry: Inventions Inspired by Nature” (2011). 

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

five-stars

Sembrando historias: Pura Belpré: bibliotecaria y narradora de cuentos

Sembrando historias: Pura Belpré: bibliotecaria y narradora de cuentosSembrando historias: Pura Belpré: bibliotecaria y narradora de cuentos by Anika Aldamuy Denise
Published by HarperCollins Espanol on January 15th 2019
ISBN: 1400212642
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

This enchanting and beautiful Spanish language picture book tells the story of Pura Belpré, librarian, puppeteer, and storyteller. After emigrating from Puerto Rico to her new island home of Manhattan, Pura was hired as a bilingual library aid at her local public library. She loved story time, but realized she wanted to pass on the special Puerto Rican folktales her grandfather had told her with New York’s children. Initially, she simply told the stories orally. Then, she decided she would sew puppets to embellish story time. Of course, a pioneer like Pura was still not satisfied. She wanted to plant the seeds for these stories to live on beyond her time at the library. So Pura kept going until the stories were written down and published. This picture biography is poetically written, elucidating Pura’s captivating and industrious nature. Sembrando historias is a love letter to libraries and librarians everywhere who sew and nurture the seeds of storytelling, a love of reading, and carrying on tradition. Readers who love adventure or who appreciate elegant illustrations will love this book. Recommended for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Savannah Sessions, SAD 17 Elementary Librarian, Oxford Hills.

five-stars

Spectacular Space Stations

Spectacular Space StationsSpectacular Space Stations by Elsie Olson
Published by Lerner Publications (Tm) on August 1st 2019
ISBN: 154155597X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Have you heard about the chef on the International Space Station? His food is out of this world! This book seeks to answer many of your burning questions about life in Earth’s orbit. What do astronauts eat up there? And what is a day in the life of an ISS resident like? How have space stations changed since their inception? And what does the future hold for space stations? This book is well organized and easy to navigate. Each page is loaded with real photographs  illustrating each of the topics covered. Any student looking to do a report on life in space would likely find what they were looking for within its pages. And with Maine’s own Jessica Meir currently living aboard the ISS, this book would make a great addition to any Maine library collection! Recommended for students in grades 3-6. 

Reviewed by Savannah Sessions, SAD 17 Elementary Librarian, Oxford Hills.

four-stars

Harriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter

Harriet Tubman: Freedom FighterHarriet Tubman: Freedom Fighter by Nadia L. Hohn, Gustavo Mazali
Series: I Can Read
Published by HarperCollins on December 31st 2018
ISBN: 0062432850
Pages: 32
Goodreads

This “I Can Read!” (Level 2) biography of Harriet Tubman is concise and includes two sections. The first is a beautifully illustrated narrative of her brave and adventurous life. The second, significantly shorter section, includes a timeline and primary source material as well as more in-depth information about her life and experiences. The coverage of Tubman’s life in this book is realistic and acknowledges how badly enslaved people were treated, while remaining appropriate for the intended audience (kids ages 4-8). There are some claims that seem to come out of nowhere (“She also had a disability.”) and the title lacks a bibliography for a curious reader who would like to find out more. A younger student hoping to learn about significant events in and the basic biographical information of Harriet Tubman’s life would certainly find this book useful. It is an accessible and honest account of the amazing risks Tubman took in order to help improve the lives of many, many enslaved people. 

Reviewed by Savannah Sessions, SAD 17 Elementary Librarian, Oxford Hills.

 

Deadly Frogs!

Deadly Frogs! Published by Bearport Publishing on 2019
ISBN: 9781684026586
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This book really sticks to its topic: venomous frogs. It starts out with the story of a painful discovery by a scientist in Brazil which led to the discovery of frog venom that is delivered through microscopic spikes on a frog’s head. Yikes. It goes on to describe other species, general terms regarding venom, the difference between venom and poison and uses for frog venom. The writing is clear and there are plenty of photos of brightly colored and highly venomous frogs. Sensitive amphibian lovers might be disturbed by a photo of a dissected frog but otherwise it would be a good choice for young science/nature fans. This book would be helpful in classroom discussions about both frogs and animal defenses.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

JUST LIKE US! CROCS

JUST LIKE US! CROCSJust Like Us! Crocs by Bridget Heos, David Clark
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on July 23rd 2019
ISBN: 1328791920
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

This colorful picture book compares crocodilians to humans; their family habits, eating habits, communication, parenting styles and general lifestyles.  Pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings are mixed with actual photos of the beasts in a humorous attempt at lighthearted comedy.

This book is marketed to K – 3rd graders, intended as a read along experience with an adult.  Language and terminology are too difficult for most 3rd graders.  Also, some of the text is hand lettered that an average 3rd grade student might find problematic.

I found the jumping from species to species confusing as there is only a brief sentence on the first page identifying the different crocodilians.  There is a glossary in the back of the book, but I would have preferred to have those terms being introduced on the page they appeared, in a bubble format perhaps?

The illustrations are aimed at a young audience, but the content and information seem to be more appropriate for an older child.  I would welcome this book in my library if I needed books on this topic, as it might be helpful to teachers doing a class project.

Reviewed by Irene Hall, Witherle Public Library, Castine

four-stars

Healthy Eating Habits

two-stars

This informational book aims to help the youngest of readers understand the basics of healthy eating. In spite of being a primer, Healthy Eating Habits uses vocabulary like “protein” but doesn’t define it or give examples. There is a picture glossary in the back of the book where I expected to find terms like “protein” and “fat”. Instead, it strangely includes “habits” and “balanced meal,” among other terms. On the plus side, the colorful design and photographs help reinforce the message about healthy eating; variety and balance are key! In addition, throughout the book, Reinke includes critical thinking questions which are paired nicely with the images and the text. This book is best suited for PreK-Grade 1.

Reviewed by Savannah Sessions, SAD 17 Elementary Librarian, Oxford Hills.

two-stars