Format: Picture Book Nonfiction

Riding a Donkey Backwards: Wise and Foolish Tales of Mulla Nasruddin

Riding a Donkey Backwards: Wise and Foolish Tales of Mulla NasruddinRiding a Donkey Backwards: Wise and Foolish Tales of Mulla Nasruddin by Khayaal Theatre Company, Sean Taylor, Shirin Adl
Published by Candlewick Press on August 13, 2019
ISBN: 1536205079
Pages: 48
Genres: Folklore
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Twenty-one classic trickster tales about a much-loved character from Muslim cultures. Nasruddin is the wisest man in the village and also the biggest fool. School Library Journal describes the tales this way: “The simple, clipped narrations are witty and conversational in tone,” and I would agree. Fun stories to readaloud. I have mixed feelings about the illustrations. The mixed photo collages are sometimes fun and other times a bit freaky. Then there is one page that is a drawn storyboard rather than a collage????? However odd, the stories in this fun book is wonderful to introduce kids to another culture and folk hero. And why is he “riding the donkey backwards?” “What are you talking about? I’m facing forward. It is the donkey who’s facing backwards!”

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

A Dream of Flight: Albertos Santos-Dumont’s Race Around the Eiffel Tower

A Dream of Flight: Albertos Santos-Dumont’s Race Around the Eiffel TowerA Dream of Flight: Alberto Santos-Dumont's Race Around the Eiffel Tower by Jef Polivka, Rob Polivka
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) on July 30, 2019
ISBN: 0374306613
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Deutsch Prize was the most coveted aviation prize, and a pilot would have to fly a balloon around Paris’s Eiffel Tower in thirty minutes or less to win it. Alberto Santos-Dumont thought he could be the first to succeed.  The story is well written and the illustrations are delightful, reminiscent of the Tin Tin books. I appreciated the authors emphasizing the many times that Santos failed and learned from his mistakes. I would have liked a bit more information about the man. There is a photograph of him at the end of the book. A terrific book to motivate future engineers.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Forest Talk

Forest TalkForest Talk: How Trees Communicate by Melissa Koch
Published by Twenty-First Century Books (Tm) on January 1, 2019
ISBN: 1541519779
Pages: 96
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Have you ever walked through the woods and heard the sound of the trees moving in the wind? Did this make you feel peaceful and at ease? Trees are a vital life force on our planet and in the book scientists share data that shows how trees can improve our lives by reducing stress and so much more. Author, Melissa Koch, covers an amazing amount of material beginning with the Mbuti Pygmies in the rain forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to rainforests of Brazil. In between, Koch discusses medicine made from trees, how trees communicate and protect themselves (“Wood Wide Web”), important scientists, and the important role of trees in the water cycle. Even readers who know a lot about trees will be able to learn something from this book. Large pictures and diagrams work with the text to visually present information and illustrate the text. This book would be an outstanding source for a research project or as a textbook for a unit during an environmental science class. Source notes, a glossary, resource lists for further information, and an index are included. Recommended for grades 6 and up. 

Elizabeth Andersen, Librarian, Westbrook High School

four-stars

Bendy and The Ink Machine

Bendy and The Ink MachineJoey Drew Studios Employee Handbook (Bendy and the Ink Machine) by Scholastic Inc.
Published by Scholastic Inc. on July 30, 2019
ISBN: 1338343920
Pages: 208
Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction, Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This is a fun guide to the video game “Bendy and The Ink Machine.” The guide is set-up as an employee hand book and you’re the new employee. In addition to the guide aspects of this manual, which were helpful, it also has parts that read like a story. I would recommend this for any teen who enjoys the video game.

Reviewed by Sophie Gagnon, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

five-stars

Little Frida

Little FridaLittle Frida: A Story of Frida Kahlo by Anthony Browne
Published by Candlewick Press on October 8, 2019
ISBN: 1536209333
Pages: 32
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This large format book is a glimpse into Frida Kahlo’s early life. It focuses on a dream she had where she met an imaginary friend who later heavily influenced her art.

The colorful illustrations are lovely and the strongest part of the book. The concept is good, but it will be lost on most young readers. The text was a bit flat and uninspiring as well. Best for kids 2nd grade and up with a follow-up discussion about what’s going on. An additional purchase for libraries looking to expand their picture book biographies.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

three-stars

Fourth of July

Fourth of JulyFourth of July by Pearl Markovics
Published by Bearport Publishing on August 1, 2018
ISBN: 1642801178
Pages: 16
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This simple introduction to America’s Independence Day is just right for the early childhood learner in your life. Through double page spreads and minimal simple text, readers can explore various aspects of the holiday, from fireworks to flags, and people to parades. This beginning reader nonfiction contains all of the expected text features. The back matter has a page of “teaching tips” which offers strategies and extensions to get the most out of the book.This book would be best for students in grades Pre-K – 2.

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

three-stars

Animals That Jump

Animals That JumpAnimals That Jump by Pearl Markovics
Published by Not Avail on August 1, 2018
ISBN: 1642800058
Pages: 16
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Animals ambulate in all kinds of ways. In the latest edition of the ANIMALS on the Move! series, readers can explore Earth’s bounciest beasts. Each spread includes a full bleed photograph of the jumper in question and very simple text. This beginning reader nonfiction contains all of the expected text features and would make an excellent candidate for the youngest students exploring those features. The back matter has a page of “teaching tips” which offers strategies and extensions to get the most out of the book.This book would be best for students in grades Pre-K – 2.

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

three-stars

Ghoulish Ghosts

Ghoulish GhostsGhoulish Ghosts by Craig Boutland
Published by Lerner Publications (Tm) on August 1, 2019
ISBN: 154156281X
Pages: 32
Genres: Horror, Mystery, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

If your collection is in need of some spooky nonfiction, consider Craig Boutland’s Ghoulish Ghosts. This book is a concise overview of all that is ghastly. Major topics include ghostly places, ghostly history, and ghosts around the world. The book includes nonfiction text features such as a table of contents, glossary, and index. Hopefully readers are ok with unanswered questions because the book leaves a lot to wonder about! The book contains a variety of illustrations, photographs, and digital art which nicely illuminates each of the topics. Due to the supernatural nature of this book, it’s recommended for students in grades 4-6.

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

three-stars

Red Rover: Curiosity on Mars

Red Rover: Curiosity on MarsRed Rover: Curiosity on Mars by Katherine Roy, Richard Ho
Published by Roaring Brook Press on October 29, 2019
ISBN: 125019833X
Pages: 44
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Take an interplanetary journey to Mars and follow Curiosity, the NASA rover that has been scouring Mars’ surface since 2012. This delightful non-fiction picture book for young readers highlights some of the rover’s unique abilities and tools as it navigates a strange, new frontier, using its laser, camera, measuring tools, and more to send valuable data back to Earth. Roy’s illustrations are bright and immersive, giving the reader a first-hand look at the vast, richly-red terrain, and a sense of awe as a solitary little visitor from far, far away traverses through it. Ho’s narration is clever and engaging, and provides just the right amount of information for curious minds about Mars and the rover while still being effective as a read-aloud for a younger audience. For those seeking more, additional information includes a detailed anatomy page, more background information about Curiosity, brief profiles of its predecessors, and a bibliography. Highly recommended for grades K-3, and a great way to help get kids excited about the next Mars rover that is set to launch in the summer of 2020.

Reviewed by Kat Luedke, Long Island Community Library

four-stars

Nothing Loopy About This: What Are Loops and Conditionals?

Nothing Loopy About This: What Are Loops and Conditionals?Nothing Loopy about This: What Are Loops and Conditionals? by Brian P. Cleary, Martin Goneau
Published by Millbrook Press (Tm) on January 1, 2019
ISBN: 1541533070
Pages: 24
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This playful picture book geared for younger elementary students introduces two basic but essential fundamentals of computer programming: loops and conditionals. For adults that need a mini-lesson, a loop is a repeating set of instructions, and a conditional tells a program to do something if a situation is true, and another if it is false. As kids are increasingly exposed to introductory programming through curriculum and games, it is the hope that they are laying down the groundwork for coding literacy. This simple introduction helps reinforce the concepts that kids are likely already using if they are playing with Scratch, Alice, or other programming languages for kids. The information is presented in a rhyming format with fun illustrations, such as a robot using a loop to frost thirty cupcakes or a teacher using a conditional to decide if recess will be held indoors or outdoors. This would be a great read-aloud to integrate into coding curriculum. Recommended for grades K-2.

Reviewed by Kat Luedke, Long Island Community Library

four-stars