Format: Picture Book Nonfiction

Homes Past and Present

Homes Past and PresentHomes Past and Present by Kerry Dinmont
Published by Lerner Publications (Tm) on August 1st 2018
ISBN: 1541503341
Pages: 24
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
two-stars

I’m not sure who this book is for. The text is so narrow and simple that it seems like it must be for toddlers or young children but I don’t think the photographs would engage this group at all. There isn’t enough information to make it useful for, say, learning about the differences between past and present housing and what information it does contain is just kind of strange. For example, there is a page that says “Long ago, many people used logs to build a house. Others wrapped animal skins around a wooden frame.” This is paired with a photo of a log cabin but no picture of an animal skin-wrapped wooden frame which could lead to kids to imagine some bizarre and historically very inaccurate homes. I do like non-fiction books that engage young readers with questions so it gets an extra star for including some.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

two-stars

Cats are a Liquid

Cats are a LiquidCats Are a Liquid by Rebecca Donnelly, Misa Saburi
Published by Henry Holt and Company on October 8th 2019
ISBN: 1250206596
Pages: 32
Goodreads
three-stars

The playful and adorable illustrated cats in this book attempt to decipher whether a cat is a liquid, a solid, or…oobleck?!  Simple, rhyming text walks us through all that cats can do, from fitting in everything, to shredding things, to napping on our stuff.  However, many of the cat similes are confusing, and the types of descriptions are not consistent. Back matter talks about the scientific joke that cats are liquid and shares resources for learning more about states of matter, the scientific paper about cats being liquid, and directions on making oobleck. Recommended for ages 4-8.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

three-stars

The Astronaut who Painted the Moon: The true story of Alan Bean

The Astronaut who Painted the Moon: The true story of Alan BeanThe Astronaut Who Painted the Moon: The True Story of Alan Bean by Dean Robbins, Sean Rubin
Published by Orchard Books on May 28th 2019
ISBN: 1338259539
Pages: 40
Goodreads
five-stars

Alan Bean was the 4th person in history to walk on the moon.  His experience touched him so, he decided to paint the feeling of being in space.  His impressionist takes on actual experiences and photos became well-known and have been featured in galleries.  The author worked directly with Bean before his passing on this book. The colors used in the illustrations mirrors Bean’s art.  Detailed back matter includes a brief biography of Bean, examples of his paintings, a brief history of space exploration, and a bibliography.  Recommended for ages 4-8.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Maine State Library

five-stars

Nature All Around: Bugs

Nature All Around: BugsNature All Around: Bugs by Pamela Hickman, Carolyn Gavin
Series: Nature All Around #2
Published by Kids Can Press on September 3rd 2019
ISBN: 177138820X
Pages: 32
Goodreads
five-stars

From the same author/illustrator team that created Trees, Bugs is the second book in the Nature All Around series. Bugs is filled to the brim with information, and a joy to behold visually. Beauty abounds in the depictions of even the most homely bugs, encouraging readers to view these oftentimes underappreciated creatures in a new light. The table of contents, glossary, and index are all easy to navigate. Pamela Hickman utilizes clear and concise text to explain each topic, making the information easily digestible. Paired with Carolyn Gavin’s beautiful watercolor and gouache illustrations, scientific concepts come to life with vibrancy. Pages include eye-catching text headings to draw the reader into the page, and allow for children to choose whether they would prefer to read the book cover-to-cover, or pick and choose topics of interest. Hickman not only provides readers with a wealth of information about bugs, she also encourages children to actively engage with and observe these creatures in nature. Chapters titled Beginner Bug-Watching, Make an Insect Feeder, and Endangered Bugs all encourage children to participate in hands-on learning and conservation. Recommended for kids 7 – 10, this book would be a valuable resource to teachers, parents, and budding entomologists alike.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

five-stars

It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way

It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the WayIt Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo Maclear, Julie Morstad
Published by HarperCollins on October 8th 2019
ISBN: 0062447629
Pages: 48
Goodreads
five-stars

Telling the story of artist Gyo Fujikawa, It Began with a Page is a beautifully illustrated and wonderfully told picture book biography. With a propensity for art beginning at a very young age, the story follows Fujikawa’s success as an artist, and the immensely painful separation from her family who were detained in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Fujikawa published her first groundbreaking children’s book Babies in 1963, depicting children of all races playing together, representing racial diversity that was virtually nonexistent in children’s books prior to that time. Julie Morstad’s exquisite artwork perfectly illustrates the difficult and triumphant story of Fujikawa’s life. Balancing both color and black and white imagery, Morstad is skillful in conveying emotion and richly enhancing Kyo Maclear’s direct and concise text. Endnotes include a timeline of Fujikawa’s life, including photographs, as well as notes from the author and illustrator. While recommended for children ages 5-8, this heartfelt biography could easily engage children older than 8, and adults alike.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

five-stars

The Speed of Starlight: An Exploration of Physics, Sound, Light, and Space

The Speed of Starlight: An Exploration of Physics, Sound, Light, and SpaceThe Speed of Starlight: An Exploration of Physics, Sound, Light, and Space by Colin Stuart, Ximo Abadía
Published by Big Picture Press on October 1st 2019
ISBN: 1536208558
Pages: 80
Goodreads
three-stars

The Speed of Starlight provides a brief overview of principles within the topics of physics, sound, light and color, and space. Recommended for children ages 8 – 12, Stuart’s text reads more like trivia, and can leave the reader wanting for more. The table of contents is clear; however, the there are no visual indications within the main body of the book to alert readers as to where exactly the larger subject headings change. Readers are dependent up on the table of contents for subject navigation; there is also a notable lack of index and glossary. Abadía’s illustrations are graphic and colorful, with no white space. Perhaps a personal preference, but I find the absence of white space difficult to read for any length of time. The black text printed on darkly colored backgrounds provides little contrast and can tire the reader’s eyes. The Speed of Starlight is an oversized book (approximately 14”x11”); its size in combination with its bold graphic style and overuse of color make it feel as though it is going for the “wow” effect. This eye-catching book is best suited for those looking for a quick overview on a number of scientific topics, rather than for those seeking more substantive information.

Reviewed by Jennifer Benham, Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland

three-stars

Rescuing Rialto: A Baby Sea Otter’s Story

Rescuing Rialto: A Baby Sea Otter’s StoryRescuing Rialto: A Baby Sea Otter's Story by Lynda V. Mapes, Alan Berner
Published by Roaring Brook Press on April 9th 2019
ISBN: 1250147646
Pages: 40
Genres: Informational
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

A photojournalist tells the true story of Rialto, a rescued baby sea otter found stranded at Olympic National Park in northern Washington. There are few animals cuter than a sea otter! The text is interesting and readable. Along with the rescue effort the reader learns much about sea otters including their human-caused near extinction and come back. The photographs documented the text but their quality lacked clarity, at times. A nice addition for any library’s marine animals and animal rescue information. Positive depictions of female scientists throughout.

Reviewed by Barb rehmeyer, Liberty Library, Liberty

four-stars

Wacky Inventions Throughout History: Weird inventions that seem too crazy to be real!

Wacky Inventions Throughout History: Weird inventions that seem too crazy to be real!Wacky Inventions Throughout History: Weird Inventions That Seem Too Crazy to Be Real! by Joe Rhatigan, Celeste Aires
Published by Walter Foster Jr. -- Quarto Library on 2019
ISBN: 9781600588006
Pages: 32
Genres: Informational
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

One of the books in the “Wacky Things” series. This book describes some wacky inventions that seem too crazy to be true but are. The entries were entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny, at times, such as an alarm clock bed that tips the sleeper onto the floor to wake him up. In addition to the brief description of the invention, there is also a short vignette of a historical nature. I learned through research for reviews that this seems to be an updated edition of 50 Wacky Inventions Throughout History, which is actually a spinoff of Inventions That Could Have Changed the World but Didn’t (2015) all by the same author.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library, Liberty

four-stars

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