Format: Picture Book Nonfiction

A Frog’s Life

Published by Holiday House four-stars

A stunningly illustrated nonfiction picture book,   A Frog’s Life will be perused, poured over, and quoted from by primary grade students.  Both the text and illustrations are accurate and attractive.  Young readers will be entertained by these amazing frogs as they learn many facts such as favorite food and habitats.   The text offers simple science that is presented in fact sections and story like paragraphs.  Endangered frogs are examined and the index list the species that have been rescued. This book provides written and visual content that takes readers through the entire life cycle of frogs.

Several light shaded background pages allow for dark or light colored illustrations.  Each frog stands out or reseeds into its environment as in nature.  The last two pages are a bonus as they share the challenges of climate change and its effect on frogs.  This is a scientific offering that will be appreciated in primary classrooms and on library shelves.  School and public librarians should consider this attractive and educational book for their collections.

 

Submitted by Jan Hamilton, retired youth services librarian

four-stars

Pocket Bios: Marie Curie

Pocket Bios: Marie CurieMarie Curie by Al Berenger
Published by Roaring Brook Press on July 17th 2018
ISBN: 1250166152
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

This “Pocket Bios” biography of Marie Curie was written by Patricia Crété and has been translated into English by Catherine Nolan. Illustrations are by Bruno Wennagel and Mathieu Ferret. The book starts with her childhood in Poland and studies in France, then continues on to her marriage to Pierre and scientific discoveries, and ends with her death in 1934 and the posthumous move of their coffins to the Pantheon in Paris to rest with other heroes of France. The book provides a lot of interesting information about Marie Curie at a PreK to 2nd Grade level. The illustrations are simple and humorous and definitely add to the enjoyment of the book. I learned a few things that I did not know about Madame Curie and think this book is a good introduction to her life for a younger child. The back of the book also has a timeline of her life, a map with important places in her story, and “People to Know.” This book is similar to the Brian Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos “I Am” series. If you have a Juvenile Biography section at your library or a child who is very interested in learning about historical figures, I would purchase this book.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

four-stars

Pocket Bios: Charlie Chaplin

Pocket Bios: Charlie ChaplinCharlie Chaplin by Al Berenger
Published by Roaring Brook Press on July 17th 2018
ISBN: 1250166233
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

The “Pocket Bios” series comes from France. The Charlie Chaplin biography was written by Patricia Crété and has been translated into English by Catherine Nolan. Illustrations are by Bruno Wennagel, Mathieu Ferret, Aurélien Fernandez, and Aurélie Verdon. This book provides a concise and easy to read biography of Charlie Chaplin, from the beginning of his life in London through his success in film, multiple marriages, and death in 1977. The illustrations are humorous and are my favorite part of the book. The book is historically accurate (at least as far as basic knowledge about Charlie Chaplin goes) and provides a lot of interesting information geared towards a PreK to 2nd grade level. I also enjoyed the timeline, map with important places in his life, and “People to Know” in Chaplins life that are included at the end of the book. This reminds me very much of the Brian Meltzer and Christopher Eliopoulos “I Am” series. If you have a Juvenile Biography section at your library or a child who is very interested in learning about historical figures, I would consider purchasing this book.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

four-stars