Format: Picture Book Nonfiction

Monsters Love Cupcakes

Monsters Love CupcakesMonsters Love Cupcakes by Mike Austin
Published by HarperCollins on June 28, 2022
ISBN: 0062286196
Pages: 40
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Humor
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Baking with children and/or monsters is always a joyful occasion. Austin presents silly monsters who are preparing for an occasion and young readers can join the parade as they follow along counting and mixing ingredients. Certainly, the cupcakes are as special as the hugs and kisses that are combined into the mix. Rhyming text, various size font, and fun illustrations combine to make an entertaining read for preschool and early grade students. Families who cook together will be delighted by Monsters Love Cupcakes.

Reviewed by Jan Hamilton, retired children’s librarian

four-stars

Poopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out Your Bottom

Poopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out Your BottomPoopy Science: Getting to the Bottom of What Comes Out Your Bottom by Edward Kay
Published by Kids Can Press on September 6, 2022
ISBN: 1525304135
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

A hilarious, too-interesting-to-be-cringy (but still pretty gross!) book about poop. Kay covers a new poop topic on every page: science, history, medicine, food, animals, outer space – and beyond. Sidebars also include quirky related notes. Writing is engaging and brief; some bigger words are used but partly because each topic is short, and partly by use of context, the text is accessible. Cartoon illustrations compliment the text on every page.

This is definitely an audience-specific book, but it will be a popular one. Highly recommend.

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

five-stars

Betty White

Betty WhiteBetty White: Collector's Edition by Deborah Hopkinson, Margeaux Lucas
Published by Golden Books on November 8, 2022
ISBN: 0593647688
Pages: 24
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
two-stars

In this Little Golden Book biography, Deborah Hopkinson offers an overview of the life of Betty White. Highlights of her life include her volunteer work during World War II, her life as an actress, and her role as an activist. The content in this picture book is appropriate for children in early elementary school. Difficult topics of prejudice and discrimination are covered in age appropriate ways. Because this is a Little Golden Book, the illustrations are old-fashioned with muted colors. Even though this is a biography, there are no actual photographs of Betty White, though the back does include some quotations. The cover of the book is the traditional Golden Book cardboard, which isn’t practical for libraries. This book would probably appeal more to parents and grandparents who grew up watching Betty White rather than young children growing up today.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

two-stars

Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky

Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the SkyBlue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, Daniel Minter
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers on February 15, 2022
ISBN: 1984894366
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond has teamed with Maine illustrator Daniel Minter to produce a picture book tracing the history of the color blue. Not only is the history fascinating, but the illustrations are breathtaking. Blue is not only the most expensive color to make but it has become more than a color. It is a feeling, a music genre, a symbol of royalty, and when we say “out of the blue” it denotes something rare. The history of blue goes back thousands of years, from the ancient Egyptians who wore the lapis lazuli blue stone as jewelry and later as makeup around their eyes. Years later, artists used the crushed rocks as paints. Always available to only the rich, throughout history people sought an inexpensive way to produce this color. Author and illustrator work together to make the text easily understood and the illustrations of acrylic wash on heavy watercolor paper make what could be a rather dry story come to life. This is STEAM at its best! Use this in art and music classes, geology units, and as a general history lesson. It is a book to be looked at for general pleasure. It may not fit easily into a single category but it should be in every library.

Reviewed by Kathy George, retired children’s librarian

five-stars

The Little Book of Joy

The Little Book of JoyThe Little Book of Joy by Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, Rafael López
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on September 27, 2022
ISBN: 0593484231
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Two well known leaders, His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Archbishop Desmond Tutu, have created a vibrant picture book to teach young readers and families about joy. Both leaders are shown as kids, while the Raphael Lopez’s artwork supports the text by drawing examples of joy. The harmonizing of text and imagery will help young readers understand the complex emotion of joy. A great resource for teachers that are integrating social and emotional learning in their classroom. For readers in grades 3-6. There is a mini-bio about the two leaders at the back of the book.

Reviewed by Brandon Dyer, Auburn Public Library

four-stars

Whales to the Rescue: How Whales Help Engineer the Planet

Whales to the Rescue: How Whales Help Engineer the PlanetWhales to the Rescue: How Whales Help Engineer the Planet by Adrienne Mason, Kim Smith
Published by Kids Can Press on September 6, 2022
ISBN: 1525305379
Pages: 40
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

An interesting nonfiction picture book that shows the importance of whales to a healthy ecosystem. Mason’s author note contains a reference to research papers that back up her hypothesis . The writing is illustrative and engaging. Did you know that a blue whale’s tongue is “heavy as two hippos”? In addition to a table of contents and sidebars, the back matter contains a glossary (bolded words in the text), index, and resources that tell readers how to help whales and where to find more online information about them.

The book starts by explaining whales’ feeding and pooping habits (poop plays a big part in the whales’ ecological engineering – spoiler alert!) and then outline various aspects of the environment (such as carbon and its affect on global warming). Mason then explains in clear detail with supporting illustrations and diagrams how whales’ habits positively impact the ecosystem.

The illustrations are realistic but at times, less helpful than they could be. For example, there is a “Know your Whales” diagram, showing several species of whales, beginning with blue whales, with a diver drawn to scale next to it. However, the other whales aren’t drawn to the same scale, which is confusing. It also discusses a history of whales being over hunted but doesn’t cover current controversies about whales and fishing vessels.

This would be a good addition to books on the ecosystem and offers some information on whales.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

four-stars

Behold Our Magical Garden: Poems Fresh from a School Garden

Behold Our Magical Garden: Poems Fresh from a School GardenBehold Our Magical Garden: Poems Fresh from a School Garden by Allan Wolf, Daniel Duncan
Published by Candlewick Press on March 8, 2022
ISBN: 1536204552
Pages: 48
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Poems of various types about the joys and bounty of a school garden, accompanied by delightful illustrations. The poems are simple and entertaining, mostly organized by gardening cycles. This is a great book to choose poems from to read-aloud to K-5 students, from either a poetry or gardening standpoint (or both!).

The illustrations are animated, and in harmony with the text. I occasionally wished the illustrations accompanying the poems offered labels (such as the illustration accompanying Good Bug, Bad Bug, so I would know which was which). Helpful Notes on the Poems in the back matter make this useful for the discussion of how and why the poems were shaped, along with commentary describing tools student gardener-poets should have in their toolbox.

This book is a fabulous way to energize and engage students in gardening and poetry.

Reviewed by Deanna Contrino, Young School Library, Saco

five-stars

Stacey Abrams and the Fight to Vote

Stacey Abrams and the Fight to VoteStacey Abrams and the Fight to Vote by Traci N Todd, Laura Freeman
Published by HarperCollins on August 30, 2022
ISBN: 0063139774
Pages: 40
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
five-stars

This picture book, written in poetic prose and narrated by civil rights activists Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Septima Poinsette Clark, and Fannie Lou Hamer, recounts the story of Stacy Abrams’ life to date. It is written as a conversation between these four women, looking at the present with the sagacity gained from their own life experiences. They specifically talk about the 2018 election when Abrams ran unsuccessfully in Georgia’s gubernatorial race, and how so many voters were sidelined. At the end, an author’s note includes a brief but more thorough biography of Abrams and the four other activists, a timeline of voting rights in the US, and a bibliography. Illustrations are digital (but beautiful) and in keeping with text, augmenting the story.

Overall a beautiful and well-written book; for very young children without any previous understanding of the civil rights movement the number of people and the concepts covered might overwhelm, but it would be a great addition to teaching about this topic in any setting, be it home, school, or library. Highly recommend; it’s never too early to teach kids about the importance of voting.

Reviewed by Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

five-stars

I’m a Volcano

I’m a VolcanoI'm a Volcano! by Bridget Heos, Mike Ciccotello
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on October 25, 2022
ISBN: 0593302885
Pages: 40
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
three-stars

“I’m a Volcano” is the second book in the “Science Buddies” series by Bridget Heos. A non-fiction picture book about volcanoes, this book falls somewhere in between the early reader non-fiction and the middle grade non-fiction categories. The illustrations are hilarious and there is good information, but it is a bit too wordy for younger children and a bit too short for older kids. Includes a glossary and suggested further reading. Aimed at kids 6-9 years old, this book is good, but not a must-buy for a library collection.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook ME.

three-stars

Mystery of the Monarchs

Mystery of the MonarchsThe Mystery of the Monarchs by Barb Rosenstock
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Pages: 32
Genres: Animals, Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads
four-stars

This book tells the true story of Fred and Norah Urquhart and their quest to uncover the secrets of monarch migration. It begins with Fred as a young boy observing bugs and monarchs and ends with the Urquharts finally helping to discover the overwintering grounds of millions of monarchs in Mexico.

This is a great book for young scientists and would be a wonderful addition to a school classroom, especially if they were going to tag monarchs. The text is a bit dense and somewhat long so this book is best as a one-on-one read aloud or for readers 5 and older.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME

four-stars