Source: MSL Book Review

Cosmic Wonder: Halley’s Comet and Humankind

Cosmic Wonder: Halley’s Comet and HumankindCosmic Wonder: Halley's Comet and Humankind by Ashley Benham Yazdani
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536223239
Genres: Cultural / African American
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

First recorded traveling overhead in 240 BCE, Halley’s Comet returns every seventy-six years. In this book, Halley’s Comet is depicted as an anthropomorphized shining orb with a long, flowing tail, with the landscapes that change over the years.  From C. 200,000 years ago to 13th-century Mongol warriors charging down a hill (1222) until two children (one dark-skinned, one light-skinned) watch from a beach beneath an industrial city in 1986, when the comet was barely visible in the smoke-filled sky. She asks what will the Earth be like in 2061 when Halley’s Comet next returns? The illustrations are lovely with the comet lighting the landscapes through the years. However, the reader may be disappointed that the book is less about the comet and more about humankind. Author and illustrator Benham-Yazdani does explain who Edmond Halley was and the back pages explain comets along with an Author’s Note and Bibliography. Ages 7-10.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Thank you, Moon: Celebrating Nature’s Nightlight

Thank you, Moon: Celebrating Nature’s NightlightThank You, Moon: Celebrating Nature's Nightlight by Jessica Lanan, Melissa Stewart
ISBN: 0593435079
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

In a series of thank-yous paired with brief notes on nature, Stewart highlights the influence of the moon on wildlife and the only known instance of direct lunar influence on a plant – the moon stimulates joint pines to exude a sticky sap to draw pollinators when it’s full in July. Towards the end of the book, a brown-skinned child appreciates the beauty of Earth’s only natural satellite. At the end, there is a schematic explanation of lunar phases and  information about the animals and plant that readers encountered earlier in the book. The pictures are rather dark, understandably because it depicts nighttime, making this book a better choice for one-to-one reading rather to a group. Ages 5-7.

Barb Rehmeyer. Liberty Library

four-stars

Think Like a Goat: The Wildly Smart Ways Animals Communicate, Cooperate and Innovate

Think Like a Goat: The Wildly Smart Ways Animals Communicate, Cooperate and InnovateThink Like a Goat: The Wildly Smart Ways Animals Communicate, Cooperate and Innovate by Alexander Mostov, Lisa Deresti Betik
Published by Kids Can Press on October 3, 2023
ISBN: 1525304550
Pages: 48
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The unique intelligence of all kinds of creatures are featured. Scientists are discovering that many other animals besides humans have smarts that might surprise us. Celebrating many animal varieties, Betik covers four broad categories of intelligence: communication, social learning and cooperation, problem-solving and memory, and emotional intelligence. Easily readable in bite-size chunks with colorful illustrations. The content is supported by a glossary, an index and suggested sources for further reading. Recommended for all libraries for 8-10 year olds.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

My Dad THINKS He’s a Pirate

My Dad THINKS He’s a PirateMy Dad Thinks He's a Pirate by Katrina Germein, Tom Jellett
Published by Candlewick Press on August 23, 2023
ISBN: 1536225029
Pages: 32
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

An homage to the dad joke, pirate-style. As a family prepares to head to the beach, a young child informs the reader that their dad thinks he is funny, and when the joke that follows is told, we learn that it is a pirate joke and that, in fact, the dad thinks he’s more than funny, he think he’s a pirate. Jokes, puns, and wordplay follow, all pirate-themed and mostly cringe-worthy but in a fun dad-joke way. The illustrations are large and bright and include an entire red-headed family with dad sporting a beard worthy of any pirate. Not necessarily a first purchase, but if pirates are popular and appreciated, this will circulate and would be a good read aloud (in one’s best pirate voice, of course).

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

three-stars

Black Girls: A Celebration of You!

Black Girls: A Celebration of You!Black Girls: A celebration of you! by Dominique Furukawa, Erika Lynne Jones
Published by Harper on September 26, 2023
ISBN: 0063205319
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

An oversized picture book filled with exuberance from its cover to the last page. Depicting Black girls with all skin tones and body types, this is a celebration of all that a child, a Black child, a Black girl can be. It would be nice to get away from heavily-gendered picture books, but since there are a plethora of books about “wonderful you” and “special child”, it is not a bad thing to center all of the talents and paths that a Black girl, one of the most marginalized of all demographics, can exhibit and take. And there are situations depicted in the book that don’t show up in a lot of picture books like a Black girl living with foster parents or shredding at the skate park. The rhyme scheme is often imperfect and a bit forced in places, but with a careful reading, it would make a decent read aloud. There was a missed opportunity to not include a page of back matter listing the Black female history-makers on the last few pages; all of them were recognizable to an adult, but since this is aimed at future innovators and influencers, it would have been a helpful and, perhaps, inspiring inclusion.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

three-stars

Cantora: Mercedes Sosa, the Voice of Latin America

Cantora: Mercedes Sosa, the Voice of Latin AmericaCantora: Mercedes Sosa, the Voice of Latin America by Melisa Fernández Nitsche
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on 9/12/2023
ISBN: 0593645979
Genres: Biography/Autobiography
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

A solid picture book biography of Argentinian singer Mercedes Sosa for readers in grades 1-3. The book starts with her childhood when she first discovers the power of her voice and moves readers through her escalating fame and her increasing influence with the people of Argentina who were protesting a tyrannical regime. As the book is written for children, the book does not get into any detail about the political climate but makes it clear that the government did not approve of her music and even put her in jail. The book avoids the word exile at first explaining that Sosa had to “flee to Europe” but then does mention that “Three years in exile felt endless…”. The book focuses on the power of Sosa’s songs and the emotions evoked by her presence and her voice. The palette of reds and browns, purple, grey, and ochre is subdued and peaceful, even when dealing with the strife happening throughout Argentina. The author’s note explains the influence Sosa’s music had on her childhood and offers back matter with an extensive timeline, glossary of Spanish phrases, a playlist, and bibliography. A photo of Sosa would have been a welcome addition to that back matter. A thoughtful biography about a lesser-known Latinx icon for an American audience.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

four-stars

Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Extraordinary Animals

Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Extraordinary AnimalsChampion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems by Extraordinary Animals by Aparna Varma, Linda Ashman
on June 6, 2023
ISBN: 1525303503
Genres: Animals, Humor, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Champion Chompers, Super Stinkers and Other Poems is a collection of poems celebrating the extraordinary features of different animals. The format of this book is fantastic; and it will keep the reader turning pages until the end. The poems about the animals are located on one page and the reader must turn the page to learn what the name of the animal is and what their extraordinary skill is. Examples of the extraordinary skills include: Fastest Flyer, Best Engineer, Most Well-Traveled, Deepest-Dwelling Fish, Stinkiest Animal, etc.

The penciled illustrations are beautiful and eye-catching, giving the reader just a hint of who the animal is on the page with the poem, so when you turn the page you get the full illustration of the animal in their habitat and what their skill is. Very educational with the delight of rhyming poetry, and an added informational paragraph for older readers. Highly recommend this for any library’s poetry collection. Recommended for ages anywhere from 4-10. Five Stars!

five-stars

Where I Live: Poems about My Home, My Street, and My Town

Where I Live: Poems about My Home, My Street, and My TownWhere I Live: Poems About My Home, My Street, and My Town by Hyewon Yum, Paul B. Janeczko
Published by Candlewick on March 14, 2023
ISBN: 1536200948
Pages: 48
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Where I Live is an anthology of children’s poems about everyday life in different homes and communities.  The poems are from a diverse group of poets and the watercolor illustrations reflect the diversity found in different places. Some of the topics most children will be familiar with, like shoes, cats, and school.  Others highlight a more urban or rural experience, like a block party or playing in the sprinkler.  Kids might enjoy checking this out as an introduction to poetry. Teachers could also use this anthology to show what happens in different types of communities or to teach literary elements, as many are utilized in these poems.  This would be a great addition to any children’s poetry collection.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars

Bear and Bird: The Stars and Other Stories

Bear and Bird: The Stars and Other StoriesBear and Bird: The Stars and Other Stories by Jarvis
Published by Candlewick ISBN: 1536234575
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Horses
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The second installment in the “Bear and Bird” series, Jarvis hits the mark once again with his knack for blending whimsical, lively illustrations with equally witty stories. Bear and Bird are best friends, on the fast track to being up there with the greats, a la Frog & Toad. This irreverently funny collection of short stories starts with Bear and Bird in the middle of a mutual silent treatment, and though neither of them can remember exactly why they’re fighting, they DO know they both need a new best friend. As they separately set out to find a new bestie, Bear & Bird are drawn back together in an unlikely way & this theme of unwavering support and friendship is woven through each story and each goof-up and misunderstanding along the way.

Short story collection for newly independent readers, this series has the feel of an instant classic. The illustrations will capture prospective readers’ eyes and Bear & Bird’s flawlessly flawed dynamic will keep kiddos coming back for installments yet to come. 

 

Reviewed by Paiten Price – Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth, ME

four-stars

A Spider Named Itsy

A Spider Named ItsyA Spider Named Itsy by Steve Light
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536225290
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“A Spider Named Itsy” is a retelling of the Itsy-Bitsy Spider rhyme, written and illustrated by Steve Light. Itsy starts out in their web all alone when suddenly their web is destroyed by a branch and the wind. Time to find a new home. In the process of climbing the waterspout to make a new home, Itsy meets and helps other insects along the way. The artwork is fun and colorful and full of little details to enjoy. Itsy helps others and by the end has made friends. Written for ages 3 to 5, but can be enjoyed by all ages. A cute book about friendship and helping, this is a suggested purchase for picture book collections.

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

four-stars