Source: MSL Book Review

Find Out About Animal Tools

Find Out About Animal ToolsFind Out About Animal Tools by Jane McGuinness, Martin Jenkins
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536234044
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Martin and McGuinness have teamed up to make a lovely series of illustrated books about animals. This title teaches readers about some of the ways different animals use tools as adaptations.

Cleverly, there are two levels of text on each page. For example: “This one spits water at bugs – it’s got great aim.” is followed by a brief paragraph detailing how archerfish shoot jets of water at their insect prey. This allows the story to be read and enjoyed readers of different ages and abilities.

Illustrations are gentle and charming. The otters that grace the cover are sure to be a favorite with readers. This book is recommended for libraries needing to bulk up nature-themed books in their picture book section.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

three-stars

The Café at the Edge of the Woods

The Café at the Edge of the WoodsThe Café at the Edge of the Woods by Mikey Please
on October 1, 2024
ISBN: 0063345498
Genres: Fantasy, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

I have been holding off on writing a review about this one. If I could, I would give it 4 ½ stars. If you like the humor in Jon Klassen books, you will likely enjoy this one, too. Rene opens a café beside an enchanted forest and hires Glumfoot, a gnomish-like creature, as a waiter. Nobody shows up to sample her fine cuisine so Glumfoot goes out into the forest to solicit a customer. An ogre comes to the café and orders pickled bats, slugs, and battered mice! Rene cooks a bowl of rice but Glumfoot transforms it into a maggot fondue. The ogre loves it and returns with his friends. Rene  and Glumfoot make a great team and the café is a success. The cartoon-like illustrations are colorful and appealing. Not surprising since Mikey Please is an award winning animator. The plot is taut and the rhyming solid. Some may be disturbed by the disgusting dishes and  “A bag of bats! That smells like fart!” Others will be enchanted and find it hilarious. Choose your audience.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Go Well, Anna Hibiscus

Go Well, Anna HibiscusGo Well, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke, Lauren Tobia
Published by Candlewick Press on April 3, 2014,2024
ISBN: 1536238112
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Early Reader
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

The 6th book in the reissued Anna Hibiscus series, a beginning chapter book with numerous black-and-white drawings throughout. As in the other books in the series, Anna lives in Africa in the country Nigeria in a city called Lagos. In this installment, Anna is going with her family and grandfather on a trip to the village where her grandparents used to live. This involves a ride on a packed, sweaty bus through the rainforest and scrubland, and through fields of bananas and oranges and sugarcane. It is still  a long walk away through the bush from where the bus dropped them off. Anna has never been to the bush before and there is no road, no running water, and no electricity. Anna is a spirited little girl who likes to learn new things. There are few books  that depict an adventurous girl with a white mom and a Black father, growing up in Africa. This series exposes children to life in Nigeria – both city and bush – and can expand a study of Africa beyond the amazing animals that live there. Approximately a 2nd-grade independent reading level but can be enjoyed as a readaloud with much younger children. (A 5-year-old at my library loves this series!)

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Thank You

Thank YouThank You by Jarvis
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536235865
Genres: Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

A simple, sweet book about all the things the young boy is thankful for – “the moon for the nighttime” to “tyrannosaurus for being the longest word I know.” Incredibly creative collage illustrations accompanying the single thing he lists that he is thankful for on each page.  The boy presents as white but some of the other children are other ethnicities. However, you will always recognize the boy by the red hat he wears. The end pages are covered with words for “thank you” in different languages . This book could be used at Thanksgiving (or anytime) to enlighten kids about some of the unusual things that enrich their lives followed by a discussion about what for which they are grateful.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Sir Callie and the Witches War (Book 3)

Sir Callie and the Witches War (Book 3)Sir Callie and the Witch's War by Esme Symes-Smith
Published by Penguin Random House ISBN: 0593711084
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This third installment in the engaging and diverse Sir Callie series is another winner for middle grade fantasy lovers looking for queer and nonbinary main character representation. Symes-Smith grapples with very difficult topics, including discrimination, trauma, complicated families and more, in a way that is very real and appropriate for middle grade readers, neither shying away from these things, but also not including them just to drive a plot point home. A book that will circulate with current fans easily and a must-have for any library that owns the first two in the series.

Reviewed by: Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta

five-stars

Near Misses and Cowboy Kisses

Near Misses and Cowboy KissesNear Misses & Cowboy Kisses by Katrina Emmel
on July 23, 2024
ISBN: 0593708148
Genres: Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Near Misses and Cowboy Kisses” is a YA romance by Katrina Emmel. Riley Thomas is 17 and dealing with moving from California to Nebraska due to her parents’ jobs. Beyond that, she also has to go on an Oregon Trail-themed family vacation (yes, involving wagons). While there, she meets Colton Walker, an 18-year-old cowboy working for the Oregon Trail Adventure. He is quiet and she is angry. Their awkwardness turns into friendship and then more. This is a slow-moving cowboy romance that at times is frustrating due to the main character’s miscommunication and assumptions. A suggested purchase where YA romances are popular.

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

three-stars

A Queen’s Game

A Queen’s GameA Queen's Game by Katharine McGee
on November 12, 2024
ISBN: 0593710703
Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“A Queen’s Game” is the first in a new YA historical romance series by author Katharine McGee. The three main characters are all based on actual historical women from 19th-century Europe. Alix of Hesse is expected to marry Prince Edward, but she has fallen in love with Russian prince Nicholas. Former French princess Helene d’Orleans meanwhile meets up with Prince Edward and falls for him. And lastly, May of Teck wants to marry royalty to get away from her family.

There is a lot of drama, political twist, and romantic scenes, so readers who enjoy a twisty historical romance will like this one. It reads a bit like a Victorian Gossip Girl at times. It unfortunately ends on a cliffhanger, so readers will have to wait for the sequel. This is a suggested purchase where YA historical romances are popular.

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

three-stars

Blame My Virgo Moon

Blame My Virgo MoonBlame My Virgo Moon (Never Trust a Gemini, #2) by Freja Nicole Woolf
on May 2, 2024
ISBN: 153623530X
Genres: Humor, Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Blame My Virgo Moon” is the second book in the “Never Trust a Gemini” YA series by Freja Nicole Woolf. Cat is 15 years old and very into astrology. She is an Aquarius. Since the end of the last book, she has a girlfriend, Morgan, who is a Gemini. Cat is having trouble integrating Morgan into her friend group. Cat also ends up in the school play as a lead, so she has to deal with stress there as well.

A funny high school novel that seems a bit foolish at times (I don’t know if teens actually exclaim “gooseberries” all that often) and has a lot of rom-com tropes, this is an additional purchase for YA collections where astrology books are popular.

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

three-stars

An Animal a Day: 365 Amazing Animals to Take you Through the Year

An Animal a Day: 365 Amazing Animals to Take you Through the YearAn Animal a Day: 365 Amazing Animals to Take You Through the Year by Miranda Smith
Published by Bright Matter Books on 11/05/24
ISBN: 0593903358
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

An Animal A Day is a great book for young animal lovers.  This book highlights a different animal for each day of the year.  Some of the animals are well known such as the great white shark and the giant panda, while others might be new for kids, like the gulper eel and fat-tailed dwarf lemur. This book would be more suitable for a public library rather than a school library.  The text for each animal is only a paragraph about some of the more interesting facts followed by a list that includes the diet, size, and status of the animal.  The information offered is important and interesting, but it is not in depth and won’t satisfy readers who want to learn a lot about these animals.  The strength of this nonfiction book are the beautiful illustrations.  The colors are generally muted to support the text without being overwhelming.  The end of the book does include a glossary and index, making the text more accessible for readers.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

Mr. Santa

Mr. SantaMr. Santa by Jarvis
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 153623883X
Genres: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Holiday
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

In Jarvis’ newest holiday picture book, Mr. Santa, he writes a story comprised of only questions and exclamations. Written from the perspective of a curious little girl who catches Santa in the act of gifting presents in her bedroom, she asks all the questions a child might want to know. Santa only responds with gentle, non-verbal expressions which adds to the humor of the story. “Have you wiped your shoes?” “Want to meet my goldfish?” “Can we visit your house?” What ensues is a magical evening spent with Santa, reminiscent of The Polar Express or The Snowman by Raymond Briggs. Young readers will love wondering what the answers to these questions might be. When she wakes up in the morning, she wonders, “Was it really real?”

Illustrated with Jarvis’ soft, muted blue tones and use of stars and sparkles, it has a dreamlike quality that really evokes the Christmas magic that readers love to experience during the holidays. It’s digitally illustrated but has the look of colored pencils and sponge prints that gives it a unique look. Would recommend for any library’s holiday collection; for ages 3-7.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars