Source: MSL Book Review

Bing’s Cherries

Bing’s CherriesBing's Cherries by Julia Kuo, Livia Blackburne
Published by Random House Children's Books Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Folklore
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

A new American tall tale about Ah Bing has been created by Livia Blackburne and Julia Kuo. This story is inspired by the real-life Chinese Immigrant horticulturalist who dedicated much of his life cultivating the popular Bing Cherry in Oregon. Blackburne’s story is about a father and daughter eating dark red cherries in their backyard in July. “At night, after I’ve washed the cherry juice off my hands, I imagine Ah Bing’s life.”

She imagines Ah Bing is larger than life walking through the San Francisco shore. The gentle giant is given a bag of seeds to plant in the ground. As he sings of the sadness of being a Chinese Immigrant in America, a giant tear falls from his face into the ground where he planted the seeds. From the ground sprouts the most magnificent cherry saplings with snow white blossoms and beautiful dark cherries. Bing’s cherries will forever be remembered.

A well-written and eye-catching folktale picture book based on a real Chinese American immigrant to read alongside stories such as Johnny Appleseed and Paul Bunyan. Ages 4+

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

Shaped By Love: An Ode to Mom Bods

Shaped By Love: An Ode to Mom BodsShaped by Love: An Ode to Mom Bods by Amanda Calatzis, Nikki Powers
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536230065
Genres: Family, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

A lot changes after the birth of a child, one of those things is a mother’s body. In this ode to “Mom Bods,” bodies all of shapes and sizes are celebrated for being the place where babies are made and connections formed. The illustrations are what truly shine when you first open the pages. They are a mixed media of embroidery, paint, and graphic design. The 3-D stitches really pop off the page and are reminiscent of the ways mothers are stitched back together after birth. There’s a great variety of different skin colors, ages, and cultures represented in the pages as well.

Parents will enjoy reading this book together with their children to foster connection. Body positivity is beautifully presented on each page. Highly recommended for picture book collections. Lovely for reading with infants through elementary ages.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars

Houdini’s Library

Houdini’s LibraryHoudini's Library: How Books Created the World's Greatest Magician by Barb Rosenstock, Mar Delmar
on February 17, 2026
ISBN: 0593570138
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
This engaging picture book of the world’s most famous magician also affirms the magic of  books, reinvention, and determination. Author Barb Rosenstock relates the story of Harry Houdini’s life and his passionate connection to the written word. This love of literacy was inherited from his father, a rabbi whose impressive library was sadly diminished and sold when the family fell upon hard times after emigrating to the United States from Hungary.  Rosenstock posits that books and Houdini’s reverence for them, are precisely what helped Harry become the world’s greatest illusionist.
As a self-educated lover of knowledge, Houdini’s every escapade is tied back to his desire to learn and his devotion to collecting volumes “thick and thin, small and tall, older and newer.” Keys serve as both a visual and literary theme, appearing on the endpapers and throughout the story to symbolize how books unlock knowledge.
The narrative brings Houdini’s era to life alongside stunning illustrations made from incredibly detailed, three-dimensional miniature paper scenes that match the text’s dynamism. Back matter includes an author’s note on the vast breadth of Houdini’s real-life collection and an illustrator’s note explaining the deep historical research required to create the artwork.
Highly recommended for public and elementary school libraries.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS/MLIS
K-2 School Resource Librarian, Scarborough Public Schools

 

 

five-stars

The Great Waking Up: The Story of Easter

The Great Waking Up: The Story of EasterThe Great Waking Up: The Story of Easter by Sarah Shin, Shin Maeng
ISBN: 0593580605
Genres: Christian
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
The Great Waking Up is a retelling of the Easter resurrection story through the eyes of Anastasia, a young girl with long dark hair, light brown skin, and dark eyes, contemporary to the time. The simply told narrative seamlessly combines original storytelling with passages of Christian scripture. Throughout the book, the resurrection is connected to other biblical miracles witnessed by Anastasia and her mother, Anika.
Intended for children ages 5–9 and their families, the book includes intense imagery—such as Jesus nailed to the cross—that parents may want to discuss with their children. The illustrations are appealing, stylized, and appear to be created with mixed media, including watercolor, ink, and markers. The manga-like artwork is highly engaging and will easily attract young readers.
This volume makes a welcoming addition to public library collections where Christian picture books are in high demand.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS/MLIS
K-2 School Resource Librarian, Scarborough Public Schools

four-stars

We Always Had Wings

We Always Had WingsWe Always Had Wings by Jess X. Snow
ISBN: 9780593428511
Genres: Family, Immigrants
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
two-stars
Jess X. Snow created this memoir of their childhood return to China to “offer (their) six-year-old self courage and imagination.” In the author’s note, Snow describes it as a personal story about displacement, belonging, and a return to homeland and family. The theme is simple: people have the right to feel belonging wherever they are. However, Snow’s allegorical treatment of the narrative may muddle the story for younger readers.
While on a plane to China with their mother, Little Snow experiences anxiety about emigration and identity, wondering about questions many children face: What makes a place home? Who gets to say who belongs where? Outside, red-crowned cranes fly through purple and rose skies over a mountainous city. To calm Little Snow’s fears, their mother shares a story about ancestors flying across the sea as birds. The cranes then transform into amalgamated shapes, carrying humans—including Little Snow and their mother—on their backs.
Once they arrive, Little Snow and their mother reunite with Grandmother, enjoying a warm homecoming. As Little Snow realizes that both China and the United States are part of who they are, they take off into the sky to go wherever they can imagine. While the story and imagery are beautifully poetic, the connection between the crane allegory and the realistic family reunion feels disjointed, making the transitions feel clunky. Libraries looking for picture books about emigration and multicultural identity will find more cohesive titles readily available.

Deanna Contrino, SLMS/MLIS

K-2 School Resource Librarian, Scarborough Schools

two-stars

Nice Work

by Nicholas Day
Published by Penguin Random House on May 12, 2026
ISBN: 9780593806296
Pages: 40
Genres: Emotions & Feelings
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
four-stars

Friendship, patience, and change are central themes that weave through Nice Work, a picture book written by Nicholas Day and illustrated by Hala Tahboub. A family decides to plant a peach tree, which starts off looking only like a stick. The child decides to plant more sticks with a friend, Maya, to see if they grow into trees as well. With care and patience, the real tree grows and eventually bears fruit, but sadly, Maya moves away. An older woman moves into Maya’s house and new connections are made. The child shows through a letter to Maya that he learns about patience, care, and how to cope with change. This is a philosophical, gently paced story with some diverse characters.  All of this is conveyed with the straightforward tone of a kid who just tells it like it is, which brings light humor to this meaningful book. The illustrations seem straightforward at first, but the use of light and shadow conveys the complexities of friendship and loss, anticipation and waiting, constancy and change. Early Elementary readers will enjoy this book, and it could also be a good read aloud for K-5th graders. 

Reviewed by Antona Briley, Librarian, Dora Small School, South Portland

four-stars

Alien Nate

Alien Nate by Dave Whamond
Published by Kids Can Press on 2020
ISBN: 1525302094
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Comics & Graphic Novels / Humorous
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Alien Nate, by Dave Whamond, is a cute graphic novel about a being named Nate from the Vega system who is sent to Earth with one mission: to find more pizza. The Vegans found a pizza that was accidentally left behind on theVoyager I–the spacecraft launched in 1977 with a golden record sampling many aspects of life on Earth–but the pizza is the only thing that the aliens want to know more about. Nate crash lands on Earth, which immediately sets government agents on his trail. Fortunately, Nate meets up with Fazel, a savvy kid who keeps the government agents away and helps Nate to find pizza, friends and a way back home. The plot is well paced and predictable, the dialogue has corny jokes that will amuse most kids. The illustrations are colorful, showing the characters silly expressions and bringing humor and energy to the plot. Early Elementary readers of Pizza and Taco or Narwhal and Jelly may like this book. 

Reviewed by Antona Briley, Librarian, Dora Small School, South Portland

three-stars

Hypergifted

Hypergifted (Ungifted #3) by Gordon Korman
Published by Harper Collins / STORYTIDE ISBN: 0063429292
Genres: Humor, Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Gordon Korman continues the Ungifted series with a third book, Hypergifted. Written in chapters that tell the story from multiple perspectives, Hypergifted focuses on Noah Youkilis, a 12 year old genius, with the superstar status of being the youngest new student at Wilderton University. Since there are no peers at the college his age, Noah chooses his free thinking, sometimes mischievous best friend, Donovan Curtis, to be his roommate for the summer. Noah and Donovan are both reluctant to be there for different reasons. Noah quickly becomes obsessed with being inducted in a secret society, and is treated with starstruck reverence by some, and as a naive kid by others. Donovan is unwillingly assigned to be a summer camp counselor for younger kids, where his creative, yet practical thinking, and easygoing attitude become strengths. Raina Overbrook, the daughter of two Wilderton professors and an experienced “kid on campus” and summer camp counselor, brings experience and know-how to the scene, and can’t quite figure out whether to trust Donavan, despite his irritating ability to solve problems with ease. Together, Noah and Donavan need to solve an AI crisis that has far greater consequences than a college prank.

Middle grade chapter book readers who love Gordon Korman’s style and humor, which in this book includes pig mascots, elderberries and other high jinks, will enjoy this book. 

Reviewed by Antona Briley, Librarian, Dora Small School, South Portland

three-stars

Shim Jung Takes the Dive

Shim Jung Takes the DiveShim Jung Takes the Dive by Julia Riew
Published by Quill Tree Books on 4/28/26
ISBN: 0063294079
Genres: Fantasy, Folklore
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

This middle grade novel combines South Korean folklore and fantasy to tell Jung’s story of grief and growth.  Every twelve-year-old girl on Haemin Island participates in a diving ceremony, but ever since her mother disappeared in the water, Jung has been afraid of the water.  Jung freezes and doesn’t make the dive.  Later, still upset, Jung has an accident and is swept away in the water, but she doesn’t drown.  Instead, she ends up in the water realm of the Dragon’s Queendom, trapped with all the other palace girls kidnapped by the queen.  Forced into servanthood, Jung focuses on escape, a pursuit that could be deadly.  She befriends Prince Jae who is planning to escape his death and run away. Instead, they team up to escape together.  They face many dangers, the most lethal being Jae’s mother.  But with the help of a little red dragon, they are able to strip the queen of her power and survive.

The journey to freedom has changed Jae and Jung.  Jae has become more aware of the negative impacts his mother has had on people’s living conditions and the responsibility that comes with being a ruler.  Jung has become more confident and braver, and more willing to share her fears with her friends and father.  When Jung returns to Haemin, she takes these lessons with her, though she and none of the freed palace girls reveal what actually happened while they were missing.

This novel is ideal for upper elementary or middle grade readers, especially those who are interested in folklore or who like fantasy.  There is plenty of action to keep readers hooked and Jung’s voice as a narrator is fun and authentic.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

You’re the Boss, Gracie Wei

You’re the Boss, Gracie WeiGracie Wei #2: You're the Boss, Gracie Wei by Basia Tran, Kristen Mei Chase
ISBN: 0593813006
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Family, Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship, Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Gracie Wei is back with her cast of amazing friends – and this time, they are ready for summer vacation! Gracie and her friends have decided to form the “Summer Club of Awesome” – meeting together every day for fun activities. Gracie, who is hosting activities at her house, is determined to plan every last detail and schedule every activity. But her friends keep suggesting they do other activities than what she had planned! Worst of all – they want to go biking, and Gracie hasn’t gotten on her bike since she last fell off. Can she be the boss and direct them to other activities instead? Or will she learn to be flexible and face her fears? Like the first story, this early chapter book is full of good lessons, sweet friendships, and diverse characters. The black-and-white pencil and graphite illustrations are thoughtfully placed throughout the text and perfectly depict the emotions of the characters. Recommended for ages 7 to 9 (2nd to 4th Grade).

Reviewed by: Jenn Mead, Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell

four-stars