Source: MSL Book Review

Octavio and His Glasses

Octavio and His GlassesOctavio and His Glasses by Marc González Rossell
ISBN: 1525313789
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Octavio can see the whole world better, thanks to his new glasses. He is now able to see things far away, close up, and all much more clearly. He is even able to see beyond what lies in front of him, as he enjoys reading at bedtime. A new world of possibilities, adventure, and imagination are opened up.

A fresh illustrative style features bold black and sparse white on a rich yellow background. This book will be reassuring for a child who is getting their first pair of glasses, but it will appeal to everyone who adores the journey of a good book. While the pages contain simple text, the meaning is celebratory and will be widely appreciated. A first choice for picture book collections; recommended for grades 1-2.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta.

five-stars

Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies

Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower FairiesFairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies by Lenny Wen, Megan McDonald
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536201421
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Young Eliza rushes home from school to dive into an imaginary world of fairies, magic, and adventure. After crawling through a tiny door beneath her stairs, she discovers a group of fairies, each named after a different flower. After tumbling through a forbidden hedge, she is faced with a curse cast by a pair of witches and must hurry to find a solution.

The creator of the Judy Moody series brings us a new option to replace or renew early chapter series about fairies. Wen’s charming illustrations are the star in this book, with whimsical and botanical elements gracing the pages. The text itself is sometimes captivating: “Magic is not loud. It is soft, like the fur of a rabbit. Or a whisper.” At other times the wording is somewhat flowery and may be confusing for the targeted age group.

Recommended for libraries who are looking to replace older fairy titles in their first chapter section. Grades 1-2.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta.

three-stars

Innovative Octopuses, Half-Brained Birds, and more Animals with Magnificent Minds

Innovative Octopuses, Half-Brained Birds, and more Animals with Magnificent MindsInnovative Octopuses, Half-Brained Birds, and More Animals with Magnificent Minds (Extraordinary Animals) by Christina Couch, Daniel Duncan
Series: Extraordinary Animlas #3
Published by MIT Kids Press on January 14, 2025
ISBN: 1536229725
Pages: 160
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Part of the “Extraordinary Animals” series, this title uses animals to relate to and explain different neurological systems in the body. Octopuses have stellar brains and Couch ties that to neuroscience both in the animal and in the human brain, showing how neurons and reflexes give the octopus the ability to innovate. Parrots used in therapy for soldiers living with PTSD are tied to the way that the human brain reacts to and processes fear. In five sections, all separated by colored borders and illustrated with photographs and illustrations by Daniel Duncan, Couch offers an exploration of the similarities between species and the ways in which we can better understand the human brain by studying the animal world. Each section concludes with an interactive experiment so readers can see the brain process in action. Includes extensive back matter. Young readers who love science and animals will find a wealth of information in this book. 

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Elementary School

five-stars

All the Best Dogs

All the Best DogsAll the Best Dogs by Emily Jenkins
Published by Delacorte Press on 11/05/24
ISBN: 0593650433
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

All the Best Dogs is a fun book about a group of kids from the same Brooklyn neighborhood…and their dogs.  There’s a lot for readers to keep track of, so fortunately the novel starts off with a labeled picture of the people and their dogs and a map of their neighborhood.  Readers learn right away that the book centers around a wild weekend in June that ends happily.  The story follows four kids, their families, and their dogs. Ezra and Kaleb have a strained friendship and aren’t speaking to each other and then Ezra’s dog goes missing. Jilly is living with her aunt and starting a new and easier life while her mother is in rehab.  And May-Alice is in the school play, but is very nervous and struggles to be understood by her classmates.

What ensues is a fun story, sometimes told from the perspective of the dogs, focusing on the common struggle for sixth graders to navigate their relationships with their peers, while also dealing with family life at home.  This book is perfect for elementary school readers.  The plot is fun and relatable and the chapters are relatively short.  There are black and white illustrations throughout the book that really show the emotions of the characters while breaking up the text.  Although some difficult topics are mentioned, it is done in an age appropriate way that won’t upset sensitive readers.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

On the Block

On the BlockOn the Block: Stories of Home by Ellen Oh
ISBN: 0593648447
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“On the Block: Stories of Home” is a collection of short stories about kids living in an apartment building and their different cultures. Edited by Ellen Oh and featuring stories written by many popular middle grade authors, each chapter in this book is about a different kid living in the building and their various situations. All of the stories are interesting and the characters are very realistic. The only critique is that the stories didn’t really feel like they were all set in the same apartment building, but each chapter is great on its own. A must-buy for all middle grade fiction collections.

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

four-stars

The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond

The Curse of the Dead Man’s DiamondThe Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond by Christyne Morrell
on September 17, 2024
ISBN: 0593707605
Genres: Adventure, Supernatural
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond” is a middle grade paranormal fiction novel about Charlotte, a girl who is forced to move with her dad from New York to a small town in Florida. Their new house is creepy and supposedly haunted by ghosts. There is supposed to be a cursed diamond hidden in the house and Charlotte wants to find it and sell it to move back to New York.

The point of view of the book switches between Charlotte and the ghosts. Kids who have reluctantly had to move will empathize with Charlotte and her single-minded desire to go back “home.” A funny and not really frightening story, this is an additional purchase for libraries where paranormal fiction is popular.

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

three-stars

Is This a Tiger?

Is This a Tiger?Is This a Tiger? (Alex's Field Guides, #2) by Elina Ellis
Series: Alex's Field Guides #2
Published by Kids Can Press on September 3, 2024
ISBN: 1525306758
Genres: Animals, Nature
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Alex, who knows everything about tigers, is going to show one to Atticus, who has never seen one at all. However, Alex is stingy with her details, only divulging one at a time to poor Atticus. When Alex says tigers are stripy, Atticus comes back with a zebra and some lemurs. When she tells him tigers have big teeth, he comes up with a walrus and a shark! Then she divulges that tigers are nocturnal, so he visits with bats and, unfortunately, a stinky skunk.

Interspersed with all the potentially life-threatening (occasionally unpleasant) hints, the reader keeps seeing pages from Alex’s Tiger Journal which does provide important facts about tigers. For example, there are various species of tiger and the remaining ones are endangered. In the end, Atticus finally combines all the clues and finds a real, live tiger. The final colorful, humorous illustration is of Alex pulling her friend to safety. The end of the book includes a guide to the non-tiger animals they met along the way, as well as a list of Resources including ways we can help and where to find additional information about tigers.

This book is recommended for 4-8 year-olds. I think it would make for an uneven read-aloud since the journal pages contain much more information and smaller illustrations than the rest of the book. However, the main story with the two kids is humorous, colorful, and lively.

Recommended by Crystal Wilder, University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus Library

four-stars

The Pharaoh vs. the Felines

The Pharaoh vs. the FelinesThe Pharaoh vs. the Felines (Head-to-Head History, 3) by Anna Kwan, J.F. Fox
Series: Head-to-Head History #3
Published by Kids Can Press on 2024
ISBN: 1525306529
Genres: History, Humor, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

In a lively depiction of an actual battle between the Egyptians and the Persians that took place in 525 BCE, the author explains how the Persian ruler Cambyses II managed to use cats to defeat the mighty Egyptian army and became the ruler of their country. With a plethora of cat puns and humorous illustrations, Fox explains why cats were so important to the Egyptian people and how felines came to be worshipped as gods within their culture. Cats were regarded as protectors both of their Earthly families and of their afterlives. Had Cambyses not been gravely insulted by the Egyptian Pharaoh Amasis II, he probably would never have come up with the clever plan to use the Egyptian reverence for cats to his very successful advantage.

Fox uses humor and lively illustrations to keep the story interesting. This book is recommended for 5-8 year-olds, especially those who are curious about Egyptian history and, naturally, cats. The end of the book includes a Timeline, Glossary, and Sources.

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus Library

four-stars

Impossible Creatures

Impossible CreaturesImpossible Creatures (Impossible Creatures #1) by Katherine Rundell
Published by Penguin Random House on September 14, 2023
ISBN: 0593809866
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This magical adventure story follows Christopher, a Scottish boy who discovers he is destined to be a Guardian of the last remaining bit of magic on earth, and Mal, a girl who lives in that hidden land and is determined to save it at whatever cost. Reminiscent of C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia – particularly Voyage of the Dawn Treader – and Angie Sage’s Septimus Heap series, characters are varied and well developed, and the story is simultaneously simple and multi-layered, giving it appeal to a wide range of readers. Though it is Christopher’s story first, he and Mal share the main character role in many ways, and the balance makes for a positive reading experience. This is the type of story so many of us read when young but still remember when we are adults; it is the secret land found in the back of the wardrobe or through the looking glass. There is love, risk, fear and terrible loss, but also success in the face of vanishingly small odds. It’s a gem, and gorgeously packaged with a vibrant cover hinting at the dragons within. Highly recommend for every library; an easy book to put in the hands of readers from early middle grade on up.

5 Stars/Cream

Reviewed by: Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library

five-stars

Dive, Dive into the Night Sea

Dive, Dive into the Night SeaDive, Dive into the Night Sea by Thea Lu
Published by Candlewick Studio on 2024
ISBN: 153623415X
Genres: Oceans, Nature, Adventure, Animals
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
This truly unique picture book follows a lone diver who descends into the sea at night to discover a surprising underwater world and its residents. The book itself is horizontally aligned, rather than vertically, with two-page spreads that are mainly shades of black and gray, occasionally brightened by the yellow and white of the diver’s light and the full moon. The book also boasts a series of flaps that reveal further details, via both illustrations and text, about the various flora and fauna encountered during the dive. Unfortunately, this additional text is the reason why I do not consider this book a Cream-of-the-Crop nominee. The informative text is printed in a much smaller blue font on a very dark background, making it nearly illegible. Otherwise, this book is truly unusual, intriguing, and informative.

Recommended for 5-8 year olds who are interested in ocean life and diving.

Reviewed by Crystal Wilder, University of Southern Maine, Gorham Campus Library

five-stars