Source: MSL Book Review

Piper Chen Sings

Piper Chen SingsGenres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
five-stars

Phillipa Soo, star of Hamilton, writes about a young girl who loves to sing but is confronted with stage fright. Piper Chen sings and twirls through her days. When Mr. Harris, her music teacher, asks Piper if she’d like to sing a solo in the Spring Sing, she is excited at first, but later, she fears she’ll fail. Piper’s grandmother, Nai Nai notices that something is wrong. Piper explains and Nai Nai understands. She explains that she experienced “húdié” (Chinese for butterflies) at her first piano recital. “Now, when they greet me, I greet them back. ‘Hello, húdié. Ni hao.’” The night of the show, Piper feels the butterflies flapping their wings. She hums to herself, “Hello, húdié” and sings.

Soo and Pasquale Doran sensitively capture the joy of singing and the anxiety of performing. Parallels are drawn with other life challenges. Leng’s delicate, expressive illustrations capture Piper’s enthusiasm and uncertainty. Chinese words and culture are seamlessly woven into the story. Grandmother is central to the story but we are not really sure about her parents. The butterfly lesson gives readers a concrete way for addressing their own “butterflies.” Piper Chen and Nai Nai are Chinese American. Mr. Harris has brown skin. Share this book with everyone, but especially anxious children.

Nominated for Cream of the Crop

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Don’t Trust Cats: (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog)

Don’t Trust Cats: (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog)Don't Trust Cats: Life Lessons from Chip the Dog by Dev Petty, Mike Boldt
on January 2, 2024
ISBN: 0593706781
Genres: Animals, Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Chip the dog from Don’t Eat Bees is back with more “wisdom” to share, including some hard-won life lessons about cats. Chip advises that there are plenty of things we can trust but don’t trust cats: “Nohow, no meow.”  Boldt’s adorable wide-eyed pooch with a massive nose who enthusiastically rolls in muck, shreds the mail as it drops through a slot, and bounds up to a porcupine and then a skunk in expectation of meeting new friends will delight preschoolers. The comedy is implied rather than direct so probably best read as a lap book so you can discuss why it is funny. A sly-looking gray cat and an olive-skinned human family add comical background reactions to this hilarious canine.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Sunset of the Sabertooth

Sunset of the SabertoothSunset of the Sabertooth Graphic Novel (Magic Tree House) by Mary Pope Osborne
ISBN: 0593706005
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

This is  Book 7 in graphic novel adaptation of “The Magic Tree House” series. It follows Jack and Annie on another treehouse adventure to the Ice Age. They learn about early humans, cave art, and animals of the time. “The Magic Treehouse” series translates into comics format better than most. This adaption stays true to the original but adds a colorful animation-like feel to the story. The nice thing about this series is it is for younger grade readers and is still educational. Many graphic novels for lower grades are just silly. A gateway book to reading the series or other beginning chapter books.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

Warriors: The Prophecies Begin

Warriors: The Prophecies BeginWarriors Graphic Novel: The Prophecies Begin #1 by Erin Hunter, Natalie Riess, Sara Goetter
on July 16, 2024
ISBN: 0063203871
Genres: Adventure, Animals
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

An adaption in graphic novel form of the popular “Warriors” series by Erin Hunter. This book covers the first two “Warriors” books – Into the Wild and Fire and Ice. The second book in the series, scheduled to be published in April, 2025, will cover the third and fourth novels – Forest of Secrets and Rising Storm. 

Four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest for generations. The cats of ThunderClan are in grave danger from sinister ShadowClan. Rusty, an ordinary house cat, becomes ThunderClan’s new apprentice and must work extra hard to prove he can be a true warrior. As the chill of winter sets in, the cats of rival RiverClan grow restless, while WindClan is weak and facing threats from all sides.

Over 20 years old and this series still appeals to kids. This graphic take on the original story has  wonderful vivid artwork and delightful character interpretations. As can be expected, some of the details are left out of the adaption so you may want to recommend that readers read both. Cats engage in battles and wars. Some cats are left wounded and some die. Sensitive children might find the books too violent or sad.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

five-stars

My Mother’s Tongues: A Weaving of Languages

My Mother’s Tongues: A Weaving of LanguagesMy Mother's Tongues: A Weaving of Languages by Rahele Jomepour Bell, Uma Menon
Published by Candlewick Press on February 13, 2024
ISBN: 1536222518
Pages: 32
Genres: Languages, Immigrants, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Mixed-media illustrations give this book a textured appearance, as though every page should have the feel of woven fabric. The young girl who tells the story is very proud of her mother’s two languages. Malayalam from Kerala, India, was her native tongue, while English was the language the mother started learning when she was twelve years old. The family migrated to America, where the daughter was born and she, in turn, grew up speaking two languages like her mother: Malayalam at home and English in her American neighborhood. One of the girl’s aunts speaks four languages, so the girl reasons that she can talk to four times as many people. By the end of the book, the girl says she wants to learn “dozens of languages” and thinks “[h]aving a tapestry of tongues will be [her] superpower”.

This book is a beautiful ode to the immigrants’ experience of languages in the United States. Suggested reading age is 4-8 years old.

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

five-stars

Arboretum

ArboretumArboretum: Welcome to the Museum by Katie Scott, Tony Kirkham
ISBN: 1536235016
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
The latest edition of the Welcome to the Museum series is Arboretum with illustrations by the talented Katie Scott with writing by Royal Kew Gardens Arborist, Tony Kirkham.  Arboretum is an oversized children’s non-fiction book that celebrate the many different biomes on our planet, the vast variety of trees that populate them, and their extraordinary role they play in our ecosystem.

The first few pages introduce us to a color coded map of the Earth to show the different biomes; a page titled “What is a Tree?” showing the main components of what makes up a tree, “How Trees Communicate,” describing the complex root system that trees rely on to survive, and “The First Trees” describes the prehistoric trees that pre-date humans, and ones that still exist. The rest of the content in the book are specific trees and their habitats with stunning illustrations that show the intricate details of their trunks, leaves, branches, fruit, and buds.

The oversized nature of this book paired with the stunning illustrations and the curated words of Tony Kirkham is where this book really shines. The key-to-plate infographic is something that feels a bit disorganized, as do some other areas of the book, which might fatigue a young reader. The back cover notes that this book is meant for ages 8-12+, but I would argue that this book would work best for ages 10+. Otherwise, this book is strikingly beautiful and a real treasure for tree enthusiasts.

Reviewed by Gia Charles, Patten Free Library, Bath

four-stars

Five Little Ghosts

Five Little GhostsFive Little Ghosts by Holly Surplice, Lily Murray
ISBN: 1536235008
Genres: board book
Format: Board Book
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Based on the nursery rhyme “Five Little Ducks,” this lift-the-flap book is a fun story to share at Halloween and practice beginning counting. Mama Ghost and her ghostlings float through a pumpkin patch, a playground, a haunted house and a woods. Along the way, the ghostlings are disappearing, only to reappear hiding on the last page. with a resounding “Boo!” The repeated phrasing, “Mama Ghost said ‘Fly back to me!’ How many ghostlings can you see?”, prompts readers to search for and count the ghostlings. Kids ages 2-5 will enjoy searching for the ghosts, and as with all lift-the-flap books, it will be your choice as to whether to include in your library collection as they tend to be torn easily.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Spooky Little Halloween

Spooky Little HalloweenSpooky Little Halloween: A Finger Wiggle Book (Finger Wiggle Books) by Nick Sharratt, Sally Symes
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536231479
Genres: board book
Format: Board Book
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
A “Finger Wiggle Book”  that kids can poke their fingers through the holes of a witch, wolf, spider, ghost, pumpkin, bat, black cat, and monster/vampire. The bright, high-contrast illustrations and suggested sound effects, along with the finger-poking, will delight toddlers and introduce them to Halloween characters. Best read one-on-one for 1-3 year olds.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

four-stars

Tig and Lily: Up Late

Tig and Lily: Up LateTig and Lily: Up Late!: (A Graphic Novel) by Dan Thompson
Series: Tig and Lily #2
Published by Random House Children's Books on 7/16/24
ISBN: 059348634X
Genres: Humor
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars
Tig and Lily are back in this fun graphic novel for new readers.  In this installment, Tig wakes up from a bad dream and decides that he never wants to sleep again.  To help keep him awake, he convinces his best friend Lily to help him throw a slumber party with all of their friends. The party is a fun time complete with snacks and scary stories, but Tig faces danger when he sleepwalks and must be rescued. This graphic novel is ideal for first and second graders.  The language is fairly simple and there isn’t too much text on each panel.  The illustrations definitely carry this book.  They are bright and colorful and convey the humor of the story, especially through the facial expressions of the characters.  Libraries that have the first Tig and Lily will want to add this one to the collection, though it does also work as a stand alone.  Kids will enjoy the humor and will also learn a little bit about friendship, too.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

three-stars

You Can Be an Activist

You Can Be an ActivistYou Can Be an Activist: How to Use Your Strengths and Passions to Make a Difference (CitizenKid, 27) by Charlene Rocha, Drew Shannon, Mary Beth Leatherdale
Series: Citizen Kid #27
Published by Kids Can Press on 9/3/24
ISBN: 1525308408
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
In this latest Citizen Kid installment, young adult readers are given a comprehensive guide for how to become an activist.  There are helpful quizzes, templates, and lists that address topics such as fundraising, leading a meeting, and deciding the most appropriate form of action to take.  The book is divided into chapters and each chapter ends with three primary takeaways from the material.  There are sidebars, charts, and lists that help to break down a large amount of information into digestible chunks.  Readers are encouraged to examine their own bias and privilege and are offered suggestions on how to be an ally.  The graphics are engaging and show diverse representation.  Throughout the book there are also short descriptions of young activists who have tackled big issues world-wide.  In addition to the nitty gritty steps young activists should take, another strength of this book is the focus on safety and self care.  The authors remind readers to be aware when using the Internet and social media and are encouraged at various points to reach out to an adult for support.  There is an entire section on burn out warning signs, self care steps to take, and self affirmations readers can use.  This book would be a great addition to a high school library and would be perfect for high school aged and young adult readers who have a passion for making a positive difference in the world.

Reviewed by Lindsay Varnum, Orono Public Library

four-stars