Source: MSL Book Review

While We’re Here

While We’re HereWhile We’re Here by Anne Wynter, Micha Archer
Published by Clarion Books ISBN: 0063238292
Genres: Cultural / African American, Family Life, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

An African American mom and daughter are rushing to get somewhere in the first half of the book . . The suspense builds with the repeated refrain, “Hurry, hurry.” The reader wonders where they are going, only to be empathetically disappointed when they arrive to discover the party was yesterday. However, now that they have nowhere to be they can take a more leisurely trip back home and stop to enjoy things along the way. This book covers the gambit of emotions using mostly simple two-lined text. Archer’s brilliant collage art sets the characters against vibrant greens and blues in the city setting. This book will be a wonderful read aloud at story time. It’s message is relatable for everyone.

Nominated for Cream of the Crop

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

five-stars

It Takes a Family to Serve: A Tribute to Military Famlies

It Takes a Family to Serve: A Tribute to Military FamliesIt Takes a Family to Serve: A Tribute to Military Families by David Soman, Lisa Wheeler
Published by Harper on March 17, 2026
ISBN: 0063283476
Genres: Emotions & Feelings, Family Life, Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Detailing the ways that families miss and support their service members, Wheeler introduces five military households: an Air Force mom’s family who runs the farm without her, a son in the Navy, a sister in the Coast Guard, a daughter in the Army, and a Marine wounded in a war. Wholesome watercolor and gouache vignettes of the children and other family members demonstrates the integral role they play. The author offers useful suggestions of ways families can help serve—providing pet care, sending care packages, or simply looking up to “share the moon.” While the sentiments are earnest, the rhyme scheme seems forced and mechanical at times. Still it’s a wonderful book to talk about the sacrifices that all members of a soldier’s make when their career choice is to serve their country. A good choice for libraries near a base where many soldiers are deployed.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Thank You For Being a Friend

Thank You For Being a FriendThank You for Being a Friend by Andrew Gold, Sanne Dufft
Published by Random House ISBN: 0593903099
Genres: Fiction in Verse/Poetry, Inspiration, Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Celebrate friendship of all ages with this sing-along picture book written in 1978 by Andrew Gold and made popular in the theme song for The Golden Girls. The words are familiar (at least to those over 40) and the variety in Dufft’s gouache and colored-pencil art captures racially and generationally diverse friendship in many different forms. The illustration of the four “golden girls” is a delight as are the colorful friendship bracelets on the end pages. Unlikely to be a story time hit with preschoolers as it is a bit repetitious, but it is good retro fun for adult readers. It would be a fun lap book to talk about the pictures with young children and pull up the song on Spotify to listen to and sing together.

Barb Rehmeyer,  Liberty Library

four-stars

We Are Joy

We Are JoyWe Are Joy by Chrystal D. Giles, Kitt Thomas
Published by Random House ISBN: 0593647734
Genres: Cultural / African American, Emotions & Feelings, Inspiration
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

Lyrical prose and vibrant art make this picture book that celebrates the Black community – a joy. It describes all the ways that can make one feel joyful, however, not just for the Black community. Anyone can relate to the joy of being  wrapped in “Nana’s hand-stitched blanket.” Probably best to share with upper elementary grades to understand the nuances, such as, “We are JOY-FULL, surrounded by laughter and light,” even though the children in the illustrations are younger. All are African Americans. I could see this as a jumping board for an art project – “What brings you joy?” and an inspirational addition of books for Black History Month.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

 

four-stars

Sing the 50 United States

Sing the 50 United StatesSing the 50 United States! by Dr. Seuss, Tom Brannon
Published by Random House on June 2, 2026
Genres: Informational, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

Newly discovered and never-before-seen picture book by Dr. Seuss . From Alabama to Wyoming, learn the names of all 50 states with the infamous Cat in the Hat. I don’t think it is singable but it is fun. The states are introduced by what names are similar or rhyme and not by region. This makes it a bit more challenging to learn them. The rhyming structure is typical Dr. Suess style. The book is colorful and the geography is fairly accurate. Kids, especially those who love maps, will enjoy it. A resource for the celebration of  the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. At the end of the book is a Publisher’s Note about how this project came to be, including  images of the original text and sketches by Ted Geisel.

Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library

three-stars

Our Aimless Nights

Our Aimless NightsOur Aimless Nights, Volume 1 by Jan Mitsuko Cash, Koumori
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance
Format: Graphic Novel, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Our Aimless Nights” is a young adult romance manga by Koumori. Chika is a chatty and popular girl and Waya is a quiet and reserved boy who don’t interact much at their high school, but after Chika runs into him at his night job at a store they start to develop feelings for each other. There are the typical misunderstandings and silly situations that pop up in romance stories, but this wholesome manga will keep readers rooting for the cute couple. A recommended purchase for YA manga collections.

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

four-stars

Queso, Just in Time

Queso, Just in TimeQueso, Just in Time by Ernesto Cisneros
ISBN: 0063092247
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Queso, Just in Time” is a middle grade science fiction novel by Ernesto Cisneros. Queso is a 12-year-old boy who is still grieving the death of his father two years ago in an armed robbery. After making a wish on a moonbow that he wishes he could see his dad once more, he time travels back to 1985 and meets his father as a child! Queso soaks in seeing his father and beloved grandparents and wonders if he can somehow change their future. This emotional and beautiful book is a must-buy for middle grade fiction collections.

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

four-stars

Call of the Dragon

Call of the DragonCall of the Dragon by Natasha Bowen
ISBN: 059389815X
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Call of the Dragon” is a young adult fantasy novel by Natasha Bowen. In the land of Kwa, the people are protected from evil by two dragons who hold up the earth and sky. Moremi is a teenager forced to pledge to the dragons, despite her lack of piety. She is surprisingly marked by both dragon gods, which is unheard of. When the king tries to take the gods’ power for himself, the dragons leave and Moremi must get them back. The world uses a magical system based on West African traditions and myths, which is very interesting and I wished it was described more. The characters fell a little flat, but the premise is very interesting.  A suggested purchase for YA fantasy collections.

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

three-stars

Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic

Ambrosia Lee Drops the MicAmbrosia Lee Drops the Mic by Patricia Park
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Ambrosia Lee Drops the Mic” is a young adult coming-of-age novel by Patricia Park. Ambrosia has been acting since she was young, but she is now considered “too fat” to get roles and struggles with the rejection. She goes to a stand up comedy show and meets a Korean American stand up comedian who suggests that she try it herself. The story is a compelling look at racism, fat-shaming, and growing up Asian in America. A recommended purchase for YA fiction collections.

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

four-stars

Holloway

HollowayHolloway by Elana K. Arnold
ISBN: 0062990888
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Young Adult
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Holloway” is a young adult fiction novel by Elana K. Arnold. Set in 2021, Nora is an autistic Jewish teenager dealing with the death of her mother (who held anti-vax beliefs and died from COVID-19). She goes to France to spread her mother’s ashes when she gets lost in a forest, running down a dark holloway, and is suddenly transported back to 1946. She ends up in an asylum and meets others who help her navigate and understand her past trauma. A moving novel with a very interesting plot. A recommended purchase for YA fiction collections.

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

 

four-stars