Source: MSL Book Review

Gift and Box

Gift and BoxGift & Box by Brizida Magro, Ellen Mayer
ISBN: 0593377613
Genres: Humor
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Gift and Box” is a picture book written by Ellen Mayer and illustrated by Brizida Magro. Grandma is sending her granddaughter a gift through the mail, so she puts Gift into Box to be able to ship them. Together they are a Package. The story follows their journey as Box protects Gift. Gift is occasionally worried and impatient, but Box is calm and confident. The illustrations are a colorful and bright collage style, with Box and Gift having big cartoony eyes and faces. Children who have gone on a long trip will understand how Gift feels. The ending of the book is cute and happy, and is NOT the end of Box and Gift’s friendship. Written for ages 3 to 5, this is a recommended purchase for picture book collections.

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

four-stars

A Way to the Stars

A Way to the StarsA Way to the Stars by David Almond, Gill Smith
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536231258
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“A Way to the Stars” is a picture book written by David Almond and illustrated by Gill Smith. Joe, a kid, wants to find a way to the stars. His friends laugh, but his dad is encouraging and helps Joe. They try a ladder, wings, a trampoline, and more, but no luck. The solution they find is beautiful. Artwork in the book is bright, flowy, and gorgeous. It’s nice to see a parent brainstorming with their child and trying different solutions before finding one that works. Written for ages 4 to 7, this is a recommended purchase for picture book collections.

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

four-stars

Harmony and Echo

Harmony and EchoHarmony & Echo: The Mermaid Ballet by Brigette Barrager
ISBN: 1984830422
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Harmony and Echo: The Mermaid Ballet” is a picture book written and illustrated by Brigette Barrager. Harmony and Echo are mermaids and are also best friends. Their ballet recital is coming up and Echo is very nervous about it, while Harmony is calm. Harmony helps her friend practice and they come up with a hand squeeze to silently communicate between each other that it will be okay. The illustrations are colorful and bright. Aimed at children ages 4 through 7, this book is a worthwhile read for children who are having their own worries. Themes of friendship, anxiety, and kindness make this a suggested purchase for picture book collections, especially where mermaids are popular.

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

three-stars

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn

The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinnThe Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla
on July 11, 2023
ISBN: 0063268795
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“The Fire, The Water, and Maudie McGinn” is a middle grade realistic fiction novel by Sally J. Pla. Maudie McGinn is a neurodivergent middle schooler who is hiding the fact that her stepfather, Ron, abuses her. She can’t wait to go spend the summer with her father. When wildfires threaten her father’s cabin, they spend the summer in his hometown, where Maudie makes friends and learns how to surf. She finds that she’s stronger than she thought and that there isn’t anything wrong with her.

Maudie is very well written and readers will feel the hopelessness and pain that she feels. Her strength in the end promises a better life for her, away from her mother and stepfather. Scenes of abuse in the book are hard to read, but her scenes with her kind and understanding father and friends are uplifting. The novel switches between prose and poems from Maudie. A recommended purchase for every library’s middle grade collection.

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

four-stars

The Goblin Twins

The Goblin TwinsThe Goblin Twins by Frances Cha, Jaime Kim
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers on 2023
ISBN: 9780593480212
Genres: Folklore
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Although they are goblin twins, Doki and Kebi are not much alike. Doki is a gentle bookworm while Kebi is a mischievous trickster. They are relatively young for dokkaebi, only 601, but they have spent their entire lives in one house in Korea. When they learn that the house is to be demolished, Kebi persuades Doki to go to New York City with him, claiming that the people there want to be scared. (He is a little confused about Halloween.) After a bit of a search, Kebi finally finds the perfect house for the brothers. Touchingly, it has a huge library for Doki. A neighboring ghost helps them prepare for Halloween and when the big night arrives… the Trick-or-treaters scare the goblin twins right up into the chandelier!

A delightful Author’s Note at the end of the tale explains that dokkaebi are traditional mythical creatures of Korea that have been around for thousands of years. This story is Frances Cha’s way of bringing the dokkaebi into the modern world and introducing them to a new audience. Jaime Kim’s bright, cartoonish, digital illustrations keep the story amusing and welcoming for young readers.

This book, recommended for 3-7 year olds, would be a fun read-aloud for Halloween or any other time of the year.

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

four-stars

Come and Join Us! 18 holidays Celebrated All Year Long

Come and Join Us! 18 holidays Celebrated All Year LongCome and Join Us!: 18 Holidays Celebrated All Year Long by Chaaya Prabhat, Liz Kleinrock
Published by Harper on Oct. 17, 2023
ISBN: 9780063144477
Genres: Cultural / African American, Holiday, Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
The author explains in a note at the end of the book that she wants “to encourage people who celebrate what I call ‘dominant culture holidays’ to be inclusive and respectful of holidays beyond their own” and she accomplishes this goal admirably. The text for each holiday names a child of that culture then gives examples of ways they celebrate their respective holidays which occur throughout the year. Riotously colorful illustrations show examples of clothing, food, and activities for each holiday. Some of the celebrations include Holi (Hindu), Passover (Jewish), Juneteenth (African-American), and Obon (Japanese), as well as many others.

Throughout the book, the themes that join all these holidays are the gathering of communities and the joy of celebrating together, via parades, dances, feasts, and other events. The glossary at the end of the book defines terms that may be unfamiliar to readers. This book provides a colorful, joyful glimpse into other cultures and would serve as an excellent starting point for further conversation. (Ages 4-8)

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

four-stars

Basketball Town

Basketball TownBasketball Town by Darnell Johnson, Scott Rothman
Published by Candlewick Press on 2023
ISBN: 9781536219777
Genres: Sports
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars
Vibrant digital illustrations bring this basketball-lover’s dream to life, along with a considerable amount of basketball jargon. Fortunately for the uninitiated, like myself, there is an explanation of terms at the end of the story.

Maxwell loves basketball and his dreams take him to Basketball Town where he discovers some valuable lessons. His own skills aren’t that great, but he can practice at Skillsville to improve. Then, when it’s time to compete, he learns the value of teamwork to help win the competition. When he wakes, Maxwell goes to practice with his own team and it is revealed that his father, their coach, looks a lot like the mayor of Basketball Town.

I appreciated that this book is very inclusive. The players, in both dreams and real life, include diverse genders and races. I did find it very odd that there were screaming and cheerleading giraffes in his dream, but no other animals. To be fair, there is a stuffed giraffe on Maxwell’s bed, but it’s still a little weird to see giraffes standing on their hind legs, waving pom-poms around.

Recommended for young basketball enthusiasts, especially if they need a little confidence boost or a nudge towards teamwork. (Ages 4-8)

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

four-stars

What It’s Like to Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers): From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing and Why

What It’s Like to Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers): From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing and WhyWhat It's Like to Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers): From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing--What Birds Are Doing and Why by David Allen Sibley
Published by Delacorte Press on Oct. 3, 2023
ISBN: 9780593430187
Pages: 208
Genres: Animals, Non-Fiction
Format: Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
This gorgeous, fact-filled book opens with general information about wild birds, then goes into accounts of individual bird species. Most entries are two pages, but some specific topics receive more detailed illustrations and text (ex. the nesting cycle of Robins). This oversized edition includes one beautifully detailed, full-page illustration for each bird, with smaller illustrations included to depict other typical behaviors described in the text (ex. flight, variations in plumage, etc.). Text for each species lists common traits, but also includes information uniquely applicable to each bird. Based on Sibley’s adult version of the same title, this book contains entries for a wide range of North American birds, including woodpeckers, cardinals, eagles, turkeys, gulls, loons, and many more, all made easily accessible to younger readers.

While this book is suggested for readers 10-12 years of age, I think it holds appeal for bird-lovers of all ages. This book does for birds what National Geographic’s 2-volume Book of Mammals does for world mammals, providing hours of potential entertainment. What It’s Like to Be a Bird is an excellent resource for information on specific bird species, but is also a fascinating book for general browsing. Highly recommended.

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

five-stars

What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing and Why

What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing and WhyWhat It's Like to Be a Bird (Adapted for Young Readers): From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing--What Birds Are Doing and Why by David Allen Sibley
Published by Delacorte Press on 10/3/23
ISBN: 0593430182
Pages: 171
Genres: Animals
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
The young reader’s edition of Sibley’s 2020 adult book What It’s Like to Be a Bird, this book is shorter and includes more facts about what birds do than how to identify birds. The book includes the most common or familiar in the continental US and Canada and can be read from cover to cover or browsed casually in any order. The book starts with an Introduction that includes generic bird information then jumps into the pages describing each bird. Sibley warns that the book is not complete; that it covers the topics that he has found most intriguing while researching birds over the years. Sibley’s illustrations are stunning and the detail for each bird is enaging and insightful. The one flaw in the book is that is does not include an index or a table of contents listing the included birds, but this seems intentional as Sibley does not intend for this to be a research book, but one to be flipped through and savored. Young bird enthusiasts, or those just foraying into the birding world will appreciate this beautiful book.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

 

five-stars

That Flag

That FlagThat Flag by Nikkolas Smith, Tameka Fryer Brown
Published by Harper on January 31, 2023
ISBN: 9780063093447
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars
Keira and Bianca, two best friends, live across the street from each other but are never allowed to visit each others’ homes due to the Confederate Flag flown by the white girl’s parents. The Black parents see the flag as a “symbol of violence and oppression” while the white parents claim it is a “celebration of courage and pride”. The girls maintain their friendship until their class takes a field trip to the Southern Legacy Museum where Keira finally starts to learn why her parents are so opposed to That Flag. Keira starts to avoid Bianca when the white girl completely fails to acknowledge the revelations of the museum. A tragic, racially motivated shooting in the community finally causes the white family to reconsider their beliefs enough to remove the Confederate Flag from their home.

The author admirably conveys the weight of the issues while avoiding a feeling of heavy-handedness. I particularly appreciate that instead of a “happily ever after” ending, there is a much more realistic attitude of cautious hope between the two girls. This book is highly recommended as a great conversation starter. Intended for ages 6-10.

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

five-stars