How to Babysit Your Grown-Up

January 22, 2024

How to Babysit Your Grown-Up: Activities to Do Together (How To Series) by JaNay Brown-Wood, Jean Reagan, Lee Wildish
Published by Alfred A. Knopf ISBN: 0593479238
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

If you’re looking for creative and engaging ideas on what to do with kids, then this book is a great resource to have! Although the title includes the words, “how to babysit your grown-up” this book is for both kids and adults to use the next time somebody says, “I’m bored!”

This book contains a spread of 44 activities complete with supply lists and a step-by-step guide as well as charming, kid-friendly illustrations of adults and kids interacting with each other and of the activity.

There is a good mix of crafts, STEM projects, snack recipes, outdoor activities and games. All the activities require a short list of common household supplies that take minutes to gather and set up. Additionally, there is a checklist on the last page of all the activities so you can keep track of which ones you have or have not completed. This book seems to be written for families with young kids or for a grandparent or babysitter charged with entertaining a child, but many of the activities are easily transferrable to a classroom setting or a library program. This book is excellent for ages 4-8.

Reviewed by Emily Stowers, Maine State Library, Augusta

The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall

January 18, 2024

The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall by Ali Standish
ISBN: 0063275570
Pages: 310
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Arthur hadn’t known what he had set in motion the afternoon back in Edinburgh… One never knew where one’s choices might lead. All one could do was make the right choice in the moment.” A chance encounter between a young Arthur Conan Doyle and a mysterious man begins this adventure tale of mystery, secret societies, science fiction, and a little fantasy. Arthur is whisked off to a secret school for brilliant young minds called Baskerville Hall. Together with a familiar crew of friends (and enemies) he must follow the clues to keep the truth from falling into the wrong hands.

This novel is one that keeps readers guessing right up to the end. Those familiar with the Sherlock Holmes series and characters will truly appreciate the creativity that went into weaving this tale, while those not acquainted with the world of Holmes could become lost. Standish has partnered with the Conan Doyle estate for the creation of this series. Fans of Harry Potter and The Mysterious Benedict Society will enjoy this multilayered historical mystery filled with intricate details and nods to Doyle’s real life childhood. Recommended for readers aged nine to fourteen.

Reviewed by Heidi Kopishke, Camden Hills Regional High School (ESVM Library), Rockport, ME.

Peep and Ducky: It’s Snowing!

January 18, 2024

Peep and Ducky It's Snowing! by David Martin, David Walker
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536233285
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Board Book
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Peep and Ducky are excited to play in the snow. They go sledding and build a snowman together, but things don’t always go as planned. They begin kicking snow at one another and yelling in anger, until their parents arrive to give them hot chocolate and cookies.

While there was a great opportunity in this board book to teach about positive conflict resolution, it unfortunately fell short and was a bit problematic. This book is not recommended as a good model for young children.

Reviewed by Kristi Favaloro, Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta

The Labors of Hercules Beal

January 17, 2024

The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt
Published by Clarion Books on May 23, 2023
ISBN: 0358659639
Pages: 352
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

A heartwarming, genuine, miraculous middle grade novel that will nestle its way into your heart. When the Beal brothers lose their parents in a car accident, life is shaken up. Older brother Achilles abandons his job traveling the world to write for magazines, returning home to run Beal Brothers Farm and Nursery, and 12-year-old Hercules must leave public middle school to attend the Cape Cod Academy for Environmental Sciences, which is much closer to home. Both characters are struggling with grief and loss, but the book is told exclusively in Hercules’s voice as he navigates the new normal. When Hercules’s teacher Mr. Hupfer, a retired marine lieutenant colonel, creates a full-year assignment specifically designed for each student in his class, Hercules is, naturally, assigned the 12 labors of the mythical demigod.

Perplexed about how he can possibly complete the labors in a mortal world, Hercules proceeds slowly. This is where Schmidt’s masterful plotting steps in. As Hercules lives his life and faces challenges that are presented to him, he finds connection with one labor after another, but not in a completely obvious way. Mr. Hupfer requires that each student write a reflection on their project as they complete steps and tasks. These short reflections followed by the feedback from Hupfer are the heart of the book. The reader travels with Hercules, watching as he recognizes his inner strength, accepts help from his community, and gains insight into his brother’s life and heart. He also learns to let go of the intense survivor’s guilt and find peace. A beautiful book with moments of heart-stopping action, humor, sadness, sweetness, and light.

Recommend for Cream of the Crop.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School

Cage of Dreams

January 17, 2024

Cage of Dreams (City of Nightmares Duology, 2) by Rebecca Schaeffer
on September 26, 2023
ISBN: 0358645549
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
three-stars

“Cage of Dreams” by Rebecca Schaeffer is the second and final book in the “City of Nightmares” YA fiction duology. The premise in “City of Nightmares” is that when people go to sleep and dream, they can turn into their worst fear, including monsters, giant insects, and other terrifying things. By the end of the first book the main character, Ness, has discovered that the Nightmare Phantom creating these nightmares in dreams is trapped in the dream realm, so she makes a deal and releases him. Now at the beginning of the second book, Ness is still terrified of the violence in this post-apocalyptic world and wants to make a deal with the Nightmare Phantom to make her more powerful and less vulnerable. Things go wrong and chaos ensues.

The book is both scary and humorous with lots of little quips from Ness and the other characters. Themes of friendship, acceptance, fear, and strength are strong in the series and Ness comes to terms with who they are and how they fit with their friends and in this terrifying world in general. Written for teens and young adults, this is a recommended purchase where the first book is popular.

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

Greenlight

January 16, 2024

Greenlight by Breanna Carzoo
ISBN: 006305406X
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
five-stars

Greenlight has an important job to do. So why do cars stop for Redlight and slow for Yellowlight.but every time when it’s Greenlight’s time to shine, the cars drive away. Greenlight gives up, closes his eyes, and has a bit of an existential crisis. He eventually decides that he wants to shine again and resolves the traffic jam. I confess, it took me some time to “get” this book, but after reading it a few times, the more I enjoyed it. The realization that being liked by others is less important than liking oneself turns out to be literally eye-opening. Young preschoolers will enjoy the cars and trucks and simple colorful paper collage illustrations but may need some support to understand the underlying concept. Or maybe they are smarter than I am? Anyway, this is why I gave the book a 5 star rating rather than a Cream of the Crop rating. The book is funny and children will enjoy the topic. It could easily be paired with Cazoo’s first book, Lou, about a fire hydrant for a Story Time.