Who Was Here? Discovering Wild Animal Tracks

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 8, 2014

Review

Young readers will enjoy learning about animals tracks in this engaging science picture book. The writing style alternates between descriptive poems and expository paragraphs as readers try to guess the animals based on the tracks and the clues in the text. Upon turning the page, readers see an illustration of the animal in its habitat along with information about the animal.

The soft, earth tones and textures in the water color and mixed media collage illustrations make this a book readers will want to revisit, and the tracks are illustrated in actual size. The book contains tracks from animals that live in different habitats including black bears, kangaroos, and hippos. Back matter includes tips for looking for animal tracks and a list of related books and websites.

Pair Who Was Here? with Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow by Joyce Sidman or What in the Wild? by David M. Schwartz.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Posada, Mia

Illustrator: Posada, Mia

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Millbrook Press/Lerner

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781467718714

Price: 16.95

Judy Moody: Mood Martian

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 9, 2014

Review

Fans of the Judy Moody series know that main character, Judy, is often in a bad mood. What would happen if Judy Moody tried to be in a good mood for a change? When it's Backwards Day at school, Judy dresses and acts like her arch-nemesis Jessica Finch. She quickly finds out that being positive and being kind to others has its benefits. Despite the confused reactions she receives from friends and family, Judy makes it her objective to be neat, responsible and in a good mood all week long. Young readers will relate to Judy's predicaments in this hilarious early chapter book. Reynolds' pen and ink drawings enhance the story and add to the humor.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

McDonald, Megan

Illustrator: Reynolds, Peter

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780763666989

Price: 15.99

Timmy Failure: Now Look What You've Done

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 11, 2014

Review

Timmy Failure returns in book two of the humorous chapter book series. Timmy, who fancies himself a world-class detective, is determined to win his school's detective contest. When he misses the deadline, Timmy will do anything to enter the contest in another school including getting kicked out of school so he can attend Glouberman Academy for "bad kids."? Reluctant readers will easily become hooked on this outrageous, slapstick story filled with polar bear sidekicks, a great aunt on roller skates, voodoo dolls and underwear jokes. Even though the characters are one-dimensional and the plot is thin, the book serves its purpose: to motivate kids to read and make readers laugh.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Pastis, Stephan

Illustrator: Pastis, Stephan

Illustration Quality: fair

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: mystery

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780763660512

Price: 14.99

Dear Wandering Wildebeest: And Other Poems from the Water Hole

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 11, 2014

Review

Young Readers will enjoy learning about animals from the African grasslands in this nonfiction poetry picture book. Each two-page spread features a free verse poem about a different animal and is accompanied by an expository paragraph. Latham uses a lyrical style to describe various animals including meerkats, black mambas and giraffes in these carefully crafted poems. High interest facts are included in the informational paragraphs and may motivate readers to read more about the animals. The whimsical illustrations will appeal to children. Back matter includes a glossary and a list of books and websites for further reading.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Latham, Irene

Illustrator: Wadham, Anna

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Millbrook Press/Lerner

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9781467712323

Price: 17.95

Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 12, 2014

Review

The Ricky Ricotta early chapter book series has been reprinted with new, full color illustrations by Dan Santat. Newly independent readers will devour these exciting fantasy stories featuring a young mouse named Ricky Ricotta. When Dr. Stinky McNasty's robot creation goes awry, Ricky befriends the robot and helps him use his power to fight evil and keep bullies away. Santat's comic book style illustrations capture the excitement of the story, which is perfect for young readers looking for an action-packed book with accessible text.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Pilkey, Dav

Illustrator: Santat, Dan

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780545631068

Price: 15.99

Hi, Koo! A Year of Seasons

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 4, 2014

Review

Jon Muth, winner of the Caldecott Medal for Zen Shorts, introduces readers to Koo the Panda in this poetry picture book. In an author's note, Muth provides readers with the elements of haiku. The book begins in fall with Koo mesmerized by falling leaves and dancing in cold rain. Each page contains a gorgeous watercolor illustration of Koo with an accompanying haiku. The seasons change, and Koo plays in snow, frolics with birds and does handstands with friends. The poems and illustrations will appeal to a range of readers from Kindergarten through adult and could be read aloud in a story time. Recommend for Cream.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Muth, Jon J.

Illustrator: Muth, Jon J.

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fiction in verse / poetry

Audience: all ages

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: poor

ISBN: 9780545166683

Price: 17.99

The Zoo at the Edge of the World

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 13, 2015

Review

Marlin lives and exciting life at the Zoo at the Edge of the World resort in South America. His father, Ronan Rackham, is known for being a fearless handler of exotic animals and world explorer. However, Marlin’s stuttering impedes his relationships with others and causes him to be bullied by his older brother. When a rare jaguar is brought to the zoo, Marlin discovers he has a gift for talking to animals and puts Marlin in a difficult position. Should he release the animals or obey his father’s wishes that the animals stay locked up in cages? Eric Kahn Gale has written an exciting, fantasy story that will have middle grade readers questioning what is right and wrong. The descriptive language, setting, and characters make The Zoo at the Edge of the World an excellent read aloud for grades 4-6.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Gale, Eric Kahn

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Balzer + Bray/ Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780062125163

Price: 16.99

Nuts to You

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 13, 2015

Review

When Jed the squirrel escapes the grips of a swooping hawk, he falls into unknown territory and makes a startling discovery. Humans are cutting down vast sections of the forest with loud machines. This crisis causes Jed and his friends to team up with squirrels from different regions to warn their friends and family members. Perkins uses endearing animal characters and humor to teach readers a lesson about conservation.The story is didactic at times, however middle grade readers will enjoy the witty footnotes and Perkins’ pencil sketches.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Perkins, Lynne Rae

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Greenwillow Books/ Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780060092757

Price: 16.99

Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 13, 2015

Review

Kid Sheriff and the Terrible Toads is a humorous picture book set in the wild west. The Toad brothers are bad news; they run loose through the town of Drywater Gulch. They rob banks, steal cattle, and “insult your chili.” When Kid Sheriff slowly rides into town on his tortoise, the Toad brothers have met their match. The Kid uses reverse psychology to outsmart the villains and clean up the town. Witty dialogue matched with Lane Smith’s comic-style illustrations. Read aloud Kids Sheriff and the Terrible Toads in story time, and you’ll have them rolling on the floor laughing.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Shea, Bob

Illustrator: Smith, Lane

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press/ Macmillan

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9781596439757

Price: 17.99

Viva Frida

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 13, 2015

Review

Yuyi Morales introduces young readers to the artist, Frida Kahlo, in the picture book Viva Frida. Morales uses sparse text in Spanish and English and allows the illustrations to tell the story. Photographs of carved puppets created from steel, polymer clay and wool depict Kahlo playing dreaming, and observing the world around her. Viva Frida is not a book that will provide readers with details about Kahlo’s life and art, but the gorgeous illustrations will inspire readers to take the time to look around and to dream. The book may also serve as a springboard for readers who want to learn more about Kahlo and her artwork. An author’s note in the back of the book explains why Morales chose Kahlo as the subject of the book, and the note offers readers a some basic facts about Kahlo's life.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Morales, Yuyi

Illustrator: Morales, Yuyi

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Neal Porter/Roaring Brook Press

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre: biography / autobiography

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9781596436039

Price: 17.99

Beetle Busters: A Rogue Insect and the People Who Track It

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 10, 2015

Review

Loree Griffin Burns traces how an invasive species traveled to North America and devastated forests in Beetle Busters, a Scientists in the Field book. The Asian Longhorn Beetle (ALB) is an aggressive insect that lays eggs inside hardwood trees. When the larvae matures into an adult beetle it tunnels out of the tree causing extensive damage. Infected trees are then cut down by foresters to stop the spread of the ALB. Organized into six chapters, the middle grade text traces how the ALB came to the U.S. from China in wooden shipping pallets. Burns describes how scientists in Worcester, Massachusetts survey forests, identify infected trees and study the effects of the ALB as they attempt to stop the spread of the species. Close-up photographs, maps and diagrams support the narrative. Back matter is extensive and includes an author’s note, glossary, and a list of resources about the ALB. The final chapter is a call to action that stresses the importance of paying attention to nature and our surroundings. Beetle Busters is a recommended purchase for library collections, and it would make an excellent read aloud to middle grade science classes.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Burns, Loree Griffin

Illustrator: Harasimowicz, Ellen

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Book Type: chapter book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780547792675

Price: 18.99

Spirit's Key

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 10, 2015

Review

Twelve-year old Spirit Holden lives on the secluded Bald Island with her father. Spirit’s father has a special family gift; he can see into the future when he holds a person’s house key. When some island residents mysteriously fall ill, many superstitious residents blame the wild dogs or “baldies” that roam the island. It’s up to Spirit to protect the baldies. The first person narrative allows readers to experience the story through the eyes of Spirit, the strong-willed protagonist. Spirit is surprised when the ghost of her deceased pet baldie appears and leads her to discover the answers to some mysterious events on the island. This unique middle grade novel written in the present tense will appeal to readers who enjoy magical realism and animal stories. The author explains in the Acknowledgements, the island setting is based on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Cohn, Edith

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy,mystery

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780374300111

Price: 16.99

Greetings from the Graveyard

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 10, 2015

Review

Greetings from the Graveyard is the sixth book in the epistolary series, 43 Old Cemetery Road by Kate Klise. Readers will find humor in the fantasy story of Seymour, his adopted father Ignatius B. Grumply and Olive, the ghost that lives in their home. Author, Iggy Grumply, has his hands full when a woman from his past threatens to reveal embarrassing love letters unless he marries her or gives her money. Olive is busy with the greeting card company she has started. So, it’s no surprise that young Seymour is the only one suspicious of a mysterious couple who moves into town at the same time businesses and homes are robbed. Upper elementary readers will be amused by the characters, witty names, clever greeting cards and the entertaining story told through letters, text messages, and newspaper articles. Readers who have not read previous books in the series will still be able to follow the story in Greetings from the Graveyard. A good addition to a juvenile fiction collection.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Klise, Kate

Illustrator: Klise, M. Sarah

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780544105676

Price: 15.99

Revenge on Superstition Mountain

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 12, 2015

Review

Revenge on Superstition Mountain, the final installment in the Superstition Mountain trilogy, brings closure to the Barker brothers’ search for gold. Middle grade readers will enjoy the adventurous story as Henry, Simon, Jack, and their friend Delilah encounter mountain lions, grave robbers, landslides, and a mysterious (and evil) librarian. When the children discover a clue left by their deceased Uncle Hank, they are hot on the trail of the buried treasure. Will they locate the treasure without upsetting the Apache Thunder God? This fast-paced mystery will keep readers guessing right up until the conclusion.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Broach, Elise

Illustrator: Ivanov, Olga and Aleksey

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company/ Macmillan

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,mystery

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780805089097

Price: 16.99

Families Around the World

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 12, 2015

Review

Families Around the World offers a basic overview of different cultures from the point of view of children from different countries. The first page points out that families are diverse. Some families have many children, one child, or adopted children, and some children have two moms or two dads. Each two-page spread introduces readers to a child from a different country ranging from Brazil to Mongolia and the Netherlands. Kid-friendly illustrations accompany the first-person narrative text that describes the foods, religion, recreation activities, and other aspects of daily life. Back matter includes activities for teachers and parents to share with children and a glossary of words from the countries represented. Although the book doesn’t provide a detailed description of life in each country, it offers a springboard for very young readers with limited knowledge of world cultures.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Ruurs, Margriet

Illustrator: Gordon, Jessica Rae

Illustration Quality: fair

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9781894786577

Price: 18.95

Jinx's Magic

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 13, 2015

Review

Thirteen year-old Jinx, apprentice to the wizard Simon, hones his magic skills and learns he has powers as a Listener in Jinx’s Magic, the sequel to Jinx. Jinx travels to nearby kingdoms, enters the university to gain access to books of magic, and faces the evil Bonemaster in an attempt to save the Urwald, the trees, and Simon. Author, Sage Blackwood, has built a rich, fantasy world with wizards, werewolves, and elves. Sophisticated middle grade readers will enjoy the complex plot and many characters. Readers are left hanging at the end of the story as Jinx learns in the final chapter that he has access to a portal that will lead him to anywhere in the Urwald. Jinx’s Fire, the third book in the trilogy, picks up where the story left off. One minor quibble: the rich language and fantasy world was weakened by use of modern slang (ex: sucks, wow, and like).

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Blackwood, Sage

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books/ Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780062129932

Price: 16.99

Computer Engineer Ruchi Sanghvi

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 7, 2015

Review

Computer Engineer Ruchi Sanghvi (part of the STEM Trailblazer Bios series) fills a void in juvenile biographies: books about women in the field of computer science. This short biography follows Sanghvi’s path from a child in India to college student at Carnegie Mellon to becoming the first female engineer at Facebook. Readers will be interested to learn that Sanghvi created the Newsfeed and Facebook Connect and went on create her own start-up despite pressures from her parents to return to India for an arranged marriage. The text is accessible for middle grade readers, and photos compliment the information. This is a book that readers may pick up for pleasure reading based on the topic or it could be used for research projects. Sanghvi is a strong role model, and her story may inspire girls to pursue a career in computer science.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Waxman, Laura Hamilton

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Lerner

Book Type: chapter book nonfiction

Genre: biography / autobiography

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781467757942

Price: 26.00

The Death of the Hat: A Brief History of Poetry in 50 Objects

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 7, 2015

Review

Poet, Paul B. Janeczko, provides readers with a history of poetry through the ages in the anthology The Death of the Hat. In the introduction, Janeczko explains that he researched poems from different time periods and selected the poems about objects. Well-known poems by Eloise Greenfield, William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Billy Collins and more are accompanied by whimsical, watercolor illustrations by Chris Raschka. The poems are arranged chronologically, and the time period is noted at the top of the page. Don’t be fooled by the picture book format; it’s not a book aimed at very young readers. Many poems selected for The Death of the Hat are deep, complex and use rich language that older readers (grades 4-12) will appreciate and savor. A recommended purchase for library and classroom poetry collections.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Janeczko, Paul B.

Illustrator: Raschka, Chris

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades 4-6,grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780763669638

Price: 17.99

This Book's Maine Connection: Maine author

Moonpenny Island

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 7, 2015

Review

Moonpenny Island is a coming of age story about eleven year-old Flor. Flor's life in the tight-knit community of Moonpenny Island seems like it is out of control. Her mother has left the island to stay with relatives indefinitely, her best friend Sylvie is now attending school on the mainland, and her teenage sister is sneaking around at night. As Flor’s personal life feels like it is beginning to unravel, she must continue with her homework for demanding teacher, Mrs. DeFoe, and help her father take care of her young brother. Middle grade readers will relate to Flor and her school and family dilemmas in this realistic fiction story told in the present tense. The characters are well-developed, and Springstubb’s language is beautiful- both descriptive and lyrical. Life lessons from Anne of Avonlea parallel the lessons the characters learn in story. The story's conclusion will satisfy readers without being too contrived or unbelievable.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Springstubb, Tricia

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Balzer + Bray (Harper Collins)

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780062112934

Price: 16.99

Lucky Strike

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 10, 2015

Review

Nate Harlow, the target of bullying, has had back luck for as long as he can remember. His parents were killed in an accident when he was younger, and nothing ever seems to work out for him. Nate's luck changes on his eleventh birthday. While miniature golfing with his best friend, Genesis, Nate is struck by lightning. Soon everything he touches turns to gold, figuratively speaking. His grandfather wins a brand new pickup truck, his friend's father wins a boat race when Nate is onboard, and he becomes friends with the cool kids. Bobbie Pyron effectively weaves in themes of luck, fate, religion and faith. Middle grade readers will find Nate an endearing character in this fast-paced, magical realism story. As the story concludes, readers will see what’s really important in life: friends and family.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Pyron, Bobbie

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books/ Scholastic

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780545592178

Price: 16.99

Honey

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 10, 2015

Review

Spunky, ten year-old Melody lives with her father in the small town of Royal, Indiana. She doesn’t remember her mother who passed away when Melody was a baby. When Melody overhears her father refer to someone as “Honey” during a phone call, she is suspicious. Is her father dating a woman in town? Melody and her best friend, Nick, investigate. Their first stop is Bee-Hive, a new hair salon run by the exuberant Bee-Bee Churchill and her dog, Mo. Melody soon learns that nothing is as it appears when she jumps to conclusions and makes a mess of the situation. Honey has a simple plot line, yet there is depth in the characters and subtleties that readers going through family change will appreciate. Middle grade fans of Pie by Sarah Weeks will also enjoy this realistic fiction story.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Weeks, Sarah

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780545465571

Price: 16.99

A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 10, 2015

Review

A Fine Dessert spans four centuries and two countries as four families make blackberry fool using fresh ingredients. The dessert is a labor of love that involves smashing and straining berries and whipping cream by hand. Blackall uses ink, watercolor and blackberry juice to create the delicate, detailed illustrations. Although the story depicts a mother and daughter who are slaves in South Carolina, the author does not delve into the harsh and complicated topic of slavery. Instead, Jenkins ends with a multicultural group of family and friends in the present day and the message of how food connects us. A recipe for blackberry fool is included in the back matter for readers who wish to try to dessert at home.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Jenkins, Emily

Illustrator: Blackall, Sophie

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/ Random House

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: historical fiction

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 978037586320

Price: 17.99

Chasing Secrets

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 15, 2015

Review

Despite being enrolled in Miss Barstow's School for Young Women, spunky Lizzie Kennedy would rather help her doctor father make house calls to families in San Francisco. The thirteen year-old main character doesn’t fit society's vision of a polished young woman in 1900. When the plague breaks out in the city, Lizzie boldly steps in to try to have Jing, her family’s servant, released from quarantine in Chinatown. Lizzie shares secrets with Jing's son and her new friends Gemma and Gus as they investigate the possible cover-up of the epidemic by the local newspaper and businessmen. Middle grade readers will find Choldenko's latest historical fiction novel an exciting read that weaves together history and medicine and shines light on racism, sexism and socio-economic issues from the turn of the century. Choldenko's thorough research is evident in the back matter including an author’s note, timeline, and source notes.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Choldenko, Gennifer

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books/Penguin Random House

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: historical fiction

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780385742535

Price: 16.99

Hot Rod Hamster and the Awesome ATV Adventure

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 18, 2015

Review

Hot Rod Hamster and his friends rent ATVs from Awesome ATV adventures for a day of fun in this early reader. Colorful, digital illustrations accompany the simple text. Dialogue is placed in speech bubbles in a graphic novel style. Children who love vehicles will enjoy the plot, especially when one vehicle becomes stuck in the mud and needs to be towed. Hot Rod Hamster is a recommended purchase for libraries. It is sure to be a hit with emerging readers (both boys and girls) who enjoy reading about cars, trucks and four-wheelers.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Lord, Cynthia

Illustrator: Paprocki, Greg

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780545767347

Price: 16.99

This Book's Maine Connection: Maine author

Steve Jobs: Insanely Great

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 18, 2015

Review

Jessie Hartland chronicles the life and work of Steve Jobs in this graphic novel aimed at middle grade readers. Beginning with his childhood in Santa Clara, CA, Hartland paints an honest picture of the tech mogul. It is obvious from an early age that Jobs is a creator, an inventor and an entrepreneur. Black and white illustrations are rendered in India ink and pencil. The pages are busy with a combination of illustrations, captions and dialogue. Some readers may have difficulties reading Hartland's handwritten text that is a hybrid of cursive and manuscript. Readers will enjoy studying the two-page spread in the middle of the book that illustrates the technology available in the 1980s including cordless phones, the fax machine, and the Sony Walkman. Overall, the graphic novel eloquently captures the accomplishments and personality traits of the complex Jobs in both words and pictures. Source notes and a lengthy bibliography are provided in the back matter.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Hartland, Jessie

Illustrator: Hartland, Jessie

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/ Penguin Random House

Book Type: chapter book nonfiction

Genre: graphic novel

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780307982957

Price: 22.95

Sleepless Knight

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 10, 2016

Review

The Knight and his steed, Edward embark on a camping trip that doesn't go as planned. When his beloved teddy bear goes missing, the Knight goes on a quest in search of his furry companion and comes face-to-face with a real bear. Emerging readers will enjoy this humorous graphic novel by the creators of Adventures in Cartooning. Readers who like to draw will appreciate the instructions for how to draw each character on the endpapers. Large print, bold colors and slapstick humor make this a recommended purchase for K-2 graphic novel collections.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Sturm, James

Illustrator: Sturm, James

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: First Second

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: graphic novel

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9781596436510

Price: 14.99

Stink Moody in Master of Disguise

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 10, 2016

Review

Stink and his sister Judy Moody, have shown an interest in stargazing. When Stink hears that a giant meteor landed in Russia, he panics and creates an asteroid shelter in the basement. Goofy antics ensue until Stink emerges as superhero, Asteroid Boy. Megan McDonald's humorous writing rings true in the latest installment of the Judy Moody and Friends series. The large font, white space, and colorful, digital illustrations make this a perfect book for readers who are ready to make the jump from leveled readers to early chapter books.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

McDonald, Megan

Illustrator: Madrid, Erwin

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9780763672188

Price: 12.99

Dragon's Beware!

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 10, 2016

Review

Claudette is back in Dragons Beware! the anticipated sequel to the graphic novel, Giants Beware! When Claudette's father leaves the village of Mont Petit Pierre to fight the evil sorcerer Grombach, Claudette, Marie and Gaston refuse to be left behind. The trio embarks on a quest to recover a sword from the dragon Azra's stomach and defeat the evil sorcerer Grombach. Witty dialogue, fast-paced adventure, and bold illustrations is sure to make Dragons Beware a hit with readers in grade 2-5.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Rosado, Rafael

Illustrator: Aguirre, Jorge

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: First Second

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: graphic novel

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9781596438781

Price: 14.99

Sydney & Simon Go Green!

Reviewed by: Cathy Potter - Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 10, 2016

Review

Peter and Paul Reynolds are known for their picture books about creativity. This time the brothers have teamed up to create an early chapter book about the environment that is part of a new series featuring mice characters, Sydney and Simon. While on a field trip to the aquarium, Sydney learns about how trash harms sea turtles. Sydney enlists the help of her brother, Simon, to write and record a song about reducing trash and going green.

The whimsical illustrations and size of the book (similar to a leveled-reader) may be deceiving for young readers. There is a considerable amount of text on each page, and the complex vocabulary (ex: biodegradable, decomposing, and percussion) could make the story challenging for emerging readers. The book might work better as a read aloud in a classroom or at bedtime. Despite the didactic nature of the story, students will enjoy the story of how two people (or mice) can have a big impact on the world.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Reynolds, Paul

Illustrator: Reynolds, Peter

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Charlesbridge

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: fair

ISBN: 9781580896771

Price: 12.95