Upside Down Magic - Sticks and Stones

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Lon Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 8, 2016

Review

Upside Down Magic

The second book in a series about young magic makers whose magic sometimes goes wrong or "wonky." The main characters are enrolled at a special school that hopes to help them learn to control their unpredictable magic and even better to understand their "upside down magic." The book will appeal to those children who like fantasy and magic themes. It will have special appeal to reluctant readers and those readers just beginning to read chapter books. The book explores the themes of friendship, appreciating one's own abilities, and embracing and understanding the differences of others in a fun and lighthearted way.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Mlynowski-Myracle-Jenkins, Sarah- Lauren-Emily

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780545800495

Price: 14.99

WET Cement A Mix of Concrete Poems

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2016

Review

WET CEMENT is a fun filled book of concrete poems. Author Bob Raczka uses word play to "paint pictures with words and letters", as he explains in his short introduction. Each poem's title is in itself a short concrete poem made by simply moving letters in interesting ways. The poems follow with words moved in ways to tell a story and paint a picture in the reader's mind. The book will appeal to elementary readers who are just beginning to explore the genre of poetry and how to play with words, as well as older readers who will enjoy the amusing and often thought provoking way the author has created the poems. This book would be an excellent addition to school and classroom libraries as well as anyone who loves the artistry of words. A wonderful addition to a library's poetry collection for children.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Raczka, Bob

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Roaring Book Press

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre: fiction in verse / poetry

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6,all ages

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781626722361

Price: 17.99

The Only Girl in School

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2016

Review

Bess finds herself the only girl in her small island school after her best friend, Claire, moves away. This mid level elementary novel shows how Bess deals with suddenly becoming the "different" student at her school and all that entails including bullying, loneliness, and having to find her way in a new and difficult situation. The story is told through a series of letters that Bess sends to her friend Claire documenting her frustrating 5th grade year. Bess is a strong female character who is determined to outsmart the boys who are tormenting her, including her former close friend Henry, the class bully Webby, and the rather nerdy Gilbert who has a crush on her. Bess brings her own strengths to the story by using her artistic and sports abilities to help her cope with her problems. There are some interesting twists in the story including a ghost and other mysteries. What seems lacking is any strong adult figure to help Bess adjust to her difficult year. The simple black and white illustrations complement the story by reflecting the drawings that Bess herself draws on her Clubhouse wall. This is a story about transitions and friendship that many elementary (3-5) students could connect with despite the unusual setting and situation that Bess finds herself in.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Standiford, Natalie

Illustrator: Durfee, Nathan

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 978054582996

Price: 16.99

The Alligator's Smile

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2016

Review

The ALLIGATOR'S SMILE and Other Poems is a non-fiction book written in verse by award winning author, Jane Yolen. The author uses poetry to share fact filled verses about most aspects of an alligator's life from birth to the final poem titled, "Obituary". Yolen's use of rhyme and rhythm to share scientific information with her audience will appeal to many young readers who may not choose to read longer text about alligators. Her poems are supplemented with short post it like bright green notes with additional scientific information connecting to the poems. Although the subject is alligators, the information shared about life cycles, predation, defenses, and habitat is applicable to the lives of many others in the animal kingdom. She uses rich vocabulary which is supported with a glossary and a collection of supporting facts and a bibliography in the final pages of the book. Large, bright photographs by Jason Stemple complement and add to the fun and fact filled verses. A wonderful addition to a school or community library.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Yolen, Jane

Illustrator: Stemple, Jason

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Millbrook Press

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre: fiction in verse / poetry

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781467755757

Price: 19.99

The Battle of the Vegetables

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 11, 2016

Review

The leeks are tricked by a cow, the carrots are fooled by rabbits, and the whole garden becomes involved in a classic love story with dire consequences in this book written by a French author of children's books. This is a picture book with elements of a graphic novel. The illustrations contribute conversation from the main characters, which give it the appearance of a graphic novel, although the story is told in the text. The story unfolds in a trio of intertwined stories with the main vegetable characters being leeks and carrots. The stories are silly and quirky and will appeal to children with those same traits. It may also appeal to older children who recognize the satirical elements of the stories. The book is an English translation of a children's book first published in France under the title " 3 contes cruel".

Overall Book Score: fair

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About the Book

Author:

Sylvander, Matthieu

Illustrator: Barrier, Perceval

Illustration Quality: fair

Publisher: Clarion Books

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780544359420

Price: 15.99

Becoming Babe Ruth

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 4, 2016

Review

George Herman Ruth knew from an early age how to get himself into the spotlight, even if it wasn't always a positive spotlight. As a young boy he skipped school, roamed the streets, and got into enough trouble that his parents shipped him off to a school for boys. BECOMING BABE RUTH, by Matt Tavares follows the Babe's path from troubled youngster to perhaps the most famous baseball player of all times. The book highlights how the young boy George discovered himself at St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys through baseball, his mentor Brother Matthias, hard work, lots of practice and determination. A great introductory biography about the Babe, for baseball fans and those yet to become fans. Easy enough for beginning readers and full of enough information and inspiration for older readers as well. Wonderful illustrations bring the story to life and the author's note and Babe's baseball statistics round out the quality of the book.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Tavares, Matt

Illustrator: Tavares, Matt

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book nonfiction

Genre: biography / autobiography

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763687670

Price: 14.99

This Book's Maine Connection: Maine author,Maine illustrator

Masters of Disguise - Amazing Animal Tricksters

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 4, 2016

Review

MASTERS OF DISGUISE- Amazing Animal Tricksters, by Rebecca Johnson, is a terrific non-fiction book about a selection of animals using incredible and amazing methods to avoid and/or trick their predators. The book is divided into nine chapters, each highlighting a specific animal and its disguise and then sharing the scientific research and explanations for the animal's particular behavior. This book though is so much more than a book about camouflage. These animals are truly masters at their tricks of disguise, from a baby bird who mimics a poisonous caterpillar, to an assassin bug who carries dead ants on his back, to a caterpillar that tricks ants into caring for it, and.....! The science behind each animals survival skill is clearly written and exciting in its own right. Budding scientists will be captivated by the stories, the science, and the large and colorful photographs. There is also information included on the scientists, source notes, glossary, and a bibliography. An excellent addition to both classroom and library shelves.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Johnson, Rebecca

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Millbrook Press

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6,grades 7-9

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9781512400878

Price: 31.99

Staying Alive

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 5, 2016

Review

A haunting and tragic tale of the lost Donner party on its travels west to a new life in California. The story is told in verse through the eyes of nineteen year old Mary Graves as she and her family start off on a covered wagon adventure to find a new and promising life during the great western expansion of the 1800's. Although the story is well known in American tales of the West and has become almost mythical in its retelling, the author deals sensitively with the topic of the utter despair which the group finds itself in as it becomes snowed in at the Sierra Nevada mountains and the means that they resort to in order to survive. At its core though it is a story of family, and hope, and the human spirit and its will to survive. The ethical questions which arise are best dealt with by older and mature readers. The use of verse suits the telling very well. In the beginning the verses are varied and hopeful, but as the despair of the trail sets in the verse becomes shortened and terse so that one can almost feel the hunger and cold of the travelers. The book is based on the real life of Mary Graves, a survivor of the Donner Party. An epilogue and author notes fill in some of the background information on the ill fated Donner party.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Brown, Skila

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: historical fiction

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12,adult / professional

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763678111

Price: 17.99

Clara

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 6, 2016

Review

An exciting adventure through 18th century Europe with an exotic rhino and a devoted sea captain is the premise of this picture book based on an actual event. The author herself describes the book as a "mostly true" story, but it reads much more like fiction than non-fiction. A Dutch sea captain discovers an orphan pet baby rhino on a trip to India and decides to leave his sea faring life to share his exotic new companion with the Kings, Queens, and people of Europe. For 17 years he travels with his always growing, always hungry pet introducing Clara to massive crowds who come to see her. The story shows the friendship between the captain and his pet but may not ring true to children who have been encouraged to view animals more in their natural habitats. The detailed water color illustrations bring the time and place to life. The author's note fills in many of the facts about Clara and rhinos in general. The detailed maps also add important information to the story.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

McCully, Emily

Illustrator: McCully, Emily

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Schwartz and Wade Books

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: historical fiction

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780553522464

Price: 17.99

Five Children On the Western Front

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 8, 2016

Review

The five children from the classic children's book, Five Children and It, return in author Kate Sander's revisioning of the Pemberton family and their magical sand fairy, Psammead. This time there is a new edition to the family with a little sister Edith, the Psammead has lost some of his magical powers, and the time and place is England during World War II. This book explores the love and loyalty of family, as well as the devastation that war brings to all facets of normal life. It also brings the hope that all magical thinking can bring during times of trouble. The story definitely blurs the line between historical fiction and fantasy, which may be difficult for some readers. The story might also appeal more to those fans of the original story by E. Nesbit who would enjoy revisiting beloved characters. The characters themselves bring a strong sense of family, bravery, feminism, and loyalty to the story during an important time in world history.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Sanders, Kate

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Delacorte Press- Random House Children"s Books

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy,historical fiction

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780553497939

Price: 16.99

Cecil's Pride - The True Story of a Lion King

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 12, 2016

Review

The story of the death of Cecil, the African Lion famed for his black mane, is well known, but this is the story of the life of Cecil. The book chronicles the early life and struggles of the lion to survive as he establishes himself as the lion king in Hwang National Park in Zimbabwe. The authors are well known for their books on unusual animal friendships, including their best seller Owen and Mzee. This book also highlights an unusual alliance made between two rival lions, Cecil and Zericho, and how that pact ultimately leads to the survival of Cecil's pride of lions. The photography brings the story to life as it showcases the lions and their habitat. The background information is helpful in understanding facts about lions, the impact of hunting on the fate of Africa's lions, and what researchers are learning through their tracking studies of lions. This book, by not dwelling on the infamous death of Cecil, but rather his extraordinary life will appeal to children of many ages, as well as adults.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Hatkoff, Craig, Juliana, Isabella

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Scholastic

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3,grades 4-6,all ages

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9781338034455

Price: 17.99

A Spy Called James

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 13, 2016

Review

The story of James, a slave who helped the Americans win their freedom from the British. James, who only is known by one name, is allowed by his owner to join forces with General Washington and General Lafayette, to act as a spy against the British. James, who is allowed to roam freely among the British gathers information that is used by the Generals to help defeat their enemy at the Battle of Yorktown. The details of James's struggles after the war to gain his freedom add to the story, as well as the fact that he also became a slave owner himself. This book would be a great addition to a school library or classroom studying the Revolutionary War, black history, and the contributions of slaves to the building of America. The story also would be an interesting introduction to the many facets of slavery in America. The illustrations are colorful and bring the story and characters to life.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Rockwell, Anne

Illustrator: Cooper, Floyd

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre: historical fiction,biography / autobiography

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9781467749294

Price: 17.99

The Trouble With Babies

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 13, 2016

Review

Ten year old Nora Alpers is a budding scientist who is feeling overwhelmed by lots of non scientific problems. She is becoming an aunt for the first time, is paired with a science hating partner for the science fair, needs to imagine herself on the Oregon Trail for a social studies project, and figure out how to deal with friends who think that babies are the most awesome thing in the world. The book is filled with lots of fourth grade humor and all the ups and downs of that particular age. This is the second book written about Nora, the first one being the Trouble With Ants. An interesting feature of the book are the facts about babies that Nora writes in her journals and the questions she generates from those facts. They give an added depth to the fun filled "troubles" of a fourth grade girl. This book would be great for independent reading as well as a classroom read aloud. The black and white illustrations add to the humor of the story.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Mills, Claudia

Illustrator: Kath, Katie

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780385391658

Price: 12.99

Investigating the Rock Cycle

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 8, 2017

Review

Budding young geologists will find lots of interesting information on igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks and how they came to be formed. Teachers will appreciate the solid information on the rock cycle and the large and fascinating photos included with the text. The text is clear and concise and yet covers many topics revolving around rocks, including changes made by weather, erosion, heat, pressure, and volcanoes. There are also rock experiments included and a glossary and further reading list. A very good book for school libraries.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Lindeen, Mary

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Lerner Publications

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: paperback

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9781467783378

Price: 15.95

Why Do most Plants Need Soil?

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 8, 2017

Review

A good introduction to how plants grow and the importance of soil in the growing cycle. The large and clear photos accompanying the sparse text reinforce the ideas presented for preschoolers and beginning readers.The use of interspersed questions throughout the text will elicit engagement and more conversations with young readers. Included also are stand out black circles of interesting facts to reinforce the text. Some soil experiments are included in the back of the book as well as an illustrated glossary. This book would be a good addition to a primary classroom or school library.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Lawrence, Ellen

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Bearport Publishing

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781627248372

Price: 17.95

Destination Mars

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 9, 2017

Review

Seymour Simon brings his extensive scientific knowledge as well as his understanding of elementary students' interest levels to this updated and revised edition of his previous book on Mars. The information is presented in a way that will appeal to young writers but is so scientifically based that it will also appeal to older students as well as adults. The large and incredibly detailed photos add updated information to Simon's previous book on Mars. There is also new information on Mars exploration and possible future missions. This is an important book for both school and community libraries.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Simon, Seymour

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780062344977

Price: 17.98

The Friendly Postman

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date:

Review

This is an imagined story about the relationship between artist Vincent Van Gogh and the postman who brought him letters from his beloved brother Theo. The story explains some of the darkness and depression in Van Gogh's life and how his brother supported him and his art when few others did. The postman was the connection between Van Gogh and his brother and the artist did paint a famous portrait of the postman, as well as ones of his wife and children. The illustrations show the brightness and light in Van Gogh's work which so differed from the sadness in his life. This book would be a welcome addition for a student very interested in Van Gogh's art and life, but would not necessarily be an important book for a classroom study or library collection. There is some additional biographical information included at the back of the book.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Kim, Yu-ri

Illustrator: Lim, Jeong-yeon

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: big&small

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre: biography / autobiography

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781925249101

Price: 27.99

You're Pulling My Leg

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 5, 2017

Review

A fun filled book of idioms based on body parts from head to toe. The book is jammed pack with common and not so common idioms. Each is illustrated with cartoon like characters demonstrating the meaning of what can often be confusing English sayings. The book would be appealing to many, including those just beginning to learn the English language. The humorous illustrations and cartoon like graphics will appeal to young readers. This will be a much appreciated book to school and classroom libraries.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Street and Brace, Pat and Eric

Illustrator: Brace, Eric

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Holiday House

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780823421350

Price: 18.95

GROW! RAISE! CATCH! How We Get Our Food

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 5, 2017

Review

A wonderful addition for young (preschool) readers on farm and sea to table foods. Each page is filled with colorful pictures of the foods we eat and those who help bring it to us. There are quotes from the farmers and fisherman, as well as cool facts shared about the foods - "Blueberries are one of the only natural foods that are blue.", "Lobsters shed their shells as they grow.", "There are over 700 kinds of peaches.", and many more fun food facts. The photographs add to the book with many colorful pictures of smiling people and luscious looking food in their natural state. The back pages include information on healthy eating and a glossary of food related words. This book would be a welcome addition to school and classroom libraries and for parents encouraging children to eat healthy foods from their natural source.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Rotner, Shelley

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Holiday House

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780823436439

Price: 16.95

Up From the Sea

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 5, 2017

Review

This is the emotional story of a young boy surviving the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The author tells the story through narrative verse which captures the terror of the events themselves as well as the grief which follows their aftermath. The terse verse may well make the story more accessible to reluctant readers of historical/realistic fiction. The main character, Kai, loses his entire Japanese family and many friends to the tsunami. His story is complicated by the fact that he is biracial and was abandoned years before by his American father. The author interweaves an opportunity for a despondent Kai to travel to New York to meet with survivors of the 9/11 attack and the hope that Kai may reconnect with his long lost father. The story ultimately is one of hope as Kai learns to live through his grief, finds new purpose to his life through soccer and the effort to rebuild his community. The author herself, lived through the earthquake and helped with the recovery and rebuilding efforts. Her close connection to the events brings an emotional and authentic perspective to the story.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Lowitz, Leza

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Crown New York

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction,historical fiction,fiction in verse / poetry

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12,all ages

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780553534740

Price: -32.01

Same But Different

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 5, 2017

Review

The Peete family has written a new book featuring Charlie, a fictional character based on their son RJ, who was diagnosed as a young boy as being on the autism spectrum. This follows their earlier book called "My Brother Charlie'". "Same But Different" follows Charlie and his twin sister, Callie, as they enter their teen and high school years. High school brings with it the first time the twins have been separated, as Charlie repeats a grade while Callie moves on. The story is told through short episodes as experienced very differently by the two siblings. The story rings very true to the wide spread impact of the autism spectrum not only on Charlie but also his sister, as she tries to break away from the drama of living with an autistic sibling while still being there to protect her brother from all the mishaps that happen due to his diagnosis. The book excels at accurately representing all the drama, misunderstandings,and life adjustments that come with being diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. It also excels at showing how strong family ties and education can help every young person find a way to navigate an often frightening world. The Peete's bring their own experience with autism and compassion to make this a valuable book for anyone knowing or working with young people on the spectrum.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Peete, Holly and Ryan

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

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

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780545094689

Price: 17.99

The Distance to Home

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 5, 2017

Review

The author,Jenn Bishop, does a wonderful job combining many subject areas that will appeal to middle age readers. She explores the subjects of sibling and parental relationships, growing up, grief, friendships, quilt, dreams and determination all woven into a believable story of baseball. The author tells the story effectively by weaving chapters between the present summer and the previous summer. Although the story does deal with a death in the family, the use of past and present helps show the different stages of grief and how the characters deal with it. The characters were presented realistically and it was interesting watching them grow over a year's time. Part of the baseball thread dealt with families hosting minor league players in their homes, just as is done in our area, and may make the story very appealing to young Maine readers.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Bishop, Jenn

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Alfred Knoff- New York

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 4-6,grades 7-9

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781101938713

Price: 16.99

Swashbuckling Scoundrels- Pirates in fact and Fiction

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 5, 2017

Review

Swashbuckling Scoundrels is a great introductory text to pirates, real and fictional. For those young readers who have been introduced to pirates through film this is a good start to researching the truth behind the tales. The chapters scan the "golden age" of piracy right up to the modern and not quite so romanticized pirates of today, including digitalized piracy. The book covers pirates from all parts of the world and includes famous or infamous women pirates as well. The text is interspersed with many photos and artist renditions of well known pirates. The back pages include source notes, a bibliography, glossary, and additional readings and web sites. This would be a good reader for those interested in pirates or a good place to begin research on them.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Kaplan, Arie

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group -Twenty-First Century Book

Book Type: chapter book nonfiction

Genre: adventure,historical fiction,folklore

Audience: grades 4-6,grades 7-9

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781467752527

Price: 33.00

Just a Lucky So and So

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 5, 2017

Review

Just a Lucky So and So, tells the story of a young Louis Armstrong. The book will be an appreciated addition to school and classroom libraries, especially if combined with an introduction to jazz. Louis had a hard and poverty filled youth which eventually led to him being sent to a Boys' correctional facility. As it turns out that period of his life led to his formal introduction to music and his introduction to band music.There are many jazz musicians mentioned in the text which may be confusing to young readers without some background information on jazz included. The optimism that Louis displayed throughout his life should be an inspiration to all who face various struggles. The back pages include a thorough author's note and resource list.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Cline-Ransome, Lesa

Illustrator: Ransome, James

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Holiday House

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre: biography / autobiography

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780823434282

Price: 16.95

Jazz Day

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 6, 2017

Review

A beautifully illustrated book with text in verse that is literally about a snapshot in time. Based on a photograph that was the inspiration of graphic designer, Art Kane, for an article in Esquire magazine. Kane's idea was to photograph as many jazz musicians as he could gather all in one place, which happened to be Harlem in 1958. The text tells the story in verse of the gathering that iconic day and the rhythmic beat of the words adds to the theme of the jazz musicians. The illustrations are colorful and give life to the characters portrayed. At the end of the book the actual photograph is revealed in an awe inspiring double paged spread. Both text and illustrations are a wonderful tribute to the golden age of jazz, however the audience for such a book may be limited. It would however be a wonderful addition to a study of jazz for middle age students to adults or to anyone interested in that musical period in American music. The back pages have biographical information on many of the musicians gathered for the photo, an author's note about the actual photograph, source notes, and a thorough bibliography.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Orgill, Roxanne

Illustrator: Vallejo, Francis

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre: historical fiction

Audience: grades 4-6,grades 7-9,grades 10-12,all ages,adult / professional

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763669546

Price: 18.99

Catching A Story Fish

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 6, 2017

Review

The story of a talkative young girl full of stories who has to leave her former life behind in Alabama and move to a different part of the country with her parents. In her new home she loses her "voice" due to the difficulty of fitting in a new community, making new friends, and dealing with classmates making fun of her southern accent. It is also the story of family, especially the relationship between the main character, Keet, and her grandfather. The story is told in varied forms of verse which may make it more accessible to reluctant readers. The poetic language is rich and helps to develop both the characters as well as complement the problems and solutions that Keet faces. This book would make an excellent read aloud in the upper elementary classes or an excellent introduction to poetic form for many age groups. An inspirational text for inspiring writers. The author includes a poetic glossary in the final pages.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Harrington, Janice

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: WordSong-Highlights

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction,fiction in verse / poetry

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6,grades 7-9

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781629794297

Price: 17.95

I Am Drums

Reviewed by: Paula Johnson - Long Island Community Library, Long Island, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 9, 2017

Review

"If I had one wish, I'd ask for a headphone jack in my head." So begins this middle grade book of a spunky sixth grader, Sam, who dreams of capturing the drum beats she hears constantly in her head and turning them into drum music for all. The author has drawn a strong, likeable, sometimes too feisty girl, who is determined to follow her dreams against all odds. She needs to deal with her family's financial hardships, her school's elimination of music programming, the usual middle school friendship problems, and her self created problems by not being truthful. In other words, Sam, is a pretty typical middle schooler, dealing with becoming a young adult. Her story intertwined with her passion for drumming will appeal to many young readers, both male and female, who "hear" the music in their heads and want to share it with the world, while not letting that same music drown out the other voices that need to be heard.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Grosso, Mike

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 4-6,grades 7-9

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780544707108

Price: -35.01