Eternity

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 6, 2014

Review

Fantasy book for middle elementary through middle school age. This book has it all...dinosaurs, time travel, Galileo, a Chinese alchemist, a Russian dog, etc. It is fast paced and may be confusing for some. I have not read any other books from this series so that may be why it seemed confusing to me. The story centers around Dak Smyth and Serae Froste who are trying to fix the Great Breaks in History so that history can unfold as it is meant to be. The idea that history is brought to life is great because it may encourage the child to go on reading about the various historical topics brought forth. A few things that jarred me a bit were Dak and Serae getting into physical fights, a dog being kicked and Galileo called a "player." Good to excellent. Boy and Girl. Very sturdy binding. Will hold up well even in a book bag.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

de la Pena, Matt

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy, historical fiction

Audience: grades 7-9

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780545665353

Price: 12.99

Promise Bound

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond Maine, Choose Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2014

Review

Part of a trilogy - Book 1 Lies Beneath, Book 2 Deep Betrayal, Book 3 Promise Bound. Mermaids are the focus of this book. Calder and Lily both mermaids are in love but there is much turmoil in their lives. Calder's mermaid sisters are trying to take over their clan and trying to take Lily's allegiance from her father. This book is full of intricacies and action and lots of complexity. To fully understand what is going on completely in this last book in the trilogy it is important to read the last two. The writing is good.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Greenwood Brown, Anne

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780385371292

Price: 17.00

Fetch with Ruff Ruffman: Show's Over

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2014

Review

Fetch is a dog who has just been fired from his job and to make matters worse his fancy pants he wants to wear to a dance are missing. He has been fired because a new company that is coming on board as a client at his job does not like dogs, so his boss fires him. He decides to visit the client in Australia and An with his cat friend and finds out that it was a scam and now he knows what happened to his fancy pants. The illustrations are bright and fun and the friendship between the cat and dog is very nice. There is a science activity at the end of the book that fits in nicely with the story.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Michalak, Jamie

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Entertainment

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades k-3, grades 4-6

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763672782

Price: 14.99

Enchanted Palace

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2014

Review

Fantasy/Fairy Tale series book that will appeal to little girls ages 2nd and 3rd grade. They stick together in this book because, of course, Queen Malice is back but this time she has hidden six nasty magic thunderbolts and they are sure to ruin the kingdom's special magic. Sweet pencil drawings and little rhymes and other sayings are interspersed throughout.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Banks, Rosie

Illustration Quality: fair

Publisher: Scholastic

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: paperback

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780545535533

Price: 4.99

Unicorn Valley

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2014

Review

Fantasy/Fairy Tale series book that will appeal to little girls in ages 2nd and 3rd grade. They stick together in this book so that their unicorns will get their golden horns. There is a wicked queen to boot named Queen Malice. Sweet pencil drawings and little rhymes and other sayings are interspersed throughout.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Banks, Rosie

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Scholastic

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780545535540

Price: 4.99

Frank Pearl in the Awful Waffle Kerfuffle

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2014

Review

Frank Pearl is a new friend of Judy Moody and he just wants to win something. So he enters a yo yo contest, a animal contest and a cooking contest. Judy sticks with him and encourages him all the way until finally something good surprisingly happens. The illustrations are bright, colorful and whimsical. It is great to see the loyalty that friends have for one another although things may not always go great the way one might hope. Cream of the Crop book.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Megan, McDonald

Illustrator: Madrid, Erwin

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763657178

Price: 12.99

Bramble and Maggie Spooky Season

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2014

Review

Bramble and Maggie Spooky Season by Jessie Haas Illustrated by Alison Friend The book begins in the fall and takes the reader up through Halloween Night. The illustrations are quaint and brightly watercolored. A neighbor and a horse are major characters. The premise is that the horse, Bramble, and Maggie are enjoying the fall weather, the colorful crunching of the leaves, the geese flying south and scarecrows. Next comes Halloween and costumes. Both Bramble and Maggie get a little scared. Great Book for Horse Lovers Early reader.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Haas, Jessie

Illustrator: Friend, Allison

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763664503

Price: 14.99

Big Bad Bubble

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2014

Review

Monsters and Bubbles, never thought of that combination but this book does and the monsters are afraid of the bubbles. Can you imagine that? Not only are bubbles discussed but near the end of the book there are cute illustrations with bubble wrap and even a bubble bath. All kinds of comforting things happen with the bubbles and then the monsters aren't afraid of them anymore, guess what they are afraid of now. The illustrations did not appeal to me. Thought they were too roughly drawn.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Rubin, Adam

Illustrator: Salmieri, Daniel

Illustration Quality: fair

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780544045491

Price: 16.99

Count 123 On the Subway

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2014

Review

Counting book with big colorful simple illustrations and rhymes aplenty. Little girl traveling with her mom so though it is full of hustle and bustle it is also warm, fun and safe feeling for a child. Proper wording to describe commonly used words when talking subway lingo. For example turnstiles, straphangers, station, underground, etc.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Dubois Jacobs, Paul

Illustrator: Yaccarino, Dan

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: preschool, grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780307979230

Price: 14.99

Of Neptune

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2014

Review

A fantasy book that takes place under the sea and on land. Emma who is half human and half Syrena is in love with Galen who is full Syrena. They decide it is time to get away and spend time alone with the other influences of others. Reed, a half-breed Syrenan tries to lure Emma away from Galen. And what ensues is a tug of war between two young men who are fighting for her attention. And at the same time they are trying to protect and save their kingdoms.

This book was so hard to get into and so confusing. I feel like all the pots and pans were thrown in the sink and what a mess.

Overall Book Score: fair

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About the Book

Author:

Banks, Anna

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 7-9, grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781250039606

Price: 17.99

The Shadow Lantern

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Choose Library District

Review Date: November 1, 2014

Review

At first this book was very hard to get into but when I got back to it, I really grew to like it. This is the final installment in a trilogy with the central characters, Sunni and Blaise and artist-magician Fausto Carvo and Corvo's arch enemy, Soranzo. The other books in the trilogy are, The Black Enigma and The Crimson Shard. The book is chock full of mystery, adventure with a touch of horror. The book is chock full of Ouija Boards, ghosts and specters and travel and adventure. The writing and language is charming. Few illustrative touches here and there in black and white.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Flavin, Teresa

Illustration Quality: fair

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy, mystery, horror

Audience: grades 7-9

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763664367

Price: 15.99

Ten Rules for Being a Superhero

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 21, 2014

Review

I was very interested when I saw the title and vibrancy of the cover as I thought it would be graphic novel like. The illustrations are bright and vibrant but they are a bit flat. The theme of the book is that everyone has at least one super power but the book is about "ten rules" for being a superhero. I found the storyline to be a bit confusing. If a young child reads it with someone else I think it would be more valuable. Overall I found the book to be a bit confusing and the drawings to be a bit scattered. If one looks at it as more of a graphic novel interpretation I think the setup of the illustrations.

Overall Book Score: fair

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About the Book

Author:

Pelutti, Deb

Illustrator: Pelutti, Deb

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Henry Holt

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780805097597

Price: 16.99

B. Bear and Lolly Off to School

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 21, 2014

Review

Illustrations are very large, bright and homey looking. This is a story about a girl and bear friendship. Lolly is about to start school for the first time and she and her friend, Bear go clothes shopping and try on several types of outfits til they find the right school outfit. On the day they head off to school for the first day they decide to take a shortcut but fall into a small river. Bear saves his friend Lolly but in the process they lose all of their new school supplies to the forest creatures who carry them off. They realize though they have lost everything they still have each other. This is a must have book for a library first day of school collection.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Livingston, A.A.

Illustrator: Chou, Joey

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780062197887

Price: 15.99

Sleep Tight Anna Banana

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 21, 2014

Review

Illustrations are quaint and very expressive. Anna Banana does not want to go to sleep and her stuffed animals are not helping any. She is ok about that at first but after awhile when Anna Banana decides to settle down to sleep the little animals are not ready or is it really that she is not ready? Finally they all decide it is time to sleep so Anna Banana surrounds herself with all her stuffed animals and of course they agree too. This is a perfect book to read to a child who is reluctant to go to sleep.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Rogues, Dominique

Illustrator: Dormal, Alexis

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: First Second

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781626720190

Price: 15.99

Joy in Mudville

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 21, 2014

Review

Cream of the Crop. Charming, matching the period in time, clean illustrations. The story is told as a creative inspiration in poetic, rhyming format. And the inspiration for the book is the famous poem, Casey at the Bat. Joy Anderson, a relief pitcher steps forward after the failure of Casey the Bat in Mudville, if one does not know the story of Casey at the Bat, the poem is at the end of the book. Well needless to say there is "joy" once again in Mudville because of Joy and her sports ability. So a girl saves the day in 1927 in a man's sport. A great book all around for all ages. Not a boy or girl book but an everyone book.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Raczka, Bob

Illustrator: Dibley, Glin

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: all ages

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780761360155

Price: 17.95

Little Humans

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 21, 2014

Review

Cream of the Crop. The charm, specialness and joy of children is clearly illustrated in the book in clear, crisp photography. The lettering is large in black and colors. The photos are of children just being children on the streets of New York doing what they do, playing, sliding, digging, twirling. Very straightforward and uplifting. This book gives you the feeling that little kids are not really all that little and so it is fun to have such expressive photography. I can see children studying this book and engaging in conversation with others about who they themselves are and what they do. Really enjoyed this book!

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Stanton, Brandon

Illustrator: Stanton, Brandon

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Straus-Giroux

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: preschool, grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780374374563

Price: 17.99

Mia's Thumb

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 21, 2014

Review

Thoughtful simple illustrations. Dark and tasteful colors make the book rather interesting. Lettering is large and clear. Mia is a little girl who sucks her thumb all the time and no matter what she will not stop neither for ice cream nor under threat that her teeth will be crooked. Until the day that grandma starts sucking her thumb all the time even on the city bus does Mia stop, I really liked this book from illustrations to theme to the family immersion.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Stille, Ljuba

Illustrator: Stille, Ljuba

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Holiday House

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: preschool, grades k-3

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780823430673

Price: 16.95

Enzo Races in the Rain

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 21, 2014

Review

Cream of the Crop. The illustrations are quaint, homey and active. The artist used pen and ink, pencil and watercolor, gouache, acrylics and coffee spills on paper to create the illustrations. Charming story about a farmer who has a litter of puppies and one day her dad and she go to get one, well they end up picking out the liveliest puppy and named it after a famous race car driver named Enzo. Soon after arriving at Zoe's house Enzo goes on an adventure on his own when he decides he is going to tunnel under a fence and escape into the busy city landscape. It is fun at first but when it starts to storm he becomes cold and lonely and decides to return to his new home. Enzo returns home and is welcomed by a very happy and relieved little girl and her dad. Great book for a family who is contemplating a new puppy.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Stein, Garth

Illustrator: Alley, R. W.

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Harper Collins Children

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy, realistic fiction

Audience: preschool, grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780062295330

Price: 17.99

It is Night

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 21, 2014

Review

Ilustrations really suit the title. They are dark and saturated yet cheery. Acrylics were used to create the effect and the print is 24 point Contax. The book is filled with every kind of animal from bears to cats to elephants and where the sleep. At the end of the book we find out that though the book is about where real live animals sleep, the book is actually about the stuffed animals that sleep with the little girl. It is a really sweet bedtime book.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Rowand, Phyllis

Illustrator: Dronzek, Laura

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Harper Collins Childrens

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780062250247

Price: 16.99

The Witch at the Window

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 30, 2014

Review

Chapter book full of fun and mystery. Nick and Marjorie, brother and sister see some legs on an air conditioner outside a bedroom window and to on a journey to find out who this witch is and what is going on. On their way to finding out they meet a spooky bird who talks. The pencil drawings are really good. I like it that a brother and sister are the main characters. Very charming.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Ruth, Chew

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Random House

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780449815632

Price: 15.99

A Night at the Zoo

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 5, 2014

Review

Clean, brilliant illustrations and simple language and very up-to-date technology wise as the cell phone is as central a character as the animals and Sam (little boy) and Pop (grandparent...he has white hair but it could be a dad with premature white hair or older dad). After a busy day at the zoo, Sam and Pop fall asleep and the zoo closes and they are woken by a security guard and he lets them out of the zoo. Sam and Pop answer the phone when Mom calls and what do you suppose they see? Zoofies! Delightful fun loving book, nice to read about a dad/son day out. Boy or Girl.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Caple, Kathy

Illustrator: Caple, Kathy

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Holiday House

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool, grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780823430444

Price: 14.95

I Said Bed

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 5, 2014

Review

Muted illustrations. Little boy does not want to go to bed and makes that clear as he argues with his grandmother/mother who is watching him. As soon as he finally gets in bed he goes to sleep and his bed turns into various types of transportation that all children of a young age would be familiar with. The wording is clear and understandable and by the end of the story the dreaming little boy is glad to be dreaming pleasant dreams. Guess who else is sound asleep? Charming book, that after having been read to children, might be anxious to go to sleep so they to can have adventurous dreams, too. Boy and girl. Excellent/Recommend.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Degan, Bruce

Illustrator: Degan, Bruce

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Holiday House

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool, grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780823429387

Price: 14.95

Dog and Bear Tricks and Treats

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 10, 2014

Review

Clear, bright, simple illustrations tell a story about two of most children's favorite animals, a dog and a bear. The bear is a stuffed bear and the dog is real at least in the story which may be comforting to a child when reading the book. Dog and Bear are planning for Halloween by shopping for their own costumes and then handing out treats. Next they go to a trick or treating...guess who each is dressed as. A fun and surprising book that takes a child through the steps of the typical Halloween Ritual. Boy and Girl. Recommend for Cream.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Seeger, Laura Vaccaro

Illustrator: Seeger, Laura Vaccaro

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool, grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 978159643632

Price: 14.99

Not Very Scary

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 6, 2014

Review

Quaint illustrations. I like the title of the book. Halloween can be a scary time for some young children and this book will help to demystify and instead, delight. Melly, the vampire gets an invite to a Halloween Party and on the way she feels she is being followed and she is....by every type of Halloween character one can think of. This is a counting book beginning with one cat following her and than two skeletons....etc. By the time Melly gets to her three-eyed friend's house she is totally scared out of her mind....but literally gets a nice surprise party with all the "not very scary" new friends there to celebrate with. If Halloween is scary to a child this is a perfect book to read to him/her.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Brendler, Carol

Illustrator: Pizzoli, Greg

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool, grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780374355470

Price: 12.99

The Would-Be Witch

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond, Maine, Choose Library District

Review Date: December 1, 2014

Review

Another charming book. A classic tale full of magic and adventure with flying dustpans and silver bird pepper shakers that come alive once they are polished. Robin and Andy are sister and brother and go on this adventure together beginning with their encounter with a white cat and her owner, Zelda a witch who has flunked the test to be in a coven many times. Again, pencil art done in black that is distinctive and expressive. This was a great book and would make and excellent purchase for school and public library.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Ruth, Chew

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Random House

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades k-3, grades 4-6

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780449815670

Price: 15.99

Spirit Animals: Fire and Ice Book 4

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 4, 2014

Review

This book was hard to get into but probably because it is part of a series. I could tell it was well-written and that young readers would really like it. It is full of adventure and little rest with danger and battles around every corner. Conor, Abeke, Meilin and Rollan each have spirit animals and depend on them to help protect each of them as they try to beat their arch enemies, "The Conquerers,"

On their journey they stop at a beautiful, small town where things are happening that don't make sense to the group. Somehow this mysterious town has some secrets but they cannot wait for long as the, "The Conquerers" are right behind them and that is a dangerous situation to be in.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Hale, Shannon

Publisher: Scholastic

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 7-9

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780545522465

Price: 12.99

Feral

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 7, 2014

Review

This books starts in a very shocking manner. A teen is murdered and although she is dead she knows everything that is happening to her. And it is very very descriptive. "With the nexy heave, her teeth ripped at the dead grass like a lawn mower needing its blade sharpened. Yikes. But I liked it. I loaned this book.

A high school senior read the book also and this is what she said,"I thought the books was a great read. The ending was a complete twist!! I was not expecting that. It was a quick read but also extremely hooking. the beginning was a bit confusing but I'm glad I kept reading.

Thank you for the book suggestion.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Schindler, Holly

Publisher: Harper Teen

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: horror

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780062220202

Price: 17.99

Coming Home

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 14, 2014

Review

Mother is coming home from war because she is a soldier. Big beautiful illustrations that look very realistic. The little boy sees everyone else meeting their loved ones and is patient but anxious to see her. Lettering is bold and sparse. The characters and dog are expressive. You get the melancholy yet hopeful and joyous feel from the first look at the cover. Cream of the crop

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Ruth, Greg

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781250055477

Price: 16.99

Curious George Goes to a Bookstore

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 14, 2014

Review

George is excited to meet his favorite author at a local bookstore. There is also banana bread being served at the event and we all know how much George likes banana. A charming story where George goes on a adventure and stacks all of the authors new books so they are in a tower shape and no one seems to mind. In the end the author signs his book and he is over the moon with happiness. Little creative writing exercise is included in the back of the book. Another must purchase. Cream of the crop.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Bartynski, Julie M.

Illustrator: Young, Mary O'Keefe

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780544320734

Price: 13.99

Work, Dogs, Work: A Highway Tale

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 14, 2014

Review

Loved this book. The illustrations are bright and colorful. The lettering is simple and clear and the story is told in rhymes.The book has as its main characters and array of dogs each of who has a name. The job that each truck does is clearly told. For example: Dump trucks deliver load after load It will take lots of trips to build this long road. It is a book that kids will read over and over and want to take on trips. Cream of the crop.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Horvath, James

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Harper

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780062189707

Price: 15.99

Curious George Visits the Dentist

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 14, 2014

Review

Another charming Curious George book. This time George has bitten into a wax apple thinking it was a real one and hurts is tooth which is thankfully a baby tooth. George gets very nervous and jumps out of the dentist's chair because he is scared. The other children are afraid also but then George is up to his usual fun antics. He starts juggling dental floss and this makes the children laugh and they are no longer scared. At the end of the day as a reward George gets a coin from the tooth fairy. This is a great book for a child who has to make a visit to the dentist and is feeling a bit wary.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Perez, Monica

Illustrator: Mary O'Keefe, Young

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 978054414611

Price: 13.99

And Away We Go

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 15, 2014

Review

I loved this book and everything about it. Mr. Fox has decided to go to the moon in a hot air balloon so he proceeds to pick up a bunch of animal friends to go along. Many bring along food to eat and music to listen to. However the balloon becomes very full and the balloon becomes to heavy and the strings that hold the balloon to the basket break....Fortunately each animal has some sort of parachute and each drifts gently to the ground.

The illustrations are whimsical set in a city scene at night. Cream of the Crop

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Migy, Migy

Illustrator: Migy,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780805099010

Price: 17.99

A Big Day for Migs!

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 15, 2014

Review

Migs the mouse is starting school, though he is looking forward to it he is also a bit apprehensive. Migs is very shy but while he is watching the other school children from afar he spots a closet and inside is a superhero costume. He becomes very brave and proceeds to race around the room but suddenly by accident he spills a jar of water on a painting one of the kids in his classroom his working on. Migs goes away by himself to think about what to do. And comes up with a fun plan. Suddenly everyone is friends and Migs is already looking forward to the next day at school.

The illustrations are bright and colorful and have great movement.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Hodgkinson, Jo

Illustrator: Hodgkinson, Jo

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Anderson Press USA

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781467750141

Price: 16.95

While You Were Napping

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 15, 2014

Review

A little boy is reluctant to go to bed to take a nap but as soon as he does he goes right to sleep and misses out on all kinds of excitement. There are pirates, firemen and astronauts and lots going on but the little boy is asleep.

The pictures are in watercolor and almost like a seek and find puzzle because each picture has so much included. Children will be very engaged by all the pictures in the book and adults will find this fun to look at together.

Some of the wording was a little strange and did not seem to fit the story.

Overall Book Score: fair

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About the Book

Author:

Offill, Jenny

Illustrator: Blitt, Barry

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Random House

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780375865725

Price: 19.99

The Island of Excess Love

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 21, 2014

Review

Follow up novel to Love in the Time of Global Warming. Not a stand alone novel. For the mature as the book uses the F word many times. And also includes some graphic sex scenes. The main character in the book has lost her parents and her eye and has found peace with her brother and friends in a Pink House overlooking the ocean. Until one day a ship appears off shore and bad things begin to happen. They are entranced by the ship and board it and Penn finds herself fighting to overcome great temptation in order to be reunited with her loved ones. Though I found the writing very good and enjoyed the interpretation of the book as it relates to Virgil's Aeneid, I found it a bit confusing, probably because it is the follow up novel.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Lia Block, Francesca

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780805096316

Price: 16.99

Salvage

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 12, 2015

Review

This is a very large book (520 pg.) and tells the story of Parastrata Ava. As an important member of the Crewe she has a major role to play. In particular, marrying the man her father has chosen for her. She is sure she is to be joined with Luck, which turns out not to be the man chosen for her. She ends up having sexual relations with him. As a result she is doomed to die but escapes to earth and meets again up again with Luck who now has multiple lives. She also meets a variety of other interesting characters and learn some important life lessons from them. I would purchase for a teen collection.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Duncan, Alexandra

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780062220141

Price: 17.99

How it Went Down

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 12, 2015

Review

Loved this book. It is definitely a cream of the crop book. A young black man is shot and each chapter has a recurring character who talks about what they saw, what they believe and what they know. Not only is their perspective about what has actually occurred concerning the incident but it is about the bigger picture...society, ethnicity, perception etc. Very Walter Dean Myers. What really happened that day...Read this book and see what you think. Loved the ending.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Magoon, Kekla

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 978-0-8050-9869-3

Price: 17.99

The Lovely and the Lost

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 12, 2015

Review

Ingrid and Gabby, sisters, move to Paris in 1900 to get away from London gossip. The book is full of demons and gargoyles and the sisters are being constantly attacked and instead of a more peaceful and private time they had hoped for they are faced with this challenge every time they turn around. Ingrid has special blood and so she is able to fight the demons and gargoyles. They also have a brother, Grayson, who is under their protection. Vampire's remain popular reading for teens so to throw in a few demons and gargoyles in ya fiction is a good thing. There is a good gargoyle named Luc, part of the Dispossesed, who is Ingrid's protector and so begins a love story intermingled with the chaos and intricacies of many characters. Action packed. I enjoyed the book's setting and time period. I thought this was very interesting and refreshing and will draw much interest from teen readers. Book One in the series is The Beautiful and the Cursed.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Morgan, Page

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Random House

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780385743136

Price: 18.99

Death Sworn

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 13, 2015

Review

Ileni, a sorceress is losing her magic and is banished to a school to teach assassins how to fight. This is exhausting as she is expected to be able to handle many hand on hand demonstrations throughout the day and must hide that she does not have the strength to do her job. Assassins are being murdered and Ileni is thrown into being the one that has to solve the murders. At the same time she falls in love.

The premise of the story is good and much of the setting is underground. The story did not seem to expand into other areas of interest. Lots of hand to hand combat. Though it is important for characters to have vulnerability I found that Ileni came across as rather weak.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Cypress, Leah

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780062221216

Price: 17.99

The Swap

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 13, 2015

Review

A huge YES to this book being selected as a Cream of the Crop book. Elle is bullied by her supposed friends and loved greatly by her mom. Jack is bullied by his dad perhaps for an understandable though nonetheless still unacceptable reason. A surprise when each switches bodies and discovers inner strength and confidence. Extremely well-written. A book that will keep you riveted and cheering for both Ellie and Jack. Great book for middle schoolers and should be required reading for middle school students. Bullies, love, friendship, warmth, rigidity, reality is all intermingled in this book, great class read aloud, also.

Purchase this book for your school or public library.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Shull, Megan

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy,realistic fiction

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

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062311696

Price: 16.99

Bite-Sized Magic

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 2, 2015

Review

A Junior Masterchef who loves fantasy will love this book. The Mostess Corporation has kidnapped Rose who has recently won the Gala des Gateaux Grands baking competition and Mr. Butter wants her using her know-how to make recipes that will help him take over the world. How? Well the baked goods will be so good that people will to be able to stop eating them and their craving will put them under his control. Somehow Rose must convince Mr. Butter's bakers to come to her side and keep the world safe. I really enjoyed this book. It is over 400 pages so is a lengthy book but is consistent in the story line and presents multiple twists and turns which are entertaining and fun. Third in the series. Loved the cover art.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Littlefield, Kathryn

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062084262

Price: 16.99

Firebug

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 2, 2015

Review

Ava is a firebug and can start fires with her mind. For the most part she has pretty good control of that gift but other times it can cause more problems than she had planned. She is not the only character in the book with some unique and fantastical gifts. There is a boy who can talk to trees and a female vampire. Ava is caught in a deadly contract with Corterie, a magical mafia and has many friends who help her in trying to figure a way out of being the Corterie's primary hitman. The book does have a strong emphasis on friendship. And Ava is trying to find out who she is and I believe that will resonate with young adult readers. This was a difficult book for me to get into. Young Adults who are avid fantasy readers will love it because it is complex and challenging. First book in a new series.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

McBride, Lish

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780805098624

Price: 17.99

Kiss, Kill, Vanish

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 2, 2015

Review

Valentina is the daughter of a crime boss in Miami and in love with Emilio but must flee to Canada after she sees a murder. She then becomes a model for a painter named Lucien and does not realize it til much later but falls in love with Lucien's brother, Marcel. Lucien, however, dies a mysterious death and Valentina decides to go back to Miami. Marcel takes her back and she meets back up with Emilio but he is not happy to see her. I found this book difficult to get into at first and it seemed rather confusing but realized at the end that it was actually a very well-written thriller with "an artsy vibe." Recommend purchase.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Martinez, Jessica

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: mystery,romance,realistic fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780062274496

Price: 17.99

Alone Together

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond, Maine, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 4, 2015

Review

Alone Together by Suzanne Bloom Bright, colorful and clean illustrations. Three animal friends: a duck, fox and bear are out in the night air but all want to be alone. Doesn’t everyone need alone time. The reader gets a glimpse of what the other is doing during their alone time but after awhile they are back together again for a good snuggle. This is a great book for little children to understand that being alone is not a bad thing. Cream of the Crop.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Bloom, Suzanne

Illustrator: Bloom, Suzanne

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Boyd's Mill Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781620917367

Price: 16.95

Game Changers Heavy Hitters

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond, Maine, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 4, 2015

Review

Game Changers: Heavy Hitters by Mike Lupica Baseball story involving two main characters, Ben and Justin. Ben has been hit by a fast moving pitch in a game on purpose or not? He becomes baseball shy and his game is affected by the fear of being hit again. His new friend, Justin, who is also an excellent baseball player is acting strangely distant and unhappy. Ben finds out that Justin’s parents are divorcing and Justin feels angry but is hiding the impending divorce from everyone however Ben finds out and together they work out their fears. Strong adult role modeling and nice to see a girl part of the story and a friend to the boys.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Lupica, Mike

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 7-9

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780545381840

Price: 16.99

Fractions in Disguise

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 4, 2015

Review

Interesting and innovative children's book that focuses on fractions. A child who is fascinated by math would enjoy the character of George Cornelius Factor who is a very young and very smart young boy who is really and truly crazy about fractions. The illustrations are bright and rather fantastical and may also spark an interest in science and math.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Einhorn, Edward

Illustrator: Clark, David

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Charlesbridge

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781570917738

Price: 16.95

The Zoo Box

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 4, 2015

Review

Comic book/graphic novel with a lot of action. Erika and Patrick find a magic box in their attic and of course they have to look inside. Once they do all kinds of strange things begin to happen. The illustrations are bright and colourful and of course very cartoon like. The characters that come out of the box are animals and once they get out of the house all kinds of adventures take place including a nearby carnival. A fun book. Recommend.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Cohn, Ariel

Illustrator: Nels Steinke, Aron

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: First Second

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: adventure,fantasy

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9781626720527

Price: 17.99

Sam's Pet Temper

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 4, 2015

Review

I loved this book. Sam has a bad temper and in the book his temper looks like a black and mean tumbleweed that Sam does not realize is "his temper." Sam's "temper" is constantly tested and Sam is getting very tired of being angry. Finally the day comes decides he is sick and tired of "his temper." Sam decides to take a deep breath and slowly breathes in and out and suddenly "his temper" is gone....sort of. Read the book and you will see what I mean. The drawings are strong with bright red, turquoise and white....very angry looking yet appropriate colors for this story. Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Bhadra, Sangeeta

Illustrator: Arbona, Marion

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Kid's Can Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781771380256

Price: 16.95

Tiny Rabbit's Big Wish

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 4, 2015

Review

Tiny Rabbit wants to be big and this children's book is filled with several antonyms for BIG. Baby-like soft pictures make up the illustrations. The book is thin and a good size for a child to hold and carry around. Tiny Rabbit is happy he is tiny when at the end of the book a lion appears and TR can jump into a tiny hole to get away. Sometimes it is hard to be the size you are but this book will make you feel it is ok. Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Engle, Margarita

Illustrator: Walker, David

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Houghon Mifflin Harcourt

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780547852867

Price: 16.99

Tuck-in Time

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Rayond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 4, 2015

Review

Soft watercolour illustrations and rhyme tell the story of how wonderful a little child is. Keeping watch while the toddler is playfully preparing for bed are a floppy eared dog and an equally floppy stuffed rabbit. Very charming and perfect for easing a reluctant child into bed and to sleep. And at the end, of course is a sweet hug and snuggle. Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Gerber, Carole

Illustrator: Campbell Pearson, Tracey

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780374378608

Price: 16.99

This ORQ. (he cave boy.)

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 4, 2015

Review

Orq wants a woolly mammoth for a pet but his mother has lots of reasons why he cannot have one. Until the day that "Woma"? saves his life. Then his mother changes her mind, somewhat. The illustrations are muted, large and engaging and have the flavor of "caveman"? days. I have not seen many children's books set in this time period. I think parents and children would really enjoy this book and that may spark discussion about this period in history. Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Elliot, David

Illustrator: Nichols, Lori

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy,historical fiction

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781620915219

Price: 15.95

Backwards Moon

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raumond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 4, 2015

Review

Fantastical book about witches who are used to having their home called the "Hidden Valley" all to themselves completely separate and protected from humans. But now all of that is threatened. They are forced to a human city because their world has been polluted and they must go there to find a door to another world. They do have magic talisman's and animals to help them along the way but it is still a great and worrisome challenge for Nettle and her cousin, Bracken who have been charged with finding a new and safe place for all the witches from "Hidden Valley." Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Losure, Mary

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Holiday House

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 978-0-8234-31601

Price: 16.95

The Klaatu Terminus

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 8, 2015

Review

This is the third book in the trilogy Klaatu Diskos. The first two books are The Obsidian Blade and The Cydonian Pyramid. The book I reviewed is the third entitled The Klaatu Terminus. It is not a stand-alone so I was confused. It is a time travel series and the main character in each book is as follows: Tucker Feye (Book 1), Lah Lia (Book 2), and Tucker's uncle Kosh. Each book in the series includes all time periods in separate sections. I think the writing was excellent and has just the right amount of complexity to make a great read for a teen who is ready to move on to more challenging science fiction. Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Hautman, Pete

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: science fiction

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 978-076365405

Price: 16.99

The Caller

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 8, 2015

Review

Neryn and Flint are in love. But Neryn has been chosen to fight off King Keldec so that the people of Alban can be saved. Flint is a spy in the king's court and others are suspicious of him and the situation is becoming more serious. Neryn is known as a Caller and when she nears the time she must stop King Keldec she finds there is another Caller who may have stronger abilities than she does without the best intentions. Not only is she responsible for her own people of Alban but she is also trying to save and protect the Good Folk. I enjoyed this book as it felt rather medieval to me along with the fantasy component but it was confusing of course because this is the third in a series and I have not read the other two. Shadowfell Series

Book 1 - Shadowfell Book 2- Raven Flight

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Marillier, Juliet

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Alfred a. Knopf

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780375869563

Price: 17.99

Leontyne Price Voice of a Century

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 1, 2015

Review

Cream of the Crop. Biography about Leontyne Price one of the greatest black opera singers of the 20th Century. The book tells of her simple beginnings, encouraging parents and a strong sense of pride for who she was. The strife that has been prevalent in this country between races and how Marian overcame this strife is the prevailing message of the book. Though she was famous throughout the world she never forgot her roots and who she was as an individual. The illustrations were created in watercolors. Primascolor pencils and lithograph crayons on Arches watercolor paper. The illustrations and writing fit and flow well together. This would be a good book for a child who has a special hope and dream for their future and perhaps feels there are some road blocks to that future. And to also realize it is important to stay who you are. The writing is easy to understand and would be appropriate for young children thru 4th grade.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Boston Weatherford, Carole

Illustrator: Colon, Raul

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Alfres A. Knopf

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: historical fiction,biography / autobiography

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780375856068

Price: 17.99

Timmy Failure: We Meet Again

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 1, 2015

Review

Cream of the Crop. Timmy Failure is back with the third book in this series. Timmy is a detective and his partner is a 1500 lb. polar bear named Total. Timmy is on academic probation and in order to get off probation he must submit a science report to his teacher called the Miracle Report. Though he hopes to work with his closest and smartest friend Rollo, he gets paired up with his least favorite person and also a detective Corrina Corrina. To top it off his mother loves to take care of people's animals and is dating his little league coach. Timmy is a fun and endearingly quirky character who is also forgiving and kind. He will appeal to kids who enjoy Big Nate, Dork Diaries, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. A great book for kids who are reluctant readers to identify with. This book would make a fun classroom need and is a fast paced with quirky pen and ink drawings. Both boys and girls will enjoy this book. Highly recommended for 4th-6th graders

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Pastis, Stephan

Illustrator: Pastis, Staphan

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre:

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763673758

Price: 14.99

The Drowning

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 2, 2015

Review

15 year old Carl wakes up on the bank of a lake just in time to see his brother zipped up into a body bag but can't remember a thing. He does remember a girl and knows that the girl is his brother's girlfriend and soon finds out that he had fallen in love with her and his brother, Rob had found out and that is why Rob is now dead....the only time Carl can remember anything is when it rains and than that is when his brother appears to him. This book was thrilling, suspenseful and dark. The writing is good, flows easily and is true to the dark theme of the story. No graphic sex scenes. Recommend for high school age.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Ward, Rachel

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Scholastic

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: mystery

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780545627719

Price: 17.99

Doug Unplugged On the Farm

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 2, 2015

Review

In the first book featuring Doug Unplugged (2013) who is a little yellow robot, Doug visited a city. In this second book, Doug heads off with his parents to the country. On the way his parents ask him to "plug" in and learn all about farm life until they encounter a sheep and Doug has to get "hands-on." when some sheep get loose from a farm they are passing and Doug tries to help a farm girl herd them. She then asks him if he would like to help out with the chores around the farm. This is when Doug really learns about a farm and has lots of fun as he helps the girl with other farm chores. Great story to use with young children to help them understand that though technology is all around them that there are a lot of fun things to learn about if they observe and become actively involved in their surroundings. The illustrations are bright, bold and eye catching and were created with brush and ink on vellum and Adobe Photoshop. Recommend for PreS-Gr1

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Yaccarino, Dan

Illustrator: Yaccarino, Dan

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: science fiction

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780385753289

Price: 17.99

Rock & Roll Highway: The Robbie Robertson Story

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 2, 2015

Review

Robbie Robertson's claim to fame is that he is considered one of the greatest guitar players in the world and is well-known as a member of "The Band" a rock 'n roll group particularly popular in '70's. Robbie, the son of a Mohawk Indian mother and a Jewish professional gambler joined his first band at 13 left his reservation at the age of 15 to go on the road. Along the way he met up with Bob Dylan. This biographical book is written by his son and the tone of the book is a mix of love and respect blended with historical accuracy. Along his journey Robertson meets with famous musicians including Bob Dylan, Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly. The tone of the writing is accessible, active and exciting. The illustrations are bold and keep with each time period covered throughout the book. The artist used oil paint on prepared paper to create the illustrations. Though this book may appeal to a budding rock and roller it may have limited appeal.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Robertson, Sebastian

Illustrator: Adam, Gostavson

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre: biography / autobiography

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780805094732

Price: 17.99

Ultimate Fighting: The Brains and Brawn of Mixed Martial Arts

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 10, 2015

Review

Fascinating nonfiction chapter book about Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) that began its popularity in the 1980's and has grown from a violent, no hands barred sport to an exciting and international world phenomenon. MMA is a type of contact sport that allows fighters with very different skill sets to square off. As the book states," Can you imagine boxing legend Muhammed Ali and martial arts master Bruce Lee battling against one another?" The book does a good job of covering the History of the MMA, 12 Classic MMA Fights, Greats of the MMA and Eight Memorable Moments. Full color expressive and action-packed photographs entice the reader to spend a few extra moments for close study.

Informative sidebars are included and this information thrown into the mix is interesting and definitive. A glossary, source notes, further reading, websites and an index are included. Young readers interested in this topic will fully enjoy this book. Perfect for reluctant readers of nonfiction. Recommend for both public and school libraries.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Jones, Patrick

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Millbrook Press

Book Type: chapter book nonfiction

Genre:

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

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781467709347

Price: 14.99

Now That You're Here

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 9, 2015

Review

Danny is a 15 year old skater graffiti artist and a bit of a troublemaker. While being chased by the cops he is jolted into a parallel universe and discovers that his parents are dead and he is living in a foster home where the father is abusive to the children and his wife. His friends in the parallel universe are classmates who he had once bullied and his friends are no longer his friends. Eevee, an academic and strong female character is now a love interest as she works relentlessly to get him back to the universe he belongs to. Eevee's parents live next door to one another and do a great job of co-parenting Eevee. At first they are supportive of Eevee's relationship with Danny but when her grades begin to falter that changes. This is Nichols debut novel and the first book in a new series called Duplexity.

This YA novel is fact paced, partially because the chapters are short with Danny or Eevee taking turns at being the narrator of each chapter.

All of the teen characters in the book have unique and endearing qualities and as a result the reader really identifies with them. YA readers will enjoy this book. Recommend for purchase for high school.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Nichols, Amy K.

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: science fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780385753890

Price: 16.99

Skateboard Party

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: April 9, 2015

Review

Skateboard enthusiast, Richard can't wait to go to his friend's birthday party to show off his fancy moves. At the same time Richard is not doing his homework project which is a paper on Howler Monkey Facts. And so his teacher sends a note home to his parents for a parent/teacher conference. The party is coming up and Richard knows that if he gives his mother the note from his teacher he will not be going to the party so he puts off giving it to her. Finally, after several days his parents get the note and Richard is grounded. But does discover that spending time learning about Howler Monkeys is really quite interesting. Lots of humor and very relateable to any middle grade boy and reluctant reader. Complete with a best friend who is a top student and a brother who is not always pleasant to live with. The pencil drawings are charming and paint a great character picture for the reader.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

English, Karen

Illustrator: Freeman, Laura

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Clarion Books

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780544283060

Price: 14.99

Super Supper Throwdown

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: April 10, 2015

Review

Fizzy's Lunch Lab is a PBS Kids web series featuring funny stories that entertain and educate families about the importance of good nutrition, a balanced diet and physical activity(taken from book jacket) Professor Fizzy is all about healthy eating. Professor Fizzy and his nemesis Fast Food Freddy are constantly at odds. PF wants to help kids eat healthy and FFF has just the opposite thinking. Battle after battle over healthy recipes vs. not so healthy fast food are fought. This fun and informational book is full of facts about fats, kitchen safety tips, recipes, energy food facts and calcium. The illustrations are digitally created, cartoony, bright and fun. Additionally, each week on the Lunch Lab website there is a short animated video as well as a corresponding recipe. Perfect for family reading and use and recommended for health teachers at this grade level.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

PBS, PBS

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Candlewick Entertainment

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: graphic novel

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763672799

Price: 14.99

The Junkyard Bot

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: April 12, 2015

Review

George Gearing has his own personal robot that is rather rickety and worn compared to the sleeker more modern robots his affluent friends have. George loves Jackbot and they are best friends. When Jackbot gets hit by a car George manages to fix him right up. It is quite a surprise when Jackbot goes missing. After all who would want a robot with dings and dents.He and his friend Anne Droid try to solve the mystery of what happened to him and of course want him back. Nice blend of normal everyday friendships and family relationships with technology and a touch of the sinister running through the story line and characters. Cool and clever names are Patricia Volt, Dr. Micron and George's last name is Gearing. Black pencil drawings of gears are sprinkled on the pages throughout the book along with action packed and illustrative pictures of the characters. Engaging and fun book. Great for kids interested in science fiction mysteries.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Richards, C.J.

Illustrator: Fujita, Goro

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: science fiction

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780544339361

Price: 13.99

The Worst Witch to the Rescue

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: April 12, 2015

Review

Number 6 in this internationally known series featuring a sweet but bumbling little witch named Mildred. Mildred is really a very smart little witch but is not the favorite of the teachers or Ethel, the most popular witch in school. Mildred practices on whole summer to perfect a spell that enables animals to talk for a span of two days. Somehow Ethel gets wind of it and successfully steals it and presents this project as her "project" to Miss Hardbroom Einstein, Mlldred's new pet turtle is put in danger when he is kidnapped by Ethel, who can be rather spiteful and has a rather long jealous streak...great story for children to read that illustrates that one should be "as one is." Good friends and loving pets surround you when you are. Also a good book for a child who feels that everyone else is perfect....why aren't they? Large print and clear, action-packed pencil drawings throughout the book are engaging.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Murphy, Jill

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780141383019

Price: 14.99

Neverwas - Book II of the Amber House Trilogy

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 10, 2015

Review

The art work on the cover of this book draws the reader to this, Book 2 of the Amber House Trilogy. In Amber House, the first book, Sarah Parsons, changed the history so that the Nazi's conquered Europe and the American Confederation of States is segregated. In Book 2 Sarah and her family have moved to back to their ancestral home. Once there, Sarah begins to see confusing historical visions and then remembers incidents from the past though she never lived in that time period. Sarah discovers that her friend, Jackson also experiences the same types of visions but of a different world and together they decide to reset the universe and make things right.

This a story that is unique in its plot but can be confusing with the visions of the past weaving in and out of the story. Young officiandos of fantasy and historical fiction writing will find both this book engaging. A must-read of the first book in the series is called for.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Moore, Kelly

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Scholastic

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780545434188

Price: 17.99

Love Me

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: May 10, 2015

Review

1930's Hollywood is alive but not always well in this second novel in the Starstruck Series. This series follows three teen girls who are all trying to make in in Hollywood. Filled with romance, adventure, alcohol and drugs this series takes you on a ride through the authentic Hollywood of 75 years ago. Along with the fictional characters in the book one meets up with Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, Spencer Tracey and Katherine Hepburn, Joan Crawford and even Greta Garbo and more. A teen interested in old Hollywood would love this book and may even make a trip back to the library to pick up biographies on some of the famous actors and actresses of that time. For mature readers.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Shukert, Rachel

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction,historical fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780385741101

Price: 17.99

My Food, Your Food

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 30, 2015

Review

Manuel learns that the students in his class come from other cultural backgrounds through the special stories they tell one another about their families and the food they share. A charming book filled with bright and cheerfully bold illustrations. Countries include Mexico, Italy, India, Norway and Jewish food. Food unites people and this book celebrates that. At the end of the book is a easy-to-make salsa recipe, a glossary and index. Also included is a bibliography of books and websites for further reference. One is a series of books that include clothes, family, home, languages and religion. Recommended.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Bullard, Lisa

Illustrator: Schneider, Christine M.

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: MillBrook Press

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9781467749039

Price: 10.00

BIG Tractor

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library , Raymond , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 29, 2015

Review

At first glimpse this book promises to captivate any child who loves work vehicles especially bulldozers, dump trucks etc. Highlighted in this book is a BIG tractor. The illustrations present the BIG tractor as a powerful and capable machine that gets the hard work done on a farm. Each illustration takes the reader through the everyday work the farmer and tractor must do together and the rest they take at end of day and at the end of the season. A must purchase.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Clement, Nathan

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9781620917909

Price: 16.95

Sleeping Beauty and Other Princess Mix-Ups

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library , Raymond , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 30, 2015

Review

A book that will appeal to children who love fairy tales. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Snow White swap places in this entertaining book. It is a fun adventure for each, at first, until they discover that perhaps the grass is not always greener on the other side. The digital illustrations are bright, colorful and the characters engaging and relatable. Children will enjoy revisiting the original story of each fairy tale story upon reading this creative version. Recommend.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Clarkson, Stephanie

Illustrator: Barrager, Brigette

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Orchard Brooks

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780545565646

Price: 17.99

Ruff Ruffman's 44 Favorite Science Activities

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 30, 2015

Review

Ruff Ruffman from PBS Kids is back with more educational and fun science activities. The book begins with a Table of Contents divided into cleverly entitled sections which include: AB-RUFF-CA-DUB-Ruff, In the Doghouse, Who Let the Dog Out etc.

Lab Rules, brainstorming ideas, the Scientific Method, and note taking tips are introduced at the very beginning of the book. Each of the 44 science activities have challenge points which indicate the level of difficulty of each activity. An index by subject is at the end of the book. And a list of materials needed and where to go to purchase them, after looking around the house for them first. Fetch is pictured throughout the book in an encouraging and light hearted poses to cheer the young scientist on.

After checking out this book at the library children and parents will want to rush to the store to pick up a copy. Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Ruffman, Ruff

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Candlewick Entertainment

Book Type: chapter book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: paperback

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763674328

Price: 12.99

Key Discoveries in Life Science

Reviewed by: sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 30, 2015

Review

Informational title that explores the fascinating topic of life science. This title begins with the history of life science or biology and each chapter is introduced with a timeline. This is very helpful in structuring understanding of each section of the book which includes: Cells, Pangens to Genomes, Evolution and Ecology. Source notes, a glossary, bibliography, further information and a comprehensive index are complete and well-done. There are photographs and biographical sketches throughout which will hold the interest of the reader. Recommended for reluctant science students or as a introductory research title.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Zuchora-Walske, Chrisitine

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Lerner

Book Type: chapter book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades 4-6,grades 7-9

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781467757867

Price: 30.65

When the Wind Blows

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 30, 2015

Review

The wind powers many things from kites to the blades of turbines that power trains to supplying entire cities with electricity. This book is written with great care and accuracy with pleasing watercolor paintings that range from simple and elegant to intricate. The rhythmic, rhyming text will truly appeal to children and be an enjoyable read-a-loud to a class.

From beautiful

When the wind blows Balloons escape Beach balls roll Clouds change shape

To sensible

When the wind blows Factories hum Harbors light up Smart cars run

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Clark, Stacy

Illustrator: Sneed, Brad

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Holiday House

Book Type: chapter book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780823430697

Price: 16.95

Amazing Plant Powers: How Plants Fly, Fight, Hide, Hunt, & Change the World

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 30, 2015

Review

Are plants superheroes? Though the theme of the book may grab the attention of a child I found the multiple pictures, illustrations spread haphazardly on the pages along with the confusing colors and sizes of letters rather overwhelming. The information was just lost! No table of contents, index or glossary was included.

Overall Book Score: poor

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About the Book

Author:

Leedy, Loreen

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: fair

Publisher: Holiday House

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780823422562

Price: 17.95

What Waits in the Woods

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 7, 2015

Review

From the very first page this book grabs you. A true teen horror, thriller. 16 year old city girl Callie Velasquez agrees to go on a camping trip with some popular kids from her new school. Callie is not the outdoors type and seems to sense from the very beginning that this trip is going to be like none other and not in a good way.

Suspicion turns to fright turns to horror by the end of the book. An edge of your seat story and stay up all night read that will appeal to teens and adults alike. Unusual but possible classroom read. Highly recommend. Cream.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Scott, Kieran

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Scholastic

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: mystery,horror

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780545691116

Price: 17.99

Alive and Kicking Book III

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 7, 2015

Review

Americans Hank and Theo are brothers who are serving their country during WWII. Hank joins the Navy and as close as these brothers are Theo joins the Air Force.

In Book III of this series, the family gets word that Hank is missing in action (MIA). Hank and Theo's parents believe that Hank is lost forever, to them. Theo is sure that Hank is alive and begins to keep a daily diary that equates to writing to his brother.

This is a gritty series with lots of action filled with battles and air fights. It will grab and hold the attention of readers interested in military history and camaraderie. The writing is excellent combining the harshness of war and the longing and love of family. Book Number 3 can stand alone but it would be best to read the whole series to get the full story and effect. Fiction books about a period of history if well-done can lead the reader to non-fiction reading of the period. This book would do that. Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Lynch, Chris

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Scholastic

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: historical fiction

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780545523011

Price: 18.99

The Orphan Queen

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 7, 2015

Review

Wilhelmina has not been a princess for 10 years in this fantasy book about the orphaned noble children of Aecor. Aecor had been conquered by the Indigo Kingdom and Wil and a noble band of children have been hiding away in the capital, Skyvale. Wilhelmina has the ability to perform magic, something she has kept hidden but once she connects with Black Knife, a sort of Robin Hood, they work together to take back Wilhelmina's birth rite. This is a story about war and love with a nod to the environment and a young girl's need to take back what is hers.

A strong female heroine is always a welcome read and good characters working together to right a wrong are engaging and what a reader enjoys cheering on. This book is first in a new series.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Meadows, Jodi

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780062317384

Price: 17.99

Star Rise

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 7, 2015

Review

Second Book in the Horses of the Dawn series continues with the stories of the first horses in the New World. Thrown into the sea because of their weight the horses beat all odds by making it to land and taking their place as wild and free. Led by Estrella they are soon fleeing from the United States Army who wants to turn them into work horses.

Into the herd comes a lame boy who has been left in the wilderness with his dying grandmother. After she passes he joins with the wary and distrustful horses because he has the gift of communicating with animals. Before long he is accepted because somehow the horses realize he cannot survive without them.

A gritty story of animal life and predator death. An appealing book for a lover of animals, nature and the outdoors and story of how Haru and the horses together battle through hardship and danger.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Lasky, Kathryn

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Scholastic

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6,grades 7-9

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780545397179

Price: 16.99

Bone Gap

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 17, 2015

Review

Roza is a beautiful but damaged young woman who turns up one day hiding in a barn on a farm where two young brothers, Sean and Finnl reside. Roza is a damaged young woman who has been kidnapped by a strange man and Finn, who witnessed the abduction has a disorder where he does not recognize faces so everyone looks average and ordinary. As a result he is unable to identify the kidnapper and the kidnapper appears regularly to taunt Finn because somehow he knows about the disorder and feels safe from detection. The book contains sex, horror, and is quite sad in places. There is hope and determination by the "good" characters in the book to persevere and continue looking for a happy life. Highly recommend for older teens.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Ruby, Laura

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: mystery

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062317605

Price: 17.99

The Fearless

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 17, 2015

Review

A dystopian thriller filled with quasi-zombies who are called The Fearless. Unlike Zombies they are intelligent and cunning but like Zombies, their aim is to infect others. The Fearless originated due to the injection of a serum that turns soldiers into a super race however the serum has backfired, thus, The Fearless. In this novel the Apocalypse has finally come. Cass, her mother and brother, Jori, flee to Hope Island with other survivors. The Island has harsh and specific rules but only as a way to protect the unafflicted. When Jori is kidnapped, Cass must venture into The Fearless territory to save him and put herself in incredible danger. Violence and gore.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Pass, Emma

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: science fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780385744478

Price: 17.99

The Kidney Hypothetical or How to Ruin Your Life in Seven Days

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond, Maine, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 19, 2015

Review

Higgs Bison Bing has a perfect high school career and appears to have it all. He is handsome, academically successful, and admired by all or so he thinks and has been dating the most beautiful girl in school until the day that she asks him if he would be willing to donate a kidney if she needed one and he declines. Over the next week after denying his girlfriend a kidney the whole school turns against him. That is not the only problem he has. Higgs's dad is a successful dentist who is cheating on his mom, his mother is severely depressed and his younger sister really needs him. The family is also preeling from the death a few years before of Higgs' highly revered brother Jeffrey who died while driving drunk. Along the way, Higgs realizes that he in not the most special person in the world. At the final school assembly as the valedictorian of the class, Higgs gives a speech and says "Don't spend all your time trying to be someone you're not, because in the end you've got to live with yourself, and you might not like who you meet."

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Yeek, Lisa

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Scholastic

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780545230940

Price: 17.99

Hippos Are Huge!

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond, Maine, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 20, 2015

Review

Bigger than life book about Hippos. Though the deadliest animal in Africa, hippos are also quite charming and like any other creature they go through the cycle of life and this book avidly considers that. The illustration on the cover of the book is sure to grab anyone's attention especially a small child's, since it is big, bold and a little scary! The larger text contains a story time element while the smaller text states the facts. This would be a book to use for a read-aloud to a young child and at the same time has some facts that can be utilized for a beginner research paper. Action words are highlighted and can be easily acted out by a child and repeated for fun. Splat! Keep Out! Honk! Snort! Words kids like! Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

London, Jonathan

Illustrator: Trueman, Matthew

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763665920

Price: 16.99

Crinkle, Crackle, Crack It's Spring!

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond, Maine, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 20, 2015

Review

It is a winter's night and a little boy awakes or does he and hears some loud noises, "rap, bap, tap, crunch, scrunch and crinkle, crackle and crack." He creeps to the door and sees a friendly bear beckoning him to come along! Hand in hand they travel through the forest and meet other forest creatures along the way. Though the illustrations are enough to chill anyone to the bone yet somehow you can't help but feel warmth and chumminess. Finally, the little boy and his new little forest friends reach the end of their trek and are greeted with a splendiferous flurry of flowers, birds and other spring time nuances. Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Bauer, Marion Dane

Illustrator: Shelley, John

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: A Holiday House Book

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780823429523

Price: 16.95

Midnight: A True Story of Loyalty in World War I

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 10, 2015

Review

Sad, true and beautiful story set during WWI in Australia. A horse named Midnight is on the battlefield bravely carrying his soldier, Lieutenant Guy Haydon. Lieutenant Haydon and Midnight have been together since Midnight was a foal and so the bond began. Now it is October 31, 1917 and two Australian Light Horse Regiments are taking part in one of the last great cavalry charges in history. The reader is especially taken with the many horses and men, both with stoic faces and set determination. They know what they must do. Go into battle and stay to the very end, when they are alone on the battlefield, injured yet together. "Coal black. Star ablaze. Moonlight in her eyes. Sweeping illustrations bright yet dark at the same time grace the pages of the book. Pictures of Guy and Midnight are in the back of the book with a map and information on The Charge on Beer Sheba. Cream.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Greenwood, Mark

Illustrator: Lessac, Frane

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Candlewick 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: 9780763674663

Price: 16.99

Fun in the Sun

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Central Maine Library District

Review Date: July 22, 2015

Review

A pudgy, pug-like looking bunny decides it's a great day to go to the beach and he is bringing his pet goldfish along. He and his friends including silly man with an equally silly hat, a too-tall dog head out on a rollicking bus to the beach. Along the way he meets lots of new friends including an octopus who immediately jumps into the goldfish bowl with his new friend. They all splish and splash, float like boats, fly kites and run faster than the wind until the day is done and they all hop the bus back home in the orangey and pink twilight. The illustrations are in watercolor ink, the hues intense and the characters comical and flamboyant. The print is clear and just the right size for reading.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Catrow, David

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Holiday House Book

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780823429455

Price: 16.95

I Fly: The Buzz About Flies and How Awesome They Are

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 22, 2015

Review

The cover of the book immediately grabs your attention and shows a very friendly, very oversized fly making an appearance in a classroom of kids who seem to be in both awe and in shock. Dialogue bubbles and cartoon pictures fill the book as this very engaging fly tells his story. Instead of wanting to swat the fly away the children are entranced with the fly and the story of what his life is like. Sometimes the fly talks directly to the children and then expands on the discussion in short paragraphs throughout. He explains that flies bring a lot of good to the world. It is refreshingly reassuring when he says that flies do not throw up on everything, just solid foods. Reading this book is a sure fire way for anyone to learn about flies and maybe even think they aren't all that bad. The print is bold and easy to read. There is a glossary, bibliography and list of expert contributors in the back of the book. Highly Recommend

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Heos, Bridget

Illustrator: Plecas, Jennifer

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780805094695

Price: 17.99

AH!

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 23, 2015

Review

The word "Ah" can mean lots of things and in this cute and brightly illustrated book with a sweetly and simply drawn cute rabbit the reader discovers some of those things. As rabbit takes a jaunt through a summer's day singing a sweet little tune....along comes a spider, literally and spends the day bothering the bunny and scaring it...until bunny meets another bunny and they fall in love. Until.... the bothersome spider falls in love with another spider and scares both the bunnies away. A simple little tale that will keep a little one engaged with the word, "Ah." Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Collet, Geraldine

Illustrator: Billon Spagnol, Estelle

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Holiday House

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780823431991

Price: 16.95

The Nitty-Gritty Gardening Book: Fun Projects for all Seasons

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 4, 2015

Review

The title and cover of this gardening book organized seasonally will catch a reader's eye and encourage them to take a look at the seasonally organized and fun gardening projects contained within the pages. The directions are clear and beautifully presented with earthy photographs including children and charming drawings. Many of the activities in the book can be accomplished by planting in containers set on a porch, a patio or in a window. Newspaper plant pots, growing potatoes, making compost and setting up a birdbath are some of the projects included. Particularly reassuring and enjoyable is that "yes, indeed, there is something for everyone in this books and you can do it." There is a glossary, gardening resources and a comprehensive index.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Cornell, Kari

Illustrator: Larson, Jennifer S.

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Millbrook Press

Book Type: chapter book nonfiction

Genre:

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

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9781467726474

Price: 14.94

Feet Go to Sleep

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: August 5, 2015

Review

Perfectly charming seaside story full of whimsy and fun. Tossing beach balls, running through the waves, playing games and eating the foods of summer, Fiona is taking full advantage of a perfect summer day.

Like any young child's day, Fiona's has indeed been very active but night has come and it is time for Fiona to go to sleep. Fiona's mother uses the same ritual to get Fiona calm and settled at bedtime. Touching on each part of Fiona's day, her mom touches on each corresponding body part.

"Arms, go to sleep." "Arms were for catching the beach ball. And throwing it, too"

A picture insert shows Fiona lying in her bed with her pet fox with her arms out on top of the covers. On the corresponding page is Fiona playing beach ball catch with her friends.

The illustrations are large, colorful, warm and cheery. A must read and a great book to lull any young child to sleep and remind them of the lovely and pleasant day now past.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Bottner, Barbara

Illustrator: Smith, Maggie

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780449813256

Price: 16.99

Spy Guy: The Not So Secret Agent

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 10, 2015

Review

Spy Guy wants to be a good sneak but it is going to take some work. Fortunately, Spy Guy has a friend he calls Chief who is also his Dad. Chief proceeds to show him the ropes through instructive little rhymes.

"If you seek to sneak try not to speak."

"Great sneakers need good sneakers."

"If you want to be stealthy you must be healthy."

Chief poses a challenge to Spy Guy that he must successfully sneak up on Chief to be considered a successful spy and finally despite burps and sneezes and slurping etc. and sheer exhaustion he manages to succeed with help from a sneaky little spider.

"The secret to spying is to never stop trying." Mission Accomplished.

Filled with large, bold and charming illustrations this would be a great book to share with a large group and would work well for an interactive read.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Young, Jessica

Illustrator: Santoso, Charles

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780544208599

Price: 16.99

The Whale in My Swimming Pool

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 10, 2015

Review

A whale in a swimming pool is quite a vision in this supersized, modernistic and brightly illustrated children's book. Upon finding a giant whale in his swimming pool which leaves no room for him, the little boy tries everything he can think of to get the whale out. He tries a game of fetch, baiting a fish hook with a tasty fish treat, playing a game of tag and even resorts to a crane to lift the whale out of the pool to no avail.

Making the best of the situation, the little boy, discovers how fun it is to slide down the whale and ride atop the water spewing out of the whale's blow hole. After a rather frustrating afternoon, he is called in for a nap to discover a huge bear holding "his" teddy bear, asleep on the bed. Peering through the window with a smile is the whale...finally out of the pool.

"Oh, great. He snores!"

This book would work well with a large group as the illustrations are very large and colourful. Simple large black lettering would also work well for a child learning to read.

Joyce Wan is also the author of several board books, including Your Are My Cupcake and My Lucky Little Dragon.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Wan, Joyce

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Farrar Strauss Giroux

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780374300371

Price: 17.99

Ask Me

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 10, 2015

Review

The cover of this book grabs the reader's attention immediately because of the brilliance of the autumnal shades of orange and red that dominate done in pencil.

Father and daughter are out for a neighbourhood walk, energetic with lively conversation brimming with questions that they ask one another as the walk progresses. There is so much to talk about and so much to share in dialog that is poetic and rhythmic. A feel for the closeness of the father-daughter bond and the patient listening for understanding is charming and cheerful.

I like bugs. Insects? No, bugs. I like butterflies. And lighting bugs. Fireflies? No. lightening bugs.

This would make a great father/daughter read or during story time where children can share questions and memories. Once it is put on display for the fall, it will be continually checked out.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Waber, Bernard

Illustrator: Lee, Suzy

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780547733944

Price: 16.99

Goose

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2015

Review

Sweet and engaging story about a little girl who plays alone much of the time until one day her mother takes her to the park.

Sophie first spots the see-saw but sees that it is occupied by a little boy and his teddy bear. She next heads to the swings, the slide and back again to the see-saw but there is no one around until she hears,"Honk" and spies a goose. For the rest of the afternoon Sophie plays with the goose and does not feel lonely. When she asks her mother if she can take the goose home her mother declines but relents when Sophie and she return to the park the next day.

The illustrations are simple, bold and colorful. The book is filled with easy to read one liners.

This is a book that will appeal to children about unique and warm friendships between animal and human.

Cream. Highly recommend.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Wall, Laura

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062324351

Price: 12.99

The Stranded Whale

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2015

Review

Jane Yolen's tale of children's attempts to save a beached whale is sad, desperate and poignant.

A whale stranded on a beach in Maine is spotted by Sally and her brothers on their way home from school. They rush to help the whale stay wet as the tide is going out. The Coast Guard is called to assist and since the book is set in 1971 before cell phones additional help is not available and so the whale dies.

At last, though, just at the sun was setting, the whale shut its great eye. It gave out a huge sigh like wind off the ocean. The sigh smelled like seaweed, like lobsters in Dad's traps, like gutted fish on the pier. And then it was gone, just like that.

Sally and her brothers are awarded a medal for their efforts. This story conveys the importance of the understanding that even with one's best efforts things may not always work out as hoped.

The illustrations are muted and match the tone of the story and were done in digital paint, oil paint, and pencil.

A section at the back of the book discusses possible reasons why whales get beached on ocean shores.

May lead young readers to an interest in marine life or professions where people are in service to helping man and animal.

Best suited for 3rd grade and up.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Yolen, Jane

Illustrator: Cataldo, Melanie

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades k-3,grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763669539

Price: 15.99

Water Is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2015

Review

An informational rhyming book about the many forms that water can take.

Dip, sip. Pour me a cup. Water is water until it heats up. Whirl. Swirl. Watch it curl. Steam is steam unless - and than another example of how water is transformed is touched upon.

The flow of the book is easy and the water theme takes the reader through all four seasons and the importance and prevalence of water in one's daily life is clear but is demonstrated in a playful and fun fashion.

The illustrations are homey yet glorious at the same time.

At the end of the book is an explanatory section about the importance of water, books for further reading and a bibliography.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Paul, Miranda

Illustrator: Chin, Jason

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9781596439849

Price: 17.99

Glamourpuss

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2015

Review

Glamourpuss is a long haired white cat and looks just as her name. She is very proud of herself. In fact when she meows, what comes out is "ME" without the "OW." She is adored by her owners, Mr. and Mrs. HighHorsen and is always the center of attention, until Bluebelle, a cute chihuahua, who is the queen of dress up and tricks, comes to visit with her owner, Mrs. Highhorsen's sister, Eugenia.

Bluebelle is "first-rate" and "adorable." Glamourpuss becomes discouraged and suddenly her "ME" becomes "me." Glamourpuss is no longer the center of attention.

Bluebelle, suddenly, destroys all of her outfits and GP observes her preening and copying her mannerisms. GP realizes that the Bluebelle that appears is not who Bluebelle is and suddenly they become fast friends. Eugenia is not happy at first to see the changes in BB but observes that she is happier being friends with Glamourpuss and being the pooch she really and truly is.

"When it comes to being glamorous, less is sometimes more, but when it comes to having friends, you can never have too many."

The ink, watercolor and pastel illustrations are done in a collage format and are eye-catching and fluid. The text has a charming and romantic flair.

This book would appeal to children when touching on friendship and encouraging them to be who they are.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Weeks, Sarah

Illustrator: Small, David

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780545609548

Price: 4.99

First Grade Drop Out

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2015

Review

First grade can be tough and gets particularly challenging for this first grade, little boy, when he accidentally calls his teacher, "mommy" and becomes the laughing stock of the whole class. Even his best friend, Tyler laughs. Although his teacher reassures him this happens every year it does not reassure him.

To deal with the embarassment, he comes up with strategies. He pretends he is someone else and from another country, that he is a magician with a magic hat and that he is going to board a time machine to take him back before he made this classroom mistake. His friend, Tyler, eventually shows up and makes a mistake of his own. Tyler asks his friend on the basketball court if he wants to do "junk" shots.

I open one eye. "It's not a junk shot. It's a jump shot." "Oh," Tyler says.

They chuckle together and decide that maybe "junk" shot isn't such a bad way to describe "jump" shot and all is forgotten.

The illustrations are done in ink and watercolor and the messiness of the expressive drawings clearly show the range of emotions.

A great book for first graders to let them know that everyone makes mistakes and that mistakes can be forgotten and maybe even sort of funny.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Vernick, Audrey

Illustrator: Cordell, Matthew

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Clarion Books

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780544129856

Price: 16.99

Billy and Goat at the State Fair

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2015

Review

The State Fair! Goat is excited! Billy is a little nervous!

Billy and goat are the best of friends. In fact, Billy is so proud of goat that he decides they should travel to the state fair and enter goat in a competition.

Billy upon arriving at the fair feels shy and wants to keep to himself. Goat, however wants to take full advantage of this new adventure. After a bit, Billy catches goat's adventuresome spirit and begins to enjoy all that the fair has to offer. The food, the rides, the yodeling competition and floral displays are fun!

Goat comes in third place, but Billy realizes that though they did not win the competition they still had a great time.

"But neither of them minded. They'd had an amazing adventure at the fair. Besides Billy already knew who the best goat really was."

The illustrations are bright and clear with a rustic feel. The lettering is large and bold with black ink.

This book is great in helping children realize that not everyone has the same personality. Some people are shy and some are adventuresome and there are many other kinds of people in between. And many times opposite personalities can be drawn to one another. Winning is not the final end, it is the journey.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Yaccarino, Dan

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780385753258

Price: 16.99

Mindwalker

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2015

Review

17 year old prodigy Lain Fisher is a Mindwalker and is able to erase traumatic memories and is driven to do so.

Steven, a fellow classmate and resident outcast asks her to erase the memories from his childhood and the trauma of being kidnapped by a serial killer. As Lain works to erase his memories she comes to believe that they may share a link to the mystery of why her uncle and mother were murdered and her father's death in relation to the Mindwalker Institute where they all worked.

"A recent trauma can be wiped away without affecting someone's personality much, but childhood memories are woven deeply into and individual's identity."

Inevitably Lain and Steven fall in love though the romance angle comes across as a bit weak but still rather sweet.

Easy dystopian read and strong and determined female character make this a good purchase for both the high school and public library.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Steiger, A.J.

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: science fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780553497137

Price: 17.99

Mrs. Noodlekugel and Drooly the Bear

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2015

Review

Nick and Maxine are going to be staying with Mrs. Noodlekugel and her two talking cats and four mice who wear glasses , while their parents are away at a speed knitting competition. Nick and Maxine are excited as they are intrigued by the sweet little house Mrs. Noodlekugel lives in, in the backyard of their apartment building.

Mrs. Noodlekugel cooks delicious food as one would imagine but Dick and Maxine find it very interesting when they make vegetable cake and chocolate drop soup. And the mice wear night shirts, have bunk beds and like to be tucked in.

The first morning after their stay begins they are surprised to find that Mr. Noodlekugel and his companion, Drooly the bear are at the breakfast table.

"I am here, back from the sea."

Full of whimsy and laughs kids will enjoy reading this book.

The illustrations are in ink and are charmingly old-fashioned. A fast read. Recommend for reluctant readers.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Pinkwater, Daniel

Illustrator: Stower, Adam

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763666453

Price: 14.99

Infected

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 10, 2015

Review

She has 36 hours to save him. The clock starts now.

Fast moving thriller focuses on teens, Carina and her boyfriend, Tanner. Tanner is the only person Carina trusts since her beloved scientist uncle and mother have died under mysterious circumstances. They have both been injected with a drug that if they do not find the anecdote they will die.

There is lots of foreign intrigue, violence and hints of sexual activity throughout. Reminiscent of the Bourne Identity and Taken film series as the book is filled with non-stop action. Possibly too much action as there does not seem to be any time to get to know Carina and Tanner and understand their characters and fully connect with them.

Carina's love and respect for her uncle is touching as she refers to him and finds letters written to her throughout the book.

This will appeal to older teens. It is a book they will not want to put down.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Littlefield, Sophie

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: mystery

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780385741064

Price: 17.99

The Boys of Fire and Ash

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 11, 2015

Review

There are no women in the Ikkuma Pit so the brothers must watch out for one another as they have no mother to do so. Leaving Day comes for them all eventually and each brother must head out into the unknown woods above. Cubby who is just a child has been kidnapped by monsters proclaims Blaze, a brother who has mysteriously and unexpectedly returned to the Ikkuma Pit.

Urgle is Cubby's older brother and as Cubby's protector he leaves the pit to find his brother.

Thus begin many situations and challenges that Urgle must overcome in order to bring Cubby home. This is a fast paced book but I found the multitude of characters and so many names confusing. For me this was a slow read. I did find it consistently poignant as Urgle searches relentlessly for Cubby. letting nothing stand in his way. There is a little romance and the book is rather dark feeling, though not violent. The ending is not a good one which leads me to believe that there my be some hope for a sequel. Recommend for a tween or teen embarking on fantasy fiction.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

McIsaac, Meaghan

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780385744454

Price: 16.99

The Cow Tripped Over the Moon

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Librry, Raymond , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 12, 2015

Review

The Nursery Rhyme Emergency Truck is racing around Nursery Rhyme Land helping injured characters from six traditional nursery rhymes.

Who have we here? It's the farmer's cow! She fell from a great big height somehow. "I saw it happen, says a little hound. "She tripped on the moon and fell to the ground."

Not only is the farmer's cow needing medical assistance but so does Rock-A-Bye baby who fell from a bough; Jack be Nimble who burned his bum and even little Jack Horner who choked on a plum. Somehow, even Humpty Dumpty gets put back together again and guess what with?

Face paced and full of action with charming mixed media illustrations that are detailed with lightness and shade are sure to hold the attention of a child.

Helpful if children know the original nursery rhymes. The idea of focusing on an Emergency Vehicle in Nursery Rhyme Land is innovative and engaging. The realism of the everyday sight and/or sound of a regular part of life such as a emergency vehicle adds to the charm of this book.

Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Willis, Jeanne

Illustrator: Stewart, Joel

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763674021

Price: 15.99

Ketzel the Cat Who Composed

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 21, 2015

Review

Young musical composer, Moshe Cotel, has entered a competition, Paris New Music Review, and entrants are to write a composition of 60 seconds or less. As hard as he tries, Moshe simply cannot write one any less than ten minutes long. As he is taking a walk one day on the busy city street he comes across a black and white stray cat he names Ketzel.

One day, soon after he brings Ketzel home, Ketzel, while creeping along the keyboard, manages to compose what Moshe has not been able to do, "a composition that has a clear beginning, middle, and end and is full of heart and takes exactly 21 seconds to play." The piece is called, "Piece for Piano: Four Paws." and wins an honorable mention.

At the back of the book is an author's note that explains that this book is based on a true story. Ketzel actually received a royalty check for $19.72 which "was used to purchase cat food."

The illustrations are warm and textural, done in watercolor, gouache and pencil. A truly delightful and charming story.

Anyone who loves the brightness and whimsy of a animal/human relationship will enjoy this book. Cream of the Crop

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Newman, Leslea

Illustrator: Bates, Amy June

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: preschool,grades k-3,all ages

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763665555

Price: 16.99

This Book's Maine Connection: Maine author

Touch the Brightest Star

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Villlage Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 21, 2015

Review

From the author of Tap the Magic Tree (2013) comes a new delightful title,"Shhh....It's night. Time for magic to happen. Touch, pat, blink and whisper to change the night sky!" Not quite a rhyming book but very close, this keeps a child's mind and touch active and engaged.

The background of each illustration is varied in shades of blues that lend a nice continuity and simplicity that encourage the reader to continue this journey of sunset to sunrise.

Birds, insects and deer and other natural objects are sparse throughout this interactive book yet add to the familiarity and simplicity.

Collages were used to prepare the full-color art and the type is large and white, thus easy to read against the varying blue backgrounds.

Great bedtime read for children that they will reach for night after night even after the story has been read to them.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Mathesonl, Christie

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre:

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062274472

Price: 15.99

Waiting

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 21, 2015

Review

On a windowsill sit five animals, an owl, puppy, bear, rabbit and a pig and each has his/her own marvelous thing that he/she would like to see happen. The rabbit is simply looking out of the window, not waiting for anything in particular...just waiting. All the animals are close and though each leaves the sill occasionally, though whoever it is always returns. Sometimes other little knick-knacks appear and disappear or sometimes even break. Yet, they all sit in companionable quiet through it all including the seasonal changes.

Until a cat with patches appears but does not seem to be waiting for anything in particular until one day she is not just one cat she becomes five, now there are ten animals on the sill, "waiting to see what would happen next."

Kevin Henkes has won many honors, including a Caldecott Medal, Caldecott Honors, two Newbery Honors and a Geisel Honor. He has long been lauded as an excellent writer and illustrator. Bright and colorful children's books are eye-catching but this book is soft and muted and just as appealing done in brown ink, watercolor paint and colored pencils. The lettering is large, clean and bold looking against the soft cream pages.

It is ok to be quiet and keeping good company with one other for a long time, open to differences and acceptance of change. Charming and a must purchase. In fact, I would recommend purchasing all of Henke's titles.

Cream of the Crop

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Henkes, Kevin

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062368430

Price: 17.99

Happy in Our Skin

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 21, 2015

Review

A book all about skin.

"This is how we all begin; small and happy in our skin."

When you fall you get scabs and skin has freckles, birthmarks and dimples. And everyone is the same in that way because everyone has skin. One thing that is different is that "nobody is you"

Illustrations are bright and colorful with busyness going on continually and everyone smiling, getting along and helping one another out. A favored picture is one of a Block Party where there are:

"bouquets of people, blooming and boisterous, brawny and thin, loving each day...

Semi-rhyming book with illustrations done in ink and pencil and assembled digitally.

Great book for teaching a child that in many many ways we are all just the same with unique differences and qualities.

Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Manushkin, Fran

Illustrator: Tobia, Lauren

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763670023

Price: 15.99

Apes A-Go-Go!

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 25, 2015

Review

Apes to the rescue in this book. The perfectionist mayor of a town who hopes to win the contest of "Tidy Town" realizes that one of the flowers in a flower bed is out of place. A passer-by appears and offers to help out and turns out to be an ape. Though well-intentioned the ape ends up trampling the garden. Five more well-intentioned apes from the clan follow creating a domino effect of sheer messiness, throughout the entire town.

Finally, an ape comes along and bakes a warm and tasty cake and everyone in town though it is very messy has a wonderful time, together enjoying each other's company. Everyone begins to relax and have fun! But their mayor cannot let go of his quest for tidiness when he sees all the dirty dishes.

"On second thought." he said. "I think, I'll do it myself."

And he did.

Children will love this book and merrily repeat throughout, the words when the time comes,"Bogo! Pogo! Apes A-Go-Go!"

The lettering is medium sized and easy to read. Illustrations are retro colors reminiscent of children's books written in the 50's and 60's.

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Milisic, Roman

Illustrator: Allen, A. Richard

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780553533637

Price: 16.99

Peep and Ducky Rainy Day

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 25, 2015

Review

Lucky, Lucky, Lucky.

That is how Peep and Ducky feel about one another in this charming rhyming book.

Peep's mom drops him off on a rainy day at Ducky's house for a play date and they manage to find all kinds of fun in the house. Hide and Seek and pillow fights abound until they decide they are bored and head outside into the rain after they put on their boots, don their rain jackets and take an umbrella and head out the door.

It is very windy and the umbrella carries them along and into a blow-up child's pool and the umbrella turns into a boat. This is lots of fun until thunder begins to roll and they are called back inside.

Soon after Peep's mom appears to take him home. Though it is hard to part they promise to get back together soon.

Luck, Lucky, Lucky.

The illustrations are done in mixed media and are simple in dark pastel colors. Little ones will love this book! It's small size will be carried around the house and enjoyed until the book is worn out.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Martin, David

Illustrator: Walker, David

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763668846

Price: 14.99

Who Wants a Hug?

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: October 25, 2015

Review

Skunk has a bag of Super Stinky Tricks he uses to try to trip up a bear who gives great hugs and everyone loves.

Although no one seems to like Skunk, Bear loves everyone and tries repeatedly to give Skunk hugs, but Skunk will have none of it. Skunk plays many stinky tricks on Bear in the attempt of making Bear unhappy but all of his tricks back fire on him. Skunk feels really bad now and decides that he does need a hug from Bear but when Bear does so he realizes just how stinky Skunk is and is shocked.

Skunk loves the hug and wants more but Bear is reluctant until he gamely reappears with a clothes pin on his nose and gives Skunk all the hugs he could ever want.

The bag of Super Stinky Tricks is now a bag of tricks filled with clothespins. Maybe now Skunk will be getting hugs from more forest animals. Everyone deserves a hug this book clearly touts.

The artist used ink and pencil on paper and Photoshop to create the digital illustrations. They are bright and simple with a great forest feel. The print is medium sized and done in a bold black.

Cream of the crop.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Mack, Jeff

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Harper

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 978006222026

Price: 17.99

What We Saw

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 5, 2015

Review

Gritty and gripping young adult novel about a girl who is drunk at a party and is raped, told from the perspective of the teens who attended the party. Kate Weston attends a teen party at John Doone's house but goes home early because she gets really drunk and Is driven home by her childhood friend and soon to be, boyfriend.

The next morning Kate awakens to see a picture of a girl she knows from school named Stacey passed out over Deacon Mill's shoulder. Soon it is all over the newspapers that during the party Stacy was raped. And the proof is on film and all over the internet. Kate wonders where was Ben during all of this. Did he return to the party? When Kate finds out that Ben witnessed the whole incident she goes to the police.

By Stacey coming forward to report the rape and Kate reporting Ben as a witness to the rape it puts both of them in the position no teen wants to be put in....being a snitch....that dilemma along with the shocking truth of what happened at the party is disturbing and believable.

Definitely for older teens but this book should be read by adults, especially ones who have teenage children.

Highly recommend.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Hartzler, Aaron

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 10-12,all ages

Binding Type: library binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062338747

Price: 17.99

The Perilous Princess Plot Book I

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 5, 2015

Review

A whimsical, humorous tale about girls who live on a farm in the Middle of Nowhere. One dreams of being a princess and practices everyday to become the best one possible. The other wants to run away and go on a romantic adventure and be rescued by a prince and live happily ever after of course.

This is a great bedtime book to read with children as it is light and humourous. They will fall in love with Lavender's and Eliza's zany ways of thinking about and doing things.

Funny little "picture in your mind" type descriptive sentences abound throughout the book. And so there will be lots of giggling going on.

"This prince was wearing a crumpled pink dressing gown which seemed to have half a piece of cake stuck to it."

Primitive pencil drawings lend some interest to the book.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Courtauld, Sarah

Illustration Quality: fair

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9781250052773

Price: 14.99

Dolls of Hope

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 7, 2015

Review

In this charming historical novel based on the 1926 Friendship Doll Exchange between China and the United States, hopes of avoiding war, eleven year old Chiro has traveled from her mountain home to a girls school in Tsuchiura. It is soon discovered that Chiro has a beautiful voice and is allowed to travel to Tokyo with her fellow choral students to sing at an event and to visit the museum where the Friendship Dolls are on exhibition.

Chiro is thrust into the spotlight when a photographer takes a picture of her gazing adoringly at one of the dolls. Her image is so powerful and kind that when it appears in the newspaper the next day, Chiro becomes the national sweetheart.

Though this book is filled with hope, Chiro struggles with a jealous classmate who attempts to sabotage her at every turn. And is challenged by gender-based and societal expectations.

"That one of our girls should be displayed in the newspaper for anyone to look upon," Sensei staggered backward to balance against a table . "Oh I fear I will collapse!"

This is a sequel to Ship of Dolls and can be read as a stand-alone but reading both in order would be best. Cream of the Crop.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Paterneau, Shirley

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: historical fiction

Audience: grades 4-6,grades 7-9

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763677527

Price: 16.99

Dust to Dust

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 7, 2015

Review

Paranormal sequel to the young adult novel, Ashes to Ashes.

Callie is back home after awakening from a coma and is happy to be home but cannot forget the world she dwelled in called the Prism where she fell in love with her spirit guide, Thatcher.

Callie shares her coma experience and the Prism with her array of quirky friends, including Carson who is fascinated with the paranormal and ghost hunting.

The crux of the novel focuses on evil ghosts who are trying to steal Callie's soul's energy so they can come back to life.

Well-written book that is sweet and poignant filled with action, romance and friendship.

I did not find this novel particularly scary, it actually had a unique warmth about it and was reminiscent of the feel of the movie, Ghost, with Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze.

Recommend.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Walker, Melissa

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: romance

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062077370

Price: 17.99

One

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 7, 2015

Review

One, told in verse in their own voice, is the story of 16 yr. old twins Tippi and Grace who are joined at the waist and have defied all odds by living as long as they have and in their own way, independently of one another.

The doctor told Mom we wouldn't see our second birthday

Yet here we are

Not only must Tippi and Grace face the challenges of conjoinment, their father is an unemployed alcoholic and their mother works tirelessly to put food on the table so that the family can survive. However, the love they have for one another is clear.

The twins begin to attend public high school as teens for one year until Tippi falls ill due to a heart condition. Though the students at the school shy away from them Tippi and Grace do find two quirky friends named Yasmeen and Jon. A romance develops between Grace and Jon.

I mean how can they reconstruct our lower bodies so that we end up with two whole bodies?

Educational, powerful and touching.

There is an author note at the end of the book in which the author impresses that conjoined twins did not see their lives as tragic. She also states that to prepare for the writing of the book she spent many long hours studying and watching documentary footage about conjoined twins that touched her deeply.

Cream of the Crop.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Crossan, Sarah

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Greenwillow Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fiction in verse / poetry

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

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062118752

Price: 17.99

The Secrets We Keep

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 17, 2015

Review

17 year old Maddy and Ella are twins and are opposites. Maddy is popular, a great dresser and has a boyfriend anyone would envy. Ella is fine about that as she prefers to be alone with her sketchpad and her friend Josh.

Maddy goes to pick up her sister at a party late one rainy nite and during a fight on the way home Ella crashes Maddy's car into a tree and Maddy dies. When Ella awakens she finds that everyone thinks she is Maddy. She plays along for a quite a while and discovers that her sister has many secrets she was not aware of.

I found this to be a quick read with depth and well-developed characters. Recommend this book for reluctant readers as I felt I could not put it down. It may be of interest to a teen reader to see concretely in this YA novel how sometimes "things don't appear as they seem." Is someone who is popular always happy?

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Leaver, Trisha

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Farrar Strauss Giroux

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: reinforced trade binding

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780374300463

Price: 17.99

Charlie Plays Ball

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 22, 2015

Review

Charlie is a delightful basset hound who enjoys a fun life and is involved in everything around the farm which includes riding, roping, feeding and fixing but name any sport and the kids in the neighborhood are playing it. And Charlie, a happy and positive dog is right in the middle of it all. He loves basketball, volleyball and football but the ball he loves the best is his bowl full of spaghetti and meatballs at the end of the day.

The illustrations in this book are bright, bold and outdoorsy and almost touchable especially Charlie. The illustrator uses watercolor paint over digital art. The print is large, black and block print.

A clear picture of life on the farm is detailed nicely which will be of particular interest to the reader. Charlie's favorite spaghetti and meatball recipe is included at the end of the book. Ree Drummond is also known as The Pioneer Woman who and has many other best selling titles.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Drummond, Ree

Illustrator: deGroat, Diane

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Harper

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: other

Binding Quality: very good

ISBN: 9780052297526

Price: 17.99

Me, Too

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 22, 2015

Review

Annie and Lillemor are best friends and as all best friends do, they have much in common and are so close they greet each other each day with a big hug. Though Lillemor speaks Swedish and Annie speaks Oinky Boinky somehow they understand each other perfectly as best friends are apt to do.

One day when Annie arrives at school there is no Lillemor and worse, no big hug. Annie comes upon Lillemor jumping rope with a new friend named Lilianne who is from France. What is a bit alarming to Annie is that both of the girls names start with Lil and Lilianne can also speak another language. She also feels left out because both the Lili's like all the same things until Annie realizes that she and Lilianne share the name "Ann" within their names and suddenly the worry is gone AND they decide to "all' be best friends.

The artwork in the book is cute and cartoony and simplistic in its rendering and is done in pencil and colored in Photoshop. The lettering is bold and easy to read.

The triad friendship can be challenging for children and this book can be helpful to children to understand that having more than one friend is ok and can even be fun and not scary at all.

Bien Sur! Naturligtvis! Ooga, booga, meow!

Overall Book Score: good

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About the Book

Author:

Dunklee, Annika

Illustrator: Smith, Lori Joy

Illustration Quality: good

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9781771381048

Price: 16.95

Too Many Toys!

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond , Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 22, 2015

Review

Lulu has too many toys and with each Christmas it is getting more overwhelming because Lulu does not have the time to play with all the toys nor does she have room. Of all her toys her favorite is a fluffy and adorable bear named Jupiter. Lulu decides on her own to have a toy giveaway so she invites her friends and gives all her toys away except for Jupiter.

The illustrations are whimsically sweet and old- fashioned full of texture and detail done in ink and watercolor and rendered digitally. The print is large and easy to read.

Lulu explains to Jupiter that he is all she needs and the more she thinks about it the more she realizes,"there might be a tiny bit of space for just a few more toys next Christmas."

Jupiter's reply,"Uh-oh!"

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Deedman, Heidi

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763678616

Price: 15.99

Mr. Posthouse's Rounds

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 22, 2015

Review

Mr. Postmouse is very very busy and hustles and bustles around the house to deliver mail. The illustrations are really the making of this book. Though I found them to be a bit rough, they are whimsical, intricate and very enjoyable. The reader gets up close and personal look at each animal's house that Mr. Postmouse delivers to.

There is a bear's house with a beehive atop and a spout attached to a spout that drips into a honey jar, a large package that must be delivered through a rabbit hole and a snake who lives in a very long house with lots of heating elements.

At the end of day, hardworking Mr. Postmouse arrives home to find that his son has planned a surprise birthday for him.

The story is warm and cordial with a pastel and dark color mix. The print, though, is very small and difficult to read.

This book may engage a child to begin delving into drawing more intricately in more detail to investigate the mechanics of an illustration.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Dubuc, Marianne

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Book Type: Choose Book Type

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9781771385725

Price: 17.95

One Day, the End: Short, Very Short, Shorter-Than-Ever Stories

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 22, 2015

Review

Attention getting bold, cartoon like, large illustrations grab the reader's attention immediately in this children's book. The lettering is very large in type, size and color.

The girl in the story is living an ordinary day and doing regular things but the illustrations and simplicity of several short short stories in this book because of the graphic way they are told is interesting and draws the reader to want to read more.

In one delightful rendering there is a huge purple kitchen with children doing artwork. Mother comes upon the very messy scene.

One day I made something. I gave it to mom The End?

Big hug from mom and all is happy and good.

One day I wanted to be a spy. I was.

The girl in the story is pictured climbing around a house with her cat searching every nook and cranny.

Filled with illustrative texture, an ordinary day blooms into a day full of fun and intrigue.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Dotlich, Rebecca Kai

Illustrator: Koehler, Fred

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Boyds Mills Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9781620914519

Price: 16.95

I Don't Like Snakes

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 22, 2015

Review

The protagonist in this children's book does not like snakes but they are the only pets her family has and they are all over the place.

They're slivery and scaly. They have icky, flicking tongues and creepy, unblinking eyes. What's to like about a snake?

The snake covered drawings are done in mixed media and in muted tones with detailed drawings of various snakes.

Italicized print transitions to smaller block print to define each type of snake.

Some snakes like the pit viper, hunt when it's too dark for even the best eyes to see. They have heat sensitive pits below their eyes so they can feel their prey's body heat.

A nurturing and humorous informational book that tells the facts in such a way about snakes that by the end of the book, she loves them.

A paragraph about the many species of snacks throughout the world, a bibliography and index at the end of book is helpful.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Davies, Nicola

Illustrator: Lozano, Luciano

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: picture book nonfiction

Genre:

Audience: grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763678319

Price: 15.99

The Memory Key

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 23, 2015

Review

The premise of this science fiction young adult title is fascinating and fresh.

A progressive form of Alzheimer's,known at Verget's disease in this dystopian title is controlled with a device implanted in the brain and only important things are kept.

Lora like everyone else has a memory key but one day while trying to save the life of a woman who is about to be hit by a car, her memory key becomes damaged and she begins to remember many strange things about her mother who mysteriously died. As Lora's memories begin to come back that initially had been surpressed, she begins to wonder if her mother is truly dead.

There is always something going on in this book whether it is real or through multiple flashbacks throughout the book. The other characters are interesting and complete. Lora is likeable and you are cheering for her to find out what really happened to her mom.

Recommend for high school and public library collections. Both boys and girls will enjoy this book. A good blend of dystopia and sci-fi.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Liu, Liana

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper Teen

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: science fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062306647

Price: 17.99

The Nora Notebooks: The Trouble With Ants

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 23, 2015

Review

4th grader Nora Alper's world revolves around ants. Nora is interested in her friend's dogs and cats but really would like them to be more interested in her ant farms. Frankly they are scared and horrified about the ants. Nora hopes to change that.

Throughout the book Nora brings up interesting informational facts about ants which the reader will find fascinating.

"A worker ant is less than one-millionth the size of a human being. But all the ants in the world taken together weigh as much as all the human beings in the world. See what I mean about how amazing ants are?"

Nora is so knowledgeable about ants she decides to enter her research writings in an article for Nature magazine. Her article gets rejected and she is encouraged to send another when she gets older. I have a feeling that Nora will one day be a credit to women and their love of science.

It is interesting to note that everyone in Nora's family loves science and encourages her to explore her interest in that particular arena.

Nora is also asked for a school assignment to write a persuasive speech and of course she chooses a persuasive speech about ants....can she persuade her friends to love them as much as she does?

Great read for a girl interested in science or may encourage them to become so.

This is a first book in a series.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Mills, Claudia

Illustrator: Kath, Katie

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780385391610

Price: 14.99

The Girl in the Torch

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 23, 2015

Review

The author wrote this book from a personal perspective as his great-grandparents immigrated to the United States form Czarist Russia. His great grandfather brought with him one special item. Fine tailoring skills and an excellent pair of scissors. This true story inspired him to write about a resourceful and very young immigrant girl who loses her mother just after they land in America looking for a new and better life like so many before her.

Sarah is told she cannot stay in the United States without her mother and must return to the country of her birth but jumps ship and hides out in the Statue of Liberty until she manages to escape to Manhattan to live in a rooming house with other colorful characters. Her tenacity and great will to survive and make a better live resonates throughout the book.

This book really brings home the poignancy of the struggle and great hardship immigrants had to endure to find their home in America.

In the back of the book are sources, and a timeline of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the United States Immigration Policy.

A good read written in a manner that will grab the attention of most young readers and give them a great starting point to begin reading more factual accounts of this period of time.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Sharenow, Robert

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: historical fiction

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: Choose Binding Type

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062227959

Price: 16.99

Upside Down Magic

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 26, 2015

Review

It's never easy when your magic goes wonky."

Children's authors, Sarah Mlynowski and Lauren Myracle, Emily Jenkins come together to write this first book with more to follow in this series.

And that is Nora's biggest problem because although she is suppose to be able to magically turn herself into a kitten she ends of becoming the blend of a dinosaur and kitten and that is why she can't get into an elite magic academy where her father is the unyielding headmaster so gets sent off to Dunwiddle Magic School.

She is not alone because, there, she meets Eliot, who instead of being able to shoot fire from his fingertips everything turns to ice and Andres, who is unable to stay earthbound but is always floating in the air or sitting on the ceiling and Bax who just turns into something very strange

Ms. Starr is a pleasantly unexpected teacher at DMS because she embraces the differences in the magic powers the children have and says,"Remember? We say different. Thinking about opposites is a great place to start understanding unusual magic."

But does Nory want to stay different or be, normal?"

Children will love this book whether they are reluctant readers or not. A book that is hard to put down as it is filled with warmth and humor.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Mylnowski, Sarah

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 4-6

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780545800457

Price: 14.99

Underneath Everything

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 26, 2015

Review

Debut novel, tells the story of four high school girls who are close friends. Mattie and dramatic Jolene are especially close friends and Mattie has the scar to show it in the palm of her hand when they became blood sisters earlier in their high school career.

The reader wonders if the relationship is about bisexuality, obsessiveness, true friendship or just the trials and tribulations of being teenagers.

Mattie and Kris dropped out of the social scene sophomore year but now that they are seniors they decide it is time join in and so they attend a senior party. There they find Jolene and her boyfriend, Hudson. Though Mattie has convinced herself she can ignore the lure of Jolene she is not so sure once she comes upon her at the party. She does know that she wants to reconnect with Hudson.

This novel is full of twists and turns and lots of drama and will fill a very important niche for teens. Not a word wasted as this book is dense with meaning and conflict.

Sex and alcohol is a focal point in this novel and so would recommend for older teens, only.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Marcy, Beller Paul

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Harper Collins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062327215

Price: 17.99

Finding Paris

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 26, 2015

Review

Leo and Paris Hollings are sisters who live in Las Vegas with their mother who is constantly on the move with one boyfriend after another. Paris and Leo regularly eat pie at their local favorite diner and are doing just that when, one day, Paris suddenly disappears. Paris has the car, all the money they have including Leo's college money that she has removed from the savings account.

Max, a stranger who Leo and Paris had struck up a conversation just prior to Paris' disappearance, over pie, notices that Leo has been left stranded at the diner. Max offers to help as he has a car, money and does not appear to be a "serial killer," and after reading a cryptic note from Paris they begin the search for her through Las Vegas all the way to California.

Stay calm, Leo.This is the only way. He's making me. You have to find me. Paris.

You need to leave this house, Leo. You need to find me. Now.

And they do.

Once the sister's reunite, Leo is forced to face something that has been happening in their home to both of them. As sisters who love one another they finally are able to face the truth.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Preble, Joy

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: HarperCollins

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: mystery,realistic fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780062321305

Price: 17.99

Salt & Stone

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 26, 2015

Review

In the prequel to the book, Fire and Flood, Tella Holloway must face a dangerous trek through a treacherous jungle and desert in order to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed so that she can obtain The Cure for her brother.

In the sequel Tella is back but this time must face the challenges of crossing an ocean and the bitter chill of a mountain and new and impossible rules in the race.

Each character in the race has a Pandora, spirit animal, who at one point must fight to the death in order for their masters to move on through the race.

Pandora: KD-8 Design Type : Fox, Small Scale Ability A: Replication Assigned Contender: Tella Holloway Code Color: Red

This book is full of tragedies, challenges and romance…fast paced and detailed.

Tella is a strong, smart and dependable character who is determined to continue to fight for The Cure as this saga continues in the next book in this series.

Young Adults who have read and enjoyed "The Hunger Games" and like titles will enjoy the series. This book can be read as a stand-alone but is more complete with the read of the first.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Scott, Victoria

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Scholastic

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780545537483

Price: 17.99

Show and Prove

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 29, 2015

Review

It's 1983 Bronx, New York in this urban lit novel, during the height of hip hop and tells the story of hispanic teens Smiles and Nike,

Smiles is a camp counselor who hopes to get the job of senior counselor at summer camp but loses the opportunity to Cookie Camacho. Smiles believes that that is because she is Puerto Rico and so begins a summer filled with rivalry between them.

b boy Nike falls for Sara a cute and sassy camp counselor and also has his eye on the big break dancing competition at the Roxy.

As the novel progresses Nike and Smiles though close begin to grow apart.

It's a tough neighborhood where Smiles and Nike live….gangs, drugs, HIV and violence but it is also a place where they are growing up and experience opportunities to learn and think about where their futures will lead them and along the way meet people who will influence that.

"If I had a dad who took a day off to take me to a game, you bet I'd go and I don't give a damn about baseball anymore." Poignant often.

I found this book to be true to the historical time it is set in and refreshing in its truth when using the slang of the hip hop era and the characters. It took careful study at times with this combination to grasp what was going on so there was a fair amount of rereading portions of the book.

The cover is eye-catching and will grab the eye of a teen. Teens who are interested in hip hop should be steered to this book as it is rich with that dance/music genre.

"I warm up with with a basic top into a corkscrew. I add a few quick shuffles, follow with some Zulu spins and then stand again."

Walter Dean Myers, a well-known author of urban lit is another writer teens should be referred to. Quintero is the author of another YA novel Efrain's Secret and has written several hip hop novels under the name Black Artemis.

Recommend for public and high school libraries

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Quintero, Sofia

Illustrator: ,

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780375847073

Price: 17.99

True Son

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 29, 2015

Review

Third volume in a fantasy trilogy tells the story of Taemon and Gevri as they each fight for their nation.

Taemon, is the only Nathanite alone who possesses the telekinetic power called psi and uses his power to convince his rivals, the Republikite Army to believe that all residents of Deliverance possess tk. This is so far what has become their best defense and protection from their enemy.

General Sarin has put his son, Gevri, in charge of a special archon unit, an awesome force that will rival well Taemon's kinetic power and is determined to avenge his people and end the long standing war between the two lands.

Each chapter is told in the voice of either Taemon or Gevri, who were once friends.

Though fantasy devotee's will have an easy job picking up the third book in this trilogy, others will find it hard to read as a stand-alone. This is a book rich with suspense and dedication to homeland. Good and complete character development.

Recommend for purchase.

Overall Book Score: very good

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About the Book

Author:

Krumwiede, Lana

Illustrator: ,

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Book Type: chapter book fiction

Genre: fantasy

Audience: grades 7-9,grades 10-12

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780763672621

Price: 15.99

This ORQ. (he say "ugh!")

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 29, 2015

Review

Second installment to the first Orq title. Orq is a cave boy and his best friend, a woolly mammoth, named Womma. Orq and Womma spend their days having as much fun as any little cave boy and woolly mammoth could have, though cave life is very tough.

Until one day Orq and Womma run into Dorq, a large and mean cave boy and his friend, Caba, an equally mean prehistoric animal and they do not play nice.

Orq catch lunch. Dorq eat lunch. Woma find egg. Caba take egg. Orq and Woma build fort. Dorq and Caba like fort.

Ugh!

In his anger and despair, Orq hits two rocks together and makes fire and scare Dorq and Caba off….suddenly Orq is everyone's hero and that night:

Warm cave. Night light. Bison burgers! YUM!

A charming and humorous book chock full of big endearing personalities. As mean as Dorq and Caba, children will easily see that they are just buffoons. The drawings are earthy and the lettering is large and expressive.

Fun challenge at the beginning of this book filled with turtles is to count how many there are and the answer is at the end of the book.

A children's book about a cave boy is rare. Recommend purchase.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Elliot, David

Illustrator: Nichols, Lori

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Boyd's Mills Press

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9781620917893

Price: 16.95

A Bear's Year

Reviewed by: Sally Holt - Raymond Village Library, Raymond, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: December 29, 2015

Review

Cream.

Sweet and charmingly, warm illustrations tell the lyrical story of Mama Bear nurturing her children from birth through the seasons. As the baby bears grow and learns about each season so does a child as his/her loving parents read to him/her. Earthy and crayon with clear, readable print will be a "reach for" story book on a regular basis.

A cozy dreamer in her lair cuddles newborn babies near

and as they travel through their daily bear lives

Summer Bear treats her cubs to juicy berries, tasty grubs.

Til finally

First snow falls. Bears stay warm, nestled close in Earth's safe arms.

A must purchase for a library.

Overall Book Score: excellent

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About the Book

Author:

Duval, Kathy

Illustrator: Turley, Gerry

Illustration Quality: excellent

Publisher: Schwartz and Wade Books

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool,grades k-3

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: excellent

ISBN: 9780385369993

Price: 17.99