The next scientist by Kate Messner, illustrated by Julia Kuo

Waaaay back in 2020 I enjoyed reading Kate Messner's The Next President, but I didn't see an audience for it. Jump forwards to 2024, and Messner has written a similar title this time featuring scientists - and I definitely DO see an audience for this one!

Kuo has illustrated other nonfiction titles and her clean, sharp lines and strong colors are the perfect fit for Messner's crisp, poetic text. Together they present a musing on the past, present, and future of science. They have a much wider field for choosing diverse subjects and they use it fully, featuring trios and quartets of people who have made great strides in scientific thought, inventions, and more. Messner puts together characters that don't seem to have anything in common; Isaac Newton, Lonnie Johnson, and Valerie Thomas start the story. Then she skillfully shows how all three of them were interested in making and tinkering as children and how that led to their future careers and discoveries. Some well-known names are included, but the book mostly focuses on lesser-known people, especially women and people of color, in the scientific world showing how everyday interests and traits as children led to their future success.

The final section shows a a large number of child scientists reading books in the library and is followed by pages imagining where current children will take us in the future, exploring, learning, building, and creating a better world. Back matter includes detailed information on the scientists profiled in the library spread, further reading about the various scientists, sources, and, on the final page, a list of some scientists' favorite reading materials from Isaac Newton (The Mysteryes of Nature and Art by John Bate) to Sally Ride (Nancy Drew).

Verdict: An inspiring and informative book, perfect for sparking young readers' interest about science and history. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781452176963; Hardcover/Picture book on Baker & Taylor for $11.19

Published August 2024 by Chronicle

Carla's glasses by Debbie Herman; illustrated by Sheila Bailey

 This is a companion to a picture book released in 2004, Carla's Sandwich. I don't think I ever read that title and there's only one copy in my whole consortium. However, this new book stands well on its own.

Carla, a bouncy young girl with blonde pigtails and a missing front tooth, likes to stand out and is excited about possibly getting classes when her class goes for vision-screening. She prepares by trying out different glasses styles, much to the astonishment of Buster, her shyer friend. After their exam, both are glum - Carla because she doesn't need glasses and Buster because he does! Carla is happy for her friend though, until he explains that, while he knows she likes to stand out, he doesn't like everyone looking at him, although he's not worried about being teased. He just doesn't like extra attention. But Carla has a clever plan for the whole class to enjoy glasses and to make Buster feel better.

The illustrations are a little blurry and the kids' mouths especially have a slightly odd perspective. I've also noticed that the glossy paper Flashlight Press uses seems to tend towards books that fall apart easily. These minor quibbles aside, as well as my perpetual complaint about unrealistic class sizes (15 is better than the usual 10 I guess) this is a fun and relatable story. Carla is a much nicer kid than class clowns usually are, able to see others' perspectives and how they might not enjoy the same things, and her idea is very clever and fun.

Verdict: I wouldn't recommend this so much for kids getting glasses - it's generally not a big deal and I never heard of any modern kids being teased for it (although the cost of frames makes me wince at Carla's carefree fiddling with them at the shop) but this is a nice story about different personalities being friends. Pair it with A home for every bird.

ISBN: 9781947277717; Hardcover/Picture book on Baker & Taylor for $10.61

Published September 2024 by Flashlight Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

This rock is mine! by Kaye Umansky, illustrated by Alice McKinley

 I was always sad that I couldn't get more kids to love Kaye Umansky's Clover Twig books as much as I did, but I think she's much more familiar to readers in the UK. Anyways, when I saw this picture book I knew I had to try it!

Colorful greens, blues, and purples introduce readers to a lanky green frog with a red bathing suit and fishing pole, relaxing on a rock. Not just any rock, this is THEIR rock! But then they hear snoring and discover a light green frog in a yellow-striped bathing suit. Frog no. 1 angrily wakes them up and proclaims, in rhyme, their ownership of the rock.

The two quarrel, demonstrating their ownership of the rock, waving their possessions around, and generally cause a ruckus... which attracts the attention of a hungry heron nearby. The two quickly forget their fight in the imminent danger of the bird and they help each other escape and find a new, smaller rock that's just right for both of them!

I'm not usually a fan of rhyming picture books, but the bouncing rhythm, cheerful pictures, and cheeky humor of the bug-eat-bug world in the background of the story make this a new favorite of mine. It's sure to be a hit at storytime and will be a great choice for frog or sharing storytimes. I also appreciate the hint of realism in showing various creatures on the menu, although they all safely escape.

Verdict: A surefire storytime favorite and must-have for most libraries. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781682637463; Hardcover/picture book on Baker & Taylor for $10.63

Published October 2024 by Peachtree; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

This week at the library

Programs

• Paws to Read
• Family Storytime
• Daycare/4K outreach
• Teen engagement
• Family Storytime
• Project Explore

Self-Directed Activities

• Pokemon Hangout

Meetings, Hosted events, etc.

• Job shadow from high school
• Girl Scouts
• Managers' meeting
• Homeschool group meeting

Notes

• Still tired. Stuff happened. On to next week.

Monster Locker by Jorge Aguirre and Andres Vera Martinez

 Wow. It's hard to know where to begin to review this book - it's just that amazing. So, quick summary first I guess.

It's not a good start to the new school year when Pablo's abuela drags him out of bed to save their nonexistent goats. Once he remembers he's in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, he realizes that doesn't make things any better - his sister is insisting he learn to waltz for her quinceanera, his parents won't get him a phone, he runs into a weird new kid, and he's still unpopular at school, due to... the incident. Oh, and he's gotten stuck with a haunted locker in the haunted basement.

Pablo's plan is to lie low and just make it through middle school, but it's getting harder and harder to do that as things just keep happening! When an inky black monster named Obie pops out of his locker and offers to help him summon monsters from mythology to solve his problems, he's hardly even surprised. He is surprised and overjoyed when he finds a phone in his locker - his parents finally got him a phone!? Nope, turns out it's a trick and the next thing he knows Pablo has summoned Coatlicue and she is NOT happy. She's decided it's time for all the ungrateful humans to pay for what they've done, starting with Pablo's middle school, the firefighters who show up (his mom gets transformed into an armadillo), and everyone she can get her stone jaguar claws on.

Readers are in for a wild ride, as one moment Pablo is debating the merits of tacos with his new friends, and the next minute he's using D&D rules to try and plan a strategy for saving his hometown. There's a sharp reality to the story, despite the mythical monsters, as the students deal with racism and hostility in their own ways and Pablo finds a way to honor his heritage and still be himself. At the same time, the story never takes itself too seriously, with Pablo's hilarious interactions with his abuela (where has she even been keeping those bones!?) and his determination to save his new friends, his family, but maybe not the bullies... Every kid is a unique character, showing all the drama, awkwardness, and struggle of middle schoolers, from Pablo's former best friend, who falls back on threatening to call I.C.E. on the Hispanic kids, to his new friend Maggie who has declared war on all technology because she's tired of dealing with the girls' group chat.

Verdict: For a story about ancient mythical beings returning to unmake the world, this is real, funny, and hits home in all the right ways. I've been looking for books that center Hispanic experience in the Midwest for a long time and never expected to find the perfect book in a fantasy graphic novel starring a nerdy short kid and a bloodthirsty goddess. Aguirre hits every point for the classic middle grade audience and I highly recommend this for all public and school libraries.

ISBN: 9781250749734; Paperback on Baker & Taylor for $9.44

Published October 2024 by First Second; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Jump in the leaf pile by Kelly Green, illustrated by Kasia Nowowiejska

 I would just like to preface this by saying that the ubiquity of leaf blowers, which I abhor, has almost completely obliterated the seasonal and sentimental pastime of jumping in piles of leaves, not to mention destroying peace, pollinators, and nutrients for the soil. Ahem.

This novelty board book has loose sliders in the four main pages that make it look as if leaves are "falling" out of the picture. The rhymes emphasize colors and movement, encouraging readers to scrape, rake, tip, and blow the leaf piles.

There are four pages with a slider and while they are loose, it does take some tapping and shaking of the book to get them to come out. When you do, they all tend to come out at once. The book itself does not feel very sturdy, with a thin cardboard cover holding the four thicker boards in place.

The art is cheerful and colorful, showing a diverse range of children playing outdoors in the leaves. The cover picture shown doesn't accurately show the way the sliders work - they all slide out horizontally on the right, so when they're all out it they're stacked on top of each other, not in a fan pattern.

Verdict: I think this will be popular, appealing to adults' nostalgia about leaves, and might, possibly, inspire some kids to try to keep leaves around a little longer. Although the book is flimsy, it's inexpensive and in areas with four seasons it's worth purchasing several copies even if they don't last long.

ISBN: 9781665962056; Board book on Baker & Taylor for $5.66

Published September 2024 by Little Simon; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

We're off to the forest by Katarina Macurova

 I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to read and review more translated and overseas titles, via Publisher's Spotlight, over the past few years and it's been very interesting to experience other styles. One of the things I really like about a lot of European picture books is their nature-centric, peaceful themes and this latest title from Katarina Macurova is no exception.

The story begins with two plump orange squirrels, Dad and a child, setting out into the woods. The child squirrel narrates the story in simple sentences, explaining that they are making a familiar trip to see an acorn they buried last autumn. They talk casually about how they love acorns, the other animals who eat them, and how there are fewer every year. As the two travel through the woods, there is a rich forest life to watch all around them.

Birds flit about and watch them, other squirrels zip up and down the trees, and woodland animals, from bugs to bears, enjoy acorns in their own way. There are colorful leaves falling, rotting logs providing homes to animals, berries and fungi, and a delightful variety of plants. Finally, the two arrive at the largest oak in the woods, from the branches of which they can see their buried acorn, which has sprouted!

They water and care for it and the small squirrel imagines coming back the next day and the next - and finally seeing it grow into a giant tree with acorns for everyone.

There's no explicit lesson or dramatic plot twist, just the quiet enjoyment of two creatures in the woods and the gentle hope for the future. This is a very different style from most American picture books, which tend to have a very specific narrative style, but it's one I find refreshing and peaceful.

Verdict: It might take a little while for storytime audiences to adapt to this different style, but it's a lovely book to accompany outdoor expeditions or storytimes about forests, acorns, or the fall season.

ISBN: 9788000072890; Hardcover on Baker & Taylor for $10.05

Published November 2024 by Albatros Media; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

This week at the library

Programs

• Itty Bitty Bopping Bakers
• Paws to Read
• Family Storytime
• 4K outreach storytimes
• After school outreach
• Youth D&D
• Family Storytime
• Project Explore

Self-Directed Activities

• Favorite character election activity
• Dinosaur scavenger hunt

Meetings, hosted events, etc.

• Youth Services planning meeting

Notes

• Several of our staff went to WLA, so there were desk shifts to cover and some rearrangements in the schedule. The school referendum did not pass, so I am anticipating a lot of changes next year depending on what happens with the school district, especially regarding my school colleague who does programs at the library. I'm too tired and sad to really say anything else at this point.

Rafa and the wrong legs by Angie Lucas and Ana Sanfelippo

 There are definitely picture books about kids getting lost, but this new book is the best I've seen, spot-on and realistic, as well as a good story.

Rafa, short for Rafael, promises Mama to stay close if he gets out of the cart. For a while, he does, clinging tightly to her legs with easy to follow blue pants with big white polka-dots. But when he chases down and picks up a berry that falls off a display, he goes to show Mama... and it's the wrong pair of legs!

Rafa panics and runs through the produce section, until he finally finds Mama, but it's the wrong pair of legs again! Finally, he hears the loudspeaker talking about the bakery and remembers getting cookie samples there. So he wipes away his tears, finds the person handing out cookie samples, and asks him to use his walkie-talkie to find Mama. Finally, the right pair of legs arrive! Another child loses their mom at the same time, but all are reunited and it's a happy ending.

There's a short afterword with discussion questions for making sure kids know what to do if they get lost or separated. The author also has an online activity kit to help kids memorize their phone number.

There are some assumptions here, not exactly stereotypes, but close. Many kids don't have a stable adult in their life, let alone a phone number that stays the same. There's also the assumption that the families are shopping at the same (big) store regularly. However, it's reasonable to assume that if a kid's family has the time and bandwidth to read aloud to them and discuss what to do if they get lost, they have enough stability to have said information to pass on to the kids.

The art is friendly and shows a diverse group of people, body types, and fashion choices, mostly from the legs down of course, wandering about the store.

Verdict: A unique and must-have addition to most library collections, this would be something I'd use in a safety-themed storytime, recommend to kids learning basic safety, or even use when covering life skills and critical thinking with older kids - it's funny but relatable. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781958325223; Hardcover/picture book on Baker & Taylor for $18.04

Published September 2024 by Marble Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

All Aboard! Planes by Radka Piro and Diarmuid O Cathain

 This is a really fun exploration of planes and how they work. Karl the kiwi, a pink pear-shaped bird, looks sadly at the other birds and wishes he could fly. Then he gets the idea to go to the library and starts learning about aerodynamics. Blocks of text walk readers through the forces that keep planes in the air and moving, what training pilots need, and how airports work. There's also a quick section on historical planes, the effect of weather conditions, other flying machines, and what the future might hold. The book ends with a spread showing the cockpit of a plane and an invitation to "fly" the plane.

The pages are thin cardboard, but this is not by any means a traditional board book. The chunks of text make this something to share one-on-one with a child interested in the science of flight or for a fluent reader to browse through on their own, not something I'd use in a storytime.

Verdict: This book does a great job of explaining complicated concepts simply and the addition of the kiwi makes it fun without being too childish. A strong addition to collections of vehicles, I will be looking for other books in this series to add.

ISBN: 9788000070995; Hardcover/Picture book on Baker & Taylor for $14.20

Published August 2024 by Albatros Media; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Guess what it is: Shadow Play and Hide and Seek in Nature by Helena Harastova and Serafima Kosikava, translated by Andrew Oakland

 This is an interesting set of guessing game titles, using strategically placed cut-outs to encourage kids to guess the answer to various natural objects.

Hide and Seek in Nature features animals and plants. Each spread follows the same layout. On the left, a page with a solid background color has a simple sentence or two around a cut-out showing part of an image to identify. For example, "It seems like we're deep in the jungle... Who can that be, grinning at us?" On the right, there are four options to identify the image seen through the cut-outs with a question for each object like "Are they monkeys?" The left page folds out to reveal the answer to the riddle, showing the plant or animal in context and giving a few simple facts about it.

Some of the answers can be narrowed down by very close examination, or by looking at the slice of image not hidden by the fold-out page, but it's not possible to choose a single definite answer as no clues are given and multiple images are identical to the cut-out image.

In Shadow Play it's equally difficult to guess the image that matches the shadow seen through the cut-out page, especially as some of the "correct" answers show shadows that don't actually match the item they outline. They're also shown sideways or upside-down.

Both books have thin, cardboard pages and would technically be classified as board books, although they are very different from the traditional board book. I, personally, being someone who likes there to be one correct answer, found these exasperating and frustrating. I think a certain number of children will agree with me. However, I also think there's value in having books that make you think and ponder and realize that sometimes there just isn't one correct answer!

Verdict: These won't be for every kid, but they will be fun to spark discussion about perspectives as well as inspiring kids to observe nature.

Hide and Seek in Nature ISBN: 9788000072883; Hardcover on Baker & Taylor for $11.96

Shadow Play ISBN: 9788000072876; Hardcover on Baker & Taylor for $14.20

Published November 2024 by Albatros Media; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

This week at the library

Programs

• Teen homeschool hangout
• Homeschool hangout
• Family Storytime
• Teen After Hours: Beast Edition
• Lakeland School visit
• Family Storytime
• STEM Challenge: Slime

Self-directed activities

• Favorite character election activity

Meetings, hosted events, etc.

• D&D registration opens
• Baker & Taylor facility tour
• Girl Scouts
• UR Action Trunk or Treat
• Managers' Meeting

Notes

• It was a very full week, ending with the last gardening projects on Saturday. I am too tired to go into details, but the Trunk or Treat went really well and I am not going to combine it with slime again next year.

Hello, I'm a pangolin by Hayley and John Rocco

 This title is part of a new series, "Meet the wild things" which profiles different animals. The first couple titles caught my attention immediately and I purchased Hello, I'm a Quokka while requesting this title for review. I have plenty of patrons - kids and adults - who are interested in pangolins and it's not an animal you usually see in picture books.

The pangolin narrates the story, speaking directly to the reader, and explaining facts about pangolins. Rocco's lush illustrations are placed against plain colored backgrounds or simple settings and are realistic but humorous.

The pangolin compares itself to an anteater, armadillo, and artichoke (with googly eyes) and then we look directly into its face. Readers see the pangolin curled up in its burrow, slurping out ants, and a close-up of its scales (which readers are invited to count). A brown hand is shown with the pangolin to illustrate the similarity between its scales and a human's fingernails. There's also a narrative feel, as the pangolin explains its defensive strategy while looking nervously around and then curling into an impenetrable ball, much to the annoyance of a hungry lioness who arrives on the scene and is scared off with a "swish" of the pangolin's tail.

The book gets more in-depth and serious after this point, showing a map of pangolins around the globe and explaining threats to them, from a dark figure in a night scene grabbing a pangolin to a man seen from the back filling bags of scales. A white female is next shown tracking a pangolin in the wild and then teaching a group of kids with various skin colors about pangolins.

Back matter includes a lengthier description of and facts about pangolins and some web links of organizations working to protect pangolins. There is also a note about the authors and a list of acknowledgements of experts consulted.

Verdict: This is a great nonfiction read-aloud. It has the cadences of a story, but smoothly weaves in facts about pangolins. The sections on conservation may be too long for a very young audience, but can easily be skipped and the text cut shorter as needed. In addition to the titles currently available, new titles are planned to be released next year and they will be a necessary purchase for most library collections. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780593618158; Reinforced/Picture book on Baker & Taylor for $13.59

Published June 2024 by Putnam Pub; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library