Time for some changes

i just happened to have a picture of flamingos

 As you may have noticed, things look a little different. I'm revamping and consolidating my blogs going forward. I'll be doing less reviewing and more library-related resources and posts as well as clearing older reviews out to my Flying Off My Bookshelf blog if they're no longer in print or relevant. 

The tiny woman’s coat by Joy Cowley and Giselle Clarkson

New Zealand author Cowley, best known for her Mrs. Wishy-Washy picture books, originally published this gently repetitive story in 1996 with illustrations by Elizabeth Fuller. Gecko Press has brought a new edition, illustrated by Giselle Clarkson, to a new audience and it is as fresh and charming as when it was originally published.

The tiny woman, shown with white skin and a wild brush of tangled red curls, is looking for a winter coat. One by one, animals and plants share their bounty with her, sandwiched between the repeated refrain, “The tiny woman wanted a coat.” and her questions as to where she will find buttons, lining, and the other parts. As each piece is donated, a comforting rhythm is established, with the leaves going “rustle, rustle, rustle” the porcupines quills, “sharp, sharp, sharp” and so on.

Finally, her coat complete and sheltered by a mushroom umbrella, the tiny woman joins a parade of animals dashing to shelter through a storm and smiles cheerfully at the readers on the last page, her arms full of blackberries, as she stays warm all autumn.

Verdict: This is the best kind of cozy, old-fashioned story with a rhythm and refrain to draw young children in and charming pictures to take them to the satisfying conclusion. Sure to be a storytime favorite.

ISBN: 9781776573424; This edition published October 2021; Purchased personally and donated to the library

The barn by Leah H. Rogers, illustrated by Barry Root

Root’s lush watercolors accompany debut author Roger’s peaceful story of an old-fashioned barn. Each spread is features a litany of poetic text, starting with the refrain “I am a barn” and going on to describe the animals, inside and out, who call the barn and its environs home. All the familiar aspects of classic Americana are here, from the black and white cows in straw-filled wooden stalls to the swallows overhead and the coyotes lurking in the brush.

There’s nothing ground-breaking about this story, and the somewhat lengthy text makes it less than ideal for a storytime, but for patient listeners it would be a lovely bedtime story. Its main appeal is to those who are nostalgic about the agricultural past, so audiences in farming communities or those that prefer lengthier picture books with a “classic” feel to them are most likely to enjoy this.

Verdict: While this is an additional purchase for most libraries, communities like mine that include a large audience for farm nostalgia will delight in this gentle, sleepy story and the slow cadence of the text will send some little ones off to dreamland.

ISBN: 9781536209068; Published November 2021 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by published; Donated to the library

Off-Limits by Helen Yoon

This hilarious picture book follows the adventures of a mischievous little child who starts out just by looking… but can’t resist temptation.

The story begins with Daddy, leaving an “off-limits” sign on his office as he wanders off with the dog for a coffee refill. A wide-eyed little girl pokes her head in and the fun begins. Naturally, she’s just looking. Just looking! But then she borrows one teensy piece of tape and… things… escalate. Soon she’s spinning in patterned circles of sticky notes, bedecked with paperclip jewelry, and dancing in a sea of cut paper. A sudden realization sends her sneaking back to her own room, where a surprise awaits… she’s not the only person who’s been getting into something that doesn’t belong to her!

The story ends with a cozy tea party with the little girl in a paper crown and daddy and the dog in matching glittery tutus. While parents who are desperately trying to keep kids out of their cobbled-together home offices may not appreciate this, it’s a light-hearted look at getting carried away by one’s imagination and the guilty pleasure of playing with office supplies with a tip of the hat to grown-ups having fun pretending too.

Verdict: A fun addition to storytime or one-on-one reading, this would also make a hilarious writing or STEM prompt to get kids thinking about repurposing office supplies or other materials or to show them that everyone enjoys a good bout of imaginative play.

ISBN: 9781536207316; Published November 2021 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

How to find a fox by Kate Gardner, photographs by Ossi Saarinen

Fox fans will adore this new photo study of these charming animals. Gardner’s text for reading aloud is composed of simple, short sentences that tag onto the title, inviting readers to look around the natural world for a fox. Longer paragraphs in a smaller font add more information about the lives and habits of these animals with explanations of where and when you’ll see them. Do foxes hibernate? What do they look like? Where do they den? All these questions are answered.

The text is secondary to the lush photographs showing foxes playing in a field, peering out from a den, or wandering through the city. There are other animals and landscapes pictured as well, the golds of a fall scene, a sleek otter, and a v of geese flying across the sky.

Verdict: While the text is not particularly memorable, the photographs are eye-catching and this would be a great choice for a classroom text or small storytime group that can pore over every detail. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780762471355; Published September 2021 by Running Press; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

This week at the library

Programs

• Paws to Read
• Pokemon Club
• Family Storytime
• Art workshop (after school outreach)
• Lapsit
• Art workshop (after school outreach)
• Holiday cookie party

We also had a Friends meeting, where we showed a thank-you video and end of year report, management meeting (first with our tech services librarian back from leave), and the city holiday lunch. No more programs for a few weeks now!

Klawde: Evil alien warlord cat and Enemies by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

[Originally published April 2019]

The story opens with the redoubtable tyrant, General Wyss-Kuzz, betrayed and sentenced to exile in a terrifying alien world... otherwise known as earth, specifically Elba, Oregon. He's not the only exile, although he's certainly the most outraged; Raj has been forced to move from his cool apartment in New York, his best friends, and handy pizza and comics. To add insult to injury, his parents sign him up for wilderness survival camp! On the bright side, he's just found a stray cat. That... can talk?

The chapters alternate between Wyss-Kuzz (or Klawde, as he is now known) and Raj. Klawde has many outraged pronouncements on the indignities visited upon him by the strange troll-creatures of earth, details his attempts to raise an army, and reluctantly admits his growing admiration for Raj. Ok, maybe "tolerance" is a better word. Raj, meanwhile, is exuberantly fond of his first-ever pet, and hopeful about the possibilities of making friends, although the weirder the camp counselor and other kids he meets get, the more nervous he is about survival night - especially since he's not sure he will survive!

The second title, Enemies, increases the parallels between Klawde and Raj. Klawde, betrayed by, well, he doesn't have friends so let's say a general previously thought to be loyal, and Raj, already unbalanced by attending a new school and now forced to meet an old "friend" who he had a huge fight with before leaving New York, are both off their game. Klawde works hard to battle an old enemy, recruit new soldiers and maintain their loyalty, and uphold the great traditions of his planet. Raj, on the other hand, alternates between anger and humiliation at his erstwhile friend's behavior and finally, just when he's decided to take the high ground and resist showing up his friend, Klawde plays an unexpected role. Both Raj and Klawde have unexpected, if not entirely happy, endings and the stage is set for another wacky adventure.

Spot illustrations in shades of blue and black show a scruffy, decidedly un-fluffy cat, the hapless Raj, and his motley crew of friends and enemies and they scramble their way through their adventures. It's not a beginning chapter book per say, more of a lower middle grade title. It will appeal to fluent readers in 2nd grade up to about 5th or 6th grade. Yes, the kids are in middle school but it's really written for a younger audience.

Verdict: This will appeal to readers who like Captain Underpants and Wimpy Kid-style humor, although Raj is a much nicer character and shows moral growth despite his somewhat difficult situations. Readers will need a fairly high tolerance for goofiness of the "Planet Lyttyrboks" style of humor. Hand this to readers who like Binky the space cat and Dragonbreath.

Revisited: The sixth book in the series came out in August 2021. It's not as popular as, say, Captain Underpants or Max Brallier's Last kids on earth, but every kid I've given it to has liked it.

Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat
ISBN: 9781524787202
Klawde: Enemies
ISBN: 9781524787226

Published February 2019 by Penguin Workshop; Review copies provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Hamster Holmes: A Mystery Comes Knocking by Albin Sadar, illustrated by Valerio Fabbretti

[Originally published December 2015]

I bought this series for myself. I admit it. I mean, a hamster! Dressed as Sherlock Holmes! I had to have it. Ahem.

Hamster Holmes and his friend, firefly Dr. Watt (he communicates in Morse code) are settled cozily down one evening when their friend Corny O'Squirrel shows up with a mystery. Someone keeps knocking on his door...but there's nobody there! Hamster Holmes and Dr. Watt think over the problem and then try several methods until they have enough clues to come up with a solution to the mystery. Soon there's warm milk and new friends all around and Hamster Holmes is ready for his next mystery.

The pictures are cute and cozy, showing a plump-cheeked and smiling hamster zipping about his investigation with lots of furry animals and several amusing details; a hamster water bottle and hamster wheel in the park, There is a weird pink streak on two pages, which I think must be a printing error (my kids have been known to destroy books quite rapidly, but not that soon).

Ready-to-Read's level two is quite advanced and will need a fairly experienced beginning reader - one not quite ready for chapters, but getting close. The story contains short chapters, longer sentences, and some more complex vocabulary.

Verdict: Most kids are unlikely to get the Holmes references, but they will appreciate the funny details and enjoy the simple mystery. This is the age when kids start getting into mysteries and this is a good beginning mystery for them to start on.

[This series has seen a comeback this year when I am struggling to find enough low-level reading materials for older readers - especially mysteries at all levels.]

ISBN: 9781481420372; Published 2015 by Simon Spotlight/Simon & Schuster; Purchased for the library

Maybe… By Chris Haughton

Haughton’s splashy, hot colors and jagged, cut-paper style show up in another quirky story. This title features a trio of mischievous, dark blue monkeys, who have been warned not to climb down to the mango tree because there are tigers below.

But maybe… they could reach that little one? Or just go a little way? Or run quickly and grab a few mangoes…

Naturally, disaster ensues as the shadowy tigers lurking in the background suddenly pounce and the monkeys barely make it back to their tree. The big monkey returns, congratulating them on staying safe from all the tigers. There are so many tigers they can’t even go to the banana tree! Hmmm, bananas? Maybe….

Haughton’s style has never been a personal favorite of mine, but his quirky and intriguing stories usually grab me anyways, some of my favorites being Oh No, George! and Don’t Worry Little Crab. This latest one didn’t click with me the first time I read it, but the more I pored over it, and once I put it into context of my storytime audience which is slightly older (kindergarten – 1st grade) I can definitely see the appeal. The subtleties of the art and story will fly over the head of most younger listeners, but I can easily see a delighted chorus of noooooo, don’t climb down the tree! Echoing back as the unobservant monkeys get closer and closer to the lurking tigers.

Verdict: A strong purchase where there are already fans of Haughton’s work or older audiences for storytime.

ISBN: 9781536220247; Published September 2021 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Nano: The spectactular science of the very (very) small by Dr. Jess Wade, illustrated by Melissa Castrillon

I love Candlewick’s nonfiction picture books (although I wish there was a way to get a list and know when new titles came out!). They present a range of concepts in simple terms from animals to science, and include back matter, sometimes a glossary, and a brief index.

This one is about nanoscience and starts with an explanation of atoms and how they make up, well, everything. Then Dr. Wade begins to describe things made from elements like graphene and other nanomaterials. She explains advances in science and technology and some of the amazing inventions and ideas scientists are studying today.

Castrillon’s art is defined by bright reds and blues, featuring a blue-haired, white-skinned child. Delicate lines, graphs, and and wider images emphasize the tiny details in everything through the lines and style of the pictures, which were created in colored pencil.

Verdict: Although a lot of science books for very young children have come out in the past few years, this one that they can actually understand; it would make a great classroom choice or read-aloud for 1st grade and up and get them inspired to explore science experiments and think about the world around them.

ISBN: 9781536217667; Published September 2021 by Candlewick; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

This week at the library

My paperwhites have bloomed

Programs

• Paws to Read
• Family Storytime
• Teen DIY maker workshop
• Lapsit

I'm finishing the last bits of budget etc. from this year and planning next year. I need to have the Jan-May newsletter out soon.

Partly Cloudy by Tanita S. Davis

I picked this up because I had seen an interview with Davis talking about adultification bias and how she wanted to publish a book that had a more innocent character, while still being realistic.

She definitely met that goal and I ended up becoming immersed in the book and I can see it being a popular choice at my library and schools.

Madalyn has had a rough transition to middle school. Her dog died, her best friend moved, her father lost his job, her mom works long hours, and finally a kid brought a gun to school. But her mom has a plan for 7th grade - have Madalyn transferred to a smaller, better school where she’ll feel safe.

There’s just one problem: That school doesn’t exist in their district. Madalyn will have to spend most of the week with her great-uncle, Papa Lobo, and go to a school where she’s the only Black girl in her class.

Madalyn deals with loneliness and microaggressions, struggling to navigate new friendships with other girls. She watches how Papa Lobo interacts with his racist elderly neighbor and makes some tough decisions about her own choices and friendships.

The events of the story, culminating in evacuation due to wildfires and a confrontation with the girl Madalyn had hoped would be her friend, are realistic and readers will feel Madalyn’s fear and discomfort at having hard conversations. However, the book keeps its innocent, middle grade feel. Madalyn isn’t really interested in romance, she’s more concerned with friendship worries, navigating a new school, and what will happen with her dad’s job. I have a lot of readers who can handle the length of a longer chapter book, but are more sensitive and not ready for more mature content.

Verdict: This would make a great classroom read and is just the book I want to hand to my middle grade readers whose parents don’t want more intense content. The setting of Southern CA and the crossover of New Orleans culture will be an added interest for my Midwest audience.

ISBN: 9780062937001; Published September 2021 by Katherine Tegen Books; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Bea Garcia: Tale of a Scaredy Dog by Deborah Zemke

[Originally published October 2018]

Bea Garcia is back in her third book. By now, readers will know that she is in second grade, loves to draw, is sort-of friends with super-smart Judith Einstein and definite enemies with next-door-neighbor Bert.

In her latest run-in with Bert, Bea and Bert are supposed to interview each other for class. Bea just writes "GRRRR" for all his answers and Bert scribbles untrue things about her, so she crumples up the paper. This gets the two of them in trouble - they have to interview each other's families over the weekend. Bert's mom isn't bad, but it turns out that Bert does have a pet... Big Kitty! And Bea's pet dog Sophie, is so scared that she runs away, chased by that mean cat!

Bea is miserable, especially when they find Bert's pet but not hers. But with some help from her friends and family, maybe Sophie will come home after all.

This is a notebook novel for younger readers; 1st-2nd graders are the ideal audience. Zemke's scratchy black and white pictures decorate each page, sometimes taking over a whole spread, sometimes confined in individual panels. Bea is a relatable character; she loves to draw, Spanish phrases and words are sprinkled into the text, she finds her little brother Pablo annoying but still loves him anyways.

As an adult, I find Bert's mean behavior bordering on bullying and the clueless adults, who keep trying to push them together, a little annoying. Yes, sometimes Bea is not as nice as she might be to Bert, but he is really nasty to her! Her parents aren't particularly sympathetic either, trying to make her be "nice" to a kid who's basically pretty nasty. I'd separate them completely instead of trying to make them work together, but I'm not a teacher or a parent.

Verdict: This is a popular series in my library, especially for kids who would like to read popular notebook novels but aren't quite old enough yet. I also appreciate the inclusion of a Latina character.

Revisited: This has seen a renaissance this year as I am scrambling to find a lot of lower-level books for older readers and several kids in 3rd grade have gotten into this one.

ISBN: 9780735229389; Published July 2018 by Dial; Review copy provided by the publisher; Purchased for the library

Small Readers: Please, no more nuts! By Jonathan Fenske

[Originally published February 2018]

The sequel to the hilarious and manic We need more nuts! does not disappoint. The nut fanatic has changed. In her first book, she was going nuts for nuts! She stuffed them in her friend's cheeks! She counted them exuberantly! But no more. Now they are sick of nuts. Sick, sick, sick! But how can they get rid of them? They’ve already eaten so many that they’re looking a bit green! Maybe...you would like some nuts? PLEASE TAKE THE NUTS!

The manic tone continues, but this time flips the plot on its head as the squirrels illustrate just what happens when you have too much of a good thing. Readers will giggle hysterically as they bounce through the rhymes of the sick-of-nuts narrator and her companion and their pleas for someone, anyone, to take those nuts away!

This book is a guided reading level H, which is an intermediate level for readers who have grasped the basics and can tackle more complex sentences and words. The sentences are still short and easy, but include words like “queasy”, “chubby”, and “storage.” Readers who have reached this point will be able to divide their attention between the words and pictures, and follow along on the visual jokes as well.

The wacky cartoons vary from full-page art to comic panels. The backgrounds and speech bubbles have contrasting colors, mint green, pale yellow and blue, and white. Fenske employs speech bubbles, thought bubbles, flash backs, and of course lots of exaggeration and hyperbole.

Verdict: Fenske’s early readers have been hits both for my patrons and in book club and this is a worthy sequel to Cybils finalist We need more nuts! Highly recommended.

Revisited: Fenske has created many more funny and popular books for the beginning reader set but this is still a classic I love to recommend.

ISBN: 9780515159660; Published 2018 by Penguin; Review copy provided by publisher and donated to the library; Purchased for the library

I want ice cream! by Elisabetta Pica, illustrated by Silvia Borando

 The simple title sentence, presented in a number of different ways, and combined with Borando's scribbled figure, takes the reader through all the emotions of childhood.

Colorful scoops of ice cream in triangular black and white cones decorate the end pages, while the title page shows an ice cream cart with a delicious sampling of green, yellow, and pink ice cream cones. Cue the unnamed child on the cover, shown wearing a white square with a scribble of curls. "Ice cream!!!" they say. The adult, shown only as a pair of black pants and the outline of shirt, shoes, and hand, replies "No." As the child goes through a gamut of emotions, the right page flares into hopeful yellows, jealous greens, sad blues, and raging reds, each reflected on the child's shirt/dress. Finally, after shifting through a rainbow of emotions, the child walks off with the adult, reflecting "Maybe we'll have ice cream tomorrow."

When I think of Silvia Borando, I always think of Minibombo books, a quirky, unique series of books that combine simple illustrations with thought-provoking ideas for young children. This team-up is no exception and Pica and Borando have created a deceptively simple book that takes readers through a gamut of emotions, with a somewhat ambiguous ending, and encourages them to think as well as giggle.

Verdict: An excellent choice for storytime and most library collections.

ISBN: 9780593382653; Published June 2021 by Rise X Penguin Workshop; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Beaver and otter get along… sort of: A story of grit and patience between neighbors by Sneed B. Collard III, illustrated by Meg Sodano

A mildly anthropomorphized beaver wanders into a valley and starts changing his environment immediately. As he builds a dam, is joined by other beavers and starts a family, and works throughout the seasons, other animals begin to gather - including otters.

The otters are not friends, but they’re not enemies either. They benefit from the beavers’ pond, sometimes damaging their structures, but the beavers patiently rebuild. Cheerful watercolors show the animals’ behavior throughout the seasons.

This title is from Dawn Publications and includes a plethora of information and back matter, explaining how beavers and otters demonstrate a commensal relationship and including both STEM and social-emotional learning activities.

Verdict: This would be an excellent choice for a school library and I would also recommend it for public libraries that want to focus on STEM and SEL and support homeschool and classroom studies.

ISBN: 9781728232249; Published September 2021 by Dawn Publications; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

This week at the library

one of the lilies i planted for Sara

Programs

• Paws to Read
• Aquanauts
• Family Storytime
• Lapsit
• Bookaneers
• Annual Christmas parade

Projects etc.

• Manager's meeting

My dear friend and a beloved community librarian, Ms. Sara, died this week.

Other Boys by Damian Alexander

We’re starting to see a few graphic memoirs for middle grade that are similar to Raina Telgemeier’s popular titles but feature a more diverse range of characters. In this autobiographical story, Damian Alexander talks about the struggles of his 7th grade year. Unlike the other boys, and other kids, in his new school, he’s living with his grandparents and brother and they struggle financially. He’s not interested in the things the other boys like, and is bullied and harassed relentlessly, leading him to determine to stay silent in 7th grade.

Flashbacks gradually reveal to readers the tragic death of his mom, break-up of his family, and his struggles throughout his childhood with other kids and family who harass him for liking dolls and other “girly” things.

Although there’s no happy ending, Damian ends the story by opening up to his therapist, realizing he’s gay and accepting the support of a small circle of people, and starting to make friends.

An author’s note follows the story, noting that the physical and emotional abuse he suffered was downplayed for the story and talking about how people remember things differently, and how authors create a graphic memoir and might compress or change events for the flow of the story.

Verdict: While I am sure some people will complain about the honest depiction of bullying and harassment Damian experiences, as well as the inclusion of queer and non-gender-conforming characters, this is well done and an important choice for kids to see themselves as well as think about what their classmates might be experiencing. A must-have for middle school libraries and most public library collections.

ISBN: 9781250222817; Published September 2021 by First Second; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: A cub story by Kristen Tracy, illustrated by Alison Farrell

This sweet board book follows the story of a bear cub through the seasons. The story opens with the little cub peering over a green branch in a forest of red tree trunks. The furry bear sprawls out, letting readers count their wet nose, big claws, and all-over fur.

The cub eats a lot “compared to a hedgehog” and a little compared to a moose. They are slower than an elk and faster than a snail. They sniff, explore blackberry bushes, play with the wolves and foxes, climb trees, dig for food, and fish. The seasons change from the bright greens and blues of spring to the reds and yellows of autumn, to the snowy white and blue of winter as the cub settles into their den and curls up with their mama.

The book is a slightly taller rectangle with sturdy pages and the simple, declarative text is charming. The illustrations are cozy and this would make an adorable read-aloud, bedtime story, or a story to share with kids learning about seasons, bears, or concepts like size and comparison.

Verdict: A must-have purchase for most public library board book collections and it would also make a sweet gift for toddlers and babies.

ISBN: 9781452174587; Published September 2021 by Chronicle; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

The rescuer of tiny creatures by Curtis Manley, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins

 Curtis Manley has written several awesome books, including The summer Nick Taught his cats to read and Just right: The search for the Goldilocks planet so I was thrilled to see him team up with Lucy Ruth Cummins, creator of one of my favorite books, A hungry lion. Together, they have created a sweet, funny, and just-right book for storytime, classroom read-alouds, and one-on-one browsing.

Roberta, a white girl with an explosion of curly orange hair, is the narrator of this story. We first meet her on the playground, crouching down to rescue a "tiny creature" while her racially diverse classmates explore and play around her. Against white and bold green backgrounds, Roberta helps beetles, caterpillars, and worms, despite the ridicule of her classmates and thinly-disguised disgust of her teacher. Despite setbacks, Roberta continues her mission, and when a cloud of baby spiders invade her classroom, she reaches out to her classmates with some surprising results.

It takes all of Roberta's courage to speak up when her classmates and teacher think spiders are scary, yucky, and gross, but in doing so she not only saves the spiders, she inspires respect and curiosity in her classmates and makes a new friend, Maria. Together, the two are prepared to not only rescue even bigger creatures, but to find new friends who are interested in the wonderful small creatures all around them.

There is a page of Roberta's rescued creatures, with adorable illustrations and interesting facts, and instructions to make Maria's origami box for rescuing tiny creatures.

Verdict: While a little wordy for the average storytime, this sweet and humorous story is just perfect for reading to kids before they absorb the phobias and prejudice of many adults about the tiny creatures that surround us. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 9781250246714; Published June 2021 by Roaring Brook; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

All the water in the world by George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Katherine Tillotson

 [Originally published in 2011]

Like Swirl by Swirl, This is another beautifully illustrated, lyrically written title about an aspect of nature. This time, it’s the water cycle. George Ella Lyon’s beautiful poem about the amazing beauty of water and the water cycle is perfectly spread out over Katherine Tillotson’s digital illustrations on handmade paper. The poem has a warm, friendly feel, “Everything waits/for an open gate/in a wall of clouds/for rain sweet and loud/to fill the well/and start the stream/Honey/living things dream/of water/for all to drink/use in tub or sink/wash in, splash in.” 

Tillotson’s illustrations show the progression of water through the water cycle as well as droughts, but her illustrations also explode with the life that comes from water, with a spray of droplets and waves hiding animals and people in its splashes. The book ends with an exhortation to conserve water and keep earth green for everyone.

Verdict: This is a great way to introduce very young children to the water cycle as well as being a fun and lovely read-aloud. I successfully used it with my pre-kindergarten classes last summer and they loved the exuberant language and details in the pictures. The text is integrated into the illustrations, so you’ll need to practice reading this aloud as it’s not always easy to follow the words. Highly recommended.

Revisited: Still in print and still an excellent choice.

ISBN: 978-1416971306; Published March 2011 by Atheneum; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

This week at the library

A short week and yet so long... we lost all internet all day Monday, closed early on Wednesday for the holiday, and then were closed Thursday - Friday. No programs, other than opening the Storyroom and giving away gingerbread house kits provided by my school colleague. I did get another chunk of weeding done and a whole series of recordings, all the hard work of which was done by my associate in the editing. An anonymous donor gave us SIX brand-new sewing machines! Time to start planning sewing programs!

Another Kind by Cait May and Trevor Bream

Bream’s comic art looked really familiar to me, but I must have seen it in a webcomic somewhere since it looks like this is her first book.

The story opens with a frightening villain, hidden behind a chair, threatening an ordinary man to get a group of children called “irregularities.” Cut to the kids, who are just your ordinary group of friends - but with a few little differences. They live in a government facility, their lives heavily monitored and controlled, and they’re all just a little different. A yeti, will-o-the-wisp, selkie, nandi bear, lizard boy, and whatever Maggie is. They all have stories, which will be hinted at or told throughout the book, and most are sad and dark. But here and now they have each other and a safe place.

Or do they? When they are betrayed and stranded, they set off an a desperate adventure, first to find safety and discover who is hunting them, and then to rescue their friends, old and new. Along the way they will meet cruelty and prejudice, but also kindness and love, and they will realize that the most powerful thing they have is their family.

This is blurbed by Ethan Aldridge, Kat Leyh, and Carey Pietsch. It’s full of fantastic characters but also real feelings and self-discovery. The kids make discoveries about themselves as they travel, both about their powers, their old and new families, and several take a step towards figuring out who they are inside, regardless of the labels, either of gender or of monster, that society puts on them. Comic relief shows up in the form of a Scooby-Doo type band of cryptid hunters and although the story can be intense, there’s always a feeling that all will end well - as it does.

Verdict: This is absolutely a feel-good graphic novel for kids who love fantasy adventures and want something exciting but not too dark. Personally, I read it twice and then ordered a copy for myself, I loved it that much.

ISBN: 9780063043541; Published October 2021 by Harper Alley; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for my personal collection

Frankie Sparks and the class pet by Megan Frazer Blakemore, illustrated by Nadja Sarell

[Originally published June 2019]

Frankie loves science and research and she's always got lots of ideas! So why won't her teacher and friends listen to her when she decides the best pet for their classroom is a rat?

The story begins with Frankie barely able to contain her excitement to share what she did over the weekend - visit her aunt, a rodentologist at a nearby university. She learned so many exciting and interesting things about rodents and especially about rats, that she just can't wait to tell everyone!

When their teacher, Ms. Cupid, tells them her exciting news - they are getting a class pet - Frankie knows the perfect pet would be a rat! She hardly listens to their teacher tell them the rules and limitations and the next day she's ready to get that rat, but Ms. Cupid just won't let her go ahead.

With the gentle guidance of adults, from her teacher to her parents to her aunt, Frankie slows down, does her research correctly, and even figures out a clever way to feed the rat over the weekend. But can Frankie figure out a way to convince her best friend, Maya, that a rat makes a good pet? And can Frankie get her rat and be a good friend too?

It's easy to see that Blakemore has actual school experience; one of my perennial complaints is books that show unrealistically small class sizes and this once clearly states there are 20+ kids in Frankie's class. I also appreciated that Frankie is good at making things and doing research, but struggles with actual reading and writing and readers can see how her teacher and parents help her work on those skills. Frankie's enthusiasm, which leads her to hurt her friends' feelings and sometimes overpower her, and other students, is dealt with kindly but firmly by adults and on top of this being a funny, interesting story it would make a great classroom read to talk about empathy and listening to other people.

Verdict: At just over 120 pages, this is perfect for chapter readers who can't yet handle the heftier books but still want something that doesn't talk down to them. Teachers and parents will appreciate the problem-solving suggestions included in the book and the back matter, and kids will see themselves and their friends in the light-hearted story of scientific - and personal - problems. With a diverse, realistic classroom and a main character of color, this book hits all the high points and is sure to be a popular acquisition for your library.

Revisited: The fourth book in this series was published in 2020; I hope that it will continue, as it definitely fills a niche and is still popular at my library.

ISBN: 9781534430433; Published June 2019 by Aladdin; ARC provided by publisher; Purchased for the library

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Nom Nom Nom by Jeffrey Burton, illustrated by Sarah Hwang

This novelty book probably won’t last long, but it’s worth it for the fun little ones will have with it while it does last!

On the left side of the spread is a list of foods and pictures, starting with “human” foods and getting progressively more “animal”. On the right side is an animal whose head lifts up to reveal a gaping mouth and the titular words.

So one spread says “Little Crocodile has a hungry smile. What does she want to eat? Chocolate-dipped donuts, an ice cream float, a bucket of worms that fell of a boat? Then below the pictured delicacies it says “Which would you choose?” and then readers can imagine Little Crocodile nom-nom-noming her treats. It gets progressively sillier until it ends with a purple alien.

The pages are thick cardstock, with the flaps being the same thickness, and the cover is just lightly glued on, another sheet of the same thin cardstock. If it had been made as a board book, with the flaps made from cardstock, you could have reinforced the flaps for a longer-lasting book.

Verdict: The colorful pictures and silly text will make this popular, but the flimsy construction puts it solidly in the “gift” category. I am starting to add more novelty books to my board book collection and will probably add this, but I don’t expect it to last more than a handful of circulations.

ISBN: 9781665900102; Published October 2021 by Little Simon; Review copy provided by publisher

The Walloos' Big Adventure by Anuska Allepuz

  Allepuz' picture book Little Green Donkey was a huge hit with storytimes last year, with my colleague using it with multiple preschool classes as well. So I was quite excited to see another book with her colorful style.

The Walloos are small creatures in shades of pink and orange. Their family consists of Big Walloo, Spotty Walloo, Old Walloo, and Little Walloo. They live an idyllic life, eating plants, building things, and telling stories. Inspired by Old Walloo's stories of tropical islands, they set out on an adventure.

When they land on a beautiful tropical island, Big Walloo is immediately absorbed in building multiple boats while Spotty Walloo starts creating an endless stream of cakes. Old Walloo and Little Walloo think there might be something funny about the island, but nobody is listening to them so they wander and collect seeds.

Then one day the island moves and they make a startling discovery about "their" tropical island and what it truly means to share and protect the bounty they use all around them.

Allepuz' art in this book reminds me of Roger Duvoisin at his most colorful; lush greens, textured blues, and bright spots of pink, orange, yellow, and purple fill the pages as the Walloos explore and travel. Although there's a strong lesson about sharing, conservation, and being mindful of others' needs woven throughout the story, it's also just a fun story with a repetitive rhythm that will hold children's attention and delightful artwork. My only quibble is that some of the text is difficult to read, being placed against textured or dark backgrounds.

Verdict: Another excellent storytime choice from Allepuz, this would make a nice addition to a storytime on sharing or caring for our communities.

ISBN: 9781536215311; Published July 2021 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher

It's Milking Time by Phyllis Alsdurf, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

[Originally published July 2012]

"Every morning, every night, it's milking time."

Alsdurf draws on her own childhood experiences to take readers and listeners on a gentle stroll through her memories of helping to milk the cows. Readers see the cows coming to the barns, being fed, milking machines, and what happens to the milk afterwards.

This is a very simple picture book, with sweet, peaceful language. Most of the facts are woven into the story - there's not description of how a milking machine works, for example, but we see how it's cleaned and attached to the cows.

Johnson and Fancher's illustrations are, as always, warm and glowing. You can see the warmth and love between father and daughter, the peaceful cows, and the beauty of the farm in these paintings.

This is a perfect read-aloud for storytime. It includes a few new vocabulary words (stanchion, suction, trudge) and enough information about the milking process for kids to get interested and for parents to seek out longer nonfiction books on milking and other farm processes. I'm assuming from the author's note that the story is set in her childhood, so some of the processes may have changed a little.

Verdict: This is the kind of easy nonfiction I look for to read aloud in storytime. Beautifully written, with facts woven into the story and a few vocabulary words to practice saying aloud. I also look for farming books and frequently have trouble finding anything for our quasi-rural community, but this is perfect. Highly recommended.

Revisited: This was republished in 2019 by the Minnesota Historical Press and it's a must-have for my library in WI.

ISBN: 9780375869112; Published 2012 by Random House; Borrowed from the library; Purchased for the library

This week at the library

 Programs

• Paws to Read
• Dungeons & Dragons
• After school outreach visit
• Winter Wigglers
• Outreach visits to 1st and kindergarten at Tibbets (7 sessions)
• Lapsit

I'm still working on finishing updating collections as well as getting started on next year's program planning. I always think the NEXT week is going to be calmer and it never is... several staff were at a conference this week and I took Friday off for some errands and appointments.

Tales of the talented tenth: Robert Smalls by Joel Christian Gill

This is part of an exciting series about Black heroes, based on W.E.B. Dubois’ quote about the “talented tenth” who he predicted would emerge as leaders. This third volume focuses on the story of Robert Smalls.

Born into slavery, he displayed an early determination to be free but it was not until the early days of the Civil War, after he had worked long hours to try and purchase freedom for his wife and children, that he hatched a daring plan of escape. Ignored and trusted by the lazy Confederate soldiers on the boat he worked on, he managed to fool the soldiers, trick a former friend turned enemy, and sail to freedom with his family and the families of his friends.

Back matter explains more of the context of the time period, the story of Robert Smalls, who was briefly successful in not only gaining freedom and a career but being elected to office during the period of Reconstruction when formerly enslaved people were truly free and had opportunities to pursue education and careers. Gill includes references and some thoughtful discussion, shown as the bracketing narrative of two Black men discussing famous Black people in history.

Gill’s art is clear and simple, making it easy for readers to follow the absorbing story. Instead of the N word, he uses a small icon of a stereotyped African man, and the story is not overly graphic, even for the serious subject matter. The publisher’s information and review put this at teen, ages 10+, or middle school, but I would add it to my juvenile, middle grade nonfiction for kids ages 9-13.

Verdict: This would be a wonderful addition to my library’s collection of nonfiction and history graphic novels, but sourcing it is a little tricky. Baker & Taylor has the first and third volumes (Bessie Stringfield and Robert Smalls) available, but purchasing them directly from Chicago Review Press might be the easiest solution. They are more expensive than the average graphic novel, but their unique subject matter and brisk narratives are definitely worth the additional cost.

ISBN: 9781682750667; Published May 2021 by Fulcrum/Chicago Review Press; Borrowed from another library in my consortium.

Animal Rescue Friends by Meika Hashimoto and Gina Loveless; illustrated by Genevieve Kote

  Maddie is having trouble making friends; despite her best efforts, the other kids either ignore her or are outright rude. So she's thrilled when she discovers a friendly - and lost - pit bull mix in the park. Through "Boyd" she is introduced to Animal Rescue Friends where, after a rocky start, she begins to make friends with the other volunteers and even, eventually, some of the boys who have been harassing her. Eventually Maddie has to let "Boyd" go back to his real family, but she's made lots of friends along the way and there's a happy ending for all.

A lengthy follow-up explains in detail the process of making a comic and the work of each creator, from author to inker and colorist, with activities for kids to follow along and try themselves. The art of the book is bright and cheerful, fitting into the Telgemeier style that is so popular for realistic comics right now.

The five chapters of the book are loosely connected stories, featuring different kids that Maddie meets. Along the way readers get a glimpse of the financial challenges of Maddie's single parent family, kids struggling against peer pressure, and other kids dealing with various challenges in their life. The episodes are tied up neatly with somewhat simplistic solutions.

Epic! provides ebooks and audiobooks for many schools and has started creating its own content in the past year. While it's not necessarily award-winning literature, it's a pleasant story with a diverse cast and an attractive plot for young readers. There are many more options for beginning chapter readers now, and Epic!'s transitional graphic novels are a great choice, especially for readers who are struggling to move up into more challenging chapter books.

Verdict: Affordable, attractive, and relatable, this will fly off your shelves and kids will clamor for more stories in the series. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781524868062; Published June 2021 by Andrews McMeel; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Mike Delivers: The Big Mix-Up by Dana Regan, illustrated by Berta Maluenda

 This cheerful early reader features a town of anthropomorphic animals and a friendly delivery driver. Mike, the delivery porcupine, is a beloved local figure until he starts showing up with the wrong items. He brings cats instead of hats, pigs instead of wigs, etc. Finally, someone realizes that what he needs are glasses and things go back to normal.

As an adult, one is rather amused by the simplistic view of online shopping - that the delivery person is responsible for choosing and sourcing all the things delivered - but plenty of people do develop a relationship with delivery drivers and it's a nice way to give a call-out to workers who are often in the background. With a Richard Scarry-esque cast of characters and jobs, this is a nice filler early reader that will appeal to fans of Pete the Cat and other simple, rhyming texts.

Verdict: There are two books in this series, and they're a good choice if you're looking for backlist titles to fill in your early reader collection.

ISBN: 9781534489073; Published August 2021 by Simon Spotlight; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Ergo by Alexis Deacon, illustrated by Viviane Schwarz

  Deacon and Schwarz are two of my favorite "quirky" book creators and I was eager to see what they came up with, especially as this title was also promoted by Elizabeth Bird.

The deceptively simple illustrations show a sea of yellow and in the midst of them, two eyes open and a beak twitches. Ergo is awake. Ergo discovers herself, wings, beak, legs. And that is all. "Am I the world? Thought Ergo." The picture zooms out to show the yellow blur of Ergo in a white-rimmed oval and Ergo continues exploring...

Ergo thinks, experiments, explores, and finally determines to break free "The truth is on the other side." Having freed herself from her shell, she can truly discover and explore the world. And what does she find? Well, you'll just have to read the book!

This is a a quirky, thoughtful, intriguing book that will work with a wide variety of audiences. Read it to toddlers and encourage them to explore themselves, stretching their legs, flapping their "wings" and then to look around them at what they can see. Read it to preschoolers who will get the joke of Ergo thinking all that's there is all she can see inside her shell and learn with them about how birds hatch from eggs. Read it with elementary school students and encourage them to imagine the world outside the "shell" of their homes, classrooms, and towns.

Verdict: Funny and illustrated with a surface simplicity that is actually multilayered with meaning, Deacon and Schwarz have created another read-aloud classic that will resonate with children and adults alike as they learn to explore their worlds and see what's on the other side of the shell.

ISBN: 9781536217803; Published August 2021 by Candlewick; Review copy provided by publisher

Be a tree! by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Felicita Sala

 A poetic, exuberant celebration of trees, comparing them to human bonds and communities.

The endpages are decorated with delicate green tracings of a variety of leaves and the title page features the growth cycle of a deciduous tree, from the seed planted by a curly-haired, dark-skinned child to a young tree, its roots spreading throughout the ground.

The pages explore the similarities between trees and people, encouraging readers to "Be a tree" by stretching to the sky, spreading their roots deeply, and absorbing sun and rain. As well as these comparisons are more scientific comparisons of bodies, such as a spread showing the tracery of nerves and veins in a body compared to the cells and structure inside a tree and the accompanying text reads "In your heart's center/is your pith, keeper of nutrients/when you were a sapling."

The book continues the analogy until it compares "immigrant trees" to a lonely man with a bag, hunched on a bench in a park with illustrations in dull greens and browns.. Open out the pages to a joyous spread of springtime and the man is joined by a woman with a headscarf and two curly-haired children while the park fills with a diverse array of people, many of them previously pictured in the book, and the trees and flowers burst into bloom. The book goes on to compare the interconnected community of trees with a diverse array of a community of people, "So, be a tree./For together,/we are a forest."

An author's note talks about the science behind the book and the many benefits of trees. There are suggestions for supporting the forest, including recycling paper products, planting native trees, and fundraising for organizations. There are also suggestions for building the forest of human community, a detailed diagram of a tree, further reading, and a list of websites. The community building suggestions are where I have a real problem; or, rather, in my opinion publishing has a real problem. It shows most clearly in books that support environmentalism, conservation efforts, and community building. I've talked elsewhere about the problems with reducing complex and widespread environmental damage to a few simple (and not always scientifically-backed) things for people to do, but this I see as a serious privilege issue in publishing.

The suggestions for building community are to visit people at a nursing home, which is fine. Then it suggests "Set up a buddy system with the special needs program at your school." Then it suggests making care kits for homeless shelter residents, having a supply drive for a local animal shelter, sending cards to soldiers overseas, and planting native flowers in "your garden and neighborhood."

Stop and think about this. Approximately 13% of children in the United States have health-related special needs. Approximately 2.5 million children are homeless each year in the United States. 16% of children in the US live in poverty. These suggestions "other" those children and show just how much of an ivory tower publishing still remains. How would you feel if you were a child with special needs, a homeless child, a child living in poverty, and read these suggestions which essentially place you, the reader, as an "other" and a project to be helping in the community?

I'd like to see more acknowledgement that not all children are privileged, that children with special needs are not a separate species to be kind to, that environmental issues are complex and can't be resolved by a few simple tips. I would rather see open-ended suggestions or ideas for brainstorming than these specific suggestions that other large groups of the population. My only consolation is that most kids are unlikely to get to the back of the book and read the back matter.

Verdict: A beautiful exploration of trees and the building and growth of community. Although I am frustrated and disappointed by the back matter, I don't particularly blame the author, I think it's an endemic issue to the publishing industry as a whole and something that it may take generations to change and resolve. I would like to see book creators thinking more about their own privilege and whether these kinds of suggestions "other" people in their communities though.

ISBN: 9781419744228; Published March by Harry N. Abrams; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

This week at the library

Someone gave us a paper wasp nest. I felt it was
appropriate to display it this week.

Programs

• Paws to Read
• An evening with GLAS
• Pokemon Club
• Outreach storytimes (4 sessions)
• Family storytime
• After school STEM program
• Lapsit
• Outreach storytimes (4 sessions)
• Double Digit Gamers
• Kohls Wild Theater (2 sessions)

Projects and meetings

• Recataloging Spanish and separating out Bilingual titles
• Meeting with retired director and volunteer re. the landscaping and gardens
• Circulation meeting to discuss institutional/teacher cards
• Programming meetings with staff and collaborators

Monday was our rescheduled telescope program - the skies were finally clear. We decided after Pokemon Club that we should increase the sessions to twice monthly. There was a miscommunication about an event on Wednesday via the school, so I popped in and did storytime. The garden meeting ran over, and then I took Ozobots out for the kids, which also ran late. They love this, but it's exhausting. Most of them aren't capable of the fine motor skills to draw the lines and codes (I'm not sure I'M capable of this either) and none of them have the listening skills for me to explain it. They enjoyed themselves though. Also, I should probably apologize to their school librarians who are now going to get constant requests for Ozobots. I was also fortunate our new adult services librarian picked up one of the outreach storytimes for an associate when we had a scheduling conflict. Thursday there were no programs that I was responsible for. So I had several programming meetings, desk time, and tried to catch up on my cataloging projects. Friday I had to be at work at the ungodly hour of 8am to be prepared for Kohls Wild Theater. I arranged one session for a four year old kindergarten (they have enough kids to make it worth it and they are one of only two centers taking Covid precautions, so I wanted to accommodate that) and then a session for the public. Unfortunately, their bus died and they had to get a jumpstart and so the first session ran really late. However, the KWT folks were wonderful and we had a large (if wiggly) group for the second session. I did manage to go home a little early this day. And finish the rest of the work from home. Oh well.

American Horse Tales: The Dust Bowl by Michelle Jabes Corpora

This is the first in a series featuring, so far, white girls and horses. Ginny is a tomboy during the Dust Bowl with a beloved horse. When her father decides to sell Thimble, to keep their family farm running, she runs away with her horse, planning to go to California and send money back to help the family. She's also had her feelings hurt by some of her father's comments that make her feel like a problem or a burden. 

Soon after she leaves, she meets Silvio Hernandez, a Hispanic boy her own age who is heading to California to work and send money back to his family and a friendly man named Mr. Bennett. Both encourage her to return home; Silvio's own father is dead and Mr. Bennett treats her in a kindly and fatherly manner. The ending is very much along the lines of wish-fulfillment, rather than following the more realistic history of the time period; Ginny returns home, survives "dust pneumonia" and her father agrees to keep her horse, as well as his own dream of refusing to leave their family farm. However, all is well because Mr. Bennett appears and turns out to be from the government and there to help everyone. The story ends with a fireside chat from Franklin Roosevelt and much hope for the future.

There is a note of diversity in the inclusion of Silvio, and the prejudice he faces is mentioned briefly, but this is otherwise a very typical white-focused historical fiction title. For more inclusive and realistic perspectives, I would recommend the I am America series from Jolly Fish Press. However, there is definitely a market for beginning chapters focused on horse and a dearth of historical fiction for this age group, so this is sure to find an audience, despite its approach to the subject.

Verdict: Whether or not you purchase this will depend on your library audience; if you have a lot of patrons who like traditional, "easy" views of history and young readers looking for horse stories, have already purchased more inclusive and realistic titles to balance your collection, and are looking to make additional purchases, this might be a reasonable choice for your library.

ISBN: 9780593225257; Published June 2021 by Penguin Workshop; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Read, Read, Read, said the Baby: Fridge and Oven’s Big Job by Steven Weinberg

I was interested enough in checking out this little series of board books to purchase one myself. The book is shaped like a chunky L, with the fridge standing tall on the spine and the oven next to it. The cover is an extra thick layer of pressed cardboard, with googly eyes embedded in the appliances.

The book is an illustrated story similar to Weinberg’s humorous beginning chapter book, The Middle Kid. White text and arrows show how the two work together to help an anonymous pair of brown hands mix up and bake a pan of cookies. Readers can “look inside” the red-hot oven, with little exclamations of “hot!” coming from each cookie, and count down until the cookies are done. The penultimate spread revisits the ingredients from the beginning, while the end pops two Black children into the picture, ready to share their cookies.

Verdict: This is a novelty, but a sturdy one that will delight kids who are especially tactile and those who love to investigate how things work. The accompanying titles on the dishwasher, and washer and dryer are sure to be popular as well.

ISBN: 9781250753250; Published August 2021 by Roaring Brook Press; Purchased and donated to the library

It fell from the sky by the Fan Brothers

  The unique and lovely art of the Fan Brothers is turned towards the tiny world of grass and insects and a strange, precious object that falls into their black and white world.

A variety of insects, shown in soft grays and blacks, many with tiny hats ranging from top hats to straw hats, travel across the short, gray grass and between delicate dandelions to gather around a strange marvel that has fallen from the sky. A smooth, hard ball, inside are twined ribbons of yellow, green, and blue. As the creatures investigate, discuss, and argue over the strange object, night falls. The next morning, the giant spider, until now only seen crouched in the background, has claimed the object, after all it's in his web.

"Nobody remembered the web being there the day before, but, in fairness, nobody remembered it not being there either."

The four-eyed spider, covered with black fur and sporting a white-dotted bow tie, quickly starts charging the creatures leaves for seeing the "Wonder from the Sky" and eventually builds a whole amusement park-style display. But then... the creatures leave and all the spider's new wealth can't save him when a five-legged creature from the sky takes the marvel and crushes WonderVille. The spider, alone, reflects on what he did and comes to a decision. He patiently spins more webs to catch more wonders from the sky - and this time, freely shares them with the other creatures, in a penultimate colorful spread. A plump green caterpillar with a top hat examines a round, red wonder, a grasshopper with a monocle examines a strange purple object, a weevil pokes a strange blue square with a cane, and a roly-poly smoking a pipe and wearing a bowler hat examines an odd wooden contraption. On the last page, the spider, joined by a sparkling fuschia jewel, solemnly touches his hat to readers.

This is a slower-paced and somewhat text-heavy story, but kindergarteners and older listeners will appreciate the delicate and evocative art, as well as the sense of being "in" on the joke, as they recognize the "wonders" as various toys dropped in the grass and the five-legged beast as a hand.

Verdict: If you are looking for classrooms or book club reads, this book is ideal with lots to discuss and a gentle sense of humor as well as memorable illustrations.

ISBN: 9781534457621; Published September 2021 by Simon & Schuster; Review copy provided by publisher

The Watcher: Jane Goodall's life with the chimps by Jeannette Winter

[Originally published in 2011]

The Text: In simple language and short sentences, Winter tells the story of Jane Goodall. She begins with her childhood, when Jane excelled at listening and watching animals and moves on to her first trip to Africa, to Kenya. There she met Louis Leakey and travelled to Gombe in Tanzania, which would become the heart of her research. Jane Goodall waited and watched and gradually the chimps in Gombe accepted her. As she watched and watched, she learned things about chimps no one had ever discovered. Eventually, Jane left to become an advocate for the chimpanzees and their disappearing habitat.

The Illustrations: Jeannette Winter's simple illustrations add depth to the lyrical text and show Jane as a child, in her first year's of research, and as an older woman traveling around the world. She shows the vast landscapes and the individual behavior of the various chimpanzees with simple colors and shapes.

Extras: An author's note explains how the author refined Jane Goodall's life to the basic essentials in order to introduce her story to young children, adds some details about Goodall, and mentions some further resources. A note at the beginning of the story says the quotes within the text were taken from Goodall's autobiographies.

Verdict: This is a perfect picture book biography. Simple enough in text and illustration to be read aloud to children, but containing plenty of facts and information. There are few truly readable nonfiction picture books for younger children and this is a stellar example and one I look forward to reading aloud in storytime.

Revisited: This title is still in print and an excellent choice.

ISBN: 978-0375867743; Published April 2011 by Schwartz & Wade; Borrowed from the library

This week at the library

treasure boxes at Bookaneers

Programs

• Paws to Read
• Aquanauts
• Family storytime
• Breakout room
• Lapsit
• Bookaneers

Projects

• Managers' meeting
• Social media meeting
• Recording for ballet studio

Notes

  It was a very busy week. I got caught up on cataloging, did an overview of the garden and landscaping that I will deal with later, figured out a new system for cataloging our Spanish and bilingual materials, ran a number of programs, and dealt with many things. For some reason, my to-do list is just as long as when I started though!

No one returns from the Enchanted Forest by Robin Robinson

Several years ago Robin Robinson created art for Mairghread Scott's The City on the Other Side and now she has created her own original graphic novel fantasy.

The story opens in the underground home of the goblins, a race of small, multicolored creatures with pointed noses and a cheerful multiplicity of personalities. Two sisters are the focus of the story, Bix, the older sister, always anxious and worrying over the future and the wild antics of Pella, whom she's cared for since the death of their parents. She has reason to fret; the goblins must leave their home because of the increasing frequency of violent earthquakes and Pella decides to run away to the Enchanted Forest to give the, possibly mythical, Earth Queen a piece of her mind.

The story alternates between the adventures of the sisters; Pella confronts danger and discovers her habit of rushing headlong into things may not always be the solution. Bix faces her fears and anxiety and learns she can be brave and speak up when her sister is in trouble. Both meet new friends and fantastical creatures and in the end they change their world for the better. Humor and magical details abound, from Bix's yarn that saves many a situation to the creatures, both small and powerful, who inhabit the world outside their caverns.

Verdict: A charming story with an underlying message that will resonate with readers long after they've enjoyed the magical details of the sisters' journey. A great choice for fans of fantasy adventure graphic novels like Hilda, Lightfall, or Sand Warriors. Here's hoping we see more from this creator in the near future.

ISBN: 9781250211521; Published May 2021 by First Second; Borrowed from another library in my consortium

Shelby & Watts: Tide Pool Troubles by Ashlyn Anstee

A new pair of characters joins the parade of beginning chapter graphic novels, with a fun STEM twist. Shelby is a red fox and she loves to solve mysteries. Watts is a badger and he likes science. Together, the two make a great mystery-solving team and when they get a letter from Fred Crab asking for help, they set out to solve The Mystery of the Missing Seashells! As they investigate along the beach, they learn about tide pools and the creatures that live in them, especially hermit crabs.

With Shelby’s deductive skills and Watts’ collection of facts and clues, the two solve the mystery, helping out all the crabs on the beach, and end their debut with some friendly tips on helping out the earth - and the ocean.

Cheerful colors show the pair riding the bus, exploring the beach, living a happy life in a village of anthropomorphic animals. New characters are introduced with a full page explaining their personalities and interests, and the simple panels and text are interspersed with facts about the beach and animals that live there, taken from Watts’ notebook of facts and clues.

Verdict: This is a fun addition to beginning chapter graphic novels and will be of special interest to young readers who enjoy STEM and mysteries. Pair with Paige Braddock’s Stinky Cecil and the new Haylee and Comet for more STEM-filled adventures.

ISBN: 9780593205310; Published September 2021 by Viking; Review copy provided by publisher