Frankie and Bug by Gayle Forman - ADVISABLE

Frankie and Bug by Gayle Forman 288 pages. Aladdin (Simon and Schuster), 2021. $18. 

Language: G; Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL  - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

10yo Bug is thoroughly disappointed this summer. Her brother Danny "wants some space" which means that even though they live in Venice, California, he won't be taking her to the beach like he has done for so many years, and Bug isn't allowed to go alone. Their upstairs neighbor, Phillip invites his nephew to come spend the summer with him, but when Frankie arrives, he and Bug do not hit it off. In fact, Bug is even more disappointed. Frankie didn't even bring a bathing suit! All Frankie wants to do is try to solve the mystery of the Midnight Marauder - a serial killer active that summer of 1987. He doesn't like the beach, not at all. It seems everyone needs some space this summer. 

Historical fiction, I remember that summer in California, and Forman got it perfect - the beach bums, the guys on Muscle Beach, the old hippies in their vans, the roller skaters with the crazy wigs, the fish and chips. ah!, I was right there with them. The last third of the book addresses an attack on Uncle Phillip because he is gay, AIDS and Frankie reveals to Bug he is transgender - this may be his last summer as a boy, his parents want him to "stop this foolishness" and act like a girl. A thought provoking look at this time and these issues, I think readers may enjoy this look into the late 80's, but I suspect I'm feeling nostalgia and they will see Historical Fiction. I listened to the audiobook provided by Libro.fm and was thoroughly delighted. Stockard Channing is a great narrator.

Lisa Librarian

Blast Off Into Space Like Mae Jemison by Caroline Moss, illustrated by Sinem Erkas - NO

Blast Off Into Space Like Mae Jemison by Caroline Moss, illustrated by Sinem Erkas, 64 pages. BIOGRAPHY Frances Lincoln ,2020. $16. 

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - NOT RECOMMENDED 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

Mae Jemison was a doctor a dancer and an astronaut! She grew up with supportive parents who encouraged her to reach for her dreams. As a young woman of color, she struggled to find that same encouragement outside her home, but she worked hard - attending Stanford University at just 16, and eventually realized her dreams of working for NASA. 

I loved the collage illustrations, but struggled with the text. Told in a conversational voice, many of the word choices (fruition? naysayer?) were too difficult for the intended audience, while others (oozing gooey pus) seemed to talk down to them. Sometimes the narrator is telling the story, other times talking directly to the reader, or commenting on the story.  I also found errors that an editor should have spotted (misuse of the word site - should have been "sight"  - among others)  Finding it hard to recommend.

Lisa Librarian

Colossus: The World's Most Amazing Feats of Engineering by Colin Hynson and Giulia Lombardo - OPTIONAL

Colossus: The World's Most Amazing Feats of Engineering by Colin Hynson, illustrated by Giulia Lombardo, 80 pages. PICTURE BOOK, NON-FICTION Big Picture Press Candlewick Press, 2021. $20. 9781536217063 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

It's all about Engineers. From ancient buildings like the Pyramids or the Great Sphinx, to bridges, canals, dams railways and statues, Colin Hynson tells about the structure, complete with labeled illustrations, and a lot of fun facts. 

It was interesting to learn how many people it took to build, and how long, and why. But oh, the size! I don't have the shelf height for these irregular sized books. (12"!) Also, while I appreciate the uniformity of the drawings, these are actual feats of engineering, and photographs would have been so nice, I left the read to google the subjects. Includes a list of famous engineers, an engineering time line, glossary and index.

Lisa Librarian

The Field by Baptiste Paul, pictures by Jacqueline Alcantara - ADVISABLE

The Field by Baptiste Paul, pictures by Jacqueline Alcantara. PICTURE BOOK North South, 2018. $9. (paperback edition 2021) 9780735844612 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The children gather to play in a field, first they shoo away the cows and set up bamboo goals. But, when it starts to rain the game doesn't stop, it just gets wetter - slipping and sliding and splashing in the puddles until it stops. The game continues until Mama's call eventually ends the game, and the children return home dirty and tired. 

Alcantara's illustrations are great - so much action with the children running and having so much fun - even the spectators are animated. I loved the author's note at the end, and the message that you don't let set backs stop you. In English and Creole, includes a glossary and pronunciation guide.

Lisa Librarian

El Campo by Baptiste Paul, illustrations by Jacqueline Alcantara - ADVISABLE

El Campo by Baptiste Paul, illustrations by Jacqueline Alcantara, Translated from English by Lawrence Schimel, PICTURE BOOK North South, 2021. $9. 9780735844605 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The children gather to play in a field, first they shoo away the cows and set up bamboo goals. But, when it starts to rain the game doesn't stop, it just gets wetter - slipping and sliding and splashing in the puddles until it stops. The game continues until Mama's call eventually ends the game, and the children return home dirty and tired. 

Alcantara's illustrations are great - so much action with the children running and having so much fun - even the spectators are animated. I loved the author's note at the end, and the message that you don't let set backs stop you. In Spanish and Creole, includes a glossary and pronunciation guide.

Lisa Librarian

Bright Star by Yuyi Morales - ESSENTIAL

Bright Star by Yuyi Morales. PICTURE BOOK Neal Porter books (Holiday House), 2021. $19. 9780823443284 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

A fawn is born in the desert and its loving mother wants it to see the world around her, to look and listen, stay safe and know she is loved. She teaches the fawn to speak up when something is unjust, to know she is not alone and to imagine her most beautiful world. 

Yuyi Morales' illustrations are so beautiful - the expression in the eyes of this sweet young fawn are precious. The story is also about feeling safe and loved and is especially poignant for children whose safety is uncertain because of their or their parents' immigration status. Adults - be sure to read the author's note at the end, as she talks about why she made this book. Told in English with some Spanish phrases, there is not a translation or a glossary, but it didn't matter to me - the story is wonderful, and for our children who are bilingual, they will have a richer experience. I compared the Spanish Version with the English (with Spanish phrases) with Oscar, a native Spanish speaker, who pointed out that Morales used cognates when she could so the English reader could figure out the meaning, but in the Spanish edition, she used the correct word instead.

Lisa Librarian (with Oscar 8th Grade bilingual student)

Lucero by Yuyi Morales - HIGH

Lucero by Yuyi Morales. PICTURE BOOK Neal Porter books (Holiday House), 2021. $19. 9780823447848 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

A fawn is born in the desert and its loving mother wants it to see the world around her, to look and listen, stay safe and know she is loved. She teaches the fawn to speak up when something is unjust, to know she is not alone and to imagine her most beautiful world. 

This edition, written in Spanish, is just as beautiful and well-told. Yuyi Morales is fluent in both languages, and we loved that each book seems to have been written in English or Spanish, rather than translated from one to the other. 

 Lisa Librarian (with Oscar 8th grade bilingual student)

Jingle Bells / Navidad by Susie Jaramillo - HIGH

Jingle Bells / Navidad by Susie Jaramillo BOARD BOOK BILINGUAL Encantos, 2021. $11. 9781945635410 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Two holiday songs are presented side by side with the mother hen and her chicks and their friends doing outdoor winter things, like riding in a sleigh and building a snowman, and inside things like having a fiesta, enjoying treats and opening presents. 

Navidad is not a translation of Jingle Bells, but Navidad can be sung to the tune of Jingle Bells and that is why they are paired. Canticos has made a fun holiday lift the flap book. The flaps are sturdy, with illustrations both underneath and on the back - so be sure to open them all the way. There's a QR code at the front of the book to download the app, and I love that it says "Being bilingual helps build better brains!"

Lisa Librarian

Keep Your Head Up by Aliya King Neil, pictures by Charly Palmer - ADVISABLE

Keep Your Head Up by Aliya King Neil, pictures by Charly Palmer, PICTURE BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2021. $18. 9781534480407 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

D.'s day is already off to a bad start when he wakes up late and can't get ready because his toothpaste is missing - then it seems to be one thing after another, he forgot his gym clothes, he doesn't get chosen to walk the recycling out (he really needs a walk) and gets the laptop with a problem in class. He's having a hard time keeping his head up - but he's trying! Eventually, though, as the day starts to spiral, D. has a meltdown. Sometimes he can't help the things going wrong, and keeping his head up is hard - but the important thing is being willing to try. 

Oh, I loved the message of this book! I don't know - is it mindfulness? D. recognizes his "scrunchy face" and corrects - he's really trying hard to keep it together. I love how the principal handled the meltdown. The illustrations are perfect accompaniment to the text. I'm sharing this with my school counselors, I can see where this story would come in handy.

Lisa Librarian

Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme by Melissa Stewart and Steve Jenkins

Fourteen Monkeys: A Rain Forest Rhyme by Melissa Stewart, Illustrated by Steve Jenkins PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION Beach Lane Books (Simon and Schuster), 2021. $18. 9781534460393

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

In the rain forest of Manu, there are 14 different species of Monkeys. All sharing the same forest, they live at different heights, have different diets, and may even be active at different times of the day (or night). 

Introduced with a couplet, we learn interesting facts about each species like what they do when they aren't hunting for food, or how they communicate with each other. Includes an infographic for each species showing at which level of the rainforest they spend most of their time, a 2 page spread with monkey silhouettes to see the forest in context, and a fact sheet for each which includes lifespan, diet, predators, and field notes. A fun addition to the animal books in either an elementary or middle school library.

Lisa Librarian

When Langston Dances by Kaija Langley - ESSENTIAL

When Langston Dances by Kaija Langley PICTURE BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2021 $18. 9781534485198 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

"Langston liked basketball, but he adored ballet." His mother had taken him to see a performance of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company and Langston was hooked. He wanted to dance like that. He practiced every day in front of his mirror, and eventually enrolled in a dance school where his teacher had been waiting for him. Boys can dance ballet too! 

A terrific story, but oh! the illustrations! Rendered digitally by the amazing Keith Mallett, Langston flies, spins, and kicks in progressive pictures that show all his graceful movements. Incredible. His mom's face is so perfect - such love and support. Today's children can be anything they want, and "When Langston Dances" shows that.

Lisa Librarian

King of Ragtime: The Story of Scott Joplin by Stephen Costanza - ESSENTIAL

King of Ragtime: The Story of Scott Joplin by Stephen Costanza PICTURE BOOK, BIOGRAPHY Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon and Schuster), 2021. $18. 9781534410367 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Scott Joplin loved music - even as a baby, his eyes would light up when he heard it. As a young boy, he went with his mother to help with laundry and dusting at the house where she was a maid. They had a piano and Scott could play it once all his chores were done. He made up music to match every chore. Soon, his mother was trading housework for piano lessons, and Scott was on his way - writing his own music and playing from the heart. When he was a young man, he headed north to Chicago and started playing Ragtime, his song "Maple Leaf Rag" was a hit. 

There's a lot to love about this short biography. I love the onomatopoeia bumpa-bump, clickety-clackety, plinkety-PLONK! and Costanza's illustrations are perfect - with energy and movement - I can just hear Joplin playing that piano. A more thorough biography is included in the author's note, along with a "recommended listening" list and a bibliography.

Lisa Librarian

War by Jose Jorge Letria - ADVISABLE

War by Jose Jorge Letria, 64 pages. PICTURE BOOK. Greystone Kids (Greystone Books), 2021. $20.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

War has many faces and shapes but only leads to one outcome.

Profound in its simplicity, Letria breaks down war into seventeen sentences punctuated by shadowed illustrations. The pains of war are felt on every page. This isn’t a book that kids are likely to pick up themselves, but it can be a powerful teaching aide.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Friends Do Not Eat Friends by Jill Esbaum - OPTIONAL

Friends Do Not Eat Friends by Jill Esbaum, 64 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Simon Spotlight (Simon & Schuster), 2021. $18.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Thunder is a big and scary dinosaur -- so why doesn’t little Cluck run away from him? Cluck says he wants to be friends, but Thunder is too scary to have a friend.

Esbaum starts out by teaching readers how to navigate a graphic novel. After those couple pages, we jump into the simple story. Thunder and Cluck’s argument is funny and has engaging illustrations that are sure to show new graphic novel readers that reading books with pictures isn’t just for little kids.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

That's No Dino! Or Is It? What Makes a Dinosaur a Dinosaur by Helaine Becker and Marie-Eve Tremblay - ADVISABLE

That's No Dino! Or Is It? What Makes a Dinosaur a Dinosaur by Helaine Becker and Marie-Eve Tremblay, PICTURE BOOK Kids Can Press, 2021. $18. 9781525300233 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS  - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

All dinosaurs had some specific things in common, like a backbone, and they weren't mammals or amphibians - they had to be reptiles to be a dinosaur. They also had to live during the Mesozoic era. Each page describes a prehistoric animal, and then compares it to the growing list of Dino requirements, if any don't apply, it's not a dino! What? Not everything was a dinosaur way back then! 

Full page drawings with labels describe these ancient beasts, and the great text not only tells about the animal, but we learn about what scientists think - I love that there are several "probablys" which leave the field open for further discoveries. I feel like I know so much more about dinosaurs now!  Showing this one to my local dinosaur museum for their gift shop, and putting a copy in my middle school.

Lisa Librarian

Iris Apfel by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Kristen Barnhart - OPTIONAL

Iris Apfel (Little People Big Dreams #64) by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Kristen Barnhart BOARD BOOK Frances Lincoln Children's Books 2021. $16. 978-0711259003 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre K - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Iris Apfel always had an eye for fashion. Even as a young girl, she would play in her grandmother's fabric taking home her favorites. She attended New York University as an art history major, and eventually opened a boutique with her husband selling unique textiles. She helped 9 presidents dress the White House and even designed an exhibition of her own clothing for the Met. 

Cute pictures, and this is a fun series, but I don't see the appeal for a toddler. I think the parents will like this more than the kids.

Lisa Librarian  

The Collectors by Alice Feagan - ADVISABLE

The Collectors by Alice Feagan, PICTURE BOOK Kids Can Press, 2021. $18. 9781525302046 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Winslow and Rosie are best friends. They are collectors - gathering things to display in their tree house museum. But, there's only room for 1 more thing. Rosie finds a giant gemstone, but it's too heavy, the dig up a t-rex skull but it's too big, they spot a rainbow but it's too far away. Everything is too (something). Back home at the tree house, they are disappointed that they didn't find the perfect thing, until they see something extraordinary and unexpected. 

I loved that the girls were doing everything so scientifically - the list of things they took on their search, the cataloging, and the hunt for the perfect thing. The illustrations are great - that T-rex buried under the ground is amazing and so fun. Such a great idea. This is one of those picture books that I'm sure will be read over and over, because you spot more things with each new read.

Lisa Librarian

Maryam's Magic: The Story of Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani by Megan Reid and Aaliya Jaleel - ADVISABLE

Maryam's Magic: The Story of Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani by Megan Reid and Aaliya Jaleel. PICTURE BOOK, BIOGRAPHY Balzer + Bray (Harper Collins), 2021. $19 9780062915962 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When Maryam was young, she used to tell her sister wonderful stories, she loved bookstores and drawing the worlds she imagined. Se wanted to be a writer when she grew up. When she was twelve, her teacher introduced her to geometry, and she started to make up stories about shapes - soon, her love of math turned into acclaim, as she and her best friend won an international mathematics contest. She attended Harvard University, and as an adult, crafted mathematical formulas that actually changed the way we see the world, eventually winning the highest award given to mathematicians. 

 I loved how Maryam's interests evolved, and combined - math, art, storytelling. Aaliya Jaleel's illustrations are beautiful and colorful. A nice, concise biography of Dr. Mirzakhani. Includes a timeline and additional resources.

Lisa Librarian

Flibbertigibbety Words: Young Shakespeare Chases Inspiration by Donna Guthrie and Asa Gilland - OPTIONAL

Flibbertigibbety Words: Young Shakespeare Chases Inspiration by Donna Guthrie and Asa Gilland. PICTURE BOOK, NON-FICTION Page Street Kids, 2020. $19. 9781645670629 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Young William Shakespeare opens his window and words fly in, he tries to catch them but they elude him, into a garden, over the wall and onto the King's carriage, into the water and through the town. Finally the peddler tells William how to really capture the words. 

Certainly not historically accurate, there are things I liked - the scenes from 16th century England, and all the different people he runs around  whiletrying to catch the words, I also liked all the bits of Shakespeare's work sprinkled throughout, it was fun spotting lines I recognized. I'm glad there was glossary of sorts identifying what came from which play. On the other hand, it was a mess, because the words were running away, they were a difficult to identify, also, how was he chasing words he'd write as an adult when he's a kid - is the author implying Shakespeare took his words from something else? I really want to like this book, but I don't think it would interest someone who doesn't already love Shakespeare.

Lisa Librarian

Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma by Joanna Ho and Teresa Martínez - ADVISABLE

Playing at the Border: A Story of Yo-Yo Ma by Joanna Ho and Teresa Martínez PICTURE BOOK BIOGRAPHY Harper Collins, 2021. $18. 9780062994547 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

In April 2019, Yo-Yo Ma played a concert on the shores of the Rio Grande river, facing Mexico, hoping to build bridges rather than walls.  

Beautiful illustrations and lyrical text, more about Yo-Yo Ma than when he played at the border. I really loved how Joanna Ho tied a worldwide culture together in this story of Yo-Yo Ma, through the music, his life, even his violin. However, you would need to read the additional material at the end to find out about the Bach Project and learn that it was more than just the one event, and makes a lasting statement about immigration. I wonder if it was done this way to make the story less political?

Lisa Librarian

The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming and Nicola Slater - ADVISABLE

The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming and Nicola Slater PICTURE BOOK Sourcebooks, 2021 $18 9781728235202 

EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When a squirrel who is enjoying her beautiful autumn day by counting her leaves notices that one is missing, she looks everywhere, asks a friends to help, even asks the mouse if the leaf his is using is the missing leaf. His friend the bird explains that it is perfectly natural to lose leaves this time of year, but squirrel is even more upset the next day, as even more leaves seem to be gone. Squirrel is a wreck. 

 That crazy squirrel! Told in dialogue between the forest friends, this introduction to the changing seasons is a cute story with silly illustrations. Includes more information about autumn and squirrels at the end.

Lisa Librarian

Donut Give Up by Rose Rossner, pictures by Vanessa Matte - ADVISABLE

Donut Give Up by Rose Rossner, pictures by Vanessa Matte BOARD BOOK Sourcebooks, 2021 $9 9781728222868 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Silly food puns highlight this encouraging text with adorable illustrations of foods achieving their best. "You are one in a MELON" and "You are doing a GOUDA job" are only some of the clever growth mindset phrases the child will learn. Super cute illustrations, too.

Lisa Librarian

My Best Friend is Extinct by Rebecca Wood Barrett and Cornelia Li - ADVISABLE

My Best Friend is Extinct by Rebecca Wood Barrett, illustrated by Cornelia Li, 240 pages. Orca Book Publishers, 2021. $11

Content: G

BUYING ADIVSORY: EL(K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Henry Springs is thrilled when snow hits the new town he's just moved to with his mom. The snow seems to never stop--to a point that even old timers are speaking of a return to the Ice Age. Perhaps that is the explanation for how Henry has recently befriended an animal that was thought to be extinct, but now is very much alive and in need of Henry's help. 

This was a simple and fun middle grade read that would be wonderful to highlight during the winter season. Henry is a great main character who feels very real--the good and the bad of 10-year old boys out on display! I like the arc of Henry's story and how making an "extinct" friend helps him find his place in the human world at school, too. This could be a great read aloud for 3rd or 4th grade, specifically. 

Reviewer: TC

The Longest Storm by Dan Yaccarino - OPTIONAL

The Longest Storm by Dan Yaccarino, 40 pages. PICTURE BOOK. Astra Publishing House, 2021. $19.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The storm has been raging for days. This family of four is stuck inside all together, and they’re getting sick of each other.

Yaccarino simplifies the struggles of quarantine for young readers by talking about a family being stuck inside because of a long thunderstorm. The climax is relatable with the struggles we, as a world community, are currently facing, but the ambiguous ending feels too vague for the target audience to make personal connections with in the same way.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen