The Boy Who Failed Dodgeball by Jordan Sonnenblick - HIGH

The Boy Who Failed Dodgeball by Jordan Sonnenblick, 250 pages. Scholastic, 2022, $18. 

Content G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

6th grader Jordan is navigating a mine field as he encounters his first crush, multiple trips to the principal’s office, and a variety of creative and harmful injuries, that mixed with asthma and anxiety make you wonder how Jordan survives his new school.

Told with plenty of humor, this is a follow-up to Jordan’s fourth grade experience, The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell, though you don’t have to read them in order. Jordan’s story is relatable if you’ve ever had to deal with bullies, mishaps or a teacher who seems to hate you. I liked Jordan’s character and his pluck that sees him through every misadventure. You’ll find yourself cheering for him even when he makes dumb decisions. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Scout is Not a Band Kid by Jade Armstrong - HIGH

Scout is Not a Band Kid by Jade Armstrong, 266 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. RH Graphic (Penguin Random House). 2022. $21

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

8th grade Scout is totally into comics and wants to meet her favorite author at the end of the year. The only way she can scheme to get to the festival is to join the Holy Moly Catholic school band. Scout knows nothing about band but that doesn’t stop her from pretending to know how to play the trombone. The only other trombonist, Merrin, is at first excited, but then horrified when she discovers Scout doesn’t even care about learning trombone. Merrin’s life revolves around her trombone and getting a music scholarship.

Fun story about finding yourself and following your dreams, no matter what they are. Merrin and Scout clash, but the journey is delightful and both discover things about each other and themselves. The art is strong and colorful and you will soon be cheering for both Merrin and Scout. 

 Michelle in the Middle 

Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Gabriela Epstein - ESSENTIAL

Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, illustrated by Gabriela Epstein, 202 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Scholastic. 2022. $13

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Five middle school students who have nothing in common besides the fact that they all speak Spanish, are stuck together to complete their school’s community service hours. When they encounter someone truly in need, they have to decide if they will step up, even if it means they might not remain invisible, their way of coping in middle school.

Told partly in both English and Spanish, this book is a must. It will help readers of either language understand both better. This would be a great transition book for English Language Learners or English readers who want insight into other cultures. Being invisible is a too often employed strategy for students getting through a school system that feels uncomfortable. Love the premise and how different kids can come together to help someone in need and change themselves in the process. 

 Michelle in the Middle 

Miguel's Community Garden by JaNay Brown-Wood and Samara Hardy - ADVISABLE

Miguel's Community Garden by JaNay Brown-Wood, illustrated by Samara Hardy. PICTURE BOOK. Peachtree, 2022. $17. 9781682631669

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Miguel, an elementary age kid, is looking for sunflowers for his garden party. He knows the physical characteristics of sunflowers such as their height, color and texture, but now he has to find some. He goes walking around the community garden looking for them. At first all Miguel can find are asparagus, peaches, mushrooms etc. But luckily in the end Miguel is able to find some sunflowers just in time and even gets to munch on some of his discoveries along the way. Even though the plot was very simple, I liked the way the story was told. The illustrations really added to the story. It was neat to see how all of the different vegetables grew in the garden. For example, it showed how asparagus grows in the ground, and how mulberries grow in clusters. My 3 year old enjoyed it and found it fun to compare the what Miguel found to the physical characteristics of a sunflower.

A. Criswell, English Language Teacher 

One Turtle's Last Straw by Elisa Boxer and Marta Alvarez Miguens

One Turtle's Last Straw The Real-Life Rescue that Sparked a Sea Change by Elisa Boxer, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens. PICTURE BOOK. Crown Books for Young Readers (Random), 2022. 18. 9780593372463

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This non-fiction book starts off by explaining, just by accident, how a plastic straw makes its way into the ocean. Turtles hunt using their sense of smell. As this straw falls into the ocean, a turtle happens to be swimming by and accidentally inhales the straw up its nostril. It can't smell and therefore has a hard time finding food. Luckily, some marine biologists were nearby and were able to pull the straw from the turtle's nose.

There is an Author's Note and short articles about how to stop polluting the ocean. I really enjoyed this book because it was about a real-life event that changed how we view and act about pollution getting into our waters. The story was fun and engaging even while teaching the reader an important story. My 3 yr. old loved it and felt very bad for the turtle.

A. Criswell, English Language Teacher 

The Blur by Minh Lê and Dan Santat - ESSENTIAL

  The Blur by Minh Lê, illustrated by Dan Santat. PICTURE BOOK. Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random), 2022. $19. 9780593377468

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The Blur is the superhero alter-ego of our child protagonist. The picture book chronicles the growing pains and delights of raising a small child into adulthood, with time passing in a blur.

Perfect for the new empty nesters in your life, The Blur is both sweetly reminiscent of early childhood and humorously realistic of the ups-and-downs of raising a young child. The illustrations were heartfelt and a perfect companion to the sweet story. Dan Santat is a name to watch. I would pair this picture book with any coming of age story like The Graveyard Book or to serve as a mentor text for a personal narrative writing assignment for seniors about to graduate high school.

BookswithBeddes 

Wildflower by Melanie Brown and Sara Gillingham - ADVISABLE

Wildflower by Melanie Brown, illustrated by Sara Gillingham. PICTURE BOOK. Greystone Kids, 2022. $18. 9781771649063

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Daisy, a flower who had just recently bloomed, learns that she is a considered a weed. Some of her fellow flowers, Rose, Sage, and Sweet Pea, explain to Daisy that she wasn't planted intentionally in the garden, so therefore she is a weed. Daisy begins to feel bad about herself and realizes she is different than every other flower in the garden. Then a new "weed" blooms in the garden and Daisy realizes that it is OK to be different and that every flower is special. Even dandelions and daisies have a place in the garden.

The illustrations were very cute, but the plot didn't draw me in. It was very predictable. The dialogue didn't catch my 3 year old's attention. It had a good overall message about embracing your differences.

A. Criswell, English Language Teacher 

Build! By Red Nose Studio - ADVISABLE

Build! By Red Nose Studio. PICTURE BOOK. Anne Schwartz Books (Penguin), 2022. $18. 9780593376119

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A child master builder uses a toy excavator, bull dozer, dump truck, forklift and other machines to move toy rocks and blocks to build a one of a kind creation. Will it stand?

I enjoyed the way Build! Engages the reader with a simple word on each page explaining what is happening. The illustrations are made of old fashioned wooden earth moving trucks, toy rocks, blocks, cardboard, and other items found at home. It is fun to look at the details and progress of the child builder in each illustration. This book will delight every young truck lover!

PGPowers 

Growing an Artist by John Parra: the story of a landscaper and his son by John Parra - ADVISABLE

Growing an Artist by John Parra: the story of a landscaper and his son by John Parra. PICTURE BOOK. Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2022. $19. 9781534469273

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Juanito likes to draw and wants to become an artist. His Father is a landscape contractor, owns a landscaping business, and feels Juanito is now old enough to come to work with him. Juanito brings his sketchbook to draw anything interesting. Juanito helps with the mowing and planting. His father even lets him draw a landscape design for one of the yards he is working on. John Parra creates an engaging book about the bond of a father and son.

I enjoyed the story of how the father nourished his son’s artistic talent as well as teaching him life skills. The illustrations were enjoyable and imaginative.

PGPowers 

Serengeti: Plains of Grass by Leslie Bulion and Becca Stadtlander - OPTIONAL

Serengeti: Plains of Grass by Leslie Bulion, illustratd by Becca Stadtlander. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Peachtree, 2022. $19. 9781682631911

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

This non-fiction picture book teaches you about different animals that live in the Serengeti ecosystem. There is a brief introduction of the animals in general and how the weather affects their migration. Then, each page features a different animal. You learn through poems and captions about many interesting species. There is a glossary, as well as suggestions for further research and reading.

I didn't particularly enjoy this book. The poems didn't have a rhyme scheme and weren't very interesting. I liked the captions because they were very interesting facts. It got to be a bit long and repetitive.

A. Criswell, English Language Teacher 

Beyond the Burrow by Jessica Meserve - ADVISABLE

Beyond the Burrow by Jessica Meserve. PICTURE BOOK. Peachtree, 2022. $18. 9781682633755

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

One day, Rabbit, who lived with many other rabbits, tried to grab a carrot and ended up falling into a hole. The hole, however, was not the right one to its burrow, so it started to become afraid of its new surrounding. It eventually fell out of the hole and met an aardvark. At first Rabbit was fearful of this new animal because it looked so different, but they became friends. Rabbit learned to not be afraid of something just because it was a new experience.

I liked the message of the book and how it was presented to kids. Younger kids will like it because the illustrations are humorous. Older students could read it to find the theme.

A. Criswell, English Language Teacher 

Air Miles by John Burningham, Bill Salaman and Helen Oxenbury - ESSENTIAL

Air Miles by John Burningham and Bill Salaman, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2021. $19. 9780857552198

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Miles is an old dog. His owner, Norman, is sad because Miles doesn't want to play games anymore. It hurts to walk, so Miles doesn't want to be as active. When he was younger, Miles used to drive a car that his neighbor had made especially for him. So when Norman notices that Miles is slowing down, he goes to see his neighbor to see what to do. His neighbor builds Miles an airplane. One day, Miles went flying his new airplane into the sky.

I liked the symbolism of the car and the airplane. Having recently put down my dog of 13 years, this book really hit home. I liked how simple it seemed, yet how deep it actually was. This helped my 3 year old daughter make a connection as to what happened with her dog. 

A. Criswell, English Language Teacher 

The Three Princes of Serendip by Rodaan Al Galidi and Geertje Aalders - HIGH

The Three Princes of Serendip by Rodaan Al Galidi , translated by Laura Watkinson. Illustrated by Geertje Aalders, 123 pages. Candlewick Press , 2017. $19

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G ; Violence: PG (sword fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The Three Princes of Serendip is a beautiful story book filled with even more beautiful illustrations. It tells the tales of soldiers, turtles, lions, woodcutters and many more all in a gorgeous setting. Each story follows your typical fairytale trope but branches off with more diverse and interesting characters, each with motives and hardships. Hardships that they learn from and it creates a moral theme for the reader to learn from.

I really did enjoy this book, it was a refreshing difference from what I normally read. The illustrations are beautiful and I read some of these stories to my 6 year old sister and she loved them! I loved that the stories were short, so one could read them in a timely manner! Recommend for children and their families!

Student Reviewer Kenzie Hoehne, Student Reviewer https://www.kingsenglish.com/book/9781536214505

My Blue Ribbon Horse by Elizabeth Letts and Kayla Harren - ESSENTIAL

My Blue Ribbon Horse The True Story of The Eighty-Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts, illustrated by Kayla Harren. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2022. $19. 9780593173855

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Harry, a horse trainer, bought a white horse at an auction for eighty dollars. He brought it home to his family, and his daughter, Harriet, decided to name it Snowman. Because no one wanted to ride Snowman, the family had to sell him. Surprisingly enough, Snowman kept jumping fences to come back to the family. Harry then decided to train Snowman to become a jumper and compete. After a few months, Snowman was entered into a jumping competition. The plot was well paced and fun to read. The pictures were great and really added to the text. My 3 year old daughter enjoyed the text and the illustrations as well. This would definitely appeal to all elementary grades.

A. Criswell, English Language Teacher 

Tricks are Treats by Disney Books - HIGH

Tricks are Treats by Disney Books. PICTURE BOOK. Disney Press, 2022. $6 (paperback). 9781368076999

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Usually we read books about Disney's protagonists, not necessarily about they antagonists, but this book features a different Disney villain on each page. Without actually introducing who they are, the text has fun rhyme schemes that gives hints as to why each character is a villain, and what they do that is so villainous. The rhyming words are written in a different font and color so that they stand out. Written in first person, this is a fun book for Disney fans.

Disney characters are always fun. I liked the rhyme scheme and how the rhyming words stood for readers. It had good word choice, and gave the reader a little more background about these Disney villains. This was a little text heavy for my 3 year old, but she still enjoyed it. She hasn't seen all of the Disney movies yet, so some of the villains were unfamiliar to her.

A. Criswell, English Language Teacher 

Make Way for Animals! A World of Wildlife Crossings by Meeg Pincus and Bao Luu - ESSENTIAL

Make Way for Animals! A World of Wildlife Crossings by Meeg Pincus, illustrated by Bao Luu. NON FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Millbrook Press (Lerner), 2022. $20. 9781541589384

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Humans are constantly building roads that transect natural spaces in the world. We just can't help it; we need to expand. Many wild animals have begun to struggle with navigating around man-made structures. This non-fiction picture book gives examples from around the world of how man has built structures to help these animal species continues to migrate and move where they need to go. For example, in the Netherlands, there is a bridge for badgers and in New Zealand, there is an underground tunnel for penguins to cross beneath a road.

This book includes captions with higher level thinking and vocabulary so that all ages can enjoy and learn something. I liked how the storyline was easy to understand for younger readers, yet there were captions on each page for older readers. It was interesting to see different examples of structures that were built to help different animal species around the world. I liked the last few pages that had real life pictures and gave even more information on these structures. It made me want to learn more about this subject. My 3 year old daughter thought it was hilarious and immediately wanted to re-read it.

A. Criswell, English Language Teacher 

Sylvie by Jean Reidy and Lucy Ruth Cummins - ADVISABLE

Sylvie by Jean Reidy, illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins. PICTURE BOOK. Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Simon), 2022. $19. 9781534463486

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Sylvie, the spider, lives underneath a fire escape in the city. She is able to drop down and visit people that live in the building. She watches them every day. One day, however, she realizes that something isn't quite right with them. So by taking, a big risk, she steps out into the daylight and leads all of the people to the top of the building. This might just make things "just right" for the tenants of Sylvie's building.

Sylvie was a cute book overall, but the storyline was hard to follow. It left out too many details of what was going on. After reading it, you get an overall sense that it was a fun book, but the text wasn't very engaging.

A Criswell, English Language Teacher 

Look Twice by Giuliano Ferri - ESSENTIAL

Look Twice by Giuliano Ferri. BOARD BOOK. mineditionUS, 2022. $13. 9781662650994

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

There is more to this board book than meets the eye. What appears to be at first a ladybug turns into a pig's nose. A bird resting in the water turns into alligators snapping at birds. A field of flowers is actually part of a lion's mane.

This board book has great illustrations with cut outs so that you can see the next page. You need to keep reading to see who the speaker of the book is at the end of the book. The illustrations were colorful and engaging. The way the pictures followed each other with cut outs in the pages made it fun to predict what would be on the next page. My 3 year old daughter loved this book and immediately wanted to reread it so that she could see how all of the images made sense. 

A. Criswell, English Langue Teacher 

Noodle and the No Bones Day by Jonathan Graziano and Dan Tavis - HIGH

Noodle and the No Bones Day by Jonathan Graziano, illustrated by Dan Tavis. PICTURE BOOK. Margaret K McElderry Books, 2022. $19. 9781665927109

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Noodle, an old pug, lives a pretty good life for a dog. His owner, Jonathan, takes him on walks, feeds him table scraps, and plays with him every day. One day, however, Noodle decides he doesn't want to do any of those things. He'd rather lay in his bed and rest. Jonathan tries everything, but to no avail. Noodle wanted to have a "no bones day" - aka a relaxing day. Now Jonathan and Noodle can can busy "bones" days and "no bones" days. As long as they are together and sharing snacks, they are both happy.

The book had a good message that you don't always have to be busy and doing activities together in order to be happy. Sometimes, you just need to relax and enjoy each other's company from the comfort of your couch. I didn't find this picture book to stand out above others, however, my 3 year old daughter has requested me to reread this multiple times already. She loves how the dog is silly and enjoys the pictures.

A. Criswell, English Language Teacher 

The Path by Bob Staake - ESSENTIAL

The Path by Bob Staake. PICTURE BOOK. mineditionUS, 2022. $19. 9781662650635

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Written in second person, this picture book walks you through life by using a path as a metaphor to different stage in life. The path is described as being and looking different all of the time. Sometimes the path is "wildflowers bathed in the warm sunlight," while other times it might lead into a scary cave. But not matter what, don't forget to persevere because the path can always surprise you. Most of all, it's important to remember that all paths are different, and you can always change or alter your path if you want to.

The message was beautifully written. I could see this used for many lessons in an Elementary setting. The character who is walking on the path is very cute and the pictures are wonderful. My 3 year old daughter enjoyed the simplicity of this book, even though the message was over her head. This could be used with many different age groups.

A. Criswell, English Language Teacher https://www.kingsenglish.com/book/9781662650635

Don't Eat Bees by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt. - HIGH

Don't Eat Bees (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog) by Dev Petty, illustrated by Mike Boldt. PICTURE BOOK. Doubleday Books for Young Readers (Random House), 2022. 18. 9780593433126

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Chip, a 7 year old dog, explains to young readers some funny "life lessons" that all dogs should know. The plot is a bunch of "Do this" for dogs. For example, Chip says "Do: eat socks because the only reason why socks come in pairs is so that dogs can chew on one, and there is still one left over for later." Also, Do eat kids' homework. That way, it will force the child to stay home longer to redo their homework and also hang out with the dog. Chip only knows one "Don't," and that is to eat bees. He tries to listen to this rule throughout the whole book, but will he able to avoid eating bees forever?

The illustrations were cute. The plot tried to be funny, but didn't capture my 3 year old daughter's interest much. The humor was a bit over her head still. Young elementary age kids will find this funny because Chip, the dog, thinks he is so smart, but in reality, he isn't. At the end of the book, the cat suggests that he try to eat a cactus and he seems very willing and eager.

A Criswell, English Language Arts 

The Little Prince: My Book of Feelings by Corinne Delporte - OPTIONAL

The Little Prince: My Book of Feelings by Corinne Delporte, 22 pages. PICTURE BOOK. CrackBoom! Books (Chouette Publishing), 2022. $13.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The Little Prince helps readers learn about feelings. Using examples of when The Little Prince has experienced different emotions, he helps readers recognize and express what they feel too.

Delporte uses the Little Prince characters to make a short, informative book geared toward a young audience. I felt like the word choice wasn’t always consistent with the young audience, and some of the explanations are stated as fact when they are simply one way those emotions can be expressed. Overall, though, the message is still good for children learning about their emotions.

The Little Prince is depicted as White in the illustrations.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Race for the Escape by Christopher Edge - ADVISABLE

Race for the Escape by Christopher Edge, 176 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House Children’s), 2022. $17.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Ami likes puzzles, so she’s excited to try this escape room place her dad found and solve puzzles with a team. The theme is to find the Answer and save the world, which sounds like fun, until the first room catches on fire. It doesn’t really feel like a game anymore.

The escape rooms were vague in directions and solutions, and a lot of things didn’t feel right as Ami kept going room to room. Edge built up to the conclusion – and the twist! – well, but the vagueness continued through the last page. The hope is for readers to realize that, like Ami, we can find the Answer and help save the world – like Edge has written Ami’s story more for inspiration and empowerment than for entertainment.

Ami is implied White, though the depiction of her on the cover is not definitive. Adjoa is described as having “dark brown” skin (and the cover backs up the description), Oscar is implied White, and Ibrahim’s and Min’s races are undefined. The violence rating is for blood and death.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Literary Critters by Zondervan - ADVISABLE

Literary Critters: William Shakesbear’s Journey for Inspiration by Zondervan, 32 pages. PICTURE BOOK. Zonderkidz, 2022. $18.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

William Shakesbear is out of ideas and needs help! Hopefully, visiting his friends from the Literary Critters Guild will inspire William before he goes into hibernation.

A cute story that is as much about entertaining adults with references to classic authors in the text and illustrations as it is about encouraging young readers to write. Edgar Talon Crow is definitely my favorite reference. After chuckling my way through this book, I’m ready to find an idea of my own to write about and join the ranks of the Literary Critters Guild.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

 

Vaccines: A Graphic History by Paige V. Polinsky - OPTIONAL

Vaccines: A Graphic History (Medical Breakthroughs) by Paige V. Polinsky, illustrated by Dante Ginevra, 32 pages. NON-FICTION GRAPHIC NOVEL. Graphic Universe (Lerner), 2022. $10

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Divided into 4 chapters, this thin graphic non-fiction volume introduces the reader to vaccines. The first chapter explains how vaccines work and how different kinds of vaccines are developed. The second chapter presents the history of fighting the smallpox virus which was known as the speckled monster. The third chapter traces vaccine advancements made for rabies, whooping cough, and polio, as well as the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella). It also mentions some backlash by the public against vaccines. The final chapter examines a particular panic about vaccines which was sparked by a later discredited 1998 study that linked vaccines with autism. The chapter concludes by mentioning some more recent vaccine discoveries such as for N1H1, Ebola, and COVID-19.

With additional material at the end (Source Notes, Glossary, Further Information, and Index), this graphic novel is a simple introduction of the history of vaccines that avoids mentioning, let alone examining, any of the problematic aspects of this history (such as using their own children as guinea pigs, or human embryos). Most of the text is provided in text boxes rather than speech bubbles, and the speech bubbles that are included don’t add anything to the story or information being presented. The illustrations themselves are also fairly static and colorless. That being said, the graphic-novel format may attract more readers than if presented in another format and information about vaccines is a timely topic.

Reviewer: Pamela K. Foster, MLS, elementary school teacher-librarian

The Undercover Book List by Colleen Nelson - ADVISABLE

The Undercover Book List by Colleen Nelson, 258 pages. CHAPTER BOOK. Pajama Press, 2021. $18

Language: PG (1 G-word); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

At the beginning of the story, 12yo Jane’s best friend Sierra is moving away. They’ve been dreading this day since the start of seventh grade, but Sierra has an idea. She hides a message in the library book Liar and Spy and leaves Jane with only a clue about it. The mystery of figuring out this clue and then exchanging notes and book recommendations to someone known only as Y helps ease the sting of her friend’s absence. She also misses her dad who is stationed overseas and is determined to see the Kid Lit Quiz team succeed, despite having lost both a teammate (Sierra) and their previous coach. Jane’s classmate Tyson loves doing pranks, even though they often get him in trouble. When he sees Jane hiding a note in a library book, he is curious. He decides to prank her by responding, but finds he really likes these exchanges and eventually becomes part of the Kid Lit Quiz team.

The chapters alternate between first-person Jane’s voice and Tyson’s story told in third-person. The characters slowly grow satisfactorily both as individuals and as friends. This is a solid realistic fiction for any middle-grade library. It convincingly portrays school friendships and family relationships while also honoring some great works of children’s literature. Be ready to point the readers of this book to the other wonderful books referenced throughout the story (and listed in the back).

Reviewer: Pamela K. Foster, MLS, elementary school teacher-librarian