Welcome Back, Maple Mehta-Cohen by Kate McGovern - ESSENTIAL

Welcome Back, Maple Mehta-Cohen by Kate McGovern, 278 pages. Candlewick Press, 2021. $17 

Language: G (1 swear); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL-ESSENTIAL; MS-ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Intelligent, creative 5th grader Maple Mehta-Cohen, has always faked her way through school, hiding the fact that when she looks at words, she can’t understand them. But her teacher noticed and now she has to repeat fifth grade, while her best friends move on to sixth grade. Maple feels embarrassed, and as she starts fifth grade again, she secretly tells Jack Wells, who is new and also in the lowest reading group, that she is repeating fifth grade as a special teacher’s helper. Now she is in the middle of a story of mystery and intrigue, not unlike the stories that she loves to create.

This was a cute story about learning differences, discovering your talents, family and friendship. Maple is a storyteller, and the author does a great job of having one voice for the narrative, and another voice for Maple’s stories. I felt like some of the characters should have been more developed, but Maple is well developed and it’s her story, so that is good. This story would be an essential read aloud for any older child with a learning difference to help them discover that their disability is not the most important part of who they are. Maple is a Hin-Jew, as her parents call her - Dad is Indian; Mom is Jewish.

Reviewer: J. Rosskopf 

The Night Bus Hero by Onjali Q. Rauf - OPTIONAL

The Night Bus Hero by Onjali Q. Rauf, 239 pages. Delacorte (Random), 2022. $17. 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

10yo Hector is always up for jokes and pranks. When he is bested by a homeless man in the park, however, Hector takes things too far and sends the man’s entire cart of belongings into the pond. The next time Hector sees Thomas, the homeless man, something strange happens – all the lights in downtown London are clicked off and something important is stolen. No one will believe Hector when he tries to tell, especially Mei Li, a girl from Hector’s grade, who knows Thomas from her work at a homeless food kitchen. The more Hector tries to prove Thomas is the culprit, the less sure Hector is that Thomas really is the bad guy. 

If the book sounds complicated, that’s because it is. And the bit of magical realism/mechanical magic in the book don’t help – Hector is not very interesting and the book didn’t hold my attention. Hector and his family default to white (no descriptions) and while there are some ethnic sounding names, none of that matters within the context of the book. 

 Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Bearnard Writes a Book by Deborah Underwood and Misa Saburi - ADVISABLE

Bearnard Writes a Book by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Misa Saburi. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2022. $19. 9781250261458 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Now that Bearnard has his own book, he wants his BFF Gertie to have a book too. He needs some help though, so he follows the map of Storybook Land thru the library for research - Character City, Setting Village, Problem Plaza. With a stop at The Writer’s Room, Bearnard thinks he might be done, but realizes his story is short and boring. Luckily, he can REVISE! 

What a cute look at the story-writing process! I would even read this to any level that teaches Creative Writing. 

 Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

With Great Power: The Marvelous Stan Lee by Annie Hunter Eriksen and Lee Gatlin - OPTIONAL

With Great Power: The Marvelous Stan Lee by Annie Hunter Eriksen, illustrated by Lee Gatlin. Page Street Kids, 2021. $19. 9781645672852 

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS – ESSENTIAL; EL - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Born in 1922, Stan Lee was Stanley Lieber, a skinny kid living in a tiny apartment in the Bronx. At 16 he took is first job as an errand boy at Timely Comics, working up to editor before he turned 20. After decades of formulaic heroes, in the 1960’s Lee and his collaborators introduced the Fantastic Four, ushering in the Marvel era of flawed superheroes based on Lee’s deep love of mythology and horror from his own childhood. 

A definite for adult lovers of all things Marvel. Kids will see it more as a novelty. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Animal Toolkit by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page - ESSENTIAL

The Animal Toolkit by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Houghton Mifflin, AUGUST 2022. $18. 9780358244448 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Jenkins and Page explore several animals that use tools in their daily life. The illustrations convey the right feel – much better than photographs. I was worried that the text might be too much, but after the intro, it is just right and has plenty of humor to balance the facts. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Spots and the Dots by Helen Baugh and Marion Deuchars - ESSENTIAL

The Spots and the Dots by Helen Baugh, illustrated by Marion Deuchars. PICTURE BOOK. Anderson Press, 2020. $18. 9781728438900 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

The red Spots and the blue Dots live on opposite sides of a hill. Both the Spots and the Dots are scared and suspicious of each other, until one baby red Spot and one baby blue Dot meet. 

 This adorable story about the red Spots and the blue Dots teaches children to not be scared of people different from them. It’s simply illustrated, with bright greens, reds, and blues, and the author does a great job keeping the story entertaining with rhythmic text. 

 ELLSBELLS 

Sunrise Dance by Serena Gingold Allen and Teagan White - ADVISABLE

Sunrise Dance by Serena Gingold Allen, illustrated by Teagan White. BOARD BOOK. Chronicle Books LLC, 2021. $13. 9781452174051 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Through this interactive tale, come see what many playful animals do to get ready for a beautiful and fun new day. 

This simple board book teaches children about different animals and their environments. It invites the child to go have adventures and to play. The illustrations are beautiful but slightly muted in color for a children's book, however, there are multiple pull-tabs in the board book to keep any young child entertained. 

ELLSBELLS 

Trees by Tony Johnson, illustrated by Tiffany Bozie - ESSENTIAL

Trees by Tony Johnson, illustrated by Tiffany Bozie. PICTURE BOOK. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021. $18. 9781534475175 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Come jump into the life and unique characteristics of trees. Trees reach for the sky, trees grow strong, trees give shade, trees give us a place to read and a place to play. Come learn more about the majestic world they create for us. 

 The strong point of Johnson's book is the awe-inspiring illustrations. Each new page compels the reader to go on a hike, climb a tree, or simply spend more time in nature. Each page has a different type of tree with a description of each tree in the back of the book. Along with beautiful illustrations, the poetic text invites the children to truly celebrate and embrace trees and nature as friends. 

ELLSBELLS 

The Froggies Do Not Want to Sleep by Adam Gustavson and Adam Gustavson - ADVISABLE

The Froggies Do Not Want to Sleep by Adam Gustavson, illustrated by Adam Gustavson. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2021. $17. 9781580895248 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K -ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

It is time for the froggies to go to sleep, but they have a different idea! They are having much more fun with burping contests, practicing their accordions, or jousting like knights. Their adventures take them from underwater seas to outer space, until some tickles and squeezes from a certain alien life form bring them back to bed. 

This picture book is full of fun and exciting moments for an energetic child to enjoy during bedtime. The text is simple yet engaging. Each illustrated page exhibits the creative and comical adventures the froggies go on, which is sure to make any child giggle. Both parent and child will love reading this book for those bedtimes when snuggles and quiet time won’t quite cut it. 

 Reviewer: ELLSBELL

The Book of Rules by Brian Gehrlein and Tom Knight - ESSENTIAL

The Book of Rules by Brian Gehrlein, illustrated by Tom Knight. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2021. $19. 9780374314545 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

If you don’t follow the Book’s rules, Dennis will eat you. 

Warning! DO NOT READ AHEAD – Dennis might eat you! I do not want to give anything way for the first time you read Gehrlein’s book. I promise, not only will you love it, but you will read it to many, many classes soon and in the future. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Bad Mood by Moritz Petz and Amelie Jackowski - ADVISABLE

The Bad Mood by Moritz Petz, illustrated by Amelie Jackowski. PICTURE BOOK. North South, 2021. $18. 9780735844643 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

When Badger wakes up in a bad mood, he decides that everyone around needs to know. He doesn’t realize until later, that his bad mood acted as a catalyst that sent everyone else into funks too. Maybe he can do something to make a change for good this time? 

Petz’s book starts off as an excellent example of how contagious a bad mood and rudeness can be. The abrupt end, with Badger throwing a party for everyone and a super short apology, lacks the depth that even a couple of more pages with a less superficial “party” solution would have made this essential. I like the illustrtaions – they have a moodiness to them that is different from the cartoon-like illustrations I am used to. 

 Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Walking for Water: how one boy stood up for gender equality by Susan Hughes and Nicole Miles - ADVISABLE

Walking for Water: how one boy stood up for gender equality by Susan Hughes, illustrated by Nicole Miles. Kids Can, 2021. $18. 9781525302497 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

While Victor and his friends run off to school, his twin sister Linesi and the other girls in their African village still have to haul water so that their mothers can concentrate on other chores. When his teacher one day talks about “equality”, Victor realizes that if she can’t get to school, Linesi will never have the same chances he will. Maybe there is something he can do to change that. 

At first I was skeptical about Hughes “feel good” story – a nice dream, I thought. But the back matter explains that this is based on the true story of a boy in a small Malawi village who did change things for his sister and other village girls. That makes this a precious story how something small can lift-up everyone. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS