How to Apologize by David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka - ESSENTIAL

How to Apologize by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2021. $17. 9781536209440 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

When anyone makes a mistake, they need to apologize. Apologize with sincerity and make what amends you can make. 

LaRochelle’s book is needed not just for pre-schoolers, but for every grade level and on into adulthood. I’d love to know how much collaboration there was between author and illustrator for the artwork, because the animal antics are just the right fit to get the points across well. I am planning on reading this during a faculty meeting soon! 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Jacob’s Room to Choose by Sarah and Ian Hoffman - ESSENTIAL

 Jacob’s Room to Choose by Sarah and Ian Hoffman, illustrated by Chris Case.  PICTURE BOOK.  Magination Press, MAY 2019.  $18. 9781433830730

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Jacob and Sophie need to use the bathroom at school, but the older kids chase them out because they each don’t look like the picture on the door.  When they explain to their teacher, she and the kids in the class talk it through and then come up with a solution.

So many, many people need to read this book.  Kids adults, politicians, administrators – there is not one person in this world that doesn’t need to digest and ponder the less of this sweet, simple, and very necessary (unfortunately) book. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Martin Rising: Requiem for a King by the Pinkneys - ESSENTIAL

Martin Rising: Requiem for a King by Andrea and Brian Pinkney, 121 pages.  Scholastic Press, 2018. $15.  

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (mild description of riots and MLK's assassination)

EL, MS, HS, ADULT- ESSENTIAL 

This beautiful book of poems details the last months and days of Martin Luther King Jr’s life. It is divided into three sections called “Daylight,” “Darkness,” and “Dawn.” The first few poems are about this great leader’s birth, family, and potential, including a metaphorical bird named Henny Penny which is explained in the author’s reflections at the end. The poems in “Darkness” highlight Martin’s struggles with fear and the burden of leadership. The poems at the end of this section depict his last days and moments, then the mourning after the world’s great loss. “Dawn” features Coretta and other great leaders of the movement continuing on in Martin’s spirit.

The poetry and images in this book were breathtaking.  Use of alliteration, repetition, and pieces of King’s speeches make these poems come to life beautifully. I learned a lot about Martin’s last days and seeing more of his humanity made me respect this great man so much more and once again mourn his loss. This book is a perfect addition to any middle school or high school classroom and library. Some poems could be read aloud to elementary students. It would work best as curriculum, but many older teens may choose to read it own their own as well. It is very well researched. It connects the weather and words from his speeches with his impending death in such a way as to see him as a true visionary who bravely saw his own death approaching and chose to march on.

Reviewer: Stacee S., Reading Teacher

Historium by Jo Nelson - ESSENTIAL

Nelson, Jo Historium, illustrated by Richard Wilkinson, 96 pages. NON-FICTION.  Templar Company Limited, 2015, $35. Language: G Rating: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

Enjoy a walk through a world history museum through the pages of this fascinating book.  This beautifully illustrated book travels through time and highlights some of the most important artifacts from different continents.  The following areas are included Africa, America, Asia, Europe, The Middle East, and Oceania.  I love the layout of this book and how the illustrations help to tell the story.  You’ll find such treasures as the Buddha head, the Mayan Calendar, an Ancient Greek Marble Temple column, to a double headed mosaic just to name a few.

The illustrations and descriptions keep you moving through the book pretty quickly.  My only complaint is the size of the book is fairly large.  It’s 11”x 15”  It will struggle to fit on a regular library shelf.  I enjoyed the page that shows a  timeline of key artifacts and when the were created.  It helps the students get a visual.  I’m captivated by the history and the perfect snapshot that is gives of ancient times.

EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL, Emilee, Library Teacher

Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic by Armand Baltazar - ESSENTIAL

Baltazar, Armand Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic (Timeless #1), 607 pages.  Katherine Tegen (HarperCollins), 2017.  $20.  

Language: PG (10 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some battles).

After the scientists tore a hole in the space-time continuum, the world has resettled with people, animals, and scenery from all the world’s history mixed together and electrical devices don’t work.  While the fighting has stopped for the most part, there are still those who want everything to go back to where it was and they will stop at nothing to accomplish that – even kidnap the world’s best scientists, including Diego’s father.  Together with his best friend Petey, Lily, who is raised as a proper Steam-Time girl and her best friend Paige, they take off in pursuit of Diego’s and Lily’s fathers.  They are picked up by what they think are pirates, but it turns out they have found a secret organization determined to stop the Aeternum - those who would reorganize the world – killing off all the children who have been born in this new era.

Such a poor description for such a wonderful book!  Bathazar’s years working with Disney shine through in his story and his illustrations.  At first I was alarmed at how heavy the book was because of the special paper for the brilliant illustrations.  I find this a perfect melding of text and pictures!  I can’t imagine that this won’t be a movie – I’m betting Balthazar already has the screenplay written!  Even though younger kids will definitely love this, I can see high school students enjoying it too.

EL, MS, HS – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher.

Optical Physics for Babies by Chris Ferrie - ADVISABLE

Ferrie, Chris Optical Physics for Babies.  BOARD BOOK.  Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2017.  $10.

A quick look at optical physics and light refraction with a heavy emphasis on rainbow optics.  Makes sense, because rainbows are a property of refraction that everyone looks for after a rainy day.  

Great for a science teacher friend at any level of education.  My science teachers liked this one a lot.  Even my optometrist husband gave this one a thumbs up.  I really do think that even small children can understand this relationship after going through this a few times.  I guess the real question is – will they care?  I think of this series like Jennifer Adams’s BabyLit books – they are more for the adults than for the children.  I would really suggest buying these for your school library for your science teachers to use.

Pre-K, EL, MS, HS, GIFT – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

The Unexpected Love Story of Alfred Fiddleduckling by Erin - ESSENTIAL

Ering, Timothy Basil The Unexpected Love Story of Alfred Fiddleduckling. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick Press, 2017. $15.99. Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

The story begins with Captain Alfred as he plays his fiddle for his new ducks and dog on his small boat.  Nestled in his fiddle case is a single duck egg, a present for his wife.  He chose to name the near-to-hatching duckling, Alfred Fiddleducklin'.  A storm arrives and an hour later, the seas are finally calm and the egg hatches alone, floating in the fiddle case.  The duckling feels frightened until he sees an object and swims over to it.  The duckling hugs the fiddle to him and is filled with joy.  Alfred is magically able to play the fiddle and its beautiful sound comforts him until he reaches land.  As he tries to find his way to a home he's never seen, the reader travels with him, hoping for a happy ending. 

This children's book was intended for children, age 2 to 5, but I found that it was a delightful read for any age.  I read the book with my 16 & 12yo daughters and 8yo son; all were equally taken with the sweet character and beautiful artwork.  The story has just the right amount of narrative and tension, then let's the illustrations say the rest.

PRE-K, EL(K-3), EL-ESSENTIAL; MS, HS-OPTIONAL  Stacee S. Reading teacher

Carrot & Pea: An Unlikely Friendship by Morag Hood - ADVISABLE

Hood, Morag Carrot & Pea: An Unlikely Friendship. PICTURE BOOK. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017. $16.99. Content: G. 

Lee is pea and Colin is a carrot. They are nothing alike and so many of the things Lee and his friends can do--like roll or bounce--Colin cannot do. He is nothing like Lee and all his other pea friends, but that does not matter. Lee and Colin like each other not in spite of, but because of, their differences. 

There is so much heart to this simple picture book. The message of appreciating our differences and being friends with those who are not exactly like us is wonderful and easily applicable in a variety of classroom settings. I liked that the author did not muddy the waters of her message and story with anything fancy; its literally just a bunch of peas and a carrot and some simple text. And yet its a beautiful book I think should be in every school library and read often. The book will appeal most to younger elementary students, but I think it would be a good book for use in classrooms all the way up to high school. 

Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL--ESSENTIAL, MS, HS--ADVISABLE. Reviewer: TC