Hooked by Tommy Greenwald - ADVISABLE

Greenwald, Tommy Hooked, illustrations by David McPhail.  Roaring Brook (Macmillan), 2018.  $17.  9781596439962.

A little boy loves to go fishing, but his Dad is not willing to participate.  When the boy has to have a parent with him on an ice fishing expedition, he is worried that his father will hate it.  Instead, they build bonds and his Dad is hooked.

What an interesting role reversal for the son and father – you must admit, it is usually the other way around on a fishing trip.  McPhail’s illustrations really add a dose of sweetness to this book.  This would be a great gift for a fisherman in you life, too.

EL (K-3), EL, GIFT – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher

A Storytelling of Ravens by Kyle Lukoff - OPTIONAL

Lukoff, Kyle A Storytelling of Ravens, pictures by Natalie Nelson.  PICTURE BOOK.  Groundwood Books, 2018.  $19.  978-1554989126

Lukoff tries to bring sly humor to the collective nouns that we use for animal groups.  Unfortunately the meanings will be lost on a young audience.  The stylized illustrations are colorful and amusing.  This might be useful in an older (high school) class as a short exercise in creative writing or illustration, but getting a high school teacher to use a picture book is a different struggle in and of itself.

HS – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Home Sweet Home by Mia Cassany - OPTIONAL

Cassany, Mia Home Sweet Home, illustrated by Paula Blumen.  Frances Lincoln (Quarto), 2017.  $17.  9781786031136.

Travel the world through the eyes of a variety of pets.

The goal of this book is admirable, but it falls quite short.  Instead of traveling all over the world, we see 17 homes in 12 different countries.  I find it odd that the author repeats the Netherlands, France, and Spain twice and the US three times.  I love the Netherlands more than your normal American, but really? Most of the animals are dogs, the cats that are pictured are mostly black (10 out of 12), and the only other animals are a turtle and two pigeons.  Why didn’t the author and illustrator reflect the variety of animals that people around the world call pets? I could like this just for the illustrations, showing a slice of the world and its varying human habitats, but the flaws outweigh the strengths.

EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

Seed Man by Aiko Ikegami - OPTIONAL

Ikegami, Aiko Seed Man.  PICTURE BOOK.  Sleeping Bear, 2018.  $17.  978158363797.

When Seed Man came to town, he planted a seed that grew into a tree that grew what the heart knew it needed, not what the person thought they wanted.  The old man didn’t want the dog, as far as he knew, and even got angry and sent the dog away.  But then he realized that the heart knew better than the head.

I wanted this book to work for me so badly, but it doesn’t quite all hang together.  The tree for example, bears mostly toys, but only shows the dog going to an old man:  I wanted to see more of the recipients than just the one.  Also, the Seed Man is clothed in a Elizabethan style, but at the end he passes the seeds to the old man and the dog.  Huh?  Did the pair die?  Does this happen every time?  I just don’t know. 

Pre-K, EL (K-3) – OPTIONAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani - OPTIONAL

Hiranandani, Veera The Night Diary, 272 pages. Dial (Penguin), 2018. $16.99.  Language: G Mature Content: PG (political/religious conflict) Violence: PG (Muslims and Hindus killing each other)

Few people know about the partitioning of India that occurred in 1947, resulting in the country of Pakistan. When the British government ceased control of India, the Indian government forced the segregation of the Hindu and Muslim religions. This is the story of Nisha who is torn in the conflict. Her deceased mother was Muslim. Her father is Hindu. The story unfolds in diary format that Nisha writes to her mother. It begins as a normal life, but her father is Hindu. Since they are living in the part of India that becomes Muslim Pakistan, her family must flee to the Hindu country of India, while the Muslims are fleeing the opposite direction to Pakistan. Her journal describes the difficult and dangerous journey her family experiences, especially the challenge to find water.

This story is fascinating for those who crave information. It does not have the notoriety of the Holocaust or current crisis in the Middle East, so it might be a tough sell for kids. It’s a good choice to beef up the historical fiction collection with a recent release. Teachers might like this as required reading if they want an example of religious conflict in the last century. The story line and diary format make it easy to read.

EL, MS – OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Valerie McEnroe, Media Specialist

Firefly Forest by Robyn Frampton - ADVISABLE

Frampton Robyn Firefly Forest, illustrated by Mike Heath.  PICTURE BOOK.  Imprint (Macmillan), 2018.  $19. 9781250122636.

The Firefly Forest is waiting to welcome you, soothe you, and send you on your way to spread that cheer to others.

If you know anyone who has created a fairy garden, they are going to want this magical little book.  While the rhymes don’t always fall softly on the ear, the photographs are shimmery and sparkly enough to delight anyone. 

Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL, GIFT – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher