Disney Bound: Dress Disney and Make it Fashion by Leslie Kay - ESSENTIAL

Disney Bound: Dress Disney and Make it Fashion by Leslie Kay, 153 pages. Disney Editions, 2020. $18. 9781368050425 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ADVISABLE; GIFT - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Leslie Kay launched her DisneyBound blog and then with one outfit she launched a Disney-fan favorite of Disney-bounding – dressing as your favorite Disney characters as an homage, not as cosplay or costume. Her book includes many ideas, photos, and inspiration, drawing from a large cast of Disney-bounders from all over the world. 

Anyone who loves the DisneyBound concept (ME!! And my family), will want to get their hands on this. Perfect for gift giving. An anchor for any Disney-inspired display. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Connect the Dots by Keith Calabrese - ESSENTIAL

Connect the Dots by Keith Calabrese, 240 pages. Scholastic, 2020. $17. 

 Language: G (3 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Oliver Beane and Frankie Figge, 12yo, are best friends in Elk Grove Park, a suburb of Chicago. Then arrives new girl Miranda Sandoval and she has chosen Oliver and Frankie to be her friends – whether the boys want her or not. Their school is named after Preston Oglethorpe – an Elk Grove genius who made millions and then disappeared. Now strange things are starting to happen in Elk Grove – most of them seem to be happy coincidences. But there is also a group of dangerous men lurking in the shadows – and their attention seems to be on Oliver, Frankie, and Miranda! 

Calabrese has woven together an intricate plot about the weaving of an intricate plot. Plenty of danger, lots of laughs, a healthy dose of mango chutney! 

 Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Disney Maps: A Magical Atlas of the Movies We Know and Love - ESSENTIAL

Disney Maps: A Magical Atlas of the Movies We Know and Love, 100 pages. Disney Press, 2020. $25. 9781368018678 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Walk your way through 24 magical Disney fantasy worlds. Each land gets a 2-page map spread with significant markers and another 2-page spread of information and characters. A lot of fun for any Disney movie enthusiast. I wouldn’t be surprised if any library copies get significantly battered with use. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

Rapunzel and the Lost Lagoon by Leila Howland - ADVISABLE

 

Rapunzel and the Lost Lagoon (A Tangled Novel, #1) by Leila Howland, 284 pages. Disney Press, 2017. $17.  

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Rapunzel is learning to live in the castle and trying to learn the etiquette of a princess.  When she meets the adventurous Cassandra, who wants to be a soldier, Rapunzel hopes they can be friend.  Rapunzel has to choose a Lady in Waiting, so she decides on Cassandra and they quickly bond over a legend and clues to the Lost Lagoon which should hold the magic of the kingdom of Corona.  However, their friendship is tested when Rapunzel wants to share their secret with Eugene and someone outside the kingdom is also searching for the magic of the Lost Lagoon.  

I loved this sequel to the Tangled movie.  Rapunzel is a good friend and Cassandra has to learn to trust others.  Their fun adventure kept me reading and I enjoyed trying to guess who the bad guy was going to be.  The novel is clean except for a fight sequence towards the end. Fun read.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson

Rapunzel and the Vanishing Village by Leila Howland - ADVISABLE

Rapunzel and the Vanishing Village (A Tangled Novel, #2) by Leila Howland, 284 pages. Disney Press, 2018. $17. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS – ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Rapunzel, Cassandra and Eugene go on an adventure, but they are quickly distracted when they come across the village where the notorious Flynn Ryder’s stories are set. Eugene loves everything about the village, but it become apparent that the people live under strict rules without a lot of self-expression. Rapunzel and Cassandra work together to figure out the mystery of the vanishing village, while trying to convince Eugene that not everything is as perfect as it appears.  

I like re-visiting favorite character’s stories and love the story of Rapunzel.  The first book in the series was my favorite, but the mystery of the vanishing village was well constructed.  The only inconsistency that was confusing is, why were they on the adventure in the first place? If you readers enjoy E.D. Baker’s Wide-Awake Princess series, they will enjoy this series as well.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson

My Eyes Are Up Here by Laura Zimmermann - HIGH

My Eyes Are Up Here by Laura Zimmermann, 352 pages. Dutton (Penguin), 2020. 

 Language: R (62 swears, 9 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

10th grader Greer knows that her breasts are large – like cup-size J large. She and her best friend, Maggie are excited for the new year – supporting each other as they choose different extracurriculars. And Jackson, the new cute boy, seems to like Greer as much as she likes him. When her P.E. class does a volleyball unit, Greer finds that she has some natural talent and delight in the game. But if she is going to join the team, her “girls” need better support. 

 I was delighted to read Zimmermann’s look at Greer’s life. She manages to be realistic about Greer’s body challenges, without being scatological. There is a story thread about some harassment that Greer receives, but I love that the heart of the novel is a girl trying to be her best self. Greer does look at her breasts and describes them, but everything is tastefully done and integral to the theme of the book. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell - ESSENTIAL

This Book is Anti-Racist : 20 Lessons on how to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell, illustrated by Aurelia Durand, 160 pages. NON-FICTION, ACTIVITY BOOK Quarto. 2020.  $15 

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS, ADULT - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In 20 short lessons, readers learn about identity - personal and social; race and ethnicity, prejudice and history - including microagressions; resisting racism, what to do when you see injustice and so much more. Disrupt, interrupt, stand together - be an anti-racist youth!

Tiffany Jewell has written for children of color who need the words to speak up for themselves and others, especially when the adults in their lives have racist ideas. Young people will be empowered as they work through the activities. A wonderful resource for the classroom. Work is done in students' notebooks, so This Book is Anti-Racist can be used over and over. I did the activities as I read, and it's changed me - I see things differently, am more sensitive to bias and am ready to speak up. 

Lisa Librarian

The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf - ADVISABLE

The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf, 274 pages. Salaam Press, 2019. $19

 Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (War violence, death, shooting, killing) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

 Mealati (Mel) is 16yo and lives in Kuala Lumpur in 1969. She loves music, the Beatles, movies, especially movies with Paul Newman. She loves to go the movies with her best friend. While they are at the movies one evening, a racial riot/war breaks out between the Malays and the Chinese. It is deadly clash, gruesome and horrifying. While looking for her mother in the afermath, she is helped by a Chinese boy, Vince, and his family. To add to the difficulty,Mel suffers from OCD. She believes a Djinn lives inside of her and he is showing her all the gruesome ways her mom will die if Mel doesn't count our patterns fast enough and correctly enough.

 By reading this book I learned about the racial uprising in Malaysia. Mel is strong, and she works with the Djinn, counting like he tells her too, sometimes all night. I felt so bad for her. She is afraid it is all her fault, because she didn't count fast enough or long enough. Mel suffers in so many ways. She works through it as she helps Vince, and keeps looking for her mother. I recommend this book. Great human interest story, and very educational.  

Ellen-Anita LMS

Pretty Tricky: the sneaky ways plants survive by Etta Kaner and Ashley Barron - ESSENTIAL

Pretty Tricky: the sneaky ways plants survive by Etta Kaner, illustrated by Ashley Barron. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOKS. Owl Kids, 2020. $20. 9781771473699 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Kaner and Barron have crafted a beautiful collaboration celebrating a variety of plants that use a variety of methods to survive, thrive, and procreate. Each bright illustration is accompanied by a few paragraphs – enough to share with interested students or for a budding botanist. I would even love to buy a couple of copies of the book and -- after getting permission from the publisher – separating the pages to create a set of study pages to share out with a class and have them gather info to share with the rest of the class. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Paper Boat: A Refugee Story by Thao Lam - OPTIONAL

The Paper Boat: A Refugee Story by Thao Lam. PICTURE BOOK. Owl Kids, 2020. $20. 9781881473637 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ADVISABLE; MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

A little girl and her family are fleeing their war-torn country and must make a fraught journey across an ocean to a safer home. 

Drawing upon her own experience and family stories about fleeing Vietnam with her mother when she was only 2yo, Lam creates a wordless panorama of a headlong flight. The added detail of a group of ants also fleeing add an interesting detail. The dangers the ants suffer during the voyage will be easier for smaller readers to process. With the too abundant number of refugees around the world currently, there is certainly room for more picture books about them. A teacher could easily pair this with Ziba Came on a Boat by Lofthouse and Vanishing Colors by Orbeck Nilssen. Secondary teachers should also look at this for a current events unit. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS  

Chicken Little: The Real and Totally True Tale by Sam Wedelich - ADVISABLE

Chicken Little: The Real and Totally True Tale by Sam Wedelich. PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic Press, 2020. $18. 9781338359015 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Chicken Little gets hit on the head and talks to the sky to investigate. Another chicken happens by, mishears Chicken Little and sets off a panic in the hen yard. It will take several tries to calm everyone down enough to hear the truth. 

A great twist on the traditional Chicken Little story, but also an excellent look the importance of fact-checking and how hard it is to get people to acknowledge the truth. Not just for elementary students! 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Ocean Calls : A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho and Jess X. Snow - ADVISABLE

The Ocean Calls : A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho, illustrated by Jess X. Snow. PICTURE BOOK. Kokila, 2020. $18. 9781984814869 

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

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Dayeon loves and admires her haenyeo Grandma, but is still a little afraid of the deeper ocean. On this trip to the sea she stays near the shore, trying to muster up the courage for a final deeper dive. 

A lovely introduction to a microculture centered around the Jeju Island of South Korea. There are many videos of the divers online. If your school teaches Asian culture, or if you just want to increase cultural connections, this is a must. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS 

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi - HIGH

War Girls by Tochi Onyebuchi, 464 pages. Razorbill (Penguin), 2019. $19.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

 AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Onyii and her little sister are living in a refugee camp after escaping the havoc of war. The year is 2172 and the earth is a mess with a nuclear disaster and climate change. A civil war between Nigerians and Biafrans rages on around them. The camp the girls are living in is soon raided and the girls are captured and separated and forced to live on opposing sides. Onyii becomes a decorated soldier for the rebellion, while Ify is a promising student at her new school in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria. Both girls believe they will never see each other again until a mission goes wrong, and they are suddenly reunited with each other. Risking everything may be the only way the girls can stay together.

War Girls is set in a futuristic world with the plot based on the war in 1960 between Nigerians and Bifrans. Student do not need to know the history behind the war to enjoy this book. The two main characters are both fierce and competitive. Onyii has been a trained soldier her entire life with a mechanical arm infused with technology. Ify is the brains of the two and with her technical skills, which are very interesting to read about, she can control entire data bases. This book is packed with so much action, giant fighting robots and the tender relationships between characters that it will appeal to both girls and boys.

Jessica Nelson, Librarian 

Thanks to Frances Perkins by Deborah Hopkinson and Kristy Caldwell - ADVISABLE

Thanks to Frances Perkins: Fighter for Workers’ Rights by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Kristy Caldwell. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Peachtree, 2020. $19. 9781682631362 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Whenever Frances Perkins had a chance, she would do everything she could to help others – even if that took her into government, where it was rare to see a woman in the 1910’s. When President Roosevelt asked her to be his Secretary of Labor in 1932, Frances was the woman he wanted as his Secretary of Labor – the first woman ever to hold a Cabinet position. 

A nice succinct look at Perkin’s life. Hopkinson engages the reader from the start by having them do just a tiny bit of math at the beginning (No, I’m not going to tell you what for). Very useful addition to a picture book biography collection for upper elementary and middle schools. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning - ESSENTIAL

The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning, 386 pages, Tor Teen. 2020. $18.  

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG 13 (sword fights, deaths, battles, torture) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

 AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

16yo Princess Amarande is the sole heir of her father, recently deceased King Sedoa. But, she cannot inherit the throne without first marrying. She loves someone; the stableboy Luca! However, Amarande's marriage must be an alliance - a prince from another Kingdom, selected by the council. So, an evil prince and his brother, from a neighboring kingdom try to force Amarande's hand by arranging for Luca to be kidnapped. Trained by her father as a warrior, Amarande isn't having it; she leaves the castle in search of Luca intent on rescuing her love. 

I loved every moment of The Princess Will Save You. The adventure was exciting, the battles and swordplay were bloody and dangerous without crossing the line into gory, and the romance was adorable and sweet. I loved Princess Amarande - - well prepared by her father, she was perfectly capable of saving her love, herself and her Kingdom. Readers who love The Princess Bride will devour this! Can't wait to read it again. A satisfying ending, but I hope book two is on its way. 

Lisa Librarian

Summer and July by Paul Mosier - ADVISABLE

Summer and July by Paul Mosier, 311 pages. Harper Collins, 2020. $17

Content: G

 BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

 Juliet and her mom move from the midwest to Ocean Park in California. Juliet is scared of everything and dresses in black and wears goth make-up. She is sure this will be the worst summer ever. Juliet's mother starts a to-do list for her, and Juliet adds to the list herself. She quickly meets Summer, blond, suntanned and beautiful who loves the beach and surfing. The two girls really hit it off and Summer helps Juliet overcome her fright and anxiety issues. Juliet discovers that Summer has some struggles of her own. Can the two friends help each other?

 I really enjoyed this book. Juliet and Summer become such good friends. Summer helps Juliet overcome her fears. Summer helps her be brave and try new things, new outfits, boogie boarding, skateboarding and even surfing. I love the way Juliet is no longer afraid of life and living and trying new things. I think a lot of students struggle with things like Summer and Juliet; a parent leaving, death in the family, leaving familiar territory and friends. I highly recommend this book.

Ellen-Anita, LMS 

The Conference of the Birds by Ransom Riggs - OPTIONAL

 

The Conference of the Birds (Miss Peregrine’s Children, #5) by Ransom Riggs, 326 pages. Dutton Books (Penguin), 2020. $23. 

Content: Language: PG-13 (49 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13.  

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Jacob and his friends are on a mission to save the way of life of Peculiar Children.  They go about trying to find a person they believe can help them.  All the while, Jacob is dealing with his new feelings and a relationship for the Peculiar that he helped rescue from the last book and ending his relationship with Emma.  

I have enjoyed this series, until this book. I feel like the Peculiar Children part of the story is well done, but the reason I have read this far into the series is because I love Jacob and Emma, separate or together.  Their relationship abruptly ends, and the insta-love Jacob has for Noor is unbelievable, while Emma’s character hardly makes an appearance. If you have the other books in the series, then I’m sure your readers will want this one as well, but it has a spin-off feel to it that I don’t like as much as the first four books.  The violence includes a monster biting a head off. 

Reviewer, C. Peterson

Map of Days by Ransom Riggs - ADVISABLE

 

Map of Days (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children, #4) by Ransom Riggs, 480 pages.  Dutton Books (Penguin), 2018.  $23.  

Content: Language: R (69 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Jacob is home in Florida and his peculiar group of friends are interested in his life and time, but Jacob’s parents are not interested in knowing the truth about Jacob’s life or his friends.  Jacob starts to learn more about his grandfather and what role he had in the Peculiar world, and Jacob decides he wants to help peculiar children that are in trouble, like his grandfather did.  As Jacob gets to know more about his grandfather’s job, with the help of his friends, Jacob and Emma start to grow apart.  Jacob starts to realize how complex and quickly changing the peculiar world can be.  

I enjoy this creative series and like Jacob and his friends.  I enjoy each book and feel like they have different enough story lines to be interesting, while at the same time operating within the peculiar world that has been developed throughout all four books.  I was heartbroken when Jacob’s parents wouldn’t accept him the way he was, but I love his friends and they way they help each other.  The content includes discussion of virginity and gross violence.  This book is also open ended and sets up for the next in the series.  The book would be advisable if not for the high swear count.

Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs - ADVISABLE

 

Library of Souls (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children, #3) by Ransom Riggs, 463 pages.  Quirks Books, 2015.  $19.  

Content: Language: PG-13 (37 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13.  

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Jacob and his friends are searching for other Peculiar Children that they have been separated from.  Heading to London and through a scary loop filled with Whites and Hollows, sixteen-year old Jacob and his girlfriend Emma encounter many creepy beings and they don’t know who they can trust.  Determined to free their Peculiar friends and the Ymbryne, Miss Peregrine, Jacob has to learn to hone his peculiar talent of controlling the Whites.  

I enjoyed this book as much as the first book.  I like Jacob and the creepy, dark world he encounters.  There are fun, quirky photographs throughout the book that add to the story.  This story had a satisfying end to their adventure but introduced a new problem/idea at the end that I’m looking forward to reading in the next book in the series.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson    

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs - ADVISABLE

 

Hollow City (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children, #2) by Ransom Riggs, 428 pages. Quirk Books, 2014.  $11.  

Content: Language: PG-13 (24 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13.  

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Jacob and his new found friends from Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children are on a mission to recapture Miss Peregrine.  Peregrine is in the form of a bird and has been taken by the Whites, and even if Jacob and his friends can find Miss Peregrine, they would still have to figure out how to transform her back into her human form.  The odd group starts a quest to look for their beloved headmistress and hopefully preserve their anonymity from the normal world and the evil White monsters.  

I loved the first book in the series because it is creative and unlike anything I’ve ever read, and this book has a similar feel.  Jacob is a great protagonist and I enjoyed all the peculiar children and their stories.  It would be super complicated to try and read these out of order, so realize it’s a bit of an investment and you would need to have the whole series.  The content includes violent threats of torture and dead horses.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson