Douglas, You Need Glasses by Ged Adamson -ADVISABLE

Adamson, Ged Douglas, You Need Glasses Swartz and Wade (Random House), 2016.  $16.99.  PICTURE BOOK

Douglas the Dog’s owner, Nancy, notices that he is not experiencing the world correctly. He is mistaking leaves for squirrels, he sits too close to the TV, and he misses signs and more. She takes him to get glasses and it’s a great experience.

This is a great book for that student who is apprehensive about getting glasses. It works so well because it’s the dog getting glasses, not the child, which makes the lesson of the story easier to absorb for a reluctant nearsighted child. I see this book working better for a parent, school counselor, or a teacher. Children in the library will think its funny, especially the blurry cover.

EL(K-3) –ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Steamboat School by Deborah Hopkinson -ADVISABLE

Hopkinson, Deborah Steamboat School Disney, 2016. $17.99.  PICTURE BOOK

This is a based on a true story, leaner more towards non-fiction than historical fiction. This book tells the story of a young free African American named James who lives in Missouri in 1847. He and his sister attend a secret school run by the Reverend Meachum in a dark basement, here they learn reading, writing, and more. But it turns out there is a law against African American education and the school must be shut down. But James doesn’t give up and neither does Reverend Meachum, who has an ingenious plan to thwart the law.

This is a fantastic story! I think there are quite a few picture books about slavery and the civil war, but not as many about free African Americans during that time period, who are still facing  much adversity and discrimination. The author does a great job of creating interest by having readers follow a young learner to school. I also love this story because it helps, even in some small way, to show how grateful we should all be for the education we are receiving. What teacher doesn’t like that lesson? The illustrations are very stylized and dark, not great to share with a group.

EL(K-3), EL  – ADVISABLE.  Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Diana’s White House Garden by Elisa Cabone -ESSENTIAL

Carbone, Elisa Diana’s White House Garden  Viking (Penguin), 2016.  $17.99.  PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION

Diana was a little girl who lived at the White House! Her Dad was the chief advisor to President Roosevelt. World War II is raging and Diana is desperate to help, but her tries never quiet work out. Then President Roosevelt comes up with the idea of everyone in the country planting gardens to grow their own food, Victory Gardens. Diana steps up to help with the White House’s own garden and publicity of her efforts helps to promote Victory Gardens in the whole country.

I love this true story because there was a tangible contribution that a child could make to something that was quite big and overwhelming. This is an important lesson today as it was then. Students will be entertained by Diana’s failed efforts as well. The illustrations are clear and easy to share with a group. I am of an opinion that there needs to be more vegetable gardens in homes, lots, schools, and especially state and city buildings, so this book is great for that as well. The Authors and illustrators notes are a must read to explain parts of the story such as why all the staff are African American.

EL(K-3), EL –ESSENTIAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Monster land by Michael Cash - ADVISABLE

Cash, Michael Phillip Monsterland, 223 pgs. Michael Phillip Cash, 2015. $9.99.  Language: PG-13 (35 swears, 2 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG; Violence PG-13.

Cross monsters with Jurassic Park, and you have Monsterland!  A horrifying plague has broken out, turning people into zombie like creatures that feed off any kind of flesh as they slowly deteriorate.  World leaders have had to put these citizens into confinement camps to protect the rest of the population.  Enter Vincent Conrad, scientist and problem solver.  He has come up with the brilliant idea of putting zombies into a theme park so that they can be studied so a cure can be found and they can also be humanely taken care of.  This also goes for random groups of werewolves and vampires.  Wyatt, Melvin and Howard, nerdy high school friends, and Wyatt’s younger brother, Josh get primo passes to the grand opening.  The president, celebrities, and world leaders are going to attend.  The park’s grand opening is anything but dull and the park’s dark secrets could prove deadly.  

The book is a fun and quick read though a bit predictable.  There is no sex, but the monsters can be a bit violent.

MS, HS - ADVISABLE.  Michelle in the Middle

After Dark by James Leck - OPTIONAL

Leck, James After Dark, 252 pgs. Kids Can Press, 2015. $16.95.  Language G (no swears); Mature Content G; Violence PG. 

Charlie Harker’s summer is not shaping up to be the rest and relaxation he’d planned on. Working hard is not on this 15 year-olds list of things to do, but his mother has other ideas.  She has decided that he and his movie star brother and athletic twin sister, are going to restore Charlie’s great-grandfather’s old inn.  Things go from bad to worse when Charlie runs into crazy Miles Van Helsing, a local teenager, who is sure there weird happenings in the town and wants Charlie to help document them.  Unfortunately, Miles may be right.  

Points to ponder on the positive side:  Charlie’s sense of humor rocks this book.  He is wicked funny.  His relationship with his brother is refreshingly positive.  Not so positive side:  There wasn’t much of a plot and the ending is a cliffhanger for the next book and resolves nothing, so there was no real satisfaction with this read.  Interesting characters pop up but aren’t explored and there are a lot of loose ends.  

MS-OPTIONAL. Michelle in the Middle

Flying Frogs and Walking Fish by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page -OPTIONAL

Jenkins, Steve and Page, Robin Flying Frogs and Walking Fish Houghton Mifflin, 2016. $17.99.  PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION

This well known duo has taken on animal movement from creatures you wouldn’t think would walk, fly, hop, or roll. Examples are sloth’s that swim, rat terrier’s that can climb trees, and a baby bird with extra claws on its wings for climbing. Illustrations are bright and clear with easy to read, simple text.

Everything created by this pair is just lovely and is checked out by teachers at my school. However, the students always go for nature books with picture (exception this is Actual Size books by this duo). Its just more exciting to see the real animal in action. I add these books for the teachers.   

EL(K-3)  – OPTIONAL.  Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Circle by Jeannie Baker -ADVISABLE

Baker, Jeannie Circle  Candlewick , 2016.  $17.99.  PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION

In her well known collage style this author/illustrator tells the story of the migration of the shorebird called the bar-tailed godwit. They have the longest migration of any animal known, and travel from Australia to Asia to Alaska and back each and every year. Additionally there is a little plot of a boy in wheelchair (then crutches) who wishes he could fly. There are little inclusions of many other migrating animals in many of the illustrations.

I love this author because of her artwork, its just unique and so amazing. It would be easy to share with a large group because of the extra large page size and many double page illustrations. But a student looking at this alone would enjoy finding many small details in the images as well, such as the other migration creatures. There is an important environmental message as well.  

EL(K-3) – ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Burning by Danielle Rollins - OPTIONAL

Rollins, Danielle Burning, 343 pages.  Bloomsbury 2016.  $17.99. Language: R (130 swears, 8 "f"); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.

Angela Davis has spent the past few years at the Brunesfield Correctional Facility, for troubled girls.  She desperately misses her little brother Charlie and with only three months left on her sentence, she can't wait to be reunited with him.  But when a new girl named Jessica arrives at the facility, Angela's upcoming release and reunion with her brother is put in jeopardy.  Angela is asked to be a mentor to Jessica and help her assimilate to life at Brunesfield.  Jessica isn't just any prisoner though, and Angela soon discovers that Jessica's arrival has set in motion a series of events that could endanger the lives of everyone at Brunesfield.

This supernatural thriller takes you on a journey into the world of a juvenile correctional facility.  The characters are fairly stereotypical with several bullies, shady guards and an unethical warden.  The language is what you would expect from the setting.  It has some sexual content as well as violence, but it is consistent with the storyline.  It is a suspenseful read with a cool supernatural element and a good twist at the end.  

HS -OPTIONAL. Gina, Media Specialist

Field Guide to the Grumpasaurus by Edward Hemingway -NO

Hemingway, Edward Field Guide to the Grumpasaurus Clarion (Houghton Mifflin), 2016. $16.99.  PICTURE BOOK

Presented as a field guide to the Grumpasaurus creature, its sort of information being told to a cat, who encounters the creature. The guide explains the characteristics of the Grumpasaurus , why it is the way it is, and what to watch out for. The poor cat gets the brunt end of the grumpiness. Finally the reader learns how to cure it, give it a gift.

Not exactly my idea of how to calm a grumpy child, reward them with a gift. I liked the format and the illustrations, but I am also not quite sure who the intended audience is. Most children old enough to get the humor  or read it on their own, would be past the temper tantrum faze, while those children young enough to act this way, and have this story read to them, might have trouble understanding the story.

PRE-K, EL(K-3)  – NO.  Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

Ogres Awake by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, and Alexis Frederick-Frost -OPTIONAL

Strum, James Ogres Awake First Second , 2016.  $14.99.  PICTURE BOOK/GRAPHIC NOVEL

A knight notices invading ogres and jumps on his loyal steed Edward to go and warn the king. The king is surprisingly calm and consults with tiny garden gnomes on a course of action. The little knight is put to work helping to peel potatoes from the vegetable garden. The question becomes, make war or soup?

This is a cute bright little graphic novel style picture book. I thought it was a fun read and allowed for creative options to war and battle. I did find myself wondering if the ogres would just invade every day for the meal they received, which is a bigger problem. The illustrations are so adorable.

EL(K-3) – OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

One Wish by Michelle Harrison - ADVISABLE

Harrison, Michelle One Wish, 373 pages.  Little Brown and Company (Hachette Book Group) 2014.  $17.00.  Language: G (0 swears, 0 "f"); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.

Tanya has always been able to see fairies.  Unfortunately, this second sight has brought her nothing but trouble. When Tanya's mother takes her to the small town of Spinney Wickett for a summer vacation, Tanya hopes it will be a chance for her to get away from fairies and make new friends.  While exploring Spinney Wickett, Tanya stumbles across a wishing tree where she meets a local boy named Ratty who can also see fairies. Tanya's hopes that Ratty is the friend she has been wishing for are dashed when Ratty goes missing.  With the help of Ratty's loyal fairy friend Turpin, Tanya will do all she can to save her new friend.

This fun adventure story about friendship and courage has an imaginative cast of characters from Nessie Needleteeth, the water hag, to Griselda and Gretchen the bearded sisters. It also has a great message about forgiving others and how kindness can change even the hardest of hearts.  It is a fast paced read that will engage young readers from the start.  

EL, MS -ADVISABLE. Gina, Media Specialist