Whittingham, Jane. Animals Move. Picture Book. Big, Little Concepts Series. Pajama, 03/2022. [32]pp. $17.95. 978-1-77278-238-7. ADDITIONAL. GRADES TOD-K.

On each spread there is a color photo of an animal in motion, paired with a color photo of a child doing the same activity. For example, a little girl is shown in a swimming pool next to a photo of a whale with the text “Calves swim.” The brief text rhymes, and the terms for the baby animals are fun to learn. The endpapers contain photos of the animal parent and child captioned with both names, such as “Whale…Calf,” to help children learn these terms. The photos are clear, showing the animals in close-up, and the children represent various racial groups. The last page suggests related activities to do after reading, such as playing animal charades. The padded covers and plastic-coated pages are great for this young audience, who are just moving up from board books. Previous books in the Big, Little Concepts series include Bear Has a Belly (2022) and Shape Up, Construction Trucks! (2020).

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Leed, Percy. Astronauts: A First Look. Non-fiction. Read for a Better World: Read About Space Series. Lerner, 08/2022. 24pp. PLB $27.99. 978-1-7284-5926-4. PB $8.99. 978-1-7284-6431-2. ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1. 

SERIES REVIEW: Young readers will be exposed to very basic information about a variety of space topics in these six short series titles. Each title covers a specific space topic through the use of a few short sentences combined with interesting photos and graphics. Astronauts shows examples of life in space, while the other titles—Mars, Moon, Sun—provide glimpses into what these astronomical bodies are and where they are located, plus how humans are learning about these topics. Relatable photos and graphics help tie the facts and ideas together. The short size and limited page numbers work as an easy reader for new readers and for a quick share with small groups.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Voake, Charlotte. Bee. Charlotte Voake, Illus. Picture Book. Candlewick, 06/2022. [32]pp. $18.99. 978-1-5362-2045-2. ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1.

“What do bees do in their hive all day?” and “Where do they go when they leave the hive?” These are questions a young, blackhaired, white-skinned boy wonders about while watching a beehive. To his surprise, two bees appear with a magic bee suit that shrinks him down to bee size and allows him to tour the hive and experience life as a bee. Cut-paper-and-ink illustrations use shades of yellow and other basic colors to showcase how bees spend their time. A useful introduction to bees for early readers.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Lushchevska, Oksana. Blue Skies and Golden Fields: Celebrating Ukraine. Non-fiction. Capstone, 08/2022. 32pp. PLB $29.32. 978-1-66903-303-5, PB $8.99. 978-1-66903-304-X. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 3-6.

Children may be aware of the war in Ukraine due to news coverage, and this book helps to introduce the country to readers and is useful for reports, too. The text, written with an enthusiastic tone, gives a brief description of Ukraine’s history, culture, natural resources, people, holidays, and relationship to other countries in Europe. There are only a few sentences on the current war, so this is more of an overview. The text is very positive and celebratory of the country, and the author is originally from Ukraine. Color photos on nearly every page, sidebars, maps, activities (such as crafts and recipes), and other elements make this a great resource for a wide age range. Review based on an ARC.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Page, Tyler. Button Pusher. Tyler Page, Illus. Graphic. First Second, 04/2022. 244 [+6]pp. $21.99. 978-1-250-75834-7. PB $14.99. 978-1-250-75833-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 6-9.

Page presents a vivid graphic memoir of growing up with ADHD, where he shows how his problems with impulse control, inability to sit still, and difficulty listening cause trouble in school, with friends, and at home. Page’s father is shown to likely have adult ADHD as demonstrated via huge mood swings and uncontrolled anger, while his mother struggles with the difficult home situation. Penciled illustrations, digitally colored, show the difficulties that this white boy faced as a child with ADHD, the good and bad of Ritalin medication, and how he changed over the years. Interspersed throughout the story are informational pages providing in-depth background information on the terms, conditions, drugs, and research mentioned in the story. Page also includes samples of his doctor’s writeups after their sessions, which show the doctor’s struggles too. A different and interesting way to present what ADHD is and how one person experienced it.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Frost, Maddie. Capybara Is Friends with Everyone. Maddie Frost, Illus. Picture Book. HarperCollins, 04/2022. [32]pp. $17.99. 978-0-06-302102-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1.

Capybara is super friendly, super busy, and very overbearing with his 4,382 friends. He meets an animal he has not become friends with—Sloth. Even after performing a super enthusiastic Friends Song, bringing gifts, making a zen garden, and more, Capybara is devastated to have no response from Sloth. But, as anyone who understands knows, Sloth’s extreme slowness to do anything includes slowly reacting to hyperactive Capybara. Frost’s digital illustrations aptly show everything Capybara does for his friends, including finally slowing down (for Sloth) and being a less overbearing friend to all.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Evans, Cathy. Cat Eyes and Dog Whistles: The Seven Senses of Humans and Other Animals. Becky Thorns, Illus. Non-fiction. Cicada, 04/2022. 60pp. $22.99. 978-1-80066-013-7. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 2-5.

Human and animal senses are introduced, explained, and explored in this single volume. Quick-paced narration guides readers through each aspect of the senses with comically drawn illustrations (not photographs) filled with short paragraph text bubbles. This one titles works just as well as other series sets with a title for each sense, partly due to humorous text and fun illustrations which move through plenty of information quickly. Evans also goes beyond the standard five senses to explore some of the other ways humans and animals detect (sense) the world around them, including a few that scientists are researching. An enjoyable way to learn about how we experience the world.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Traoré, Efua. Children of the Quicksands. Fiction. Chicken House, 07/2022. 286 [+14]pp. $18.99. 978-1-338-78192-2. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 5-7.

Thirteen-year-old Simi’s mom must travel to London from Lagos, Nigeria, for her new job, so Simi gets packed off to a stay with a grandmother she has never met and who lives in a remote Nigerian village. Simi’s not sure what’s worse, being sent to the middle of a jungle with no electricity, running water, or cell service, or being foisted on a woman her mother hasn’t spoken to, or about, for decades. Within the first hour of the visit Simi has made two life-changing mistakes: she forgets to give her grandmother the letter her mom insisted be handed over first thing, and she disobeys her grandmother’s explicit directions to turn right, NOT left on the path to the village. Simi’s glimpse of a terrifying alternate reality must have been a dream, but when other children start to disappear and a family secret won’t stay hidden, Simi must uncover the past in order to save the present. Based on Nigerian folklore and the author’s childhood, this story of adventure and heritage has a fully modern heroine kids will root for. Perfect for fans of The Jumbies (Algonquin, 2015), Josephine Against the Sea (Scholastic, 2021), A Comb of Wishes (Quill Tree, 2022) or When Life Gives You Mangoes (Delacorte, 2020). Includes an author’s note and a glossary of Nigerian terms.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Lerwill, Ben. Do Baby Elephants Suck Their Trunks? Amazing Ways Animals Are Just Like Us. Katharine McEwen, Illus. Non-fiction. Candlewick, 06/2022. [32]pp. $17.99. 978-1-5362-2404-7. ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1.

While being compared to humans, various aspects of ten different animal babies are presented, described, and briefly explored. Each double-page spread begins with a question such as, “Has a grown-up carried you in their arms?” or “Did you wobble when you started to walk?” and then a few sentences provide an answer for the featured animal, including orangutans, koalas, giraffes, and whales. Collage-style illustrations, digitally scanned, provide plenty of interesting details for readers to see and use for their own comparison explorations. A good title for sharing and learning in small groups.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Stein, David Ezra. Don’t Worry, Murray. David Ezra Stein, Illus. Picture Book. Balzer & Bray, 06/2022. [32]pp. $17.99 978-0-06-284524-5. HIGH ADDITIONAL GRADES. PRE-1.

Murray, a little brown dog, is scared of many things—going out in the rain, barbeque picnics, playing with other dogs, and going to sleep. Just a little bit of encouragement helps him face each fear and see that things are not as bad as they seem. A mix of mostly white pages and a few full-page illustrations focus the reader on Stein’s mixed-media-and-watercolor illustrations of Murray and his fears. Readers are drawn into Murray’s fears and his successes as he overcomes them. A nice addition for dog lovers and great for adults helping children overcome fears.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Bryant, Jen. Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight: Patsy Takemoto Mink and the Fight for Title IX. Toshiki Nakamura, Illus. Biography. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, 01/2022. [48]pp. $17.99. 978-0-06-295722-1. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 1-4.

This picture book biography of Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first Asian American woman elected to Congress, focuses on her efforts to pass legislation to end gender discrimination in schools and colleges. The future Hawaiian representative wanted to be a doctor, but no medical school would accept her because she was female, so she became a lawyer and was active in politics. Her quest to end that type of prejudice resulted in the 1972 passage of Title IX, ensuring girls receive equal access to any school offering, including sports. The book title, which is a Japanese saying, is repeated several times throughout. The digitally created, full-color cartoonish illustrations successfully support the text and make this accessible to younger readers. Back matter includes a bibliography and timeline.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University , iSchool

Burns, Loree Griffin. Honeybee Rescue: A Backyard Drama. Ellen Harasimwicz, Illus. Non-fiction. Charlesbridge, 05/2022. [40]pp. $16.99. 978-1-62354-239-9. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 1-4.

See how a honeybee colony can be safely moved from an unwanted or dangerous location to one that is better for the bees and making honey. Readers follow the story of one colony being moved from a ramshackle old barn into new hive boxes, also on the farm. Told via plenty of close-up, color photographs and explanatory text, Burns explains the moving process in addition to how bee colonies form, what bees are good for, and the reasons for saving a bee colony. A useful title for classes studying bees or examples of animal homes.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Case, Jonathan. Little Monarchs. Jonathan Case, Illus. Graphic Novel. Holiday House/ Ferguson, 04/2022. 256pp. $22.99. 978-0-8234-4260-7. PB $14.99. 978-0-8234-5139-5. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 4-7.

It’s Summer 2110, and ten-year-old Evie, who is biracial, is keeping an illustrated naturalist’s journal, either as a record of their adventures or for the use of future scientists if something should happen to them. She and her white caretaker, Flora, are on their annual migration following the monarch butterflies down the Pacific Coast, trying to synthesize a vaccine to counteract the sun shift that has made above-ground living fatal to mammals. Colorful comic panels are interspersed with journal entries full of nature facts and survival tips. Both chronicle the action-packed dystopian adventures as Flora and Evie overcome natural disasters and human treachery on a postapocalyptic journey that Evie hopes may reunite them with her long-lost parents. Flora and Evie have a profound, humorous, and scrappy relationship, resonant of the best buddy road-trip movies. Strong art full of emotion and detail, extensive world building, believable science, plenty of laughs, and complex characters add up to a spectacular graphic novel adventure. This book has California-specific content.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Delporte, Corinne. Little Prince Around the World, The. Non-fiction. Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Illus. Translated from the French by Robin Bright. CrackBoom! 10/2022. [28]pp. $14.95. 978-2-89802-353-8. LOW ADDITIONAL. GRADES K-3.

Saint-Exupery’s Little Prince character (The Little Prince, 1943) is the tour guide in this story about famous landmarks around the world, translated from the French and originally published in Canada. He flies in his plane, taking photos of the landmarks for his friend the rose, but oddly enough the illustrations do not contain any photos. Instead, watercolors with ink outlines show the landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Egyptian Pyramids, Golden Gate Bridge, and the Great Wall of China. The text is factual with a paragraph about each site on the Little Prince’s tour, making this book a better fit for the non-fiction shelves instead of the picture book area of the library. Each spread has a small map of the country and contains a few facts shown in clouds above the landmark. The text is challenging, so this may find a limited audience. The final spread depicts a world map with the locations of the landmarks included in the book. Review based on an ARC.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University , iSchool

Elliott, L. M. Louisa June and the Nazis in the Waves. Fiction. HarperCollins/K. Tegen, 03/2022. 284pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-305656-5. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 4-8.

Thirteen-year-old Louisa June describes the outbreak of WW II and how it impacts her family and neighbors in Tidewater, Virginia, where her father owns a tugboat. The Nazis are sending U-boats into the area and are blowing up cargo ships, making the community and local fishermen part of the front lines of the war. This thoughtful historical novel is simply told, appealing to readers just moving up from transitional fiction books, and the areas of history are smoothly introduced for those unfamiliar with details. The story also effectively addresses Louisa June’s mother who suffers from depression. All of the characters appear to be white. Back matter details more of the historical aspects of this novel, which will appeal to fans of Bradley’s The War That Saved My Life (Dial, 2015).

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Leed, Percy. Mars: A First Look. Non-fiction. Read for a Better World: Read About Space Series. Lerner, 08/2022. 24pp. PLB $27.99 978-1-7284-5925-7, PB $8.99 978-1-7284-6433-6. GRADES PRE-1. ADDITIONAL. 

Please see series review for Astronauts: A First Look by Percy Leed.

Kooser, Ted and Connie Wanek. Marshmallow Clouds: Two Poets at Play Among Figures of Speech. Richard Jones, Illus. Poetry. Candlewick, 03/2022. 72pp. $25.99 978-1-5362-0303-5. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 3-8.

Two noted poets, Ted Kooser and Connie Wanek, unleash their imaginations on everyday objects, proving that almost anything can be turned into a poem. An upside-down aluminum boat “looks like a hand cupped over a shadow to keep it from scuttling away.” A TV remote requires your fingertip, “just as Aladdin’s warm palm summoned the genie of the lamp.” Brilliantly painted images accompany the engaging, free-verse poems, each illustration illuminating the poet’s source of inspiration—among the more unusual ones are a worm in a puddle, a cow pie, and a fly-swatter. Endnotes encourage readers to look around and let their own imaginations run free. Recommended for all collections, this book will be appreciated by readers spanning a wide age range, as well as by teachers looking for examples of metaphor, imagery, and other literary devices.

Jenny Andrus, Independent

Graham, Bob. Maxine. Bob Graham, Illus. Picture Book. Candlewick, 0/2022. [36]pp. $17.99. 978-1-5362-1770-4. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-3.

In this sequel to Max (2000), the superhero family has a new member: little sister Maxine! When she begins to go to school, she asks her parents if she can wear jeans and a T-shirt like the other kids, instead of her cape and mask. The family is resistant at first except for her brother Max who is supportive, so Mom takes her to buy her requested clothes. Maxine proves she can fly without the cape and other parts of her costume in this refreshing allegory on individuality. Graham’s customary watercolor cartoon illustrations with thin ink outline are charming, depicting non-white classmates, although Maxine’s family is all white.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Percy. Moon: A First Look. Non-fiction. Read for a Better World: Read About Space Series. Lerner, 08/2022. 24pp. PLB $27.99 978-1-7284-5922-6, PB $8.99 978-1-7284-6434-3. ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1.

Please see series review for Astronauts: A First Look by Percy Leed.

Fleming, Candace. Murder Among Friends: How Leopold and Loeb Tried to Commit the Perfect Crime. Non-fiction Anne Schwartz, 03/2022. 355pp. $19.99. 978-0-593-17742-6. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 7-12.

The shocking kidnap and murder of a fourteen-year-old boy by two rich nineteen-year-olds in Chicago in 1924 is recounted in this fascinating true crime book by award-winner Candace Fleming (The Family Romanov, 2014). Using abundant primary sources, including newspaper and magazine accounts, court transcripts, and memoirs, this is the compellingly told story of Leopold and Loeb, two of the first murderers who became media obsessions. Fleming creates this page-turner with background information on their upbringing in Chicago’s Jewish merchant class, where both were considered geniuses and graduated high school by age fourteen. The text is careful in describing Leopold’s homosexuality, which was considered unacceptable at that time, but Fleming describes that opinion as inaccurate and outdated now. The book contains two sections of b/w photos, detailed source notes, a bibliography, and an index.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Wolk, Lauren. My Own Lightning. Fiction. Dutton, 05/2022. 307pp. $17.99 978-0-525-55559-9. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 5-8.

In this sequel to Wolf Hollow (2016), Annabelle begins summer vacation by being hit by lightning, which heightens her senses—she can understand how dogs are feeling. This comes in handy when she meets the new neighbors who are harboring injured dogs, including her brother Henry’s dog. Although this is not quite as compelling as Wolf Hollow, and the post-WW II time period is not distinctive, the rural setting and characterizations are just as good even if the plot is not as strong. This small community appears to be all white. The ending is really well done. Most readers of the first book will appreciate this thoughtful, well-written follow-up.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Korman, Gordon. Operation Do-Over. Fiction. Balzer & Bray, 01/2022. 294pp. $17.99. 978-0-06-303274-3. ADDITIONAL. GRADES 5-8.

Mason and his best friend Ty both have crushes on new girl Ava as they begin seventh grade—will this break up their friendship? Told in first person by Mason, this tween novel celebrates nerds, as all three enjoy science. The chapters alternate between when they are twelve, and when they are seventeen years of age, but it is easy to follow. A time travel aspect is introduced, allowing Mason to try and mend his broken friendship with Ty. The writing is sitcom-like, and repetitive at times, but is a light read. Unfortunately, when Mason is bullied by classmates, there are no repercussions. There is no mention of racial identity in the story, cueing the main characters as white. Korman combines his usual humorous tone with some serious elements, making for a memorable story.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Kerbel, Deborah. Rainy Days. Miki Sato, Illus. Picture Book. Weather Days Series. Pajama, 05/2022. [24]pp. $19.95. 978-1-77278-246-2. ADDITIONAL. GRADES TOD-K.

Rhyming couplets celebrate the rain: “Pouring rain, bursting sky, my umbrella keeps me dry.” The brevity of the jaunty verse is ideal for toddlers and younger preschoolers, who can relate to the rain. The collage illustrations are constructed using felt, paper, and embroidery thread, depicting young children of various ethnicities playing in the rain. The last page suggests various STEM activities related to the weather, such as mud painting. The padded covers and plastic-coated pages are great for this young audience just moving up from board books. Previous books in the Weather Days series include Snowy Days (2020), Sunny Days (2021), and Windy Days (2021).

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Leed, Percy. Sense of Hearing: A First Look.  Read for a Better World: Read About Sense Series. Lerner, 08/2022. 24pp. PLB $27.99 .978-1-7284-5917-2. Nonfiction. $8.99. 978-1-7284-6426-8. ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1 .

SERIES REVIEW:  See examples of various aspects of each of the senses via limited text and interesting photos. This five-title series provides only a quick description of the sense without the body part explanations included in similar titles. Each title covers a specific sense through the use of short sentences combined with interesting photos that demonstrate what information the sense conveys. The short size and limited page numbers make for a simple, introductory easy reader for new readers and to use with small groups.

Joshua Rees, Daly City

Leed, Percy. Sense of Smell: A First Look. Read for a Better World: Read About Sense Series. Lerner, 08/2022. 24pp. PLB $27.99. 978-1-7284-5918-9. Nonfiction. $8.99. 978-1-7284-6428-2. ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1.

Please see series review for Sense of Hearing: A First Look by Percy Leed.

Leed, Percy. Sense of Taste: A First Look. Non-fiction. Read for a Better World: Read About Sense Series. Lerner, 08/2022. 24pp. PLB $27.99. 978-1-7284-5918-9, PB $8.99. 978-1-7284-6428-2. ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1.

Please see series review for Sense of Hearing: A First Look by Percy Leed.

Forster, Miriam. Sharks: A Mighty Bite-y History. Gordy Wright, Illus. Non-fiction. Abrams, 05/2022. [84]pp. $24.99. 978-1-4197-4773-1. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 2-6.

Sharks are some of the oldest animals on Earth and have survived extinction, predators, and changing climate. Their secret is a varied toolbox of special attributes. This large-format, welldesigned, and handsomely illustrated book offers in-depth profiles of fourteen fascinating shark species and conveys volumes worth of relevant context packaged in short, easily digested paragraphs and sidebars. Opening with scientific, yet whimsical, lists of things older than sharks (fungus, worms, bugs) and things younger than sharks (humans, dinosaurs, trees) the reader is immediately immersed in a comprehensive and illuminating exploration of all things shark. Select terms are clearly defined, and in-depth profiles are followed by toolbox attributes and related behaviors from teeth to senses, migration to camouflage. Double-page spreads call out the major eras and extinction events sharks have lived through. It is a rare non-fiction work that allows for reading aloud while packing in enough qualitative information to justify years of perusal. Gouache and acrylic paintings bring to life prehistoric and modern day animals that capture imagination. Back matter includes more prehistoric sharks of note, ways to help, and resources.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Butler, Caron and Justin A. Reynolds. Shot Clock. Fiction. HarperCollins/K. Tegen, 09/2022. 304pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-306959-6. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 7-9.

Tone is a thirteen-year-old African American growing up in the Milwaukee projects, where family, friends, and basketball are what keep him going. When his best friend D is killed by the police, Tone is determined to honor D’s legacy by making the team that D carried to two national championships. A dream team of authors (Butler is an NBA All-Star and Reynolds nails teen dialogue) combine to produce a sports novel packed with on-court action, activism, community, and heart. Even better, the plot manages to both defy expectations and surpass them. As Tone learns, there is more than one way to win.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Bones, Bobby. Stanley the Dog: The First Day of School. Stephanie Laberis, Illus. Picture Book. HarperCollins, 06/2022. [32]pp. $18.99. 978-0-06-303952-0. ADDITIONAL. GRADES K-1.

Bobby Bones changes up the first-day-of-school genre by sending the dog to school and leaving the boy at home. Stanley, a bulldog, leaves his “dad” Bobby (a white boy) at home as the school bus takes him and many other dogs to Stanley’s first day of the new year. As is often the case for new students, Stanley is quite nervous about starting school, and some funny errors make him feel like an outcast. However, after rescuing the classroom cat from a fall, things go well all the way until bedtime, when he realizes that school continues the next day. Laberis’s digital illustrations convey just the right amount of detail to easily see Stanley’s emotions as well as those of the other animals and the few humans around. A useful addition to this crowded first-day-ofschool picture book genre.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Leed, Percy. Sun: A First Look. Read for a Better World: Read About Space Series.  Nonfiction. Lerner, 08/2022. 24pp. PLB $27.99.  978-1-7284-5923-3, PB $8.99 978-1-7284-6436-7. GRADES PRE-1. 

Please see series review for Astronauts: A First Look by Percy Leed.

Acevedo, Chantal. Curse on Spectacle Key, The. Fiction. Balzer & Bray, 09/2022. 256pp. $16.99. 978-0-06-313481-2. ADDITIONAL. GRADES 4-6.

Fifth grader Frank Fernandez longs to stay in one place and find a best friend. When his parents uproot the family once again, this time in order to rehab an abandoned lighthouse in the Florida Keys, three things make the move less of a disaster: they will be near his beloved grandfather; his parents promise this is the final move; and Frank gets a Great Dane puppy. Unfortunately, Frank realizes something is very wrong on Spectacle Key: his usually loving parents can’t stop sniping at each other, the lighthouse is besieged by biblical-level plagues, and an unscrupulous neighbor is determined to drive them out. When Frank investigates the abandoned orphanage next door, he discovers a mysterious lost white girl his age, whom only Frank can see. Together the two kids set out, determined to get to the bottom of multiple mysteries. There are lots of engaging details in Frank’s story, and the friendship between the specter-child and Frank feels real. Unfortunately, the mystery and the villains have Scooby-Doo-level verisimilitude with a page length suited to more mature readers and content. Too many elements are packed in and too much of the plot is the result of supernatural forces that fail to follow a consistent pattern. Frank never quite feels like a real fifth grade child because of an odd mix of adult and juvenile vocabulary. This, combined with the pile-on of action, plot devices, and exposition, drag down what could have been a short, fun, shivery read. Review based on an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired

Senior, Suzy. Hotel for Bugs, The. Leire Martin, Illus. Picture Book. Tiger Tales, 04/2022. [32]pp. $17.99. 978-1-68010-270-3. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES PRE-1.

Excited bug fanfare greets the opening of a lavish new hotel for bugs, which is chock full of the best resort amenities any bug could want. Colorful digital illustrations show off the many types of cartoon-like bugs and the many available activities. All are happy, until a slimy slug arrives looking for a room and is turned away. Bugs of all types become quite upset about the slug rejection, so much so that the clerk changes course, brings the slug back for a room, and asks them to join the party. An unexpected tale about accepting others no matter how different they may be.

Joshua Rees, Daly City PL

Nayeri, Dina. Waiting Place, The: When Home Is Lost and a New One Not Yet Found. Non-fiction. Anna Bosch Miralpeix, Illus. Candlewick, 05/2022. [64]pp. $18.99. 978-1-5362-1362-1. ADDITIONAL. GRADES 4-7.

Nayeri takes readers into the Katsikas refugee camp outside Ioannina, Greece. Through photographs and peacefully flowing narrative, readers experience a brief glimpse into the lives of ten children stuck in the camp for an unknowable amount of time—waiting, playing, maybe able to go to school—but never knowing what is next and definitely not having the type of childhood they should. The haunting text provides a hint of what life is like for refugees stuck in limbo after fleeing (or still in fear of) violence and possible death in their homeland. Though short on facts, and focused on only these ten kids of this one camp, everyone should read titles like this to increase awareness and provide better help to those in need around the world.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Tian, XiXi. This Place Is Still Beautiful. Fiction. Balzer & Bray, 06/2022. 360pp. $18.99. 978-0-06-308602-9. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 8-12.

Flanagan sisters Annalie and Margaret, like many siblings, are not best friends and do not look like each other, but hopefully are learning to get along. Margaret, who looks like her single-parent Chinese mother, left their small Midwest town for college in New York. She quickly leaves a summer internship to help seventeen-year-old Annalie (who looks like their long absent white dad) deal with anti-Chinese graffiti scrawled on their garage door. Tian skillfully weaves in a few ethnic characters while showing how most of the town is white and clueless about racial issues. Also included are relationship problems, some due to race, and others to common teen angst issues. An interesting look at Midwest life for two biracial teens in a mostly white town.

Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library

Gladden, Yolanda and Tamara Pizzoli. When the Schools Shut Down: A Young Girl’s Story of Virginia’s “Lost Generation” and the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Decision. Keisha Morris, Illus. Non-fiction. HarperCollins, 01/2022. [40]pp. $18.99. 978-0-06-301116-8. ADDITIONAL. GRADES 1-4.

From 1958 to 1964, all public schools in Prince Edward County, Virginia, were closed so they would not have to integrate. Told from the point of view of Yolanda Gladden, who was a child at that time, this gives an interesting look at how the Black community dealt with this move by offering schooling at churches and private homes. The first half covers Gladden’s childhood, and then the text makes a jump to the issue in Prince County. The narrative could be smoother, but it is a useful example of desegregation history. The tissue paper collage artwork is striking and is the strength of the book. Back matter includes a timeline, a bibliography, author’s note, and a few photos. Teri Kanefield’s The Girl From the Tar Paper School: Barbara Rose Johns and the Advent of the Civil Rights Movement (Abrams, 2014) tells some of the same story more effectively.

Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool

Ziegler, Jennifer. Worser. Fiction. Holiday House/ M. Ferguson, 03/2022. 256pp. $17.99. 978-0-8234-4956-9. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 5-7.

William Orser got his odious nickname, Worser, in second grade when a fellow student read the class roster—first initial, last name. It’s a particularly galling moniker for a child devoted to the precision, depth of meaning, and humanity embodied in language and who is the product of two highly literate university professors (one deceased). It’s appropriate that readers meet Worser in the worst possible year—seventh grade—not an easy time for a brainiac curmudgeon with authority issues. In addition, Worser’s equally acerbic mother, and kindred spirit, has suffered a stroke, and their home has been invaded by cheery, colorful, whimsical Aunt Iris and her two fiendish cats. There seems to be nowhere to hide. Seeking quiet refuge Worser discovers an under-patronized bookstore and before he knows it, is using the location to cohost the after-school literary club with his one esteemed peer – Donya, the beautiful, brilliant daughter of his mother’s colleague. But when economic realities threaten to close the bookstore and sever him from Donya, Worser decides to act … and of course makes it worser. Worser’s disastrous run-ins with the inevitable and painful changes of adolescence are hilarious, heartfelt, and profound, allowing readers to groan, cringe, and marvel at his mistakes and learn right along with him how to build a way out of the present and into the future.

Melissa McAvoy, Retired