Siqueira, Ana. Abuela’s Super Capa. Elisa Chavarri, Illus. HarperCollins, 01/2023. 40pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – 3. $17.99. 978-0-06-311365-7. ADDITIONAL.

On Saturdays, Luis and his abuela are superheroes with their capas, and Luis is abuela’s sidekick. One Saturday abuela is too sick to play, and Luis is devastated. He realizes he can be a different kind of superhero with a sidekick of his own. Chavarri’s colorful acrylic, gouache, and cut˗paper illustrations bring this intergenerational story to life. Fullcolor pages exhibit Luis’ deep emotions, while plenty of white space gives the other pages room to breathe. A delightful Latinx story of love and family. A glossary is included at the end.

Yesica Hurd—Berkeley Public Library

Alexander, Kwame. American Story, An. Dare Coulter, Illus. Hatchette, 01/2023. [54]pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES 4 – 6. $18.99. 978-0-316-47312-5. OUTSTANDING.

A teacher confronts the horror of the history of American slaves without the typical sugarcoating in lyrical prose. Mixed˗media illustrations employ sculpture, paintings, and drawings in a way that makes some look highly realistic but appropriately haunting to reflect the content. An author’s note provides context around the inspiration for the book as well as hopes for how the book will be used in classrooms. An American Story was six years in the making and the extra effort shines through.

Beth Gousman—Montclair Elementary

Beer, Julie. Animal FACTopia: Follow the Trail of 400 Beastly Facts. Andy Smith, Illus. Britannica, 04/2023. 207pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES 3 – 5. $14.99. 978-1-913750-73-2. ADDITIONAL.

Interesting facts propel this journey through 400 varied tidbits about animals, each somehow connected to the next (sometimes tenuously) as we learn about various animals from around the world and various time periods. Readers follow a trail of one-sentence factoids across colorfully illustrated pages, leaping from one fact to another as the trail winds along the pages. Examples of connections on one page include: staghorn coral’s growth rate leads to pgymy seahorses to “coral reefs are called rainforests of the sea” and then readers are on to a rainforest animal. While not easy to read all in one sitting, the interesting facts and heir connections make for an informative read which is likely to be read aloud and bombard anyone nearby with funny and interesting information. Smith skillfully intermixes pencil˗and˗ink illustrations with photos as the animal facts and illustrations wind their way along. Includes a page of websites consulted by the FACTopia team.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Faruqi, Reem. Anisa’s International Day. Reem Faruqi, Illus. Harper, 10/2022. 102pp. Fiction. GRADES 2 – 4. $16.99. 978-0-06-320623-6. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Anisa, of Pakistani descent, wears a new Pakistani outfit to school, inspiring her third grade teacher to organize an International Day for her class. Students are tasked with presenting something from their own culture or country for the rest of the class to learn about. While Anisa frets about what to do for International Day, she also learns how to be a better friend to her BFF Katie. This short, fast-paced title is a similar reading level as Junie B. Jones or Magic Tree House and is great for early elementary readers searching out a diverse cast of characters. The author is of Pakistani descent, and the story includes many ethnicities and cultures in Anisa’s classroom, along with a scattering of b&w illustrations of Anisa and her classmates. A detailed glossary explains words that readers may be unfamiliar with, and recipes and activity instructions from the story are also included.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Gianferrari, Maria. Being a Cat: A Tail of Curiosity. Pete Oswald, Illus. Harper, 04/2023. 40pp. Picture
Book. GRADES Preschool – 2. $19.99. 978-0-06-306792-9. ADDITIONAL.

Although this is a cute book with
vibrant illustrations, the text is confusing and flat. The bulk of the text is unconnected and without a
clear purpose beyond giving Oswald the opportunity to create some very cute cat illustrations. In the
final pages the book presents ways that a child can play like a cat, encouraging them to “stick out your
tongue” or “pretend you have whiskers,” but this interaction is too little, too late. Ultimately, the book
doesn’t offer text that is special or unique, and it was hard to imagine using this book in a class or library
setting.

Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K-8, Oakland Unified School District

Koehler, Susan. Cursed Sinkhole Series. Lerner/Darby Creek. 01/2023. 102pp. Fiction. GRADES 6 – 12. ADDITIONAL. PLB $29.32. 978-1-7284-7550-9. Paper $9.99. 978-1-7284-7797-8.

SERIES REVIEW:

This high interest, low reading level series from Darby Creek features spooky, paranormal tales revolving around fictional Foggy Creek High School students and some mysterious sinkholes in Wick County, Texas. Out of six series titles, this reviewer read three, each progressively spookier than the previous. Cursed features lucky, and unlucky, things happening to Eli after he finds an old watch which mysteriously glows at night and instigates dreams of a century-old train robbery. Infestation is the creepiest, with school bus-sized spiders emerging from the sinkholes as a couple of high school girls try to get the authorities to believe them and stop the spiders. Innocent Blood has people vanishing, apparently in order to appease old injustices. Each title contains short chapters, easy to understand concepts, and enough hints about paranormal/spooky events to keep readers going. While the characters (some white, some non-white) are lightly developed, the topics will appeal to high schoolers and the third grade reading level makes these a great choice for struggling readers.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Ness, Patrick. Different for Boys. Tea Bendix, Illus. Walker/Candlewick, 03/2023. 97pp. Fiction. GRADES 9 – 12. $18.99. 978-1-5362-2889-2. OUTSTANDING.

This wistful and reflective novella about identity, isolation, and the yearning to belong was originally published in the story collection Losing It (Andersen, 2010); the text has now been updated, Americanized, and illustrated with Bendix’s evocative smudgy pencil drawings. Narrator Ant Stephenson, a high school junior, is gay but stays closeted because of his school’s entrenched homophobia. Ant’s opening question is: When do boys who like boys lose their virginity? But he wants an answer that is more than just a physical act, he wants to know what will make him stop feeling lonely. This question is skillfully and richly explored and a tentative answer is arrived at through Ant’s changing relationships with three friends (all cued as white). Bendix’s moody illustrations embody the washed-out emptiness that these boys feel but cannot name. In the text, curse words, slurs, and sex acts are wittily redacted because, although they reflect real life, characters in YA books are not allowed to say them and, in a meta twist, Ant uses them to reach his own resolution.

Hayley Beale—San Francisco University High School

Anderson, M. T. Elf Dog and Owl Head. Junyi Wu, Illus. Candlewick, 04/2023. 240pp. Fiction. GRADES 3 – 6. $18.99. 978-1-5362-2281-4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Clay’s summer, stuck at home with bickering siblings and stressed parents during the global sickness, is transformed when an unusual lost dog comes to his aid in the woods. Elphinor is able to open paths between human and magical realms, and adventures unfurl. But can Clay think of a way to save his family, pet, and newfound friend when the angry elves come looking for their missing hound? Told mostly from Clay’s point of view, with the help of an omniscient narrator, the straightforward prose explains all. Each chapter includes at least one atmospheric, cross-hatched, graphite illustration, making this a good choice for entry-level fantasy readers or family readalouds. The majority of human characters read as white.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Alessandri, Alexandra. Enchanted Life of Valentina Mejía, The. Atheneum, 02/2023. 224pp. Fiction. GRADES 3 – 7. $17.99. 978-1-6659-1705-6. ADDITIONAL.

Valentina, her brother Julian, and her Papi are on a hike in the Andes Mountains in search of Colombia’s mythical creatures, when an earthquake strikes. Papi falls into a crevice, and on the way to get help, Valentina and Julian are transported to an otherworldly place. The siblings must traverse this magical land filled with creatures determined to catch them, and reach madremonte, mother of the Earth. Only madremonte can release them back into their world and save their Papi. Alessandri’s book is filled with mythical beings and fast-paced action. The novel keeps the reader engaged, and the twist at the end is unexpected. Spanish words are peppered throughout, but their meaning can be gleaned by the context. An excellent pick for fractured fairytale enthusiasts.

Yesica Hurd—Berkeley Public Library

Hest, Amy. Forever Friends. Kady MacDonald Denton, Illus. Billy & Rose Series. Candlewick, 10/2022. 42pp. Fiction. GRADES 1 – 3. $16.99. 978-1-5362-1419-2. ADDITIONAL.

Billy and Rose, an anthropomorphic sheep and pig, are featured in four short stories depicting various friendship issues. They motivate each other to do their boring chores, they figure out how to have fun when playing catch does not work well, they open a roadside ice cream stand together, and finally they decide where to have a sleepover. Watercolor˗and˗ink illustrations depict the two friends as they experience these problems and their eventual solutions, each of which helps their friendship thrive. As with many titles, Hest’s early transitional stories could have been written and illustrated with human children, but anthropomorphic animals were used instead, which works well for beginning readers.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Obuchowski, David. How Birds Sleep. Sarah Pedry, Illus. Minedition, 03/2023. [40]pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES Preschool – 3. $18.99 978-1-6626-5097-0. OUTSTANDING.

Readers journey around the world discovering the different ways and places birds sleep. Richly colored gouache paintings show a variety of species at rest, stacked in a pile, buried in the snow, rocked to sleep on waves, or high in the air. Simple text provides context and includes intriguing specifics, often drawing connections between human and bird experience. Both common and Latin names are included, making this suitable for preschool bedtime or older nature lovers. Back matter explains the science of sleep, includes a primer on climate change, and offers suggestions for how to aid birds.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Alexander, Kwame and Deanna Nikaido. How to Write a Poem. Melissa Sweet, Illus. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, 04/2023. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Kindergarten – 3. $18.99. 978-0-06-306090-6. OUTSTANDING.

In this companion to Alexander’s How to Read a Book (2019), readers are encouraged to jump right into the writing process by using their imaginations to describe things in nature. For example, “Close your eyes, open the window of your mind, and climb out, like a seedling reaching for tomorrow.” The text does not rhyme, and nowhere in the story are readers told to write a rhyming poem, making this accessible for all types of creative writing. The colorful collage artwork showcases a variety of items including cut papers, newsprint, pencil drawings, gouache, and three-dimensional objects such as rocks. The children in the illustrations represent a variety of skin colors. Teachers may be the best audience for this joyous book, because it can inspire writing projects and even art projects.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Hinrichs, Alexandra S.D. I Am Made of Mountains. Vivian Mineker, Illus. Charlesbridge, 05/2023. [42]pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES Kindergarten – 5. $18.99. 978-1-62354-260-3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

In this informational picture book, sixteen national parks are celebrated in rhyming text, accompanied by sidebars in smaller print that spell out facts about that park. The rhyming text is in first person from the park’s point of view and would make a great readaloud: “I am made of groves; I tower, stretch, and sweep. Heart rushing like a waterfall, one loud and daring leap.” The author’s note at the end spells out how many park lands were acquired by force from the Indigenous people who had lived there for centuries or were subject to Jim Crow laws. The full-color, digitally created illustrations depict significant aspects of each park and feature human visitors of all ethnicities. The endpapers contain a map of the U.S. showing the locations of the parks. Review based on an Advance Reader Copy.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Thermes, Jennifer. Indestructible Tom Crean, The: Heroic Explorer of the Antarctic. Jennifer Thermes, Illus. Penguin, 01/2023. 56pp. Biography. GRADES 1 – 4. $19.99. 978-0-593-11772-9. OUTSTANDING.

Antarctic explorer Tom Crean comes to life in a colorful biography chronicling his experiences on the icy continent in the early 1900s. Unlike many other explorers, the resourceful, funny, dog-loving Irishman never wrote or spoke publicly about his experiences. The author instead relies on accounts written by Tom’s crewmates about the Discovery, Terra Nova, and Endurance expeditions. The well-organized, fast-paced story includes a wealth of details ranging from heart-pounding (scaling icy cliffs) to mundane (playing games aboard an ice-bound boat). Kids will pore over the dramatic watercolor and pencil illustrations, particularly the one of Tom and his shipmates trapped on an ice floe surrounded by killer whales. Fun-to-read maps are interspersed throughout the text; back matter includes an informative afterword, timeline, and source notes.

Jenny Andrus—Independent

Precious, McKenzie. Infestation. Sinkhole Series. Lerner/Darby Creek, 01/2023. 106pp. Fiction. GRADES 6 – 12. PLB $29.32. 978-1-7284-7547-9. Paper $ 9.99. 978-1-7284-7794-7. ADDITIONAL.

Please see Cursed by Susan Koehler for series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Koehler, Susan. Innocent Blood Sinkhole. Series Lerner/Darby Creek. 01/2023. 103pp. Fiction. GRADES 6-12. ADDITIONAL. PLB $29.32. 978-1-7284-7549-3. Paper $9.99. 978-1-7284-7796-1.

Please see Cursed by Susan Koehler for the series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Salazar, Aida. Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter. Molly Medoza, Illus.
Scholastic, 03/2023. 48pp. Biography. GRADES 1 – 4. $19.99. 978-1-338-28341-9. OUTSTANDING.

Salazar does an outstanding job with this historical picture book biography of Jovita Valdovinos as a Cristero leader in Mexico in the early twentieth century. The prose is engaging and moves the story along. Mendoza’s artwork is created with sumi ink and composed in Procreate® software using digital brushes and color. The illustrations portray Jovita’s determination. Extensive back matter on Jovita’s life is provided with photographs. An author’s note and an illustrator’s note are also included. Salazar
mentions that the information was taken from Jovita’s memoir, but no bibliographical reference is
provided. An exceptional book that highlights a little-known aspect of Mexican history.

Yesica Hurd—Berkeley Public Library

Schmidt, Gary D. Labors of Hercules Beal, The. Clarion, 05/2023. 352pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 7. $19.99 978-0-358-65963-1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Seventh grader Hercules has a lot that sets him apart. He lives next to the ocean on a farm and nursery his family has owned longer than you can imagine. But since his parents’ untimely death, he and his older brother Achilles struggle to keep the business, and what’s left of their family, together. His workload is increased when his new teacher, an ex-Marine, assigns him to perform and reflect on the twelve labors of the mythic Hercules. Neighbors, natural disasters, feral cats, and his brother’s possibly vampiric girlfriend all combine to produce a memorable year. While Hercules’ grief is palpable, his staunch determination to carry on, and his personality˗filled descriptions, make the story more comic than tragic. The majority of the characters read as white. Reviewed from an ARC.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw. Lizard Scientists, The : Studying Evolution in Action. Nate Dappen and Neil Losin, Illus. Scientists in the Field Series. Clarion, 12/2022. 73pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES 5 – 8. $18.99. 978-0-35-838140-2. ADDITIONAL.

Anyone looking to learn how scientists examine lizards, especially anoles, may be enamored with this detailed look at how researchers are studying anoles in Florida and the Caribbean. Readers discover why anoles are useful animals, particularly around climate and environmental changes, due to their fast-paced species adaptations through almost yearly generational changes. Patent’s heavy writing is chock-full of research details and explanations, along with sidebars on related topics, scientists, and other study projects. Useful for those really interested in lizards and ways to study them.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library 

Hale, Nathan. Mighty Bite, The. Nathan Hale, Illus. Amulet, 04/2023. [284]pp. Graphic. GRADES 3 – 7. $14.99. 978-1-4197-6553-7. OUTSTANDING.

A quirky trilobite and his companion Amber (a walking whale) set out on a quest for fame and fortune after a run-in with a glamorous paleo-newscaster. Hale manages to build winning characters and humorous adventures galore around nuggets of reality: prehistoric creatures, mystical traditions, and oddball facts. The black ink and bluewashed comic panels are imbued with a strong ‘70s vibe. The simple color scheme helps to balance the plethora of invention and diversity of character. By turns both wise and goofy, Hale lives up to the title page’s promise to “blow [our] minds.” Back matter separates fact from fiction and lists the rules Hale set himself during lockdown that resulted in this comic tour de force. Illustrations and text give hope that sequels may be planned.

Melissa McAvoy—-Retired

Werner, Rachel. Moving & Grooving to Fillmore’s Beat. Jerrard K. Polk, Illus. Capstone, 08/2023. 32pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES Kindergarten – 5. $18.99. 978-1-68446-762-4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

The Fillmore district of San Francisco is celebrated in this rhyming look at that area’s cultural significance. The text points out how music dominates the landscape from the Fillmore Auditorium, to parks, to the Jazz Festival: “Rhymes and rhythms blazed like beacons in the Harlem of the West.” Both the text and the illustrations indicate the district’s ethnic diversity and highlight notable figures including Maya Angelou and Carlos Santana. The full-color, graphics-style artwork helps fill in aspects and matches well with the brief text. Hopefully, the illustration of the cable car will be revised before the final publication, because a green streetcar is shown instead. Review based on an Advance Reader Copy. This book has California-specific content.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Downing, Julie. Night in the City. Julie Downing, Illus. Neal Porter, 03/2023. 40pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool-3. $18.99. 978-0-8234-5206-4. OUTSTANDING.

A brown-skinned child’s schedule (asleep at night and awake during the day) is juxtaposed with diverse urban workers on the night shift. Lively, cheerful watercolor and-colored pencil illustrations showcase a nurse, baker, firefighter, manager, film crew, emergency dispatcher, taxi driver, janitor, security guard, and pets. Multiple panel pages are interspersed among full spreads, revealing interlocking stories. Spare text lets the pictures carry the narrative. Color is used to highlight the difference between the night workers and those ending their day, making it easier to follow central characters. It’s hard to resist peeking through a window and Downing gives readers dozens of chances, rewarding us with delightful narrative details that encourage multiple re-readings.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Levine, Sara. Poop for Breakfast: Why Some Animals Eat It. Florence Weiser, Illustrator. Lerner/Milbrook. 04/2023. 32pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES Kindergarten – 4. HIGH ADDITIONAL. Trade $20.99. 978-1-7284-5796-3.

Veterinarian and author Sarah Levine serves up what is sure to be a crowd-pleasing look at animals who eat their own poop. This “disgustingly informative book” is brightly illustrated using “pencils and paper and Procreate®.” Kids will love this big and bright picture book about insects and animals that eat poo and the biological reasons behind it such as establishing a healthy gut bacteria in baby elephants or creating stronger eggs in butterflies. Levine’s text is both informative and funny and works well with the bright and vibrant illustrations. Additional back matter includes an age-appropriate discussion of the
digestive system in humans and other animals, as well as multiple synonyms for poop and a guide for further reading that lists eight books published between 1986 and 2021.

Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K-8, Oakland Unified School District

Bolden, Tonya. Rock, Rosetta, Rock! Roll, Rosetta, Roll!: Presenting Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock & Roll. R. Gregory Christie, Illus. Harper, 02/2023. 40pp. Biography. GRADES Preschool – 3. $18.99. 978-0-06-299438-7. OUTSTANDING.

Wow! This book is a delight to read from beginning to end. The lively text filled with playful alliteration, repetition, and vibrant musicality paired with Christie’s amazing artwork carry the reader into the pure joy and vibrancy that was the essence of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Ms. Tharpe was an African American guitarist and singer who is now credited with giving birth to the musical style known as rock and roll. Her musical ability, superb guitar playing, and stage antics influenced artists such as Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Elvis Presley. Despite this legacy she was nearly erased from musical history until there was a resurgence of her music and story in the 2000s, which led to her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, more than forty years after her death. This picture book biography walks through highlights of Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s life and includes substantial back matter with a timeline, author’s note, and sources.

Rachael Reiley— Hillcrest Elementary K-8, Oakland Unified School District

Newall, George and Tom Yohe. Schoolhouse Rock: The Updated Official Guide. Various Illustrators. Hyperion, 01/2023. 112pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES 3 – 7. $17.99. 978-1-368-07774-3. ADDITIONAL.

Adapted from a book for adults, this collection of the lyrics to all the “Schoolhouse Rock” songs was published to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the award-winning TV cartoon series. Divided into five chapters, the songs are in chronological order of the debut dates, and organized by the topics of multiplication, grammar, American history, science, and money. Each entry has the song’s lyrics, a few color cartoon illustrations from the videos, and three sidebars containing a synopsis, trivia, and facts. Generations have learned about parts of speech with songs like “Conjunction Junction,” multiplication with “Three is a Magic Number,” and civics with “I’m Just a Bill.” Teachers can use these for lessons, school assemblies, and student performances. The cartoon artwork depicts people of various ethnicities and the voice performers also represent diverse backgrounds.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Murray, Ruchira. Shipwreck Island. Orphans of the Tide Series; bk. 2. HarperCollins. 12/2022. 404pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 9. ADDITIONAL. $18.99. 978-0-06-304316-9.

Tweens Ellie and Seth, assumed to be white, have journeyed across the ocean, searching for dry land, on the run from the enemy. They find an island inhabited with a medieval city ruled by aristocrats and a god-like queen, but there is brewing political turmoil and a rapidly approaching famine. Seth has some godly powers affecting water and water creatures, Ellie is a “vessel” for a god, both of which readers of the first book, Orphans of the Tide will better understand, along with their post-apocalyptic, water-covered world. Murray’s vision for this world and its people is complex, with folktale and mythical elements intertwining with hints of what happened centuries before. Best for readers continuing the series and those interested in novels full of mysterious adventure.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Muth, Jon J. Stillwater and Koo Save the World . Jon J. Muth, Illustrator. Scholastic. 02/2023. [32]pp. Picture Book. GRADES Preschool – 2. OUTSTANDING. $16.99. 978-1-338-81231-2.

The newest pairing of young haiku-speaking Koo and his wise, gentle giant Zenderhearted Uncle Stillwater starts with a good morning stretch, a comforting waffle breakfast, and a tall order. Uncle asks his nephew what he would like to do, and Koo exuberantly exclaims, “Something important!/Fix all the things that are wrong./Let us save the world!” Starting small, sagacious Stillwater guides Koo through mundane tasks, from cleaning the kitty litter box and feeding the fish to baking a welcoming cake for the new brown-skinned human neighbors. As Koo wonders if saving the world is possible, Stillwater reminds his little nephew that healing the world starts with the smallest acts of kindness. Tranquil, softly-rendered watercolor˗and˗pencil illustrations convey the universal, loving, empathetic, and enduring message, “Each time you do something good, you save the world a little bit.”

Karen Quest—Mill Valley Public Library

McDonald, Megan. Stink, Superhero Superfan. Peter H. Reynolds, Illus. Stink Moody Series; bk. 13. Candlewick, 03/2023. 148pp. Fictio.n GRADES 2 – 4. $14.99. 978-1-5362-1507-6. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

In the thirteenth entry in this popular series, Judy Moody’s little brother Stink finds some vintage comic books featuring Super Gecko. Soon, he receives notes signed by the superhero character, so Stink must solve the mystery of who is sending them. Each chapter ends with an easy puzzle or comic page, which adds interest. Those moving up from beginning reader books will find this series a great choice due to the large typeface, abundant white space, and cartoon drawings on every other page. Also, each book in the series has a slightly higher reading level than the previous books, allowing readers to gain reading skills at a comfortable pace. Stink is a character anyone can relate to because he is relatively average, except for his active imagination. He is a white male and many of his friends are shown with dark skin, and many are female, bringing a nice element of inclusion to the book.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool

Bunting, Philip. Gentle Genius of Trees, The. Philip Bunting, Illus. Crown, 01/2023. 32pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES Kindergarten – 3. $17.99. 978-0-593-56781-4. LOW ADDITIONAL.

Information about tree morphology is accompanied by comical pictures, goofy jokes (“How do you make an oak tree laugh? Tell it acorny joke”), and inspirational quotes (“Grow slow, grow strong”). The author focuses on the interconnection between “hairy humans” and their “foliaged friends,” but the asides often distract rather than provide clarification of scientific concepts. The page on photosynthesis, for example, represents glucose as cotton candy. An asterisked note explains that this is an artist’s impression, not what glucose actually looks like. Source notes and a glossary would have added depth to the overall presentation.

Jenny Andrus—Independent

Slater, Dashka. Laura Hughes, Illus. Candlewick, 02/2023. 32pp. Picture Book. GRADES
Preschool – 3. $18.99. 978-1-5362-1567-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

It’s time for Kayla to trade in “pink pony,”
her itty-bitty bike with training wheels, for “wild blue” —a big kid bike which she imagines as a bucking
bronco throwing her off again and again as she struggles to learn to ride. “Daddy helps me saddle her
up. Then I take the reins…She’s too spirited, I say. I want my pink pony back.” But with bravery and
persistence Kayla conquers her fears and gets comfortable on the new bike. Hughes’ acrylic-and˗ink
illustrations subtly capture the emotional landscape that Kayla travels through as she is simultaneously
inside both imagined and real landscapes. This book will encourage readers who are learning to ride as
well as those who are facing any other new and challenging situation in their lives.

Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K-8, Oakland Unified School District

Lowry, Lois. Windeby Puzzle, The: History and Story. Jonathan Stroh, Illus. Clarion, 02/2023. 186pp. Fiction. GRADES 5 – 8. $16.99. 978-0-35-867250-0. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

The bulk of this unusual novel is made up of two short stories, inspired by the remains of a two thousand-year-old body found in a peat bog in Germany in 1952. The first story focuses on Estrild, a twelve-year-old girl who wants to be a warrior, and not assume the usual role of wife and mother for a female in her society. The other short story features a boy named Varick who is about the same age, born disabled, and how he tries to be of use despite his physical limitations. The two stories are framed with brief introductions to the facts about the fossilized remains, but this means readers will know ahead of time that they are both doomed to death by age twelve. The author imagines a life for each, based on factual information about the society at that time and place, which will hold the attention of readers. The informational sections explain that at first scientists believed the body was a female, later determining it was a male, but such explanations cast a pall over the stories since we already know the fates of the characters.

Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool