Arnold, Elana K. Blood Years, The. Balzer + Bray, 10/2023. 400pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-0629-9085-3. GRADES 8–12. OUTSTANDING.     

Even those uninterested in history will be gripped as the child Frederieke grows to womanhood in the shadow of an idolized, egotistical sister, all while facing the worst humanity and fate can throw at her. Set in Romania during WWII, this breathtakingly intimate account is based on Arnold’s Jewish grandmother’s experience. First person narration and a fascinatingly complex main character combine with thorough research and a rich sense of place to deliver a powerful story of the bloody business of surviving to choose your own path. A timeline, photographs of real-life counterparts, an author’s note, and a reading list are included.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Atherton, David. David Atherton’s Baking Book for Kids. Harry Woodgate, Illus. Candlewick, 09/2023. 68pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5362-3130-4. GRADES 3–8. ADDITIONAL.  

The Great British Baking Show winner Atherton offers a cookbook for children who are interested in baking. The recipes are clearly written, with numbered steps illustrated with helpful small color drawings, and there are several warnings to ask for adult help with knives and ovens. There is an emphasis on healthy foods, and a mix of savory items as well as sweets, but those looking for lots of cake and cookie recipes won’t find very many here. Instead, children can learn how to bake bread and make lunch or teatime snacks, although there are a few cakes and cookie treats included. Some recipes call for unusual ingredients and equipment like a food processor that some households will not have, and the recipes are fairly complex for the younger age group that can read this. Still, it is a nicely done children’s cookbook; it was originally published in the UK in 2022.

Penny Peck—SJSU iSchool

Bolte, Mari. Drones in Action. Updog: Military Machines. Lerner. 08/2023. 32pp.
Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 978-1-7284-9168-4. Paper $10.99. 979-8765603383. GRADES 3–5.
ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW: Military machines are quickly introduced in these short series titles which
each cover a broad type of machine. From fighter jets and helicopters, to drones and robots, the
four titles this reviewer saw each provided concise narration, engaging photographs, and short
sentences about what the machines are and what they do. The color photographs are the main
focus of each title, as the short sentences generally guide readers to the picture of what is being
discussed. Most of the text goes with the pictures, but the Fighter Jets title mislabels one plane
type and shows a retired aircraft (in 1989) as the fastest that the military has. Readers will see
the outside of the military machines, but not the insides or explanations of how they work.
Useful for younger elementary readers interested in military machines.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Schwartz, Heather E. Esports Careers. Lerner Sports: Esports Zone. Lerner, 08/2023. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 978-1-7284-9091-5. Paper $9.99. 979-8765602904. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.        

SERIES REVIEW: Please see Esports Superstars by Marie-Therese Miller for the series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Schwartz, Heather E. Esports Championships. Lerner Sports: Esports Zone. Lerner, 08/2023. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 978-1-7284-9088-5. Paper $9.99. 979-8765602911. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.        

SERIES REVIEW: Please see Esports Superstars by Marie-Therese Miller for the series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Miller, Marie-Therese. Esports Superstars. Lerner Sports: Esports Zone. Lerner, 08/2023. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 978-1-7284-9089-2. Paper $9.99. 979-8765602928. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.        

These four titles introduce readers to what esports is, the technology used in esports competitions, career opportunities, and some of the big names related to esports. While there is some repetition about what esports are, each title focuses on different aspects and uses lots of color photographs and exciting text to engage, inform, and excite readers. An interesting look at something many middle grade readers may be interested in. Could be used to justify kids’ time spent on video games to their parents.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Schwartz, Heather E. Esports Technology. Lerner Sports: Esports Zone. Lerner, 08/2023. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 978-1-7284-9090-8. Paper $9.99. 979-8765602935. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.        

SERIES REVIEW: Please see Esports Superstars by Marie-Therese Miller for the series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Bolte, Mari. Fighter Jets in Action. Updog: Military Machines. Lerner. 08/2023. 32pp.
Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 978-1-7284-9169-1. Paper $10.99. 979-8765603390. GRADES 3–5.
ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW: Please see Drones in Action by Mari Bolte for the series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Viva, Frank. Gotta Go! Frank Viva, Illus. Toon, 9/2023. 32pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6626-6507-3. GRADES Preschool–1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.         

How do you hold it when you gotta go? Owen, a bald boy with light brown skin, hilariously learns (and shows off) various gotta go dances while spending time with his Grampa. Viva’s cartoon-like digital drawings use a mix of comic style boxes and full- or partial-page illustrations to tell the story. Owen is hounded off his electronics before heading to Grampa’s and then going to the park. Each time he is reminded to pee, he says he doesn’t need to, but then he really, really does need to. The simple illustrations, consisting of only a few colors and limited details, help keep readers focused on the storyline with few distractions beyond Owen’s dance moves and a growing audience copying his moves. Who knew needing to go could be both funny and informative?

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Khalil, Aya. Great Banned-Books Bake Sale, The. Anait Semirdzhyan, Illus. Tilbury House, 08/2023. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.95. 978-0-88448-967-2. GRADES Kindergarten–3. ADDITIONAL.

A powerful story based on current national headlines, this story continues The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story (2020), with Kanzi’s elementary school class eagerly visiting the school library to find books to read. Unfortunately, they are disappointed and upset to discover that a book challenge has emptied the Diverse Books bookcase, and now she cannot find books with children like herself, or with Arabic words to share with her mother. Her classmates rally to support Kanzi, coming up with a bake sale idea to raise money to replace the missing books, which ends up garnering local news coverage and results in the school board reinstating the books. Watercolor illustrations depict a diverse class that works together to support everyone. Readers see why diverse books are needed, and how a community’s support makes a difference.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Schwartz, Heather E. Harry Styles: Chart-Topping Musician and Style Icon. Gateway Biographies. Lerner, 08/2023. 48pp. Nonfiction. PLB $31.99. 978-1-7284-9177-6. Paper $11.99. 979-8765602973. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW: Please see Sonia Sotomayor: From the Bronx to the US Supreme Court by Liz Sonneborn for the series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Bolte, Mari. Helicopters in Action. Updog: Military Machines. Lerner. 08/2023. 32pp.
Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 978-1-7284-9170-7. Paper $10.99. 979-8765603406. GRADES 3–5.
ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW: Please see Drones in Action by Mari Bolte for the series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Brown, Lisa. Hospital Book, The. Lisa Brown, Illus. Neal Porter, 03/2023. 40pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-8234-4665-0. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.

Hospitals can be scary and stressful for young children. As she did with The Airport Book (Roaring Brook Press, 2016), author and illustrator Lisa Brown demystifies another big, overwhelming place for young readers. We follow every step of our young patient’s experience, from pain and illness to diagnosis and her path back to good health. Brown uses the device of counting the nine times that our patient cries and why she cries, from the point of view of the little girl: when “the car went over a bump,” when “the doctor pressed on my stomach,” “in the operating room.” And she also lets us know when she didn’t cry, which is much more often: “when the nurse took my temperature,” “when I got a funny robe,” “when the doctor said I needed an operation.” There is a lot of activity outside the hospital of people coming and going and the activity inside the hospital is even more bustling, demonstrating that people coming to the hospital for help are not alone. Brown’s ink and watercolor illustrations are warm and comforting, but also filled with the sights and sounds a young patient will experience. The patient has light brown skin and black hair; one parent has light tan skin and blonde hair and the other has light brown skin and curly black hair as well. Pair with Bemelmens’s Madeline (Viking Press, 1939) for youngest readers.

Pauline Harris—San Francisco Public Library

Bartunek, Jiri. How the New Seven Wonders of the World Were Built. Jan Sramek, Illus. Addl. Creators Tom Velcovsky. Translated from the Czech by Sean Mark Miller. Albatros, 07/2023. 48pp. Nonfiction. Trade $17.95. 978-80-00-06843-5. GRADES 4–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.         

In 2007, the New7Wonders Foundation released the list of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World: The Great Wall of China, Petra, The Colosseum, Chichen Itza, Machu Picchu, The Taj Mahal, and Christ the Redeemer. This engaging and well-designed book offers three pages on each, explaining how they were built. The book begins with a world map showing the location of each and follows with the details on the history and construction of the wonders, arranged by the year they were created. There are smaller maps and diagrams included in each entry along with brief sidebars on specific topics. The full-color, graphic style illustrations appear to be digitally created, showing the buildings and the people who were involved. It may have been more helpful to include photos as well since all seven are still standing. A useful, interesting book for both research and browsing.

Penny Peck—SJSU iSchool

Schmitt, Kelly Rice. I Ship: A Container Ship’s Colossal Journey. Jam Dong, Illus.
Lerner/Millbrook, 10/2023. [40]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 978-1-7284-7682-7.
GRADES Kindergarten–1. ADDITIONAL.

Follow a giant container ship as it journeys from Asia to Europe via engaging text and colorful illustrations. Readers experience the highlights of the trip, including loading and departing, a sudden change in the route (the Suez Canal is blocked), crashing waves and violent weather, and safe arrival. Mixed media, collage, and watercolor illustrations depict the immense size of the ship, the varied cargo in hundreds of containers, and the many shipboard activities that keep the ship going and the crew safe. Concludes with four packed pages of additional information and facts, including a glossary and shipping details.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Sudyka, Diana. Little Land. Diana Sudyka, Illus. Little, Brown, 04/2023. [48]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-0-3163-0176-3. GRADES Preschool–1. HIGH ADDITIONAL.           

A young child explores the ecological transformations of a tiny piece of land from millions of years ago, a world where dinosaurs and prehistoric animals thrived without human presence. As civilization progresses, children from diverse backgrounds contribute to constructing houses, cities, and factories, presenting the land with new challenges. The vibrant illustrations span two pages and are created with gouache watercolors with digital enhancements. The narrative unfolds across the pages, illustrating gradual and sudden environmental changes, from peaceful scenes to tumultuous events like wildfires and the emergence of new life. An ideal choice for Earth Month displays and storytimes, this book highlights humans’ significant impact on the land and encourages young readers to contemplate their role in the environment.  

Hua Zhang—San Jose State University Student

Shepard, Ray Anthony. Long Time Coming, A: A Lyrical Biography of Race in America from Ona Judge to Barack Obama. R. Gregory Christie, Illus. Calkins Creek, 08/2023. 333pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-6626-8066-3. GRADES 7–12. OUTSTANDING.   

What’s unusual about this collective biography in free verse is that it uses these six African American icons—Ona Judge (enslaved by Martha Washington), Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells Barnett, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Barack Obama—to then present a larger biography of race in America. Arranged chronologically, the history of each person profiled reflects the events of racial injustice and oppression in the U.S., and highlights actions that impacted the movement, from escapes from slavery, to lawsuits, to Obama’s election. There is a personal tone to the text, and the author is sensitive but clear when describing the horrors of slavery, lynching, and other violent actions, making this appropriate for a wide age range. Each chapter begins with dramatic ink drawings set on stark white backgrounds which indicate the seriousness of the subject. The book concludes with source notes, timeline, index, and bibliography.

Penny Peck—SJSU iSchool

Brown-Wood, JaNay. Mahogany: A Little Red Riding Hood Tale. John Joven, Illus. Charlesbridge, 03/2024. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-367-9. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

In this modern retelling of Red Riding Hood, Mahogany loves to sew and create, and Momma sends her to G-Ma’s to deliver honey cornbread. On the way, Mahogany meets the wolf, who she evades using her handmade cape. Both the full-color digital illustrations and the text indicate that Mahogany is proud of her dark brown skin, something she uses to hide in the woods from the wolf. Modern elements include her cellphone and headphones, which she uses to listen to music. This fun version of the well-known folktale shows a strong Black girl at her bravest and most creative.

Penny Peck—SJSU iSchool

Smith, Charles R., Jr. Major Taylor: World Cycling Champion. Leo Espinosa, Illus. Candlewick, 09/2023. [48]pp. Biography. Trade $18.99. 978-1-5362-1498-7. GRADES 2–5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.           

Marshall “Major” Taylor became the world’s champion bicycle racer in the late 18th century, becoming the first African American to do so at a time when cycling was a very popular sport. This picture book biography focuses on the Six Day Race in 1896 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Even though Taylor didn’t win that race, it proved he was a contender despite sabotage by other racers who were white. The narrative is told in free verse using some rhymes and a compelling rhythm that pulls the reader into the story. The digitally created illustrations are equally successful, in full color dominated by browns and reds, depicting the people’s clothing in a way that indicates the time period. The book ends with an author’s note containing more details about Taylor’s life, a timeline, and a brief bibliography.

Penny Peck—SJSU iSchool

Bolte, Mari. Military Robots in Action. Updog: Military Machines. Lerner, 08/2023. 32pp.
Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 978-1-7284-9171-4. Paper $10.99. 979-8765603413. GRADES 3–5. ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW: Please see Drones in Action by Mari Bolte for the series review.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Williams, Yohuru. More Than a Dream: The Radical March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Michael G. Long, Illus. Farrar Straus Giroux, 08/2023. 272pp. Nonfiction. Trade $21.99. 978-0374391744. GRADES 8–12. HIGH ADDITIONAL.          

Go beyond feel-good nostalgia to explore the political maneuvering, debate, sexism, and logistics behind the most influential and largest political protest of its era: the 1963 March for Jobs and Freedom. This well-researched exploration of the radical underpinnings and impressive organization that led to Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech knocks the dust off the iconic event, bringing it to life and providing questions and procedures for aspiring activists and students of history. Myriad period photographs, ephemera, and first-person accounts add immediacy. While a handful of chapters pose questions to the reader, the quality varies and some of the meatiest are never asked. A very useful resource for classroom teachers who can capitalize on the many strengths and supplement the deficiencies. Backmatter includes additional considerations, source notes, image credits, and an index.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Schaefer, Lola M. Motion. Druscilla Santiago, Illus. Hands-On Science. Charlesbridge, 2/2024. [38]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $16.99. 978-1-62354-245-0. GRADES Kindergarten–2. OUTSTANDING.

This third title in the Hands-On Science series interacts with readers in similar ways as the previous title (Geology, 2023) explaining a somewhat abstract concept to young readers. Learning about the subject of motion becomes exciting and engaging via the interactive presentation methods this author/illustrator duo use. The basic, straightforward storyline guides young readers through an interactive journey focusing on what motion is and how they experience it every day. For example, readers are asked to poke whipped cream (on the page) to see it change shape, shaking the book upside down to see the whipped cream fall off, or moving a marble on a track by tilting the book to one side or another. These actions readily and succinctly demonstrate what motion is, in understandable and fun ways. Great for reading aloud with a small group and introducing this physics concept to younger readers.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Harris, Chris. My Head Has a Bellyache: More Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and
Immature Grown-ups. Andrea Tsurumi, Illus. Little, Brown, 07/2023. 192pp. Poetry. Trade
$19.99. 978-0-3165-9259-8. GRADES 2–6. OUTSTANDING.

Harris follows up his popular I’m Just No Good at Rhyming (2020) with a companion collection
of “zany poems and nonsense” that offers just as much laugh-out-loud fun as the original.
Wordplay abounds with oxymorons, malapropisms, puns, and hyperbole within multiple poetry
forms. Andrea Tsurumi’s illustrations, created in Photoshop using only shades of green and gray,
blend seamlessly with the text — sometimes even physically like in “A Poem About Snakes…”
where snakes are supposed to represent the letter “S” but slither into other words with hilarious
results (think Mad Libs). The illustrations also feature people with a range of different skin colors. The
book wraps up with several poems titled “Detritus” that contain outtakes, while the final poem
doubles as a funny glossary of arcane literary terms. Many poems are set up for parents to read
with children at bedtime, while others will work well for readalouds. An occasional selection
falls flat, at least to this semi-mature reviewer, but ultimately this book overflows with clever
humor for kids and adults alike. Includes a title index and subject index.

Cindy Gullikson—Joaquin Miller School, Oakland Unified School District

Bunce, Elizabeth C. Myrtle, Means, and Opportunity: A Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery. Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries. Algonquin, 10/2023. 368pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-64375-314-0. Paper $8.99. 978-1-5235-2428-0. GRADES 5–8. ADDITIONAL.

When her beloved governess inherits a Scottish castle, Myrtle acquires two problems to solve: investigate the possible murder of Miss Judson’s beneficent uncle, and prevent her newly enriched governess from falling in love with, and remaining on, her island estate. Mysteries, missing persons, hauntings, and lost clan treasure divert the intrepid sleuth while plenty of Scottish vernacular adds to the atmosphere. Myrtle fans will be delighted, but readers who crave more realism may roll their eyes. The atmosphere and central characters remain strong, but the plot gets lost in outlandish details while secondary characters, including the villain, behave in unbelievable ways. Miss Judson is biracial—French Guianese and White British—and all other characters read as white.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Fries-Gaither, Jessica. Nature’s Rule Breakers: Creatures That Don’t Fit In. Lerner/Millbrook, 10/2023. [30]pp. Nonfiction. PLB $29.32. 978-1-7284-7720-6. GRADES 2–5. ADDITIONAL.

Scientists, and humans in general, love to put things into categories – but that does not always work out well with living things. This title goes through a number of animals that do not fit into the generally agreed upon animal kingdom categories. Whether a day-time or night-time creature, warm-blooded or cold-blooded, herbivore or carnivore, freshwater or saltwater, these and other animal categories work for some, but not all, animals. Some of the rule-breaking animals are pictured, compared, and discussed in this easy-to-digest, informative title. Includes lots of color photographs, a glossary, and further readings, but lacks a table of contents or an index.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Brown, Don. Run and Hide: How Jewish Youth Escaped the Holocaust. Don Brown, Illus. Clarion, 10/2023. 192pp. Graphic. Trade $22.99. 978-0-3585-3816-5. GRADES 7–12. HIGH ADDITIONAL.         

The heartbreak, violence, and destruction caused by Nazi Germany is immeasurable, but Brown’s focus on the Jewish children swept up in the Holocaust gives readers a breathtaking glimpse into the abyss. Layering historic facts with first person quotes, readers are thrust into dozens of life and death situations, as individual kids and their helpers seek to escape the Nazi death machine. Brown’s sketched figures and scenes are filled in with painterly washes of color in richly subdued tones. Bright splashes of red highlight the Nazi insignia, flames, and blood. The balance and pace of three quarters of the book is flawless, but while visually strong, the opening handful of pages suffer from some wordy and repetitive language and one singularly unfortunate spelling error. (A hapless woman is forced to wear a humiliating sign mistranslated as “course pig.”) An author’s note balances the successful escapes with the statistic that 90% of European Jewish children did not survive. Source notes and bibliography are included.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Sonneborn, Liz. Sonia Sotomayor: From the Bronx to the US Supreme Court. Gateway Biographies. Lerner, 08/2023. 48pp. Nonfiction. PLB $31.99. 978-1-7284-9176-9. Paper $11.99. 979-8765602966. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.

SERIES REVIEW: These series biographies introduce mid-elementary readers to interesting people. Readers may already know something about the person, but these titles will help provide more details about their lives and contributions. Each title quickly covers their early years, before spending more time on what led the person to become well-known, how they have impacted the world, and what the future may look like. Photographs (b&w and color) are sprinkled throughout the text, along with a few text boxes providing a little more detail on specific topics. Good coverage, with enough information for research and reports.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Rex, Adam. Story of Gumluck the Wizard, The. Adam Rex, Illus. Chronicle, 08/2023. 133pp. Fiction. Trade $14.99. 978-1-7972-1323-1. GRADES 3–4. OUTSTANDING.      

A naïve but earnestly helpful little wizard named Gumluck is introduced in this first book in a cozy fantasy series for early elementary readers. Gumluck uses his magic to help a thankless crowd of villagers in the hopes of being crowned the next Harvest Hero. His sarcastic and sometimes critical raven pal named Helvetica narrates the story, speaking directly to the reader and adding laugh-out-loud commentary to the tale. Each page is adorned with monochrome sketches illustrating the small, childlike wizard; a quaint and quirky little town; and a caricatured group of townsfolk. Hints of diversity among the characters are portrayed through various shades of skin tone, facial features, and hair types. Elementary readers moving up from beginning chapter books to more challenging titles will find this story a great choice due to the large size of the text, illustrations on almost every page, and ample white borders. Fans of graphic novels and comforting fantasy with low-stakes drama, like Garlic and the Vampire (Paulsen, Quill Tree, 2021) or Hildafolk (Pearson, Nobrow, 2010), will appreciate the heartfelt, unexpectedly deep, yet still hilarious tale.

Katy Buder—Contra Costa County Library

Alexander, Lori. What’s a Germ, Joseph Lister?: The Medical Mystery That Forever Changed the Way We Heal. Daniel Duncan, Illus. Clarion, 10/2023. 144pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-3585-3817-2. GRADES 5–7. OUTSTANDING.    

Bloody and butchering was how Joseph Lister described his job as a surgeon, and in the 1860s, he wasn’t wrong. But Lister’s discoveries and innovations transformed hospitals from “houses of death” to places where patients’ chances of recovery actually increased. Clear prose, dramatic framing, and plenty of gruesome details engage readers and open eyes to the perils of the past and how one person’s dogged scientific inquiry saved millions of lives. Review based on an ARC; illustrations unavailable.

Melissa McAvoy—Retired

Wilde, Rhiannon. Where You Left Us. Charlesbridge, 09/2023. 368pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6235-4423-2. GRADES 9–12. ADDITIONAL.

Sisters Cinnamon and Scarlett Prince have many personal issues that have resulted in animosity and hostility. Set in a seaside Australian town with seemingly all white characters, Scarlett returns home after boarding school graduation to her dad’s debilitating depression, her estranged mother’s return, and her sister Cinnamon’s complicated relationships. As a family mystery about their great aunt’s death resurfaces, tangled relationships and struggles with mental health make for a complicated story with plenty to unpack. Review based on an ARC.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Markle, Sandra. Wild Inventions: Ideas Inspired by Animals. Lerner/Millbrook, 10/2023. 48pp. Nonfiction. PLB $33.32. 978-1-7284-6795-5. GRADES 4–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

Animals have been found to do some pretty interesting, or perhaps just odd, things. Markle’s hook is that she ties these animal oddities to human inventions that have helped humans. From easy concepts like camouflage, to more sophisticated biological adaptions like sonar and underwater diving systems, to not yet commercially available technology that enables walking up glass walls, these amazing animal abilities truly can influence human inventors. Markle’s in-depth narration pairs with interesting color photographs as the various animals and related human investigations and inventions are explored and explained.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Saleh, Haya. Wild Poppies. Levine Querido, 06/2023. 176pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-1-64614-201-9. GRADES 7–12. ADDITIONAL.     

Omar and Sufyan’s lives are forever changed as war destroys their Syrian town, tearing apart their family and nation. After the boy’s father is martyred at the onset of aerial bombing, Omar strives to protect his family as they become refugees. But his younger brother Sufyan is always at odds with Omar and hates waiting, eventually becoming ensnared by one of the militant gangs who indoctrinate and use children in their war. First person narration shows the personal effects of the Syrian civil war on noncombatants and each boy’s struggle to survive, ending more hopefully than may be expected. Saleh’s engaging storytelling provides a glimpse into struggles that many American readers may be unfamiliar with. Lacks an explanatory author’s note which could have provided more insight. Review based on an ARC.

Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library

Odenkirk, Bob. Zilot & Other Important Rhymes. Erin Odenkirk, Illus. Little, Brown, 10/2023. 150pp. Poetry. Trade $19.99. 978-0-316-43850-6. GRADES 1–5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.        

Imaginative poems make up this original collection that may remind some of the work of Shel Silverstein or Dr. Seuss. Although the rhyme schemes don’t always flow well, the author uses invented words such as Zilot, which is his family’s name for a blanket fort, and covers a variety of concepts including life’s frustrations or wacky people. With over one hundred poems, there is a mix of successes and near misses with the rhyming words, but overall this is a fun collection. The charming ink cartoon drawings with watercolor wash are inviting and are well suited to the poems. Odenkirk, an actor and television writer, wrote the poems with his now adult children over several years, beginning when they were young. His daughter illustrated the collection.

Penny Peck—SJSU iSchool