Loureiro, Stephanie. Animal Extinctions: A Graphic Guide. Ash Stryker, Illus. The Climate Crisis. Lerner / Graphic Universe, 01/2024. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $33.32. 978-1-7284-7690-2. Paper $10.99. 979-8765623466. GRADES 3–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Forests and Deforestation: A Graphic Guide by Christina Hill for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Danneberg, Julie. Author Visit Jitters. Judy Love, Illus. Jitters; bk. 9. Charlesbridge, 09/2024. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-436-2. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
In the ninth book in this series about an elementary school classroom, the students are preparing for a visit from a famous author. After lunch, their teacher can’t be found, but all turns out well. Readers of the previous books might even guess the author’s identity! The watercolor and ink illustrations depict a racially diverse, exuberant class of children, with a white teacher and a Black principal. The text features a few sentences per spread, making for a fun classroom readaloud or a book many first and second graders can read unassisted. The combination of humor, a realistic classroom setting, and a fun, relatable plot will make this as popular as the previous books in the series.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool
Lacika, Jenny. Beto’s Berry Treasure. Addy Rivera Sonda, Illus. Storytelling Math. Charlesbridge, 10/2024. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $16.99. 978-1623544416. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Beto invites his sister Cora (who is a pirate fanatic) to a tea party by using a pirate map of their house to lead her to the party. Part of the Storytelling Math series, this is a great choice for lessons on reading and making a map. The full-color digital illustrations are done in the style of a cartoon TV series, depicting the siblings with brown skin and black hair. There is some Spanish vocabulary, and a glossary along with other ideas to explore mapping. Pair with Lalena Fisher’s Friends Beyond Measure (Harper, 2023) for a fun and fruitful lesson on map reading. Review based on an ARC.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool
Loureiro, Stephanie. Climate Activists: A Graphic Guide. David López, Illus. The Climate Crisis. Lerner / Graphic Universe, 01/2024. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $33.32. 978-1-7284-7691-9. Paper $10.99. 979-8765623473. GRADES 3–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Forests and Deforestation: A Graphic Guide by Christina Hill for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Seabolt, Tricia. Ellie and the Marriage List. Lucy Rogers, Illus. Lantana, 5/2024. 219 +5pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-915244-72-7. GRADES 3–5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Ten-year-old Ellie was looking forward to spending time drawing under the family’s massive willow tree and hiking with her older brother Ben, but his interest in their neighbor Sarah upsets the balance of things. Due to a “marriage list” from her Best Friend Forever, Ling, Ellie has interesting ideas about the stages of relationships that lead to marriage and moving away, which causes humorous attempts to disrupt what she believes to be Ben and Sarah’s impending marriage. Ellie’s Down syndrome is a central part of who she is, which Seabolt deftly weaves into the story without it being the primary focus. Rogers’s scattered b&w sketched illustrations add a touch more vividness to the action, and show Ellie to be light complexioned (with brown hair on the cover) and Ling with long straight black hair. Young readers who are unsure about relationships and marriage may believe, at first, that the list is real. However, once everything comes to light and is explained to Ellie, the truth makes for a satisfying ending. This introduction to Down syndrome shows Ellie as someone who is similar to everyone else, just with different ways of seeing the world.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Hill, Christina. Forests and Deforestation: A Graphic Guide. Julie Lerche, Illus. The Climate Crisis. Lerner / Graphic Universe, 01/2024. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $33.32. 978-1-7284-7687-2. Paper $10.99. 979-8765623497. GRADES 3–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. This six-title graphic non-fiction series visually and textually shows readers the effects of climate change. Narrative storylines utilize different timeline styles to highlight various aspects of how climate change is affecting the Earth. Some look back from the future at what happened, while others are in the present or from the past looking forward. This reviewer read three titles that cover, respectively, the damage to forests and the long-range effects of fewer trees; loss of animal species due to decreasing habitat and/or effects of changing climates; and some of the people (past and present) who fight for legal or social changes to protect the environment. Digital illustrations, explanatory text, and dialogue draw readers in as the topic is explained. Also included are steps readers can take to combat climate change.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Larsen, Andrew. Gifts from the Garbage Truck: A True Story About the Things We (Don’t) Throw Away. Oriol Vidal, Illus. Sourcebooks, 09/2024. 40pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-7282-8351-7. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
As a child, Puerto Rican Nelson Molina collected, repaired, and gifted thrown away treasures. In his thirty-four years as a New York City sanitation worker in his diverse childhood neighborhood of El Barrio, Molina continued his practice of finding beauty, looking for value, and sharing his discoveries. His collection of castoffs, housed in a museum, remind readers to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Beautiful digital art mimics print-making techniques. Layers of subtle color, strong shapes, and textured imperfections are set off by luminous light that reinforces the message of discovering the sublime within the gritty. While thin as a story, this makes a good readaloud. Pair with The Dumpster Diver by Wong (Candlewick, 2007) to inspire an upcycling activity. An author’s note includes biographical details, photographs, and guidance on recycling. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired
Davies, Nicola. Green: The Story of Plant Life on Our Planet. Emily Sutton, Illus. Candlewick, 03/2024. [36]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-5362-3141-0. GRADES 1–5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Although this resembles a picture book, the text contains a sizable amount of information on plant life, focusing on photosynthesis, the evolution of plant life on Earth, the development of ocean plant life, jungles, forests, fossil fuels, and global warming. The full-color, detailed watercolor and acrylic illustrations pair well with the text, and some of the spreads include a timeline running along the bottom of the page. A few spreads feature ethnically diverse children in the artwork, and include small text areas with extra information. There are no source notes, index, glossary, or other back matter, but this is a great way to introduce the subject.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool
Aluma, Neri. Hedgehog Who Said Who Cares?, The. Amit Trainin, Illus. Translated from the Hebrew by Ilana Kurshan. Kalaniot, 03/2024. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $19.99. 979-8986396576. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
First published in Hebrew in Israel in 2024, this amusing rhyming story reads like an Aesop’s fable or animal folktale. Thoughtless Hedgehog builds his home in the middle of the road, making a muddy mess and upsetting his neighbors, Rabbit and Mouse. Who will help Hedgehog when he becomes stuck in the mud? The full-color artwork adds humor as the animals interact, both outdoors and inside Hedgehog’s house. The book ends with an author’s note on the story from the Talmud that was its inspiration. Translated from Hebrew by Ilana Kurshan.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool
Alkaf, Hanna. Hysterical Girls of St. Bernadette’s, The. Simon & Schuster / Salaam, 09/2024. 352pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-5344-9458-9. GRADES 7–12. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
For more than one hundred years, prestigious St. Bernadette’s has taught and shaped the girls of Kuala Lumpur, equipping them with education and manners that speak to their value and help assure their futures—which makes the current outbreak of involuntary screaming all the more alarming. In just one day, twenty-seven screamers are carried from their classrooms like so many used tissues. Fifteen-year-old Khadijah hasn’t spoken in three months, but when her younger sister is afflicted in the third wave of screaming, she is determined to discover what causes the terror, and how to stop it. Told in alternating chapters, primarily from the perspective of two very different students, each girl struggles to manage their growing sense that something is terribly wrong. This satisfyingly gothic parable is distinguished by a rich sense of place and a profound exploration of the problematic ways society values young girls and relishes their victimization. Some speechifying near the end and an overly quick conclusion slightly mar a superb thriller that should be part of every spooky YA display. All characters are Malaysian; some read as ethnically Chinese. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired
Kulot, Daniela. In the Winter Woods. Daniela Kulot, Illus. Translated from the German by Elisabeth Lauffer. Charlesbridge, 10/2024. [28]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-495-9. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Squirrel can’t remember where he stockpiled the food he saved for this snowy winter, but is willing to share if fox, crow, and mouse will help him find the stash. The text uses the repeated phrase “But it’s winter, and winter is not willing to share,” which will engage both emergent readers and younger children who hear this at storytime. Although the text is somewhat lengthy with a paragraph on each spread, it uses repetition and dialogue that will engage the audience. The full-color illustrations show the animals in the snowy forest, and resemble watercolor paintings. Translated from the German by Elisabeth Lauffer, this was originally published in Germany in 2021. Review based on an ARC.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool
Chapman, Ty. Jason Reynolds: Groundbreaking Storyteller. Gateway Biographies. Lerner, 01/2024. 48pp. Biography. PLB $33.32. 979-8765610459. Paper $11.99. 979-8765623831. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. These series biographies introduce middle-grade readers to people in the news. Readers may already know something about the person, but these titles will help provide more details about the person’s life and about their importance to today’s culture. Each title quickly covers their early years, before spending more time on what led the person to become well known and what they have done since. The two titles reviewed (Rihanna and Jason Reynolds) include discussions of their songs or books and how these creative works impacted the world, plus the many other activities, businesses, and roles they are involved in. Color photographs are sprinkled throughout the text, along with a few text boxes providing a little more detail on specific topics. Enough coverage to explain the who/what/why of the subject.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Verdú, Irene. Letter, The. Verònica Aranda, Illus. Translated from the Spanish by Luisana Duarte Armendáriz. Charlesbridge, 09/2024. [36]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-481-2. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
When a letter goes astray in a rainstorm, the wind picks it up and drops it down the fireplace flue where it lands on the head of a sourpuss cat. Having no friends, the cat is thrilled when he opens the letter and it says “I love you.” He searches the barnyard, helping other creatures and hoping one of them sent the letter. But none of them thanks him, until the book comes to a happy ending. The illustrations were created digitally, in saturated colors including black, yellow, green, blue, brown, red, and gray. The author and illustrator are from Spain and the book was originally published in 2022.
Kathy L. Haug—LibraryKat’s Practiced Eye Proofreading
Gutman, Anne. Little and Big. Georg Hallensleben, Illus. Translated from the French by Jill Davis. Hippo Park, 11/2024. [46]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-66264-048-3. GRADES Preschool–2. ADDITIONAL.
In a monkey family, the younger brother must go to bed before his older brother. Later, the older brother complains that the younger gets carried by their mother as they walk. Each complains he wants to be the younger or older brother depending on the advantages that come with the other’s age. Filled with deeply saturated bright colors, the oil painted illustrations depict their jungle home and add much to this story of sibling rivalry that many children will find relatable. Translated from the French by Jill Davis. Although the text goes on a little long, the artwork will attract readers. Review based on an ARC.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool
Wells, Rosemary. Little Chefs, The: Three Stories. Rosemary Wells, Illus. Hippo Park, 10/2024. 80pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-66264-071-1. GRADES 1–3. ADDITIONAL.
Three short stories make up this longer picture book, illustrated with Wells’s signature watercolor and ink artwork featuring animals, such as cats and rabbits, dressed in clothing. In the first story, young Sylvie tries to make dinner for her working mother but makes a mess. A crew of small chefs come in to help; they are humans, not animals, similar to the elves in the classic “The Elves and the Shoemaker” folktale. In the second, Leo is helped by the chefs to make French toast, and in the third, the chefs make a birthday cake for Oscar’s sister. The text is unusual in that the main portion is in prose, but the chefs’ portion is in rhyme, which makes it somewhat disjointed. Each story is introduced with a brief fact about chefs who saved the day for historical figures like a president or Shakespeare. This seems best suited to use with young readers moving up from beginning reader books to simple transitional fiction chapter books. Review based on an ARC.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool
Stickley, Frances. Love, the Earth. Tim Hopgood, Illus. Candlewick, 03/2024. [44]pp. Picture Book. Trade $17.99. 978-1-5362-3412-1. GRADES Preschool–2. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Earth delivers a message to its people in this rhyming picture book: “I am the Earth. All yours to share. The mountains and the Arctic air…” and asks the reader “Will you take care of me?” The vibrant, dramatic, mixed-media illustrations resembling cut paper collage are as lovely as the text, featuring a young child with dark brown skin and black hair. The graceful language and enticing artwork combine to make the message clear without being sentimental or heavy-handed. This would be perfect for an Earth Day readaloud, appealing to a wide age range. Originally published in the UK in 2023.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool
Eagar, Lindsay. Made Glorious. Candlewick, 4/2024. 389pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-5362-0467-4. GRADES 9–12. ADDITIONAL.
Rory, a senior at Bosworth Academy, “deserves” to be the lead in the school’s musical. Although she is not the first choice, or even the second choice, all obstacles steadily fall away and she is given the role, just a week before opening night. Readers begin to piece together seemingly disparate events, who is behind them, and what this means to others as the chapters unfold. Eagar mixes in clues that show all is not quite right with Rory, while disguising the whole truth about her actions until the very end. Readers will first encounter a trigger warning about suicidal tendencies and fatphobia; these topics are mostly behind the scenes, with some muttering about her size by some classmates she then targets, plus some comments Rory makes as the narrator about herself and the “real” reason she was not a top choice. Rory and her classmates read as white. Rory shows how overcommitted one can be to their chosen field, and the consequences of being driven to succeed at the expense of others.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Menon, Uma. My Mother’s Tongues: A Weaving of Languages. Rahele Jomepour Bell, Illus. Candlewick, 02/2024. [32]pp. Picture Book. Trade $18.99. 978-1-53622-251-7. GRADES 1–3. OUTSTANDING.
Sumi’s mother has a superpower: she can speak two languages fluently and can seamlessly switch from one to the other at the speed of sound. In this celebration of bilingualism and migration, Sumi offers the backstory of how her mother learned both Malayalam and English in her home state of Kerala in India, why she speaks English with an accent, and how important it is for her to be able to speak to her grandmother and her Kerala family in their own language. She points out the effort that it takes to learn a new language, and the exercise and practice it requires to speak fluently. The text includes a scant few words in Malayalam, and the illustrations show how a couple of words are written in that language. Illustrations by Bell are vibrant and colorful, featuring people with various shades of brown skin, and the weaving of languages is shown through swirls, tapestries, and quilts. The consistent and authentic depictions of Kerala culture in the illustrations include women wearing sarees and people eating on banana leaves. This book celebrates diversity and multiculturalism expressed through speaking more than one language, and deserves a place in all large children’s collections.
Armin Arethna—Berkeley Public Library
Hendrix, John. Mythmakers, The: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. John Hendrix, Illus. Abrams, 09/2024. 224pp. Graphic. Trade $24.99. 978-1-4197-4634-5. GRADES 6–10. OUTSTANDING.
Hendrix’s graphic biography focuses on exactly how Tolkien and Lewis’s deep friendship inspired their radical creative leaps. Combining playful illustration, strong research, and thoughtful erudition, the biography embodies the joy, charm, and psychological heft present in the two authors’ best-known stories. Black and white graphite, full-page and panel illustrations with text bubbles convey the vast majority of information. Occasional pages of text are lightened with spot illustrations. A cartoon wizard and lion narrate, following an inventively illustrated quest-like path that deftly provides both biographical and historical context while framing more realistic panels showing events in the authors’ lives. Readers smitten with the stories in book or film form will be delighted with cool anecdotes, what inspired Tolkien’s terrifying spider, why a wardrobe. All readers will come away with a solid grounding in how fantasy delivers meaning and its relationship to fairy tales, myths, legends, and religious stories. Back matter includes an author’s note, endnotes, bibliography, and index. Reviewed from an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired
Kantorovitz, Sylvie. Newcomer in Pocketville, A. Sylvie Kantorovitz, Illus. Monti and Leo. Walker, 5/2024. 70pp. Graphic. Trade $16.99. 978-1-5362-2277-7. GRADES 2–4. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Monti Mole has a set routine each day, until Leo Lizard comes to town and disrupts not just Monti’s routines, but the whole town. While some get upset, Monti’s decision to befriend the newcomer turns out to be the right thing to do. This early graphic novel tells the story in five short chapters, each covering a different part of Leo’s disruptions to town life. First the town gets upset at the changes, then there are efforts to help everyone get along, and finally some changes are made that all seem to like. The digital illustrations utilize plenty of white space between panels to increase readability and enhance an easy-to-follow storyline, which is helpful for early graphic novel readers. A gentle story about how being nice, friendly, and kind can be beneficial to all.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Burns, Loree Griffin. One Long Line: Marching Caterpillars and the Scientists Who Followed Them. Jamie Green, Illus. Candlewick/MIT, 5/2024. 56pp. Nonfiction. Trade $16.99. 978-1-5362-2868-7. GRADES 3–6. ADDITIONAL.
Pine processionary caterpillars go in single-file lines wherever they go, which has piqued several scientists’ interest. Their various experiments and results are explained via straightforward, engaging language, without lots of in-depth scientific words or tedious details. While focusing on two scientists, one in the late 1800s and one in late 1900s, readers see how these caterpillars have been studied over time and knowledge shifts as new experiments test old hypotheses. This short, chapter book-like title uses double-spaced text accompanied by some grey-toned digital illustrations to facilitate the author’s quest to make the material accessible and understandable. A lack of photographs of the caterpillars reduces the appeal. Budding scientists will find a helpful glossary, further reading recommendations, and a list of sources.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Schwartz, Heather E. Rihanna: Multi-Industry Mogul. Gateway Biographies. Lerner, 01/2024. 48pp. Biography. PLB $33.32. 979-8765610442. Paper $11.99. 979-8765623824. GRADES 4–6. ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW. Please see: Jason Reynolds: Groundbreaking Storyteller by Ty Chapman for series review.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Rosenstock, Barb. Sea Without a Shore: Life in the Sargasso. Katherine Roy, Illus. Norton, 08/2024. 32pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-3240-1607-6. GRADES 1–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
The Sargasso Sea is the stuff of legends: a shoreless ecosystem, built from currents, teeming with unique life. Lyrical, active, scientifically accurate language pairs with detailed, jewel-toned, realistic watercolors, inviting readers to marvel at the rich complexity and biological importance of a fragile community that owes everything to the Sargassum algae. A diagram and text reveal key species found in the European, North American, Bermudan, Mexican, African, Caribbean, and South American waters. Suitable for a readaloud. The many species hiding within the detailed illustrations make this great for sharp-eyed readers. Back matter includes photographs and an extensive author’s note with additional facts and sources. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired
Magoon, Kekla. Secret Library, The. Candlewick, 05/2024. 373pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-53623-088-8. GRADES 5–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Delilah “Dally” Peteharrington isn’t yet twelve years old when she defies her mother, steals back a hand-drawn map her beloved, adventurous grandfather bequeathed to her, and follows it to a mysterious, hidden library of secrets through which Dally can travel in time to significant memories of her relatives. As a modern-day witness to the past, Dally directly observes prejudice based on race, color, gender, class, and sexual orientation, yet Magoon handles those scenes with gentle sensitivity to young readers. The cover illustration shows Dally as Black, and she mentions her identity and refers to her curly hair and dark skin along with her awareness of how people in the past might perceive her. With strategic help, Dally’s ancestors manage to sidestep the crushing systems of racism, colorism, and sexism, but Dally’s mother—a pale-skinned woman with wavy brown hair—remains unredeemed. This history-rich adventure is very likely to appeal to socially aware tween readers, encourage them to believe that they are an improvement upon previous generations, and possibly inspire them to live up to that challenge.
Erica Siskind—Oakland Public Library
Könnecke, Ole. Sounds Good!: Discover 50 Instruments. Ole Könnecke, Illus. Translated from the German by Melody Shaw. Gecko, 02/2024. [106]pp. Nonfiction. Trade $19.99. 978-1-77657-555-8. GRADES 2–5. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Fifty-two musical instruments are introduced in this charming book, including both common and unusual instruments from around the world. Each spread includes a few paragraphs on the instrument and a color cartoon of an animal wearing clothing and playing the instrument; the illustrations resemble the artwork of William Steig (Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, 1969). Each spread also includes a QR code that leads to YouTube videos giving examples of the sound of that instrument, with music by Hans Könnecke. Translated from the German by Melody Shaw and originally published in Germany in 2022.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool
Smith, Heather. Tig. Tundra, 09/2024. 160pp. Fiction. Trade $17.99. 978-0735267497. GRADES 5–6. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
Being left behind changes you. In their four months on their own, eleven-year-old Tig, and her slightly older brother Peter, learned that when you have nothing, you know who you are. Now, at the comfortable home of Uncle Scott and his partner Manny, Tig struggles to figure out where an angry, bouncy, rude, scrappy, destructive kid fits into their happy life. Tig’s lively, quixotic nature, love of words, and lack of impulse control make for great dialog and plenty of action. Neglect, abuse, and addiction are sensitively and age-appropriately handled and woven into an entertaining and accessible narrative with wide appeal. Humor, craft projects, neighborhood friends, and a quirky list of goals inspire, while a major reveal encourages empathy and a profound respect for Tig’s creative resilience. Tig and her biological family are white; her close friends are Filipino. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired
Park, Patricia. What’s Eating Jackie Oh? Crown, 4/2024. 327pp. Fiction. Trade $19.99. 978-0-593-56341-0. GRADES 8–12. ADDITIONAL.
Jackie Oh wants to be a professional chef, while her Korean American parents want her to be a lawyer like them. Park’s engaging and fast-paced coming-of-age story showcases the difficulties of being a third-generation immigrant, living up to parental expectations, and trying to fit in with your school friends—all while learning about your own personal identity. When she gets a chance to be on a teen cooking show that films in Los Angeles instead of her hometown of New York City, Jackie works hard to be the best and most creative, hoping to prove to her parents that she can be a chef. Jackie’s story shows readers that you can honor yourself and your culture while also striving to be a TV show contest winner.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Harrison, David L. Wild Brunch: Poems About How Creatures Eat. Giles Laroche, Illus. Charlesbridge, 09/2024. [32]pp. Poetry. Trade $17.99. 978-1-62354-394-5. GRADES Kindergarten–3. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
This collection of original short poems describes how animals eat, from a fly that vomits on its food to soften it, to bats using echolocation to catch insects. Each poem is titled with the name of the animal. Full-color, cut paper collage illustrations accompany each poem in a format similar to a picture book, showing the animals in their natural habitats. The book ends with a section of suggested books to read and more information on each animal, adding to the few facts mentioned in each poem. This is a clever way to show how various animals consume their food using the structure of rhyming and free verse poems. Review based on an ARC.
Penny Peck—San José State University, iSchool
Cusolito, Michelle. Window into the Ocean Twilight Zone, A: Twenty-Four Days of Science at Sea. Charlesbridge, 5/2024. 140pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-62354-302-0. GRADES 6–12. ADDITIONAL.
How do scientists explore the ocean? More specifically, how do they learn about the marine life in the twilight zone, where sunlight fades away? And can it be determined how much carbon from the atmosphere is absorbed and trapped by the ocean? These are just some of the questions researched by this science expedition. Cusolito spent three weeks at sea, plus two weeks quarantining, as she observed, documented, and helped the scientists. The chronologically organized writing covers the equipment and research methods used, while providing plenty of explanations and photographs that help readers understand what was being researched, the processes followed, and why this type of research is important. Includes a list of all who were on the ship, plus sources, further readings, and a detailed index. A great read for those interested in science, oceans, the research process, or simply learning more about the world.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library
Crow-Miller, Britt. World of Rot: Learn All About the Wriggly, Slimy, Super-Cool Decomposers We Couldn’t Live Without. Bruno Valasse, Illus. Storey, 09/2024. 80pp. Nonfiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-6358-6669-8. GRADES 2–6. OUTSTANDING.
The wonderful and essential world of rot is all around you, on you, and in you. Slow down, open your eyes and nose, and get to know the decomposers. Bright, vibrantly colored, digitally enhanced illustrations evoke lino prints, Mexican folk art, and mid-century graphics, delivering elegant molecules, stunning slime molds, quirky flies, and voracious millipedes. Three irreverent, disgusting, fascinating, fun, and fact-packed chapters entrance readers with the who, what, where, when, and why. The decomposers are revealed in all their repellent glory, as they tirelessly unlock the nutrients our ecosystem needs to build new life. Back matter includes an index and well-described activities, explorations, and experiments. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired