Each month we post an annotated bibliography of books that were rated ‘Outstanding’ and nominated for our Distinguished List at our previous month’s meeting. Members can see full reviews of these books and many more in the June edition of BayViews. Not a member? Join, come to our (currently virtual) monthly meetings, and hear about these Outstanding books “in person”!
Picture Books
A Bear is a Bear (Except When He’s Not) written by Newson, Karl and illustrated by Allepuz, Anuska; Nosy Crow, 2020.
A bear imagines he is various animals in this rhyming story with alliteration and the repeated phrase “For a bear is a bear. Except when he’s not… What would he be if a bear forgot?” Storytime listeners can call out the repeated phrase as well as guess what animal the bear is imitating. (Grades PreK-2.)
The Moon Keeper written and illustrated by Zosienka; HarperCollins, 2020.
This very attractive picture book about a polar bear who is caring for the moon will be wonderful as a bedtime story or quiet read aloud. In this first picture book by Zosienka as an author/illustrator, the story is gentle and the illustrations are divine. (Baby/Toddler-3.)
Fiction
Be Not Far From Me written by McGinnis, Mindy; Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins, 2020.
Separated from her friends on a camping trip and seriously injured, Ashley must survive being lost in the woods, as days turn into weeks. Themes explore isolation, strength, and the desire to survive. (10-12.)
Clean Getaway written by Stone, Nic and illustrated by Anyabwile, Dawud; Crown/Penguin Random House, 2020.
Scoob jumps at the chance to take a road trip with his G’ma as he wants to skip out on his father’s lockdown punishment, and learns more about his white grandmother and Black grandfather’s life in the racist South. A humorous, 3rd person narration drives this timely, engaging, and accessible novel. (3-7.)
Echo Mountain written by Work, Lauren; Dutton/Penguin Random House, 2020.
Wolk’s latest work of historical fiction takes readers to life in the Maine mountains during the Depression. Beautifully written prose is slow to start, but builds to an empowering tale of a twelve-year-old girl finding her voice. (5-7.)
The One and Only Bob written by Applegate, Katherine; HarperCollins, 2020.
In this sequel to The One and Only Ivan (2012), Bob the dog describes the hurricane that damages the zoo where Ivan the gorilla and Ruby the elephant live. Although the story is a little slow at the beginning, the last half involving the hurricane is action-packed. (3-7.)
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