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A familiarity with the dolls goes a long way toward appreciating this book, but given their enduring popularity among the targeted age group, that shouldn't be a problem. The Berenstain Bear family visits the Great Bear Museum, where their friend Doctor Bear teaches them about various real-life bear species. VERDICT Though these homages to Warner's old stories may appeal to the parents of new readers more than the readers themselves, the books still serve as fun mysteries on a beginner reading level.—Rachel Owens Chapter Books AHN, Angela. Gr 2–4—A hair conundrum sparks a business opportunity.
Early Readers
PreS-Gr 2—Family is the theme of this latest addition to the "L.O.L Surprise!" early reader series. There is not a plot, but rather a roll call of the different dolls with about a dozen families represented. For example, one page reads, "No job is too big for the Can Do family. Can Do Baby and Gear Guy can do anything." In a mild way, the book challenges the traditional notion of what makes a family, noting that "even their besties are like family." A familiarity with the dolls goes a long way toward appreciating this book, but given their enduring popularity among the targeted age group, that shouldn't be a problem. The illustrations are textured and colorful, with little negative space and plenty of details to linger over. The dolls have many different skin tones, and while they are all slim, their proportions are within the realm of normal human bodies. They are a fashionable bunch so the illustrations feature lots of flamboyant outfits, from glittery Afrocentric ensembles to layered pastels. The language is appropriately simple and effective, with some opportunities for vocabulary building. This may not be the most essential purchase, but for those libraries with a fanbase, this is a solid choice. VERDICT Kids who love the L.O.L. Surprise! dolls will devour this colorful, straightforward early reader, which is recommended to libraries with larger collections.—Kate Newcombe
K-Gr 2—Another fun installment in the beloved "Berenstain Bears" series that will particularly appeal to readers with an interest in animals or geography. The Berenstain Bear family visits the Great Bear Museum, where their friend Doctor Bear teaches them about various real-life bear species. But this isn't a normal museum visit: Doctor Bear has an Anywhere-Anyplace Machine. The machine takes them all over the world to see polar bears, giant pandas, spectacled bears, and more. The family has a great time learning so many new things before returning to the comforts of home. Young readers will love hopping in the Anywhere-Anyplace Machine and traveling the world to see how many interesting bear species exist. The Bears share facts about each new species, such as what they eat or what adaptations they have, and little cut-away maps show where in the world these bears live. The illustrations are stronger when showing the Berenstains than when showing the bear species; those interested in learning more about the real-life bears may want to complement the story with nonfiction. VERDICT Recommended for purchase where the Berenstain Bears are popular.—Kristin Brynsvold
K-Gr 2—Pete the Kitty visits the beach and decides to make a sandcastle with the help of his friend Jessie the mermaid. Together they build the towers and walls and dig a trench. But the castle is missing something. Jessie dives under the sea and returns with a shell, some pebbles, sea glass, strands of seaweed, and sticks of driftwood to decorate their sandcastle. When it is all done and Pete fills the trench with water, they both agree that their sandcastle is the best. With one to three short sentences per page, some word repetition, and sight words, this title is appropriate for those working toward becoming independent readers or for shared reading. VERDICT Although light on story, the familiarity of the Dean team's beloved feline character makes this a recommended purchase where those other early reader titles are popular.—Jessica Marie
Gr 1–2—Makeda loves to make new things, and her inventiveness knows no bounds. When her mother feels the house is getting cluttered, she anounces it's time to clean up. Makeda has other ideas, though: her old, holey sweater can be made into a toy, and her broken toy teapot can be used for storage. Makeda invites her friend over, followed eventually by her entire class, with their broken things to make new ones, and by the end of the story everyone's frowns have been turned upside-down. There's lots to appreciate here; Makeda is creative, imaginative, and endlessly positive, while her upcycling will surely inspire readers to breathe new life into their much-loved things. It also boasts a diverse, inclusive cast of characters. Makeda, her family, and most of her friends are Black, and body diversity is shown among her classmates. What it lacks, however, is a strong plot arc to draw readers in. At the beginning, Makeda's mother is looking to declutter—at the end, everyone is happy and smiling, but adults may still be searching for a lesson about letting go or wondering who will have to deal with the mess of all the broken toys. VERDICT Recommended for purchase to expand diverse offerings, but other early readers, such as the "Questioneers" series, will build a stronger collection.—Kristin Brynsvold
K-Gr 1—Chandler's original Boxcar Children novels have been abridged and simplified into early readers. In the first book, the four Alden children live in a boxcar until a kind doctor finds and helps them. He introduces the sleuthing siblings to their grandfather, with whom they go to live. Subsequent titles see the children working together to solve mysteries. Digitally drawn characters demonstrate a limited range of expression and diversity. The stories feel a bit like Boxcar Children CliffsNotes: they are condensed in a way that maintains the key plot points, but they lack the coziness of the originals. VERDICT Though these homages to Warner's old stories may appeal to the parents of new readers more than the readers themselves, the books still serve as fun mysteries on a beginner reading level.—Rachel Owens
Chapter Books
Gr 2–5—This heartfelt sequel in the "Julia on the Go!" series offers readers a lesson about how first impressions aren't always what they seem. After overcoming an ear infection, Korean Canadian Julia is finally back in the pool with the Mountainview Community Center's swim team, the Vipers. However, when beloved Coach Melissa is called away to a family emergency, her substitute Coach Nathan has a much harsher approach to leading the team. Morale hits a new low when Coach Nathan tells the team that they need to host a fundraiser car wash in just two weeks! Frustrated swimmers begin dropping, and friendship tensions brew when Julia's best friend Maricel pulls away after the car wash inspires a blossoming connection with a teammate. Readers will relate to this emotional story as nine-year-old Julia's narrative maintains childlike curiosity and passion. The community center is an authentic backdrop as Julia continues to build deeper connections with a variety of diverse characters and perspectives. Relationships are as genuine as the dialogue. Julia gently navigates young readers through a variety of experiences and age-appropriate questions around first appearances, making judgments, and challenging them along the way. Kim's grayscale digital illustrations throughout accentuate the characters' expressions and demonstrate the light humor woven within the story. VERDICT This must-have addition to the series continues the journey of an endearing protagonist who authentically illuminates a variety of coming-of-age lessons.—Morgan Hanrahan
Gr 2–4—A hair conundrum sparks a business opportunity. One morning, twins Neecy and Nay Nay wake up to Nay Nay in a sticky situation: chewing gum in her hair. Despite the unfortunate event, the twins are inspired to start their own salon: Neecy and Nay Nay's House of Style. They are fortunate enough to have a group of willing customers to start off with in friends and family. However, when they encounter the hiccups of running a business, they learn a few things, with charm and laughter along the way. This book's vocabulary is at a noticeably higher level and will help early elementary readers build language skills, though the inclusion of more advanced terms is not the smoothest. The grayscale artwork is expressive and enjoyable, adding basic imagery to what happens on each page without detracting from readers' imaginations. This title serves as a valuable introduction to books with fewer or no pictures. Although race is not explicitly discussed, the illustrations suggest most of the characters are Black. Back matter includes a snickerdoodle recipe, glossary, and preview of the next series installment. VERDICT This is a well-written book that will appeal to young readers who are beginning to show interest in their self-image; teachers may find that this story serves to increase reader vocabulary.—Renee Sanchez
K-Gr 4—This series debut follows the adventures of a city-dwelling rat named Extra Cheese Scratchy Paws Sniffs-a-Lot—better known as Ratnip—who, along with his siblings Marsharita, Anchovy, Pepperoni, and Veggie, lives in a pizza shop. Ratnip enjoys scavenging for "treasures" like bubble wrap and shiny objects. During one of his dumpster dives, he finds a cell phone, which he dubs "The Thing." When the phone rings, displaying a photo of a human he recognizes, Ratnip enlists the help of some animal friends to locate the person and return the phone to its rightful owner. This leads him on an entertaining adventure that emphasizes the value of honesty and the joy of helping others. The book's large text and frequent illustrations make it ideal for early chapter book readers. The plot, while straightforward, is engaging and well paced, with expressive artwork that depicts humorous movement and sound effects, such as "Fwomp!" or "HAHAHA." Ratnip's journey underscores a positive message: sometimes, helping a stranger can be just as rewarding as keeping a treasure. VERDICT A delightful addition to early chapter book collections, especially for young readers who enjoy humorous animal tales.—Kirsten Caldwell
Transitional Graphic Novels
PreS-Gr 2—The sound of the doorbell has a young boy hurrying downstairs to greet his family as they arrive for dinner. Readers see the various dishes that are carried in and placed on the table. During the meal, the young protagonist imagines each of his relatives as a different animal based on their favorite foods. Aunt Gloria reminds him of a giraffe because she loves salad, while his papa enjoys meat and resembles a lion. Colorful illustrations capture his Uncle Carlos, visualized as a flamingo nibbling on shrimp, and his cousins as mischievous rabbits who manage to flip a plantain across the table to hit him on the head. The boy narrates the story with comments such as, "Me? I love all food!" or "Everyone loves dessert." Other than the initial greetings as the family enters the house, speech bubbles are used for onomatopoeic accompaniments to the meal: snap, crunch, munch, and so on. The limited word count along with the humorous scenes in the boy's imagination welcome even reluctant readers into the story. VERDICT Blending easy reader and early graphic novel formats, this enjoyable story captures the fun of family meals and invites readers to chime in with a "Nom. Nom. Nommm."—Suzanne Costner
Gr 2–4—Kennedy and Devon are forever-fighting sisters (FFs) who only have three things in common: they love stories, pizza, and have a third younger sister who shares their room and isn't sleep trained, leaving both sisters sleep deprived and even grumpier than usual. Their fights reach new extremes, leading to their electronics being taken away. To prove to their parents that they can work together, Kennedy and Devon craft an elaborate story to help baby Eve fall asleep. Unfortunately, they can't agree on anything—should their main character try to find true love or adventure? Enter Princess Sparklepuff, sneaking out of her castle to a dragon-filled volcano, blending both sisters' interests into one epic journey. Federman uses rotating colors for the fairy tale's speech bubbles, helping readers track which sister is adding each new story element. Keen-eyed readers will be delighted when they discover what is happening in the background of Federman's panels, as baby Eve makes her own contributions to this adventurous tale. The overall result is a good choice for fans of the "Babymouse" series, or for readers who aren't quite ready for the more nuanced sibling drama found in books such as Varian Johnson's and Shannon Wright's Twins or Megan Wagner Lloyd's and Michelle Mee Nutter's Squished. VERDICT Cute and filled with the reality of sisters who don't get along all the time, this graphic novel will appeal to fans of humorous stories with a fairy-tale spin.—Annamarie Carlson
Gr 2–4—Mack Moon loves imagining epic adventures in space and playing video games. When his three pets—a dog, a cat, and a fish—are revealed to be an elite alien protection squad called the P.E.T.S., Mack discovers that those adventures might not be as impossible as he thought. The P.E.T.S. have been called into service to protect earth from evil villain Barbara the ferret, who is determined to use her mind control powers to take over the world. Barabara uses Earth's primitive tech to cut off the team's communication with headquarters, and with no other options, the P.E.T.S. make a guess that their owner Mack Moon is the commander meant to help them. Jolley infuses humor at every turn, and readers will laugh along as Mack realizes that having alien pets with a secret headquarters under his house might be kind of fun. While the art and story aren't particularly innovative, this will still appeal to young readers who can't wait for the next installment in the "Hilo," "EXpets," or "Dog Man" series. VERDICT Filled with comical, appealing art and slapstick humor, this book is sure to find its audience.—Annamarie Carlson
K-Gr 3—Things are changing in the arctic where a group of animals live: Blue the arctic fox, Puff the puffin, and Sealy the harbor seal. Puff starts the story by spotting a ship in trouble at sea and flies to rescue Tip, an arctic hare who is on board, while Blue makes provisions for a welcome party. As Puff carefully guides Tip to the shore, Tip explains how their island home became an erupting volcano, driving them out to sea for safety and leaving them with no home. The other animals offer to share their own homes, but each one is just too small and crowded. It is Tip who comes up with the solution, and the group works together to bring Tip's boat ashore to use as a home. Sealy is the first to notice that their little shore is now a small town, and the group of friends decide to name it Cozy Cove. This charming tale of friendship centers on being welcoming and flexible. Lovely cool shades pop with crisp black outlines. Bright white dialogue balloons are easy to read, and the panels move seamlessly from each problem to solution. The animals are genderless, allowing children to imagine them in any way they choose. VERDICT A welcome new graphic novel series for early readers who enjoy comic adventures without superheroes. Recommended for libraries serving this age group.—Elisabeth LeBris
K-Gr 2—Four-year-old Lou is full of life. He is exuberant, thoughtful, adventurous, and creative. Short, vertically drawn chapters chronicle regular days, trips to visit grandparents, parties, and playdates. Illustrated exclusively with simple black-and-white sketches accented with light blue, readers will experience a wide variety of moments across the seasons with Lou. The art is realistic, even when spare against the white background of the pages. Lou will have young readers laughing at his antics, especially the ones where Lou is in the bath. Parents and teachers will laugh along with recognition of living with a high-energy little person. VERDICT A realistic story about being yourself and feeling good about it, and a perfect title for bedtime.—Elisabeth LeBris
Gr 3–5—Saphie, the titular feline member of a home with four cats, rules the roost. An expert at getting her family to feed her, Saphie puts her powers of persuasion and mercurial temperaments on full display. Various attempts to control Saphie's weight do not work and readers will enjoy seeing how she gets around all of them. A particularly humorous scene is when the dad tries to get Saphie to walk on the treadmill. The other cats get their time as well with stories displaying their typical cat behavior, what toys they like, and relationships with other family members. The book is made up of many short comics about daily life with cats, however, two seem to depict a god-like being creating these cats from bread dough, with a prankster teenage Lucifer adding soda to the youngest cat creation, apparently to add flavor. With the rest of the stories being realistic, these chapters could be confusing. The color scheme is predominantly muted tones of brown and green with black outlines. The action is conveyed with lots of close-ups, sound effects, and cat vocalizations. The panels overlap, tip, and change point-of-view; the dialogue balloons are easy to read. VERDICT Give this to cat fans, especially the Pusheen crowd.—Elisabeth LeBris
Key: * Excellent in relation to other titles on the same subject or in the same genre | Tr Hardcover trade binding | Board Board book | pap. Paperback | BL Bilingual | SP Spanish
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