Straight Talk for Librarians: A sweet cozy read for those cold winter days. If a young reader is sad about the winter, this story will point out all the fun and beautiful things that can be found outside in the winter. Followed by a warm, cozy drink with a fire and a blanket. One of the girls is peach skinned and the other is brown skinned. The shift in viewpoint is fun to watch. The descriptive text will appeal to young readers. When the positive character talks, the font is in blue. The illustrator really captured the beauty of a winter day. Both characters are cute and lovable. It’s just a sweet book that would make for a good read-aloud. It would be perfect for a preK - 2nd grade library collection. For any PYP IB libraries - you can find the attributes of being a thinker and a risk-taker. I definitely recommend this book.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
A Day So Gray, written by Marie Lamba and Alea Marley, reviewed by Klaudia Janek
The Crown Heist (The Lost Art Mysteries), written by Deron R. Hicks, reviewed by Klaudia Janek
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
City of Thieves (Battle Dragons #1), written by Alex London, reviewed by Klaudia Janek
Straight Talk for Librarians: This book is pretty fast-paced with lots of adventure at night and the dragon battles. It’s fun to imagine the dragons wooshing around in the night sky. This book is targeted to readers who are between 9-13ish years old. I think it might raise some eyebrows that the author used a non-binary character with they/them pronouns. It seemed a little forced as there is no sexuality within the plot line and the intended audience is a bit young. It has some exciting action adventure, family dynamics, some mystery to work out and school relationships in an urban fantasy dystopian setting. There are not a lot of professional reviews for school librarians to make a purchasing decision with this series. It averages about three stars on various review sites. That is about where I would put it. The cover will grab readers - who doesn’t love dragons? It’s a quick read and might introduce new readers to the urban fantasy genre.
Pulse (Pulse, 1), written by Patrick Carman, reviewed by Klaudia Janek
Straight Talk for Librarians: Even though this book was written in 2013, there is somehow an even more relevant connection to teens being glued to their “tablets” in the story, like they are today. The government monitors what people watch, who they communicate with and they definitely have the ability to track your location. With this being a dystopian story, there are a lot of sad elements like the main characters having lost their parents and the violence of living on the outskirts of society. But I like how there is a focus on friendships and creating a family from the people you surround yourself with. I’m partial to the part of the story where trees are flying through the air because of telekinesis (I mean, who wouldn’t want that power?) I’ll put this on my shelf in the high school library and purchase the other 2 books in the trilogy to recommend to students who are into dystopian books. The author has also written a lot of other books, so it would be a good introduction to his work.
Monday, March 25, 2024
Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter, written by Veronica Chambers, reviewed by Terry Wahrman
Straight Talk for Librarians: Lowery begins by tracing the roots of Black Lives Matter to the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner, which sparked outrage and galvanized a new generation of activists. He then takes readers on a journey through the movement's growth, from its grassroots beginnings to its global reach, highlighting key moments, leaders, and tactics along the way.
One of the book's strengths is its nuanced exploration of the complexities and controversies surrounding the movement. Lowery does not shy away from addressing internal divisions, critiques from both within and outside the movement, and the challenges of sustaining momentum over time. Through interviews with activists, organizers, and scholars, he offers a multifaceted view of Black Lives Matter, acknowledging its successes, while also, interrogating its limitations and contradictions.
"Call and Response" is not just a historical account; it is a call to action. Lowery challenges readers to confront their own biases, engage in difficult conversations, and take meaningful steps toward racial justice. In a time of heightened awareness of racial inequality, this book serves as a timely and necessary reminder of the ongoing struggle for Black liberation. Great for book discussions, book clubs, and individual readers.
What Do You Do If You Work at the Zoo? written by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, reviewed by Terry Wahrman
Straight Talk for Librarians: Not recommended. The day starts with taking care of orphaned animals, a joey & a vulture. It is a situation that most young students fear. If you want a book that will bring about discussions, this is the book for you. It allows students to speculate why they are orphaned. The teacher will be inundated with questions throughout the pages on each animals’ situation. The questions can be about Joey's mom? Why is he left alone in a zoo? Who will be his mother? Next turn a few pages to Pandas and their excessive poop, a happy hyena with a bloodsicle, and a bottle fed giraffe whose mother is sick and a manatee whose mother is lost. This all adds up to a disturbing view of the job for the younger reader. I passed the book along to different people in different stages of life and children. The reviews were the same, not recommended.
Friday, March 22, 2024
The Copernicus Legacy: The Golden Vendetta, written by Tony Abbott, MacLeod Andrews, et al., reviewed by Debra Gantz
Straight Talk for Librarians: I was hooked on this book immediately despite having never read the other 2 in this series. Though I am not sure my students will know about Copernicus or Da Vinci and the connections to art and history, I do believe a good adventure with researchable connections will engage those up for this kind of reading challenge. The plot is complex and the moving parts are engaging and thought provoking. This brought me back to my book fair in about 2003 when I sold out of Dan Brown's DaVinci code multiple times in my Scholastic Book Fair as it was THE book everyone was talking about. From the art history to the dangerous adventures and the historical secrets, this book will engage strong readers or families who like to share longer books out loud. This book will certainly satisfy my voracious readers of Erin Hunter, Rick Riordan, and J.K. Rowling. I will add the series to my library and recommend it to all the elementary and middle school librarians in my district!
Power Up (A Power Up Graphic Novel), written by by Sam Nisson and Darnell Johnson, reviewed by Todd Erickson
Straight Talk for Librarians: This a great story with almost two simultaneous stories going on. One IRL and one online in the gaming world. Simon does a good job of keeping the story moving in both reality and virtual gaming world. There are a lot of issues that are brought up, without being preachy or heavy handed. Bullying, screentime, and school-life balance are all addressed. Miles and his diverse group of friends are pretty typical. This book will certainly find an audience as it is entertaining and does a great job of balancing real life with virtual gaming world. There are lessons to be learned from each.
Timo the Adventurer, by Jonathan Garnier and Yohan Sacré, reviewed by Todd Erickson
Straight Talk for Librarians: This story is an engaging adventure that is sure to entertain middle grade readers. The artwork is fantastical, and engaging enough to maintain visual interest. Timo and his world alternates between dark and affirming. There is a good message, it's not all about the journey, but what matters most is the friends you make along the way. Timo conquers his fears and grapples with betrayal and his physical limitations. By the end, it appears he is a grown up adventurer and everything has worked out for the best.
The Fabled Life of Aesop: The extraordinary journey and collected tales of the world's greatest storyteller, written by Ian Lendler and Pamela Zagarenski, reviewed by Terry Wahrman
Straight Talk for Librarians: All the fables are still useful lessons in today’s current life and classroom situations. Students will be transfixed by the lessons they are taught by the talking animals. Teachers could build lessons around each fable and students can have great classroom discussions on each of the fables. Highly recommended.
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Stick and Stone: Best Friends Forever! written by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld, reviewed by Terry Wahrman
Straight Talk for Librarians: Rhyming was never so much fun. I adore this book and I think your little ones will too. There is just enough searching, just enough fright, and just enough rhyming. It makes a perfect classroom book for early readers. It teaches them friendship and family come in all different shapes and sizes. The illustrations were spot on. On the inside covers, there are different sticks with leaves indicating the many different tree types. Highly recommended.
Ms. Marvel: Stretched Thin, written by Nadia Shammas and Nabi H. Ali, reviewed by Terry Wahrman
Straight Talk for Librarians: Highly recommended. Ms. Marvel is an American muslim girl from a traditional Middle Eastern family. It’s not easy to be a teenager and a superhero. Kamala learns that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It only makes her and the team stronger and unbeatable. It is a good lesson to be taught. This would make a good classroom read or a stand alone book.
Una Larga TravesÃa Hasta El Agua: Basada en una historia real (A Long Walk to Water Spanish edition), written by Linda Sue Park, reviewed by Amanda Davies
Straight Talk for Librarians: This translation would be great for Spanish or MLL classroom libraries, as well as in middle or high school libraries. Students who speak Spanish as their first language as well as more sophisticated Spanish language learners could both benefit from this book being on the shelves. Because the English version is so easily accessible, it would also work in earlier Spanish language classes where students compare the two versions side by side.