Cheerful Chick, written by Martha Brockenbrough, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: This book follows a chick who dreams of cheerleading and spreading joy in her barnyard. However, the grown-up animals are all too busy to join her cheer team. Nevertheless, she practices hard and makes sure all of her moves are pristine, and then she goes to the adults to try to recruit them to join her cheer squad. First, she goes to Mr. Pig, who is too busy eating to care about her cheer. Then, she goes to Ms. Pig, who isn’t in the mood to join her routine. Then, she goes to Mr. Sheep, who falls asleep during her pitch. Lastly, she goes to Mrs. Horse, performs her cheer, and then all but begs her to join. However, Mrs. Horse still says no. Chick realizes that no one will support her dreams, and she decides to quit cheer for good. However, her chicken friends see her in this slump and decide to create a cheer team made up of themselves and join her. Together, they create a routine for the barnyard animals just as the adults finish all of their work, and the whole barnyard rejoices in joy over the cheer squad’s routine.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book portrays the familiar theme of never giving up on your dreams in a bright and fun way that kids are sure to identify with. The book is relatable in the sense that the main character aspires to be something that many elementary students also dream of becoming: a cheerleader. The conflict in the book is not too intense for a child to read, yet it does create a relatable scenario where a kid’s idea is rejected by an adult. This book goes on to teach a child that they should never give up, because with the right audience, their idea may land. For this broad and relatable theme, it is an enjoyable read and perfect for a casual book during free-choice reading time. It is also uplifting and energetic in story and illustration, so it is a perfect after-lunch read aloud when students are starting to feel drowsy. Most of the book is written and illustrated in a bright and positive manner, which represents the nearly endless motivation and optimism of the character. As the character gets rejected more and more, the pictures turn darker and the words become sadder, but they soon become bright and happy once again. The illustrations of the book are beautifully done and help to emphasize the mood and message of each page. The digital graphics allow the pictures to be soft and accurate, which gives a comforting sense for a child. The book is also written with funny dialogue and a rhyming scheme to keep children entertained and to encourage their understanding of the words because it is written in a fun way. Overall, this book portrays a common yet important message in a way perfectly suited for young readers. Hopefully, all readers will find their squad with others who lift them up.

Look Again: Secrets of Animal Camouflage, written by Steve Jenkins, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary: How do animals stay hidden? Steve Jenkins and Rhonda Page answer this question with full-page color illustrations that take the reader from the coral reef to the Arctic to the forest floor. Two two-page spreads are dedicated to each biome. The first introduces the habitat with a sentence or two of description and illustrations of animals camouflaged in that environment. The following two pages include labeled illustrations of each animal against a white background, along with a picture of them in their habitat and a sketch of the animal next to a hand or a human for scale. The final few pages of the book give more in-depth information on each animal by habitat.

Straight Talk for Librarians: Readers will be quickly drawn in by the color illustrations and the challenge of finding each camouflaged animal. Additional interest will be for the animals themselves, since many of the examples chosen for this book - the pallid ghost crab, for instance, and the rainbow lorikeet - are not likely to be familiar to most readers. For someone looking to learn a lot about the science behind camouflage or facts about animals, this is not the right resource; labels are brief and more suited to a read-aloud or general discussion about adaptation. Pair this with Eric Carle's "Mister Seahorse" for a fiction/non-fiction contrast, or use as an engaging hook for a study of camouflage.

Dog Man Unleashed, written by Dav Pilkey, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: This is the second book in the Dog Man series and readers will get a quick overview of what happened in the last book. This book is divided into short chapters. The police chief and the rest of the department are still getting used to Dog Man being half human and half canine. The police officers decide to throw a party for the Chief and Dog Man is responsible for the present. He thinks a fish will be a good idea. Lots of mischief ensues. Petey the cat comes back in this story. He tries to get out of jail and draws Flat Petey. Flat Petey is evil. Petey and Dog Man are left to pick up the pieces of this latest mess.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book is a must-have for elementary and middle school classrooms and libraries. This book and author have proven over and over that some reluctant readers become their readers through graphic novels like the Dog Man series. The vocabulary and wordplay that Pilkey uses in his books are quite sophisticated and readers will get a kick out of finding them. I think it makes the most sense to read the books in series order, however, a reader could just sit down with this book and understand the adventure. Pilkey’s writing and illustrations speak to a wide range of readers. Pilkey ends this book with a “how-to” drawing section of the characters in this book, which I think readers (and budding illustrators) will really enjoy. I recommend the hardcover for classrooms and libraries as this is a high circulating book. There are all sorts of connections to drawing, reading, storytelling, comic drawing, storyboarding activities that could be done in conjunction with this book.

Will Giraffe Laugh?, written by Hilary Leung, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: I’m on a board book reviewing spree and this book was chosen because I could not resist the grumpy giraffe on the cover. Props to the illustrator for making a giraffe grumpy. Usually, they are depicted as cute, gentle and very unassuming characters. I also loved the green argyle flower design on the book spine. In this book, a Giraffe is grumpy and his friends want to cheer him up. They want Giraffe to laugh. Bear does some juggling, crocodile puts on a puppet show, sheep makes balloon animals, frog shoots his tongue all over the place, ladybug to entertain on her guitar. Nothing works. Giraffe yells at his friends and makes them all feel bad. Now it is Giraffe’s turn to make his friends laugh. Young readers will also laugh at the outcome.

Straight Talk for Librarians: What a great book to learn about friendship! The youngest readers will think about the things they do to cheer up their friends. It will also make readers think about what happens if they yell at their siblings or friends. No one feels good when they are yelled at. The color choices throughout the book are somewhat muted and earthy. They reflect nature very nicely. The only page spread that is different is when Giraffe gets really mad. The dark skies roll in and lightning strikes as it is raining. It’s a perfect way to show Giraffe’s stormy emotions. A little bit of slapstick comedy seems to cheer everybody up and readers will come away with a very satisfying ending. This book is a great choice for classrooms to read about feelings. It’s a good purchase for any library serving the PreK crowd. It is also a perfect purchase for a baby shower to help start a home library for little ones. This book has been a favorite of my 4-year-old. Unfortunately, it did not survive the drop into a giant puddle of water....in a rainstorm...

I Love Space, written by Allison Wortche, illustrated by Steve Mack, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: I Love Space is a second book in the series of board books that I picked up by Allison Wortche & Steve Mack. I won’t lie...I’m a big Star Trek fan, so when I see space-themed books for the little ones - I am already a fan! This book does not disappoint. The title and the stars are silver embossed. Two happy little faces are staring out at you through the window of a rocket ship. Readers will turn to the first page and will be asked if they are “ready to zoom into space?” Readers will be introduced to the sun and the eight planets that move around it. All the stars are iridescent gold embossed. Adults might expect a black background for space, but the illustrator decided to be bold and space is magenta! On the next page, we get some flaps to lift with an easy fact about each planet. The stars are now textured and glittery white. For those concerned about accuracy, poor Pluto is not considered a planet. Readers will be treated to a lot of green color as the earth is discussed. Finally, readers are introduced to asteroids and a comet. Then it is time to head home. And YES! We do Love Space. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This is a super cute STEM board book about space. My four year old loved it and now is naming the planets from the book. This book is a good read-aloud and there is a lot of color and unexpected glittery stars to look at. This book would be perfect for a solar system book display and will appeal to the youngest of readers. They will see that there is something for them and not just for older readers. The colors are bright and bold. The faces are welcoming and the reader will love learning about space. This exciting space book might just be the first step to creating your own future Star Trek / NASA fan.

I Love Science, written by Allison Wortche, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Summary: While I love reading board books to my 4-year-old, they do pose a particular challenge in reviewing them. So, I feel like they have to be tested on a willing subject ;) The book I Love (heart) Science stands out at first glance because of the silver embossed title. The book starts out by “calling all scientists” and the flap lets readers know that THEY are the scientists. It goes on the discuss how scientists are curious and always asking questions (just like toddlers). The panels fold out and readers will find a sparkling rainbow and dinosaur. Readers will love making the leaves change color on the page that talks about leaves changing colors. After doing some research, readers are told that “it’s time to experiment!” Some of the new vocabulary includes: explore, improve, invent and discover. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: What a great board book! I would say that all school libraries are on the lookout for STEM-themed books. This book is a perfect addition to the board books for the youngest of readers to let them start thinking about the world of science. The illustrations are digitally created with bright bold colors that will have toddlers bouncing with excitement, ready to turn the pages. Young readers are naturally curious and they wonder a lot, which this book reinforces. The text flows well, which makes this a good read-aloud book. I didn’t get tripped up by any of the words. The characters in the book are happy and excited about science. I totally agree with the last sentence that “there’s a big, exciting world waiting for you.”

Moles: the superpower field guide, written by Rachel Poliquin, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Ammar S.
Summary: Moles: The Superpower Field Guide by Rachel Poliquin is a book that should be a welcome addition to any book collection middle grade and high school readers might have. This book explores the very little, potato-shaped, rather fascinating but mostly forgotten, mole. As said on the front cover, it has “96 pages of Gobsmacking facts”; each more interesting than the last. The book follows... you guessed it, a cartoon mole. This mole goes by the name Rosalie has a few natural superpowers that make her “The Bionic Burrower”! The powers include (and the chapters are sorted by these headings): “being an astonishing architect of dirt, indefatigable paw’s of power (paws that won’t quit), double-thumb-digging dominance, arms of Hercules, super-squidgibility, early whisker warning system, headless hoarding, saliva of death (maybe?), and the blood of the gods”. The first chapter sets the tone for the type of humor found throughout the book. “Rosalie...is shaped like a potato. And not a new potato, all cute and round, but a plain old lumpy russet potato, the sort that sits in the bottom of your fridge, neglected and going a little spongy” (8). There are quizzes throughout the book to test your new-found knowledge. The colors in the illustrations are minimalistic and look very mid-century modern. The colors chosen are earth tones that complement the earth that the mole digs through. There is a useful glossary at the end and resources for further research.

Straight Talk for Librarians: The read was rather enjoyable, and the pages were fantastically illustrated by Nicholas J. Frith which reminded me of an old Czech cartoon named “Krteček” I used to watch as a kid. The book was rather fun and beautiful in my opinion. There is a lot of scientific knowledge in there and it would be a perfect choice for the budding non-fiction reader. It would actually also be a good choice for a high school student looking for a “fun” science read. The text is so much more humorous than a standard biology textbook. It really is entertaining! Most students would typically not choose a mole to research, but this book could easily change a student’s mind. It is full of facts and tidbits while at the same time full of creative art, clever wordplay, and lots of fun. Every school library should have this book.

Molly & Mae, written by Danny Parker, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Paul S.
Summary: Molly and Mae is a story about two children that meet at an unlikely place and instantly become friends. At the beginning of the story, Molly finds Mae hiding under a bench and then inside a store. Over the course of forty-five minutes waiting for the bus the two new friends play all sorts of games like dancing, taking pictures and also eating sorbet. Then they get called into the train, to which they continue their games and activities. They ignored people then got hungry waiting to get off the bus. But then Mae got tired of being bossed around, so Molly got angry and rude. Thus breaking their friendship, only until they both missed each other and Molly made a move to repair their friendship until they both became friends again. And then the train stops and they both get off and then the book ends.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book can be used in classrooms to teach kids that building up friendships with people is important. The book shows this by using bright colors during the parts while Molly and Mae are playing and goofing around and dark colors when they are mad at each other and not together. This shows the importance of friendships by making it seem like you will always be happy while around friends or those that make you happy. The book also can teach children not to hold grudges against people because all it will do is make you and the person feel bad. It shows this because they both miss the presence of each other when they separate from each other because of a little fight. But once they reunite with each other and forget about the problems they faced that is when they become happy and keep building up their friendship.

Accident! (review #2), written by Andrea Tsurumi, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Rayyan S. 
Summary: In the book Accident by Andrea Tsurumi, It happens with one animal making an accident and then another, which is following the leading person who made the accident. The story is mainly about accidents that can be made which creates a lot of conflicts, one accident can lead to another. This also sets up real-life examples about how simple accidents could be made which can lead to a lot of conflict when making those mistakes. When reading the story you see one animal making an accident then follows with another accident by another animal. It’s a pattern that these animals are making as the story moves forward.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book can be used as a read-aloud or for an independent reading choice. I think young readers will enjoy the world-building going on here. The book is also designed to make you feel better when an accident happens. If you are involved in an accident, you don’t have to run away from it. You have to face it, try to fix it and move on. It’s ok. The illustrator has a lot of cartoon-like details within the pages of this book. Readers will find something new in it each time they read this book. It would be a good choice for animal lovers as there are lots of different animals within the story. As a high school student, I enjoyed this book - so I think younger readers will enjoy it as well.

Faraway Fox (review #2), written by Jolene Thompson, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Peter S.
Summary: A young fox is separated from his family and is lost in a city. He reminisces about his experiences and fun times with his family members. The pages portray loneliness and solitude as the fox travels from place to place surrounded by no one. After searching the city for his family, he stumbles across humans working on a project. A sign reads “Future Site Of Highway Wildlife Underpass,” which is what the humans are working on. He travels through the underpass they created safely and reunites with his family in the forest happily.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book can be used to teach children about gratitude and to not take things for granted. The concept of losing everything you previously enjoyed or needed, even though you didn’t acknowledge it when you had it, is something that most children would not understand. Personally, I know I take a lot of things for granted and am trying to appreciate what I have more. Children usually don’t have a sense of their surroundings and what they have, they only know what they want. Although the book is to spread awareness about wildlife in urban or human civilization, the message I got from this is to not take things for granted. As the fox was alone and lost, he begins to think about all of the fun he had with his sister, brother, mother, and father, and misses them. In a sense, this story is actually very sad until the last page when he gets reunited. The color choice throughout the book is well done, with the muted tones helping to portray the sense of loneliness. The illustrations are fun and pretty to look at and the art style is realistic and unique. Overall, this book is a great, short read for young kids to not only teach about gratitude but about the wilderness and animals as we interact with them. I think young readers would really like the fox character.

Bedtime Blastoff!, written by Luke Reynolds, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Rahul V.
Summary: This book talks about a boy going to bed but would rather play with his dad. The boy imagines what he could be in the future from a pilot zooming away to pirate sailing in the seas. The father repeatedly asks him if its time for “bedtime” and the boy replies “not yet”. Although the boy refuses to go to sleep the boy’s father continues to play with him and support him.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book is suitable for young readers as the book has a poetic touch with a couple of words rhyming and the story moves along quickly and would make a great read-aloud book. This book will teach the younger audience about using your imagination. The boy thinks about different occupations and vehicles as he tries to put bedtime off. The book is beautifully illustrated with computer-designed graphics. It will make a good bedtime story as the story ends with the boy finally falling asleep. It has literary merit as it would introduce the children to rhyming words and new vocabulary. This is a great book to read as bedtime approaches. It would also be a good addition to a bedtime themed book display in a library.

And The Robot Went...(review #2), written by Michelle Robinson, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Vidhyalakshmi V.
Summary: This book starts with a curious fox that looked in a box. The story starts when the fox hears the sound “boooo” from the robot that existed in the box. The tinkering of the nosy fox commenced the chain of the introduction of other creatures. The initiation of each character comes with a new modification to the robot that the fox found in the box. Each thing the character does results in the robot making new, unique, mechanical sounds such as “Clang!” and “Click!” Soon, a small white child shows up and quickly takes charge. She orders around all the creatures to build up the unfinished robot. After a whole lot of yelling from the child of “Twist the screw, Blue Gnu!” and “Turn the dial, Crocodile!” The robot was finally complete following the chaos and the grateful robot “...went.”

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book is a good introduction to starting elementary level readers. It gives an opportunity for emerging readers to get into and involve themselves in books. The rhythmic tale with a Wicked Witch who “flicked a switch,” and the Eager Beaver “pulled the lever” gives the youth a sensational listen and experience out of it. However, the book is slightly lengthy for younger readers to read on their own thus making this the perfect story-time and classroom-read book. This book can easily be understood by young emerging readers as the conclusion is confusion-free and easy to follow along. The bright color and illustration will also keep young readers engaged by creating happy emotions depicted by the bright coloring to create great results from the read. Ruzzier’s illustrations answer the chaotic situations by livening the imaginations of emerging readers. Adult readers will gain great adoration from the unique uses of mechanical sounds that create a robot melody to entertain the young audience. This book makes for a good addition to any library with a large audience of young emerging readers due to the beneficial rhyming theme to help the youth develop their reading skills while connecting lively images to make it an enjoyable read.

Faraway Fox, written by Jolene Thompson, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Michael W.
Summary: Faraway Fox is about a young fox who seems to be stuck in suburbia. He is remembering the time he spent with his family exploring the woods. As he roams the human world, he finds only remnants of his past life. He reflects about the childhood experiences that he had with his siblings and parents as he navigates the man-made world that he feels trapped in. Eventually, he comes across a new human structure that confuses him. He discovers that it is a wildlife underpass. The underpass takes him back to his forest home where he is reunited with fox family. It is a story of how humans can have both positive and negative on the environment and how if we work together we can make a change for the better.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book can be used in a classroom to teach about the ideas of urban sprawl, the relationship between humans and animals, and how as people we can help make positive changes for our environment and community. I think Faraway Fox is a great book about how when people work together we can make a positive impact on our community and society. I greatly enjoyed the beautiful artwork that blended the urban landscape encroaching over the once prominent nature. It really helps hit home the idea of being trapped and lost in an unknown world. The story as a whole has a really great narrative and I would recommend to any family with young readers. It is a great way to introduce the ideas of how humanity and the environment are really intertwined.

Henry and Leo (review #2) written by Pamela Zagarenski, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Jerry X.
Summary: Henry goes everywhere with his favorite stuffed animal and best friend, Leo. Ever since he was two Leo had been with Henry, so much so that to Henry, Leo is his real best friend. However, when Leo is lost during a walk through the woods, Henry is terribly worried that Leo will have to spend the night outside. Henry’s family assures him Leo will be fine since he is just a toy, but Henry knows he is more than that. To Henry he is as real as the sun or the moon, but will he be real enough to bring Leo back home?

Straight Talk for Librarians: Like a modern fairy tale, the book illustrates the inseparable bond between a boy and his best friend stuffed animal. Motivated by his love for his stuffed lion Leo, Henry is able to go past the limits of reality to bring him back home. By using his wonder and imagination is Henry able to help guide Leo on an adventure through the woods before bringing him home. Used in libraries or classrooms, this book can be used to teach students the meaning of friendship and imagination. For younger elementary students, this book works great as a read-aloud book as well as a read alone. Able to be read aloud in under ten minutes it provides a quick read that won’t lose student’s attention. Read alone will provide a challenging task for younger children and an interesting read for older children. Illustrated using watercolors and stamps this unique art style will impress children and adults alike. Especially how the art style blends dreams and reality truly representing what Henry’s imagination can do much like the mind of the children reading.

Accident! written by Andrea Tsurumi, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Angela X.
Summary: Accident! by Andrea Tsurumi spins a great journey in a world in which animals act with the same characteristics as people. A young armadillo, named Lola, makes a mess in her home. Traumatized from the incident, she heads out to the library, promising to never return, thinking that this was the worst thing that could ever happen. Along the way, however, she encounters many more furry friends, like a rabbit, snake, and even a rhinoceros experiencing the same problems she is. And so off they went together to the library, on their way to escape their problems and never return. Things just keep on going sideways for them! Read the book to discover how Lola, and her animal pals are going to learn a valuable lesson on what it means to make mistakes.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book, Accident! by Andrea Tsurumi, would definitely be a great read, as well as a valuable learning tool, especially for elementary-school level readers, in and out of the classroom. The vibrant and bright colors of the illustrations, made with digital color and graphite, would easily attract the eyes of eager young readers. Also besides being a fun read, it would also teach an immensely valuable lesson to these children on the acceptance of making mistakes and having these accidents. Sometimes, it just gets the best of everyone. Additionally, the language and prose of this book is perfectly engineered towards these young- in- age- readers, and the artwork gives great detail and insight into the progression and lessons exemplified in this children’s story. Finally, personification is an important aspect of the story, for it would attract smaller readers, because of their whimsicalness and wackiness. Overall, the outlook that is provided by the book, Accident! by Andrea Tsurumi, shows an important lesson that all young learners can carry with them throughout their entire life, all in the form of a spectacularly well-done picture book. Library lovers will particularly love this book as it depicts the library as a safe space. It is the first thought of some of the characters as to where they should escape too as they are running away from whatever accident they created. There are so many details in the pictures that readers will come back again and again to find new things they may have missed before.

The Lion Inside (review #2), written by Rachel Bright, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Jessica Z.
Summary: The author, Rachel Bright, takes readers on an adventure to find their inner lion. Readers follow a little mouse on his journey to find a “roar” in order to be noticed and loved. The little mouse seeks the help of the powerful lion, who is loved and praised. The mouse’s encounter with the lion reveals that the lion is afraid of mice! Afterward, the two become best friends and face all of life’s challenges together, as one. They discover that no matter how large or small, everyone has the delicacy of a mouse and the power of a lion.

Straight Talk for Librarians: The Lion Inside is symbolic of the strength and delicacy of a person. The theme of the story is to teach readers that no matter how small, everyone has the heart of a lion! The story also contains a subtle rhyme, which allows the story to move smoothly and flow similarly to a nursery rhyme. This picture book is a great tool for boosting the self-confidence of children. There is also a second theme that can be interpreted from The Lion Inside. The mouse and the lion were able to become friends despite their differences. This teaches young children that physical differences do not define the success of a friendship (but children may have difficulty identifying this second theme). This picture book would be a great read-aloud for classrooms and libraries due to the rhyme scheme. In The Lion Inside, the art is friendly and contains mostly warm colors. The warm colors allow readers to feel cozy and relaxed, while also feeling excited. Also, proportion is commonly used to emphasize the difference between the mouse and the lion. This technique contributes to the development of the theme. To summarize, The Lion Inside is a spectacular read for young elementary school students!

I Will Love You, written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Yitian Z.
Summary: This book is about how a mother expresses her emotions and feelings towards the love for her daughter through a lullaby liked versed tone. She conveys this by using examples of nature and incorporating elements of literary devices like personification and imagery to all five senses. The mother in the story that is trying to convey this message is white, and her daughter is brown. The illustrator expresses the appreciation between their relationships through the fantastical themes shown ranging from “soaring on fluffy clouds” to dancing on the beach, and soothed by animal’s physical features like the “butterfly’s wings. This book can be suited for the general audience of kids that are in preschool or kindergarten that are ages 3 to 5 and moms that would like to read bedtime stories and learn from a book about their loving relationships. In the library, a mother-daughter book display can be set up showing the different kinds of relationships that include adoptive parents, single moms, and just the overall relationship of a mother and daughter.

Straight Talk for Librarians: In “I Will Love You” by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, the mother expresses her motions and feeling towards the love for her daughter through a lullaby using versed tone. She conveys this by using examples of nature and incorporating elements of literary devices like personification and imagery to all five senses. By incorporating personification by “tickled by the rainbow a silky rain brings”, it demonstrates the gentle aspects of the youth as seen from nature's perspective. The repetition of this book also stands out for the overall theme or idea of “I will love you” no matter what circumstance has occurred to the child. This is repeated to show the importance of the relationship and the perspectives that can be expressed for the warming tone and quality for her daughter. This is a great book for bedtime stories with just a mom and daughter as the relationship can be developed warmly before the child goes to bed. This is heartwarming for both as a sweet memory of nature’s words on love is expressed before the child starts to sleep. The illustrations in the book are also very creative and fits well with the overall tone of the story. The paintings that are done by color pencil and watercolor create a very soft perspective and use of warm calm colors is underlying the overall mood of the story.

Lost Heir: Wings of Fire Graphic Novel: Book 2, written by Tui Sutherland, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary: Jumping right in where the first book left off, this second installment in the Wings of Fire series follows the five dragonets of prophecy to the SeaWing kingdom, where Tsunami is eager to be reunited with her mother, Queen Coral of the SeaWings. Instead of a feast and celebration on her unexpected return, Tsunami arrives to discover a foreign kingdom and a strict, overprotective mother: An unknown assassin has been targeting Queen Coral's heirs until only two remain. Headstrong Tsunami, determined to avoid life chained to her mother's side, must work to unmask the assassin with the aid of her four dragonet friends. Although at times the dragons can be difficult to distinguish, the full-color illustrations and attention to detail in this graphic novel don't miss a beat from the original text.

Straight Talk for Librarians: Newcomers to the Wings of Fire series may find this second installment to be confusing, and even current fans may have benefited from a more thorough recap of the previous book. Very little attention is given to the prophecy itself, and characters from The Dragonet Prophecy are referenced with little explanation. Some fans may wish for more of the other four dragonets, as Tsunami is definitely the star of this chapter in the series. For those speeding through the series, however, The Lost Heir will continue the saga with the same satisfyingly adrenaline-loaded physical and political battles, and leave them ready for the next installment.

Two friends: Susan B. Anthony, Frederick Douglass, written by Dean Robbins, reviewed by Todd Erickson

Summary: Not everyone enjoys the same rights, but friends Susan and Frederick can enjoy a cup of tea while strategizing and planning how to make things more equitable for women and African Americans in the United States of America. They share ideas and their hopes for a better future when all people can enjoy rights such as freedom and the right to vote as spelled out in the US Constitution.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This slight story is a visual celebration of friendship and civil rights as framed by an alliance between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas. The tone is one of respite as the two friends sit down to tea. The sparse text is accompanied by colorful illustrations that combine collage with intense paint colors and pencil drawings. The bold artwork elicits stronger emotions than the matter of fact stated words on the pages. The subtle subtext here is that there is much work left to do as the two friends take a break to enjoy a tea break from their mutual goals of equality and freedom.

Cheerful Chick, written by Martha Brockenbrough, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Leah S.
Summary: This book follows a chick who dreams of cheerleading and spreading joy in her barnyard. However, the grown-up animals are all too busy to join her cheer team. Nevertheless, she practices hard and makes sure all of her moves are pristine, and then she goes to the adults to try to recruit them to join her cheer squad. First, she goes to Mr. Pig, who is too busy eating to care about her cheer. Then, she goes to Ms. Pig, who isn’t in the mood to join her routine. Then, she goes to Mr. Sheep, who falls asleep during her pitch. Lastly, she goes to Mrs. Horse, performs her cheer, and then all but begs her to join. However, Mrs. Horse still says no. Chick realizes that no one will support her dreams, and she decides to quit cheer for good. However, her chicken friends see her in this slump and decide to create a cheer team made up of themselves and join her. Together, they create a routine for the barnyard animals just as the adults finish all of their work, and the whole barnyard rejoices in joy over the cheer squad’s routine.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book portrays the familiar theme of never giving up on your dreams in a bright and fun way that kids are sure to identify with. The book is relatable in the sense that the main character aspires to be something that many elementary students also dream of becoming: a cheerleader. The conflict in the book is not too intense for a child to read, yet it does create a relatable scenario where a kid’s idea is rejected by an adult. This book goes on to teach a child that they should never give up, because with the right audience, their idea may land. For this broad and relatable theme, it is an enjoyable read and perfect for a casual book during free-choice reading time. It is also uplifting and energetic in story and illustration, so it is a perfect after-lunch read aloud when students are starting to feel drowsy. Most of the book is written and illustrated in a bright and positive manner, which represents the nearly endless motivation and optimism of the character. As the character gets rejected more and more, the pictures turn darker and the words become sadder, but they soon become bright and happy once again. The illustrations of the book are beautifully done and help to emphasize the mood and message of each page. The digital graphics allow the pictures to be soft and accurate, which gives a comforting sense for a child. The book is also written with funny dialogue and a rhyming scheme to keep children entertained and to encourage their understanding of the words because it is written in a fun way. Overall, this book portrays a common yet important message in a way perfectly suited for young readers. Hopefully, all readers will find their squad with others who lift them up.

Two Dogs in a Trench Coat go to School, written by Julie Falatko, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary: Waldo and Sassy are good dogs who spend their days busily and enthusiastically defending their house from squirrels, sleeping in cozy sun-spots, and worrying about their boy, Stewart. When Stewart complains that school is "boring", Sassy and Waldo decide to take matters into their own hands and save him from what they're sure is an evil overlord. After several failed attempts, the two dogs manage to pass as a human boy named "Salty Woofadogington" (Waldo, it turns out, is able to speak human) and enroll in Stewart's school. With his eternally optimistic dogs at his side, Stewart is able to see the fun side of school, make friends, and even -hopefully - finish his big project.

Straight Talk for Librarians: "Two Dogs in a Trench Coat Go to School" is a laugh-out-loud, easily accessible illustrated chapter book. The expressive illustrations and short chapters will keep even the more reluctant reader engaged, along with the dogs' hilarious hijinks and food-related jokes. From eagerly inhaling their "daily midday meat pile" in the cafeteria to catching a Frisbee in their mouths during gym class, the two dogs tackle school with enthusiasm, and their unflappable energy drives the reader forward. Hand this to fans of Stick Dog that are looking for more of a challenge. In the words of Waldo, "You're going to be so amazed. It's going to be amazing."

P.S. I Like You, written by Kacie West, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary: Chemistry class bores Lily to tears. She doodles song lyrics in her notebook to pass the time. Lily’s teacher is not impressed that she is doodling instead of listening. After her notebook is confiscated, she doodles song lyrics on her Chemistry desk instead. To her surprise, someone from another hour responds with additional lyrics from the same song. They continue writing back and forth on the lab desk until they run out of room. Lily sees a note on desk telling her to look at the underside of the table. She discovers a note is waiting for her. Lily and her new friend leave notes for each other every day. When she realizes her mystery friend is a guy, she tries to guess his identity.

Straight Talk for Librarians: The novel’s high interest subject and lower reading level make it a great recommendation for striving readers. The characters are well rounded and the writing sparkles. West keeps the tone light and plot pacing quick. Lily is a fantastic heroine. Her awkwardness is the key to her charm and makes her highly relatable. Though the book is set in high school, the novel is appropriate for middle school students. The romance is light-hearted and sweet. I am typically not a fan of romance novels and particularly not young adult romance novels. However, I loved this novel and enjoyed reading it. Kasie West has created a delightful romantic comedy novel. I highly recommend this novel to fans of YA romances who love clever romantic comedies. It would make a wonderful addition to a classroom library. P.S. I Like You clearly deserves to find a home in a school or public library.

Emma and Julia Love Ballet, written by Barbara McClintock, reviewed by Todd Erickson

Summary: Emma and Julia love ballet. Their stories are told in a parallel narrative. Emma is a young suburban girl who takes dance lessons, while Julia is a broadway dancer who dances professionally. Their tale is told concurrently, and ultimately converges when their paths cross. It is a celebration of dance and all the hard work that goes into making dreams come true.

Straight Talk for Librarians: Emma is a very young dancer who dreams of dancing, while Julia is a professional dancer who seemingly lives for dancing across the Broadway stage. What unites these two strangers is their love of dance. The text is very straightforward, but the real star of the book is the illustrations. There is a level of detail that could only come from someone who appreciates dance as much as the author and protagonists. Young and old readers who love dance will revel in all the illustrated details that celebrate the hard work that goes into making dreams of dancing a reality.

Focused, written by Alyson Gerber, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary: Have you ever wondered what it feels like to have ADHD? Focused gives readers a glimpse inside this often misunderstood disease. Clea has been struggling with school for a while. She tries to hide her problems from her parents and friends. The increased demands of her 7th grade coursework is more than Clea can handle. Her inability to stop interrupting and blurting out what she is thinking affects her friendships. Her close friends drift away and her grades begin to slide. Clea needs to keep her grades up in order to stay on the chess team. When her attempts to work harder and stay focused on her own fail, Clea’s parents have her tested for ADHD. Clea struggles to accept her diagnosis and adapt to the changes it brings.

Straight Talk for Librarians: Focused shatters the traditional myths surrounding ADHD. ADHD affects girls but their symptoms are more subtle and often dismissed. Gerber’s experience mirrors this. She struggled in school as early as first grade but wasn’t diagnosed until college. Clea is an engaging character and her challenges feel authentic. The scenes where we “see” her thoughts in motion are revelatory. Her friends want to support her but they struggle with her impulsive behavior. Gerber realistically portrays how ADHD affects every single aspect of Clea’s life. Focused is more than simply a disease-of-the-week driven novel. The novel also has a strong plot line about chess teams and chess tournaments. Gerber does a fantastic job of revealing this world to those with limited knowledge of the game. The lower reading level and high-interest subject make it a great choice for striving readers. Fans of chess will enjoy this novel. Focused is a great book for students with ADHD, students who want to understand more about ADHD and teachers who teach students with ADHD.

Samanthasaurus Rex, written by B.B. Mandell, reviewed by Todd Erickson

Summary: They say when a baby hatches, she is born exactly the way she will always be. Luckily for Samanthasaurus and her family, she is not your run of the mill tyrannosaurus rex. Girls need to be strong, a leader, and loud implores her family. Samanthasaurus believes she's all of those things, just a little more civilized and curious than her behemoth brethren. It's Samanthasaurus and her quick wits that save the day when the family finds itself imperiled by an erupting volcano.

Straight Talk for Librarians: Samanthasaurus Rex is a rollicking celebration of what make one girl dinosaur standout from her pack. Very young children will enjoy this predictable, yet enjoyable tale of how one dinosaur's quick wits save the day. Colorful, eye catching illustrations will grab youngster's attention. The message here, however slight, is positive and celebrates that which makes us all special.

Yaks Yak Animal Word Pairs, written by Linda Sue Park, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Hayden S.
Summary: Yaks Yak is a fiction book picture book that shows real concepts in a fictional manner. The book shows a variety of animals on each page doing a variety of different actions. The animals show a lot of devices used in literature and can reflect it upon a younger reader. While also showing devices the animals are portraying the scenes that the author is portraying with their phrases.

Straight Talk for Librarians: Linda Sue Park’s book, Yaks Yak Animal Word Pairs, illustrated by Jennifer Reinhardt is very inventive and creative and I would consider it almost “one of a kind. ”The book might be a bit confusing for a younger audience at first but through progression, the reader may start to understand that idea of this book. One example that would click with everyone is "Bats Bat" or "Bugs bug Bugs." With the clues provided on each page, a younger reader might be able to understand what each page is telling you. Young readers can also connect with common animals doing human activities showing the personification and irony of these animals. The book shows a system of simple but few words along with the beautiful illustrations that can help children get a full understanding of what exactly the author is attempting to portray. The book using illustrations and very brief phrases combines irony with homographs to make a comically fun book to read while also being very informative to an elementary level of language arts to expose young readers to these literary devices and how they can be used outside of the box. Readers might recognize what seems to be textboxes or objects disguised as text boxes that help to portray the scene the author is trying to make. The author and the illustrator did fantastic work by allowing the scenes to flow with what the author was envisioning with their book. The sheer amount of literary devices that can be uncovered in a little under than 40 pages is incredible. I recommend this to any English/Language Arts class that wishes to help portray literary devices in inventive ways.

Pigeon P.I. (review #2), written by Meg McLaren, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Sophia S.
Summary: This fictional picture book is all about how Pigeon P.I. works alone- and has ever since his partner Stanley “...had skipped town”. He makes this clear when the budgie Vee asks him to help her find her stolen friends, two of many taken in a series of recent birdnappings. In the end Vee convinces the detective to help… just in time to get birdnapped herself! It becomes the job of Pigeon P.I. to find Vee, and all of the other missing birds in town, in this picture book mystery.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This is certainly an entertaining book to read. It could be used to move younger readers towards an interest in mysteries or detective stories or spark a greater interest in reading in general. The story would be good for independent reading, due to the stylized text bubbles within the story. This speech bubble conversation would also be good for a lead into the graphic novel style and is a good way to show the mix between visual and written art and how it can be used in storytelling. The book is filled with colorful illustrations, in an endearing style, which pairs really well with the cute and funny story being told through Pigeon P.I.’s noir film-esque narration and character interactions. The illustrations also directly intertwine with the plot, assisting in providing evidence and helping make connections with the mystery. Beyond the contents of the book itself, the inside cover of the book includes quick detective themed activities for young readers, a neat detail that can help further fan the sparks of interest in mystery stories. Overall an endearing book that I would recommend for parents or classrooms with young readers in need of something entertaining and new to try.

The Lion Inside, written by Rachel Bright, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Tas R.
Summary: The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright tells the story of a shy mouse who yearns to be noticed. He is envious of the great lion whose roar tells the world of his might. Determined to make his mark, he decides that he must learn to ROAR but doing so must require him to face his fear and consult the mighty lion. Knowing he is unable to make a change without taking a leap, he climbs the mightiest peak to the lion’s den. He wakes the lion but instead of the mouse trembling with fright, the lion instead lets out a scared “Eeeek”. The mouse says that he’s a friend and he finds his everlasting companion. The lesson learned was that he mustn’t roar to be heard, that he shouldn't hide who he is, and by doing so he’ll be happier in the end.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book really demonstrates the value of being yourself. It shows young readers how by choosing to be yourself and take a risk, you’ll not only find someone to call a friend but you become truly free. This is an important lesson in this social media-driven world where young people are constantly confronted with ideas of who they should be at the expense of who they are. Additionally, this book is an effective medium for young audiences because of the vivid colors and accentuated fonts that add to the character of the book. The message is on full display and at times hyperbolized so it is therefore easy for young readers to pick up on. Overall, The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright is a great addition to any elementary school library and highlights the value in the uniqueness of impressionable young readers.

The Astronaut who Painted the Moon, written by Dean Robbins, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Alanna Q.
Summary: On November 14, 1969, the Apollo 12 launched into the gaping depths of space, landing on the barren moon. Alan Bean, the fourth man to set foot on the moon, was the first artist to ever touch the breaches of space, returning not only with important research but with the drive and motivation to translate the emotions and beauty he saw on the moon in the way only an artist’s eye could. He used expressive methods he learned as an art student before he was an astronaut, painting and brushing colors and visions to represent and express his experiences that no photograph could do justice to.

Straight Talk for Librarians: Such a book is valuable to both aspiring artists and astronauts, and it can even be used in history classes to teach about the Space Race and missions to the moon. The illustrations within the book hold excellent examples of color theory with its recurring motifs of the watercolored complementary pair of purple and yellow, using purple, a cooler, receding color, as shadow and yellow, a warmer color, as highlights. The crosshatching throughout the book expresses a sketchy, less realistic style of art, further emphasizing the recurring idea that art does not require realism to be beautiful and expressive. The use of contrast between monochrome color schemes and deep, rich colors aids in the emphasis of certain ideas and images. For aspiring astronauts, the book teaches about some processes of becoming a professional astronaut and appeals to the beauty and vast adventure of being in space. The book targets an audience that is at the prime age of finding their footing in the world, and Alan Bean’s sweet, inspirational dreams of a black sky and bright stars are relatable to the audience. Perhaps a young child who serendipitously picks up this book might one day end up seeing the same stunning view as Alan Bean. In terms of the theme, the book teaches the invaluable lesson that art doesn’t have to be restricted to the rigid expectations of realism; through breaking the restrictive bars of realism, artists can express the most beautiful ideas and views otherwise unachievable. It also serves as an example of dreams and aspirations, setting off the imaginations of young viewers of their future careers. The uplifting and hopeful mood throughout the story gives the audience a sense of determination and hope that they can achieve their dreams. Overall, “The Astronaut who Painted the Moon” is an appropriate, inspiring choice for young readers, useful in a wide variety of contexts and libraries.

All Kinds of Families, written by Norma Simon, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Bilal O.
Summary: The book “All Kinds of Families, is about the different types of families they are. One can have a big family while others may have a small family. One can have a family that fights with each other but always defends each other when needed. A family can have step-children or foster children that are of a different race. A family can also have relatives that believe in different beliefs. Nevertheless, a family is always there for you whenever you need them.

Straight Talk for Librarians: “All Kinds of Families” is a book written by Norma Simon that I would highly recommend a library add to their book collection. It is important for young readers to know what a family is. It is also important for young readers to know that there are different types of families. Anyone that one lives with is considered family. The book teaches that family is those who love each other, regardless of their differences. The author also says that families can have people of different sizes, races, or religions/beliefs. Not everyone in the family needs to look the same in order to be called a family. The main theme of the book is that it wants readers to accept everyone. The book was filled with bright colors, and pictures displaying the different types of families and the different types of relatives one might have. The book also shows families with relatives of different races and religions. It is important for readers to accept everyone and be open-minded with everyone they meet and or see.

Monsters First Day at School, written by Karen Bell-Brege, illustrated by Darrin Brege, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Anna S.
Summary: Monsters First Day at School follows monsters around through their first day of school at Beastly Elementary. When they first get to school, they go to class and their teacher sends Bigfoot to the bathroom to brush his fur. Then they go to lunch, where the misbehaved gremlins make a mess and have to clean it up. After lunch, they go outside to play. All the monsters slide down Champ’s long back but it starts hurting, so a Thunderbird steps in to defend him. After recess, they go to the media center to find books they might want to read. The aliens say they don’t like reading, but the media specialist tells them that it’s more fun to read books on topics that are interesting to them. Next, the monsters head to art class. The zombies paint with their fingers detached, but it’s not the teacher’s place to tell them how to express themselves. Finally, they ride the bus home. The bus driver makes sure that everyone stays in their seats for safety purposes. When they get to their stop, they hug their parents and tell them about how wonderful their day was.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book teaches kids that school can be fun. The gremlins at lunch teach kids to be responsible and pick up after themselves. When the monsters go outside and start playing on Champ’s back, the thunderbird teaches kids that friends appreciate it when you stand up for them when they’re shy, uncomfortable, or unable to do so themselves. The media specialist teaches the reader (along with the aliens) that reading is more enjoyable when you like the topic you’re reading about. The zombies in art class doing their own thing teaches kids how to think outside the box and come up with their own unique ways to do things. Finally, the bus driver telling the ghosts on the bus to take their seats and stay safe communicates the same message to the readers. This book could be very useful in language arts. It can be used for a series of things within that subject, such as teaching kids about rhyme. Some of the words included in the book, such as “exemplary” and “scampered”, are new for younger children and are good for expanding their vocabulary. It is also a good introduction to mythical creatures (that are not scary). The book is overall very fun and entertaining. On top of that, the bright and amusing illustrations can help keep the readers engaged. This book would be a perfect read-aloud for the first day of school at any grade level. It could also be a great book to read aloud during Random Acts of Kindness week because of the kindness depicted throughout the book.