Frank and Lucky Get Schooled, written by Lynne Rae Perkins, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary: Frank and Lucky Get Schooled is a sweet book that combines the love between a boy and his dog with elementary explanations of a number of cross-discipline ideas that Frank and Lucky learn together out in the world. They learn about Botany and Entomology when Lucky runs through woods and brush and his fur becomes entangled with various natural objects. They learn about Fractions and Percentages throughout the night as they determine which part of the bed is Frank’s and which part is Lucky’s. (It changes throughout the night.) They practice Reading together because Lucky is the best listener, and can even listen when Frank isn’t reading aloud. They learn about Geography and World Languages when they are out exploring and meeting new people. Lucky excels at Making Introductions and Hospitality. But the most important thing that Frank and Lucky learn is that they like learning best when they can do it together. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Frank and Lucky is an adorable book about the special relationship that can form between a child and a pet. It’s lovely in its message of love and acceptance, and also in the fun and natural way that it introduces basic school concepts as components of Frank and Lucky’s play time together. They are paired as partners finding understanding by exploring the world around them, which is a beautiful way to promote a love of learning in children. The bright watercolor and ink illustrations are vibrant and capture the full-color spirit of Frank and Lucky’s exploratory studies. Frequent thought and dialogue bubbles are included throughout the book to capture the character’s thoughts and attitudes about their activities, giving readers an even more detailed understanding of the multi-layered and powerful nature of Frank and Lucky’s relationship. These small asides also provide a great deal of humor, which only adds further enjoyment to the story. Animal books are always popular with young children, as are stories that incorporate the fun of learning. Frank and Lucky Ge

Snail and Worm Again, written by Tina Kugler, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary: Snail & Worm Again brings back two beloved characters, and allows children to observe them through three new stories as they interact with the world around them. In the firststory, a leaf falls onto Snail’s back while he is sleeping and he believes he has grown wings. In the second tale, Snail finds a penny and mistakes it for a mirror. He thinks he is gazing at his own handsome face until Worm points out that Snail does not possess the attractive hair and ears that he so admires. In the final and most heart-warming story, Snail is feeling sad because his shell is plain and boring, but Worm helps him to see that his shell embodies many characteristics that he admires in others, while also being unique to Snail. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Just as with Snail and Worm, Tina Kugler has written a set of simple, humorous stories about two best friends. Similar to the first volume, the text is accessible to a new reader and the stories are funny enough to engage them, but a younger child is equally likely to be entertained by Snail and Worm as a read-aloud. The illustrations, a bright and colorful combination of acrylic and collage, are paramount to the stories, as Snail and Worm’s adventures often include some aspects of physical humor that will delight young readers. In addition, it is the inclusion of that physical humor that presents the frequent misunderstandings of the beloved invertebrates, allowing for even very small children to be in on the jokes and feel like experts. Like its predecessor, Snail and Worm Again is likely to become a fast favorite among young children and new readers alike. Add it to any collection in which Snail and Worm is popular, or in which the early reader library needs to be updated.

Sarah Bernhardt: The Divine and Dazzling Life of the World's First Superstar, written by Catherine Reef, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary: Sarah Bernhardt was a woman ahead of her time. A star of the stage and silent films, she became a world-wide phenomenon. She traveled extensively including trips to the United States, Canada and South America. She lived an outrageous, unconventional life as a proud single mother at a time when women lived carefully constrained lives. Her son Maurice was her near constant companion. Bernhardt’s relationship with own mother was complicated. As a child, Bernhardt was prone to fits of extreme emotion to the point of making herself physically ill. As an adult, Bernhardt was fired from her first job as an actress at the Comedie-Francaise over a spat with a fellow actress. She was hired at the Gymnase, a job she fled to go to Spain. Her career took off once she returned to Paris. The Comedie-Francaise offered to rehire her but Bernhardt refused their offer. She felt her style of acting was not compatible with their more traditional approach. Bernhardt’s melodramatic roles and her ability to portray genuine emotion won her legions of fans. She was the world's first superstar. Unraveling the truth about Bernhardt's life is difficult. She frequently lied, exaggerated or told tall tales. Bernhardt knew it was part of her appeal. She mastered the art of self-promotion before it became an integral part of an actor's life. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Sarah Bernhardt is not a name many students will recognize. However, her unconventional life will resonate with modern students. The discussion of Paris’s demimonde is utterly fascinating. Students with an interest in the performing arts, especially theatre will be drawn into the story of Bernhardt’s battle to find her place in the theatre world. Catherine Reef does an excellent job of bringing Bernhardt’s story to life. Sarah Bernhardt: The Divine and Dazzling Life of the World’s First Superstar is loaded with photographs, period drawings and theatre memorabilia. Reef also includes the political and social context to events that occurred during Bernhardt’s life including the Franco-Prussian War and World War I.

Dinomighty!, written by Doug Paleo, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary: When the Dinomighties - made up of Teri-Dactyl, T-Lex, Dave, and Bach (the world's smartest chicken) - receive an anonymous threat that the valuable Golden Egglettes are in danger, they set off on a madcap adventure to ensure they're protected - unwittingly letting the villains in to steal the prize. Sixth-place nemeses Diplodocus and Diplodoofus seize their opportunity to move up the list and throw a wrench in the Dinomighties' plans. On the way, both the heroes and the villains meet their share of strange problems, from a pair of tricky rhymosauruses to an abominable cockroach to an erupting volcano. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This goofy, fast-paced graphic novel will delight young readers. Filled with bold, bright illustrations, silly plays on words, and running gags like National Security Guard Week (the reason for the lack of guards surrounding the Golden Egglettes) and bright ideas becoming actual lightbulbs, "Dinomighty" will be a laugh-out-loud hit. A scene describing couplets with rhymosauruses could be used as an example or jumping-off point for a poetry lesson. Hand to fans of Geronimo Stilton and the InvestiGators series, or any fan of mysteries or graphic novels looking for a quick read.

Dark Sky Rising: Reconstruction and the Dawn of Jim Crow, written by Henry Louis Gates and Tonya Bolden, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary: Dark Sky Rising details the failure of Reconstruction to bring peace and security to African Americans. After Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, Andrew Johnson was tasked with unifying the country after the Civil War. Initially, Johnson was viewed as a trusted ally of African Americans. He betrayed their trust time and time again. Johnson failed to stand up to southern Democrats and support African Americans’ quest for equality. Instead of fulfilling the promise of freedom and equality, his actions during Reconstruction led to the rise of the Jim Crow laws in the South and discrimination in the North. Many freed slaves found themselves once again entangled with their former masters through sharecropping arrangements. African Americans feared for their safety due to the rise of white supremacist groups whose power grew virtually unchecked. Successful, college educated African Americans advocated for change through speeches, protests and the power of the press. Dark Sky Rising includes tons of photographs and quotes from politicians and notable African American figures such as Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois. First-hand accounts of the horrors of Reconstruction and Jim Crow give the text immediacy. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Dark Sky Rising will appeal to students with an interest in history especially as it relates to issues of social justice. The book can be used across a variety of curriculums to talk about Jim Crow Laws and the rise of the Civil Rights Movement. The images and first-hand accounts powerfully portray the daily struggles African Americans faced in the South. The KKK was one of many white supremacist groups that targeted both African Americans and their Republican supporters. Many of the issues we continue to face have their roots in the Reconstruction era. Our country is still living with the aftermath of our failure to address the plight of African Americans. I highly recommend this book.

My Bed: Enchanting Ways to Fall Asleep Around the World, written by Rebecca Bond, reviewed by Judy Hauser

Summary: This book is an interesting story of how children sleep in different countries. The beautiful illustrations, by Salley Mavor, are colorful and hand-stitched. The intricacy of the illustrations adds so much to the descriptions for each area of the world. Children will learn how other children sleep, where they sleep and what they sleep on. They will learn that the climate impacts where children sleep as well as the nature and style of the dwellings. Some children sleep inside and some outside. It is a short history of sleep that will be of interest to children. A bonus illustration of an animal representing each country will provide some extra interest and discussion for children. The book will show children that there are similarities, in something such as sleeping, throughout the world and that the differences are not that far apart. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: A good comparison of children in different countries and how and where they sleep. Something children will relate to and, most likely, find fun and interesting.

Enzo Races in the Rain, written by Garth Stein, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary: A puppy who loves to run and never stays in one place is chosen for a pet by Denny and his daughter, Zoe. Denny, a race car driver, appreciates the puppy’s love of speed and names him Enzo, after Enzo Ferrari. Enzo is delighted by riding in a fast car with his new family, and is excited by all of the smells and sights in their new home - until he enters Zoe’s bedroom. Her bed is covered with stuffed animals that stare at him and smell funny. He feels cooped up in the house with them, so when Zoe shows Enzo the doggie door, he smells fresh air and longs to run. He takes off, out the doggie door, through a crack in the fence, and into a street busy with cars before Zoe can put his collar on him. Enzo gets lost and wonders if he will ever find his way back to his new home until finally he smells pancakes and the sweet smell of Zoe. The family is reunited and celebrates with a pancake dinner. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: This picture book adaptation of The Art of Racing in the Rain features an adorable dog on the cover, which will draw in nearly every young reader. The story is told from Enzo’s perspective, making elements of normal human life seem interesting and fresh, and even funny at times. The illustrations are colorful and warm, creating a sense of happiness around Enzo as he explores the world with delight. There is a significant amount of text on each page, making this book better suited to more established readers and to lap listeners with good attention spans. Children will absorb messaging about belonging and family, and learn an important lesson from Enzo about wandering away from home. This book stretches quite a bit from the original story, which may disappoint parents who are already fans, but young readers who are not familiar with the novel will only see this book as a heartwarming story about a dog who loves to run and finds a happy home.

We Had to Be Brave, written by Deborah Hopkinson, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary: In November 1938, days after Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass); plans were made to rescue as many Jewish children as possible by sending them to England. 10,000 Jewish children primarily from Germany and Austria were ultimately rescued. We Had to Be Brave tells the individual stories of the children whose lives were saved by the Kindertransport. A variety of individuals and organizations worked together to facilitate the transports. Only children under the age of seventeen were eligible for the Kindertransports. One memorable scene from the book tells the story of a boy who was discovered after boarding the transport to be eighteen. His head was shaved. It was clear he had likely been arrested and released from a concentration camp. This presented a devastating dilemma. If they told the officials the truth, it would doom him to certain death. If they lied to protect him, they risked jeopardizing the lives of the other children. Hopkinson organizes the information chronologically. She follows the individual stories of the children from their memories of life before Hitler and on into adulthood. Many of the children hauntingly remember sobbing as they said their good-byes. The older children realized the partings might be permanent. Many of the children held out hope they would eventually be reunited with their families. Roughly 90% of the Kindertransport children never saw their parents again. The book is filled with photographs and online links to individual stories. A glossary and timeline of events is also included. The final section of the book features updates on the survivors and rescuers. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: It’s difficult to read a book like We Had To Be Brave and not find yourself moved to tears. The children who were rescued have fond memories of their idyllic childhood prior to Hitler’s rise to power. They had vacations at the beach, visits to their grandparents and close friendships with their classmates. The events that followed Kristallnacht marked them forever. We Had To Be Brave sends a warning about how intolerance slowly became persecution through hate speech and small indignities and continued to grow unchecked. It ended in the "final solution." It's a warning about intolerance we would be wise to heed. The book lends itself easily to cross-curricular applications. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Snail and Worm, written by Tina Kugler, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary: Snail and Worm is a sweet collection of three short stories that are sure to delight young readers. In the first tale, old friends Snail and Worm attempt to include new friends (inanimate objects) rock and stick into their game of hide and seek. In the following story, Snail receives encouragement from Worm to climb a very tall flower. He is proud of his success and celebrates his accomplishment by describing the view from his new elevated perspective. Readers and Worm are amused and baffled to see that Snail’s weight has bent the flower nearly to the ground. In the final tale, Snail and Worm talk about their pets, mistaking a dog for a spider and vice versa. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: These simple stories are just clever and funny enough to be an easy sell for both preschoolers and early readers. The text has a simplicity that a beginning reader can grasp, providing a new entertaining option among the Level 1 reader sets, but the stories are appropriate for preschool listeners. The illustrations are colorful acrylic and collage, and provide easy connections to the text without overwhelming or distracting the eye. Snail and Worm misunderstand their circumstances or environment frequently, but the reality is clear to readers. This provides young readers with a precious opportunity to access expert understanding and “know better” than the characters themselves. Paired with the simple text, this wisdom that we feel as readers is likely to provide a significant dose of confidence to a beginning reader. Snail and Worm has a classic feel and is likely to become a staple in any collection for young children and early elementary students.

One Little Bag, written by Henry Cole, reviewed by Judy Hauser

Summary: The interesting opening to this book shows the evolution of a tree being cut in a forest to becoming paper and ultimately a paper bag. The pencil illustrations in black and white with the tree in brown is an excellent way demonstrate the mechanics of the process of turning wood into paper. The illustrations then tell the story without words. It is powerful, fun and informative. The story begins with a boy and his lunch bag on the table at school and follows with the boy getting older but with a paper bag in each depiction. The bag holds marshmallows while he is camping, tools while working on a car and, as he grows older and goes to college, aids him as he courts a young woman. A bag is with the couple as their relationship grows. A paper bag holds a ring as the young man proposes, flower petals to be strewn down the aisle for their wedding and acts as a mobile over their baby’s crib. As the couple grows old a paper bag is in each illustration as the now old man spends time with his grandchild. The juxtaposed paper bag and young boy growing old really works well in telling the story. The ending is sweet and beautiful. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: A great book for discussing the topics of recycling, nature, family, aging and relationships.