Let's Build, written by Julie Fenner, reviewed by Terry Wahrman

Summary:  You are the new help at the critter construction worksite.  Safety first is our motto.   Put on a yellow hard hat and knock on it twice before we get to work.  To help get the attention of the green crane, clap twice.  First, we take down a building.  We need the crane to knock down a wall.  Can you point to the green crane and wave him over?  Help him by swinging the book left and right. The red bulldozer, the blue excavator, the pink dump truck, the purple cement truck and the orange forklift can all use help today.  It is fun to be a part of the crew.  After knocking down a wall, bulldozing the dirt, digging the earth, laying cement, planting trees, and setting up equipment,  look at what we built.  We built a playground.  Give yourselves a pat on the back.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  An interactive picture book for the one who cannot sit still.  You are new to the critter construction company and all the critters need help locating the equipment by color and doing their jobs.  You clap, tap, and move the book left, right and upside down to help out.  This will be a big hit with young students.  Not very suitable for sharing.  I would purchase two for a classroom.
 

Clifford the Big Red Dog, written by Norman Bridwell, reviewed by Terry Wahrman

Summary:  Emily owns the biggest, reddist dog on the street. His name is Clifford. They have fun by playing games together.  Clifford is not perfect.  He sometimes makes mistakes, but Emily does not care.  He is her dog and she loves him even though he chases after cars, digs up flowers, and chews on shoes.  He is still a very large, red, lovable, good dog.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  No one is perfect and Clifford proves it.  Even with all his flaws, Emily still wants him and no other dog.  A perfect lesson to learn.  You don’t have to be perfect to be loved.  A must have in your classroom or library.  Great for reading aloud and discussions afterwards.

Can You See Me? written by Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary:  Tally is nervous about starting sixth grade at her new school. Tally has a secret she desperately wants to keep. She has autism. Tally’s behavior often frustrates and baffles her family, friends, and classmates. She likes to sneak out and sit on the roof of the shed. Tally would wear her Tiger mask all day every if she could. Her story alternates between a traditional narrative and Tally’s diary entries. Tally’s plan to be like everyone else quickly falls apart amid typical middle school struggles. A mean boy targets her for daily insults and teasing. Her former best friends are moving on without her. They are more interested in boys and makeup and Tally feels left out. Tally’s older sister, Nell alternates between protecting Tally and screaming at her. Tally’s parents are clearly trying to do what is best for her, but Tally doesn’t make it easy for them to help her.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  I really wanted to like this book, but I ended up feeling ambivalent about it. The subject matter is timely, and the concept sounded interesting. Unfortunately, the writing was incredibly choppy. The transitions between the two authors were glaringly obvious. I am certain the decision to use co-authors of different ages was a factor in this. Tally came across as spoiled even though she was meant to be a realistic portrayal of a child with autism. Her frequent meltdowns and the situations she experiences don’t feel authentic. Autism is a spectrum-disorder and not everyone experiences it the same way or has the same symptoms. However, Tally exhibits all the symptoms of a person with autism no matter where they fall on the spectrum. She admits she is able to "hide" her symptoms which is at one end of the spectrum. Her stimming and hand flapping are usually seen in people at the opposite end of the spectrum. It felt like Tally was meant to represent all people with autism which is impossible. The book aimed to help neurotypicals better understand those with autism. It was a good effort, but it fell short of its goal.