Dig Too Deep, written by Amy Allgeyer, reviewed by Caroline Rabideau

Summary: When Liberty's mother gets put in jail, Liberty finds herself ripped from her very comfortable life in Washington DC, and sent back to live with her grandma on a rural homestead in Kentucky. It can't be as bad as she imagines it will be, right? Upon her arrival, she discovers a startling new reality. Liberty and her grandma struggle to survive on a fixed income and, when her grandma takes a turn for the worst, Liberty has to learn to balance school and being a caretaker for her grandma. But is something more sinister behind this "cold" her grandma has been nursing; something that could be killing a number of people throughout Ebbottsville? Liberty has got to get to the bottom of this in order to save the town from further destruction. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Amy Allgeyer did a beautiful job depicting real life in a small town in Kentucky where the job that puts food on the table is also the company that is slowly killing the people of the town. Dig Too Deep is a touching story about a daughter who has grown up too quickly, a mother who doesn't understand her child, and a grandmother filled with endless, healing love. It is truthful, heartbreaking, endearing, and inspirational all at the same time. I fell in love with each of the main characters in this book right away, cheering them on, laughing at their mishaps, cringing over embarrassing moments, crying for their heartbreak, and praying for their successes. Allgeyer has created characters and stories that are so real and relatable they have touched a place deep inside my heart. Dig Too Deep has packed in so many facts about mountain-top removal (MTR) mining and the dangers associated with the process. I found myself often googling statistics for additional information, or searching what actions are being taken to prevent or regulate MTR mining. As the reader, I thought through a number of questions; how do you shut these mines down while still providing jobs for those who live in the cities? Can there be a more ethical solution? What are the long term environmental effects of this type of mining? Are there any other alternatives? And what can be done to help those who are already suffering? Though Allgeyer never directly poses these questions, Liberty's journey inspires the reader to seek answers, both ethical and emotional. While Liberty's story is filled with sadness, anger, anxiety, and fear, it is matched with family love, friendship, hard work, and success. I was left touched by their stories, moved by their successes, and overjoyed by the possibility of new relationships for Liberty, our main character. I will note that Dig Too Deep was written for older teens, briefly touching on under-age drinking, drug use, physical abuse in a relationship, animal abuse, and attempt at murder. Yet, I believe many students will connect with similar experiences shared with Liberty, such as family budgeting or aging family members. And, for those students who find it interesting, I believe Dig Too Deep could be the inspiration for research on the dangers of MTR. If more of the future generation became aware of the harmful effects of MTR, perhaps they could seek a better solution that is less harmful on the environment while still providing much-needed jobs throughout the states that are affected by mining. This would be a fantastic book to inspire non-fiction research from students or to serve as a debate topic for ethics or environmental studies.

The Lost Cipher, written by Michael Oechsle, reviewed by Anneliese White

Summary: Life for Lucas has been very difficult lately. After losing his dad overseas in the military, his grandma sends him to a summer camp for children who have lost a parent. He immediately meets two boys, Alex and George, and they all become instant friends and cabin roommates, all while uniting over a common enemy named Zach. Stories float around of a lost treasure nearby the camp, buried in the mountains by an old traveler 200 years ago. The three boys branch off into their own adventure to find the buried treasure, leaving camp, and encountering many dangers along the way such as snakes, getting lost in the wilderness, and bumping into an old gun-wielding curmudgeon named Mr. Creech. Will they be able to find the treasure using the cipher left by the old explorer? Will they make it out of the wilderness and safely back to camp? The Lost Cipher will take readers on an exciting quest, keeping them guessing until the end. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: The Lost Cipher is a no brainer selection for upper elementary students. It is a well written adventure story that will interest both boy and girl readers, and have them fascinated by the treasure hunt. It deals well with the emotions of losing a loved one, especially a parent, and how an adolescent grieves and works through it. The book also features a diversity of characters in the trio of boys, which is an asset. Oechsle does a great job of balancing adventure, emotion, and suspense, all while encouraging readers to try and solve the quest too. A great summer read! 

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.

How Kate Warne saved President Lincoln, written by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk, reviewed by Todd Erickson

Summary: Kate Warne was America's first woman detective, and herself a woman of mystery. She convinces Detective Allan Pinkerton to give her a job, because women are better at ferreting out secrets by obtaining the confidence of loquacious housewives and boastful men. Kate is master at disguises and discovering the ill-intentions of others, especially where newly elected president-elect Abraham Lincoln is concerned. Kate and Pinkerton thwart a planned attack on Lincoln by ferreting him to safety ahead of schedule to the inauguration in Washington D.C.

Straight Talk for Librarians: When America got around to wondering whether or not women be police officers, it was already a moot question, because there had already been one. Kate Warne not only was America's first woman detective, she was ultimately responsible for saving America's greatest president. She was head of the Pinkerton DC office, which ultimately became the secret service. The collage like illustrations will appeal to very young readers, but they ultimately detract from the story. Ultimately, Kate is as much of a mystery as the cases she solves. She dies young, but Pinkerton keeps her memory alive in his writings and even has her buried in the family crypt.

The Boy Who Said Nonsense, written by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky, reviewed by Todd Erickson

Summary: A family finds a baby in a pumpkin patch and takes him in. Tate grows into a kid who loves numbers and he expresses his passion in what others consider in a rather odd fashion. Kids at school and others think Tate simply yells nonsense, but his brother begins to see there's a method to Tate's madness. He yells out whatever number he counts instantly just by looking at things.

Straight Talk for Librarians: A boy who says nonsense is a simple celebration of what makes us unique, as it is what makes Tate different that makes him special. Despite the teasing and misunderstanding of others, including the bafflement of his own family Tate appears to simply spout nonsense. His ability to look at a bunch of things and know exactly how many items there are is what makes him special, and in the end it is Tate's special gift that saves the day.

J.P. and the Bossy Dinosaur (review #3), written by Ana Crespo, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Cameron J.
Summary: This book is about a little boy named J.P. who goes to a waterpark with his family. Him and his sister see a giant waterslide and become very excited to ride it. However, a giant bossy dinosaur stops him from riding it and he becomes very sad. In reality, the “bossy dinosaur” is just a sign that tells riders how tall they have to be to enter the slide. J.P. is not tall enough. After he finds out he is not tall enough, J.P. becomes devastated and very sad. In the end, J.P. realizes that he is truly a happy person and shouldn’t let a small setback put him down too much. He then celebrates with his friends and lives happily ever after.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book actually exposes young readers to real life problems. Instead of having the reader read about fairy tales where everything is happy, the reader actually experiences a setback. But the book teaches the reader how to rebound from this setback. I like this book because it shows kids that not everything in their life is going to go their way. However, life is not about setbacks, it is about how we handle these setbacks. This book can be very helpful to children in a classroom because when something doesn't go their way, teachers can give this book to them and it will teach them how to handle their emotions and will cheer them up. The tone is sad from the beginning, which is good because a sad kid can relate with this. But then the character in the book cheers up and I think sad kids will really feel better if they read this. Additionally, the illustrations are very vibrant and nicely drawn. The bright colors will really capture a kid’s attention and the nice drawings will keep them interested. Overall, this book was a great read and will be perfect for kids in a classroom.

Next to You: a Book of Adorableness, written by Lori Haskins Houran, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Dania Z.
Summary: In the book, the narrator is comparing several animals, such as baby ducks and giraffes to the reader. Essentially, no matter how cute the animal is, the narrator still thinks the reader (who he addresses as you) is the cutest. The narrator is trying to convey that no matter what options he or she has, the narrator would rather be with the reader because the reader is adorable. The entire book is the narrator making comparisons to emphasize how much he admires and cares for the reader. For example, the narrator says “ Next to you, the softest puppy in the world is only kind of cute”. This quote for example, though portraying the puppies to be adorable, is used to emphasize how the reader is adorable. This book is a cute way to compliment the readers by referencing them to be even cuter than the animals mentioned. At the end of the book, the last quote is “I’m happy to be...next to you”. This is an uplifting tone at the end that makes the reader feel content as well as being an effective way to have full closure of the book.

Straight Talk for Librarians: I could see this book being used in the classroom to teach kids about animals, as lots of examples such as baby pigs and elephants, were addressed. The kids would get a good, positive outlook on animals and have a better understanding of how they look like. Furthermore, this could be used to have a fun read in class that could help the students gain more confidence as the personal pronoun usage of “you” makes it very personal. I feel this overall is great for getting the children familiar with more animals along with leaving them in a happier and more appreciative mood. The colors of the book have very pastel, light colors that are calming and satisfying to see. The drawings of the animals are very cute and simple, thus not being overwhelming. This book would make for a good read-aloud in a one-on-one setting. It would also make a perfect addition to an animal picture book display. It is definitely adorable!

Dump Truck Duck (Review #2), written by Megan E. Bryant, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Elizabeth K.
Summary: Dump Truck Duck by Megan E. Bryant follows Dump Truck Duck and his friends, Dozer Duck and Digger Duck as they work together to build a new playground. With colorful illustrations and rhythmic sentences, the fictional story offers its audience a message about keeping a hard-working attitude and teamwork.

Straight Talk for Librarians: Dump Truck Duck will be beneficial to children learning how to read. The sentences are not only simple but also fun to read as there is an apparent rhyme scheme. The words are relatively simple and the plot is very easy to follow. There is a positive and optimistic mood/tone in the story - good for young students as it teaches children to stay positive despite fallbacks. The author also incorporates the literary device, onomatopoeia, utilizing words like “Rumble” and “Splat.” The inclusion of such words makes the story more engaging and fun to read. The author also includes lots of exclamation marks that further contribute to the playful and exciting mood of the story. The main characters in this story - Dump truck duck, Dozer Duck, and Digger Duck - prove to possess a hardworking nature and their touch nature is heavily emphasized throughout the picture book. This motivates the young audience to want to be like the ducks in the story and be tough like them. The plot allows the children to follow the ducks as they overcome numerous obstacles in their path to building a new playground for the park. The story also strongly stresses the theme of teamwork, giving the children a valuable lesson about accomplishing tasks with others. The illustrations of this book are very playful and engaging. The watercolor medium crafts a very soft tone, ultimately becoming quite pleasing to the eye. There is a broad spectrum of colors used in the illustrations, ranging from dark browns to soft yellows. The vibrancy of the colors with the simplicity of the drawings complement each other well, creating a good balance between both messiness and neatness. The inclusion of dump trucks and other construction vehicles will appeal to all of the young children who are fascinated by the big vehicles.

J.P. and the Bossy Dinosaur (Review #2), written by Ana Crespo, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Ryan S.
Summary: JP is a young boy who is exploring his emotions. Throughout the book, JP struggles to find happiness while at a waterpark with his family. JP is very excited to be at the waterpark, and he is most excited to ride the giant waterslide. When JP attempts to ride the giant water slide, he discovered that he was not tall enough to meet the slide’s safety requirements. JP tried to enter the ride, but the water slide was being guarded by a big, bossy dinosaur! The bossy dinosaur refused to let JP go down the waterslide. This made JP very upset, and he started to throw a tantrum. The book explores JP’s emotional journey from the start of his family’s trip to the waterpark through his brief temper tantrum.

Straight Talk for Librarians: Adults will know that the bossy dinosaur is only a symbol for the restrictions that children believe adults place on them. The bossy dinosaur symbolizes how children sometimes feel when adults do not let them participate in activities that they want to participate in. As adults, we know these restrictions are set in place to protect children, to keep them safe, but children are not always capable of seeing this fact. This book, through its use of symbolism, portrays a relatable message on how children's development, mentally and emotionally, is connected. For an emerging reader, this book offers this message in an approachable manner, and in a way that can be related to by any reader who has gotten upset over rules of society, or being told no. This book can also help to teach emergent readers how to deal with their emotions, and how to control them when they are in a situation that is less than ideal. The book also provides readers with the clarity that there is light at the end of the tunnel, however small or large the tunnel may be. JP became very upset when he found out he could not ride the water slide, but if you want to find out how he grew from, and handled the situation, grab this book from your local library shelf. This book could be used in libraries and classrooms as a coming of age, or developmental, text. This book serves a good, approachable message to children about how to handle their emotions.

Dump Truck Duck, written by Megan E. Bryant, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Udbhav V.
Summary: “Dump Truck Duck” is a story about a duck working in a construction site. Part way through the work day, Dump Truck Duck’s truck breaks down, but the other ducks help him fix it. Eventually, they finish their work on the construction site, and turn it into something special. Then, they go off to find another construction site to work in because they love doing their jobs. The art is done on a somewhat textured canvas with watercolor paint, using pencil for outlining. The artist finds a way to add color into the illustrations despite the rather bland setting of a construction site. There are colorful backgrounds and clothes that the ducks wear. One of the themes of the book is teamwork. Dump Truck Duck works as part of a team with Dozer Duck and Digger Duck. Each of them serves a specific purpose on the construction site, and all the other ducks help Dump Truck Duck out when his truck breaks. The book takes the reader on an emotional journey; the first half of the book is very happy and joyful. However, two thirds of the way through, Dump Truck Duck’s truck breaks down, and the reader feels bad for Dump Truck Duck. Then, the truck gets fixed, and the reader feels happy again.

Straight Talk for Librarians: It can be used as a read-aloud book for emerging readers because of the use of rhyme and rhythm in the book. The entire story is made up of rhyming couplets, and the lines have a certain rhythm to them that makes it fun to read. The book is intended to help emerging readers learn how to rhyme and develop an appreciation for construction workers. The book can also be used to emphasize the importance of teamwork and fulfilling your role within the workplace to the readers. It would be perfect on a truck or duck book display.

Urgency Emergency! : Baaad Sheep, written by Dosh Archer, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Delaney F.
Summary: Doctor Glenda and Nurse Percy, a kind dog and a chicken working at the City Hospital, are caring for Little Bo Peep who lost her sheep. Suddenly, an ambulance arrives with her three sheep, Rocky, Enzo, and Lulu. They were found in a mulberry bush by Old McDonald, the farmer, after they crashed his tractor into the bush! The farmer called the penguamedics [the paramedics], and the sheep were brought to the hospital. Doctor Glenda examines them after their tummies are unwell, using a variety of tools such as the Tummy Trumpet! It turns out the sheep drank a large amount of soda that they had found in Old McDonald’s barn. The reason their tummies felt sick? Their bellies were full of carbonation from the soda! So, Doctor Glenda gave them pink medicine to help them feel better, and in the end, the sheep go home with Little Bo Peep.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book would be useful in educating children about doctors and the work that they do, especially for children who are afraid of the doctor! The silly and playful nature of the book, the simple yet effective language, and the fabulous illustrations make it easily connectable with young, elementary school readers. Although not entirely accurate in medical terminology or from a medical perspective, the book does an excellent job relating the general job of doctors and nurses on a level which can be understood by emerging readers. The clever manipulation of vocabulary to keep it within the world of the book [i.e. “penguamedics”] is wonderfully relatable! Lots of references to well known children’s nursery rhymes. Further, the emotions of the characters are well relayed in the clear and fun marker illustrations as well as the dialogue! The book itself can be easily read by emerging readers; it can also be read to students, most likely in a more personal setting such as with a parent or guardian, small groups, or in reading circles, since children may want to ask questions about what is happening in the book! There are lots of farting sheep in this book and this will surely lead to uncontrollable giggles. It would be a great addition to any libraries humor section.

JP and the Bossy Dinosaur, written by Ana Crespo, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Pranav A.
Summary: JP is a vulnerable young human boy with an endless imagination. He sees himself a large, fearless, happy dinosaur. The book follows his journey to a dinosaur waterpark, where he feels bullied and threatened by the larger dinosaurs (the sign telling how big you must be to play in that area) that make fun of him for being small. He becomes sad, and unsure of himself -- why can’t he play with the other dinosaurs (children)? Fortunately, he finds a way to have fun on his own, and finds a happy place for himself. Other children join in JP’s fun. This book reveals the importance of emotional balance for children -- while many things may seem important and pivotal at the moment, there are better ways to deal with emotions than wallowing in them. The art used is colorful and vibrant, and the words are simple to understand, which will appeal to younger children and make it easier to understand. The drawings make the emotional of the character easier to understand, and the author’s intent comes across very well.

Straight Talk for Librarians: The main use of this book would be in the classroom and by school counselors. It could be used by teachers for emotional support for young children. It encourages trying to understand your emotions and how to deal with them. It’s not always easy, but there are ways to change your thinking that will allow you to have fun even if things started off in a way that makes you sad. It’s also important for parents, who will be able to better understand how children’s emotions can change on a whim from the slightest of stimuli. Parents will be able to better console and distract children from their small issues. The author has in fact written a series of these books, to also address anger and fear, which can be handled by parents and educators as well. As long as their emotions are handled effectively, the child will most often move on from the event unscathed and sometimes empowered to do bigger, better things. Sometimes reading about a character will help in understanding your own emotions because you have built up some of that background knowledge.

A Day with Parkinson's, written by A. Hultquist, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Esme B.
Summary: In this book, a young boy is coming to terms with his grandfather’s Parkinson’s diagnosis. Noah wakes up and is going to the beach with his grandfather. He is excited but he is also worried about his grandfather. He has noticed many changes in his grandfather like shaking and struggling to walk properly, along with other symptoms. Noah is worried about how he can help his grandfather, and they have a long talk about Parkinson’s, what it is, and how he can help. Noah’s grandfather explains how Parkinson’s occurs from a chemical shift in the brain. He also explains that Noah can’t catch it from him, and that it is helpful to remind him about his medication and help him with walking. At the end of the book, Noah realizes that his grandfather is still the same person and while he has Parkinson’s, it should not change their relationship.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This book would be especially helpful to a family who are affected by Parkinson’s and are struggling to explain it to their kids. It is comforting while also informative. The illustrations of Parkinson’s are not jarring, and the book takes place at the beach, which is calming, and the drawings are mainly in pastels and pale or light colors. This book would be useful to have in a school or home library for children to seek out of a loved one is affected by Parkinson’s and they are struggling to come to terms. This would be a good independent reading choice or something to read to a child who is struggling to understand Parkinson’s. It would also be helpful to have an adult around to clarify questions. A much needed book for school libraries. Also, it would be a good one for school counselors to be aware of.