Elem./MG – Totally Silly Science (Series NF)

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Twiddy, Robin. Roar! Books: Totally Silly Science. Bearport Publishing, 2024. $8.99 ea. $35.96 set of 4. 32 p. Grades 3-6.

Absurd Animals. 979-8-888-22204-1.
Bizarre Bodies. 979-8-888-22205-8.
Funny Food. 979-8-888-22206-5.
Strange Space. 979-8-888-22207-2.

This high-interest science series presents some of the most absurd facts about everything from animals and human bodies to food and space. These facts are set alongside silly pictures, including cartoonish images and real people with googly eyes. Brief, easily accessible text explains the scientific reasoning behind these bizarre facts. End matter includes a glossary, index, and sources for further reading.

THOUGHTS: The information presented in these titles is very simple, straightforward, and easy to understand. Although there is not a great deal of upper level scientific content, the intriguing facts and silly pictures make this the perfect addition to hi-lo collections.

500 Science
808 Humor   

Elem. – A Stickler Christmas

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Smith, Lane. A Stickler Christmas. Random House Studio, 2024. 978-0-593-81528-1. $18.99. Unpaged. Grades PreK-1.

Christmas is here, and Stickler, a creature with sticklike arms, legs and hair, knows exactly what to give all of his friends. Nana Rabbit receives a Hop-Higher Stick, Crow receives an Idea Stick, and Partridge receives an In-a-Pear-Tree Stick. Of course, all of his gifts – albeit thoughtful – are simply sticks. When Stickler comes across Doug-the-Fir, a decorated Christmas tree, he finds Doug-the-Fir in poor spirits. Because Doug-the-Fir does not want to be the center of attention, Stickler knows he must come up with a special solution to help his friend. Lo and behold, Stickler brings Doug-the-Fir a stick. This stick, however, is a special stick: it’s a Don’t-Stare stick. Doug-the-Fir is skeptical, but ultimately Stickler finds a way to cleverly divert attention away from Doug-the-Fir.

THOUGHTS: Fans of Stickler Loves the World (2023) will love this holiday story featuring the beloved character. An unconventional, hilarious story about friendship and giving, it will serve to remind young readers what the holidays are really all about.

Picture Book        

Elem. – Salvatore and the Goats of Mount Etna

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Muller, Uschi. Salvatore and the Goats of Mount Etna (Listening to Animals, Book 1). Illustrated by Brittany Lane. Greystone Kids, 2024. 978-1-771-64928-5. $18.95. Unpaged. Grades K-3.

Salvatore lives with his parents on a goat farm at the foot of Mount Etna, an active volcano. One day, his parents allow him to take the goats up the mountain on his own so that they can graze. His Papa reminds him not to let the goats boss him around, but rather to take charge. However, it’s not long before Bianca, the lead goat, begins acting agitated. Soon, all of the goats are kicking and jumping around. Then, Bianca takes off running down the mountain; Salvatore and the other goats follow. Salvatore is fearful, as he has lost control of the goats. He worries that they will be attacked by wild dogs. He soon realizes, however, that another danger is more imminent, and perhaps the goats knew what they were doing all along. 

THOUGHTS: This intriguing story is based on the real-life research of the ICARUS project, an initiative that seeks “to make the extraordinary sensory capabilities of many animals useful to humans.” Young readers will be fascinated to learn that there are many real-life accounts of animals using a “sixth sense” to predict and protect themselves from natural disasters. Be sure to watch for future publications in this series, as this is just the first in the Listening to Animals series.

Picture Book        

Elem. – The Pharaoh vs. the Felines

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Fox, J.F. The Pharaoh vs. the Felines (Head-to-Head History, Book 3). Illustrated by Anna Kwan. Kids Can Press, 2024. 978-1-525-30652-5. Unpaged. $21.99. Grades K-3.

Egypt and Persia, two great powers of the ancient world, fought for years over control of the Fertile Crescent. When Cambyses II (ruler of Persia) asked to marry the daughter of Amasis II (pharaoh of Egypt), the pharaoh agreed. However, because Amasis II didn’t want his daughter to leave the country, he sent an imposter instead. When his ruse was discovered, war broke out between the two powers. Cambyses II took a very unconventional approach to war, incorporating the use of cats, which Egyptians felt were sacred. This entertaining, easy-to-read historical account is full of humor and cat puns. It also includes a timeline and glossary, as well as a brief explanation of the way in which historians arrive at conclusions about things that happened long ago.

THOUGHTS: This is an extremely accessible and humorous look at a little-known battle in history. Young readers will glean many facts about the ancient Egyptians from this story. It may, however, leave them with some questions as well, such as how exactly Cambyses II’s army incorporated cats into the battle. It should also be noted that there is a reference to beer in the book, as it was one of the many things that the ancient Egyptians invented.

932 Ancient Egypt

Elem. – The Wire Zoo: How Elizabeth Berrien Learned to Turn Wire into Amazing Art

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Wing, Natasha. The Wire Zoo: How Elizabeth Berrien Learned to Turn Wire into Amazing Art. Illustrated by Joanie Stone. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024. 978-1-665-94076-4. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-3.

Ever since Elizabeth Berrien was a young girl, she viewed the world in lines. She loved animals, and whenever she looked at them, she saw flowing lines along the surface of their bodies. When she used crayons to try to recreate the images she saw in her mind, however, she was unsuccessful. Eventually, she took to using string, yarn, lace and other similar materials to create art. It wasn’t until she reached high school and took an art class with a teacher named Mr. Curran that she discovered wire art. Even then, it still took a great deal of trial and error before she figured out how to make her animals 3D. Despite her many failures over the years, Elizabeth continued to persist until she became a successful wire sculptor, taking a job as artist-in-residence at a zoo and building her own wire zoo there. She has been an inspiration to many artists and students of contemporary art, inspiring them to think outside the box.

THOUGHTS: This is a great introduction to a little-known artist and includes further biographical information and photographs of Elizabeth’s work in the back matter. Elizabeth’s story of determination and perseverance will resonate with every young student who is still discovering his/her own hidden talents and abilities. 

730.92 Sculpture
Biography

Elem. – The Creature of Habit Tries His Best

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Smith, Jennifer E. The Creature of Habit Tries His Best. Illustrated by Leo Espinosa. Random House Studio, 2024. 978-0-593-43461-1. $18.99. Unpaged. Grades PreK-2.

On the island of Habit, a large, rabbit-like creature lives with his friend, a very small creature. One day, the pair sail to another island to try something new. There, the large creature tries to do all sorts of things, including climbing a tree, making a daisy chain, making a snowball, and balancing on a log. However, when he is unsuccessful at everything, he gets upset and gives up. The next day, he sees the little creature riding a bike and wishes he could ride it, too. Naturally, his first attempt is unsuccessful, but over the next few days, he gets back on the bike and keeps trying again and again and again. Finally, he is able to ride the bike, albeit slowly and wobbly. He realizes, though, that perhaps being the best at trying to ride a bike is just as good as being the best at riding a bike.

THOUGHTS: Comical, digital illustrations complement this light-hearted story about failure, success, and the importance of perseverance. Although this is a companion to The Creature of Habit (2021), it can stand alone as its own narrative. Use it as a read aloud or to initiate conversations about handling frustration and other emotions. 

Picture Book        

Elem. – Bella Ballerina

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Draper, Sharon M. Bella Ballerina. Illustrated by Ebony Glenn. Atheneum Books for Young Reader, 2024. 978-1-534-46396-7. $18.99. Unpaged. Grades PreK-2.

A young, black ballerina attends Crystal Pointe Ballet Academy where, alongside other children of various skin colors, she learns multiple steps and positions. Besides being diverse, the class is friendly and cooperative. When Bella Ballerina falls, someone is there to help her up, and when she loses her shoe, another classmate hands it back to her. After a lot of practice, the class is tasked with performing a show for an audience. Naturally, Bella is nervous when she sees the crowd, but when another dancer needs her help, she doesn’t even hesitate to take the stage and come to his rescue.

THOUGHTS: Colorful, digital illustrations and rhyming verse make Draper’s uplifting picture book debut a great choice for a read aloud. Young dancers may learn a thing or two from the included glossary of ballet terms. However, the overall message of diversity, kindness, and togetherness make this story appealing to non-dancers as well.

Picture Book

Elem. – Harold Hates to Hibernate

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Kousky, Vern. Harold Hates to Hibernate. Random House Studio, 2024. 978-0-593-71233-7. $18.99. Unpaged. Grades PreK-1.

Harold is a bear who loves everything about fall: honey, apples, and playing outside with his friends, the crows. However, as the days get shorter and outdoor playtime begins to diminish, the other bears start talking about hibernating. Harold may be tired, but he doesn’t want to hibernate! What if his friends forget about him while he’s gone? In order to prevent this, Harold does everything he can think of to stay awake. He climbs, jumps, bathes, eats, and finds some warm clothes–all with the help of the crows. Will these actions be enough, or will Harold eventually succumb to his sleepiness? Will his friends remember him if he does? Digitally manipulated illustrations in pencil, pen, and watercolor complement this pleasant, reassuring narrative.

THOUGHTS: This would be the perfect bedtime story for young children who fight sleep due to the fear of missing out. It would also be a great introduction to the changing seasons and the state of hibernation. Although it is a follow-up to Harold Loves His Woolly Hat (2018), it is not necessary to read the first book in order to understand this one.

Picture Book    

Elem./MG – Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbooks (Series NF)

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Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbooks. Quirk Books, 2024. $12.99 ea. $77.94 set of 6. 128 p. Grades 4-7.

Borgenicht, David & Robin Epstein. The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Junior Edition. 978-0-811-86065-9.
Borgenicht, David & Justin Heimberg. The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Extreme Junior Edition. 978-0-811-86568-5.
—. The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook for Kids. 978-1-683-69456-4.
—. The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Weird Junior Edition. 978-0-811-87438-0.
Borgenicht, David, Nathaniel Marunas, & Robin Epstein. The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Gross Junior Edition.  978-0-811-87570-7.
Borgenicht, David, Ben Winters, & Robin Epstein. The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Middle School. 978-0-811-86864-8.

How would you survive in piranha-infested waters? What if you were caught in an avalanche? How do you build a shelter in the rainforest to protect yourself from the elements? There is a great, wide world out there to explore, but we have to be prepared for worst-case scenarios, and this is where The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook for Kids comes in handy. This book gives practical and easy-to-understand advice for how to survive in all types of environment, including at sea, in the jungle, in the desert, in the mountains, in the Arctic, and on safari. Written with humor, the book covers a wide range of survival scenarios in each environment from escaping quicksand, fending off wild animals, making a shelter, and treating injuries. It even has specific instructions for using the bathroom in the woods! No matter what the situation, the authors always emphasize staying calm, thinking critically, and using creativity to navigate tricky situations. 

THOUGHTS: With step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and easy-to-follow tips, the book empowers kids with confidence and problem-solving skills. Fun quizzes and “Would You Rather?” scenarios are peppered throughout the book. Back matter includes tips for navigation and a field guide to extreme foods.The authors present safety and survival advice in an entertaining way, making it both educational and enjoyable. This would be a great purchase for upper elementary and middle grade libraries where the I Survived series circulates widely.

600s Survival Skills

Elem./MG – Lucky Scramble

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Raymundo, Peter. Lucky Scramble. Dial Books, 2024. 978-0-593-53192-1. 190 p. $12.99. Grades 3-7.

Twelve-year-old Tyler Goodman is a speedcuber who earns a spot at the Speed Cubing National Championships. This is a special moment for Tyler who picked up speedcubing after his father passed away. When his father was still alive, he bought Tyler the cube. Frustrated that he couldn’t solve the cube, Tyler gave up on it. But when he found it in a box of his father’s things three years later, he made a promise to his dad to solve the cube. Hundreds of speedcubers from across the country gather in Las Vegas for the championship, each with something to prove. Overly confident Dirk Speedman is determined to claim his third consecutive National Championship title while twins Lizzy and Izzy Peterson, known for their synchronized solves, face a turning point when one decides to break away from their normal routine. Nine-year-old prodigy Eli Newton has been solving cubes since he was five, but his overly competitive dad seems more invested in the competition than Eli is, guarding Eli’s techniques and reacting sharply to any scrutiny. Meanwhile, legendary cuber Miles Wizzinski, the first American to solve the cube in under 40 seconds back in 1982, has returned to set new records and prove that cubing isn’t just a young person’s game. As Tyler faces off against top competitors, including reigning champion Dirk, he navigates the pressures of competition, personal challenges, and his determination to succeed.

THOUGHTS: Lucky Scramble weaves together the fast-paced stories of these six competitors and CubeMania’s founder and CEO Victor Chen. Raymundo is an animator for Walt Disney Studios, so students are bound to be captivated by the vibrant illustrations. This book is a feel-good read that is sure to be popular in middle grade libraries and may even spark a few students’ interest in speedcubing.

Graphic Novel