Elem. – Thanks a Ton!

Posted on December 11, 2020 by pslamediaselectionreview

Moyle, Sabrina. Thanks a Ton! Abrams Appleseed, 2020. 978-1-419-74334-4. Unpaged. $16.99. Grades K-3.

Brightly colored digital illustrations with neon accents bring this book of gratitude to life. A young elephant donning blue overalls celebrates big and small moments for which he (or she) is thankful. Simple gestures like cheering up someone, making someone smile, giving a hug, and saying please will help children recognize that kindness and good manners can make a big difference in one’s day. Gifts big and small show this elephant’s gratitude, but children will laugh out loud when the little elephant presents a pair of super underwear.

THOUGHTS: Teachers will enjoy reading this silly rhyming text aloud with their students. It will be a great addition to any elementary Social Emotional Learning lesson that celebrates kindness, manners, and gratitude.

Picture Book Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

Elem. – Every Night Is Pizza Night

Posted on December 11, 2020 by pslamediaselectionreview

López-Alt, J. Kenji. Every Night Is Pizza Night. Norton Young Readers, 2020. 978-1-324-00525-4. Unpaged. $17.95. Grades K-3.

Pipo is a young scientist, and she has done many tests to prove that pizza is the best meal. Pipo loves pizza so much, in fact, that she makes it every night, despite her parents’ desire (and encouragement) to try something new. Local neighborhood grocer Mr. Gonzales even knows Pipo’s list by heart. Pipo travels around her diverse neighborhood to collect more data because “a good scientist always wants more data.” Her neighbor Eugene makes an old family recipe bibimbap, and Pipo’s reaction has her questioning if it may be better than pizza. She leaves to collect more data around her neighborhood, trying tagine, red beans and rice, and dumplings. Mr. Gonzales, who knows everyone and has tried everything, helps Pipo realize there isn’t only one best food, but Pipo needs science to help her accept this theory. Subtle hints n the decor will show a careful reader more about each neighbor’s recipe and cultural background.

THOUGHTS: Ruggiero’s colorful, lively illustrations bring Pipo’s spunky personality to life. With Pipo’s pizza recipes at the end, this will be a fun addition to any elementary library. Use this title as an exploration of the scientific method, communities and neighborhoods, or as a great way to talk about cultural foods.

Picture Book Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

YA – Financial Literacy (Series NF)

Posted on December 10, 2020 by pslamediaselectionreview

Financial Literacy. Essential Library, 2020. $26.00 ea. $156.00 set of 6. 112 p. Grades 7-12.

Burling, Alexis. Managing Debt. 978-1-532-11914-9.
Donohue, Moira Rose. Making Smart Money Choices. 978-1-532-11913-2.
Edwards, Sue Bradford. Earning, Saving, and Investing. 978-1-532-11911-8.
Hulick, Kathryn. Protecting Financial Data. 978-1-532-11915-6.
LaPierre, Yvette. Economy 101. 978-1-532-11912-5.
Regan, Michael. The Cost of College. 978-1-532-11910-1.

Financial literacy is an area of a student’s education that may be heavily influenced by one’s upbringing and socioeconomic status. ABDO’s Financial Literacy series attempts to help libraries level the playing field by giving ALL students access to valuable information. This reviewer had the opportunity to read The Cost of College. With eight chapters ranging from Where to start? to What if I change My Mind? this title covers many aspects of what students should know before going to college. Each chapter has clear headings, interesting graphics and text highlights, and student worksheets. The book concludes with key takeaways, a glossary, additional resources, source notes, and an index.

THOUGHTS: This series is a good addition to enhance secondary library collections seeking to refresh their financial literacy offerings.

300s Business & Finance Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

Elem. – Hat Tricks

Posted on December 10, 2020 by pslamediaselectionreview

Satoshi, Kitamura. Hat Tricks. Peachtree Publishing Company, 2020. 978-1-682-63150-8. Unpaged. $16.99. Grades K-3.

With only two tiny white ears showing and the question, “What do we have here?” children are introduced to Hattie, a magician who has a magical hat. A variety of artistic mediums create simple, uncluttered illustrations that accompany text that will engage students and have them asking, “What’s in the hat?” On each page spread, a new friend joins Hattie and her magical hat. Magical words like “Abracadabra katakurico” can be fun for a whole class cheer or as an opportunity to work on reading nonsense words and breaking down syllables.

THOUGHTS: This simple picture book would be a fun read aloud for primary grades and can encourage predicting and a discussion about context clues.

Picture Book Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

Elem. – How to Be a Pirate

Posted on December 9, 2020 by pslamediaselectionreview

Fitzgerald, Isaac. How to Be a Pirate. Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2020. 978-1-681-19778-4. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades K-3.

On the first endpages, freckle-faced and pigtailed Cece is told she can’t be a pirate. Muted colors reflect her mood as she visits her grandfather who she suspects might know a thing or two about pirates. As it turns out, Grandpa’s tattoos show Cece characteristics of a good pirate. She must be brave, be quick, have fun, be independent, and have love. With each character trait, Cece and Grandpa go on and adventure, and the story becomes more lively and colorful. With a new awareness of what it takes to be what she wants, Cece returns to the boys and their pirate treehouse – now full of confidence that she has exactly what it takes to be a pirate.

THOUGHTS: This adventurous story shows children that fitting a role is about more than what one may assume. Breaking down gender stereotypes in an age appropriate way, Fitzgerald’s How to Be a Pirate is sure to be a much loved addition to any elementary library.

Picture Book Maryalice Bond, South Middleton SD

MG – Before the Ever After

Posted on December 7, 2020 by pslamediaselectionreview

Woodson, Jacqueline. Before the Ever After. Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020. 978-0-399-54543-6. 176 p. $17.99. Grades 5-8.

Known for her powerful verse, Jacqueline Woodson takes on a topic that many fiction pieces haven’t touched: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Admittedly, as a recent discovery in neuroscience, the condition may not be prevalent in large numbers of readers, but the awareness is beginning to spread. Middle readers who pick up this book, especially young athletes, will likely recognize some of ZJ’s dad’s symptoms throughout his story as having to do with his professional football career. Although awareness of CTE is important, the story ZJ tells in this book can be applied to any adolescent dealing with change and identity. It begs the question: What is the value of family traditions and memories?

THOUGHTS: Buy this book immediately, and hand it out to all seventh grade football players. In all seriousness, this short verse-novel can be the hook a lot of reluctant readers need into using literature to help explain trauma in their own lives.

Realistic/Verse Novel Samantha Hull, Ephrata Area SD

Elem. – The World Needs More Purple People

Posted on December 7, 2020 by pslamediaselectionreview

Bell, Kristen & Hart, Benjamin. The World Needs More Purple People. Random House Books for Young Readers, 2020. 978-0-593-12196-2. 40 p. $17.99. Grades PreK-2.

You can hear Kristen Bell’s voice on every page in this adorable story about the importance of being an everyday hero. The moral of the story is to work hard, bring the community together, and use your voice. This book does not offer answers to some of the world’s toughest current issues, but it does offer a primer in recognizing that the world isn’t perfect and it’s hard to be angry if you’re laughing.

THOUGHTS: Although the book isn’t explicitly political, I do wonder if purple comes from combining red and blue (political party colors). A quick, silly read that can keep the attention of the youngest readers.

Picture Book Samantha Hull, Ephrata Area SD

YA – Girl, Unframed

Posted on December 7, 2020 by pslamediaselectionreview

Caletti, Deb. Girl, Unframed. Simon Pulse, 2020. 978-1-534-42697-9. 368 p. $18.99. Grades 9-12.

Can you imagine if your mom was famous? Like moviestar-famous? Sydney doesn’t usually have to deal with her mom and her drama, but she’s going to visit her for the summer. Before setting eyes on her mom, the newest man in Lila’s life picks Sydney up from the airport, and it’s all downhill from there. From shady art dealings to rejected credit cards, Sydney misses her friends from home. Luckily, she befriends a guy working construction next door because shady art dealings quickly become the least of their worries. It’s as if Lila’s movie script has come to life, but crimes of passion are still crimes.

THOUGHTS: There is a lot of heaviness to unpack in this story, from women who prioritize beauty over motherhood and men treating women like objects, not to mention murder. A good addition for high school libraries looking for YA thrillers that are also coming of age stories.

Mystery Samantha Hull, Ephrata Area SD

Literature Review

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Monthly Archives: December 2020

Elem. – Thanks a Ton!

Elem. – Every Night Is Pizza Night

YA – Financial Literacy (Series NF)

Elem. – Hat Tricks

Elem. – How to Be a Pirate

MG – Before the Ever After

Elem. – The World Needs More Purple People

YA – Girl, Unframed