Monthly Archives: September 2022

YA – Hotel Magnifique

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Taylor, Emily J. Hotel Magnifique. Razorbill, 2022. 978-0-593-56080-8. 391 p. $15.99. Grades 9-12.

Jani is barely able to provide for her and her sister Rosa in the town of Durc. Rosa is an incredible singer, and Jani is supposed to take care of her which she is barely able to do. When the Hotel Magnifique comes to town, Jani thinks that this might be their ticket out of Durc and she jumps at it. However, once they get into Hotel Magnifique something is off and not everything is as perfect as it seems. Jani and Bel, the hotel’s interesting doorman, are off to figure out what is going on inside and how to free everyone from the maitre d’hotel, who isn’t what he seems.  Will they succeed or will Jani and Rosa be stuck in the Hotel Magnifique forever.

THOUGHTS: This is a unique fantasy stand alone that has several twists and turns to keep the reader engaged from the beginning until the very end. This book is a great addition to any high school collection and would be great for any fantasy fan.

Fantasy            Mary McEndree, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter School

MG – The Final Cut

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Markell, Denis. The Final Cut. Delacorte Press, 2022. 978-0-593-18066-2. 289 p. $16.99. Grades 5-8.

Alex Davis is ready to start 7th grade because he believes this will be his year. However, he discovers that he did not get into the super popular elective: Game Design and instead has been put into the filmmaking elective. He is devastated. The class is taught by the young, hipster teacher who wants to be called Pablo, and the class is filled with eclectic students. Alex feels like his life is doomed, but then he begins to forge friendships with this wonderful cast of characters as they work to create the best film in order to be the winners of the coveted Golden Reel Award. Yet strange things are amiss when it seems that someone is out to sabotage the competition.

THOUGHTS: A fun book! Wonderful characters who make the story all the more fun. The mystery was exciting but not scary. Sometimes we need a fun lighthearted read.  This is that book.

Mystery          Victoria Dziewulski, Plum Borough SD
Realistic Fiction

Elem. – Friendship Goals (Series Fiction)

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Reid, C.L. Friendship Goals (Emma Every Day). Picture Window Books, 2022. 978-1-515-87181-8. $16.99. 27 p. Grades K-2.

Emma is an 8 year old in third grade. She lives with her parents, has a brother named Jaden, and a best friend named Izzie. Emma is Deaf. She uses a Cochlear Implant and American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate. Friendship Goals is the latest story in this 12 book Early Reader Chapter Book series. In this story Emma helps her friend Izzie practice soccer and ASL. Emma is good at soccer and is happy to help her friend work on her skills and build her confidence on the field. Each book includes a finger-spelling chart. Select words are spelled out in ASL letters (rebus style) throughout the books, and each book in the series includes a glossary of ASL signs pertaining to the story. Illustrated by Elena Aiello. 

THOUGHTS: This series of books is adorable. Emma encounters everyday childhood experiences and  situations. Sometimes Emma is able to participate alongside her peers without any assistance or accommodations. In some experiences Emma (along with her family, friends, and teachers), needs to problem solve in order to participate. A wonderfully diverse introduction to Deafness, Cochlear Implants, and American Sign Language for hearing students – and an everyday life mirror for students who are Deaf. 

Early Reader Chapter Book – Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD

MG – The Ogress and the Orphans

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Barnhill, Kelly. The Ogress and the Orphans. Algonquin Young Readers, 2022. 978-1-64375-074-3. $19.99. 392 pages. Grades 4-8.

Once there was an Ogress. In her long life she had many adventures, and lived in many places, always searching for a community in which to belong. The Ogress hears of a town called Stone-in-the-Glen that used to be quite lovely and that has fallen on hard times. The Ogress has experienced grief and disconnection and believes she can help the people of the town. She creates a home for herself on the outskirts of Stone-in-the-Glen, and anonymously sets out to perform random acts of kindness for the people of the town. Stone-in-the Glen was once regarded as a friendly and kind place where people took good care of each other. The citizens adored their dragon-slaying Mayor who was charming and protective. When the town library burns to the ground, the town itself begins to unravel. More community institutions are destroyed, crops fail, and slowly the people of Stone-in-the-Glen stop taking care of their neighbors. In fact, hard times make the citizens distrustful of each other. An orphanage on the edge of Stone-in-the-Glen houses 15 orphans, cared for by an elderly couple. The 15 young children are plucky and smart, and love each other dearly. They enjoy helping and learning, but most of all they care for each other and consider each other family. When one of the children goes missing, the Mayor gleefully prods the citizens of Stone-in-the-Glen to turn on the Ogress. It is up to the orphans to save each other, their home, the Ogress, and ultimately their community.

THOUGHTS: A stunning allegory with many themes to explore. What is a neighbor? What makes a community a community? How do we live with people and ideas that are different from our own experiences and beliefs? Kindness ultimately wins the day. Strong themes of the power of libraries and reading throughout this beautiful and well-told story.

Fantasy          Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD

Elem. – The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell

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Alary, Laura. The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell. Kids Can Press, 2022. Unpaged.  978-1-525-30348-7. $18.99.  Grades K-3.

This picture book biography is the story of a female pioneer in the fields of both astronomy and education. Maria Mitchell was born on Nantucket Island in 1818. Her father was an astronomer/mathematician and her mother a librarian. As Quakers, they believed in the equality of all people and so they encouraged their daughter’s quest for knowledge.  Maria’s father taught the young girl how to use and repair a telescope and nautical instruments. She recorded all her observations in a notebook. As a young woman, she opened a school for the island children and then became a librarian. One day Maria learned that the King of Denmark was offering a prize for the first person to find a new comet. The young astronomer spent hours on the roof searching the skies with her telescope and her perseverance paid off when she sighted one. Maria left for Europe, where she received many accolades and gave lectures to scientific societies. Vassar, a new women’s college, offered her the position of Professor of Astronomy and she accepted. At that time, some opposed college education for women, but Maria was not deterred. She took her students outside to observe the stars and encouraged them to question everything. In the author’s note, Alary provides more details about Mitchell’s life and points out that she was a “woman of firsts”- first female astronomer, scientific consultant hired by the US government, and among the first college professors. Rooney’s artwork is done in collage and has amazing detail.

THOUGHTS: Young inquiring minds will enjoy reading about this scientist who faced challenges and never stopped asking questions. Perfect as a read aloud and for STEM units. This is a must-have for elementary collections.

Biography          Denise Medwick, Retired, PSLA Member
92, 921, 520.92

Elem. – In Our Garden

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Miller, Pat Zietlow. In Our Garden. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. 978-1-9848-1210-0. 32 p. $17.99. Grades K-3. 

Millie is homesick for her old apartment, now an ocean away, where she and her family tended a rooftop garden and grew fresh vegetables with their neighbors. Her new apartment building doesn’t have the right kind of roof for a garden, but her school has a large flat one! When she shares her idea about a garden in the sky with her classmates, they are initially hesitant, but soon everyone has ideas about how the garden might look. Over the course of a few months, the students plan, measure, build, plant, and wait to see if their hard work pays off. Vibrant illustrations, composed from both traditional and digital mediums, change with Millie’s mood. Initially, the grays and tans reflect a rainy morning, the city’s cold hardscape, and Millie’s homesickness. However, once she starts believing in her urban garden idea and her classmates and teacher buy in too, the colors shift to shades of green, blue, and yellow. Millie’s classmates and neighbors reflect racial diversity as well as a variety of physical abilities. 

THOUGHTS: This title will be a welcome addition to science curriculum centering on gardening since it presents a nontraditional option that some students may not be familiar with. Additionally, it will fit well with units about neighborhoods working together and with lessons about immigrants settling into a new community. 

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – Beyond the Burrow

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Meserve, Jessica. Beyond the Burrow. Peachtree. 2022. 978-1-682-63375-5. $17.99. Grades K-2.

Rabbits are animals that like to be near their home called a burrow. Rabbits prefer to be safe, cozy, and to stick with what they know. They know they enjoy sleeping, hopping, carrots, and staying away from things that are dangerous or have claws, horns, scales, feathers, or hooves. When little Rabbit stretched for a carrot that was just out of reach, she tumbled and fell into a hole that wasn’t hers and continued to tumble away from her burrow. Terrified and alone, Rabbit did the only thing she knew how – she hopped away until she was even more alone, cold, and frightened. Will Rabbit be able to overcome her very not-rabbit day? Will she gain bravery and learn something new or discover her way home, or will something even more not-rabbit happen to her?

THOUGHTS: An adorable illustrated book about bravery, trying new things, and making friends along the way. Young readers will enjoy watching Rabbit as she grows into a whole new type of rabbit!

Picture Book          Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD

Elem. – Don’t Eat Bees (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog)

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Petty, Dev. Don’t Eat Bees (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog). Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2022. 978-0-593-43313-3. $23.99. Grades K-2.

Chip is a very smart dog. You see, although he is only 7 years old in people years, he is very old in dog years. Chip has learned lots of lessons along the way, most of them being about things that you can eat and things that you cannot eat. For example, you can eat shoes, or plants, or the important papers the small human being brings home. You cannot eat, however, bees. Peas are fine, but bees are not! It is very important to remember that you cannot eat bees… even if you really, really want to… at least, you should try your best to remember not to eat them more than once!

THOUGHTS: An adorable book filled with simple life lessons from a dog! After all, it is important to remember not to eat bees, even when you may really want to!

Picture Book          Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD

Elem. – Animal Jokes

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King, Joe. Animal Jokes. Abdo Books. 2022. 978-1-098-20916-2. $20.95. Grades PreK-1.

What is black and white, and looks like a penguin? Well, a penguin of course! This hilarious joke book is full of animal jokes young children will love! These age-appropriate, polite, yet hilarious jokes are sure to make you smile and laugh! Complete with beautiful animal photographs, bold colors, cute clipart, and simple ‘texting language,’ this book is sure to make you lol!

THOUGHTS: A refreshing simple joke book for kids! The photographs are gorgeous, and the jokes are sure to make you giggle!

818.602 Humor          Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD

Elem. – Animals We Can’t Live Without (Series NF)

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Animals We Can’t Live Without. The Child’s World. 2022. $19.95 each or $239.40 for set of 12. Grades 1-4.

Huddleston, Emma. Thank You, Ants. 978-1-503-84991-4.

Thank You, Corals. 978-1-503-85007-1.
Thank You, Earthworms. 978-1-503-84997-6.
Thank You, Frogs. 978-1-503-84994-5.
Thank You, Primates. 978-1-503-85010-1.

Erickson, Marty. Thank You, Bats. 978-1-503-84993-8.

Thank You, Bees. 978-1-503-84996-9.
Thank You, Sharks. 978-1-503-85008-8.
Thank You, Termites. 978-1-503-84992-1.
Thank You, Zooplankton. 978-1-503-84998-3.

Pearson, Marie. Thank You, Raptors. 978-1-503-84995-2.

Thank You, Rodents. 978-1-503-85009-5.

The series Animals We Can’t Live Without focuses on animal species that may not be the cutest or cuddliest animals, but rather animals that help our environment in ways we may often forget. Whether the animal flies, swims, lives on land or in the sea, there are important factors these animals have that affect the ecosystem around them. This reviewer read the titles Thank You, Raptors and Thank You, Rodents, both by Marie Pearson. Thank You, Raptors discusses the amazing raptors of our world, also known as birds of prey. With beautiful photographs, helpful charts, and vocabulary words, readers will be able to learn why these birds are so helpful to our world and how we can help keep them safe and protect them from endangerment. Thank You, Rodents, does the same, but focuses on those tiny rodents we all know (and may not always like!). Despite the fact that some people may be squeamish about tiny mice or rats, these rodents are important to their environment and help our world continue to function as a whole.

THOUGHTS: The two books reviewed are very interesting, full of great information for younger elementary students to read and learn about. The photographs are beautifully taken, and the additional information in the back to further your knowledge is a great way for readers to continue to learn about the amazing species the book presents.

590s Animals          Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD