Elem. – There’s a Bear in Your Book

Posted on February 16, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Fletcher, Tom. There’s a Bear in Your Book. Random House Kids, 2023. 978-0-593-70399-1 Unpaged. $18.99 Grades PK-1.

This eighth book in the “Who’s in your Book?” series, adds a bear to the mix, joining a monster, dragon, alien, superhero, elf, witch and unicorn. In this book, Bear has had a picnic and is messy and tired. Readers are asked to help him get ready for bed by shaking the book (for the bubble bath), flapping the book’s pages (to dry Bear), and rocking the book (and Bear) to sleep. But a monster bursts in, leading the narrator to ask readers to wag their fingers at monster, imagine a night-light, press the switch to turn it on, yawn with bear and monster, and imagine five sheep, which then need a lullaby. The simple illustrations make the bear and monster (and even sheep) look cuddly and this may just work on young readers to help them fall asleep also. It’s an added plus that Fletcher includes “imagine” as an interactive task, both to support the idea of imagining being necessary and helpful, and also to quiet readers who have been active.

THOUGHTS: This title strikes the right balance between cute (for readers) and productive (for tired caregivers). Recommended.

Picture Book

Elem. – Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions

Posted on February 16, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Khiani, Darswana. Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-802-85547-3 Unpaged. $17.99. Grades K-3.

In the Thai village of Koh Panyee, a group of boys are crazy about soccer. But in a village floating on stilts in the Phang Nga Bay, there is little space to play. The boys use a beach (at low tide) but are thwarted when new homes are built. Even the most ardent of soccer fans in their village tells them to ‘stick to boat racing. It’s tradition.’ But the boys enjoy soccer and long to play (and win) against the mainland boys. They had an idea: build a floating pitch (field). Adults shook their heads as the boys collected materials, worked out the problems, and began to play. The floating pitch tested their patience and their balance, and the boys improved. Soon the villagers cheered them on as they practiced, and the boys headed to the mainland for the district tournament. They didn’t win, but opposing teams admired the ‘sharp skills’, and the villagers were proud of their accomplishments.

THOUGHTS: This positive story highlights and celebrates the determination and dream of a group of boys. Recommended for early grades.

Picture Book

Elem. – The Dreams We Made

Posted on February 16, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Bentley, Lisa. The Dreams We Made. Simon & Schuster, 2023. 978-1-665-91765-0. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades PK-3.

At the center of The Dreams we Made is a little girl with a big imagination. Each night, her father helps her bring her ideas to life using found items. Each day, she holds tight to her daddy, wishing he didn’t need to go back to work. When he encourages her to keep dreaming while he is away, she does. Her dreams grow, and the little girl and her father begin their biggest project yet. One the eve of completing the project, Mommy delivers the sad news that her father has died and cannot complete their project. Together, the girl and her Mom find a way to continue dreaming and, over time, they put the pieces back together and begin feeling closer to Daddy once more.

THOUGHTS: The Dreams We Made is a beautifully illustrated and balanced picture book that combines imagination, love, and loss to create a story that successfully balances all three–accomplishing the unique feat of a story incorporating loss with the potential of broad appeal to picture book readers. The girl’s projects focus on her dreams of space exploration, and Lisa Bentley’s illustrations are dominated by this space theme, inviting children into an engaging world of creativity and imagination. Bentley’s depiction of the mother sharing the loss of the father with her child is gentle and loving, and the child’s expression of this loss (denial, loss of interest in her creations, and destructive anger) will feel real to both child and adult readers. Bentley does not rush her characters through grief, but rather gives her characters time to heal, first in imagination, then through their actions. This beautiful, wise book is highly recommended for all readers in the general library and also for guidance collections.

Picture Book

MG/YA – Understanding Disorders

Posted on February 16, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Understanding Disorders. BrightPoint Press, 2023. $32.95 ea. $164.75 set of 5. 80 p. Grades 6-12.

Edwards, Sue Bradford. What are Learning Disorders?. 978-1-678-20448-8.
Gagne, Tammy. What are Eating Disorders? 978-1-678-20446-4.
Phillips, Jennifer. What are Mood Disorders? 978-1-678-20450-1.
Phillips, Jennifer. What are Psychotic Disorders? 978-1-678-20452-5.
Sonneborn, Liz. What are Developmental Disorders?: 978-1-678-20444-0.

The focus of the 5-book nonfiction series is on mental health disorders and their symptoms. It contains the history of these disorders and how they affect everyday life. Each book has engaging images along with an informative text that will appeal to students. The book concludes with a glossary, additional resources, source notes, and an index.

THOUGHTS: This series is a good addition to enhance middle and high school school library collections seeking to update their mental health resources. It is labeled as Hi-lo YA nonfiction, so it would be a good addition to a high school library.

600s Mental Health, Psychiatry, and Clinical Psychology

Elem. – Are You Big?

Posted on February 15, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Willems, Mo. Are You Big? Specific House, 2024. 978-1-454-94818-6. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades PreK-1.

On a quick glance of its cover and slim trim size, this picture book seems to be just another story about a growing child. After a couple of pages, it is obvious that this is no ordinary tale about getting bigger. Instead, Willems has created a brilliant concept book that discusses the relative size of mostly inanimate objects. It begins with the narrator asking a child, drawn as a stick figure, “Are you big?” On the next page, a hot air balloon walks into view and the point is wordlessly made that the balloon is bigger. The question is repeated as the next thing appears. The balloon is compared to a cloud, the cloud to a storm, the storm to Australia, and so on until it ends the exercise with a galaxy cluster. For each comparative pair, the previous objects (and child) are arranged in a row at the bottom of the page, drawn to show their size relative to the new larger entity. On the final pages, the story reverts back to the child, who seems reassured about his/her size when an ant emerges. In his usual cartoon style, Willems has managed to personify the non-living subjects. The “characters” all have legs, mouths and eyes, which are depicted quite cleverly on Earth. The author includes a tongue-in-cheek disclaimer that the objects are not drawn to scale and provides a chart comparing their relative size differences in words- “An average kid is 430 times taller than an ant.”

THOUGHTS: The latest offering from Mo Willems is a BIG winner and an engaging read aloud. Children will eagerly anticipate and greet each new comparison with a BIG Whoa! This is an absolute must-have for all elementary collections. In fact, librarians may want to buy multiple copies and place one in nonfiction and one with Mo’s other fictional picture books.

153.752 Cognition and Memory
Perception of Space

MG/YA – Muzoon: A Syrian Refugee Speaks Out

Posted on February 15, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Almellehan, Muzoon. Muzoon: A Syrian Refugee Speaks Out. Alfred A Knopf, 2023. 978-1-984-85198-7. 340 p. $18.99. Grades 6-12.

Muzoon was a 14 year-old girl living a happy life in her country of Syria when the war in Syria forced her family to move to a refugee camp in Jordan. Muzoon had been focused on her education and going on to high school with hopes of college when the war changed her path. Yet this did not stop her from staying focused on her goal, for she found a way to advocate for education – primarily education for girls. She worked with UNICEF and also Malala Yousafzai to work towards the advocacy for girls. The story follows Muzoon up to the present day where she now resides in Newcastle, England and is continuing her work with education, refugees, and the rights of girls.

THOUGHTS: A powerful read about the value and importance of family, education, and strength.

Biography

MG – And Then, Boom!

Posted on February 15, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Fipps, Lisa. And Then, Boom! Nancy Paulsen Books, 2024. 978-0-593-40632-8. 256 p. $17.99. Grades 5-8.

In Lisa Fipps’ new verse novel, Joe is being raised by his Grandmum. His mom gets “the Itch” and leaves town all too often. After her daughter gets arrested, Grandmum puts up her house as bail collateral. Unfortunately, Joe’s mother fails to appear in court, leaving both Joe and Grandmum unhoused. While living out of a car, Joe’s school friend shares with him a trailer for rent. The two move in, and things begin to look up…until terrible tragedy strikes, and Joe is all alone. Joe keeps his situation a secret from everyone but his two friends, Nick and Hakeem. Food dwindles. The gas is shut off. Then, the electricity all together. Adults like Mrs. Swan, a teacher, and Uncle Frankie, the trailer park owner, help Joe without knowing he has been left on his own. After summer break begins, the situation becomes dire. Add an F2 tornado into the mix. This is a story of survival against all things.

THOUGHTS: A powerful book that is going to absolutely break your heart before making it better. This is a realistic story of survival against childhood neglect and poverty in America. Lisa Fipps uses the verse format to heighten emotional impact and quicken the pace. Readers will grasp onto hopeful details like Joe finding a dog and two puppies (dubbed ‘the Lucky pups’). While the ending is hopeful, getting there is emotionally difficult. Highly recommended for all middle school fiction collections.

MG – Intro to Chemistry: Need to Know

Posted on February 6, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Faust, Daniel R. Intro to Chemistry: Need to Know. Bearport Publishing, 2023. $21.02 each or $126.12 Set of 6. Grades 6-12.

Acids and Bases. 979-8-885-09422-1.
Atoms and Molecules. 979-8-885-09423-8.
Chemical Reactions. 979-8-885-09424-5.
Metals and Nonmetals. 979-8-885-09425-2.
The Periodic Table. 979-8-885-09427-6.
States of Matter. 979-8-885-09426-9.

This reviewer had the opportunity to read The Periodic Table. This title utilizes an analogy which equates the periodic table to a library in its organization structure. Larger text with key words highlighted and defined make this difficult topic accessible for struggling readers. Colorful photographs, images, and charts add to the visual interest. With backmatter that includes SilverTips for success, a glossary, read more, learn more online, and an index, this title will help readers in gather basic information on Chemistry. The text is written at a second-grade reading level in a dyslexia-friendly font, which will help struggling readers succeed with concepts learned in high school Chemistry or Physical Science classes.

THOUGHTS: This series is a recommended purchase for secondary libraries, especially in schools where students may study Chemistry.

530.4 States of Matter
546 Inorganic Chemistry

YA – Challenges for Democracy (Series NF)

Posted on February 6, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Challenges for Democracy. ReferencePoint Press, 2023. $33.05 each or $165.25 Set of 5. Grades 7-12.

Loonin, Meryl. Clash of Powers: The President Versus Congress. 978-1-678-20302-3.
Hulick, Kathryn. Media Literacy: Information and Disinformation. 978-1-678-20304-7.
Castillo, Kristina C. Political Parties: A Division and Distrust. 978-1-678-20306-1.
Allen, John. The Supreme Court: Activism Versus Restraint. 978-1-678-20308-5.
Kallen, Stuart A. Voting: Rights and Suppression. 978-1-678-20310-8.

This reviewer had the opportunity to read Clash of Powers: The President Versus Congress and The Supreme Court: Activism Versus Restraint. Each title has an introduction and five chapters followed by source notes, for further research, and an index. Clash of Powers begins with background and discussion on the events of January 6, 2021. Chapters that follow discuss separate but overlapping powers; legislating in polarized times; waging war; appointments, removals, and impeachments; and restoring balance between the branches. While some historical times are discussed (The Hard Lessons of the Vietnam War), the primary focus of the text is on the most recent several presidents and controversies during and after their terms. The Supreme Court presents information on recently appointed justices, historical cases during the Civil Rights Era, abortion laws, and voting rights and shows how the Court strives to have balance and maintain integrity. While recommended for grades 7-12, some basic background or vocabulary would be helpful for readers to comprehend the complexity of each title’s topic.

THOUGHTS: This series is a recommended purchase for secondary libraries, especially high schools. It will be most utilized when students study (or have an interest in) government and its branches and structures.

300s Social Sciences

Literature Review

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Monthly Archives: February 2024

Elem. – There’s a Bear in Your Book

Elem. – Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions

MG/YA – Understanding Disorders

Elem. – Are You Big?

MG/YA – Muzoon: A Syrian Refugee Speaks Out

MG – And Then, Boom!

MG – Intro to Chemistry: Need to Know

YA – Challenges for Democracy (Series NF)