Elem. – Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius: A True Story of An Amazing Swimmer

Posted on February 5, 2024 by pslamediaselectionreview

Cox, Lynne. Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius: A True Story about an Amazing Swimmer. Illustrated by Richard Jones. Anne Schwartz Books, 2023. 978-0-593-42568-8. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-3.

Written by a world famous swimmer, this engaging piece of creative nonfiction is the true tale of a loggerhead turtle’s oceanic journeys. The story begins as the baby turtle hatches from her egg on an Australian beach. After a few days of resting under the sand, the hatchling makes its way to the Indian Ocean with her brothers and sisters, while avoiding nearby predators. The tiny reptile swims all day and night to find a bed of brown algae, which she uses to protect herself and drift on for many months. After five years, the turtle, now the size of a house cat, finds that she has traveled across the Indian Ocean to the southern tip of Africa. One day while searching for food, the animal is caught up in a fishing net, which pulls her down despite her struggles. Fortunately, a fisherman on a boat saw the creature and rescued her from the net. He saw that she had a laceration in her shell and treated the wound. He gave her a name, Yoshi, and took care of her until the shell was healed. Once she was stronger, the fisherman took the loggerhead to an aquarium in Cape Town, where she lived for twenty years. Now that she was an adult, the aquarium staff felt that Yoshi could be returned to the ocean. First, they trained her to swim long distances in the tank alongside two divers, until she had the endurance to swim long distances. The turtle, now as big as a lion, was released with a tracking device. The scientists followed Yoshi’s travels along the west coast of Africa for food, but were surprised when she passed up a Cape Town nesting site and set out east toward Australia. After swimming nearly 23,000 miles over twenty-six months, Yoshi was back home where her life began. After mating with a male loggerhead, she laid her eggs on that very same beach. The text contains figurative language describing the animal’s size over time (“big as a smile,” the size of a house cat,”) and includes an author’s note with a photograph of the real Yoshi, who is still being tracked today. A site with teaching materials is listed. Jones uses paint for his beautiful illustrations, which are digitally edited. The images show seas that are full of life and include maps of the turtle’s journeys.

THOUGHTS: This is an amazing story depicting the tenacity of the loggerhead turtle as it faces predators, currents and other dangers while swimming extremely long distances. Readers will cheer on this remarkable animal as she fights the odds to complete her quest. Yoshi’s story is perfect to use in STEM units and works well as a read-aloud. This is a must-have for all elementary collections.

597.928 Sea Turtles
Picture Book

Elem. – The Whale Who Swam Through Time: A 200-Year-Journey in the Arctic

Posted on February 10, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Boersma, Alex, and Nick Pyenson. The Whale Who Swam Through Time: A 200-Year-Journey in the Arctic. Roaring Brook Press, 2022. 978-1-250-80302-3. Unpaged. $19.99. Grades 1-4.

This amazing nonfiction picture book tells the story of the world’s longest living mammal-the bowhead whale. This remarkable animal spends its entire life in the Arctic Ocean and has a lifespan of two hundred years. In a creative approach, the authors take the reader on a journey from the perspective of a Balaena mysticetus born two centuries ago. As a newborn calf, she and her mother rest undisturbed as they observe a sailing ship quietly making its way through the Northwest Passage. The young one learns from her mother and reaches maturity by age 25 years. As a baleen whale, she feeds by swimming through the water with mouth open, devouring her favorite food-orange copepods. Fifty years later, the bowhead, now with her own calf, encounters a noisy steamship with a crew of whalers. The pair barely escape from a sharp harpoon. At one hundred years of age, the marine mammal faces new threats from both the ocean’s surface and its depths. Noise from oil drills and submarines travels underwater for miles, interfering with whale communication. Today, fifty years later, the bowhead finds that the ocean is warmer, and the ice is receding. There are dangers from propeller blades, plastic flotsam and jetsam, and fishing lines. What will she experience next over the upcoming decades? In the back matter, the authors provide detailed information about the bowhead’s habits and habitat, as well historical background on the Northwest Passage and whaling. Boersma is also the illustrator and uses a variety of media to create fabulous drawings that showcase the whale’s environment and experiences over time. Young readers will be fascinated by this story of a long-living animal that is left with only distant memories of what once was.

THOUGHTS: This picture book will be useful in science and ecology units. It is also a good mentor text for creative nonfiction. A first choice for elementary collections.

599.5276 Whales Denise Medwick, Retired, PSLA Member

Elem. – Hello, World! Kids’ Guides (Series NF)

Posted on January 4, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

McDonald, Jill. Hello, World! Kids’ Guides. Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2022. $15.99 ea. $63.96 set of 4. 32 p. Grades K-4.

Exploring Sharks. 978-0-593-56481-3.
Exploring the Solar System. 978-0-593-48204-9.
Exploring Dinosaurs. 978-0-593-56820-0. (available in 2023)
Exploring Insects. 978-0-593-56823-1. (available in 2023)

This nonfiction selection tours our solar system beginning with the sun. The eight major planets and the known dwarf planets are covered. Each planet has a two-page spread with fun facts, a footer indicating the location of the planet in relation to the rest of the solar system, and a sidebar with statistics. The sidebar info-panels give the size, distance, temperature, length of day and year, and number of moons for each planet, in a consistent and organized format. The text is simple but has enough interesting information to keep young readers intrigued without being overwhelmed. Each spread includes a thought-provoking discussion question. Delightful, bold, brightly colored illustrations add to the fun on this engaging trip through the solar system.

THOUGHTS: A very well organized informational text with plenty of intriguing facts for early elementary students. Varied fonts and the whimsical illustrations give the book a fun and exciting feel. My very favorite part of each two-page planetary information spread are the discussion questions. Some questions are pensive queries about favorite things on Earth, or personal preferences for warm or cold environments. Others are STEAM related questions about cloud colors and day length. These questions have an SEL quality that will enhance scientific discussions in the classroom.

523.2 Astronomical Objects and Astrophysics Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD
500s Science

Elem. – How to Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside

Posted on January 3, 2023 by pslamediaselectionreview

Percival, Kari. How to Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside. Rise x Penguin Workshop, 2022. 978-0-593-22679-7. $17.99. 40 p. Grades PK-1.

Simple storyline and text with adorable silkscreen collage depict a small group of diverse preschool/early elementary students exploring a garden bed. Together the children ask gentle questions about how to plant seeds, how to make mud, and say hello to a worm. As the tiny plants sprout and grow, the children learn how to support and care for different common fruits and vegetables. Their garden is harvested and enjoyed at the end of this delightful book. Additional information on growing your own garden is included for both kids and grown-ups.

THOUGHTS: This title is a cute and quick introduction to gardening; plant life cycle; and exploring dirt, insects, seeds, and growing your own food.

635.083 Domestic Gardening Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD
Picture Book

Elem. – Franz’s Phantasmagorical Machine

Posted on September 12, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Anderson, Beth. Franz’s Phantasmagorical Machine. Kids Can Press, 2022. 978-1-525-30325-8. 32 p. $18.99. Grades K-3.

“Imagine. Discover. Create.” Throughout his childhood, these whispers call to Franz Gsellmann. The words run through his mind even as his parents rely on him to do the more practical work of helping out on the family farm. As Franz busies himself milking cows, gathering eggs, and picking apples, the whispers continue calling to him. One night, many years later, he wakes from a dream with an idea for a fantastical, magical, phantasmagorical machine. Unsure about how to make his dream machine a reality, he draws inspiration from the World’s Fair in Belgium. For the next 23 years, he visits flea markets and junkyards, filling bags and carts with odds and ends of all kinds. He hauls everything back to his workshop where he tinkers in secrecy. When he finally reveals his creation to his family and neighbors, he’s crushed when they don’t understand his vision. They want to know what the machine does, but they miss the point that sometimes, a creation doesn’t need a practical purpose. Some things can be appreciated simply for their artistic beauty, ingenuity, and creativity. Backmatter pages include a brief biography of Franz Gsellmann as well as black and white photos of him with his machine.

THOUGHTS: This title will be a thought-provoking addition to STEAM lessons as it highlights the ideas of perseverance, experimentation, creativity, and optimism. It also draws connections between science and art and shows the value of thinking outside the box. Share this with art teachers too to kickstart units about recycled art or self-taught artists.

621 Applied Physics Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD
Picture Book

Elem. – The Stars: A Gazillion Suns

Posted on January 24, 2022 by pslamediaselectionreview

Perdew, Laura. The Stars: A Gazillion Suns (Picture Book Science). Nomad Press, 2021. 29 p. 978-1-619-30992-0. $9.95. Grades K-3.

This nonfiction picture book introduces the reader to the basic principles about the galaxy and the stars. The book goes over information about the sun in our solar system, how stars are created, why they twinkle, as well as how they end. Throughout the book, there are two extraterrestrial commentators who have silly commentary to the reader, and at the end of the book there is an activity for the reader to complete related to the constellations. There is also a glossary in the back of the book; however, there is no table of contents.

THOUGHTS: This is a great introduction to space and the constellations for a young reader. The addition of the two extraterrestrial commentators is a great choice by the author, and the illustrations add to the charm of the whole book. Highly recommended for an elementary collection.

523.8 Constellations Mary McEndree, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter Academy

Elem. – My Tiny Life by Ruby T. Hummingbird

Posted on September 27, 2021 by pslamediaselectionreview

Meisel, Paul. My Tiny Life by Ruby T. Hummingbird. Holiday House, 2021. 978-0-823-44322-2. 36 p. Grades K-2. $17.99.

This charming picture book is told from the point of view of a hummingbird called Ruby. Written in a diary format, the humorous narrative follows the bird’s life cycle. The story begins with Ruby exiting his tiny egg and looking forward to a tasty meal of insects and nectar delivered by his mother. Soon the small bird begins to fly and finds his own source of food. Ruby needs to learn to defend himself from the other hummingbirds, who also enjoy eating at the flower-shaped feeder. With the arrival of fall, this tiny creature flies to Mexico and makes an exhausting return trip by flying 500 miles nonstop over the Gulf of Mexico. In the spring, Ruby turns his thoughts to finding a mate. The text is sparse, with one or two sentences per page, which allows the pictures to take center stage. Meisel uses watercolors, acrylics, and gouache to create his colorful large scale full bleed illustrations. He does an excellent job showing the motion of the hummingbird’s fast beating wings and its amazing aviation skills, as the birds go up, down, backwards and even upside down. The author includes facts about these feathered friends on the front endpapers and in the back matter and gives helpful comparisons to allow readers to imagine their actual size.

THOUGHTS: Children will enjoy poring over the drawings as they read about this interesting animal. They may want to check out other books in Meisel’s “A Nature Diary” series to learn about the praying mantis, the bluebird and the always popular stink bug. This book is a worthwhile addition to elementary collections as a good resource for science units, as a mentor text for point of view, and creative nonfiction and for just plain enjoyment.

598.764, Hummingbirds Denise Medwick, Retired, PSLA Member

Elem. – Kate’s Light: Kate Walker at Robbins Reef Lighthouse

Posted on July 6, 2021 by pslamediaselectionreview

Spires, Elizabeth. Kate’s Light: Kate Walker at Robbins Reef Lighthouse. Margaret Ferguson Books, 2021. 978-0-8234-4348-2. 40pp. $18.99. Gr 3-5.

This picture book biography features Kate Walker, a German immigrant who was one of the first women on the Eastern Seaboard to be put in charge of an offshore lighthouse. Kate took responsibility for the Robbins Reef lighthouse in New York Bay when her husband, John, passed away. For more than 30 years, she carried out the grueling daily tasks of caring for and cleaning the light and siren, performing water rescues, and tending the light ‘round the clock. Although life wasn’t always easy, and was at times very lonely, Kate discovered life in the lighthouse also had its rhythms and its advantages, such as being able to watch the Statue of Liberty’s dedication through binoculars from the catwalk. Emily Arnold McCully’s watercolor and pen and ink illustrations, featuring mostly blues, greens, and grays, beautifully capture the constantly changing weather and water around the lighthouse. Two pages at the end of the book provide additional factual information about Kate and the challenges and obstacles she overcame during her 33 years at Robbins Reef. Primary source photographs also allow readers to glimpse real images of Kate going about her work in the lighthouse.

THOUGHTS: Pair with Sophie Blackall’s Hello Lighthouse for a nautical-themed storytime. Or, use both texts together for a fiction and nonfiction compare-and-contrast discussion. This would also be an excellent addition to women’s history units.

Picture Book Biography Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Posted on May 6, 2021 by pslamediaselectionreview

Weatherford, Carole Boston. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Atheneum, 2020. 978-1-534-45228-2. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-3.

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, is introduced to a new generation in this vibrant picture book. While this biography is brief, it succeeds in conveying the essence of Franklin’s life. The oil paint illustrations by Frank Morrison draw readers into the story, their richness implying the importance of her family, faith, community and music. The rhyming couplets on each two-page spread succinctly summarize aspects of Franklin’s history, the rhyme scheme unifying the book. Understandably, the abbreviated format does not allow for deeper exploration of her life, and no mention is made of darker events such as her parents’ separation, her mother’s death before Aretha was 10 years old, or the children she bore at age 12 and 14. (The information about her parents is mentioned in the Author’s Note following the story text.) The book accomplishes its intended purpose beautifully, celebrating the life of a revered talent. Hopefully a nearby adult will pair a reading of the book with an introduction to Franklin’s glorious music.

THOUGHTS: A lush, inspiring introduction to a musical icon and activist. With a motion picture biography slated for release in August 2021, this could be a timely purchase.

Picture Book Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor SD

Elem. – Over and Under the Rainforest

Posted on March 4, 2021 by pslamediaselectionreview

Messner, Kate. Over and Under the Rainforest. Chronicle Books, 2020. 978-1-452-16940-8. Unpaged. $18.99. Grades K-3.

Following up Over and Under the Snow and Over and Under the Pond Messner explores the rainforest both high and low. Christopher Silas Neal’s artwork, overwhelming the pages in luscious saturated shades of green, draws the reader into the forest along with the young narrator and her guide. Above is a world of monkeys, insects, and birds. Colorful toucans, flit among the branches. Capuchin and howler monkeys and sloths move through the leafy growth. Below are critters and creatures, both cute and deadly: agoutis and crocodiles, anteaters and spiders. As the day wanes, the rainforest fades to purples, creatures of the night emerge, and the young narrator heads for home, Abuelita and supper. Messner’s informative text never overwhelms the reader. Facts are lovingly wrapped in description to evoke life in the rainforest.

THOUGHTS: Messner never disappoints, and this book will be a solid addition to any elementary collection, useful as a read-aloud or with a classroom curriculum.