MG/YA – Understanding Disorders

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? 

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

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 – Intro to Chemistry: Need to Know

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)

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

MG/YA – Cyberattacks and Cyberscams: Is There an End in Sight?

Stephan, Jennifer. Cyberattacks and Cyberscams: Is There an End in Sight? ReferencePoint Press, 2023. $33.05. Grades 6-12.

Unfortunately, avoiding phishers and scammers has become part of everyday life for those who are connected to technology. Cyberattacks and Cyberscams: Is There an End in Sight? offers an introduction (Cyberscams and Cyberattacks Surge) followed by five chapters – Cyberscams, Ransomware Attacks, Nation-State Attacks, Defending Against Scams and Attacks, and What More Can Be Done? Viewpoints are included in the text such as Ransomware Payments Should Be Banned vs. Ransomware Payments Should Not Be Banned, making this title a solid choice for researchers to gather information. Some basic background or vocabulary would be helpful for readers to comprehend the complex technology jargon. Colorful photographs, section headings, and call out boxes enhance the text. Additional backmatter includes Source Notes, Organizations and Websites, For Further Research, and an Index. Though the protect yourself section is brief, its mention of utilizing secure passwords on all devices may encourage readers to think twice before using basic, easily compromised passwords.

THOUGHTS: Though timely, this title may become quickly outdated. Recommended for secondary libraries with a need for updated books on technology crimes.

364.16 Offenses Against Property

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

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. – Home is Calling: The Journey of the Monarch Butterfly

Pryor, Katherine. Home is Calling: The Journey of the Monarch Butterfly. Worthy Kids, 2023. 978-1-546-00313-7. $17.99. 40 p. Grades K-3.

Every year as fall descends on North America, monarch butterflies migrate to their winter home in Mexico. Though this generation of butterflies has never been to Mexico, they instinctively know the path toward their mountain forest winter-home. The monarchs’ journey is detailed in this gentle nonfiction picture book. As the butterflies head south they encounter difficulties including bad weather and stretches of green where no nourishing flowers exist. Some individual butterflies do not make it to their final destination. When the swarm arrives they expect to find a forest, but the trees have been stripped. In the distance the monarchs spot a flicker of orange in a grove of trees and recognize they have found their ancestral home. The butterflies will be safe here until the next generation of monarchs begin the first leg of the journey north in the spring. Bright and beautiful illustrations by Ellie Peterson depict the 3,000 mile journey with incredible detail. End pages include drawings of the anatomy and life cycle of a butterfly, as well as a map of the migration path. Also included are child-friendly explanations of the threats faced by the monarch population and ways to get involved to help save the monarchs and their habitats. 

THOUGHTS: The simple yet detailed explanation of the migratory pattern of monarch butterflies will be appealing to younger elementary aged students. 

595.78 Moths and Butterflies

Elem. – Fungi Grow

Gianferrari, Maria. Fungi Grow. Beach Lane Books, 2023. 978-1-665-90365-3. 40 p. $18.99. Grades 2-5. 

Fungi grow all around us, and this book introduces readers to their mysterious world. Fungi grow from spores which form threads that spread and create a complex network of roots. Mushrooms are the fruit, and they can be found both above and below ground. The lyrical text is supplemented by fact boxes that share additional information about how spores are spread, how some mushrooms can absorb enough water to crack cement, and how fungi are also used to create antibiotics. The gouache watercolor and digital illustrations include a wide variety of labeled fungi. Additionally, many pages also feature word art visualizations of how spores move and grow, detailing how they puff, plop, poof, sprout, branch, poke, splash, swirl, and multiply. Backmatter includes a warning to never eat wild mushrooms until their identity is confirmed by an expert as well as a glossary and a list of blogs and websites for further reading. Information about how fungi help the environment, fun fungi facts, and a diagram of the fungi life cycle are also featured. 

THOUGHTS: There are many books about the life cycles of animals and plants, but this title will fill gaps about how other living things grow, change, and impact the environment. This is a visually interesting title to browse, or share it with science-loving students.  

579.5 Fungi

Elem. – What’s Inside a Caterpillar Cocoon? and Other Questions About Moths and Butterflies

Ignotofsky, Rachel. What’s Inside a Caterpillar Cocoon? and Other Questions About Moths and Butterflies. Crown Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-593-17657-3. 40 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

Although libraries may already have several titles about the life cycles of butterflies, this book stands out thanks to its stunning illustrations and visually appealing layout. Simple sentences compare and contrast butterflies and moths and share interesting information, such as the fact that these animals have been flying the earth since the time of the dinosaurs. Clearly labeled diagrams explain the four life stages of butterflies and moths: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult. Additional descriptions also walk readers through the changes that occur inside a butterfly chrysalis and a moth cocoon. Full-page images of the animals’ anatomy highlight their similarities and differences, and captions describe how their wing patterns help the insects camouflage themselves or confuse potential predators. Readers will linger over the beautiful illustrations, featuring many shades of green, yellow, and orange. Varied typefaces, labels, and speech bubbles break the text into easy-to-digest segments. The final page features suggested extension activities such as visiting local national parks to find out what kinds of butterflies and moths live nearby, adding plants to your yard to attract pollinators, and visiting a natural history museum to see butterfly and moth specimens up close. 

THOUGHTS: This is one of the most eye-catching nonfiction titles I’ve ever seen. Not only will readers return for the poster-quality illustrations, but they will also be hooked by the inviting and conversational textual layout. 

595.78 Moths and Butterflies