Book review: A Day in the Life of an Astronaut, Mars, and the Distant Stars, by Mike Barfield, illustrated by Jess Bradley

Barfield, Mike. A Day in the Life of an Astronaut, Mars, and the Distant Stars. Illustrated by Jess Bradley. Aladdin, 2023. $16.99. ISBN 9781534489219. 120 pgs. Ages 9-12. P9Q9

Open this graphic non-fiction book and plunge into a trip across the galaxy! Full of comic style graphics, this book does not have to be read from the beginning. Instead, one can open to any page and dig in! The book is split into three sections: The Solar System, Outer Space, and Space Travel, and all sections contain facts from anthropomorphic space items.There are ‘secret diary’ entries from things like the sun, a hairy star (Halley’s Comet), a space monkey and more. Another recurring entry is the “A Day in the Life of” featuring all sorts of things including a black hole, the golden record onboard NASA’s Voyager 1 space probe, and many other interesting items. The targeted audience will especially appreciate the spotlight on space poo!

Verdict: A must for both the library and the classroom. This book can be used as a resource full of facts on space, and also an enjoyable book to browse through for hours. Students will appreciate the humor and cartoon characters, and teachers will appreciate the tons of facts to learn.

Review by Denyse Marsh.

Book review: Unicorn Riding Camp, by Sarah Kilbride

Kilbride, Sarah. Unicorn Riding Camp. (Princess Evie series). Aladdin, 2021. 91 pages. $17.99. ISBN 9781534476318. Ages 6-9. P6 Q6

It would be so much fun to have your very own unicorn! After Evie and her pony Diamond arrive home from galloping along the mountain ridge, an invitation to the Unicorn Riding Camp arrives. Evie gets on Diamond and heads toward a tunnel of trees and bam! they are in Cloud Kingdom. Upon entering Cloud Kingdom, Diamond instantly has a unicorn horn and Evie has gleaming new clothes. Evie meets up with Skye and her unicorn, Jewel. Evie and Skye head toward the Great Hall where they encounter the “sunshine girls,” who end up being girls who they want to say away from. When the sunshine girls do not treat their unicorns well, chaos ensues. Professor Nimbus offers the girls support to solve a mystery that involves being stranded on Cloud Island. Will the friends be able to help? This simple chapter book is made up of seven short chapters, with 10-20 pages each. The medium sized text has extra space between sentences. The grayscale illustrations are dainty and detailed. The end matter contains Pony Facts & Activities, which encourage children to choose how to ride a pony step-by-step. There are also unicorn facts, and pony words children can unscramble.

Verdict: Children will learn from Evie how to be strong and a good friend. The theme of the short chapter book is teamwork, which is shown while Evie and her friends take care of their unicorns. This would be a good beginning chapter book for readers who are transitioning from picture books to chapter books.

Review by Harris.

Book review: The Forest Fairy Pony, by Sarah Kilbride

Kilbride, Sarah. The Forest Fairy Pony. (Princess Evie series). Aladdin, 2021. $17.99. ISBN 9781534476288. 94 pages. Ages 6-9. P6 Q6  

It is not easy to go to a new school. This short chapter book is written in third person and follows Evie as she goes to a new school. Evie is not looking forward to wearing a uniform and starting a new school. In the Bluebell Forest, Evie and her friend Willow have adventures that involve wands, woods and new and old friends. However, events do not go as planned.  The text includes spells that resemble rhyming poems but are actually riddles to solve. Will Evie be able to solve the riddle and come up with the spell? Since this book is in a series, it refers to activities that Evie has done in the past with her fairy friends. The table of contents describes the 9 chapters, which average 10 pages each. Gray scale drawings match the adventure Evie and her pony take. Words that Evie says are in italics. Even though the illustrations are gray scale, they look dainty and comforting. The end pages include Pony Facts & activities. There is also a page with information about Evie, Willow, pony colors, true-false questions, and phoenix facts.

Verdict: This easy to read, short chapter book contains gently magical tales of ponies, fairies and faraway lands. The theme of new friends, teamwork, trying new activities by taking it slow and together, are emphasized. This short chapter book is sure to please pony, fairy, and magic lovers. Due to the lack of bright colored illustrations, not all children will gravitate towards it.

Review by Harris.

Book review: Joe Biden: Our 46th President, by Beatrice Gormley

Gormley, Beatrice. Joe Biden: Our 46^th President. Aladdin, 2021. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-5344-7932-6. 252p. Ages 10-12. P5Q7

Fifteen chapters describe the political and personal life of Joe Biden, born in 1942, through his election as president in 2020 when he was 78 years old. Particularly useful to younger readers might be the struggles of  his younger life—small size, stuttering, poverty, and bad grades. It stresses his desire to participate in politics and his loyalty to family members and covers his consideration of dropping out of Congress after his first wife and daughter died in a car crash. Later, his beloved son Beau died of cancer. Biden is known for several tries at the presidency  his prior to his recent victory.

Verdict: The author includes inserts about political issues such as Supreme Court appointments, civil rights, and Reagan economics which might be difficult for the designated audience to understand. Although dismissing charges of his possible sexual harassment and his verbal mistakes, Gormley addresses his earlier positions against marriage equality and in favor of strict enforcement on crime which have evolved.

Informational books 2020-2021, review by Nel Ward.

Book review: Snail’s Silly Adventures, by Mary Peterson

Peterson, Mary. Snail’s Silly Adventures. Aladdin, 2020. 125 pages. $19.99. ISBN 9781534463455. Ages 6-9. P7 Q7

If you like Snail, you are in luck. This chapter book has two snail stories. In the first story, Snail loves his bucket, but is forced outside his bucket. On his adventure to find Ladybug, he meets a gopher and a rabbit and explores the garden. In the second story, Snail loves his bucket and strawberries! Ladybug encourages a reluctant Snail to try something new. When Snail throws up from eating too many strawberries, he takes Ladybug’s advice to try something new. Ladybug has a list of places to visit written on a leaf. She carries the leaf from page to page, crossing off each place they visit.

This short chapter book is valuable for emergent readers due to the simple text and a somewhat engaging story line.  Vocabulary is explained along the way, such as “what is a chicken coop?” “A house for chickens.” The format of words in speaking bubbles and the story being narrated along the way break up the text and make it easier for readers. The addition of synonyms will increase the reader’s vocabulary. The illustrations are large and colorful. Growing up on a farm provided inspiration for the illustrations. This “graphic novel chapter book” is more of a beginning chapter book than a graphic novel. The glossy illustrations carry the book. The two stories were previously published individually under the titles Snail Has Lunch and Snail Finds a Home.

Verdict: If you are looking for a simple book for emergent readers, you will find this book valuable. Colors are highlighted, Ladybug makes a list, words are in speaking bubbles and objects are labeled. I can see adults reading this book with children and pointing out the objects and reading the words under them. I do not think this is a book that children will read over and over, but children will enjoy Snail’s journey and learn things along the way.

December 2020 review by Harris.

Book review: All Except Axle, by Sue Lowell Gallion, illustratd by Lisa Manuzak Wiley

Gallion, Sue Lowell. All Except Axle. Illustrated by Lisa Manuzak Wiley. Aladdin, 2020. Unpaged.  $17.99. ISBN 9781534440227. Ages 4-8. P7 Q7

Axle has so much anxiety that he is not able to participate in the tasks that the other cars do. Each page tells what the cars are doing and then writes “all except Axle.”  Earlene and her passengers are waiting for, you guessed it… Axle. Instead of becoming impatient, Earlene takes Axle under her wing and provides extra practice to give him confidence. Soon the roles reverse and Earlene needs Axle’s help. Will Axle be ready when Earlene needs him? Includes fun car puns such as “I think you are stalling.” Colorful illustrations on glossy pages make the cars seem lifelike. The cars talk and are illustrated in various colors with expressive eyes and mouthes (grills). The illustrations match the text.

Verdict: The setting of a car plant is fun for children who like cars. Children who feel anxious will be able to relate to Axle. Earlene models patience and shows children that with practice and exposure, one can become more proficient and more confident. I enjoyed the car humor and fun illustrations.

December 2020 review by Harris.

Book review: Where the Dragons Live, by Serena Geddes

Geddes, Serena. Where the Dragons Live. Aladdin, 2020. Unpaged.  $17.99. ISBN 9781481498760. Ages 4-8. P7 Q7

We often secretly worry about fitting in. Ramus leaves his friend Rosie to fly to an island where other dragons live. Ramus is excited to meet other dragons, but his excitement soon fades when he realizes that the dragons like to kick rocks, bare their claws, blow fire and roar loudly. They make fun of him for being small, not having horns and being different. Ramus practices and tries to be like the big dragons. His friend Rosie comes to his island and helps him realize that he is enough, just as he is. A little purple dragon witnesses it all. Will the little dragon be his friend? Soft illustrations with expressive facial features show the bigger dragons with frowns, breathing fire, and terrorizing each other. Ramus is shown with tears and a range of expressions such as sad, angry and happy. Illustrations lead the story.

Sequel to Rosie and Rasmus.

Verdict: Successful book on being one’s true self, an upstander and coming alongside others. Nice read aloud since the illustrations are so expressive. Children who like dinosaurs will enjoy the beautiful illustrations.

December 2020 review by Harris.

Book review: Vinny Gets a Job, by Terry Brodner

Brodner, Terry. Vinny Gets a Job. Aladdin, 2020. $18.00. ISBN 9781534413566. Unpaged. Ages 4-8. P7 Q6

What happens when a dog tries to get a job? Follow Vinny as he looks for a job, just like his human mom has. Vinny dresses up as a human and tries to get a job at a restaurant, flower shop, and a museum. True to a dog’s nature, Vinny accomplishes the jobs just as a dog would and the results are comical. Most of the illustrations are large and feature Vinny, however there are a few pages that show a map of Vinny’s neighborhood that are more detailed and may be hard for children to see all the details if it is read to a large group.

Verdict: Dogs have an important job to do, even if the job doesn’t look like a human’s job. I read this to a second-grade class and they asked why the business owners did not know that he was a dog and how could the dog talk to humans. The message of dogs being themselves is comforting and shows the value of a dog for a pet.

February 2021 review by Harris.

Book review: Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert, is a Detective Genius, by Morag Hood, illustrated by Ella Okstad

Hood, Morag. Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert, is a Detective Genius. Illustrated by Ella Okstad.(Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert series). Aladdin, 2020. $17.99. ISBN 9781534467545. Unpaged. Ages 4-8. P7 Q7

Sophie Johnson is a budding detective genius. There has been a crime and she is determined to find the criminal. Bella, her dog sidekick, tries to give her hints, but Sophie is too busy arresting suspects, taking finger prints and solving the crime to notice. Bella designs a quite elaborately detailed design to catch the criminal while Sophie is distracted performing “detective” activities. Sophie’s confidence in the face of her obliviousness as to what is going on is comical and allows for a parallel story to unfold. The illustrations are linear across the page, providing a lot of details to look at. Some of my favorite details include the detective themed titles on the books and the “I love unicorn” poster on the wall. The text is written in large, clear font that is easy to read, with some words being bold. The large illustrations are rainbow themed. Of course, there is a white unicorn with rainbow hair and rainbow dots around it. This is book 2 out of 3. Book one is Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert and Sophie Johnson, is a Sports Star is due to come out soon.

Verdict: This picture book celebrates all things rainbow, unicorns, and humor! Detective strategies are incorporated for the budding detective. While there are a lot of details to look at, it would still be a fun read aloud. I have ordered the whole series for our elementary school library.

December 2020 review by Harris.

Book review: Little Leo, by Farnaz Eshaashari, illustrated by Hedvig Haggman-Sund

Esnaashari, Farnaz. Little Leo. Illustrated by Hedvig Haggman-Sund. Aladdin, 2020. $17.99. ISBN 9781534446106. Unpaged. Ages 4-8. P7 Q7

Little Leo is full of confidence as he practices his jumps. However, he is just learning and has a few false starts. When the little lion does not make it up the cliff, he makes up small excuses as to why he didn’t complete the jump. Little Leo has a heart shaped patch on his forehead, which is endearing and his facial features accurately portray his feelings.  The large animated illustrations showing Little Leo trying to jump onto the rocky ledge. Little Leo has confidence and believes that his mom is interested and supportive. This picture book comes from the creators of the Netflix hit series, Shimmer and Shine. The end contains the story behind the story. When the author’s son told her he was giving up on learning, she informed him that failure is just practice on our way to success. She felt that by writing this book it would help other parents have conversations that are hard for them to have.

Verdict: This sweet book highlights perseverance, not giving up and parent support. I read this to a class of second graders and they specifically enjoyed the expressions on the Little Leo’s face. It also allowed students to interact and guess if Leo would make the jump or not. Students like the fact that Leo did not give up. One student even brought out the fact that we can learn from experiences when they do not go the way we think they will.

December 2020 review by Harris.