Book review: Your Friend, Parker, by Parker Curry and Jessica Curry, illustrated by Brittany Jackson and Tajae Keith

Curry, Parker, and Jessica Curry. Your Friend, Parker. Illustrated by Brittany Jackson and Tajae Keith. (Ready to read series). Simon Spotlight, 2022. Unpaged. $17.99. ISBN 9781665902595. Ages 5-6. P8Q8

This Level One Ready to Read story features Parker Curry, the six year old New York Times bestselling author who wrote Parker Looks Up. In this autobiographical story Parker and her family are headed on a road trip, and Parker decides to write letters to her best friend Gia as she travels. Parker writes of traveling to Georgia and New Mexico. Included are details of going to an aquarium and attending a lantern festival. The backmatter features “A Friendship of Two Writers: Zora Neale Hurston and Dorothy West,” two writers from the Harlem Renaissance who were  friends and enjoyed writing letters to each other. The last paragraph encourages the reader to write their own letter to a friend.

Verdict: A book for both the library and K-1 classroom. Young students will appreciate the easy sight words and the story line. Teachers can use this as an introduction to letter writing.

Book review by Denyse Marsh.

Book review: The Winter Bird, by Kate Banks, illustrated by Suzie Mason

Banks, Kate. The Winter Bird. Illustrated by Suzie Mason. Candlewick Press, 2022. Unpaged. $18.99. ISBN 9781536215687. Ages 3-7. P8Q9

The Winter Bird is a beautifully illustrated picture book with an endearing message of friendship and perseverance. All the spring birds are headed south for the winter, except the nightingale, who has a broken wing. Being left behind brings many emotions including fear and sadness. Forest animals including an owl, a rabbit, and other winter birds all show up to help the nightingale survive its first winter. The nightingale, while unfamiliar with surviving a winter, does know how to sing and starts with a song of winter’s woes, that turns into a song of winter’s wonders.

Verdict: This sweet gentle story would make a great story time book which could be coupled with a craft of making winter bird feeders. I can see teachers using this book when talking about the importance of kindness and helping others. It could also be a great book to introduce birds that migrate vs birds that are equipped to survive in cold environments.

Review by Denyse Marsh.

Book review: Friends, by Daniela Sosa

Sosa, Daniela. Friends. Simon and Schuster, 2022. Unpaged. $18.99. ISBN 978-1-6659-1147-4. Ages 3-9. P5 Q6

Friends is a short book that introduces concepts of friendship to the young reader. Beautiful illustrations, easy to read text, and sturdy pages make this a book that a young reader would find engaging and enjoyable. The ups and downs of friendship throughout life are spoken of in simple and easy to read sentences for beginning readers. 

Verdict: A book that shares the lessons of friendship and could be used as a conversation starter about social situations that every young child faces. The message of the book is one every child can relate to. The lower reading level text and easily decodable words make this an easier book for struggling readers to read to themselves. The illustrations are bright and show a diverse group of children.

Review by Michelle Cottrell.

Book review: Bea by the Sea, by Jo Byatt

Byatt, Jo. Bea by the Sea. Child’s Play, 2021. ISBN 9781786284693. Unpaged. Ages 3-8. P8Q9

Who doesn’t like going to the beach? Bea! Thus begins a sweet picture book about little lion-loving Bea, a small black girl with adorable pony tails crowning her head. Bea is crazy about lions and wants to spend all day in her lion world. Lion books, sheets, curtains, backpack and towels surround this little girl. When Mom announces a beach day, Bea is quick to voice her concerns, especially her dislike of sand. Nevertheless, off they go, and the story unfolds showing how Bea learns to have fun in a new situation. A story that begins with a love of lions, as evidenced in the first endpapers filled with lion facts, ends with an appreciation of sand, finishing with fun sand facts at the back.

Verdict: a great book for preschool and early elementary classrooms, as well as the picture book section of the library Parents will appreciate a book to share with young children who are reluctant to try new things. 

February 2021 review by Denyse Marsh.

Book review: The Friendship Book, by Wendy L. Moss

Moss, Wendy L. The Friendship Book. Magination Press, 2021. $15.99. 143 pages. ISBN 9781433832291. Ages 9-12. P7 Q8

We all want friends, but unfortunately, it not always easy to make friends. This book explores what youth are looking for in a friendship, how to make friends, consent, perseverance, how to be an upstander, forgiveness, social media and much more. Included are quizzes, quiz results, scenarios, what would you do, check lists, call to action, reflection questions, making observations, and getting started. Each chapter is broken up by the above sections and includes bullet points and text in circles, which helps breaks down the information. The format is highly successful. The quizzes are relatable and include situations youth may find themselves in.

Verdict: Youth who want to make friends or understand friendships will find this book valuable. This book is more like a guidebook that is easy to read, engaging and allows one to reflect on what they want in a friend.  Teachers, parents, counselors can use this book to support youth in their friendships or youth can read it on their own. The subjects relate to youth today and no matter what their friendship status is, they will glean something from this book. I highly recommend.

February 2021 review by Harris.

Book review: Letters from Maisy, by Lucy Cousins

Cousins, Lucy. Letters from Maisy. Candlewick Press, 2020. $14.99. ISBN 9781536212938. Unpaged. Ages 3-6 P9Q9

Maisy, the adorable mouse, is back! This sweet book follows Maisy on vacation as she writes letters to her friends from each destination. The end pages start and end this sweet picturebook with Maisy on an airplane. As one reads the story, they encounter every other page with an envelope into which little hands can reach in and pull out a letter Maisy has sent to a friend, sharing her adventures. One of the stops takes Masiy makes is to a Market where she finds a beautiful fan which she sends in a letter to her friend Ella. The pages of the book are made with thick sturdy paper to withstand the attention this book will certainly get when put into a young reader’s hands. The last letter is to the reader, and includes a Maisy postcard ready for the reader friend.

Verdict: A great book for young readers and a wonderful introduction to the joy of letter writing/receiving. ​

September 2020 review by Denyse Marsh.

Book review: Pumpkinheads, written by Rainbow Rowell, illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks, color by Sarah Stern

Rowell, Rainbow. Pumpkinheads. Illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks. Color by Sarah Stern. First Second, 2019. $17.99. 211p. ISBN 978-1-62672-162-3. Ages 12-15. P8Q9

“Seasonal” best friends Deja and Josiah (Josie) work together each fall at the world’s best pumpkin patch, getting together on September 1 and going their separate paths on Halloween. To celebrate their last season for the high school seniors, Deja wants to show Josiah the sights of the autumn jamboree rather than working at the succotash hut. As Deja tries to get Josie to talk to his crush, they rush through the pumpkin patch fair in a series of adventures until Josie has a conversation with the girl of his dreams whose reality doesn’t match his imagination.

Verdict: Hicks’ artwork is filled with activity and fits well with a cartoon style for the frequently awkward characters, and Rowell’s complex characters include Deja’s bisexuality. An outside rural setting sets this refreshing graphic novel apart from many others of its genre, and the gradual leading up to a romance leaves a satisfying conclusion. An enjoyable debut graphic novel from Rowell mixed with the detailed autumn universe from Eisner Award-winner Hicks.

May 2020 review by Nel Ward.

Book review: The Same But Different Too, by Karl Newson, illustrated by Kate Hindley

Newson, Karl. The Same But Different Too. Illustrated by Kate Hindley. Nosy Crow, 2019. $16.99. ISBN 9781536212013. Unpaged. Ages 3-6. P7 Q7

Children often think that they have to be the same as their friends to be accepted. Follow several racially diverse children as they compare themselves with various animals to see how their preferences are the same or differ.  Includes comparison words such as above and below, fast and slow. The last page has one of the characters sleeping with all the animals that are in the book. This adorable picture book can be used to compare and contrast and to start a conversation about individuality. The oversized illustrations with great facial expressions are done in pencil and colored digitally.

Verdict: Exploring all the ways we are the same and different helps children develop connections with others and celebrate their individuality. This sweet picture book will help children realize that it is okay to be the same and different from others. The large font and oversized illustrations make this a great read-aloud. I highly recommend this book.

April 2020 review by Tami Harris.

Book review: The More We Get Together, by Celeste Cortright, illustrated by Betania Zacarias, sung by Audra Mariel and Kena Anae

Cortright, Celeste. The More We Get Together. Illustrated by Betania Zacarias. Sung by Audra Mariel & Kena Anae. Barefoot Books, 2020. $9.99 ISBN 9781782859321. Unpaged. Ages 4-8. P8 Q8 

New and updated words to a familiar song will keep children entertained and inspire them to connect with others. The lyrics teach children how to work together, make connections, help others, recycle, write letters, share ideas, and spread joy. The end matter instructs children how to connect and make the world a better place. The  “Ways to make a difference” section offers ideas such as saving fuel, giving back, recycling, and activism.  The “community activities” section shares about community gardens and potlucks. The “all about teamwork” section explains what teamwork is and includes three activities. The vibrant illustrations were prepared in acrylics, wax crayons, pencils and digital collage. The characters are racially diverse and show positive interactions. The illustrations match the text. Includes a CD, sung by Audra Mariel and Kena Anae, so children can sing along and a link to video of the book.

Verdict: Children and adults alike will enjoy this book set to song. The book can be read with or without the cd. The new words make the song meaningful. This could be a theme song in a classroom or used on a unit about caring for one’s community. I highly recommend this book.

April 2020 review by Tami Harris.

Book review: Glitch, by Sarah Graley

Graley, Sarah. Glitch. Graphix, 2019. $14.99.  ISBN 9781338174519. 187 pages. Ages 8-12. P8 Q8

Izzy and Eric are excited for the new video game Dungeon City to come out. They have a weekend of gaming all planned. When Izzy gets home from school, she finds a package with her game in it. Izzy is torn between wanting to play the game and keeping her promise to Eric. Surely it won’t hurt to play just a little bit of the game. The adventure that ensues is much more than what Izzy had anticipated. The pages where Izzy is in the game have black borders around them, making it easier for the reader to tell the present from the video game apart. This graphic novel is LGBTQ inclusive. Eric, Izzy’s friend, uses she/her pronouns and the robot, Rae, uses they/them pronouns. The graphic novel accurately portrays how video games have a tendency to take the place of friendships.

Verdict: Readers will relate to Izzy and how enticing video games are. Twists and turns  will keep readers engaged. I work as a media specialist and I had a few students preview the book. All the students thought it looked engaging and I have a list of students waiting to check it out.

September 2019 review by Tami Harris.