A nest In Springtime: a bilingual book of numbers by Belle Yang

A nest In Springtime: a bilingual book of numbers, Belle Yang, candlewick, 2012

Format: Board Book

Rating: 1-5 (5 is excellent or a Starred review) 3

 Genre:  Board Book

What did you like about the book?  I liked that this simple counting book in English and Mandarin packs so much into its short format.  It can be used as a simple counting book as we count the goose eggs and then the hatched goslings.  It can also be used for ESL or for students learning Mandarin.  The last pages of the book provide pinyin pronunciations and an introduction to Mandarin’ Chinese’s four “pitched tones.”

What didn’t you like about the book? Nothing

To whom would you recommend this book? I would recommend this book for children with English as a Second Language as well as students learning Mandarin.

 Who should buy this book?  Public libraries with a need for simple English/Mandarin titles.

Where would you shelve it and why?  Board books due to the format.

Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Not especially.

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City:  Catherine Coyne, The Ames Free Library, Easton

Date of review: 5/26/12

Mrs. Noodlekugel by Daniel Pinkwater

Mrs. Noodlekugel, Daniel Pinkwater, Candlewick, 2012

Format: Fiction

Rating: 1-5 (5 is excellent or a Starred review) 4

 Genre:  Fiction

What did you like about the book?  The cover of this book caught my eye since it reminded me of the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle series that I loved in my childhood.  The story is just as fun as the illustrations by Adam Stower.  Mrs. Noodlekugel lives in a little house boxed in by highrise apartment buildings.  Nick and Maxine decide to visit her and find a magical world with a talking cat and scampering mice that help bake.  Anything, it seems, can happen with Mrs. Noodlekugel! This is a wonderful early fiction story for children just moving up from easy readers.

What didn’t you like about the book? Not a thing.

To whom would you recommend this book? This would be perfect for children just moving beyond the easy readers.  It has short chapters, large text and lots of black and white illustrations. 

 Who should buy this book? Public libraries and elementary school libraries

Where would you shelve it and why?  I would shelf this in my “Chapter Book” area which has books for children in grades 1 – 3.

Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes, if you are looking for an example of a short book filled with magic and adventure!

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City:  Catherine Coyne, The Ames Free Library, Easton

Date of review: 5/26/12

Squish: The Power of the Parasite (#3 in the series) by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm

Squish: The Power of the Parasite (#3 in the series) by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm. Random House, 2012.

Format:  Graphic, novel

Rating: 5

Genre:  Science Fiction

What did you like about the book? It’s funny, there’s a non-preachy story line about bullying, there is a small science experiment at the end and the main character is an amoeba.

What didn’t you like about the book? NA

To whom would you recommend this book?  (Read-alikes if you can think of them) Kids in grades 8 and under who like superhero books, especially boys; Babymouse fans.

Who should buy this book?  Middle school and elementary school libraries and public libraries.

Where would you shelve it and why? A prominent display in children’s comics.

Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes, it’s a quick and funny read.

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Stephanie Tournas, Lucius Beebe Memorial Library, Wakefield, MA.

Date of review: May 24, 2012

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen

Chomp by Carl Hiaasen, Alfred A. Knopf, 2012

Format: Picture, Book, Fiction Graphic, novel, Non-Fiction, Paperback
Fiction

Rating: 1-5 (5 is excellent or a Starred review) 4.5 Stars

Genre:  Fantasy, Mystery, Adventure, Science Fiction, Non-Fiction, etc.

What did you like about the book?
Mickey Cray and his high school age son Wahoo, named for a wrestler not the
fish, are animal wranglers in the Florida Everglades. They are hired to help
with the production of the Untamed Channel’s smash hit show Expedition
Survival!
The host, Derek Badger, a pot-bellied impostor of a survivalist believes
his own studio biography and thinks he can put the “real back in reality
television.” What ensues involves multiple failed attempts by Badger to be
heroic and brave for the camera with a variety of animals and reptiles from
Alice the semi-tame alligator to a Mastiff bat that does some painful damage
to the television star.  Anyone who enjoys watching The Animal Planet or The
Discovery Channel will love this book.
A sub-plot involving a classmate of Wahoo who comes along because of her
drunken father’s abuse adds more excitement to an already full plot but you
have to love Tuna Gordon and how she spouts the scientific name for every
creature they encounter along the way.
This is a laugh-out-loud book and middle school students as well as high
school students will enjoy Chomp.

What didn’t you like about the book?
Not a thing

To whom would you recommend this book?  (Read-alikes if you can think of
them)
Fans of Carl Hiassen’s Hoot will enjoy this book, as would anybody who
enjoys a good spoof!

Who should buy this book? (Middle schools, high schools, small libraries,
all libraries, etc.)
Middle and High School Libraries and Public Libraries and parents who want
to share the book with their kids

Where would you shelve it and why?
Fiction in the Young Adult or Middle Grade section

Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles?
Absolutely!

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City:
Maria Touet, Pope John XXIII High School, Everett, MA
Date of review:

May 24, 2012

Rush for the Gold: Mystery at the Olympics by John Feinstein

Rush for the Gold: Mystery at the Olympics by John Feinstein, Knopf 2012

Format: Picture, Book, Fiction Graphic, novel, Non-Fiction, Paperback

Rating: 4

Genre:  Sports mystery

What did you like about the book? I am a huge fan of Stevie and Susan Carol.  This is another great mystery.  Most of the story focuses on Susan Carol and her frustrations with sponsors and their obsession with physical beauty.  The actual mystery doesn’t unfold until the last half of the book but the story still has plenty of momentum.  The Olympic details are fantastic.  The resolution was acceptably cheesy and sweet.  Feinstein’s characters are wonderfully young and wide-eyed in the face of immorality.

What didn’t you like about the book? The end wrapped up a little too quickly, but I still enjoyed it.

To whom would you recommend this book?  Anyone who enjoys the other Stevie & Susan Carol mysteries and anyone who loves the Olympics, especially swimming.  This story can be read alone or as part of the series.

Who should buy this book? A necessary addition to any library this spring as we look forward to the Olympics this summer!  I’d recommend it to middle and young high school students…

Where would you shelve it and why?
YA fiction… possibly Children’s if your collection goes up to 6th or 7th grade.

Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles?
It’s not necessary unless you love the genre.

Sharon Colvin
chelmsford Public Library
May 27, 2012 

Black Gold: The Story of Oil in our lives by Albert Marrin

Black Gold: The Story of Oil in our lives – Albert Marrin,  Alfred A. Knopf, 2012.

Format: Non-fiction

Rating: 3.5

Genre:  Non-Fiction science, history and social science

What did you like about the book? A complete history of oil is presented from its appearance in ancient times to its dominance as a world resource today.

To whom would you recommend this book?  To Middle and High schoolers looking for report information or just curiosity about black gold.

Who should buy this book? Middle schools, high schools, small and large libraries

Where would you shelve it and why? Non-fiction 500s, 300s or 900s-

Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles?  Very, very interesting, well-done, great for reports

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Katrina Yurenka, Gardner High School

Date of review:  5/21/2012.

Gil Marsh by A.C.E. Bauer

Gil Marsh by A.C.E. Bauer, Random House, 2012

Format: Hardcover

Rating: 1-5 (5 is excellent or a Starred review) 2

Genre:  Contemporary retelling of Gilgamesh

What did you like about the book?  I liked the epic, mythic quality of the writing, reflective of the original tale.

What didn’t you like about the book?  I don’t think it actually works independently of the original tale.  It’s too beholden to the plot of Gilgamesh and while that epic storytelling style worked for the ancient inspiration, it’s just too disjointed for a modern reader to appreciate.  Also, the very close friendship between Gil & Enko is portrayed as platonic, but with texts like “I’ll dream of you”, verges into romantic language that modern boys just don’t use with each other.

To whom would you recommend this book? (Read-alikes if you can think of them)   Don’t think I would recommend it.

Who should buy this book?  Only English classes studying Gilgamesh

Where would you shelve it and why? YA fiction

Should we (librarians) put this on the top of our “to read” piles?  No

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City:  Ellen Girouard, Belmont Public Library, Belmont, MA

Date of review: May 16, 2012