Category Archives: review

Better Than Yours: A Review of My Dad is the Best

by

My Dad is the Best
Fran Pintadera
Illustrated by Joan Turu
Charlesbridge
Ages 4-8
Available April 22, 2025

“My dad is the best.” “My dad is better!” This classic exchange sets off a back-and-forth of epic proportions between two little boys as they try to prove who really has the better dad. As their sons continue to one-up each other (“My dad can pick up a truck!” “My dad can pick up a truck filled with elephants!”) the two fathers do their best to keep up with the bigger and bigger demands being made of them. When everything comes crashing down and one dad helps the other, the boys move on from their competition. As it turns out – “My dad loves your dad.” and “My dad loves your dad, too.”

Equal parts silly and sweet, My Dad is the Best is a loveable take on a classic trope. The boys’ ridiculous demands drive the story, with each page adding another over-the-top detail. Turu’s illustrations play along, too, becoming larger and more complex as the dads’ task becomes bigger and stranger. Using a scribble-filled colored pencil style that’s simple yet effective, Turu packs each page full of emotion – whether it’s the pride of the boys watching their dads or the shock of each new feat wowing its audience. Once everything comes tumbling down (elephants, trucks, and all), the story shifts from an absurd competition to a more relaxed aftermath as the fight is forgotten. While everyone cleans up (and the elephants are safely escorted away), they discover that they get along alright, after all. The twist ending cements this story as a lovable subversion of the classic argument – one in which love, not competition, wins in the end.

Pintadera’s outrageous take on this competition heard in elementary schools the world over, combined with Turu’s charming illustrations, make for a story that’s sure to delight young readers. Whether they’re laughing at a truck full of elephants or “aww”-ing at the surprise ending, My Dad is the Best will keep picture book lovers excited and engaged.

What Makes Me Special?: A Review of I’m a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods 

by

I’m a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods 
Written and illustrated by Anne Lambelet 
Published by Lerner Publishing Group/Graphic Universe 
Ages 8-12 
Available March 4, 2025 

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have nine brains or be able to shoot ink to escape dire situations? In this graphic guide, Grimpy, short for Grimpoteuthis, the scientific name for dumbo octopuses, teaches readers about his cephalopod friends and shows all the things that make them different. He introduces individual species within the cephalopod class, such as cuttlefish and coconut octopuses, showing off their fascinating characteristics and abilities, like using color to communicate and making tools out of the environment. Meanwhile, Grimpy becomes increasingly disheartened when he can’t figure out what makes dumbo octopuses special. In the end, his friends come together to share cool facts about dumbo octopuses that make them unique. Grimpy realizes that he is just as unique as his other cephalopod friends.  

By creating an amusing “tour guide” with Grimpy the dumbo octopus, Anne Lambelet successfully creates a fun and personable way to learn about cephalopods in this graphic nonfiction book. Jam-packed with interesting facts, readers will gain a thorough understanding of this class of animals without feeling overwhelmed with information. Lambelet also adds a touching storyline of celebrating each other’s differences through Grimpy and the other cephalopods sharing their unique skills. At the end, Lambelet includes a glossary with illustrations reviewing each important term introduced in the book, as well as a photograph of a dumbo octopus. Although Lambelet doesn’t have a background in marine biology or ocean science, she includes a selected bibliography of her research and a reading list for readers who want to learn more about cephalopods. Lambelet’s cartoon-style illustrations balance her informative text by bringing more humorous personality to the facts she shares. However, the red, pink, and blue color palette limits her depiction of some of the more colorful capabilities of cephalopods, like camouflage and communication. A charming adventure through the fascinating animal class of cephalopods, I’m a Dumbo Octopus! is an entertaining addition to ocean-themed lessons or programs.  

Not So Scary: A Review of Don’t Squish a Slug

by

Don’t Squish a Slug: A Wonderful Celebration of Marvellous Minibeasts!
Yussef Rafik
Illustrated by Riley Samels
The Quarto Group/words & pictures
Ages 7-10
Available February 18, 2025

Have you ever wondered what the world’s biggest insect is? Do you want to know why slugs produce slime? Are you ready to learn how to decode a honeybee’s “waggle dance?” If you’re curious about bugs, then this is the book for you! Don’t Squish a Slug: A Wonderful Celebration of Marvelous Minibeasts is a look into the big world of the smallest creatures on Earth. From camouflage champions to poisonous pros, Rafik explores some of the most amazing and interesting bugs out there, and explains what makes each one of them special and important.

More than just a book of bug facts, Don’t Squish a Slug is about caring for even the smallest of creatures. “It’s really important that we have empathy for bugs,” the introduction to the book says, “We should appreciate what they do for our planet an learn to love living alongside them” (5). To that end, each entry includes mentions of how each bug is useful to humans and our environment. Particularly scary or off-putting entries, such as the horrifyingly named tongue-eating louse, are partnered with reassurances that they pose no threat to the average human. Samels’ colorful full-page illustrations are accurate while remaining stylized and not overly-detailed, and even classic creepy-crawlies like spiders and millipedes manage to be represented without looking unsettling or upsetting to the most squeamish of readers. By combining fascinating facts with reminders of the helpfulness and importance of these “minibeasts,” Rafik’s book is sure to foster a love (or at least a tolerant understanding) of insects in readers.

With enjoyable illustrations and exciting information, this book is sure to please bug-lovers, while also inspiring curiosity in those less fond of them. Regardless of their opinion going in, any child is sure to finish Don’t Squish a Slug with newfound knowledge and appreciation for these teeny-tiny creatures.

Where She Started: A Review of Janie Writes a Play 

by

Janie Writes a Play: Jane Yolen’s First Great Story 
Written by Heidi E. Y. Stemple 
Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight 
Published by Charlesbridge 
Ages 5-8 
Available February 11, 2025 

Janie loves great stories of all forms. Constantly creating stories in her head, she loves writing down her ideas. With rehearsals about to start for her class play, Janie can’t wait to learn the story and get her part. Unfortunately, when she reads the script, she’s disappointed by its lack of a “rising plot or big moment” (p. 21), and she finds the ending unsatisfying. Later, in ballet class, Janie is disheartened by the lackluster story, but the satisfying ending of her class’s dance routine inspires her to write her own script. After a long night of writing and rewriting, Janie turns in her story to her teacher, Mrs. Jiler. She agrees to use the new play and hands out new roles. In the end, the success of her play inspires Janie to keep writing and ultimately become the beloved children’s author, Jane Yolen. 

In this imaginative picture book, Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Jane Yolen’s daughter, pays loving tribute to the story of her mother’s first story. Writing about young Janie’s constantly soaring imagination, Stemple shows an appreciation for Yolen’s artistry in a manner that encourages readers to foster their own creativity. Stemple shares some insight into Yolen’s creative process, like how she would learn new words by reading books that were above her reading level. At the end, Stemple includes a brief passage about her mother’s life and work, as well as photographs of Yolen and her family growing up. Madelyn Goodnight’s bright, full-color illustrations bring whimsy to Janie’s world by showcasing her strong imagination. One side of a spread shows a regular scene at the park, with people picnicking and flying kites. On the opposite side, Goodnight illustrates what Janie sees: swashbuckling pirates and tutu-clad dinosaurs throwing tantrums. Many of the illustrations are touching references to Yolen’s large body of work. Janie Writes a Play is a delightfully fun story that encourages creativity and curiosity and serves as an amusing resource for information on a beloved children’s author that can aid in a lesson about storytelling or a program featuring Yolen’s books. 

Forces of Nature: A Review of Severe and Unusual Weather

by

Severe and Unusual Weather
Jessie Ann Foley
HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books
Ages 8-12
Available May 13, 2025

Nadine’s residence in Centralia is strictly temporary. Stuck living in the sleepy Illinois town with her grandmother after her mom was sent away to rehab, all she wants is to survive the last few months of 6th grade at her new school without attracting any attention. But almost as soon as she arrives, she finds herself paired up with Francis, the black sheep of Centralia Middle School, for their history fair project. When the two of them decide to do their project on the Great Tornado of the New Millennium, which killed Francis’ mother, the questions start to pile up. How does a tornado form out of nowhere? Why did it only hit the trailer park where Francis and his family lived? And why will the mayor stop at nothing to get them to change their topic? As they dig deeper into the city’s history, the unlikely friends uncover the secrets that lay behind Centralia’s severe and unusual weather.

As the characters deal with problems both mundane and magical, Foley shines a spotlight on their emotional realities. The magical mystery is set against the backdrop of Nadine and Francis’ personal lives as they deal with loss, neglect, addiction, and bullying. The characters face down challenges both practical and fantastical as their friendship deepens and they learn more about each other’s challenges and family histories. Severe and Unusual Weather grapples with the unfairness of life through the dual lens of Nadine’s tumultuous life and the tornado that touches every part of the narrative. Ultimately, Francis and Nadine’s oft-repeated motto rings true about more than just weather: “… tornadoes aren’t bad things. Tornadoes just are” (Chapter 11). Nadine and Francis’ story remind us that nothing in life is inherently good or bad. Forces of nature are inevitable. It’s the way we choose to deal with them that defines them, and us.

Coupling a solid emotional core with an elusive magical mystery, this story will hook readers of magical realism new and seasoned alike. Whether the characters are standing up to bullies or facing down a tornado, the action is sure to keep you on your toes from start to finish.

Be Careful What You Bargain For: A Review of The Rose Bargain

by

The Rose Bargain 
Written by Sasha Peyton Smith 
Published by Harper/HarperCollins Publishers 
Ages 15-18 (Publisher recommends ages 13 and up) 
Available February 4, 2025 

The time has come for Lady Ivy Benton to make her debut into high society and her bargain with England’s immortal faerie Queen Moryen, who has ruled for the last 400 years. Ivy has been dreading her debut since her family fell from grace when her older sister’s debut season went wrong after she bargained away her memory to experience something new and escape the confines of high society. However, when the queen announces a competition to marry her fae son, Prince Bram, Ivy sees an opportunity to repair her family’s social status. Facing the queen’s cruel tests and the animosity of the five other girls in the competition, the stakes rise when Bram’s human stepbrother, Prince Emmett, proposes a risky plot to unseat the Queen. Soon, Ivy’s plan to save her family from social ruin develops into a mission to free all of England from the queen’s cruel reign, made only more complicated by her growing feelings for the wrong prince. 

Smith expertly crafts a compelling plot full of intrigue, romance, and danger in this historical fantasy. Ivy’s friendship with the other girls develops fully over the course of the plot, starting as adversaries and eventually becoming each other’s confidantes as they face the grueling competition together. Ivy and Emmett’s developing romantic feelings, which culminate in a sexually explicit intimate scene, add a layer of emotional tension and skew this novel toward the older end of the young adult range. The cast of characters is diverse without feeling tokenized, including characters of Japanese and Ghanian descent, and a lesbian romance subplot. Although Ivy’s perspective dominates the book, Smith includes vignettes of other characters’ points of view, including the other competitors, Emmett, and Ivy’s sister, Lydia. These additions add depth to the story and worldbuilding without distracting from the central plot. A thrilling fantasy adventure, The Rose Bargain will keep readers hooked from page one and counting down the days until the next installment. 

“Grow Towards the Light”: A Review of Beyond Mulberry Glen 

by

Beyond Mulberry Glen 
Written by Millie Florence 
Illustrated by Astrid Sheckels 
Published by Waxwing Books 
Ages 8-12
Available January 7, 2025 

Lydia loves her life in Mulberry Glen, and she wouldn’t change a thing about it, even though change looms over her as she gets closer to the time when she will need to leave for an apprenticeship. Her inner turmoil only grows when she learns about a mysterious force, called the Darkness. Troubled by the effects she feels from the Darkness, Lydia asks her fairy guardian, Pit, about it. The next morning, she discovers Zale and Zamilla, the mischievous twins that live with her in Mulberry Glen, have left to go defeat the Darkness. Lydia sneaks off to rescue them. Along the way, she learns about the inevitability of change and the importance of using the Light within yourself to fight the Darkness. 

Beyond Mulberry Glen is a delightfully cozy story about a young girl overcoming her fear of change and learning to accept that life is still beautiful, even when it has dark moments. Florence fully develops Lydia’s character arc as she overcomes her fears of change and discovers that, while life can have dark moments, she has the power within herself to overcome them. Florence uses Lydia’s resistance to an apprenticeship to illustrate her anxiety over her life changing, effectively making this fantasy setting relatable to all readers. While the overall tone of the story is light, there is an undercurrent of apprehension as Lydia searches for the twins that brings gravity to the story about the life changes that accompany growing up. Sheckels’s illustrations at the beginning of each chapter add an element of charm to the story by giving readers a glimpse into Lydia’s world. A great Lord of the Rings read-alike, Florence weaves together a story that is both whimsical and suspenseful in its portrayal of the anxieties of growing up. 

Finding the Words: A Review of A Voice in the Storm 

by

A Voice in the Storm 
Written and illustrated by Karl James Mountford 
Candlewick Press/Candlewick Studio 
Ages 3-7 
Available November 5, 2024 

Sometimes, it’s hard not to feel like there is a storm raging inside. In Karl James Mountford’s A Voice in the Storm, Rat struggles with her own emotional storm and how to open up to her friends about her feelings. When a storm starts outside, she runs away from her friends, Jackdaw and Hedgehog. As lightning flashes and thunder cracks, Rat has a frightening experience with Snake, almost stepping into his mouth when he offers to shelter her. Afterwards, she runs into Bear, who teaches her that the storm outside “‘needs time to free its voice’” (p. 22). With Bear’s advice and support, Rat learns how to open up to her friends and give a voice to the storm happening inside her. 

Mountford’s stunning artwork and poignant prose come together to create a touching story that discusses depression and helps guide readers in figuring out how to express themselves. Mountford uses digitally created, geometric illustrations with a color palette of purples, greens, blacks, and grays to draw the eye of the reader and show the intensity of Rat’s emotions. His animals are expressive, showing Rat’s sadness, Jackdaw’s worry, and Bear’s kindness. Mountford’s use of storms as a metaphor aptly describes mental health struggles in a way that’s easy for young readers to understand and relate to. Additionally, the dialogue between characters, especially Rat and Bear, introduces readers to ways they can articulate their own feelings: Bear tells Rat that “‘all voices [are] just noise until someone listens’” (p. 22). When Rat opens up to Bear, she tells him that she “‘[cares] about everything all at once, and yet, [she doesn’t] feel anything at the same time’” (p. 25). This conversation gives readers an opportunity to learn how they can ask for support when they need it. While the publisher recommends this book for preschool-early elementary school readers, this emotionally moving story can serve as a thoughtful conversation starter for all ages participating in discussions about mental health. 

Out of Her Depth: A review of The Unfinished

by

The Unfinished
Cheryl Isaacs
HarperCollins/Heartdrum
September 2024
Age: 13+

Everyone in Crook’s Falls knows to stay on the forest trails, but no one will explain why. For Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk) teen Avery, those running trails are home until she’s drawn from their safety to the deep forest and a sinister black-water pond. Soon she is plagued by nightmares and feeling watched, while townspeople begin to disappear—again. Something dangerous resides in the water, and Avery has woken it. When it’s Key, Avery’s loyal best friend and crush that vanishes, the stoic and self-contained teen turns to her estranged tribal elders for stories and answers. It will take all her runner’s determination to outwit the black water and pull Key from its depths.

Cheryl Isaacs’ (Kanyen’kéha) YA novel weaves elements of indigenous lore with dark supernatural creations in this chilling horror debut. Fast pacing and moody forest settings complement the suspenseful plot. With well-developed young characters—thoughtful, selfish, and reckless in turn—and a typically indistinct cast of secondary adult characters, themes of communication and community become more pronounced as Avery opens up emotionally to her friends and family. Avery’s personal growth drives a deepening of her friendships, her ability to ask for help, and an acknowledgement of her feelings for Key. It also drives the action toward a terrifying yet satisfying conclusion. Isaacs does not lean heavily on indigenous culture, but uses the juxtaposition of the family’s intentional disconnect and Avery’s need for help to build both tension and a genuine bridge back to her heritage.

Winter Teamwork: A Review of In the Winter Woods by Daniela Kulot 

by

In the Winter Woods 
Written and illustrated by Daniela Kulot 
Translated by Elisabeth Lauffer 
Charlesbridge 
Ages 3-7 
Available October 15, 2024 

It’s the middle of a cold winter, and Fox, Mouse, and Crow are all hungry, but they can’t find even a morsel to eat. Squirrel is hungry, too, but he has a secret stash of snacks hidden away that he can’t wait to enjoy. When Fox, Mouse, and Crow ask Squirrel to share, he says no. After hours of searching, he realizes that he forgot where his stash was hidden. He asks Fox, Mouse, and Crow for help in exchange for sharing his food. Soon, they find Squirrel’s food and feast together! 

With these woodland creatures, Kulot tells a story of friendship and community, showing the importance of working together and sharing with others. Although the message has been repeated before, Kulot brings charm to the basic “sharing is caring” theme with her woodland creatures and winter landscape. The illustrations are done in digital media, and the animals have a cute, slightly cartoonish look with beautiful backdrops of winter in the countryside. Kulot uses muted blues, browns, oranges, and greens to create the cold, barren atmosphere. These delightful illustrations complement the text, where Kulot uses devices like alliteration and rhyming to add a sing-song-like quality, bringing levity to what could otherwise be a dire situation. With its beautiful art and thoughtful message, In the Winter Woods would be a great addition to libraries and classrooms looking to do a program or lesson on winter or social-emotional learning.