This picture book follows Bea as she visits her great aunt Portia and discovers a hidden attic full of records. Portia shows her that there is a song for every feeling, and together they listen, dance, and explore how music can match different emotions. Based on the song “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae, the story is warm and uplifting. It shows how music can help people express feelings and connect with others.
I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a good read-aloud that helps students understand emotions through music.
I read this book in approximately four hours. It was very hard to put down. The story follows Ara, a girl who is growing up in a cult, and her older brother Leo, who has just enough memories of the outside to start to question everything that they have been made to believe in Jupiter Station— the neopagan, planet worshiping cult they have been brought to.
It’s really hard to talk about this book without revealing too many spoilers, but I found it very hard to put this book down because I was so invested in the characters uncovering the truth of their situation. As a reader, you very quickly understand that they are in a cult, and it is so jarring to be reading from their point of view as they navigate the world beyond what they have been made to believe it is.
And at a very slim 200 pages, I think that this would be a great book for any reader, but especially reluctant readers. Short chapters keep it engaging.
There are moments in the book where characters reflect upon real world cults, which introduces a little bit of history, which I appreciated.
Honestly, the only thing I did not like about this book was the cover. It makes the book seem like more of a tragedy or an emotional book rather than an extremely high stakes suspenseful book.
Reviewed by Komachin Middle School Staff, D. Moulton
A bright, bold graphic non-fiction title that starts with the Earth and then zooms back in time to the start of the universe as we understand it. Each section then focuses on how the solar system and the earth have changed over the eons of their lifetimes. I found the graphics and the clear time markers helpful in placing each mind bogglingly-long chunks of time in their place in the larger timeline. Not only is space vast, but so is time. Hard for a mere human brain to take it all in. The way this book is organized helps. Besides a table of content at the beginning, the book includes a glossary and an index for easy reference at the end. I think space science enthusiasts will really enjoy this book.
This picture book, Take Me Out to the Ball Game! by Jack Norworth, brings the classic baseball song to life with colorful, cartoon-style illustrations. A boy tries to convince his father to take a break from work and join him at the ballpark to cheer for the home team. The story captures the excitement, sounds, and energy of a baseball game. The artwork and familiar lyrics make it a fun and engaging read-aloud for young readers and families, especially those who enjoy sports and music.
I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a joyful, easy read that works well for read-alouds and helps share the classic spirit of baseball with young students.
This fun picture book, Can You Grow a Striped Banana?, uses bright illustrations and a sweet story about a mother and her daughter. The daughter asks for silly and impossible things, like growing a striped banana or stretching like a giraffe. Her mom kindly explains that she can’t do those things. The requests keep getting sillier, which makes the story funny and engaging. In the end, the mom shows that even though she can’t do everything, she will always find ways to show love and care for her child. The message is simple and easy for young readers to understand.
I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It would make a fun read-aloud for kindergarten students because of its humor, bright illustrations, and sweet message about love and acceptance.
This story follows Piet the squirrel as he moves into a large beech tree with help from Peter the forester. As Piet explores his new home, he learns interesting facts about how trees work and change through the seasons. The book also includes sidebars and additional information about forests and animals.
While the science content is interesting, the story feels a bit forced and does not flow smoothly. There are other books that present tree facts in a more engaging way for elementary students. I would not recommend this title for purchase in an elementary library because the story feels uneven and there are stronger, more engaging books available on trees and forest science.
This lighthearted picture book by Carrie Finison follows Steven, a boy who loves sharing things by making everything perfectly even. He thinks the best way to share is always to split things in half because it feels fair and balanced. But Steven soon learns that not everything can be split evenly, like a nickel, a book, or a playground slide. He begins to explore other ways to share, such as taking turns or giving one to each person. As the story continues, Steven starts to wonder if something can be fair even when it isn’t perfectly even. The playful story helps readers think about sharing, fairness, and problem-solving in real life.
I recommend this book as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. It is a fun and engaging way to introduce the concepts of fairness and sharing, and it encourages class discussion. The humor and simple explanations make it a good fit for primary students learning social skills and cooperation.
Sunrise Sail follows a boy and his grandfather as they set out on a sailing adventure. During their trip, they discover a stowaway and face a storm that creates unexpected challenges. What makes this book unique is that every word in the story begins with the letter “S.” The creative wordplay and alliteration make it a fun read-aloud and a good choice for teaching letter sounds and language patterns. While the story is enjoyable, I would not recommend this title for most elementary school libraries. The book is best suited for preschool and primary-aged children, and the alliterative text may have limited appeal for older elementary students. Libraries serving younger audiences may find it useful, but it is unlikely to attract a large readership in a K–5 elementary collection.
Gwei the Hungry Ghost by Emeline Lee is a sweet story about a ghost who cannot seem to fill his empty belly. During Ghost Festival, Gwei searches for the perfect food, but nothing satisfies him. When he meets another hungry ghost and decides to share his food, he learns that friendship can be just as important as a good meal. The story introduces readers to Chinese folklore and features warm, colorful illustrations. This book shares a meaningful lesson about kindness, generosity, and friendship.
This heartwarming story follows Caius as he tries to help his elderly neighbor, Mr. Johnson, remember the rest of his favorite song. Even though Mr. Johnson struggles with memory loss, music continues to bring him comfort and joy. Caius searches through library books and recordings, determined to find the song and help his friend. The story explores important themes such as kindness, helping others, aging, memory loss, and living with physical challenges. It also introduces young readers to topics like Alzheimer’s disease and the importance of supporting elderly members of the community.
I recommend this title as an additional purchase for elementary libraries. The book presents valuable messages about empathy, service, and understanding people with memory loss in a gentle and age-appropriate way. The inclusion of characters experiencing Alzheimer’s disease and using a wheelchair helps promote awareness and inclusion. However, the story feels somewhat incomplete, lacking the details and cohesiveness needed to fully connect the plot and characters. At times, it seems as though important pieces of the story are missing, which may leave readers wanting more development. While the themes are meaningful and worthwhile, the overall storytelling is not as strong as the message it aims to deliver.
