Picture books for everyone

Polly and Her Duck Costume by Leanne Louricelle

At first glance, this is a fairly niche book. It's a sweet little story with soft, almost pastel illustrations, about a goat who overcomes fear. In other words, a book for little kids. What makes it multi-age is the last few pages, which detail the true story of Polly and the other rescue goats.  

More information: Polly and Her Duck Costume releases September 12.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Non-fiction book review - Science Comics: Plagues

Science Comics: Plagues by Falynn Koch

This volume of the Science Comics series is a particularly good one. It uses a plot to convey scientific information but doesn't push that storyline too hard. It knows that it's intended to inform more than entertain. The plot is only intended to make the information easier to digest. Yet it is entertaining. The illustrations are fantastic - nuanced and entertaining. Readers will learn not only about plagues but also about a variety of infections, vectors, and the innerworkings of the immune system. A solid choice for fans of biology (but good for non-scientists too!).

Advanced Reader copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Genuine Fraud

Title: Genuine Fraud
Author: E. Lockhart
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Little Monsters by Kara Thomas
                      One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
Rating:

good, though not what I'd anticipated

Summary (provided by publisher): From the author of the unforgettable New York Times bestseller We Were Liars comes a masterful new psychological suspense novel—the story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge.
Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat.
Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete.
An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two.
A bad romance, or maybe three.
Blunt objects, disguises, blood, and chocolate. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains.
A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her.
A girl who refuses to be the person she once was.

My opinion: I remember being blown away by We Were Liars. Lockhart was experimenting, pushing the boundaries of what can be done in teen fiction. And when I realized that this book, too, played with nontraditional formatting I got excited. Here's an author doing new and exciting things, I thought. The reality is less thrilling than I'd hoped. Yes, the story is told in reverse. And its easy enough to follow. In spite of knowing how it will ultimately end, there is interest and intrigue along the way, a few surprising twists. All of which tells me just how masterful a writer Lockhart truly is. I just didn't love this book the way I did Liars. It's clever and worth a read, just didn't connect with me in that real, visceral way.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Non-fiction book review - The Great Penguin Rescue

The Great Penguin Rescue by Sandra Markle

Personally, I'm a sucker for pretty much any penguin book. I knew very little about African penguins so this was right up my alley. It's a solid piece of non-fiction. Facts are relayed in a clear and concise manner, the perfect blend of readable vocabulary and conversational tone without ever becoming condescending. We've got history, animal biology, sociology, and ecology all in one book, entirely supported by engaging and well-framed photos. A great choice, even for very young readers.

More information: The Great Penguin Rescue releases September 1.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - The Shakespeare Stories

Title: The Shakespeare Stories
Author: Andrew Matthews
Genre: classics
Similar books: Poe: Stories and Poems by Gareth Hinds
                      The Stratford Zoo Midnight Revue presents Macbeth by Ian Lendler
Rating:

might help with comprehension

Summary (provided by publisher): Discover the literary world of Shakespeare with these fantastic kid-friendly retellings of his most famous works. From the ghostly adventures of Hamlet to the fairy-filled romp of A Midsummer Night's Dream, these stories come alive with illustrations throughout that capture the humor and drama from the original stories. This set is a perfect introduction to Shakespeare for young readers!
Plays:
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Henry V
The Merchant of Venice
Hamlet

My opinion: On it's own, this book is a little light on details. More of an overview than complete stories. It would be best used as a companion to reading the original text. Shakespeare can be overwhelming for young readers. The language can be a barrier. Once one understands the basics of the plot, though, one can better appreciate the artistry and humor of the original writing. That's the real value of a book like this one.

More information: The Shakespeare Stories releases September 1.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - Elsie Mae Has Something to Say

Title: Elsie Mae Has Something to Say
Author: Nancy J. Cavanaugh
Genre: historical fiction
Similar books: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelley
                      Gentle's Holler by Kerry Madden
Rating:

good, not great

Summary (provided by publisher): Elsie Mae has long treasured summers with her grandparents in the Okefenokee Swamp, so she is devastated to hear that a shipping company plans to build a canal right through it. What will that mean for the people and animals that call the swamp home?
So she writes a letter directly to President Franklin Roosevelt himself and sets off to enjoy what may be her last happy summer there with her new dog, Huck. But when she arrives, she discovers a team of hog bandits who have been stealing from the swamper families.
When her cousin Henry James, who dreams of one day becoming a traveling preacher like his daddy, shows up, Elsie doesn’t think things could get worse. But she devises a plan to use Henry and his “Hallelujahs” to help stop the thieves—and maybe just make enough noise to gain Roosevelt’s attention…

My opinion: Elsie is a pretty standard example of the rough and tumble heroine, girls who would rather wander in nature and play with animals than be "proper" and "lady-like". This novel would sit nicely in a display with The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate or even To Kill a Mockingbird though it is somewhat less charming. All of the plot threads try to interweave into a cohesive fabric but instead become tangled up and confused. Each plot is a bit thin on supporing details. It's a decent way to explore a lesser known bit of history. Additionally, it's a quick and relatively engaging read with a spunky heroine.

More information: Elsie Mae Has Something to Say releases September 5.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Graphic novel spotlight - The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl by Ryan North

You may be under the impression that all superhero comics are the same - brooding and insanely muscular hero beats up on various oddly costumed psychopaths. They're just about violence and anger, you tell yourself. And most of the time you would be right. But then there's Squirrel Girl. Originally introduced in 1991, Squirrel Girl has never been meant to be taken overly seriously. Historically, she's a pretty quirky character. This modern iteration takes her quirks to the extreme. Doreen Green attempts to live a "normal" college life while fighting crime and protecting her identity (in ridiculous ways, of course). Yet she remains an incredibly effective hero. In this first volume she fights Kraven, Whiplash, and Galactus, using innovative and frankly ridiculous methods to win. Best of all, every page has hilarious footnotes that just add to the humor. This is a great series both for fans of traditional heroes and those who've always found the concept of superheroes over the top.