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Book Recommendations from the Children's Room Staff--and YOU! | |
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In this retelling of “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” Compestine tells us of a young emperor who realizes that his ministers are dishonest people. How can he work to feed the poor of his country when the minsters keep squirreling rice and gems away? He comes up with an ingenious plan: to make clothes out of rice sacks and fool the vain ministers into thinking it is silk. As the ministers compete to have the best silk robe, the young emperor takes care of his people. This is a great story about thinking for yourself and of being generous and honest. (STORIES Compestine)
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Katherine Johnson, born in 1918, was a bright student who loved mathematics. Being Black in America, however, limited her choices. Her father worked hard to move the family to a town with a Black high school, and Johnson worked hard to go to West Virginia’s Teacher’s College to become a teacher (one of the only jobs open to her.) Upon hearing that NASA was looking for mathematicians to help with their space program, Johnson applied for jobs for at least a year before being accepted. She soon proved her worth to the program, to the point where astronaut John Glenn wouldn’t take off unless Katherine Johnson double-checked the numbers. When the Apollo 13 flight lost an engine, it was Johnson who navigated them safely home. Find out how in this story. (J 629.45 Becker) | |  |
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Mallory Moss is determined to fit in. That’s how she’s going to survive middle school, even if it means not standing up for others. When Jennifer Chan goes missing after an incident related to Jennifer’s belief in aliens, Mallory feels guilty. She makes plans to find Jennifer and apologize, working with two other middle schoolers who have been outcasts. Keller slowly reveals what the incident was, and Mallory’s part in it. Bullying of this variety is so common in middle schools, and Keller reveals to the reader the way it feels to be the bullied, and what it means to be a bystander to bullying behavior. (J Fic Keller) | |
Petra Peña and her family leave Earth as a comet threatens to eradicate the planet. On the ship, they are placed into an induced sleep until they reach their destination – but when she wakes, Petra finds things are not what they were supposed to be. Petra and newfound friends venture out to build a new future for themselves and the remaining survivors. This book is a Newbery Medal winner and was nominated for a 2022-2023 Maine Student Book Award. (MSBA J Fic Higuera, MSBA J Playaway Fic Higuera) | | |
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Only Aviva can see the Dybbuk, the poltergeist-like, mayhem-causing, meshugge ghost who haunts her, her mother Ema, and the mikvah that they live above. When an anti-Semitic attack threatens their synagogue and puts their community on high alert, Aviva and Ema must face the ghosts of their past and confront the Dybbuk once and for all. (J Fic Lowe) | |
When her stepfather – the only father figure she’s ever known – proposes adoption, Adela becomes curious about her biological father. Her search takes her to her paternal family in New Mexico, and she is thrown into their luchador legacy. The story celebrates families, biological and found alike, and their beautiful, complex relationships. (J Fic Pérez) | | |
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It was a very good book because I like to learn about wars.
~Review from Sam F., age 9
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This could be you! Do you have a beloved book you would like to review? Fill out the form on our website or email slcote@windhammaine.us with the title, author, and a short review and you could be in the next newsletter!
~Review by YOU
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Children's Room Highlights | | |
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5 Picture Book Biographies I'm Into
Are you thinking “Sam, didn’t you do biographies not that long ago?” The answer is: yes! However, I’ve found more that I loved and didn’t review and now it’s time to share them with you again. Here are some more picture book biographies for you to enjoy.
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The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos by Deborah Heiligman, pictures by LeUyen Pham. Paul Erdos loved math more than almost anything else and was able to devote his life to it. A story of an unconventional yet successful and full life. J Biography Erdos
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Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Natasha Donovan. The life of Mary Golda Ross was somewhat similar to Katherine Johnson’s. As a Cherokee woman, she overcame barriers to often be the only woman and Indigenous person in the room. Ross’s work on planes and rockets is still mostly classified, so find out what you can from this awesome book! J Biography Ross
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Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by Katy Wu. Hedy Lamarr was a beautiful actress, but she was also a brilliant inventor. Despite being stereotyped by her beautiful face as not having a brain, Lamarr came up with many inventions in her lifetime, including the one that protects our cell phones and drones from being easily hacked. J Biography Lamarr
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Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Laura Freeman. This story covers the beginnings of Vice President Kamala Harris’s life to her decision to withdraw from the presidential race. You’ll learn how she was raised in the social justice movement and how she kept moving forward, making history multiple times along the way. J Biography Harris
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Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe, illustrated by Barbara McClintock. Sophie Germain grew up in Paris during the French Revolution. While war raged outside, she concentrated on math, an unusual hobby for a girl at that time. Germain solved an equation about vibrations that no other mathematician at that time had solved. It took three attempts, but she persevered. J Biography Germain
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5 Books About Cats
"As a cat owner you quickly learn that ‘absence of cat (chill)’ and ‘absence of cat (suspicious)’ are two very different kinds of silence” – cats are curious mischief-makers, fierce mousers, and loyal companions. If you love cats, or even just like them, you will enjoy these five books about life with cats.
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If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond. What would happen if you gave a cat a cupcake? Find out in this delightful adventure from the author and illustrator of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. STORIES Numeroff
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The Beckoning Cat by Koko Nishizuka, illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger. Yohei lives by the sea and cares for his sick father. After he feeds a hungry cat, the cat remembers him and returns the kindness in Yohei’s time of need. This retelling of a Japanese tale describes the origin of the symbol of the beckoning cat, considered to be a sign of good luck. ENCHANTING TALES Nishizuka
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Breaking Cat News: Cats Reporting on the News That Matters to Cats by Georgia Dunn. Cats Elvis, Lupin, and Puck report on all the exciting breaking news from their home: June Bugs, the connections between vacuums and thunder, new cat food, and a mysterious strange arrival. J GRAPHIC Dunn
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My Cat Looks Like My Dad by Thao Lam. The narrator shares all the ways that their cat is like their dad – from their hair to their hobbies to their favorite foods – and then all the ways that the narrator is like their mom. A delightful reminder that anyone bound by love can make up a family. STORIES Lam
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Fluffy McWhiskers : Cuteness Explosion by Stephen W. Martin. Friendship is hard when you are so cute that anyone who looks at you explodes! No matter what she tries, Fluffy just gets cuter and cuter, so she runs away where no one will see her. Will she find hope? STORIES Martin
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Windham Public Library | 207-892-1908 |
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