Digital Commons @ ACU (Abilene Christian University)

Pye, Erica

Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: I AM HUNGRY
Author
Rosen, Michael
Illustrator
Illustrated by Robert Starling
Reviewer
Pye, Erica
Pages
Unpaged
Price
$14.99
ISBN
978-1-5362-2510-5
Publisher & Date
Candlewick, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade Level
Preschool-K
Book Review:
I AM HUNGRY
A squirrel is so hungry that he imagines all the things he could eat. He could
eat popcorn, fried fish, a birthday cake, and even a bit of the moon! Squirrel
has fun imagining silly things he could eat, like jokes, dreams, or even a
frying pan! The author, Michael Rosen, invites grown-ups in a note on the
title page to play a game of imagination with whomever they are reading the
book with (most likely young children.) Rosen challenges readers to come up
with the craziest ideas possible of what they could eat when they are super
hungry. Gamifying the reading experience may help reluctant readers to
engage more fully with books. This book is full of colorful illustrations and
large fonts on each page, which is perfect for young readers. Michael Rosen
is also the author of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.


English

I Am Hungry

Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: JUST A WORM
Author
Boyd, Marie
Illustrator
Illustrated by the author
Reviewer
Pye, Erica
Pages
Unpaged
Price
$17.99
ISBN
978-0-06-321256-5
Publisher & Date
Greenwillow Books, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade Level
K-5
**
Book Review:
JUST A WORM
Worm takes a tour throughout the garden and meets lots of creatures that
can do amazing things. The caterpillar can transform into a butterfly. But
Worm is not able to do anything like that. The spider can spin webs of silk,
but Worm can’t do that either. The dragonfly has wings to fly, but Worm can
only crawl along the ground. Worm begins to wonder if he is the only
garden creature that is not very special. When Worm stops and thinks about
it long enough, he realizes that he does have many special abilities. He can
wiggle, dig, and tunnel through the dirt so the soil is just right to keep the
plants strong and healthy. Worm feels proud that he helps so many beautiful
plants grow!
This book contains a beautiful message: each of us is special in our own way.
That message alone would make this book valuable to readers. However,
the illustrations are completely dazzling! The author, Marie Boyd, uses
quilling techniques with strips of paper to create stunning designs that
practically jump off the page! (Quilling is an art technique where strips of
paper are rolled and glued down to create designs.) At the end of the book,
there are step-by-step instructions for how readers can create their own
quilled butterflies. Artists young and old will be inspired to make their own
Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: JUST A WORM
quilled creations after reading this book. They can also get more ideas and
tutorials about quilling from Marie Boyd’s website, which is shared at the
end of this book.


Just A Worm

Fine, Jewell

Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: KEVIN AND THE FOOD DRIVE: A STORY ABOUT GENEROSITY
Author
Johnson, Kristin
Illustrator
Illustrated by Hannah Wood
Reviewer
Fine, Jewell
Pages
24p
Price
$29.32
ISBN
978-1-7284-7635-3
Publisher & Date
Lerner, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade Level
1-3
Book Review:
KEVIN AND THE FOOD
DRIVE: A STORY
ABOUT GENEROSITY
Kevin realizes that not everyone has enough food to eat. He decides to start
a food drive to make sure everyone has enough food. The food drive is a
success. The illustrations are bold and colorful. The story’s lesson that
teamwork can make anything happen is a good one for all ages.


Kevin and the Food Drive: A Story About Generosity

Martinez, Shan

Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: MYSTERIOUS GLOWING MAMMALS: AN UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY SPARKS A SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
Author
Parrott-Ryan, Maria
Illustrator
Reviewer
Martinez, Shan
Pages
56p
Price
$33.32
ISBN
978-1-7284-6041-3
Publisher & Date
Millbrook, 2023
Classification
Nonfiction (599)
Grade Level
4-6
Book Review:
MYSTERIOUS
GLOWING
MAMMALS: AN
UNEXPECTED
DISCOVERY SPARKS A
SCIENTIFIC
INVESTIGATION
This book tells a fascinating story of a modern scientific discovery and
investigation. Jonathan Martin was looking for tree frogs in a forested area
behind his house to see if they glowed under ultraviolet light like the
Polka-dot tree frogs that he had read about. The frogs he found did not
glow; however, on one night, he shined his UV flashlight in the direction of a
high-pitched chirping sound. He was so surprised to see a flying squirrel
glowing bright pink. The rest of the story has a lot of details and
explanations in it. From explaining the difference between biofluorescence
and bioluminescence to documenting the biofluorescence of three different
species to the tests the chemists did using chromatography, this is a rather
complicated scientific story. Older elementary readers will be challenged by
this material, but it may be just right for middle school. Well done!


Mysterious Glowing Mammals: An Unexpected Discovery Sparks a Scientific Investigation

Carruth, Leah D.

Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: SMOKE JUMPERS
Author
Cella, Clara
Illustrator
Reviewer
Carruth, Leah D
Pages
24p
Price
$29.32
ISBN
978-1-7284-7556-1
Publisher & Date
Lerner, 2023
Classification
Nonfiction (634.9)
Grade Level
K-3
Book Review:
SMOKE JUMPERS
When you see a fire, do you have the urge to go towards it? Smoke jumpers
will go towards the flames. Smoke jumping is a dangerous job. This book is
part of a series featuring jobs that are not for the fainthearted. The book
describes what smoke jumpers do, what preventative measures they take,
and what equipment they use, such as saws. They parachute into the fire
zone, a dangerous task.
Each page has a real photo with a maximum of three lines of text. Various
features are included to assist the reader in understanding the information.
Vocabulary is described just below where it shows up in the text. For
example: “They keep people and property safe.” Just below this sentence,
“property” is defined as land or objects owned by someone. A real smoke
jumper, Jason Ramos, is featured at the back of the book. Also included are
a table of contents, index, glossary, and further information.


Smoke Jumpers

Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: MUSEUM OF LOST TEETH, THE
Author
Friedland, Elyssa
Illustrator
Illustrated by Gladys Jose
Reviewer
Carruth, Leah D
Pages
Unpaged
Price
$17.99
ISBN
978-1-4197-5705-1
Publisher & Date
Abrams Books, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade Level
PreK-2
Book Review:
MUSEUM OF LOST
TEETH, THE
Children get a bit nervous about losing that first tooth. What does the tooth
think? Have you thought of that before? Toothy takes us on a journey from
Liam’s mouth all the way to the Museum of Lost Teeth. He is very nervous to
discover he is the loose tooth Liam is talking about. What does that mean?
He talks about the danger everywhere, from chewing gum to baseballs.
Toothy is taken out by a bite of an apple. Felicity Fairy comes to take him
from under the pillow to his final destination at the museum. She explains
the process, and Toothy misses his friends, but he is happy in his new home.
The illustrations are a fun addition to the story and allow the reader to
envision this tradition from a different perspective. The images are
humorous at times. For example, the apple that takes Toothy out is on a
page by itself with Toothy sticking out from a bite in the apple. Children will
relate to that image quite well. Illustrations of the museum show children
what a museum would house, images on the wall, various displays, and a
schedule of events.


The Museum of Lost Teeth

Barrington, Susannah

Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: TO BOLDLY GO: HOW NICHELLE NICHOLS AND STAR TREK HELPED ADVANCE CIVIL RIGHTS
Author
Dalton, Angela
Illustrator
Illustrated by Lauren Semmer
Reviewer
Barrington, Susannah
Pages
Unpaged
Price
$18.99
ISBN
978-0-06-307321-0
Publisher & Date
Harper, 2023
Classification
Nonfiction (791.45 or
biography)
Grade Level
3 and up
Book Review:
TO BOLDLY GO: HOW
NICHELLE NICHOLS
AND STAR TREK
HELPED ADVANCE
CIVIL RIGHTS
Angela Dalton tells the story of Nichelle Nichols, the actress who played
Lieutenant Uhura in Star Trek, and how the equality and hope depicted in
the TV show helped inspire and advance the Civil Rights Movement. At a
time when Hollywood relegated black actresses almost totally to the roles of
servants or the like, Star Trek was unique in that the role of Lieutenant Uhura
was portrayed as intellectual and equal to the other characters in the series.
When Nichelle Nichols became discouraged by the racism she encountered
and considered leaving the show, she was inspired to stay and continue her
groundbreaking work by an unexpected fan: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dalton’s straightforward text paired with Lauren Semmer’s blocky
illustrations convey the story of an iconic actress with punch and pizzazz.
The illustration style gives, appropriately enough, vibes reminiscent of the
1960s and 1970s, with bright colors and non-realistic proportions. Included
at the end is a section about Nichols’ work after Star Trek, an author’s note,
references for the direct quotations used, and resources for further reading.
This excellent biography is recommended for libraries of all types.


To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights

Bond, Janet

Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: VICTORY IS SWEET
Author
Simpson, Shari
Illustrator
Illustrated by Saoirse Lou
Reviewer
Bond, Jan
Pages
151p
Price
$16.99
ISBN
978-1-368-08144-3
Publisher & Date
Disney/Hyperion, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade Level
1-3
Book Review:
VICTORY IS SWEET
Molly’s mom will be remodeling the local arcade. When Molly heads to the
arcade with her mom and plugs in her tablet, suddenly Vanellope and her
friends are swept into the tablet and into the hands of Molly. They befriend
Molly and help her with her go-kart problem. Molly is the first girl to join a
Boy Scout troop because she loves go-karts and racing, and the scout troop
is the only way she can race. Her parents talk with her about how being the
first to do something can be scary. With Vanellope’s help, however, she can
accomplish her goals.
The Sugar Rush Racers featured in the animated film Wreck-it Ralph is a
two-book series of easy chapter books. The books have black-and-white
illustrations that enhance the stories.


Victory Is Sweet

Ptacek, Cher

Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: WHEN WE HAD SUMMER
Author
Castle, Jennifer
Illustrator
Reviewer
Ptacek, Cher
Pages
324p
Price
$18.99
ISBN
978-1-368-08140-5
Publisher & Date
Hyperion, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade Level
7-12
Book Review:
WHENWE HAD
SUMMER
Every summer, teenagers Daniella, Carly, Penny, and Lainie look forward to
their time together in a small seacoast town in Jersey. They have been
friends forever and have dubbed themselves the Summer Sisters. The best
and most challenging part of this time together at the beach is the annual To
Do List, tasks for them to complete that are all different—some serious and
some silly—but all rewarding in the end. But this summer is going to be
different. Carly, their leader and mastermind of the List, passed away
unexpectedly during the past winter. The three remaining sisters make a
pact to make it the best summer they can, but they just aren’t feeling it.
Daniella, who is also Carly’s cousin, makes a discovery while going through
some of Carly’s things. When she opens Carly’s favorite handbag, Daniella
finds a To Do List already written for the upcoming summer. This gives the
Sisters the drive and purpose they need to take on the list for Carly.
The author addresses Carly’s death and the girls’ different ways of coping
with grief in a gentle but realistic manner. As the girls struggle to work
Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: WHEN WE HAD SUMMER
through the List, life continues to throw challenges at them in the form of
disagreements that threaten to break up their once strong friendships. Their
trials lead them to realize the value of life, even though it can change in a
heartbeat. The author gives the readers a good look at life with all its ups
and downs, and the courage to weather the storms.


When We Had Summer

Medina, Maria

Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: YOU ARE HERE: CONNECTING FLIGHTS
Author
Oh, Ellen, editor
Illustrator
Reviewer
Medina, Maria
Pages
265p
Price
$18.99
ISBN
978-0-06-323908-1
Publisher & Date
Allida, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade Level
4-7
Book Review:
YOU ARE HERE:
CONNECTING FLIGHTS
YOU ARE HERE contains 12 short stories written by 12 authors with the
common setting of an international airport. The 12 characters experience
the ugly truth of racism. In each story, we see the impact of racism on the
character’s emotions. The characters are scared, intimidated, and unsure of
what to do. At the airport, the nerves of the travelers are on edge due to a
terrible thunderstorm that is causing delays and cancellations. A preteen
traveling by himself must justify owning a guitar because he is Asian
American. Another young man tries to understand the unkind words of a
fellow traveler belittling the Asian culture and the feelings of a young girl
going to her place of birth. She is troubled because she doesn’t know the
language or customs. Her adoptive parents want her to see and explore the
country where she was born. She finally tells them she doesn’t want to go.
The authors’ empathy and possible personal experience in this situation
come through in each story.
The authors include Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Erin
Entrada Kelly, Minh Le, Grace Lin, Ellen Oh, Linda Sue Park, Randy Ribay,
Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: YOU ARE HERE: CONNECTING FLIGHTS
Christina Soontornvat, and Susan Tan. The stories were edited by Ellen Oh.
YOU ARE HERE: CONNECTING FLIGHTS is an excellent selection for your
middle school library. This title is also on the 2024-25 Texas Bluebonnet
Award List.


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