Digital Commons @ ACU (Abilene Christian University)

Carruth, Leah D.

Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: WATER DAY
Author
Engle, Margarita
Illustrator
Illustrated by Olivia Sua
Reviewer
Carruth, Leah D
Pages
Unpaged
Price
$18.99
ISBN
978-1-6659-1871-8
Publisher & Date
Atheneum Books, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade Level
K-3
Book Review:
WATER DAY
As soon as we get out of bed each morning, most of us have direct access to
potable water through our faucet. What if you did not have access to clean
water daily? Many places around the world do not have access to clean
water and have to create new ways to receive water. The water helps them
bathe, wash, water plants, cook, and other tasks. This book teaches readers
how one neighborhood receives water. A water man delivers water to the
neighborhood with the help of a truck or wagon-drawn tank. A woman then
delivers the fish that will eat mosquito larvae trying to survive in the water.
The family can now bathe, boil water to drink, and water the plants a bit
until the water man can bring water again in about a week.
Water is a luxury not everyone has. This book shows one way people receive
water to survive and how joyful the day is. The illustrations show the
emotions that come with this day, bringing the story closer to life for the
reader. A traditional Cuban neighborhood is reflected through architecture,
culture, and climate. The author includes a substantial note at the back of
the book explaining the significance of access to water. Many places in the
world go without clean water that is easily accessible. Personal connections
to water crises and details like the fish that help control the mosquito larvae
help make the issue real.


English

Water Day

Bustos, Charlene D

Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: YOU GOTTA MEET MR. PIERCE!: THE STORIED LIFE OF FOLK ARTIST ELIJAH PIERCE
Author
Lee, Chiquita Mullins and
Carmella Van Vleet
Illustrator
Illustrated by Jennifer
Mack-Watkins
Reviewer
Bustos, Charlene
Pages
Unpaged
Price
$18.99
ISBN
978-0-593-40650-2
Publisher & Date
Kokila, 2023
Classification
Nonfiction (730.92 or
biography)
Grade Level
K-4
**
Book Review:
YOU GOTTA MEET
MR. PIERCE!: THE
STORIED LIFE OF FOLK
ARTIST ELIJAH PIERCE
Based on the true story of artist Elijah Pierce (1892-1984), this delightfully
colorful picture book begins with Elijah’s work in his barbershop as an adult.
A fictional young boy listens to Elijah’s stories about growing up and going
into the woods with his dog to carve pictures and animals into the trees.
Many quotes are used throughout the book to add to the unique story of
how this talented artist grows. As he gets older, Elijah begins to carve
pictures of people on wood.
Illustrator Jennifer Mack-Watkins provides double-page spreads filled with
color depicting Elijah’s story along with many examples of his work. Back
pages include an author’s note revealing the details of Elijah’s early
childhood and how he moved from Mississippi to Ohio. An artist’s note is
also included. Elijah carved thousands of pieces throughout his lifetime and
became an honored artist. The list of his honors and awards from 1973-2004
are included. Examples of his artwork are shown throughout the book along
with details about their year, titles, and dimensions at the end. The author
includes a list of where to find Elijah’s work displayed throughout America in
Ohio, New York, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C. This delightful
Lorgnette v.36 no.4
Book Review: YOU GOTTA MEET MR. PIERCE!: THE STORIED LIFE OF FOLK ARTIST ELIJAH PIERCE
and meaningful story will be an inspiration for current and future artists
beginning with the youngest.


You Gotta Meet Mr. Pierce!: The Storied Life of Folk Artist Elijah Pierce

Lackey, Cynthia

Lorgnette v.36 no.1
Book Review: I LIVE IN A TREE TRUNK
Author
Fleming, Meg
Illustrator
Illustrated by Brandon James
Scott
Reviewer
Lackey, Cynthia
Pages
Unpaged
Price
$19.99
ISBN
978-0-06-320521-5
Publisher & Date
Harper, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade level
PreK-3
Book Review:
I LIVE IN A TREE
TRUNK
I LIVE IN A TREE TRUNK is a colorful picture book that illustrates where
different animals live. The book discusses den dwellers, nest dwellers, tree
dwellers, house dwellers, and water dwellers, as well as animals that live on
a ranch or in a dam, drey, or web. The animals and people included in the
book are full of life.
This book brings many diverse characters and animals to life through bright,
colorful, digital illustrations. The vocabulary is simple, repetitive, and
appropriate for young children.


I Live in a Tree Trunk

Martinez, Shan

Lorgnette v.36 no.1
Book Review: MADAM C.J. WALKER: SELF-MADE MILLIONAIRE
Author
Nnachi, Ngeri
Illustrator
Reviewer
Martinez, Shan
Pages
48p
Price
$31.99
ISBN
978-1-7284-5847-2
Publisher & Date
Lerner, 2023
Classification
Nonfiction (338.7 or biography)
Grade level
4-6
Book Review:
MADAM C.J. WALKER:
SELF-MADE
MILLIONAIRE
This biography tells the amazing story of one of the first Black woman
millionaires in the United States. As a young woman, Madam C.J. Walker
made her living as a laundry worker. This was hard work and contributed to
her own scalp and hair loss problems. She began experimenting with
different ingredients and used them on her own hair and scalp with great
success. She eventually developed a whole line of haircare and skincare
products and sold them door-to-door. This led to salons and beauty schools
where sales agents came to learn how to use the products and then sell
them. This book is part of the Gateway Biographies series and would be a
great addition to any library.


Madam C.J. Walker: Self-Made Millionaire

Fine, Jewell

Lorgnette v.36 no.1
Book Review: NAT THE CAT TAKES A BATH
Author
Lerner, Jarrett
Illustrator
Illustrated by the author
Reviewer
Fine, Jewell
Pages
Unpaged
Price
$17.99
ISBN
978-1-6659-1894-7
Publisher & Date
Simon Spotlight, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade level
1-2
Book Review:
NAT THE CAT TAKES A
BATH
Nat the Cat needs to take a bath, but he’s making all kinds of excuses not to
get into the bath water. He can’t take a bath without bubbles. He has to
have a towel. These are just a few of the excuses Nat finds to postpone
taking a bath. Will Nat be able to take his bath, or will he continue to be
stinky?
Young readers will delight in reading about Nat’s dilemma. The text is
simple, and the illustrations add character to the story. Repetitive phrases
help young readers gain confidence in their reading skills.


Nat the Cat Takes a Bath

Goacher, Doris

Lorgnette v.36 no.1
Book Review: ROCK, ROSETTA, ROCK! ROLL, ROSETTA, ROLL!: PRESENTING SISTER ROSETTA THARPE, THE GODMOTHER OF ROCK
& ROLL
Author
Bolden, Tonya
Illustrator
Illustrated by R. Gregory
Christie
Reviewer
Goacher, Doris
Pages
Unpaged
Price
$18.99
ISBN
978-0-06-299438-7
Publisher & Date
Harper, 2023
Classification
Nonfiction (782.25 or
biography)
Grade level
Preschool-4
Book Review:
ROCK, ROSETTA,
ROCK! ROLL,
ROSETTA, ROLL!:
PRESENTING SISTER
ROSETTA THARPE,
THE GODMOTHER OF
ROCK & ROLL
Bold, colorful illustrations set the mood for this story of 20th century blues
and gospel singer, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the godmother of rock & roll. The
story starts when she is a little Black girl in a small town in Arkansas with a
big guitar “making downright mighty music,music, MUSIC.” Then Mama
moves the family to the big city of Chicago, and Rosetta plays her guitar in
church. Word of her gift of music spreads, and as an adult she travels all
over the country singing gospel, jazz, blues, and Rock and Roll. She records
with Decca Records.
The story is written in rhyme with strong rhythms to bring the essence of her
music to life. The illustrations are an exclamation mark to the strength and
power of the influence of her music. The back of the book holds a time line
of Rosetta’s life. This gives important historical highlights of her success.
Also included is an Author’s Note with more information about Rosetta’s life
and her continued influence on musicians and singers of today.
Lorgnette v.36 no.1
Book Review: ROCK, ROSETTA, ROCK! ROLL, ROSETTA, ROLL!: PRESENTING SISTER ROSETTA THARPE, THE GODMOTHER OF ROCK
& ROLL


Rock, Rosetta, Rock! Roll, Rosetta, Roll!: Presenting Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the Godmother of Rock & Roll

Blake, Pam

Lorgnette v.36 no.1
Book Review: THANK YOU, TEACHER!
Author
Berry, Cate
Illustrator
Illustrated by Sara Varon
Reviewer
Blake, Pam
Pages
Unpaged
Price
$17.99
ISBN
978-0-06-249157-2
Publisher & Date
Balzer+Bray, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade level
K-3
Book Review:
THANK YOU,
TEACHER!
This is a cleverly rhyming homage to teachers. In this diverse class, several
students share what makes their teacher so special. They include such
things as how the teacher delivers the morning greeting, having circle time,
encouraging sharing, stopping fighting, handling being afraid, and much
more that happens in a school day.
The class shows regret at leaving their teacher for the summer and wishes
they could stay another year. The last page illustrates the teacher’s feeling
as she is lying next to a swimming pool with a big smile on her face.
This book is cleverly illustrated with colorful artwork and comical images of
the children. This is a good book for a discussion about what takes place in
the classroom and how the teacher helps each student in special ways. It
can also be a good lead-in to fears children may have about changing
classrooms and having a new teacher.


Thank You, Teacher!

Dameron, Holly

Lorgnette v.36 no.2
Book Review: BY ANY OTHER NAME
Author
Cotter, Erin
Illustrator
Reviewer
Dameron, Holly
Pages
460p
Price
$21.99
ISBN
978-1-6659-4071-9
Publisher & Date
Simon & Schuster, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade Level
11 and up
**
Book Review:
BY ANY OTHER NAME
Will Hughes is trying his best to get by working at the Rose Theatre,
pretending to be someone else. Offstage, he plays a part, too, as the son of
traitors. Will is desperate to keep his identity a secret or risk execution in the
bloody queen’s imperial schemes. All he wants is to get enough money to
return to his family. But this all goes up in flames when his mentor,
Christopher Marlowe, is murdered under mysterious circumstances. Now,
Will partners up with Lord James Edmund Bauffremont of Bloomsbury to
figure out who the killer is, but Will isn’t the only one playing a role.
Marlowe is also keeping secrets, and the political intrigue might be more
dangerous than Will’s real identity.
While this is another book that starts slow, and the summary makes the
readers think the main action will happen sooner than it does, this story has
enough intrigue to want to keep reading. Plus, the characters are so
imaginative and authentic that I couldn’t help but fall in love with them and
their love story. Historical fiction novels are some of my favorite genres, and
I always love them a bit more when they feature queer characters. It just
shows that LGBTQ+ people are nothing new and have always been here. The
relationship between James and Will is not only complicated as they are
both men, but they also have to confront the fact that they come from
different backgrounds. Will’s family are commoners, now traitors, who had
to work for what they owned, while James had everything handed to him on
a silver platter. The tension and heartbreak between the two characters are
so honest because trying to bridge the divide between the classes feels
insurmountable. The way the two characters figure out how to have their
happily ever after is quite brilliant, and I was totally rooting for them. As I
stated above, the summary reads as if Will saves the queen early on in the
novel, but it doesn’t happen until almost 200 pages into the book. The
pacing at the beginning needs work, along with editing out some sections to
Lorgnette v.36 no.2
Book Review: BY ANY OTHER NAME
pare down the novel. Part One drags on a bit, but the pacing in Part Two has
the novel hit its stride, making it difficult to put down.
I’d highly recommend this book! The plot is engaging and thrilling, and the
characters are fun to get to know. I absolutely loved the romance between
James and Will and definitely ugly-cried at parts in the book.


By Any Other Name

Lorgnette v.36 no.2
Book Review: MILLOO'S MIND: THE STORY OF MARYAM FARUQI, TRAILBLAZER FOR WOMEN'S EDUCATION
Author
Faruqi, Reem
Illustrator
Illustrated by Hoda Hadadi
Reviewer
Carruth, Leah
Pages
Unpaged
Price
$18.99
ISBN
978-0-06-305661-9
Publisher & Date
Harper, 2023
Classification
Nonfiction (371.10095491 or
biography)
Grade Level
PreK-2
Book Review:
MILLOO'S MIND: THE
STORY OF MARYAM
FARUQI, TRAILBLAZER
FOR WOMEN'S
EDUCATION
Have you ever had a dream so big that you would stop at nothing to achieve
it? Milloo had such a dream. She desired to be an educated female in a
culture where education was not a pathway for women. As a young girl, she
loved to learn, but she refused to participate in class. One day, the teacher
did not show up for school. Milloo had enough of the ruckus and took over
the class, a move that finalized her decision to be a teacher. Several
moments in her life, from parents who made her quit school after fifth grade
and a husband who required her to stay home, were roadblocks on her
journey, but she eventually opened her own school to educate young girls.
The historical context of this book makes it well suited for children and
adults to learn about what it meant to live during this time for Milloo, an
actual person in India. The illustrations are created through collage and
show the culture of the area with vibrant colors and patterns. The effect of
the layering of paper creates an outstanding visual effect and brings the
story to life.


Milloo\u27s Mind: The Story of Maryam Faruqi, Trailblazer for Women\u27s Education

Waggoner, Jan

Lorgnette v.36 no.2
Book Review: REINA RAMOS MEETS A BIG PUPPY
Author
Otheguy, Emma
Illustrator
Illustrated by Andres
Landazabal
Reviewer
Waggoner, Jan
Pages
32p
Price
$17.99
ISBN
978-0-06-322315-8
Publisher & Date
Harper, 2023
Classification
Fiction
Grade Level
1
Book Review:
REINA RAMOS MEETS
A BIG PUPPY
Reina and her friend Lila practice gymnastics on Saturdays. Their neighbor,
Ms. Carol, cheers them with her tiny dog, Gala, in her bag. Gala will bark as
if saying "Bravo." On Monday, Lila decides to get a dog, too. Reina is afraid
of the huge dog but is afraid to tell Lila. Chico, the huge dog, chases a pigeon
and barks loudly, which scares Reina even more. Lila sees that Reina looks
scared and finds out that Reina is afraid of the huge Chico. Reina discovers
that Lila is afraid of cartwheels even though she loves gymnastics. Reina
likes having Ms. Carol around so she can feel like she has a real audience.
This gives Lila an idea! She gets her dad and Chico to make an even bigger
audience. Lila does forward rolls, and Reina does cartwheels. Chico barks as
if to say "Bravo!" Now Reina isn't scared of Chico.
This will be a good book for beginning readers. It is an engaging story with
longer sentences and language play for developing readers. The book does
contain some Spanish words that a child would probably need help
understanding. The hardback version would be a book that a child would be
proud to take home, and with some slight amount of help, to read to a
parent or younger sibling. This would be a good purchase for collections
needing books for beginning readers.


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