Bringing Back the Wolves: How a Predator Restored an Ecosystem by Jude Isabella, illustrated by Kim Smith

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Kids Can Press

Bringing Back the Wolves: How a Predator Restored an Ecosystem ...

Bringing Back the Wolves in 2020

Summary:  In 1995, nearly 70 years after they had disappeared due to hunting, wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park.  The results provide a fascinating study on how changing the top of the food chain affects all kinds of species in an ecosystem.  The first and most obvious change was that elk, which had multiplied without a natural predator, were now being hunted for the first time in years.  As their numbers went down, the trees they had eaten were allowed to grow.  Bigger trees meant that beavers were able to return to the park in greater numbers.  Coyotes got bumped down from the top of the food chain to the middle, lowering their numbers and allowing more smaller animals to thrive…which in turn attracted more birds of prey.  The book also briefly touches on other factors such as drought and fire that also affected the ecosystem.  Today there are more than 500 wolves in Yellowstone, balance has been restored, and scientists have had the opportunity to study the effects of reintroducing an apex predator.  Includes a glossary, additional resources, and an index.  40 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  I was planning to read this book in small chunks (I’m reading some books on my phone these days), but the story was so fascinating that I finished it in one sitting.  The text is engagingly written and the illustrations add to the information, not only with pictures of the various animals but diagrams showing how they are connected to each other.

Cons:  Several sidebars were labeled “It’s Elemental”, which I think referred to other elements besides the wolves that affected the ecosystem, but it wasn’t 100% clear.

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Wild & Chance by Allen Zadoff

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Published by Disney Hyperion

Thanks to Disney Hyperion for providing me with a copy of this book to review

Wild & Chance: Allen Zadoff: 9781368053198: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  She has no memory of her life before waking up on a sinking yacht.  Soon she meets a boy named Chance who names her Wild and vows to look after her, even though he’s in foster care and living in a group home.  It soon becomes obvious that Wild is an extraordinary dog.  She and Chance learn to communicate via electronics, and their conversations are picked up by Junebug, a girl hacker with a mysterious past…but some skills Chance and Wild need to survive.  As the three race from one place to the next, constantly pursued by the military organization bent on destroying Wild, they start to piece together the dog’s past and what it might mean for all of their futures.  In the end, Wild is on her own once again, but with hints that there may be more to come in her story.  256 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  A dog narrator, non-stop action, and many, many narrow escapes…what’s not to like?  Kids will find themselves caught up in this exciting story from chapter one, and will keep the pages turning all the way to the end, which will no doubt have them hoping for book 2.

Cons:  There are some pretty dark secrets in Wild’s past, and (spoiler alert) she has been bred to kill.  I generally enjoy quite a bit of humor with a dog narrator, but no such luck here.

If you would like to order this book from the Odyssey Bookshop, click here.

Winged Wonders: Solving the Monarch Migration Mystery by Meeg Pincus, illustrated by Yas Imamura

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Published by Sleeping Bear Press

Winged Wonders: Solving the Monarch Migration Mystery: Meeg Pincus ...

19 | March | 2020 |

Summary:  In 1976, Canadian scientist Fred Urquhart published an article in National Geographic describing the migration of the monarch butterflies–answering a question that had puzzled scientists for decades.  But Dr. Urquhart didn’t solve this mystery by himself.  Citizen scientists all over the United States and Mexico helped by tagging butterflies and discovering the places where they spent the winter in Mexico.  Today, another mystery about the monarchs needs solving: how to keep these butterflies from dying out.  Pesticides have destroyed much of the milkwood they need to survive.  Readers are encouraged to become part of the solution to this problem, just as ordinary people did for Dr. Urquhart’s research.  Includes additional information and ideas for how to help monarchs.  40 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  This engagingly written science book shows readers how ordinary people can make real contributions to scientific research and help solve global problems.  The back matter gives concrete ways that kids can make a difference.

Cons:  No list of resources for additional research.

If you would like to order this book from the Odyssey Bookshop, click here.

Salma the Syrian Chef by Danny Ramadan, illustrated by Anna Bron

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Annick Press

Salma the Syrian Chef: Ramadan, Danny, Bron, Anna: 9781773213750 ...

Summary:  Salma and her mother are living in Vancouver’s Welcome Center waiting for Papa to join them from Syria.  When her mother returns from her long days of job hunting and English classes, Salma notices she no longer laughs.  Salma tries making her mom funny pictures and telling jokes, but all she gets is a sad smile, “full of love but empty of joy”.  Finally Salma has an idea–she’ll make foul shami, one of her mother’s favorite Syrian dishes. She gets plenty of help from others living at the Welcome Center, but things don’t turn out the way Salma’s hoping.  There’s no sumac in the spice rack, and she accidentally breaks the bottle of olive oil. But even with its imperfections, the foul shami works its magic, and Mama laughs! Not only that, but Salma’s new friends save the day, and she begins to find beauty and joy in her new home.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This child’s-eye view of what it’s like to move to a new country acknowledges the difficulties while maintaining hope and optimism.  The colorful illustrations perfectly accentuate the story, bringing the people from so many different places to life.

Cons:  There was no recipe for the foul shami that was so central to the story.

If you would like to order this book from the Odyssey Bookshop, click here.

Grasping Mysteries: Girls Who Loved Math by Jeannine Atkins

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Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers (Released August 4)

Thanks to Atheneum for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.

Amazon.com: Grasping Mysteries: Girls Who Loved Math ...

Summary:  As she did in Finding Wonders: Three Girls Who Changed Science, Jeannine Atkins has created biographical novels-in-verse about seven women who used math to excel in their chosen careers.  She starts with Caroline Herschel (1750-1948), who helped her brother William (discoverer of the planet Uranus); she eventually received a salary from the king of England for her work and was awarded a gold medal from the Royal Astronomical Society.  Other subjects include nursing trailblazer Florence Nightingale; inventor Hertha Ayrton; undersea mapmaker Marie Tharp; sociologist Edna Lee Paisano; NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson; and astronomer Vera Rubin, the second woman to receive the Royal Astronomical Society’s gold medal (in 1996, a mere 168 years after Caroline Herschel got hers).  Woven into the narratives are messages about the importance of math and of women pursuing math-related careers. Includes additional information and a selected bibliography about each subject.  320 pages; grades 5-8. 

Pros:  A great addition to both poetry and STEM collections, these stories are told with lyrical language and close attention to detail that brings the subjects to life.  The importance of math in a wide variety of fields is emphasized, along with the struggles that each woman had making her voice heard in male-dominated fields.

Cons:  This seems like it might have a limited audience; the stories may be more suitable to a class assignment than something middle school kids would pick up on their own.

If you would like to pre-order this book from the Odyssey Bookshop, click here. 

Love, Sophia on the Moon by Anica Mrose Rissi, illustrated by Mika Song

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Published by Disney Hyperion

Thanks to Disney Hyperion for providing me with a copy of this book to review.

Love, Sophia on the Moon: Rissi, Anica Mrose, Song, Mika, Song ...

Summary:  Sophia decides to run away, taking her cat with her.  Clearly, there has been some sort of incident involving a time-out, and Sophia has decided she’d prefer to live by herself on the moon.  She writes her mom a letter to let her know. Her mom responds calmly, saying that she misses Sophia, but will be hosting Grorg, a young alien who has run away from the man on the moon.  As Mom describes the dinner and bedtime routine she is planning for Grorg, Sophia starts to have second thoughts. She suggests that Grog might be homesick, and that maybe Mom could bring him back to the moon.  After a reunion and a hug, Mom writes one last letter: “Even when you’re mad, I love you to the moon. And I love you all the way back.” 32 pages; ages 3-6.

Pros:  An excellent choice for showing unconditional love between a parent and child.  The letter format is a fun way to keep things light, and the cute illustrations help readers understand what’s really going on.

Cons:  I’m kind of done with the whole “I love you to the moon and back” thing.

If you would like to order this book from the Odyssey Bookshop, click here.

That’s Life! By Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld

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Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Thanks to Little, Brown Books for providing me with a copy of this book to review

That's Life!: Dyckman, Ame, Doerrfeld, Cori: 9780316485487: Amazon ...

Summary:  “Life happens when you least expect it.”  With this message, a girl gets a mysterious box dropped off on her front doorstep.  When she opens it, out pops a weird gray creature…Life! Life can be weird (look at these last few weeks), It can also be messy, stinky, and crazy. You never know where it’s going to take you, and it’s a journey, not a destination.  You shouldn’t waste a second, because Life is short, and ultimately…Life is beautiful. 40 pages; ages 4-adult

Pros:  Lots of great (if somewhat clichéd) advice for anyone.  The illustrations are cute, especially the fuzzy gray Life.  This would make a good graduation gift.

Cons:  The message seems more appropriate for older readers, and may go over the heads of the younger audience.

If you would like to order this from the Odyssey Bookshop, click here.

My Wild Life: Adventures of a Wildlife Photographer by Suzi Eszterhas

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Published by Owlkids (Released October 15)

Buy My Wild Life: Adventures of a Wildlife Photographer Book ...

Summary:  Suzi Eszterhas shares how she became a wildlife photographer, beginning with her experiences as a child taking pictures of her cats in her backyard.  Over the years, she has traveled around the globe, often living in a tent and enduring difficult and occasionally dangerous conditions (no showers, lots of insects, airsickness while taking aerial photos, a charging gorilla) to capture the photographs that have appeared in her many books and helped raise awareness for endangered species.  Many of her photographs appear in the text. The final pages answer some of the questions she is most frequently asked. 32 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  As a Suzi Eszterhas fan who has promoted her books to kids over the years (most notably Moto and Me), I am delighted to learn that she’ll have this up-close-and-personal look at her life coming out in the fall.  Kids will enjoy reading about her adventurous life and seeing her photos of a wide variety of animals. Clearly, wildlife photography has been a boys’ club for a long time, and Suzi explains how she had to prove she was tough enough to be a part of it–which this book makes very clear she has done successfully.

Cons:  I got this copy off of NetGalley, and it didn’t include all the photos…however, I feel confident they will be excellent and highly appealing to kids.

If you would like to pre-order this book from the Odyssey Bookshop, click here.

Q&A: Wildlife Photographer Suzi Eszterhas | Sierra Club

 

Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit by Lilliam Rivera, illustrated by Elle Powell

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Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Thanks to Little, Brown for providing me with a free digital copy of this book.

Amazon.com: Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit (9780316456647 ...

Summary:  16-year-old Goldie Vance divides her time between the Crossed Palms Resort Hotel with her father, and the Mermaid Club with her mother.  Her official job is parking cars, but she aspires to be the assistant to the house detective. When the hotel and the club become the location of a new Hollywood blockbuster, Goldie’s there to make sure everything runs smoothly.  The glamorous movie star takes a liking to her, and when a diamond-studded swimming cap disappears, Goldie winds up in the middle of the case, gathering clues and interviewing witnesses. Her own mother is a prime suspect, and it’s up to Goldie to prove her innocence and uncover the identity of the real culprit.  Reviews I’ve read mention two eight-page color comic inserts, but the Kindle version I got from Net Galley didn’t have these.  264 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Based on the comic created by Hope Larson and Brittney Williams, Goldie Vance is like a queer Nancy Drew in a 1950’s Art Deco Florida setting.  With lots of colorful characters, a unique setting, and plenty of sleuthing action, this is sure to be a popular choice for late elementary and middle school readers.  

Cons:  The crime didn’t occur until halfway through the book; I was getting impatient to find out what mystery Goldie was going to be solving.

If you would like to order this book from the Odyssey Bookshop, click here.

The Cool Cat Club (Jasper & Scruff book 1) by Nicola Colton

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Stripes Publishing

Amazon.com: The Cool Cat Club (Jasper and Scruff) (9781680102024 ...

Amazon.com: The Cool Cat Club (Jasper and Scruff) (9781680104608 ...

Summary:  Jasper aspires to get into The Sophisticats, a society for exceptional felines.  He invites the group over to his apartment and plans a fancy dinner for them. On the way back from grocery shopping for the big event, a puppy starts following him.  Try as he might, Jasper can’t seem to lose Scruff, who eventually sneaks into his apartment just as The Sophisticats are arriving. It’s a losing battle trying to keep Scruff hidden and impress the cool cats, but Jasper eventually begins to see that they’re not really worth impressing, and that Scruff is the better friend.  Jasper and Scruff get a bit of revenge on the obnoxious Sophisticats, then Scruff builds a cozy blanket fort and the two friends enjoy the rest of their evening together. 96 pages; grades 1-3.

Pros:  A fun first chapter book for newly independent readers with plenty of humor, illustrations, and an odd-couple kind of friendship.  Book 2 was published simultaneously.

Cons:  While there is fun to be had, it’s not the kind of uproarious humor found in other books for this age like The Bad Guys and Dog Man.  

If you would like to order this book from the Odyssey Bookshop, click here.