Category: Kids Nonfiction Review

REVIEW: What Is the Story of Captain Picard? by David Stabler

REVIEW: What Is the Story of Captain Picard? by David Stabler

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

The Who HQ line of nonfiction books for kids adds the story of Jean Luc Picard to their line which also includes What Is the Story of Captain Kirk? This book includes some basic Trek history – from the timeline for TOS (The Original Series) to side bars about Rodenberry, Trek captains, and Picard’s hobbies – as well as background on the actor who plays Captain Picard, Sir Patrick Stewart. Then Picard’s story is told in highlights from key Next Generation (TNG) episodes.

Review

This is really well done! The author does a great job of synthesizing 7 seasons worth of TNG episodes to build a cohesive biography for Picard. A biography for a fictional character! Something not easy to pull off.

There’s no info dump here – nothing bogs the reader down. Tidbits of info are offered (with some spoilers) while the author moves quickly through highlights of Picard’s journey. (Although I did take issue with one instance where the author’s summary of the captain’s motives in a situation didn’t match the episode in my opinion). The book is current through initial planning and discussions of Picard season two.

I’m impressed by how deftly the author moves between reality – box office numbers, series actors, the larger Trek universe – and fiction with the life of Picard and to a lesser extent that of some of his friends. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and highly recommend it for Star Trek fans and newbies alike.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥♥ = Outstanding!

REVIEW: The Search for Sasquatch by Laura Krantz

REVIEW: The Search for Sasquatch by Laura Krantz

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Abrams Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The author, a journalist and podcaster, shares how she got involved in researching Sasquatch/Bigfoot and what she’s learned along the way. She ties as much as she can to science, the scientific method, and scientists like her famous ancestor, anthropologist Grover Krantz.

Review

This is fantastic! The content and illustrations are engaging. This is a meaty nonfiction book for kids about the science in the search for Bigfoot. Bigfoot enthusiasts will recognize many of the names she references throughout the book. And the sciences of DNA, eDNA, and anthropology are described in terms that will work for the kids and teens who will gravitate toward this title.

Amazon says this is for readers between 8 and 12, but this seems heavy for the younger kids in that age range. While reading I felt like this would be perfect for the older elementary and middle school crowd, 10 to 14 years old. This would be an excellent addition to classroom and library collections, especially where teachers and librarians are looking for engaging and contemporary nonfiction. This is the first book in a new Wild Thing line; I can’t wait to see what else they add to the collection!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.

REVIEW: What Is the Story of Captain Kirk? by M. D. Payne

REVIEW: What Is the Story of Captain Kirk? by M. D. Payne

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary and Review

This book tells the dual story of the creation of Star Trek, including the Original Series (TOS) show and movies, as well as telling the life story of main character, James T. Kirk.

This is a fun race through the highlights of a franchise with five decades of history. The book includes references to

  • the first pilot with Captain Pike
  • the movie plots of the 6 movies starring the original cast
  • descriptions of those main characters
  • a mention of the Animated Series
  • the series which followed TOS
  • the Kelvin timeline
  • some of the alien species.

As a Trek fan, this was a fun glimpse at a 50+ year phenomena. The focus stays on Kirk, so the famous Trek lore about Lucille Ball and MLK Jr. doesn’t get a mention.

There should be spoiler alerts throughout the book as the movie summaries especially are pretty revealing at times. I also felt like the publisher missed a HUGE opportunity by not including episode titles, even in footnotes or end notes, for any readers who wanted to dig deeper on something the book referenced.

Overall, this is a fun, high level look at James Kirk and the original Trek series.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read

REVIEW: My 52 Lists Project by Moorea Seal

REVIEW: My 52 Lists Project by Moorea Seal

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Sasquatch Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

This is a guided journal for kids modeled after the author’s highly successful 52 Lists books for adults.

There wasn’t anything here that surprised me. The artwork is kid-friendly with a fun summer/beachy/breezy vibe. Most of the lists are blank for kids to fill in, but there are a few that provide the list and then readers can circle the answers that best fit them. It’s a fun change up. Some list examples include “Things you want to do this year,” funniest memories, and “Draw your feelings.”

If you have a kid in your life who likes to write or likes lists, I would pair this guided journal with Annie’s Life in Lists to make a great combo gift!

Rating: ♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥ = Good/solid/fine

REVIEW: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy by Emmanuel Acho

REVIEW: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy by Emmanuel Acho

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Roaring Brook Press in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

Emmanuel Acho is the creator behind the video series and book titled Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man. This book takes some of the questions and topics from the adult content and formats them for kids 10 and up. Each chapter introduces a concept with a question. Then some history is given (“Let’s Rewind”) and the talk gets frank (“Let’s Get Uncomfortable”). Finally there are suggestions for what to do to take action about a particular concept (“Talk It, Walk It). Topics include things like the N-word/language, history of Blacks in America, bias, “color blindness,” privilege, the Confederate flag, systemic racism, and “reverse racism.”

The tone is conversational; I could actually hear the author’s speaking voice as I read. He never talks down to readers and often adopts a coaching tone, which I loved. But because of the seriousness of the topic, some of the material is heavy and intense. Struggling readers may need some assistance – reading chunks at a time, discussion groups/family conversation – to push through all of the material. And it is absolutely worth pushing through! This is an exceptionally good resource for kids, teens, and adults, including school personnel, pastors, youth workers, and helping professionals.

There are no citations in the text for some of the history and statistics the author gives, but there are references listed in the backmatter. There are also suggestions of other materials – books, documentaries – to go deeper. This is a starting point resource, not the be-all-end-all discussion of race and racism. But the history and context given makes this an excellent foundation to build on. As an adult, I found the history enlightening (and alarming), and the conversation frank and helpful. When I talk about race and racism with other adults, there are common refrains from those who do not believe racism is still an issue, those who want to “move on.” This includes terrific talking points and responses for people of all ages looking to grow in their understanding and practice of anti-racism.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++*

* ♥♥♥♥♥+++ = Best of the best!

 

REVIEW: Flash Facts edited by Mayim Bialik

REVIEW: Flash Facts edited by Mayim Bialik

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of three chapters from this book from Netgalley and DC Comics in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary and Review

This title includes ten “tales of science and technology,” illustrated with DC characters like The Flash. My review copy included three stories:

  • “Fast Tracks” – The Flash explains the science of crime scene investigation.
  • “More Than Meets the Eye” – Cyborg and Beast Boy (Teen Titans Go) explore the world of virtual reality.
  • “Human Extremes” – Swamp Kid learns about three examples of ways humans adapt to extreme conditions.

The facts are predominant with only the loosest example of a “story” to fit around them. I found “Fast Tracks” the most engaging of the three. After Flash/Barry explains concepts like DNA and blood and hair evidence, readers are invited to test their skills on a simple crime. While the content was dense and detailed, the art work was complementary. And the facts were a perfect fit for who Barry is in his every day life. The “skills test,” while brief, made me feel like I was part of the conversation with the character. Alone I would have given this story 3 or 3.5 stars. The material might be too dense, or not a good fit, for kids who come to the book for the DC characters and for comic-like stories. But this one piece of the three I got to read would have the best chance of keeping even those kids who were expecting something else engaged with this.

The other two stories were not great. Reading them felt like I was being force-fed information I didn’t ask for. I identified with Beast Boy in the second story who only wanted to be left alone to play his VR game. He never asked to understand the technology behind virtual reality. If Robin had been the one droning on and on, I would have thought it was an attempt at humor. Anyone who has watched a few episodes of Teen Titans Go knows how he can be. But this was Cyborg, so it didn’t click for me. Readers who do want to know how VR works will find plenty to enjoy here, but kids who come for a fun Cyborg and Beast Boy story may be disappointed.

The third story included three facts that were barely connected by the theme and the fact that one character was present for all three parts. There was an attempt to put a story in where Swamp Kid and Swamp Thing team up to fight a wrong, but it was thin and unsatisfying.

While the Flash story felt information-heavy, I was on board for a whole book like that. There are other non-fiction graphic novel series like Science Comics and Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales that do a fantastic job melding the graphic novel format with the fact-based content in a way that grabs kids and draws them in. The format can work. And fun DC characters would have been a bonus if this had come together in a different way.

But the other two sample chapters turned me off from this. While it is quite possible that the other 7 stories are excellent, I am troubled that these three were chosen to publicize the book if there were other, better examples in the collection. I wish there had been a better integration of DC characters and engaging stories to go along with the science and technology content. As I said, the Flash story is an example of how that can be done in a way that makes sense.

I think kids who pick this up for the science and technology pieces will have the best chance of being satisfied. Those who see DC characters and a graphic novel format who pick this up expecting adventures for their favorite characters might be disappointed.

Rating: ♥♥*

*♥♥ = Finished but didn’t enjoy; issues

REVIEW: God Cares Series by Debbie Duncan

REVIEW: God Cares Series by Debbie Duncan

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received electronic review copies of these books from Netgalley and Lion Hudson Ltd. in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

These are two books in the new God Cares series, one for older kids, and one for younger ones. There are other books coming in the series including God Cares When I Am Strong: Friends in the Fire (ER) and God Cares When I Feel Down: Jonah and Other Stories (chapter book).

When I Am Anxious: Moses and Other Stories

This is a paraphrase of Bible stories including the life story of Moses. There is no actual scripture text. The non-Moses stories include references to the book and chapter where the story can be found. The emphasis here is on the emotions of the stories, those referenced in the Biblical text and those inferred by the author or the reader. The ultimate goal of the book is to normalize anxiety as something that everyone feels from time to time and to point readers to God when they are anxious. There is information for parents at the end of the book, written by a therapist, specifically about helping children with anxiety.

According to the publisher’s website, this is a “chapter book” for readers 8 and up. To me, the book feels young for kids 10 or older. I might target this more for the 7 to 10 range. It is unillustrated, but each section ends with a suggested activity for readers.

I was frustrated by this book. The chapter content moves from Moses to other Biblical personalities like Jesus or Gideon without a clear indication of what is happening. This may be a function of the structure of the review copy. I would have liked these transitions to be more clear. The chapters could have focused on one personality at a time for clarity, and then references could have been made back to Moses to tie them together.

I was also frustrated that there weren’t more references to the Bible. The research I am hearing says that the younger generations are growing up without a concrete connection to the Bible. I am all for storying the Bible in contemporary language – as a starting point. But I try to point kids back to the Biblical  text so the Bible itself is comfortable and familiar to them. Then they will go back to it time and time again. If they are counting on me, or on another resource to paraphrase for them, they will miss out on all the Bible has for them.

Here is the cover for When I Am Anxious. I love it. I think they could have offered this as an illustrated book, too. The art would have enhanced the story.

When I Am Afraid: Jesus Calms the Storm

This is one of the Early Reader books in this line, an illustrated book for readers between 6 and 8 years old. Originally this was also going to release in April, but some places are showing this as a July release now. There are pictures to accompany the story here, another paraphrase that focuses on the feelings and emotions of the narrative. There are a few places in the book where a few lines in verse are included.

Of the two formats, I preferred this illustrated Early Reader. The artwork is sweet and captivating. I didn’t care for the shift from prose to verse. The prose sections would have been sufficient. I feel like the paraphrase makes more sense here, with a younger reader, but I would have liked at least a reference to where kids could find the whole story in the Bible.

After the story, there are a few questions for kids to discuss with their parents as well as some prayer prompts. The Early Reader also includes advice for parents/caregivers about helping children who are afraid. There is no reference in the review copy to who wrote the information for parents. Therefore, I am not sure if that was provided by the author or by a therapist or psychologist like with the chapter book.

Bottom Line: If you are looking for Christian resources to talk about anxiety or fear with children, I think these could be a good starting place. I would definitely anchor your discussion in the full stories from scripture if you use these resources to start your conversation. I would love for kids to see the WHOLE Bible as a resource to help them with fear, anxiety, and other feelings they experience.

Rating: ♥♥♥

 

REVIEW: What Was Stonewall? by Nico Medina

REVIEW: What Was Stonewall? by Nico Medina

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Stonewall was a gay bar in New York City in the late 1960s. It was also the site of a riot between gay patrons, protesters, and police when the bar was raided for violating the liquor license law. The police were really trying to deal with the mafia owners of the club, but the liquor license issues were a simple way of getting to them.

The riot at the Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969 became a rallying point for the LGBTQ+ community and led to marches and changes to the nation’s laws. What Was Stonewall? covers a brief history of the gay community and the ways gay people and their allies have pursued social justice for the whole community.

Review

When I first saw the cover for this book earlier this year, I had to go searching for the title’s answer. I had never heard of Stonewall. By June of this year, the 50th anniversary, I was more familiar with the event. But I was still curious what information could be gleaned from this resource.

I enjoy this whole line of nonfiction books. They are relatively short (this is 107 pages with illustrations on each spread), and make for a good introduction for elementary and middle school readers on a vast number of subjects.

This covers the Stonewall riot pretty well. Only a handful of people are noted by name. Three chapters cover the uprising. The rest set the event in an historical context and talk about how the LGBTQ+ community continued to organize and pursue rights like employment security, the ability to serve in the military, and the right to marry. These are still timely topics today as the Supreme Court is hearing discrimination cases right now.

The language bounces from formal (defining terms, etc) to casual (“Heads were busted.”). And some topics are covered so quickly that it left me with a slight feeling of reading whiplash. I think this is a decent starting point for readers and adults interested in providing some LGBTQ history. But those longing for a meaty, nuanced discussion might find this lacking.

Rating: ♥♥♥½

REVIEW: 365 Encouraging Verse of the Bible for Boys/Girls by Jean Fischer

REVIEW: 365 Encouraging Verse of the Bible for Boys/Girls by Jean Fischer

Posted on by Jaymie

These new devotional books for kids have released this week, just in time for holiday gifting. These are written in an everyday, comfortable language for kids. Each entry includes a Bible verse, the devotional thought, and a prayer. The devotional thoughts focus on giving context to the verse, interpreting it, or applying it to every day life. There’s a mix of Old and New Testament verses, as well as a mix of familiar passages and less common ones.

There’s no apparent structure to the layout of the verses; they don’t go in Biblical order or follow a discernible set of themes or have dates assigned. Readers can start day one whenever they like. There is a scripture index in the back if readers want to see if a favorite passage is in there. There is also no difference between the girls’ and boys’ version except for the cover. The devotions are laid out in the exact same order. Therefore, if you have a boy and a girl who are going through the book together with family or friends, everyone can literally be on the same page from start to finish.

I think this would work for readers from age 8 through early middle school. Younger readers may need support with the text, but the content is appropriate for their age. Older readers may want something deeper and more challenging.

Thanks to the folks at Barbour Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an electronic review copy of the devotionals in exchange for an honest review! I think this would make a good Christmas gift for the kids in your life.

Rating: ♥♥♥

REVIEW: In the Shadow of Liberty by Kenneth C. Davis

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

A book for kids about slavery. We all know that slavery is an ugly part of American history. When we think about slavery, we might think of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and the Emancipation Proclamation. But our history with slavery goes all the way back to the Pilgrims. And every President we had before Lincoln had a stance on the issue. Some of them even owned slaves. How could some of our Founding Fathers, people who wrote about “all men” being created equal, own some of those people as property?

In the Shadow of Liberty

Review

This book, written for students in middle school and high school, does a great job of outlining the history of slavery in America in a clear, matter-of-fact way. It doesn’t shy away from the complexities of the issue. It includes discussion of famous founders who said and wrote that they felt slavery was wrong while they still had enslaved people working for them. The book was honest about the economic issues faced by those with enslaved workers whom they thought should truly be fee. Some of those people felt “powerless” to change things because they were so tied into the systems that perpetuated slavery.

While the focus is on four presidents for the most part – Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Jackson – there are also historic notes about the roles of African Americans in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. And there are also notes about the abolitionist movement and its proponents. All of the “who” is tied to the “when” and “where” of the growth of our country as new states and territories are added and debates raged over slave states or free states.

This is a great resource. It will raise questions for students – which is what reading and studying history should do for all of us! I recommend this for middle school and high school libraries. It would also be good for history classrooms, English classrooms that want to expose students to excellent informational books, and public libraries. This would also be a great resource for families to talk about racial history in America.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥