Teeny Houdini: The Disappearing Act

 Teeny Houdini: The Disappearing Act

Bessie, aka Teeny Houdini, is a DELIGHT! Katrina Moore's writing moves the story along in beautiful fashion keeping any young reader, myself included, engaged and unable to put it down. As a reader, you KNOW what is happening behind the magic of the disappearing hamster but following Bessie and her classmates as they figure it out is really fun. My only illustration discrepancy note is on page 86 when Gramma presents Bessie with her very own magic wand. The wand described is a stick of bamboo but the illustration looks like a traditional, smooth black and white magic wand. Besides that one instance, the Zoe Si's illustrations matched the feel of the story perfectly. I can't wait to check out more of the Teeny Houdini books!

Title: Teeny Houdini: The Disappearing Act

Author: Katrina Moore

Illustrator: Zoe Si

ISBN: 978-0-06-300461-0

Published 2022 by Katherine Tegen Books

This book was borrowed from the public library for purposes of review

Asha and Baz Meet Mary Sherman Morgan

Asha and Baz Meet Mary Sherman Morgan

Asha and Baz are struggling to figure out how to launch their paper rocket at school but after finding a stick in the schoolyard that turns out to be a magic wand, they are transported to the year 1957 where they meet Mary Sherman Morgan as she worked through her own problem solving process, with her own launch, finding the just right mixture of chemicals. Mary had learned not to give up as she became the only female working as a theoretical performance specialist at North American Aviation alongside 900 men. Asha and Baz learn not to give up too and end up finding their own solution to bring back to the present just in time for the school's assembly with a real astronaut: Chris Hadfield. Asha and Baz's next adventure with Hedy Lamar is previewed in the back of the book - I can't wait to see who else they visit in the future...or the past.

Title: Asha and Baz Meet Mary Sherman Morgan

Author: Caroline Fernandez

Illustrator: Dharmali Patel

ISBN: 978-1988761-67-1

Published 2022 by Common Deer Press

This book was borrowed from the public library for purposes of review

Little Olympians: Artemis, the Archer Goddess

 Little Olympians: Artemis, the Archer Goddess

Artemis is taking on the patriarchy of Olympus! Artemis is proud of her accomplishments, but when the Eureka News covers the latest happenings on Mount Olympus, the headline of the archery article STILL focused on Apollo and his focus in meeting the challenge, even  though Artemis won! Apollo and Artemis have a history of a sibling rivalry where Apollo is often boastful and Artemis is taught by their parents to be gracious and complimentary to her brother rather than prideful when she is successful. All of these big feelings spill over and Artemis stands up for what she knows is right. Along the way, the gods and goddesses learn to try new things that challenge them to seek improvement in areas where they might not be naturally talented. It can be hard to see failure as an opportunity to try again but Hestia and Hermes both learn that overcoming obstacles can be an awesome growing experience! Artemis helps to challenge the gods and goddesses to think differently about what it means to be great.

Title: Little Olympians: Artemis, the Archer Goddess

Author: A.I. Newton

Illustrator: Anjan Sarkar

ISBN: 978-1-4998-1155-1

Published 2022 by Little Bee Books

This book was borrowed from the public library for purposes of review

The Great Mathemachicken: Hide and Go Beak

 The Great Mathemachicken: Hide and Go Beak

Like the little lamb followed Mary to school one day, Chirpy snuck out of the coop and took the bus to follow Randy and Andy. In the process, Chirpy learns some math and science skills including skip counting and experiments involving simple machines like an inclined plane, wheel and axle, lever, pendulum, and pulley. The Great Mathemachicken: Hide and Go Beak would make a fun resources for students learning about simple machines to see some applications, especially when Chirpy uses those new skills to break back IN to the coop. There's even directions for a wheel and axle toy at the end of the book. 

Title: The Great Mathemachicken: Hide and Go Beak

Author: Nancy Krulik

Illustrator: Charlie Alder

ISBN: 978-1-6459-5032-5

Published 2022 by Pixel Ink

This book was borrowed from the Public Library for purposes of review

Reina Ramos Works it Out!

 Reina Ramos Works It Out!

Reina Ramos' name means queen and she demonstrates what it means to be a queen and a friend in this book. Reina and her classmates are each choosing a historical figure to represent in their class' wax museum and Reina and her friend both want to be Frida Kahlo - how will they decide who gets to be Frida and who else could Reina choose to be? Find out in Reina Ramos Works It Out. Emma Otheguy does a masterful job of incorporating information about a number of Latina figures that readers will want to learn even more about after this introduction from Reina and her classmates.

Title: Reina Ramos Works it Out

Author: Emma Otheguy

Illustrator: Andres Landazabal

ISBN: 978-0-06-322311-0

Published 2022 by Harper

This book was borrowed from the public library for purposes of review.

Leave it to Plum!

 Leave it to Plum!

Once upon a time, I had an opportunity to skype with Matt Phelan with a group of students who had read one of his books. And looking back, having him visit via skype was a bit silly since he lives in Philadelphia and the school where I teach is right outside of Philadelphia but really the point of this is that I happen to know that Matt Phelan is (or at least was) located in Philadelphia. And the zoo featured in "Leave it to Plum" is the Athensville Zoo. Now, a quick google search tells me there is an Athensville in Illinois. But there is also a band called Athensville which just so happens to call Philadelphia home. So, I'm not sure if Athensville Zoo is a fictional location or not but what I do know is that the Philadelphia Zoo does have free ranging peacocks. In yet another quick google search, I've also just learned about a Zoo mascot that looked like a mix between Sesame Street's Snuffleupagus (sp?) and the Philly Phanatic. 

And now you can see what the inner workings of my brain look like. But back to the book! Plum, along with a fleet of peacocks are the mascots of the Athensville Zoo but Itch, a ningbing (that's a real thing too so I'll obviously have to see if there are children's books about ningbings to add to our library collection) has his eye set on being the mascot of the zoo to bring a more scholarly educational aspect to the role complete with lectures. The unsuspecting peacocks are framed in an attempt to bring on their downfall and jailed in a pen until the culprit can be identified. Plum manages to escape being penned in with the others and decides some detective work is needed. Check out Leave it to Plum by Matt Phelan to see if Itch, the ningbing is successful in his plot to take over. It's a very Pinky and the Brain feel, taking over the world/zoo each and every night!

https://www.mattphelan.com/ 

Title: Leave it to Plum

Author: Matt Phelan

ISBN: 978-0-06-307916-8

Published 2022 by Greenwillow Books

This book was borrowed from the public library for purposes of review.

Zara's Rules for Record-Breaking Fun

 Zara's Rules for Record Breaking Fun

Growing up, I read many books where characters anxiously awaited new neighbors only to find a forever friend with a basket hanging on a rope tied between two windows to pass notes back and forth or walkie talkies to communicate and make plans for an adventure. But we didn't have a lot of turnover in our neighborhood. And one day, the house directly across the street from our sold and we watched anxiously as new neighbors moved in, with three children, one daughter the same age as me, and one just a year younger than my sister. A perfect match. Cathy is one of those forever friends, where our lives are linked through that common bond, I just got to see her and her daughters this past summer when we hosted a reunion at our swim club. Likewise, I've been able to watch the same scenario play out twice with the home next door to ours and witness my own children make forever friends.

All that to say, reading Zara's Rules for Record Breaking Fun brought back that same feeling, that same emotion, through the unique characters that Hena Khan crafted with Zara and her leadership skills, the twins Gloria and Jade who have their own opinions, Zayd who'd love to join in on the fun (but he IS a little brother after all), and the new neighbors, the Goldsteins. Hena Khan's author's note indicates that she was inspired by the adventures of Ramona Quimby and I think Zara's neighborhood crew does an impressive job of updating that Ramona Quimby narrative for a new and more diverse generation. Readers will love to read about Zara and her record-breaking spirit but might also like to create their own neighborhood record book too!

Title: Zara's Rules for Record Breaking Fun

Author: Hena Khan

ISBN: 978-1-5344-9759-7

Published 2022 by Salaam Reads

This book was borrowed from the public library for purposes of review.

Crimson Twill: Witch in the City

 Crimson Twill: Witch in the City

Crimson Twill leaves Cackle County for a trip to the city and, more specifically, to Broomingdales! Crimson explores each floor of the famously fashionable and spell binding department store but has trouble finding the just right item for her big trip. Along the way, she finds some other out of place misfits, including a puppy named Pepper, and a cleaning broom amidst the flying brooms. Crimson names the cleaning broom Dusty and all three find themselves right in the middle of Vera Fang's fashion show - what will happen next and will Crimson find what she's looking for? Find out in Crimson Twill: Witch in the City.

Title: Crimson Twill: Witch in the City

Author: Kallie George

Illustrator: Birgitta Sif

ISBN: 978-1-5362-1463-5

Published 2022 by Candlewick Press

This book was received from the publisher for purposes of review.