Book Review #114

 When You Reach Me

Author: Rebecca Stead
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books / Random House
ISBN: 9780375850868
Reading Level: Ages 10–13 (Grades 5–8)

Main Character: Miranda, a sixth-grade girl living in 1970s New York. 

Plot: When You Reach Me follows Miranda as she navigates friendship shifts, mysterious notes, a break-in, and a tangle of time-travel clues. As summer winds down and school approaches, Miranda’s world becomes more layered and uncertain but also more interesting.

She receives strange anonymous messages that predict the future and hint at a tragedy she might be able to prevent. Alongside that mystery is the very real challenge of figuring out who she is becoming and what it means to let go or hold on.

Settings: 1970s Manhattan apartment buildings, corner stores, and city sidewalks.

Genre/Theme/Style: Realistic Fiction + Light Sci-Fi, Mystery, Growing Up, Time Travel, & Retro Vibes.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? It’s smart, layered, and thrilling. Perfect for readers who want something thoughtful to wrap up the summer, especially kids who’ve outgrown chapter books but still crave stories that have meaning.

Critical Analysis: The book weaves together a coming-of-age story with a science fiction twist that never overwhelms the emotional depth. Themes of forgiveness, independence, and time (literal and emotional) give it staying power. It’s a cool puzzle kids will want to solve. 

Connections: Pairs beautifully with books like Harriet the Spy (city kids with notebooks), Tuck Everlasting (big questions about time), and The Westing Game (puzzling plots). Could also spark great conversations about what readers would do if they could send a message to their past or future selves.

Book Review #113

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

Author: Philip C. Stead

Illustrator: Erin E. Stead
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
ISBN: 9781596437111
Reading Level: Ages 4–8

Main Character: Amos McGee, a kindhearted zookeeper. 

Plot: In A Sick Day for Amos McGee, gentle Amos takes the time each day to care for his animal friends at the zoo, playing chess with the elephant, reading stories to the owl, and wiping the rhino’s runny nose. But one day, Amos is too sick to come to work. His friends decide to return the favor with a surprise visit to his house.

Settings: A cute little house and a friendly zoo.

Genre/Theme/Style: Children’s fiction, friendship, kindness, gentleness, uplifting, animals, sickness, empathy, germ prevention, & zoos.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? This is a perfect wind-down book. It’s quiet, sweet, and deeply comforting, the kind of story that settles kids down before bedtime or after a long summer day. It's also a great reminder for germ prevention before little ones go back to school. 

Critical Analysis: The story values everyday kindness and care for our friends, making it an emotional classic. Erin Stead’s illustrations are delicate and full of character.

Connections: Great for SEL (social-emotional learning), especially themes like empathy, patience, and caring for others. Could be paired with The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld or used in classroom discussions about helping friends.

Summer Cruising with Library Reads

School’s out, sunscreen’s on, and the open water is calling! 

Whether you’re cruising on a lake, setting sail on a family vacation, or floating along a quiet river, summer is the perfect time for adventure, and not just the kind with waves. The best part? 

You can bring your 

library with you!

Be sure to check the daily shipboard schedule; many lines 

host kids’ or family storytimes, book swaps,

 and themed reading activities.

What’s the Deal with Cruise Ducks?

Cruise Ducks are small rubber duckies (or plush ones!) hidden around cruise ships by passengers, usually with a tag that says something like

“You found a Cruise Duck!

Keep or hide again!

Post a pic to Facebook: #CruiseDucks”

It began in 2018 with a 10-year-old girl named Abby on a Carnival cruise, and it’s since turned into a viral tradition across Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Princess, and more. There’s even a Facebook group called “Cruising Ducks, Original Group.”

Before the cruise, families prepare ducks with little tags (laminated or in bags) with their name, cruise date, and cruise ship. Ducks are hidden in public spots, but never in stores, pools, or crew-only areas. Other guests can either rehide the duck or keep it as a souvenir. Many people post pictures on social media when they find them.

Fun ideas for kids cruising:

Create a “Cruise Duck Journal.” Encourage kids to write short stories about where they found the duck, where they think the duck has been, and why it is sailing.

Families could also attach a fun book with the cruise duck and add a short description on the back of the tag. 

This duck loves:

Reading books

Looking at the ocean

Hiding on cruise ships!

So next time you set sail, don’t forget to pack your curiosity, a good book, and maybe a duck or two. Whether you're flipping pages by a porthole or chasing stories across the ship, adventure starts with a book!

Book Review #112

 The Storm Whale

Author & Illustrator: Benji Davies

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

ISBN: 9780805099676

Reading Level: Ages 4–8

Main Character: Noi, a quiet little boy who lives with his fisherman father by the sea.

Plot: When a storm comes into Noi’s coastal home area, it leaves behind a small whale washed up on the shore. With his dad away fishing, Noi takes the whale home to care for it in secret. What follows is a story of connection, responsibility, and the quiet love between a child and his parent.

Settings: The beach after a storm and Noi’s home.

Genre/Theme/Style: Fiction, empathy, solitude, caregiving, water, ocean, or animal care.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars?

This book is a sea-swept treasure. The art alone could tell the story, but the quiet emotion in the words adds warmth and depth. Ideal for cuddling up with after a day on the water or after a storm.

Critical Analysis: The Storm Whale handles complex emotions, loneliness, nurturing, and letting go with simplicity and grace. Noi’s independence is portrayed with respect, while the father-son relationship unfolds through action rather than words. It’s a tool for gently exploring feelings of care and separation.

Connections: Great for readers who love The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats or The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc. Perfect tie-in for a summer cruise or lake trip, especially when paired with a kindness to animals conversation or a family journaling activity.

Happy Armed Forces Day!

Today, we pause to honor the brave men and women who wear the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. Their courage, commitment, and sacrifice uphold the freedoms we often take for granted.

Whether serving at home or abroad, in times of peace or conflict, their dedication to duty reminds us that freedom is never free; it is guarded daily by those who stand watch.

To all who serve or have served, we thank you.

We salute you.

We remember you.

We honor you.

🪖 Happy Armed Forces Day!

Book Review #111

H is for Honor

Author: Devin Scillian

Illustrator: Victor Juhasz
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
ISBN: 9781585361434
Reading Level: Ages 6–10

Topic: Nonfiction alphabet book. Each letter of the alphabet introduces a different aspect of military life, from A for Academy to Z for Zzzzzs, the precious sleep soldiers rarely get. Along the way, readers learn about uniforms, duty stations, deployments, and even traditions like salutes and the bugle’s call.

Settings:
Various branches and roles of the U.S. Armed Forces are covered, with references to military bases, boot camps, and family homes across the country.

Genre/Theme/Style:
Nonfiction, Patriotic Alphabet Book, Military Life, Family, Educational. 

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars?

This book not only honors the sacrifice and courage of service members, but it also explains military life in a way that’s accessible to kids. It’s respectful, factual, and uplifting, while the poetic format and engaging illustrations make it fun to read aloud.

Critical Analysis: The book uses rhymed couplets and clear language to present potentially complex ideas in age-appropriate ways. The illustrations strike a wonderful balance between playful and realistic, helping kids visualize everything from dog tags to drill sergeants. The book also includes informative sidebars, making it suitable for younger and older elementary readers alike.

Connections: Perfect for military families, school discussions about service and sacrifice, or patriotic holidays like Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day. Teachers can easily pair this with lessons on community helpers, government roles, or American symbols.

Book Review #110

 See You Later Alligator

Author: Sally Hopgood
Illustrator: Emma Levey
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
ISBN: 9781510704216
Reading Level: Ages 3–7

Main Character: Tortoise is a slow, thoughtful friend who’s finally ready to take a trip around the world. Sort of!

Plot: Tortoise decides it’s time for an adventure, but as he bids goodbye to his friends, each animal finds a clever or comical way to delay his departure. Just when Tortoise is about to give up on his journey, there's a final surprise that changes everything.

Settings: The story begins in a cozy animal neighborhood and travels whimsically through the imagined locales of each animal farewell.

Genre/Theme/Style: Picture Book, Friendship, Patience, and Humor. 

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars?
The book is bright, cheerful, and loads of fun to read aloud. Kids love guessing which animal will show up next. Though the structure might feel a tad bit repetitive for older readers.

Critical Analysis: A simple premise of animal goodbyes creates a story that entertains. The watercolor illustrations add charm and movement, capturing each animal's personality. 

While the repetition supports early literacy, some pages may feel formulaic after a few reads. Still, it’s perfect for engaging young children and building anticipation. 
Written with playful rhymes and a rolling pace perfect for read-alouds. 

"See you later, alligator!"

Connections: It’s a great springboard for preschoolers to practice sequencing events or predicting what comes next. It could be tied into a classroom farewell party, travel theme, or friendship unit.