Review - Anne's Kindred Spirits

Anne's Kindred Spirits (Anne Chapter Book #2)
by Kallie George
illustrated by Abigail Halpin
Date: 2019
Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)
Reading level: C
Book type: illustrated chapter book
Pages: 64
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

The sweet and funny second book in a new early-reader series, starring the spirited and outspoken Anne Shirley as she makes friends and settles into life at Green Gables -- with a few hijinks along the way, of course!

Anne is nervous and excited to meet Diana, a neighbor girl who she just knows will be a kindred spirit. She's even more excited when she learns that she's invited to her very first picnic! Until Marilla's precious brooch goes missing and it looks like it's Anne's fault. That is, Marilla is upset and Anne's picnic adventure is now in jeopardy. Ultimately, the misunderstanding with the brooch is resolved and Anne is able to go to the picnic. Anne and Diana's friendship blossoms and Anne's bond with Matthew and Marilla grows stronger.

Lovingly adapted by Kallie George with beautiful nostalgic illustrations by Abigail Halpin, this series is perfect for fans of Anne, new and old.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is very cute. I read the original Anne of Green Gables back when I was around eight, and one thing I remember was getting bogged down by some of the vocabulary. If these books had been around back then, they might have been a better option until I was old enough to read Montgomery's novels without needing to look so much up in the dictionary!

This particular story tells the tale of the missing amethyst brooch and Anne's "confession". The author manages to capture the personalities and spirit of the characters quite well. And the illustrations add some more interest. Anne looks just like one would imagine: fiery red hair, lack of puffed sleeves, and freckles galore.

This is a strong early chapter book. I haven't had a chance to read the first one in the series yet, but as I was already familiar with the characters and the story, I didn't really need to. Still, if this is your first introduction to Anne, you'll probably want to read the books in order.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books (NY) for providing a digital ARC.

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.63 out of 5

Review - Alis the Aviator

Alis the Aviator
by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail
illustrated by Kalpna Patel
Date: 2019
Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Come along on an aviation journey with Alis! This spunky female guide will take you through an ABC of planes featuring gorgeous cut-paper art.

An A to Z of planes past and present, this book has stunning cut-paper art and a cute-as-a-button guide named Alis. Named for Dr. Alis Kennedy, likely one of the first Indigenous women to obtain a commercial pilot licence in Canada, Alis will take you on an aviation tour from the Avro Arrow to the Zeppelin and everything in between.

Meticulously researched and uniquely crafted, this is a one-of-a-kind book that will delight aviation fans big and little.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This little alphabet book is so Canadian. It's also surprisingly good, and will probably appeal to kids who can't wait to get up into the clouds.

The rhyming text goes through a whole alphabet of aircraft, from the Avro Arrow to the Zeppelin. The illustrations are done with cut-paper collage, and I really like the look of the whole book. As a bonus, each of the twenty-six aircraft is profiled in the back.

I'm not sure about the title of this one, since we only get to read Alis's story at the end. This is really an alphabet book that adds a little bit of a biography of a pioneering woman aviator. But it's still quite strong, and I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Books (NY) for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.86 out of 5

Review - Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War

Child Soldier: When Boys and Girls Are Used in War (CitizenKid)
by Jessica Dee Humphreys & Michel Chikwanine
illustrated by Claudia Dávila
Date: 2015
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: graphic novel memoir
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

Michel is like many other five-year-olds: he has a loving family and spends his days going to school and playing soccer. But in 1993, the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Michel and his family live, is a country in tumult. One afternoon Michel and his friends are kidnapped by rebel militants and forced to become child soldiers. Child Soldier is the sometimes heartbreaking but ultimately inspiring true story of the triumph of the human spirit.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

It's unbelievable what some children are forced to endure. Child Soldier tells the story of Michel, who was kidnapped and recruited as a child soldier at the age of five. This very important book tackles a heavy subject in a way that makes it suitable for young readers.

I was impressed by the careful approach this book takes. Although some horrible things happen, the illustrations are never too graphic. Reading the words about what happened to Michel and his family is difficult enough; the text gets the point across without the book needing to resort to overly graphic imagery.

The notes at the end are really interesting, too. I didn't realize that countries like Canada technically use child soldiers (since a child soldier is defined as anyone under 18 who's engaged in military activity, and Canada allows 17-year-olds to join up with parental consent). Also, did you know that Africa is home to half of the world's child soldiers? It's so sad that, in many places, kids aren't allowed to be kids.

This is a strong graphic novel for children, and even though it's short, it's very powerful. This is a topic that probably doesn't get discussed very much in schools, so this book would be a great way to start a conversation about child soldiers.

Quotable moment:

Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustration: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.75 out of 5

Review - Sing Freedom!

Sing Freedom!
by Vanita Oelschlager
illustrated by Mike DeSantis
Date: 2015
Publisher: Vanita Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 36
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Sing Freedom! captures the essence of this successful nonviolent revolution in a format highly accessible to children. The conflict that eventually won the Estonians their freedom could have had a very violent outcome. This story tells the history of the oppression of the Estonian people and how they gained their freedom through non-violent means.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Interested in Estonian history? No? Well, you might be after you read this simple little picture book about the Singing Revolution.

When the Soviets came to power, they pretty much tried to obliterate any other cultures in the area. But Estonians held tight to their folk songs, and eventually used them as a form of civil disobedience. This book covers a period of history from roughly World War II until the present day. I hadn't heard about the Singing Revolution before; I'm glad I was able to read this book to find out a little bit about it.

The glossary at the back is helpful, but the terms aren't in alphabetical order (which is a bit odd). And did you know that Skype is an Estonian invention? I don't know why that little factoid was included, but it's kind of cool.

This could be a nice addition to a classroom library to help teach kids about an interesting little country that seems to fly under the radar (at least here in North America).

Thank you to NetGalley and Vanita Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Our Kid

Our Kid
by Tony Ross
Date: 2017
Publisher: Andersen Press USA
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

"Go straight to school, Our Kid," said Dad. But unless a fish-driven submarine, dinopirates, and an elephant ride are the fastest way to school, Our Kid is not doing too well. This tour-de-force from the legendary Tony Ross takes you on a journey to school like no other and shows that sometimes the oddballs (especially of the goat variety) win the day!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Well, that was stupid.

The illustrations are okay here, and the story of a little goat who has an adventure on the way to school is somewhat entertaining. But the writing? That's a big fat NO. All the made-up words just grated on my nerves. The English language has plenty of words already; surely the author could've looked up some obscure--but real--ones if he really wanted the text to sound unique. How can I take a book seriously when the teacher calls his student "bravey"? No. Stop. Get out a dictionary and try again.

I'm not a fan of Our Kid's mom lounging around eating bonbons, either. Do we really need that sort of sexism in children's books? I think not.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 1/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.67 out of 5

Review - Counting in Mi'kmaw

Counting in Mi'kmaw
by Loretta Gould
Date: 2018
Publisher: Nimbus Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 12
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

One is Ne'wt, for one bear. Two is Ta'pu, for two women at the sacred fire. Counting from one to ten in English and Mi'kmaw, baby is introduced to both the ancestral language of Mi'kmaki and to Mi'kmaw culture and legend, through beautifully rendered illustrations of important animals, like turtle, bear, and beaver, to concepts integral to the Mi'kmaw world view, like the Four (Ne'w) Directions, and the Seven (L'luiknek) Mi'kmaw teachings. Features bright and detailed illustrations from celebrated Waycobah-based Mi'kmaw illustrator, Loretta Gould.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The synopsis seems a little off for this one (the first illustration depicts a turtle, not a bear), but taken on its own, the book seems quite strong. Each number is written out in English and Mi'kmaw, and then we see a phrase (again, in both languages) along with an illustration. Some of the illustrations are really quite stunning; I haven't seen much in the way of Mi'kmaw art before, but if this book is representative of it, then I think I quite like it.

There's not really much you can say about a counting book, is there? My only complaint about this one is that I wish there was a pronunciation guide. I have a feeling I'd butcher the Mi'kmaw if I tried to read this book out loud.

Thank you to NetGalley and Nimbus Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Review - I Want a Bedtime Story!

I Want a Bedtime Story! (My Little Princess)
by Tony Ross
Date: 2015
Publisher: Andersen Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

The King is away on royal business and since no one is as good as her dad at telling bedtime stories, the palace maid shows the Little Princess how to read to herself by using the palace library.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I noticed that our library has a few of these books. I wasn't sure what to expect; the illustration on the cover didn't really appeal to me, and I'm leery of some of these longer kids' series (I don't always have the best luck with them).

But this is actually a pretty cute story about a little princess whose father always tells her a bedtime story. When he has to go away, the rest of the household staff step up to try to fill the void, but nobody tells a story like the King, and the princess refuses to go to sleep. Eventually, they call in the Maid, and the woman takes the little princess down to the library to show her where all the stories are kept. Even though the princess can't read all the words, the Maid encourages her by saying she'll be able to figure out the stories from the pictures.

I like this message of encouraging reading independence. The pictures are just okay for me, though. They remind me a little bit of Quentin Blake's style. There's nothing wrong with them, but I'm just not a fan of the aesthetic here.

Overall, this was stronger than I expected. I wouldn't mind trying another book about this little princess.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5