Review: The Nantucket Sea Monster: A Fake News Story by Darcy Pattison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

Do you believe everything you read in the newspaper?

Early in August 1937, a news flash came: a sea monster had been spotted lurking off the shore of Nantucket Island. Historically, the Massachusetts island had served as port for whaling ships. Eyewitnesses swore this wasn’t a whale, but some new, fearsome creature. As eyewitness account piled up, newspaper stories of the sea monster spread quickly. Across the nation, people shivered in fear.

Then, footprints were found on a Nantucket beach. Photographs were sent to prominent biologists for their opinion. Discussion swirled about raising a hunting party.

On August 18, news spread across the island: the sea monster had been captured. Islanders ran to the beach and couldn’t believe their eyes.

This nonfiction picture book is a perfect tool to discuss non-political fake news stories.

Back matter discusses the freedom of the press guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Quotes from Thomas Jefferson make it clear that fake news has always been one of the costs of a free press. A Timeline lists actual events in the order they occurred. A vocabulary list defines relevant words.

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

The Nantucket Sea Monster: A Fake News Story by Darcy Pattison is a great story for children. It teaches them to not believe everything the read. Just because the newspaper prints a story does not mean it’s true. Newspapers can decide which stories they want to print for their audiences and which ones they do not want to print. Things such as hoaxes, free press, and publicity stunts can be seen and used for a great story. No real Sea monster existed yet it gained so much attention. This same thing can be applied to books, social media, and websites. Not everything published is accurate nor true. Be careful what you read. This book teaches children about fake news. How it happens, how it is used, and that things like a newspaper have that right. I thought it was entertaining, colorful, and informative.

Advertisements

Review: Sharks (A 400 Million Year Journey) by Ted Rechlin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Sharks have been cruising our planet’s waters for millions of years. They were here long before us. They were here long before the dinosaurs. Sharks are a window into the distant past and into deep time. See how the most legendary ocean dwellers got their start, and how they became the sharks we know today.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Sharks: A 400 Million Year Journey by Ted Rechlin is another great educational read for children everywhere. Sharks are world known and an interesting topic. Here, I got to follow the history of sharks and learn about the different species as well. The pages were bright, colorful, and engaging. The book reads like a comic book but the illustrations are amazing. Overall, I recommend this stunning book to parents, guardians, and teachers everywhere.

Review: Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

The magical Hotel of Hoo is a mysterious place with some very unusual occupants. As our guests explore the strange hotel, they are invited to experience everything it has to offer with just one warning… don’t ever look behind door 32.

This imaginative picture book aims to take children beyond the first ten cardinal numbers, and introduces them to the patterns of counting in a fun and accessible way. With rooms to explore and unique objects to count, children will enjoy lingering on each page as they make their way closer to the forbidden door.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 by B.C.R. Fegan is another brilliant children’s book. This one is beautifully illustrated. Captivating to look thorough and easy to follow along. The words are just engaging. The words rhyme together and bring a variety of characters to children everywhere. Overall, this entertaining journey was educational, funny, and full of mystery. I highly recommend Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 to all parents, guardians, and teachers.

Review: Mama Graciela’s Secret

Synopsis:

Local customers (including stray cats!) come from all over the island to enjoy her secret recipe. But when the Inspector discovers that MamA secretly caters to so many cats and he threatens to close her tiny restaurant, MamA must come up with a plan to save it–and all of the animals she loves.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Mama Graciela’s Secret by Maya Calvani is a beautiful engaging story. The pages are wonderfully illustrated to match every scene. This is definitely a story for children and adults alike. Animal lovers will love Mama Graciela and her effort to save the cats that come to her restaurant. I found entertaining, sweet, and educational.

Review: Cutie Meets Mr. Lizard

Synopsis:

“Cutie Meets Mr. Lizard” is the first book of Cutie’s Big Adventures, a Cutie Book Series for children, written by Felicia Di John and illustrated by Terence Gaylor.
In this first book, we meet Cutie, a sweet, curious, adventurous chihuahua rescue dog who lives in a house in the desert. She is a little dog who thinks she is big. Her mom Ava Rose is six years old and loves Cutie very much. She would like to play with her all day, but she must go to school. Cutie is never happy when her mom leaves her for school because that means she will be home all alone. So today, Cutie decides to go outdoors by herself to play. She explores the desert around her, makes a new friend, and finds that some animals eat strange things. She is having so much fun that she almost forgets to get back home before her mom arrives. Luckily, she remembers, and Cutie makes it back just in time to greet her mom, Ava Rose. 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Cutie Meets Mr. Lizard by Felicia Di John is a great children’s book. I loved the illustrations that went with the story. Fun, creative, and simple. The story itself was cute. Cutie is a chihuahua. She explores the world around her home. In this adventure she is looking for a different kind of food. But she soon realized that her puppy food is better than what she found. The story would have better if Cutie tried going for the food she had in mind…spaghetti. But instead she left home and found a lizard. Mr. Lizard eats live ants. Yuck! Both boys and girls could like this adventure. However, the children would have to be really young. The adventure was too simple for those in kindergarten and above. Overall, a fun read. 

Review: Danny and the Dreamweaver

Synopsis:

Danny is a grumpy video-game junky. He daydreams in school and has a long-standing rivalry with his neighbor.
Yet Danny soon finds himself ensnared in a bizarre dream. Controlling his dream is Nostrildamus, an odd-looking creature with a huge nose and no eyes, yet can oddly see into the future.
Taken on a time-traveling hunt to solve an art-related mystery, Danny meets strange looking artists, like Hippopotamus Bosch and Michelanjello, while Nostrildamus tries to impart subtle pearls of wisdom.
Yet, what does it all mean? And what effect, if any, will all this have on Danny?

Find out in “Danny and the DreamWeaver,” an imaginative adventure of criminal intrigue, time travel, and art history, infused into a bizarre dream that will have you scratching your head and smiling, until the end! 

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Danny and the Dreamweaver by Mark Poe is one of the most unusual books I’ve ever read. The cover also caught my attention. It was strange looking and made me wonder what it was about…

Inside this intriguing yet fascinating story, was a teen who meet a nose figure in a dream. From there, the main character, a teenage boy, learns a lot about famous artists as well as life. I love art and this story covered it in an interesting way. Mark Poe was creative. His book took me on an adventure. It was part fantasy and part time travel. Educational yet entertaining. I would recommend this book to YA readers everywhere. 

Review: Emma has A Dilemma

Synopsis:

Emma has a dilemma, and she doesn’t have a clue what she’s going to do about it! She gets her first F ever on an easy grammar test about nouns and pronouns. Wizard Jake appears out of nowhere when he hears her crying and is willing to help her. He is a genius at grammar and tries patiently to teach her the ins and outs of both nouns and pronouns. Will she learn in time for her make-up test? Or will she end up with a permanent F on her record? 

Only this glorious tale about two people from different worlds can answer that question.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Emma has a Dilemma is a unique and engaging children’s book. Inside the story has a rhyming rhythm to it and the words will lead readers into a fascinating world of fiction. A young girl struggling with learning pronouns and nouns finds help in the form of Wizard Jake. He helps Emma learn both common and proper nouns as well as pronouns. Fun, exciting, and educational. I loved reading this illustrated book. It’s easy to follow along and learn new things. I would recommend this book not only to teachers but also to parents everywhere. Great for both inside and out of the classroom. Makes learning entertaining. 

Review: Peter & Lisa (A Mental Illness Children’s Story)

Synopsis:

A children’s book about two different mental illnesses, depression and mania, Peter and Lisa makes it easier for children to understand these mental conditions. It is a story about two people affected with such illness and how they got better and recovered through the proper medication and necessary support by family and friends. Charles and Linda Baron Katz’s Peter and Lisa: A Mental Illness Children’s Story manifests the true essence of love and support to aid us overcome every storm that may pass.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Peter and Lisa: A Mental Illness Children’s Story is a beautifully illustrated book that goes along with the story inside perfectly. Charles Katz and Lind Baron Katz both have created a book suited for children that shows what a mental illness is like and how to get help. They also show children that those with a mental illness are normal people too. They they can live a happy life just like those without a mental illness. The story also, shows that the people don’t always know that they have a mental illness. That can cause them an unhappy life. Until someone they know sees it, and helps them get help, they may go untreated and can get worse. However, this tale shows that help is around the corner and that positive things can happen to those dealing with mental illness. Marriage and having a family can be in the future for those with this issues. Both writers showed the realistic outcomes if not treated and treated. I liked that. It gives hope and inspiration to those who are struggling with these issues. Overall, I recommend this children’s book to all readers. It’s the perfect guide to educating others on mental illnesses.