Review of The Brilliant Calculator, by Jan Lower, illustrated by Susan Reagan

Award Winners, Biography, Children's Nonfiction Review, Starred Review 0

The Brilliant Calculator

How Mathematician Edith Clarke Helped Electrify America

by Jan Lower
illustrated by Susan Reagan

Calkins Creek, 2023. 40 pages.
Review written November 14, 2023, from a library book.
Starred Review
2024 Mathical Book Prize Honor Book, Ages 8-10.

There’s no way I won’t love it: A picture book biography that has “Mathematician” in the title!

This picture book tells the story of Edith Clarke, America’s first female electrical engineer, whose long and varied career helped produce the technology that keeps power lines from losing power over distance.

That’s the most easily understandable of her achievements. This author does a good job of explaining that she was brilliant, that she used mathematics, that she proved herself when men didn’t want to hire her, and that she created inventions that made calculations easier and ultimately make our lives better today.

I like that even though her accomplishments were technical, the author and illustrator presented them in a way kids can understand. I also liked the quotes from Edith sprinkled throughout the book, with this one at the end of the main text, before the six pages of back matter:

There is a future for women in engineering, and some day the only limitation will be their own lack of ability, as we are fast approaching an age in which men and women will be measured by their worth as individuals.

May it be so.

janlower.com
susanreaganart.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of The Power of Snow, by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Bryony Clarkson

Children's Nonfiction Review, Mathematical, Starred Review 0

The Power of Snow

by Bob Raczka
illustrated by Bryony Clarkson

Millbrook Press, 2023. 36 pages.
Review written November 9, 2023, from a library book.
Starred Review

This book is a very simple picture book that demonstrates exponents with snowflakes — on each page, the number of snowflakes doubles.

The main text is simple rhymes. The first few spreads go like this:

Two flakes play.

Four flakes sashay.

Eight flakes twirl.

Sixteen flakes swirl.

On the opposite page from the main text, we’ve got the number of snowflakes expressed with numerals and equations, like this:

27 = 2 to the seventh power

2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 128

The scenes behind the snowflakes look like suburban backyards, with at least one animal visitor on each page.

The most wonderful thing about this book is that the illustrator worked to get exactly the right number of snowflakes on each page. Here’s what she says in a note at the back:

Creating the art for The Power of Snow presented one tricky problem: how to show the correct number of snowflakes on each page. For this book, it was important to get the math right! Of course, the first few pages were easy. But as the quantity of flakes increased, it became much harder to count them all. So I worked out a plan. The images were created using different layers, kind of like clear sheets with different parts of the art on each one. I created a certain number of flakes on one layer. Then I duplicated this layer, flipping, scaling, and rotating it to give a natural look. Duplicating the layer allowed me to multiply the exact number of flakes as I worked. I could then add the more detailed snowflakes, counting these out individually to get to the total number. As with real snow, once the flakes became tiny and overlaid, some appear to blend together — but they are all there!

The effect is that you won’t be able to count all 16,384 flakes on the page for 214, but you can definitely get the idea.

Okay, my first reaction to this book is that it’s for a young reader — primary grades or even preschoolers who haven’t learned to multiply yet, so why are they illustrating exponents to such young readers? I do wish the word “doubled” was used, instead of relying on the multiplication notation.

But then I think about the things I showed my own kids when they were young, and I’m sure that kids exposed to this book will have an easier time understanding exponents later. In fact, hmmm, this might be a wonderful gift for my four-year-old nephew who has two big sisters. When they read it to him, they will pick up the ideas… and he will think exponents are the most natural thing in the world when it finally comes time to learn about them in school.

Yeah, I think I’m won over. Doubling before your eyes!

bobraczka.com
bryonyclarkson.com
lernerbooks.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of King Alfred and the Ice Coffin, by Kevin Crossley-Holland, illustrated by Chris Riddell

Children's Nonfiction Review, Folklore and Literature 0

King Alfred and the Ice Coffin

by Kevin Crossley-Holland
illustrated by Chris Riddell

Candlewick Studio, 2024. 88 pages.
Review written April 9, 2025, from a library book.

King Alfred and the Ice Coffin is a heavily illustrated retelling of a tale from an Old English manuscript. It’s not a graphic novel (no speech bubbles), but with illustrations on every spread (but not words on every spread), it has the feel of a graphic novel. Since the book retells an old story and gives the history of Alfred the Great – who had this tale written down – it’s shelved in juvenile nonfiction, where I’m afraid not as many kids will find it.

The overarching story is about Alfred – who never expected to be king, as the fifth son of the royal family. He loved learning, and had books in Latin translated to English, so his people could read them – and at the same time collected tales from travelers who came to his court.

This is one of those tales about a man who sailed to a far-off kingdom with the unusual custom of preserving their king who died in an ice coffin for a month, before a race that would determine who would inherit his goods.

The story is more pictures than words, and those beautiful pictures give the book a spirit of adventure.

I hope kids will find this tale of kings and seafarers, even though it’s tucked away in the nonfiction section.

candlewickstudio.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Unlocking the Universe, by Suzanne Slade

Children's Nonfiction Review, Science, Starred Review 0

Unlocking the Universe

The Cosmic Discoveries of the Webb Space Telescope

by Suzanne Slade

Charlesbridge, 2024. 42 pages.
Review written April 9, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review

Here’s a children’s picture book, illustrated generously with lavish photographs, about the James Webb Space Telescope.

Since images from the Webb weren’t made public until July 2022, this book is timely and relevant. The author gives links to see current pictures, but I also love all the imformation about the tremendous work that went into building the telescope.

There are diagrams about its orbit and how it unfolded and information about other space telescopes and the frequencies of light they detect, but the high point is the images from the Webb and explanations of the discoveries made that way.

This is both a gorgeous book and a super informative one. I feel confident it will inspire future scientists. This one, my review is inadequate. Check this book out or buy your kid a copy!

suzanneslade.com
charlesbridge.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Polar Bear, by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann

Children's Nonfiction Review, Science, Starred Review 0

Polar Bear

by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann

Neal Porter Books (Holiday House), 2022. 40 pages.
Review written February 13, 2023, from a library book.
A 2022 Capitol Choices Selection
Starred Review

Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann do amazing work together. As in the Sibert Medal-winning Honeybee, large and beautiful paintings accompany accessible text and help us understand better the lives of wild creatures.

Polar Bear follows a mother and two cubs in their day-to-day lives. (And oh, the cuteness of the cubs!) We understand better why melting sea ice is a problem when we read about a particular bear needing to fatten up enough to live on land, where she can’t get seal blubber to eat. We learn about the challenges of caring for cubs and how she takes care of them while hunting enough food to survive.

By the start of June, the bear family has moved far out onto the ice.
The cubs are growing fast — very fast.
And Mother has gorged herself. She has regained much of her weight. But it is not enough.
Soon, the bay’s ice will melt into open water.
Mother must fatten up now if she and the cubs are to survive summer’s lean months.

Learn about the everyday life of a polar bear family up close in a way you’ve never seen them before.

candacefleming.com
ericrohmann.com
HolidayHouse.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of The Mistakes That Made Us, selected by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, illustrated by Mercè López

Children's Nonfiction Review, Poetry, Starred Review 0

The Mistakes That Made Us

Confessions from Twenty Poets

selected by Irene Latham and Charles Waters
illustrated by Mercè López

Carolrhoda Books, 2024. 40 pages.
Review written April 10, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review

Here’s a kids’ poetry collection with fun poems, stellar authors, and a fantastic message: Everybody makes mistakes!

Twenty different children’s authors wrote a poem about a mistake they made in childhood. A prose paragraph highlighted next to each one gives some additional reflection. For example, after we read Allan Wolf’s poem about scoring a soccer goal for the opposing team, we learn that he was ten years old and in the fourth grade, and it hit hard – but he eventually recovered with a funny story to tell.

That one’s from the first section – about making a public mistake and the resultant embarrassment. Linda Sue Park writes about being proud about her superior reading skills – and then pronouncing “materials” as “Matter-I-Alls” in front of the whole class. David Elliott writes about copying his friend’s science journal so carefully that he even wrote her name across the top of the pages.

The next section, “Stuff Happens,” is about mistakes that hurt ourselves more than anyone else. “Times when we ignore that little voice saying, ‘Are you sure this is a good idea?'” Margarita Engle writes about cutting off her long braids because a girl told her she looked old-fashioned and foreign. Vikram Madan kept secret for months that his eyesight was blurry – until he ran into something he didn’t see and injured himself. And Kim Rogers silently celebrated Land Run Day with her classmates in Oklahoma, even though it was celebrating stealing her ancestors’ land.

The poems for “Blessings in Disguise” cover times when there was an unexpected silver lining. Jorge Argueta doesn’t sound repentant at all talking about the day he skipped school and played by the river in the guava trees. Charles Waters tells a touching story of giving a coach an encouraging word about a tough loss and being earnestly thanked – only to learn later that the man’s wife had died.

The final section, “What Have I Done?” is about the mistakes with the deepest regrets, because they hurt other people. These range from not being properly thankful for a birthday gift to spilling a friend’s secret to glueing an uncle’s bottom to the toilet seat. Yikes! Here’s the start of that one by Darren Sardelli:

My mother used to tell me,
“Think before you do.”
I wish I would have stopped and thought
before I used the glue.

Perhaps hearing about and, yes, laughing at the mistakes of others will help kids to think a moment when it’s their turn. And when that inevitable Oops! happens, at least they’ll know they’re not alone.

lernerbooks.com

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Sweet Justice, by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Award Winners, Biography, Children's Nonfiction Review, Starred Review 0

Sweet Justice

Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott

words by Mara Rockliff
pictures by R. Gregory Christie

Random House Studio, 2022. 36 pages.
Review written February 1, 2023, from a library book
Starred Review
2023 Sibert Medal Honor Book

Sweet Justice is a Sibert Honor-winning picture book telling a behind-the-scenes story from the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Georgia Gilmore was a cook in a restaurant who fed plenty of white people in Montgomery, Alabama, even though they only allowed white people to be waitresses. She hadn’t ridden a Montgomery bus since a driver made her get out and then drove off before she could go in the back door, even though she’d paid her fare. When the Montgomery Bus Boycott started up, she now had people walking with her.

But the movement needed money for various things, such as gas for cars driving people to work. So Georgia sold her cooking and baked goods at meetings.

When Martin Luther King, Jr. went on trial for organizing the boycott, Georgia spoke in his defense, telling about how she’d been kicked off a bus. After her picture appeared in the paper, she lost her job. Dr. King encouraged her to start a business selling food out of her home. He ended up bringing many leaders to her home for food during secret meetings.

The story is so interestingly told — about an ordinary woman doing ordinary things to help change the country. The paintings by R. Gregory Christie show a woman who seems like a real person you’d like to meet.

Here’s another story of a quiet, ordinary, and strong way to stand for justice.

mararockliff.com
gas-art.com
rhcbooks.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Library Girl, by Karen Henry Clark, illustrated by Sheryl Murray

Biography, Children's Nonfiction Review, Starred Review 0

Library Girl

How Nancy Pearl Became America’s Most Celebrated Librarian

by Karen Henry Clark
illustrated by Sheryl Murray

Little Bigfoot (Sasquatch Books), 2022. 32 pages.
Review written January 25, 2023, from a library book.
Starred Review

I’m a librarian — it’s no surprise I love this picture book biography of Nancy Pearl, the most famous librarian in America (with an action figure!).

This colorful picture book doesn’t give a traditional biography, but does tell a story about Nancy’s life — how she wished she could go to the school library on the weekend, and was told about the public library.

Nancy loved books and loved horses. She’d ride to the library on her bicycle, which she pretended was a horse. The librarians there loaded her up with horse books. But because kids at school teased her about liking books so much, she’d read under a table and try to hide her passion.

But then the librarians asked her to talk with other kids about her favorite horse books. This book tells us how scary that was for her — but ultimately was her first book talk, and the one that turned her into a librarian.

I love this book in every way — with the one tiny exception that the list of her awards at the back does not mention the 2001 Allie Beth Martin Award from the Public Library Association for excellence in sharing her knowledge of books with others. It’s the same award I won in 2019, so I feel a special kinship with Nancy Pearl after I found out we both won the same award.

KarenHenryClark.com
sasquatchbooks.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of The Adventures of Dr. Sloth, by Suzi Eszterhas

Children's Nonfiction Review, Science, Starred Review 0

The Adventures of Dr. Sloth

Rebecca Cliffe and Her Quest to Protect Sloths

by Suzi Eszterhas

Millbrook Press, 2022. 40 pages.
Review written January 25, 2023, from a library book
Starred Review

Here’s another adorable photo-illustrated book packed with the science of cute creatures by Suzi Eszterhas.

This time, the cute creatures in question are sloths. The Dr. Sloth of the title is a young scientist, Rebecca Cliffe, who has become an expert on the lives of sloths.

The book simply tells about her journey to become a specialist on sloths, which began by finding a dead squirrel when she was seven years old and wanting to find out about it. But mostly, the book tells all about sloths — where they live, the different types, how they live, what they eat, what endangers them, and definitely some pictures of sloth babies.

The book tells about Dr. Sloth’s discoveries and innovative ways she’s learning more, including a picture of her in climbing gear headed to the tree canopy in the rain forest. It ends with ways the readers can help sloths continue to survive.

There are multiple large photographs on every page, and the text is clear, interesting, and compelling. A lovely book about an animal that’s much more interesting than I’d realized.

suzieszterhas.com
slothconservation.org
lernerbooks.com

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Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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Review of Why We Need Vaccines, by Rowena Rae, illustrated by Paige Stampatori

Award Winners, Children's Nonfiction Review, Cybils, History, Science, Starred Review 0

Why We Need Vaccines

How Humans Beat Infectious Diseases

by Rowena Rae
illustrated by Paige Stampatori

Orca Book Publishers, 2024. 90 pages.
Review written February 28, 2025, from a library book.
Starred Review
2024 Cybils Award Winner, Middle Grade Nonfiction

I’ve read other books about vaccines and their importance, but this one feels more complete, more accessible to kids, and more timely. On the big, bright pages, we’ve got the history of vaccines and how they work. But there are also chapters about how vaccines are tested, about the risks of vaccines, about vaccine hesitancy, about community immunity, about questions of equity and access, and the questions as to whether governments should require vaccines or not. It all wraps up with a chapter on responsibility, and how getting yourself protected will also protect the people around you.

I think my favorite thing about this book was the frequent spotlights on scientists who work in related fields, complete with their photographs. Some examples (besides several medical doctors) are a university history professor who specializes in infectious disease outbreaks, a pharmacist, a research technician, a nurse, and even a high school student who got involved in an organization that encourages teens to educate other teens about the importance of vaccines.

I like the subtitle of this book: How Humans Beat Infectious Diseases. Yes, the story of vaccines is a continuing story of human ingenuity. Given the folks now working in the federal government, I’m all the happier to have this information out there.

rowenarae.com
paigestampatori.com
orcabook.com

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Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.

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