Book Review Remix
Sometimes we all need a little reminder…

Reviews by Melissa Oxborrow

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[May 23, 2016]  Here are three great titles I’ve reviewed in previous columns that deserve another look. Did you miss them before? Here’s your second chance! Included with these reviews are new titles by each author. (In case you did catch these the first time around.) Happy reading!

Old Mikamba Had a Farm
by Rachel Isadora,
Nancy Paulsen Books, c2013,
40 pages


“Old Mikamba had a farm”…a game park filled with animals both familiar and new, including an elephant, a rhinoceros, a baboon, a springbok, a dassie and so many more. Children love to make animal noises and this book gives them great scope for their imaginations as they try sounds they’ve never made before! The bright collage-art illustrations also contribute to the exotic feel of the book. This well-known song truly gets a make-over that will appeal to preschoolers and early school-age children. Expose your kids to the beauty of Africa with this fun-filled read-aloud!

If you enjoy Isadora’s take on Old MacDonald, try her version of Hansel and Gretel, available now at the library.

Geeks, Girls and Secret Identities
by Mike Jung, illustrated by Mike Maihack
Arthur A. Levine Books, c2012,
320 pages


Vincent Wu knows everything there is to know about Captain Stupendous, so he’s the first to notice when his hero starts acting a little…strange. When Stupendous nearly bites the dust rescuing Vincent from a monster-robot the truth comes out. Vincent discovers the Captain’s secret identity: Polly Winicott-Lee, Vincent’s super crush! Apparently Captain Stupendous transferred his powers to Polly during a battle with Professor Mayhem and though she’s definitely got a super attitude, she’s clueless when it comes to using her new-found abilities.

Can Vincent and his adorably geeky friends help Polly figure out how to truly be Stupendous? Can they rescue Vincent’s mother from Professor Mayhem’s lair? Can they save Copperplate City? Can Vincent get up the courage to tell Polly he likes her? Find the answers in this funny, fast-paced superhero story.

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Clever, fun and full of heart, this is a great pick for boys and girls alike (grades 4 – 7), especially if they love comic books, monster robots, superheroes and good laughs.

Love this title? Check out Mike Jung’s newest book, Unidentified Suburban Object!


The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
by Jennifer E. Smith, c2012


Sometimes all it takes is a few minutes---and your whole life changes. When Hadley Sullivan misses her flight for her father’s wedding in London she’s forced to take a later one. And that’s when she meets Oliver: British, beautiful—and bonus---so easy to talk to! When their hours-long flight seems to pass in moments, seventeen-year-old Hadley finds herself hoping that this is more than just a chance encounter, that maybe this is the start of something she’s waited for a long time. But when they lose track of each other in the busyness of Heathrow Airport, it will take a twist of fate to bring them together again. Young adults, grades 7 and up, will love this story of a couple trying to find their way. Not “just” a romance it is a story of family, of self-discovery---and yes, of love at first sight.

Fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han will love Jennifer E. Smith!

Other great titles by Smith include This Is What Happy Looks Like, You Are Here and The Geography of You and Me.

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To check out these books or to get recommendations for other great reads, please come see us at the Lincoln Public Library, 725 Pekin Street.

[By MELISSA OXBORROW, Lincoln Public Library District]

 

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