Book Review Roundup #17
February 26, 2025
Dan Morgan, Rifleman by Ernest E. Tucker
The Wager by David Grann
The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann. Doubleday, 2023.
Not a tale for the faint-hearted. The Wager is the name of the ship that wrecked in this harrowing story of hunger, violence, and rebellion, not an actual gambling wager. However, these sailors of the mid-18th century were wagering their very lives when they went to sea as part of the British Navy, and many of them lost the wager, so to speak.
The main thing I learned from this true story is that I never want to sail around Cape Horn in any kind of sailing ship, even a modern one, and I hope to never be in a situation in which I and my companions are stranded on a desert island and starving. Apparently, hunger can make men into monsters–as can the lack of “spirits” for 18th century British sailors. Again, I repeat, while well-written and filled with intriguing details, this is not a story for the faint of heart.
Queen Victoria's Bathing Machine by Gloria Whelan
Gloria Whelan’s Queen Victoria’s Bathing Machine is a quintessential example of her mastery of storytelling—clever, lively, and sweet. This delightful picture book recounts the whimsical tale of Queen Victoria’s longing to swim in the ocean, frustrated by the societal challenge of maintaining royal decorum in front of her subjects. As Queen, she could show no skin outside her hands, neck, and face and therefore could not don even a modest bathing dress typical of her time.
Pancakes-Paris by Claire Huchet Bishop
It’s appropriate that this story begins in the garden of “St. Julien le Pauvre” because these children are indeed poor. And it’s appropriate that there is a “light touch of spring in the air” because there is indeed springtime hope and joy to be found in the midst of their poverty. Charles, the main character in the story, is ten years old and is Zezette’s older brother. Their mother works in a factory all day, and their father died immediately after the war. The children have a discussion in the beginning of the book about how it was BEFORE, but some of them can’t even remember a BEFORE and doubt that it ever existed. This is post-World War II Paris, and things are difficult—no fuel, little food, no money–but hopeful. After all, it’s almost Lent, and some of the children remember having crepes (pancakes) on the Tuesday before Lent—BEFORE.
We Were Tired of Living in a House by Liesel Moak Skorpen
In We Were Tired of Living in a House, a group of adventurous siblings, fed up with home life, set out to find the perfect place to live. From a treehouse to a pond, a cave, and even the sea, each new home seems idyllic—until reality proves otherwise. With expressive illustrations, a loyal cat and dog adding humor, and rich language that introduces young readers to new vocabulary, this delightful picture book captures the joys of imagination, the thrill of adventure, and the ultimate realization that sometimes, there’s no place like home.
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
The plot of Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe is masterful—reminiscent of The Odyssey, where heroes return home to find everything in disarray and are forced to remain hidden until they can reclaim what is rightfully theirs. With romance, adventure, and treachery, it’s the perfect book to savor over a snowy weekend. But it is also much more than that.
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
Newbery Medal winner for 2024 and National Book Award finalist. Erin Entrada Kelly’s science fiction story, set in the final days of the 20th century (1999), tells about Michael, who’s worried about the future, meeting with Ridge, who comes from the future (2199) via time travel. Theories of how time travel works and what consequences it might have swirl and intersect enough to make the reader’s swim. But time travel itself isn’t the focus of the novel. Instead it’s a book about learning to live in the present rather than being anxious about the future or trying to change the past.
A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman
This is a really fun read-aloud.
As you read aloud, your child’s imagination will be stretched by invitations to think about things from an unusual perspective. The entertaining illustrations present countless opportunities for discussion. Is a glove a house for a hand? Why do mosquitoes like mudholes and puddles?
A House Is a House For Me is a Picture Book Preschool selection.
A Most Clever Girl by Jasmine A. Stirling
The story focuses on Jane’s entire life, painting a vivid picture of her unconventional family and their influence on her development. Stirling emphasizes her father’s progressive insistence on education for his daughters, a rare privilege for girls in the late 18th century. The narrative also gently explores the family’s descent from comfort into near poverty, showing how these trials shaped Jane’s perspective and sharpened her wit.
Sing a Song of People by Lois Lenski
In Lois Lenski's city, people walk and ride buses and subways, and wear hats, and carry umbrellas, and pass by each other without stopping to talk. This last is not a Southern custom; when we get out of our cars, we tend to talk to people in lines, in the aisles of the grocery store, in waiting rooms. So, Sing a Song of People is a poem about a different culture from mine in Houston, but not an unattractive one. All the busy people hurrying along the streets make an interesting poem and a montage-like picture of city life.
Sing a Song of People is a Picture Book Preschool selection.
Casey Over There by Staton Rabin
When three months go by without a letter from Casey, Aubrey writes a letter to Uncle Sam asking if he is done with Casey yet. Aubrey’s father is afraid Uncle Sam might be too busy to answer letters, but Aubrey doesn’t think he could be much busier than Santa Claus at Christmastime, and Santa answers his letters.
This picture book is a gentle introduction to World War I for young readers from the perspective of Americans waiting for news of their loved ones “over there.” In the scenes of war, there is no blood or death. When Casey comes home, he is thin and has a limp, but we know he will be fine now that he is with his family again.
An A From Miss Keller by Patrica Polacco
This story hit me harder than most of Polacco’s books—and, yes, it made me cry. Miss Keller, or “Killer Keller” as Trisha’s kindly old neighbor affectionately calls her, is a no-nonsense English teacher who demands excellence and brooks no excuses. She doesn’t coddle or indulge her students, and she actively tries to weed out anyone unwilling to meet her high standards. Yet, beneath her tough exterior lies a keen eye for potential, which makes her eventual interest in Trisha all the more compelling.
Mr. Wayne's Masterpiece by Patrica Polacco
Patricia Polacco’s autobiographical picture books have a way of speaking directly to the heart, and Mr. Wayne’s Masterpiece is no exception. This inspiring story follows Polacco’s own journey as a shy and anxious girl who overcomes her fear of public speaking with the help of a kind and encouraging drama teacher. Like all of her other autobiographical books, this one is inspiring and well-told.
Swirl by Swirl by Joyce Sidman & Blockhead by Joseph D'Agnese
I don’t believe science textbooks are of much benefit to grade school-aged children. Until they reach a stage of maturity where they can think abstractly rather than concretely, introducing scientific subjects should be about sparking curiosity and wonder.
Swirl by Swirl accomplishes this beautifully. The absorbing, detailed illustrations show spirals you have probably thought of: seashells and snail shells, rams horns, sprouting ferns, and spiderwebs.
Blockhead, a picture book biography, is a step beyond Swirl by Swirl, but combines the wonders of math with the history of discovery. The author starts with the few known facts about Fibonacci’s life and tells a compelling tale of a boy who notices things other people don’t who becomes a man who never outgrows his insatiable curiosity.
Mackinaw Bridge: The Story of the Five-Mile Poem by Gloria Whelan
Mackinaw Bridge by Gloria Whelan, is an incredible addition to the Tales of Young Americans series (just like her other contributions to that beautiful series). This heartfelt story blends history, engineering, and family dynamics as it follows Mark and his family during the construction of the Mackinac Bridge in the late 1950s. Perfect for young engineers, history buffs, and lovers of great storytelling!
Wyoming Picture Books
If you’re reading your way through the 50 states in picture books and finally get to the last in alphabetical order, these are two excellent choices for learning about Wyoming.
C is for Cowboy: A Wyoming Alphabet and Four Wheels West: A Wyoming Number Book are both written by Eugene Gagliano, a man who actually lives in Wyoming. Each book contains loads of information about the least-populated state.The items chosen for each letter of the alphabet and each number (1-10 and multiples of ten from 20-100) are introduced in four-line rhymes. A more detailed explanation is given in a sidebar.
