We Are the Keystones by Katy S. Duffield

We're on a roll this week with literature involving animals, so I figured we might as well toss in some nonfiction goodness, too. Today's read looks a the term 'keystones' and should present various animals and how they work in nature's system. I'll admit that I'm learning more and more about this term myself, since it seems to be popping up in the biology world more and more. So, I'll probably be learning something, too...or at least, seeing what falls into the definition of this term. That's the lovely thing about books; there's always something to learn!

So, let's open this one up and see what awaits inside.

WE ARE THE KEYSTONES

Animals That Hold Habitats Together 

by Katy S Duffield

Illustrated by Salyer

Beach Lane Books

Picture Book Nonfiction

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING SEPTEMBER 1st!!!

Meet keystone species—the hidden heroes of the natural world—and learn about the ecosystems they support in this marvelous nonfiction picture book from the author of Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals.

Keystone species are plants, animals, or other organisms that have a huge effect on the environments around them. From beavers to elephants, alligators to hummingbirds, keystones help themselves and other species survive. Whether it’s creating habitats for themselves and other animals, leaving behind leftovers that fertilize the soil, or clearing out harmful algae, keystones live up to their name in their essential contribution to the harmony of our natural world.

GOODREADS   /   PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With an air of gentleness and a dash of curiosity, these pages present various animals to show how important they are to their ecosystems.

This book is all about Keystone animals. With a gentle poetic style, it begins as an adult and child wander into  the forest in the dim lighting of dawn, dressed for discovery. It offers a calm, quiet atmosphere as they find each animal, one by one. Each creature is presented with a six line verse and takes the animal's point of view as they describe some of their main activities. For example, the beaver is building dams. The animals aren't introduce by name, which gives the entire thing the feel of a riddle. Of course, it's obvious from the illustrations what it are. But this adds a dash of fun as listeners can name each one themselves. At the end of the six lines of rhyme, there is the repeating phrase 'We are the keystones', which adds a nice touch and makes the entire read feel founded. At the bottom, there is a several sentence paragraph of slightly smaller text, which explains how the animal contributes and supports their part of the ecosystem to qualify them as a keystone. At the end of the book, the history behind the term 'Keystone' is presented and a list of other Keystone species shown in the illustrations is given. 

These pages flow very nicely and offer a sense of wonder while introducing the idea of Keystones and giving readers more than a few familiar examples from the animal kingdom. It's a gentle and narrative way to bring the information across. But it's the illustrations which really steal the show as they offer each animal a chance to shine in their habitat. Animal enthusiasts will want to flip through these on their own and peer at the various details and surroundings. The text fits the age group nicely and is separated from the information blocks clearly, giving adult readers different possibilities on how they want to use the book. It also works nicely for those readers, who are fairly sure of their words, to pick up and discover on their own.

And here they are...

Katy S. Duffield is the author of more than twenty-five books for children, including the celebrated Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals, which was an ALA/ALSC Notable Book, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and the recipient of the Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Gold Award. She lives in Florida with her husband and her wild and crazy Australian Shepherd. For more information about Katy, please visit her website at KatyDuffield.com.

Hannah Salyer received her BFA in illustration and communication design, with a minor in environmental studies, from Pratt Institute. She resides in Brooklyn, New York, where she writes and illustrates picture books, including her own Packs: Strength in Numbers and Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art, as well as This Wolf Was Different by Katie Slivensky. She also teaches art classes for young kids and illustration classes for undergrad students at Parsons School of Design. Visit her at HannahSalyer.com.

Sheep the Llama by Sarah Moon

After yesterday's picture book featuring animals, I've decided we might as well visit another one, too. Today's read features a sheep...or is it a llama? I have a feeling this one is going to pack quite a bit of humor as it tells the tale of a llama, who is a master of disguise. I wonder if this llama will only be a sheep or maybe, it will slide into other identities. Or maybe, it's always wanted to be a sheep? Perhaps, there's even a deeper purpose to this deception and the llama is after something only sheeps can have. It's definitely mysterious and promises several surprises.

So, let's open it up and see what this llama is really up to.

SHEEP THE LLAMA

by Sarah Moon

Blue Balloon Books

Picture Book

26 pages

ages 4 to 8

Oh, hi! I'm Sheep, and I am a MASTER OF DISGUISE!

Meet Sheep the llama, a creative new friend with an impressive costume collection! Sheep knows that with the help of his prop closet, he can be ANYTHING, such as a dashing detective, a charming chef, a stealthy superhero, or a magnificent magician. Sheep loves playing pretend, but at the end of the day, his favorite thing to be is himself.

Sheep the Llama is a whimsical story full of colorful illustrations, perfect for dreamers and fashionistas alike. Sheep's quick-change journey encourages self-exploration and self-confidence, both in and out of costume.

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON   /    BLUE BALLOON BOOKS

MY TIDBITS

What happens when you combine a llama with a shed full of costumes?  These pages expose all.

This llama has an amazing hobby, and he's very good at it, too. Sheep the Llama is a master of disguise, and he proves it to the reader in the most delightful way.

This is a simple, straight-forward picture book, which will have listeners smiling ear to ear the entire way through. The illustrations carry most of the read, letting llama show his skills and prove how resourceful he is. The text is kept light with only a sentence or two per page, making sure that even reluctant listeners won't drift away. It creates a lovely read-aloud as well as a book to simply enjoy anytime of day. Plus, listeners can pick this one up on their own and enjoy the story through the illustrations.

Humor is written big in these pages, and it's well done. There aren't any messages, really, but rather, this lets imagination and costume enjoyment flow. The llama is clever in each of his disguises and listeners might be inspired to let their disguise talents flow, too. Add llamas amazing supply of possibilities in the shed, and it's a book that produces good vibes and fun the entire way through.

To add more goodness and round off this read, there are coloring pages, story time activities, and more available at https://www.sarahmoonstories.com/

And here she is...

Hi, I'm Sarah Moon and I'm so glad you've stopped by! As a former librarian, there is nothing I enjoy more than to sharing my love of books with everyone, especially young readers. I believe picture books are the cornerstone for readers of all ages to help spark wonder, and imagination while aiding to develop foundational life skills. Sheep the Llama is my first of hopefully many picture books to come!

https://www.sarahmoonstories.com/

 

Puggle Snuggles by Mo O'Hara

The title and cover caught my attention on today's read. And the platypus. How often does one see a picture book featuring a platypus? And the chick with the trumpet is worth a second glance, too. I'm not sure if this is a lively read or a good bedtime read, but either way, I'm more than a little curious to see what these animals are up to. I bet it has a lot of snuggling involved, which is always a good thing.

So, let's pop this one open and see what this adorable platypus is up to!

PUBBLE SNUGGLES

by Mo O'Hara

Illustrated by Loretta Schauer

Happy Yak

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

A hilarious and sweet picture book starring a baby platypus—known as a puggle—and other mischievous baby animals.

The moon rose and all the animals curled up to go to sleep. But then, Platypus’s puggle just wanted to… PARTY IN THE NIGHTTIME!

During the day, an array of baby animals love to play. Giraffe’s calf made everyone laugh, Hen’s chicks did magic tricks and Sheep’s lamb got herself in a jam, but puggle just wants to snuggle… until darkness falls. 

Discover what puggle and the other baby animals who can’t keep still at night get up to in this funny bedtime story with a twist. Written by Mo O’Hara, the New York Times-bestselling author, and brought to life with adorable illustrations by award-winning Loretta Schuer. Packed with animals in funny scenarios and witty, rhyming word play, this is an entertaining bedtime read for children who just can’t keep still at night! 

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON    /     QUATRO GROUP

MY TIDBITS

Snuggles, snuggles, and more snuggles fill these pages...until they don't and something entirely different takes over.

During the day, many animals are up to all sorts of things. From magic to knitting to silly antics and more, these animals are anything but boring. Little Puggle, however, doesn't take notice of any of it as the sleepy platypus curls up with its mom to sleep...while she does her best to keep the antics from bothering her child. Then, the sun goes down and the entire situation gets flipped onto its head.

These pages guarantee giggles and smiles as the animals are up to all sorts of things. There's never a boring moment and each page holds more surprises as the animals head into the most unexpected activities, at times. The illustrations do a lovely job at letting each animal do its thing, while incorporating the scenes with a slight, humorous flow into the repeated moment of Puggle wanting to snuggle. The first half of the book invites to warmth and...well, snuggling. Then, the book switches gears with tons of energy, and readers will get swept up in the change. It's hard not to laugh and grin as nighttime takes over and the energy doubles. All of this creates a lovely bedtime read.

The text is done in rhyme, which flows well for the most part. The repeated phrase adds a nice touch for listeners to snuggle into and it offers a satisfying way to round things off. There's also a bit of information about animal's habits as they are split between day and night activity. This aspect could be pointed out to reinforce animal knowledge after the read is done for those who want to take this twist. But it makes fun read-aloud with tons of smiles for groups settings or more individual ones as well and is sure to leave listeners wishing they could join in on some of the fun.

And here they are...

Mo O’Hara, originally from America, moved to London because she wanted to live abroad but spoke no foreign languages. After a brief and unsuccessful stint as a serving wench at the Tower of London, Mo found work as an actress and comedy performer. It was when she toured the UK as a storyteller that she started writing for kids. Now, Mo lives in South London with her husband, her two kids and her two (slightly bitey) cats. She has toured all across the USA and the UK and has also visited schools and festivals in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Loretta Schauer has illustrated a number of picture books and fiction titles for younger children, including the recent 'Fairytales for the Fearless' series written by Gareth P. Jones (Rabunzel, CinderGorilla and Snowy White) and the popular 'Luma and the Dragon' series by Leah Mohammed. She has always loved drawing and is never happier than when she’s making something. Loretta lives in York, England.

The Many Assassinations of Samir the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Naveri

When I saw this title and cover, I immediately thought of the famous One Thousand and One Nights. Like yesterday's read, this one isn't a new release but came out a few years ago in 2023. As you can see on the cover image, it was a Newberry Award Nominee. But honestly, I picked it up because it carries that ancient flair and promise of desert adventures. So, let's dive in and see where this caravan leads.

THE MANY ASSASSINATIONS OF SAMIR

THE SELLER OF DREAMS

by Daniel Naveri

Levine Querdo

Middle Grade Fantasy

228 pages

ages 8 to 12

A new all-ages adventure tale from Printz Medal Winner, Daniel Nayeri

This is the tale of an exciting journey along the Silk Road with a young Monk and his newfound guardian, Samir, a larger than life character and the so-called “Seller of Dreams”. The man is a scammer; his biggest skill being the ability to talk his way into getting what he wants. While that talking did save Monkey’s life, it has left a lot of people furious with Samir— furious enough to hire assassins. Monkey decides to try and save Samir from the attempts on his life—as a way to pay off his debt! If he can save Samir six times, he’ll be a free man...but will they all survive that long?

For fans of The Little Prince and Salman Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER     /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Scams, survival, desert heat, and danger dance across every page in this exciting adventure.

Monkey...well, that isn't his true name, since he's an orphan twice or thrice over, but it's the latest one he carries (and dislikes) as the servant of Samir, a scam artist who travels the desert. Although Samir saved Monkey's life by purchasing him from a pair of monks who were determined to execute him for what they considered a crime, Monkey knows he can't truly stay with the thief and is constantly hoping to find a way to pay off his debt. Doing it through money or treasures won't work, but when there are plots to kill Samir, Monkey hopes that saving the man's life will be valuable enough. Unfortunately, assassin attempts aren't something easily survived for either him or Samir.

This is a grabbing tale which transports the reader back into history and brings them to the hot desert sands. Right away, the reader is caught up in action as Monkey runs to escape guards and monks, who are determined to kill him with their swords. The author doesn't hold back but lets the danger and impossibility of escape seep from the pages so that it's clear that Monkey doesn't really have a chance. This raw danger sets the tone as the author doesn't sugar-coat the threats or dampen them. So, there's a violent edge. Still, the author keeps the read appropriate for the middle grade audience, at the same time. Fans of danger and adventure will appreciate that. There's also a constant demand for clever thought as Monkey needs to weave around the talented scamming of Samir and the plots of the assassins. So, there's never a boring moment. 

The world opens up and lets the reader sink into the hot sun, dusty caravans, and rough lifestyles, and it does this without wordy dumps or boring passages. The culture comes to life as this also introduces some insight into the habits of these people at that time. It works nicely for classroom and homeschoolers, too, especially thanks to a thorough and free teacher's guide available on the publisher's website. The text fits well to the middle grade audience and would work even for tweens thanks to the subject matter.

For homeschoolers and teachers:

The publisher offers a full, ready-to-use teaching guide with reading comprehension questions, discussion ideas, and more. 

Teaching Guide

And here he is...

Daniel Nayeri is a Newbery Honoree and the author of EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE (A TRUE STORY), THE MANY ASSASSINATIONS OF SAMIR, THE SELLER OF DREAMS, and THE TEACHER OF NOMAD LAND. He was born in Iran and spent a couple of years in a refugee camp in Italy before moving to Oklahoma at age eight. He is the publisher of Odd Dot Books at Macmillan and the founder of Renard Press, a boutique publisher of classic literature.

 

The Superhero's Return by Lucas Flint

I'm taking a turn into the realm of superheros today and looking at the first book to a series, which released about eight years ago. Why? Well, I saw it come up on one of my feeds and thought it'd been a bit since I hit this direction. Plus, it's young adult and casts a guy as the main character. Plus, the darkish vibes the title and cover are giving are intriguing.  After a little research, I discovered that Lucas Flint isn't unknown in the superhero literature realm and has produced many series. This series appears to be the offshoot of another nine book series titled The Superhero's Son, which (if I understood this correctly) features the same main character but a little younger. Now, Bolt (the MC) is eighteen and taking on...well, whatever evil attacks, I guess.

I'm hoping this one doesn't lean toward New Adult and stays nicely based in the Young Adult area as it is advertised. That I'm hoping for action probably isn't a secret. Maybe a little heart? Let's find out!

THE SUPERHERO'S RETURN

Lightning Bolt, Book 1

by Lucas Flint

Secret Identity Books

YA Superhero Fiction

228 pages

GOODREADS   /   AMAZON 

The Superhero's Son returns in a brand new adventure!

Eighteen-year-old Kevin Jason (Bolt) wants respect. Despite saving the world more times then he can count, older superheroes still treat him like a kid. Not helping matters is his own impulsive nature, which gets him into trouble as often as it helps him save lives.

Respect from his fellow superheroes becomes the last thing on his mind, however, when an infamous serial killer makes him his next target. This serial killer specializes in killing superhumans and he won't give up until Bolt is dead.

Now Bolt must find and stop this serial killer before he strikes again, a seemingly impossible task when Bolt doesn't even know who he is. But if Bolt can't stop the serial killer, being treated like a kid by his fellow superheroes will be the least of his problems.

MY TIDBITS

Villain's never seem to leave any time for superheroes to catch a breath of fresh air, and this hero's life isn't any different.

Bolt has saved the world so many times and proven that he can more than hold his own when it comes to fending off villains. Now, he's finally eighteen...an adult...and yet, the other superheroes refuse to give him any respect. Instead, he's placed under the tight supervision of a superhero couple and isn't allowed to make any decisions on his own. But Bolt has never been one to always do what he's told. After he ignores orders to save the life of a colleague, he discovers that he's, actually, the next target of a villain, who is killing superheroes thanks to a power-blocking gas. While Bolt is told he has to remain indoors until the threat is taken care of, he comes across information which links the villain to his father's inventions. While his father died over a year before, it turns out that he has harbored more secrets than anyone realized, and these secrets aren't only killing superheroes, they might be the end of Bolt, too.

This series shoots off from another series titled The Superhero's Son. While it isn't necessary to have read that series first, through Bolt's thoughts it's clear that there are adventures and background information missing. While a little irritating, the lack of that information doesn't hurt this read, either. The author fills in the holes when needed, but since this is a complete adventure with a villain Bolt doesn't know, it's no problem to dive right into the world and get lost in it.

Bolt is eighteen and frustrated that he isn't being treated like the other, older superheroes. His thoughts, emotions, and logic come across in a way teens will sympathize with and understand. He has a girlfriend to add a touch of romance, but this story stays with both feet in the adventure and mystery surrounding the dangerous threat Bolt is facing. He does feel a bit whiny at times and has some obvious issues with authority, but it's also these flaws which make him easier to root for.

The action hits often and keeps the pages turning. Add the mystery behind the villain's origins and Bolt's father's past...and there is a lot going on. Teen superhero fans are sure to enjoy this one quite a bit.

To learn more about Lucas Flint and his superhero series, head over to...

https://www.lucasflint.com/