February 2022 Prime Picks

Reviewer's Choice

The Art of Repair
Molly Martin
Short Books/ Octopus
9781780724423 $19.99
www.shortbooks.co.uk

Plenty of sewing books are on the market, but few come from the vantage point of The Art of Repair: Mindful Mending: How to Stitch Old Things to New Life. It's an instruction on reconstruction, repurposing, and revitalizing that explores the origins of repair and mending, linking it to soul-enhancing crafts.

Lovely illustrations follow piecing and patching methods from different world traditions in a journey especially recommended for seamstresses who find historical reflection on the domestic arts to be involving.

More than an instructional about sewing, as some might initially think, The Art of Repair returns the fine art notion to the sewing and repair effort in an inspiring, educational, and enlightening survey suitable not just for domestic history libraries, but anyone interested in repurposing.

Our Artists at War
Richard J. Arndt & Steven Fears
TwoMorrows Publishing
9781605491080 $27.95
www.twomorrows.com

Our Artists at War: The Best of the Best American War Comics captures the works of a range of war comics published in America, profiling the writers and artists who created them.

Black and white and full color panels, covers, and illustrations liberally enhance discussions of the evolution of approaches to depicting American politics, military engagements, and issues over a range of wars.

It should be noted that this is the first book in the US to examine this genre. Plenty of comic history books cover sci-fi, horror, and other popular themes, but this in-depth survey of important works from a range of publishers, writers, and artists offers an unparalleled vision of wartime approaches and depictions that should be considered a mainstay for any comic history collection.

Healthy Air Fryer
America's Test Kitchen
America's Test Kitchen
9781948703901 $24.99
www.americastestkitchen.com

Healthy Air Fryer: 75 Feel-Good Recipes. Any Meal. Any Air Fryer. provides a basic collection of revised recipes for a device that has taken the culinary world by storm: the air fryer. This isn't the first air fryer coverage America's Test Kitchen has produced. Air-Fryer Perfection also reviewed the basics; but Healthy Air Fryer takes the next step in showing ways that the device can foster healthy eating habits from breakfast to dinner.

Recipes and color photos accompany each idea for healthier cooking via the air fryer, presenting such dishes as Dill-and-Coriander-Rubbed Roasted Pork Chop, Shrimp with Curry Noodles, and Roasted Broccoli which can all be made easily with the fryer.

Cooks who own this device, especially newcomers to it, will here find many, many options for all kinds of delicious fare.

Medicinal Herbs of California
Lanny Kaufer
Falcon Guides
9781493058020 $26.95
www.falcon.com

If there's one field guide that a California resident needs in order to identify and use healing plants, it's Medicinal Herbs of California.

This guide lends to take-long toting in the field with its good-sized color photos, written descriptions, discussions of herb uses, cultivation advice, and cautions.

Readers will find Medicinal Herbs of California an absorbing reference whether they're using it for wild plant identification, the domestic cultivation of a healing herb garden, or keys to using the herbs appropriately.

Reference libraries in California will find it a useful, specific primer on healing herbs native to and growing in the state.

The Red Menace
Ilise S. Carter
Prometheus Books
9781633887107 $28.95
www.rowman.com

The Red Menace: How Lipstick Changed the Face of American History provides a chronological history by decade to consider how lipstick evolved from the colonies to modern times, documenting many lesser-known facts about lipstick's cultural, social, and business evolution.

Beauty journalist Ilsie S. Carter considers both the cultural allure of red lips and the development of its influence on celebrities and public perceptions alike.

Many surprising links between lipstick and everything from war and peace to women's issues are presented during the course of a lively discussion highly recommended for any library strong in women's history, issues, or American cultural analysis and studies.

Young Adult/Children

Big As a Giant Snail
Jess Keating
Knopf/Random House
9780593300848 $17.99
www.rhcbooks.com

Big As a Giant Snail: Discovering the World's Most Gigantic Animals is an addition to 'The World of Weird Animals' that invites kids to learn about large, odd creatures such as moose, harpy eagles, red kangaroos, and more.

Each animal receives a good-sized color photo and a facing page of natural history facts, accompanied by a lively drawing by David DeGrand that illustrates a selected amazing fact about the creature.

Elementary-level natural history libraries looking for titles that are eye-catching attractions for picture book readers will find Big As a Giant Snail a popular choice that lends to display and leisure reading alike.

Candlewick Press
www.candlewick.com

Six new picture book stories offer young audiences fine choices for memorable reads.

Sue Lawson and Liz Anelli's The Cookie Maker of Mavin Road (9781536219975, $18.99) tells of Benedict Stanley, who lives alone with his cat on a busy road.

Life passes by in a hectic manner and nobody seems to have any time, so Benedict begins to make cookies to secretly leave at peoples' doors.

Only one person knows of his secret activity, so when Benedict falls ill, it falls upon him to keep the tradition going.

Leda Schubert's Dogs Love Cars (9781536203097, $17.99) features fun drawings by Paul Meisel as it follows a pack of dogs of all shapes and colors who find pleasure in everything in the world around them.

But, most of all, dogs love cars. Any kind of car will do. They also love other dogs, napping, playing, and getting into trouble in this whimsical tale that young dog-lovers will relish.

Leah H. Rogers's The Barn (9781536209068, $17.99) receives gorgeous, color-packed art by Barry Roots as it tells of an old barn that houses all kinds of critters.

"I am a barn," the story begins. As it reviews a barn's life on the farm, kids receive a gentle introduction to farming and the domestic and wild creatures the barn oversees from its long-standing location.

Catherine Rayner's My Pet Goldfish (9781536215205, $17.99) is a Kate Greenaway Medal winner that tells of how goldfish make wonderful pets.

The first-person story of how a young child cares for Richard, her goldfish, accompanies nature facts about goldfish.

The blend of fictional experience and nonfiction science will delight parents who choose this book for its read-aloud value.

Arthur Yorinks creates a compellingly fun story in One Mean Ant with Fly and Flea and Moth (9780763683962, $17.99), which returns the ant, fly and flea to young readers with a new adventure.

They are stuck doing tricks in the insect circus, but they have a plan to escape.

Sergio Ruzzier's fun drawings contribute to an engaging, whimsical story.

Edwina Wyatt's Sometimes Cake (9781536217810, $17.99) receives entertaining illustrations by Tamsin Ainslie as it follows a young girl and a lion who find a way to celebrate ordinary, everyday pleasures together.

Kids often long for a birthday celebration to come around quicker than yearly. This book offers a different perspective on what it means to celebrate the moment.

All are fine picture book stories.

Katherine Patterson's Birdie's Bargain (9781536215595, $17.99) will reach advanced elementary to early middle grades with its story of young Birdie's reflection on her life. Her father has just left as war begins in the Middle East, and will be gone, for the second time, for a whole year.

Birdie wants to do something about it, but she gets caught up in other dilemmas, from a bossy neighbor girl to an impossible bargain with God.

Any young reader from a military family will readily relate to Birdie's many dilemmas, from faith to family.

Disney/Hyperion
www.DisneyBooks.com

Two new recommendations for young adult audiences should be at the top of reading and acquisitions lists. They will attract teen leisure readers with inviting stories that are both action-packed standouts.

Rick Riordan's Daughter of the Deep (9781368077927, $19.99) tells of school freshman Ana Dakkar, who is attending a five-year high school that produces noted marine scientists and underwater explorers.

Her freshman year was supposed to include with a weekend trial at sea, but when disaster strikes, Ana finds that a host of secrets have broken open into war, complete with school enemies and challenges that test her education and courage.

An engrossing, unpredictable adventure emerges.

Eoin Colfer's Fowl Twins Get What They Deserve (9781368075671, $18.99) provides the third Fowl Twins adventure, but stands nicely alone for newcomers to their world.

Myles is tested when a weaponized jet interrupts his lecture in London...one designed to exact revenge against the twins by killing them.

What appears to be an accident turns into a test of wills as Myles finds himself mistrusting not just those around him, but his own body and those he has chosen to trust.

Young adults who like tales of magic, mystery, and ghosts paired with action-packed scenes will relish this vigorous tale.

All are excellent choices for collections looking to expand leisure choices for teens.

Penguin Random House
www.penguin.com/kids

Four new picture books are attractions highly recommended for libraries looking for something special, with lasting lending value.

Hudson Talbott's A Walk in the Words (9780399548710, $17.99) tells of a kid challenged by reading. Hudson feels lost and alone in a "world of words," but he does love stories.

Eventually he learns to read at his own pace, albeit slowly, and discovers different, favorite ways of not just reading, but telling his own story.

The autobiography is filled with delightful illustrations and adopts a perspective that will captivate young readers who also struggle with words.

Based on a true adventure, Trang Nguyen's Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear (9780593353622, $13.99) gives middle grades a graphic novel adventure about young conservationists who save a bear.

Gorgeous drawings by Jeet Zdung enhance the adventure, which will appeal to middle graders who enjoy graphic novels, colorful panels, and animal rescue tales.

Max Greenfield's I Don't Want to Read This Book (9780593326060, $17.99) is for kids who don't like to read, who will readily relate to Max's first-person introduction: "Why would I read this book? I already know what's going to happen."

Large-size words on each page present a lively discussion of the common barriers to reading, which include not just words but the special challenges of absorbing a book which holds dreaded paragraphs.

Kids will appreciate this lively reminder of what it takes to enjoy a book.

Sophie Blackall's Negative Cat (9780399257193, $17.99) tells of Max, a cat who doesn't like to play and who presents a sour disposition to his new adoptive family, who are set to give up on making him happy and part of their world.

The boy, however, loves his cat, and will do anything to keep him. Even if it means confronting his fears and doing the impossible.

Max is surprised by few things, doesn't smile, and doesn't like to play. He's kind of...negative. How can the boy change him?

A fun story evolves.

Advanced elementary to middle grade readers will find Rob Harrell's When Pigs Fly (9780593354155, $14.99) an appealing full-color graphic novel about Batpig, who is bent on improving the world by catching litterers and swearers.

Can the superswine really change a world and save it from the threat of a giant lizard and a determined butcher?

Gary isn't always feeling positive about his goals, but he manages to preserve them in a rollicking good read that will bring both laughs and thought-provoking moments.

Two young adult reads are also highly recommended for discriminating teen leisure readers.

Both Sides Now by Peyton Thomas (9780593322819, $17.99) tells of seventeen-year-old Finch Kelly, who wants to win the National Debate Championship in order to take his life to the next level: becoming the first trans congressman.

There's only two problems. His dreams aren't backed by any realistic achievement that would lead to either a scholarship or debate success, and transgender rights as a debate discussion seems especially challenging when Finch is called upon to debate against his own best interests and beliefs.

This powerful story of a trans teen's maturity deserves a place in any teen LBGTQ collection. It brings alive some of the special dilemmas trans teens face as they age.

A Bird Will Soar by Alison Green Myers (9780593325674, $17.99) tells of Axel, who loves birds. He equates the dilemmas of eagles and other birds with the problems in his own family, including his father's disappearance, and finds better understanding as he reviews his life and its benefits.

When a tornado damages his home and the eagles he loves to observe, everything changes.

As Axel communicates with a scientist about the eagles and with his family about these changes, he finds the courage to confront his own evolving life in this moving story of transformation.

Library collections looking for memorable, lasting reads will find these books outstanding additions.

Scholastic, Inc.
www.scholastic.com

Scholastic's latest publications offer young adult and picture book readers fine options for memorable stories, and are recommended as lasting library acquisitions.

Joana Pastro's Bisa's Carnaval (9781338617627, $18.99) tells of an annual Carnaval parade which Clara loves to celebrate with her family and her great-grandmother Bisa.

Pastro describes a fun event, captured with lively colorful drawings by Carolina Coroa, which is only missing one thing to prove successful.

Carnaval has always been Clara's favorite holiday, and this year she wishes for the best fantasia ever. Can she make it so?

The bilingual, multicultural story will appeal to read-aloud parents who can use it to discuss family relationships, changing lives, and celebrations.

Jocelyn Li Langrand's If You Miss Me (9781338680690, $18.99) provides picture book readers with the story of Charlie, who loves to dance with her grandmother, and who looks forward to their visits.

When winter introduces a big change, Charlie wonders how their relationship can continue.

The story of loss, adaptation, and love provides a winning account that adults can use as a read-aloud to help children with grief and recovery.

10 Spooky Pumpkins by Gris Grimly (9781338112443, $17.99) arrived too late for Halloween or Fall mention, but deserves a place in any library presenting seasonal reads to picture book audiences.

A little girl's Halloween adventure is profiled in a book that pairs a lovely rhyming action story with fine watercolor illustrations by artist Gris Grimly.

The lively story is hauntingly beautiful and will see repeat interest from young audiences and read-aloud parents alike.

Young adults receive new books which will draw them into fictional realms.

Brian Selznick's Kaleidoscope (9781338777246, $19.99) presents the story of two people who are connected by a mystery that crosses time and space.

The theme about grief, love, survival and coping feels like a fantasy, but holds its roots in real-life emotions and experiences that grasp readers through its multifaceted examination of fantastic and real worlds alike, exploring what happens when they intersect.

Ann Clare LeZotte's Set Me Free (9781338742497, $18.99) tells of a medical experiment gone awry as Mary Lambert is kidnapped and undergoes a terrible experiment that probes the cause of her deafness.

Everything has changed as a result of this event, including her interest, but when Mary is tapped to move to an isolated manor house to teach an eight-year-old with no prior language how to communicate, she finds her experiences offer newfound opportunities as well as leading her into danger.

This powerful story operates on many different levels and will delight young adults looking for a novel that's refreshingly different and hard to easily categorize.

Christina Diaz Gonzalez's Concealed (9781338647204, $17.99) tells of Katrina, whose amnesia protects her from the past and helps support her family's participation in the Witness Protection Program.

Ignorant of her real heritage, Katrina takes on new identities until one day her parents vanish and her mission to rescue them blows open the secrets that have ruled her life.

Naomi Gibson's Every Line of You (9781338726589, $18.99) tells of Lydia, who has been working on creating her AI, Henry, for years. She's built an efficient (albeit frightening) perfect boyfriend from computer code...one who pushes the envelope in his evolution and fosters a different kind of relationship with his creator.

The blend of sci-fi, romance, and psychological entanglement is nicely presented as Gibson outlines a dilemma that threatens to consume not just Lydia and Henry, but the world wound them.

All these books are highly recommended standouts that should be tops on library acquisition lists for the young.

All are unique picks that libraries will find inviting.

Simon & Schuster
www.simonandschuster.com

Simon & Schuster's latest publications offer something for everyone.

Young adults will find Juleah del Rosario's Turtle Under Ice (9781534442962, $11.99) a powerful story of sisters who found themselves adrift since their mother's death a few years ago.

When Ariana vanishes in the middle of the night during a snowstorm, Row is left entirely alone, and must handle a mystery that immerses her in her family's legacy. As she makes different decisions, some hope exists for a changed outcome...if she's not too late.

Adults who choose It Fell From the Sky by The Fan Brothers (9781534457621, $17.99) as a read-aloud will find wonder and fun in a story where a mysterious object lands in the insect kingdom, only to be claimed by Spider.

Black and white backgrounds and the colorful color of the mysterious object draw young readers into a picture book story in which a "most amazing thing" changes the insect world as Spider decides to capitalize on the Wonder from the Sky...until disaster strikes.

Jonah Winter and Jeanette Winter's The Little Owl & The Big Tree (9781665902137, $17.99) is a moving Christmas story. It arrived too late for timelier holiday feature, but deserves ongoing recommendation as a picture book mainstay. It tells of a tiny owl who lives alone in a big tree until everything changes.

Who will help the little owl survive?

Underlying the adventure is the fact that it's the true story of the Northern Saw-whet Owl that was discovered in a holiday tree in New York.

All are engaging stories, recommended for discriminating collections and young readers.

Sylvia Finds a Way
Stephanie Shaw
West Margin Press
9781513289496 $17.99
www.westmarginpress.com

Sylvia Finds a Way tells of a creature who is "as small as your pinky finger and slow as a slug." That's because she is a slug...a tiny slug with a host of animal friends that all do things she cannot.

Sylvia approaches life on a much slower scale. Thus, she's able to appreciate a beautiful garden even as her animal friends are chased away from the gardener's efforts.

Can Sylvia's quiet ways resolve the problems these more exuberant garden invaders face as human tenders keep chasing them away?

A fine story evolves that celebrates slower, more mindful paths in life by making more constructive choices.

A surprise conclusion to the story gives young picture book readers a lovely experience, enhanced by Fiona Lee's evocative drawings.