Post-It Note Reviews: Hall Monitor Lizards, Science, Biographies, a Guide for Stress, and More!

You know the drill by now: I can’t write up long reviews for everything that I read, but I love to share as much as I read as I can! Here are quick reviews of some of the things I read in September.

All descriptions from the publishers.

Oliver’s Great Big Universe: Volcanoes Are Hot! (Oliver’s Great Big Universe #2) by Jorge Cham (ISBN-13: 9781419764103 Publisher: Amulet Books Publication date: 09/17/2024, Ages 8-12)

“Mind-expanding and hilarious! I got smarter reading this!”
—Jeff Kinney, author of the international bestselling series Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Earth sciences meet Diary of a Wimpy Kid in Oliver’s Great Big Universe: Volcanoes Are Hot!, second in an original illustrated middle-grade fiction series that blends science with narrative from bestselling author-artist Jorge Cham, the Emmy Award–nominated creator of PBS’s Elinor Wonders Why

After writing his first book, eleven-year-old Oliver is kind of a celebrity around school—no big deal. But when he gets caught in a cafeteria catastrophe, he quickly goes from being the “funny science kid” to one of the “Epic Barf Kids”, the result of too much explosive cherry pie in the lunchroom. Oliver is desperate to restore his reputation—and winning the science fair sounds like the perfect way for everyone to forget about the whole barf thing. There’s just one obstacle standing in his way: Ana Lía Quintero, who wins the science fair every year.

Luckily, Oliver has the help of his geoscientist aunt, even though she’s a little, um, quirky (scratch that: really quirky). If Oliver has any chance of defeating his archnemesis, he’ll have to learn all about volcanic burping and bacteria farts, how Earth’s layers are basically like boba tea, and how school cliques and the solar system have a lot in common.

With laugh-out-loud humor and cartoon-style illustrations from bestselling writer and the creator of PHD Comics Jorge Cham, Oliver’s Great Big Universe is a STEAM-themed, diary-style series following one kid who’s taking on the whole universe—if he can survive middle school first.

(POST-IT SAYS: Love this! Like DOAWK centered around science. Full of humor, illustrations, and lots of information presented in accessible, entertaining ways. A fantastic mix of funny and factual. Add to all collections that serve kids!)

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness, Tim Miller (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9781536235937 Publisher: Candlewick Press Publication date: 09/03/2024, Ages 8-12)

From the best-selling author of A Monster Calls, this funny, wise middle-grade series explodesevery stereotype—including what it means to be a hero—in a brilliant reptilian take on surviving school.

When Principal Wombat makes monitor lizards Zeke, Daniel, and Alicia hall monitors, Zeke gives up on popularity at his new school. Brought in as part of a district blending program, the monitor lizards were mostly ignored before. Reptiles aren’t bullied any more than other students, but they do stick out among zebras, ostriches, and elk. Why would Principal Wombat make them hall monitors? Alicia explains that it’s because mammals are afraid of being yelled (hissed) at by reptiles. The principal’s just a good general, deploying her resources. Zeke balks, until he gets on the wrong side of Pelicarnassus. More than a bully, the pelican is a famed international supervillain—at least when his mother isn’t looking. Maybe the halls are a war zone, and the school needs a hero. Too bad it isn’t . . . Zeke. Smart, relatable, and densely illustrated in black and white for graphic appeal, this middle-grade series debut by a revered author returns to his themes of grief, bullying, and negotiating differences—but with zeal and comic relief to spare.

(POST-IT SAYS: An amazingly weird and successful mix of quirky (all of France is located on Zeke’s knee) and poignant (his mother is struggling with depression and grief). Good messages about bullying, friendship, and anger. As full of heart as it is absurd.)

Great Minds of Science (Black Lives #1): A Nonfiction Graphic Novel by Tonya Bolden, David Wilkerson (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9781419752698 Publisher: Abrams Fanfare Publication date: 09/10/2024, Ages 8-12)

Dive in to an exciting nonfiction graphic novel series about some of the greatest Black lives in history!

This fun and accessible graphic novel for middle grade readers brings to light the lives of great but lesser-known Black scientists. Great Minds of Science is a kid-friendly introduction to some of the greatest scientists in history—doctors, engineers, mathematicians, and biologists.

Each of them faced challenges as they rose to the top of their professions, but they didn’t back down. They kept experimenting and questioning and learning, and they made significant contributions in each of their scientific fields.

Black Lives is the new graphic novel series from award-winning author Tonya Bolden and illustrator David Wilkerson that celebrates the lives of Black innovators and legends and helps bring these histories to life.

Celebrate the lives and contributions of Black scientists throughout history with the inspiring Great Minds of Science.

(POST-IT NOTE SAYS: I always love to see graphic nonfiction–great way to appeal to a wide audience. The brief biographies provide significant amounts of information. Dynamic layouts add to the visual appeal. Great range of subjects, all of whom were new to me.)

Pablo and Splash by Sheena Dempsey (ISBN-13: 9781547616176 Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Publication date: 09/03/2024, Ages 7-10)

Join time-travelling penguins Pablo and Splash on an unexpected adventure to the time of the dinosaurs in this hilarious full-color graphic novel, perfect for fans of Dog Man and Investigators.

Antarctic penguins Pablo and Splash are polar opposites and besties for life. Pablo is a home-bird and a careful planner. Splash is easily bored and hungry for adventure. Sick to her flippers of the harsh, freezing weather, Splash persuades Pablo to go on a beach vacation with her. When they accidentally find themselves in a scientist’s time machine, they end up on the beach….back in the age of dinosaurs! Can Pablo and Splash make their way home before they become dino snacks?

This full color graphic novel is perfect for animal lovers, reluctant readers, and graphic novel fans!

(POST-IT SAYS: Hand this to the Dog Man/InvestiGators crew. Penguins, time/space travel, dinosaurs, and so much humor! Large, vibrant illustrations and just enough text will make curious readers check this one out. A fun adventure full of hijinks.)

Sophie: Jurassic Bark by Brian Anderson (ISBN-13: 9781958325148 Publisher: Marble Press Publication date: 10/15/2024 Series: Sophie #1, Ages 8-12)

Sophie: Frankenstein’s Hound by Brian Anderson (ISBN-13: 9781958325254 Publisher: Marble Press Publication date: 10/15/2024 Series: Sophie #2, Ages 8-12)

“Sophie is the perfect mix of heart, humor, and hilarity!” – Lincoln Peirce, creator of Big Nate

From the creator the much-loved webcomic, “Dog Eat Doug,” Sophie is a hilarious new graphic novel series, a sendup of family life from the perspective of one snarky dog who wants nothing more than to have everything—without ever having to share.

Life is good when you’re a dog and you have humans all to yourself. But what about when a new baby enters the picture . . . along with a couple of cats intent on taking over the world?

Full of mini adventures, pop culture spoofs, sharp jokes, adorable illustrations, and a sneaky dose of heart, Jurassic Bark and Frankenstein’s Hound are the perfect introduction to these characters and their world. Just right for the pet-obsessed among us no matter the age, while simultaneously appealing to the kids who love to giggle at Big Nate, Dog Man, Garfield, and Snoopy.

(POST-IT SAYS: These are great! Very Calvin and Hobbes in tone. Episodic chapters full of fantastical adventures starring a baby, dogs, cats, and squirrels. Readers will absolutely love these—great multiple copies!)

Fearless Firsts: Athletes Who Changed the Game by James Buckley Jr. and Ellen Labrecque, Steffi Walthall (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9781728275062 Publisher: Sourcebooks Publication date: 08/06/2024 Series: Fearless Firsts, Ages 9-13)

Celebrate over 50 athletes who broke barriers, took risks, and changed the rules!

While these athletes came from different backgrounds and overcame unique struggles, they had one thing in common: they would not take “You can’t” for an answer. With a don’t-give-up attitude, these fearless firsts fought for what they believed in and created a better sports world.

In this book, you’ll read about very famous athletes, like Jackie Robinson and Simone Biles. You’ll also discover the first female drag-racing champion and the first Latino American baseball superstar. You’ll meet the first Olympian with an amputated leg, the first blind Ironman racer, the first transgender college champion, and the first Asian American Olympic gold medalists. Beyond individual athletes, you’ll learn how Title IX impacted sports, why the Paralympics matters, and the history behind the Haudenosaunee lacrosse team.

By the time you’re done reading, whether you’re an athlete or not, you’ll be inspired to stay optimistic, fight against injustice, and be fearless in anything you set your mind to!

(POST-IT SAYS: A really great collection of profiles of athletes who broke barriers. The brief biographies explain why their place in history is important and the large, bright illustrations will help draw in readers. A necessary purchase.)

How to Stop Freaking Out: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Cool When Life Feels Chaotic by Carla Naumburg, Letizia Rizzo (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9781523518241 Publisher: Workman Publishing Company Publication date: 09/10/2024, Ages 10-13)

From the bestselling author of How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids comes the ultimate guide for middle grade readers about managing stress and anxiety when life gets chaotic.​ 

Within these pages, readers will learn what a freak out is (and isn’t), discover why people flip out when they’re stressed, practice keeping cool in the most chaotic moments, and choose one of many strategies for calming down when things are totally overwhelming. 

Along the way, there are: 
• Quizzes! What’s your freak out style? 
• Truth Bombs! You don’t have to be perfect. 
• Freak Out Facts! There are more nerve cells in your body than there are stars in the Milky Way. 

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER: You can—and will—have big, intense, unpleasant feelings. The trick is knowing how to manage them. 

Uniquely designed to meet readers ages 8 and up, this book is filled with techniques, tools and most importantly, understanding, to guide readers through all the twists and turns on the roller coaster called LIFE.

(POST-IT SAYS: Really helpful, accessible look at how to recognize and manage feelings of stress and anxiety. Illustrations, quizzes, examples, lists, tricks, and tips will keep readers flipping through this lively look at something we all feel.)

Rise of the Spider by Michael P. Spradlin (ISBN-13: 9781665947206 Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books Publication date: 09/24/2024 Series: The Web of the Spider #1, Ages 8-12)

Witness the chilling rise of Hitler’s Germanythrough the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy in this first book in the action-packed middle grade series Web of the Spider for fans of I Survived and A Night Divided.

1929, Heroldsberg, Germany. Rolf might only be twelve years old, but he’s old enough to know that things have not been good in his country since the end of the Great War. Half of Germany is out of work, and a new political movement is taking hold that scares him. Every night, Rolf’s father and older brother, Romer, have increasingly heated arguments about politics at the dinner table. And when two members of the new Nazi Party, Hans and Nils, move to town as part of the Hitler Youth, Rolf is uneasy to see how enamored Romer is by their promises of bringing Germany to glory.

Rolf doesn’t trust Hans and Nils for a moment. For all their talk of greatness, they act more like bullies, antagonizing shop owners who are Rolf’s friends and neighbors. Yet Romer becomes increasingly obsessed with their message of division, and Rolf watches in horror as his family fractures even further.

When there is an act of vandalism against a Jewish-owned business in town, Rolf fears Romer might have had something to do with it. Can Rolf find a way to intervene before things get any worse?

(POST-IT SAYS: At 129 pages, this story is a great length for those who like historical fiction and want a quick read. Rolf is horrified by what Hitler Youth are doing in his town and can’t believe his brother wants to join them. Fast-paced, tense, and the start of a new series.)

It Happened to Anna by Tehlor Kay Mejia (ISBN-13: 9780593647035 Publisher: Random House Children’s Books Publication date: 08/06/2024, Ages 8-12)

This spine-tingling ghost story follows a tween girl who’s being literally haunted by loneliness until a new friendship upends her life. From the bestselling author of the Paola Santiago series!

“Absolutely haunting!”—Delilah S. Dawson, New York Times bestselling author of Mine

Sadie Rivera has been haunted all her life by a vengeful ghost—a ghost that doesn’t want her to make any friends. The moment she tries? Cue exploding lightbulbs, chilling gusts of wind, and slamming doors.

Last year, Sadie got fed up. Last year, she made a best friend, Anna. So when the ghost caused an accident that killed her best friend, Sadie knew it was all her fault.

Which is why she’s not going to make any friends this year at her new school. At least until mysterious cool girl Mal shows up, and the ghost doesn’t bother her for once. But Mal wants Sadie all to herself—and she’ll do anything to make sure it stays that way.

(POST-IT SAYS: This scary book has it all: death, threats, truly mean pranks, grief, a toxic friendship, a ghost, and lots of manipulation. This well-written, fast-paced horror story will delight readers who want actual ghosts and actual bad things happening.)

May the Best Player Win by Kyla Zhao (ISBN-13: 9780593615867 Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group Publication date: 09/17/2024, Ages 8-12)

The game is on in this fun-filled middle grade debut about chess, girl power, and performance anxiety in sports, perfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Celia C. Pérez!

The clock is ticking for May Li, whose middle-school chess team just earned a victory at the state championship—and with it, a ticket to nationals. What’s even more exciting is that May got an award for being the top female player and a splashy feature in the biggest chess magazine in the country.

May should be thrilled. But some of her teammates, including her supposed-to-be-friend Ralph, aren’t too pleased with the attention she’s getting—and they’re even questioning her skills. Backed into a corner, but not one to back down, May makes a move as bold as any of her chess tactics: She bets Ralph she can win the school’s internal tournament and be chosen as team captain for nationals.

The crown is May’s for the taking . . . except she’s starting to crumble under the weight of everyone’s expectations. Anxious feelings begin to affect her performance and, what’s worse, eat away at her love for the game. Now May is left to wonder: Can you still play for fun when you’re playing to win?

(POST-IT SAYS: Chess club is pretty popular at my school—maybe at yours, too! Good messages about pressure and anxiety, friendship, confidence, and success. No knowledge of chess necessary for enjoyment!)

Portrait of a Shadow by Meriam Metoui (ISBN-13: 9781250863270 Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Publication date: 07/16/2024, Ages 14-18)

A missing sister. A mysterious boy. And a painting that holds the truth beneath its peeling edge…

Inez is missing, but missing things can always be found.

Mae knows this as a fact, even though the police investigation has come to a standstill, even though her parents are moving on. But when she goes to clear out her older sister’s studio, she finds a mess of research and a white canvas that seems even older than the ornate frame it is set in. The closer Mae gets to the canvas, the more difficult it is to pull her eyes away from its mottled surface, its heavy layers of white paint, its peeling top corner she is tempted to pull to see what’s beneath. But she doesn’t. Not yet.

Mae decides to trace her sister’s last steps in the hopes of finding answers, certain that Inez’s disappearance is related to the painting. And she knows she is desperate enough to let the strange boy who claims to have been Inez’s neighbor tag along. Even if his good looks don’t help distract from his avoidance of her questions. So begins a scavenger hunt piecing together what they can find from what Inez left behind. One that leads to centuries-old questions best left unasked and secrets best kept in the dark.

From the author of A Guide to the Dark comes another romantic and eerie mystery about the lengths we are willing to go for the truth and the ones we love.

(POST-IT SAYS: The story is as creepy, strange, and compelling as the cover indicates. So many secrets, lies, twists, and desperate choices! Readers will race through the story to see if Mae can find her sister and figure out what’s really happening.)

Stinky’s Stories #1: The Boy Who Cried Underpants! by Chris Grabenstein, Alex Patrick (Illustrator), J.J. Grabenstein (ISBN-13: 9780063311206 Publisher: HarperCollins Publication date: 10/01/2024 Series: Stinky’s Stories #1, Ages 6-10)

Underwear has never been so much fun to wear!

It’s story time at Hickleberry Elementary with Stinky the stuffed skunk! You’ve probably heard of the boy who cried wolf, but do you know what happened after no one believed him? Well, according to Stinky, the boy moves away to the Big City, where he gets a job crying wolf for The William D. Wolfe Company, Makers Of All Sorts Of Fine And Fancy Stuff.

But when the boy gets bored again, he decides to use his talents to cry UNDERPANTS instead. When the queen hears his cries, she takes great offense—how dare he???—and suddenly, the Big City is sent into total chaos! Will the boy be able to save the day before it all gets too smelly?

This first stinky story is the first-ever chapter book series from beloved New York Times bestselling authors Chris and J. J. Grabenstein. Filled with page after page of hilarious illustrations by acclaimed artist Alex Patrick. Stinky’s Stories is the perfect series for young, reluctant, and emergent readers—or any kid who just loves to laugh.

(POST-IT SAYS: Really perfect for second grade-ish readers. Ample fun illustrations, short chapters, and a large font add to an already appealing premise—library stuffies spinning a silly tale about underpants-related chaos.)

Elvis Is Missing by Bruce Hale, Luke Séguin-Magee (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9780593660171 Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group Publication date: 10/15/2024 Series: The Outer Space Mystery Pizza Club #1, Ages 6-8)

Blast off into space and come along for an intergalactic mystery—with plenty of pizza—in this first book of the illustrated chapter book series, Outer Space Mystery Pizza Club!

It’s another ordinary Friday night in the suburbs for the Garcia-Jackson family: Mateo and Valentina’s favorite show is on TV. Mateo’s best friend, Booker, is over. And their babysitter, Jennica, is definitely keeping an eye on them and not playing with her phone.

But when Elvis, the family’s dog, bolts out of the house, barking uncontrollably at someone—or something—in the backyard, the kids go investigate…only to watch Elvis disappear through a mysterious portal!

The three kids, with their babysitter in tow, have no choice but to follow him—adventuring through deep space, where they’ll encounter aliens, dodge asteroids, and defy gravity—as they attempt to find their furry best friend (and make it back home before bedtime!).

Illustrator Luke Séguin-Magee brings this hilarious story to life with out-of-this-world black-and-white spot art.

(POST-IT SAYS: Supremely weird—and I mean that in the best possible way. The gang follows their dog through a portal and has a wacky adventure full of strange creatures, butchered slang, and PIZZA! So much action!)

What Jewish Looks Like by Liz Kleinrock, Iris Gottlieb (Illustrator), Caroline Kusin Pritchard (ISBN-13: 9780063285712 Publisher: HarperCollins Publication date: 09/24/2024, Ages 8-12)

Compiled by educator and author Liz Kleinrock and author Caroline Kusin Pritchard, this powerful intersectional anthology celebrates thirty-six Jewish heroes—from Tracee Ellis Ross and Victor “Young” Perez to Doña Gracia Nasi. A first-ever collection that disrupts the narrative of how a Jewish person is perceived, What Jewish Looks Like includes accessible primers on important Jewish history, a map, quotes, and much more!

Too many Jews have been told: “You don’t look Jewish!” It begs the question, “What does Jewish look like?” Well, there are over fifteen million Jews in the world, which means there are more than fifteen million ways to look and be Jewish. It can look like setting out menorahs on tribal land, adding kimchi to the seder plate, organizing for change, and living out loud.

Shining a light on Paralympians and chefs, anthropologists and activists, dancers and dreamers, the individuals in these pages represent a range of identities. But they are threaded together by one unmistakable truth: Their lives, work, and commitment to Jewish values have changed our world for the better. These bold profiles and inspiring everyday stories come together to create a tapestry that beautifully reflects the multifaceted essence of the Jewish people.

(POST-IT SAYS: Great artwork and great diversity of subjects. The intersectional collection offers brief biographies, quotes, info on Jewish organizations, and many sidebars with additional facts or shout-outs. I learned a lot!)

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