“And Then, Boom!” by Lisa Fipps is a solid nod to the importance of asking for help. (Courtesy of Nancy Paulsen Books)
There are all kinds of discoveries in life. Some are wonderful, and others can be hard and troublesome. Throughout, though, we learn so many important things, and books can be a solid catalyst to that learning, such as those reviewed today.
Some discoveries are about things we knew little or nothing about, such as “Mummies: Dried, Tanned, Sealed, Drained, Frozen, Embalmed, Stuffed, Wrapped, and Smoked . . . and We’re Dead Serious.” In “And Then, Boom!” readers/listeners discover what real poverty and determination look like, producing a deeper sense of empathy.
And “Found” delivers an exciting story of what it’s like to go on an adventure with a loved one and discover anticipated and unanticipated scenarios.
Keep discovering with the child in your life — read.
Books to borrow
The following book is available at many public libraries.
“Mummies: Dried, Tanned, Sealed, Drained, Frozen, Embalmed, Stuffed, Wrapped, and Smoked . . . and We’re Dead Serious” by Christopher Sloan, photos various credits, National Geographic, 48 pages
Read aloud: age 9 and older.
Read yourself: age 10 and older.
“Whether mummies were kings and queens entombed with exotic riches, or just regular people, each body has a story to tell. By listening to these stories, told through the work of scientists, we can get close to people who lived before us. This is why mummies may be the world’s most valuable ancient treasures.”
Fascinating, lively prose couples with extraordinary photographs to create this outstanding book. Learn about mummies, how and why they were mummified, including a 530-year-old frozen Inca girl, a 2,400-year-old murder victim found well preserved in a peat bog, King Tut, who was mummified in 1323 B.C., and Otzi the Iceman who was murdered and frozen in the snowy heights of the Alps roughly 5,310 years ago.
These and many more mummified men, women and children are found in this incredible book that will keep readers and listeners spellbound from start to finish.
Librarian’s choice
Library: Reading Public Library, Northeast Branch, 1348 N. 11th St., Reading
Executive library director: Melissa Adams
Branch manager: Rachel Constein
Choices this week: “The Phantom Tollbooth” by Norton Juster; “The Keeping Quilt” by Patricia Polacco; “How You Got So Smart” by David Milgrim
Books to buy
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.
“And Then, Boom!” by Lisa Fipps, Nancy Paulsen Books, 2024, 244 pages, $17.99 hardcover
Read aloud: age 8 – 12.
Read yourself: age 8 – 12.
Joe knows what hardship is — poverty, hunger, no father and an angry, explosive mom who gets The Itch and frequently takes off unannounced, sometimes for days or weeks or months.
Thank goodness Joe has his loving, wise, dependable Grandmum. Together the two manage, but barely. Bills are piling up, and any unexpected expense, like having to go to the doctor or buy medicine, puts Joe and Grandmum way behind what they can afford.
When the Mess with Mom occurs, Joe and Grandmum go from poor to poorer. Then, an unimaginable BOOM happens, and Joe is left trying to take care of himself alone. Although Joe has friends and others who care about him, Joe doesn’t want to share what has happened because he is afraid of going into foster care.
As Joe soon finds out, dumpster diving doesn’t cut it. Nonetheless, Joe keeps doing the best he can to find enough to eat, both for himself and the three abandoned dogs he rescues.
And if all of this isn’t bad enough, the tornado siren blares and an enormous tornado is barreling down towards Joe and the dogs, and Joe knows they must get to the shelter immediately. What awaits Joe is both terrifying and miraculous, and Joe finally understands that even the strongest people need help from others.
Written in free verse, “And Then, Boom!” is at once a heartbreaking, realistic portrayal of poverty while also being uplifting. A story of courage and resilience, this outstanding novel is a solid nod to the importance of asking for help.
“Found” written and illustrated by Sam Usher, Templar Books, 2024, 40 pages, $17.99 hardcover
Read aloud: age 3 – 7.
Read yourself: age 6 – 7.
A boy and his granddad are going to the beach together and they are very excited. There, they do all sorts of exciting things — tide-pooling, build a sandcastle, have ice cream, swim in the ocean and find pirate treasure.
After all their activities, it is time to go swimming. Suddenly they hear the cry of a baby seal, tangled in a net on the shoreline. Determined to save the seal, they borrow a boat and set off to take the seal home. Little do they know their real adventure is about to begin.
On sale Tuesday, “Found” is a delightful story that exudes the joy of discovery and imagination. Perfectly balanced with enchanting illustrations, “Found” is not to be missed.
Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children’s literature. She can be reached at kendal.rautzhan27@gmail.com.
