CAPTAIN MONTY TAKES THE PLUNGE. by Jennifer Mook-Sang.  Illus. by Liz Starin. Canada:  Kids Can Press, 2017.  32p.ISBN: 978-1-77138-626-5  hc.       PreS-K     E PIC
Captain Monty was a fearsome brave pirate with a secret.....he couldn't swim and wouldn't bathe. Because of not taking a bath, his true love, a mermaid, turned him away because he smelled bad. One day Meg the Mermaid was captured by an octopus, Captain Monty pushed through his fear and jumped into the water to save Meg. Meg was saved, Monte learned to swim and take a bath, and all lived happily ever after.
Kate, Board Member, Les Cheneaux Community Library

SAMSON IN THE SNOW by Philip C. Stead. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2016.  ISBN 978-162672-1821 hc. $17.99     K-3     E PIC

Samson, who appears to be a wooly mammoth, will remind readers of "Thudwick the Thick-Hearted Moose" with his ability to plod on through adversity and help others at the same time.  Samson's story begins in a field of flowers where he meets a new friend - a small red bird who then takes to the air and disappears.  The small red bird may be out of sight but not out of mind, as a snowstorm moves in and covers the ground with  cold, wet snow.  Samson worries if the bird will be warm enough.  He soon meets a mouse also looking for his friend in the storm.  Together, they find mouse's friend, who just happens to be the small red bird.  The trio of friends find shelter and tell stories to each other until the sun shines once again.  Stead's story of friendship is illustrated with oil pastels that fill up each page with snowstorm blue, dandelion yellow and cardinal red.  Snowflakes tell the journey of the small red bird without a single word.  Reader's will notice their mood changing as the colors move from warm and bright to cold and stormy and back again.
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI

CREATIVE PROJECTS WITH RASPBERRY PI by Kirsten Kearney and Will Freeman.  New York, Abrams Image, 2017.  ISBN 978-14197-25005 hc. $24.99     Gr. 5+     J 004.165    

The fields of Computer Science and Engineering were rejuvenated in 2012 by the introduction of Raspberry Pi programming language, which promoted hand-on technology projects in elementary schools, middle schools and high schools.  Research showed that the art of programming grew in popularity when real life projects were used to illustrate the relationship between machinery and computer code.  This book includes the history of Raspberry Pi coding language, as well as 35 projects for students to construct and program. The clearly marked chapters and textbook layout, along with easy-to-follow instructions for each project, make this a must-read for young techies.  The projects range from simple to complex.  Since there's quite a bit of equipment required for each project, an adult's assistance would be recommended for anyone younger that 12.
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI

MR. CRUM'S POTATO PREDICAMENT by Anne Renaud.  Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, Ltd. 2017.  ISBN 978-1771386197 hc. $17.99     Gr. 1-3    E PIC

Renaud spins an engaging story about George Crum, a ninteenth century chef who is sometimes credited with inventing the potato chip.  As the story goes, George was one of the best cooks in upstate New York.  His restaurant was always full.  One day a very fussy customer had "a hankering for a heaping helping of potatoes."  George set out a plate of his best fried potatoes, but the customer kept sending them back, wanting them thinner and more flavorful.  Finally, George added lots of salt and sliced the potatoes so thin that they cracked when poked with a fork.  At last, the particular potato-eating customer was satisfied, and potato chips became a delicacy for all customers of Crum's Place.  There's an Author's Note about the history of the real George Crum and a list of sources for anyone interested in further research. 
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI

WARCROSS by Marie Lu. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2017.  368p. ISBN: 978-0399547966 hc. $18.99    Gr. 9-12    YA FIC

In a futuristic New York City, 18 year-old Emika Chen lives on Ramen noodles and her passion for Warcross, a video game that builds virtual worlds by accessing player memories, along with it's 21 year-old creator, Hideo Tanaka.  Emika is a bounty hunter who doesn't earn enough money to keep a paid-up gaming account, but she possesses extraordinary gaming skills enabling her to hack into the Warcross worldwide tournament.  As she hacks into the game, a computer glitch reveals Emika's identity to the world.  Luckily, Hideo Tanaka offers her a job instead of charging her with a crime.   He gives her an undercover position on one of the Warcross tournament teams to find a dangerous hacker called Zero.  Emika is immersed in the action-packed virtual world of Warcross, while getting to know the other players on her team and forming a romantic connection to Hideo.  Marie Lu keeps YA readers engaged with action, romance, and moral dilemmas up to the very last page.  And...good news...there's plenty of room in this complex story for a sequel.
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI

AND THE ROBOT WENT... by Michelle Robinson. Illus. by Sergio Ruzzier.  New York:  Clarion Books, 2017.  ISBN 978-054458652-9 hc. $16.99     Gr. K-1     E PIC

Robinson combines a cumulative story with catchy rhymes to create an adventure for young readers.  It begins with "A Nosy Fox looked in the box," and continues on with an Eager Beaver, a Bear in a Blazer, and a Blue Gnu who all interact with the contents of the box - a robot.  Various mechanical noises emit from the robot after each character tries to fix it, until the persistent group produces a restored, fully functional robot.  Educators may want to use these unusual rhymes and varied verbs as examples for writing workshop.  Sergio Ruzzier consistently illustrates the series of characters in order to help with storyline, and adds fun details, such as fuzzy green slippers juxtaposed to the metal surface of the robot.  This structured story has a surprise ending you won't want to miss!
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI  49855

THE ENEMY by Sara Holbrook.  Honesdale, PA:  Calkins Creek Books, 2017.  255p.  ISBN 978-1629794983 hc. $17.95    Gr. 5-8    JUV FIC

The cold war between the U.S. and Russia was at its peak in 1954, as evidenced by air raid drills at school, war veterans in almost every family, German families suspected of having ties with Nazis, and a constant fear of Communist spies.  This was Marjorie Campbell's world when a new student, named Inga, showed up in her sixth grade classroom one day.  All the girls, especially the very popular Bernadette, voiced their suspicions about Inga.  If she moved to the U.S. from Canada, why did she speak German instead of English?  Marjorie's natural curiosity about Inga, along with her parents' support of Inga's family, help her stand up to Bernadette and demand fair treatment for all the girls in class, regardless of ethnicity or religion.  There are a lot of moving parts in this story, including a slam book, foster care, the post-war auto industry in Detroit, and post traumatic stress disorder - which was undiagnosed in soldiers at the time.
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI