Month: May 2019

PW’s Best Books Summer 2019

| Tasha

Here are the books for youth that Publisher’s Weekly has chosen as the best books for this summer.

PICTURE BOOKS

Daniel’s Good Day by Micha Archer

Hum and Swish by Matt Myers

 

The Last Peach by Gus Gordon

Llama Destroys the World by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Heather Fox

My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero, illustrated by Zeke Pena

Vroom! by Barbara McClintock

You Are Home: An Ode to the National Parks by Evan Turk

 

MIDDLE GRADE

All the Greys on Greene Street by Laura Tucker

Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel Jose Older

Knights vs. Monsters by Matt Phelan

Me and Sam-Sam Handle the Apocalypse by Susan Vaught

My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich by Ibi Zoboi

Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Up for Air by Laurie Morrison

 

YOUNG ADULT

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Brave Face: A Memoir by Shaun David Hutchinson

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell

Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson

The Rest of the Story by Sarah Dessen

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

 

Review: Extraordinary Birds by Sandy Stark-McGinnis

| Tasha

Extraordinary Birds by Sandy Stark-McGinnis

Extraordinary Birds by Sandy Stark-McGinnis (9781547601004)

11-year-old December has moved from one foster family to another over the past several years. As she moves, she has learned not to have many possessions, enough that she can carry them in a couple of bags. One item she brings with her every move is her biography, a book that reminds her why she is special and different from those around her. With her large scar on her back, December believes that she was raised as partially a bird and will eventually have her wings and feathers and be able to take flight. But when she jumps from a tree, she is moved to another foster family. This time, she is taken in by Eleanor, a women with a large garden, bird feeders, bird baths, and who works in an animal rehabilitation center. Eleanor’s quiet and loving approach starts to work on December, much as it does on her wounded birds. As December starts to trust, her desire to be separate from humans and different from them ebbs away. But could she ever give up her desire to fly?

Stark-McGinnis has written a startling debut novel for middle graders. December’s belief that she is a bird is at first alarming as she jumps from a tree, then rather odd, but the author leads readers to deeply understand the injury and damage done to December by first her mother’s violence and then her foster parents. It is a slow and haunting journey as December begins to trust others. Tying her own personal journey to that of a wounded hawk relearning to fly, the book creates a path for December to come alive again.

The journey to trust also includes a wonderful secondary character, Cheryllynn, a transgender classmate of December’s. As both girls steadily learn to stand up to the class bullies, they also learn that doing it together is easier and has a bigger impact. The two girls accept one another exactly as they are, something one doesn’t see enough in books about young girls and their friendships.

A heart-wrenching novel of abuse, recovery and learning to fly. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from ARC provided by Bloomsbury.

2019 Australian Book Industry Awards

| Tasha

The Australian Book Industry Awards give awards across a wide variety of ages and subjects. Here are this year’s winners for the juvenile categories.

BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR OLDER CHILDREN

Jane Doe and the Cradle of All Worlds by Jeremy Lachlan

 

BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN

The 104-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

 

CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR

All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys (Coming to the United States in September 2019)

 

SMALL PUBLISHER’S CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR

Whisper by Lynette Noni

2019 Indies Choice Book Award Winners

| Tasha

The 2019 Indies Choice Book Award winners were announced this week. Voted on by booksellers at American Booksellers Association member stores across the country, the awards are given in a variety of categories, including several for young readers. Here are the winners in those categories:

YOUNG ADULT

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

 

THE E.B. WHITE READ-ALOUD AWARD FOR PICTURE BOOKS

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

 

THE E.B. WHITE READ-ALOUD AWARD FOR MIDDLE READERS

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

 

PICTURE BOOK HALL OF FAME WINNERS

Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen

Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon

This Week Tweets

| Tasha

Here are the items I shared on Twitter this week:

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

15 Of The Absolute Best Podcasts for Children’s Books buff.ly/2IK4Pwm #kidlit

A is for Activist: why children’s books are getting political buff.ly/2UU1KeD #kidlit

Baltimore Mayor Resigns in Wake of Children’s Book Scandal – https://t.co/VZiFq4w4Da

Five questions for Raúl the Third — The Horn Book buff.ly/2V0P8qY #kidlitart

Minneapolis writer Pete Hautman wins Edgar for best juvenile novel buff.ly/2VrPcQ8 #kidlit

Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Traci Sorell buff.ly/2J2tLym #kidlit

Onjali Rauf: ‘My mother said publishing was a white world, but I should always try’ buff.ly/2V4nhX3 #kidlit

PW – Now You See Me, Now You Don’t – a story of soft censorship buff.ly/2Pu1YIq #kidlit

Read Rare Classic Children’s Books for Free Through the Library of Congress buff.ly/2ZQ9Ybu #kidlit

What Happens When a Young Syrian Refugee Ends Up in Cincinnati? – https://t.co/kqAaBW0IPB

Where Were The Girls Like Me In All The Horse Books I Read As A Kid? buff.ly/2Y4AKep #kidlit

Who Wet This Interview? Bob Shea and Zachariah OHora Fess Up —

@fuseeight  A Fuse #8 Production buff.ly/2IMOGWH #kidlit

LIBRARIES

14 of the World’s Most Charming Libraries buff.ly/2PvxQfL #libraries

“The American Library”: stunning installation by Yinka Shonibare, at Speed Museum Louisville KY. Remarkable statement on immigration, colonialism, diversity, libraries. speedmuseum.org/exhibitions/yi…

Halifax Public Libraries cooks up new approach to tackle food insecurity | CBC News buff.ly/2J7vVwD #libraries

No One Reads On The Job — And 6 Other Things I Learned Working In A Library buff.ly/2UHSxpx #libraries

YA LIT

Behind the Design: ‘With the Fire on High’ by Elizabeth Acevedo buff.ly/2vpJCio #yalit

Controversial YA Novel Pulled by Author to Be Published This Fall buff.ly/2XO0JGW #YAlit

Q & A with Elizabeth Acevedo buff.ly/2vrF779 #YAlit

Review: Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman

| Tasha

Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman

Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman (9780451474988)

When a mouse asks Carl, an earthworm, why he digs in the dirt all day, Carl doesn’t have a good answer. So he sets off to find one. He asks all sorts of animals in the meadow “Why?” Some of them answer with their own reasons for why they do what they do. Rabbit does things to take care of her babies. Fox does things to hunt. Squirrel plants trees by hiding nuts in the ground in order to have homes in the future. But why does an earthworm dig in the dirt? Carl doesn’t get any good answers. He finally finds himself on a hard patch of dirt where a beetle complains that he can’t find any grubs to eat. Suddenly, Carl understands what he does and why and begins to turn the hard earth into soft dirt. As he works, the area transforms back into green grass, planted seeds, and plenty of wildlife.

Freedman takes one worm’s curiosity about why he does things and cleverly transforms it into a look at the interconnected roles of animals and worms on the habitat they live in. The story here is tightly written, following a structure of questioning neighbors and coming to a conclusion that is familiar in children’s literature.

The illustrations really show exactly the impact of an earthworm and move from lushness to a dry landscape back to the beauty of new growth and then lushness once more. As always, Freedman’s watercolors are filled with color, even transforming the brown dirt into a fertile and fascinating space on the page.

Another winner from a master book creator. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from ARC provided by Viking Books for Young Readers.

Review: Motor Mouse by Cynthia Rylant

| Tasha

Motor Mouse by Cynthia Rylant

Motor Mouse by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Arthur Howard (9781481491266)

The beloved author of many easy readers returns with the first book in a new series. Done in a larger picture book format, the book still has three short chapters inside. The first story focuses on the joy of having cake every Friday for our Motor Mouse and Telly. When they discover that their cake shop is closed one Friday, what will they do? Perhaps another sweet treat can save the day thanks to a friendly hedgehog. In the second story, Motor Mouse decided he’d rather look around than drive. He takes a cab but can’t quite figure out what he wants to see. In the end though, he moves from memory lane to a bowling alley to making a new friend. The last story takes Motor Mouse to the movies with his brother, Vincent. Vincent always orders one large popcorn and doesn’t quite manage to share it. So when he does the same thing, Motor Mouse insists on being the one to hold the bucket this time. But sharing can be really hard!

Told with Rylant’s beautiful writing that sets just the right curious tone on each of the short chapters, this is a fantastic picture book. With a look towards dealing with expectations, managing friendships, and learning to share and appreciate one another, the themes are universal for small children who are trying to navigate similar situations. The stories are gentle but also profound.

Howard, who has collaborated with Rylant on the Mr. Putter & Tabby series as well as the Gooseberry Park books, returns with his signature style. With clear black lines, the illustrations are bouncy and friendly even when situations get a little problematic. There is a constant optimism about Howard’s work that is particularly effective here.

A great start to a new series that is sure to be popular. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy provided by Beach Lane.

Review: The Great Indoors by Julie Falatko

| Tasha

The Great Indoors by Julie Falatko

The Great Indoors by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Ruth Chan (9781368000833)

When the humans head out on vacation, the animals move in for their own holiday time. The beavers head to the kitchen to make plenty of snacks for everyone. The deer set up a dance party. A teen bear takes over the bathroom to curl her hair. The skunks used their cell phones. The bears used the humans’ tools to build things. Now there was no peace and quiet, no lack of screen time, and everything the indoor life had to offer. But as the week goes on, the parties and life of ease turn into one big mess. At the end of the week, it is clear that the animals are looking forward to returning to the peace of the outdoors. But what happens when the humans get home?

Told with a broad sense of humor, this picture book turns a lens on our own lifestyles and vacations. The joy of the animals at their return to the ease of electricity, TVs, cell phones and more is a great start to the book. As the vacation goes on though, the toll those options take is clear. Yet the book is not a lecture on modern convenience as the tone is kept light and humorous.

Chan’s art is marvelous, playing up the humor of the situation. From the tower of ice cream buckets arriving to the final mess of the house, the illustrations add so much to this picture book. Butter-licking deer, broken beds, nacho cheese in a toaster and more add to the final chaos.

A giggle of a book, this is a good one to share. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from ARC provided by Disney Hyperion.

Review: The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

| Tasha

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (9781328780966)

Two amazing book creators come together in this nonfiction picture book celebrating the resilience, talents and perseverance of African-Americans throughout history. The text of the book is a poem by Newbery-medalist Alexander that leads readers through the horrors of slavery to athletes and artist. The black Civil War soldiers carry forward into the Civil Rights Movement and the tragedies that accompanied it. It touches on police violence towards African Americans and moves forward to continue to celebrate those that excelled despite the odds, changing America as they did so. The poem ends with a call for all of the children of color to realize that this is them too.

Alexander’s poem is a powerful call to remember the beginnings in slavery, the battles along the way, and the impact of continuing to hope and dream despite what America has done. It calls for hope and inspiration, it calls for action. And it does not shy away from modern or historical issues, placing them right in front of the reader. His words are influenced by other great African-American writers too, paying homage to those who went before.

The award-winning illustrator and author, Nelson depicts so many historical figures on the pages of this book. Some are individual portraits, standing strong against the stark white backgrounds. Others are groupings of people and readers can recognize many of them on sight but will need to refer to the appendix for others. Nelson’s images are stirring in their beauty and the fierceness he captured his subjects.

This one will win awards, let’s hope it’s a Caldecott for Nelson! Appropriate for ages 7-10.

Reviewed from library copy.