Month: July 2019

This Week’s Tweets

| Tasha

Here are the items I shared on Twitter this week:

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CHILDREN’S BOOKS

2019 Caldecott Medal Acceptance by Sophie Blackall buff.ly/2XuVV8Z #kidlit

2019 CSK Author Award Acceptance by Claire Hartfield buff.ly/2JgCgWh #kidlit

2019 Newbery Medal Acceptance by Meg Medina buff.ly/2JdRA5P #kidlit

Beatrix Potter: history of the children’s author, farmer and conservationist buff.ly/2RU7PaY #kidlit

BookBar’s Extremely Official Response to Extremely Negative Comments… With Book Recommendations! buff.ly/2YIEEdu #kidlit #LGBTQ

UK Society of Authors launches £5000 prize for illustrated children’s books | Books+Publishing buff.ly/2LaJvRZ #kidlit

You could be putting your child off reading – here’s how to change that buff.ly/2NBnHkf #reading

LIBRARIES

Arkansas Librarians Launch Summer Book Bus, Inspire Community buff.ly/2FU3wrI #libraries

Public libraries help fill social services gap buff.ly/2RXMJss #libraries

Small Wonders: Rural and Small Libraries Provide Vital Infrastructure for Communities buff.ly/2FV5VC6 #libraries

YA LIT

12 Young Adult Novels Featuring Characters With Chronic Conditions, Mental Illnesses and Disabilities buff.ly/2Jggz8N #yalit

Magical library foundlings, restless skeletons, and more amazing summer YA blessing us this summer: ow.ly/MooY50uU8gW

The Walking Dead: Idaho High School Bans Image Comics Series buff.ly/2L3BH4l #yalit

Review: Bunny in the Middle by Anika A. Denise

| Tasha

Bunny in the Middle by Anika Aldamuy Denise

Bunny in the Middle by Anika A. Denise, illustrated by Christopher Denise (9781250120366)

Three rabbit siblings fill these pages with their daily activities as being the middle child is explored. When you are a middle child, you are the one in between. Your older sibling helps you and you help your younger sibling. You know when to share and when to hold on. You know the best time to lead and the best time to follow, but you also know when to do things your own way. Yes, you get hand-me-downs and also have to share a room. But it also means that you are often just the right size for a lot of things, including being right in the middle.

While the words in this book focus on explaining the good and bad of being the middle child, it is the pictures that are something entirely special. The images of the three rabbits are filled with sunlight, sticky frosting, leafy adventures, and coziness. From the lankier and rather bossy older sister to the plump toddler younger sibling, this little family is a joy to spend time with. The middle child is often unperturbed in the midst of chaos or demands, showing just what it takes to excel at being that special on in the center of a family.

Gorgeous illustrations illuminate a story of a little group of siblings. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Henry Holt and Company.

Review: Rocket Says Look Up! by Nathan Bryon

| Tasha

Rocket Says Look Up by Nathan Bryon

Rocket Says Look Up! by Nathan Bryon, illustrated by Dapo Adeola (9781984894427)

Rocket is a little girl who is really interested in astronomy and science. There’s a meteor shower happening tonight, and Rocket wants everyone to know about it and watch it with her. So when her big brother heads to the store with her, Rocket grabs the announcement microphone and tells everyone about the meteor shower. But when she laughs at her brother for not looking up from his phone and getting splashed by a car, he tells her that he won’t take her to the park that night. Luckily, her mother intervenes and they head out to the park. There’s a group of people who want to see it with them, but as time goes by and nothing appears in the sky except for stars, they all wander off. Only Rocket and her brother are left and Rocket is so sad that she dragged them out for nothing. But when her brother finally looks up from his phone, it’s show time!

Bryon has written a very dynamic picture book about a girl scientist with a love for science that she just has to share. The older brother is a great character too with his head down looking at his phone all the time, but also someone who patiently leads his little sister around all day and even into the night. Their interplay with one another is written with honesty and a modern look at technology.

The illustrations show a busy African-American family and a young girl who is dressed to head into the stars immediately. The pictures are filled with humor and the characters show real emotions on the page. Using beams of light in the final pages filled with darkness works nicely to highlight the action both on earth and in the sky.

A diverse and dynamic STEM picture book. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: A Dream of Flight by Rob Polivka

| Tasha

A Dream of Flight by Rob Polivka

A Dream of Flight by Rob Polivka and Jef Polivka (9780374306618)

Released on July 30, 2019.

Alberto Santos-Dumont lived in Brazil long before airplanes were invented. Fascinated by machines starting at a young age, Santos came to Paris in 1892. He took a ride with a balloon maker high above the city where they floated in the clouds. Inspired, Santos began to design his own balloon, but he wanted it to move through the air like a ship rather than just floating. He designed one airship after another, learning to follow his own instincts, create structural stability, and built a weight system. Each time he flew, something went wrong, but Santos was not deterred. He just designed a new airship and tried again. A prize of 100,000 francs was announced for the first person who could pilot an airship from the club around the Eiffel Tower and back in less than 30 minutes. Now Santos had a challenge and a prize to win!

Polivka tells the story of Santos with a sprightly tone that is just right for the subject. They share enough details about Paris at the time to firmly anchor the biography in a place and time. The information about the airships is shared with a tone of wonder and also a nod toward the dangers of what Santos was attempting. The art has a vintage feel that works well. It depicts Santos’ little automobile, the view from the balloon over Paris, and the various models of Santos’ airships.

A clever look at flying before airplanes, this picture book biography soars. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 

Review: Harold & Hog Pretend for Real by Dan Santat

| Tasha

Harold & Hog Pretend for Real by Dan Santat

Harold & Hog Pretend for Real by Dan Santat (9781368027168)

Harold and Hog decide to pretend to be Elephant and Piggie in this easy reader that pays homage to the genius of Mo Willems while making something entirely new.  The two characters put on Gerald’s glasses and Piggie’s nose to help them pretend. Harold starts to describe what Piggie is like with Piggie’s carefree exuberance. Harold can’t wait to try to be Gerald with his carefulness too. Harold wants to be careful as he dances, flies and does so many things! Suddenly Harold realizes that he can’t be Gerald and Hog can’t be Piggie, they just can’t pretend that much. Perhaps though there is a solution!

Filled with exactly the right dialogue and humor, this is a very clever take on the classic Elephant and Piggie. The art itself pulls the story far enough away from Elephant and Piggie to make it clear that this is different. Add to that the juxtaposing attitudes of Harold and Hog and you have a set up for pure delight. The book even includes a touch of Pigeon to round it all out.

Smart, funny and just what Mo would want. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: Beastly Puzzles by Rachel Poliquin

| Tasha

Beastly Puzzles by Rachel Poliquin

Beastly Puzzles by Rachel Poliquin, illustrated by Byron Eggenschwiler (9781771389136)

So many guessing game books about animals are for very young children, but this one will challenge those in elementary school as well. Taking cues from historical descriptions of animals that were based on known animal elements, this book is devilishly difficult even with the extra hint provided. One might expect the animals to be unusual, but they are well-known animals like ostriches, polar bears, frogs, and kangaroos! Open the gate fold and discover how that animal can be described as made from all sorts of bits and pieces.

Poliquin’s description of each animal in terms of their elements is profoundly and delightfully confusing. A kangaroo for example is described as made up of enormous feet, an extra leg (for going slow), boxing gloves, rabbit ears, a peanut, a secret compartment, and a springboard! A large part of the joy of the book is being entirely befuddled by the clues and then learning how they all fit together. It’s not frustrating at all to be confused, but part of the fun.

The art has a great vintage vibe to it that suits the old-fashioned descriptions of the animals. It is modernized by the use of bright colors and a vibrant image of each of the animals on the reveal page. Cleverly designed with gate folds that add to the suspense too.

Fun and frustrating at the same time, much to everyone’s delight. Appropriate for ages 5-8.

Reviewed from library copy.

Review: Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris

| Tasha

Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris

Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris, illustrated by LeUyen Pham (9780316464475)

A river flowed through the forest. The river had no idea it could have adventures until a big bear came along. As the curious bear toppled into the river, the adventure began. Soon Bear was joined by Froggy and they both climbed onto a log which headed down the river. Along the way, others joined them too. There was the beaver who could captain, the turtles who were worried about disaster, the raccoons who didn’t know how to be careful, and the duck they crashed into. Then came the waterfall…

Morris has written a book that begs to be shared aloud. From the various personalities of all of the creatures to the shared adventure that is filled with twists and turns, this book is full of fun. Morris uses an interesting turn of phrase throughout the book, with each additional animal and the river itself not knowing what they are capable of. It’s a great lens as each of the animals learns that they are not alone but instead part of a larger community and world.

Pham’s illustrations are zany and ever so funny. He completely captures the personalities of each of the characters as they head down the river. From their body language to their expressions, these creatures are in for a lot of adventure together. The added joy of the maps of the river as the endpages are great. Grayed-out at first, they are full color at the end.

A wild ride of a book that is really all about shared fun and community. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from library copy.

Amazon’s Best Books of 2019 So Far

| Tasha

Amazon has created a list of the top books for the first half of 2019. They have a top 20 list for both children’s books and teen lit. Some of the books included are sure to surprise. Here they are:

TOP 20 CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Because Destination Moon: The Remarkable and Improbable Voyage of Apollo 11

Because by Mo Willems, illustrated by Amber Ren

Destination Moon by Richard Maurer

Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson's Journal Don't Let Them Disappear

Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal by Jeff Kinney

Don’t Let Them Disappear by Chelsea Clinton, illustrated by Gianna Marino

Dragon Pearl The Good Egg

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

The Good Egg by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald

Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat #1 The Last Last-Day-of-Summer

Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth

The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles, illustrated by Dapo Adeola

The Neighbors Pay Attention, Carter Jones

The Neighbors by Einat Tsarfati

Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt

Pie in the Sky The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise

Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai

The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart

Rumple Buttercup: A Story of Bananas, Belonging, and Being Yourself The Strangers (Greystone Secrets, #1)

Rumple Buttercup by Matthew Gray Gubler

The Strangers by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Sweety To Night Owl from Dogfish

Sweety by Andrea Zuill

To Night Owl from Dogfish by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Meg Wolitzer

The Undefeated Waiting for Chicken Smith

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Waiting for Chicken Smith by David Mackintosh

We Are the Gardeners You Are My Happy

We Are the Gardeners by Joanna Gaines, illustrated by Julianna Swaney

You Are My Happy by Hoda Kotb, illustrated by Suzie Mason

 

TOP 20 YOUNG ADULT BOOKS

Birthday Courting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology, #1)

Birthday by Meredith Russo

Courting Darkness by Robin LeFevers

Dissenter on the Bench: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life and Work Enchantée

Dissenter on the Bench: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life & Work by Victoria Ortiz

Enchantee by Gita Trelease

Finale (Caraval, #3) Heroine

Finale by Stephanie Garber

Heroine by Mindy McGinnis

In the Neighborhood of True King of Scars (Nikolai Duology, #1)

In the Neighborhood of True by Susan Kaplan Carlton

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali On the Come Up

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Patron Saints of Nothing Queen of the Sea

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay

Queen of the Sea by Dylan Meconis

Ship of Smoke and Steel (The Wells of Sorcery, #1) Shout

Ship of Smoke and Steel by Django Wexler

Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson

Stepsister The Things She's Seen

Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly

The Things She’s Seen by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina

Two Can Keep a Secret The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air, #2)

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus

The Wicked King by Holly Black

With the Fire on High The Wizenard Series: Training Camp

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

The Wizenard Series: Training Camp by Wesley King and Kobe Bryant

Review: A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata

| Tasha

A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata

A Place to Belong by Cynthia Kadohata, illustrated by Julia Kuo (9781481446648)

Award-winning author Kadohata tells the story of a Japanese-American family forced to return to Japan after World War II because of their Japanese ancestry. After spending years in an internment camp in the United States, twelve-year-old Hanako and her family move to Japan to live with her paternal grandparents. They travel by ship first and then train until they reach the decimated city of Hiroshima, where her grandparents’ farm lies outside. All of Japan is poor and hungry, with black markets and children begging on the streets. Hanako meets her grandparents for the first time, discovering that her grandfather is very like her little brother who is five years old. Her grandmother is stooped over from the hard work in the fields. Hanako must face learning a new language, attending a new school in a different country, and trying to find a way forward for her entire family. It’s a lot of pressure, but Hanako learns steadily to adjust and change.

Kadohata’s novel for children tells the untold story of Japanese Americans forced to repatriate to their country of origin and renounce their American citizenship. It also gives an unflinching look at the aftermath of World War II in Japan, particularly with its setting near Hiroshima. That dark setting is juxtaposed against the warmth and beauty of discovering loving grandparents and building a new relationship. Yet there is a constant sense of loss in the book and a teetering feeling that things may suddenly change at any moment.

As always, Kadohata’s prose is beautiful. She vividly depicts Japanese life during the 1940’s and the unending work of being a tenant farmer. In the midst of all of the sorrow, loss and confusion, she places a loving family who are willing to sacrifice for one another and for brighter futures for the next generation. Through this family, there is intense hope broadcast on the page.

An important and vital book about the horrors of war and its aftermath on individual families. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from copy provided by Atheneum.