Review: I Am Farmer by Miranda Paul

February 12, 2019January 29, 2019 | Tasha

I Am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon by Miranda Paul and Baptiste Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (9781512449143)

When Tantoh was young, he visited his grandmother’s farm and tried to plant onions on his own. They shriveled and never grew, but it inspired him to learn more about all sorts of things. As a teen, his father got him his how shovel and gardening supplies even though his father was ill. Tantoh is called Farmer by his classmates and takes pride in it, even writing it on his school uniform. His brother encourages him not to be a farmer, wanting him to get a good job in an office with high scores on his exam. But Tantoh is drawn to be a farmer and deliberately fails his exams. He starts working on the land and someone pays for him to go to college and study agriculture. At college, Tantoh contracts typhoid and it takes seven years for him to fully recover. This shows him the value of clean water. He goes to the United States to study, returning to Cameroon to build gardens that will hold water in the soil and a catchment to capture spring water for a village. One project leads to another and now Farmer Tantoh has many young farmers wanting to learn from him.

This nonfiction picture book offers a close and personal look at an environmental hero who changed the face of Cameroon and brought water conservation and clean drinking water to his country. Farmer was clearly pressured as a young man not to follow his dreams of being a farmer, so this book looks at following one’s dreams and having the ability to live the life you wish to lead. The book also looks at barriers to his success such as his battle with typhoid, which also serves to speak to his strength, courage and resilience.

The illustrations in the book are done in mixed media with paper collage, paint, pen and pencil. The images range from the hills of Cameroon to images of Tantoh as a child, student and adult. The pictures are filled with bright colors, strong shapes and vibrant design.

A look at a man who changed his country by following his dream. Appropriate for ages 4-7.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Millbrook Press.

Review: Brave Ballerina by Michelle Meadows

February 12, 2019January 29, 2019 | Tasha

Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Ebony Glenn (9781250127730)

This biographical picture book shares the story of Janet Collins, the first African-American principal dancer at the Metropolitan Opera House. Growing up in the 1930s, Collins ran into segregation and racism as she followed her dream to be a dancer. Though she was excluded from some dance schools and also asked to lighten her skin, she found her way to a school that accepted her thanks to her immense work ethic and talent. Collins became a principal dancer in 1951 after being noticed by the ballet master from the Met when he saw her perform.

Meadows has written a picture book biography that reads like a story book. She uses a repetitive structure that echoes that of folklore tales to make the book very readable and approachable for young children. Each new stanza in the book starts with “This is…” and shows a point in Collins’ life. Within each stanza there are also rhyming couplets that add to the spirit of the book. The structure works to make a book that shares aloud well and invites readers fully into this historical tale.

The illustrations by Glenn are digitally rendered. They range from dramatic images of Collins on stage or streetcars at night to more ethereal images of dancers and times with her family. The illustrations place the story firmly in mid-century America.

A well-written nonfiction picture book that tells the story of one remarkable artist. Appropriate for ages 3-6.

Reviewed from copy provided by Henry Holt.

Review: Is That You, Eleanor Sue? by Tricia Tusa

February 11, 2019February 8, 2019 | Tasha

Is That You, Eleanor Sue? by Tricia Tusa (9781250143235)

Saturdays are the days that Eleanor Sue gets to do her favorite thing: dress up. So she dresses up, climbs out her window and knocks on the front door. When her mother opens the door, Eleanor Sue introduces herself as Mrs. McMuffins, the new neighbor. She is invited in for tea. Twenty minutes later, Eleanor Sue is back at the door as a witch. She is invited in for lunch. Then Eleanor Sue is a wise wizard, a ferocious bear, a delivery person, and a cat. Her next outfit is being dressed as a grandma, specifically her Grandma. But her mother may just get in on the act too, just in time for Grandma herself to appear and join the fun.

Tusa’s picture book is a delight. She shares not only the story of Eleanor Sue’s imaginative play but also a supporting mother and family who enjoy Eleanor Sue’s antics. The stories that Eleanor Sue tells as each character are a large part of the book, adding funny details that interplay between the various costumes. There is one fast-paced portion where Eleanor Sue has to hustle with costume changes that adds to the fun. As always with a Tusa book, the illustrations are beautifully done. She has a knack of capturing children at play complete with wrinkled, drooping cloth, and wry expressions.

Full of imagination and playfulness, this should be read while sipping tea. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy provided by Roaring Brook Press.

Review: Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt

February 11, 2019January 22, 2019 | Tasha

Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt (9780544790858)

Carter’s family is a bit of a mess. On their first day of school, there are lunches to pack, socks to find, ribbons to tie, and dog vomit to clean up. So when an English butler appears on the doorstep just as Carter is heading out to buy milk, it solves a lot of immediate problems. Still, there are other issues that Carter is still grappling with, including grief and loss. As the story continues, readers learn more about the darkness in Carter’s family and his role as the oldest to be strong for everyone. As Carter matches wits with the butler who seeks to control all of Carter’s free time, the two become a team and along the way start a cricket league at Carter’s new school. As the past becomes too much for Carter to bear alone, he learns about the power of sports, teams and a good butler.

Schmidt takes the spirit of Nanny McPhee and Mary Poppins and gives us a male version in Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick. The book demands a certain amount of setting aside of disbelief for things like cricket being embraced by an entire middle school and a twelve-year-old driving a car. It is mix of lighthearted storytelling and deeper subjects, moving from eliciting laughter into moments of real tragedy with skill. Readers may not fully understand cricket by the end, but will know what a sticky wicket actually is and how the basics work.

Carter is a protagonist who is dealing with a lot. As the book progresses, he learns how vital he is for his little sisters and how his interacting in their lives is powerful. He steadily builds confidence as the story continues with the final scenes fully demonstrating not only his person growth but also the depth of his struggles. As the tragedies of his family are revealed, readers will be amazed that Carter continues on as he does despite it all. He is a figure of resilience and humor.

Another winner from a master storyteller, this novel for middle graders introduces cricket and one amazing butler. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from ARC provided by Clarion Books.

2019 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize Shortlists

February 8, 2019February 8, 2019 | Tasha

The shortlists for the 2019 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize have been announced. The UK book prize focuses on identifying rising talent in the world of literature for children and teens. Category winners and the overall winner will be announced on March 21.

ILLUSTRATED BOOK SHORTLIST

100 Dogs The Girls

100 Dogs by Michael Whaite

The Girls by Lauren Ace

Julián Is a Mermaid The King Who Banned the Dark

Julian Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

The King Who Banned the Dark by Emily Haworth-Booth

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History Mini Rabbit Not Lost (Mini Rabbit)

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black by Vashti Harrison

Mini Rabbit Not Lost by John Bond

YOUNGER FICTION SHORTLIST

The Boy At the Back of the Class The Boy Who Grew Dragons

The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf

The Boy Who Grew Dragons by Andy Shepherd

Brightstorm The House with Chicken Legs

Brightstorm: A Sky-Ship Adventure by Vashti Hardy

The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson

The Mystery of the Colour Thief The Train to Impossible Places: A Cursed Delivery

The Mystery of the Colour Thief by Ewa Jozefkowicz

The Train to Impossible Places by P. G. Bell

OLDER FICTION SHORTLIST

Boy 87 Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orïsha, #1)

Boy 87 by Ele Fountain

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Me Mam. Me Dad. Me. The Poet X

Me Mam, Me Dad, Me by Malcolm Duffy

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

The Truth About Lies A Winter's Promise (The Mirror Visitor)

The Truth about Lies by Tracy Darnton

A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos

This Week’s Tweets

February 8, 2019February 8, 2019 | Tasha

Here are the items I shared on Twitter this week:

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Ah, Love: 18 Children’s Books About Love https://buff.ly/2TykOiM #kidlit

ALSC’s Notable Children’s Books – 2019 https://buff.ly/H8rDef #kidlit

‘The Grimm Legacy’ YA Books In Works As Disney+ Film; David Gleeson To Adapt https://buff.ly/2DeGTvX #kidlit

Jane Goodall’s Lovely Letter to Children About How Reading Shaped Her Life https://buff.ly/2Rvs7Wv #libraries

LIBRARIES & READING

Librarians abroad: ‘None of us thought we’d grow up to be one’ https://buff.ly/2RDLSv0 #libraries

New Study: Reading Fiction Really Will Make You Nicer and More Empathetic – https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/reading-fiction-really-will-make-you-nicer-more-empathetic-new-study-says.html

YA LIT

#ALAMW19 Recap: Interviewing John Hendrix, author of The Faithful Spy, 2019 Nonfiction Award Finalist – The Hub https://buff.ly/2RIHElX #yalit

68 LGBT YA Books to Get Excited for in 2019 https://buff.ly/2Bojisj #yalit #LGBTQ

Angie Thomas’ ON THE COME UP is Gonna Be a Movie! https://buff.ly/2WJz6yX #yalit

Author Angie Thomas On Colorism and Black Girl Representation in YA Books https://buff.ly/2BmUS2C #yalit

‘Havenfall’: Bloomsbury Locks In New YA Fantasy From ‘Everless’ Author Sara Holland https://buff.ly/2BlAqPF #yalit

How TLC’s Left Eye Helped Save ‘The Hate U Give’ Author Angie Thomas’ Life https://buff.ly/2SbkYA6 #yalit

Penguin Mini Format Expands with More Kids’ Books https://pwne.ws/2RHkuMH

Review: There Are No Bears in This Bakery by Julia Sarcone-Roach

February 7, 2019January 23, 2019 | Tasha

There Are No Bears in This Bakery by Julia Sarcone-Roach (9780399556661)

The author of The Bear Ate Your Sandwich has returned with a second book about a hungry bear (or two.) Muffin is a bakery cat who solves cases when night falls. He knows all of the night sounds until one night when he hears a “grrrrrrrr” noise. At first he can’t locate the noise, but when he returns to the bakery he discovers the largest mouse he has ever seen! Or perhaps it’s the smallest bear. The sound is coming from the little bear’s stomach. Muffin knows just what to do to solve the problem: he feeds the little bear the bakery treats. Then a second bear shows up, much larger than the first. Could Muffin be in a bear-load of trouble?

Sarcone-Roach writes with exceptional tone and turns of phrase in this picture book. She uses bakery metaphors such as “I slipped into the darkness like icing melting down a hot cake.” The metaphors continue when Muffin meets the bears, giving readers a sense of what they smell like, sound like and even feel like. The story here is clever with a cat whose job might be to solve issues but most likely not by feeding wild creatures.

The art is full of colors with yellows and blues playing against deeper blacks in the shadows. Muffin pops with his orange coat against these colors. There is a playfulness in the illustrations that is particularly effective even with their dark colors and nighttime vibe.

A perfect combination of cat and bears that will leave readers craving sprinkles. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Knopf.

2019 Sydney Taylor Book Awards

February 7, 2019February 5, 2019 | Tasha

The winners of the 2019 Sydney Taylor Book Awards were announced at the ALA Youth Media Awards in January. The awards recognize “books for children and teens that exemplify high literary standards will authentically portraying the Jewish experience.” The gold medalists were announced at the YMAs, but the silver medalists were not. Here is the full list of medalists:

GOLD MEDALISTS

All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster

All-of-a-Kind Family Hanukkah by Emily Jenkins, illustrated by Paul Zelinsky

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier

What the Night Sings

What the Night Sings by Vesper Stamper

SILVER MEDALISTS

32143782 Through the Window: Views of Marc Chagall's Life and Art

A Moon for Moe and Mo by Jane Breskin Zalben, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini

Through the Window: Views of Marc Chagall’s Life and Art by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mary Grandpre

All Three Stooges The Length of a String

All Three Stooges by Erica S. Perl

The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman

You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone

You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone by Rachel Lynn Solomon

2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature

February 6, 2019February 5, 2019 | Tasha

At the ALA Youth Media Awards, the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature in youth categories were announced. However, those announcements did not include the book given honor awards. Here is the full list of medal and honor recipients:

YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE WINNER

Darius the Great Is Not Okay