Author: Tasha

Star Scouts by Mike Lawrence

| Tasha

Star Scouts by Mike Lawrence

Star Scouts by Mike Lawrence (9781626722804, Amazon)

Avani’s father has signed her up for Flower Scouts so that she can make friends in her new town. But all of the other girls are interested only in talking about makeup and boys. Then Avani is accidentally teleported into space by an alien named Mabel, who is working on her own badges for her scout troop. Being a Star Scout like Mabel is a whole lot more interesting than being a Flower Scout, so Avani starts joining them instead of her earth-bound scouts. As Avani learns to build robots, teleport things, drive space ships, and race jetpacks, she finds a place where she fits in. Now she just needs to get her father to sign off on a permission slip for her to go to Camp Andromeda for a week!

This friendly science fiction graphic novel is filled with humor and lots of action. Avani is a main character of color with her Indian heritage that plays a role throughout the graphic novel in things like language and food. She is game for the entire adventure, allowing herself to try new things, push herself to learn and even form a real rivalry with another troop of scouts.

The art is playful and fun with the dialogue working well to move the book forward at a fast pace that will please young readers. There is lots of action, plenty of space exploration and even camp pranks and jokes. The pleasure is in seeing camping tropes used on an asteroid by alien creatures.

Funny and warm, this graphic novel has strong STEM overtones and even a few poop jokes. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

Reviewed from copy received from First Second.

 

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

| Tasha

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall (9780763678388, Amazon)

Jabari is ready to jump off of the diving board, or so he tells his father. Jabari has finished swimming lessons and passed his swim test, so he should be ready. He declares that he isn’t scared at all. Then they get to the pool, where he sees other kids diving off the board. Jabari lets others go ahead of him. He climbs part way up and then down again to rest a bit and stretch. His father tells him that it’s alright to be scared and how to handle it because it may feel like a surprise at the end. Jabari tries one more time, reminding himself that he loves surprises. Can he do it?

Cornwall depicts a very loving African-American family here with father, son and a little sister. Throughout, the father is very supportive. He is there to hold hands, give a little squeeze and then offer direct advice. Best of all, he is there to celebrate the success too. The writing builds the pressure and emotions that Jabari is experiencing as he keeps trying. It emphasizes the height, the fall, and the bravery that the jump takes.

The illustrations are done in pencil, watercolor and collage with digital color. They have a wonderful texture to them, the sidewalks with subtle words on them, the pool water a swirling blue-green. Again, the height of the diving board is emphasized to great effect.

A summery splash of a book that is just right for reading when afloat in a pool, whether you are brave enough for the diving board or not. Appropriate for ages 3-6.

Reviewed from library copy.

2017 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals

| Tasha

Publisher’s Weekly has the news of the winners of the British CILIP Medals. Here are the winners and the honor books:

CILIP Carnegie Medal

Salt to the Sea

Ruta Sepetys for Salt to the Sea

 

CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal

25689057

Lane Smith for There’s a Tribe of Kids

 

The Bone Sparrow

Amnesty CILIP Carnegie Honour

Zana Fraillon for The Bone Sparrow

28818766

Amnesty CILIP Kate Greenaway Honour 

Francesca Sanna for The Journey

And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner

| Tasha

And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner

And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Jaime Kim (9780763660710, Amazon)

With summer officially starting this week, the timing for this book could not be better. It’s a celebration of everything that makes summer great. Written in a consistent pattern of statements throughout, the book focuses on moving into summer from school and establishing summer traditions from year to year. There are lemonade stands, cleaning out lockers, green grass, bumblebees, ice cream, games, and even a visit to the lake and camping outside. Come along and enjoy summer in one big gulp!

Brenner truly shows what makes summer fantastic as a child. The focus is on being outside and playing with friends. There are all sorts of activities shown. Brenner also captures the little things that make summer special. There are smells and sounds, things to see and things to eat. It’s a smorgasbord of summer senses. Written with a light playfulness, the strong structure of the prose works well to set up a rhythm which makes it a pleasure to share aloud.

Kim’s illustrations are buoyant and merry. As children head out of school and into the summer, there is feeling of freedom on the page that continues throughout the book. Fireworks splash on the page, parades march, sprinklers spray.

A shining summery picture book, this is just right for celebrating this season with children. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from library copy.

Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker

| Tasha

Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker

Felix Yz by Lisa Bunker (9780425288504, Amazon)

Felix’s life changed when he was caught in an accident in his father’s lab at three years old. A fourth dimensional being named Zyx was fused inside him. Now the time is coming when Felix and Zyx have to be separated or they will both die. Felix begins a secret blog where he shares his experiences of being fused with Zyx and the days leading up to the Procedure. There are details about normal things like his family, bullies at school, and his crush on a cute boy at school. Then there are the Zyx related aspects that draw Felix to the beauty of jazz music and immensely gifted chess playing. Even as Felix hopes to be able to fix the physical manifestations and pain brought by being with Zyx, he wonders about what his life will be like without him and if they will both potentially die as they are separated.

Bunker has created an exceptional book for middle grade readers. She has seeped it full of diversity of the LGBT community. Felix himself is gay, his mother is bisexual and his grandparent is gender queer. The beauty is that this is not the focus of the novel, just background information, a matter-of-fact look at what openly queer families can be.

The real focus of the book is Felix himself, caught in a unique situation that makes him the target of bullies. He still connects with others, his crush on a boy growing with natural pacing. He speaks in a voice that is witty and rich, his writing filled with small details of his life but also with humor. There is a sense of an impending ending but also the slim possibility of a future as well that keeps this book steeped in the small wonders of life but also immensely hopeful.

A dynamic mix of LGBT, science fiction and growing up, this novel is entirely unique just like its main character. Appropriate for ages 12-14.

Reviewed from ARC received from Viking Books for Young Readers.

 

Goodbye Christopher Robin – The Trailer

| Tasha

The number one trending trailer on YouTube is for Goodbye Christopher Robin, a film about A.A. Milne and his son and the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh:

Pete with No Pants by Rowboat Watkins

| Tasha

Pete with No Pants by Rowboat Watkins

Pete with No Pants by Rowboat Watkins (9781452144016, Amazon)

Pete is a little elephant who prefers not to wear pants. He likes to pretend to be other things that are also gray and also don’t wear pants. Maybe he’s a boulder? But the boulders don’t like his knock-knock jokes and never respond. Maybe he’s a squirrel? But he manages to scare the squirrels away. A pigeon? A cloud? Or maybe, he’s exactly who he knows he is, a little one who doesn’t want to wear clothes.

I love that there is a moral here, but it’s for the parents not the kids. That is to let your little one be who they truly are. The ending has the mother elephant who is dressed quite conservatively and has been watching with a worried expression finally just accepting Pete for who he is. The writing is mostly done in asides spoken by Pete and the other animals. It’s wry and great fun, just right for reading aloud.

Watkins’ illustrations have a great softness to them, colors that are subtle and smear on the page. The background isn’t a pure white but a soft textured gray. The pages move from full double-page spreads to smaller comic-book framing that plays in tune with the speech bubbles on the pages. Don’t miss the denim end pages too, and notice the difference between the front and back ones.

A joyous call to support our children, whoever they are. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy received from Chronicle Books.

This Week’s Tweets, Pins and Tumbls

| Tasha

Here are some cool links I shared on my Twitter, Pinterest, and Tumblr accounts this week:

CHILDREN’S LIT

100 must-read middle grade books for the summer ahead:

Books on Film: The New York Times Illustrator Video Motherlode

CBC Launches Reading Beyond List

Chris Colfer, Shawn Levy Tackling ‘The Land of Stories’ Movie for Fox |

Does Reading for Pleasure in Schools Really Make a Difference? via

Exclusive Book Trailer Premiere: THE WOLF, THE DUCK, & THE MOUSE by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen

Jacqueline Woodson Honored by Lambda Literary – https://t.co/OGyehTr72L

A Little Happier: Sometimes, Flawed Can Be More Perfect Than Perfection.

Ten fabulously illustrated books for young readers that adults will enjoy just as much

Why Young People Need Diverse Books

LIBRARIES

Bookmobile for a Day | Programs That Pop

Cows visit Baraboo library, help kick off summer reading program

U. Chicago Undergrad Library Workers Unionize

An underground library one for you perhaps

Vintage Photos of Traveling Libraries

TEEN READS

Danielle Macdonald Joins The Dumplin Movie Cast Along With Jennifer Aniston

Summer 2017 YA Paperbacks

Escargot by Dashka Slater

| Tasha

Escargot by Dashka Slater

Escargot by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Sydney Hanson (9780374302818, Amazon)

Escargot is a small snail who has one big plan. He has to get to the salad at the end of the book. Along the way, Escargot tries to convince the young reader that snails should be their favorite animal. They will have to ignore the trails of slime on the page and focus on how very brave snails are and maybe how fast? The reader helps Escargot along the way, testing out ferocious faces, given him a little push, and offering kisses too. By the time Escargot reaches the salad, he will have won their hearts, just in time to try a new vegetable together.

Slater cleverly combines several themes in this picture book and melds them in such a way that they work seamlessly with one another. There is the interactive piece of the book that ask the child to participate and impact the story. There is the favorite animal part that is engaging and funny, filled with enough action and interaction to keep even restless children busy. The final aspect is the bravery piece, trying something new and being a friend.

Hanson’s illustrations add to the appeal of the book. Escargot wears a jaunty striped shirt, red scarf tied at his neck and a beret. He oozes French appeal and confidence even as he is willing to ask for help. He is expressive with his wide eyes and tilting antennae that he uses to gesture.

A stellar if slimy little hero that will wend his way onto your favorite animal list in no time, this picture book will work best with a small group or one-on-one. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy received from Farrar Straus Giroux.