Author: Tasha

Saucy by Cynthia Kadohata

| Tasha
Cover image for Saucy

Saucy by Cynthia Kadohata (9781442412781)

Becca is a quadruplet which makes it hard to be unique. Her three brothers all have their own thing that makes them special: sports, music or science. Becca doesn’t have anything, though she keeps on searching for it. So when she finds a piglet with a bad case of mange on the side of the road, she thinks she may have found it. After a long stay at the vet, Becca is the owner of a pig, one that will grow to 600 pounds! She knows that eventually she will need to donate the pig to a sanctuary, but for now Saucy lives with her and her family. Saucy though has her own ideas about how to live in a house. They involve flipping chairs to ask for more food, rooting around in the refrigerator at night, and needing Becca to sleep in the kitchen on the floor with her. Becca must wrestle with losing Saucy as she grows bigger and bigger. Then Becca decides that she must find out where Saucy came from, something that will involve her entire family, just like caring for Saucy did.

Kadohata has written award-winning books that are heart wrenching. Here, she offers readers a light and fresh read that is just as well written as her previous books. Just having a pig in a book changes it for the better, offering humorous moments that the pig brings on their own. Saucy is a pig that readers will fall for just as hard as Becca and her family does. There is an underlying question throughout the book about factory farms and the treatment of farm animals that Kadohata takes on directly in a way that shows that children can make a difference even about such large topics.

The characters are great from all of the brothers with their unique attitudes and personalities to Becca herself who is seeking to discover who she really is and clearly does by the end of the book. The adult characters are well done too, including a grandmother who is quite prickly but also smitten with Saucy. Then there is Saucy herself, who makes her own sort of noises and pushes her humans around very effectively.

Funny with real depth, this novel will have you falling in love with Saucy too. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

Reviewed from copy provided by Atheneum.

The Shadow Elephant by Nadine Robert

| Tasha
Cover image for The Shadow Elephant

The Shadow Elephant by Nadine Robert, illustrated by Valerio Vidali (9781592703128)

The elephant was staying in the shadows, not speaking or engaging with anyone. The other animals decide to try to cheer him up. First, the monkey told the funniest joke he knew, but the elephant didn’t even smile. The ostrich sisters did a dance, but elephant didn’t even move. The crocodile brought him a treat of acacia leaves, but the elephant just sighed. Then a small white mouse came up out of breath and asked to rest near the elephant. The elephant asked if the mouse was there to tell a story, but she just wanted to rest. So the two of them sat quietly together. The mouse eventually shared part of her story, making the elephant cry. The mouse cried too. Finally, when they were done crying, the elephant felt lighter and was able to stand up. The two headed off to find the mouse’s home together.

Translated from the French, this picture book about emotions and sadness shows how separate these blue emotions can make us feel. The elephant remains in the shadows, silent and sad, not even able to weep. Then the smallest of creatures with the simplest of gestures shows empathy. It’s that shared experience, the silence together, the moments taken, not to distract but to be with one another. The power of that, shown in such simple ways, resonates throughout the book.

The illustrations are full of contrasts. The pages with the elephant glow with blues and lurk with dark shadows. The elephant is almost a mountain at night, large and unmoving. The other animals are bright and colorful, the sky a beaming blue and the ground a neon yellow-green. The mouse arrives as the sun is lowering in the sky, creating a synergy between her side of the page and the elephant’s that shows their growing connection as well.

A deep look at sadness and the power of empathy to overcome it. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy provided by Enchanted Lion.

2020 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Finalists

| Tasha

The lists of the 2020 finalists for the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award have been announced. The awards highlight “excellent children’s books that can deepen understanding of peace and justice.” This marks the first time they have ever released the finalist titles that are under consideration for the award. The winning books will be announced on January 15, 2021. Here are the two lists of finalists:

2020 FINALISTS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN

Black Is a Rainbow Color.  Angela Joy, illustrated by Ekua Holmes. 

The Day Saida Arrived.   Susana Gomez Redondo, illustrated by Sonja Wimmer, translated by Lawrence Schimel.

Dream Builder: The Story of Architect Philip Freelon.   Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Laura Freeman.

Freedom Soup.   Tami Charles, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara.  

Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea.   Meena Harris, illustrated by Ana Ramirez Gonzalez.    

Lizzie Demands a Seat.   Beth Anderson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis. 

Mother Jones and Her Army of Mill Children.   Jonah Winter, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

Ocean Speaks: How Marie Tharp Revealed The Ocean’s Biggest Secret. Jess Keating, illustrated by Katie Hickey.  

The Only Woman in the Photo: Francis Perkins & Her New Deal for America.   Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Alexandra Bye. 

Shirley Chisolm Is a Verb.  Veronica Chambers, illustrated by Rachelle Baker.  

The Teacher’s March: How Selma’s Teachers Changed History.   Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace, illustrated by Charly Palmer.  

We Are Water Protectors.   Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade.  

2020 FINALISTS FOR OLDER CHILDREN

Blackbird Girls.   Anne Blankman.  

Brave. Black. First.   Cheryl Willis Hudson, illustrations by Erin K. Robinson.  

Brother’s Keeper.   Julie Lee.  

Finish the Fight.   Veronica Chambers and the staff of the New York Times.  

Fighting Words.   Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.  

King and the Dragonflies.   Kacen Callender. 

Land of the Cranes.   Aida Salazar.  

Rick.   Alex Gino.  

Show Me a Sign.   Ann Clare LeZotte.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You.    Jason Reynolds,  Ibram X. Kendi.  

The Talk: Conversations about Race, Love & Truth.   Edited by Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson.  

This Book is Antiracist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work.   Tiffany Jewell, illustrated by Aurelia Durand.  

When Stars Are Scattered.   Victoria Jamieson, Omar Mohamed. 

A Wish in the Dark.   Christina Soontornvat.  

Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice.   Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood, illustrated by Theodore Taylor III.  

My Rainbow by Trinity and DeShanna Neal

| Tasha
Cover image for My Rainbow

My Rainbow by Trinity and DeShanna Neal, illustrated by Art Twink (9781984814609)

A mother-daughter team tells this story of being a transgender Black girl. After playing dolls with her sister, Trinity started to think about the doll’s long hair. Trinity had short hair because due to her autism she struggled with how itchy it got as it grew longer. Trinity also knew though, that as a transgender girl she needed long hair. Her mother was at a loss until her older brother had an idea. Visiting a beauty parlor, they browsed the wigs, but none of them were quite right. That’s when they decided to create Trinity her own rainbow wig. Her mother spent the night creating the wig, the first one she had ever made. Using strands of purples, pinks and blues, she created a one-of-a-kind wig with lots of spring. It was a rainbow just for Trinity.

The creators of this book are advocates for black and transgender rights. This book is about a little girl who clearly knows who she is. I appreciate that it is not a coming out story, but instead continues the story of one child’s transition to who she is, giving her the space to speak for herself and also a way forward supported by her entire family. The book exudes acceptance, warmth and love.

Twink’s art is bold and bright. They have included a family pig, who joins the family in all of the brainstorming and shopping, even trying out some nail polish in the store. This added touch of whimsy joins a strong Black family depiction full of modern elements and a real sense of home.

A great picture book that demonstrates intersectionality, acceptance and love on every page. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Kokila.

The Way Back by Gavriel Savit

| Tasha
Cover image for The Way Back

The Way Back by Gavriel Savit (9781984894625)

Yehuda and Bluma grew up near one another in the tiny village of Tupik. But their lives could not have been more different. Bluma was the daughter of the town baker, raised with plenty to eat and an ever-warm hearth. Yehuda spent his time figuring out where his next meal was coming from and trying to stay out of fights. The two find themselves transported to the Far Country. Yehuda is on a quest to find his father’s soul, which has been added to a demon’s collection. Bluma found herself in an endless cemetery, quickly scooped up by a female demon and her group of demon cat-women. Bluma has in her possession a very special object, the spoon that Death used to take her grandmother’s soul. Bluma found it after Death left her home. In the Far Country of the demons, there are different rules, pacts that are made and reworked, lies and truths. It is a world that shifts and changes right in front of Bluma and Yehuda who must find their own way through and back home.

So there is no way to actually summarize this book clearly at all. It is a great twisting and writhing story that the reader simply must give themselves up to and enjoy the journey. There are deaths and there is Death. There are demons who all manipulate and scheme, telling partial truths for their own gain. There are fathers who are trying to find sons and then sons trying to find fathers. There are spoons that cut and remove and libraries with endless knowledge and answers.

This book is less about the two main protagonists and more about the world they enter. Based on Jewish mythology and folklore, this world is full of jagged points, dangers and despair. But it is also basked in love, the joy of unexpected kindness, and the discovery of new old friends. It’s complicated and unique, a world that readers will likely never have visited before, and what a treat that is!

A delicious nightmare of a novel, this is one to make room for in your reading pile. Appropriate for ages 13-18.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry

| Tasha
Cover image for Swashby and the Sea

Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal (9780544707375)

Swashby spent all of his time on the sea. He loved the sea, and the sea understood him better than anyone else. He lived as close to the sea as he could in a small house. His life was just how he liked it: simple and serene. That is until one day a little girl moved in next door. Swashby shut himself in his house, fed their gift of cookies to the seagulls, and wrote a message in the sand: NO TRESPASSING. But the sea changed it a little, leaving only SING, which the little girl proceeded to do while dancing on Swashby’s deck. The next message is turned into W-ISH, and when the little girl decides to wish on a starfish, Swashby comes out to show her how to do it properly. The next message has her playing on the beach, and Swashby find himself showing her how to make sandcastles that won’t topple. After Swashby again retreated, the water didn’t and soon the sea had pulled the little girl out with it. The choice was clear for Swashby.

This picture book is a stellar marriage of story and illustrations. Ferry offers two great characters here, the solitary seaman and the charming little girl. Oh and one more, the sea herself, who plays such a role in the story with both her support of Swashby and in her meddling with his messages. The text is just the right length, robust enough to create a full story to tell and short enough to read aloud well. The fiddling of the sea is just right, not quite easily guessed by the reader and very cleverly done.

The illustrations are marvelous. Done in acrylics, colored pencil and graphite, they capture the bright seaside where the sea fizzes along the beach. Swashby is pure prickles from his bristly beard to his scratchy sweater. Meanwhile the little girl is colorful and soft. The two together on the page make for a study in contrasts that is sure to please.

Satisfying sea fare. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from library copy.

News to Wake Your Brain Cells – Nov. 13

| Tasha

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

8 picture books about books – New York Times

12 snow picture books to read on winter snow days – Book Riot

20 children’s books by Black authors every family should own – Yahoo! Life

26 beautiful children’s books about the most impactful LGBTQ+ icons – Romper

Arabic Children’s Literature winners announced – Gulf News

TEEN LIT

Alex Rider brings teen spy adventure series to Amazon – Boston Herald

Get Rec’d: Seven YA SFF books for a cozy November – Syfy Wire

Netflix’s YA rom-com Dash & Lily shows the festive appeal of a well-worn recipe – Polygon

A TV adaptation of Renee Ahdieh’s The Wrath & the Dawn is in the works – Tor

Parents Magazine Best Children’s Books of 2020

| Tasha

Parents Magazine has released their annual list of the best books of the year. Selected by the magazine editors and a panel of librarians and young readers, the list contains their top 30 titles of 2020. Here is the full list:

The Alphabet’s Alphabet by Chris Harris, illustrated by Dan Santat

The Box Turtle by Vanessa Roeder

Catch That Chicken! by Atinuke, illustrated by Angela Brooksbank

City Spies by James Ponti

Class Act by Jerry Craft

Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera

Friday Night Wrestlefest by J. F. Fox, illustrated by Micah Player

From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

Hand in Hand by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Sheryl Murray

Hello Elephant! by Sam Boughton

History Smashers: The Mayflower by Kate Messner, illustrated by Dylan Meconis

Hooray for Little Fingers by Tristan Mory

How Big Is Zagnodd? by Sandra Boynton

Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea by Meena Harris, illustrated by Ana Ramirez Gonzalez

Lift by Minh Le, illustrated by Dan Santat

Mail Duck by Erica Sirotich

Old Rock (Is Not Boring) by Deb Pilutti

The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Patricia Castelao

Our World by Sue Lowell Gallion, illustrated by Lisk Feng

The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee, illustrated by Pascal Campion

Play with Your Plate! by Judith Rossell

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Shirley & Jamila Save Their Summer by Gillian Goerz

Vinny Gets a Job by Terry Brodner

Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson

What about Worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins

What Is Baby Going to Do? by Laura Knowles, illustrated by Juliana Perdomo

Who Does What? by Stephanie Babin, illustrated by Ilaria Falorsi

You’re My Little Baby by Eric Carle

Julia’s House Moves On by Ben Hatke

| Tasha
Cover image for Julia’s House Moves On

Julia’s House Moves On by Ben Hatke (9781250191373)

This sequel to Julia’s House for Lost Creatures carries readers back to the marvels of the Julia’s unusual house and the creatures she shares it with. Julia’s house was getting restless and all of the different creatures who lived there could feel it and started to act out too. Luckily, Julia had a plan for moving them, she even knew just the spot in the mountains for them. But then, the turtle whose back carried the house decided to move right then, down into the ocean. Now the house was tattered and barely afloat. Julia though had a plan filled with paddling and pushing but the house sunk faster and sharks were circling. She went to her other plan, and blew on Triton’s Horn but that didn’t work out either. With her house sinking, the creatures floated off away from Julia. All was lost. Or perhaps they had their own plan!

Written just for compulsive planners like myself, this picture book is funny and full of dynamic moments. Hatke, the creator of graphic novels like Zita the Spacegirl, is just as at home in the picture book format. His pacing is brisk, never letting poor Julia linger for long in her new spot of trouble. Julia’s plans are feats in themselves, constantly figuring out what to do, and show real resilience in dire situations.

As with all of Hatke’s art, he creates characters who are fascinating, friendly and full of life. Here he gets to delve into all sorts of strange creatures too who liven up the story. His illustrations are worth lingering over, with small touches that make Julia’s house come alive (literally).

Perhaps the perfect COVID fantasy read that shows how communities can work to save one another. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by First Second.