Book Reviews

Frida Kahlo’s Flower Crown by Nydia Armendia-Sanchez – Book Review

| Tasha

Frida Kahlo’s Flower Crown by Nydia Armendia-Sanchez, illustrated by Loris Lora (9781949480351)

Taking a child-friendly look at the amazing Frida Kahlo’s childhood, this book ties her growing up to the nature and flowers that surrounded her. From the orange tree near her home to recovering from polio by spending time outdoors, Frida was connected to growing things. After a near-fatal accident, art becomes a way for Frida to spend her days in bed, painting to reconnect to the soil beneath her. As an adult, she created a lush native garden and began to wear her signature flower crown.

Told in simple phrases, this picture book biography can be shared successfully as a read aloud. The illustrations by Pura Belpre Honoree Lora burst from the pages with flowers and colors. 

Appropriate for ages 5-9.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Abrams Books.

I’m Like a Tree and a Tree’s Like Me by Sylvaine Jaoui – Book Review

| Tasha

I’m Like a Tree and a Tree’s Like Me by Sylvaine Jaoui, illustrated by Anne Crahay (9781592704248)

Growing side-by-side throughout this book, a child and a tree transform. From a tiny seed to a fattening cell to setting down roots. They burst into the light one day. They both need water and warmth. And they are both gifts to the world and rely on the world around them.

With clever die cuts, this picture book ties humans closely together with nature, embracing our connectedness to the world around us and showing us that we are part of a larger whole.

A delight of an import from a French author and Belgian artist. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Enchanted Lion Books.

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson – Book Review

| Tasha

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson (9781547605897)

Sage’s entire life changed on her thirteenth birthday. It was the day her best friend was killed by a drunk driver as she walked to Sage’s house. Now Sage is lost in her grief and ashamed of the way she treated her friend on the day she died. Sage has joined a counseling group at school with other girls who have experienced recent deaths of loved ones. As Sage and the other girls process their grief together, there are moments of sadness, anger and somehow friendship manages to grow too.

This is one of the best and most piercing depictions of grief for teens that I have ever read. I appreciate that that book moves beyond blame, shame and anger to also show healing and good things happening. Newbery Honor winning author, Watson, has written this book in a dynamic mixture of prose and verse, allowing real feelings to be shown bare and honest on the page. All of the processing of grief and healing feels organic and true as readers see the various shades of blue that grief entails.

One of the best teen novels about grief, get this one in your collection. Appropriate for ages 12+.

Reviewed from library copy.

Kente for Jojo by Bernard Mensah – Book Review

| Tasha

Kente for Jojo by Bernard Mensah, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

A boy wakes up on a special day and races to put on his Kente shirt. As the family heads out, his father tells him the story of Kente. Today is the day they pick out the Kente pattern for his little brother, Jojo. At the Kente store, Kente line the walls and the workers sit at looms weaving. He wants something special for Jojo, so he approaches one of the weavers and they work together to pick a pattern and weave it just for Jojo. When the boy makes a mistake, it becomes part of Jojo’s Kente too. 

This picture book celebrates Kente and its importance in Ghanaian culture. The book ends with more details about Kente, including a longer version of the legend, a brief history, and what the colors mean. The warm and loving family allows the boy to take the lead in deciding on his baby brother’s Kente, instilling a sense of tradition and responsibility to the entire book. The illustrations are filled with cloth patterns and the glowing characters. Done in collage, paint, pen, marker and thread, the illustrations capture Kente on the page.

A beautiful look at Kente and its importance to one little boy. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Alfred A. Knopf.

Firefly Song by Colleen Paeff – Book Review

| Tasha

Firefly Song: Lynn Frierson Faust and the Great Smoky Mountain Discovery by Colleen Paeff, illustrated by Ji-Hyuk Kim (9781665931847)

Lynn grew up going to Elkmont in the Great Smoky Mountains every summer. She swam in the water, climbed trees, and walked in the forests. For a few weeks every summer, the fireflies put on a light-filled display in the evening. The entire family would gather to watch the fireflies flash in sync then go dark, then light up in sync once more. When Lynn tried to research fireflies as she grew up, she couldn’t find much information. Then when she read an article, she found that scientists thought that the only fireflies that flashed in sync were in Southeast Asia. Lynn knew that they were wrong. Now she just had to convince one scientist to take her seriously. 

This story of a self-taught naturalist and scientist shows that paying close attention to nature can create new discoveries. The book focuses on Lynn’s childhood and her growing interest in getting others to see what she has found. Throughout the text and the illustrations, there is a sense of joy in nature, of play and discovery along the way. The illustrations are done in watercolor and digital media. The watercolors are allowed to bleed together to create the backgrounds against which nature dazzles. 

A beautiful look at discovery in nature. Appropriate for ages 5-9.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Big Boy Joy by Connie Schofield-Morrison – Book Review

| Tasha

Big Boy Joy by Connie Schofield-Morrison, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice (9781547611515)

A little boy visits a park and has a great time playing. Told with plenty of action words, he climbs and slides on the equipment. Then crashes into another child. Soon the two are sharing toys and playing with dinosaurs together. There’s another crash when the boy heads to the sandbox and a tire falls off a toy truck. But no worries, he can fix it himself. A snack is next, then some playing on the swings, some water play. It’s time to go home. A look at what a small child can expect when heading to a park told in a merry noisy and action-filled way that is sure to please. The Black characters and creators lean into the joy of a day of play. 

Appropriate for ages 2-4.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.

When You Go to Dragon School by Chelsea Campbell – Book Review

| Tasha

When You Go to Dragon School by Chelsea Campbell, illustrated by Charlene Chua (9781250293015)

Human school is packed too full, so some kids are going to have to attend Dragon School. But dragon school is pretty different. You learn to breathe fire, take naps on piles of gold, learn how to polish your scales and sharpen your claws. Best of all you will learn how to fly! Except humans can’t fly. Perhaps the kids shouldn’t go to dragon school then. It may be way too dangerous. With a little clever thinking though, the humans and dragons just might make the best of classmates.

With a sense of humor throughout, this book takes a wry look at starting a new school, being different from your classmates, and how compromises make everything better for everyone. The illustrations are bold and colorful, bringing to life a world filled with dragons and children.

A great start-of-school read aloud. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Feiwel & Friends.

Where the Deer Slip Through by Katey Howes – Book Review

| Tasha

Where the Deer Slip Through by Katey Howes, illustrated by Beth Krommes (9781665918275)

In a yard with a hedge and a stone wall, there is a gap where the deer slip through to bring their young and munch the grass. There is a hollow where the rabbits squeeze to reach the dandelion patch. The wall has a crack where the lizards come through to bask on the stones. There are branches that the doves fly through and a hole in a tree where the bats swoop. And finally, the curtain in the house that is drawn to let someone sleep as the animals curl up too.

Told in rhymes, this picture book has a classic and timeless feel thanks to its structure as a nearly cumulative tale. The illustrations too, have a classic feel that is made modern with its use of scratchboard and watercolor.

A lovely bedtime book that shows what nature can do in a small backyard. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Beach Lane Books.

The Friendship Train by Debbie Levy – Book Review

| Tasha

The Friendship Train: A True Story of Helping and Healing after World War II by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Boris Kulikov (9781547608027)

Children is Europe following World War II were going hungry after war decimated their countries. In the US, one man asked how he could help and soon Drew Pearson was thinking big. He dreamed of a Friendship Train that could cross the nation gathering donations from people across the country to send to Europe. Pearson made the suggestion in a national paper and soon he got lots of letters in return. Children wanted to help. Soon the plan grew bigger and bigger, as everyone worked together to make a difference for people they had never met.

An important story of children’s impact as they worked together to help others and the man who created an idea that grew and grew to meet what children accomplished. Just the empowering nonfiction we need about thinking of others, seeing everyone as human and working to make change. 

Appropriate for ages 5-10.

Reviewed from copy provided by Bloomsbury Children’s Books.