Crow is sitting on his spot on the telephone wire and doesn’t want to play today. He KAWS Squirrel away rather than joining in creating a mess of trash, he won’t practice tricks and loops with Hummingbird, and rejects all of the other animals too. Crow seems awfully grumpy until the phone rings and he suddenly leaps into action! Children will love the sudden change from angry Crow to saving the world and then seeing Crow come back to the telephone wire and be much friendlier.
Clever and funny, this is one for those curmudgeons among us, and their friends. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Greenwillow Books.
The winners of the Aurealis Awards have been announced. The awards celebrate the best of Australia’s speculative fiction. Here are the winners for the main categories. You can visit their official site here for the full list.
Anang wants to make a ribbon skirt to wear at an upcoming powwow, a skirt that is traditionally worn by Anishinaabe girls. Anang is two-spirit and nonbinary. While they have some concerns about wearing a ribbon skirt, they decide to follow their dreams. Helped along the way by spirits, turtles and crows, Anang steadily gathers the items they need for their skirt. Supported by their family and friends, Anang must also deal with a girl who used to be a close friend but now is more like a bully. It’s up to Anang to stay strong, follow their path and create their perfect skirt.
Mukwa is also a two-spirit Anishinaabe and this is their debut book. Written with a wry sense of humor, an honest take on support and fear, and a delight in the spirits helping, this graphic novel has a winning combination. The illustrations are bold and colorful, making the graphic novel all the more approachable for young readers.
A timely and joyful look at being nonbinary and living your dream life. Appropriate for ages 8-12. Reviewed from library copy.
Following her Fetch and Nest, Hurley returns with another simple picture book that invites the youngest children to explore nature. Told in single words on double-page illustrations, the bees in the book buzz, swarm, find and build their hive. They will also defend the hive and sting when a skunk gets a bit too interested in their sweet honey.
Share this as spring blossoms around us. Appropriate for ages 1-3.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Simon & Schuster.
Maeve Abenthy is the daughter of the world’s greatest villain. Seven years ago, she lost everything when her father destroyed one of the parallel worlds and burned the gates that allowed people to move between them. When old letters are delivered by the Otherwhere Post, couriers who are the only ones who can move between the worlds, Maeve receives one that declares that her father is innocent. Her father had been a gifted scriptomancer, able to write magic into words. It was scriptomancy that connected the worlds and still does. Now Maeve must set out to find out who sent the anonymous letter, but can she trust anyone enough to let them help her?
The author of Hotel Magnifique returns with her second book. This dark academia novel is a great read, filled with a unique magical system and a fascinating world to match. Maeve as a character is flawed and prickly with great reasons and backstory. The book allows her to grow, to begin to trust and to unravel the mystery surrounding her father.
With just the right touches of romance, this fantasy novel offers a great mix of mystery and magic. Appropriate for ages 12+. Reviewed from library copy.
The author of Spider in the Well returns with this engaging picture book that warns readers that they must promise not to scream, but… There is a bear out there. When asked if she has ever seen the bear, she insists that she only needs the three bear signs to know one is there. First, the hair on your arm stands up. Second, you feel eyes watching you. Third, your feet get really itchy! As the reader, you get a glimpse of the actual bear outside. But you can’t warn her before she opens the door! Full of marvelous interaction via the page, this picture book is great fun to share aloud and you will have children shouting warnings along the way. The illustrations are loud and bold, full of pinks, oranges and haunting bear silhouettes.
With a grand twist at the end, this picture book is one to share. Appropriate for ages 3-6.
Anything by Rebecca Stead, illustrated by Gracey Zhang (9781797215150)
A little girl and her father move into a new apartment. She wishes that they had never moved there, missing the house they had to leave. They celebrate the new apartment 3B’s birthday with chocolate cake. The girl wishes on the candle for three “anythings.” Her first anything wish is that her room have a rainbow. Her second after a day of unpacking and new plants is for pizza for dinner. Her third comes after a night of not being able to sleep well and her father walking her to sleep. What could her last anything be?
Beautifully told with true moments of warmth and love between the characters, this picture book is a hug of a read. The illustrations are done in simple lines with bursts of colors, capturing the connection between parent and child. Well worth a wish for anything. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
Reviewed from e-galley provided by Chronicle Books.
Waking Brain Cells 