Like a lot of people, I've been feeling like my space needs a bit of a refresh. When I found a piece of white cardboard while cleaning out my craft supplies I figured I'd make some decorations to hang on the hooks I put up for garland at Christmas. I cut some simple cloud shapes. Then I used the scraps to make things you might see among the clouds: the sun, a blimp, and a dragon.
Author: Dawn Quigley
Genre: humor/early chapter book
Similar books: Junie B Jones series by Barbara Park
Izzy in the Doghouse by Caroline Adderson
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Summary (provided by publisher): Jo Jo Makoons Azure is a spirited seven-year-old who moves through the world a little differently than anyone else on her Ojibwe reservation. It always seems like her mom, her kokum (grandma), and her teacher have a lot to learn—about how good Jo Jo is at cleaning up, what makes a good rhyme, and what it means to be friendly.
Even though Jo Jo loves her #1 best friend Mimi (who is a cat), she’s worried that she needs to figure out how to make more friends. Because Fern, her best friend at school, may not want to be friends anymore…
My opinion: There are definitely Junie B Jones vibes in this book. The base concept is very much the same: a young kid at school who consistently misunderstands or misinterprets things that people say. In this case, some of this can be attributed to cultural differences since Teacher is white and Jo Jo is Ojibwe. In fact, I wish the cultural comparison were a larger role instead of being a side element. This series suffers a little from comparison with the Junie B Jones monolith but with time and further volumes it will shine on it's own.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
In many ways, the Weirn Books series follows standard middle grade plots. The central focus is on school and interaction with peers. Thus we have bullies, popularity, and wanting to gain attention. The surface details make this one stand out from the pack. Sure, it's a magical school. It's also a complex magical world with a lot of associated rules. Magic has a cost, consequences for every spell cast. There is also a horror element, with a creepy building in the woods and a local legend about missing kids, elements that we aren't surprised to learn are associated. The illustrations are fairly cartoony and expressive, keeping this from becoming too creepy for young readers. Just the right level of scary for upper elementary kids. While the plot is fairly predictable, the journey is compelling.
More Information: Be Wary of the Silent Woods releases June 16
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
We first learn about hibernation in some of our earliest introductions to animal biology. It wasn't until I reached adulthood that I learned about estivation, though. Personally, I knew that animals other than bears slept for extended periods and may even have grasped that these sleeps don't just happen in the winter. I did not know that it had its own name and process. This book provides the young reader with several examples of animals that estivate, the reasons for it, how they prepare, etc. There isn't much detail here but that isn't the point. The point is to introduce the idea and encourage kids to ask questions about the lives of other animals. It achieves that aim well.
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Author: Chris Grabenstein
Genre: adventure
Similar books: Little Claws by Eliot Schrefer
Horace and Bunwinkle by P.J. Gardner
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Summary (provided by publisher): When trouble calls . . . it's DOG SQUAD to the rescue!
Duke is not your average dog. Along with his crew, he fights crime and goes on claw-biting adventures helping dogs in peril in the hit streaming sensation--DOG SQUAD! Fred is a pretty average dog. He's scrappy. He's loveable. But he's not brave like his heroes on Dog Squad.
Fred looks an awful lot like Duke from Dog Squad though. In fact, when Duke needs a stand-in, Fred's the perfect choice. But the Dog Squad action doesn't always stop on screen! When there's danger in real life, can Fred find the courage to step up and save the day?!
It's all paws on deck in this action-packed, middle grade adventure series just right for anyone who loves dogs--and anyone who loves to laugh!
My opinion: Dog squad delivers exactly what it promises. A regular stray dog finds himself thrust into the world of Hollywood due to his resemblance to a famous dog. He learns that the dog actor is self-important and cruel, a sharp contrast to his brave and selfless character. So of course, the reader and the director come to prefer Fred with his humble and helpful attitude. His kindness wins over everyone he meets, including tough customers. It's a bit predictable but should play well with middle grade readers.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
Author: Ellen Oh
Genre: realistic/historical fiction
Similar books: Soul Lanterns by Shaw Kuzki
Under the Broken Sky by Mariko Nagai
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Summary (provided by publisher): Junie Kim just wants to fit in. So she keeps her head down and tries not to draw attention to herself. But when racist graffiti appears at her middle school, Junie must decide between staying silent or speaking out.
Then Junie’s history teacher assigns a project and Junie decides to interview her grandparents, learning about their unbelievable experiences as kids during the Korean War. Junie comes to admire her grandma’s fierce determination to overcome impossible odds, and her grandpa’s unwavering compassion during wartime. And as racism becomes more pervasive at school, Junie taps into the strength of her ancestors and finds the courage to do what is right.
My opinion: The structure of this novel presents us with three distinct stories. Junie is facing obvious racism at school and doesn't know how to respond to it, or if she even should. Her grandparents each tell their childhood stories in big blocks. These stories guide Junie in her decision making. I can understand that structure cut they aren't melded together very well. There is far more attention given to the grandparents. Junie's story is thin, lacking in nuance. The three sections are awkwardly pasted together. I like the idea here and given how it addresses an oft forgotten part of history I wish I liked the book itself better.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
