Graphic novel spotlight

 Cat's Cradle: The Golden Twine by Jo Rioux

Fantasy adventures are well suited to the graphic novel format and this one fits neatly into that niche. Rioux combines the wiley humor of Nimona with the contemplation of The Last Unicorn. Suri, our protagonist, is an independent girl determined to make her dreams come true regardless of what anyone else thinks. Through happenstance and a bit too much curiosity, she finds herself on a classic fantasy quest. She's a charming, likeable character and the plot has enough foreboding and promise of things to come to keep the reader engaged. It's not an especially deep read but is a solid example of graphic novel series well suited to the middle grade audience.

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Non fiction book review - Alexander von Humbolt

 Alexander von Humboldt by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

von Humboldt is a figure most of us will find unfamiliar. He isn't often the subject of history lessons or children's books. We don't often dig into the world of naturalists or scientific expeditions. Given his focus on the natural world he will be a compelling figure for children. The book focuses on curiosity and the importance of discovery, necessarily avoiding discussion of the dark side of exploration and colonization but that can be corrected via careful conversation with your child. This book will be of particular interest to children interested in animals and scientific classification.

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Book review - Sherlock Holmes

 

Title: The Blue Carbuncle The Dancing Men and The Empty House

Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Retold by Alex Woolf

Genre: classic mystery

Similar books:The Baker Street Peculiars by Roger Langridge

                     The Baker Street Four by Olivier Legrande

Rating:

 

accessible

Summary (provided by publisher): Join world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his ever-loyal sidekick Dr. Watson as they embark on a daring adventure.
When the Countess of Morcar's priceless blue jewel is stolen, a former thief is charged with the crime, but is he really guilty? Never fear: Sherlock Holmes is on the case, and the truth will out!
Hilton Cubitt is worried. Drawings of "dancing men" keep appearing around his house and they're frightening his wife, who seems to know what they mean. Can our brilliant hero solve the mystery of these drawings before disaster strikes?
The whole of London is shocked and baffled by the murder of Ronald Adair. It seems like an impossible crime! Can our sensational sleuth solve the mystery of how Adair was killed before the murderer strikes again?

My opinion: Sherlock Holmes can be compelling reading but the original text can be difficult to follow. For kids who are still working on reading comprehension the old fashioned highly descriptive language of Doyle's original work is too much and adaptations are often necessary. Woolf's version is quite simplified. The writing is stripped down to really only the basics needed to follow the mystery. There is little in the way of description or reflection. We get facts and some basic dialogue, no character development or exploration of motivation. For quite young readers this adaptation series is probably sufficient. For slightly older kids who are trying to puzzle through Doyle's original works, this series could work as a supportive text, helping them to understand the heart of what they have read.

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Blueberry plaque

 I dug up my collection of plaques to paint again and selected this one. With the more elegant shape I wanted something natural and pleasing for a subject. After a failed attempt at some flowers I settled on blueberries.

Book review - Leave it to Plum

 

Title: Leave it to Plum

Author: Matt Phelan

Genre: humor/early chapter book

Similar books: Sydney and Taylor by Jacqueline Davies

                     Horace and Bunwinkle by PJ Gardner

Rating:

 

a solid, cute read

Summary (provided by publisher): Young Plum is one of the peacock ambassadors for the Athensville Zoo. Every day the peacocks are allowed to wander freely among the zoo’s visitors, delighting and guiding kids and grown-ups alike. The peacocks are very proud of their responsibility; none so much as kind, curious Plum.
But Itch the ningbing—a type of very small marsupial—doesn’t understand why those birdbrains should get so much freedom while he’s all cooped up. So he plots and plots, sure that he will escape and become the zoo ambassador!

My opinion: The story here is an easy one to follow. The writing is sparse and efficient without becoming dull and is well supported by charming illustrations. And Plum is a charming character. He's irrepressible and enthusiastic, thinking outside the box. These traits make it easy for him to get into and out of trouble. This will be a solid choice for young readers fond of animal stories.

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Listen with me

 

Twice as Perfect by Louisa Onome

 This book promises to blend the pressures of immigrant parents and community with the regular pressures to excel in a western high school environment. The protagonist is trying to balance who she is at school with her home persona while also digging into family secrets. It promises to be an interesting read.

Non-fiction book review - Can You Believe It

 

Can You Believe It? by Joyce Grant

I can recall learning how to determine the legitimacy of a source in middle school, when we learned how to research a paper. We were taught some very rudimentary skills mostly relying on recognizable press names and a few "reliable" websites. With so many more sources for information now, these skills are far harder for kids (and adults) to learn. Grant does a solid job of educating the reader not just on how to check sources but also to recognize manipulation and bias in writing style. The writing is easy enough to understand without oversimplifying the concepts. While this book alone isn't enough to fight the tide of "fake news" and our inability to trust media sources, it's another tool to help.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley