Graphic novel spotlight: Family Style

 

Family Style by Thien Pham

Family Style is not a traditional memoir. It does not follow a true narrative arc. Instead, it is a series of vignettes, moments from Pham's life that can be represented by a particular food. The moments themselves are of different sorts. Some are momentous - the first days of a family in a refugee camp or their arrival in the United states. Others are small and common place - going to the bowling alley with friends and a crush. But in all of them a particular food plays an important role not just in the facts of the memory but in their emotional thrust. Food represents fear, comfort, acceptance, shame, desire. And the foods themselves are explored - tastes, textures, cultural importance and influence. The panel design is deliberate, the choice of moment spot on. 

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Sock pig

 We know a toddler who is obsessed with pigs and I had an idea to make her a little plush pig. Wanting something both squishy and resilient I thought I'd make it from a sock.

 

these were the best options - we decided on the bright stripes 

Since it was a knee sock, I cut of the leg just above the heel and set it aside for another project. Then I stuffed it and sewed it shut. The foot ended up a bit too long so I ended up cutting off the toe as well, gathering that shut.

Since I had a small scrap that I'd cut off of the toe, I cut it in half and used it to make the ears. Then I made some knots to pull in depressions for the eyes that I finished with fabric paint.

 

a simple, chubby little piggie

Book review - How to Stay Invisible

 

Title: How to Stay Invisible

Author: Maggie C Rudd

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Small as an Elephant by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

                      The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones by Wendelin Van Draanen

Rating:

 

a careful balancing act

Summary (provided by publisher): Being alone is something Raymond is used to.
Twelve-year-old Raymond Hurley has never had a place to call home. His free-wheeling parents move their family from town to town, and he’s living in a trailer in a brand-new state when one day, they just up and abandon him. All alone with nothing but a duffle bag full of clothes and his reliable pup, Rosie, he is forced to live in the woods behind his middle school.
With a fishing pole in hand and survival guide checked out from the library, Raymond scrapes by and doesn’t tell anyone his secret. This isn’t the first time he’s had to rely on himself. However, when winter days get colder and finding food becomes nearly impossible, Raymond makes new friends, including a curious coyote, in unexpected places. Soon, he learns that his fate will depend not just on his wilderness skills, but on the people and animals he chooses to trust.

My opinion: In the grand tradition of books like Hatchet, this novel presents us with a character forced to survive on his own. With scraps of knowledge he does his best to build a life and his successes will appeal to young would-be survivalists. We see Raymond building a shelter, collecting food, and taking care of basic hygiene needs. Because not only is he surviving, he's doing his best to keep his situation a secret. Rudd is careful to show Raymond making mistakes, benefiting from the kindness of people around him. He survives, sure, but isn't truly doing it on his own. While the overall thrust of the book follows a familiar pattern of recently unhoused characters - shame and fear in the shock of the new situation; a successful rhythm that makes the situation feel sustainable; a health crisis that forces the truth to be revealed - there are hints and questions from people in his life all along the way.

More information: How to Stay Invisible releases June 27.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Picture books for everyone

 

What if I'm Not a Cat by Kari-Lynn Winters

This simple story follows a standard premise - a character hears an off-hand comment by an adult and takes it literally. In this case, a donkey hears the farmer make a joke about how much time it spends with the barn cats and assumes it is true. It acts like a cat, therefore it must be a cat. When the other cats point out all of the ways that it is different it begins to feel lost and isolated. With charming illustrations, an easily grasped message about identity and belonging, and a solid dose of humor as the donkey engages in cat behaviors this will be entertaining for most young audiences. The illustrations are well designed and engaging for even a non-reader to follow.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non fiction book review - Glitter Everywhere

 

Glitter Everywhere by Chris Barton

Glitter is so ubiquitous most of us never think much about it. The same cannot be said of Chris Barton. Author of many science themed books for small children, Barton isn't afraid to tackle huge subjects. And glitter is surprisingly complex. While of a picture book length, this book tackles: the history of glitter; the psychology of our attraction to sparkles; the science of refraction and reflection; and the danger of microplastics and the companies that are exploring alternatives. The reading level is appropriate for most elementary aged kids. While the science isn't deep it is thorough. If you love sparkles, give this one a look.

More information: Glitter Everywhere releases June 27.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Thirty to Sixty Days

 

Title: Thirty to Sixty Days

Author: Alikay Wood

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Farewell Tour of a Terminal Optimist by John Young

                     The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner

Rating:

 

entertaining and quirky

Summary (provided by publisher): Hattie Larken doesn’t know if she’s ever really been real in her life. A compulsive liar with a quick-witted response to everything, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to just skate through the rest of high school until she can graduate and escape it all: the mind-numbing monotony of this town, the guilt of everything that happened with her dad, and the debt that her mom’s dealing with that she feels responsible for.
But then Hattie finds out she’s dying. Not like in that overdramatic way that people sometimes say they’re dying. She’s literally dying. Apparently, she was exposed to a parasite because of a mistake her mom’s company made. (And no, the irony of that all is not lost on Hattie…) And she’s not the only one. Two other kids from her class also have been exposed to the parasite: Carmen, who seems to be totally perfect, with the class presidency, a loving family, and a totally beautiful girlfriend; and Albie, a quiet kid who survived childhood cancer only to deal with this, which feels like an incredibly cruel joke from the universe.
Hattie, Albie, and Carmen are told they only have thirty to sixty days to live. But instead of just sitting around a hospital and waiting to die, the three kids form an unlikely alliance to live the last days of their lives out to the fullest. Stealing and sailing a boat to Miami? Absolutely. Adopting the turtle that a random college student hands to them? Of course—they couldn’t leave Scooter to fend for himself! Sneaking into the sold-out music festival in town? You better believe it! And if Hattie just happens to find a way to raise some money for her mom through filming all their misadventures—well, she’s not going to not do that then.

My opinion: This is a construct we seem to love to explore - what people do when they know their time is limited. In this case, as in most narratives of this ilk, is a madcap road trip where the characters do things seemingly against their own natures. They take big chances, try things that they've always wanted, and get in all sorts of crazy mishaps. In this case it includes some truly odd details that are perhaps too strange if you overthink them. If you can roll with the plot as it happens it's suitably entertaining. There are certainly edifying messages to take away from it and it feels fairly tongue in cheek. So don't expect a real deep read but it is entertaining and has some reflection backing it up.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Custom flamingo

 Once upon a time I bought a lawn flamingo. It had little outfits and I was going to keep it in a house plant because the irony of keeping a lawn flamingo indoors struck me as hilarious. Then I found a cheap flamingo with wiggle eyes and it was so tacky that I had to have it. And I reasoned that two lawn flamingos (the first one had moved outside at that point) was perfectly tacky.

Fast forward several years. There are currently four flamingos in my yard and one waiting to be customized. Plus this one, which I've just finished with color shift paint.