Picture books for everyone

Let There Be Light and From Eden to Bethlehem by Danielle Hitchen

Technically, these books don't exactly fit my standards for this feature. Technically, they're board books. As such, they're not exactly going to appeal to your upper elementary reader. Unlike many animal or opposites board books, though, they'll grow with your tot. Each concept is illustrated in a simple way. We see concepts like light and dark or an image of an animal. Then, for the slightly older child, we're given a Bible verse that illustrates the idea and puts it into a larger context. For a child growing up in a religious family, religion can sometimes feel disconnected from the rest of life. Books like these build a foundation of greater life context for young children.
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Non fiction book review - Christmas

Christmas by Nikki Tate and Dani Tate-Stratton

There is no shortage of books out there that explore symbols and traditions of Christmas. I don't know that I've ever seen one aimed at children that explores the topic in such detail and wide scope. We see traditions from various regions and their source in cultural and religious traditions. Thus we get a brief introduction to the importance of winter holidays in several religions and parallels to modern Christmas. Each exploration is fairly brief but a complete overview. It's more of a quick reference for the curious than a source of complete research but would be a welcome addition to most children's book collections.

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Book review - The Brain

Title: Science Comics The Brain
Author: Tory Woollcott
Genre: non fiction graphic novel
Similar books: Smash! by Sarah Latta
                      Human Body Theater by Maris Wicks
Rating:

entertaining and informative

Summary (provided by publisher): With Science Comics, you can explore the depths of the ocean, the farthest reaches of space, and everything in between! These gorgeously illustrated graphic novels offer wildly entertaining views of their subjects.
In this volume, Fahama has been kidnapped by a mad scientist and his zombie assistant, and they are intent on stealing her brain! She'll need to learn about the brain as fast as possible in order to plan her escape!
How did the brain evolve? How do our senses work in relation to the brain? How do we remember things? What makes you, YOU? Get an inside look at the human brain, the most advanced operating system in the world . . . if you have the nerve!

My opinion: I went into this book expecting a basic "these are the parts of the brain and this is how neurons and electrical signals send messages". And that's certainly a part of it. We get a couple of pages about how neurons differ from other cells and a deep dive into the role of electrical signals. But this is more than simple biology. It starts with the development of brains as specialized tissue, the differences in brain structures in various species. We move on to different types of signals and intelligences and the importance of diversity in thought. That's a lot of information to pack into under 130 pages of graphic novel while also integrating a simple story.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Non-fiction book review - Primates

Primates by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks

I had heard, of course, of Jane Goodall. And I had passing familiarity with Dian Fossey. Birute Galdikas was entirely new to me, though. It was fascinating to me to see how their stories parralleled and intersected. We tend to think of celebreties, even intellectuals, as almost inhabiting their own worlds. When those worlds collide it can be a little jarring for the outside observer. I loved seeing how each of these women went from interested novices to passionate, groundbreaking scientists.

Evaluating this book strictly from a storytelling perspective (rather then just fan-girling about scientists) the writing was a bit confusing at times. It may be that Otavani was trying to protect younger readers, masking some of the less savory parts of the story. I wasn't always sure what had happened. BUt the illustrations are charming and engaging. This books serves as a great introduction to some natural science ideas. Use this in conjunction with a documentary or more scholarly book and you could really learn a lot.

Book review - Louisiana's Way Home

Title: Louisiana's Way Home
Author: Kate DiCamillo
Genre: historical fiction
Similar books: Jelly Bean Summer by Joyce Magnin
                      Okay for Now by Gary D Schmidt
Rating:

charming

Summary (provided by publisher): When Louisiana Elefante’s granny wakes her up in the middle of the night to tell her that the day of reckoning has arrived and they have to leave home immediately, Louisiana isn’t overly worried. After all, Granny has many middle-of-the-night ideas. But this time, things are different. This time, Granny intends for them never to return. Separated from her best friends, Raymie and Beverly, Louisiana struggles to oppose the winds of fate (and Granny) and find a way home. But as Louisiana’s life becomes entwined with the lives of the people of a small Georgia town — including a surly motel owner, a walrus-like minister, and a mysterious boy with a crow on his shoulder — she starts to worry that she is destined only for good-byes. (Which could be due to the curse on Louisiana's and Granny’s heads. But that is a story for another time.)

My opinion: This book has all the charm of a standard DiCamillo novel. She has a real flair for world building and creating unique characters. It's that second point that I struggle with in this book. In some ways, Louisiana is too unique. While her voice is strong, she's incredibly overly dramatic. And since the book takes the form of letters, its entirely from her perspective, her interpretation of events. It gives the "looking for family" standard plot an almost soap opera tinge.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Fall decorations

I love these little wooden color-your-own ornament kits. Historically, I've painted them but I wanted to try something different with this fall kit. My experience coloring them with markers has never been very good. But, it turns out, colored pencils work quite well. It gives them a more muted look.

 

Non-fiction book review - Apollo 8

Apollo 8: The Mission that Changed Everything by Martin W. Sandler

I think sometimes that younger generations (my own included) are at a disadvantage. We don't fully grasp how much of a feat the space program was. We don't really understand the dangers they faced or the political climate it all happened in. Having begun in the Cold War, the eventual accomplishment of Mir is all the more interesting. Without any of that background, this book is a solid choice for a middle grade reader. Sandler presents a wide variety of information without overwhelming the reader with details. The tone is nearly conversational, making very readable. I learned a great deal from this book and it left me excited to learn more.

Looking for more about Apollo 8? A tie-in or something for younger readers? Give Earthrise by James Gladstone a look

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Book review - The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge

Title: The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge
Author: M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik
                          The Enchanted Files: Trolled by Bruce Coville
Rating:

more political than magical

Summary (provided by publisher): Uptight elfin historian Brangwain Spurge is on a mission: survive being catapulted across the mountains into goblin territory, deliver a priceless peace offering to their mysterious dark lord, and spy on the goblin kingdom — from which no elf has returned alive in more than a hundred years. Brangwain’s host, the goblin archivist Werfel, is delighted to show Brangwain around. They should be the best of friends, but a series of extraordinary double crosses, blunders, and cultural misunderstandings throws these two bumbling scholars into the middle of an international crisis that may spell death for them — and war for their nations. Witty mixed media illustrations show Brangwain’s furtive missives back to the elf kingdom, while Werfel’s determinedly unbiased narrative tells an entirely different story. A hilarious and biting social commentary that could only come from the likes of National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson and Newbery Honoree Eugene Yelchin, this tale is rife with thrilling action and visual humor . . . and a comic disparity that suggests the ultimate victor in a war is perhaps not who won the battles, but who gets to write the history.

My opinion: Given the combination of Anderson and Yelchin, it should come as no surprise that this book is complex and dense. It's clearly a fantasy world with elves and goblins and assorted mythical beasts. It's also a heavily political allegory. We have two nations at war for generations with a long history of invations, slaughter, subjugation, espionage, and misinformation. Both parties are forced to face their biases and the lens through which they view the world. The interplay between the way the narrated passages differs from the visual passages and the two perspectives those sections represent adds to the depth. This is a book that a middle grader could enjoy as a fantasy adventure and then read again as an older teen and get more of the political commentary.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley.

Caroler candles

One of the new items I featured this year at my craft fair was some small candle holders. I got a good deal on these small candles and agonized for a while over what type of holder to make for them. I'm pretty happy with these little polymer clay carolers.