Picture books for everyone

 

How to Greet a Grandma by Donna Amey Bhatt

Like all of the best multi-age books, this one can be appreciated on multiple levels. We start with the word for a grandmother in another culture and the ways that a child might greet her. We also learn things that a grandmother and grandchild might do together in that culture. That's the surface level and certainly has value. A little discussion and thought, and you're talking with an older kid about the roles of elders in a culture. We can learn from these interactions how a culture venerates it's elders and the various family dynamics. 

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Non-fiction book review - Without Separation

 

Without Separation by Larry Dane Brimner

Most schools teach about segregation exclusively in lessons about the Civil Rights Movement and the end of Jim Crow laws. Because we learn it only in that context we can get the idea that it was an issue strictly of Black and White. We are not generally taught that, depending on the area, there might be a separate school for Asians, Natives, or Latinex kids. That fact alone makes this book an important one. We want our kids to understand the full context of history and that includes the full breadth of inequality in our country. The other vital point is how much of the action here was driven by youth. Not the parents but by Roberto himself. A solid example of youth activism, well supported by charming illustrations.

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Book review - The List of Unspeakable Fears

 

Title: The List of Unspeakable Fears

Author: J. Kasper Kramer

Genre: historical fiction

Similar books: Lord of the Mountain by Ronald Kidd

                      I Don't Know How the Story Ends by J.B. Cheaney

Rating:

 

gave me some pause, but paid off in the end

Summary (provided by publisher): Essie O’Neill is afraid of everything. She’s afraid of cats and electric lights. She’s afraid of the silver sick bell, a family heirloom that brings up frightening memories. Most of all, she’s afraid of the red door in her nightmares.
But soon Essie discovers so much more to fear. Her mother has remarried, and they must move from their dilapidated tenement in the Bronx to North Brother Island, a dreary place in the East River. That’s where Essie’s new stepfather runs a quarantine hospital for the incurable sick, including the infamous Typhoid Mary. Essie knows the island is plagued with tragedy. Years ago, she watched in horror as the ship General Slocum caught fire and sank near its shores, plummeting one thousand women and children to their deaths.
Now, something on the island is haunting Essie. And the red door from her dreams has become a reality, just down the hall from her bedroom in her terrifying new house. Convinced her stepfather is up to no good, Essie investigates. Yet to uncover the truth, she will have to face her own painful history—and what lies behind the red door.

My opinion: I had some concerns early on in this book. Mary seemed entirely too sympathetic. Her first scene showed her as a victim of circumstance, a person unfairly imprisoned by unfeeling officials. And her real history is morally complex. We're weighing personal freedom against public good, a situation with no easy answers. I was concerned also with the portrayal of Essie's fears. I was concerned that this was all being attributed to her father's death. So I appreciated when we saw back into the past and realized that she had always been anxious. Similarly, I appreciated that there were so simple solutions to her problems. Everything was a process. There were elements I didn't care for, some coincidental plot points. If you have an interest in history, though, it's a solid read.

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A slightly cooler mirror

 I found this mirror at the dollar store. I don't usually check a mirror at work but this guy wanted to be on my desk.

The white frame is a little boring, though. Luckily I have a decent assortment of paint. A touch of metallic red does wonders.

Book review - A Soft Place to Land

 

Title: A Soft Place to Land

Author: Janae Marks

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Partly Cloudy by Tanita S Davis

                     The Dollar Kids by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

Rating:

 

a solid read

Summary (provided by publisher): Joy Taylor has always believed home is the house she lived in her entire life. But then her dad lost his job, and suddenly, home becomes a tiny apartment with thin walls, shared bedrooms, and a place for tense arguments between Mom and Dad. Hardest of all, Joy doesn’t have her music to escape through anymore. Without enough funds, her dreams of becoming a great pianist—and one day, a film score composer—have been put on hold.
A friendly new neighbor her age lets Joy in on the complex’s best-kept secret: the Hideout, a cozy refuge that only the kids know about. And it’s in this little hideaway that Joy starts exchanging secret messages with another kid in the building who also seems to be struggling, until—abruptly, they stop writing back. What if they’re in trouble?
Joy is determined to find out who this mystery writer is, fast, but between trying to raise funds for her music lessons, keeping on a brave face for her little sister, and worrying about her parents’ marriage, Joy isn’t sure how to keep her own head above water.

My opinion: The large elements of a "new kid" story tend to be fairly similar. A kid has to find their place among their peers. Often, this means a sudden group of fast friends. We can see this coming when Joy meets the kids in her building. While she forms friendships very quickly, those same friendships are broken just as easily by her own actions. And I like the messaging here: both Joy and her new friend learn lessons about what it means to be friends, the things we share and our right to keep secrets. While I feel like some of the issues are too easily resolved and the characters are underdeveloped, this is a solid read for a kid just beginning to search for meaning in their reading.

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Pick 6: new in town

 Moving to a new town or a new school is a classic set-up for a youth novel, and with good reason. Finding yourself in a new situation, adjusting to new schedules and a new peer group; these are a solid framework for addressing personal and family issues. Here are six books published in the last six months that feature kids who recently moved to new town, neighborhoods, or schools as a primary character.

 6 New books with characters new to town:

1. Animal Rescue Friendsby Gina Loveless
2. What Comes Next by Rob Boyea
3. Long Distance by Whitney Gardner
4. Partly Cloudy by Tanita S Davis
5. A Soft Place to Land by Janae Marks
6. White Smoke by Tiffany D Jackson
   

Non-fiction book review - Earth is Big

 

Earth is Big by Steve Tomecek

This book is built on a solid concept. Scale can be incredibly difficult to grasp, especially for any measurement larger or smaller than we can see directly in front of us. You can tell me that something is 200 miles away, for example, but that doesn't mean that I truly grasp how far that is. And that's where this book comes in. We compare the size of earth to other planetary bodies, both smaller and larger. We do the same sorts of comparison with other measurements - distance, heat volume, etc. We learn a variety of science facts and also get the reminder that comparisons are relative and that a perspective change can influence our view.

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Book review - We Can Be Heroes

 

Title: We Can Be Heroes

Author: Kyrie McCauley

Genre: realistic fiction/magical realism

Similar books: Love and Vandalism by Laurie Boyle Crompton

                      I Hope You're Listening by Tom Ryan

Rating:

 

gives us plenty to think about

Summary (provided by publisher): Beck and Vivian never could stand each other, but they always tried their best for their mutual friend, Cassie. After the town moves on from Cassie’s murder too fast, Beck and Vivian finally find common ground: vengeance.
They memorialize Cassie by secretly painting murals of her around town, a message to the world that Cassie won’t be forgotten. But Beck and Vivian are keeping secrets, like the third passenger riding in Beck’s VW bus with them—Cassie’s ghost.
When their murals catch the attention of a podcaster covering Cassie’s case, they become the catalyst for a debate that Bell Firearms can no longer ignore. With law enforcement closing in on them, Beck and Vivian hurry to give Cassie the closure she needs—by delivering justice to those responsible for her death.

My opinion: The elements at play here are not especially common in fiction: graffiti and true-crime podcasts. We have a tragedy in a town with an injustice that the town would rather ignore. So Beck and Vivian respond in a big, unavoidable way. With the addition of a podcast picking apart the stories that the people in power are insisting upon and it's a town on the verge. McCaughley is asking us to consider some big questions: gun culture and rights, community responsibility in the face of a tragedy. The heart of the story, though, is much smaller: broken and grieving girls who have things to prove or that they are desperate to escape. Girls who are angry and terrified and utterly trapped by grief. We have a ghost at play who isn't entirely necessary but it works over all.

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Sock cat

I've been designing some sock puppets. When I found a brightly colored leopard print, it just begged to be a cat. 

 

Book review - Carry Me Home

 

Title: Carry Me Home

Author: Janet Fox

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J Baptist

                      Wrong Way Summer by Heidi Lang

Rating:

 

gives the reader plenty to think about

Summary (provided by publisher): Twelve-year-old Lulu and her younger sister, Serena, have a secret. As Daddy always says, “it’s best if we keep it to ourselves,” and so they have. But hiding your past is one thing. Hiding where you live—and that your Daddy has gone missing—is harder.
At first Lulu isn’t worried. Daddy has gone away once before and he came back. But as the days add up, with no sign of Daddy, Lulu struggles to take care of all the responsibilities they used to manage as a family.
Lulu knows that all it takes is one slip-up for their secret to come spilling out, for Lulu and Serena to be separated, and for all the good things that have been happening in school to be lost.
But family is all around us, and Lulu must learn to trust her new friends and community to save those she loves and to finally find her true home

My opinion: I appreciate seeing stories about the affects of homelessness on children. These characters make do and conceal truths when their existence is boiled down to just a few necessities. Books like this one show us how a "normal" low income family cam be thrown completely off balance and lose absolutely everything when there is no safety net. Lulu does a solid job keeping her family together projecting normalcy and protecting herself and her sister. This book carries a message of knowing your strength but also how it is okay to ask for help, to turn to even strangers who largely turn out to be good and kind. The plot is ultimately a bit overly optimistic but largely affirming.

More information: Carry Me Home releases October 1

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

The Icepick Surgeon by Sam Kean

 My hopes were high for this one and it really paid off. Kean certainly tells a complete story with these scientists: what they did, their scientific background, and how they justified their actions. And it's more than just a story of science gone wrong. Probably a quarter of each chapter explores general scientific ethics. Each chapter typically contains a second example of the same breach of ethic, reminding us that this is not the work of isolated monsters. These are lines that any scientist can cross given the right motivation. Not only am I glad I listened to this one, I'm already thinking of people who will enjoy it as well.

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Non-fiction book review - The Science of Song

 

The Science of Song by Alan Cross

 We get "science of sound" books occasionally that are largely focused on the simple mechanics of sound - vibrations, the ear drum, etc. That is certainly present in this book. But it's so much more. We learn about harmonics, about the cultural and psychological elements of music, assorted technologies used to created and record music. Cross absolutely does not skimp on the details. You'll learn a great deal just by skimming. I could see this as a resource that a budding scientist returns to often.

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Blog tour book review - Egg Marks the Spot

 

Title: Egg Marks the Spot

Author: Amy Timberlake

Genre: humor

Similar books: Kitty and Dragon by Meika Hashimoto

                      Freya and Zoose by Emily Butler

Rating:

 

a sweet story with surprising depth

Summary (provided by publisher): “X Marks the Spot!”
Buried in the heart of every animal is a secret treasure. For rock scientist Badger, it’s the Spider Eye Agate he found as a cub, stolen years ago by his crafty cousin, Fisher. For Badger’s roommate, Skunk, the treasure is Sundays with the New Yak Times Book Review. When an old acquaintance, Mr. G. Hedgehog, announces his plan to come for the Book Review as soon as it thumps on the doorstep, Skunk decides an adventure will solve Badger’s problems as well as his own. Surprisingly, Badger agrees. Together
they set off on an agate-finding expedition at Badger’s favorite spot on Endless Lake.
But all is not as it seems at Campsite #5. Fisher appears unexpectedly. Then a chicken arrives who seems intent on staying. Something is up!
Indeed!
Secrets, betrayals, lies
. . . and a luminous, late-Jurassic prize. 

My opinion: At face value, the Skunk and Badger stories are exactly what you'd expect. They are a standard odd couple with the curmudgeonly Badger gradually opening up to the more playful Skunk. Timberlake has included enough weird and humorous details to keep young readers entertained. The plot is fairly straightforward and the sentence structure is basic, making the book easy to follow. Beneath that simplicity there are deeper messages at play. The first book talked about biases and long held misconceptions and the accompanying cruelties we can perpetrate. This volume addresses bullying, certainly, but also letting go of things and people. We see how the same things can motivate and hold us back. The final chapters suggest that nothing lasts forever and we sometimes have to say goodbye to things and friends even if we'd rather not. Sweet.

More information: Egg Marks the Spot releases today!

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

A truly unique doll

 My dad got some doll parts in a box at an auction. And among the box was this package:

Now, a sensible person would probably throw away the extra arm. But no one has ever accused me of being sensible. I figured the best way to use this kit was to make a three-armed doll. And if you're giving it three arms you might as well give it four legs. And a tail.

Book review - Needle and Thread

 

Title: Needle and Thread 

Author: David Pinckney

Genre: realistic fiction/graphic novel

Similar books: Be Dazzled by Ryan La Sala

                      This Train is Being Held by Ismee Amiel Williams

Rating:

 

basic and pleasant

Summary (provided by publisher): Choosing between living the life you want and living the life you're "supposed to have" is not always an easy choice. Noah, embracing his true-self, wants to pursue a career in costume design, something his loving, public service parents would never approve of. Azarie, the perfect, model daughter of a very stern, traditional family, dreams of embracing the hobbies she secretly loves, hobbies her social circle would never abide by. The two live different lives and their social statuses keep them from ever crossing paths until they have a chance encounter that exposes some common ground: the desire to be who they truly are. Together, the two set out to put it all on the line and show everyone what they're made of and what they want to achieve in the form of cosplay. Their growing friendship will be tested and their faith in themselves, as well as each other, will be tried.

My opinion: I've been fascinated by the recent trend of fashion as it's connected to cosplay. Where once cosplay was a weird thing that desperate nerds engaged in, now it is recognized as a legitimate skill worth applauding. Now, apart from the cosplay element, this is a pretty standard exploration of kids dealing with parental expectations. Both sets of parents express pretty extreme disapproval of the hobbies and interests of their kids. Noah's parents push him towards an interest in sports and a future in medicine, treating his sewing as a hobby that he will grow out of. Azarie's parents dictate every element of her life - her friends, her clothing, her behavior. The characters are pretty straightforward, the parents lacking in complexity.

More information: Needle and Thread releases September 15.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Graphic Novel Spotlight - Death and Sparkles

 

Death and Sparkles by Rob Justus

If you're like me, you tend to find unicorns a bit sappy. Something about the idea of a perfect, pure being isn't especially compelling to me. Pair that same unicorn with death, though, and something wonderful happens. Death and Sparkles are the ultimate odd couple. Their day-to-day experiences are on opposite ends of the spectrum. They are literally stuck together, thrown into a quest. It will come as no surprise that their journey proves they have more in common than they expected and that their assumptions about each other and about the world are inaccurate. The plot is very tongue in cheek but still has real messages to share. An entertaining read that holds up to repeat reading.

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Non-fiction book review - Stolen Science

 

Stolen Science by Ella Schwartz

 It will come as no surprise to most of us that there are enough achievements "stolen" to fill a whole book. The achievements of non-white, non-male people are regularly diminished or hidden entirely. Schwartz is putting in a concerted effort to attribute discoveries and inventions appropriately, acknowledging that some credit should be shared and that some discoveries are a case of parallel innovation. Neither the science nor the scientists are explored in any depth but we get enough of an overview to keep us engaged.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Book review - Fast Pitch

 

Title: Fast Pitch

Author: Nic Stone

Genre: realistic fiction

Similar books: Bump by Matt Wallace

                     My Life as a Diamond by Jenny Manzer

Rating:

 

well intentioned by a bit over simplified

Summary (provided by publisher): Shenice Lockwood, captain of the Fulton Firebirds, is hyper-focused when she steps up to the plate. Nothing can stop her from leading her team to the U12 fast-pitch softball regional championship. But life has thrown some curveballs her way.
Strike one: As the sole team of all-brown faces, Shenice and the Firebirds have to work twice as hard to prove that Black girls belong at bat.
Strike two: Shenice’s focus gets shaken when her great-uncle Jack reveals that a career-ending—and family-name-ruining—crime may have been a setup.
Strike three: Broken focus means mistakes on the field. And Shenice’s teammates are beginning to wonder if she’s captain-qualified.
It's up to Shenice to discover the truth about her family’s past—and fast—before secrets take the Firebirds out of the game forever.

My opinion: I'm not real big on sports stories but I'll give them a chance if I get the sense that they're trying to be more, that sports are used as a device for addressing a larger issue. And that's definitely the case here. The girls play softball but we don't get much technical sports talk or even descriptions of the games. Softball is simply a thing they do and a catalyst for addressing institutionalized racism. Those ideas - including how increased awareness changes Shenice's approach to games and her teammates - are morally complex and are thus not fully explored. The conclusion is pretty idealized and tidy. It ends quickly with everything neatly tied up, a result I found disappointing. Still, it will give a middle grade reader plenty to chew on.

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Book review - The Bright Family

 

Title: The Bright Family

Author: Matthew Cody and Derick Brooks

Genre: sci-fi graphic novel

Similar books: Lemonade Code by Jarod Pratt

                     Once Upon a Spacetime by Jeffrey Brown

Rating:

 

a solid read

Summary (provided by publisher): Meet the brilliant, overachieving Bright Family: While Mom’s off-planet literally saving the world and Dad’s holed up in his laboratory, 12-year-old Nia’s trying to win every robotics competition, and her younger brother, Jayden…well, actually, Jayden’s just trying to avoid doing his homework so has more time to daydream about kaiju and design giant robots.
But when a dimensional portal sends Mom and Dad who-knows-where, it’s up to Nia and Jayden (and their robot nanny, Dusty) to bring their parents home. The question is, where in the multiverse could they possibly be?
Through their travels, the Brights—kids and parents alike—learn how one person's actions can lead to consequences that affect the whole family, and sometimes even the entire multiverse!

My opinion: This book manages the plot elements quite well. We're never confused about what is happening. And we have a clear picture of the characters and their driving forces. Not only do we have these kids acknowledging their fears of inadequacy they are also discovering that their parents aren't perfect, that their desire for discovery is irresponsible at times, having consequences in each world they visit. It's a reminder of scientific and social responsibility that we an all use. The interactions and emotions are fairly simplified. There is little reflection or character development. Still, a solid read for middle graders.

More information: The Bright Family releases September 7.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley

Listen with me

 

The Icepick Surgeon by Sam Kean

I'm not much of a history buff but I am fascinated by stories of terrible happenings - murders, con artists, cults, and the like. So a book about crimes committed for the sake of science is a pretty compelling idea. I've been looking forward to this one for a while and am excited to give it a listen.

Non-fiction book review - Fred & Marjorie

 

Fred & Marjorie by Deborah Kerbel

I'm willing to bet that most kids don't give an thought to insulin at all, much less about how it was developed. So the average young reader will find this a bit of a hard sell. Which is a shame since its a pretty compelling read. It helps that Kerbel presents the information as a narrative. We learn about the characters involved and their motivations. Many will struggle with the animal experimentation as a concept. Still, a kid with an interest in medicine might enjoy this one.

Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley