Arnold, Elana K. 2021. The House That Wasn’t There. HarperCollins (Walden Pond Press). 288 pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-293706-3.

When Oak moves next door to Alder, the relationship is caustic, especially when Oak’s mother removes the old walnut tree between the houses. Alder and Oak eventually become friends and discover they are related to each other.  A plethora of conflicts propel the plot in this fast-paced low fantasy novel.  The setting is a neighborhood in Los Angeles, but thanks to feline teleportation, the experiences of Alder and Oak also include a mysterious, invisible “house” located between the homes of the two friends. Themes include the value of friends and family. Readers, ages 8 – 13, will easily connect with the characters, including the mothers (Alder’s mother is a single parent), the dynamic, personable 6th grade teacher (Mr. Rivera), the bus driver, classmates, school friends, the kittens, and Mort.  A unique aspect of the style is the complementary nature of the 6th grade interdisciplinary school project and the multiple interrelationships among the characters, themes, conflicts, and settings. (DLN)

 

Kean, Max. (2020).  Trash Truck.  HarperCollins (Harper).  32 pp.  $14.99.  ISBN   978-0-06-300221-0.

Inspired by a true story, a six-year-old boy, Hank, and a trash truck, share multiple interests and commonalities.  Although Hank is a young boy living in a big world, and the trash truck is an enormous vehicle servicing a small town, the two characters were quite similar.  For example, both liked finding “lost treasures” (unnumbered), and both liked getting dirty (yet they also enjoyed bathing). They also shared things they did not like, such as fish.  When they finally meet, they become friends forever in their personal world.  Shapes convey the contrast between a small young boy and a huge trash truck, until Hank sees the truck for the first time. Then Hank and Trash Truck are similar in size, suggesting a mutual friendship. Youngsters, ages 3 – 8, with an affection for large vehicles, will enjoy reading about the similarities and eventual friendship between Hank and Trash Truck. (DLN) 

 

Everett, Sarah. 2021.  Some Other Now. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH Books for Young Readers).  $17.99.  368 pp. ISBN  978-0-35-825186-6.

Friendship, heartbreak, family trauma/drama, love, acceptance, death, biracial marriages/heritage, and illness are dominant themes as Jessi navigates the “then” and “now.”  Readers, ages 14 and older, may connect with one or more of the themes, propelled by the multiple conflicts, including love relationships, depression, death, heartbreak, and finally self – acceptance.  Jessi is a complex person, with a dysfunctional mother and beloved friends, including an irritable senior citizen, Ernie.  However, she perseveres.  (DLN)

 

Hand, Cynthia. 2021.  With You All the Way.  HarperCollins (HarperTeen) 336 pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-269319-8.

The protagonist, Ada, has multiple issues and readers, ages 14 and older, may identify with her quest for sex.  When she joins her mother, a surgeon, and two sisters in Hawaii for a medical conference, Ada is determined to find a partner.  However, she maintains her virginity while losing faith in her mother, whom she suspects is having a relationship with someone other than her stepfather.  The descriptions of Hawaii are inviting, and the turmoil and mental anguish Ada experiences may resonate with mature readers.  Deception is one of complex realities Ada confronts; but family, friendship and love prevail.  (DLN)

 

 

Raschka, Chris. 2021. Saint Spotting (Or How to Read a Church). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 44 pp. $17.99.  ISBN 978-0-8-02-85521-3.

Hopefully, this is the first in a series of how to read the worship environments of different religions, such as How to Read a Mosque. The watercolors in Saint Spotting will captivate readers as they are introduced to thirty-eight (38) Roman Catholic Saints, such as Saint Anthony, Saint Rita, Saint Rose of Lima, and Saint George.  Explanations or descriptions of each saint inform readers of the lives and deaths of the various saints, for example, Saints Catherine and Agnes are martyrs, killed for their desire to exist as nuns and not wives of rich men.  (DLN)

 

Fried, Hédi. 2021.  The Story of Bodri. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (Eerdmans’ Books for Young Readers) 32 pp.  $17.99.  ISBN 978-0-80-285565-7.  Illustrated by Stina Wirsén. Translated by Linda Schenck.  Text and illustrations first published in Sweden in 2019.

Bodri, the beloved guard dog of Hédi and her family, does not understand why he was abandoned.  Hédi and her younger sister, Livia, did not voluntarily leave Bodri, but were part of the round-up of Jews by Hitler’s soldiers who relocated the families to concentration camps during World War II.  Based on a true story, young readers, ages 6 – 10, may find the events disturbing, but as stated by the author, “We (Hédi and Livia) are here, and we go on telling everyone about what happened. So that it will never happen again” (unnumbered).  The watercolor, ink, and digital media convey the horror of the holocaust, the faithfulness of Bodri, and the hope of Hédi and Livia. (DLN)

 

Brown, Martin. 2019.  Even More Lesser Spotted Animals: More Brilliant Beasts You Never Knew You Needed To Know About. Scholastic, Inc. (David Fickling Books).  56 pp.  $18.99.  ISBN  978-1-33-834961-0. First Published in the United Kingdom in 2019.

Readers, ages 5 – 10, will be fascinated with the collection of lesser known, seldom seen, animals. Full page spreads of at least twenty – one (21) infrequently spotted animals include facts, and short descriptions of each creature.  The animals include the Dingiso, Forest Musk Deer, Yellow-Throated Marten, and the Altai Argali. The pictures of each animal with a map of its location are fascinating, for example the Maned Wolf is accurately depicted as a dog with exceptionally long legs.  A glossary complements the information about each of the animals, such as “Zoolesserspottedology: a word created by Brown meaning the study of unfamiliar animals” (p. 53).(DLN)

 

Rowan-Zoch. 2021. I’m A Hare, So There! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH Books for Young Readers).  32 pp.  $17.99.  ISBN 978-0-35-812506-8.

Hare makes it perfectly clear it is not a rabbit, and the ground squirrel shares it is not a chipmunk. However, Hare does share that it is related to all rabbits, just as the ground squirrel is related to chipmunks.  Each animal is outlined with bold black lines helping readers identify each creature and the habitat—a desert. Hare defeats a predator attacking it, but also incorrectly states it is a jackal when it is actually a coyote.  Other similar animals are shared in endnotes, as well as Sonoran Desert creatures included throughout Hare’s journey.  (DLN)

 

Lang, Heidi & Bartkowski, Kati. 2019.  A Pinch of Phoenix: Final Book in The Mystic Cooking Chronicles.  Simon & Schuster (Aladdin).  384 pp.  $17.99.  ISBN  978-1-53-443709-8. Also available in paperback (2020).

Laila Loganberry, thirteen, is the youngest Master Chef to graduate from Chef Academy in 300 years.  In this final book in the series, she is caught between two forces, the elves and the scientists.  She is trusted by both the scientists and the elves, but faces multiple obstacles as the tensions among her friends escalates. Readers, ages 12 and up, may want to refresh their memories about the rise of the Phoenix in Egyptian or Greek mythology before reading A Pinch of Phoenix. One endearing feature is the appeal to both male and female readers because one of the dominant characters is Laila’s friend, Greg.   (DLN)

 

 

O’Hearn, Kate. 2020.  Titans: The Missing (Book 2 of 3). Simon & Schuster (Aladdin).  464 pp.  $18.99.  ISBN  978-153441707-6.

If readers, ages 8 – 12, have not read Book 1 of the series, Titans, they will still be able to follow the plot and conflicts in The Missing.  However, after finishing the latter, young adults may want to read the first book before the last title in the series is published.  A combination of mythology and mystery create an exciting, fast-paced fantasy set in multiple worlds, including Earth.  Good v. evil is dominant as Astraea, Zephyr and their team, including the snakes, struggle to save family, friends, and the universe. (DLN)

 

Rivera, Kaela.  2021.  Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls.  HarperCollins. 352 pp. $16.99.  ISBN  978-0-06-294755-0.           

Humans, criaturas, brujas, and brujos interact as Cece Rios rescues her sister, Juana, from El Sombrerón, the Bride Stealer, the Undying, and guardian of Devil Alley’s gate (p. 308).  With the help of Coyote, Lion, Kit, and Ocelot, Cece successfully brings her sister home (in a remote town called, Tierra del Sol), from captivity.  However, nefarious forces, including the fears and anger of the townspeople, are obstacles Cece must overcome before rescuing Juana.  Folklore, fantasy, and realism will captivate readers, ages 8 – 13. (DLN)

 

Henkes, Kevin.  2021.  Billy Miller Makes A Wish. HarperCollins (Greenwillow Books).  192pp. $16.99.  ISBN 978-0-06-304279-7.

On his 8th birthday, Billy Miller wished “something exciting would happen” (p.1).  However, he begins to regret his wish when paramedics carry a neighbor out of his house on a stretcher into an ambulance.  While Billy initially dreads the summer vacation before he begins 3rd grade, he eventually discovers life to be quite interesting.  He also assumes an enormous amount of responsibility for an eight-year-old, including helping his mother clean the basement while his dad is out-of-town at an art camp, and caring for his younger sister.  Readers, ages 7 – 10 may enjoy following Billy through his summer as he acquires new skills and perspectives on life.  Youngsters may also want to read the first book in the series, The Year of Billy Miller (2013).  (DLN)

 

Gravel, Elise. 2020.  Arlo & Pips: King of the Birds.  HarperCollins (Harper Alley).  64 pp. $12.99.  ISBN  978-0-06-298221-6.  

The graphic book will appeal to curious young readers, ages 3 – 7, with a sense of humor.  Arlo, a crow, believes he is the greatest, wisest, most talented bird in the world.  Pip, however, reminds Arlo about the unique features of other birds, e.g., the peacock, flamingo, blue jay, the bird of paradise, and the toucan are much prettier than the crow.  The two birds have multiple adventures in The Big City and the Beach.  However, since Arlo is unfamiliar with large cities, Pips, a small yellow bird, shows him around. As they explore the city, Pips becomes more acquainted with Arlo’s habits, such as his “love” of shiny objects. Occasional facts share unique characteristics of crows, such as “Crows can craft and use tools to access hard-to-reach food” (p. 57). Also, “Crows like to offer little things to people they like” (p. 61). (DLN)

 

Fernihough, Jo. 2021.  The Crow and the Peacock. Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers). 32 pp. $17.99.  ISBN 978-0-80-285568-8.  First Published by Oxford University Press, Oxford UK (2020).

One day crow believes he must seek the “happiest bird in the word.” Crow approached a dove, then a Nightingale, then a Rooster, then a Swan, and finally a Peacock.  Each bird believes another is happier because of specific characteristics, Dove covets Nightingale’s singing.  Nightingale values Rooster’s loud, morning call to the world.  Rooster does not like his dusty farm and covets the cool river of Swan, who thinks Peacock is the most beautiful and happiest bird in the world. However, Peacock is extremely sad because the Emperor put the bird in a cage.  Peacock exclaims Crow must be “the happiest bird alive” because he is free.  Crow returns to his habitat, content with his life; his appearance and shrill voice.  He also has a new goal – to share his happiness with others, and readers, ages 3 – 8, will appreciate his first accomplishment as a self-assured, content Crow with a sense of purpose.  Multiple colors, black, green, blues, red, yellow, pink, orange, white, and purple augment Crow’s quest to find the happiest bird in the world. (DLN)

 

Yang, Kao Kalia. 2021.  Yang Warriors. University of Minnesota Press.  40 pp.  $16.95 (hardcover).  ISBN  978-1-51-790798-3.  Illustrations by Billy Thao.

Courageous and resolute children practice drills for mental battles, but the seven male and two female cousins also embark on a secret dangerous mission. The youngsters, living in the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp (1986) venture beyond the guarded fence to forage for much needed vegetables, specifically, morning glory. The cousins were not only warriors, but also heroes who faced the dire consequences of disobeying the rules of leaving Ban Vinai without permission from the authorities.  The illustrations, first created by hand using graphite pencil drawings, were then digitally rendered, adding color and texture, resembling “traditional” Hmong art apparent in the textiles communicating Hmong culture and history. (DLN)

 

Faruqi, Reem. 2021. Unsettled. HarperCollins (Harper). 352 pp.  $16.99.  ISBN 978-0-06-304470-8.  Illustrations by Soumbal Qureshi. 

Nurah, her older brother Owais, and their parents immigrate to Peachtree City, Georgia from Karachi, Pakistan. Nurah’s experiences and feelings are conveyed through verse in nine parts: Uprooting, Replanting, Water, Planting Seeds, Sprouting, Rot, Budding, Wilting, and Flowering.  Each part represents the emotions and activities of settling into a new culture while maintaining one’s identity from life in Pakistan.  Multiple incidents propel each part of Nurah’s relocation saga, including moving into a new home, starting school, making friends, swim meets, sibling jealousy, violence, racism, Islamophobia, loss due to an anembryonic pregnancy.  One of the more poignant incidents is the violence consequence of Nurah’s silence after she overhears a conversation among two boys with “football-player bodies'  (p. 235), and a girl wearing pink lipstick.    Nurah also experiences hope and optimism, especially when solving math problems or creating art, “In math there’s only one correct answer which I like, but in art there is no wrong answer which I love” (p. 219).  Hope is also evident, such as when Owais recovers from his bruises and begins to swim again.  Nurah’s final art portfolio for school includes a self-portrait, which reflects her confidence, determination, resolve and acceptance of herself. (DLN)

 

Riordan, Rick. 2020.  The Trials of Apollo Camp Jupiter Classified (An Official Rick Riordan Companion Book):  A Probatio’s Journal. Disney Book Group (Disney-Hyperion).  176 pp.  $10.99.  ISBN 978-1-36-802405-1. Illustrations by Stefanie Masciandaro.  Map illustrations by John S. Dykes.

Claudia, daughter of Mercury, the god of thieves and tricksters, is the Fourth Cohort’s newest probatio at Camp Jupiter.  After she settles into her barracks, strange, unusual and potentially dangerous events happen, such as hundreds of dead rats floating in the swimming pool (p. 67).  Also, ambrosia and nectar used for healing are missing from the infirmary (p.84).  Claudia overhears a conversation blaming her for the maleficence in the camp, the oatmeal, the dead rats, the faulty poop sacks, the malfunctioning crossbows, and the Colosseum flood (p. 89, 90). With the help of her friends, Blaise, demigod son of Vulcan, and Janice, daughter of Janus, the two-faced of choices, Claudia is determined to prove her innocence. Readers, ages 8 and older interested in mythology or familiar with the Trials of Apollo will want to add this journal to their bookshelves. (DLN)

 

Goldstein, Meredith. 2021. Things That Grow.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH Books for Young Readers).  336 pp.  $17.99.  ISBN  978-1-32-877010-3.

Lori’s beloved Grandma Sheryl died with directions to be cremated with the cremains “placed near things that grow” (p. 55).  Grandma Sheryl also listed favorite gardens, the Arnold Arboretum, Tapestry Garden, The Mount (Edith Wharton’s home), and Brayton House in Rhode Island where she wanted her cremains scattered.  Lori, age 17, along with her best friend, Chris, and Uncle Seth, embark on road trips to scatter Grandma Sheryl’s cremains, occasionally joined by Lori’s mother, Becca, and Bill, Becca’s most recent beau.  Multiple conflicts and themes propel the plot, including person v. self, person v. person, person v. society; love, loss, grieving, growing, friendship, reconciliation, and hope.  Also, of interest to readers, ages 12 and older, are the relationships and cultural conflicts, including the cremation of Grandma Sheryl, who is Jewish. (DLN)

 

Ketchum, Liza, Martin, Jacqueline Briggs, and Root, Phyllis.  2021.  Begin with a Bee.  University of Minnesota Press.  40 pp.  $17.95.  ISBN  978-1-51-790804-1.  Illustrations by Claudia McGehee.  Jacket design by Brian Donahue/Bedesign Inc. 

Readers, ages 3 and older, can follow the life cycle of a queen in an endangered rusty-patched bumble bee colony.  The scratchboard illustrations augment the stages in the life-cycle as the queen emerges from her underground winter home in the ground.  She eats, nests underground, lays, seals, and sits on the eggs until they hatch as white grubs. Eventually the larvae become worker bees, and the queen lays more eggs.  The explanation of the life cycle of the rusty-patched bumble bee is fascinating and the end notes add more information about the species and ideas for readers interested in contributing to the bees’ survival.  Readers may also want to try creating scratchboard illustrations using their crayons and an etching tool.  (DLN)

 

Ray, Mary Lyn. 2021. Vroom, Vroom! Simon & Schuster (Beach Lane Books). 40 pp.  $17.99. ISBN  978-1-48-144933-5.  Illustrated by Julien Chung.

According to notes on the book jacket “Once, on a long train trip from Chicago to Boston, she (Mary Lyn Ray) watched a small boy drive his small car around the edge of his seat for hours… and this story began.”  Bold colors contribute to the story-line of a young boy “driving” his toy car.  He holds the wheel, turns the key, and the car surges, vrooms, forward. The car honks at other vehicles, but always follows the rules of the road. Bold colors, black, green, white, gray, yellow, red, accentuate the rules of the road, maintenance, and the movement of the car. However, one may wish editors had changed “After it (the car) drives fast,” (unnumbered), to something discouraging speed. (DLN)

 

Benton, Jim. 2021.  Jop and Blip Wanna Know Can You Hear a Penguin Fart on Mars?: And Other Excellent Questions. HarperCollins (HarperAlley). 96pp.  $12.99. ISBN  978-0-06-297292-7.  “Drawn with a flair pen on chap paper and colored in Photoshop” unnumbered.  Typography by Jim Benton and Erica De Chavez.

Curious robots, Jop and Blip, investigate unusual questions applying their unique problem-solving skills with a great amount of humor.  Questions include, “Could we hear a penguin fart on Mars?” and “Hey, why do those two words (night and knight) sound exactly the same?” (unnumbered).  Readers, ages 5 – 10, will appreciate the unique problem-solving skills of the robots.  They will also find the backstory of the origins of a sandwich intriguing.  Graphic-style illustrations enhance the problem-solving processes and the accompanying humor. (DLN)

 

Ruzzier, Sergio. 2021.  Fish and Sun (I Can Read Comics Level 1). HarperCollins (HarperAlley).  48 pp.  $16.99.  ISBN  978-0-06-307664-8.  

Readers, ages 3 – 8 will appreciate the developing friendship between fish and sun, and also the introduction to graphic novels.  According to the publisher “I Can Read Comics introduced children to the world of graphic novel storytelling and encourages visual literacy in emerging readers” (unnumbered).  Level 1 readers are designed for “shared reading,” with minimal text and large graphics in a single panel.  Word balloons present the dialogue, thought, whisper or emotions; and their tails point to the speaker.  Directions about how to “read” graphic novels are extremely informative. (DLN)

 

Sobel, June. 2021.  Tow Truck Joe Makes a Splash. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH for Young Readers).  40 pp.  $12.99.  ISBN 978-0-35-806366-7.  Illustrated by Patrick Corrigan.  Jacket and title page lettering created by José Bernabé. 

When Motor City’s largest truck is stuck in a car wash, friends, including Patch the Pup, work together to push and pull the semi truck out.  The rhyming text, such as “Water spreads into a pool. Cars and trucks are finally cool!” (unnumbered).  Children, ages 3 – 8, fond of vehicles  will enjoy identifying the different cars and trucks, including Tow Truck Joe.  Youngsters may also recognize the bold colors of the vehicles and landscape, such as red, blue, yellow, orange, pink, green, brown, black, and white.  Also, at least one feature of a car wash is identified -- soap sprayers. (DLN)

 

Kuefler, Joseph. 2021. Pillow Places. HarperCollins (Balzer & Bray).  32 pp.  $18.99.  ISBN  978-0-06-295673-6.

Caregivers may not want to share this with youngsters, ages, 3 – 7, about two young children on a sleep-over using their imaginations to build a spaceship, lava, steps, a castle, jousting match, pirate ship, and two beds, with pillows because they are removed from the home couches and chairs.  Encouraging youngsters to imagine and create is important, but the same theme could have been conveyed using blankets v. pillows (DLN).

 

 

Warga, Jasmine. 2021.  The Shape of Thunder. HarperCollins (Balzer + Bray).  288 pp.  $16.99.  ISBN 978-0-06-295667-5.

Quinn and Cora were once best friends, but then Parker, Quinn’s brother, kills Mabel, Cora’s older sister, and three other people.  The shooting is not an accident, but intentional.  Readers, ages 8 – 14, can follow the lives of Quinn and Cora as they share their lives, feelings, and dreams in alternate voices.  Quinn and Cora believe they can travel back in time to recreate the hours before the fatal shooting of Mabel (14), Jessica, Ogden, and Mrs. Isabelle, if they can only find the wormhole in the giant oak tree.  Multiple themes resonate, the values of friends and family, death, and the devastating potential effects of untreated mental health concerns.  Conflicts among friends and family propel the sequence of events as Quinn and Cora grapple with the deaths of their siblings. (DLN)

 

Kessler, Liz. 2021.  When the World was Ours. Simon & Schuster (Aladdin). 352 pp. $18.99.  ISBN  978-1-53-449965-2.  Jacket illustration by Matt Saunders. 

Readers, ages 9 and older, are introduced to three friends, Leo, Elsa, and Max during Leo’s 9 year-old-birthday party.  The three children are riding the Vienna’s Ferris wheel in 1936 and believe the world, including their city, the Ferris wheel carriage, and their friendship was all they needed.  However, readers familiar with the events in Europe preceding and during World War II, will suspect the impending collapse of the friendship among two Jewish children and Max.  Events from the alternate voices of the friends share three different perspectives of their lives and the war.  The nefarious nature of the war is evident, as is hope for a better future. (DLN)

 

Andersen, Hans Christian. 2020. Bedtime Classics: The Princess and the Pea. Penguin Random House LLC (Viking Books for Young Readers).  18 pp. $7.99 (Board Book).  ISBN 978-0-59-311552-7.  Based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen.  Illustrations by Carly Gledhill.  Cover Design by Maggie Edkins. Part of Penguin Bedtime Classics (7 books).

Readers, ages 0 – 2,  are introduced to a prince searching for a princess to marry. However, young women from diverse backgrounds cannot prove they are “real princesses” and they do not meet the prince’s criteria for a wife, so he returns home to the palace.  However, one night during a violent thunderstorm a young woman knocks on the door of the palace claiming to be a princess.  Before bedtime, the queen decides to test the princess and places a pea underneath several mattresses and feather bed, knowing only a real princess will be able to feel the pea (and subsequently not sleep).  Readers will appreciate the diversity of the prince, queen, and other residents of the palace: none are white.  Also, the majority of the princesses competing for the prince’s affection are not white and the princess who knocked on the palace door is neither white nor black. (DLN)

 

Sturgell, Todd.  2021.  Except Antarctica!  Sourcebooks. 40 pp.  $17.99.  ISBN 978-1-72-823326-0.  

Turtles, owls, dung beetles, snakes, mice, bees, and frogs live on every continent except Antarctica because the animals cannot survive the cold.  However, a turtle, owl, dung beetle, snake, mouse, bee and frog travel to Antarctica to prove they can survive.  Of course, they cannot, but they try.  The cartoon-like illustrations, created using pen and ink, then colored in Photoshop, capture the ridiculous journey of the animals to Antarctica, and their return to other continents.  Thanks to the illustrations children, ages 4 – 8, will comprehend the nature of the move to Antarctica. End notes include facts about turtles, owls, dung beetles, snakes, mice, bees, frogs, bats, hawks, spiders, lizards, and pigeons – animals living on every continent except Antarctica.  Information about emperor penguins, animals of Antarctica, and the continent itself, including a map of research stations, is also included in the end notes. (DLN)

 

Stewart, Melissa. 2021.  Fourteen Monkeys: A RainForest Rhyme.  Simon & Schuster (Beach Lane Books).  32pp.  $17.99.  ISBN 978-1-53-446039-3.  Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. 

Cut-and-torn paper collages complement the rhyming verse about the monkeys living in Manú, a national park in Peru.  The monkeys are red howlers, Gray’s bald-faced sakis, white-fronted capuchins, brown capuchins, pygmy marmosets, gray woolly monkeys, Goeldi’s monkeys, black-capped squirrel monkeys, emperor tamarins, saddleback tamarins, black-headed night monkeys, dusky titis, and brown titis. Rhymes, such as “As the sun begins to rise, creatures wake to howler cries.” (unnumbered), introduce each monkey and its location in the forest.  Pronunciation guides are occasionally included, such as “sakis (SAH-kees), and Goeldi’s (GEL-deez” (unnumbered).  End notes include an illustration of the forest (floor, understory, canopy, and emergent layer), and the location of all fourteen monkeys.  A map of Peru, additional scientific information about each monkey, references, and suggestions for further reading also complement the Manú rainforest rhyme of fourteen monkeys. (DLN)

 

Jenkins, Steve and Page, Robin. 2021. The Shark Book. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books).  40 pp.  $17.99.  ISBN  978-1-32-856949-3.  Illustrations by Steve Jenkins.

Readers, ages 5 and older, will thoroughly enjoy the vivid, often shocking, facts presented about numerous sharks, such as the whale shark – the largest fish in the world, and the goblin shark.  Torn and cut-paper collages define the realistic features of each shark, for example, the blue shark is sleek with a large tail, a darker back than its belly, a lateral line, dermal denticles, fins, gills, facial organs, and rows of teeth. Some of the information about sharks may surprise readers regardless of their age.  For example, shark mothers and fathers ignore their pups, in fact, the parents often eat their offspring.  Also, some sharks lay eggs v. experiencing live births.  End notes include a table listing data about 42 different sharks, including their conservation status.  Those readers interested in reading more information about sharks will appreciate the bibliography. (DLN)

 

Schertle, Alice. 2021. Time For School, Little Blue Truck.  (Part of 9 Little Blue Truck Books).  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books).  32 pp.  $18.99.  ISBN  978-0-35-841224-3.  Illustrated in the style of Jill McElmurry by John Joseph.  Jacket design by Phil Caminiti.

Readers ages, 2 – 5, will enjoy the rhyming text, colors, animals, identifiable objects, and satisfying conclusion.  Rhyming text, such as “Through the woods—what a bumpy ride! Then… there was the road on the other side” (unnumbered), will appeal to young readers.  Readers will eventually be able to identify the bright, bold colors of blue, green, yellow, brown, red, orange, black, and white. Animals are recognizably a Duck, Goat, Horse, Lamb, Toad, Owl, and Pig.  Recognition is enhanced by onomatopoeic sounds of each animal, except Toad.  Once introduced, dominant objects, such as the yellow school bus and Blue Truck, will become more familiar with each reading.  The conclusion reinforces the values or themes of friendship and determination. (DLN)

 

George, Kallie. 2020. Wings of Olympus: The Colt of the Clouds. HarperCollins (Harper).  256 pp.  $16.99.  ISBN 978-0-06-274154-7.

Hippolyta, or Pippa, and her horse, Zephyr, or Zeph, live among the mortals after they were exiled from Mount Olympus for cheating the morning of the Winged Horse Race. Zephyr, once a winged horse, and Pippa live with the family of her friend Bas on his large farm with pastures, stables, and horses – a sign of wealth.  However, when Pippa finds a winged colt, and salt water falls on the earth, she knows she must return the horse to Mount Olympus.  The journey is complex with multiple conflicts and challenges, including ending the war among the gods, accepting a new friend, Hero, and rescuing the winged horses of Olympus.  Aficionados of gods and goddesses, winged horses, and other characteristics of Greek mythology, will be captivated by Pippa’s journey to free the gods and save the winged horses. (DLN)

 

Young, Brian. 2021. Healer of the Water Monster.  HarperCollins (Heartdrum).  368 pp. $16.99.  ISBN  978-0-06-299040-2. Jacket art by Shonto Begay.

Eleven-year-old Nathan decides to spend the summer with his grandmother on Diné Homelands (the Navajo Reservation), 45 minutes north of Church Rock, over 5 hours from his home in Phoenix.  His grandmother’s mobile (summer) home is vastly different from his apartment in Phoenix because it is without running water, electricity or mobile phone reception.  However, Nathan adjusts because he is determined to complete a summer research project comparing the growth of and water consumption of heirloom corn seeds and store-bought kernels.  Readers, ages 8 and older, will be captivated by Nathan’s interactions with his grandmother (a Navajo language teacher), the Holy Beings, and his Uncle Jet.  The journey to retrieve medicine from the Mother Water Monster in the Third World is fascinating.  According to the author’s note, the primary relationship is “between Nathan and Pond (the Water Monster), and metaphorically about the relationship between humans and the forces that control weather elements” (p. 354).  Navajo readers, and others, are exposed to the language, culture, including the Holy Beings, and interactions among one Navajo family.  Each chapter is represented in Navajo and English, celebrating and informing readers about each language. The glossary includes information about family relationships, numbers, words and phrases, and sentences.  Also, of value are the acknowledgements, author’s note, and comments by Cynthia Leitich Smith, author and co-curator of Heart Drum. (DLN)

 

Nielsen, Jennifer A. 2021. Rescue. Scholastic Inc. (Scholastic Press).  400 pp. $17.99.  ISBN 978-1-33-862099-3.  Map by Jim McMahon (2021).

Readers, ages 8 – 12, fond of historical fiction, especially literature focusing on Nazi Germany, the occupation of France, and the British Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.), will thoroughly enjoy the flight of Meg Kenyon from her grandmother’s home in occupied France to Switzerland.

Twelve-year-old Meg is inspiring as she follows the codes of a British spy (a SOE) and her father to flee The Herche in occupied France with three companions escaping Nazi Germany.  Originally Captain Stewart, the British spy, planned to lead the three Germans, perceived to be a family, to neutral Spain, but he could not because of injuries.  He convinces Meg to lead the family to safety and also to save her father, a Nazi prisoner.  Meg is bold, brave, assertive, bright, wise, and determined to save her father.  To do this, she must lead the three refugees from Germany away from danger.  Deciphering the codes left behind by her father and Captain Stewart, is crucial to the survival of the foursome. Based on the information in one of the codes, Meg alters the destination from Spain to Switzerland, also a neutral country. Thanks to Liesel, the “mother” of the German family, the Nazi’s follow Meg and her companions as they trek through the countryside to Switzerland.  The plot is captivating with dominating themes including love, hate, loss, deception, perseverance, critical thinking, survival, friendship, and hope. (DLN)

 

Jolley, Dan. 2021.  Warriors Winds of Change: Graphic Novel.  HarperCollins (HarperAlley).  224 pp.  $18.39.  ISBN 978-0-06-304324-4.  Created by Erin Hunter.  Art by James L. Barry.  Book 1 of 15.

The four warrior clans, WindClan, RiverClan, ThunderClan, and ShadowClan, are forced to leave their homes and settle in new territory around the lake.  Tallstar, leader of the WindClan is failing, and appoints a new leader before he dies.  Unfortunately, the new leader is not his former second in command, his deputy, Mudclaw, but Onewhisker, another warrior.  Times are changing, and Tallstar realizes a change in the approach to leadership is critical.  Onewhisker believes in peace and friendship while Mudclaw is a more aggressive warrior and believes in control and dominance.  Readers, ages 8 – 12 will be captivated by the graphics and the plot with multiple conflicts surrounding themes such as loyalty, friendship, and perseverance.  (DLN)

 

Disney Press. 2021. Disney Classic Storybook Collection. Disney Books. Part of Storybook Collections (10 books). 304 pp.  $17.99.  ISBN 978-1-36-806579-5.  Illustrations by the Disney Storybook Art Team.

The collection includes eighteen (18) short stories based on familiar and popular Disney characters, Lilo & Stitch, Alice in Wonderland, 101 Dalmatians, the Lion King, Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Dumbo, Robin Hood, Pinocchio, Bambi, the Aristocats, Mowgli, and Merlin with Wart, Archimedes, and Mama Rabbit. Youngsters, ages 3 – 8, will appreciate the plots, characters, settings, and the gentle, kind resolutions of all conflicts, e.g. Stitch realizing a family with unconditional love is better than winning a dog show (The Dog Show). (DLN)

 

 

Willems, Mo. 2021.  Doodling 101: A Silly Symposium. Hyperion Books for Children. 144 pp. $19.99 (paper).  ISBN 978-1-36-807501-5.  

Prompts by the Doodle Poodles, and statements by Professor Mo, encourage children, ages 3 and older to draw, scribble, or “doodle.”  Directions for the activities in the fifteen (15) studios are explicit, straightforward, thorough, yet brief, something children and adults will appreciate.  For example, the warm-up for studio 01 directs artists to “use one of your Doodle Tools to draw directly over the 01 on the next page. Try rotating the page for different doodle ideas” (p. 10)!  Doodle Tools are explained before the Studios begin, for example a scissors icon means the activity includes cutting; and thankfully the description continues with: “you’ll need a pair of scissors and a grown-up or an official scissor-user to help with cutting” (p. 7).  The doodle pages include a unique feature; all are perforated.  This means children, with help, can remove their doodles from the book to display on a wall or refrigerator, or send to friends, neighbors, and relatives as unique pieces of art.  (DLN) 

 

Cronin, Doreen. 2021. The Chicken Squad: The Chicken House (Ready To Read Level Two).  Simon & Schuster (Simon Spotlight).  ISBN  978-1-53-448706-2.  Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin.

Ready To Read Level Two books include “longer sentences, simple chapters, and high-interest vocabulary words” (book jacket).  Readers are exposed to sentences, such as “This is the Chicken Squad house” (unnumbered). The style consists of one “simple” chapter, and high-interest words include “bathtub, massages, and spacious” (unnumbered).  Siblings Sugar, Dirt, Sweetie, and Poppy, live with their mother in a small, yellow, triangle-shaped chicken house.  It is crowded, but the chickens know J.J., a dog lives in a larger square house with a bathtub (water dish), a massage table (a large dog bone), and a large bed. When Sugar explores the dog house, she is bored until she convinces her siblings to join her, leaving their chicken house empty.  When Moosh cannot find her children, she recruits J. J. to help locate the four chickens.  Young readers, ages 4 – 8, will find the resolution to the mysterious disappearance of the chickens comforting. (DLN)

 

Bauer, Marion Dane. 2021.  Our Universe: Mars (Ready To Read Level One). Simon & Schuster (Simon Spotlight). 32 pp.  $17.99.  ISBN  978-1-53-448646-1.  Illustrated by John Wallace. 

Characteristics of Level One books include “easy sight words and words to sound out, a simple plot and dialogue, and familiar topics and themes” (book jacket).  Dolch Sight Words include vocabulary from the pre-primer, primer, and advanced levels, such as, it, you, the, in, but, with, be, and would.  The preface includes a glossary of terms with pronunciation guides, such as astronaut, gravity, and poisonous; and endnotes provide interesting facts related to Mars.  However, young readers, ages 4 – 8, will need help pronouncing the words in the glossary, and comprehending the information in the “Interesting Facts” (p. 32).  The illustrations are whimsical, but may mislead children about concepts, such as the presentation of “aliens;” children in costumes. (DLN)

 

Faruqi, Reem. 2021.  I Can Help. Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers). 44 pp.  $17.99.  ISBN 978-0-80-285504-6.  Illustrated by Mikela Prevost.

Readers, ages 3 – 9, may recognize the kindness, the teasing, followed by embarrassment, unkindness and then the regret of Zahra in her behavior towards Kyle, a classmate. Thankfully, when Zahra moves to a different school, she is resolved to be kind and support those who need help.  Emotions and behaviors are conveyed through the narrative and the illustrations; happy colorful faces when the children, especially Zahra, are singing, working together and sharing.  However, the faces change from smiles to smug frowns when Zahra listens to the bullies and changes from a kind helper to a nasty, angry, student. The theme of kindness resonates along with the negative effect of mean, cruel behavior.  Endnotes are informative and clarify the perspectives and experiences of the author and illustrator. (DLN)

 

Gratz, Alan. 2021. Ground Zero: A Novel of 9/11. Scholastic Inc. (Scholastic Press).  336 pp. $17.99.  ISBN  978-1-33-824575-2.

Alternate voices of two young adults, Brandon from New York City, and Reshmina, from Afghanistan share different narratives surrounding the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001 and life during a war-torn Afghanistan in 2019.  Brandon is suspended from school and his father, a single parent, takes his son to work with him on September 11 on the 107th floor of the North Tower because the father cannot afford to stay home with his young son. The tragic events of 9/11 in New York City will influence Brandon for the rest of his life.   Reshmina, growing up during the warring forces in Afghanistan, struggles to understand the violence in her country, including the presence of the American forces.  The narratives will captivate readers, ages 8 – 12, who struggle to understand the terror of 9/11 and the 20 -year war in Afghanistan.  Even though US American forces withdrew from Afghanistan on 31 August 2021, readers, ages 8 – 12, should read about the fictional, albeit realistic, portrayal of the two tragedies, the terror of 9/11 and the horror of war. End notes include maps of The World Trade Center and Afghanistan, an author’s note, a description of the Center, the attacks, the terrorists, the war, and the (current) events up to May 2020. (DLN) 

 

Chambers, Veronica & Harlan, Jennifer.  2021. Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Versify). 160 pp. $21.99.  ISBN  978-0-35-857341-8.

The development, strength, and significance of the Black Lives Matter movement is shared through black & white and color photographs, informative text with multiple quotes.  Readers of all ages will appreciate the photographs conveying the realistic events of the movement, for example the May 31 picture of a demonstration in New York City. The information is presented with an introduction, pictures of the protests, ten (10) chapters, further reading, acknowledgments, photo credits, selected bibliography, and an index.  Chapter 1 introduces the “three girls who wanted to make the world better” (unnumbered), Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi, and Patrisse Cullors, founders of the Black Lives Matter movement.  Notable quotes include “We have to leverage every single tool we have to get we free” by Brittany Packnett Cunningham (p. 53); and “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being first and foremost” by Malcom X (p. 79).  The significance of the protests via the activists, organizers, marches, rallies, speeches, demonstrations, is evident in the history of the Black Lives Matter movement. (DLN)

 

Brown, Don. 2021.  In the Shadow of the Fallen Towers: The Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months, and Years after the 9/11 Attacks. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Etch). 128 pp. $19.99.  ISBN 978-0-35-822357-3.

The dark graphics reflect the fear, horror, terror and consequences of the 9/11 attack on The World Trade Center in New York City, September 11, 2001.  Speech bubbles accurately convey the fear and anxiety of the people affected by the fall of the Twin Towers, and the subsequent search for Osama bin Laden and warring forces in Afghanistan. Informative panels explain the dire graphics illustrating the collapse of the towers, e.g, “In Afghanistan, about twenty-five hundred American special forces, rangers, marines, and mountain troops are fighting the Taliban” (p. 92).  Afterword, statistics, source notes, and bibliography contribute to the credibility of the horror and aftermath  of 9/11.  (DLN)

 

 

Kelly, Erin Entrada. 2021. Maybe, Maybe Marisol Rainey. HarperCollins (Greenwillow Books). 160pp. $16.99. ISBN 987-0-02-297042-8. Book Design by Sylvie Le Floc’h.

 

    According to Marisol Rainey’s best friend, Jada, Peppina the tree is “the best tree ever” (p.4). Nearly everyone in Marisol’s life has climbed Peppina and marveled at the glorious view of the neighborhood from the top, but not Marisol. She's not ready yet. Jada and Marisol find many other fun things to do, like biking around the neighborhood and writing their own movie scripts. Nearly every day though, Marisol approaches Peppina in an attempt to climb. 

    Detailed illustrations on the pages assist readers, ages 8-12, in seeing Marisol’s world the way she does. Themes of friendship, persistence, and creativity are expressed through Marisol’s relationship with Jada, her attempts to climb Peppina, and her personification of inanimate objects such as Peppina. Recommended for emerging readers. (AHJ)

 

 

Agosin, Marjorie. 2020. The Maps of Memory.  Simon & Schuster (A Caitlyn Dlouhy Atheneum Books for Young Readers) 368pp. $18.99. ISBN 978-1-48-146901-2. Illustrated by Lee White.

After the dictatorship in Chile, Celeste Marconi was sent by her parents to seek asylum with her aunt in Maine. She returns to her home in Chile and finds out many people were kidnapped, tortured, and in some cases, killed for standing up against the dictator. Through her journey to make sense of the dictatorship, readers are exposed to themes of perseverance and taking action. Celeste creates and implements actionable programs to help not only herself but the entire island cope with the loss of so many. Illustrations throughout the chapters help the reader comprehend what they are reading. Recommended for readers 8-12 who may need guidance after difficult situations. (AHJ)

 

Goffney, Joya. 2021. Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry. HarperCollins (HarperTeen). 368pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-302479-3. 

    Quinn writes everything down in her notebook in the form of lists, it is her most prized possession. Therefore, when it goes missing, panic ensues. Especially after a blackmailer publicizes her list of things to do before the end of high school. Quinn completes several tasks at her blackmailer's request with the help of Carter Bennett, a cute boy from school. 

    Readers are exposed to themes of owning up to your mistakes, as Quinn has to admit to everyone, including her family, that she didn’t get accepted to Columbia. There are also themes of teamwork, as Quinn and Carter, along with a few other friends, complete the blackmailer’s requests. Finally, readers ages 13-18 will recognize the difficulty of  evaluating friendships, as Quinn struggles with her own friends. (AHJ)

 

Donwerth-Chikamatsu, Annie. 2020. Beyond Me. Simon & Schuster (Caitlyn Dlouhy Atheneum Books for Young Readers). 320pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4814-3789-9.  Interior Book Design by Irene Metaxatos.

    After a severe earthquake hit Japan, Maya and the rest of the country measured time by aftershocks. Although her home and family are not severely affected by the earthquake, Maya feels the urge to help others but doesn’t have the capability to act on those urges. Through some research, her mother stumbles upon a paper crane project that Maya participates in. The project helps her process some of her emotions toward the earthquake. Readers, ages 8-11, may relate to Maya as she struggles to comprehend the disaster. (AHJ)

 

Grehan, Meg. 2021. The Deepest Breath.  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 192pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-35-835475-8. Originally published by Little Island Books in 2019.

    Stevie is an 11 year old genius, and knows many things about morse code, the ocean, and much more. When she doesn’t know about something, she looks it up in books. However, the funny butterflies feeling she gets when she sees her friend Chloe is the one thing she can’t seem to figure out, even in a book. Through poetry, LGBT themes are explored in a way for young people to easily understand. Readers ages 8-13 may benefit from being exposed to the LGBT community in a different way. (AHJ)

 

Ansari, Rebecca. 2021. The In-Between. HarperCollins (Waldon Pond Press). 320pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-291609-9.  

    Cooper feels lost after he and his sister Jess’s father left their family. He is also creeped out by the snobby rich girl who moved in across the street, but won’t say anything to them. When Jess finds a series of deadly events tied to the logo on the girls’ jacket, Cooper and Jess work together in an attempt to solve the mysteries. Readers, ages 8- 12, who love solving mysteries may enjoy joining Cooper and Jess. Themes of teamwork, friendship, and coping after abandonment are addressed through their journey. (AHJ)

 

Cotterill, Samantha. 2019. Nope. Never. Not for Me! Penguin Random House LLC (Dial Books for Young Readers). 32pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-52-555344-1. Design by Mina Chung. 

    One young girl does not want to try new foods. They have funny textures, smells, and appearances. After a little coaxing from her mother, she tries some vegetables, and doesn't like it. Even though she does not like the veggies, her mother does not make her feel bad about it. Instead, she tells her that she is a “try-ceratops” (unnumbered). 

    Teachers of young children may use this girl’s journey trying new foods to help other youngsters investigate new foods or experiences for themselves. It is important to note the mother’s approach to trying new foods, which is allowing the child to develop their own feelings toward the food. Bright hues of green, red, and yellow stand out against the black and white illustrations. As part of the Little Senses series, readers with Sensory processing disorders, as well as all young readers may benefit from seeing representations of themselves in their reading. (AHJ)

 

Brill, Calista. 2018. Cat Wishes. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-54-461055-2. Pictures by Kenard Pak. 

    When a cat meets a snake in the woods, the snake offers the cat three wishes in exchange for letting them go. Cat says on three occasions, “no such thing as wishes, but if I had a wish I’d wish for...” (unnumbered) making a separate wish each time, and each wish is granted. Youngsters, ages 4-8, will enjoy the whimsical illustrations featuring hues of blue, orange, and green while being exposed to themes of friendship. (AHJ)

 

Lombardo, Constance. 2019. Everybody Says Meow. HarperCollins (Harper). 32pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-268988-7. 

    When it’s “that magical time when everybody says ‘Meow’” (unnumbered), all of the cats say ‘meow’. Other guests say their own things, such as “Woof”, “Ribbit”, and “Quack”. Youngsters are exposed to many animal noises while viewing captivating hues of pink, green, yellow, and blue. A subjectively silly read sure to hook youngsters. (AHJ)

 

Sullivan, Mary. 2021. Duck Duck Moose. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-35-831349-6.  

    A young girl asks Duck, Duck, and Moose for their help to find Goose. Using bright-colored, digitally drawn illustrations, youngsters will follow the four on their quest to find Goose. Using short, repeated phrases, readers, ages 2-8, are exposed to new words allowing them to expand their vocabulary. Onomonopia is utilized in the advancement of vocabulary. The prevalent themes of teamwork and perseverance will support children in learning social/emotional skills. (AHJ)

 

Barrett, Judi. 2018. Lots More Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing. Simon & Schuster (A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-48-148866-2. Drawn by Ron Barrett. 

    Readers young and old may enjoy this subjectively hilarious junction of animals and human clothing. Bright colored illustrations combined with a large font help readers and listeners alike see the possible issues with animals wearing clothing. For example, if a horse wears shoes, they may trip on the laces. Youngsters ages 3-5 will be exposed to new vocabulary and animals that may not be common in their life like Elk. (AHJ)

 

 

Bell, Cece. 2019. You Loves Eew! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 32pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-32-852611-3. Illustrations by Cece Bell.

    As Donkey tries to learn about homophones, bright colored illustrations and speech bubbles work together to further Yam’s explanation. While recommended for readers ages 4-7 by the publisher, many youngsters may not comprehend the homophones presented on the pages. For educational purposes, readers 7-12 may better understand the homonyms; however, young readers may benefit from the general exposure to words that sound the same but have different meanings.(AHJ)

 

 

 

Bauermeister, Alex. 2019. Hands to Heart Breathe and Bend with Animal Friends. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 32pp. $14.99. ISBN 978-1-32-855041-5. Illustrated by Flora Waycott. 

    Readers learning about self-regulation at any age may benefit from this mindfulness practice. Commonly known animals such as cats, cows, and dogs help demonstrate how to stretch out their bodies and regulate their breathing. Soft hues of blue, green, and orange create a relaxing environment for parents and educators alike to support the development of self-regulation skills. (AHJ)

 

 

 

Brown, Monica. 2021. Small Room, Big Dreams: The Journey of Julián and Joaquin Castro. HarperCollins (Quill Tree Books). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-298573-6. Illustrated by Mirelle Ortega.

 

Brown, Monica. 2021. Pequeña habitatión, Grandes Sueños: El Viaje De Julián y Joaquin Castro. HarperCollins (Quill Tree Books). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-308052-2. Illustrated by Mirelle Ortega.

     Readers of all ages can learn about the background of political figures, Julián and Joaquin Castro, including their personal and professional lives. Using hues of red and blue helps symbolize the brother’s connection and love of the United States of America. An overlying theme of determination is present as the brothers, their mother, and their grandmother continue to work through obstacles such as health and poverty. Youngsters of Hispanic-American descent will be able to see a representation of their own identities through the twin’s story. Available in both Spanish and English. (AHJ)

 

 

 

Walker, Anna. 2021. Hello, Jimmy! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-35-819358-6. 

    Jack spends some of his time at his dad’s house, making tacos and drinking milkshakes, but it’s also incredibly quiet. When Jack arrived home one day, his dad had brought home a parrot named Jimmy. Jack’s dad and Jimmy did a lot of talking, more talking than Jack and his dad had ever done. One night, when Jack left the window in his room open, Jimmy escaped. Jack went looking for Jimmy, and thought his dad only cared about finding Jimmy too, but later realizes the most important thing to Jack’s dad is Jack. White backgrounds allow bright hues of green, blue, and red to pop, drawing the reader’s attention to the important aspects of the story. Recommended to readers ages 3-7 as well as any young reader who may have parents who live in separate homes.  (AHJ)

 

 

VanHaeringen, Annemarie. 2014. How to Knit a Monster. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 32pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-32-884210-7. 

    Greta the Goat loves to knit. She knits lots of socks, but she wants to expand her abilities, so she starts knitting goats. Mrs. Sheep walks into Greta’s house and tells her that she is not as good of a knitter as Mrs. Sheep is, so Gretta begins to knit faster and more angrily and stops paying attention to what she is making. This ends up landing her in trouble, as her creations start to take life. Greta’s quick thinking and fast knitting save her and Mrs. Sheep. Young readers, ages 3-7, will be exposed to themes of creativity as Greta solves her problems with creative solutions and being the bigger person as Mrs. Sheep bullies her into thinking she is better than her. (AHJ)

 

Slack, Michael. 2020. Kitties on Dinosaurs. Penguin Random House LLC (Dial Books for Young Readers). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-59-310838-3. 

    Little kitties are good climbers; they have climbed cat trees and real trees and now it was time to climb the dinosaurs on Dinosaur Island (unnumbered). The kitties came prepared, with multiple plans to be able to climb the dinosaurs. Themes of determination and teamwork are clear as the kitties use their different ideas in order to complete their climbing task. Additionally, a theme of friendship can be seen through the Kitties, and eventually, the Dinosaurs. Bright colors and digitally painted photoshopped animals capture the attention of youngsters ages 2-7. (AHJ)

 

Dean, Kimberly and James Dean. 2021. Pete the Cat: Rocking Field Day. HarperCollins (Harper). 32pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-297407-5. Illustrated by James Dean. 

    Pete the Cat works with his team members, Callie, Grumpy Toad, and Gus, to win first place in the field day games. After losing the first few games, Pete gets frustrated but channels his feelings into winning the rest of the games. Pete and his team work very hard and tie for first place with another group. Emerging readers ages 4-8 are exposed to themes of competition, frustration, and teamwork through Pete and his team’s work to win Field Day. Bright colors illuminate primarily white pages to enhance youngsters’ interpretation of the text. (AHJ)

 

Asch, Frank. 2020. Moon Bear. Simon & Schuster (Aladdin). 32pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-48-147063-5. Originally Copyrighted by Frank Asch in 1978. 

    Bear loves the moon. When the moon starts to disappear, Bear gets worried and tries many things to save the moon. including feeding it honey, which the birds start eating. Bear believes he has saved the moon after putting the honey out to feed it, and it begins to grow again. Little does Bear know, the moon changes size all on its own. Youngsters may enjoy this tale of Bear and the moon while learning about the natural changes in the shape of the moon. Bright hues of yellow and brown contrast the white background of the pages and black details of the night sky allowing readers to use illustrations as context clues. (AHJ)

Rayner, Jacqueline K. 2019. Hats Are Not For Cats! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 32pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-32-896719-0. 

    A pretentious, top hat-wearing dog informs a cat that hats are not for cats. The cat offers multiple hat options for cats to wear, but the dog will not budge; hats are not for cats.  With the balancing of white backgrounds, a gray cat and dog, hues of blues, reds, and yellows pop on the page, drawing the attention of young readers to them. Short sentences allow youngsters to comprehend the plot while exposed to several new vocabulary words such as “dashing and dapper” (unnumbered). Readers ages 3-7 grow in understanding the themes of developing self-identities. (AHJ)

 

Goodner, David. 2019. Ginny Goblin Cannot Have a Monster For a Pet. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-54-476416-3. Pictures by Louis Thomas.

    Ginny Goblin likes to herd goats into the house, but goats are hard to take care of (and stinky). Readers ages 3-8 follow the narrator and Ginny as she has a hard time finding an appropriate new pet to keep in the house. Gouache and pen & ink create multicolored images which complement the text without being distracting. (AHJ).

 

 Miller, Tim. 2021. Tiny Kitty, Big City. HarperCollins (Balzer + Bray). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-241442-7.

    Tiny Kitty travels alone in the big city. In two-worded sentences, the kitty learns about big city living and copes. For example, because the city is full and busy, the kitty is speedy. Full-page illustrated spreads allow youngster’s grown-ups to ask questions that promote learning. For example, on the page that says “Speedy Kitty” (unnumbered), readers could track Kitty’s movement through the dashed yellow lines, which represents the path Kitty is on. In addition, a hidden surprise can be found under the dust jacket! (AHJ)

 

Kügler, Tina. 2019. Snail & Worm All Day. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 32pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-35-806364-3. 

    Through three short stories, Snail and Worm learn to embrace other people’s good days even when they may be having a not-so-good day, respect others’ boundaries, and communicate needs in a healthy way. Bright illustrations will capture the attention of independent readers ages 6-9, as well as younger readers who may have a grown-up reading to them. (AHJ).

 

 

Johnston, Tony. 2019. Spencer and Vincent: The Jellyfish Brothers. Simon & Schuster (A Paula Wiseman Book). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-53-441208-8. Pictures by Emily Dove. 

    Spencer and Vincent are brothers who have each other but no father or mother. One day, a bad storm separates the brothers. With the help of a mermaid, whale, and starfish, Spencer sets out to find Vincent. As the pages progress after the storm, the colors progressively get lighter, symbolizing the love and joy the brothers feel for each other. The author’s note, in the end, contains information about jellyfish, which may help readers understand more about the animal. (AHJ)

 

Lavelle, Kari. 2021. We Move the World. HarperCollins (Harper). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-291685-3. Pictures by Nabi H. Ali. 

    Bright colors bring together beloved childhood activities like monkey bars, puddle jumping, and solving puzzles. As well as tales of people who have played important roles in our world like, Paralympian, Oksana Masters, principal ballerina, Misty Copeland, and Native American Code Talkers. Themes of hard work and play are important for both young readers and adults in their lives as the American education system continues to press the importance of test scores over creative thinking. (AHJ).

 

Lynn, Jacque. 2020. Space Matters. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 32pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-32-880147-0.  Illustrated by Lydia Nichols. 

    Bright hues of yellow, blue, green, and red fill the pages as readers explore different ways that spaces are incorporated. For example, “theyhelpmakesenseofsentences” (unnumbered) and “[they keep] the tooth fairy in business” (unnumbered). By using examples youngsters may be familiar with, like a gap in your teeth or space between buildings, readers will better comprehend the full scope of different ways we can uses “spaces.” Younger readers may need more guidance to fully understand the type of space the page is referring to. (AHJ)

 

Park, Linda Sue. 2021. The One Thing You’d Save. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 72pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-1-32-851513-1. Illustrated By Robert Sae-Heng. 

    Ms. Chang asks her class what would be the one thing they would save if their home was on fire. Through sijo (SHEE-zho), traditional Korean poetry, the students share what they would save, as well as stories as to why those items are important to them. For example, one student wants to save a blue sweater that her grandmother knit for her using the yarn from a sweater her father used to wear. Readers ages 8-12 may relate to the difficulties in choosing just one item they would save, and may use their time reading this book to reflect on what in their life is important to them. Educators may use this text to promote creative thinking, as well as teaching about values. (AHJ)

 

Driscoll, Laura. 2021. Splat the Cat and the Obstacle Course. HarperCollins (Harper). 32pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-269716-5. Based on the work of Rob Scotton. 

    Splat has to take his sister, Flo, to dance class. Meaning, he is not allowed to spend time at Plank’s house, where there is an obstacle course. On their way home from dance class, Splat and his sister stop by the obstacle course, and while Flo is graceful through all of the aspects of the course, Splat is not. Emerging readers, ages 5-8, will enjoy the brightly colored illustrations, which reflect the text and provide clues for words they may have never seen spelled out before like “trampoline.” (AHJ)

 

Ray, Mary Lyn. 2018. The Thank You Book. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion). 32pp. $13.99. ISBN 978-0-54-479136-7. Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. 

    Pencil and watercolor illustrations use muted hues of blue, green, yellow, and orange to offer readers scenarios where a “thank you” may be used, specifically, “Thank you isn’t just for learning manners” (unnumbered). The personification of animals through the illustrations allows youngsters to identify the different “people” throughout the story; this allows for more creative thinking as readers do not have to use pronouns and instead use nouns which can be more concrete ideas for children. (AHJ)

Gee, Kimberly. 2019. Up Up Up Down. Penguin Random House LLC (G.P. Putnam’s Sons). 32pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-52-551733-7. 

    On any given day, parents and children do the opposite quite often. One page describes how once a child is dressed, a parent can look away for a moment and the youngster has already undressed themself. Bright colors, including green, blue, and yellow combined with the repetition of single-syllable words, like no & yes, or on & off, capture and maintain the attention of young readers. (AHJ)

 

Holtsclaw, Monica, and Josh Holtsclaw. 2020. Felix and the Monsters. Penguin Random House LLC (Nancy Paulsen Books). 32pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-59-311052-2. 

    Felix and the other guards are in charge of keeping the monsters from getting over the wall, but Felix does not like this job. He wants to be in a band with himself on the keytar. One day, while Felix was playing a solo on his side of the wall, a monster named Dot peeks his head over, admiring Felix’s tune. After a little convincing, Felix follows Dot and finds out, on the other side of the wall, all of the monsters are doing activities such as sculpting, making music, and painting.

    Bright hues of yellow, blue, and red cover the pages allowing readers, ages 3-8, to follow the plot through the illustrations and text. Themes of togetherness, friendship, and teamwork are present as Felix, the monsters, and the other guards come together for a musical celebration. They ultimately decide to tear down the wall to create something new. (AHJ)

 

John, Jory. 2020. The Couch Potato. HarperCollins (Harper). 40pp. $18.99. ISBN 978-0-06-295453-4.  Illustrated by Pete Oswald. 

    Couch Potato loves their situation: a wall of TVs and gadgets which fetch snacks or pamper them. However, when Couch Potato goes to plug in their new camera, the power goes out.  Not knowing what to do, they decide to go outside, a place they hadn’t been in a while. Couch Potato takes in the fresh air, chirping birds, real trees, and a beautiful sunset. After that adventure, Couch Potato decides to go out more, but not totally give up their lifestyle. Whimsical watercolor illustrations using primarily hues of blue and red, fill the pages for readers ages 4-8. Themes of a healthy screen time balance are explored by personifying the familiar phrase “couch potato.” (AHJ)

 

Davis, Jacky. 2021. Sunny-Side Up. HarperCollins (Greenwillow Books). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-257307-0.  Illustrated by Fiona Woodcock.

    On a rainy day, a small child wants to do only one thing: go outside. Unfortunately, her daddy says going outside is not an option today. Instead, the child finds activities to do like building towers and playing restaurant. Deep down, they really want to go outside. After lunch and a nap, it is still raining. When the child’s mother comes home, however, the rain has stopped. Meaning they can go outside and play jumping over puddles. 

    This situation will be familiar to many youngsters who want to play when it is too wet out. The theme of “rain clouds always pass” (unnumbered) is present when the mother reminds the young protagonist of this. Soft hues of yellow, gray, purple, and pink color the white backgrounds of the pages and draw in the reader’s attention. Recommended for youngsters, ages 3-8, especially on a rainy day. (AHJ)

 

Dyckman, Ame. 2019. Misunderstood Shark: Friends Don’t Eat Friends. Scholastic Inc. (Orchard Books). 48pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-33-811388-4. Illustrated by Scott Magoon. 

    Shark says he did not eat Bob the Jellyfish, but he did spit him up. Bob is upset with his friend for not admitting he ate him! Shark gets upset and swims away after his friend makes him feel bad about the situation. Young readers are exposed to the importance of discussing differing opinions or perspectives in order to understand others' feelings. Bright hues of green, red, and blue fill the pages and reflect the mood of the text at that point in the book; for example, when Bob gets angry at Shark, the page background is red. Recommended for young readers ages 3-8. (AHJ)

 

 

Saied Méndez, Yamile. 2021. What Will You Be? HarperCollins (Harper). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-283995-4. Illustrated by Kate Alizadeh. 

Saied Méndez, Yamile. 2021. ¿Que Serás? HarperCollins (HarperCollins Español). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-307677-8. Illustrated by Kate Alizadeh. 

    Through lyrical text, a young girl works with her grandmother to discover everything she wants to do when she grows up. Her grandmother reminds her when things get complicated, bringing many hands together can help her to reach her goals. Bright colors including, blue, yellow, and green, fill the pages and bring the young girl’s dreams to life. Readers of all ages, trying to figure out what they want to do in life, may appreciate this text as it reminds them of how they can do many things but may need some help doing them. (AHJ)

 

Reidy, Jean. 2021. What Would You Do in a Book About You? HarperCollins (Harper). 40pp. $18.99. ISBN 978-0-06-304150-9. Pictures by Joey Chou.

    Youngsters, ages 4-8, and the grown-ups that care about them, are exposed to the importance of creating their own stories, through the actions they choose to take in their lives. By balancing fictional events like riding a dinosaur, and events that may occur in their lifetime, like “[leading] from your heart” (unnumbered), readers are able to think creatively about the things they want to do in their lifetime. 

    Using bright colors such as blue, yellow, and pink, draw in readers’ attention. In addition, the young people represented in the illustrations are of many skin tones and abilities, allowing for nearly all readers to see themselves represented, an important aspect of children’s literature. (AHJ)

 

Garton Scanlon, Liz, and Audrey Vernick. 2019. Five Minutes (That’s a lot of Time) (No, it’s not) (Yes, it is). Penguin Randomhouse LLC (G.P. Putnam’s Sons). 32 pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-52-551631-6. Illustrated by Olivier Tallec. 

    Youngsters can explore the different ways adults express five minutes and how five minutes can feel like an eternity or not enough time. The young protagonist goes throughout their day and is told they have five minutes to wait for the library to open (unnumbered) or only five minutes left to read before bed. Using primarily hues of blue for the background of the illustrations allows the youngster’s red and yellow striped shirt to pop on the pages. By using realistic events in several children’s lives, the text and illustrations allow readers to relate to the protagonist. (AHJ)

 

Ramos, NoNieqa. 2021. Your Mama. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Versify). 32pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-32-863188-6. Illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara. 

    Whimsical illustrations cover the pages as readers consider all of the ways that mamas can be amazing. Pages are similar as they begin with a ribbon banner followed by an amazing thing your mama may do. For example, “Your Mama Dress So Fine” (unnumbered). The text follows a lyrical scheme, allowing readers to flow easily through the book. Readers of all ages will be reminded of the strong women who raised them. (AHJ)

 

 

Robbins, Rose. 2019. Me and My Sister. Wm. B. Eerdmans (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers). 32pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-80-285542-8. First published in Great Britain in 2019. 

Using bright hues of red, yellow, and blue, young readers are captivated as one sibling shares the differences they and their sister have. The differences described are due to neurodivergency. This text is a perfect fit for any youngsters who may have neurodivergent siblings or classmates. (AHJ)

 

Robbins, Rose. 2020. Talking is Not My Thing. Wm. B. Eerdmans (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers). 32pp. $16.99. First published in Great Britain in 2020. 

    Young readers bear witness to a young nonverbal girl’s day. Her day is explored through white-colored thought bubbles set on bright pages covered with hues of red, yellow, and blue. Youngsters are able to see nonverbal forms of communication they too can use if they are struggling with using their words. Recommended for youngsters and adults responsible for children ages 3-7 who may be nonverbal themselves or have nonverbal siblings or classmates.

 

 

Doerrfeld, Cori. 2019. Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! Penguin Random House LLC (Dial Books for Young Readers). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-0-52-555423-3. 

    Muted colors and representational illustrations of children and realistic activities allow young readers, ages 4-8, to follow different ways they may say goodbye in their lives. Sharing ways readers say goodbye and hello in their daily lives, like “Goodbye to outside… is hello to inside” (unnumbered), allows youngsters to see and understand how they have to say goodbye to friends and how the goodbye will lead to another hello. Grown-ups may use this text to help young people who say goodbye to close friends or family members. (AHJ)

 

Rohner, Dorthia. 2020. I Am Goose! Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 32pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-32-884159-9. Illustrated by Vanya Nastanlieva. 

    A game of duck, duck, goose goes horribly wrong when Goose gets confused, stating “I am Goose” (unnumbered) when others are tagged as “goose.” Themes of working through confusing situations and expressing frustration are present, as Rabbit, the leader of the game, gets frustrated when Goose continuously interrupts, but later, explains the game to Goose. Pastel colors of green, blue, and purple along with wispy illustrations depict the animal characters such as Dodo, Rabbit, and Goose. Recommended to all who may struggle with using their words to express their anger, and those youngsters learning to work with others.

 

Freedman, Deborah. 2021. Is Was. Simon & Schuster Inc. (Atheneum Books for Young Readers). 40pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-53-447510-6. 

    Beautiful hues of pastel blues, yellows, and greens, cover the pages as readers, ages 4-8, learn about the verbs is and was. Through short, simple phrases, the text relies heavily on the illustrations and allows youngsters to imagine some of the plots on their own. Readers may use this as a calming reading to assist with self-regulation skills. (AHJ)

 

Healy, Christopher. 2019. A Perilous Journey of Danger & Mayhem: A Dastardly Plot. HarperCollins Publishers (Walden Pond Press). 400pp. $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-234198-3.

The 1883’s World’s Fair is the place to show off your latest inventions—unless you’re a woman. The Inventor’s Guild took all the exhibit booths for their male members. Now with an invention and no place to exhibit it, mother and daughter duo, Cassandra “Cass” and Molly Pepper, break into the Inventor’s Guild Hall to try to leverage their way into the Fair. This leads them to discovering a scheme to destroy the World’s Fair. Having a parent/child adventure is a nice change of pace. Usually the child runs off and does the adventure or crazy action scenes with a group of children around their own age. And while there is another child around Molly’s age who goes on this adventure with her, there are still trusted adults almost every step of the way Molly can turn to if she needs help. She still has her independence, but having the knowledge that there are people there to catch her if need be.

The elements of humor are quite present when reading through this book. The wit Molly displays—and in general just the character’s interactions—is quite hilarious. The banter between Molly and the Green Onion member as to why the gang is called ‘The Green Onions’. And while this book is fiction the author does a great job at incorporating real world elements. Readers are allowed to explore the humorous side of fictitious events, while having elements of nonfiction throughout. These elements include members of the MOI which are real women inventors, the Chinese Exclusion Act, and a broader list of real world inspirations at the back of the book. Readers can dig right into the story and expand their knowledge on historical features of the world. (MJK)

 

Bowman, Erin. 2020. The Girl and the Witch’s Garden. Simon & Schuster (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers). 288 pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-53-446158-1.

Family is not confined by blood relations. Piper Peavey is at a challenging point of her life: her father is battling cancer and she has to spend the summer with her mother who she has not seen in years. There are multiple conflicts in this story, person v. person (Piper v. her mom), person v. self (Piper), and person v. environment (Piper v. her dad’s cancer). In the exposition, when Piper arrives at her mother’s and grandmother’s home, she learns that there are children there, whom her mother is fostering. This creates even more tension between Piper and her mother, because Piper sees the situation as her mother abandoning her to go raise other children. Seeing this conflict arise within Piper helps readers connect with Piper and relate back to times when they felt that they were being replaced or were not good enough. However, not everything is as it seems in this mansion. Each child has a magical gift, and they were brought in to help find a potion that gives someone eternal life. Piper soon learns that she too has a magical gift, and she begins exploring the garden by herself and finds something surprising. During the rising action and the climax, Piper learns that in order to find this potion, she must trust the other children and work together to pass all the trials that were created to keep the potion safe. In these trials Piper has to face what she fears most: her dad not being able to fight the cancer. 

This book is full of magic, friendships, conflicts between child and parent, and many twists and turns. This book may help readers begin the road to understanding—maybe even accepting—the harm that cancer reeks on one’s body. Piper struggles with feelings of abandonment, fear of losing a parent, and learning how to trust and build friendships through this foundation of trust. These are issues that many young readers may relate to and this book could help explain to readers how to begin their healing/learning path. (LRS)

Cali, Davide. 2019. Mystery Club: Wild Werewolves; Mummy Mischief. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 112pp. $21.99. ISBN 978-1-32-852848-3. Illustrated by Yannick Robert.

    Solving mysteries in London sounds great, but it does come with having an enemy. In this novel, the author has the first two stories of the Mystery Club. The club’s story is told through a graphic novel style, which is full of color and accurate illustrations of London. The first story began before the club was founded, it was only Kyle with a Facespace Page talking about monsters and mysteries. This led a man to talk to Kyle and Zoey about how he turns into a werewolf at night, and he does not know why. Once presented with this information Kyle and Zoey enact the help of Ashley and Tyler and try to solve it. Through teamwork, reaching out for help, and pure curiosity, they do their best to solve the case.

    The second story takes place after the werewolf case and four other cases that did not involve any monsters. Soon the kids find out that mummies are being seen in the subway system. The Mystery Club speaks to the director of the British Museum. When they first speak to him, the director makes sure the club and readers know how it is important to separate fact from fiction/folklore. This is crucial for young readers to learn, especially with how much media they are receiving. When the Mystery Club follows the mummies from the museum, they discover that it was their enemy who was behind it, and try to catch him. Recommended for readers 8-12. (LRS)

 

Gutman, Dan. 2019. My Weird School Special: Bummer in the Summer! HarperCollins. 144pp. $16.89. ISBN 978-0-06-279682-0. Illustrated by Jim Paillot. 

    Summer: the promise at the end of a school year and a break from school that many kids long for. One of these children is A.J., who is already making a list of everything he will do this summer. These lists are in a different font, helping readers visualize A.J. writing these lists out, by hand. The book begins with A.J. talking to the readers and him going off on a tangent about how he used to be afraid of ghosts, but he isn’t anymore. Since the story is told by A.J., the narration is similar to stream of consciousness, which may be new for many young readers, but interesting. 

    A.J. ends each chapter by telling readers that if they want to find out more, then they will need to read the next page, or the next chapter. This seems redundant, but it is fun and reinforces to young readers how in order to get a full story they need to keep reading and they cannot simply stop in the middle and understand it. The language is fun and relatable, which may lead readers to feel close to A.J. or potentially relate to him and his life. Another fun thing about this book is that it has games at the back: games from word puzzles to trivia questions! This would be a great book for a book club of young readers. (LRS)

 

Hill, Kirkpatrick. 2020. The Year of Miss Agnes. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division (Margaret K. McElderry Books). 128 pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-53-447854-1.

    Miss Agnes was different from any teacher this small Alaskan town has had before, so when she begins teaching at a one room schoolhouse the students and readers feel hopeful of the upcoming year. In this story, readers are taken back to 1948 to a rural Alaskan town where only a handful of children attend school. The narrator of this story is Fred (full name Frederika) who is a ten-year-old girl who lives with her mom, sister, and grandfather. She explains to readers how teachers have come and gone throughout the years, yet no one ever stays because there is always something that pushes them away. This year Fred and her friend Bertha see there is a new teacher in town, and they wonder how good she will be and how long she will stay. 

    Once school begins, Miss Agnes shows students how fun learning can be: she bought new books, colorful paints, pencils, and taught them in a goofier approach which the students loved. One thing Miss Agnes changed was talking to Fred’s mom about letting Bokko, Fred’s older sister, come to school. Bokko had never been to school before because she is deaf and the previous teachers did not know sign language, but Miss Agnes teaches Bokko, the entire class, and herself sign language. Readers gain a relatable narrator, and consider growth vs. fixed mindsets as Fred, Miss. Agnes, and the rest of the class learn sign language in order to help Bokko. (LRS)

 

Layne, Aliza. 2020. Beetle & the Hollowbones. Simon & Schuster (Atheneum Books for Young Readers). 256 pp. $21.05. ISBN 978-1-53-444153-8. 

    Friendships fade when getting older, however there may still be a spark of connection between one friend and the other. This graphic novel is full of magic, adventure, mystery, and friendship. Readers are introduced to Beetle, a goblin-witch, by her grandmother teaching her how to ride a broomstick. This goofy scene as the introduction of the book explains to readers who Beetle is and how determined she is, even when she is scared. Readers follow Beetle’s journey as she discovers Blob Ghost in the mall and discovers that Blob Ghost cannot leave the premises of the mall for some peculiar reason. The conflict of this story is that the mall is going to be destroyed to make a new building, which means that Blob Ghost would disappear forever. Beetle decides to find a way to free Blob Ghost, but that means trusting an old friend, Kat, who Beetle thought had betrayed her by turning away from her. By uniting with her Kat, Beetle goes on a daring quest and must face magically powerful creatures.

    Along with this storyline are the amazing graphics. The graphics add so much to the story and the impact it has on the reader. The colors are vibrant and draw the readers in, making them continue to read until the story is finished. The use of darker and cooler colors symbolizes the frightening events that Beetle, Kat, and Blob Ghost end up facing. The illustrations also show the prevalent judgement in this magical community: the belief that goblin magic is not strong magic. This graphic novel teaches readers not to judge someone’s strengths and abilities based on their background. However, this novel also shows the significance of communicating with your friends and the powerful bond that friendship holds. (LRS)

 

Lee, Lyla. 2020. Mindy Kim and the Birthday Puppy. Simon & Schuster (Aladdin). 96pp. $17.99. ISBN 978-1-53-444014-2. Illustrated by Dung Ho. 

    Every child has a dream birthday gift, for Mindy Kim, that gift is a puppy. This is the third book in the Mindy Kim series, which is told from Mindy’s perspective, making the language age-appropriate and fun to read. The beginning of this book starts with Mindy explaining how today is her eighth birthday and all she is hoping for is a puppy. Throughout this book Mindy explains some Korean traditions that her and her father do on special occasions. Mindy also explains how it is just her and her dad now, and briefly discusses how hard it was when her mom died. Mindy briefly talks about the loneliness of having no siblings and one parent. This is a situation some readers may be able to relate to and see themselves in Mindy.

    At Mindy’s birthday party, her dad came out with a puppy that he adopted from a shelter. After getting her puppy, Mindy does a bunch of research about the amount of training and the type of training that her puppy needs. Mindy learns that puppies are a lot of work, but she is so proud of herself when she shows her dad and his girlfriend all the tricks she has taught the puppy in such a short amount of time. The book ends with Mindy drawing a picture of their family, which is Mindy, her dad, and her puppy, and explains that pets are family members too. (LRS)

 

Manzanero, Paula K. 2020. Where Is Chichen Itza? Penguin Random House (Penguin Workshop). 112pp. $15.99. ISBN‎ 978-0-59-309345-0. Illustrated by Dede Putra.

    A city full of relics, ruins, and so much history that had been abandoned years ago, Chichen Itza. This book begins with American adventurers (Frederick Catherwood and John Lloyd Stephens) going to Central America where they found Chichen Itza. After the scene is set of finding the ancient city, the author goes into the history of the Mayan people: their appearances, beliefs, and talents. Readers learn how advanced the Mayan people were in almost every aspect of life: from architecture to astronomy. This book provides a total collective of thirteen informational pages that range from the Timeline of the Maya to The Mexican Revolution. This book is jam packed with the history of the Maya and how they lived. 

    The author tells readers the full truth of the lives of the Maya people, which includes human sacrifice, being slaughtered by Spanish Conquistadors, and revolutions. However brutal these events and the truth behind them may be, the book describes it in a way that allows readers to know all the history without going into graphic detail. The last few chapters of the book bring readers back to the present day and how Chichen Itza and other Maya ruins are taken care of and look like today. Through the use of age-appropriate words and black and white illustrations, the readers learn about the Maya people and how advanced they were in many different areas of life. (LRS)

 

Morgan, Kass, & Danielle Paige. 2020. The Ravens. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 400 pp. $10.68. ISBN 978-0-35-809823-2.

    Sisterhood is one of the strongest forms of magic. Alternative narration offers, Scarlett—a college junior who grew up knowing she was a witch—and Vivian (Vivi)—a college freshman who thought magic and tarot cards were a hoax. Both girls attend Westerly College in Savannah, Georgia. At this college is one of the most powerful sororities and covens, the Kappa sorority. Readers follow Scarlett and Vivi as they explore what this year of college will bring, in the Kappa house and in their independent lives. Being in the same sorority means having sisters, but this sorority needs more than the buddy-system at parties; they must give their loyalty to the coven and share their power with their sisters. Scarlett and Vivi find themselves irritated with each other throughout the novel. Despite their different upbringings and views on life, the girls are forced together to face their pasts, betrayal, and death. 

The character development of Scarlett and Vivi is felt in the readers when they close the book. These two girls grew so much as witches, but also as individuals. Morgan and Paige take readers on a journey through an unknown, magical world that entices readers to keep reading. Whenever the readers think they know what is going to happen, there is a sudden twist in the story and the reader is drawn even deeper into the story. This novel explores different family dynamics, unrealistic expectations, and finding a family through friendships. A beneficial reading for students in high school through adults to read because of the intense focus around sisterhood and the power that it holds. (LRS)

 

Poliquin, Rachel. 2019. The Superpower Field Guide: Moles. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 96pp. $18.99. ISBN 978-0-54-495107-5. Illustrated by Nicholas John Frith. 

    Seeming to be ordinary is not as ordinary as it seems. Readers meet Rosalie, a common mole who has superpowers, looks like a small potato, and provides a side-by-side illustration of both. The Superpower Field Guide books are filled with detailed visuals that help readers understand the text more and more about moles. Underground tunnels with specific purposes for each section, captivate readers as they strive to understand Rosalie at a deeper level. A unique feature of this book is a mini game, a maze! It shows two different kinds of moles and asks readers which mole will get the worm first. There is a note about trying it out with a pencil and a note that tells readers not to draw on the page if it is a library book. 

The superpowers in the book represent chapters, some are longer than others, but they are all full of intriguing information. Some of Rosalie’s superpowers are: “Astonishing Architect of Dirt,” “Indefatigable Paws of Power,” and “Double-Thumb-Digging Dominance,” Through detailed illustrations and nonsense words, readers are able to learn about moles in a more interesting way. (LRS)

 

Poliquin, Rachel. 2019. The Superpower Field Guide: Ostriches. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 96pp. $18.99. ISBN 978-0-54-495040-5. Illustrated by Nicholas John Frith.

    There are not many people who say that their favorite animal is an ostrich, but after reading this book, one may change their mind. The story is told from the perspective of a curious, but knowledgeable, child. The narrator begins by introducing Eno, an ordinary ostrich, who lives in the African savanna in Tanzania. There are amazing visuals that go along with the story, depicting to the readers what some savanna animals are and look like, but also the different seasons of the savanna. This book has a lot of humor, which makes it more enjoyable for young readers. 

    Poliquin encourages readers to test what they have learned so far by having three mini quizzes spread throughout the book. Another thing that Poliquin does is defining superpowers for Eno, an ordinary ostrich: “Colossal Orbs of Telescopic Vision,” “Thighs of Thunder,” “Toe Claws of Death,” “Super-Fantastic Elastic Striders,” “Two-Toed Torpedoes,” “Do-It-All Dino Flaps,” “The Impossible Ever-Flow Lung,” “Epic Endurance,” “The Egg of Wonder,” and “Hydro-Hoarding Heat Shell.” These superpowers are given funny names because it intrigues young readers to learn more. By giving clever names to some of an ostrich’s abilities, Poliquin brings readers in and encourages them to learn more about “ordinary” animals. (LRS)

 

Poliquin, Rachel. 2020. The Superpower Field Guide: Eels. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (Clarion Books). 96pp. $18.99. ISBN 978-0-54-494921-8. Illustrated by Nicholas John Frith. 

    Not all superheros wear capes… actually, not all creatures with superpowers are human. One animal that has superpowers is the eel! An Elementary school narrator showcases potentially unfamiliar vocabulary and then explains the word with synonyms. The story of Olenka, the European Eel begins with “what we know about her,” which gives the background of European eels. There are labelled diagrams that show the actual size of a European eel at certain ages and also where something is located on their body. 

    One of the more heartwarming parts of this book is when the narrator describes Olenka’s superpowers. These powers include: “Oxygen Skin,” “Wall Crawling,” “Slimetastic Safety Shield,” “Double Invisibility,” “Shapeshifting,” “Supersecret Lair of the Abyss,” “Globe-Spanning Grit,” “Ocean-Stealth Submarine,” “Four-Nostriled Navigation,” and “The Magnetic Head.” All of these powers are presented in a funny way, but the chapter teaches readers what these superpowers do and how they help the eel. This book does contain some unamusing parts, such as explaining how the Sargasso Sea—where their “Lair of Abyss” is—is full of garbage now and discusses the destruction of the ecosystem that single-use plastic products create. This book also has three quizzes spread throughout so readers can test themselves on what they have just read. From the fun language to the very detailed images, young readers will enjoy reading this book and learning more about European eels, like Olenka. (LRS)

 

Pollack, Pam and Meg Belviso. 2020. Who Was Celia Cruz? Penguin Random House (Penguin Workshop). 112 pp. $15.99. ISBN 978-1-52-479213-8. Illustrated by Jake Murray.  

Azúcar! This one word, ‘sugar,’ was shouted by Celia Cruz before each performance as a way to excite the crowd and show her love for her heritage. This book describes the many parts of Celia Cruz’s life before and during her fame. Readers are exposed to what Cuba was like for Cruz as she grew up, and further, when she became famous. Cruz and her family are Afro-Cuban, and readers are taught about how this race came to be in Cuba, as well as how being Afro-Cuban affected people in Cuba. Without going into too much detail of the hardship of racism, readers see how this affected Cruz and her family’s life and how it held Cruz back when she was famous too. 

Spanish words alongside a pronunciation in parentheses, followed by the meaning or definition in English quotations allows readers to see the importance of pronouncing words correctly, even if they are in a different language. Throughout, there are eleven pages that each focus on a key aspect of history that directly affected Celia Cruz’s life. Alongside all this information are the black and white illustrations by Meg Belviso, allowing young readers to better understand the story. (LRS)