Family ties

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Sixteen Games of Hide and Seek by Stephen Barr, illustrated by Steve Teare (Neal Porter Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). Ro and his dad are playing hide and seek, and it’s NERVE-WRACKING, SORT OF SCARY, but SO MUCH FUN. As the game goes on, rules evolve: Dad should find him, but not too quickly. It’s important to decide ahead of time who is the hider and who is the seeker. The best hiding places can become too scary when a thunderstorm hits. But Dad comes to the rescue, and Ro calms down enough to continue the game when the best seeker of the family comes home: Mom. Includes thumbnail illustrations at the beginning and the end that show the eight first rounds of the game at the beginning and the last eight at the end.

Parents will enjoy this book as much as kids, as they recognize some familiar behaviors, like a kid who hides in plain sight and a dad who gets distracted from the hunt. The scene during the thunderstorm is touching and shows the strong connection between Ro and his dad. Here’s hoping we get to see what happens once Mom enters the game.

Dad by Christian Robinson (Balzer + Bray, 48 pages, ages 3-7). Each spread shows an animal and its offspring with a sentence about the dad pictured. At first, the sentences are what you’d expect: “Dad is strong” with a gorilla, “Dad is sweet” with a fox, and “Dad is here now” with a frog. But then, “Dad had to go away” shows an owl flying away from its two babies in a nest. A couple pages later, a shark dad “needs lots of space.” And then, “Dad lets you down and makes mistakes.” But the next few dads pick you up, listen, and make you feel safe. Then come the human dads who both wipe away tears and shed a few of their own. And finally, “Dad dreams of watching you grow and grow and grow.” Includes small pictures of all the animals with a dad fact about each.

Dedicated “To caregivers who give what they never got,” this book may defy your expectations by admitting that dads can be less than perfect; that may be the best kind of Father’s Day gift to give for everyone involved. Young kids will enjoy seeing all the animals, while older readers may find things a bit more thought-provoking.

While We’re Here by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Micha Archer (Clarion Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). A girl and her mother are in a hurry to get somewhere, a place where they have to dress up and bring a present. They rush out of the house, to the train station, down the trail, across the bridge…only to find the remains of the birthday party that was actually yesterday. Disappointed, they’re ready to head back home when they spontaneously decide to roll down the hill. Then they explore under a bridge, watch the ducks, and walk the trail until it runs out. “We’ll wander off, just you and me. We have nowhere to be.”

Although there are only a few words on each page, they powerfully convey a sense of urgency in the first half of the book, followed by a slower pace and a more relaxed, enjoyable afternoon after the disappointment of realizing they missed their party. Caldecott Medalist Micha Archer has created beautiful collage illustrations that perfectly capture both moods.

Under the sea

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

The Secret World of Seahorses by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Lou Baker-Smith (Candlewick, 32 pages, grades K-4). This straightforward introduction to seahorses includes information on eating, mating, reproduction, and body structure. Human activity endangers millions of seahorses–76 million are caught every year and turned into lucky charms, key rings, teas, and tonics. Three projects to save seahorses around the world are described, in Malaysia, Cambodia, and England. Additional information about seahorses and climate change is given at the end.

This would make a great nonfiction companion to Eric Carle’s Mister Seahorse, offering more information about different aspects of seahorses that are touched on in that book. The mixed media illustrations with a wide color palette do a beautiful job of portraying underwater scenes. While Nicola Davies doesn’t shy away from describing human dangers to seahorses, the specific projects to save them add an upbeat note.

If You Went to the Bottom of the Ocean by Brooke McIntyre, illustrated by Gordy Wright (Chronicle Books, 50 pages, grades 1-5). Follow a submersible as it heads out into the ocean, then dives down, down, down. In the sunlight zone, there’s still plenty of light and life, but as you head through the twilight zone and the midnight zone, there is less and less of both. It gets colder and darker, with the weight of the water pressing down harder. Finally, 3.5 miles down, you’ll reach the floor of the ocean…but there are still more depths to explore. The Mariana Trench is another 3 miles deeper, and if you reach the bottom, you’ll be in a place few other humans have ever seen. Includes additional information about the layers of the ocean, their geography, and milestones in human exploration.

Both the writing and the illustrations do an amazing job of conveying the vastness and wonder of the ocean depths. The illustrations grow darker and darker, illuminated by the bioluminescent creatures that live there. The back matter adds interesting information and may inspire readers to dream about traveling to a part of Earth that is still 90% unexplored.

Two innovative artists

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

The True Ugly Duckling: How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan by Sandra Nickel, illustrated by Calvin Nicholls (Levine Querido, 32 pages, grades K-3). Hans Christian Andersen’s life is presented as a story that parallels his ugly duckling fairy tale. As a child growing up in a small town, he spent his days making up stories and creating costumes to act them out. While a few townspeople were kind, most made fun of him, and young Hans headed to the city of Copenhagen as soon as he could. There, he tried to make it as an actor, dancer, and singer, but he failed at each of these endeavors. Finally, a play he wrote caught the eye of a director who sent him to school. Teachers there made him put aside his storytelling in favor of Latin and history. After six long years, he was able to return to his stories, and although adults found them strange, children loved them. Hans Christian Andersen’s stories and cut paper illustrations earned him a place among the royalty of Copenhagen, and those stories live on today. Includes an author’s note with additional information about Andersen, including how her own autism drew her to write about the storyteller, who likely had both autism and Marfan syndrome.

This lightly fictionalized account of Hans Christian Andersen’s life would make a good introduction to a study of his work, with both biographical information and references to some of his well-known stories. The cut-paper illustrations are beautiful and mirror Andersen’s own work with paper.

Piece by Piece: How Stephen Sondheim Made Musical Puzzles Come Alive by Erin Frankel, illustrated by Stacy Innerst (Calkins Creek, 40 pages, grades 2-5). Growing up in New York City, Stephen Sondheim was a curious kid who liked to figure out how things worked. When he saw his first musical, he was completely captivated by how the different pieces–music, story, dance–all fit together. After his parents split up, he and his mother moved to Pennsylvania, where he made a new friend Jamie, whose father, Oscar Hammerstein II, became Stephen’s mentor. Stephen wrote his first musical, By George, when he was 15. After college, he got a lucky break when he was offered the role of lyricist for the new musical West Side Story. That brought him enough recognition to start creating his own musicals, and Stephen Sondheim became a Broadway legend. Includes an author’s note, photos, a timeline of Sondheim’s life, and a bibliography.

Another good book for introducing the work of an artist, with a short enough story to easily read aloud but plenty of allusions to Sondheim plays in both the text and illustrations. The puzzle metaphor felt a little forced to me, but it did give me a deeper appreciation for all the parts of a musical that have to work together.

Liberty and justice for all

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Walk the Walk by R. J. Owens, illustrated by Reggie Brown (Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Dex and Papa are walking to his piano lesson, a walk that seems to Dexter to take forever. But Papa tells him, “If we’re going to talk the talk, we’ve got to walk the walk.” This means supporting the Montgomery Bus Boycott, just like other Black people are doing all over the city. Along the way, Dex and Papa see signs reminding people not to ride the bus and giving information about how to get a ride if they need one. They’re hassled by police and people riding in a truck with a Confederate flag in the back. When Dex has to pee, they can’t go in a restaurant with a “Whites Only” sign out front. At last, the two of them walk past a church where people are outside celebrating. The boycott is over, and they can ride on any seat in the bus! Even though the piano teacher is only a few blocks away, they hop on a bus and choose a front seat, each one wiping away tears of joy. The last page shows a grown-up Dex and an older Papa crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge with a crowd of protesters. “And sure enough, as the years rolled on by, Papa and I just kept on walking, together.” Includes an author’s note, a Montgomery Bus Boycott timeline, and lists of sources and further reading.

This is a great introduction to an important chapter in the civil rights movement, with Dex serving as a generally cheerful but occasionally whiny kid narrator, and Papa keeping his spirits up with his refrain of “walk the walk.” The text and illustrations work together to show features of the boycott, including the racism the participants encountered. Although readers may need a preliminary introduction to the boycott’s history before reading the book, it’s a story that would work well with kids as young as preschool or kindergarten.

We the People Is All the People by Howard W. Reeves, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh (Harry N. Abrams, 40 pages, grades 1-5). Starting with the Preamble to the Constitution, the narrative states, “We the people is all the people,” then goes on to celebrate the huge diversity of people living in the United States: different religions, cultures, occupations, sexualities, physical abilities, and homes. The illustrations bring this diversity to life, showing all kinds of people in a variety of American settings. One particularly memorable one shows a Native woman with outstretched braids and arms that hold people from history, like a Chinese-American railroad worker laboring up one braid, and a white man leading two enslaved people in chains up one of her arms. The author’s note talks about both the revolutionary nature of the U.S. Constitution and its shortcomings, with references to unnamed people in power who seek to undo it and a sobering but realistic look at the work still needed to ensure that “all the people” are served by it. Also includes an illustrator’s note.

This timely book is a thought-provoking meditation on the diversity of people who are (or should be) served and protected by the U.S. Constitution. Along with the author’s note, it’s an excellent springboard for learning about and discussing the Constitution and the freedoms it outlines that are currently under threat. Duncan Tonatiuh’s illustrations are truly spectacular, and, in my opinion, should receive Caldecott consideration.

Journeys

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Navigating Night by Julie Leung, illustrated by Angie Kang (Anne Schwartz Books, 48 pages, grades K-4). A girl describes her night with her dad as they deliver food to customers from their restaurant. Her jobs are to navigate from one house to the next and to serve as a translator for Cantonese-speaking Baba. She wishes she could have a life more like the kids she sees at the houses where they drop off the food, and she tells Baba that she doesn’t want to do deliveries anymore. Instead of responding directly, he starts telling her about another night, back when he was a kid in China, that “darkened an entire nation.” After years of hunger and worry, his family got a letter from an uncle in New York City, offering a home to one member of the family. Her dad was chosen. He tells her how he got lost his first day, spending hours trying to find his way back to Chinatown. “Before I had you, I would get so lost,” he says, and she smiles, understanding him in a new way. Back at the restaurant, the whole family gathers for dinner, and Baba picks out the tenderest chunks of meat for her. “Baba and I have learned to navigate night, down unlit roads and past unfamiliar street signs, looking for new paths ahead. Together we find our way home.” Includes notes from the author and illustrator about growing up with parents who escaped China’s Cultural Revolution to come to America.

This would make a great book to share for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The stories of the past and present are woven together perfectly, giving the reader a chance to slowly understand Baba better, just as his daughter does. Be sure to share the author’s and illustrator’s notes at the end, which are both very moving. Angie Kang’s will also give readers a greater appreciation of the beautiful illustrations and how they reflect the changing mood of the story.

Taking Flight by Kashmira Sheth, illustrated by Nicolò Carozzi (Dial Books, 32 pages, grades K-4). Three children take long journeys from home, each one addressed in the second person (“You might have said goodbye to teammates from your cozy village surrounded by cotton fields, as you drifted across the ocean, far from the place you belonged.”). They travel from Tibet, Syria, and Ukraine, sometimes witnessing the destruction of their homes, and always leaving behind people and places they know and love. After spending time in refugee camps, they come to an unfamiliar new country with a different language, where they have to bravely start at a new school. Slowly, they learn English, reach out to classmates, and “day by day, little by little, as the new becomes known, you meet other children just like you. Some who were born here, others who arrived not so long ago. You all try to belong together. And before long you do.”

This book really packs an emotional punch, especially in these days of increased hardships for immigrants and refugees coming to America. The text is spare but intimate, and the illustrations show three very different children coming from places far away from each other having similar experiences that require similar courage. This would be a great book to share with both kids who are new to the U.S. and their classmates who are getting to know them.

Summer camp: when things go wrong

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer by Paige Classey (Random House Books for Young Readers, 400 pages, grades 5-8). Anna-Jane is excited to be returning to summer camp, reuniting with old friends, learning archery and improving her creative writing skills, and maybe even having her first crush. But when the 13-year-old cabin goes into town for a Friday night out, they’re spooked by the lack of people they see. On their way home, they realize their phones aren’t working. Before long, it becomes apparent that there’s a pandemic making both humans and animals ill. Many of the campers get picked up immediately, but some, including Anna-Jane, hear nothing from their parents and are stuck at camp. As the summer goes on, the campers have to increasingly rely on their own wits as they deal with a dwindling food supply, cooler weather, and a counselor who seems on the verge of leading a Lord of the Flies style revolt. The ending brings a glimmer of hope but leaves much still unresolved and uncertain.

This novel in verse pulls the reader in immediately and becomes increasingly hard to put down as the mysterious events unfold. It’s a perfect blend of 13-year-old experiences with friendships and crushes and compelling survival story. The kids really rise to the occasion, especially science fan Morgan, who starts the story as a bit of an outcast and winds up being one of the biggest heroes. This would make a great book club choice for middle school, with plenty to discuss and speculate about after the last page.

Sockflea: A Stuffie in the Wild by Laura Dockrill, illustrated by Eva Byrne (Candlewick, 40 pages, ages 3-7). The young elephant narrator insists that they don’t need to bring a stuffie on a camping trip. When their grown-up reminds the them that they may want a friend at bedtime, they reply, “I’m FIVE!” Off they go, and camping turns out to be awesome! There’s a tent, a fire, hot dogs, and even new friends. But when it gets dark, the little elephant is nervous. “I squeeze my eyes shut to sleep, but…They. Won’t. Stick. The quick-thinking–and no doubt, desperate–grown-up comes up with an idea. Two fuzzy socks tied together become Sockflea, a creature sent by the stuffies at home to keep the young elephant company. A little imagination goes a long way, and not only does Sockflea make bedtime easier, it becomes the hit of the whole camping trip. Back home, Sockflea disappears, adding to the sense that it was all magic…until the little elephant notices the fuzzy socks on their grown-up’s feet.

Thankfully, the issues on this camping trip are a lot easier to deal with than the one above, but nevertheless, there’s some real angst around bedtime and the lack of stuffies. The portrayal of the young elephant is spot-on with the daytime bravado giving way to nighttime jitters, and the grown-up’s solution is brilliant. Kids will both relate to and get a lot of laughs from both the story and illustrations.

Ocean animals

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

The Octopus by Guojing (Two Lions, 48 pages, ages 4-8). A little girl and her mother are walking on the beach when they find a tiny octopus caught in some plastic rings. The girl carefully frees the octopus, then lets it go in the ocean. To repay her kindness, the creature uses a shell pendant around her neck to create magic that shrinks her down to its own size. Together they go on a magical journey through the sea, swimming with all kinds of marine animals and hiding together in scallop shells. When a sea turtle swims head first into a plastic bag, the girl frees it, then takes the bag back with her when she returns home. Back on the beach with her mom, she discards the bag and other trash she’s found into the proper receptacles, then shares her amazing story with her mother while they watch a beautiful beach sunset together. Includes an author’s note with additional information about keeping beaches clean and treating animals with respect, as well as some fun facts about octopuses.

The luminous illustrations tell the story in this wordless picture book that also imparts a lesson about taking care of the environment. Kids will be enraptured by the adorable octopus and the magical underwater scenes.

The Secrets of the Jellies: Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents by Karen Jameson, illustrated by Marie Hermansson (Chronicle Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Inspired by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s jellyfish exhibit and live Jelly Cam, this book introduces kids to jellyfish with rhyming text and colorful illustrations portraying a variety of species that sometimes seems to glow in their marine habitat. A sentence or two on each page gives a fact about jellyfish, all of which are elaborated on in a page-by-page guide at the end. There are also thumbnail illustrations and additional information about 22 different jellyfish.

Readers will want to hop on a plane to California to see what must be a truly spectacular exhibit at the Monterey Aquarium. The book is written and illustrated in a way that will appeal to very young readers, but the additional information in the back makes it a good choice for older kids too. The only thing missing was a list of resources for further research.

The Whale’s Tale and the Otter’s Side of the Story: a book to read from front to back and back to front by Kate Messner, illustrated by Brian Biggs (Clarion Books, 40 pages, ages 4-9). A whale and an otter stand at a microphone, each one prepared to make the case about why its species is the best. Starting on the first page, the whale explains the superior ways that whales hunt, communicate, swim, and help the environment, with disparaging remarks about otters sprinkled throughout. The last page tells readers to start on the last page and read the book backwards. In this version, the exact same words are used by the otter to make the case that otters are better than whales. The author’s note explains how words can be used to create misinformation and encourages readers to consider a speaker or writer’s point of view learning something new. There’s also additional information about whales and otters, with a list of books for further reading.

This very clever book is written like Marilyn Singer’s reveso poetry, making it fun to read but also a good exercise in thinking about how the same words can be used to present points of view that are completely opposite. The illustrations are cute, with lots of humor, although I personally prefer a greater variety of colors than the mostly turquoise and black.

The beautiful game

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Lionel Messi’s World Cup Triumph (History’s Greatest Games, book 1) by Chris Barish, illustrated by Nate Sweitzer (Harry N. Abrams, 136 pages, grades 4-8). This graphic nonfiction account of how Lionel Messi led Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022 is narrated by a sports commentator who takes readers through a brief history of soccer, then tells them about another Argentinian great, Diego Maradono, who was key to the 1986 World Cup win. From there, we go to Messi’s childhood, when his greatness in the sport was apparent from an early age. A growth hormone deficiency threatened his chances of becoming an athletic superstar, but he was recruited by Barcelona, who paid for the medical treatment his parents couldn’t afford. Lionel won every championship imaginable, except for the ultimate World Cup one, which eluded him for four tournaments. The 2022 final against France went into extra time and was finally decided by a penalty shoot-out. In a final chapter, two fans debate whether Maradono or Messi is the Argentinian G.O.A.T., with readers left to decide for themselves. Includes a list of sources.

There are probably few people on the planet who know less about soccer than I do, yet I found this book riveting right up until the end (and I wound up on Team Messi in the final debate). The quick pace and exciting play-by-play narration will keep fans turning the pages. I hope more entries in this series are on their way soon, as it’s sure to be a popular choice for upper elementary and middle school readers.

Soccerology: Unbelievable Facts and Stories About the Beautiful Game by Kevin Sylvester (Annick Press, 92 pages, grades 4-7). The author delivers on his promise in the introduction to look at all aspects of soccer: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Starting with the earliest forms of the game that go all the way back to 1600 BCE, he moves to the current era of soccer when a consistent set of rules was codified in the nineteenth century, and then the evolution of that game to the present day. The bad and the ugly parts involve the uphill battle women and people of color have faced (and continue to face) to get equal playing time, publicity, and pay, as well as various scandals and the way money has come to dominate the game. The book ends with a chapter of fun facts about soccer, including games that feature underdogs, all-time records, and quirky trivia. Includes selected references with websites for further reading and an index.

Again, I can’t emphasize enough how little I know about soccer, and there I was again, getting drawn into this book that’s chock full of fascinating information. Soccer devotees will want to read it cover to cover while more casual fans will enjoy browsing through the different sections. The selected references list includes plenty of places to look for further information.

Finding your family

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Brady Mason’s Perfect Fit by Nicole Melleby (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 336 pages, grades 4-7). Being a foster kid all her life has given Brady a tough exterior, but inside she still feels uncertain, especially about the crush she has on her best friend. When another girl at her New Jersey group home notices Brady’s resemblance to fashion superstar Elena Lavigne, she creates a Tik Tok that goes viral. In no time at all, Brady has been discovered as Elena’s long-lost daughter and whisked away to a ritzy townhouse in Manhattan. Brady finds herself navigating a world of high fashion, a snobby preppy school, media attention, and, of course, getting to know the mother who gave her up for adoption to pursue a high-powered career. Brady tries to fit in, but she can only be herself, and she and her mom navigate a bumpy road to greater acceptance of each other. By the end of the story, the two have come to accept each other and are on their way to being a unique but loving family.

Fans of The Devil Wears Prada will enjoy this slightly unrealistic but always fun Cinderella tale. Elena gives Miranda Priestly vibes at first, but eventually reveals herself to be a kinder, gentler version who still feels uncertain about her own unconventional path to success. Brady is a spunky protagonist who must deal with an enormous change just as she is entering adolescence and coming to terms with the fact that she’s gay. She and Elena provide some good role models for learning how to be part of an unconventional family.

Midsummer Sisters by Niki Smith (Graphix, 272 pages, grades 4-8). Stepsisters Kenzie and Quinn can’t remember a time that they weren’t part of the same family after their parents married when they were very young. Now their parents’ marriage seems to be falling apart, which is even more stressful due to the threat of losing each other as sisters. Their grandmother steps in to take them for the summer to her home in the Outer Banks, where she works as a veterinarian at the Wild Horse Foundation. While the girls still worry about their family falling apart, they’re able to enjoy the beach, the kayaks, the horses, and the peace of Gramma’s small house. Kenzie gets excited about adding the fossilized shark teeth she finds at the beach to her extensive rock collection, while Quinn spends her spare time on her phone with the girl she has a crush on. When the end of the summer arrives, the girls find out the fate of their family, but they know that no matter what, they will always be sisters.

This emotionally wrenching graphic novel will speak to readers going through difficult times. Each girl has a distinctive look and personality–Kenzie is quieter, more scientifically minded, with long brown hair and a port wine stain on her forehead, while Quinn is redheaded, prone to sunburn, and more easily moved by her emotions. This would make a great beach read, with its compelling story line and striking depictions of the Outer Banks.

School’s out!

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Thank You, School by Louise Borden, illustrated by Paige Keiser (Holiday House, 32 pages, ages 4-9). As they go through their day, kids thank all the adults in their lives who help make school a positive experience for them. Dylan and Madeleine say thank you to a teacher rushing out her door at 7:15 a.m. Other kids take it from there, offering appreciation and gratitude for bus drivers, crossing guards, custodians, cafeteria workers, nurses, and all kinds of teachers. Last of all are the parents (and others) who pick their children up at the end of the day, admire work, and listen to stories about school.

Perfect for the end of the school, this book could inspire children to think about the adults in their lives who make school feel safe, fun, and interesting, and to figure out ways to express their gratitude.

Last Day Pool Party by Emma Steinkellner (Labyrinth Road, 176 pages, grades 3-7). Readers are introduced to members of the graduating eighth grade class as they walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. There’s Maya, the queen bee, and her cousin Paul, who only hangs out with his gaming friends online. Best friends Juhi and Liv have their celebration cut short when Juhi tells Liv her family is moving to London in three weeks. Rose feels invisible, as usual, when the principal skips over her name during the ceremony, and Dustin is nervous about his pool party after a humiliating incident went viral on social media. The book is divided by hour, and as the party progresses, there are surprising secrets revealed and new connections made. By the time the sun sets and the kids get ready to go home, it’s clear they’re ready to start a new chapter in their lives as they move on to high school.

This fun and lighthearted graphic novel with its summer setting is perfect for beach reading, showing kids that the end of each school year not only closes one chapter but opens a new one full of possibilities.