Month: February 2018

Made for Each Other: Why Dogs and Puppies Are Perfect Partners by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, photographs by William Munoz

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Crown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Man’s best friend gets a closer look in the three sections of this book.  The first discusses the history of dogs, and how they evolved from wolves to partner with humans.  Part two, “The Science of Love” looks at how dogs’ brains work and what their body language and barks can communicate to humans.  The final section shows how contemporary humans and dogs share lives. The topics change quickly, with each two-page spread featuring a new heading and lots of adorable and sometimes funny photos.  Includes a long list of additional resources and source notes.  64 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros:  This book will be irresistible to dog lovers, not only because of the incredibly cute photographs, but also the interesting and relevant information (who doesn’t want to know what their dog is thinking?).  A perfect STEM title for all readers.

Cons:  Sorry, I just can’t think of anything negative in the presence of all those cute puppies.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Stella Diaz Has Something to Say! By Angela Dominguez

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Roaring Brook Press

Summary:  Stella Diaz has something to say, but she often has trouble saying it.  She’s shy, and sometimes she stumbles over English words.  Her family moved from Mexico to Chicago when she was a baby, making her feel somewhat disconnected from the extended family that sometimes visits.  Her father has moved to Colorado and only occasionally gets in touch, but her mom and older brother Nick more than make up for his absence.  As Stella moves through third grade, she experiences successes that helps her confidence to slowly build.  She makes new friends, speaks up for herself to the mean girl, and participates in a spelling bee in front of the whole class.  By the end of the story, she’s even made friends with a boy, and he and her other friends have helped her to put together an amazing presentation about her favorite topic, undersea animals.  The end of the year sees Stella excited about spending the summer with family and friends and more than ready to move on to fourth grade.  208 pages; grades 2-4.

Pros:  Fans of Junie B. and Clementine, especially more introverted ones, will enjoy Stella’s story and will cheer her on as she finds the courage to try new experiences.  Readers who are bilingual or new to the United States will connect with Stella’s struggles to fit in.

Cons:  Nick occasionally seems too good to be true for a 14-year-old older brother.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

TBH, This Is SO Awkward: a novel in text by Lisa Greenwald

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Katherine Tegen Books

Summary:  Cecily, Prianka, and Gabrielle are BFF’s who love to text, and their messages to one another make up the bulk of this book.  A new girl, Victoria, is desperate to make friends; Cecily’s willing to give her a chance, but Prianka and Gabrielle find her annoying.  There are the requisite mean girls, and Cecily also finds herself bonding with one of them, particularly after a fight with Prianka and Gabrielle leaves her needing a new confidante.  The texts are occasionally supplemented with homework assignments and diary entries that give the reader a little more insight into the characters.  Bullying, boys, a dance, and parental monitoring of texts are all covered in this series opener.  224 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  It was inevitable…a book told in texts. The format is as addictive as an iPhone, and even reluctant readers will find this a quick and easy read.

Cons:  Emojis really don’t take the place of well-crafted prose.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

 

 

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by HarperCollins

Summary:  From an early age, Mae Jemison dreamed of becoming an astronaut.  Her mother told her what becomes a repeating refrain in this book: “If you can dream it, if you believe it and work hard for it, anything is possible.”  At school, some kids laughed at her aspiration, and a teacher told her nursing would be a more appropriate profession.  Fortunately, her mother didn’t let her believe this, and Mae promised that one day she would wave to her parents from a spaceship.  The last page shows the adult Mae in her orange space suit and reveals that she did become an astronaut and wave to her mom and dad on Earth.  Includes a page with additional biographical information.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  An inspiring story of following your dream, illustrated with engaging round-faced characters and plenty of color.

Cons:  The biographical information is pretty thin.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Just Like Jackie by Lindsey Stoddard

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by HarperCollins

Summary:  Robinson wishes she could be more like her namesake Jackie Robinson, who could stay focused and get the job done even when people were cruel to him.  But Robbie has a short temper, and gets into trouble when she repeatedly fights with her nemesis, a boy named Alex.  To make matters worse, her beloved grandfather, her only family, is having memory problems.  He’s always refused to tell her about her parents, and she worries that he’ll forget and she’ll never learn about them.  When her class is assigned a family tree project, Robbie discovers she’s not the only one worried about loved ones.  She winds up with the guidance counselor, working with three other kids to address their family issues.  One of those kids is Alex, and Robbie begins to understand why he is such a bully.  Just as things at school begin to get better, Robbie has to face a crisis at home.  Slowly and at times reluctantly, she learns how to trust those around her to find solutions that will support both her and her grandfather moving into the future.  256 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  First-time novelist Lindsey Stoddard hits a home run with this touching story of a rough-around-the-edges but loveable protagonist.  Fans of Fish In a Tree will enjoy getting to know Robbie.

Cons:  It seemed like Robbie’s teacher could have been a bit more sensitive to the meltdowns engendered by her family tree project.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

 

When Sophie Thinks She Can’t… by Molly Bang

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Blue Sky Press

Summary:  Sophie is back, once again learning how to deal with her feelings.  This time, she’s frustrated when she’s trying to do a tangram puzzle and her older sister solves it in a minute, telling her “Too bad you’re not smart”.  When her teacher gives the class a math challenge the next day, Sophie doesn’t want to try, telling herself she can’t do puzzles and is never smart at math.  Her teacher and friends give her more positive messages, and ultimately Sophie is able to contribute to the different ways her classmates solve the problem.  She learns the power of “yet”, as in, “I haven’t figured this out…yet”, which helps her to persist and bring that lesson of perseverance home to her father.  Includes a page entitled “About this book” that tells more about the work of Carol Dweck and the growth mindset versus the fixed mindset.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Caldecott honoree Molly Bang has created another beautifully illustrated book to help young children understand their emotions and think empowering thoughts.  This would be a great discussion starter in a primary classroom.

Cons:  Having sat through more than one professional development on growth mindset and the power of “yet”, this book felt a bit didactic to me.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Every Color Soup by Jorey Hurley

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Simon and Schuster

Summary:  Each two-page spread has the name of a color and an ingredient for soup that is that color.  Most are vegetables, but there is also white salt, black pepper, and clear water (or broth).  The last few pages are action words: chop, drop, and bubble; the final page shows a bowl of soup and the word “yum”.  Includes a page identifying all the ingredients and a recipe.  40 pages; ages 3-7.

Pros:  Like a good soup, this book is simple yet satisfying, with large colorful illustrations that would look nice hanging on my kitchen wall.  The vivid designs with plenty of white space make this a good introduction to colors and vegetables for the youngest readers.

Cons:  Is clear a color?

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Groundhug Day by Anne Marie Pace, illustrated by Christopher Denise

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Disney-Hyperion

Summary:  Moose is throwing a Valentine’s party; all his friends are excited, except Groundhog, who is still hibernating.  While the others get into a heated discussion about how  to make Groundhog stay above ground after February 2, they don’t notice their friend emerge, take one long around, and dive back into his burrow.  When they plead with him to come back, he tells them he’s afraid of shadows.  His friends convince him to come out so they can show them there’s nothing to be scared of, then show him how to make silhouettes and shadow puppets.  In the end, though, it’s too cold for Groundhog to stick around for the party, and he goes back to sleep until St. Patrick’s Day.  By then, he’s ready to party, but now Bunny is holed up, preparing for the next spring holiday.  48 pages; ages 3-7.

Pros:  You can kill two birds with one stone with this book that celebrates Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day (with nods to St. Patrick’s Day and Easter, as well).  The digital illustrations are cute and colorful, and the shadows are well portrayed.

Cons:  Whoops, just noticed this book was released in December 2017.  Back to 2018 tomorrow.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

March Forward Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine by Melba Beals, illustrated by Frank Morrison

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Summary:  Melba Beals, who told her story of helping to integrate Little Rock’s Central High School in Warriors Don’t Cry, recounts her early days, growing up in Jim Crow Arkansas.  At the age of three, she observed her family making the house quiet and dark each night, hoping the Ku Klux Klan would leave them alone.  She raged at seeing her beloved parents and grandmother slighted and scolded whenever they went into town, and at having to use inferior facilities everywhere, while white people got the best of everything.  As she grew up, her fear and anger turned into a determination to change things and to get out of Arkansas.  She jumped at the chance to go to Central High School, a huge, beautiful school that she had admired for years.  The main part of the book ends right before she starts high school; an epilogue describes the violent and frightening experience of integration.  The text is illustrated with drawings and a few photographs.  224 pages; grades 6-9.

Pros:  Readers will gain a better understanding of what it was like for African Americans living in the South in the 1940’s.  Beals’ conversational tone draws the reader in, and her story is so powerful and compelling (and at times, horrifying) that the book is hard to put down.

Cons:  This book is recommended for grade 5 or age 10 and up.  Be aware that there is a scene in which the KKK storms into a prayer meeting, and 5-year-old Melba witnesses a lynching from the church rafters; at age 11, she gets lost on a dark, isolated road and narrowly escapes being raped and/or murdered by a group of Klansmen.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.