Month: March 2020

Alice Across America: The Story of the First Women’s Cross-Country Road Trip by Sarah Glenn Marsh, illustrations by Gilbert Ford

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Henry Holt and Co.

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Summary:  Alice Ramsay fell in love with driving the minute she slid behind the wheel of her first car.  She enjoyed it so much that she entered a two-day endurance run to test her driving skills. After the first day, a publicist for carmaker Maxwell-Briscoe asked Alice if she’d be interested in driving from New York to California to show the public that their cars were so safe and well built that even a woman could drive one across the country.  Alice agreed, inviting three friends along. Two months and 4,000 miles later the four women pulled into San Francisco, having endured muddy roads, flat tires, potholes, and a bedbug-infested hotel. Alice lived to be 96 years old, enjoying driving and the distinction of being the first woman to drive across America. Includes additional information on Alice and the history of cars; several photos; a map on the endpapers showing the route; and a selected bibliography.  48 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  A fun and informative story of cars, cross-country driving and four adventurous women.  The back matter would make this a great choice for research.

Cons:  It would have been nice to incorporate the map into the illustrations more rather than having to refer to the endpapers.

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

Old Rock (Is Not Boring) by Deb Pilutti

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Image result for old rock is not boring amazon

Image result for old rock is not boring amazon

Summary:  Tall Pine, Spotted Beetle, and Hummingbird all think Old Rock must be bored, sitting in the same spot day after day.  But Old Rock has been around, and he has a lot more interesting stories to tell than his friends could have guessed. For instance, Hummingbird is not the only one who has flown.  When Old Rock erupted out of a volcano, he soared through the air into the world. He’s also seen dinosaurs, traveled in a glacier, and somersaulted down a mountain. Now he enjoys spending his days in the field, visited by his friends, who conclude that it’s a nice spot and that Old Rock is definitely not boring.  Includes a timeline of Old Rock’s adventures, going back 18 billion years. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A delightful story that can be appreciated on many levels: geological history, intergenerational sharing, or simply enjoying the present moment.  

Cons:  Tall Pine hardly seems in a position to give Old Rock a hard time about staying in the same spot all the time.

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

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen! By Sarah Kapit

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Dial Books

Image result for get a grip vivy cohen amazon

Summary:  Three years ago, Vivy Cohen met MLB player VJ Capello.  He showed her how to throw a knuckleball, and she’s practiced it almost every day since then.  When her social skills class homework is to write someone a letter, she writes to VJ about her baseball hopes and dreams.  She enjoys the experience so much that she continues to send letters telling him about her new baseball team, where she’s the only girl, and how her autism sometimes makes it difficult to be on a team.  A month later, VJ writes back, and they begin a correspondence filled with encouragement, advice, and friendship. Turns out VJ is having troubles of his own following a disastrous game 7 in the previous World Series.  Being a Black knuckleballer makes him sometims feel as much of an outsider as Vivy does. Both VJ and Vivy have to overcome obstacles that threaten to end their baseball careers, but by the end they’ve each managed to claw their way to play for another season.  336 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Who doesn’t like a good baseball story?  And this one, completely written in the format of letters, is a quick and breezy read, but still offering plenty of substance about Vivy dealing with the challenges with her autism and the team bully (who is also the coach’s son), keeping her brother’s secret about being gay, and dealing with a serious injury and a protective mom.  

Cons:  While I guess it makes sense that VJ wouldn’t write a lot of personal information to an 11-year-old girl, I still found myself wishing to know more about him and his life.

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

 

 

Agent Lion by David Soman and Jacky Davis

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HarperCollins

Image result for agent lion amazon

Summary:  Agent Lion is at home “working”, when he gets a call from Ms. Chief from Headquarters.  Ms Flamingo’s cat is missing, and it’s up to Agent Lion to find him. The agent is on the case, traveling “the absolutely most direct route”, shown as a circuitous path through town that takes two hours.  When he finally arrives, he looks in the most likely hiding places, like the living room, bathroom, and refrigerator (well, he was actually looking for jelly donuts in the refrigerator). His witness interrogation results in Ms. Flamingo firing him, but she invites him to have a cup of tea before he leaves.  While she is in the kitchen, Agent Lion sits on the couch feeling terrible. He rearranges some of the pillows on the couch, only to have one purr at him. Agent Lion has solved the case! Jelly donuts all around! 40 pages; ages 4-8.  

Pros:  The creators of Ladybug Girl have come up with a new character that is sure to tickle kids’ funny bones.  It’s also a good introduction to mysteries, introducing vocabulary like detective, clues, and witnesses.

Cons:  The cat looks dead when he’s lying on Agent Lion’s lap.

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

The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee, illustrated by Pascal Campion

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

Image result for paper kingdom amazon helena

Image result for paper kingdom helena

Summary:  Daniel is just falling asleep when his parents get a call that his babysitter can’t come over.  They are night janitors at a large office building, so they have no choice but to bring him with them.  Daniel is sleepy and grumpy, but his parents tell him stories about the king, queen, and dragons of the paper kingdom.  While they talk, they work hard: mopping, vacuuming, and cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen. Daniel is angry that they have to clean up after the king and queen.  His papa tells him that some day he will be king, and his mama reminds him to be nice to the dragons when that day arrives. Daniel falls asleep dreaming of kings and dragons, and wakes up as he’s being tucked into bed.  An author’s note tells of her own childhood and parents that inspired this story. 40 pages; ages 3-7.

Pros:  A heartfelt story about a family struggling to make ends meet that reminded me of Night Job by Karen Hesse.  The illustrations show a tiny living space–possibly a single room–and hardworking  but cheerful parents.  Their hopes that Daniel will have a better life are a reminder of the American dream that even the youngest readers will understand.  

Cons:  The “paper king” seems to have left about 100 sheets of paper on the floor of his conference room for the cleaners to pick up–pretty obnoxious.

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

Packs: Strength in Numbers by Hannah Salyer

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

Image result for packs strength in numbers by hannah salyer

Summary:  The first four two-page spreads each contain a single word: “Packs, herds, huddles, and pods.”  Each shows a group of animals: wolves, buffalo, penguins, and whales. The text continues, “Together, we are better.”  Then there are lengthier descriptions of how different animals work together. Ants collect and store leaves as a group: “Together, we harvest!”  Wildebeest migrate together for protection: “Together, we travel!” The last two pages show a big group of humans, enjoying the streets, parks, and restaurants of a city: “All together…we are better!”  Includes an author’s note about protecting animals of all species; a picture illustrating and identifying all the animals in the book; and a list of books for further reading. 48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Kids will enjoy learning how animals work together and applying those lessons to their own groups, but the illustrations are what really make this book outstanding.  The first eight pages are especially spectacular. This is Hannah Salyer’s first picture book…hoping we will see many more.

Cons:  The theme of this book seemed a bit disjointed: it was about pack animals, but also seemed to be about humans working together, and then there was the author’s note about helping endangered animals.  All good things, but a single focus might have worked better.

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

 

Cast Away: Poems for Our Time by Naomi Shihab Nye

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Greenwillow Books

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Summary:  Young People’s Poet Laureate Nye has written 84 poems with the theme of trash.  Many are about found objects that she or someone else has discovered on the streets, beaches, in a trash bin, or some other location.  An eight-page introduction tells of her lifelong interest in keeping things tidy and some of the rewards she has discovered from picking up trash.  The poems are divided into five sections: Sweepings, Titters & Tatters, Odds & Ends, Willy-Nilly, and Residue. A final section gives kids ten ideas for writing, recycling, and reclaiming.  Includes an index of the poems by first lines. 176 pages; grades 5 and up.

Pros:  This is a fun topic for poetry.  Most of the poems are brief, but thought-provoking, and will inspire kids to look more closely at the world around them.

Cons:  While this seems like a collection intended for elementary students, I think many of the poems would go over the heads of most kids under the age of 10.  The introductory poem, “Taking Out the Trash” by Kamilah Aisha Moon feels more like an adult work.

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

Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots by Michael Rex

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

Image result for facts vs opinions vs robots

Image result for facts vs opinions vs robots

Summary:  A jolly group of robots helps readers understand the difference between fact and opinion.  The robot is green: fact. Green is a good color for a robot: opinion. The robot’s name is Bubba: we need more information.  Kids will also learn how to respect others’ opinions and not try to convince someone else that their opinion is wrong. Is it an awesome book?  Well, that’s an opinion question. But you can read it again if you want, and that’s a fact. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A timely topic for children of all ages, introduced in a way that is fun and easy to understand.  I can’t think of any other kids’ books on this topic, and it’s an important one. As an aside, Michael Rex and I grew up on the same street in Chatham, NJ (fact), and I am always delighted when I see one of his books (opinion).

Cons:  I’m pretty sure Mr. and Mrs. Rex know where I live, so I’m going to refrain from any negative feedback about their son’s book.

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

Vote for Our Future! by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by Micah Player and Equality’s Call: The Story of Voting Rights In America by Deborah Diesen, illustrated by Magdalena Mora

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Schwartz & Wade 

Image result for vote for our future mcnamara

Image result for vote for our future mcnamara

 

Published by Beach Lane Books

Image result for equality's call story

Image result for equality's call story

Summaries:  Every two years, Stanton Elementary School closes down on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.  Turns out it’s a polling place on Election Day, and the kids in Vote for Our Future! want to be a part of it.  They visit friends, family, and neighbors to encourage them to vote, meeting each one of their lame excuses with a solution to get them registered and to the polls.  A gatefold page shows long lines on Election Day, and excitement builds as votes are counted and recounted. Kids are back at school the next day, “and the future begins to change”.  Includes a list of Acts of Congress that have made the future better for Americans. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

The rhyming text of Equality’s Call tells the story of how voting rights have changed over the last 200 years.  At first, “white men with property went to the polls, but the rest of the people were left off the rolls”.  Over time, things slowly changed, allowing women, people of color, and the non-wealthy to vote. Every few pages, a double-page spread shows a growing parade of voters with the refrain, “We heard ever louder/Equality’s call/A right isn’t a right/Till it’s granted to all.”  The last few pages remind readers that we owe a debt of gratitude to those who fought for voters’ rights and that “democracy’s dream must be constantly tended”. Includes two pages of voting-related amendments and legislation with a description of each one and two pages with thumbnail profiles of voting rights activists.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A double dose of democracy with two excellent picture books that show the importance of voting and put it in historical context.  

Cons:  Not voting on Election Day!  If you’re in a Super Tuesday state and know someone who isn’t voting today, I encourage you to call or visit that person and read one of these books to them in an aggrieved, disappointed voice.  Say it kids:

Image result for vote for our future mcnamara

If you would like to buy Vote for Our Future on Amazon, click here.

If you would like to buy Equality’s Call on Amazon, click here.

That’s What Friends Do by Cathleen Barnhart

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HarperCollins

Image result for that's what friends do cathleen barnhart

Summary:  David and Sammie have been friends for years.  David has discovered recently that he has a crush on Sammie, but is too shy to tell her.  When new kid Luke starts flirting with Sammie, David is jealous and feels like he should make his move.  In a swift, confusing series of events on the bus one day, David tries to kiss Sammie but accidentally touches her inappropriately.  She feels betrayed, and considers their friendship over. David is devastated, but doesn’t know how to make things right. Forced to go their separate ways, each of them discovers new friends and interests.  David joins the art club and finally gets up the nerve to tell his dad that he’s more passionate about drawing than baseball. Sammie finds new friends on the softball team and has to tell her father that she’d rather be on that team than playing baseball with the boys.  When Sammie experiences further sexual harassment from Luke and his friends, David must find the courage to speak up and tell the truth. 352 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  Another #metoo inspired book, this one told in the alternating voices of David and Sammie.  The middle school angst with friends, crushes, and parents feels real, and the problems the kids face are realistically messy and complicated.  Tweens and young teens are sure to find a lot to relate to here.

Cons:  I was expecting some further insights into Luke’s life by the end of the story, but I never felt like I learned enough about him to understand his motivations.  Although he initially seemed like the villain, by the end it seemed like the author was trying to portray him as a troubled kid, but I didn’t feel like I had enough information to decide.

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