Month: November 2020

Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Frank Morrison

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball: Bryant, Jen, Morrison, Frank: 9781419741081: Amazon.com: Books
Sixty years on, an NBA story teaches about racial injustice | MPR News

Summary:  Growing up in a segregated neighborhood in Washington, D.C., Elgin Baylor didn’t have much opportunity to learn how to play basketball.  So he taught himself.  When he got to high school and college, coaches were amazed at his style of play, so different from what they were accustomed to.  In 1958, Elgin was drafted by the Minnesota Lakers.  His pro ball career coincided with events in the civil rights movement.  Elgin himself took a stand after experiencing discrimination at hotels and restaurants when his team played in West Virginia.  He refused to suit up with the team, disappointing fans who had come to see him play, but using his status to make a statement.  A few weeks later, the NBA commissioner ruled that teams would no longer stay in hotels or eat in restaurants that practiced discrimination.  The following year, in 1959, Elgin was chosen as NBA Rookie of the Year.  Includes an author’s note describing how Elgin Baylor changed basketball and influenced players like Julius Irving, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James, as well as a list of additional resources, and a timeline of both Baylor’s life and events in the civil rights movement.  40 pages; grades 2-6.

Pros:  Basketball fans will enjoy this look at a lesser-known player who changed the game and influenced some other players they may have heard of.  Frank Morrison’s action-shot illustrations are amazing and should be looked at by the Coretta Scott King and/or Caldecott committees.

Cons:  Some sources recommend this book for preschoolers or kindergarteners, but with the civil rights events woven in and extensive back matter, it’s a better book for older elementary kids.

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

Millionaires for the Month by Stacy McAnulty

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

Millionaires for the Month: McAnulty, Stacy: 9780593175255: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  When Felix and Benji find a wallet belonging to billionaire Laura Friendly, they return it–after first “borrowing” $20.00 to buy themselves hot dogs and ice cream.  As a reward/punishment, Ms. Friendly offers the boys $10 million.  But there’s a catch: first they have to spend $5,368,709.12 in a month (the amount you’d have by starting with a penny and doubling it every day for 30 days).  There are some rules: no real estate, no vehicles, no charities, and no gifts.  At first, the boys are thrilled to buy whatever they want, but they soon learn the ancient lesson that money can’t buy happiness.  The “no gift” rule makes them look selfish, and spending millions just on themselves proves increasingly difficult.  When tragedy strikes, the boys realize that many of the best things in life have no price.  The end finds them wiser, but no richer…well maybe just a little bit richer.  336 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This improbable but fun tale taps into our love/hate relationship with money, and could lead to some interesting discussions.  Sure to appeal to upper elementary and middle school kids.

Cons:  I was expecting some sweeping revelation about Laura Friendly, but there was nothing spectacular.

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

Cow Boy Is Not a Cowboy by Gregory Barrington

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by HarperCollins

Cow Boy Is NOT a Cowboy by Gregory Barrington, Hardcover | Barnes & Noble®

Summary:  Not much happens on Humdrum Farm, where the hens lay extraordinarily average eggs and the pigs only roll in the mud when necessary.  The only exception is Goat Girl, who loves French cooking and invents her own games.  When she stumbles upon Merle the bull, the oldest animal on the farm, she’s sure she has found a kindred spirit.  Merle, however, is convinced he’s as humdrum as the rest of the animals, and refuses to admit he’s the cowboy that Goat Girl says he is.  But Goat Girl doesn’t know that Merle once harbored dreams of being a cowboy.  When the chickens escape and start heading to cross the road for the Other Side Café, it turns out to be Merle who lives up to his dreams and saves the day.  The next day, it’s back to humdrum business as usual on the farm…except out in the pasture where Goat Girl and Cow Boy are having a decidedly un-humdrum good time.  40 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  I laughed out loud a couple times, and kids will undoubtedly have the same reaction.  The illustrations are at least as funny as the story, and the “Be yourself” message is delivered with an exceedingly light hand.

Cons:  I was sad that Merle had given up on his dreams for so many years.

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

Letters from Space by Clayton Anderson, illustrated by Susan Batori

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Sleeping Bear Press

Letters from Space: Anderson, Clayton, Batori, Susan: 9781534110748: Amazon.com: Books

Summary: Former astronaut Clayton Anderson drew on his experience living aboard the International Space Station to create these fictional letters about life in space.  From Day 1 (“Dear Mom, I did it I made it into outer space! LAUNCH WAS SO COOL!”) to Day 152 (“Dear Mission Control: I’m home–safely back on Earth. And boy, am I glad about that!”), his letters brim with enthusiasm for sharing his experiences and scientific information about space.  The science is very kid-friendly, describing why the crews’ heads look bigger when the first few days of a mission, animals who have traveled into space, and how astronauts take pictures. Living in a weightless environment, conducting experiments, and going for a space walk are all explained with an air of excitement, and a P.S. from the astronaut at the end gives a bit more information about each topic.  32 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  Anderson’s enthusiasm is infectious, and is sure to lead some readers to consider a career in space.  The letters format is engaging, and could serve as a writing prompt.  Batori’s humorous cartoon-inspired illustrations add to the fun.

Cons:  I wished the letters had clarified who each recipient was.  Some (Mom, Brother, Mission Control) are obvious, while others (Cole, Sofia, Ana) are more ambiguous.

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

Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals by Katy S. Duffield, illustrated by Mike Orodán

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Published by Beach Lane Books

Crossings | Book by Katy S. Duffield, Mike Orodán | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster
Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals: Duffield, Katy S., Orodán, Mike: 9781534465794: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Animals struggle to survive in a world overrun by humans, but there are people who build structures to make life a little easier for them.  They’ve created overpasses, underpasses, bridges, and tunnels to help different creatures move from one place to another safely.  From overpasses across the Trans-Canada Highway to rope bridges over Australia’s Hume Highway to tiny passageways built for spotted salamanders in Massachusetts, engineers have come up with some creative solutions to help animals threatened by traffic and other human activities.  Includes two pages with additional information about each structure and a bibliography.  48 pages; ages 4-9.

Pros:  Kids will enjoy learning about both the animals and the structures, but the real appeal of this book is the large, colorful illustrations of all the critters.  I hope we’ll be seeing more from illustrator Mike Orodán.

Cons:  I hope I never stumble upon those millions of crabs crossing their special crab bridge on Christmas Island.

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

King of the Birds (Arlo and Pips, book 1) by Elise Gravel

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Published by HarperAlley

Amazon.com: Arlo & Pips: King of the Birds (9780062982223): Gravel, Elise, Gravel, Elise: Books

CanLit for LittleCanadians: Arlo & Pips: King of the Birds

Summary:  When Pips meets Arlo, the crow immediately sets out to impress the smaller bird with his many abilities: he can count, he has a big brain, and he can do imitations.  He’s new to the city, and Pips offers to show him around.  As they explore, Arlo continues to share the amazing things he (and all crows) can do.  His love of shiny objects leads the two birds on a trip to the beach, where Arlo demonstrates his ability to outwit the seagulls they meet there.  The two birds part ways at the end, with Arlo wondering, “Who am I going to brag to now?”  Guess we’ll find out in book 2, advertised on the final page, but not yet listed on Amazon.  64 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  Marketed to fans of Narwhal and Jelly (Ben Clanton raves, “This book will fly off the shelves!” on the front cover), this new series will be popular with younger graphic novel fans.  Arlo’s bragging is funny, and there’s quite a bit of information about crows woven into the text.

Cons:  I found Arlo kind of obnoxious, and Pips a bit nondescript, neither quite matching the charm of Narwhal and Jelly.

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

Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It: Pinkney, Andrea Davis, Pinkney, Brian: 9780316536776: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  The three voices that “tell it” belong to Loretta Little, a sharecropper’s daughter growing up in Mississippi from 1927 to 1930; Loretta’s younger brother Roly, who narrates from 1942 to 1950; and Roly’s daughter, Aggie B., whose years span 1962 to 1968.  Inspired by the oral tradition, their narratives of hardship, poverty, love, and fights for civil rights are told in their own voices, supplemented by poems and illustrations.  Includes an author’s note; an illustrator’s note; additional information on the dramatic form; information on sharecroppers; thumbnail portraits and descriptions of real-life people who appear in the Littles’ stories; and a list of resources for further reading and sharing.  224 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  The Pinkneys have produced another work of art that is sure to get some attention at awards time.  The monologues are designed for reading aloud, and could be performed all together, or as individual pieces.  The poems and illustrations tie all three narratives together beautifully.

Cons:  I would have liked the information on the dramatic form at the beginning of the book.  I read this as one would a regular novel, and found it a bit of a slog.  It’s much more lively when considering it as a performance piece.

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

Max Meow, Cat Crusader by John Gallagher

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

Amazon.com: Max Meow Book 1: Cat Crusader (9780593121054): Gallagher, John: Books

Summary:  Max is a pretty ordinary cat keeping things real on his podcast for his 12 followers.  He decides to interview his friend Mindy the scientist for his next show.  They have a good time at her lab, learning about her new inventions, until they’re interrupted by an odd robot. The reader knows this robot is working for the evil Agent M, trying to steal the giant meatball that Mindy found in outer space.  In the midst of the struggle, Max accidentally ingests part of the meatball, and discovers it gives him superpowers.  How he uses those powers becomes a source of contention between Max and Mindy, and the two stop speaking.  But Max needs Mindy’s scientific mind, and his superhero deeds begin to fall apart without her.  The two manage to reconcile in time to take down one of the villains…but the other two are still at large, and a couple exciting twists at the end promise a fun book 2.  Includes instructions for drawing the Cat Crusader.  240 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  The Cat Crusader will not spend much time curled up on the library shelves, as this goofy, action-packed graphic novel is sure to appeal to Dog Man’s legion of fans.

Cons:  No Flip-o-Rama.

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

The Boys in the Back Row by Mike Jung

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Levine Querido

Boys in the Back Row - Kindle edition by Jung, Mike. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Summary:  Matt’s happy to have switched from flute to bass drum for marching band. Not only will he stop getting teased for playing a “girl’s instrument”, he’ll get to be in the drum line with his best friend Eric.  The boys are excited to learn that the band will be participating in the big World of Amazement band competition.  When they find out that the DefenderCon comic event is right next door the same weekend as the competition, they hatch a plan to escape on the last day of the trip to attend the convention.  Sean, a trumpet player who’s best friends with the biggest bully in the band, finds out about their plan, and wants in.  When Eric learns that he’s moving at the end of the school year, it suddenly becomes even more important for the two friends to get to DefenderCon–without Sean.  The trip to the World of Amazement turns out to be a day no one is likely to forget anytime soon, and nothing turns out the way Matt or Eric could have possibly imagined. But each boy proves his loyalty to the other one in amazing ways, and it seems as though their friendship will endure even when they’re living on opposite sides of the country.  272 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  As a former band geek myself, I enjoyed pretty much everything about this book.  “We’re proud of being in the band, even though we’re also super embarrassed about being in the band.”  Exactly.  But what I loved the most was Matt and Eric’s friendship.  There are many middle grade books about girl best friends, but it’s rare to see a boy friendship like this one.  And they have to deal with a lot of bullying and homophobia because of it (they have a funny and heartfelt conversation about being gay, and decide they are not).  I also got a kick out of (and could relate to) Matt’s earnestly lefty Unitarian parents.

Cons:  I felt that World of Amazement could have been more creatively named. 

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

Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog by Lisa Papp

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Peachtree Publishing Company

Madeline Finn and the Therapy Dog: Papp, Lisa, Papp, Lisa: 9781682631492: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Madeline’s dog Star is turning one year old, and he’s facing an important event.  Star and Madeline have been practicing meeting people and dogs, sitting and staying to get ready for Star’s test to qualify as a therapy dog at Walker Oaks Retirement Village.  All goes well on the first two days, except that Star fails to make old Mr. Humphrey smile, and Madeline can’t even get him to say hello.  The third time around, Madeline gets a reminder to be patient.  She and Star sit with Mr. Humphrey, reading him a book, until their patience is finally rewarded, and Star gets a therapy dog tag to put on his collar.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Somehow I’ve missed these adorable books about Madeline Finn and her dog: there’s one about her learning to read with Bonnie, the library dog, and another about how she gets Star.  This one will definitely tug at your heartstrings, both the winning illustrations and the touching ending.  Madeline and the two sweet dogs on the cover are sure to draw readers to them like a double canine magnet.

Cons:  Seemed like a missed opportunity not to have additional information about therapy dogs at the end.

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