Month: February 2022

Just Harriet by Elana K. Arnold

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Walden Pond Press

Summary:  Harriet gets an upsetting surprise on her last day of third grade: her pregnant mother has been ordered to go on bed rest until the baby arrives, and Harriet will be spending two months at her grandmother’s bed and breakfast on Marble Island.  On the ferry trip, her father, who grew up on the island, makes a few cryptic comments about treasure and a gingerbread house that arouse Harriet’s curiosity.  After she gets to Nanu’s house and her dad leaves, though, Harriet is miserable for the next few days and expresses her misery by being surly and unpleasant to those around her.  Fortunately, Nanu is understanding, and as the days go by, Harriet begins to make some discoveries that help her to get to know her dad as a boy and that lead her to unlocking the mysteries of the treasure and the gingerbread house.  By the end of the book, Harriet has discovered her own strength and feels much more confident about her abilities to get through the summer on her own.  208 pages; grades 2-4.

Pros:  I love how upfront Harriet is about her shortcomings: on the first page she tells the reader that she lies, is plagued by nightmares, and sometimes wets the bed.  She covers up her homesickness with grumpiness and occasional fibs but grows in a way that’s realistic and that will resonate with many readers.  The mystery is a fun part of the story, but somewhat secondary to Harriet’s development. I’m always happy to see a “real” chapter book written for this age group.

Cons:  I liked the somewhat eccentric woman called the Captain and was hoping there would be more revealed about her character.

Sadiq and the Gamers by Siman Nuurali, illustrated by Christos Skaltsas

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Picture Window Books

Amazon.com: Sadiq and the Gamers: 9781663921918: Nuurali, Siman, Skaltsas, Christos: Books

Amazon.com: Sadiq and the Gamers: 9781663909824: Nuurali, Siman, Skaltsas, Christos: Books

Summary:  Sadiq is excited to be part of a new video game club, along with his friends Manny and Zaza.  They meet in the school library with librarian Mr. Kim, who reminds them that part of being in a club is finding a way to help others.  Sadiq often goes with his mother when she volunteers at the local assisted-living home, and he’s seen Mr. Soto, a new resident who seems lonely.  When Mr. Soto tells Sadiq he used to be a racecar driver and gives him some tips for getting to the next level of Screech Master 7000, Sadiq has the idea that the gamers’ club can visit the older people.  Before long the club is meeting weekly at Harmony House, and new friendships are growing.  The wisdom that the residents share helps the club win their first tournament.  Includes a glossary, discussion questions, extension activities, and Somalian facts and terms.  64 pages; grades 1-3.

Pros:  I just discovered this series when I visited a bookstore this weekend and was excited to see an early chapter book series with a Somali main character (there are a number of Somali students at my school).  It’s a straightforward story with an emphasis on family and friends helping each other and plenty of illustrations.  The first four books were published in 2020.

Cons:  I found it a little confusing to have the Somali terms defined at the beginning of the story and the glossary at the end.

Omar Rising by Aisha Saeed

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

Omar Rising - Kindle edition by Saeed, Aisha. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Summary:  Omar is on his way to the prestigious Ghalib Academy, an honor celebrated not only by him and his mother, but by his entire community.  He knows he’ll have to work hard, but he’s unprepared for the reality of what it means to be a scholarship student: no clubs or sports, five hours of chores each week, and a good possibility of being expelled if he doesn’t maintain an A-plus average.  Omar grows close to some of the other boys on scholarship, and they work together day and night to try to keep their grades up.  When Omar and his friend Naveed find out they’ve been “weeded” at the end of the first year, they are desperate to find a way to stay at the school.  Omar discovers that his kindness and work ethic have not gone unnoticed. He finds allies in unlikely places as he and the other students become activists to change the rules, not only for Omar and Naveed, but for the boys who will come after them. 224 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  Omar, a friend of Amal’s from Amal Unbound, will inspire readers with his determination and social activism.  Learning about the class differences in Pakistan and how they affect the lives of those in every class may cause readers to take a closer look at differences in their own cultures.

Cons:  Don’t make the mistake that I did and read the last few chapters of this book in a public place with no tissues in the immediate vicinity.

Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Tonya Engel

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Dial Books

Because Claudette: Baptiste, Tracey, Engel, Tonya: 9780593326404: Amazon.com: Books

Because Claudette – Books of Wonder

Summary:  “Because fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin didn’t give up her seat on the bus for a white person on March 2, 1955, she was arrested.”  Thus begins a chain of events that leads Claudette to become friends with Rosa Parks, get involved with the Montgomery bus boycott, and to testify in court when her lawyer challenged the segregation laws.  Claudette was inspired by Black activists from the past as well as her contemporaries like Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and other women who refused to give up their bus seats.  When the Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional, Claudette read about it in the newspaper.  “On December 21, 1956, anyone could sit wherever they liked on the bus.  And all of it happened because of Claudette.”  Includes a brief author’s note, and a list of two books and three websites for further research.  32 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  The simple text and beautiful illustrations (I love that cover) show how one young person can make a big difference.  This would be an inspiring book to read to younger kids for Black History Month.

Cons:  The lack of back matter was a real missed opportunity: there could have been photos, a lot more biographical information on Claudette, as well as more about the the others pictured in the text.

The Supervillain’s Guide to Being a Fat Kid by Matt Wallace

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Katherine Tegen Books

The Supervillain's Guide to Being a Fat Kid: Wallace, Matt: 9780063008038: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Max hopes that middle school will give him a new start, but an hour into his first day, he’s already had a humiliating interaction with some eighth-grade bullies.  In desperation, he writes to Master Plan, a famous villain who’s in jail after defeating a beloved superhero.  The two start exchanging letters, and Master Plan, who was a fat kid like Max, offers advice on how to be cool and outsmart your enemies.  Max is thrilled with his new image, but occasionally troubled that his new personality doesn’t always correlate with being a good friend and a kind person.  When a showdown with his tormentors results in disaster, Max realizes that Master Plan has been using him and makes a decision to follow his own heart and sense of what’s right.  The story ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, but also with the knowledge that Max knows himself and will be okay whatever the outcome.  272 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  An inspiring story about learning to be yourself set in a fun world populated by superheroes and villains.  It’s refreshing to see a message about body positivity aimed at boys.

Cons:  I wonder if kids who feel the embarrassment and shame Max experiences at the start of the book would be hesitant to be seen reading a guide to “being a fat kid”.

Tía Fortuna’s New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journey by Ruth Behar, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Tía Fortuna's New Home: A Jewish Cuban Journey: Behar, Ruth, Holzwarth, Devon: 9780593172414: Amazon.com: Books

El nuevo hogar de Tía Fortuna: Una historia judía-cubana (Spanish Edition): Behar, Ruth, Holzwarth, Devon: 9780593381069: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  The narrator loves visiting her tía Fortuna’s casita at the Seaway.  But now the Seaway is being torn down, and tía Fortuna is moving.  The girl helps her aunt pack a small suitcase, bake some warm borekas, and say goodbye to the beach.  As they work, tía talks a little about their ancestors who came from Spain and traveled to Turkey, Cuba, and finally, Miami.  Then Mommy arrives to take them to La Casa de los Viejitos, where they help tía get settled in her room.  She immediately starts handing out borekas and making new friends. Tia gives the girl a key from the Seaway that she can wear around her neck to remember the home they both loved.  Includes an author’s note with additional information about Sephardic Jews and her connection to them, and a glossary of words from the story in other languages.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A warm story of a loving intergenerational relationship with information woven in about a culture I knew nothing about.  The illustrations do a great job of showing some of the items mentioned that kids may not be familiar with, and the colors evoke Miami and Cuba.  The author’s note is helpful in understanding the story better.

Cons: La Case de los Viejitos isn’t translated, so kids will have to use some inference skills to figure out that tia Fortuna is moving to a retirement home.

Big Ship Rescue! by Chris Gall

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Norton Young Readers

Big Ship Rescue! (Big Rescue): Gall, Chris: 9781324019251: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Mayday! Mayday! The Goliath is in trouble when its engines quit, and it starts taking on water.  After the crew is rescued by helicopters, Salvage Master Miley arrives in her tugboat, the Mighty Mackerel, to see if the Goliath can be saved.  She and her crew inspect the ship underwater, pump its fuel onto a barge, and offload the cargo.  The Mighty Mackerel and two other tugboats successfully get the Goliath back to port, where it looks like it can be repaired to travel the world again.  Salvage Master Miley heads back to her home port just in time to give her baby a bath, complete with toy boats.  Includes a diagrammatic of the Goliath on the endpapers.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Here’s a book for all the vehicle fans who love to learn how things work.  The explanations and illustrations are clear and understandable, even for readers like myself who don’t usually toss around phrases like “pump fuel onto a barge” and “offload cargo”. This is a companion to last year’s Big Rig Rescue.

Cons:  I was hoping for a little more back matter. 

Sweet Justice: Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Random House Studio

Sweet Justice: Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott: Rockliff, Mara, Christie, R. Gregory: 9781524720650: Amazon.com: Books

Sweet Justice: Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott: Rockliff, Mara, Christie, R. Gregory: 9781524720643: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  “Georgia Gilmore was cooking when she heard the news.”  Rosa Parks had been arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a city bus, news that came as no surprise to Georgia who had had her own run-in with a bus driver and no longer used the buses.  She was delighted when a boycott was announced and enjoyed the company of others when she walked to work.  Georgia started cooking to raise money for the drivers giving rides to those whose commute was too far to walk.  Later, she helped her friend and neighbor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by testifying in court at his trial for organizing the boycott.  King reciprocated by giving Georgia money to start her own restaurant when she was fired from her job.  Soon, the restaurant overflowed with enthusiastic diners, and Georgia was cooking once again when she heard the news that the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that segregated buses were unconstitutional.  Includes additional information about Georgia Gilmore, a list of sources, and a note about research that should be required reading for all young researchers.  40 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  Mara Rocklin’s engaging writing style and Caldecott honoree R. Gregory Christie’s vivid illustrations bring to life this unsung heroine of the civil rights movement.  Readers will be inspired to learn how humble actions like cooking and walking to work helped bring about important changes.

Cons:  I could have enjoyed a recipe or two.

Beak & Ally: Unlikely Friends by Norm Feuti

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by HarperAlley

Beak & Ally #1: Unlikely Friends: Feuti, Norm, Feuti, Norm: 9780063021570: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Ally is an alligator minding his own business when he hears, “Fee Boo, Fee Boo.”  A new bird has landed in the swamp, and that bird wants to be Ally’s new best friend.  Beak seems a bit lacking in social skills, and Ally says he wants to be left alone.  Soon, however, Ally receives an invitation for a nest-warming party and decides he’ll go for ten minutes.  On his way, he passes a sad-looking Beak, who informs him that the party has been canceled.  Ally discovers that the new nest has been taken over by a bird called a Long-Necked Party Pooper.  Annoyed by the Party Pooper’s bullying attitude, Ally reclaims the nest for Beak, whom he refers to as his friend.  That’s all Beak needs to hear to get busy planning out adventures for the two friends.  64 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  This is a bit of a Throwback Thursday, since this book was published in 2021.  It kind of stayed under the radar with only one slightly sour review from Kirkus but was a 2022 Geisel honor book.  I found it charming and entertaining, a perfect beginning graphic novel for new readers.  Book #3 comes out in May, so there’s the 2022 connection.

Cons:  Although the title of the series is Beak and Ally, the alligator is never referred to by name in the story. The bird introduces himself as Beak, but the alligator calls him Fee Boo.

The Girl in the Lake by India Hill Brown

~ Janet Dawson ~ 4 Comments

Published by Scholastic

The Girl in the Lake: Brown, India Hill: 9781338678888: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Celeste is apprehensive about spending two weeks at her grandparents’ lake house with her brother and cousins.  She’s just had a bad experience with swimming lessons and is still afraid to get in the water.  Her grandparents are big advocates of Black people learning to swim: her grandfather worked as a lifeguard, and her grandmother had a sister who drowned while trying to teach herself to swim.  Grandma and Grandad are understanding, though, not only of Celeste’s concerns but also of her brother’s reluctance to hike in the woods and her cousins’ fears of thunderstorms and driving.  Before long, though, the kids have bigger concerns as weird happenings make them begin to suspect that the house is haunted by the ghost of their great aunt who drowned, a girl who bore a strong resemblance to Celeste.  As the ghost seems to grow more menacing, the four cousins must put aside their differences and work together to survive their time in the house. Includes an author’s note that talks more about how segregation has kept Black people from learning to swim, including her own story.  224 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  A ghost story with just the right amount of scare for the intended audience, with some empowering messages about overcoming fears and being on the right side of history. 

Cons:  The girl on the cover creeped me out so much I had to turn the book face-down before I went to sleep.