Month: September 2023

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

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Published by Candlewick

Summary:  The dynamic Barnett-Klassen duo ponder the question of the title with a whole brainstorm of ideas.  Does Santa cinch up his belt or shrink to the size of the mouse?  Does he ever get stuck partway down and need a kick from the reindeer?  And what about those homes without chimneys?  Does he turn into a letter and drop through the mail slot?  Or slip through the pipes and come out the faucet?  And don’t even get started on how Santa goes back up the chimney!  However it is accomplished, the narrator concludes, we’re all so glad he can do it.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Get ready for some ho-ho-ho’s when you share this book with kids, who will no doubt be inspired to come up with some new ideas about Santa to add to Mac Barnett’s list.  Jon Klassen takes the idea and runs with it, and readers will love the images of Santa dripping through the faucet and flattening himself to go under the door.

Cons:  We can speculate, but we will never know for sure.

The Probability of Everything by Sarah Everett

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Published by Clarion Books

Summary:  It’s an ordinary day for 11-year-old Kemi when the news of an asteroid rapidly approaching Earth changes everything.  Kemi’s passion for statistics and probability tells her that the 84.7% chance of a collision means that life as she knows it will most likely end in four days.  As her extended family gathers together, Kemi decides to put together a time capsule to show anyone who finds it what her family was like. From her grandmother’s Nigerian recipes to her family’s “magical” sweatshirt, the time capsule soon has representation of each family member except her dad. Kemi goes on a scientific quest to find out his true passion, something he’s been searching for since leaving a demanding job.  As the days tick by, a huge plot twist emerges, and readers learn why it feels like the end to Kemi and her family, as they learn that even when the world ends, there is always an after.  336 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros and cons:  I started this book at the end of July, and it has taken me almost six weeks to finish it.  With record summer temperatures and wildfire smoke in the sky, it took all my willpower to keep reading about the impending destruction of the world.  But as I finally neared the end and learned what had really befallen Kemi’s family, it occurred to me that this may be the most timely book of 2023, with its meditations on loss, grief, racism, violence, and of course, the end of the world as we know it.  A Newbery contender for sure, if only Sarah Everett were American, not Canadian.

Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Lin

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Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Grace Lin traces the history of many foods from a Chinese menu with facts, personal anecdotes, and folklore.  Beginning with a map of China and a timeline that shows where each food fits into Chinese history, the narrative then dives into the food, which is arranged the way it might be on a menu.  From chopsticks to tea to soup, main dishes, and desserts, each section begins with an introduction, followed by different foods within the category, with an illustrated story or two about each one.  Includes an author’s note about the difficult history of Chinese immigrants in the U.S. and how their cuisine has sustained them and been adapted to American tastes; a recipe for Lin’s mother’s scallion pancakes; endnotes with additional information about each food; and a bibliography.  288 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  A fascinating, meticulously researched, beautifully illustrated collection of folklore that’s connected to cuisine familiar to many readers.  If you ever wondered who General Tso was or how egg rolls came to be, you will find all the answers here.

Cons:  This feels like it will appeal more to adults than to kids.

An Ofrenda for Perro by Judith Valdés B., illustrated by Carlos Veléz Aguilera

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Published by little bee books

Summary:  Benito is devastated to lose his dog Perro, who has been his companion since he was born.  As his family gets ready to celebrate Día de Los Muertos, Benito is slowly drawn into the preparations.  His father explains that the holiday isn’t a celebration of the dead, but of the love they have for those who have passed.  His mother shows him that her memories of her great-grandfather mean that he’s not really gone.  When Benito finds Perro’s ball, he is able to smile at his memories of his beloved dog, realizing that his memories will always be with him.  Includes an author’s note with additional information about Día de Los Muertos and a glossary. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A great resource for Día de Los Muertos, or for anyone who has lost a pet, with explanations that kids will understand and relate to, and beautiful illustrations inspired by the holiday.

Cons:  I couldn’t help thinking that Perro (Spanish for dog) deserved a slightly more imaginative name.

Veo, Veo, I See You by Lulu Delacre

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Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Summary:  During the pandemic, a girl and her mother and brother play a game of Veo, Veo, or I Spy, to spot essential workers in their community.  Mami lost her job as a cook, so she cooks at home now, and the family takes food and medicine to some older relatives before stopping at the food pantry on the way home.  In the course of their errands, they see trash collectors, a nurse, a pharmacist, a bus driver, and other workers who are keeping their city going so that others can safely stay at home.  Back at home, the girl makes a collage sign saying, “I see you!” that includes pictures of many of the workers, leading to cheers and applause from the community.  Includes an author’s note about the pandemic, and how it brought essential workers, and the fact that many of them are Black or Brown, to people’s attention.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Although the setting is the Covid pandemic, this book could be used to introduce lots of different community helpers.  The illustrations are bright and appealing, with cartoon bubbles for dialog: Spanish for Mami and English for the kids.

Cons:  The pandemic setting makes this already feel a little dated, as many of the kids reading the book will have little or no memory of that time.

Paul Bunyan: The Invention of an American Legend by Noah Van Sciver and Marlena Myles

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Published by TOON Books

Summary:  A logging executive is traveling west when his train breaks down, stranding him and the other passengers in the middle of a snowy forest.  Someone manages to build a fire, and everyone gathers around to hear stories of famous lumberjacks.  The logging man tops them all with his tales of Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe.  Most of the audience loves the stories, but another man who’s spent his career working in the lumber industry tells of the devastation of clear-cutting forests, then moving west.  He describes how the land was taken from the Native Nations, whose people honored the spirits of each tree.  Includes a foreword and two afterwords by indigenous scholars about their experiences with Paul Bunyan stories and Native stories about trees.  48 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  Some interesting context is given to the Paul Bunyan tall tales so many of us grew up with, offering insights into the logging industry he was created to promote and its impact on indigenous lands.  

Cons:  I’m guessing that many in the intended audience will skip the foreword and afterwords, which is too bad, because they contain a lot of interesting information. I wish that the graphic novel part had been expanded on to include more of that information.  The tall tales were well done, but the ending felt rushed.

Two Tribes by Emily Bowen Cohen

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Published by Heartdrum

Summary:  Mia lives with her mother and stepfather, observing her Jewish faith both at home and at her Jewish day school.  When a boy at school tells her she’s not a “real Indian,” Mia goes on a quest to discover her Muscogee culture, passed down to her from her father’s side.  She and her best friend hatch a plan in which Mia uses some of her bat mitzvah money to take a bus from L.A. to Oklahoma.  She manages to pull it off and spends a few days with her dad and his family, learning more about her heritage, before her mother discovers where she is and flies down to get her.  Back home, Mia must face the consequences of her actions, but her new discoveries have given her courage to talk to her mother and stepfather about making some changes to allow her dad and her Muscogee family to be part of her life.  Includes a note from the author about her own Jewish-Muscogee heritage, a glossary of Muskvoke terms used, and a note from Heartdrum author-curator Cynthia Leitich Smith.  256 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This debut graphic novel offers an interesting look at a unique heritage and the difficulties of embracing that when divorce separates a family.  Readers will empathize with Mia and enjoy learning about her Jewish and Muscogee cultures alongside her.

Cons:  I was a bit stressed about Mia’s secret 24-hour bus trip on her own.

Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas by Matt Tavares

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Candlewick

Summary:  Dasher the reindeer is back in this follow-up to Matt Tavares’s 2019 book Dasher.  Excited for Christmas, Dasher finds herself unable to sleep on the night of December 23 and goes off to look for adventure.  She finds carolers singing around a Christmas tree and enjoys herself so much she doesn’t notice the snow moving in.  When she realizes it’s time to go home, the storm is so thick that she can’t find her way.  She winds up at the home of a young boy named Charlie who gives her a compass to guide her back north.  Dasher makes it back just in time to take her place pulling Santa’s sleigh and makes sure that the jolly old elf has a compass to leave under Charlie’s tree.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Another beautiful Christmas story from Matt Tavares that perfectly captures kids’ excitement about the holiday and all of its magic.  

Cons:  In my opinion, the best Matt Tavares Christmas book remains Red and Lulu.

We Still Belong by Christine Day

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Published by Heartdrum

Summary:  Wesley is excited about two things as she heads to seventh grade one day: having her poem about Indigenous People’s Day appear in the school newspaper and asking her crush Ryan to the school dance.  As the day unfolds, however, both dreams are destroyed in true middle school fashion. A teacher criticizes her poem, telling her it’s not good enough to read aloud in his class, and Ryan shows up on social media with another date to the dance.  Defeated, Wesley heads to the annual powwow with her family, where her day starts to turn around.  Not only does she get encouragement about both the poem and Ryan, but she discovers a new friend and comes to embrace and appreciate her family and her Upper Skagit community even more. Includes an author’s note. 256 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Readers will enjoy getting to know Wesley as they follow her through a day in her life, navigating friendships, family issues, and school.  Information about indigenous culture is expertly woven into the story and expanded upon in the author’s note.

Cons:  While I appreciated the excellent writing and storytelling, I found this book a little slow going at the beginning.

The Artivist by Nikkolas Smith

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Published by Kokila

Summary:  Nikkolas Smith draws on his experiences as an artist and an activist to create a narrator who calls himself an artivist.  Observing the world around him, the boy says, “I want to hold up a mirror to the world and show everyone what isn’t working right.”  His murals and signs draw attention to issues like homelessness, gun violence, environmental concerns, racism, and trans rights.  He invites others to join him, saying that artivists can also sing, write, build, or film.  “The Artivist is you.  What change will you create?”  40 pages; all ages.  Includes a brief note about Smith’s own Artivist journey.

Pros:  The age recommendation I saw in other reviews was 4-8, but as I read this book, I envisioned it being used by older elementary and middle school kids as a jumping-off point for thinking about the issues they care about and creating art to express that.  In a world that seems more uncertain than ever, this book gives an empowering message to kids about using creativity to make change.

Cons:  Nikkolas Smith refers to an illustration he made that went viral.  I think it’s his portrait of George Floyd, but I wish there had been more information about it.