Month: November 2023

Mabuhay! by Zachary Sterling

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Graphix

Summary:  JJ and Althea are both trying to navigate middle school, JJ by trying to fit in even if it means hiding who he really is, and Althea by pretending not to care that she’s lost her closest friends.  To make matters worse, the kids are expected to help out with the family food truck on weekends and school vacations.  Their mother uses Filipino folklore to teach them lessons about hard work and discipline.  But when strange things start happening to both kids, they realize that their family has magical powers and that the folktales are based on truth.  When a monster from the stories threatens the world, it’s up to their family to summon their powers and save the universe.  Along the way, JJ discovers his own worth, Althea learns to value her true friendships, and they both come to appreciate their quirky family and their heritage. Includes an author’s note, a recipe for adobo chicken, and a glossary.  240 pages; grades 4-7. 

Pros:  An excellent blend of middle school angst, Filipino culture, and magical battles against evil forces, with outstanding artwork and a memorable family.

Cons:  While I appreciated the pronunciation guides and definitions footnoted at the bottom of many pages, the font was so tiny that I finally gave up on them.

The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Julie Morstad

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Candlewick

Summary:  The old sea captain Spelhorst just wanted to buy the girl puppet, who reminded him of a lost love, but the five puppets were a set, so he ended up with the king, the wolf, the boy, and the owl as well.  After his death, they’re sold and wind up in a home with two little girls and their maid.  While the oldest girl is writing a puppet show, the puppets somewhat inadvertently have some amazing adventures.  Finally, it’s time for the show, and they are gathered together again.  They perform a magical story that has repercussions beyond the show, with an unexpected twist at the end paves the way for a sequel.  160 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  Kate DiCamillo uses her gifts of storytelling to create fascinating and distinctive human and puppet characters that convey messages that readers will take long after they finish reading the story. Julie Morstad’s illustrations help bring the characters to life.

Cons:  I know I’m in a tiny minority, but I’m not a big Kate DiCamillo fan.  Her language never feels very kid friendly to me.  I would hands-down choose Dogtown as a book recommendation for this age group over this book.

Boyogi: How a Wounded Family Learned to Heal by David Barclay Moore, illustrated by Noa Denmon

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Candlewick

Summary:  A family is struggling after the father comes home from a stint in the military.  Dad is silent, prone to nightmares, and easily angered.  Mom explains PTSD to their young son (the narrator): “When Daddy was away, some bad things happened…Those bad things harmed his mind.”  One day, the family goes to the YMCA, where Mom and Dad take a yoga class while the boy watches.  Before long, father and son are going every week, gradually getting better at the poses in the class, and Dad makes up the name boyogi for his son.  He tells his son that between yoga and therapy, he’s doing a lot better, making the boy feel happier as well.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  An excellent kid-friendly introduction to both yoga and PTSD, with great digital illustrations of lots of yoga poses that kids will want to try.  

Cons:  Some additional information on PTSD and the benefits of yoga would have been a good supplement.

On the Tip of a Wave: How Ai Weiwei’s Art Is Changing the Tide by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Catia Chien

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Orchard Books

Summary:  Chinese artist Ai Weiwei spent his childhood in a labor camp after his father, a renowned poet, was targeted by the government.  They lived in an underground hole, where Ai would create sculptures from the dirt.  He grew up to be an artist, studying in the US before returning to China where he was imprisoned for criticizing the government.  After his release, he moved to Germany where he uses his art to bring attention to the plight of refugees, people displaced from their homes the same way he was.  One of his most famous works was created from lifejackets left behind by refugees landing in Greece.  Ai’s art “challenged the world to see differently…[and] invited the world to take action.”  Includes four pages of additional information and photos.  48 pages; grades 3-8.

Pros:  A beautiful and moving tribute to Ai Weiwei’s work with illustrations in shades of blue and orange that incorporate photos of refugees and his art into the pictures.

Cons:  I think this would be a very difficult book for kids to understand without having a considerable amount of background knowledge.  I was pretty confused by the story until I read the information at the end. 

Come and Join Us! 18 Holidays Celebrated All Year Long by Liz Kleinrock, illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HarperCollins

Summary:  Throughout the year, a class learns about the holidays different kids celebrate as part of their cultures.  Each child describes the holiday in a paragraph, with colorful illustrations showing a family celebration.  There are sure to be some new ones to many readers, including Obon, Makahiki, and Vesak, as well as some that may be familiar like the Jewish High Holidays, Kwanzaa, and Día de Los Muertos.  At the end of each holiday description is a question for discussion, like “What kinds of stories do you tell on your holiday?” and “Do you gather with family to celebrate your holidays?”  Includes an author’s note about her own childhood experience celebrating Jewish holidays and not observing Christmas, as well as a glossary.  40 pages; grades K-5

Pros:  A fascinating look at other cultures and the special days they observe with appealing illustrations and interesting questions that will help make connections with readers’ own experiences.

Cons:  This felt like kind of a lot to read all at once; it might be better to do a little at a time, or to use it as a resource for learning about specific holidays.

Dogtown by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko, illustrated by Wallace West

~ Janet Dawson ~ 9 Comments

Published by Feiwel & Friends

Summary:  Chance has had a rough year, winding up at a shelter called Dogtown minus one leg.  After the humans decide he’s a good luck charm, he gets the run of the place, eventually befriending Mouse (a mouse) and Metal Head (one of the robot dogs who also come to the shelter).  When Metal Head decides to escape and try to go back home, Chance and Mouse go along to offer help and moral support.  Metal Head’s boy, now a cool middle schooler, rejects him, and Metal Head is heartbroken.  Chance finally reveals his own story, encouraging Metal Head to focus on the future.  The three make it back to Dogtown, where Chance discovers he is on the dreaded List, meaning he will be heading for the great dog park in the sky.  His final desperate action results in a surprising happy and heartwarming ending; since this is billed as book 1, we may get to hear more of Chance’s story.  Includes a list of seven things kids can do to help shelter dogs.  352 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  I loved this book way more than I was expecting.  Although it’s over 300 pages, the chapters are short (some only a page), and there are plenty of illustrations, so it would make a great first “real” chapter book for an elementary reader.  It’s refreshing to see a book with both humor and heart aimed at those younger readers.

Cons:  Chance’s story just about broke me.


Mole Is Not Alone by Maya Tatsukawa

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Henry Holt and Company

Summary:  Mole wakes up to the realization that today is Rabbit’s moon harvest party, and he has to make the torturous decision about whether or not he’s going to go.  He decides to bring some homemade cream puffs, then sets off through tunnels that go under the town.  Readers can see other animals traveling to the party aboveground, while Mole goes back and forth between encouraging himself to talk to other party guests and recalling how awkward previous social gatherings have been.  He wants to push himself to be better, but as he approaches Rabbit’s house, he starts to think he should have stayed home.  At the front door, he meets Skunk, a kindred spirit who is also debating whether or not he’ll go inside.  Rabbit invites them in, but the two hand off their gifts and head for Mole’s place, where they enjoy a quiet cup of tea together.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Socially anxious introverts of the world, unite!  Rarely has a book spoken to me quite this accurately, as I recognized almost word for word Mole’s internal dialog while he overthought going to a party.  The underground illustrations are adorable, and I was delighted that Mole found a true friend at the end.

Cons:  I wish this book had been around in my younger days.