Author: Janet Dawson

Independence Day reading

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Fireworks by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Cátia Chien (Clarion Books, 44 pages, ages 4-8). Two children describe a summer day in the city, from the sun rising between the buildings on their block, to an open fire hydrant that helps them beat the heat, to the sweet juiciness of a slice of watermelon. This summer day is special, though, and after dinner, they climb to the roof and wait for darkness to fall. An explosion of color and sound lights up the night sky as the fireworks begin. And just when you think the show is over–ka-boom!–a foldout page shows the brilliant grand finale. A few sparks and a sharp burning smell linger in the night air as the kids return home and get ready for bed.

The poetic text and brilliant illustrations, highlighted with fluorescent pink, engage all the senses to bring an urban summer day to life. I’m sure that grand finale page won’t last long in a public library, but it is truly spectacular. A perfect read-aloud for a July 4th celebration.

Miss Liberty by Erin Moonyeen Haley (Storytide, 224 pages, grades 4-7). Savvy’s greatest wish is to someday be Miss Liberty in her town’s Fourth of July celebration. This year for the first time, she’s one of the Liberty Line dancers backing up her sister Levi, who’s been Miss Liberty for three years in a row. But this year, things are happening that make Savvy’s anxiety kick into high gear. For starters, people around town are starting to say the Fourth of July celebration isn’t what it used to be, and that maybe it’s time to call it quits. Then Levi starts using her platform to speak out for voting rights…when everyone knows Miss Liberty is supposed to be silent and just look beautiful! Savvy and her aunt, another diehard Miss Liberty fan, take it upon themselves to save the big event, but as the summer goes on, Savvy starts to see that there is more than one side to a story and that sometimes it’s okay to live with uncertainty about what’s going to happen next.

This debut novel is filled with memorable characters: not only Savvy, but Levi, Aunt Bobbi, and her good friends Seymour, the only boy dancer in the Liberty Line and a budding fashion designer, and Dulce, an aspiring journalist and historian who has her own blog. I liked the way Savvy comes to terms with her anxiety and learns to express herself in ways that work for her, and how she learns to let go of the need for a definite outcome.

Rocks of ages

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the Planet by Martha Breckenbrough, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, grades 1-5). A sunbeam shining through a window illuminates the dust in the air. Where does this dust come from? The author traces it back to a fish in an African lake that dies, eventually becoming a fossil, which the wind then breaks down into dust. This dust travels around the earth, providing nutrients to plankton, plants, and other living creatures in the water and on land. Dust can change the color of sunsets, dampen the speed of hurricanes, and be seen from outer space. Includes additional information and resources about dust.

I Rock: A Geology Tale by Kate Slivensky, illustrated by Steph Stilwell (Beach Lane Books, 40 pages, grades 1-5). Luis is presenting his senior citizen interview to the class when a rock stuck to the bottom of his shoe interrupts to ask the kids if they want to hear about someone who is REALLY old. The rock takes them on a journey going back four billion years where it started life deep inside the Earth. It has traveled all over the planet and experienced life in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary states. Concepts and vocabulary like plate tectonics, tsunamis, and erosion are introduced, as a small version of the rock narrates a timeline along the bottom of each page. The story concludes with Luis stepping on the rock, and the narrator declaring, “after four billion years, I’m proud to say that I’m here and I rock!” Includes more geology facts, a geology pop quiz, and a list of sources.

Although their styles are very different, both of these books do an outstanding job of instilling wonder by placing ordinary objects–dust and rocks–in the context of the vast expanses of time it has taken to create them. I Rock is filled with fun, humorous cartoons, while A Gift of Dust has sparkly dust-infused illustrations that could be worth of Caldecott consideration.

Creature features

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Creaky Acres by Calista Brill, illustrated by Nilah Magruder (Kokila, 272 pages, grades 3-7). Nora is happiest winning ribbons at shows with her horse Hay Fever, but when her mom gets a new job, the family moves to a small rural town where the only barn around is Creaky Acres. Filled with quirky humans and animals, including a bunch of opossums and an instructor who doesn’t believe in competing, Creaky Acres feels like a huge disappointment to Nora. On top of that, she’s the only Black kid at her school and finds herself dealing with microaggressions from both students and teachers. But Nora’s love for riding remains strong, and before long, she’s made some tentative connections with the other kids at Creaky Acres. When she hears about an upcoming riding event, she’s determined to compete. Her fellow riders, having heard about Nora’s experiences and seen her ribbons, beg to let them join her, and before she knows it, Nora is coaching a Creaky Acres team. On the day of the event, the results are mixed and sometimes hilarious, but when Nora reunites with friends from her old riding school, she realizes she has found her new place at Creaky Acres.

Give this to fans of Ride On by Faith Erin Hicks, who will enjoy another graphic novel about a group of underdogs who find their own ways in the elite world of horseback riding. It’s a cheery story with endearingly quirky characters, but it also deals with the more serious topics of dealing with racism and learning to be yourself in a new place.

Creature Clinic by Gavin Aung Than (First Second, 224 pages, grades 3-7). Creature Clinic, run by the imperious Dr. Orc, treats all kinds of creatures: trolls, unicorns, griffins, and more. But when an injured human boy is discovered on the bottom of an unconscious giant’s shoe, Dr. Orc refuses treatment, stating that humans are nothing but trouble. Her long-suffering daughter, Dr. Kara Orc, takes pity on the human and secretly helps him on the condition that he leaves the next day. But Mitch, the boy, is fascinated by the clinic, and a sympathetic custodian hides him in a trash bin and wheels him around for a tour. Mitch is able to show Kara and some of the others how his empathetic listening skills can help the patients, but when the senior Dr. Orc discovers Mitch and learns that Kara has been harboring a fugitive, she is furious. Some of the other creatures intercede, reminding the doctor how she defied her father to do what she thought was right, even though it damaged their relationship. Eventually, Dr. Orc sees the error of her ways, lets Mitch stay, and mends things with her daughter. And they all live happily ever after, unless, of course, there’s a sequel in the works. Includes an author’s note and seven illustrated steps that explain how the book was created.

I would love to see that sequel to this imaginative, funny, and original graphic novel that I know kids will love. The world building of the clinic is so clever and detailed, and the issues the various creatures deal with make them seem, well, human. The author’s note relating how the time his daughter spent in the NICU inspired the story adds an extra dimension.

Girl detectives

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Gus and Glory by Sarah Guillory (Roaring Brook Press, 240 pages, grades 4-7). Glory’s mother disappears the summer she’s 12 years old, and since her dad spends most of his time on the road as a truck driver, Glory is sent to live with her grandparents in Louisiana. Glory aspires to be a detective, and she’s determined to solve the mystery of what has happened to her mother. When a bloodhound named Gus finds Glory and leads her to his owner who has broken his leg, she gets an assistant with a big personality and a keen nose. While Gus’s owner recuperates, the dog comes to live with Glory and her grandparents, causing some unexpected changes in their lives. When Glory tries to train Gus in tracking, her grandfather, who’s been depressed since suffering a stroke, takes an interest and begins to rejoin the family. Gus also leads Glory to a new best friend, whose big, warm family welcomes her to the community. As the summer winds down, Glory uncovers some difficult truths about her mother and starts to come to terms with the fact that her life has changed forever. When Gus’s owner admits that Gus is too much for him and offers to let Glory keep him, she sees that sometimes love means letting someone move on to a life that is better suited for them. Gus’s big voice helps Glory to speak up and advocate for herself, and those honest conversations with her dad and grandparents lead to a rich new life for Gus, Glory, and the rest of their family.

I got the impression from reviews that this was going to be more of a mystery, but while Glory aspires to be a detective and does some investigating into her mother’s disappearance, the focus is more on her difficult family situation and the way a beloved new dog helps her come to terms with what’s going on in her life. While I would probably not shelve it in the mystery section, it’s a heartwarming story that will be enjoyed by dog lovers everywhere.

Opal Watson: Private Eye by Brittany J. Thurman (Storytide, 224 pages, grades 4-7). Based on a podcast, this mystery features feisty Opal Watson, a seventh grader who doesn’t let her retinitis pigmentosa slow her down, although she does sometimes use a white cane named Pinkerton to help her find her way. Returning home to Chicago from a visit with her grandmother Meme in Louisiana, Opal discovers that her usually calm father is stressed by the slow renovations being done on the Crescent, the apartment building he manages and that Opal’s family lives in. Some of the other residents report hearing strange sounds and feeling mysterious drafts, and Opal is determined to figure out what’s going on, with the help of her best friend Madison and cousin Frank. A class project with a new girl named Ivy sparks Opal’s interest in the Great Migration that Meme was a part of and turns out to have a surprising connection to the Crescent. Opal and her friends solve the mystery and save the Crescent, but another mystery connected to her school project offers the promise of a sequel.

Opal is an inspiring character as well as a persistent detective, and the story offers not just a mystery but a compelling family story with some interesting Chicago history woven in. I wish there had been some back matter about the historical stuff, as well as a reference to the podcast, which I only learned about from reading the reviews. I look forward to listening to some episodes!

One-of-a-kind birds

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Frank’s Red Hat by Sean E. Avery (Walker Books Australia, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Frank has more ideas than your average penguin, and although they don’t always work out as planned, he keeps trying. When he shows up wearing a red hat before, the other penguins are skeptical, having never seen the color red before. He hands it to Neville for a closer look, and by an unfortunate coincidence, Neville gets swallowed by a killer whale at that very moment. The other penguins back away immediately, and a disappointed Frank drops that hat on the snow. Thinking the color may have been the problem, Frank creates a variety of other hats, but the penguins reject them all. Finally, he gives up, only to unexpectedly discover that the seals have been picking up his discarded hats, and they love them! This encourages Frank to keep creating, and on the last page, he’s shown unveiling his latest invention…the scarf.

Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon by Sandra Nickel, illustrated by Aimée Sicuro (Candlewick, 40 pages, ages 4-8). When a baby pigeon arrives alone–usually there are two pigeon eggs–his parents try to make up for it by giving him the name Seven, considered lucky in the pigeon community, since the farthest a pigeon has flown home is 7,000 miles. Seven has an excellent sense of smell and gets great joy from collecting flowers and eating rice. His parents, who collect straw and twigs and eat bread crumbs like the rest of the pigeons, frown on these activities and try to get Seven to conform. And the rest of the flock is horrified when Seven doesn’t learn to home right away, instead following the yummy smells all around him. Seven tries to be like the other pigeons, but it makes him sad. When the flock gets fogged in by clouds after a long journey, Seven’s keen sense of smell brings them home again, and the other pigeons begin to see the value of Seven’s uniqueness. Includes additional information about pigeons.

Both of these books use humorous storytelling to teach important lessons about being true to yourself and honoring your own unique gifts. Although they’re quite different from each other, I loved the illustrations in both books portraying Frank’s and Seven’s urban and Arctic environments.

Animal humor

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

The Bear Out There by Jess Hannigan (Quill Tree Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). A jumpy girl narrator tells readers why she was scared by their knock: there is a bear out there! She shares the three signs of how to tell when a bear is nearby: raised arm hair, a feeling of being watched, and super itchy feet. Readers see the bear from the window, but the girl doesn’t see it until it’s at the door! She runs away screaming , while the bear explains, “This is literally my house.” While making a cup of tea, the bear relates that break-ins happen all the time, showing a book lying on the table called “Goldilocks, Friend of Foe?” It’s ridiculous, the bear complains, because guests are always welcome as long as they ask first. “I would be pleased to offer you a warm bed to stay the night, should you need it.”

Kids will get a big kick out of the over-the-top reactions from the girl narrator, as well as her less than accurate know-it-all attitude. The illustrations of the girl’s freak-outs, as well as those showing the bear that she doesn’t see, are sure to bring some laughs. This would make a great addition to a fractured fairy tale unit.

We Are the Wibbly! A Tadpole’s Tale by Sarah Tagholm, illustrated byJane McGuinness (Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 32 pages, ages 3-7). A frog narrates its life cycle, from egg to full-grown frog, using its own unique terms like “Wibbly” (the tadpole still inside the egg), “water-flying” (swimming), and “air-flying” (jumping). Just as it gets used to one stage, it notices its friends are onto the next one. Life inside the egg is comfortable, but suddenly the others are hatching and water-flying. By the time water-flying has become second nature, the other tadpoles are growing legs. And so it goes, until finally, the wibbly have all become full-grown frogs and gaze fondly at some eggs in the pond, asking each other, “Do you remember when we were the Wibbly? Includes additional information about the life cycle of a frog.

This is a fun introduction to a frog’s life cycle, told in way that kind of reminded me of Elmo with slightly quirky sentence structure, made-up words, and the repeated refrain of “OH MY CRIKEYS!” which kids will enjoy saying. Kids may relate to the narrator noticing when others seem to be growing and changing faster than it does and reassured by the fact that eventually everyone gets to the same place.

Celebrating Black History

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

The History of We by Nikkolas Smith (Kokila, 40 pages, grades K-5). Through poetic text and rich acrylic illustrations, Nikkolas Smith traces the history of the earliest humans in Africa from more than 200,000 years ago. The people are shown making music and dancing, created languages, built homes, growing crops, wondering at the stars, and eventually discovering ways to travel on the oceans. A world map at the end puts Africa at the center of civilization, from where humans traveled to settle other continents. The back matter includes information about each of the spreads, and the author’s note relates how he never learned about humanity’s roots in Africa, motivating him to create this book. Includes a timeline covering the period from 233,000 years ago to 5,000 years ago.

I’d love to see this book considered for a Caldecott or Coretta Scott King award. It would make a good companion to Before the Ships, introducing kids to the history of the people of Africa before American slavery. Both books use beautiful language and illustrations to draw readers of all ages into a fascinating history that has long been ignored.

So Many Years: A Juneteenth Story by Anne Wynter, illustrated by Jerome Pumphrey (Clarion Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). “How would you dress after so many years of mending your clothes with rags?” This question is followed by others: how would you sing, dance, and eat after years of having to sing in code, painful work, and only having scraps for meals? “Oh, how you would dress!” shows off the fancy clothes worn in an emancipation celebration from 1920. The other questions are answered with illustrations of other Juneteenth celebrations through the years, as people dance, sing, and feast right up to the present. “Oh, how you would celebrate…so many years of a life…fully yours…fully free.” Includes information about the history of Juneteenth and the lyrics for “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Each spread just has a single sentence, but together they perfectly capture the sense of freedom and celebration that are part of Juneteenth. And the paintings by one of my favorite illustrators beautifully show that history, often combining the hardships of the past with the joy of the present in the same spread. Another award contender.

Stormy weather

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Hurricane by Jason Chin (Neal Porter Books, 48 pages, grades 2-5). The story of a hurricane is told over a 12-day period, from three different perspectives: the storm itself, the scientists who track it, and the residents of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina who prepare for it to hit their community. The more scientific material includes labeled diagrams and sidebars that give plenty of information. Particularly exciting are the pages showing the Hurricane Hunters who fly planes directly into the storm. Meanwhile, the people of Cape Hatteras are portrayed with cartoon bubbles showing their conversations as they board up windows, check generators, and in some cases, evacuate. There’s a sense of community as they help each other get ready and clean up in the aftermath on the last few pages. Includes lots of additional hurricane information, additional resources, and an author’s note.

Jason Chin brings his amazing artistic talents to this nonfiction book that can be enjoyed on a variety of different levels. Younger readers will be drawn into the story of the Cape Hatteras residents preparing for and experiencing (or evacuating from) the hurricane, while older ones will learn a lot from the more scientific text and labeled diagrams. Definitely a contender for a Sibert award.

Island Storm by Brian Floca, illustrated by Sydney Smith (Neal Porter Books, publication date July 22, 2025, 48 pages, ages 4-8). A couple of award winners team up to show two children exploring outside before a storm hits. First they head to the ocean, where waves are crashing on the beach under a darkening sky. Rain starts to fall as they run into town, where they see deserted streets and boarded-up windows. A loud clap of thunder scares them into going home: “Home to relief, and love. Home to trouble, too! And forgiveness.” They dry off, warm up, and eventually head to bed while the storm rages outside. In the morning, the sun is shining, the sea is calm, and the kids and their mother enjoy a day at the beach.

The lyrical text and mostly blue, gray, and green watercolors (with some red highlights) perfectly capture the feeling of an impending storm, followed by the storm itself and its aftermath. The kids’ repeated refrain, “Is this enough, or do we try for more?” sends them from one scary-but-exciting spot to another (although I was relieved that they got into some trouble when they got home, as I was wondering what parent would allow their kids out in that weather). The last sentence: “And you and I go on,” expands the meaning to the kids being together through other kinds of difficulties.

Thanks to Holiday House/Neal Porter Books for providing me with review copies of both of these books.

Classic novels to graphic novels

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Barbara Park’s Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: the graphic novel by Colleen AF Venable, illustrated by Honie Beam (Random House Books for Young Readers, 160 pages, grades 1-3). Junie B. is excited about going to kindergarten after acing her orientation, but she’s less thrilled about riding on the stupid, smelly bus. The reality turns out to be even worse than she had imagined, and as she end of the day approaches, she decides she can’t face a return trip. She hides during dismissal, then roams the school after hours, exploring the library, gym, nurse’s office, and more, all with her own unique take on things. Her frantic parents and teacher finally track her down, and the introduction of a new friend helps Junie B. feel like she can face the bus ride in the morning.

One Crazy Summer: the graphic novel by Rita Williams-Garcia, illustrated by Sharee Miller (Quill Tree Books, 304 pages, grades 4-7). 11-year-old Delphine tells the story of spending the summer of 1968 with their mother, Cecile, when she and her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, are sent to Oakland to get to know the mother who abandoned them when Fern was a baby. The trip was decided on by their father and grandmother back in New York, and Cecile wants no part of the visit. Busy with her mysterious work, she sends the three girls to the kids’ program at the Black Panthers’ People’s Center. There, they get free meals along with lessons in Black Power and resisting the police. After Delphine leads them on an excursion to San Francisco, the girls return to see their mother being arrested along with a few others from the Black Panthers. After cleaning up Cecile’s destroyed workspace and discovering some of her poems, they move in with friends. A performance of one of her poems at a Black Panther rally concludes with a reunion with Cecile, whose time in jail seems to have changed her enough to have an honest conversation with Delphine about why she left. The girls return home with some new ideas and insights about their family and what it means to be Black in America.

Is it okay to have mixed feelings that it feels like every classic book is being turned into a graphic novel? Both of these are extremely well done, both the art and the storytelling, and I’m delighted that new audiences will be introduced to these characters. Junie B. will find a ready audience with fans of Baby-Sitters Little Sisters and the Magic Tree House (both now graphic novels that are way more popular than the originals). And reading One Crazy Summer reminded me of how that trilogy introduced me to so much from that era, completely changing my childhood perceptions of the Black Panthers. I missed the nuances of the original, though, for instance, the way Cecile’s complex character is slowly (and only partially) revealed throughout the story. In this version, the changes she makes toward the end of the story feel somewhat abrupt. So it does make me both a little sad to see Newbery books like A Wrinkle in Time, Turtle in Paradise, and now, One Crazy Summer turned into graphic novels, yet glad that these stories will now reach a wider audience.

Immigrant kids

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Don’t Cause Trouble by Arree Chung (Henry Holt and Co., 256 pages, grades 4-7). Things don’t look good for Ming on his first day of middle school: his mom has given him his usual bowl haircut, and he’s dressed in the thrift store clothes she insists on buying. Ming’s accidentally placed in an ESL class, even though he only speaks English, but with his parents’ injunction, “Don’t make trouble” ringing in his ears, he goes along with it. Eventually, the teacher figures things out, and he’s moved to honors English, where he finds a couple of new friends,. When Ming’s desire to fit in lands the three of them in some serious trouble, he’s forced to reconsider what’s really important to him and try to make amends with his parents and his friends. Sixth grade ends on a high note, with the possibility of summer basketball, a new family business making egg rolls, and a new girl in the picture who may or may not a crush on him. Includes an author’s note and family photo telling how his own childhood inspired this story and several pages of instructions on making a graphic novel.

The story and art in this graphic novel are fairly simple and straightforward but really capture the feeling of being torn between two worlds: the Chinese one at home and the American one at school, as well as the pressure Ming feels as his parents, whose own dreams have been deferred, pin all their hopes on his success.

Outsider Kids by Betty C. Tang (Graphix, 288 pages, grades 5-8). In this sequel to Parachute Kids, the three Li kids are still living on their own in California while their parents try to supervise them from Taiwan. The burden falls on oldest daughter Jessie, who is trying to get into Harvard while working at a job where her boss knows he can cheat her because she’s in the country illegally. Meanwhile, middle brother Jason falls in love and must deal with his sisters finding out that he is gay. When cousin Josephine comes to stay, 10-year-old Ann’s excitement turns to dismay as Josephine is constantly mean to Ann and tries to steal her new friends at school. When Ann’s attempt at revenge on her cousin results in Josephine calling the police on them, the three siblings have a panicky scramble trying to figure out what to do next. They wind up at a new home in San Francisco, which I hope sets things up for a possible third installment. Includes an author’s note about her own life as a Parachute Kid from Taiwan.

I was excited to discover a sequel to Parachute Kids, and it didn’t disappoint. The Li kids are incredibly resourceful and supportive of each other despite their constant squabbling. The tension of their undocumented status is particularly relatable today. The book tackles subjects like Jason’s coming out and Josephine’s father’s adultery that made this feel like it was geared for a slightly older audience than the first one.

Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated byHuy Voun Lee (Christy Ottaviano Books, 32 pages, grades K-4). “Some of us are born American. Some choose.” With just a sentence or two of text to accompany the vibrant illustrations on each page, the book shows people from all over the world, of all ages, in all sorts of circumstances, who choose to leave their homes, families, and native countries to come to America. They may come seeking jobs or education, or to escape poverty, war, or oppression, and they bring music, languages, food, and stories that enrich their new country. There’s a description of the process involved in becoming a naturalized citizen, including the rights and responsibilities that come with citizenship. An author’s note traces the history of US immigration and citizenship and tells her own story of becoming a naturalized citizen at age 15. Includes the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a bibliography.

This book celebrating immigration and U.S. citizenship could hardly be more timely and important to share with kids right now. LaRocca does a masterful job of conveying lots of information and emotion in spare, simple language that’s easy to understand. Her text is illuminated by the beautiful illustrations that celebrate the many different cultures of people immigrating to the U.S. and that capture the pride of becoming a citizen.