Author: Janet Dawson

Ways to Make Sunshine (A Ryan Hart Novel, book 1) by Renée Watson, illustrated by Nina Mata

~ Janet Dawson ~ 6 Comments

Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Ways to Make Sunshine (A Ryan Hart Novel) - Kindle edition by ...

Summary:  Ryan Hart is a fourth grader–and yes, she’s a girl, “a girl with a name that a lot of boys have.”  Her name means “king”, and her parents often remind her to live up to that name by being a leader, which can be tough at times.  Her dad recently lost his job at the post office, and has taken another job working the midnight shift, which also pays less.  At the beginning of the book, when Ryan’s parents offer her and her older brother Ray ice cream before dinner, Ryan knows there must be bad news coming.  It turns out the family is moving.  The new house is much smaller, which takes some getting used to, especially when one of Ryan’s best friends moves to a much bigger, fancier house.  As spring turns into summer, Ryan deals with other ups and downs: stage fright about reciting a speech in church on Easter, figuring out what to do with her hair, and trying to decide what to do in the fourth grade talent show.  The end of school brings the biggest surprise of all, but Ryan takes it (pretty much) in stride, and paves the way for book 2.  192 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  This book is being compared to Beverly Cleary’s Ramona books: it takes place in Portland, Oregon, features a spunky girl protagonist, and offers slice-of-life stories instead of one major plot.  Ryan is funny, honest, and endearing; her insights into family, friendship, and race ring true for a ten-year-old.  This book would be just right for a third- or fourth-grade book club; the illustrations and larger font make it feel manageable, but there’s also plenty for kids to relate to and want to discuss.

Cons:  Some kids might be turned off by the slightly sappy title.

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

Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley (Peapod Farm book 1)

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Random House

Stepping Stones (Peapod Farm): Knisley, Lucy: 9781984896858 ...

Stepping Stones (Peapod Farm): Knisley, Lucy: 9781984896841 ...

Summary:  Jen’s having a difficult adjustment from city life to country life, compounded by her parents’ divorce and her mom’s new boyfriend Walter.  When Walter’s two daughters start spending weekends on the farm, Jen has more changes to deal with.  Andy is bossy and seems to be better at everything than Jen (or at least to think she is), and Reese is a bit of a whiner, prone to tantrums when things don’t go her way.  Jen’s mom has always wanted to live on a farm, but Jen’s not so sure about it as she helps out at the farmer’s market, takes care of the new chickens, and performs other chores, sometimes with the help of Andy and Reese.  Things aren’t perfect by the end of the story, but the three kids and their parents are beginning to be something resembling a family.  Includes an author’s note about her childhood, which inspired Jen’s stories 224 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Another fun graphic memoir for fans of Raina Telgemeier, Shannon Hale, and Jennifer Holm.  Kids will relate to Jen’s family issues, and there’s a relatively happy ending that seems to pave the way for a sequel.

Cons:  Walter seems at best insensitive and at worst, verbally abusive.  I hope he gets a chance to redeem himself in book 2, but in the author’s note, Lucy Knisley refers to the real-life Walter as “loud, bossy, and annoying” and “annoying and beloved until his dying day”, so I don’t have a lot of hope.

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

Lift by Minh Lé, illustrated by Dan Santat

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Lift - Kindle edition by Lê, Minh, Santat, Dan, Santat, Dan ...

LIFT by Minh Lê and Dan Santat

Summary:  Iris loves to push the button on the elevator to her parents’ apartment.  So she feels betrayed when her toddler brother takes over her job, and reacts angrily by pushing all the buttons at once…which breaks the elevator.  While she and her family wait as someone from maintenance fixes it, Iris spies a broken button being tossed into the trash.  She retrieves it, tapes it to the inside of her bedroom closet, and begins to have magical adventures in her own private elevator.  Later, an evening with a babysitter gives Iris an opportunity to bond with her brother, and when she wakes up the next morning, she decides to include him in her next adventure.  The book ends with them in an unfamiliar landscape based on the book they read the night before.  56 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Here’s a Caldecott contender for sure, by the team that brought you Drawn Together.  There’s just enough text (in Iris’s voice) to keep the story going, making this a book that pre-readers can enjoy from the amazing illustrations alone.  A sure-fire winner for a wide range of readers (probably well beyond my 4-8 recommendation).

Cons:  I was confused as to why Iris’s brother’s stuffed tiger was also named Iris.

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

Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices edited by S. K. Ali and Aisha Saeed, illustrated by Sara Alfageeh

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Amulet Books

Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices ...

Once Upon an Eid' Is A Joyful Collection Of Short Stories By And ...

Summary:  15 Muslim author have created 14 stories about Eid al-Fitr, the holiday celebrating the end of the month of Ramadan.  Although the kids in the stories are experiencing divorce, the sickness of a parent, being a refugee, and other struggles, the stories are upbeat, celebrating family, friendship, and food.  Non-Muslim readers who finish all 14 stories will learn a lot about Ramadan, Eid, and Islam.  Eleven of the stories are in a traditional short story format, with one graphic-novel style tale, a story in verse, and a poem rounding out the collection.  Includes an editors’ introduction and biographical information about all the authors.

Pros:  A much-needed addition to the small number of American books featuring Muslim characters.  I’m not usually much of a short story fan, but I zipped through these pretty quickly, mostly because each one took me right into the action and presented interesting characters.  Even though the characters have a wide variety of heritages and are in some cases living outside the U.S., American kids will find plenty here to enjoy.

Cons:  I didn’t get to see any of the illustrations in my advance reader copy.

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

This Way, Charlie by Caron Levis, illustrated by Charles Santoso

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Harry N. Abrams

This Way, Charlie - Kindle edition by Levis, Caron, Santoso ...

This Way Charlie Caron Levis and Charles Santoso | Lemuria Books

Summary:  Jack the goat keeps to himself, passing his days at Open Bud Ranch watching the other animals from a safe distance.  When Charlie the horse arrives, he ends up tripping right over Jack, which doesn’t make the goat too happy.  But he learns that Charlie is blind in one eye.  Charlie’s a friendly sort, but he has trouble getting around.  After watching him for a while, Jack gets up the courage to lead him to his favorite field to graze.  Jack never goes in the barn with Charlie and the other animals, having apparently suffered some kind of trauma in a barn before arriving at Open Bud.  Eventually, Charlie loses his vision completely and becomes more dependent on Jack.  Charlie tries to convince Jack that they should play with the other animals, but Jack refuses.  Then one day, Jack and Charlie get themselves into a dangerous situation, and it’s up to Jack to find a way out.  Can he overcome his fears to ask the other animals for help?   Includes an author’s note about the real-life inspiration for this story.  40 pages; ages 4-8. 

Pros:  From the team that brought you  Ida, Always comes another based-on-a-true-story tale of animal friendship with super cute illustrations.  Pretty irresistible.

Cons:  I would have liked to have learned more about the true story…maybe with some photos?

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

Summer Song by Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Greenwillow Books

Summer Song: Henkes, Kevin, Dronzek, Laura: 9780062866134: Amazon ...

Summary:  Rounding out the year (with Winter Is Here,  When Spring Comes, and In the Middle of Fall), husband and wife team Henkes and Dronzek have created an ode to the sights, sounds, and feel of summer.  Hot, slow, lazy, filled with the music of fans, sprinklers, and air conditioners, surrounded by greens, blues, fireflies, and beaches, summer is a time to savor.  And just like the other books, this one leads naturally to the next season: “But when the days become shorter and the nights come earlier, the song changes.  Summer gets bored and wants to try something new, something different.  The song is turning turning turning…it’s turning into Fall.”  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Kevin Henkes is sort of like the Tom Hanks of children’s books: you can pretty much count on a quality product with each creation.  His four seasons quartet that includes this book provides an excellent introduction to each season, filled with sights and sounds that readers will relate to.  The lush illustrations offer a diverse cast of characters enjoying the season.

Cons:  With the exception of the illustration showing air conditioning, there’s not any portrayal of summers that city kids might experience.

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

 

Solar System by the Numbers: A Book of Infographics by Steve Jenkins

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

Solar System: By The Numbers - Kindle edition by Jenkins, Steve ...

Summary:  Using illustrations, graphs, and diagrams, Steve Jenkins explores the solar system, including the sun, moon, planets, comets, and asteroids.  Comparisons are made of size, climate, gravity, and other features of the different planets, using visuals to make the facts easier to grasp.  Humans’ exploration of the solar system is also shown, with a timeline of solar system discoveries, animals sent to space, and more.  There’s also a page speculating on life in the solar system, and one showing the frequency and effects of different-sized asteroids crashing into Earth.  Includes a glossary and bibliography.  40 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  How did Steve Jenkins’s biggest fangirl (as I’m occasionally known) miss this new infographics series?  Dinosaurs and Earth came out last year, and Insects was published simultaneously with Solar System.  Animals by the Numbers is one of my favorite nonfiction books to book talk.  Just showing kids a page or two sends a bunch of them clamoring for more, so I look forward to sharing these books with science fans.

Cons:  These seem to be marketed as readers for kids starting in first grade, but I think they will find more of an audience with slightly older readers.

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

One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Scholastic

One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole

One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole

Summary:  Before getting to the title page, this wordless book takes the reader on a brief journey from a forest being logged to a paper mill to a hardware store where a boy and his father buy a flashlight that’s put in a paper bag.  As the main story begins, Dad makes his son lunch and packs it in that paper bag, now decorated with a single red heart.  As the boy grows up, he learns to fix cars and play guitars, still accompanied by the bag that holds tools, music, or snacks.  The bag goes off to college with him and plays a role in the young man meeting his future wife (who adds a second heart).  The two have their own son (heart #3), whose loving grandfather helps the boy add a fourth heart.  The bag’s final job is as a container for a sapling, which the family plants, completing the cycle back to the forest.  Includes an author’s note telling how the first Earth Day inspired him to use the same paper lunch bag for three years of high school (then gave it to a friend who used it for another year!).  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Henry Cole has produced another masterful wordless book that is easy to understand yet deeply celebrates family and the environment.  Young readers will find themselves thinking more about where their “disposable” paper goods come from after enjoying this story.

Cons:  This might not live up to kids’ expectations of “an amazing journey”.

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

All of a Sudden and Forever: Help and Healing After the Oklahoma City Bombing by Chris Barton, illustrated by Nicole Xu

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Carolrhoda Books

All of a Sudden and Forever: Help and Healing after the Oklahoma ...

Q&A with Chris Barton – BookPeople

Summary:  “Sometimes bad things happen, and you have to tell everyone.  Sometimes terrible things happen and everybody knows.  One April morning in 1995, one of those terrible things happened in Oklahoma City.”  How do you tell the story of the Oklahoma City bombing to a picture book audience?  Answer: in a straightforward manner, with an emphasis on different losses and emotions different people experienced (“Some lost friends, neighbors….Some who survived had bodies broken in ways large and small….Some who rushed into help saw horrible things they would never forget”).  But also with an emphasis on healing, helping (and getting help), and moving on.  At the center of this part of the story is the Survivor Tree, an elm that survived the bombing and flourished in the years afterward, providing seedlings that have been planted far and wide.  Those seedlings have grown into trees and produced seedlings of their own, making the spread of trees an apt metaphor for the spread of help and comfort that has come from the survivors of this tragedy.  Includes author’s and illustrator’s notes; a list of people interviewed for the book, along with their connections to the bombing; and a list of recommended resources.  40 pages; grades 2-6.

Pros:  The Oklahoma City bombing doesn’t seem that long ago…until I look at my 25-year-old daughter who was born seven weeks afterward.  This book does an admirable job of introducing kids to the event, which they may never have heard of.  The illustrations are appropriately subdued; the faceless people in the pictures and the emphasis on grief and healing also make this a story to be read in conjunction with other difficult situations.

Cons:  Readers looking for a lot of information on the actual bombing will need to pursue some of the resources at the end.

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

My Life in the Fish Tank by Barbara Dee

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Aladdin (Released September 15)

My Life in the Fish Tank - Kindle edition by Dee, Barbara ...

Summary:  Zinnia (Zinny) has a pretty normal life with her three siblings and two best friends until her brother is involved in a car accident at college.  The hospital staff notices erratic behavior, and Gabriel is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation and counseling.  Zinny’s family is thrown into turmoil–her mother takes a leave of absence from her job, her father starts working longer hours, and neither parent is doing much for Zinny or her other brother and sister.  The kids are told to keep Gabriel’s issues “private”.  Zinny finds herself drifting away from her friends and not sure what to tell the caring adults who reach out to her.  Her interest in science attracts the notice of her favorite teacher, who offers Zinny an amazing summer opportunity, but Zinny’s not sure she should be away from her family.  Zinny is finally forced to confront her own emotions and to learn that loving her brother doesn’t preclude taking care of herself.  320 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  As I read this book, it occurred to me that Barbara Dee is becoming kind of a Judy Blume of the 21st century.  Her recent books have taken on the issues of sexual harassment, eating disorders, childhood cancer, and now mental illness, but she does it with a light touch and with characters that middle-grade readers readily identify with.  I always find her books easy to book talk with upper elementary and middle school readers, yet they could also serve as bibliotherapy for kids who have experienced the challenges she writes about.

Cons:  The title made me think I was getting a first-person narration, which I wasn’t.

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