Author: Janet Dawson

The Best of Iggy by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sam Ricks

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by G. P. Putnam’s Books for Young Readers

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Summary:  When you’re in fourth grade, there are three kinds of trouble to be had: 1. things we wish we hadn’t done, but actually just wish we hadn’t gotten in trouble for, 2. things we wish we hadn’t done quite as much as we did, and 3. things we really, completely wish we hadn’t done.  Readers get an illustration of each of these from Iggy.  Iggy’s not a bad kid; he just doesn’t always think about consequences, like that skateboarding off a shed onto a trampoline or racing desks toward the teacher when her back is turned might not be great ideas. The term “extenuating circumstances” is introduced, with some examples of when they do and don’t exist in each of Iggy’s escapades.  The final episode, which Iggy regrets deeply, teaches him a few lessons, but even he is wise enough to see that he will sometimes forget those lessons in the future. 144 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  With short chapters, lots of humor, and plenty of illustrations, this is sure to engage both reluctant and enthusiastic readers.  Some may feel Iggy should be a bit more contrite about his actions, but he seemed just right for a 9-year-old boy.

Cons:  It’s a pretty short book, and dividing it into three separate episodes didn’t allow for much character development.

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A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story by Sharon Langley and Amy Nathan, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

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Published by Harry N. Abrams

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Summary:  Sharon Langley recounts the story of how her neighborhood amusement park slowly became desegregated thanks to nonviolent protests in July of 1963.  On the Fourth of July, groups of protesters stood outside the park holding signs and singing songs. When some members of the group tried to buy tickets, they were arrested.  After a second protest three days later, the media coverage became so intense that the owners of the park were forced to agree to let everyone in. Sharon and her family became the first African-Americans to enter the park on August 28, 1963, the first day it was open to all.  Just one month shy of her first birthday, Sharon was photographed with her father, riding the carousel. The day was memorable for another civil rights milestone: the March on Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. The carousel now stands on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., with Sharon’s name on one of the horse’s saddles and horseshoes.  Includes two pages of additional information, photos, a timeline, and a bibliography. 40 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros:  I love how this book connects the civil rights movement to something kids will relate to: going to an amusement park.  Coretta Scott King Award winner Floyd Cooper does a masterful job of portraying all the characters in the story, including the carousel horses.

Cons:  I found the first couple pages a little confusing, until I realized who Sharon was and that she was telling her own story.

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

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I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference by Mark Shulman, illustrated by Serge Bloch

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Published by Neal Porter Books

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Summary:  Apples or oranges? Markers or crayons? Ice cream or cupcakes? Any time you make a choice, you are casting a vote.  When people vote together, the majority wins (at least theoretically, but we won’t go there). Talking to people about what you want can help them understand, and maybe they will change their minds.  It’s also a good idea to listen to others so you can make an informed decision. If you don’t vote, you don’t get to choose, so learn all you can about voting now, and exercise that right when you turn 18!  Includes additional information on voting and how the U.S. government works, as well as a list of books and online sites with additional information. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Kids are sure to hear a lot about voting and elections this year, and this is a great resource that explains the process in terms that even preschoolers will understand.

Cons:  Some may say the picture showing a red brick wall with a sign reading “No kids allowed!” and a blue brick wall saying “Free for kids” reflects a bit of partisan bias.

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Clean Getaway by Nic Stone

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Published by Crown Books for Young Readers

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Summary:  Scoob has had some troubles at school, so he’s only too happy when his grandmother shows up with an RV, announcing that she’s sold her house, and takes him on an impromptu road trip across the southern U.S.  Along the way, she shares stories with Scoob about his grandfather, their interracial marriage in the 1960’s, and how Grandpa ended up in jail. Scoob learns about racism past and present when he discovers a well-worn copy of the Green Book in the RV and notices some people’s discomfort at seeing a black kid with a white woman.  G’ma’s behavior gets stranger as the trip progresses, and Scoob tries to figure out her frequent license plate changes on the RV, the large pile of money he discovers, and the reason why she refuses to take his dad’s increasingly frantic phone calls. The ending isn’t entirely happy, but Scoob finds he has grown and changed during the trip and gained a greater understanding of his family and their history.  240 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Scoob and G’ma are fun characters and readers will find plenty of humor in their adventures, while learning about civil rights history and race issues from the past and present.  The light tone, fairly short text, and plentiful illustrations would make this a good choice for reluctant readers.

Cons:  This book has been reviewed positively everywhere, but I was not a big fan.  The revelations about G’ma’s character were hard for me to understand and made her unlikeable to me.

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Consent (For Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being In Charge of YOU by Rachel Brian

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Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

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Summary:  With chapters on such topics as “You Rule”, “Trust Your Gut”, and “Giving and Getting Consent”, this short graphic book uses a light tone to help kids understand inappropriate behavior and how to maintain boundaries.  Without getting into explicit details, the author covers inappropriate touching, whether it’s tickling or something more sexual, and helps kids understand what they should do in such situations. The comic panels explore different scenarios to allow kids to see their roles in making sure they stay safe and happy.  For a sample of Rachel Brian’s adult work (contains the f-word and is about consensual sex), take a look at her Youtube video Tea Consent.  240 pages; grades 1-7.

Pros:  This is an amazing resource for anyone who works with kids.  The tone is light and fun, the messages are clear, and the graphic format will appeal to children of all ages.  

Cons:  A list of additional resources would have been a great addition.

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Big Papa and the Time Machine by Daniel Bernstrom, pictures by Shane W. Evans

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Published by HarperCollins

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Summary:  It’s the first day of school, and the narrator is scared as his grandfather drives him to school.  Big Papa turns his car into a time machine, and the two of them travel back in time: to 1952 Little Rock where Big Papa is leaving home for the first time; 1986 Chicago where his daughter leaves her baby with him, then disappears; a 1941 cotton field where a man tears up the young Papa’s schoolwork and tells him the field is his only school.  Each time, Big Papa explains to the boy how scared he was, but that he had to be brave to move forward. By the time they reach school, the boy has gotten the message and is ready to hug his grandfather good-bye and courageously head toward school. Includes an author’s note about his grandfather who inspired this book and an illustrator’s note. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  An interesting twist on a first-day-of-school book, or any other situation that requires courage.  This could inspire some good inter-generational discussions about what it’s like to be scared and/or brave.

Cons:  The intended audience of first-time school attenders may need some extra help to understand the different circumstances of Big Papa’s life.

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Normal: One Kid’s Extraordinary Journey by Magdalena and Nathaniel Newman

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Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

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Summary:  When Nathaniel Newman was born with the craniofacial condition called Treacher Collins, his parents were overwhelmed.  Magda tells how she and her husband struggled to keep Nathaniel alive in his early days when he had to to breathe through a tracheostomy tube and be fed through another tube in his stomach.  She and her husband Russel struggled to give Nathaniel and his younger brother Jacob as normal a childhood as possible. Their lives were affected by the publication of R. J. Palacio’s book Wonder, about a boy much like Nathaniel.  Not only did they get to meet Palacio (who had been influenced in her creation of Auggie by photos of Nathaniel), but they found a greater acceptance from people after the publication of the book.  Despite over 60 surgeries for Nathaniel and two cancer diagnoses for Magda, their family has emerged stronger and with a new definition of the word “normal”. 336 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  Those who have read Wonder or seen the movie (which Nathaniel auditioned for) will gain a much greater appreciation for all that Augie and his family had to go through before the opening scene of the story.  Nathaniel’s upbeat, matter-of-fact tone about his life is pretty impressive, and Magda’s honesty about her emotions throughout Nathaniel’s childhood make her a mom many will connect with.  The black-and-white cartoon-style illustrations make a fun addition to the story.

Cons:  The structure of the narrative is a bit disjointed; for instance, Magda alludes to her cancer about halfway through the book, but the story of it (which happened when Nathaniel was 2) doesn’t come until almost the end.

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The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane by Nikki Shannon Smith, illustrated by Mari Lobo

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Published by Picture Window Books (Capstone)

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Summary:  After a trip to the National Zoo, Azaleah is excited to start working on her extra-credit animal habitat diorama.  But when she gets home, she discovers that her little sister has lost her stuffed frog Greenie. At first Azaleah’s excited to work with Tiana to solve a mystery, but when Tiana’s demands start getting in the way of work on the diorama, Azaleah gets frustrated.  Older sister Nia has just gotten a big part in the school play and is acting like a bit of a diva. As family tensions start to mount, Azaleah realizes it’s up to her to get things back on track. Includes a glossary, discussion questions, writing prompts, and instructions for making a diorama.  112 pages; grades 1-3.

Pros:  This early chapter book had an engaging mystery–I was genuinely curious as to what had happened to Greenie–as well as a likeable protagonist with realistic family issues.  The full-color illustrations add to the appeal. This is billed as book 1, so we can hope for more adventures of Azaleah.

Cons:  Dad sending everyone to bed at 6 o’clock–including middle schooler Nia–seemed a bit draconian.

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Bear Goes Sugaring by Maxwell Eaton III

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Published by Neal Porter Books

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Summary:  As late-winter temperatures start to slowly rise, Bear begins her plans to make maple syrup.  Her sidekicks, Dog and Squirrel, are only interested for the pancakes they hope to eat. The process of making syrup is shown step by step, as Bear drills holes in her sugar maples, then sets the containers to collect the sap.  Readers learn pertinent information, such as how to identify a sugar maple (versus a red or silver maple) and how the sap forms inside the tree. After the sap starts to flow, Bear builds an evaporator to boil it down to syrup, all the while accompanied by the wisecracking Dog and Squirrel.  It’s a long process, but finally the syrup is bottled and ready to go. Dog and Squirrel enjoy maple syrup splendor as Bear flips pancakes on the stove. Includes a brief author’s note and three additional resources. 32 pages; ages 4-10.

Pros:  My love of maple syrup is well-known amongst my family and friends, so I’m delighted to have found two new picture books on the topic before the end of January.  This one is fun for the whole family, with surprisingly detailed information on the whole process and lots of humor from the goofy sidekicks.  

Cons:  No pancake recipe.

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Almost Time by Gary D. Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney, illustrated by G. Brian Karas

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Clarion

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Summary:  When Ethan’s dad serves him his pancakes with applesauce, Ethan knows they’ve run out of maple syrup.  Dad tells him that they’ll have to wait for the days to get warmer and longer before they can make more.  In the meantime, Ethan discovers a loose tooth, and waiting for the tooth to fall out and sugaring season to begin get tied together in a mood of anticipation.  One day, at long last, the tooth falls out, and when Ethan gets off the school bus to show his dad, he realizes that the buckets are on the maple trees as well. For the next week, father and son work to collect and boil sap, and on Sunday morning, Ethan enjoys his reward–pancakes with maple syrup.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A perfect late winter book to start conversations about making maple syrup and the difficulty of waiting for exciting events.  The charming illustrations and warm father-son relationship make this a perfect book for sharing.

Cons:  Seems like dad could have sprung for a bottle of maple syrup to tide them over until sugaring season.  No one in this day and age should have to eat pancakes without maple syrup.

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