Author: Janet Dawson

A Race Around the World: The True Story of Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland by Caroline Starr Rose, illustrated by Alexandra Bye

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Published by Albert Whitman and Co.

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Summary:  In 1889, reporter Nellie Bly declared she could travel around the world in 75 days.  She convinced her boss at the New York World to let her try, and on November 14, she set off from New Jersey.  When Elizabeth Bisland’s boss at Cosmopolitan magazine read about her trip, he convinced her to take a train to San Francisco that night and try to beat Bly back to New York.  The two women, traveling in opposite directions, took trains and ships from one destination to the next, as readers followed their adventures.  Nellie returned on January 25, 1890, to cheering crowds and a ten-cannon salute. Elizabeth made it back on January 30 to a much smaller crowd. But both women had made it in under 80 days, breaking the previous record.  Elizabeth, who had been something of a homebody before, traveled and wrote for the rest of her days. Includes an author’s note and three additional sources. 32 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  My daughter loved Nellie Bly when she was younger.  Come to think of it, I wrote in my eighth grade diary that I wanted to be a reporter like Nellie after reading how she went undercover to report on insane asylums.  So I know Nellie’s story is captivating to kids.  I didn’t know about Elizabeth Bisland, but it makes a great tale to follow both women’s adventures as they hurried around the world.

Cons:  Photos and/or more research material would have made a nice addition, so here’s one for you now.  Elizabeth is on the left, Nellie on the right.

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Little Libraries, Big Heroes by Miranda Paul, illustrated by John Parra

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Clarion Books

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Summary:  Even when Todd struggled in school, his mom told him he could be whatever he wanted to be.  After she died, he remembered her teaching neighborhood kids to read and decided to build a box shaped like a small schoolhouse and fill it with books.  His neighbors noticed it during a yard sale, and their enthusiasm inspired Todd to build more boxes. When sales remained flat, Todd and his friend Rick traveled around the midwest, planting boxes in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota.  Their efforts made the news, and little libraries became a big thing. There are now libraries all over the U.S. and around the world. Todd was a hero, the people who were inspired by his idea are heroes, and maybe one day you will start a little library and be a hero too.  Includes an author’s note and additional sources of information. 40 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros:  I always enjoy Miranda Paul’s inspiring nonfiction picture books, and I like how this one emphasizes that even ordinary people can become heroes.  Readers will come away with an idea of something they can do today to help others.

Cons:  You’d think I would be all over the little library idea, but somehow it has never really grabbed me.  Guess I just prefer big libraries.

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Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly

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Published by Greenwillow

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Summary:  Lalani lives in a village suffering under a drought.  She takes a trip up the forbidden mountain near the village, and meets a strange man there who grants her wish for rain.  Unfortunately, he causes the rain to fall without ceasing, and when flooding begins, the villagers blame Lalani. Meanwhile, her mother has fallen ill with mender’s disease, an illness that is nearly always fatal.  Lalani decides to travel over the sea to the fabled land of Isa. Many men from her village have sailed away in search of this land, but have never returned. Her voyage turns out to be perilous, but she is kind to all the strange creatures she meets, and they help her get the help she’s seeking.  Her friends at home take care of some difficult situations there, so that everyone is reunited for a happily-ever-after ending. 400 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  I wouldn’t be surprised to see this win the Newbery medal or honor.  It’s a beautifully written book with amazing world building that is based on Filipino folklore.  There are many interesting characters (human and otherwise), settings, and legends that fans of folklore-inspired fantasy are sure to love.

Cons:  While I can appreciate the mastery at work here, this genre is just not my cup of tea, so I really had to push through to the end.  If you liked The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill or Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin, you will undoubtedly love this.  If you didn’t, come sit next to me.

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Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe

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Published by Simon and Schuster

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Summary:  “The biggest mistake Pokko’s parents ever made was giving her a drum.”  Pokko’s playing is so loud they can’t hear each other talking.  One day, her dad suggests she take it outside, reminding her, “We’re just a little frog family that lives in a mushroom, and we don’t like drawing attention to ourselves.”  As Pokko bangs her drum through the forest, a raccoon is seen lurking. A banjo-playing raccoon, that is, who joins in. Next comes a rabbit with a trumpet, and a wolf who just enjoys the music. When the wolf eats the rabbit, Pokko sternly informs him that is not allowed, opening the way for all members of the food chain to join the band.  At the end of the day, the group sweeps into Pokko’s house and carries her parents along. “I think that’s Pokko down in front!” exclaims her father. “And you know what? I think she’s pretty good!” 64 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  I found this book pretty hilarious, and the message of literally marching to the beat of your own drum is deftly delivered.  The watercolor illustrations give the story a slightly surreal, slightly retro feel.

Cons:  The wolf eating the rabbit felt like an unnecessarily disturbing detail.

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Shine! By J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

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Summary:  When Piper’s dad gets a job at the exclusive Chumley Prep, he’s thrilled that Piper will be able to attend seventh grade at the school where her late mother was a star.  Piper’s not so sure about going to school with all the rich, smart students at Chumley; she’s always thought of herself as someone who blends into the background. But when the Excelsior award is offered for the student who best exemplifies excellence during the winter term, Piper can’t help getting caught up in the excitement.  Mean girl Ainsley is out to crush the competition, but Piper’s quirky but loyal new friends want to see someone from their group win for a change. Piper’s love for science seems like a path to set her apart, but life isn’t always fair at her new school. She finds herself having to choose between winning and doing the right thing for her new friends…and for herself.  224 pages; grades 3-6

Pros:  Chris Grabenstein has a talent for writing funny, engaging stories that even reluctant readers enjoy, and this new offering, written with his wife, is sure to be popular.  The message that kindness counts more than winning is one that teachers and parents will embrace as well.

Cons:  Once again, I find myself feeling jaded; after reading a plethora of positive reviews, I found this story pretty predictable with a cast of characters (rich, snobby mean girl; quirky best friends; eccentric but kind teachers) one that I have seen more than once before.

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The Disaster Days by Rebecca Behrens

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Published by Sourcebooks Young Readers

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Summary:  13-year-old Hannah’s only babysat once before, so she’s a little nervous about looking after her neighbors Zoe and Oscar while their mom goes on an errand to mainland Washington.  During her absence, there’s a major earthquake, and Hannah must figure out how to survive and take care of her two charges. Their island neighborhood is cut off from help, and the broadcasts they get from their emergency radio make them think their parents might be hurt or worse.  For four days, Hannah has to cope with major injuries, diminishing food and water, a gas leak, a bear, and her own asthma as she tries to keep everyone alive and wait for help. Hannah has sometimes felt overshadowed by her more outgoing best friend, but in an emergency, she discovers reserves of strength and resourcefulness that she never knew she had.  Includes an author’s note with more information about earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest. 304 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Anyone who enjoys a gripping survival story will find this hard to put down.  The situations and the kids’ responses to them are believable, and readers will pick up a few survival tips of their own.

Cons:  The title and cover didn’t really draw me in.

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The Cool Bean by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald

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Published by HarperCollins

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Summary:  There are some cool beans at the school…but our narrator is not one of them.  He used to hang out with those cool guys, but things changed, and now he feels pretty uncool most of the time.  His clothes don’t seem to fit right, he walks into things, and sometimes he snorts when he laughs. One day, though, some amazing things happen.  When he drops his lunch, one of the cool beans helps him clean up. When he falls down on the playground, another cool bean helps him up. And the third cool bean helps him out of an embarrassing situation in class.  These kind gestures turn his whole day around, and pretty soon he’s feeling confident enough to hang out with the cool guys again. He’s learned that kindness is cooler than any outside appearance, and he tries to spread that kindness to the other beans around him.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The team that brought you The Bad Seed and The Good Egg have produced another winning book that will help kids see that kindness is more important than being cool.  

Cons:  If only it really were that easy to get in with the cool kids. 

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Penny and Her Sled by Kevin Henkes

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Published by Greenwillow Books

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Summary:  A new sled has Penny eagerly anticipating the first snowfall, but day after day the ground remains bare.  Her parents both assure that it will snow eventually, and Penny tries some snow-making tricks like wearing mittens to bed and sitting on the sled in the living room.  Nothing works. Trying to make the best of her situation, she uses the sled to make a house for her younger siblings and a bed for her doll Rose. As the days grow longer, it seems as though the winter will be snow-less, and her mother encourages Penny to look for a different type of snow–the snowdrops in the garden.  One exciting day, the flowers are blooming, and Penny runs into the house to tell her mother. They go out to look together–with Penny wearing her scarf and mittens and pulling Rose behind her on the sled. 56 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  It’s been six years since the last Penny book, but well worth the wait.  Kevin Henkes does his usual masterful combination of storytelling and illustration, perfectly capturing a child’s point of view and painlessly inserting a few lessons about resilience.  Pretty impressive that he has managed to produce one of my favorite easy readers and one of my favorite chapter books in the same year.

Cons:  I really thought it would snow eventually.

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Unseen World: Real-Life Microscopic Creatures Hiding All Around Us by Hélène Rajcak, illustrated by Damien Laverdunt

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Published by What On Earth Books

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Summary:  Each two page spread describes microscopic creatures that live in different environments:  under the ocean, on the forest floor, in your bed, on your kitchen floor. A fold-out page gives an introduction; when it’s unfolded, more of the illustration is revealed and specific organisms are identified.  Ten environments are profiled in all. Includes additional information about and history of the microscope; information on classifying microorganisms; glossary; index; and selected sources. 32 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This French import is a real work of art.  Sure, we may not all be curious about the mites that feed on our skin at night, but for those who are, this is a beautiful way to go.  The illustrations are amazingly detailed, and the information is fascinating.

Cons:  The foldout pages and $18.00 price tag are a less-than-ideal combination for a school library.

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Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy

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Published by Balzer + Bray

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Summary:  Patricia “Sweet Pea” DiMarco is adjusting to life with newly divorced parents.  Her mom is in their old house, and Dad is renting an identical house two doors down.  In between lives Miss Flora Mae, a reclusive, eccentric older woman who writes an advice column for the local paper.  Sweet Pea’s written a few letters to Miss Flora Mae herself, struggling with a best friend who’s turned mean girl and some body image issues.  When Miss Flora Mae goes away and asks Sweet Pea to collect her mail and send finished columns to the editor, Sweet Pea finds herself tempted to answer a letter or two herself, particularly when she recognizes the handwriting on one.  As her friendship issues spiral out of control, Sweet Pea uses the column to discover an important truth–she has all the answers she needs with the help of her family and friends. 288 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Lots of issues are dealt with here–divorce, having a gay parent, body image, and middle school friendships.  Julie Murphy (author of Dumplin’ and other young adult novels) handles it with a light touch and plenty of humor.  Sure to be a popular choice for older elementary and middle school readers.

Cons:  Maybe I have read too many girls-coming-of-age middle school novels this year (or in my life), but I felt like I had seen so much of this before: the loyal boy best friend, the former best friend turned mean girl, the divorced parents who are trying their best.  It’s a cute story, but I was hoping for something a bit less formulaic from such a best-selling author.  It got starred reviews in four different journals, though, so maybe I am just getting jaded.

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