Author: Janet Dawson

Five favorite graphic novels

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Graphic novels continue to be popular with kids from the time they start to read all the way into high school.  Here are some that I particularly enjoyed this year.

Raid of No Return by Nathan Hale.  Published by Amulet Books

There’s no better way to learn history than with Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales; add this World War II one to the collection.  Link to Amazon.

 

The Amazing Crafty Cat by Cherise Mericle Harper.  Published by First Second.

At first, the premise of a girl who dons a cat costume and does crafts seemed a bit odd, but Birdie, a.k.a. Crafty Cat, is a resourceful and funny narrator, and her crafting abilities often save the day.  Link to Amazon.

 

All’s Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson.  Published by Dial Books.

I’m a Raina fan, but I’m an even bigger Victoria Jamieson fan, and this book is in a dead heat with Roller Girl for my affections.  Her heroines are likeable, fallible, and believable.  I also enjoyed The Great Art Caper for younger readers this year.  Link to Amazon.

 

Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson.  Published by Balzer + Bray.

A hybrid between a regular novel and a graphic, this introduced a sympathetic character, shy Emmie, and her graphic alter-ego Katie, who seems to be a different character until the end of the book.  Introverts everywhere will root for Emmie.  Link to Amazon.

 

The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag.  Published by Scholastic Graphix.

The “be yourself” message and questions about gender roles are strongly stated without overwhelming the engaging story about a community of magicians, and Aster, the boy who doesn’t conform to expectations.  Link to Amazon.

 

Five Caldecott predictions

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

I tend to be a bit conservative in my picture book tastes.  While I can appreciate the more avant garde styles of Evan Turk’s Muddy and Ed Young’s Mighty Moby, at the end of the day, I’m going to go with something a bit more traditional for my favorites.  Like these:

 

Dazzle Ships: World War I and the Art of Confusion by Chris Barton, illustrated by Victo Ngai.  Published by Millbrook Press.

In his first children’s book, Victo Ngai does an impressive job of capturing the feel of the World War I era as well as dazzling readers with his renditions of the ships.  Link to Amazon.

 

All the Way to Havana by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Mike Curato.  Published by Henry Holt.

I’ve loved Mike Curato’s Little Elliot books, and this book was even more spectacular.  This plus Katherine Paterson’s My Brigadista Year made me want to visit Cuba.  Link to Amazon.

 

Little Fox in the Forest by Stephanie Graegin.  Published by Schwartz and Wade.

How appropriate that I cannot find words to express how much I loved this enchanting, imaginative wordless book.  Link to Amazon.

 

After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat.  Published by Roaring Brook Press.

Sometimes I’ll enjoy a book, then look at it again a few months later and realize it was even more fabulous than I originally realized.  This was one of those books; it is my #1 favorite picture book in 2017.  Link to Amazon.

 

The Antlered Ship by Dashka Slater, illustrated by the Fan Brothers.

I’ve seen some questions about whether the Fan Brothers can win a Caldecott, as they live and work in Canada, but I’m pretty sure they are eligible.  Their pigeon crew members on the antlered ship were among my favorite characters this year.  Link to Amazon.

Five Newbery predictions

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

In case you haven’t been keeping track, for the last two years I’ve predicted the Newbery honor books, but the actual medalist has not made my list.  I have a funny feeling I’m not getting it right at all this year.  It just didn’t seem like there was a lot of Newbery caliber, and some of the authors I’ve picked already have a medal of some color.

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate.  Published by Feiwel and Friends.

Feels like a bit of a long shot to me, but it’s a beautiful story with a timely message, and it has a lot of younger kid appeal, which, as an elementary librarian, I appreciate.  Link to Amazon

 

The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.  Published by Dial Books.

One of my two favorite middle grade novels of the year.  But will the committee give an award to a sequel of an honor book?  Link to Amazon.

 

Patina by Jason Reynolds.  Published by Atheneum.

Last year, I was hoping Ghost would win.  This year, I am hoping Patina will win.  Next year, I may be hoping Sunny will win (due out in April, 2018).  Link to Amazon.

 

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder.  Published by Walden Pond Press.

A beautifully written, mysterious story of orphan children living on an mist-shrouded island.  I am still hoping there is a sequel that answers some of my questions. Link to Amazon.

 

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk.

My other favorite middle grade novel of 2017.  Lauren Wolk was just honored last year for the equally good Wolf Hollow.  Will she do it again?  All will be revealed on the morning of February 12.  Link to Amazon.

 

 

 

Wrapping up the year

~ Janet Dawson ~ 9 Comments

This is how I feel at this time of year: after reviewing six books a week for the last year, I keep seeing lists of “the best of 2017” and realizing how many books I DIDN’T get to read this year.  I’m resisting the urge to hole up all week and try to fit in as many of those books as I can!  This week I’ll be posting my own “best of” lists; then I’m going to take a few weeks off in January to catch up on some non-blog reading and let the 2018 books start to pile up.

As always, I’d love to hear from any followers about how Kids Book a Day has helped you this year, what you’d like to see here in 2018, or just a general hello.  I look forward to another year of reading and sharing books, and I wish each one of you the best in the year ahead!

Merry Christmas, Mary Christmas! By Laurie Friedman, illustrated by Kathryn Durst

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Published by Carolrhoda Books

Summary:  The Christmas family–Ma, Pa, Chris, Holly, Mary, and dog Rudy–love everything about Christmas, and do it in a big way.  All of them, that is, except Mary, who thinks their tree is too big (it pokes through the roof), their lights are too bright (they cause the lights on the rest of the street to go out), and their presents are too plentiful.  She consults with Santa, who tells her plenty of people would love her Christmas and that he’s sure she can find a way to appreciate it as well.  On Christmas Eve, Mary comes up with her plan, and on Christmas morning, she convinces her family to pack up the tree, lights, and gifts, and throw a huge party for the rest of the town.  Everyone in her family and the town is delighted, and when Mary settles down that night, she finally feels like she has had a merry Christmas.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Cheerful cartoon-style illustrations of garish Christmas excesses complement the story about learning to share holiday abundance with others.

Cons:  What, is my name Ebeneezer Scrooge?  Merry Christmas to all!

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

A Christmas for Bear by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton

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Published by Candlewick

Summary:  Bear has never celebrated Christmas, but his research has shown him what the most important element is: pickles.  When Mouse comes over on Christmas Eve, he can’t help searching the house for presents, even as Bear is reminding him that pickles and poetry are what will make their holiday special.  They sit down to the pickle-centered feast, and Bear begins reciting “The Night Before Christmas”.  When he gets to the line about the stockings, he repeats it several times, growing increasingly loud, until Mouse realizes there ARE stockings behind the tree, and one of them has…a present!  Mouse races outside to use his new telescope, and there, under the tree, is a sled for Bear.  Bear struggles a bit, but manages to let Mouse know that he is Bear’s best friend.  48 pages; ages 5-9.

Pros:  Another winning tale of the unlikely but sweet friendship between Bear and Mouse.

Cons:  I was sweating it out about the presents; I don’t even like pickles.

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

Stay: A Girl, A Dog, A Bucket List by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Feiwel and Friends

Summary:  Eli has been Astrid’s canine companion since she came home from the hospital.  The summer she is six, Astrid notices that Eli is getting old.  She decides to make a bucket list of things for them to do together.  Eli rides on Astrid’s bike, gets a bubble bath, and goes to a movie and to a restaurant for spaghetti and meatballs.  He enjoys it all, but finally he is too old and tired to do anything but stay home and remember their happy times together.  The last page: “Being with Astrid was the only thing left on Eli’s bucket list.  It was the only thing that had ever been on Eli’s bucket list.”  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A sweet story, both the text and illustrations.  Eli’s thoughts as he is taken from one bucket list item to the next are amusing.  Aging and unconditional love are both addressed, but with a light touch.

Cons:  If you can read that last page without choking up, you are a stronger person than I am.

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

 

A shiny new medal!

~ Janet Dawson ~ 5 Comments

I just learned that Feedspot named this blog one of their top 100 Children’s Book blogs for the year (I’m #64).  They gave me a shiny gold badge to put on the sidebar of the blog– check it out!  You can click on it to see the full list of all 100 blogs.  I have no idea what Feedspot is…please leave a comment or email me if you know!

My Brigadista Year by Katherine Paterson

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Published by Candlewick

Summary:  When 13-year-old Lora announces that she wants to leave school for a year to become part of the volunteer army teaching literacy in Castro’s new Cuba, her parents are completely opposed.  However, her abuela speaks up in her favor, and ultimately Lora is allowed to go.  The young people who go with her are under constant threat from rebels hiding in the mountains who want to see the program fail.  Lora almost decides to quit and go home a few times, but her host family and the new friends around her keep her resolve strong, and eventually all her students are reading.  At the end of the year she returns home, but her life has been changed forever.  An epilogue tells readers what happened to Lora and the people she taught; a lengthy author’s note tells more about the history of Cuba, the brigadistas, and the success of the literacy program.  160 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Readers will be inspired to learn how one person can make a difference–and one who is close to their own age, no less.  It was interesting to read about Castro’s rise to power and his ideals for Cuba from the point of view of Cubans.

Cons:  The story starts off a bit slow, with the pace picking up when Lora is on her way with the brigadistas.

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

Pandora by Victoria Turnbull

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Clarion Books

Summary:  Pandora the fox lives by herself in a land of broken things, but she has a talent for fixing and repurposing them.  One day, an injured bird falls into her world, and she sets about making it better.  The two become friends, and the bird builds a nest near Pandora’s bed.  Soon the bird is well enough to fly, and one day, it flies away and doesn’t return.  Pandora thinks her heart will break; while she is lying in her bed, the reader can see a plant rising from the box that held the bird’s nest.  The plant grows to cover the world outside Pandora’s house.  One day it rouses her from her bed just in time to hear the sound of birdsong and to welcome her friend back to the land of living things.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The spare text and evocative watercolor illustrations tell a moving and mysterious story that can be appreciated as both a tale of friendship and a fable about taking care of the environment.

Cons:  The story may be confusing to younger readers.

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