Author: Janet Dawson

Dog Says, Cat Says by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Sonia Sánchez

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Published by Dial Books

Summary:  In rhyming text, a dog and cat alternate talking to their owners throughout the day: “It’s morning! Do you have to go? I’m bringing you my ball/It’s morning? Well, your bed’s so soft, I may not move at all.”  The dog enthusiastically leaps into all things dog-gy: barking at the mailman, playing fetch, and rolling in the mud, while the cat perfects the art of standoffishness and showing superiority to the dog.  When nighttime comes, the dog is ready to settle down in his bed, while the cat prowls through the house, then finally snuggles in with the dog.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A fun book for pet lovers that reminded me of Elisha Cooper’s Yes and No, with the dog and cat leading very different lives but coming together as night falls.  The bouncy rhymes and illustrations capture both the high energy of the dog and cat’s more languid nature.

Cons:  Failed to change my opinion that dogs make superior pets.

A Perfect Fit: How Lena “Lane” Bryant Changed the Shape of Fashion by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

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Published by Clarion Books

Summary:  Raised by her grandparents in Lithuania, Lena Himmelstein learned sewing from her grandmother and from her grandfather, the definition of real success: helping another person.  When she was 16, Lena followed her older sister to America, where she got a job as a seamstress.  She studied English and fashion and married a man named David Bryant, who died shortly after the birth of their son.  To support the family, Lena bought a sewing machine and started her own business.  When a pregnant woman asked for a gown that would grow with her, Lena remembered her grandfather’s advice and found a way to help her customer.  Her reputation grew, and soon she opened her own shop and a bank account.  At the bank, she accidentally signed her name as “Lane” instead of Lena.  Lane Bryant became famous for clothes made to help women of all sizes and shapes.  “Everyone said Lena was a great success.  And when she thought about her grandfather, she knew that it was true.”  Includes an author’s note and a list of sources.  32 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  Mara Rockliff’s engaging writing and Juana Martinez-Neal’s fashionable illustrations bring Lena Himmelstein Bryant’s story to life, with a heartwarming emphasis on how helping others is the true definition of success.

Cons:  Too bad this wasn’t released in time for Women’s History Month.

Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros

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Published by Quill Tree Books

Summary:  Isaac and Marco are neighbors and best friends, but could hardly be more different: Isaac is a gifted basketball player who struggles with schoolwork, while Marco aces every test but is small and unathletic.  One thing they have in common is complicated relationships with their fathers.  Isaac’s mom has forced his dad to move out due to a drinking problem.  Marco constantly feels like he is a disappointment to his sports-crazy father, who is remarried with a stepson and hardly ever gets in touch.  The two tell the story of their early middle school days in alternating voices, as Marco becomes determined to make the basketball team, and Isaac focuses on becoming a better student.  The final showdown at a basketball tournament allows them to help each other and to come to terms with who their fathers really are.  292 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  While this follow-up to the Belpré Award-winning Efrén Divided is about Latino characters, the story is quite different, focusing more on issues that many kids will relate to: school, sports, friends, and family.  The alternating points of view allow readers to share the perspectives of both main characters, who are both trying to overcome shortcomings with hard work and a tremendous amount of heart.

Cons:  Both main characters were almost too good to be true for a couple of sixth graders.  It also seemed unrealistic that Marco would be able to master enough basketball skills in a week to make the team and that Isaac would ace Marco’s honors math homework through sheer hard work and determination to help his friend.

Hello, Puddle! By Anita Sanchez, illustrated by Luisa Uribe

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Published by Clarion Books

Summary:  A young girl observes a puddle throughout the year.  Spring brings tadpoles, turtles, and plants growing near the edges.  Squirrels cool off in the summer heat, which also causes the puddle to shrink.  There’s still enough water for mosquitoes to lay their eggs, and when they hatch, bats swoop in to eat them.  Deer stop by for a drink as the puddle fills up with falling leaves.  Finally, it ices over, and the girl bids it farewell until spring comes again.  Includes an author’s note about the real puddle on which the story is based; additional puddle facts and directions for making your own puddle; a list of the animals in the book and how to find signs of them; a glossary; and a list of additional resources.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Who would have thought the humble puddle could draw such a wide variety of wildlife?  This book is perfect for giving young naturalists an introduction to animals they can observe in their own backyards, and the back matter can lead them to further explorations.

Cons:  I got a little nervous there in midsummer that the puddle was going to disappear.

Forest Fighter: The Story of Chico Mendes by Anita Ganeri, illustrated by Margaux Carpentier

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Published by Crocodile Books

Summary: Born into a family of Brazilian rubber tappers, Chico Mendes loved the Amazon rainforest where he grew up.  He was fortunate to receive some education, and when the government shifted its economic priorities from rubber production to agriculture, Chico became one of the leaders in the movement to stop the burning of the rainforest.  He and other rubber tappers organized protests and gained some victories in their movement to slow the forest’s destruction.  His outspokenness antagonized the wealthy ranchers, and he began receiving death threats.  On December 22, 1988, he was assassinated outside his home.  His legacy continues with the worldwide attention he brought to the destruction of the Amazon rainforest.  Includes facts about the rainforest, a glossary, and an index.  48 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  This biography of Chico Mendes does an excellent job of putting his work and life in the context of this history of the region.  The brilliant colors of the illustrations are a perfect way to portray the Amazon rainforest.

Cons:  The cover and format of this book led me to believe it would be a picture book, but it’s a longer nonfiction book with a fair amount of text.

The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck by Matt Phelan

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Published by Greenwillow Books

Summary:  Bernadette the sheep, Pierre the rooster, and Jean-Luc the duck are based on the real animals that piloted the first hot-air balloon in 1783.  Among those in attendance were King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Benjamin Franklin.  This story takes place after that flight, when Emile, a young boy who works as a servant for Franklin, discovers the sheep, the rooster, and the duck and a girl named Sophie.  The four of them have become balloon experts, and their knowledge comes in handy when Franklin is kidnapped by Count Cagliostro.  They thwart Cagliostro’s plot to launch a war between England and France and take over the government of the newly-formed United States.  Includes an author’s note with historical information.  221 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  This engaging historical fiction story is told with both text and several sections of comic-style illustrations.  Kids will love the brilliant animals and cheer on Sophie and Emile as they work together to foil the evil schemers of 18th century France.  

Cons:  Readers may find the large number of characters and historical events at the beginning of the book confusing.

The Aquanaut: A Graphic Novel by Dan Santat

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Published by Graphix

Summary:  In the prologue to the story, brothers Paul and Michel are struggling to survive as their research vessel fills with water.  Paul makes it; Michel does not.  Five years later, Paul is raising Michel’s daughter Sophie and trying to keep their research going at a San Diego theme park called Aqualand.  One day a mysterious being dressed in an old diving suit rises out of the ocean and pays a visit to Sophie.  It turns out to be a group of small ocean animals seeking refuge from the dangers of the sea.  Things get chaotic when they make it to Aqualand, where they rescue an orca whale and try to help Uncle Paul from a greedy investor who wants to capitalize on the brothers’ research.  As the Aquanaut’s crew races to escape the bad guys, they wind up back in the ocean in a scene that seems to be playing out the same way Michel’s ship sank.  There are happy endings for everyone, though, as the animals learn that love can overcome fear and the humans realize that family is more important than careers or money.  Includes an author’s note with additional artwork and some explanations about the genesis and development of the story.  256 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  The nonstop action, compelling story, interesting sea creatures, and especially the gorgeous illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat make this a book that is sure to be embraced and savored by a wide range of graphic novel fans.

Cons:  The plot was a bit convoluted, and I’m not sure I got all the nuances of it.

Climb On! by Baptiste Paul, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara

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Published by NorthSouth Books

Summary:  Dad thinks it’s a great day for watching futbol, but his daughter has another idea, to take a hike up the mountain.  They fill backpacks with snacks, water, and a camera and head out.  At first, she’s the energetic one, scrambling up rocks, swinging from a vine, and encouraging her father, but as the day goes on, their roles are reversed.  As they approach the summit, she climbs onto his back, and finally they make it to the top, where an amazing vista awaits them.  The last page shows them both swinging from a vine, watched by a group of animals that the reader is invited to go back and find in the illustrations.  32 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  The team that brought you The Field has produced another winning story about a fun day in what I am guessing is St. Lucia, the setting for The Field.  The brief text is all dialog between the girl and her dad, sprinkled with Creole words.  The brilliant illustrations that capture the flora and fauna of the hike should be considered for some sort of award recognition.

Cons:  There was no back matter explaining the setting of the story, and, although the words were translated in the text, a Creole glossary would have been nice.

Honestly Elliott by Gillian McDunn

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Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Summary:  Elliott loves to cook and is good at it, with an ability to focus in a way that he struggles with at school.  His ADHD makes schoolwork difficult and social interactions awkward at times.  After almost failing the first semester of sixth grade, Elliott has to endure lectures from his high-achieving, sports-loving dad who is expecting a new baby with his new wife Kate.  For a project at school, Elliott finds himself unexpectedly partnered with popular girl Maribel, whose revelations about her struggles with celiac disease make Elliott realize that her life isn’t as perfect as it seems.  By the end of the story, he’s realized that no one’s life or family is perfect and that he has more love and support around him than he realized.  Includes recipes for Desperation Pie and Elliott’s Crumb Crust that are the centerpiece of Elliott’s and Maribel’s project.  263 pages; grades 4-6.

Pros:  Elliott is an extremely likable character who has friend, family, and school problems that many readers will relate to.  He handles those problems with humor and a certain amount of grace and manages to connect with those around him without giving up on being himself. 

Cons:  There are way more accomplished kid chefs in children’s books than I actually seem to meet in real life.

Nour’s Secret Library by Wafa’ Tarnowska, illustrated by Vali Mintzi

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Published by Barefoot Books

Summary: Nour and Damir are cousins living in Syria with big plans to start a secret society for themselves and their friends.  Those plans are destroyed when the war moves to their city and they have to hide in a basement.  During lulls in the fighting, Damir goes out on his bike to look for food and begins to rescue books that he finds in the rubble.  The kids find an empty basement in a mostly-abandoned building and set up a library there.  With the help of neighbors, they build shelves and move their books into the basement.  Before long, people are coming from all over the city to borrow books.  Reading and books provide a respite for people as they endure the long war.  Includes a glossary, information about Syria, a list of 8 famous libraries in the Middle East, information about the real secret library, and notes from the author and illustrator.  32 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  An inspiring story based on real events that celebrates reading, books, and innovative kids who found a way to bring joy to their war-torn city.

Cons:  It wasn’t exactly clear which parts of the book were fact and which were fiction.