Early chapter books

A trio of duos

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Pencil & Eraser: We Have a Dull-Emma by Jenny Alvarado (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 67 pages, grades K-2). When Penciil discovers she’s lost her point, she’s ready to go on an adventure to find a sharpener. Eraser serves as both sidekick and voice of reality, keeping Pencil’s wild schemes in check. When they find out the classroom sharpener is broken, they’re forced to venture down the hall to another class. The pressure’s on to get back before recess is over, but they make it just in time…only to have Eraser discover there was a small sharpener in their pencil case all along. Includes step-by-step instructions for drawing Pencil and Eraser.

Fans of Pizza and Taco will enjoy this silly graphic novel, and the large font and short amount of text on each page makes it a good choice for those ready to take the next step from Elephant and Piggie.

Stella & Marigold by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (Chronicle Books, 101 pages, ages 6-9). Stella and Marigold are sisters, ages 7 and 4, who have been close friends ever since the day Marigold came home from the hospital. Their story is told in seven chapters, each of which could be read on its own. Marigold has a mind of her own and can’t always understand why adults don’t get why she drops her hairclip down the drain or gets lost in the meerkat tunnel at the zoo. Stella serves as a sort of go-between, interpreting the world for Marigold and helping the grown-ups understand the perspective of a four-year-old. But it’s Marigold who uses her cuteness and her fearlessness to help Stella when a second-grade best friend makes a new friend. The last chapter is a funny homage to the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and shows both girls using their active imaginations at full power.

This new book from the Ivy and Bean author and illustrator will undoubtedly be a series starter. The reading level is a bit high for a book about characters under the age of eight, and that combined with the stand-alone nature of each chapter and the adorable full-color illustrations make it feel more like a read-aloud than a book for early independent reading. It’s sure to be a holiday gift this year from many parents and grandparents.

Orris and Timble: The Beginning by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick, 76 pages, grades K-3). Orris the rat lives in a comfortable nest inside the old wall of an abandoned barn. One night he hears a snap and discovers an owl named Timble has gotten his foot caught in an old mouse trap. After wrestling with his conscience, Orris helps free Timble, sharing the story of the lion and the mouse to try to discourage Timble from eating him. Timble, who seems to have missed the memo that owls are supposed to be wise, brings Orris a butterscotch candy and asks for more stories. By the end of the book, Orris is willing to admit that the two have become friends.

As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m not a big Kate DiCamillo fan and have pretty much given up reading her books. This one was donated to my library, so I decided to make an exception. It’s a cute story with beautiful illustrations, supposedly the first in a planned trilogy (book 2 is slated for April of next year), and would make a good side-by-side read-aloud with Jerry Pinkney’s The Lion and the Mouse. It lacks the humor and cast of quirky characters of the Mercy Watson series, but more introverted, introspective early readers will appreciate the quiet nature of this book.

The cat’s meow

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Picture Purrfect (Bodega Cats, book 1) by Hilda Eunice Burgos (Henry Holt and Company, 144 pages, grades 2-5). Told in the alternating voices of Miguel, a human boy, and Lolo, a cat, this story unfolds in Miguel’s parents’ New York City bodega. When Miguel finds a stray cat outside, he brings it into the bodega and convinces his parents to let him keep it. Lolo’s nervous at first, but eventually he feels comfortable enough in the bodega to head upstairs to the family’s apartment. He tries to be a good friend to Miguel, who’s having issues with his parents. They want him to excel in math and science, while real passion is art. Meanwhile, Lolo has worries of his own about a yellow stray cat who starts coming around the bodega. One memorable day, Miguel lies to his parents so he can go on a field trip to the Cloisters, and Lolo rescues the yellow cat right before she’s due to have kittens. After narrowly escaping disaster, Miguel finally has an honest conversation with his parents that results in a happy ending for all.

With a relatively low page count and plenty of illustrations–including Miguel’s comic book art–this is an engaging start to a new series for kids moving up to chapter books. Miguel’s family issues are relatable, with his hardworking Dominican immigrant parents and some interesting extended family members. Some kids may struggle with the alternating points of view, but it’s fun to get things from a cat’s perspective. A bodega full of newborn kittens in the last chapter should make for an interesting segue to book 2, due out in the spring.

Rescue Cat by Stephen Savage (Roaring Brook Press, 32 pages, ages 3-7). Butterscotch lives a cushy life, but it wasn’t always that way. Before she became a rescue cat, she lived on the streets, alone and scared. Now she finds new meaning in the term rescue cat: when she sees a lion cub being hunted by a hungry crocodile on TV, she jumps through the screen and roars at the crocodile. He chases Butterscotch and the cub, but they leap back to the safety of the living room. The cub plays there for a few minutes before returning to his TV family. Butterscotch knows that she is a brave rescue cat as she settles down for a nap with her toy crocodile.

Young readers will enjoy this cute story and be inspired by Butterscotch’s courage, even when she’s feeling scared. The “rescue cat” double meaning makes for some fun wordplay.

Adorable anthropomorphism from around the world

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Mouse on the River by Alice Melvin (Thames and Hudson, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Mouse embarks on a two-day journey in a rowboat on the river from his house in the woods to his friend’s home by the sea. Rhyming text and busy, colorful, lift-the-flap illustrations show all the sights he sees along the way: trees that hide several different birds, a lock with a lock keeper who helps Mouse keep his boat on the river, a town with a cafe and shops. After a happy night camping on the boat, Mouse reaches his friend’s house, and the two enjoy gazing out to sea. This book, a Scottish import, could not be any cozier, although by page two I was pretty sure I would never buy it for my library due to the many flaps. One-on-one sharing would be delightful, though, and kids will want to revisit the book many times to find all the details. A map in the front, and lists in the back of some of the sights Mouse sees and what he packs complete this magical picture book. Read more about Mouse in his first book, Mouse’s Wood: A Year in Nature (2022).

Little Shrew by Akiko Miyakoshi (Kids Can Press, 72 pages, grades K-3). In this early chapter book originally published in Japan, readers get to follow Little Shrew’s somewhat mundane life as he cooks his meals, takes the train to his job at the Exchange, and works hard all day before coming home to a variety of leisure activities like exercising or doing his Rubik’s cube. In two other chapters, he buys a TV at a yard sale and sees images that make him dream of taking a trip some day, and he gets a visit from a couple of friends who come to see him every year. Like Mouse, Little Shrew notices and enjoys small details from everyday life, and early chapter book readers may enjoy the slow, quiet pace of the writing and illustrations.

Marching to the beat of your own drum

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Frankie D., Vegan Vampire by Sally and Brian Dutra (Kids Can Press, 192 pages, grades 2-5). Frankie and his family have moved from Transylvania to the U.S., hoping, like so many immigrants before them, for a better life. In their case, that life is eternal, since they’re a family of vampires. Being immortal is just the beginning, as Frankie and his family struggle to hide their fangs, their ability to turn into bats, and the fact that they’re used to sleeping during the day (and in coffins). Switching to a healthy vegan diet has fortunately dampened their taste for blood, and Frankie enjoys starting fourth grade and making new friends. He suspects that one classmate, Eddie, might be a troll, but as he learns more about Eddie, he comes to realize why he’s such a bully. The family successfully negotiates having one of Frankie’s new friends and his family to dinner, and Frankie has fun at a human birthday party, but the grand finale comes with the school concert, when Frankie and Eddie save the fourth-grade performance. Pumped after this success, Frankie decides to fly home and burn off some of his excess energy, only to realize that Eddie has seen him transform into a bat.

There’s plenty of humor in this de-fanged vampire story, and the last page makes me hopeful that there will be a sequel. It’s an illustrated chapter book, but at close to 200 pages, I wouldn’t exactly call it an early chapter book. Still, I think it could find an audience with fluent readers in the earlier years of elementary school, and maybe older kids who are reading a bit below grade level.

Band Camp #1: All Together Now! by Brian “Smitty” Smith (little bee books, 80 pages, grades 1-4). This early graphic novel gives summer camp a new twist: all the campers are musical instruments. Bunk J, a.k.a. Junk Bunk, the cabin that always loses all the competitions, has four unique residents this summer: Trey the triangle, Kaylee the ukelele, Zook the kazoo, and Cordelia the accordion. Each instrument has a unique personality and well-defined likes and dislikes, but they’re united in their determination to put an end to the Bunk J legacy. In a relay race at the end of this book, they combine their talents for an unexpected victory. Camp’s not over yet, though, and book 2 is due out in September.

As a veteran of eight–yes, eight!–band camps, I love this premise and was amazed at how Smith was able to create instruments with real personalities. Early readers will get a kick out of the story and illustrations. The ending seemed abrupt, and I kind of wish the whole camp session had been included in a single volume.

If you like Junie B. Jones…

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Rachel Friedman Breaks the Rules by Sarah Kapit (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, grades 1-4). Eight-year-old Rachel has plenty of energy and sometimes doesn’t understand the reason for having so many rules in her life–at home, at school, at the temple when she and her dad and brother attend Shabbat services. But when Rachel wants to meet famous gymnast Holly Luna when she comes to town, her dad makes a deal: if Rachel can follow all the rules for a week, he’ll let her go with her best friend Maya to see Holly. Rachel makes it through six days, but then a situation arises where she feels that she must break a rule. She and her dad don’t see eye to eye, and when Rachel stages a rebellion at a Shabbat service, Dad puts his foot down. But a conversation with the rabbi leads to a greater understanding and a compromise that satisfies everyone.

Bibsy Cross and the Bad Apple by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Dung Ho (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 128 pages, grades 1-4). Bibsy is another eight-year-old who has always loved school and her teachers until she hits third grade. Mrs. Stumper doesn’t seem to like Bibsy, especially the many contributions to class discussions Bibsy loves to make. A bulletin board features each student’s name on an apple that hangs from a tree, but which gets moved to the ground for behavior issues. Bibsy’s apple frequently falls to the ground, but things come to a head one day when Bibsy, defending what she’s sure will be a championship science fair project, goes too far and gets a worm hole punched in her apple. She has to bring the apple home to show her parents, which leads to a good conversation about how to handle her situation. Mrs. Stumper will probably never be Bibsy’s favorite teacher, but they come to an understanding, and Bibsy and her best friend Natia enjoy science fair success.

Both of these series openers feature spunky girls who have strong opinions and are not afraid to share them. Rachel’s book is a conventional chapter book with illustrations, while Bibsy’s is written almost like a book in verse, making it perhaps a more manageable choice for those just transitioning to chapter books. Both feature black and white illustrations, with highlights of apple-red in Bisby’s. While no new ground is broken–there are plenty of early chapter books featuring spunky girls–these are both sure to find an audience among the newly independent reader crowd who enjoy relatable protagonists and situations with plenty of humor.

Memories of China

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Growing Up Under a Red Flag: A Memoir of Surviving the Chinese Cultural Revolution by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Xinmei Liu (Rocky Pond Books, 40 pages, grades 2-6). Ying grew up during China’s Cultural Revolution, with parents, both doctors, who were targeted for being part of the educated class. Her father taught her English and told her stories of his days studying in San Francisco, and the Golden Gate Bridge became a symbol of that life. Ying recalls the day her dad was forced to burn all his English books and papers, hiding his ties to the west from the government. Shortly after that, he was arrested, and life grew increasingly difficult for Ying and her mother, with food shortages and worries about the future. After Mao’s death in 1976, the family was reunited. Ying eventually moved to the U.S. to study, and the final picture shows the family eating with her father’s teacher, Dr. Smith, the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

Born Naughty: My Childhood in China by Jin Wang with Tony Johnston, illustrated by Anisi Baigude (Anne Schwartz Books, 112 pages, grades 2-5). Imagine Ramona Quimby living in 1980’s Mongolia, and you’ll have a good idea of the vibe of Jin Wang’s lively childhood memoir. Living in a one-room mud hut with her parents and two younger brothers, Jin embraces all of life experiences, whether it’s traveling with her father to fetch the family’s precious water supply, beating the boys at tree-climbing, harvesting mushrooms and potatoes, or learning calligraphy. Real dangers are never far away, and her story of being attacked by a potentially rabid dog is harrowing. The last chapter shows the family taking a break from their demanding lives to celebrate the new year together. In the authors’ notes, Jin Wang shares more details of her life, including a 2019 trip back home that affirmed her happy childhood memories, and she and Tony Johnston relate how they met in yoga class and created this book together.

These two very different memoirs offer contrasting views of Chinese childhoods just a decade apart, one of a middle-class family dealing with government persecution and hardship, the other of a much poorer rural family facing different hardships but able to lead a freer life. Jin Wang’s memoir would make a great book club choice for second or third graders. There are plenty of similar stories for this age group that would make an interesting contrast to Jin’s childhood. While Ying’s story is a picture book, it may appeal to older students up into middle school, who might have a better understanding of the Cultural Revolution and what it meant to the people living through it.

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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Made In Asian America: A History for Young People by Erika Lee and Christina Soontornvat (Quill Tree Books, 320 pages, grades 5-8. This young readers’ adaptation of Erika Lee’s The Making of Asian America (2015) begins with an introduction that details the absence of Asian American history in most schools and some of the kids who have worked to bring attention to that. The main narrative covers American history from Columbus to Covid, relating the stories of people who immigrated to the U.S. from many Asian countries, including China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, and more. Different people had different reasons for coming, depending on their country’s history and political situation, but almost all experienced racism, discrimination, and broken promises when they arrived. Like many other immigrants, they worked hard doing backbreaking labor to survive and to try to build a better future for their children. In more recent times, Asian Americans have become known as the “model minority,” a label which carries its own baggage. The Covid era showed that racism still simmers right beneath the surface of American society, as it exploded with the news that the virus originated in China. Asian Americans have a history of fighting for civil rights, both for themselves and for other groups experiencing discrimination, and that fight continues today, as explained in the last chapter. Includes notes from both authors as well as almost 30 pages of source notes and an index.

I learned so much from this book, which really drove home the point that Asian Americans are largely missing from American history. The writing is clear and engaging, and many of the profiles describe ordinary people whose stories are often both heartbreaking and inspiring. It was fascinating to get a brief history of so many different countries and to learn why different groups immigrated to the United States.

Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All by Chanel Miller (Philomel Books, 160 pages, grades 2-5). While Magnolia is looking forward to turning 10, she’s less excited about the summer ahead, which will mostly be spent at her family’s Bing Qi Ling Laundromat. When her mom’s friend moves to New York City from California, she brings along her daughter Iris, who is just Magnolia’s age. At first the girls feel strange around each other, but soon they bond over the sock board, where Magnolia has displayed all the stray socks that have been left behind at the laundromat. They decide to canvass the neighborhood to find each sock’s owners, using clues from the socks themselves to help them. As they solve each mystery, the girls learn more about their neighbors and hear some interesting stories about Magnolia’s parents, who turn out to have a fun and adventurous side that Magnolia hasn’t been aware of. A major fight threatens to destroy their new friendship, but Magnolia finds a way to repair things and, in the process, gains a deeper understanding of her new best friend.

With a 10-year-old protagonist, a larger font, and plenty of illustrations, this would make a good introductory chapter book. It was interesting to read this right after finishing Made in Asian America, as Magnolia’s and Iris’s families, from China and Vietnam respectively, are working hard to give their kids a better life in America and experience racism at various points in the story. Their resilience and close family ties make this a warm and engaging story with a fun and quirky cast of characters.

Three books about immigration

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Finding Home: Words from Kids Seeking Sanctuary by Gwen Agna and Shelley Rotner, photographed by Shelley Rotner (Clarion Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Children and their families from around the world come to the United States seeking sanctuary from war, famine, natural disasters, and other dangers. Many of the photos have cartoon bubbles with kids describing in their own words how they felt when they had to leave their countries, what they miss, and the difficulties and joys in their new homes. There’s additional narrative at the end about how some of the families got to the United States, as well as resources for kids, adults, and parents, caregivers, and educators about how to make families feel welcome.

This book has some personal connections to me, because: 1. the author and photographer live near me, and I have met Shelley Rotner, 2. my Quaker meeting is part of a Circle of Care for one of the families in this book, and 3. my school in Springfield has three classes of refugee kids who have missed at least two years of school due to their circumstances. This book is at just the right level for helping kids (and adults) understand what these families have gone through and to help make them welcome in the U.S.

The Circuit: Graphic Novel by Francisco Jiménez, illustrated by Celia Jacobs (Clarion Books, 240 pages, grades 4-8). Francisco Jiménez’s memoir has been adapted as a graphic novel, telling the story of Francisco as a child, moving with his family from Mexico to California, where they became migrant workers, traveling from one farm to the next to pick cotton, strawberries, grapes, and other crops. Francisco loves to learn, but school is sandwiched between jobs, and his story is a series of losses, as he befriends kids he’ll never see again and loses his precious journal in a fire. There’s enough humor and joy to prevent the story from getting too bleak, and the story feels somewhat timeless, although I think it takes place in the 1940’s. The heart stopping cliffhanger on the last few pages will leave readers like me fervently hoping that more of Jiménez’s books will be published in graphic format.

Lost & Found: Based on a True Story by Mei Yu (Union Square Kids, 128 pages, grades 2-5). Mei Yu recounts her memories of moving from China to Canada at a young age (probably six or seven). With English words in a green font, readers can see how few words she understands at school and the scary situations that ensue: using the wrong bathroom, thinking kids are laughing at her, losing her beloved sketchbook. Mei eventually uses the sketchbook to create a collection of English words, and before long, she is able to communicate and begin to make friends. An author’s note gives more information about her experience, as well as a simple glossary of Chinese words. There’s a funny bonus story about how Mei got her beloved toy cat, who appears real to her, a la Calvin and Hobbes.

It’s a pretty simple story, but the difficulties of immigration are presented in a way that beginning readers will be able to understand, and everyone is sure to love the manga-style artwork.

Two graphic novel school stories

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Art Club by Rashad Doucet (Little, Brown Ink, 240 pages, grades 4-7). When Vice Principal Ruffin assigns kids to research a career that will give them stability and a good income, Dale is stumped. He wants those things, but he also wants to do something he enjoys. A report on an art career lands him in the principal’s office, where the more lenient Principal Johnson lends a sympathetic ear and agrees to let Dale start an art club…if he can find three other members and figure out a way to generate revenue. The art teacher agrees to sponsor them, recalling her own art club days that were cut short by the same Vice Principal Ruffin. The club provides Dale with ways to learn more about art and to make some new friends as he recruits other kids with a variety of talents. They work together to create art, support each other, and find ways to make money. When Ruffin offers a series of challenges designed to shut down the club, Dale and his friends rise to the occasion, finally convincing him to allow the club to continue for at least the rest of the year. The final pages show how the graphic novel was created, sure to inspire budding artists along with the kids’ own inspiring story.

Spirited 1: Day of the Living Liv by Liv Livingston, illustrated by Glass House Graphics (Little Simon, 144 pages, grades 2-5). Liv is unhappy when her parents decide to move the family from Pleasant Place to Gloomsdale. School proves extra challenging, since the other students are ghosts and other supernatural creatures. Liv is something of a curiosity as the only living student, but she soon makes friend with a werewolf and a vampire, who help her stand up to the bullying ghost Astrid. By the end of the story, Liv has embraced her unusual new home, and the stage is set for further adventures in book 2.

These two titles will undoubtedly be welcomed by fans of the ever-growing library of graphic novel school stories. Spirited is a great introduction to the genre, a quick read for kids ready for short chapter books. The spooky setting and characters will appeal, although Liv’s new school and town are more fun than scary. Art Club, based on the author’s own school experiences, presents readers with four distinctive characters that they will find relatable. The video game subplot dials the art up a notch and is sure to be a draw as well. I’m hoping both books will have at least one sequel.

Two books about the immigration experience

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Salma Makes a Home by Danny Ramadan, illustrated by Anna Bron

Published by Annick Press

Mina Belongs Here by Sandra Niebuhr-Siebert, illustrated by Lars Baus

Published by Floris Books

Summary: Two girls navigate their new homes after moving from a different country. Readers may know Salma from her picture book, Salma the Syrian Chef. She and her mom have settled into a new apartment in Vancouver, and when the story opens, her dad is on his way to join them. Although she’s thrilled to have Baby back with the family, Salma worries that he won’t like Canada and will go back to Syria. Some heartfelt conversations resolve the issue, and Salma learns that it’s possible to have two homes–the one where you live and the one you remember in your heart. Includes directions for making lanterns like the ones Salma and her mom create in the story. Book 2, Salma Writes a Book, is also available. 120 pages; grades 1-4.

Mina is scared to start kindergarten, even though her mother assures her that she’ll have fun and that the people will be kind. This turns out to be the case, as her teacher warmly greets her the first day, and Mina makes a friend. Each night, she dreams about her experiences, and each day school gets a little easier. The illustrations slowly change from gray to full color, as Mina learns English and becomes a member of the kindergarten community. When a new boy is introduced to the class, Mina is the first to greet him and invite him to play. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros: Both books show resilient main characters who successfully deal with the difficulties of moving to a new country and learning a new language, serving as excellent mirrors for those going through the same challenges and windows for kids who may be welcoming new students to their classes.

Cons: Neither book had quite the light touch of Young Vo’s Gibberish, which is still my favorite on this topic.