Picture books

Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet by Curtis Manley, illustrated by Jessica Lanan

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Roaring Brook Press

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Summary:  Are we alone in the universe?  Going back to ancient astronomers, this book quickly traces the history of what humans have learned about the place of Earth in the galaxy.  It then details how scientists are looking for a “just right” planet–not too big, not too small, not too hot, not too cold–that might support life.  Huge telescopes sitting on mountaintops or floating through space gather information on stars and the exoplanets around them. The illustrations show a girl and her family visiting a planetarium, then getting her her own telescope as she learns about the universe.  The last several pages speculate on what life on other planets might be like, and how we might communicate with those life forms. Includes a page of additional information; a bibliography; books and websites with additional information; and a timeline of space exploration on the front and back endpapers.  48 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  Packed with scientific information, the author does a great job of making a complicated topic accessible to elementary kids; the illustrations of the girl and her family help make it kid-friendly as well.

Cons:  Some of the information was a bit over my head…but readers will still find something interesting, even if they don’t understand it all.

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

Meet Miss Fancy by Irene Latham, illustrated by John Holyfield

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

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

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Summary:  Frank is excited to hear that Miss Fancy, a former circus elephant, is moving to Avondale Park near his home in Birmingham, Alabama.  Unfortunately, the “No Colored Allowed” sign at the park’s entrance prevents him from going to visit her. He can climb up in a tree and throw peanuts to her, but it’s not the same as getting to stroke her trunk the way the white kids can.  When Frank hears that Miss Fancy has been escaping from the park, he has an idea. He leaves a trail of peanuts from the park entrance to his house, and the next morning, Miss Fancy is at his front door! Using his bag of peanuts, Frank lures the elephant to the zoo, where he is rewarded by the police officer there with a ride on her back.  He triumphantly rides her all the way into the park. Includes an author’s note with additional information and a photo of the real Miss Fancy. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A lively, energetic story about a boy who uses determination and ingenuity to solve a seemingly insurmountable problem.  The colorful illustrations add to the fun.

Cons:  Although Frank’s wish comes true at the end of the story, the “No Colored Allowed” sign is still posted at the entrance to the park.

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

The Bell Rang by James E. Ransome

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Aladdin

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Summary:  On each page, the bell rings, and the narrator’s family gets ready for another day of working in the plantation fields.  Her father gathers wood, her mother cooks, and her older brother Ben offers her a pat on the shoulder, a wave, and one day, a new doll that he’s made.  It turns out to be a farewell gift, because the next day Ben and two other boys are gone. The other two are caught two days later, but Ben never returns.  Did he make it to freedom, or die along the way? The family has no way of knowing, and the last page shows the girl looking at the bell, with a look that suggests she may be thinking of escape as well.  An author’s note tells how so many stories of enslaved people running away focus on the escape and not on the ones left behind. 40 pages; grades 1-6.

Pros:  This simple but haunting story, taking place over the course of a week, gives a different and thought-provoking perspective on slavery.

Cons:  While most reviewers recommend this for ages 4-8, it might be appreciated more by kids in upper elementary grades.

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

The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip-Hop by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by little bee books

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Summary:  With just 16 lines (or bars) of text, the author and illustrator do an amazing job of introducing the history of hip-hop and rap.  Beginning with a nod to poets Langston Hughes and Paul Laurence Dunbar and singer James Brown, the narrative continues to the early rappers of the 1970’s, graffiti artists, break dancers, and DJ-run block parties.  The graffiti-inspired illustrations enhance the brief text. Notes from the author and illustrator tell of their personal connection to hip-hop and give a bit more history. Includes a glossary and hip-hop who’s who.  48 pages; grades K and up.

Pros:  This is a brief history, but a good introduction to many artists, portrayed with a huge energy by illustrator Frank Morrison.  

Cons:  It’s difficult to recommend an age range: the format would appeal to preschoolers and early elementary, but the content will probably be of greater interest to older readers, who will want to move on to YouTube or other resources to learn more.

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

There Are No Bears In This Bakery by Julia Barcone-Roach

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

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Summary:  The cat narrator is a tough detective, prowling through the night to investigate unusual sounds. Last night, when he checked out what he thought was a gigantic mouse behind the bakery, he discovered a bear cub.  “The problem was clear. And I was on the case,” he says, but the pictures tell a different story, showing him helping the bear access cake, donuts, and other treats. Just as they’re finishing up, the mother bear appears, scaring the cat.  “Lights out!” he exclaims, as he is engulfed in darkness…but it turns out he’s just being wrapped in a giant bear hug. Mama Bear explores the bakery, and then all three animals go their separate ways. The sun is rising as the cat returns home, curling up for a nap after a hard night’s work.  The last page shows the baker standing open-mouthed as she surveys the wrecked bakery; the shadows of the two bears can be seen outside the window. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  There will be plenty of laughs over the antics of these three animals, and the discrepancies between the cat’s narration and the illustration.  The language is rich, and could serve as an introduction to similes or a mentor text for mysteries.

Cons:  The baker has a tough day ahead of her.

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

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Brave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Ebony Glenn

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Henry Holt and Co.

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Summary:  Janet Collins was determined to be a dancer, even though she faced discrimination from an early age.  Her mother was a seamstress who paid for her dance lessons by sewing costumes. Janet was turned away from ballet schools and told she could only join a professional company if she painted her skin white.  She refused, and found other ways to dance. Finally, in 1951, the ballet master at the Metropolitan Opera House saw Janet dance, and hired her to be the first African-American prima ballerina there. An author’s note gives more biographical information, including two photos; sources and websites are also included.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The story is told in simple rhyming text, each verse starting with “This is” (“This is the girl/who danced in the breeze/to the swoosh, swoosh, swoosh/of towering trees”).  Young readers will enjoy the illustrations depicting Janet in various dance costumes, and will be inspired by her perseverance that eventually led to success.

Cons:  The text is so brief that many details are omitted, and some of the people are just referred to as “the teacher” or “the man”; some of those characters are identified in the author’s note, but more information sources would be needed for any kind of research report.

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

Elvis Is King! by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Red Nose Studio

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Schwartz and Wade

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Summary:  “Elvis Is Born!” proclaims the first page, and each page thereafter has a headline that tells what happened to Elvis Presley for the first couple decades of his life.  He grew up in Mississippi in poverty–his father spent 14 months in jail for forgery–and moved to Memphis when he was 13. His mother bought him his first guitar for his 11th birthday, and music proved to be his ticket to a new world.  As a teenager, he dyed his hair black, started sporting some pretty funky clothing, and left his shyness behind every time he got on stage. After making a record for his mom at Sun Records, he was recruited to make a real record and became an overnight star.  The book ends with the release of “Heartbreak Hotel” that became a number one hit, and the simultaneous arrival of the hordes of screaming teenage girls. An author’s note gives more information and includes three photos of Elvis in 1937, 1956, and 1957. 40 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  Elvis may have been dead for over 40 years, but the legend lives on, and kids still enjoy reading about him.  The southern twang of the text and the outrageous three dimensional Red Nose Studio illustrations are a perfect combination to tell Presley’s story.

Cons:  A list of resources would have made a nice addition to the author’s note.

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

 

Regrets, I’ve had a few: five books I wish I had read in 2018

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

You may think that if a person reads and reviews a book every day for a year, that person would feel like there was nothing left to read by the end of the year.  This is sadly untrue, and as year-end lists appear, I find myself wishing I had had the time and inclination to read a few more books.  This will be my final 2018 wrap-up before I take a few weeks of vacation.

The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge by M. T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin

Published by Candlewick

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Look at that shiny new National Book Award Finalist sticker on the cover.  Candlewick even sent me a free copy, but every time I opened it and saw all those detailed black-and-white illustrations, I thought, “I just can’t”.  Not my cup of tea, but many others loved it.

 

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster by Jonathan Auxier

Published by Harry N. Abrams

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I have to force myself to read fantasy, and usually leave it for vacation weeks.  This came out the end of September, so I never got to it.  It had multiple starred reviews, and I loved Jonathan Auxier’s The Night Gardener, so I’m sorry I missed this one.

 

The Serpent’s Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom book 1) by Sayantani Dasgupta

Published by Scholastic

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I never saw this until it appeared on School Library Journal‘s best books list.  It like good fun for fans of Rick Riordan or Aru Shah and the End of Time, which also features Indian mythology.  Book 2 will be out at the end of February.

 

Apple in the Middle by Dawn Quigley

Published by North Dakota State University Press

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I actually checked this out of the library a few weeks ago, but it was close to the end of the year, and it looked a little YA for my blog.  Still, a middle grade novel with a contemporary Native American protagonist is a rarity, and I wish I had gotten around to it.

 

Hope in the Holler by Lisa Lewis Tyre

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

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As someone who imagines purgatory as a place where I would be forced to spend eternity reading As I Lay Dying, I tend to shy away from books with quirky Southern settings.  But I enjoy a good coming-of-age novel as much as anyone (maybe more than most), so I should probably have pushed past my prejudices to give this a try.

Five fun read-alouds

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

“Fun” is one of my main requirements for read-alouds.  Here’s my final picture book roundup for 2018, a list that I will definitely draw from when reading to kids in 2019.

Bowwow Powwow by Brenda J. Child, illustrated by Jonathan Thunder

Published by The Minnesota Historical Society Press

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I was delighted to find a few books this year about contemporary Native Americans, and this was one of my favorites.  I love the illustrations of the dogs at the powwow.

 

Potato Pants by Laurie Keller

Published by Henry Holt and Co.

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This book pretty much defines fun.

 

Dude! word by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Dan Santat

Published by Roaring Brook Press

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I’ve already tested this out, and it is, indeed, fun to read aloud.  Divide kids into two groups; one can read the part of the beaver and the other, the platypus.  There’s only one word, so it’s all about the delivery.

 

The Hen Who Sailed Around the World by Guirec Soudee

Published by Little, Brown

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The story of Guirec’s travels with his intrepid hen Monique is both an adventurous travelogue and a quirky, funny, and very French story of a chicken.

 

Teddy’s Favorite Toy by Christian Trimmer, illustrated by Madeline Valentine

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

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When Teddy’s mom accidentally throws out his favorite toy, she uses her superpowers to undo her mistake.  Gender stereotypes are turned on their heads throughout.

Five favorite picture books with a Kleenex rating for each

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Nothing like getting to the last page of a book in front of a bunch of 8-year-olds and find yourself with tears streaming down your face.  If this is something you enjoy, try some of these, listed in order of the number of Kleenexes you will need:

Be A King by Carole Boston Weatherford

Published by Bloomsbury

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I loved this book so much that I wanted to put it on a year-end list.  It connects Martin Luther King Jr.’s life to kids today in a way that I find inspiring.  However, the emotion is more stirring than sad, so I give this a 0 Kleenex rating.

 

Night Job by Karen Hesse

Published by Candlewick

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A father and son work together through the night to clean the school.  The father’s love and devotion to his son shine through, resulting in a 1 Kleenex rating.

 

I Walk With Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoet

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A touching wordless picture book about a girl who stands up to a bully and inspires the rest of the school to join her.  Not sad at all, but the sight of all those kids joining forces to show kindness to the new girl leads me to give this a 1 Kleenex rating.

 

The Rough Patch by Brian Lies

Published by Greenwillow Books

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When Evan loses his dog, he must find a way to work through his grief before he is ready to love again.  Even with the happy ending, it’s a 2 Kleenex read.

 

Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Krensky and Patrick Downes

Published by Candlewick

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Is it just because I’m from Massachusetts that this book by two Boston Marathon bombing survivors gets me every time?  I still can’t read the last page without choking up, so I must give this the highest 3 Kleenex rating.