Picture books

Dogosaurus Rex by Anna Staniszewski, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Henry Holt

Summary:  When Ben and his mom go to the shelter to find a dog, he settles on the biggest one he can find, Sadie.  Readers will notice what Ben and those around him don’t: that Sadie is a Tyrannosaurus Rex.  When Sadie sits on a car, rolls over through a fruit stand, and fetches a mail truck, Ben’s mom isn’t sure they can keep her (don’t even ask what happens when Sadie “does her business”).  Ben is desperate to find a way to save his beloved pet, and the opportunity arises when they hear the words, “Stop! Thief!”  Sadie springs into action, blocking the robber’s path and fetching him back when he tries to run away.  Sadie’s talents are recognized, and soon she is the most popular dog in town.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Readers will love feeling “in the know” as they recognize what Sadie really is when Ben and those around him keep thinking she’s a dog.  The laughter will continue with the muted, retro-feel illustrations of all the T-Rex’s antics.

Cons:  The whole situation feels untenable.

The World Is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Winter

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Published by Beach Lane Books

Summary:  Growing up in Iraq, Zaha Hadid loved to see patterns in nature and in her surroundings, and dreamed of turning those patterns into buildings.  She moved to London to study architecture, then, with a few friends, opened her own firm called Studio 9.  Her designs were so unusual that she had trouble convincing others that they could be built.  But she knew that the world is not a rectangle, and had the confidence to persevere.  Her determination paid off, and her unique buildings are now in cities around the world.  Zaha died in 2016, but Studio 9 lives on, continuing to make her dreams reality.  Back matter includes two pages of thumbnail sketches of the buildings mentioned in the text, identifying where they are located, a bit more biographical information, and a page of sources.  56 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  This would be useful as a biography or an art book, maybe inspiring kids to design their own buildings from nature.  I really love Jeannette Winter’s style of art (she also illustrated The Secret Project), and am hoping that the Caldecott committee takes a look at both of her books this year.

Cons:  There were no photos of the buildings.

Back to School Book List

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Tomorrow I take my daughter back to college, Monday and Tuesday are professional development days at my school, and Wednesday the kids return.  This gives me the bittersweet mix of sadness that summer is over and excitement that school is starting again.  If you and/or anyone in your life is going back to school, here are some new books you might want to read.

Back to School With Bigfoot by Samantha Berger and Martha Brockenbrough, illustrated by Dave Pressler.  Published by Arthur A. Levine Books.

Bigfoot explains why going back to school is extra difficult for him; from back-to-school shopping and haircuts to fitting in at the cafeteria.  He’s ready to quit until he remembers all the fun that’s in store for him in the year ahead.  Perfect for dealing with first day jitters.

 

A New School Year: Stories in Six Voices by Sally Derby, illustrated by Mika Song.  Published by Charlesbridge.

I haven’t had a chance to look at this poetry book yet, but reviews call it a great ice-breaker for teachers and a possible inspiration for kids’ writing.  Six diverse kids from grades K-5 tell their experiences throughout the first day of school in four sections that start with the anxious night before and end after the first day is over.

 

Twindergarten by Nikki Ehrlich, illustrated by Zoey Abbott.  Published by Harper.

Know any twins who are in different classrooms for the first time?  This book will show them how it’s done, with the reassuring message that it’s possible to thrive on your own while maintaining that twin connection.

 

I’m Smart! by Kate and Jim McMullan.  Published by Balzer and Bray.

Using their winning formula from I Stink! and its sequels, the McMullans present a cheerful and confident school bus who explains the ins and outs of her job.

How to Get Your Teacher Ready by Jean Reagan, illustrated by Lee Wildish.  Published by Alfred A. Knopf.

Another one I haven’t read yet, but it’s from the team that brought you How to Babysit a Grandpa and its sequels, so it’s sure to be a fun and rollicking look at the beginning of school, as well as a fine example of procedural writing.

 

Second Grade Holdout by Audey Vernick, illustrated by Matthew Cordell.  Published by Clarion Books.

Obnoxious older siblings have the narrator believing that second grade is too much for him to handle.  Sticking with first grade seems a lot easier, but maybe not as much fun…

 

 

Double Take! A New Look at Opposites by Susan Hood, illustrated by Jay Fleck

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Candlewick Studio

Summary:  A boy, a black cat, and a blue elephant explore the concept of opposites with rhyming text.  At first it seems easy.  Yes, no, stop, go, in, out, asleep, awake.  But then a new idea is introduced.  There can’t be a big unless there is a small.  Who knows what’s fast if there’s no slow?  And there’s relativity: “Who’s strong and who’s weak is hardly perplexing/But strong can look weak when a new champ is flexing.”  Ahead and behind are different for each person in a line.  Point of view can be everything, and readers are encouraged to look closely to recognize their own perspective in a situation.  32 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  Kids will be flexing their critical thinking muscles in this intriguing look at opposites and how they’re not always concrete.  The somewhat retro-looking illustrations and font are fun; readers will enjoy watching what the cat and elephant do on each page.

Cons:  Some of the more abstract concepts may be difficult for younger readers to grasp.

Mighty Moby by Barbara DaCosta, illustrated by Ed Young

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Little, Brown

Summary:  The sailors are longing to be homeward bound, but when the lookout spies the great white whale, the captain’s orders come through and the chase is on.  A harpoon is thrown and hits its mark.  The whale dives deep, dragging the boats with it.  Then the magnificent white whale rises again to the surface, only…it’s bedtime.  The narrator protests, but Dad’s word is a law above Captain Ahab, and the tale literally goes down the drain.  The boy falls asleep to the sound of one more sea chanty.  An author’s note gives more information about Moby-Dick and the process of how this book was created, along with a link to her website.

Pros:  A picture book based on Moby-Dick?  I was skeptical, but, call me Ishamel, it works!  The story is appealing and understandable to kids, and the amazing collage illustrations will surely be considered by the Caldecott committee.

Cons:  Kids inspired to move directly from this book to Herman Melville’s original may encounter a struggle worthy of Ahab.

Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Patrice Barton

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Roaring Brook Press

Summary:  Moose the dog loves hellos and hates good-byes.  When his friend Zara goes to school, he finds ways to join her.  Each time he gets into school, it takes more and more people to get him to leave again, until finally, Zara’s parents and teacher, the principal, the librarian, and the lunch ladies are all in on the act.  One of Moose’s favorite parts of school is listening to books, and this gives Zara an idea.  She signs Moose up for therapy dog training, and he proves to be a natural.  With his new certification, he is welcome in school, listening to kids practice their reading each day.  An author’s note gives more information about therapy dogs and how they differ from service dogs; two websites are included for more information.  40 pages; grades K-2.

Pros:  Moose is pretty irresistible, and his antics will amuse young readers.  Zara is in a wheelchair, but this is scarcely touched on in the story and she is fully integrated into her classroom and a capable trainer for her dog.

Cons:  Moose’s behavioral turn-around seemed overly optimistic to me.

Sleeping Beauty retold by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Erin McGuire

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Disney Hyperion

Summary:  A retelling of the classic fairy tale by master storyteller Cynthia Rylant.  This version is geared toward a younger crowd, with simple language, a short amount of text on each page, and Disneyesque illustrations.  The whole story is told by an omniscient narrator, with the only dialog being when the angry fairy puts a spell on the sleeping baby and when the final fairy comes along and makes a counter-spell that will undo the evil one after a century.  Most of the story takes place at the celebration of the princess’s birth, attended by the various fairies.  After all the spells have been cast, the tale moves along quickly to the fateful spinning wheel accident, the 100-year slumber of the kingdom, and the awakening by the prince.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A simple, straightforward introduction to the story of Sleeping Beauty.  The illustrations of fairies and royal family members will appeal to young readers, and the story will be easy for them to understand.  I didn’t realize Cynthia Rylant has also done retellings of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast.

Cons:  An author’s note giving the history of this fairy tale would have been an interesting addition.

Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush’s Incredible Journey by Doug Kuntz and Amy Schrodes, illustrated by Sue Cornelison

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Crown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  When Sura and her five children decided to secretly leave their home in Mosul, Iraq in 2015, another family member was hidden among their belongings: their beautiful white cat, Kunkush.  Smugglers helped them out of the country, across Turkey, and to a boat that carried them to Greece, but those smugglers would have charged them much more money to bring a cat along, so Kunkush had to stay hidden.  When the family finally arrived in Greece, the cat carrier broke, and Kunkush ran away.  The heartbroken family searched for as long as they could, but eventually had to move on.  An American aid worker found the cat months later, filthy and half-starved, and took him home with her.  She launched a search for the family via Facebook, and they were eventually located, resulting in a happy reunion with Kunkush.  Includes a note from the authors, who helped Kunkush in Greece, a map of the cat’s journey, and photographs of him and his family.  48 pages; ages 4-10.

Pros:  Mosul may seem far away, but readers will connect with this family’s loss of their beloved pet, while learning about the difficulties they encountered as refugees.

Cons:  2017 seems to be the year of the refugee in children’s literature, a sad reflection of the world situation.  

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Candlewick Press

Summary:  Jabari is full of bravado as he approaches the pool with his father and little sister, informing them that he will be jumping off the diving board today.  “I’m a great jumper,” Jabari tells them, “so I’m not scared at all.”  But when he gets to the bottom of the ladder, he has to think about what kind of special jump he’s going to do.  Then he realizes he’s forgotten his stretching exercises!  Finally, his dad tells him it’s okay to be scared and gives him some advice about how to handle it.  Take a deep breath and tell yourself you’re ready.  “Sometimes it stops feeling scary and feels a little like a surprise,” Dad says.  Jabari loves surprises!  He climbs the ladder, walks to the end of the board, takes a deep breath, and splash!  He makes a truly spectacular jump.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A great choice for summer reading, short but funny, with a bit of a lesson subtly inserted.  The illustrations perfectly capture the feelings of the pool and the diving board.

Cons:  I wish I had reviewed this when it first came out in May.  Feels like those days at the pool are numbered.

Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmers’ Market by Michelle Schaub, illustrated by Amy Huntington

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Charlesbridge

Summary:  A collection of 18 poems describes a farmers’ market from “Early Risers” through “Day’s End”.  The poems vary somewhat in format, including one poem for two voices, and appear in a variety of ways on the page, sometimes weaving through the illustrations.  Many of the poems are about the farmers’ produce, but there are also some about other features of the market, like the bakery, a musical duet, and Antonio’s Old-Time Sharpening, who will sharpen  your dull knife or scissors.  The last page gives five reasons to spend a day at a market, giving more information about the benefits of local food and a website to find a farmers’ market near you.  32 pages; grades PreK-3.

Pros:  Not only a rollicking look at the bounty available at the farmers’ market, but a great introduction to poetry as well.

Cons:  The rhythm of “Market Melody”, the poem about the musicians, felt a little clunky.