Picture books

Like Lava in My Veins by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Shawn Martinbrough

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

Summary:  Bobby Beacon has a superhero’s name (“beacons lead people and show them the way”), and now he’s off to a superhero’s school, Academy of Kids With Awesome Abilities, or AKWAA.  His superpower is light and fire, but sometimes if he gets angry, his powers overwhelm him, and he ends up destroying things.  His first teacher, Ms. Flores, doesn’t always treat him respectfully, and Bobby ends up melting his chair.  Having witnessed another student, Pause, get expelled and sent to the Institute of Superpowers for misusing her superpowers, Bobby is afraid he’s headed in that direction.  But a smaller class and a more understanding teacher, Miss Brooklyn, make him feel welcome at school and give him strategies for channeling his powers.  He needs those strategies when the head of the Institute and Pause come looking for him.  He manages to defeat the head and puts in a good word for Pause to get her readmitted to AKWAA.  It’s a happy ending, and the final page hints that a sequel may be in store.  40 pages; grades 1-4.

Pros:  Fun comic book meets Black empowerment in this story of superhero kids learning to channel their powers for goods.  Miss Brooklyn provides a great model for a compassionate teacher, showing the importance of listening and using empathy to reach kids.  The cover and illustrations make this a book that will fly off the library shelves.

Cons:  This felt like it would have worked better as a longer graphic novel with more character and plot development.

Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-Floor Ecosystem by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Rob Dunlavey

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Random House Studio

Summary:  When a whale dies, its massive body sinks to the bottom of the deep sea, beginning a 50-year process that supports all kinds of ocean life.  Hagfish, sleeper sharks, and other scavengers are the first to arrive, eventually picking the bones of the whale clean.  Zombie worms feed on the bones, and squat lobsters eat the zombie worms.  The process continues for decades, supporting millions of animals in the deep sea, until every trace of the whale has disappeared.  Includes additional information on the 22 animals included in the main text, a list of selected sources, and resources offering additional information.  40 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  A fascinating look at a process scientists didn’t know occurred until 1987.  The illustrations perfectly capture the deep sea, with close-ups of some of the creatures featured in insets.  A unique topic that is sure to capture the interest of budding marine biologists.

Cons:  The picture of hungry hagfish descending on the whale carcass may be a bit disturbing to whale lovers. Circle of life, man.

Cake vs. Pie by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by Stephani Stilwell

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Published by Clarion Books

Summary:  Cake is the best kind of friend and rules the bakery until Pie comes along.  “Pie was warm and open.  Charming to the core, Pie was always surprising.”  Cake and Pie become friends, until Cake starts to feel jealous of the attention Pie is getting.  Cake challenges Pie to a food fight, then gets all decked out for the occasion with extra frosting and candles.  It turns into a disaster, prompting Cake and Pie to talk and resolve their differences.  All is well until the last page, which shows Hot Dog and Hamburger going at it in the ring.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A fun and funny celebration of friendship with illustrations that are positively yummy.

Cons:  If you carrot stand food puns, donut pick up this book.

Spanish Is the Language of My Family/El español es la lengua de mi familia by Michael Genhart, illustrated by John Parra

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Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  Manolo is excited to sign up for his school’s Spanish spelling bee, because “Spanish is the language of my family,” or “es la lengua de mi familia.”  He already knows how to spell a lot of Spanish words, but some are unfamiliar to him, and his abuela helps him prepare.  While they study, she tells him how she and her classmates were punished for speaking Spanish in school.  On the big day, there’s stiff competition, but Manolo wins the bee by correctly spelling “respeto,” the Spanish word for respect, which he has for his abuela, his family, and his Spanish language.  Includes an author’s note with additional information about the history of the Spanish language in the United States and the National Spanish Spelling Bee.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Manolo’s pride in his bilingualism is evident, with Spanish words easily woven into the text, and a contrast to abuela’s shameful experiences with the language when she was growing up.  John Parra’s illustrations are always a treat. I hope this story will inspire educators to check out the Spanish spelling bee.

Cons:  The disgraceful history of the Spanish language in the U.S.

A Human for Kingsley by Gabriel Evans

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Little Hare Books

Summary:  Kingsley’s a bit of a free spirit, but he’s decided to own a human.  It’s a big responsibility, so he takes his time choosing.  One woman is too fast, another (hairdresser) doesn’t appreciate the hair Kingsley adds to her collection, and a third has too many “small human subordinates” (kids).  Then he meets a girl whom he finds intriguing.  She’s loud and a bit bossy, but Kingsley hangs around, observing some of her odd hobbies like reading and taking a bath on purpose.  Unsure, Kingsley takes a walk to consider his options.  The girl goes out looking for him, and when she finds him, tells him that she missed him and leads him back to her house.  Kingsley realizes he’s found a human who needs him…and that means he’s also found a home.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Kids will fall in love with the adorable and somewhat droll Kingsley, whose quest for a home reminded me of a Gen-Z’er’s search for the perfect job.  

Cons:  Despite the picture of a dog in a bun on his food truck, I thought Kingsley should have at least considered the hot dog man.

Our Pool by Lucy Ruth Cummins

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Summary:  It’s Pool Day!  A child and mother join the parade of families heading to the city pool.  After a quick stop in the locker room and a sunscreen rubdown, it’s time to head for the water, joining all kinds of other people who swim, float, or sit on the sides and chat.  There’s Marco Polo, racing, and swimming between friends’ legs, where kids feel like dolphins.  After one last cannonball, the family heads for home, happily making one more stop at the ice cream truck.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A fun slice of summer that perfectly captures the joy of swimming in a crowded city pool on a hot day.  Although the story is narrated in first person, it’s impossible to tell who the narrator is from the busy illustrations, and the diverse cast of characters will mean that many kids will see themselves in the story.

Cons:  I prefer my swimming a bit less crowded.

Ready for Kindergarten by Bethany V. Freitas, illustrated by Maja Anderson

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Published by Clarion Books

Summary:  Are you ready for kindergarten?  You’ll be practicing skills and learning new ones, like singing the alphabet, counting, creating art, and identifying shapes and colors.  If you like to play with friends and be on the go, you’re ready.  Practice saying your name so you can introduce yourself to your new teacher and classmates.  Get ready for a fun year of kindergarten!  Includes tips for caregivers about preparing kids for kindergarten.  32 pages; ages 4-6.

Pros:  This cheerful and encouraging book with its bright, busy illustrations will have kids excited for the first day of kindergarten.  The tips at the end make it a great resource for parents and other caregivers.

Cons:  Feels like preschool kids are doing a lot of what’s portrayed here as being done in kindergarten. 

A Tulip in Winter: A Story About Folk Artist Maud Lewis by Kathy Stinson, illustrated by Lauren Soloy

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Published by Greystone

Summary:  Maud Dowley was small and bent from a young age, a condition that her doctor could not explain.  Still, she had a happy childhood in Nova Scotia, exploring the world of color through her painting.  As an adult, though, life became tougher.  Her parents died, her brother moved away, and no one would hire Maud because of her physical condition.  Eventually she became the housekeeper, and later the wife, of local fish peddler Everett Lewis.  Although they were poor, they found ways to get Maud paint and she continued with her art, and the two drove around the countryside selling fish and Maud’s paintings.  Eventually, she became too disabled to paint, and Everett pushed her around in a wheelbarrow.  After her death, the little house they had lived in, and that Maud had decorated with paintings, was restored and placed in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Includes additional information and notes from the author and illustrator. 44 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  A fascinating story of a little-known artist who overcame physical disabilities and poverty to create beautiful works of art full of color and joy.  

Cons:  I wish there had been reproductions of some of Maud’s paintings included.

Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Barefoot Books

Summary:  From a honey farm in Yemen to a circular garden in Senegal to an underwater biosphere in Italy, this book takes readers on a tour of innovative sustainable food production sites around the world.  Each two-page spread has a rhyming couplet about the farm or other site, with illustrations showing people at work.  A map at the end shows all the sites and provides information about sustainable farming and food justice.  There’s additional information about each place, including a description and why it’s sustainable.  Includes notes from the author and illustrator about how they were inspired to create this book.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  An inspiring look at sustainable food production that includes both indigenous practices and new technology.  The built-in definitions and pronunciation guides make this a great resource for younger kids, who will also find the bright folk art style illustrations appealing.

Cons:  Some additional resources would have been nice.

Super Small: Miniature Marvels of the Natural World by Tiffany Stone, illustrated by Ashley Spires

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Greystone Kids

Summary:  Each of the fifteen tiny animals profiled here has a superpower. Whether it’s the pygmy seahorse’s ability to camouflage, the axolotl’s regenerative powers, or the black-footed cat’s lethal aim, each animal has something that allows it to survive despite being so small.  Each profile includes an illustration, a poem, and a comic strip that gives the animal the chance to show off its special abilities.  The final poem asks readers to consider what their superpowers might be.  36 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  The cute poems, comics, and illustrations offer a fascinating look at some unique animal adaptations, and the last poem is a nice way to get kids thinking about what makes them unique as well.

Cons:  I would have loved some additional information at the end, particularly about how the hydra stays young forever.