Published by Charlesbridge

Summary:  Waking up on powwow day is usually exciting, but this year River has been sick and has to watch from the sidelines.  She dresses up and goes with her family, watching as her friend gets ready to dance.  She tries to dance the Grand Entry but can’t feel the drumbeat and ends up getting led back to her seat by her older sister.  Finally, it’s time for the jingle dance.  As River watches the girls dance, she starts to feel stronger and is finally able to stand, filled with a sense of certainty that she will be dancing at next year’s powwow.  Includes two pages of information about the powwow, a brief author’s note, and a list of sources.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Another beautiful book by Traci Sorrell who masterfully weaves details about the powwow into River’s story and includes lots more information at the end (the history of the jingle dress dance and its connection to healing was particularly interesting).  The illustrations perfectly capture the colors and movement of the dancers.

Cons:  I can always enjoy a photo or two in the back matter.

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Summary:  The narrator loves visiting her tía Fortuna’s casita at the Seaway.  But now the Seaway is being torn down, and tía Fortuna is moving.  The girl helps her aunt pack a small suitcase, bake some warm borekas, and say goodbye to the beach.  As they work, tía talks a little about their ancestors who came from Spain and traveled to Turkey, Cuba, and finally, Miami.  Then Mommy arrives to take them to La Casa de los Viejitos, where they help tía get settled in her room.  She immediately starts handing out borekas and making new friends. Tia gives the girl a key from the Seaway that she can wear around her neck to remember the home they both loved.  Includes an author’s note with additional information about Sephardic Jews and her connection to them, and a glossary of words from the story in other languages.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A warm story of a loving intergenerational relationship with information woven in about a culture I knew nothing about.  The illustrations do a great job of showing some of the items mentioned that kids may not be familiar with, and the colors evoke Miami and Cuba.  The author’s note is helpful in understanding the story better.

Cons: La Case de los Viejitos isn’t translated, so kids will have to use some inference skills to figure out that tia Fortuna is moving to a retirement home.

Published by Norton Young Readers

Summary:  Mayday! Mayday! The Goliath is in trouble when its engines quit, and it starts taking on water.  After the crew is rescued by helicopters, Salvage Master Miley arrives in her tugboat, the Mighty Mackerel, to see if the Goliath can be saved.  She and her crew inspect the ship underwater, pump its fuel onto a barge, and offload the cargo.  The Mighty Mackerel and two other tugboats successfully get the Goliath back to port, where it looks like it can be repaired to travel the world again.  Salvage Master Miley heads back to her home port just in time to give her baby a bath, complete with toy boats.  Includes a diagrammatic of the Goliath on the endpapers.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Here’s a book for all the vehicle fans who love to learn how things work.  The explanations and illustrations are clear and understandable, even for readers like myself who don’t usually toss around phrases like “pump fuel onto a barge” and “offload cargo”. This is a companion to last year’s Big Rig Rescue.

Cons:  I was hoping for a little more back matter. 

Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Summary:  Kylie is nervous about visiting Amah in Taipei.  Even though they connect by computer every Saturday, it’s not the same as visiting in person.  At first, Amah leads the way, preparing a big dinner for extended family and sharing her beloved Taipei while Kylie hangs back.  A visit to the hot springs proves to be the turning point, and soon Kylie is comfortable enough to take the lead in exploring the city.  Everyone is sad when the visit is over, but now those online Saturday calls are more meaningful, and visits are exciting.  Includes notes from the author and illustrator and additional information about the places in Tapei that are shown in the book; endpapers include Chinese words for different objects.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A celebration of intergenerational relationships, especially those that have to overcome a geographical barrier.  Kids everywhere will relate to Kylie’s initial shyness that eventually blossoms into a contagious enthusiasm.  Chinese words are cleverly woven into the text via cartoon bubbles. The trip to the hot springs divides the book into two parts; the sentences in the first part are repeated in reverse order in the second part.

Cons:  I felt like the title of this book should have been “Amah Far Away”, which led me to the realization that I’m not clear on the far away/faraway distinction.

Published by Henry Holt and Co.

Summary:  Tiny Rabbit is having a big party, but Bina Bear is nowhere to be found…or is that Bina with a lampshade on his head?  “No.  I am not Bina.  I am a lamp.”  Other strange objects that vaguely resemble a blue bear start appearing around the house: a table, a tree, a chair, and a bookcase.  Finally, Tiny finds Bina in the kitchen with a grocery bag on his head.  “Are you okay?” asks Tiny.  “I’m fine,” replies Bina, but when Tiny removes the bag, there’s a tear in Bina’s eye.  It turns out Bina doesn’t like parties.  “Then why did you come?” asks Tiny.  “Because I like you,” says Bina.  When the rest of the party guests head to the kitchen looking for Bina and Tiny, the only find two lamps and decide to head back to the party.  The last page shows the two lamps dancing with the rest of the group. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A fun book that will appeal to both the introverts who struggle with large social gatherings and their friends who work to understand them.

Cons:  Do not try dancing with a lampshade over your head.