Picture books

Bridging the language barrier

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Tíos and Primos by Jacqueline Alcántara (Nancy Paulsen Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). A girl is nervous about visiting her father’s relatives in Honduras, especially since she doesn’t speak much Spanish. As they go from one tío’s house to the next, she feels more and more shy as she sees things she wants to ask about but doesn’t know how. Finally, they get to the home of her abuela, who has invited all the relatives over for a party. Before long the girl is playing soccer with her primos, and they’re teaching each other words in English and Spanish. By the end of the trip, she is ready to say “Nos vemos, familia!” (“See you soon!”) to all of her family.

This warm family story shows the ways people can communicate that don’t necessarily involve language. Kids who sometimes feel torn between two cultures or countries will find a lot to connect with. Older readers can move from this book to the two graphic novels I reviewed just a few weeks ago.

Little Bird Laila by Kelly Yang, illustrated by Xindi Yan (Dial Books, 40 pages, ages 4-9). Laila’s mom calls her her little bird, because Laila is always whispering in her ear, telling her (and her dad) what people are saying in English. Laila enjoys having such an important job, but sometimes it’s exhausting, and she doesn’t like it when other kids make fun of her parents. Her parents want to take English classes, but they can’t afford them (“People say America is free, but it’s actually really expensive,” Laila explains). Finally, Laila comes up with a solution: she’ll teach them herself. Even though she is still learning English, she does the best she can, making flashcards and surprising them with pop quizzes. It’s an uphill battle, but in a few months, her parents are starting to learn. At a parent-teacher conference, when her teacher says that Laila is becoming a better speller and teaching other kids Chinese, she starts to translate, but her mom replies in English, “Laila is a wonderful teacher.”

This cheery picture book with its themes of perseverance and hard work makes an excellent complement to Kelly Yang’s chapter books about the immigrant experience. The story and illustrations incorporate both Chinese and English, showing examples of what a difficult language English can be to learn. Pair it with Olivia Abtahi’s The Interpreter, which covers similar themes. I was disappointed that there wasn’t an author’s note at the end tying this story to Kelly Yang’s own experiences of being an immigrant from China.

Disabilities

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Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson, illustrated by Brian Rea (Penguin Workshop, 304 pages, grades 6 and up). James Robinson was born with strabismus, or misaligned eyes. He shares with readers how this affected him in school, both his struggles with reading and the reactions of others, whom he addresses as “Starers.” He grew up to be a documentary filmmaker, and the book is based on a short film he created for the New York Times to help people understand how he perceives the world. The book has some visuals and activities from the film, giving kids an opportunity to get some idea of how James sees things. The last part is more of a memoir, telling how his mom creatively homeschooled him and his older brother who had dyslexia, helping them to pursue their passions and succeed. Includes a list of citations.

Readers will learn a lot about what it takes to succeed when you have a disability, and James (and his mom, who sounds amazing) offer inspiring lessons about persevering when it feels like there is little or no progress. The illustrations are very cool and an excellent aid in understanding James’s condition. The book felt a little disjointed, with the last part feeling quite different than the rest of the story.

We Are the Scrappy Ones by Rebekah Taussing, illustrated by Kirbi Fagan (Carolrhoda Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). This celebration of people with disabilities portrays a diverse group of kids and adults with all kinds of disabilities. Whether they’re in a wheelchair, walking with a white cane or a guide dog, or getting some sort of medical treatment, they are shown dancing, playing, making art and music, and always surrounded by others, sharing a sense of belonging. They are celebrated for adapting and overcoming difficulties and accepting help without thinking of themselves as a burden. All of this can be exhausting, and resting and taking care of yourself are also encouraged. A two-page spread near the end portrays several inspiring disability activists, with information about each in the back matter. There are also notes from the author and illustrator, who both drew on their experiences growing up with disabilities to create this book.

I was glad to find this book just as I was finishing up Whale Eyes, and it seemed like it would have been super helpful to James Robinson after hearing of his struggles with the label “disability” to describe his vision. This beautiful poem will inspire and reassure kids with disabilities, as well as their peers, but I think they will be especially drawn to the illustrations that portray so many different types of people living life joyfully and in community. The notes at the end about the author’s and illustrator’s experiences add an extra dimension.

Catty Corner Lands on Her Feet (Catty Corner, book 1) by Julie Murphy (Union Square Kids, 128 pages, grades 1-4). Like her mother, Catty is half-cat, half-human (Dad’s just a regular person), and she’s been homeschooled all her life, never having to worry about containing her feline instincts. But when her mom gets a job, it’s time for Catty to try school. She’s nervous, but also excited about the possibility of making new friends. Her first day is something of a disaster, in which she shreds a map when her teacher uses a laser pointer and bites a potential new friend when someone steps on her tail. Back home, Mom shares her mother’s and her own childhood diaries, which show some of the cat-astrophes they experienced. Catty’s able to return to school the next day with new confidence and learns that she can fix her mistakes and contribute with her own unique talents. Book 2 was published simultaneously.

This may seem like a strange choice for this post–and honestly, it’s one of the more bizarre premises for a book series that I’ve come across–but I was struck when reading it how Catty is different from her classmates in ways that are similar to kids with disabilities. She faces stares and mean teasing and has to work extra hard to fit in with a body that’s different from her classmates’. It could make an excellent starting point for some interesting discussions with primary elementary kids.

Inspiring stories for tough times

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The Littlest Drop by Sascha Alper, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney (Anne Schwartz Books, 40 pages, ages 4-9). Based on a story told by environmental activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, this folktale features a hummingbird whose new nest is threatened by a wildfire. The other animals run to the river, too terrified to move, but the hummingbird takes action to put out the fire, even though she can only carry a single drop of water in her beak. As the others watch her tirelessly carrying drop after drop to the fire, they ask her what she’s doing. “I am doing what I can.” Inspired, the animals start to think of what they can do, and before long, elephants, monkeys, leopards, giraffes, and even tiny ants are working to fight the fire. When the sun rises, they are all exhausted, but the hummingbird lets one more drop of water fall…and the fire is gone. Includes an author’s note tracing the origins of this folktale, and an illustrator’s note in which Brian Pinkney describes how he used sketches left by his late father Jerry to create the finished illustrations.

The Peddler of Puddles by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld (Clarion Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). The peddler is a turtle whose puddle-making machine (complete with a cloud on a string like a balloon) allows him to make custom puddles for his customers, from a tiny one for a hummingbird to ones large enough for hundreds of frogs or for a child to sail a boat across. Everyone loves the peddler, but he’s constantly on the move, never staying in one place for long. One day, he goes to the seashore where he sees the biggest puddle ever and befriends a girl who shows him how to play in the ocean. When she tells him she has to go home, the peddler feels sad because he realizes he doesn’t have a home. Over the horizon appear his friends, looking for him. They help him dig his cart out of the sand and lead him back to their forest. There, they’ve dug a huge hole, which the peddler fills with water, and they all work together to turn his cart into a new house. His house and the pond become a home for the turtle and all of his friends.

Both books will appeal to kids with their lively and colorful (although very different) illustrations of animal communities, and each one carries a simple but effective message for our time: friendship, community, and how even small actions can make a big difference to people and issues that you care about.

Celebrating citizen activism for Earth Day

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Whales in the City by Nancy F. Castaldo, illustrated by Chuck Groenink (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 40 pages, grades K-4). “Before there were ships and streets and buildings and a city called New York, we were here.” Whales narrate the first half of this book, explaining how they were slowly driven out of the Hudson River by pollution. The few that survived headed for the cleaner waters of the North Atlantic. Humans take on the story from there, telling how they had finally had enough and started demanding clean water around the city. Starting with the first Earth Day, their activism eventually helped lead to the passage of the Clean Water Act. As time passed, the river grew cleaner, fish returned, and people could enjoy it once again. And finally, after a century, the whales came home to the waters around the city. Includes an author’s note, additional information about whales, a timeline of Hudson River history, profiles of a few of the people who led protests, a list of ways kids can help clean up rivers, and a list of sources.

I think we all could use a book right now that shows the positive effects of citizen action, and here is one that can be enjoyed by kids (and adults) of all ages. I liked how the narration was shared by the whales and the humans, and the back matter makes this an excellent resource that could lead to further research. The illustrations are amazing, as you can see from the cover.

Kaho’olawe: The True Story of an Island and Her People by Kamalani Hurley and Harinani Orme (Millbrook Press, 40 pages, grades 2-5). This history of Kaho’olawe, the smallest of the Hawaiian islands, begins with her birth from a volcano and continues with the arrival of the the first humans, Polynesian voyagers who settled there more than 1,000 years ago. Environmental devastation began when Europeans brought goats to the island and later used it for cattle ranching, but the total destruction began during World War II. The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. military took over Kaho’olawe and used it for bombing practices for the next 30 years. In 1976, activists began a campaign to stop the bombing, and finally, in 1992, the U.S. Congress officially ended the bombing and budgeted $400 million for clean-up efforts. Kaho’olawe is still suffering from the effects of all the damage, but today native Hawaiian groups, grassroots organizations, and scientists are working to restore the island and learn about its archaeological history. Includes notes from the author and illustrator (both Native Hawaiians), a timeline of Kaho’olawe’s history, a glossary, a paragraph about how to help, and additional resources and sources.

And here’s another tribute to activism in a fascinating history of a place I’m sure many of us (myself included) have never heard of. The history is sad, but the hard work of so many people in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles is inspiring. I loved the colorful illustrations which I’m guessing were inspired by Native Hawaiian art. Each page has a few sentences telling the story, with a paragraph giving additional information, making this a good resource for a wide range of ages.

Spring holiday fun

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Crack the Cascarón: An Eggcellent Not-Just-for-Easter Shellebration by Sara Andrea Fajardo, illustrated by Rocío Arreola Mendoza (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Toti has declared himself the King of Cascarones and has big plans for the upcoming weekend celebration (presumably Easter). Not content with the traditional confetti cascarones, Toti makes tiny stealth ones as well as some that are filled with slime. The night before the big day, while Toti is sleeping, the rest of his family raids some of his hiding places. When Toti wakes up the next morning, no one’s in the house, and when he goes to look for them in the yard, it’s an ambush! His parents, sister, and abuela inform him that not only is his plan not all it was cracked up to be, but the yolk’s on him as they bombard him with his own creations. He finally hands over his crown to Abuela, who declares herself the Queen of Cascarones. Just wait ’til next year.

I loved meeting Tito and his family, who clearly enjoy each other and aren’t afraid to pull some good-natured pranks. Although Easter is never mentioned, this would make a great read-aloud for the holiday or any time in the spring. Spanish words are mixed in with the English text, celebrating Tito’s family’s heritage. I wish there had been some back matter telling more about the cascarón tradition and maybe giving instructions on how to make them.

A Purr-fect Passover by Jenna Waldman, illustrated by Erica J. Chen (Apples & Honey Press, 32 pages, ages 3-7). An adorable group of kitties gets ready for Passover, preparing special foods like matzah bread, gelfite fish, and matzah balls. When the seder begins, the kittens enjoy dinner as well as traditions like the Four Questions and a retelling of the story of Moses and Pharaoh. Then there’s dancing, sweets, and the search for the afikoman. When the guests leave, it’s time for clean-up, and then bedtime with sweet dreams of the holiday. Includes instructions for making a matzah cover like the one pictured in the story.

This cute rhyming story makes a good introduction to Passover for the youngest kids, covering many aspects of the holiday with fun and engaging text and illustrations. Again, a little more back matter would have been a nice addition, especially for those who don’t celebrate Passover.

Supernatural friends

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As You Wish by Nashae Jones (Aladdin, 272 pages, grades 5-8). Birdie and Deve have been best friends since the first day of kindergarten, but when Birdie tells Deve of her plans to be more “normal” in eighth grade by getting a boyfriend, Deve reacts coldly and before long they’re in a fight. A mysterious new girl named Nancy turns out to be the mythological spider Anansi, who grants Birdie three wishes. Each wish plunges Birdie into a new reality where she gets to see what life would be like as a popular girl, free of her overprotective mother, and worst of all, if she and Deve had never met. By the time she realizes her mistakes, she’s out of wishes, but Anansi has one more surprise in store for her.

This romance is perfect for those just getting into the genre, providing a fun introduction to the Ghanaian Anansi. The romance element is pretty clear from the start, with the plot twists coming from revelations about other characters as well as Birdie’s discoveries about herself as she fumbles her way through alternative realities.

To Catch a Ghost by Rachel Michelle Wilson (Orchard Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8, publication date July 1, 2025). “Bringing nothing to show-and-tell is like wearing shoes without socks. It stinks.” To avoid this situation, the narrator decides to catch a ghost to share with the class. Part one is the search, followed by part two: observe, in which he tries to determine what kind of ghost he’s found. Likes hide-and-seek? Mischievous. Enjoys gardening? An old soul. And almost any kind will appreciate pizza. The third and final part involves catching a ghost, but after building a cage, the narrator can’t stand the sad look on the ghost’s face and lets it go. The friendly ghost leaves behind a picture of the two of them eating pizza, though, and that is good enough for show-and-tell. Thanks to Orchard Books for an advanced copy of this book, which will be available July 1.

Fans of Wilson’s How to Pee Your Pants will enjoy this follow-up about finding a ghost. It would make a great mentor text for procedural writing, a good Halloween read-aloud that includes those who don’t celebrate the holiday, and a nice story for starting a conversation about friendship.

Hook, line, and sinker

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Sharks Unhooked: The Adventures of Cristina Zenato, Underwater Ranger by Patricia Newman, illustrated by Becca Hall (Millbrook Press, 40 pages, grades 1-5). Although Cristina Zenato grew up in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), she and her family were Italian and returned to Italy every summer. There, Cristina grew to love swimming in the sea and was especially fascinated by sharks. She longed to learn how to scuba dive, and she finally got her chance after college on a trip to the Bahamas. Cristina decided to move there and spent hours in the water, getting to know the world underwater. Clad in a chain suit, with mackerel treats, she soon earned the trust of many of the sharks. She learned that sharks often get fishing hooks stuck in their bodies, and soon she was removing them from sharks’ gills, fins, tails, and even their throats. At first, she threw the hooks away, but eventually she collected them to use as an educational tool for humans to learn about their dangers to sharks. Includes additional information about sharks and Cristina Zenato, including a note from Cristina with a photo, and a list of books about sharks.

A Line Can Go Anywhere: The Brilliant, Resilient Life of Artist Ruth Asawa by Caroline McAlister, illustrated by Jamie Green (Roaring Brook Press, 40 pages, grades 2-5). Ruth Asawa first became aware of lines when she drew them in the dirt on her family’s farm in California. The middle of seven children, she had plenty of chores to do on the farm, but she still found time to create art, whether it was practicing calligraphy at Japanese school on Saturdays, making bracelets from discarded wire, or painting a prize-winning poster of the Statue of Liberty. When World War II broke out, an invisible line divided the Japanese and American parts of Ruth’s life. Her father was taken away, and the rest of the family was sent to a camp. Ruth practiced her art there, getting lessons from professional artists who had worked for Disney, and eventually was able to leave camp to go to college. Even after she got married and had six children of her own, she continued to create art, first making wire sculptures with thousands of intersecting lines and later getting commissions to sculpt fountains and a memorial for families imprisoned during World War II. Includes a lengthy author’s note with additional information, a couple of photos of Ruth with her art, and a bibliography.

Both Cristina and Ruth followed their unique dreams, despite the obstacles, and although both have had success in their chosen fields, it’s obvious that their joy in life came from following their passions rather than the external rewards. I was happy to read about a Ruth Asawa retrospective opening at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art on the very same day that I read this book.

Mathemagical

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Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn’t by Sarah Albee, illustrated by Chris Hu (Charlesbridge, 40 pages, grades 3 and up). It’s hard to imagine a world without zero, but for much of human history, calculations were made without it. This book begins with a look at some of the earliest people to use the concept that came to be zero: Babylonians, Mayans, and Indians. Zero came to be accepted in the Arabic world, and European traders to that area brought the idea back to Europe, where it was met with…derision and scorn. While some mathematicians enthusiastically embraced zero, other Europeans mistrusted something that came from a different part of the world and continued to use Roman numerals. The invention of the printing press helped spread the word about zero, and when it was finally universally accepted, it opened the door up up to the complex ideas of modern calculus and physics. Includes additional information about zero and some of the other words we use for the concept, a map of places mentioned in the book, a bibliography, a list of math books for younger readers, a “blurry” timeline of zero, and some notes about the art.

This is a fascinating story of something most of us don’t think about, but which has been a key to scientific and technological advancement. The history of its evolution shows the dangers of not being open to the contributions of other cultures. There’s a lot of information and a huge span of history covered, making me wonder exactly what ages to recommend it for. I can see some older elementary students finding it interesting, but I think it could also be used in middle school or high school STEM classes.

The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice: How to Discover a Shape by Amy Alznauer, illustrated by Anna Bron (Candlewick, 40 pages, grades 2-5). As a child, Marjorie Rice was fascinated by shapes and arts. She learned to read at an early age, starting second grade at the age of five. Despite her interests and intelligence, her parents encouraged her to pursue a career as a secretary, and she didn’t go to college. Marjorie married and had five children. As they grew up, she started reading her son’s Scientific American and particularly enjoyed Martin Gardner’s “Mathematical Games” column. She was intrigued by one column about the problem of finding pentagons that could be tessellated infinitely without gaps. Gardner stated that all such pentagons had been discovered, but a month later, a reader discovered a new one. This inspired Marjorie to look for new ones on her own, and she eventually found four more. In 1995, she was recognized at a Mathematical Association of America meeting with a standing ovation, a true amateur who was motivated solely by her own interests and passion for shapes and art. Includes an author’s note about her personal connections to Marjorie Rice; additional information about the problem Marjorie worked on; information on how to discover a shape; a bibliography; and a couple of photos.

This engaging biography is an inspiration to follow your passions, no matter where you are in life. The storytelling is lively, and I particularly enjoyed the illustrations that do a great job of bringing Marjorie’s work to life. I struggled a little to understand exactly what she was working on, and like the previous book, this is one that may be enjoyed more by older readers with more of a mathematical background.

Home is where the heart is

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Sea Legs by Jules Bakes, illustrated by Niki Smith (Graphix, 256 pages, grades 3-7). Janey’s lived on board her parents’ sailboat before, but it’s harder going back to that life this time, after going to public school for third grade and making a good friend named Rae. But she doesn’t have much say in the matter, as her family sets sail for the Caribbean. Life onboard is much different, with unique adventures and natural wonders every day, but also sometimes with boredom and loneliness. When they anchor at one of the islands so her parents can make some money, Janey’s excited to see another girl who looks just a little older than she is. Soon, she’s hanging out with Astrid, who seems cool and courageous, but who is sometimes mean to Janey and takes her on adventures that occasionally turn dangerous. Janey slowly realizes that Astrid is living with an abusive father, forced to take care of her younger half siblings and not allowed to go to school, and that the older girl envies Janey’s secure family and opportunity to get an education. When hurricane season hits hard, Janey is sent to live with her grandmother for several months. On her return, the ship is damaged, Astrid is gone without a trace, and Janey has to learn from her parents how to be resilient and get back out to sea once again. Includes notes from the author and illustrator, friends since the age of 12, about how Jules’s childhood at sea and their friendship inspired this book.

Who can resist the lure of a life at sea? I was curious to read this fictionalized graphic memoir about Jules Bakes’s unique childhood. It ended up surprising me, showing both the good and more difficult sides of this life, with Astrid’s story offering a particularly dark version of it. I was hoping for a little more resolution of Astrid’s story and her friendship with Janey, but the ambiguity felt very realistic.

Home by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Loren Long (G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, ages 4+). As they did with their picture book Love, Matt de la Peña and Loren Long offer meditations about home. Whether it’s an apartment next to the highway, a house near the airport, Grandpa’s houseboat, or the back of Dad’s big rig, home has a feeling of familiarity, comfort, and security. But what if you lose your home? “Hurricane rains flood your streets. Or a thick black smoke blankets the sky. Or Papa’s garment factory closes down.” You may have to leave the only home you’ve ever known, but slowly you will find your way back with the help of a father or a grandma or a teacher, because it’s those people who really are your home. And when you look up into the sky at a hawk or a mountain or the stars, you’ll remember the home we all share, “promising that all life is one life and when the winds do come they will carry you home.”

I was blown away by how much is contained in this seemingly simple picture book that could be enjoyed by a preschooler or used in a college class to reflect on all the meanings of the word “home.” The text is lyrical and thought-provoking, and as for the illustrations…well, let’s get on with it already and finally give Loren Long the Caldecott recognition he deserves.

Be the change

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Stalactite and Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Two nubs of rock in a cave greet each other as the one above drips a steady stream of water drops onto the one below. They’re friends from the start and enjoy the company of other more transient creatures as they witness the history of life on Earth. First a trilobite, next an Ichtyostega with some new legs, then a triceratops who enjoys a dazzling light display before disappearing. Ice Age creatures give way to early humans, and finally, contemporary human tourists marvel at the stalactite and stalagmite that are almost touching each other. A futuristic city appears outside the cave, then darkness as the two fuse together into a column of stone. Includes additional information about some of the creatures and a timeline of the time period covered in the story.

Enjoy a warm, fuzzy friendship story while simultaneously feeling insignificant as you follow this rocky relationship over millions of years. Drew Beckmeyer makes it look easy to create an amazing picture book with plenty of humor that introduces the entire history of life on earth.

Papilio by Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser (Viking Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, ages 3-7). Three friends and beloved author-illustrators have created a story in three parts about Papilio, a black swallowtail butterfly. In the first, by Clanton, Papilio hatches from an egg and explores life as a caterpillar before creating a chrysalis. Tabor takes the story from there, narrating from inside a chrysalis that is almost eaten by a bird. Having safely survived, the newly emerged butterfly’s tale is told by Musser, as she learns from other flying insects how to use her wings. The stories are tied together by Papilio’s interactions with a mouse, and readers will enjoy seeing the different depictions of it by the three different artists. Includes additional information about butterfly metamorphosis, as well as notes from each of the creators about how they came up with their stories and illustrations.

I was excited to see this book by Ben Clanton and Corey R. Tabor, who are well-loved in my library (I’m not yet familiar with Musser’s work), and it did not disappoint. Kudos to them for taking on the well-worn tale of butterfly metamorphosis and finding something new. It’s fun to compare the illustrations, which are similar but have distinctive differences from the three different artists.

Caboose by Travis Jonker, illustrated by Ruth Chan (Harry N. Abrams, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Hippo loves being first in line, and he’s learned all kinds of tricks to get there: running, sneaking, even slingshotting to the head of the line. But one day, Hippo takes it too far, and Fish gets hurt. “You may not be first anymore!” declares the teacher, and Hippo is banished to the end of the line. It takes a little adjustment, but before long, Hippo has a series of strategies to make sure he’s always the caboose: walking like a turtle, politely letting everyone go ahead, pretending his sneaker has a giant knot. But “caboosin’ it up” causes Hippo to go too far once again, and now his assigned place is in the middle of the line. And the middle proves to be the best place for him, right in the center of all his classmates.

Hippo definitely cracked me up, and there are lessons to be learned about working with others. Kids may recognize themselves or a classmate as Hippo slowly learns line etiquette and how to be respectful of his classmates. The illustrations are adorable, with a huge variety of animals, but I have to say I struggled a little to grasp the lesson Hippo learned at the end.