Picture books

A Plan for the People: Nelson Mandela’s Hope for His Nation by Lindsey McDivitt, illustrated by Charly Palmer (Released March 30)

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers

A Plan for the People - Lindsey G Mcdivitt, Charly Palmer : Eerdmans

Summary:  This biography of Nelson Mandela covers his early life in the first few pages, focusing primarily on his imprisonment from 1963 until 1990.  Mandela studied and taught others while in prison, reaching out to both white guards and black prisoners.  His isolation gradually decreased as reforms slowly came to South Africa, and on February 2, 1991, he was released from prison.  Three years later, he voted for the first time in his life–and was elected president of South Africa.  Includes extensive back matter:  lengthy author’s and illustrator’s notes; additional information on apartheid, the ANC, and Mandela’s imprisonment; a timeline of Mandela’s life and South Africa’s journey to democracy; and lists of books, videos, and websites with additional information (but, surprisingly, no photos).  48 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  An inspiring look at Nelson Mandela’s life, with beautiful, brilliant acrylic paintings to illustrate it, and lots of material to support further research.

Cons:  I wish this book had been edited more; the text is lengthy, and some of Mandela’s story could have been more effectively shown rather than told. 

The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung, illustrated by Julie Kwon

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee: Leung, Julie, Kwon, Julie: 9780759554955: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Growing up in Portland, Oregon, Hazel Ying Lee was a fearless girl who loved running races with her brothers.  She fell in love with flying as a teenager, taking a job as an elevator operator (one of the few jobs open to Chinese Americans) to fund her flying lessons.  When World War II began, she signed up for the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), and became one of the few women to fly high-powered fighter jets.  In 1944, a radio tower miscommunication resulted in a collision between Hazel’s plane and another, and she died two days later from her injuries.  Her family had to appeal all the way to the White House for permission to bury her in the whites-only cemetery of their choice.  An author’s note gives additional information, including the facts that WASPs finally received veteran status from Jimmy Carter in 1977 and Barack Obama awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal in 2009; also includes a list of additional resources.  48 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  Just in time for Women’s History Month (or at least the last ten days of it), this excellent picture book biography tells the story of a courageous young woman who overcame many obstacles to pursue her dream.  The additional resources make it a great starting point for more research.

Cons:  No photos in the book, so here you go.

Meet Hazel Ying Lee, The First Chinese American Woman to Be a Pilot in the U.S. Military During WWII

Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

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

Milo Imagines the World: de la Peña, Matt, Robinson, Christian: 9780399549083: Amazon.com: Books
Milo Imagines the World: de la Peña, Matt, Robinson, Christian: 9780399549083: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Milo and his older sister are riding on the subway: “These monthly Sunday subway rides are never ending, and as usual, Milo is a shook-up soda.”  To pass the time, he observes the people around him: a whiskered man, a bride in a wedding dress, a boy in a suit.  What happens to them when they get off the subway? He draws pictures of what he imagines.  For Milo and his sister, the destination is a prison, and the boy in the suit is in the line with them to go through the metal detector.  This is so different from what Milo imagined that he starts thinking of different scenarios for all the people he drew.  “Maybe you can’t really know anyone just by looking at their face.”  Inside, Milo hugs his mother and shows her a special picture he made: him, Mom, and his sister sitting on the front steps of their home eating ice cream.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Another home run hit by the award-winning team that brought us Last Stop on Market Street and Carmela Full of Wishes.  I loved Milo’s drawings, especially when he reimagined what happened to the people.  The lesson–you can’t tell who people are from looking at them–is delivered with subtlety and grace.  Readers may be surprised by the ending, which reinforces the message of not judging people by appearances or circumstances.

Cons:  This team has hit on a winning formula: family members on a journey together that culminates with an unexpected ending.  Because they do it so well, it’s not exactly a “con”, but it will be interesting to see if they can move beyond this storyline to create something different in future books.

Milo Imagines The World' Reminds Kids To Choose Imagination Over Impressions : NPR


Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust by Peter Sis

~ Janet Dawson ~ 7 Comments

Published by Norton Young Readers

Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued - Kindle edition by Sís, Peter. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Illustrator Peter Sís shares hard stories with children – The Forward

Summary:  Nicholas Winton was a young man living in England when Germany invaded Czechoslovakia in 1938, and a friend asked him to come to Prague to help.  England was accepting refugees under the age of 17 if they had families to take them in.  Nicky set up an office in Prague and began collecting names and photos of children.  One of those children was Vera, a 10-year-old girl whose Czech parents wanted to send her to England.  A few months later, Nicky returned to London to recruit families to take the children.  He eventually got almost 700 children (including Vera) on eight trains out of Czechoslovakia.  A ninth train with 250 children never made it out after the borders were closed, and only two children on that train survived the war.  After the war, Vera returned home, but her entire family had perished, so she moved permanently to England.  Nicky never told anyone what he had done until his wife discovered his lists in 1989 and arranged a TV reunion with many of the people he rescued.  Nicky never thought of himself as a hero.  “I only saw what needed to be done.”  Includes a long author’s note with additional information and a photo of a young Nicholas Winton.  64 pages; grades 2-6.

Pros:  Peter Sis uses spare, understated text and folk art-style illustrations to tell this amazing story of a quiet hero and the girl whose life he saved (among many others).  Keep a Kleenex handy as you read this compelling story which is sure to engage readers well into middle school and may be considered for a few awards next year. And while you have the tissues out, watch this YouTube clip of Nicholas and Vera’s 1988 reunion on British television.

Cons:  I wish there had been a few more photos.

There Is a Rainbow by Theresa Trinder, illustrated by Grant Snider

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Chronicle Books

There is a Rainbow: Trinder, Theresa, Snider, Grant: 9781797211664: Amazon.com: Books
There is a Rainbow: Trinder, Theresa, Snider, Grant: 9781797211664: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Inspired by rainbows her children hung in their windows at the beginning of the pandemic, the author starts with the statement that every story has a beginning and an end.  The illustration shows two kids drawing a rainbow on the sidewalk, also with a beginning and an end.  She then goes on to show what’s on the other side of things: on the other side of a screen is a school; on the other side of a window is a neighbor; on the other side of sadness there are hugs.  And on the other side of today is tomorrow, a tomorrow pictured here as unmasked children and their parents heading toward an open school.  Includes an author’s note.  52 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  As we keep our fingers crossed that we’re heading for the other side of the pandemic, this book really captures the emotions and experiences we’ve shared in the past year, both through the brief text and the rainbow-themed illustrations, which, I might add, are the first I’ve ever seen done by a moonlighting orthodontist.

Cons:  This book seems like it will feel dated in a short period of time.  Let’s hope so.

Facing Fear: An Immigration Story by Karen Lynn Williams, illustrated by Sara Palacios

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Facing Fear: Williams, Karen Lynn, Palacios, Sara: 9780802854902: Amazon.com: Books
Interview with Children's Book Illustrator Sara Palacios – Eerdlings

Summary:  Enrique is excited when his soccer team makes it to the tournament, then disappointed when his dad says he can’t go.  The team will have to pass through a checkpoint, and Enrique’s parents and older sister are undocumented.  Enrique thinks his dad is just scared, and decides to forge his signature on the permission slip.  Before he gets a chance to turn it in, though, there’s a rumor of a round-up, and the family goes to his Tía’s house to hide. There, for the first time, Enrique hears the full story of his family’s escape to the U.S., and decides his parents are both very brave.  After telling his team he’s decided not to play, they show up at his house to tell him they’re not going either, and everyone makes plans for a father-son game the next day.  Includes an author’s note; additional information on immigration and checkpoints; a list of organizations assisting and advocating for immigrant families; and a list of recommended reading.  44 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  A compelling story about a boy forced to make a difficult decision that brings to light many of the issues faced by undocumented families.  The resources at the end provide excellent additional information.

Cons:  The story felt a bit didactic.

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

~ Janet Dawson ~ 4 Comments

Published by Carolrhoda Books

Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre - Kindle edition by Weatherford, Carole Boston, Cooper, Floyd. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
Debbie Reese (tribally enrolled, Nambé Pueblo) on Twitter: "Did you click thru? Did you watch Floyd Cooper's video embedded in the article, of him reading from UNSPEAKABLE: THE TULSA RACE MASSACRE? Here's

Summary:  “Once upon a time in Tulsa, there was a community called Greenwood.”  Although this was a segregated community, the Black part of town thrived, with excellent schools, libraries, medical facilities, and enough businesses to call Greenwood Avenue “Black Wall Street”.  But in 1921, accusations by a young white woman that a black teenager had assaulted her ignited a series of events that ultimately left up to 300 Black people dead, hundreds more injured, and more than 8,000 homeless when their community was burned to the ground.  The town was rebuilt, but the massacre was covered up; it was 75 years before an investigation took place that revealed that police and city officials plotted with the white mob to destroy the Black community.  Includes notes from both the author and illustrator describing their connections to this event, as well as photos of Greenwood burning and the Tower of Reconciliation that stands in Tulsa’s Reconciliation Park.  32 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  With six starred reviews, this book will surely be considered for multiple awards next January.  The structure of the story is perfect, describing the amazing community of Greenwood before the massacre as a place where Black people demonstrated that they could build thriving businesses and community services.  The massacre is described in a few heartbreaking pages, and Weatherford and Cooper don’t shy away from laying the blame squarely on the white community.  Their ending notes are fascinating, particularly Floyd Cooper’s story about his grandfather who survived the massacre.

Cons:  The endpapers are before and after pictures of Greenwood.  I wish the front endpaper was a photo like the back one is, but maybe there isn’t a photo in existence of what Greenwood looked like as a flourishing community.

The Last Straw: Kids vs. Plastics by Susan Hood, illustrated by Christiane Engel

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by HarperCollins

The Last Straw: Kids vs. Plastics: Hood, Susan, Engel, Christiane: 9780062981394: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Following an introduction by 9-year-old Milo Cress, founder of Be Straw Free, this poetry collection looks at different aspects of plastic, from its undeniable usefulness in many areas to the damage it is wreaking on the environment (especially the oceans) to different ways kids and teens are figuring out to recycle and find alternatives to plastic.  Includes a two-page author’s note; a timeline of the history of plastic from 1839; alternatives to single-use plastic items; top ten plastic ocean polluters; sources, websites, and additional notes for each poem; poetry notes for each poem; three books for further reading; and additional websites for news about plastics.  48 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  The poetry is just the beginning in this book that is jam-packed with information and inspiring stories about kids working to make a difference in the world by recycling or eliminating plastics.  The colorful illustrators add a lot to the poems, and the 13 pages of back matter, enough to satisfy even me, would make this an excellent resource for older kids.

Cons:  I was feeling so bummed after reading the first few poems that I almost didn’t make it to the more inspirational section.

I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne, illustrated by Julia Kuo

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Roaring Brook Press

I Dream of Popo: Blackburne, Livia, Kuo, Julia: 9781250249319: Amazon.com: Books
I Dream of Popo | Livia Blackburne | Macmillan

Summary:  “I dream with Popo” begins a girl living in Taiwan, who loves spending time with her grandmother.  Each page starts similarly: “I walk with Popo”, “I bow with Popo on New Year’s Day.”  After her family moves to San Diego, with Popo staying in Taiwan, she writes “I wave to Popo” as she boards the plane, then “I hug Popo” when she returns for a visit, discovering that it is harder for her to understand Popo’s language now that she is fluent in English.  Then it is “I pray for Popo” when Popo gets sick and finally, “I dream of Popo” as the girl dreams of being with Popo once again.  Includes notes and photos from both the author and illustrator describing their connections to Taiwan and a glossary.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A beautiful story (by Livia Blackburne, who apparently is a best-selling YA fantasy author) about immigration and how relationships with loved ones change after a move.  The author’s and illustrator’s notes personalize the experiences of the girl in the story.

Cons:  Kids may need some help understanding the somewhat ambiguous ending.

The Midnight Fair by Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Mariachiara Di Giorgio

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Candlewick

The Midnight Fair: Sterer, Gideon, Di Giorgio, Mariachiara: 9781536211153: Amazon.com: Books
The Midnight Fair: Sterer, Gideon, Di Giorgio, Mariachiara: 9781536211153: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  When the fair closes down in this wordless picture book, animals come out of the forest to take over.  They start up the rides and games, enjoying the teacups, the carousel, and the cotton candy.  As the sun starts to come up, a man gets ready for the day and heads to the fair as the animals head back into the forest to enjoy their treats and get ready for sleeping.  On the final few pages, a wolf rips open the plastic bag with a goldfish inside that he won, and lets the fish free in a pond.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The illustrator of one of my favorite wordless books, Professional Crocodile, has created a visual feast of many different details of a fair and all sorts of animals enjoying it together.  Kids will enjoy poring over all the details and the fact that the animals are outwitting the humans.

Cons:  I can’t really explain why, but I found this book slightly creepy.  Maybe learning to drive bumper cars and eat cotton candy doesn’t really seem like a positive move for the animal kingdom.