Published by Minnesota Historical Society

Summary:  When Josie decides she wants to dance at her tribe’s powwow, she enlists her mom, grandmother (kookum), aunty, and tribal elder Grandma Greatwalker to sew and bead her costume and to dream her spirit name.  Josie practices all winter and spring, excited about all the preparations but a little anxious that they won’t be done in time.  On the morning of her dance, though, everyone surprises her with their completed work, and Elder Grandma Greatwalker tells Josie that she has dreamed her spirit name: Migiziinsikwe, or Young Eagle Woman.  Josie is welcomed into the circle of dancers as the singers say her name, Migiziinsikwe, and Young Eagle Woman soars into the dance.  Includes a glossary and information about Turtle Mountain, a reservation where the author lives as a citizen of the Tribal Band of Chippewa and the illustrator is a tribal member.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This would pair well with Bowwow Powwow for a story hour about contemporary kids participating in their powwows.  The colorful illustrations and text give a real flavor of what goes into preparing for the dance and the excitement of the actual event.  I loved the endpapers portraying a variety of powwow participants.

Cons:  I wish there had been some more information about Josie’s dance in the back matter.

Published by Quill Tree Books

Summary:  Q and U are the closest of friends until Q starts to notice that U has quite a few other friends, and that Q needs U more than U needs him.  When U announces she needs a break, other letters start to realize how they need some alone time (S to L: “You’re slowing me down”; W to R: “We’re just wrong for each other”).  Going solo is fine for a while, but when things start to fall apart, U realizes her mistake and apologizes to Q.  Other letters follow suit, and the world is restored to normalcy.  Although once in a while, Q and U still spend a few quiet–or silent–moments apart.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Not only is this a great friendship story, but it is perfect for introducing beginning readers to letter combinations and the sounds they make.  Fun for everyone.

Cons:  Seems like Q could have gotten a little break from U by visiting Qatar or practicing some qigong.

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  A mother tells of her undying love for her son, imagining him as a bumblebee snuggled in a flower until it starts to rain.  Then the illustrations change to show a father and young daughter imagining themselves as a mole and mouse in a cozy hole.  The pictures alternate between the two pairs as they dream about different roles…and also as they grow older.  Finally, it’s time for the kids, now adults, to go out into the world on their own, but the parents are always loving them and meeting them in their dreams.  The final pages show the young man with a son and the young woman playing guitar, with the ghostly figures of the parents in the sky overhead.  40 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  A beautiful book that would make a perfect bedtime story.  The illustrations by Pura Belpré Medalist López are particularly moving, enhancing the text to show how a parent’s love extends throughout the child’s life.

Cons:  I’ve really struggled trying to remember the title of this book. I keep wanting to call it I’ll See You in My Dreams, which apparently is the title of a number of other movies, songs, etc.