If You Go Down to the Woods Today by Rachel Piercey, illustrated by Freya Hartas

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Magic Cat Publishing

Amazon.com: If You Go Down to the Woods Today (Brown Bear Wood) (9781419751585): Piercey, Rachel, Freya Hartas: Books
Amazon.com: If You Go Down to the Woods Today (Brown Bear Wood) (9781419751585): Piercey, Rachel, Freya Hartas: Books

Summary:  Bear takes readers through a tour of his forest, beginning in the early spring and traveling through the year until he settles in for a long winter’s nap.  Each spread features a poem and a list of about 12-15 items (mostly other animals) to find in the illustration.  The last few pages are a “nature trail”, with a dotted line connecting circular pictures taken from the main illustrations; kids can turn back to find where they came from on the previous pages.  Also includes a list of nature resources and poetry resources (all websites).  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This utterly charming book feels like a throwback to an earlier era.  It made me want to brew a cup of tea, wrap up in a cozy afghan, and snuggle in with small children on either side of me to read some poems and hunt through the illustrations for the hidden objects.  

Cons:  At a little over a foot tall, this book may not fit on every library’s shelves.

Fifth Quarter by Mike Dawson

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Published by First Second

The Fifth Quarter: Dawson, Mike: 9781250244178: Amazon.com: Books
The Fifth Quarter | Mike Dawson | Macmillan

Summary:  Lori’s just starting out in basketball, but she’s determined to become better.  Although her play is mostly limited to the exhibition “Fifth Quarter”, she has a pretty good shot and is interested in improving all her skills.  Extra lessons and a summer camp program pay off when she gets chosen for the fifth grade travel team.  She learns some valuable personal lessons through ups and downs with teammates and friends.  A subplot about her mom’s run for town council teaches her about determination and a willingness to keep going in the face of loss. The story ends in the middle of a game and will be continued in The Fifth Quarter: Hard Court, release date not yet announced.  240 pages; grades 3-6.  

Pros:  One can hardly go wrong with the sports/graphic novel combination, and this is sure to find a big following.  I’m always happy to find a book with a fourth grade protagonist, as they are vastly outnumbered in the middle-grade universe by fifth, sixth, and seventh graders. And Lori is very much a fourth-grader who doesn’t always understand the consequences of her actions (and that it’s not always all about her), but who tries hard to learn from her mistakes.

Cons:  I was fine with Lori’s thick black eyebrows, but her dad’s looked like he had two pieces of black duct tape stuck to his forehead.

This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth by Sean Rubin

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Henry Holt and Co.

Amazon.com: This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth (Audible Audio Edition): Sean Rubin, Jennifer Ceci, Macmillan Young Listeners: Audible Audiobooks
This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth: Rubin, Sean: 9781250788504: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  A Callery pear tree narrates its experiences, beginning with its earliest days in a plaza near the World Trade Center.  It was buried on 9/11, and near death when discovered in the rubble several weeks later.  Moved to a different location, it survived against expectations, and in December 2010, it was dug up and replanted in a new plaza near its former location.  Surrounded by other trees that give it strength, the Survivor Tree helps the people who come to see it by giving them peace, hope, and the promise that spring will always come again.  Includes an author’s note; a two-page history of the World Trade Center, 9/11, and the Survivor Tree; a note on the illustrations; and a list of six sources.  48 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  A beautifully written and illustrated story that makes a unique introduction to the events of 9/11 and also speaks to anyone who has survived a traumatic event.

Cons:  The events of 9/11 are not described at all (“It was an ordinary morning.  Until it wasn’t”), so kids will definitely need an introduction before reading this book.

Upstaged by Diana Harmon Asher

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Published by Harry N. Abrams

Amazon.com: Upstaged (9781419740817): Asher, Diana Harmon: Books

Summary:  Shira gets pushed by her friend Cassie into auditioning for her middle school’s production of The Music Man, and she’s not sure she wants the role she gets: Jacey Squires, a member of the barbershop quartet.  No one is surprised when eighth-grade diva Monica gets the part of Marian the Librarian, but it comes as a shock when Shira is asked to be her understudy.  Cassie has been Shira’s only friend for the last couple of years, but as the play gets underway, her confidence slowly increases and she finds herself with some new friends…and a crush or two.  There’s plenty of drama outside the play itself, and a surprise or two in the final production, all of which leads to a heartfelt and satisfying conclusion.  288 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Middle school musical fans get two excellent new books this year: The Chance to Fly and now Upstaged.  This one has a much more low-key cast of characters who are all dealing with some insecurities that many middle school kids will relate to.  There’s plenty of humor, too, and the middle school boys especially rang true for me.

Cons:  It would have been nice to give Monica and Ms. Channing, the ditzy director, a little more substance.

Fearless World Traveler: Adventures of Marianne North, Botanical Artist by Laurie Lawlor, illustrated by Becca Stadtlander

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Published by Holiday House

Fearless World Traveler: Adventures of Marianne North, Botanical Artist: Lawlor, Laurie, Stadtlander, Becca: 9780823439591: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Growing up in Victorian England, Marianne North was never encouraged in her passions for art and botany.  Self-taught in both, she stayed home and cared for her “irritable, demanding” father until his death when she was 40.  When an elderly widow invited her to be a traveling companion to North America, Marianne jumped at the chance.  This trip led her to Jamaica and the tropics she had long dreamed of seeing.  She eventually circumnavigated the world several times, seeking out exotic plant species that she could paint.  When her paintings crowded her London flat, she arranged to have a gallery built for them as part of the Royal Botanic Gardens.  The Marianne North Gallery opened in 1882 with 627 paintings on display.  She spent the last few years of her life at home in the English countryside, gardening, painting, and writing her memoirs before her death in 1890 at the age of 59.  Includes additional information on her legacy and writings, as well as sources and a who’s who of people Marianne encountered throughout her life.  44 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  This fascinating account of a woman who defied social expectations to lead an adventurous life makes for an inspiring read.  Her single-minded passions, preference for being alone, and discomfort with social situations made me wonder if she was neurodivergent.  The brilliant illustrations capture the spirit of North’s work, and make sure to check out the endpapers for reproductions of some of her paintings (identified in the back matter).

Cons:  The small font of the text.

Strange Nature: The Insect Portraits of Levon Biss by Gregory Mone, photographs by Levon Biss

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Published by Harry N. Abrams

Strange Nature: The Insect Portraits of Levon Biss: Mone, Gregory, Biss, Levon: 9781419731662: Amazon.com: Books
Bound To Stay Bound Books, Inc. - Bookstore

Summary:  Levon Biss is a photographer whose work was mostly focused on celebrities and political leaders until the day his son Sebastian brought a beetle into the kitchen.  When the two of them looked at it under a microscope, Levon was captivated by the beauty and complexity of the insect.  Since then, he’s created amazing photos of all kinds of creatures, taking thousands of photos of each one, then piecing them together on his computer.  This book includes 16 insects, with the photos as the main attraction, but also including some information about where each one lives, its size, a description, and a few facts.  Includes a glossary.  40 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  Anyone with the slightest interest in insects will be amazed by these photos and enriched by the information; anyone without that interest may be surprised to find out how beautiful and complex insects can be.

Cons:  The author has a note at the end that begins, “Normally an author wouldn’t send his or her readers to the Internet.  Not when there are shelves and shelves stacked with wonderful printed books….”  It’s okay, here in the 21st century, it is actually okay to unapologetically send readers to the Internet.

A Day for Rememberin’: Inspired by the True Events of the First Memorial Day by Leah Henderson, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

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Published by Harry N. Abrams

A Day for Rememberin': The First Memorial Day: Henderson, Leah, Cooper, Floyd: 9781419736308: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  Eli misses his dad, who’s been working long days for the last week and a half.  He wants to help, but his parents tell him school is the place for him.  Now that the family is free, Eli’s parents want him to get all the education he can.  Finally, on day 10, he’s allowed to go paint the fence surrounding the new cemetery where Union prisoners of war are buried.  The next morning, everyone dresses in their best clothes, arms full of flowers, to march together in honor of those dead soldiers.  The children lead the way to the cemetery, where everyone decorates the graves with the flowers.  They spend the rest of the day listening to speeches, praying, and celebrating their hard-won freedom. Includes an author’s note, additional information on the origins of Decoration Day, a timeline, two photos; notes, and a bibliography. 48 pages; grades 2-6.

Pros:  A fascinating look at an early (maybe the earliest; the history is unclear) celebration of Decoration Day, the holiday that eventually became Memorial Day.  Coretta Scott King Award winner Floyd Cooper has captured the day magnificently, and the text, combined with the extensive back matter, will give kids a new perspective on the day.

Cons:  There was a of information covered for a picture book. If you’re doing this as a Memorial Day read-aloud, plan on spending some time…I had to go back for a second read to get it all.

Training Day (El Toro & Friends) by Raúl the Third, colors by Elaine Bay

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Versify

Training Day | HMH Books

Summary:  El Toro has a big match coming up, wrestling The Wall.  His trainer, Kooky Dooky, has lots of ideas about how to get him ready, but first he must get El Toro out of bed.  This proves challenging, as El Toro doesn’t want to eat breakfast, stretch, or go for a jog…he just wants to sleep.  Finally, though, he is ready for action and, cheered on by his fans, he zips through every challenge Kooky Dooky puts before him.  When it’s time for the big match, El Toro defeats The Wall with one big “Pow!”.  56 page; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Raúl the Third brings the fun of his ¡Vamos! books to this new early reader series that is sure to be a hit.  There are many Spanish translations of English words and phrases in the text, with the Spanish in a purple font to make it readily distinguishable.  Book 2 (Tag Team) was published simultaneously.  Let’s hope this is just the beginning.

Cons:  After all that training, I wish the wrestling match had been longer than a single page.

The Way of the Hive: A Honey Bee’s Story by Jay Hosler

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by HarperAlley

The Way of the Hive: A Honey Bee's Story: Hosler, Jay, Hosler, Jay: 9780063007369: Amazon.com: Books
The Way of the Hive: A Honey Bee's Story: Hosler, Jay, Hosler, Jay: 9780063007352: Amazon.com: Books

Summary:  The life cycle of the honey bee is given a whole new twist in this graphic novel that follows the life of a Nyuki (Swahili for bee) from her early days as a pupa until her death at the base of a flower.  She is mentored by her older sister Dvorah, who tries to hold back Nyuki’s early urges to explore.  A premature sojourn from the hive results in some close calls with a praying mantis and a spider, and Nyuki returns home vowing to never leave again.  Now Dvorah has to find a way to lure her out, and her success is bittersweet.  As Nyuki grows older, she becomes a beloved member of the hive and ends up in the role of mentor herself, helping out a younger bee named Melissa.  Nearing the end of her life, Nyuki goes for one last flight and finds an unusual way to ensure that she will return to the hive after her death.  Includes labeled diagrams of the honeybee; ten pages of chapter-by-chapter annotations; and a list of references.  160 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  The graphic nonfiction just keeps on getting better and better.  Written and illustrated by a biology professor, this one manages to tell a fascinating story, creating interesting insect and flower characters, and also to impart a wealth of information.  With the extensive back matter, this could easily be used as a high school or even a college text, yet is engaging and understandable enough for older elementary kids.

Cons:  This is actually a revised edition of the author’s earlier book Clan Apis, so it feels like a little bit of a stretch to call it a new book in 2021.

Toasty by Sarah Hwang

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Margaret Ferguson

Toasty: Hwang, Sarah: 9780823447077: Amazon.com: Books
MICA Book Illustration: Toasty by Sarah Hwang

Summary:  Toasty is a piece of bread who dreams of being a dog.  He can see there are differences–he doesn’t have fur, he has two arms and two legs, and he sleeps in a toaster–but he’s sure he can overcome these.  He can bark like a dog, so he confidently decides to head out to the dog park.  When he tries to play with the other dogs, they see him as a tasty snack to chase, and Toasty is forced to hide in a sandwich.  Just as a girl is about to eat him, he starts barking.  The girl is delighted: she’s always wanted a dog, but is allergic.  The two become fast friends, and the final page shows them snuggling down to sleep.  32 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  Quirky? You bet, but strangely sweet as well.  Kudos to Sarah Hwang for creating illustrations of a slice of bread that is as endearing as a puppy.

Cons:  Will there not be a mold issue?