A long trip, a packing blip, and numbered pages that flip

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Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler (Scholastic Press, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Although Jonty has a happy life at the zoo, he’s intrigued by the stories his aunts tell him about life at the South Pole. One night, Jonty slips through a hole in the fence and heads off on a polar adventure. He sees some poles, like a flagpole and a tent pole, but they don’t seem quite right. Finally, he discovers the ocean and swims until the water starts to grow cold. He finally makes it to the pole…only to learn that it’s the North Pole! A tern offers to guide him south, and they set off together, the tern flying and Jonty swimming. Some scientists on a boat help him make it through the last leg of his trip, and Jonty is thrilled to discover a place with penguins galore. He soon finds his place among the gentoos, and the tern is able to notify his aunts that Jonty has found happiness at the South Pole. Includes additional information about Arctic terns and Gentoo penguins.

This rhyming story from the creators of The Gruffalo has catchy text and colorful cartoon-style illustrations that beautifully portray the landscapes and animals that Jonty encounters as he travels around the globe.

A Moving Story by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld, illustrated by Tom Booth (HarperCollins, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Pete and Tiny may be big bears, but they’re gentle movers who take extra care with their clients’ possessions. So when the littlest panda discovers that her pet turtle has gone missing, the bears know what they have to do: unpack everything they’ve just loaded onto the moving van. The turtle is nowhere to be found, although the panda parents appreciate the effort, and the truck is repacked. As Pete and Tiny start to drive away, they hear a sound coming from their lunchbox. it’s the turtle! The bears get a big hug from the little panda, “because nothing and no one was too big to wrap up tight and treat just right.”

The team behind Stick and Stone have created another feel-good story that emphasizes kindness and going the extra mile that will prove reassuring to kids facing a move. Pete and Tiny have an admirable work ethic, and the whole packing/unpacking/packing again ordeal is rendered perfectly with illustrations depicting various perspectives including an aerial view of everything unpacked.

Animal Countdown by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Neal Porter Books, 32 pages, ages 3-8). Page 1 has the word “ten” printed on a background that looks like a watery animal habitat. A window cut on a flap of the facing page shows a small rectangle that looks like the number 10. Lift the flap to find ten sea otters. The countdown continues to one, introducing numbers, number words, and ten endangered animals. End matter gives additional information about each one, as well as a list of five additional resources.

Seeger’s work is always beautiful and creative, and kids will have fun trying to figure out the animals that are hiding behind the flaps. Unfortunately, the flaps make me think the book itself may become an endangered species in a public library.

Home for the holidays

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Merry Christmas, Zoo by Lisa Eickholdt and Lola M. Schaefer, illustrated by Laura Watkins (Chronicle Books, 40 pages, ages 3-8). Inspired by “The Night Before Christmas,” this rhyming story shows how the zookeepers prep for Christmas, making gifts for the animals and decorating the zoo. When Santa arrives, they’re ready, and they help him load up his sleigh. An aerial view shows the right jolly old elf making deliveries, and then the action zooms in on the animals enjoying their presents. At the end of the night, Santa calls out a “Merry Christmas, Zoo!” before flying on his way. Includes information about how zoos create holiday gifts for animals designed to stimulate them both physically and mentally.

Add this adorable book to your holiday reading list. Kids will love seeing the illustrations filled with all their favorite animals and will be curious to say what they get for gifts. The end matter adds interesting information and invites readers to volunteer or donate to their local zoo. Just to add a Grinch/Scrooge note, zoos always make me a little sad, no matter how festive the occasion.

An Anishinaabe Christmas by Wab Kinew (Onigaming First Nation), illustrated by Erin Hill (Tundra Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). As Baby and her family head to the Rez to celebrate the winter solstice, she learns some Anishinaabe words and how they help describe their holiday celebration. Kookom and Mooshom (grandparents) are waiting on the Rez. Giiwedaa means “let’s go home,” and home can be a place you live now, or a place you came from, like the Rez is for Baby’s parents. Miigiwe means “giving away”, something that the Anishinaabe people celebrate when they give each other gifts. When Baby and her parents finally arrive, everyone gets out drums and goes outside to sing a song about home, family, and wintertime. Includes an Anishinaabe glossary and a note about how Anishinaabe people include both Christmas and solstice traditions in their winter celebrations.

This affectionate family story introduces a few words and cultural practices of the Anishinaabe, including those around December holidays, and does a good job explaining how home can mean different things. I wish Baby had been given a slightly less infantilizing name, as she was old enough to have made a gift for her grandparents at school.

Space travel

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Almost Underwear: How a Piece of Cloth Traveled from Kitty Hawk to the Moon and Mars by Jonathan Roth (Christy Ottaviano Books, 40 pages, grades 1-5). Back in 1903, unbleached muslin was most commonly used to make ladies’ underwear. But one bolt of fabric was purchased by Wilbur and Orville Wright and used for a completely different purpose: to help make the wings of their new flying machine. Although they succeeded, and the muslin went airborne, the machine ultimately was wrecked and went into storage for many years. Shortly before his death, Orville donated swatches of fabric to the new Carillon Historical Park museum in Dayton, Ohio, where it stayed until 1969, when Neil Armstrong carried a piece of it into space. The cloth made it all the way to the Moon, where Armstrong carried it on his moonwalk. The cloth’s final adventures took place in 2020, when it traveled all the way to Mars on board the rover Perseverance. Not only that, but the cloth was attached to Ingenuity, a four-pound helicopter that became the first machine to fly on a different planet. Not bad…for something that could have been some underwear. Includes an author’s note, a glossary of the Perseverance instruments, and a bibliography.

The title reveals the clever hook used to look at three different milestones in air and space travel history, illustrated with combinations of historical photographs and cartoons, including a fun cartoon rendering of the happy piece of cloth. The author does a great job of making STEM history accessible to elementary readers. Pro tip: be very specific when doing a Google images search for Almost Underwear.

Mae Jemison: A Graphic Novel (It’s Her Story) by Lesley Williams, illustrated by Brooke O’Neill (Sunbird Books, 48 pages, grades 2-5). This short graphic biography tells the amazing life of Mae Jemison, who graduated from high school at age 16, attended Stanford, became an M.D., then transitioned to a career as an astronaut, becoming the first Black woman to go into space. She also loved music and was an accomplished dancer, as well as working for civil rights as a college student and advocating for STEM education as an adult. The last page invites readers to share their dreams, remembering that Mae’s hard work and persistence made hers come true.

This is the first volume of this series I’ve seen, but it looks like there are several others about famous women. The short page count and graphic format will make it appealing to many different types of readers, and it brings Mae Jemison to life in a way that kids will relate to, showing her as a child who had many interests in addition to science. Some additional resources at the end would have been a nice addition.

A trio of duos

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Pencil & Eraser: We Have a Dull-Emma by Jenny Alvarado (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 67 pages, grades K-2). When Penciil discovers she’s lost her point, she’s ready to go on an adventure to find a sharpener. Eraser serves as both sidekick and voice of reality, keeping Pencil’s wild schemes in check. When they find out the classroom sharpener is broken, they’re forced to venture down the hall to another class. The pressure’s on to get back before recess is over, but they make it just in time…only to have Eraser discover there was a small sharpener in their pencil case all along. Includes step-by-step instructions for drawing Pencil and Eraser.

Fans of Pizza and Taco will enjoy this silly graphic novel, and the large font and short amount of text on each page makes it a good choice for those ready to take the next step from Elephant and Piggie.

Stella & Marigold by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sophie Blackall (Chronicle Books, 101 pages, ages 6-9). Stella and Marigold are sisters, ages 7 and 4, who have been close friends ever since the day Marigold came home from the hospital. Their story is told in seven chapters, each of which could be read on its own. Marigold has a mind of her own and can’t always understand why adults don’t get why she drops her hairclip down the drain or gets lost in the meerkat tunnel at the zoo. Stella serves as a sort of go-between, interpreting the world for Marigold and helping the grown-ups understand the perspective of a four-year-old. But it’s Marigold who uses her cuteness and her fearlessness to help Stella when a second-grade best friend makes a new friend. The last chapter is a funny homage to the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and shows both girls using their active imaginations at full power.

This new book from the Ivy and Bean author and illustrator will undoubtedly be a series starter. The reading level is a bit high for a book about characters under the age of eight, and that combined with the stand-alone nature of each chapter and the adorable full-color illustrations make it feel more like a read-aloud than a book for early independent reading. It’s sure to be a holiday gift this year from many parents and grandparents.

Orris and Timble: The Beginning by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick, 76 pages, grades K-3). Orris the rat lives in a comfortable nest inside the old wall of an abandoned barn. One night he hears a snap and discovers an owl named Timble has gotten his foot caught in an old mouse trap. After wrestling with his conscience, Orris helps free Timble, sharing the story of the lion and the mouse to try to discourage Timble from eating him. Timble, who seems to have missed the memo that owls are supposed to be wise, brings Orris a butterscotch candy and asks for more stories. By the end of the book, Orris is willing to admit that the two have become friends.

As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m not a big Kate DiCamillo fan and have pretty much given up reading her books. This one was donated to my library, so I decided to make an exception. It’s a cute story with beautiful illustrations, supposedly the first in a planned trilogy (book 2 is slated for April of next year), and would make a good side-by-side read-aloud with Jerry Pinkney’s The Lion and the Mouse. It lacks the humor and cast of quirky characters of the Mercy Watson series, but more introverted, introspective early readers will appreciate the quiet nature of this book.

Graphic memoirs

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Uprooted: A Memoir About What Happens When Your Family Moves Back by Ruth Chan (Roaring Brook Press, 288 pages, grades 4-7). Having spent her whole life in Toronto, Ruth’s not excited about moving back to Hong Kong to be closer to her mother’s family. Her brother, a senior in high school, stays behind at a Canadian boarding school, and her dad is in China much of the week at his job there. Ruth finds Hong Kong exciting but challenging, with different school subjects than what she’s used to and a language (Cantonese) that she understands but doesn’t feel comfortable speaking. Her mom is enjoying reconnecting with family and friends, leaving Ruth feeling pretty much on her own–except when her parents find out about her grades and nag her to do better at school. Finally, she explodes and tells her parents about all the difficulties she’s dealing with. They’re surprisingly understanding, having believed that Ruth was capable of making all the adjustments, but offering to make some changes to try to help. Her dad’s story of his birth and early days during a difficult time in Chinese history, is woven through the contemporary story, and Ruth draws on it for courage and perseverance during her own difficult times. By the time her brother comes for a visit, Ruth is confident enough to show him all around the city, even trying out her Cantonese on the natives. Includes an author’s note and photos that give more details about her story.

Unlike many immigration graphic novels, like Parachute Kids or Measuring Up, this one is about going back to a country of origin when North America (in this case, Canada) has started to feel like home. Ruth Chan writes in the author’s note that in Canada people saw her only as Chinese, but in Hong Kong, she wasn’t Chinese enough. It’s an interesting perspective, and her father’s stories add an extra dimension that I wish had been developed a bit more. All in all, Ruth comes across as a resilient girl, able to make friends easily and to communicate (in her 13-year-old way) with her parents when things get tough.

Dear Dad: Growing Up With a Parent in Prison–and How We Stayed Connected by Jay Jay Patton with Kiara Valdez and Markia Jenai (Scholastic Graphix, 128 pages, grades 4-8). Jay Jay Patton’s spent her early life without her dad, who was incarcerated. Her parents did their best to keep the family connected, but phone calls were difficult and expensive, and visits were extremely rare. They relied on letters to keep in touch, with Jay Jay especially liking the math problems and puzzles her father created and sent to her. When Jay Jay was ten, Dad was released from prison, and the family relocated to Florida. Jay Jay struggled with a new school, a new family structure, and the uncertainty of how to tell new friends about her family’s history. Her father had a new job in the tech industry, and the two of them bonded over coding, eventually working together to create the Photo Patch app that helps parents and kids stay in touch when a family member is in prison. Today, at the age of 18, Jay Jay and her dad run the Photo Patch Foundation as well as events to teach kids coding. Includes several pages of photos and additional information about Photo Patch.

This is a fascinating story about a topic (incarcerated parents) that’s not written about much in children’s books. Jay Jay is an amazing role model, and I’m grateful that she’s shared her story, as well as her dad’s. The story itself is only 110 pages without a lot of text, so it felt like some pretty complex issues were given only the briefest coverage.

National Book Award longlist

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

I’m nerdy enough to eagerly await the announcement of the National Book Award longlist, which this year happened on September 10 for young people’s literature. I read three of the books on the list and offer you my assessment of them here.

Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi (G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books, 336 pages, grades 5-8). When this novel in verse opens, Kareem’s biggest concern is with making the middle school football team. He’s willing to cheat on homework and shun a new boy who’s a refugee from Syria in order to befriend the football coach’s son Austin. But when Kareem’s mother returns to Syria to help her ailing father, Kareem begins to question his actions. The 2017 Muslim ban throws Kareem’s life into chaos, and his issues with Austin start to feel petty. Kareem has to look deep within himself to do the right thing and start to make amends with some of the people he’s hurt. Like many immigrant kids, he has a foot in two different worlds, and by the end of the story, Kareem has learned to embrace his dual heritage.

I well remember Trump’s Muslim ban, but this book really made me understand the horrific effects it had on those who were directly impacted by it. The characters were well developed, and I liked that Kareem made some pretty bad–and quintessentially middle school–decisions, but that he was able to acknowledge them, working to make things right and growing over the course of the story. The book was so compelling that once I got about halfway through, I had to keep reading to find out how Kareem’s story turned out.

Free Period by Ali Terese (Scholastic Press, 272 pages, grades 5-8). Helen and Gracie alternate telling the story of how a prank gone wrong lands them in the principal’s office, where they’re sentenced to join the Community Action Club. At the first meeting, they learn about a project to get maxi pads in all the school bathrooms, something that club president and mean girl Madison wants to do as the final touch to her glittering middle school resume. After Helen has a period catastrophe, she becomes a huge advocate, leading the club in all kinds of pranks and civil disobedience to get the school board to fund the project. Helen’s a bit of an evil genius, while Gracie’s more of a quirky, artsy type, and while the two of them have been best friends and partners in crime for years, the period project shows them that they are developing their own identities and outside friendships. Combining their talents, they become an unstoppable force that brings the whole club–even Madison–together to get the job done.

It is a bit confounding to me why this book garnered NBA recognition. To me, it read like a run-of-the-mill Scholastic tween/teen story, albeit one that focuses and educates about an important topic that’s often not discussed. Helen and Gracie seemed so similar at the beginning of the story that it actually took me a couple of chapters to notice that they were alternating the narration. Their nonstop witty banter, confidence, and disregard of any kind of authority felt a bit unrealistic for middle school.

Mid-Air by Alicia D. Williams (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, 320 pages, grades 5-8). Alicia Williams’ sophomore novel focuses on Isaiah, a Black eighth-grade boy whose two best friends are Drew and Darius. Together, they try to set world records and egg each other on to attempt daredevil stunts. When one of those stunts goes wrong and Darius is killed by a car, Isaiah blames himself. Both he and Drew withdraw into their separate grief at a time when they need each other the most. Isaiah’s attempt to find some healing by revisiting the scene of Darius’s death results in racial violence toward Isaiah that leaves him barely able to function. His worried parents send him to relatives in North Carolina where he basks in the easygoing warmth of his aunt and uncle’s home and develops his first crush on a girl who accepts all the things Isaiah has always tried to hide: his love of rock music, his fondness for painting his nails, and his fear of many of the stunts Drew and Darius pushed him to do. By the time summer’s over, Isaiah is starting to heal and is ready to start high school, and he and Drew finally find a way to begin to communicate.

Another novel in verse that could easily be a contender for a Newbery or Printz award. Like she did in Genesis Begins Again, Alicia Williams creates a memorable character who’s often afraid to let his true nature shine, slowly learning to be himself as the narrative unfolds. Both of the novels in verse would make excellent middle school book club books.

Since I started working on this post, the National Book Awards finalists have been named, and only one of these books made it. Which one? I will leave it to you to read all about it here (hint: it was my personal favorite). The winners will be named November 20, and yes, I have it on my calendar.

Dragon into Monday morning

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, ages 4-8). Ember loves gold, but he’s too small to terrorize villagers into giving it to him like the other dragons do. He’s excited when he sees a glimmer of gold in the distance until it turns out to be street lamp. Discouraged, he falls asleep, but when a raging storm hits, a kind baker invites him inside. Ember proves a natural at kneading dough and shaping loaves, and the baker rewards him with a sack of fresh bread. Back home, the other dragons can’t believe how good bread tastes and offer Ember a share of their gold if he can get them more. The whole group of them show up at the baker’s door, led by Ember, and pour out a bag filled with their stolen gold. Before long, dragons and humans are happily living side by side, with everyone having enough gold AND bread.

This is some good old-fashioned storytelling with enchanting illustrations that feature an adorable little dragon and mouth-watering pictures of bread. I can’t wait to share this with kids; it would make a great gift or addition to any library. I did feel like the baker was overlooking a sustainable source of energy to bake her bread with dozens of fire-breathing dragons showing up on her doorstep.

Dragon for Hanukkah by Sarah Mlynowski, illustrated by Ariel Landy (Orchard Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Hannah tells readers about the gifts she’s gotten so far for Hanukkah: a dragon named Nerry from her parents on the first night, a rainbow from Bubbie on the second night, a full treasure chest from her aunt on the the third. Now it’s the eighth night and time to clean up for the guests who will soon be arriving. As Hannah tidies up her room, readers can see that the dragon is stuffed, the rainbow was created with markers, and the treasure chest is full of Hanukkah gelt. Cleaning up produces some toys to donate to others, all part of the eighth night–the most magical night–of Hanukkah. The last two pages have Nerry asking questions that Hannah answers to give readers more information about the holiday.

A fun Hanukkah read-aloud just right for younger kids, who will enjoy seeing the ordinary objects in the illustrations that Hannah has created magical stories about. The additional information at the end is an enjoyable way to learn more about Hanukkah.

Some creatures that are great…and small

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Towed by Toad by Jashar Awan (Tundra Books, 48 pages, ages 3-7). Toad loves to help others as he drives around in his tow truck, helping animals who are having car troubles. He’s so busy that he doesn’t have time to eat the breakfast or lunch that Pop makes for him. But when Toad’s own truck has a breakdown, Toad realizes something: he needs to ask for help. And Pop is only too happy to come to the rescue with his own truck. “Everyone needs help sometimes. Even the helpers.”

From the clever play on words in the title to the satisfying message at the end, this little book is a winner that will be enjoyed by young readers everywhere. There’s lots of humor in the illustrations, with funny animal names and various car-related situations that are sure to bring a laugh.

How to Draw a Brave Chicken by Ethan T. Berlin, illustrated by Jimbo Matison (Hippo Park, 40 pages, ages 4-9). After the narrator draws a chicken, he decides the chicken looks scared. Drawing her some friends, including a knight, makes her braver, but when a dragon is drawn, she gets nervous again. Drawing a rocket sends her to the moon, but she and her friends eventually decide they prefer life on Earth. A hand-drawn waterslide sends everyone back home again, where they celebrate with a party full of scary creatures…all drawn by you, of course!

This hilariously zany story is interspersed with step-by-step drawing instructions that will keep readers busy for hours. For more fun, get the first book, How to Draw A Happy Cat (2022)

How to Staycation Like a Snail by Naseem Hrab, illustrated by Kelly Collier (Owlkids, 40 pages, ages 4-7). Snail has tried traveling and decided he prefers to stay home. He and his friend Stump (a tree stump) decide to have a stay-at-home vacation…a staycation! They notice with a greater appreciation the sights and sounds around them. Just as they’re starting to think they’ve seen and heard it all, a couple of fluffy traveling seeds drop in. Snail and Stump enjoy sharing the sights with their new friends, convincing the seeds to put down roots and join them.

This is another second in a series; I missed How to Party Like a Snail (2022), and I’m glad I caught up with Snail for his staycation. The story is cute, with gentle humor and cartoon bubble dialogue, and it could serve as a prompt for kids to write about what they could do on their own staycations.

Stories of food and family

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The Table by Winsome Bingham and Wiley Blevins, illustrated by Jason Griffin (Neal Porter Books, 56 pages, ages 4-8). A child tells the story of their family as they gather around the table to eat, dye eggs, and sew a dress. The narrator reads to Meemaw, who can’t read but is an excellent cook. When Papa loses his job in the mines, the family is forced to move to a place that’s too small to fit the table. Left by the side of the road, the table gets a new home when another family drives by. Daddy is a carpenter, so he’s able to fix it up. As they sit down to dinner, the narrator tries to imagine the stories that their new-old table could tell.

A poignant story about two families–one White and one Black–who share the mundane but loving details of their lives. It would make a good book to share around Thanksgiving, with its emphasis on food and family. I loved the illustrations, which only portray the hands of the characters as they gather around the table, but readers may need some inferencing skills to understand what is going on.

Noodles on a Bicycle by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Gracey Zhang (Random House Studio, 40 pages, ages 4-8). The team that brought us The Big Bath House has created another story from Japan, this time about kids watching the amazing deliverymen who work for the noodle shops, carrying trays stacked high with china bowls full of steaming noodles. Zipping through traffic, they never lose their balance, setting up friendly rivals between deliverymen from different shops. The kids try to emulate them, stacking trays with bowls full of water, but inevitably suffer spills. At the end of the day, Mama calls the noodle shop, and a few minutes later the doorbell rings–Papa! Turns out he is one of the deliverymen, and he’s ready for a soak in a hot tub before wearily tucking in the kids and heading for bed. Includes an author’s note and photos on the front and back endpapers of Tokyo deliverymen in 1937 and 1959.

This slice-of-life story from the mid-twentieth century celebrates the workers who adroitly performed the hot, hard work of delivering noodles to the hungry residents of Tokyo. I’m glad they included two photos to help readers really appreciate the skill involved. The author’s note captures it perfectly when she says, “Of course, there are practices worth improving, but there are also things worth remembering and celebrating.”

Hair-raising stories

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Crowning Glory: A Celebration of Black Hair by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes (Candlewick, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Starting with “five queens” (five Black women, who, in 2019, won the titles of Miss America, Miss USA, Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss Teen USA ), the rhyming text and vibrant illustrations celebrate Black hair. Cornrows, ‘fros, locs, puffs, ponytails, and more–all get their moment to shine. “To heed beliefs or cheer gray days,” women cover their hair with hijabs, geles, headwraps, and hats. “A ritual of hand and heart,/each stunning head a work of art./Each royal coil coaxed by kin./Each strand a story without end.” Includes a glossary.

I hope this beautiful book will be considered for both Coretta Scott King and Caldecott awards. I always love Ekua Holmes collage illustrations, and these are gorgeous. The focus is on female hair, so this could make a good companion to read with Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, which features a barbershop.

My Hair Is a Book by Maisha Oso, illustrated by London Ladd (HarperCollins, 32 pages, ages 4-8). This book looks similar to Crowning Glory, and it has gotten at least two starred reviews. I’ve had it on hold at the library for weeks now, but I haven’t been able to get a copy. Now that I’m finally giving up, it will probably be on its way to me tomorrow!

Knots by Colleen Frakes (HarperAlley, 240 pages, grades 4-7). Nervous about starting at a new school, Norah tries to give herself a new look by first bleaching her hair, then dyeing it blue. It turns out surprisingly well, and school gets off to a good start. But a few weeks in, a boy shares with the class that he is mostly responsible for his two younger sisters because his parents aren’t home much. Norah and some of the other kids get pulled out of class by the police as witnesses, and the boy and his sisters end up getting sent to live at their grandparents’ house. When Norah’s mom and younger sister move across the state for a new job, Norah finds herself feeling neglected by both parents and worries that something similar will happen in her family. Another attempt to change her hair turns out to be disastrous, and her disheveled appearance makes a caring teacher start questioning Norah’s home life. When the family is reunited for the holidays, they finally start communicating about what’s going on, and, while things are still far from perfect, some changes are made that help get them back on track. Includes an author’s note about incidents from her own life that inspired the story and the evolution of the book.

Raina Telgemeier fans will enjoy this fictionalized graphic novel memoir that explores family issues, as well as school and friendship concerns. The hair dyeing is somewhat symbolic of the changes Norah and her family are going through, but also includes a reassuring message that with hair and life, there are always chances for a do-over. The scene with the police pulling the kids out of class as witnesses was kind of jarring; yes, teachers are mandated reporters, but hopefully such methods are not used to find out what’s going on at kids’ homes.