The Dress and the Girl by Camille Andros, pictures by Julie Morstad

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Harry N. Abrams

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Summary:  On the first page, a girl is getting fitted for a new dress made by her mother.  “The dress loved the girl, and the girl loved the dress.” They go through many days together, enjoying life by the sea in their Greek village.  One day, they get on board a ship with the girl’s family and begin a long trip across the ocean. When they arrive in New York City, the dress is folded and left in a trunk where it waits for a very long time for the girl to come back. The dress travels in its trunk around the world as time passes and the girl grows up.  Then one day, the dress arrives back in New York, where it is hung in a shop window. A woman stops to look at it and remembers all her adventures with that dress. The last page shows her putting it on her own daughter. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The illustrations steal the show in this book, and, in my world, would be considered for a Caldecott.  The story is sweet and another immigrant story to add to the many different takes on that theme that have been published this year.

Cons:  I didn’t really understand why the dress was left behind and how the trunk ended up in so many different countries around the world.

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Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransom

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Holiday House

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Summary:  There’s nothing good about Chicago, as far as Langston is concerned.  It’s 1946, and after the death of his mother, his father has decided to move north, happy to get a job in a paper factory and leave behind his sharecropping days in Alabama.  But Langston is picked on at school for being “country” and misses his mother and old home terribly.  Trying to avoid a bully one day, Langston gets lost and finds himself at the George Cleveland Hall Library.  His experience of libraries is that they’re for white folks only, so he’s surprised to learn that not only are other black people going inside, but that the library celebrates African-American culture. Quite by accident, he finds a book by his namesake, Langston Hughes, and discovers a writer who expresses much of his own longing for home.  Gradually, the younger Langston learns how he got his name and that his mother was connected to poetry and Langston Hughes as well. The library changes everything, and by the end of the story, young Langston and his father are beginning to create a new life for themselves in Chicago. Includes an author’s note with more information about the Chicago Black Renaissance and the Hall Library.  112 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  This brief gem would make a perfect introduction to historical fiction.  Each character has been created with sympathy and insight, and the reader will learn about post-World War II Chicago along with Langston.  There’s also enough of Langston Hughes’s poetry included to make this a good jumping-off place for further exploration.

Cons:  A little more back matter about Hughes and the full text of some of the poems quoted in the story would have been a nice addition.

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We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Charlesbridge

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Summary:  “Cherokee people say otsaliheliga to express gratitude.  It is a reminder to celebrate our blessings and reflect on struggles–daily, throughout the year, and across the seasons.”  With each season, the Cherokee people in this book are grateful, whether it is for food or community or festivals or family.  People are shown creating traditional crafts, celebrating life and death, eating, playing, and remembering their people’s history and how it is woven into the history of the United States.  Cherokee words and their pronunciations are scattered throughout the text. End matter includes a glossary, an author’s note, and a Cherokee syllabary with some lessons about the Cherokee language.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A beautiful book that would make an interesting harvest time supplement to Thanksgiving reading.  I loved the bright folk art style illustrations.

Cons:  After studying the Cherokee syllabary, I think I can safely cross learning that language off my bucket list.

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Good Rosie! by Kate DiCamillo, pictures by Harry Bliss

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Published by Candlewick

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Summary:  Rosie is kind of lonely; she barks at the dog at the bottom of her shiny silver bowl, but doesn’t get a response.  She wags her tail at a cloud that’s shaped like a dog, but that’s unsatisfactory as well. Finally, her owner gets the hint, and they head to the dog park.  There, Rosie meets a not-too-bright St. Bernard named Maurice, and a very bouncy, yappy little dog named Fifi.  Rosie’s ready to call it a day and head home when Maurice decides to play with Fifi and almost swallows her whole.  Rosie intervenes and is surprised when the three of them end up as friends. In the final chapter, a trip to the dog park and games with Fifi and Maurice have become part of the routine for Rosie and her owner. 32 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  There’s plenty of humor in both the story and illustrations of this graphic novel style picture book. I’m a big Harry Bliss fan, and he doesn’t disappoint with his adorable, expressive dogs, while Kate DiCamillo knows how to perfectly capture small details of friendship.

Cons:  I’m sorry Fifi almost got eaten, but she did seem pretty annoying.

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Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community by Susan Verde, illustrated by John Parra

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Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

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Summary:  A boy describes the concrete wall in his neighborhood, and all the goings-on in front of it throughout the seasons.  The people sing, dance, skateboard, eat, and tell stories, but the wall just sits there doing nothing. Then, the boy decides to change that.  Working with others from the community, he designs a picture to paint on the wall. The wall becomes a canvas for art that everyone can contribute to.  In the end, it’s covered with pictures of the people that have been shown on the previous pages. Includes author’s and illustrator’s notes telling about their experiences and inspirations from street art.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Readers may be inspired to create their own street art after reading this book.  The illustrations show a busy, diverse community that looks like a fun place to live.  Kids will enjoy looking back to find the people portrayed on the mural.

Cons:  The author’s note is a bit long for the intended audience; it would have been nice to include some photos of real street art along with her explanation.

If you would like to buy this book on Amazon, click here.

Turning Pages: My Life Story by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Lulu Delacre

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Philomel Books

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Summary:  Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor tells the story of her life, with an emphasis on how words and books have shaped it.  Starting as a young girl listening to her grandmother quote poetry from Puerto Rico, Sonia realized the power of words. Later, books helped her when she was diagnosed with diabetes at age 7, and after her father died when she was 9.  In high school, reading Lord of the Flies made her understand how important laws are to a society, and stories about Jesus in her religion class showed her not to judge other people for mistakes they have made.  She emphasizes the importance of books in helping her to create her own story, and invites readers to do the same. Includes a timeline and photos on the endpapers; a Spanish version of this book, Pasando Páginas: La Historia de mi Vida was released simultaneously.  40 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  An inspiring story of a successful woman who used books and libraries to educate herself.  It’s enough to make any librarian happy.

Cons:  Some of the photos on the endpapers were covered by the taped-down dustjacket of my library copy.

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Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

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Summary:  Haley spends a year with five other fifth and sixth graders who have been struggling to keep up with their peers.  One Friday afternoon, their teacher leads them to the old art room and tells them they’ll spend the last hour every Friday there alone, getting to know each other.  They call it the ARTT room–A Room To Talk. Esteban opens up first, expressing his anguish that his father has been taken away and is being threatened with deportation back to the Dominican Republic.  Amari’s recently been told by his father that it’s too dangerous for him to play with guns–even water guns and Nerf guns–because he’s African American. Ashton struggles with bullying as one of the only white kids at school.  Tiago’s from Puerto Rico, and sometimes doesn’t feel like he’s truly an American. Holly feels guilty for coming from a family with more money than the others. Finally, Haley opens up and tells her story: her father is in jail for drunk driving, after an accident that killed her mother.  As the year goes on, the kids form an unlikely bond, listening sympathetically to one another’s stories and offering a safe harbor to each other. The end of the year brings changes, and continuing their friendships seems unlikely, but the connections and safety from ARTT will travel with each one of them into the future.  176 pages; grades 5-7.

Pros:  This beautifully written, poetic narrative touches on racism, bullying, immigration, friendship, and forgiveness all in fewer than 200 pages.  

Cons:  I wanted to love this book, but the kids were so serious and wise-beyond-their years; I know the heavy topics are important, but a little humor can go a long way.  Also, it seemed unrealistic that a teacher would let her class be unsupervised every week for an hour at a time.

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Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell, illustrated by Corinna Luyke

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Published by Dial Books

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Summary:  Chloe is annoyed that her classmate Adrian Simcox keeps telling everyone that he has a horse.  She has some evidence that this would be impossible: he lives in a small house with his grandpa, his yard is tiny, and he gets free lunch.  One day she calls him on it, yelling on the playground, “He’s lying! Adrian Simcox does NOT have a horse!” She can’t help noticing that Adrian looks sad.  That night, when Chloe tells her mom about Adrian and his horse, her mother responds by suggesting they take their dog for a walk. Instead of their usual route, Mom takes them down a street where “the houses looked like they might fall down, and even though it wasn’t trash day, it looked like it was.”  Chloe recognizes Adrian outside in front of his very small house. While her mom talks to Adrian’s grandfather, the two kids hang out. What Chloe wants to say to Adrian is, “You do not have a horse”, but she sees that sad look again, and instead asks, “Is your horse at a farm?” That brings a smile, and Chloe realizes that Adrian has the best imagination of any kid at school.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A good lesson on kindness, empathy, and looking beyond appearances.

Cons:  The last page felt a little bit flat.

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A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin

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Published by Little, Brown and Company

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Summary:  When Little Star’s mama hangs the big mooncake in the sky to cool, she reminds her daughter how long it took to make, and that she shouldn’t touch it.  Little Star agrees, but when she wakes up in the middle of the night, the mooncake is all she can think about. She nibbles just a tiny bit, then hurries back to bed.  Night after night, she eats a little until gradually the shape changes from perfect circle to half a circle to a crescent. And then one night, when Mama comes looking for the mooncake, all she finds is a pile of crumbs.  Is she mad? Of course not…she and Little Star head off to make a new cake. An author’s note on the back flap of the cover explains how she was inspired by the Asian Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A perfect introduction to the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival (which is September 24 this year, in case you were wondering), as well as a loving parent-child portrayal, and a nice bedtime story.  Although it’s an original story, it has the feel of a folktale.

Cons:  The author’s note gives important information about the story; placing it on the book cover makes it easy to miss.

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With My Hands: Poems About Making Things by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, pictures by Lou Fancher & Steve Johnson

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Published by Clarion Books

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Summary:  These 25 poems celebrate the act of creation, starting with one entitled “Maker” and ending with “With My Hands”.  In between are poems about knitting, tie dying, soap carving, and a host of other projects. There are a few concrete poems (“Knitting” and “Glitter”); a few don’t rhyme, but most so.  Each poem is accompanied by a colorful collage illustration of kids and the creation described in the poem. 32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A fun collection that will inspire young makers.  All the projects are low-tech and most could be done in some version by preschoolers.

Cons:  Another dimension could have been added to the book by including project instructions to go with the poems.

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