Published by The Minnesota Historical Society

Summary:  Windy Girl and her dog Itchy Boy are an inseparable pair.  They love when Uncle comes to visit and takes them ice fishing or tells them stories from his childhood.  He tells about attending the powwow; powwow days are Windy’s favorites as well.  She loves eating the food, listening to the singing, and joining in the dancing, while Itchy wanders with the other dogs.  Sometimes when the powwow goes late, Windy falls asleep.  One night, she dreams about a powwow populated by dogs.  In her dream she sees dogs drumming, doing different types of dances, and selling fry bread and blueberry snow cones.  The voice of the real-life announcer breaks into her dream, saying, “Last dance tonight, folks.  Everyone come out into the arena.”  Windy joins in, realizing that the powwow is always in motion, bringing old and new together, almost like a dream. The story is in both English and Ojibwe; includes an author’s note.  32 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  A far-too-rare picture book that describes a contemporary Native American experience and shows how the past is carried on in the present.  The digital illustrations of both the human and the dog powwows are rich in detail, especially the gorgeously colored costumes.  The dogs are adorable.

Cons:  I wish there was some back matter about powwows, maybe with photos.

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Published by Arthur A. Levine Books

Summary:  Rashin is excited to be taking her first trip to the beach in America.  She and her family are traveling to Coney Island. She tells what it was like to go to the seashore in Iran, where she used to live.  Men and women swam on separate beaches, divided by a curtain. When some of the girls saw the boys peeking through holes in the curtain, Islamic beach guards hurried to patch the holes.  There was an ice cream seller there, and when Rashin sees one at Coney Island, she hopes to be able to get her favorite saffron ice cream. When it’s not available, the day seems ruined, until another girl suggests chocolate crunch.  Not only is it delicious, but Rashin has found a new friend to play with. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Any story that includes the beach and ice cream is perfect summer reading in my book, and this one weaves in an interesting immigrant story with a glimpse of another culture.

Cons:  An author’s note and/or some photographs would have made a nice addition.

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Published by Candlewick

Summary:  On his way home from swim lessons with his abuela, Julian sees some women dressed as mermaids.  He is enchanted and imagines himself growing fins and swimming underwater.  When they get home, abuela takes a bath, and Julian sets about transforming himself into a mermaid.  He creates a flowered headdress, applies some makeup, and makes himself a tail from a lace curtain.  When abuela emerges from the bath, she gives Julian a good looking over, and he thinks, “Uh-oh”.  But she simply gives him a couple necklaces, takes his hand, and leads him to the beach, where the two of them join in a joyful mermaid parade.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A celebration of self-expression, as wise abuela not only allows her grandson to dream of being a mermaid, but takes him to a place where he can display his beautiful costume and join others who are similarly dressed.  Even the real-life illustrations have a somewhat dreamy nature to them.  A first-time illustrator who may get some Caldecott consideration.

Cons:  I read somewhere that the parade in this story is based on the Coney Island mermaid parade.  It would have been fun to read a little about that and/or see some photos.

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