On Our Street: A First Talk About Poverty by Dr. Jillian Roberts and Jaime Casap, illustrated by Jane Heinrichs

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Orca Book Publishers

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Summary:  Poverty and homelessness are explained for young children, using a question and answer format for such queries as “What is it like to live on the streets?” and “Are there children who are homeless?”  Each question is answered on a two-page spread, with stock photos of different people, illustrated with drawings of the same three kids who seem to be the ones having the discussions.  International poverty is addressed, with information about refugees and fundamental human rights. Readers are given suggestions of how to help those who need it, and there is a list of Internet websites at the end, along with notes from both the authors.  32 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  Simple, straightforward information is given about topics that are not often addressed in children’s literature.  The authors, a child psychologist and the educational evangelist at Google (who grew up in poverty) make an interesting combination of writers.

Cons:  The stock photos somewhat depersonalize the issues; it would have been more effective to follow the same people or family throughout the book.

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All That Trash: The Story of the 1987 Garbage Barge and Our Problem With Stuff by Meghan McCarthy

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Published by Simon and Schuster

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Summary:  In 1987, Lowell Harrelson had the brilliant idea to make electricity from the methane gas released by decomposing garbage.  He rented a barge, hired two tugboat drivers, and loaded over 3,000 tons of garbage to be hauled from New York to North Carolina.  When the (incorrect) rumor got out that there was medical waste on the barge, officials in North Carolina refused to let the trash into the state. Thus began a saga that continued for five months and over 6,000 miles as one state after another (and a few countries) refused the barge entry.  Unbelievably, the trash ended up back in New York, where sanitation workers burned it. The news media picked up the story and ran with it, raising awareness about the problem of overflowing landfills and giving momentum to the recycling movement. Includes additional facts about the barge, garbage, and recycling, as well as a very complete bibliography.  48 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  Meghan McCarthy has a knack for finding obscure stories and bringing them to life, making them relevant to today’s readers.  Her bug-eyed portraits and cartoon bubbles make this entertaining and highly readable, while the text imparts plenty of information.

Cons:  Five months hauling a barge with 3,000 tons of garbage.  Eww.

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The Rizzlerunk Club: Best Buds Under Frogs by Leslie Patricelli

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Published by Candlewick Press

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Summary:  When Lily throws up on the first day of fourth grade at her new school, she’s sure she’s doomed to have no friends.  To her surprise, a girl named Darby reaches out, but her teasing sometimes makes Lily uncomfortable.  After a play date at Darby’s house, though, Lily decides she likes her, and the two form the Rizzlerunk Club.  Darby’s happy to have a new friend, too, since her old best friend Jill moved to London over the summer. When Jill returns part way through the year, though, trouble ensues. Jill has a talent for convincing Darby and Lily to do things that get them into trouble, while appearing innocent herself.  Lily finally decides to go her own way, but Darby is miserable. She and Lily reconcile, deciding they’ve had enough of Jill’s bossiness. But there’s another side to Jill, and Darby and Lily get a few surprises that make the Rizzlerunk Club a threesome; a chapter called “The Endish” provides a happy ending while leaving an opening for a sequel.  288 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  Funny and endearing, this story perfectly captures fourth grade kids.  Lily, Darby, and Jill are all interesting and complex characters, and their classmates and siblings are fun to get to know as well.  Lily’s cartoon illustrations are a nice addition to the text.

Cons:  The class’s science experiment, feeding two rats a healthy diet and two other rats a junk food diet, seems a bit inhumane.

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The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing India, and a Hidden World of Art by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Claire A. Nivola

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Published by Candlewick

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Summary:  Nek Chand grew up in a tiny village in the Punjab region of Asia, collecting stories from family members and the traveling minstrels who visited during holidays.  Those stories inspired him to create his own world from rocks, sticks, and clay.  As a young man, he was forced to leave his home in 1947 when the Punjab was divided into India and Pakistan, and those who practiced the Hindu religion had to leave Muslim Pakistan.  Nek settled in the city, but longed for his home.  He found a deserted plot of government land and created a secret kingdom from trash that he found along the roads.  He kept his creation hidden for 15 years until government officials discovered it and threatened to tear it down.  When people from the city came to see it, though, they knew it was a work of art worth saving.  They convinced the officials to preserve it, and have continued to do so following Chand’s death in 2015.  Includes an author’s note about Nek Chand and an extensive bibliography.  48 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  A fascinating story of an artist who worked to create his vision without much hope of ever profiting from it or even being able to share it with others.  The beautiful illustrations bring the story to life, including a foldout page with photos of the actual “secret kingdom”.

Cons:  A map of the region and additional historical information about India and Pakistan would have been useful.

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Clem Hetherington and the Ironwood Race by Jen Breach and Douglas Holgate

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Published by Scholastic Graphix

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Summary:  Clem and her robot brother Dig are orphans whose brilliant archaeologist parents were killed when the kids were young.  After living in an orphanage for years, Clem and Dig decide they are better off fending for themselves. It’s not easy, though, and when old friend (or enemy?) Kilburn shows up and offers them the chance to compete in a race to unearth archaeological relics, they find it hard to say no.  The race is illegal, but the stakes are high. Kilburn is in it for the money, while Clem is more interested in the archaeological value of the items they’re seeking. Each leg of the race is dangerous and filled with adventure, but in the end, Clem and Dig triumph. Kilburn shows his true colors, though, and the kids find themselves on their own once again.  The last few pages reveal that Clem has held on to one of the treasures she found, and is considering using it to fund another race. 208 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Even the most reluctant readers will enjoy this action-packed graphic novel.  The premise of the story is interesting and the artists have created an intriguing fantasy world.

Cons:  There were too many pages of race action that were little more than pictures with “Crash! Boom! Bang!” type text.

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The Quest of the Cubs (Bears of the Ice, book 1) by Kathryn Lasky

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Published by Scholastic Press

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Summary:  Svenna, mother of two polar bear cubs, is dismayed to find Roguers at her den one day, demanding that she hand over her children to them to be taken to an unknown destination.  She refuses, saying she will go in their place.  She’s given a few days’ reprieve, during which time she desperately tries to find them a new home and teach them to hunt.  After leaving them with a distant cousin, she is taken away.  The cousin proves to be evil, and the two cubs, known only as First and Second, escape to try to find either their mother or the father they have only heard about in stories.  Plenty of adventure awaits them, and various animals help them, including a fox, a seal, and a snow leopard.  Chapters about Svenna show her to be in a bizarre city where polar bears worship a large ice clock and sacrifice cubs to keep it running.  First and Second (who name themselves Stellan and Jytte halfway through the book) manage to survive on their own to the end of the book, but it’s clear they’re not free of danger and many more adventures await.  240 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Fans of Warriors and Kathryn Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’hoole will enjoy her latest series, which seems to tie in to the world of Ga’hoole (this connection seems like it will become clearer in book 2).  Plenty of animal adventure and a touch of the supernatural will leave readers anxiously awaiting the rest of the series.

Cons:  The anthropomorphizing occasionally goes a little too far, e.g. when the bears are sitting around drinking hot chocolate with a snow leopard.

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Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet by April Pulley Sayre

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Published by Greenwillow Books

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Summary:  April Pulley Sayre writes a thank you note to planet Earth with poetry and photographs.  She looks at the materials that make up Earth (air, rocks, water), the shapes (curves, lines, and patterns), and living things (plants, animals).  Every part of earth is celebrated, even storms and things that sting, with a conclusion of “Thank you for beginnings, for endings, for lifetimes. Thank you for being our home.”  Back matter includes two pages of suggestions on how kids can turn their thank you’s into action for the earth, including a list of resources and organizations.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  As always, Sayre’s nature photography is up close and gorgeous.  This would be a perfect book to share with young kids on Earth Day, maybe with some follow-up action.

Cons:  The poem seemed a little clunky to me.

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Teddy’s Favorite Toy by Christian Trimmer, illustrated by Madeline Valentine

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

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Summary:  Teddy has many cool toys: a fire truck, blocks, puzzles, action figures; but his favorite is Bren-Da, Warrior Queen of Pacifica, a Barbie-like doll in a pink dress.  Not only does Bren-Da have the best manners, but her sick fighting skills and variety of put-together looks make her queen of the other toys.  When one of Bren-Da’s legs falls off, Teddy does his best to repair it, but he’s running late for school and Bren-Da gets left in a bunch of tape and plastic.  Alas, his mother mistakes her for garbage, and wouldn’t you know it, it’s trash day.  When Teddy tells his mom where he left Bren-Da and asks if she’s seen the doll, his mom realizes what has happened.  Busting some pretty sick moves herself, Mom manages to track down the garbage truck and rescue the Warrior Queen of Pacifica.  That night, Mom, Teddy, and Bren-Da enact an extra-long, magnificent battle to celebrate.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A fabulous read on many levels, celebrating favorite toys, diversity, and an amazing role model of a mom that Teddy is clearly watching and reenacting with his toys.  The pictures are a lot of fun, particularly Bren-Da’s various “looks”.

Cons:  Dolls kind of give me the creeps, especially when their limbs break off.

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Rising Above: Inspiring Women in Sports by Gregory Zuckerman with Gabriel and Elijah Zuckerman

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Published by Philomel Books

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Summary:  When I reviewed the book Rising Above in 2016, one of my “Cons” was that it only included one woman.  From my lips to the Zuckermans’ ears, apparently, because they’re back with more inspiring sports stories, this time profiling 10 women in 9 chapters (Serena and Venus Williams share).  A variety of sports is included: gymnastics, soccer, basketball, baseball, track, surfing, and mixed martial arts (a sport I was blissfully unaware of until I read this book). The common element in all the stories is the difficulty each athlete had to overcome to reach her full potential.  These include racism (Wilma Rudolph), losing a limb (Bethany Hamilton), an eating disorder (Ronda Rousey), and being one of the only females in a sport (Mo’ne Davis in Little League). An afterword summarizes the personality traits that helped all of these women succeed. Includes an extensive bibliography and an index.  224 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  Based on the heavy circulation of the first book in my libraries, I have no doubt this one will fly off the shelves.  Even non-sports fans like myself can’t help but be inspired by these athletes’ stories.

Cons:  My other “con” for the first book was that there were no pictures, and that remains true for this one.  I had never heard of some of these women, and had to keep going to YouTube for visuals.

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Abraham Lincoln, Pro Wrestler by Steve Sheinkin (Time Twisters series)

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Published by Roaring Brook Press

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Summary:  When fourth-grader Doc tells his teacher history is boring, he unwittingly changes history so that it really is boring.  Doc and his stepsister Abby discover Abraham Lincoln in an old supply closet at the back of the library, and Abe is ready to make the past as dull as the kids think it is.  Textbooks and documentaries change to show a mundane existence for Lincoln and his contemporaries, while Abe, Doc, and Abby shuttle back and forth through time.  Lincoln ends up in a present-day wrestling ring, while their gym teacher finds himself back in 1860, trying to address the crowds in Illinois who have just elected him President.  It all gets straightened out in the end, but Lincoln warns the kids that now that other historical figures have seen what he’s done, they’ll be up for their own adventures, setting the scene for the series to continue.  160 pages; grades 2-4.

Pros:  Kids will learn a little history and have fun with this goofy time-travel story.  A large font and lots of illustrations, some with cartoon bubbles, will draw in reluctant readers or those just moving up to chapter books.

Cons:  It’s a fun romp, but I hope Steve Sheinkin gets back to doing what he does best: writing fascinating histories for older kids like Undefeated and Most Dangerous.

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