Garvey’s Choice: The Graphic Novel by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Theodore Taylor III

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Wordsong

Summary:  Nikki Grimes’s 2016 novel in verse has been turned into a graphic novel that is quite faithful to the original.  Garvey’s interested in chess and astronomy, while his dad wishes he would play sports, leading to ongoing conflict between the two.  When Garvey joins the school chorus, he discovers a talent for singing that eventually leads to a reconciliation with his dad (you can read a more detailed summary in my original review).  Includes additional information about tanka, the poetic form used by Nikki Grimes to write the book.  144 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Turning this into a graphic novel is a stroke of genius, since it will bring a lot more readers to this excellent book.  The original was short enough that it is mostly preserved intact (I’m taking reviewers’ words for this, as I didn’t do a comparison myself), creating a story that many kids will relate to.

Cons:  Although Garvey lost a little bit of weight (one size), he wisely focused on developing healthier habits; however, the illustrations made him look like almost a different person in the last few pages.

Summer Is for Cousins by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Abhi Alwar

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Every year, Ravi’s extended family rents a house by the ocean and a lake.  He’s the second youngest of seven cousins, with two uncles, two aunties, Mom, and Dad.  The only other boy is his oldest cousin Dhruv, who has grown several inches and gotten a deeper voice since last summer.  Ravi feels shy around him, but Dhruv still enjoys hanging out with Ravi, helping him to learn to paddleboard and to find the courage to jump into the water from the rope swing for the first time ever.  In turn, Ravi enjoys the role of older cousin with baby Leela.  There’s mini golf, biking, shared cooking, and ice cream–lots of ice cream.  One night the cousins cook, and Ravi finds a way to create his favorite ice cream, banana, with help from the rest of the crew.  “Because,” he concludes.  “Summer is for cousins.  And ice cream.”  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Just like yesterday’s The Firefly Summer, this lovely picture book perfectly captures the simple joys of a summer spent with extended family. While the illustrations, names, and some of the food prepared indicate that the family is from India (like the author), the experiences of family and summer fun are universal.

Cons:  All the cousins were labeled on the first page, but I wish there had been more of a family tree to show parents and siblings.

The Firefly Summer by Morgan Matson

~ Janet Dawson ~ 5 Comments

Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary:  When Ryanna gets an invitation from her estranged maternal grandparents to spend the summer at their house on a lake in the Poconos, she’s not sure if she wants to go.  But questions about her late mother motivate her to accept, and what she had imagined as a few quiet months with grandparents turns out to be a fun, busy summer surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Partway through her time there, she learns that her grandparents have been forced to sell the camp, and that everything will be bulldozed and developed into condos in the fall.  Ryanna and her cousins discover a treasure hunt her mother created when she was 12 that could lead to the piece of paper her grandparents need to stop the sale of their property.  It’s a race against time as the kids slowly figure out the mystery and Ryanna unravels her own mystery about her mother and the early days of her own childhood.  385 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  A perfect summer read with an idyllic setting, lots of interesting characters, some family secrets to discover, and a mystery or two to solve.  Morgan Matson perfectly captures the feel of a tech-free summer spent outdoors with friends, and the pacing will keep readers turning the pages all the way to the end.

Cons:  I know from sad experience that a lot of readers in the intended demographic will be turned off by the page count.     

The Good Hair Day by Christian Trimmer, illustrated by J Yang

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Noah is excited about his upcoming birthday, dropping lots of not-too-subtle hints about what he hopes to get.  But he keeps his greatest wish–to grow his hair–to himself, worried that it’s not acceptable for boys to have long hair.  At his pre-birthday haircut, the barber follows Dad’s instructions for “the usual,” causing Noah to burst into tears at the sight of his short hair.  Mom and Dad figure out what’s going on, and on his birthday, Noah’s favorite gift is a long purple wig.  A year later, he’s back at the barber, but now the directions are, “A little off the ends, please,” as Noah is revealed to have shoulder-length hair.  Includes a list of conversation starters about gender, identity, and self-expression.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The author of Teddy’s Favorite Toy has created another fun story with a likable narrator that facilitates discussions around gender norms and expectations and provides some excellent parental role models.

Cons:  I almost missed the list of conversation starters which is printed on the endpapers.

We Are Starlings: Inside the Mesmerizing Magic of a Murmuration by Robert Furrow and Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Marc Martin

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Random House Studio

Summary:  Two starlings rest on a chilly morning, then fly away with others.  They travel for days, with more starlings joining them, until thousands of them are flying as a group, called a murmuration for the sound all those flapping wings make.  The huge flock provides warmth and protection, demonstrated when a peregrine falcon tries to attack.  After surviving that, the starlings are ready for some fun, diving and swooping in spectacular formations until they find a place to land and roost together.  Includes a two-page note about starlings.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The spectacular illustrations capture the movement of the murmuration, showing the black birds silhouetted against a beautiful sky at sunrise or sunset.  The poetic text gives just enough information to intrigue readers, with more offered in the note at the end.

Cons:  No additional resources.

Simon and the Better Bone by Corey R. Tabor

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Published by Balzer + Bray

Summary:  Based on Aesop’s fable about the dog and its reflection, this story shows Simon, a dog who has found what he considers to be the best bone ever.  When he looks into the water, though, he discovers another dog with what looks to be an even better bone.  After a staring contest, some growling, and a few other tactics to get the dog to give up its bone, Simon dives in after it, losing his own bone in the process.  Back out of the water, he discovers a new bone and generously drops it into the water for the other dog.  Simon heads for home, feeling happy that he’s made a new friend.  40 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  This book is read from top to bottom in the style of Tabor’s Caldecott honor book Mel Fell.  The illustrations are charming, kids will get some laughs from Simon’s antics, and it could make a good intro to Aesop’s fables.

Cons:  One of my favorite parts of Mel Fell is all the funny animals Mel passes on her way down the tree and back up again. There wasn’t as much of that visual humor in this book.

Grandma’s Tipi: A Present-Day Lakota Story by S. D. Nelson

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Clara spends a summer on the Standing Rock reservation with her unci (grandmother) and cousin Juniper.  Both live there, as does Uncle Louie, who frequently comes to visit.  They set up a tipi where they learn traditions, spend time with family, and add spirit pictures of the cousins to the other artwork that decorate the walls.  Clara watches unci make a beautiful beaded dress, which turns out to be a gift for Clara when her parents come to pick her up.  Plans are made to return in the fall so that Clara can dance in the powwow wearing her new dress.  Includes a two-page author’s note with photos, providing additional information about the tipi..  40 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  There’s a lot of information about Lakota culture and contemporary life on the reservation packed into this story.  Clara’s family seems warm and loving, and her summer is lots of fun while also connecting her with her heritage.

Cons:  The text is small, and the story is long, making this perhaps a better choice for older elementary kids.

A Work in Progress by Jarrett Lerner

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Aladdin

Summary:  Ever since a bully called him fat in fourth grade, Will has been extremely self-conscious about his body.  He dresses in baggy clothes and often eats when he is depressed.  When he meets new kid and cool skateboarder Markus, he hopes to make a new friend.  In a desperate attempt to slim down, Will cuts way back on his eating, eventually fainting at school due to lack of food.  This crisis leads to some honest conversations with his parents and with Markus, and Will begins to get the help that he needs.  Although not every day is a good way, talking to a therapist and getting support from Markus and his parents helps Will to begin to accept himself and focus on good health rather than his weight.  368 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This novel-in-verse is formatted to look like Will’s journal and sketchbook (he’s a talented artist) and makes for a quick read despite the 300+ page length.  It’s great to see a middle grade novel tackling issues of eating disorders and body dysmorphia in boys, and Will’s honest voice and expressive drawings will quickly draw readers in.

Cons:  I was bummed that Markus moved away at the end.

Ellie Engle saves Herself! by Leah Johnson

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Disney Hyperion

Summary:  Ellie Engle has always been content to be in the background, enjoying her comic books and supporting her best friend (and secret crush) Abby, who prefers being in the spotlight.  When a freak earthquake gives Ellie necromancy superpowers, she desperately wants to hide them.  But after accidentally bringing the frog she’s supposed to dissect in science class back to life, her secret is out, and she becomes an unwilling celebrity.  Her fame leads her to discover who her true friends are, a list that, unfortunately, doesn’t seem to include Abby.  When Ellie discovers that an old family friend has a similar superpower, she starts to learn how to control that power and use it for good.  She may not want to be in the spotlight, but Ellie begins to find a way to negotiate her new life as a superhero.  288 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Ellie’s voice has plenty of humor, and readers will relate to her journey of self-discovery, not only as a reluctant superhero, but as a queer Black girl just beginning to figure out who she is.  

Cons:  Necromancy seems like a creepy superpower.

Jackie Ormes Draws the Future: The Remarkable Life of a Pioneering Cartoonist by Liz Montague

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Random House Studio

Summary:  Jackie Ormes loved drawing from an early age and captured her dreams of adventure through her art.  After high school, she took a job as a freelance reporter for the Pittsburgh Courier, a Black newspaper, and eventually created the cartoon character Torchy Brown, a fashionable nightclub star who moved from the South to Harlem.  Torchy made people laugh but also addressed issues like racism and segregation.  When Jackie and her husband moved to Chicago, Torchy’s run ended, and Jackie had the opportunity to formally study art for the first time in her life.  Several years later, she returned to the world of comics with Patty-Jo, a six-year-old girl who spoke out about current events, and who would become Jackie’s most famous creation.  Includes additional information about Jackie Ormes and Patty-Jo, including a photo of the Patty-Jo doll, described as “America’s first upscale Black play doll,” an author’s note, and a list of selected sources.  40 pages; grades 2-5.

Pros:  A fun and insightful look at cartoonist Jackie Ormes’s life, with illustrations inspired by Jackie’s work, and an emphasis on the theme of the perseverance that led to her success.  Kids will relate to Jackie’s love of art and her determination to be successful and make a difference.

Cons:  The story ends shortly after World War II, and Jackie died in 1985; like another recent biography of Ormes, this doesn’t tell much about the second half of her life.