Batcat by Meggie Ramm

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Batcat is part bat, part cat, and fully annoyed by the ghost that has moved into their treehouse.  They consult a witch about how to get rid of the ghostly invader and get sent on a quest to gather the three ingredients needed for the proper spell.  Along the way, Batcat meets up with some bats and some cats who assure them that they are lacking some of the bat and cat qualities to be either animal.  Batcat gets increasingly despondent about their deficiencies until they meet up with a couple of griffins who assure them that one does not have to be one thing or the other.  After embracing their one-of-a-kind identity, Batcat returns to the witch where they slowly realize that maybe the ghost isn’t so bad after all.  The witch works her magic, and Batcat and the ghost become friends and roomies.  96 pages; grades 2-4.

Pros:  This cute and clever graphic novel has humor, spookiness, and a subtle lesson in self-acceptance that works well with both Batcat’s dual-animal identity and their nonbinary pronouns.  I’m happy to see that this is book 1 and look forward to a sequel soon.

Cons:  I could have enjoyed some how-to-draw-Batcat pages at the end.

School Trip by Jerry Craft

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Quill Tree Books

Summary:  Jordan Banks and his friends (and frenemies) from New Kid and Class Act are back for their last hurrah before finishing up at Riverdale Academy Day School (a.k.a. RAD).  The whole eighth grade gets to choose from a variety of trips including Yellowstone, Alaska, Mississippi, and, for Jordan, Paris.  He’s happy to be in a group with friends like Drew, Liam, and Alexandra, less thrilled with the inclusion of class bully Andy.  As the group experiences adventures and mishaps in France, they get to review some of what they’ve learned about friendship, bullying, and other relationship issues during their time in middle school.  Jordan has a big decision weighing on him, having gotten into an art school for high school and trying to decide if he wants to transfer or stay at RAD.  Back home, he finally figures out what he wants to do (“helped”, as always, by his mother), and it seems as though the story may be continued, or this could be the final installment.  256 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  Jordan Banks fans will be thrilled with a new book about RAD, and the chance to get off-campus leads to plenty of humor and also many thoughtful conversations on a wide range of relevant topics that will make this a great jumping-off place for class or book club discussions.

Cons:  One of my favorite things about New Kid was how deftly Jerry Craft wove discussions of racism and other social justice topics into a funny school story with lots of fun and interesting characters.  While I still love the messages being imparted, in this installment, they sometimes felt a bit more heavy-handed.

Woven of the World by Katey Howes, illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Chronicle Books

Summary:  As a child learns how to weave from a master, the two of them take a tour through history to look at how weaving has played a role in many past cultures.  From the “silken threads” of ancient China to the “backstrap loom tied to a tree” of nomadic tribes to the “trail of yarn” of immigrants moving to new countries, there are weaving traditions from all around the world.  The final page uses a weaving metaphor for life, with patterns unfolding as the work is done.  Includes additional information on weaving tools and the various cultures described, as well as notes from the author and illustrator.  44 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  Anyone with even a passing interest in weaving will appreciate the excellent rhyming text and beautiful patterned illustrations, as well as the history lessons from both the main story and the back matter showing how weaving has been a part of so many people and places in history.

Cons:  I had a little trouble figuring out which description in the back matter went with which pages in the main text.

Bea and the New Deal Horse by L. M. Elliott

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Katherine Tegen

Summary:  The Great Depression has taken just about everything away from Bea: her dad’s job, her mother, and her home.  Now her father is drinking too much, trying to hold things together for Bea and her younger sister Vivian as they travel from one place to the next.  After sleeping in a barn in Virginia one night, Bea wakes up to discover her father has left a note and vanished.  The note says that Mrs. Scott, the owner of the farm, is the mother of the girls’ mother’s college roommate and will give them a place to live.  Bea is cautious about revealing their identity, but eventually Mrs. Scott discovers them and reluctantly lets them stay on her horse farm.  She is facing financial difficulties as well and has recently made things worse by buying an ornery chestnut horse to save him from an abusive owner.  Bea takes a liking to the horse, and after many ups and downs, Mrs. Scott agrees to train her to ride, with the hope of showing and selling him in a few months.  Bea, Mrs. Scott, and the horse have all been through some tough times, and it’s difficult for them to trust one another, but slowly they start to forge a bond, helped by Malichi, a blind Black WWI veteran who works in the house and Ralph, a loyal stable hand for many years.  By the time of the horse show, despite the high stakes, the somewhat patchwork group has solidified into something resembling a family.  Includes a lengthy author’s note with additional historical information and a list of sources.  384 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Fans of The War That Saved My Life will want to check out this historical fiction novel with a heroine whose gritty determination has been shaped by hardship.  Anyone who loves horses will also appreciate the many scenes of riding and barn life, and I encourage you to keep a few Kleenexes handy for the final horse show.

Cons:  I was not crazy about the name they finally chose for the chestnut horse.

My Powerful Hair by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Steph Littlebird

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  The narrator can’t wait to grow her hair out, believing, as her ancestors did, that hair is a source of strength and memories.  Her mother has always had short hair, having been forced to have it cut at an Indian school and always being told that it was too wild to wear long.  As the girl grows up, she marks important days by how long her hair is and weaves the memory of each day into her hair.  When her grandfather dies, she cuts her hair and sends it with him into the spirit world.  Her mother decides to join her when she begins the journey of growing her hair long again.  Includes an author’s note about indigenous people’s beliefs about hair and her own family’s experience with Indian boarding schools where children were forced to have their hair cut.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  A fascinating story that brings to light an aspect of Native American culture that may not be familiar to many readers, and also shows, yet again, the disastrous impact of boarding schools on that culture.  The narrator’s decision to undo the trauma of several generations is inspiring.  I loved the illustrations, which look like they have been painted on wood with brilliant, vibrant colors.

Cons:  I didn’t fully understand the mother’s decision to keep her hair short until I read the author’s note at the end.

How to Write a Poem by Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Quill Tree Books

Summary:  As they did with How to Write a Book, Melissa Sweet and Kwame Alexander (this time with Deanna Nikaido) dive into the world of poetry.  “Begin with a question/like an acorn waiting for spring,” then close your eyes, use your imagination, listen, explore what you are feeling, find a word or two.  “Now, show us what you’ve found.”  The text begins with a quote from Nikki Giovanni, “We are all either wheels or connectors.  Whichever we are, we must find truth and balance, which is a bicycle.”  The illustrations build on this, with circles, spheres, and bicycles throughout.  32 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  A gorgeous introduction to poetry with spare but evocative language and riotously fun collage illustrations that spark the imagination.

Cons:  Like How to Write a Book, this strikes me as a book that will appeal more to adults than children.

My Baba’s Garden by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  The author’s note at the beginning tells of his Baba, a Polish survivor of World War II, who settled in a renovated chicken coop in Canada with her husband.  Jordan Scott didn’t know his grandfather, but visited his grandmother every day, forming a bond that transcended their different languages through food, gardening, and collecting worms to enrich the soil.  The story is a memoir of their times together, continuing until the chicken coop is torn down and Baba comes to live with the family.  Although she can’t get out and work in the garden anymore, the boy continues to spend time with her each morning, planting tomatoes on her windowsill, and showing her the worms he finds as she watches from her window.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The team that brought you I Talk Like a River has created another beautiful family story, understated in its narration, but perfectly conveying the love between a child and his grandmother.  

Cons:  My hopes for Sydney Smith to win a Caldecott were dashed when I read on the back flap of the book jacket that he lives in Canada.

Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine by Hannah Moushabeck, illustrated by Reem Madooh

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Chronicle Books

Summary:  A girl and her two siblings love their father’s bedtime stories, especially those about their homeland, a place the kids have never seen.  Their father tells about visiting his grandparents in the Old City of Jerusalem, with the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of a bustling city with a rich history.  The story ends with his grandfather releasing hundreds of homing pigeons.  “Won’t they fly away?” asks the boy, to which the grandfather replies, “This is their home.”  It’s the last time their father sees his grandfather, and he shows his kids the rusty key to the family’s home.  The children fall asleep and dream of their homeland.  Includes a glossary of Arabic words and an author’s note (with photos) about the history of Palestine, which is her own homeland.  40 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  The story and folk art-style illustrations bring to life the family’s homeland in Palestine and beautifully convey the sadness and longing they have to return there.

Cons:  Readers unfamiliar with the history of this region will need some additional information to understand what’s going on.

Fae and the Moon by Franco Aureliani, illustrated by Catherine Satrun and Sarah Satrun

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Yellow Jacket

Summary:  Fae has been alone since her mother mysteriously disappeared, supported only by a bunny friend and a couple of mice.  She dreams about her mom every night and is sure she is still alive somewhere.  Her mother had a strong connection to the moon, and one night Fae decides to remove it to the sky, hoping her mom will notice and return home.  The disappearance of the moon triggers some pretty unsavory animal behavior, and in a series of adventures, Fae learns that not only are a swarm of rats trying to steal the moon from her, but the “bunny” is really a power-hungry monster.  Fae discovers that she has powers of her own and manages to bring about a happy ending for herself and her mother.  Includes four pages showing the creation of the story and illustrations.  144 pages; grades 3-5.

Pros:  Don’t be deceived by the short length of this graphic novel; it’s a pretty elaborate fantasy story that will appeal to a wide range of elementary students.  Readers will be happy with the pretty strong hint at the end that there will be a book 2.

Cons:  No page numbers.

The Story of the Saxophone by Lesa Cline-Ransome, illustrated by James E. Ransome

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Published by Holiday House

Summary:  Although the saxophone is known for its role in American jazz music, its story starts in 19th-century Belgium with a young man named Joseph-Antoine Adelphe Sax.  The son of an instrument maker, Adolphe was curious and inventive.  He loved creating new instruments and decided that symphonies and marching bands needed one whose volume was between a clarinet and a trumpet.  The result, the saxophone, was mostly met with disdain or even downright hatred until the French composer Hector Berlioz fell in love with it.  Soon, the saxophone was sweeping through regimental bands all over Europe.  When France went to war with Mexico in 1861, a member of the Mexican Cavalry Band got his hands on a saxophone and eventually brought it to New Orleans, where jazz musicians embraced it and continue to do so today.  Includes portraits of jazz saxophonists on the endpapers.  40 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  This would make an excellent addition to a music library, and budding saxophonists will find the history of their instrument inspiring.  James Ransome’s illustrations bring the various characters and time periods to life.

Cons:  I was looking forward to additional information about Sax and his instrument, with maybe a timeline and additional resources, but there were none of those things.