Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Scholastic

Summary:  Selah works hard at being “normal”, making up rules to help her fit in at school and retreating to her room at the end of the day, exhausted from trying to hide her feelings.  When a friend tries to braid her hair in class one day, Selah explodes and hits the girl.  The incident puts her on probation at school and ostracizes her from most of her classmates.  As Selah tries to figure out what is going on with her, she begins to think that she, her mom, and grandfather may all have autism.  A sympathetic English teacher helps her to express herself through poetry, and Selah begins to share what she’s feeling, first to her family and later on to her school.  As she begins to feel more comfortable with who she is, Selah comes up with a new list of rules to help her be herself and to communicate with those around her.  Includes an author’s note about her own journey to an autism diagnosis and self-discovery as well as a list of resources.  288 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This novel in verse will be helpful to anyone with autism, or who knows someone with autism, or who sometimes feels like they don’t fit in very well.  I was inspired by Selah’s powerful poems, her journey, and the ways she learned to advocate for herself.

Cons:  It made me sad that no one at Selah’s seemingly caring private school had picked up on her autism in her eight years of attendance there.

A Bed of Stars by Jessica Love

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Candlewick

Summary:  The narrator has trouble falling asleep, feeling tiny when thinking of the vastness of the universe.  Dad announces one morning that the two of them are going camping, and they pack the pick-up truck and drive off to the desert.  Once there, they jump in the dunes, observe beetles and birds, build a campfire, and watch the sun set.  When it’s time to sleep in the bed of the pick-up, Dad explains that stars are made of the energy, just like the beetles, the birds, and the two of them.  They start to name the stars after people they know, and before long, both are asleep.  In the morning, they pack up and drive home, where they discover that Mom has been busy in their absence, painting glow-in-the-dark stars all over the child’s bedroom walls and ceiling.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The watercolor paintings capture the beauty of the desert, and the simple story shows the love between parents and child and the safety that provides.

Cons:  Campfires are better after sunset, not before.

Doodles from the Boogie Down by Stephanie Rodriguez

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Published by Kokila

Summary:  Steph is in eighth grade at her Bronx Catholic school, which means she and her friends are applying to New York City high schools.  Her strict Dominican mother wants her to continue at a Catholic school near home, but Steph is drawn to an arts school in Manhattan.  Since the school of her dreams requires a portfolio, not an exam, Steph decides to secretly work with her art teacher and mentor, Ms. Santiago, on a portfolio and to purposely fail the high school entrance exam.  Naturally, this plan drastically backfires, and Steph finds herself in trouble with both her school and her mother.  Fortunately, her mother, helped by her own mother, sits down and talks to Steph, resulting in a better understanding on both sides, and ultimately, Steph’s admission to the Laguardia Arts High School.  Includes a note from the creator telling more about her own life and what was the same and different from the fictional Steph.  208 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  Fans of graphic memoirs, especially artists, will love this new addition to the canon and will root for Steph in spite of a few less-than-great choices on her part.  

Cons:  I was bummed to learn that the real Stephanie didn’t get to go to LaGuardia High School.

Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince by Alliah L. Agostino, illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Summary: Shane comes from a family of dancers, but he’s too shy to dance at the big gatherings held every weekend. He focuses on collecting cans to buy the high-tops he wants, only busting out his dance moves in the privacy of his own room. He’s just about reached his goal when a speaker breaks, and the big dance party gets cancelled. Shane gathers his money and heads to the local music store, where he’s able to buy a new speaker. The party is saved, Shane is a hero, and he celebrates by finally going public with his dance moves. The family passes the hat, and before long, Shane has all his money back AND has become the dancehall princes. Includes an author’s note with additional information about Jamaican dancehalls and how the music influenced musicians like DJ Kool Herc and the Notorious B.I.G. 40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros: The bouncy rhyming text and brightly colored illustrations make this a celebration of both Jamaican dancehall music and Shane, a hardworking kid who does his own thing, helps his family, and has all the moves on the dance floor.

Cons: Shane’s jerky older brothers only partially redeemed themselves at the end of the story.

How the Sea Came to Be (And All the Creatures In It) by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Amanda Hall

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Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Rhyming quatrains describe the history of the sea in three parts: the birth of the sea, the birth of life, and the sea from then until now.  All are accompanied by colorful illustrations that sometimes show the sun-dappled waters of the sea and other times take readers down into the black ocean depths.  Includes notes from the author and illustrator; two pages of ocean creatures that include illustrations and a paragraph of information about each; a four-panel gatefold timeline showing seven eras of the Earth’s history; key terms and concepts with definitions; and two pages of additional resources. 56 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  A spectacular nonfiction book that should be considered for a Sibert award.  The rhyming text is both catchy and impressive, making this a great choice to read aloud, and the illustrations are truly spectacular, conveying both the powerful forces that created the seas and the incredible diversity of life within them.  The timeline is a masterpiece, and the rest of the back matter makes this an excellent resource for research.

Cons:  I would have liked the timeline to have also been incorporated into the text to show the eras of each of the three parts.

Behold the Octopus! By Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez

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Published by Peachtree

Summary:  The amazing octopus is introduced in a series of two-page spreads, each one portraying a different species of octopus with a verb (hunting, changing, graphing) or adjective (luminous, dangerous) and a paragraph of information inspired by that word.  Includes additional information about octopuses, several photos, a list of resources, and a bibliography.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This visually appealing book makes an excellent octopus introduction for preschoolers but provides enough information and back matter to make it a good research resource for older kids. Fans of the Candace Fleming/Eric Rohmann books, especially Giant Squid, will want to check this out.

Cons:  The last two very cool-looking octopuses in the photos at the end aren’t identified.

Parachute Kids by Betty C. Tang

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Published by Graphix

Summary:  10-year-old Feng-Li is excited to be visiting America for the first time on what she thinks is a vacation, but a week in, she discovers her father packing to leave.  Turns out, her parents have decided that she and her older siblings Jia-Xi and Ke-Gāng will settle in America, where they’ll have more opportunities, and their parents will return to Taiwan and earn money to support the kids.  At first, nearby family friends help out, but when the father of that family gets transferred, the kids are really on their own.  Jia-Xi is trying to prepare for the SAT’s while taking care of the house and kids; Ke-Gāng is struggling with the fact that he’s gay and that the trouble he got into back home caused his parents to want the kids out of Taiwan; and Feng-Li is just trying to learn enough English to make a friend and to keep her siblings from their constant bickering.  As one catastrophe follows another, the kids try to keep things going, and Feng-Li is forced to grow up fast to keep her family from falling apart.  Includes an author’s note about her own experiences as a parachute kid, and how she used those experiences and those of other immigrant friends to create this story.  288 pages; grades 4-8.

Pros:  A compelling graphic novel about a family faced with some unimaginably difficult times, and the three brave kids who are able to admit their mistakes and work hard to make things better.  As Betty Tang says in the author’s note, “We need more diverse books, so eventually, everyone can find a piece of themselves reflected and their voices heard.”  The Lins’ story adds another voice to that canon.  

Cons:  I was hoping Ke-Gāng would be able to come out to his family by the end of the story, but it didn’t happen.

Grandad’s Pride by Harry Woodgate

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Published by little bee books

Summary:  Grandad and Milly from Grandad’s Camper are back for another summer visit.  When Milly discovers Grandad’s old Pride flag in the attic, she gets to hear some reminiscences about how Grandad and the late Gramps traveled around the country in their camper, marching with groups that were calling for equality and respect and making new friends in the process.  When Grandad claims that his partying days are over, Milly convinces him to organize a Pride celebration in his village.  Before long, everyone is getting into the spirit, hanging flags and other decorations, creating book displays, and baking rainbow cakes.  On the big day, Grandad surprises Milly by leading the parade in the camper.  A sudden rainstorm fails to put a damper on the festivities, and the resultant rainbow makes Grandad think Gramps is with them in some way.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This upbeat story with its rainbow-hued illustrations makes a perfect addition to any Pride book list.

Cons:  Having a character say that each color of the Pride flag has a special meaning with no back matter to explain.

Show and Smell (Marshmallow Martians book 1) by Deanna Kent, illustrated by Neil Hooson

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Published by Random House Graphic

Summary:  The Marshmallow Martians’ leader, G.L.O.W. (Galactic Learning Online Wizard), introduces them to P.E.E.P. (Polite Extraordinary Earth Portal), which can transport them down to Earth.  Due to a faulty transmission, the Martians believe that the Earth phrase “show and tell” is actually “show and smell,” and they plan a show and smell session for when they return from their trip to Earth.  An amusement park is chosen as the best place to collect smells, and the marshmallows collect odors from onions, shoes, burps, and a skunk.  Back on Planet Moop, the other marshmallows enjoy the show and smell presentation.  Includes instructions for drawing one of the characters (Snug). 72 pages; grades 1-3.

Pros:  Fans of Pizza and Taco, Narwhal and Jelly, and other early comics will get a big kick out of the Marshmallow Martians’ antics.

Cons:  If the marshmallows live on Planet Moop, why are they called Martians and not Moopians?

Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Arigon Starr

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Published by Kokila

Summary:  The story opens with a key moment of the 1911 World Series: Charles Bender of the Philadelphia Athletics pitching to John Meyers of the New York Giants, who hits a double, then goes on to score the winning run of Game One.  Both Charles and John were from Native Nations, and the book goes back to trace the stories of how each one got to play in the World Series.  Charles grew up on the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota before being sent to an Indian boarding school in Philadelphia.  John’s childhood was spent on the Cahuila reservation in California.  Each endured poverty and racism as they pursued their love of baseball and eventually wound up in the major leagues.  Together, they played in nine World Series; Charles was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953, and both were inducted into the American Indian Hall of Fame when it opened in 1972.  The book ends with a list of Native MLB players today, and the racism that’s still present with racist team mascots.  Includes an author’s note, timeline, and list of sources.  48 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  A fascinating look at two men who faced hardship and racism throughout their lives but rose above it to become excellent athletes who exemplified sportsmanship and teamwork.

Cons:  Kids I work with seem to have no interest in professional baseball these days.