Eb and Flow by Kelly J. Baptist

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Published by Crown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Ebony (Eb) and DeKari (Flow, a nickname given because of his swimming skills) get a ten-day suspension for fighting when Eb pours barbecue sauce on DeKari’s prized new shoes, and DeKari calls her the b-word and hits her.  As the days tick by, readers learn about each of the seventh-grader’s family and home life.  They’re surrounded by loving mothers, grandmothers, siblings, and extended family, but life is hard as family members deal with pregnancy, gangs, and unemployment.  Both of them have fathers in the military, Eb’s in Texas and DeKari’s in an undisclosed overseas location.  Neither is ready to forgive the other until two of their older male relatives get involved in some potential gang fighting due, in part, to the conflict between Eb and Flow.  The night before their return to school, each of them has a disturbing dream about where that violence could lead that makes them want to do better and try a little harder when they go back.  224 pages; grades 5-8.

Pros:  This novel in verse offers a nuanced portrayal of two tweens that many kids will recognize and relate to.  Both are going through a lot at home, despite loving families, and the ending is hopeful but realistic.  

Cons:  I’m kind of on the fence about whether to get this for my elementary library.  I have Kelly J. Baptist’s other books, but this feels like more of a middle school book.

The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Published by Candlewick

Summary:  The first spread of this wordless picture book shows a young tree standing by the river of the title with the skeleton of a house being built nearby.  A boy and a girl are playing near the tree.  On the next page, the boy (presumably) is grown up with his son, and the house has turned into a farm, with a few other houses near it, and several kids playing around the tree.  As time goes on the small community becomes a town, then a city.  A wall is built, and a war is fought.  The river is diverted and filled with boats; trains and then cars are also used for transportation.  As time goes on, the tree grows, then turns brown and dies as the civilization dies out and falls to ruin.  Finally, an acorn falls from the tree’s one remaining live branch, floating down the river until it takes root on a piece of land by the water.  On the last page, two children stand underneath the new young tree.  32 pages; ages 4 and up.

Pros:  This wordless masterpiece explores the rise and fall of human civilizations with an incredible amount of detail.  I can’t wait to share it with kids to see all the details I’ve missed (this has happened to me with Aaron Becker’s wordless trilogy, Journey, Quest, and Return).  Definitely a Caldecott contender.

Cons:  It’s definitely heavier and grimmer than the Journey trilogy, but there is that spark of hope at the end.

Henry, Like Always by Jenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika Song

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Chronicle Books

Summary:  Henry, featured in the 2019 picture book A Friend for Henry, likes the routine and predictability of his classroom.  Mrs. Tanaka has a weekly schedule posted, and Henry feels comfortable when it stays the same.  When she announces a parade on Friday, pushing sharing to Thursday, Henry struggles to cope with the change.  His feelings of dread grow through the week as the class prepares for the parade.  By Friday morning, he needs to give Mrs. Tanaka his Quiet Card, which entitles him to some time alone in the big closet.  There he discovers the hat that his classmate Samuel is going to wear to lead the parade.  Samuel would rather play the tambourine that Henry has been assigned, and Henry likes the soft pressure of the hat that covers his ears and protects him from some of the noise.  A trade is made, and both boys are able to happily participate in the parade.  48 pages; grades 1-3.

Pros:  An excellent early chapter book that sympathetically portrays a character who appears to be on the autism spectrum and provides a realistic glimpse into his classroom.  Mrs. Tanaka is a kind teacher who accommodates Henry but also expects him to be part of the classroom community.  This is billed as book 1, so we can look forward to more books about Henry.

Cons:  Henry’s new hat looks like it completely covers his eyes.

Ketanji Brown Jackson: Justice for All by Tami Charles, illustrated by Jemma Skidmore

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Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary:  “Every dream begins with the smallest step.”  A young girl visits the Supreme Court Building with her mother, where they see statues of the 115 justices, only six of them women, and none of those women Black…until now.  The story of Ketanji Brown Jackson’s life is told, along with the story of the ancestors who lived in Africa, then were enslaved and forced to come to America.  There’s also the story of her parents, who attended segregated schools and became the first in their families to graduate from college.  Important civil rights cases and other Black female lawyers and judges that helped Ketanji get to the Supreme Court are woven into the narrative.  “And now,” says the girl, “because of them, because of her, I know one day I will and certainly can!”.  Includes an author’s note with additional information, a list of important dates, and facts about the important people and history shown in the art.  40 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  Like All Rise by Carole Boston Weatherford, this picture book biography of Ketanji Brown Jackson shows not only her own hard work and determination to overcome racist and sexist obstacles, but also the people who came before her that made her rise possible.  The poetic text and illustrations convey big ideas but are presented in ways that make them easily understood by younger readers.

Cons:  While the author’s note mentions how she was inspired by a photo of Brown’s daughter Leila Jackson looking at her mother with loving pride, the photo is not in the book.

Batcat by Meggie Ramm

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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

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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

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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

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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 ~ 3 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

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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.