Rewilding: Bringing Wildlife Back Where It Belongs by David A. Steen, illustrated by Chiara Fedele

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Published by Neon Squid

Summary:  Humans have done much to damage or eliminate the populations of so many animals; rewilding seeks to reverse some of that damage by introducing animals raised in captivity to the wild or relocating a wild animal population.  This book looks at dozens of animals, giving each a two-page spread with information about a rewilding project (including successes and failures) and plenty of illustrations.  Other pages address wider questions like why animals go extinct and how scientists measure the success of a rewilding project.  Includes information on what kids can do, a glossary, and an index.  80 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  It’s refreshing to find a book that offers at least some glimmers of hope and optimism amidst our current global crises.  The writing and the illustrations are engaging, and the last couple pages offer readers some concrete actions to take.

Cons:  Each story was so interesting that two pages didn’t seem enough to cover it.

Berry Song by Michaela Goade

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Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  A girl learns from her grandmother how to find food in nature: herring eggs and seaweed from the ocean and most of all, berries from the forest.  They list them as they go: blueberry, cranberry, soapberry, cloudberry. They sing and give thanks–gunalchéesh in the Tlingit language–to the Earth for providing food.  Back at home, the whole family pitches in to make a feast from the berries: huckleberry pie, strawberry crisp, jellies, and jams.  Seasons come and go, and on the last page the girl is leading her younger sister to the forest to teach her about gathering berries.  Includes a two-page author’s note about her Tlingit heritage and giving further information about each part of Grandmother’s wisdom: we speak to the land and the land speaks to us; we take care of the land and the land takes care of us; we are part of the land the and the land is part of us.  The berries are shown in photos with their Tlingit names and on the endpapers with both Tlingit and English identification.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Caldecott medalist Michaela Goade will surely be considered for more awards to honor this gorgeous book that celebrates her Tlingit heritage and stewardship of the Earth.

Cons:  After the mouthwatering descriptions of foods made from all the different berries, I would have enjoyed a recipe.

Lumberjackula by Mat Heagerty, illustrated by Sam Owen

~ Janet Dawson ~ 2 Comments

Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Jack’s ready to pick a secondary school, but he’s torn between following in his lumberjack mom’s bootsteps or choosing the eerier path of his vampire dad.  He tries out both of their alma maters, but neither feels like a great fit.  When he accidentally stumbles upon a school for dancers, it seems perfect for his talents, but he’s afraid he’ll disappoint his parents.  Finally, a wise teenage manatee rescues Jack from a near-drowning and gives him some good advice about being himself.  He finally gets up the courage to tell his parents what he wants, and they proudly cheer him on to become a great dancer.  152 pages; grades 3-6.

Pros:  Elementary kids will happily snap up this quirky graphic novel with lots of fun characters and a good “be yourself” message.

Cons:  There wasn’t a lot of suspense since it was pretty evident early on what Jack’s decision was going to be.

How Old Is Mr. Tortoise? by Dev Petty illustrated by Ruth Chan

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Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  Mr. Tortoise knows it’s his birthday, he knows he wants to eat cake with his friends, but he doesn’t know how old he is.  His friends try to help him calculate by counting sections of his shell, quizzing him about his early memories, and looking at a photo of him on a previous birthday.  They’re finally able to arrive at a number that seems accurate: 115.  It’s too many candles to put on the cake, so Mr. Tortoise decides to light one for every friend who’s there to help him celebrate.  He blows out the candles and makes a wish…for more cake.  40 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  This comic-inspired picture book is a happy celebration of birthdays, friendship, cake, and creative problem-solving.

Cons:  I’m not convinced that 115 is the Mr. Tortoise’s correct age.


The Secret Battle of Evan Pao by Wendy Wan-Long Shang

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Published by Scholastic Press

Summary:  Evan and his mother and sister have recently relocated from California to a small town in Virginia.  His dad was involved in a financial scandal that led to his arrest, and the family is trying to start over.  Things are different in Virginia, where Evan’s sixth-grade teacher leads Battlefield Day every year to teach about the U.S. Civil War.  There’s plenty of Confederacy pride among his classmates, particularly Brady, a bully who makes racist comments to Evan.  Evan surprises many–even himself–when he learns that Chinese Americans fought in the Civil War, and this discovery helps him feel more a part of the community.  He still has to deal with Brady, though, a relationship that becomes more fraught after Brady is accused of firing a rifle shot into the Pao house.  When Evan’s dog goes missing, though, Brady proves to be a surprising ally, and both boys discover that people are not always what they seem.  272 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  A compelling story that is told from many different points of view in a way that reminded me of some of Gordon Korman’s books.  The many interesting issues and characters (including Evan, who is sensitive to the point of having an almost psychic ability to tell when someone is lying) would make this a great choice for a book club or class discussion.

Cons:  I was hoping for some more resolution around the storyline with Evan’s dad
.

Out of a Jar by Deborah Marcero

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Published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons

Summary:  Llewelyn the rabbit, who first rose to prominence as a collector in In A Jar, has taken to stuffing his feelings into jars and storing them in his basement.  Any time he feels an unpleasant emotion like fear or anger, he bottles it up and locks it into a closet, “and that was that”.  Even more enjoyable feelings get tucked away, like the excitement he feels at school when he’s supposed to be listening.  Finally, the closet is full, and Llewelyn isn’t feeling much of anything.  When he tries to force one more jar in, all the jars tumble out and crack open, overwhelming Llewelyn in a mix of all the emotions.  Amidst all of the feelings, he’s surprised that what he mostly feels is relieved.  From then on, whenever Llewelyn has a feeling, “he mustered up the courage to feel them.  To share them.  And when he was ready, to look each feeling in the eye, give it a hug, and let it go.  And that…was that.”  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  This gorgeously illustrated book is an excellent tool for teaching kids how to deal with strong emotions.

Cons:  I couldn’t figure out why Llewelyn felt like he had to store away his feelings of joy.

Puppy Bus by Drew Brockington 

~ Janet Dawson ~ 4 Comments

Published by Harry N. Abrams

Summary:  It’s the first day of school for a boy who’s just moved to a new town, and wouldn’t you know it, he ends up on the wrong bus.  This bus is heading to Leroy’s Puppy School, and is, naturally, filled with puppies.  The boy’s pretty unhappy at first: the subjects they learn are weird, lunch is terrible, and the bathroom is…unconventional.  But the puppies are friendly, there’s outdoor recess, and by the end of the day, the boy is ready to return.  He’s excited the next morning to board the bus…only to find out, it’s the Kitty Bus.  40 pages; ages 3-8.

Pros:  No need to look any further for a book to read on the first day of preschool, kindergarten, or first grade.  The humor and comic-style illustrations will have the whole class feeling right at home in no time.

Cons:  Is Old Yeller really the best choice for a class read-aloud at puppy school?

Happy Sloth Day! by April Pulley Sayre with Jeff Sayre

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Published by Beach Lane Books

Summary:  Follow a sloth through its day in the rainforest as it eats, climbs, rests, and hides.  The photos mostly tell the story, along with a few short sentences.  Longer side bars on every other page add additional information.  The story ends with “the changing of the sloths” as the diurnal three-toed sloth falls asleep and the nocturnal two-toed sloth awakens.  Includes additional information about sloths and a list of four resources “for more leisurely chewing.”  48 pages; ages 4-10.

Pros:  April Pulley Sayre’s photos never disappoint, and these capture sloths doing all kinds of interesting things.  The short text and photos make this a good read-aloud for preschoolers, while the sidebars and back matter make it just as good a choice for older kids.

Cons:  A book about sloths is not a thrilling page-turner.

Tomatoes In My Lunchbox by Constantia Manoli, illustrated by Magdalena Mora

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Published by Roaring Brook Press

Summary:  The narrator feels uncomfortable at school after moving from another country.  The teacher and other kids have trouble pronouncing her name, and the whole tomato in her lunchbox is different from what the other kids are eating.  She’s surrounded by girls with names like Emma, Olivia, and Chloe, but she can’t figure out how to make friends with them.  One day Chloe asks her where her name is from, and the girl tells her it was her grandmother’s name.  The next day, they learn that they both have the same favorite color, yellow.  When Chloe forgets her lunch, the narrator shares her tomato, and the friendship is sealed.  Includes an author’s note about her family’s move from Cyprus to England that was the inspiration for this story.  32 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  An immigrant story that will help readers build empathy for kids who are new at school, and whose name, language, and food may be unfamiliar to others.  Emphasizes the importance of friendship and reaching out.

Cons:  Those tomato stains seem like a nuisance.

In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo

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Published by Quill Tree Books

Summary:  Ai Shi (or Anna) is excited to finally be moving from Taiwan to “the beautiful country” of America, where her father has already been living for months.  He moved there with a plan to go into business with a friend who owned an electronics store, but when he arrived, the man backed out of the deal.  So Ba bought a restaurant in L.A. County, and Ai Shi and her mother go to work there immediately upon arrival.  The long hours at the restaurant and the dingy apartment are a far cry from what Anna dreamed about, but worst of all is the racist bully at school and the two teenagers who keep vandalizing the restaurant.  A grocery store cashier takes the family under her wing, and Anna and her parents learn the value of kindness and forgiveness–lessons they apply to other new immigrant families as they finally begin to see a profit from the restaurant.  By the end of the story, Anna’s parents are no longer considering moving back to Taiwan, and Anna has learned enough from her year in America to begin to dream about “the beautiful country” again.  320 pages; grades 4-7.

Pros:  This debut novel-in-verse doesn’t shy away from the hardships of immigrating to America, but also shows how caring people and hard work can ultimately lead to success.  Details about the 1980’s and the relationship between China and Taiwan are well integrated into the narrative. Fans of Kelly Yang or Reem Faruqi will enjoy this.

Cons:  The back flap says that the book is based on the author’s experiences growing up in California in the 1980’s and working in her family’s restaurant.  I wish she had written an author’s note to tell more about that.