With his moped and trailer, Mike delivers all over the town of Happy River. When Mike starts having trouble reading his blurry list, he makes mistakes with his deliveries. Finally Mike goes to see Doc Wells for an eye exam. With his new glasses he can now read his list and make the correct deliveries. An additional purchase for those looking for more books for emergent readers.
Currently there are two books in the Mike Delivers series.
It’s Flamingo Bingo night and all the birds gather to play. Rhyming text takes the reader through the initial part of the game. Suspense is implied as different birds hope to get a bingo. The bingo cage spills the bingo balls. In the chaos that follows, one bingo number is called and the Toucan calls bingo.
The story is choppy and hard to follow with an abrupt ending making it less than ideal for emergent readers.
Only by slowing down, you can truly appreciate the breathtaking complexity and precision of nature. Slow Down identifies fifty amazing natural processes and breaks down those processes into stages. Each of the 50 mindful moments starts with a statement connecting with the readers experiences followed by a brief summary. Over the next page and a half, the captions and illustrations walk the reader slowly through the highlighted moments.
Use as a tool to slow down and appreciate nature or as a model for sequencing or science writing.
Includes Table of Contents, Index, Further Reading (mindfulness and nature), and Selected Bibliography
Written by Padma Lakshmi, the host of Top Chef and Taste the Nation, Tomatoes for Neela is a reminder that food brings us together, transcending time and place. Young Neela enjoys working in the kitchen with her amma (mother) where they share the recipes and customs passed down from her grandmother in India.
The story of Neela’s tomato sauce reinforces the benefits of local sourcing, home cooking and preserving. The simple, when done right, nourishes the spirit and the connectedness of family and community. Enjoying the preserved fruits of the kitchen in winter brings back the sense of fulfillment and family mixed into each jar of sauce.
Endnotes include paati’s (grandmother’s) child friendly tomato sauce and tomato chutney recipes as well as Tomato Fun Facts, About Farmworkers, and Author’s Note.
Stuck inside because of rainy weather, a young boy is bored with his same old inside toys. Making the most of it, he decides to “make something really tough – like a whole new world in a different place.”
To get to this new place, he needs a rocket ship. He uses a rocking chair, a box, and some socks for a ship and swimming trunks with goggles for a space suit. Mom and dad are supporting in the background as the boy zooms off to Planet XYZ and arrives at B-E-D in the Land of ZZZZZZs.
A celebration of imagination and imaginative play.
A joyful relationship between a young boy in a wheelchair and his energetic dog told from the point of view of the dog. All everyday activities that excite a dog; morning greeting, digging in the yard, chasing a cat, frisbee are the things that make “the best day ever”. The vigor the dog displays with every new experience and the evident connection to his person reinforces the sense of joy found in the relationship between a child and pet. Even when a table is knocked over and the child yells in anger, all is forgiven. An apology and a commitment to work together on training reinforces the growth mindset message and the determination to find joy in all the moments of life.
A positive and natural portrayal of a child with a disability illustrated by a woman who also uses a wheelchair.
Set in New Orleans, Wildseed Witch is a charming story about Hasani’s journey to a magical charm school, her goals of becoming a well-known and popular YouTuber, and her quest to find herself and fix her family. A little bit of Harry Potter-esque magic set in the deep South, the story blooms with a riot of floral characters all trying to grow up with charm and controlled magic. Hasani learns she needs to find balance and lean on her friends – old and new – as she struggles to fix her parents’ broken marriage. I enjoyed the realistic aspects of the story about friendships and family challenges with the touches of magic woven through the story. While this book says it’s the first in a new series, the ending felt complete. Future books may follow Hasani as she grows older, but this book’s plot felt done. No huge hanging cliffhangers to frustrate a reader wanting completion on the final page. I also liked the bits of unvarnished history of sugar cane plantations that seep into the story as well. Overall, a nice diverse addition to an often white fantasy section of the library.
Earthquakes, tornados, pandemics, and more are highlighted and explained in this bold, colorful book. Using infographics to share facts about each type of disaster, a reader will find many questions explained by easy to understand illustrations, charts and graphs. The book includes a glossary of terms and a bibliography to back up facts shared. I liked that the infographics help make concrete the often-abstract numbers and ideas. For example, we often hear about the Richter Scale when earthquakes are discussed. The clear images and explanations for each number on the scale is the first time I think I’ve ever had a clear understanding of how those numbers relate to damage seen on news footage. An easy book to browse & flip through or to dig in and read every page, this will be a popular non-fiction read, I’m sure.
An absurd collection of animal drawings that have only been seen by the now-missing Professor O’Logist. A tongue-in-cheek book of drawings and scientific descriptions of the craziest collections of animals you’ve never seen, but that doesn’t mean they might NOT exist! Professor O’Logist even created his own classification system for organizing the animals, including the soft animals, the disgusting animals, and the not-useful animals, to name a few. Many of the animals remind me of creatures you might encounter in a Roald Dahl book, the drawings are charming and the writing is both serious and silly. This is a book I think students will have fun giggling over as they flip through the bizarre taxonomy and then find inspiration to discover rare animals themselves. For a middle school library, I imagine this probably more of a display book, rather than one that gets checked out much unless it’s by budding artists.
One of the most unique and beautiful biographies I’ve ever read. Ibi Zoboi tells the story of science fiction author Octavia E. Butler’s life in quotes, poems, short blurbs, photographs, her own writing, and drawings. I particularly like the poems that frame each short section of prose and add depth to the account of her life. The mix of writing styles adds to the retelling, giving the reader a mix of Octavia’s own words with those speculative ones of the author as she imagines what Octavia might have been thinking through some of her early experiences. The book tells the life of Octavia Butler from a childhood facing the Great Depression, World War II, the space race, the red scare, and the Civil Rights movement. Through all of it, Octavia loved reading and writing stories, especially science fiction though she rarely saw characters that looked like her in the pages. She set out to get paid to write the fantastical worlds she saw in her head, collecting many rejections along the way before she eventually became an award-winning and respected author. I really enjoyed this artistic take on a woman who was such a pioneer in the field of science fiction writing.
The illustrations in this book are enchanting. Each set of 4 pages describes a different denizen of the deep, with an overlay page that imagines the creature as something out of a fairy tale. When you lift the flap, you see what the creature actually looks like.
The author provides some fun facts about each sea creature, as well as the basics (size, prey, habitat, and the sea depth at which they live).
The suspense builds: each creature in turn says, “… But I’m not the strangest thing in the sea!”
You might be surprised when you find out what “the strangest thing in the sea” really is!
The Goody, written and illustrated by Lauren Child, is an important book about both good and bad behavior being a little mixed up. It’s a lovely story of siblings, one who always does what he is told (the goody) and the other who does whatever she likes regardless of ramifications to herself or others. Children in K-2 will appreciate this story as they can relate to not always being able to be good, and most importantly, having that uncomfortable-tummy feeling when one misbehaves. The book is a subtle laugh-out-loud using a narrator to emphasize an overall message that states “being nice when you can be nice can make you feel good”. Child’s use of the double negative, such as “he never forgot to remember this,” and “the least favorite of all his least favorite vegetables,” produces a nice rhetorical effect that young readers are sure to enjoy. The writing is quirky and humorous, creating a need to read and read again. The illustrations are composed of delightful paper cuts complete with patterns that look like fabric and create an interesting texture. The sweet life-lessons pointed out by the narrator and shown in red print are sure to capture the students’ attention and help them realize that when we are nice or when we share with others, it actually makes us feel better.
That’s Betty! The Story of Betty White by Gregory Borsignore is a quick and fascinating tale about Betty White’s remarkable 80-year career. The story begins with a student confidently wearing his Betty White t-shirt stating he will research her for his biography assignment about a trailblazing woman. One of his dads is supportive, but the other is not so sure, asking if maybe his son should pick somebody more traditional. But all along the reader knows a mysterious character appears on the pages with a big hat, dark glasses, pearls and a scarf who looks an awful lot like Betty White. It’s no surprise that the character is Betty herself and in true Betty fashion she is ready to tell her story with a confident flair. Together the two review all of Betty’s great accomplishments as the young boy discovers she co-hosted a live TV show in 1949 that ran for 51/2 hours a day and 6 days a week! Betty also wrote and produced her own show, The Betty White Show in 1954 when very few women were involved in TV. At this time, she casted talented Black singers and dancers and stood up to prejudice push back from the television studio. Betty simply said “live with it” and then gave performers such as Arthur Duncan twice as much air time as before and the audiences loved it! The illustrations are fun and colorful, taking readers on an extra special adventure in show business. The book ends with a timeline of Betty’s life, including a list of all her awards, honors and other extraordinary details about a woman with the courage to lead her life in a nontraditional way.
A Lost Art Mystery by Deron Hicks
Twelve-year-old Camille has never met her father and is now on her way to London to see him for the first time. Her father is a history professor and is a renowned expert in British legend. When Camille and her friend Art go to meet her father, they find out he is missing and could be in grave danger. This is the start of unraveling a mystery to find a long-missing object and save her father. This book is full of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing up until the very end. Embedded within the book are QR codes to scan when reading that add art history lessons to the narrative. QR codes are a fun way to make the story more interactive. This book is part of the Lost Art Series and a sequel to The Rembrandt Conspiracy. Although it is book three in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone narrative.
Both Sides Now, by Peyton Thomas, provides an honest and hopeful
glimpse into the trans teen experience. Finch Kelly, a trans boy living in Olympia, Washington,
chases his dream of attending Georgetown University by competing in the National Debate
Championship. Finch’s goal of winning Nationals is jeopardized by the financial difficulties of his
family and his growing attraction to his best friend and debate partner, Jonah Cabrera. As they
battle through the rounds of debate against their privileged rivals from Annable academy, they
must face an internal battle when the National debate topic is announced: trans bathroom
rights. Without successfully debating against his own rights, Finch’s dreams of Georgetown and
a future in politics is in jeopardy. Integration of social media formatting into the narrative
enhances the relatability of the story, but some references to other mainstream tech feels a bit
forced. The story feels very relatable as the characters navigate realistic obstacles that many
young people discover standing between themselves and their childhood dreams. Throughout,
the outcome of the story remains tantalizingly obscure right to the last chapter. Difficult
conversations about LGBTQ+ rights and racism are addressed in relatable ways that speak to all
age groups. As teenagers learn to navigate this ever-changing world, Both Sides Now is a
coming-of-age story that speaks to modern situations and dilemmas.
Francisco X. Stork’s On the Hook is a reimagining of his very first book from 2007, Behind the Eyes. In this story, Hector’s moral dilemma is front and center. A gifted student living in a rough area of town, Hector is put in the position of showing a machismo he doesn’t have to defend his brother’s honor. This is the struggle of inner turmoil that young men face more often than society probably acknowledges. Can you be smart and tough at the same time? Hector has a great support system around him, but only he can figure out the type of future he wants to have.
Stork’s writing is quick-paced and takes surprising turns. Readers might be frustrated with Hector’s choices when he clearly has an easy way out of his situation but doesn’t take it. But this allows for Hector’s character development, which 7th- 10th graders need clear examples of. On the Hook is a good addition for collections that need more options male readers.
This fascinating account of Mary Anning’s life will have a lot of appeal to both dinosaur lovers and students looking for a biography of a woman in a role that is typically filled by a male. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll catalog it in the 560’s under dinosaurs and fossils, or in the biography section.
Young Mary was only thirteen when she uncovered the first complete skeleton of a prehistoric creature later named the Ichthyosaur. Mary came by her fascination with fossils naturally, working alongside her father in the cliffs near Lyme Regis in England. Conditions were perfect for unearthing fossils as the wet weather loosened the soil on the cliffs, sending muddy avalanches sliding to the beach below. However, this was very dangerous work. Mary’s own father died on site of a rockfall resulting from an avalanche.
Following her father’s death, the family was thrown into poverty, so Mary helped in the one way she know how to make money — she sold fossils to tourists. In these days (the early 1800’s), it became quite fashionable for wealthy families to buy “curiosity cabinets” to display collections of interesting objects. Soon, Mary was selling her fossils for much more money. By the age of 29, Mary had already made four momentous fossil finds: (1) the world’s most complete ichthyosaurs, (2) the world’s first complete plesiosaur, (3) the first pterodactyl found in Britain, and (4) the world’s first squaloraja.
Self-educated in the field of paleontology and geology, Mary contributed to these fields through her tireless discoveries and research in libraries. But it was always a male that received the credit for her scientific contributions. Born in 1799, females were not allowed to go to college or join the British Society for the Advancement of Science. Without her due credit, Mary struggles financially for much of her life.
This book is beautifully illustrated, provides drawings and log entries by Mary Anning, is contains quotes by famous scientists who knew her, a Timeline, and a Glossary.
nonfiction by Joyce Grant
In today’s world, kids are constantly looking at the internet and it is important for them to know how to tell the difference between real and fake news. This book is a guide on how to know what “fake news” is and, most importantly, how to spot the difference. The information is presented in an easy-to-read format that is suitable for upper elementary students and beyond. It includes examples, definitions, and useful content. This guide can help students make good choices about what to believe and share. This is a critical skill in our digital world.
While the majority of the plot revolves around Ant’s families’ love for the card game “Spades,” there are a number of important subplots. Fifth-grader, Ant, feels the pressure to win the tournament this year, having bombed in last year’s tournament. His family has been winning the Spades tournaments for three generations, and he still hasn’t forgiven himself for doing poorly last year. He and his friend are crushed in Spades by the new student, Shirley, and her partner, which shakes Ant’s confidence.
Subplots include issues around Ant’s family dynamics. His father is an alcoholic and a gambler. His mom has kicked him out of the house. While Ant loves his dad, new facts are revealed about him that show him in a poor light. This gives a second meaning of the title, “Playing the Cards You’re Dealt.” One more subplot includes the fact that Ant has developed a crush on Shirley and she seems to like him back.
The Afterward leads readers to information about Alcoholics Anonymous and support for Teenagers affected by alcoholism.
Overall, the story was good, but probably best-suited for an elementary school, being the protagonist is a fifth graders. The characters were well developed, the plot sometimes funny. I liked Varian Johnson’s book, “The Parker Inheritance” more than this one.
Would you rather be a horse or a human? An imaginative look at comparing horses and humans and what it might be like to be a horse told through rhythmic text. The color choices in the illustrations reflect the use of imagination as the horses are pink on some pages. The color palette is also limited to primarily pinks, oranges, and blues.
I imagine children would laugh about the line “Stop wherever you are and have a poo…” and the illustrations that show dots for nipples on the half humans, half horses, but I think I would pass on this book.
Sylvie the spider loves the people in her building and one day she notices that something seems wrong. Worried that not everyone appreciates a spider that calls attention to herself, she finds the courage to unite the people in the building. Finally she feels the appreciation and friendship that she has been longing for.
The author also wrote the book, Truman, and Truman the tortoise makes an appearance in this book as well. It was fun to see that tie in. The illustrations in the book are colorful and help tell the story, but the storyline is difficult to follow and requires inferencing.
I am I. M. Pei is a part of the Ordinary People Change the World Series by Brad Meltzer. It begins with I. M. Pei’s childhood and is told in the first person. The book is written in a conversational tone and the illustrator, Christopher Eliopoulos includes comic inserts on various pages. There is a lot of text on the pages, but it is broken up with illustrations. As a child, I. M. Pei is drawn as a miniature adult and in the pages where he is an adult, he is much shorter and more childlike than the other adults in the illustrations. This book is only a brief look at his life. The themes of persistence and grit come across throughout the biography. When talking about the renovation of the Louvre, there is a page with a pop-up Louvre. A timeline of his life and pictures of I. M. Pei are included at the end of the book.
A historical novel in verse about an ordinary citizen who becomes a foot soldier in a long battle by many people to create the National Federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. Her story begins in Memphis, Tennessee with the sanitation workers’ strike for better working conditions. Martin Luther King, Jr. was in Memphis at the time of his assassination because he was helping this cause. This had a profound effect on the young Kathlyn. These marches were some of the author’s earliest steps in speaking up for a cause which she went back to years later during the attempts in the late 70’s and early 80’s to create a law through Congress to create the national holiday. The poems in the book emphasize the long term commitment to change that was required to build momentum and create a law. And while some of the process required legal action in Congress, much of the process happened because of ordinary citizens. There is a nice visual at the end of the book showing all of the steps required to have a bill become a law. I appreciated the accessibility of the verse style, as well as the bibliography at the end to help readers understand the historical accuracy of her story. This is a verse novel that I expect will get checked out a lot in my library!
This book is colorful and bright, full of short, accessible blurbs on the history of LGBTQ+ people and its movements throughout history and around the world. While many of the tidbits in the book are just that – a small bit about a person or event, each is well worth reading as a starter course and jumping off point for further study. I learned a lot while reading this book. And it was fun! Infographics help with some of the information.Modern biographies help merge the history with the now. The book doesn’t shirk from the uglier parts of history, but it also shines with hope and moving forward. I appreciated its multi-ethnic and world view approach. Book includes a glossary of terms, an index, and a list of further resources. This would be an excellent addition to a middle school or high school library.
A young child visits his first art museum with his parents. The things that intrigue Simon aren’t necessarily the art. He notices the the marble floors perfect for sock skating, the pigeons, and the cheesecake. The whole day seems both boring and a bit overwhelming through the eyes of a young child. The illustrations portray a variety of art types and a diverse museum visitors. Simon finally finds a piece of art that speaks to him – a painting of a young red-haired boy chasing pigeons.
Recommended as a field trip teaser or a sweet family day adventure.