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.
The Crown Heist
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
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.
On the Hook
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.
Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life by Cheryl Blackford
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.
Can You Believe It? How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts
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.
Playing the Cards You’re Dealt by Varian Johnson
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.
Hooves or Hands by Rosie Haine
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 by Jean Reidy
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 by Brad Meltzer
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.
Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round: My story of the making Martin Luther King Day, by Kathlyn Kirkwood
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!
Pride: an inspirational history of the LGBTQ+ movement, by Stella Caldwell
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.
Simon at the Art Museum, by Christina Soontornvat
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.
Fred’s Big Feelings: The Life and Legacy of Mister Rogers by Laura Renauld
Fred’s Big Feelings is a biography for young readers that focuses on Fred Rogers life long commitment to early childhood social-emotional learning. As a child, Fred Rogers was quiet, sad, and often bullied. In high school, through a confidence bolstering friendship, Fred became a leader and experienced how one person can deeply affect the life of another. After he graduated from college, he became involved in the beginnings of community-supported television. His self-appointed mission was to create child appropriate programing that addresses how to recognize and appropriately express feelings.
Through almost 900 episodes and 33 years of programing, Mr. Rogers conveyed the message to children in his parting message each day:
“You always make each day such a special day. You know how? Just by being you! There’s only one person in the whole world like you, and people can like you exactly as you are.” (page 27)
Includes an author’s note with more information about the Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood programming.
Highly Recommended.
Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman
Inspired by a true story, Padma Venkatraman tells the tale of Kabir, born in jail to a mother who is imprisoned for a crime she did not commit. Because of her low caste, she is treated unfairly and kept in jail an unfair length of time, even if she had been guilty of the theft of which she was accused. When a new warden leans of his age, Kabir is released to the outside world, because he is too old to stay. Kabir has never met his father and is anxious to finally meet him. Released to his uncle, who is really a fraud, Kabir runs away but never loses his dream to find his father and see to it that his beloved mother is released from prison.
Alone in the world, he meets Rani, another street kid who helps him understand the world outside the prison. She also helps him to never lose sight of his goal to free his mother. This is a story with elements of hope, disappointment, sorrow, friendship, and determination. Set in India, it is rich with culture and family dynamics.
Map of Flames by Lisa McMann
Meet five children, Birdie, Brix, Tenner, Seven, and Cabot, all born to supernatural criminals and all with supernatural powers of their own. Raised by Birdie & Brix’s dad, because the other parents have mysteriously disappeared, the death of their father has the five children leaving their isolated hideout and entering the outside world in search of their mother. Armed with a map with clues to her whereabouts, the five children navigate life in this new, unfamiliar world so unlike the isolated one they lived in until now. Sometimes comical, our young heroes taste pizza for the first time, discover “magical” elevators, and scream in surprise as they have their first experience with flush toilets! This fantasy is the first book in the Forgotten Five series, with the second and final book, “The Invisible Spy” coming out November 8, 2022.
King of Ragtime, The Story of Scott Joplin
by Stephen Costanza, illustrated by Stephan Costanza
Oversized, rich warm illustrations, chronicling the life of Ragtime musical composer and artist, Scott Joplin. Born in 1868 or 69 in north Texas, to a father who was a slave, Scott was able to tag along with his mother who cleaned wealthy white people’s homes and practice the piano while mother traded for cleaning. He had a natural talent and no one could deny it.
As he become older and more skilled, he began to compose music, riffing from tunes already written and “jazzing” them up. He played at church socials, dances, and the annual Juneteenth celebrations. From there, he went to honkey tonks and ultimately the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Because he was black, he was not allowed to play at the fair, but instead played in the surrounding cafes. Later he worked as a piano teacher and put himself through the George R. Smith College for Negroes. He famously wrote the OOM-pah with syncopated rhythms and called it, “Maple Leaf Rag.” He convinced John Stark to publish it, event though he was an unknown African American composer. It become famous! Just as he did.
The back pages of this book contain rich information about the story of his life in the form of an author’s note. Also Recommended Listening and a Bibliography.
Little Red and the Cat Who Loved Cake
by Barbara Lehman and illustrated by Barbara Lehman
This wordless book is rich in illustrative storytelling The story chronicles a cat’s love of cake and the distress it is experiencing as the cake he sees being baked is obviously not intended for him. He follows Little Red as he goes to visit his grandmother, in hopes of receiving a piece of this cake. Instead, he settles for it in his dreams that night.
The story becomes endearing, at the end, when the author challenges the reader to find 24 lost sheep scattered thougouht the illustrations in the story. After this hunt, it really begins.There are four pages of pictures from the story, which have references to fairy tales or nursery rhymes and the reader is asked to find them Also included, is the full verse to every nursery rhyme and title to every fairy tale referenced. This book is recommend as a tool to open up rich discussion and discovery with a young child or classroom!
Trees
by Tony Johnston, Illustrated by Tiffany Bozic
Large picture book with artistic pages celebrating the beauty of trees and the natural world. The artwork by Tiffany Bozic is stunning. The words are in prose, like a long poem separated into stanzas or lines on each page. This book would make a beautiful addition to a unit on trees, natural world, earth day, poetry month, or simply to revel in the beauty of the written words and artistic talent.
A nice addition is the last two pages of this book have an author’s note with additional facts and information about trees and forests, including the idea of of nine year old Felix Finkbeiner known as Plant-for-the-Planet. In order to stop global warming, children of all countries could plant one million trees. Also, Illustrators not about trees and Suggestions for Further Reading, and Resources as well as a sweet List of Trees in This Book, including thumbnail pictures.
All Star, How Larry Doby Smashed the Color Barrier in Baseball
by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Cannaday Chapman
Larry Doby may be a little known name, but he was the first Black player in the American League, and the second in major-league baseball overall. And, the first Black athlete in Major League Baseball, to hit a home run in the World Series!
Larry Doby was born in South Carolina in 1923, during a time when racism was overt and pervasive. Although he played baseball with all kids of all colors in his neighborhood, they attended segregated schools. As he became an adult athlete, Jackie Robinson, 11 weeks ahead of him, became the first Black athlete in the major leagues. He faced terrible racism. Threats were made against him. Larry was the second Black athlete signed in. Although Larry faced racism by some of his own teammates of the Clevnland Indians team, the team owner Bill Veeck treated him without prejudice or bigotry. While traveling with the teammates, he often couldn’t stay in the same hotels or eat at the same restaurants. Then came the world series where Larry Doby hit the famous home run which propelled his team to championship. A famous picture of him (black) hugging Seve Gromek, (caucasian) was circulated and discussion ensued as these two men look gleeful and joyful in each other’s embrace. Although change has been slow, we have come a long way and continue to grow and change. To date of this publication, the Cleveland Indians have yet to rename their team.
Just Help, How to Build a Better World
by Sonia Sotomayor, Illustrated by Angela Dominguez
This lovely picture book story, with simple yet bold illustrations, is Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s childhood family memories. Her family worked to be productive and contributing citizens of the United States. Each morning when Sonia work up, her mother would as her, “How will you help, today?” Her parents both contributed to the community both through their work and their generosity of time, spirit, and material items. Sonia helped gather items to be shipped to soldiers overseas, items to be donated to the hospital, and helped her mother remind all people in their neighborhood to vote.
This books calls us home, to our duty, as citizens of the United States of America, to have compassion, care, work ethic and contributing to our community, as part of our daily lives.
Wildfire!
by Ashley Wolff, illustrated by Ashley Wolff
Rich, acrylic paint illustrates the beauty and fragility of our forests. Our story begins with a buck noticing a small fire and spreading the news throughout the forest and to the other animals who in kind alert others. Soon the humans in the look out tower spot the fire, as well. Airplanes with fire retardant come to make their drop. The animals all work to flee, while human wild land firefighters come to battle the blaze. By the end of the battle, all are exhuasted and life resumes after the fire is out.
In the back of the book are an Author’s Note regarding the history of forest fires and what we can do to prevent them. And how this problem is being exacerbated by climate change. It also has Firefighting Terms, Firefighting tools, and additional sources. This books is recommended reading, teaching and learning about the realities of forest fires.
Sharuko, Peruvian Archaeologist, Julio C. Tello
written by: Monica Brown and Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri
This beautifully illustrated, bilingual book has one page written in Spanish and the opposing page written in English. Spanish is the native language of Julio C. Tello, the main character in our story with the setting in the country of Peru. The story begins with the background history of Peru, bluntly and truthfully explaining the brutal invasion of Spain in the 1500s and the extermination attempt of the indigenous people’s and culture of Peru. Our main character grew up understanding the historya nd stories of his people and his respect and intellect will eventually help to tell the story of this ancient civilization.
As a young child Julio lives in the countryside and plays with courage in the tombs of his ancestors. His father sent the skulls to the city to be scientifically studied. At age 12 he moves to Lima with the financial assistance of his aunt, who was a maid for the presidential palace. Here he becomes educated. He went on to study medicine at the University of San Marcos. While working in the library, he came across an article about the skulls that he and his brothers found and his father had sent in to be studied. He decided to devote his medical skills to studying the Indigenous History of Peru. He went to America to attend Harvard University and study Archaeology, and then back to Lima Peru to work in the Museum of Natural History in Lima, Peru. He was able to prove that Peruvian people had originated from their own soil over 3,000 years ago. He went on to discover a group called, the Paracas who were over 25,000 years ago! Because of Julio, Peruviasns have discovered and told the world of their history. It began much earlier than the Spanish Conquest.
Omar Rising by Aisha Saeed
For fans of “Amal Unbound,” this companion book has you celebrating Omar’s success when he gets into Ghalib Academy, an elite boarding school. Omar is thrilled to have a path in life with the potential to lift him and his mother out of poverty. A talented soccer player with an interest in astronomy, he is determined to make the most of his time at school.
Struggling with hard classes, especially English with the gruff headmaster as his teacher, Omar learns that scholarship students aren’t allowed to take part in extracurricular activities. In addition, they must work service hours not expected of regular students. Even worse, the rules state that a scholarship student must earn an average of an A+ in order to be invited back the next year. Omar keeps this from his mother, forfeits joining in any of the fun activities at school, and studies non-stop. While his grades improve, it’s impossible to reach that A+ average.
Omar and his friend, Naveed, decide to try to rise up and lead a campaign to get Ghalib Academy to change their unfair rules. With the backing of his friends, this novel has the Disney ending you hope for, giving the readers hope for justice.
Amal, from the book “Amal Unbound, appears in this book, but it’s not important to read that one first. These two books can be read in any order.
In Our Garden
By Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Melissa Crowton
From a small idea to a rooftop garden, our mail character Miller sees her vision through to the end. She has recently moved to a big city from another country, where they used to grow their own food. She is inspired to work with her teacher and classmates to build a roof top garden, It took patience and hard work, but she didn’t give up. The whole community helps and shares the labors, building the beds, planting seeds and harvesting!
Darling pictures which feature students and staff in the community and school as varying ethnicity coming together as one~