It’s got a really good message about not making judgments without all the facts. It tells about a little gorilla who’s been sent by his grandfather to pick up some eggs that crane offered to leave for them. But unfortunately a mischievous monkey decides to follow along and watch him from afar, and all along the journey that monkey misinterprets what he sees. Worse yet, the monkey shares his accusations with other jungle dwellers who accept them at face value. By the time the little gorilla is about to arrive home with his precious cargo, the others are ready punish him for a list of crimes he didn’t commit. Luckily he is rescued when a giant hippo emerges from the river with his little bird who corrects the accusatory monkeys by announcing he’d been up close and personal to all the gorilla’s transactions, and scolds them for making accusations based on things they have not seen with their own eyes and heard with their own ears. Though I like the message, I thought both the telling of it and the illustrations were a bit flat.
The Message
I highly recommend this book. I learned stuff I didn’t know. It takes something we’re all so very familiar with and yet most of us really don’t understand, sending a text to the other side of the planet, and explains it. And when I say it explains how it happens, I mean it starts with the microscopic hairs inside your ears that detect a disturbance in the air that your brain interprets as a ringtone that causes you to look at the incoming text you’re about to reply to. It almost draws parallels between the human parts that talk to each other to send messages from eyes to brain to fingers along your nervous system and the hardware parts on the global communications infrastructure to send the message along wires and fiberoptic cables. The whole thing is so complex and yet all happens in a matter of seconds a bazillion times a day, and we all take it for granted without really thinking about it. This book makes you think about it. Even as it explains things really quite clearly (despite great big vocabulary words), it makes the mind boggle at the same time. The illustrations really do a great job of communicating the process and supporting all those great big vocabulary words (like radiating electromagnetic photons). It’s a marvel!
The House of Love
As someone who grew up in a large family I totally appreciate this story about a young girl spending Valentine’s Day at home alone with her mom, while her six siblings are out for the day with their dad. Together they get the household chores done before breaking out the Valentine’s Day decorations setting their creativity loose to make the day special for the rest of their family. The main character’s name is Mia Valentina (i.e. my valentine), so she revels in her favorite day while making valentines and baking cupcakes, but then the day is tarnished when she notices that no one made a valentine for her, until at bedtime she finds the one her mom made for her tucked under her pillow. Throughout the story the old house is almost another character, with cracked windows and peeling wallpaper making it clear that the family maybe didn’t have a lot that was shiny and new, but overflowing with love that finds joy in simple delights. The story is warm and cozy and sentimental, and the illustrations capture and add to that tone beautifully.
Mr. Walker Steps Out
This book starts with something everyone sees all the time and doesn’t think much about (a crosswalk signal), and asks the reader to stop and think about it, to imagine that the little man inside the sign might have some ambitions and adventures. It brings the man inside the walk signal to life, imagining what he’s thinking as he looks out on the world, and what he would do if he could climb out of his box and explore the world on his own. After exploring the world for a bit, jumping to the rescue when he sees a small child alone in the middle of the street, he finds himself missing his own corner and recognizing the value he serves in keeping people safe, so he returns home (but still needs a vacation occasionally). I think it would be a great launching off spot for discussion and/or writing prompts getting kids to imagine stories for other common items in our world.
Happy Cats
It’s essentially an illustrated list of different kinds of cats, and when I say kinds, I’m not talking breed, I’m talking about color and attitude and pose, etc. Yet it works in opposites and rhyming and adjectives in a way that makes it a great support for emergent literacy. The illustrations are full of personality and act as a support for the text, all while capturing some classic cat moments that will be very recognizable to cat families.
The Little Book of Joy
Okay, so I hate to be down on joy, and I’m not even really down on this sweet little book, I just don’t think it is meant to be a library book. It’s meant to be part of the decor in a nursery or children’s room, where it sits on display all year long and is occasionally pulled down to peruse for an idea. I almost even marked it as “reference,” but then that didn’t really seem to fit it, even though I imagine it being used kind of like a reference book for a bored kid. It’s got a page for every day of the year, with ideas for things to try, along with bits of information about that day’s topic and questions for kids to ponder. The illustrations are really sweet, but kind of keep the target audience young, even though older kids would be able to make more independent use of the information. My “additional purchase” recommendation is really kind of a compromise choice: I have a hard time recommending it for library use, but would absolutely recommend it as a gift for a baby shower.
Solitary Animals: Introverts of the Wild by Joshua David Stein, art by Dominique Ramsey
The lyrical text describes animals that live in groups and using the collective nouns and then names an animal that lives alone. I like the use of collective nouns and the text is engaging. I was expecting to learn more information about the solitary animals, but I did learn which animals live in groups and what the group names are called. There is a page at the back that answers some questions about why some animals live alone. The artwork in the book is bright and vibrant and is eye-catching.
Light for All by Margarita Engle illustrated by Raul Colon
Margarita Engle weaves immigration with how the light from the Statue of Liberty welcomes us all. Even though we are different, come from a variety of places, and have many reasons for coming to the United States we are the same in that we have a love for the home that we have left and the place that we now call home.
While I appreciate and think it is important that Engle included that land was taken from Indigenous People and others were forced to come here on slave ships, it felt disjointed with how it was incorporated into the book. The author’s and illustrator’s notes at the end add their own personal stories to the book.
Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste, illustrated by Tonya Engel
On March 2, 1955 Claudette Colvin was arrested for not giving up her bus seat to a white person. She was 15 and this occurred almost a year before Rosa Parks famed refusal. Through the lawyer, Fred Gray, Claudette met and befriended Rosa Parks and started to attend meetings with the NAACP. These events led up to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. the book does not focus solely on Claudette but mentions others who were instrumental in the changing of the bus law. Told in a cause and effect style, the author shows how small events can lead to bigger events that lead to changes.
Tonya Engel’s paintings complement the text. There is an author’s note at the end that details how the idea for this book came to be and provides suggestions for further reading with books and websites.
The Great Paint by Alex Willmore
Frog is an artist but he needed some inspiration for his art because his swamp was dull. He went around to his friends in the forest and adds his artistic interpretations. His friends do not appreciate him beautifying everything. He realizes he got carried away and returns to his swamp to create his own art show. He invites his friends to his art show so he can apologize.
Frog is fun and his personality comes through in the illustrations. He learns that he needs to respect other’s spaces. I do wish it had shown Frog helping his friends clean up the messes that he made.
The book was originally published in London, so there is some spelling differences in the book that kids might notice (colour/color). The text changes between black and white, but sometimes the page is dark and the text is still black which makes it a challenge to read.
Pig and Horse and the Something Scary by Zoey Abbott
Pig is scared of something but she is trying to ignore it. Her friend, Horse, tries to get her mind off of her fear with bike rides, swimming, and making her laugh. Pig realizes that ignoring it does not make the problem better. They decide to talk about it and face her fear together. Pig’s fears are things that are very common for children (night, being alone, and a character from a story she read). Horse supports her friend in talking about and facing what is bothering her.
The book offers a gentle way to help children name their feelings and to realize that talking about their feelings may be better than ignoring them.
The animals are anthropomorphic in the way walk on two legs, they cook, and they use floaties in the pool. The illustrations are colorful and add to the story.
When Winter Robeson Came, by Brenda Woods
During the summer of 1965, Eden gets to hang out with her cousin from Mississippi in Los Angeles where she lives. Winter is on a secret mission to find his father who went missing many years ago. With Eden’s help, they investigate his old neighborhood in the Watts area of LA for clues. In the midst of this, the folks in the Watts neighborhood and the police clash for 6 horrible days and much of Los Angeles goes into lockdown. This verse novel is a sweet story of cousins investigating their own family history while intense history is playing out around them. It’s especially interesting for today’s young readers living in new times of racial clashes with modern day police around the country. As the mystery of Winter’s father unravels, readers come to see that all is not what was assumed. As it is often the case, there is so much more to the story.
Piece by piece: the story of Nisrin’s hijab, by Priya Huq
This graphic novel is a powerful story of friendships, tragedy, inclusion, nationalism, multi-generational trauma, and hope. It packs a lot into its pages and, because of that, it sometimes feels rushed. Some of the most traumatic scenes flash by in harsh, bold colors that might confuse some readers. This is the story of Nisrin’s decision to wear an orna, or scarf, to cover her head, as she explores what it means for her to follow Islam. It is a complicated decision because her family does not follow the practice of an orna or hijab. Her decision also brings up old family wounds from a regime change in Bangladesh and the reason for the family’s immigration to the United States. It’s also a story of changing friendships and the ways we sometimes reconcile conflicts. Raw and compelling, Piece by Piece would be a graphic novel that might be a mirror for some readers and a window for many others willing to take on a challenging story.
Right Where I Left You by: Julian Winters
Reviewer: OHS Student, Ffiona
Right Where I Left You is a fantastic book by Julian Winters (Who is a WONDERFUL LGBTQIA+ author.) It shows a great bond between an introverted gay boy, and his outgoing bisexual best friend. It emphasizes the vast difference between expectation versus reality in a friendship. And shows the difficulties of the next finding your path in life, and the people you want to share it with. Right Where I Left You is 5 stars and a 10/10 in my book.
Kiss & Tell by: Adib Khorram
Reviewer: OHS Student, Ffiona
Kiss & Tell was a cute book but could be a bit cliche at times. It highlights the struggles of being out of the closet, but staying true to yourself. It shows the difficulty of being seen for more than your sexuality, and skin color. Kiss & Tell shows examples of a healthy, and unhealthy relationship between two boys, and the importance of having friends and family to support you.
Kiss & Tell is a boy band on its first major tour. The main character, Hunter, goes through his first breakup with a boyfriend. The details of Hunter’s personal life are leaked and put in the lime-light.
Otto: a Palindrama, by Jon Agee
A silly graphic novel adventure told in palindromes, this crazy tale had me reading forwards and backwards! Every piece of text in the book, from dialogue to signs in the background, is written in palindromes (200 of them!) The plot is a very loose wandering adventure of a boy, Otto, looking for his dog, Pip. I was amazed at the many ways the author conveyed silly palindromes in a logical, if fanciful, manner in the story. Illustrations are boldly & simply drawn and softly colored. Certainly, this is a great book for teaching palindromes. Short episodes of the adventure could be shared with whole classes. It had me wanting to write some of my own or share some of the more clever ones with others. The appeal may not be as broad as some, but it would be a solid purchase for upper elementary or middle school libraries.
Last Laughs: Prehistoric Epitaphs
If you have that one elementary reader who lives and breathes dinosaurs, but it is poetry month at school, Last Laughs: Prehistoric Epitaphs just might be the book for them.
The rhythm and rhyme of these short epitaphs (twenty-one entries) give whimsical tales from creatures of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic Eras. The epitaphs would not be nearly as enjoyable without the silly illustrations by Jeffrey Stewart Timmons.
There are facts about the prehistoric creature beneath each epitaph because the epitaph itself is not factual. I doubt any of the young readers will have any idea of whom the comic paleontologist Prof. M. Piltman, illustrated throughout the book, references dealing with the anthropological hoax of a “human skull” known as the Piltman Man.
The far left and right margins of each page turn provide the scientific Era and Period for each prehistoric creature being written about on that page.
What’s on My Plate?
Getting young people to eat healthily is presented through the use of bright colorful photos of fresh foods and examples of the daily amount of each food that should be eaten.
The five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy are each given two or three pages including a photo of nutrient rich foods and two of three sentences in large font. The photos will stir the reader’s senses to want to eat something almost immediately. Examples of appropriate daily amounts each food group include: 32 grapes, 18 baby carrots, 1 cup of corn flakes, 1 egg, and 2 cups of milk.
Sometimes Foods suggests foods with too much sugar and/or fat to be eaten very often. They include: candy, soda, French fries, ice cream, and cake. It states, “Some foods are not very healthy. These foods have few nutrients.” (23) It also states, “People need to make good choices to have a healthy diet. Eating a healthy diet gives you energy to work and play!” (27)
This is followed by Try This! suggesting the reader keep a food log for a few days and the Fun Facts, Glossary, Further Reading, and Index.
Math at the Art Museum
This series deals with math and how math can be found everywhere. The math this time, at the art museum, is not as straight forward as younger children might need. This book would best be used as a group read.
“This book is not intended to analyze art from a mathematical perspective. Instead, the intent is to highlight how math often informs art and also influences our daily lives.”
Geometry is the often the easiest form of math to see visualized is the art presented within this book.
Artworks by : Jasper Johns, George Seurat, Wassily Kandinsky, Fernand Leger, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas, Rene Magritte, Kim Jae-hong, Henri Matisse, Giuseppe Arcimboldo, and Salvador Dali are presented in connection with math vocabulary.
So why is it that reindeer are the animals who pull Santa’s sleigh? This story answers that question by filling us all in on the interviews and test runs that Santa conducted in the days leading up to his first Christmas deliveries. Sloths would never have been up to getting around the world in a single night, elephants were too heavy for the integrity of the rooftops, and monkeys very nearly got the job, if it hadn’t been for all their monkey business. It’s fun, imaginative, and really makes perfect sense. The silly illustrations do a great job of adding personality to each animal group, and helping show why some were ill-suited to the task. A great December read aloud.
Yours in Books
An absolutely charming delight. Written as a series of letters back and forth between an owl and a book-shop-owning squirrel, we see the form of the letters gradually change from formal business correspondence to casual notes as a succession of book recommendations build more than one friendship and shift our main character from a seriously introverted crotchety curmudgeon to a willingly involved member of his neighborhood community. The illustrations are sweet and inviting and full of personality. Highly recommended.
Pura’s Cuentos
This is an absolute must have for (I think) all libraries! It’s the story behind the name behind the award given out every year by the ALA. And not only that, but it’s also just a celebration of story. For years I’ve sought out winners of the Pura Belpre award to include in my collection, and I knew they were books that celebrate Latin American heritage and culture, but I didn’t know much about the person for whom the award is named. This is a beautifully illustrated book that shares Pura’s story, and confirms it is right and just that such an award should be given in her honor.
Toucan with Two Cans
It’s a controlled-text early reader that plays a bit with sound-alike words and homonyms. It basically tells the story of a juggling toucan juggling cans. It has a certain element of the tongue twister about it that makes it kind of fun, but sometimes the use of the same words in different contexts makes building meaning from the story a bit confusing.
Sister Corita’s Words and Shapes
It’s a nice little picture book biography of a little-known (at least not to me) individual. Perhaps the subject is more well-known in art circles. Regardless, it would certainly make a nice addition to a collection with a strong art or religious focus. The story is told in a simple and direct manner for young children, infused with a sense of the joy and hope that it describes the Corita striving to share. The author’s note in the back is important to fleshing out the context for the story told in the main body of the book. It would have been enhanced by a few actual photos of the real individual and/or some samples of her art.
I am Courage: A Book of Resilience by Susan Verde
I am Courage is a must read, for any age, with its universal themes of learning to believe in ourselves and face what challenges us, including our fears. But this time, the life lesson is to do it together! The star character, a young girl, learns that courage is not the absence of fear, but the strength to try new and difficult things, or to stand up for others, even and especially when we are afraid. Simple, uplifting messages are skillfully illustrated showing children who find courage to keep riding even after they stumble, who share doubts with friends, and who always get up and try again whenever they fall. The book includes an appendix with multiple, easy to use techniques for calming ourselves with breath exercises and gathering strength with yoga poses. Children and adults alike can incorporate the simple messages to decrease stress and increase courage. I am Courage motivates and the illustrations inspire us all to cultivate resilience by kindly encouraging ourselves and leaning on each other. This way we can share our inner worries and triumphs, and others can share with us, leading to the creation of a stronger community together. A wonderful addition to any social and emotional learning collection, this book can be read again and again.