Where is Poppy? follows a young child’s search for her beloved grandfather, who has passed away the previous year, as her extended family gathers for their Passover Seder. The young girl discovers her ‘Poppy’ is not hiding anywhere around the house, as she remembers him in years past. She soon discovers ‘Poppy’ is present in all of her family members as they carry on the family/religious traditions.
Illustrated is somber shades of bluish purples, yellow, black, white and gray.
Concludes with a page of sixteen Passover terms used within the story on Passover Traditions.
written by Andy Nonamus and illustrated by Amy Jindra
An anonymous narrator (we know this because we can’t see a face, which is covered by a sticker in all the illustrations and there appears to be no name) recounts the adventurous horror of the first day in a new school. Readers will cringe and laugh at all the crazy stuff that happens in this weird place, from being “attacked” by a pack of dogs that want to lick the maple syrup off their shirt to locating a classroom through a locker! Along the way, friendships are made and what started out as the First Day, Worst Day ended as the First Day, Best Day.
Written in very accessible language with fun black and white illustrations, this book will appeal to those reluctant readers that enjoy books that are humorous in a goofy way. Characters are diverse and their behaviors and interactions are age appropriate. This is the beginning of a series that will be popular. Recommended.
I’m an American sets out to demonstrate the ideology that created the United States and why people from around the world continue to immigrate to the United States of America.
This is a powerful book that should be shared with everyone in every age group! Darshana Khiani’s words beautifully explain why people have been coming and continue to come, while Laura Freeman’s illustrations will warm your heart in a way take might just bring you to tears. Khiani has chosen people’s stories from China, Ireland, Russia, Muscogee Nation, Germany, Japan, and India knowing there are so many more countries that could easily be included. The values of: being able to vote, freedom of religion, perseverance, diligence, justice, pursuit of happiness, safety, equality, freedom to express yourself, and unity each tell a story of one people’s reason for traveling here for a new life.
It is important to continue reading after the illustrations are finished to include the Author’s Note, My Family’s Immigration Story, Migration Factors, and Around the World- about each of the groups listed above.
This book is a treasure of what America was created to be!
WOW! written on two levels one simple and one complex, the world of fungi is amazing and will blow your mind! AND I’m not talking about ‘magic mushrooms’ .
This book is fun to share with young children using only the two larger sizes of words and the intricate illustrations of over fifty fungi, as a mature mushroom releases its spores to travel and reproduce. The small cursive font names the illustrated fungi. The small (half the size of the large font) print font explores the world of fungi on a biological study level.
DO NOT SKIP the three additional information pages at the end of the book concluding with the diagram of ‘Fungi Life Cycle’. “How Fungi Heal and Help’ includes information on how some fungi can break down plastics and other petroleum products. Some fungi can help decrease the use of chemical pesticides. And some fungi connect trees underground to where information can be passed from tree to tree. This is simply fascinating.
There are two or three Pacific Northwest connections to this book in the types of fungi mentioned and in where the field of study (mycology) is taking place.
This colorful and easy-to-read graphic novel will appeal to a young adult reader who enjoys a book set in the early 2000’s and can empathize with an outcast goth girl.
Liz Holme isn’t a good fit at her new high school and is struggling with multiple social issues. Just as she finds some sanctuary in the mall scene, gets a job, and makes a few new gaming friends, a possibly dangerous situation develops with a creepy teacher.
Liz’s realistic experiences will resonate with contemporary teens, especially those who may be negotiating a parental divorce or are dealing with being LGBTQ issues. I like that Liz is a strong character who demonstrates resiliency in the face of many odds; however, it was a bit clunky for me to read – the transitions were not very smooth in the storyline.
This book beautifully combines a soft romance with the challenges of having divorced parents.
Bailey and Charlie first meet on a plane when they are both flying to live with their other parent. They meet again when they are older, and their initial hate blossoms into a beautiful romance as they connect through their shared parental experiences.
This book is perfect for those looking to better understand the life of a child of divorce, or those who just want to cozy up for a sweet romance. I loved the banter throughout the book, as Charlie and Bailey learn that the other might not be so bad. Bailey’s mom’s boyfriend has a daughter, and I think there could have been more conflict there, where it felt very understated.
This high-adventure novel takes place in the frigid Antarctic in the early 1900’s. It has a gripping storyline but I felt the narrative was somewhat too elementary and I didn’t care for the diary format.
Clara has just come from the front lines of the violent suffragist movement in England, where women were being beaten for their demand that women have the same rights as men. She signs up for an Antarctic expedition just as WWI is starting, and encounters many challenges with the tortuous expedition itself and the all-male crew.
History buffs may enjoy the rendition of the famous Shackleton expedition told from a strong female protagonist’s point of view. Trigger warning: there is an attempted sexual assault in the story.
I enjoyed the extreme adventure depictions, and the descriptions of surviving in the Antarctic. I disliked the diary format spoken in a peculiarly juvenile voice (I imagine even an 18-year-old in 1914 would be a tad more sophisticated).
This book fulfills the idea of “Let’s Get Outdoors!” for the title ICE SKATING, but only provides a little information on the actual mechanics of ice skating. If a picture (photo) is worth a 1000 words it’s a good thing this title has a glossary. It shows what ice skating looks like but does not tell you how to ice skate. The color photos of young ice skaters build excitement for the sport.
The book contains a Table of Contents: ‘What is Ice Skating?’, ‘On the Ice’, ‘Ice Skating Gear’, and ‘Ice Skating Safety’ , before the glossary, index, and their safe internet search website for more information – Factsurfer.com. This title’s Factsurfer has two good site for more information of the three provided.
This book fulfills the idea of “Let’s Get Outdoors!” for the title SNOWSHOEING, but provides minimal information on the actual mechanics of snowshoeing. If a picture (photo) is worth a 1000 words it’s a good thing this title has a glossary. It shows what snowshoeing looks like but does not tell you how to snowshoe. The color photos of young snowshoers build excitement for the sport.
The book contains a Table of Contents: ‘What is Snowshoeing?’, ‘Walking on Snow’, ‘Snowshoeing Gear’, and ‘Snowshoeing Safety’ , before the glossary, index, and their safe internet search website for more information – Factsurfer.com. This title’s Factsurfer has only one good site for more information of the three provided.
This book fulfills the idea of “Let’s Get Outdoors!” for the title CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, but only provides a little information on the actual mechanics of cross-country skiing. If a picture (photo) is worth a 1000 words it’s a good thing this title has a glossary. It shows what cross-country skiing looks like and tells you how to ski both classic and skate. The color photos of young skiers build excitement for the sport.
The book contains a Table of Contents: ‘What is Cross-country Skiing?’, ‘Classic or Skate?’, ‘Cross-country Skiing Gear’, and ‘Cross-country Skiing Safety’ , before the glossary, index, and their safe internet search website for more information – Factsurfer.com. This title’s Factsurfer has two good sites for more information of the three provided.
This book fulfills the idea of “Let’s Get Outdoors!” for the title DOWNHILL SKIING, but provides minimal information on the actual mechanics of downhill skiing. If a picture (photo) is worth a 1000 words it’s a good thing this title has a glossary. It shows what skiing looks like but does not tell you how to ski. The color photos of young skiers build excitement for the sport.
The book contains a Table of Contents: ‘What is Downhill Skiing?’, ‘On the Hill’, ‘Downhill Skiing Gear’, and ‘Downhill Skiing Safety’ , before the glossary, index, and their safe internet search website for more information – Factsurfer.com. This title’s Factsurfer has only one good site for more information of the three provided.
The Moon is personified as it tells its life story in cute illustrations with smiley faces on the heavenly bodies. It is presented in eleven chapters using cartoon bubbles with the sun and moon giving factual information in a non-so-factual format.
I particularly liked the illustration of the orbiting moon around the earth while the earth is orbiting around the sun on pages 20-21, the waning and waxing moon on pages 36-37 and 40-41. The new moon on page 39 is subtle but very revealing. Having seen a solar eclipse in person, I especially enjoyed the illustrations of its approach on page 51 and at totality on page 53! While this book would be hard to use for a research project it has excellent illustrations for younger readers to understand the moon and its phases.
Beginning readers, who enjoy slap-stick humor, will want to read how Big Bub-the purple blob with arms and legs- makes it to the birthday party after he finds out his bicycle has two flat tires. Big Bub is too big to fit into the taxi, too heavy for the pick-up truck, and too slow to catch the bus. Then he sees the junk yard where he spots two old bumper cars which he uses as roller skates to get to the party.
Before the story, there is a list of “Word Families” (7), “Sight words” (25), and “Bonus words” (16) to warm the young reader up for success. After the story, there are three questions demonstrate the reader’s success in reading.
Sabrina Sue, the chicken, is infatuated with going to the moon after seeing it one moonlit starry night. Her farm friends try to talk her out of it. Sabrina Sue struggles with if she should stay safe or go on her adventure to the moon! She does her moon research, gets in great physical shape, and goes to the rocket for her adventure. She loves the moon. Then returns to earth to tell all of her farm friends about it and show them her moon rock.
This second graphic novel continues Huda’s story as she gains more confidence with who she is and her place in the world. In this book, she and her family take a trip to three of the Disney parks in Florida. That means a squished car ride for a day with her sisters and then staying with one for each day in the parks. They all get life lessons about having each other’s backs out in the world than they’re used to, including boys, comments about her dress & hijab, and public daily prayers. She also finds a potential friend and a renewed closeness with her sisters. I like the bright, simple illustrations with clear facial expressions. Huda has her own version of the “angel & devil on her shoulder” and they help us understand her internal dialogue and struggles along the way. I also liked that while the Disney parks are hinted at in the background of scenes, this is in no way an advertisement for Disney. The focus is on Huda and her family. While the storyline and dialogue are fairly simple, the issues are perfectly appropriate for middle and high school. Issues of religious freedom, consent, finding your voice, Islamophobia, and family values weave through the book. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you already have Huda F Are You? If you don’t – get both!
The second book in Jason Reynolds’ Track series, Patina follows Patty’s story on the track team. Ghost, the main character from book one, Sunny (book 3), and Lu (book 4) are minor characters this time. In this book, Patty struggles with family, the pressures of track and new relay team training, and the relationships with some of her teammates. It’s not easy that she and her sister now live with her uncle and his white mom, Momly (Mamacita) while also trying to help her biological mom with her medical needs. I both loved & hated the ending. (No spoilers other than it’s a big cliffhanger!) I know that’s a great way to keep readers reading, but I wanted to KNOW! For readers who are also runners, there are some great scenes about training for a relay race. I loved this fast-paced book that probably should be read after Ghost and before Sunny, but not completely necessary (other than the ending which will make readers want to find Sunny to find out what happened!) Don’t just get one book – get the whole series.
This review is for the Spanish copy, but was originally read by the reviewer in English.
Written in prose-poem form, Jacqueline Woodson’s newest book should not be missed. The book tells the story of Sage, growing up in the Bushwick neighborhood in Brooklyn, also known as “The Matchbox”. The summer the story starts shows a neighborhood that seems to be constantly on fire and the sounds of fire sirens sounding on the night air. It’s also the summer Sage gets to know the new kid, Freddy. Sage spends most summer days playing basketball in the park with the boys with aspirations of going pro someday on an NBA team. That is until someone questions her identity and she does a really stupid thing that gets her grounded. It’s a year of change, of finding out who she really is, and remembering what she loves about this Brooklyn neighborhood. A beautiful book with poetic language that just flows. A little bit of basketball for the sports-lovers, but not so much that it will turn off those non-sporty readers. And while I love a long book, especially if it’s good (& this is!), I think it’s the perfect length for the readers who will be interested in the topic – not too long, not too short. A must get for any middle & high school library.
Andy Zhou is pretty used to being someone he truly isn’t in order to please others – whether it’s for his parents, his friend Cindy, or even being an invisible person in order to avoid trouble and attention. He’s used to coming out of his shell for his best friend Cindy, and recently, she’s gotten interested in a dance group called the movement. Add on the fact that there’s a new student named Jameel who wasn’t exactly the nicest, and Andy’s life is feeling troublesome. Things soon get more complicated as he tries to keep old friendships with Cindy and make new friendships, like with Jameel. He’s also struggling to figure out who he really is – switching between mask, after mask, constantly in order to please people. Jack Cheng has portrayed the relatable struggles of some people to create something we can laugh at, or feel comforted, knowing that there’s someone else out there struggling with the same thing. We aren’t alone. This book is one that people who don’t have a strong sense of identity or face stereotypes and expectations might find comfort in reading and connecting to the main character. Jack Cheng has done a stunning job at weaving in the troubles of how a person might struggle to fit into a different person to please others, and how sometimes, our ethnic and cultural background can set high expectations or stereotypes that aren’t always true. He does a great job at showing a young Chinese boy’s struggles and journey to identity and acceptance for himself.
I think that he did a great job describing and portraying the Lion dance that happens with all the drums and the movement of the lions themselves. I’ve seen a lot of Lion dances since it’s deeply ingrained into the Lunar New Year celebration in all different parts of the world that celebrate it. He did a spectacular job describing the actual events and the way the Lion moves around. It’s very accurate.He also did a great job portraying the struggles that sometimes happen for teenagers when we don’t know who we are, trying to please everyone else. We hide behind a different person- a mask of a person. Not to mention the stereotypes that could sometimes be unintentionally or intentionally put as a label on us because of others.
This is a pretty normal thing to say, but I love how the author puts in relatable things in this book. Sometimes, I struggle with figuring who I am, and sometimes I can’t shake the feeling that I’m invisible and forgettable. I could relate to Andy. I felt comforted and happy at the end, especially at the little author’s note at the end where he talked about how he related to the feelings and things put in this book. Not to mention the fact that I was raised differently than my parents, so sometimes I struggle to keep up with their expectations.I know what it’s like to have grandparents that don’t speak English at all (Although, I can’t exactly speak their language myself, I decently understand it.) The Lion dance that happened in this book hit a spot in my heart. I still get the happy, joyful, or even comforting feeling everytime I see the Dragon moving around, at the familiarity of the drums, the Lions jumping and wiggling around. It’s one of the things deeply ingrained into my culture and others who celebrate Chinese New Year. I really liked this book and highly recommend it.
By Victoria L., 7th grader at Komachin Middle School
written by Rie Neal and Illustrated by Talitha Shipman
Astrid is excited to work with her best friend, Hallie, when the Petite Picassos and the Shooting Stars get together to combine art and science. She’s not as thrilled to have Pearl on the team. Pearl is competing against Astrid for a scholarship to space camp and she always says that Astrid doesn’t share or work with others. She called her a ‘plant hog’, for goodness sake! The trio work together (kind of…no, not really) and Astrid is worried that Pearl is trying to ruin the project. So, she and Hallie spy on her and realize that Pearl is just sneaking into the lab to feed a hurt bunny. She isn’t there to ruin the project. They pull together as a team to care for the bunny and tell Mrs. Ruiz, the teacher, who adopts the bunny as a class pet. Even though they didn’t win, they learned the value of teamwork and trust.
The kids appear ethnically diverse and Astrid uses hearing aids. While not a huge part of the story, it is incorporated seamlessly into the book. This is wonderful, because there are very few books with differently-abled characters, who are just part of the group, getting into mischief like their peers. The focus on girls in science is very positive and much needed. There are black and white illustrations throughout and the language is very accessible. This is a very nice addition for those that need some easier chapter books. Presently, there are four books in the series.
Bilqis started playing basketball at the age of three. By high school she is the star player of the varsity team until one day they say she can’t play because she is wearing a hijab. Her teammates stand with her and she is allowed to play where she becomes the all-time lead scorer in the state of Massachusetts. She goes on to play in college and even plays with President Barack Obama.
This story follows Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir from the time she was three to an adult where she is forced to choose between her hijab and playing professional basketball. She decides to fight for the rights of Muslim girls and women in sports.
The text is simple and lyrical and the first person narration will be impactful for young readers, encouraging others to stand up for what they believe in. A short biography with photographs is included at the end of the books as well as discussion questions and resources to learn more. This book is a part of the Citizen Kid series.
Every night at midnight, Felix turns into a wolf. He loves his velvety paws and his long bushy tail. There is no one like him. At school, there is no one like him because he can’t go to sleepovers since he turns into a wolf. He thinks it will be easier to keep to himself. Even though he is fine on his own and he loves exploring as a wolf, he wishes he didn’t turn into a wolf every night. One day a new girl arrives at school and soon after he meets a new wolf at night. They enjoy running and leaping until the new wolf stumbles and Felix is lonely again.
A story about friendship, being comfortable with who you are and finding your pack. The colors on the page are striking and as the reader, you want to look back and see things that you may have missed that tell you more of the story.
Carina makes empanadas with her Tia Mimi every Saturday, but this Saturday, Tia Mimi is volunteering at the food center. She asks Carina to gather the ingredients for the empanadas. Carina is worried that she can’t do it alone. As she travels through the neighborhood gathering the ingredients, she notices how samosas and dumplings she sees in the neighborhood are similar to empanadas but different. Carina and the neighborhood come together to help those volunteering at the food center.
There seemed to be several storylines and it was hard to pick out which direction the story was going. Is the book about finding community, finding self-confidence in trying something on your own, maybe a bit of both? The different cultures represented and how we are the same, but different appeared to be one theme in the story.
The illustrations represent Tia Mimi’s diverse community and match Carina’s adventures through the neighborhood.
There is an author note at the end and a recipe for beef or chicken Puerto Rican empanadas.
On the longest night of the year, Owl asks who can help “shine the light and share a gift of hope this night.” Deer, Squirrel, Mouse, Duck, Rabbit, Raccoon, and Chickadee help decorate the tree with gifts to share. There is a page that requires the pages to fold out and the book to be tilted to see the tree in its entirety. The lyrical text and beautiful illustrations bring a soft gentleness to the book that feels like soft falling snow.
Ichthyosaurs looked like a fish or dolphin, but were actually reptiles – the largest marine reptiles that ever lived. In this title, the reader will learn physical characteristics, behavior, diet, and the extinction story of the ichthyosaur.
Bellwether Media’s Ancient Marine Life series is perfect for the young paleontologist who is ready to explore beyond dinosaurs. The informational text uses short sentences, supporting graphics, and bolded glossary terms to support developing readers. Size comparisons are made in relation to objects kids can visualize like a couch, a car, or a bus. Endpapers include glossary, index, print resources, and Factsurfer’s curated digital resources. The maps are one confusing feature. The maps on page 5 show the continent configuration during the period in which the animal lived without indicating how long ago it was nor explaining why the continents are different than they are currently. The location map at the end of the text does not indicate if it represents the location of fossil finds or presumed location of the extinct animal’s habitat. All in all, an attractive and engaging series.
In Mosasaur, the reader learns what made this extinct reptile interesting and unique. This giant, slow moving snake-like reptile with double jointed jaws was as big as a semi-truck.
Bellwether Media’s Ancient Marine Life series is perfect for the young paleontologist who is ready to explore beyond dinosaurs. The informational text uses short sentences, supporting graphics, and bolded glossary terms to support developing readers. Size comparisons are made in relation to objects kids can visualize like a couch, a car, or a bus. Endpapers include glossary, index, print resources, and Factsurfer’s curated digital resources. The maps are one confusing feature. The maps on page 5 show the continent configuration during the period in which the animal lived without indicating how long ago it was nor explaining why the continents are different than they are currently. The location map at the end of the text does not indicate if it represents the location of fossil finds or presumed location of the extinct animal’s habitat. All in all, an attractive and engaging series.
