Shelf Awareness--Namaste Is a Greeting

PB Review: Namaste Is a Greeting

Namaste Is a Greeting by Suma Subramaniam, illus. by Sandhya Prabhat (Candlewick, 32p., ages 4-8, 9781536217834)

In this charming, sparely worded picture book, Namaste Is a Greeting, a child shares possible definitions--and associated kindnesses--of the word "namaste."

The big-hearted, bindi-wearing narrator informs readers that "namaste is a greeting" as they lift hands to forehead in acknowledgement of their elderly neighbor and the new day. The brown-skinned child, dressed in a sunshine-yellow dress, acts upon other meanings of namaste--"A smile. A friendship. A celebration"--as they leave home and engage with their vibrant neighborhood. Namaste is a bow to a juice vender, an acknowledgment of a yoga practice, enjoyment in a moment of silence, an understanding that "namaste is loving the world." But namaste is more. Namaste also "calms your heart when things aren't going right," serves as "a path when the road is unclear" and can be offered as a way "to heal and comfort." Because, above all, as this loving child explains, "Namaste is the divine in me honoring the divine in you."

Debut author Suma Subramaniam has penned a lyrical narrative that thoughtfully explores the impact of a series of respectful and earnest interpretations of namaste. Sandhya Prabhat (I Am Brown) guides the plot with her brilliantly colorful digital illustrations, which showcase the caring acts the child performs. Namaste Is a Greeting poetically shows how small actions can spread comfort and goodwill throughout a neighborhood--and perhaps even the world. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

December's Book of the Month--Poo-Dunnit?

December’s Book of the Month is really funny—and you just might learn something from it. POO-DUNNIT? A FOREST FLOOR MYSTERY, is written by Katelyn Aronson and illustrated by Stephanie Laberis.

When “once upon a forest floor, a snout poke[s] out a burrow door,” it’s Mouse, who finds a pile of poo sitting there. With a “sniff, sniff!” and a “whiff, whiff!” the investigation begins, because of course Mouse wants to know “Poo-dunit?” First on the suspect list is Squirrel, who says the poo is too big, then Skunk, who says it’s too thick, then Porcupine, who says it’s too long, then, well, you get the idea. None of the animals fesses up. But this big, thick, long, un-pointy, dark, messy poo must belong to someone!

The extremely entertaining story, fabulous to read aloud, is told in bouncy, clever rhyme, punctuated by Mouse calling out the progressively larger animals in an attempt to solve the mystery. Lively digital illustrations are expressive and comical. But the genius of this book is that there really is a non-fiction element to all the fun—it’s a beginner’s guide to scat! Back matter includes a guessing game and a brief introduction, while end papers use animal tracks to reinforce who poops what.

POO-DUNNIT? A FOREST FLOOR MYSTERY will surely delight kids of all ages. C’mon, who can resist a funny, rhyming book about poo? Not me!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--The Storyteller's Handbook

PB Review: The Storyteller's Handbook

The Storyteller's Handbook by Elise Hurst (Compendium, 128p., ages 4-up, 9781970147766)

Elise Hurst's The Storyteller's Handbook is a marvelous volume of intricately rendered illustrations expressly intended to serve as doorways to creativity. In a foreword, Neil Gaiman sets the stage with a welcoming tale of his own--a story about stories. Hurst then issues an invitation to readers to "fire your imagination," with her art offering "fragments--pieces of story, intriguing characters and animals, strange lands, and mythical beings." More than 100 pages of Hurst's detailed and fanciful art include outlandish structures, never-before-seen flora, "emotions," "possibilities, and many things out of place and out of time." Hurst intersperses her scenes with statements meant to encourage dreaming, storytelling and creativity. It's a splendid compendium with "no rules and no set stories... but so many peculiar ingredients waiting" within! --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger and children's book author.

November Recommendations

Picture Books:

YOU ARE LIFE, written by Bao Phi and illustrated by Hannah Li, is an empowering prose poem, in which Phi’s text swoops and soars and sings out some of the many wonderful ways that children of immigrants are unique, seen, and loved. Li’s colorful illustrations interpret both real and fanciful elements to portray lives full of movement and reflection, caring and joy.

FOX AND CHICK: UP AND DOWN, by Sergio Ruzzier, is another pitch-perfect comics-style encounter between the two friends. In three short chapters, Fox helps Chick navigate being stuck in a tree, figuring out how much snow is enough for sledding, and solving the problem of where to keep a book (since it’s not a large meringue cake or four bags of potato chips). Ruzzier’s signature art style continues to delight. As friendship stories go, there’s Frog and Toad, George and Martha. Fox and Chick deserve to sit beside them.

In APPLE AND MAGNOLIA, written by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Patricia Metola, Britta knows that her two favorite trees are friends. Dad and Bronwyn don’t think this is so, but Nana understands that “unusual friendships can be the most powerful of all.” When Magnolia’s branches droop, her bark grows patchy, and her leaves turn brown, Nana supports Britta’s plan to help Apple draw on the power of Magnolia’s friendship in order to heal. The story is fancifully, lyrically told, and the illustrations are distinctive and lovely. An author’s note explains that trees can send nutrients and signals to each other, and scientists are understand how this works.

MUSHROOM RAIN, written by Laura K. Zimmermann and illustrated by Jamie Green, lyrically describes the world of mushrooms, those “bizarre blooms with strange scents,” which are “tattered and torn by hungry visitors,” or harvested by squirrels, ants, and “mushroom hunters, baskets in hand.” Mushrooms spread and grow, scatter and branch out, until they rise again “after a mushroom rain.” The art is glorious. And there’s plenty of back matter to supplement the text, including a couple of projects to help readers further appreciate the fungi.

In LUPE LOPEZ: ROCK STAR RULES! by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo and Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Joe Cepeda, Lupe’s a real-life, Texas-size rock star.” Clearly. But Lupe’s kindergarten teacher Ms. Quintanilla isn’t impressed and insists Lupe needs to follow school rules, just like everyone else—except what about Lupe’s own rock star rules?! Now, if she can only get some adoring fans she’d have some real star power… The authors have written a completely endearing, larger-than-life character in Lupe, who’s illustrated to perfection by Cepeda.

In PIP AND ZIP, written by Elana K. Arnold and illustrated by Doug Salati, a family goes for a walk during a time when “schools were closed and work was closed and everything fun was canceled.” They find two eggs in the park, and take them home. Since they can’t bring the eggs to a wildlife center, they borrow an incubator and settle in to wait and see. Twenty eight days later, Pip and Zip appear, “wet and small and sort of strange.” Arnold’s narrative—with “one foot in real life and one foot in fiction”—is engaging, and Salati’s skillful pencil and digital illustrations add clarity to this appealing story of hatching ducklings during a pandemic.

--Lynn

November's Book of the Month--Paradise Sands

PARADISE SANDS, by Levi Pinfold, is exactly the kind of picture book that drew me to this art form in the first place. It’s beautifully illustrated, and hints at the existence of a world—or worlds—beyond ours. Of magic and possibility. Of the chance to prove and be proven, amid outsize danger and heartfelt consequences.

A cryptic poem, one with the feel of a premonition, sets the mood even before the book’s title page. “White roses we follow, towards Teller’s Hollow/Dead earth to a spring, the house of a king.” Sure enough, the narrative commences with a girl and her brothers driving to visit their mom, when the group decides to stop and pick flowers by the side of the dry, dusty road. One brother recites the first line of the poem, but the girl calls it nonsense. By the time they’ve picked their flowers, however, the heat becomes too much, and when a “quiet and still” building appears, the brothers head over to ask for a drink. Now the girl wants to get away, but her brothers, who imbibe deeply from the building’s spring, become trapped. The rhyme unfolds. The girl is tested. And the ending completely satisfies.

A passive yet poetic voice lends the text an air of unreality. Haunting, atmospheric, glorious mixed media illustrations, predominantly in darkest brown, tans, blues, and greens, bring this tale to life, and give credence to the work as they “realistically” portray the fantastical elements. Reminiscent of Chris Van Alsburg’s mysterious works (like my much-loved copy of The Wreck of the Zephyr), PARADISE SANDS should inspire thoughtful readers to look beyond what they see, and begin to imagine the immensity of what they don’t.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Interviews with Tim Collins and John Bigwood

Tim Collins: The Lure of Mystery, Puns and Puzzles

Tim Collins is the author of more than 30 books including Cosmic Colin, the Wimpy Vampire series and the Dorkius Maximus series. They have been translated into over 30 languages. He lives near Oxford. Buster Books will publish Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels on February 7, 2023. Shelf Awareness spoke with Collins about using classic mysteries--and puzzles--to draw kids into reading.

Are you a big Sherlock Holmes fan?

Yes, I love the Holmes canon and many of the books that have been inspired by it. I used to walk home down Baker Street every day, and pass 221B. The relationship between Holmes and Watson is one you can write to endlessly, even if you make them a dog and a cat.

What did the process for writing this book look like? Did you read any Holmes stories for inspiration before you began?

As with all detective fiction, you start with a solution and work out how to seed the mystery in the minds of readers. I wanted to pitch the book at the right level for the age group and, weirdly, many young readers guessed who did it before many adults!

I didn't re-read any specific Conan Doyle adventures before writing the book, though I found myself throwing in references to stories such as "The Adventure of the Dancing Men" and The Hound of the Baskervilles. Later in the series, there are references to the works of other crime writers, such as Agatha Christie and Ethel Lina White.

Where did you get the idea for including puzzles, mazes and other interactive challenges in this book?

The book was originally going to be a branching story in the tradition of Choose Your Own Adventure. But as Buster Books have a lot of experience with puzzle books, we decided to integrate puzzles into the story instead. At one point, we even thought of doing a branching story and puzzles at the same time, but that would have been a bit much.

How did you work with illustrator John Bigwood? Did you provide detailed notes or more general ones about the kind of puzzles you wanted?

I provided a brief description of each puzzle, and the editor, Frances [Evans], found examples of similar ones so John could see the sort of thing we were after.

The dog and cat puns are hilarious. Can you give readers an idea of how you come up with them?

I try not to come up with too many puns, because they're not great for foreign editions of the book. It's much easier to pun in English than many other languages, so you don't want to give translators too many headaches. But sometimes you just can't stop yourself. There's no way I could resist changing "Baker Street" to "Barker Street," for example.

What do you enjoy most about writing for this age group?

Books can be magical objects for this age group. They can feel a real sense of achievement when they've finished a novel on their own, especially one like this, where the puzzle-solving makes them feel part of the adventure. Many children like to collect a series and place the books in order on their shelves--a habit that never leaves some of us.

As an author, you're trying to draw children into reading for pleasure which can have a hugely positive impact on their lives.

What do you hope readers will take away from your story?

I hope the puzzle format will appeal to children who want to read but are put off by big chunks of unbroken text. And that they'll have fun trying to crack the case. Someone got in touch and said their daughter was jotting down clues in her notebook as she read it, which is excellent sleuthing!

I also hope that those who enjoy the series will one day seek out the work of Arthur Conan Doyle.

Is there anything else you'd like people to know about Sherlock Bones and Dr. Catson?

Those who are familiar with the original stories will not be surprised to discover that Bones has an arch-nemesis. He's called Moriratty, and he will cause plenty of trouble as the series goes on.

John Bigwood: Cluing in on the Art

John Bigwood is an illustrator and graphic designer based in London. He has worked across a range of books for children and adults, including How to Draw People for the Artistically Anxious and the Sherlock Bones series. Shelf Awareness spoke with Bigwood about creating the art for Sherlock Bones and his own love of puzzles.

How do you make your art?

I use a mixture of traditional and digital methods. I start the process with rough pencil sketches and, once I'm happy with the general look and composition, I begin to add more detail and character. This leaves me with a reasonably developed draft, which is then scanned into Photoshop, where I digitally create the final line work using a Wacom tablet and pen. I find placing a piece of paper over the Wacom tablet, so that I'm drawing directly on to the paper, helps to create a more organic line with the pen. The shading and textures are then added digitally, using a variety of brushes I create in Photoshop.

Producing the final artwork digitally helps me to work a lot faster and allows for any mistakes to be quickly amended, which is always helpful! I do find the initial process of drawing and sketching on paper very important, as it allows me to create the artwork more intuitively and with greater freedom. It's also nice to be able to work and draw somewhere away from my desk every now and then.

Are you a big puzzle fan yourself?

I am. I'm not sure how good I am at them, but I certainly enjoy the challenge of trying to work them out. Riddles and logic puzzles are perhaps my favorite. When I was younger, I received a book of riddles and logic puzzles for Christmas, which I absolutely loved. I spent the next two days reading aloud puzzles to my family, assuming they were enjoying them just as much as I was. Mysteriously, the book disappeared without trace just after Boxing Day, a puzzle I'm still trying to solve!

Is there anything in the art that readers should look for that might not be in the text?

I wouldn't want to give too much away, but there are a few subtle clues in some of the illustrations that might help eagle-eyed readers work out some of the story's mysteries. Being a good detective is all about spotting clues and being able to decipher what they might mean. If you look hard enough, you may well spot the odd pointer that could help you solve the case, even before Bones and Catson.

Shelf Awareness--Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels

CB Review: Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels

Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels by Tim Collins, illus. by John Bigwood (Buster Books, 192p., ages 6-9, 9781780557502, February 7, 2023)

Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels encourages children to join the most famous of canine detectives--accompanied by his trusty feline sidekick--in an investigation that is mysterious and exciting enough to "really puzzle over." This interactive book is the first in a series and is filled with energetic spot illustrations and a variety of games that are sure to absorb budding sleuths.

Sherlock Bones of Barker Street feels "gloomy" when things are too quiet, so his good friend Dr. Jane Catson obligingly searches through her newspaper, The Morning Terrier, for an item of interest. Catson suggests that Holmes investigate a missing shipment of Swedish carrots or an heirloom pocket watch stolen from a large Doberman. Bones wants "a crime that's worthy of the front page, not page eight." The detective is delighted when he hears a large dog approaching: Inspector Bloodhound has arrived to ask for help with something big enough for Bones to really sink his teeth into.

The Queen's crown jewels have gone missing! "The most valuable jewels in the country" were stolen overnight from Kennel Palace without any of her guards noticing. Inspector Bloodhound tells Bones and Catson that his police pups uncovered three clues that morning at the palace, but the bloodhounds "need a little help working out what they mean." First, there was the "low rumbling noise" heard by a mole over on Kitten Mews; second, "some strange markings on a tree in the park opposite the palace"; and third, "a trail of prints leading away from a puddle on the front lawn." "The world's greatest detective" leaps into action, hat on head, magnifying glass in paw and Catson hot on his heels.

Even though the police pups have turned the front lawn outside the palace into "shapeless mush," Holmes manages to spot a trail of muddy prints going down to the river, across the bridge and up the hill to posh Kennel Heights. The footprints lead to the front door of actress Molly Ruffington (of Rover and Juliet and Catbeth fame), who reports that her diamond tiara has also been stolen. Holmes thinks the tiara thief and the crown jewel thief may be "one and the same person," and he and Catson continue searching the neighborhood. Holmes finds a scrap of paper announcing yet another robbery--a beloved pocket watch taken from a Doberman named Butch. The Doberman saw the "horrible" thief, and describes a "thick black tail, large ears, and sharp, werewolf-like teeth." There have been many other burglaries in the neighborhood, too: a wedding ring stolen from the wombats in number 166, a golden racing medal taken from the greyhound in number 121 and two silver brooches thieved from the vole in number 148.

Bones and Catson head back to Barker Street to ponder their troublesome case. When the sun sets, Bones leaps into action. He grabs a bucket of water, flags down a cab and heads back to Kennel Heights with Catson. They station themselves outside Molly's home until a muddy beast with a "cruel, savage look" and long teeth "as sharp as pins" emerges. Bones and Catson apprehend the despicable thief.

But this is only the beginning. Bones and Catson, still searching for the Queen's jewels, move onto the other clues gathered by Inspector Bloodhound and the police pups: the "low rumbling noise" and the "strange markings." Homes and Catson's investigation leads them through a dark tunnel where they evade a shrieking Sewer Phantom and out to the park where they apprehend a vicious cat. But the more clues they investigate, the longer their list of suspects becomes! After many twists and turns--and plenty of puzzles for readers to solve--Bones and Catson bring their case to a satisfying conclusion.

Award-winning author Tim Collins, whose books have been published in the U.S. and abroad, uses a witty and engaging style to fashion this twisty mystery. His action-packed text provides plenty of clues to encourage readers to guess the culprit's identity. Illustrator John Bigwood, working in pencil and Photoshop, does his part by offering up intricately designed visual problems that practically beg to be solved. At first, readers are asked to rearrange letters in a word finder to figure out which story will interest Bones. Then they can "help" Bones and Catson follow the trail of prints to the river. After that, they need to arrange panels in the correct order to reveal Butch the Doberman. One fun puzzle after another peppers the text until readers follow clues to the storage chamber where the jewels are hidden, identify the villain and even figure out which of the "excitable" police bloodhound pups receives their medal first. Answers are at the back of the book, ready to be accessed immediately or pondered together at the narrative's end. All in all, Sherlock Bones and the Case of the Crown Jewels--Bones's "trickiest case yet"--should have young readers brandishing their very own magnifying glasses. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--Polar Bear

PB Review: Polar Bear

Polar Bear by Candace Fleming, illus. by Eric Rohmann (Neal Porter Books, 32p., ages 4-8, 9780823449163, November 22, 2022)

Polar Bear wisely and effectively brings climate change into focus while closely following one family of polar bears as they struggle to survive in a harsh, warming climate.

It's "April in the Arctic" and "temperatures barely nudge above freezing" when a mother polar bear and her two cubs emerge from their den beneath the snow. Mother has survived on stored fat for five months, gestating and then nursing her young, and now she's hungry and ready to hunt. Day by day, she teaches her cubs about the world outside their den, until it's time to travel "home to the ice" along a trail she used with her own mother, the same one "her cubs will take when they are grown."

The trip is long and dangerous, but the family finally arrives at "ice-covered Hudson Bay." Mother hunts while babies watch and learn. Weeks pass as the bear family gorges and gains weight, but they're in a race against time to fatten up before "summer's lean months." When the ice has melted, "seals are almost impossible to catch in open water," and this year "too much ice is melting too soon." The odds of survival are difficult in the best of times, as "only one in ten hunts succeed," and now the ice, so necessary for these bears "to hunt and eat and survive," is being depleted by warming temperatures in the Arctic.

Polar Bear is yet another wondrous collaboration from the Sibert Medal-winning team of Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann (Honeybee). Fleming masterfully builds suspense, and her text will have readers rooting hard for this family of bears as they struggle to find food and grapple with climate change. Her lovely, lilting prose accompanies Caldecott Medalist Rohmann's breathtaking oil illustrations, which include an effective double gatefold showing the struggling bears adrift after ice melts too early. Back matter explains how polar bears have adapted to their arctic climate and brings home the need to keep climate change at bay, including a section on how readers can help.

Polar Bear, with text both informative and lyrical and achingly beautiful illustration, issues a hopeful call to action. The young bears survive two seasons of hardship and hunting with their mother and are eventually old enough to separate and "walk on, alone, beneath the Arctic sky, along familiar paths, at home on the ice." --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--Demon in the Wood

GN Review: Demon in the Wood

Demon in the Wood by Leigh Bardugo, illus. by Dani Pendergast (Roaring Brook Press, 208p., ages 13-up, 9781250624642)

Demon in the Wood is an alluring graphic novel origin story that should invite new readers in, while deepening fans' understanding of the tyrannical Grisha leader from Leigh Bardugo's immensely popular Shadow and Bone trilogy.

The Grisha hide from the drüskelle, witchhunters who stalk the "cursed" witches across the land, from the northern "cold wilds of Fjerda" to the southern "forests and fields of Ravka." Aleksander (Eryk) and his mother, Lena, are powerful Grisha who are always on the move. They have "a hundred names, a new story for every town, camp, and city," but now they would like to spend the winter in one place, learning what they can from a Grisha chieftain. When Eryk meets witch sisters Annika and Sylvi, he impresses them with a display of his rare shadow-summoning power. Annika, whose powers are weak, convinces Eryk to help her hunt a large bear that has been sighted nearby; its bones might enhance her power. But when the new friends find the bear, it is already dead, and a potentially fatal accident on their trek home exposes Eryk's biggest secret.

Bardugo (Ninth House) depicts the antihero of her trilogy with empathy in this graphic novel rendition of a previously published short story. Eryk emerges as a complicated character, with his harsh and unavoidably solitary youth. Debut book illustrator Dani Pendergast's sophisticated illustrations allow the moody story to play out against shadowy blacks, chilly whites, grays, mauves and blues that elegantly describe a frigid, cloud-covered landscape. This is a worthy (albeit somewhat slight) addition to the canon that will surely leave readers wishing for more. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

October Recommendations

Picture Books:

In RICK THE ROCK OF ROOM 214, written by Julie Falatko and illustrated by Ruth Chan, Rick sits on the Nature Finds shelf in Room 214, “with an acorn, some moss, and a piece of bark.” Rick doesn’t get to sing, jump, draw or read with the students in his classroom, he just gets to sit. But Rick begins to wish he was doing some majestic posing and jutting and tumbling like the outdoor rocks he sees in books, so he waits for his chance… Rick soon finds that the outdoors isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and maybe there are adventures to be had back in Room 214, after all. This story has just the right blend of warm-hearted and silly. Falatko’s entertaining text is accompanied by Chan’s delightful ink and digitally colored illustrations, both of which ensure that Rick has a boulder-sized personality and plenty of charm.

In THE MOUSE WHO CARRIED A HOUSE ON HIS BACK, written by Jonathan Stutzman, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault, Vincent is a traveling mouse, with “boots on his feet, a hat on his head, and a house on his back.” One day, Vincent sets his house down on a hill, because that’s “where he need[s] to be.” Soon, a tired bullfrog, a cat, a family of hedgehogs, a fox, two badgers, a herd of deer, and even a bear find that Vincent’s house is “much larger than it appear[s].” This gentle, Mitten-like tale of generosity is deftly illustrated with gouache, ink, cut paper, and die-cut art, making it quite a lovely package.

IF YOUR BABYSITTER IS A BRUJA, written by Ana Siqueira, illustrated by Irena Freitas, warns readers to “be wary,” because if it’s almost Halloween, then your new babysitter “might be a bruja! A witch!” If she zooms and cackles, you’ll need to “cook up a plan!” If she if she gobbles, spits, giggles, and cackles (again), you’ll want to “flee to the magic garden!” Steal her broom if you can, but odds are you’ll end up in a “bubbling cauldron with starving ¡¡¡cocodrillos!!!” But all is not lost, so read this book to find out the rest! Colorful, cartoony digital illustrations add to the fun, beautifully showcasing the mayhem.

Like the title implies, THE SWEETEST SCOOP: BEN & JERRY’S ICE CREAM REVOLUTION, written by Lisa Robinson and illustrated by Stacy Innerst, is the story of Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, and how they founded their great ice cream empire. Apparently, these “two groovy guys” met when they were twelve. One liked art and one liked science, but they both loved food. They figured out how to make ice cream, how to sell ice cream, “how make their flavors stand out,” and they figured out how to “use ice cream to make the world a better place. Chunky Monkey, Wavy Gravy, Cherry Garcia. Save our Swirled, Empower Mint, Imagine Swirled Peas. Yum! A super-engaging text is peppered with riddles and accompanied by playful watercolor, ink, and Photoshop illustrations. This book’s a treat!

AMERICAN DESI, written by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and illustrated by Supriya Kelkar, portrays a young girl’s earnest look at what it means to belong to two cultures. Is she “Bollywood moves” or “hip-hop grooves?” Is she “cricket wickets… and screams for all” or “football scrimmage, sacks, and calls?” Using colors to define the different strands that pull and tug at her heart, this affirming picture book written in rhyme assures readers that our main character has “no need to hide/The many colors of me.” The paper, fabric, mixed media, and digitally collaged illustrations are bright, full of energy, and work in perfect harmony with the text.

LOOK, by Fiona Woodcock, is an intriguing concept book that restricts itself to only words spelled with two Os in a row. As sun rises, it’s time for “FOOD” then “BOOTS,” after which a sister and brother “ZOOM” to the “ZOO.” They see a kangaroo, and a cockatoo, and a panda eating bamboo, and you get the idea. Finally, things wind down at bedtime with a shampoo and a book, while outside there’s some more double-o magic to end this most interesting of days. Hand-cut rubber stamps, stencils, pen and pencil art, all composited digitally, bring to life this clever idea with a text that seems to achieve its goal effortlessly.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Curve and Flow

PB Review: Curve and Flow

Curve and Flow: The Elegant Vision of L.A. Architect Paul R. Williams by Andrea J. Loney, illus. by Keith Mallett (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 48p., ages 4-8, 9780593429075)

Curve and Flow tells the inspiring story of Paul R. Williams, a gifted architect who worked hard to achieve success despite early 20th-century racism in the U.S.

Los Angeles-born Paul "loves to draw and draw--especially buildings!" As a boy who dreams of designing his own home someday, he delights in the "swooping lines of L.A. [that] curve and flow around him." Unfortunately, the "big stone wall of racism" blocks his path. But Paul "loves a challenge," and even though no one has "ever heard of a Negro architect," he's determined to "take a curve and flow around" the problem. He studies, hones his skills and wins contest after contest with his clean and clever designs. He's hired by a top architectural firm in L.A., then starts his own business. Paul designs "bold, dazzling, innovative, and unforgettable" homes--houses he's not allowed to live in because "a huge invisible wall of laws... blocks Black people from living in many parts of Los Angeles." But he never stops believing he'll design his own home, never stops working, planning, building, curving and flowing until he makes his dream come true.

Andrea J. Loney's (Double Bass Blues) lyrical approach and recurring metaphors allow her to relate Williams's story deftly and with a gentle hand. Her back matter contains an extensive timeline that grounds and expands her focused text. Keith Mallett's (Sing a Song) detailed digital illustrations--including stunning endpapers--give a strong sense of the era; blues, browns and yellows lend an appropriately old-timey feel. Curve and Flow delivers an accomplished and uplifting biography of a Black man who "created more than 3,000 structures around the world" and is integral to the history of Los Angeles. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger and children's book author.

October's Book of the Month--The Ogress and the Orphans

October’s Book of the Month is Kelly Barnhill’s THE OGRESS AND THE ORPHANS, a masterful middle grade fantasy by a masterful storyteller.

Stone-in-the-Glen “used to be a lovely town. Everyone said so.” It was full of all kinds of trees, and friendly, helpful neighbors. At its heart was the Library. But after the library burned down and then the school, after the trees died and the light became a “constant, searing whiteness,” the good people of Stone-in-the-Glen squinted angrily at each other and retreated inside their homes.

This suits the Mayor just fine.” With his “blinding shock of blond hair,” the Mayor, who “glitter[s] when he [speaks],” had once been a “World-Famous Dragon Hunter,” but now he simply lives in the Mayor’s mansion and dazzles the people of the town.

By the time the Ogress arrives, the town is a wretched place. No one helps anyone else, and the orphans—all fifteen of them—as well as Matron and her husband Myron, really do need some help. The Ogress decides to deliver gifts to everyone in the sad little town, excess bounty from her garden baked into sweet treats, lovingly placed on doorsteps by herself, the crows, and Dog. No one knows who brings these gifts, and the townspeople are all too miserable to care. But when a child from the orphanage goes missing, the Mayor is quick to stir up plenty of anger, and point the increasingly angry mob in the direction of the one villager who appears to be most different—the Ogress.

This is one of Barnhill’s best. Ogres, dragons, orphans, and books, all lovingly spun into a truly delightful and thought-provoking read. Like the Ogress’s treats, there should be plenty for young readers to chew on here.

--Lynn

September Recommendations

Picture Books:

In EVERY DOG IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, written by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Matthew Cordell, Louis wants a dog more than anything, but his grandma, who “knows everything,” tells him there are already enough dogs in the neighborhood. Of course, Louis then wants to know how exactly many, and when Grandma won’t answer and the folks at City Hall can’t answer, Louis decides to count them himself. He is thorough, and kind, and, while he counts all the dogs, Grandma is busy with her own civic project. The text is moving without being overly sentimental, the pictures nimbly tell their half of the story, and it all comes together beautifully.

TELLING STORIES WRONG, written by Gianni Rodari, illustrated by Beatrice Alemagna, and translated from the Italian by Antony Shugaar, is full of charming interplay between a girl and her grandpa as he attempts to tell her the story of Little Red Riding Hood. As the title indicates, Grandpa gets many things wrong, but the girl helpfully sets him straight and keeps the classic tale on track. This impish ode to storytelling is gorgeously illustrated by the ever-wonderful Alemagna with both playfulness and sophistication.

In another old tale, THE THREE BILLY GOATS GRUFF, this one retold by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen, there’s a poor hungry troll who’s only recent meal was “a leather boot and some goop he’d found in his belly button.” But then “Clip, clop! Clip, clop!” a “goat smorgasbord” comes his way. Told with droll wit and a fair amount of rhyme, Barnett’s delivers a fine version of this familiar story that’s illustrated with Klassen’s signature, minimal style that’s populated by oddball creatures and rendered mostly in browns and tans. Read it aloud for maximum fun!

In LITTLE HOUSES, written by Kevin Henkes and illustrated by Laura Dronzek, when a girl visits her grandparents at the beach, in a house “so close to the water, you can hear the waves,” she and her grandma spend their mornings looking for shells. And when Grandma “reminds [her] that shells are little houses,” the girl begins to wonder about many things… Intelligent and lyrical, thought-provoking and full of wonder, this gentle book takes a deep dive into beach treasures and what makes a house.

And since I love monsters so much, here are two commendable board books about monsters:

In I’M THE BOSS, by Elise Gravel, a little monster named Lulu wants a lot of big things, but her caregiver keeps saying no. Finally Lulu asks for the perfect big thing and is appeased. Playful text and adorable art that’s simply and effectively done.

MONSTER CLOTHES, by Daisy Hirst, shows all the fun things that different monsters might wear. And then there’s Evie…! More adorable monsters in this one, also rendered cleanly and clearly.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Moon Dark Smile

YA Review: Moon Dark Smile

Moon Dark Smile by Tessa Gratton (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 432p., ages 12-up, 9781534498150)

Tessa Gratton's (Strange Grace; Night Shine) affecting fantasy introduces readers to a world of sorcery and intrigue, where great strength lies in stepping beyond limitations of binary choice.

When she was seven, Raliel Dark-Smile's father, the emperor, insisted she choose her own identity. She chose the moniker of a legendary dragon and "declared her name." Since then, Raliel's only true friend has been Moon, the great demon who represents "the power of the empire" and is bound to the palace. The emperor and his consorts are also bound, as Raliel will be once she's completed her upcoming Heir's Journey. But both Moon and Raliel long to be free. They create a magical amulet and, when Raliel is 18, she begins her Journey with Moon secretly nestled "just beneath her heart." Osian Redpop, a young guard with dangerous secrets of his own, is ordered to accompany them. As Raliel and Moon seek a way to expand their world beyond the palace walls, the odyssey leads them to sorcerers of great knowledge and power. It's only when the three companions start to understand the meaning of "liminality" and begin to move beyond the binary, though, that they learn how to break the bonds that imprison them.

Gender fluidity is at the heart of this lush yet ethereal fantasy populated with demons, spirits, witches and sorcerers. Gratton's characters repeatedly slip outside traditional dualities, and her concept of liminality offers a path to the power that Raliel and Moon need to succeed. Mellifluous writing delivers a compelling story that, like Raliel Dark-Smile herself, is nimble and strong, its magic unspooling as effortlessly as a dragon splashing in a pool. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--Three Little Vikings

PB Review: Three Little Vikings

Three Little Vikings by Bethan Woollvin (Peachtree, 32p., ages 4-8, 9781682634561)

Three Little Vikings is a cheerfully told Nordic adventure that features three small but plucky friends, a mysterious BIG something in the woods, piles of gold and a delightful dose of comeuppance.

The "Viking folk" are busy celebrating newly acquired treasure, but Ebba, Helga and Wren are worried. There's "something scary outside," they tell the Chieftain, who responds, "Nonsense!" The next morning the village is in shambles. Helga says it looks like "something very BIG" is the reason, but the Chieftain again insists this is "nonsense!" When Helga, Ebba and Wren inform him that a "BIG, angry, noisy creature is roaming the forest," the Chieftain booms "nonsense!" a third and fourth time. He blames a thunderstorm, a fox, rotten trees and pesky ravens, then dismisses the girls so he can take care of more important matters, like who is stealing the village treasure. The three friends decide it's up to them to save the village. They do their research and hatch a savvy plan to take care of the bashing, smashing trouble all by themselves.

Bethan Woollvin (Little Red) delivers a merry olde story that's chock full of modern-day appeal. Her Viking girls are steadfast and wise, and they earn their right to one-up their stubbornly oblivious Chieftain. Woollvin's distinctive design is defined by characters with overlarge eyes, and she uses strong, flat blocks of color decorated with whimsical patterns and details, which give her gouache and digital illustrations a singular look. Share this triumphant tale with little Vikings everywhere. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger and children's book author.

September's Book of the Month--One Boy Watching

September’s Book of the Month is ONE BOY WATCHING, by Grant Snider.

Seven a.m./ One boy./ Waiting.

So begins the story of an observant boy’s trip to school. After “two bright headlights” herald the arrival of Bus Number Four, he boards and they drive past tree and deer, cars and sunflowers, “matching houses” and “pecking chickens.” Bus Number Four goes from twenty-eight empty seats to “forty-eight kids in all, packed like crayons in a crayon box.” The boy continues watching as the bus makes its way into town. Water towers, a grain elevator, and the bus pulls up at school, where the kids all rush out “like crayons spilled from a crayon box.” And, then, after a full day of school, the boy can still wonder what he’ll “discover on the journey home.”

The first thing I noticed about this wonderful—and wonder-filled—picture book was the gloriously-colored art on the cover, which I’m happy to say also filled the pages inside. The art caught my eye, but when I began reading, I quickly saw that the text was in every way equal to the illustrations. The repeated use of numbers and key phrases tie the story together nicely, and they place the child in his world in a unique and uplifting way.

Lyrical and inspired, ONE BOY WATCHING is a lovely example of picture book as poem, and picture book as art. It’s also a great example of how “quiet” books can also be powerful. Check it out!

--Lynn

August Recommendations

August Book Recommendations: More Superb Choices from PBRockiteers22!

Picture Books:

TOMATOES IN MY LUNCHBOX, written by Costantia Manoli and illustrated by Magdalena Mora, tells the story of a girl who leaves “the place where [her] name fits[s]” to come to one where it’s “strange and sharp, and sounds like something is breaking.” She struggles to fit in but, when a connection begins with a smile, everything becomes a little easier. The text is sensitive, relatable, and lovely, as are the ink, pastel, crayon, and digitally-collaged illustrations. TOMATOES IN MY LUNCHBOX is a book that’s as “soft and round and full of color” as the main character’s name when it’s said by a friend.

In ABUELITA AND I MAKE FLAN, by Adriana Hernández Bergstrom, Anita is excited that today Abuelita will teach her how to make flan! But, before they even get started, “wobble wobble…CRASH!” Anita breaks Abuelita’s special plate from Cuba, the one she’s had forever! “Maybe no one will notice?” Anita hopes. The excitement of cooking takes over, and Anita and Abuelita spend a happy day together, pouring, mixing, and waiting for the flan to be ready. But what will happen when it’s time to flip the flan onto Abuelita's special plate? The colorful, expressive illustrations bring plenty of joyful energy to this sweet story of family and owning up to one’s mistakes. There’s even a recipe for flan de queso at the end!

ANNI DREAMS OF BIRIYANI, written by Namita Moolani Mehra and illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat, is another story in which a recipe figures prominently. Anni, who loves to cook, lives across the street from Uncle Arif’s Biryani Café. Although Anni can make “curries and koftas, roti and raita,” try though she may her biryani just isn’t “as yummy as Uncle’s.” Anni sulkily decides there will be no more biryani, but she can’t stop dreaming about her favorite food. Prabhat’s stylized, digital illustrations are inspired by the warm, spicy colors of Anni’s cooking, while Mehra’s text should encourage young readers to follow their interests, never give up—and to try some biryani, because it’s “deliciously special!"

ANNETTE FEELS FREE, by Katie Mazeika, tells the fascinating story of Annette Kellerman who, at age six, began to wear braces on her legs. Whereas before she had been a happy child, twirling and pirouetting, now she felt clumsy and awkward. To cheer her up, her father took her to the bay, where she “danced in the waves” and “felt free again.” Annette became “the strongest swimmer in New South Wales,” performed water ballets in front of audiences, raced against women and men, and she even invented a new kind of swimsuit for women that didn’t have a big skirt and pantaloons. Accomplished digital illustrations in purples, blue-greens, and yellows paint an inviting portrait of this “force in the history of swimming and women’s rights."

CLOAKED IN COURAGE: UNCOVERING DEBORAH SAMPSON, PATRIOT SOLDIER, written by Beth Anderson and illustrated by Anne Lambelet, is the story of one extraordinary woman who refused to let gender roles limit her. Rather than marry, she became a rare “masterless woman,” earning her keep at the loom as a “patriot producing American goods.” Wanting to do more, Deborah dressed in men’s clothes and enlisted in the Massachusetts Fourth Regiment. Her hard work during training earned her a spot in the Light Infantry Company, then as the personal waiter for a general. But just as the war was ending, illness threatened her disguise… Anderson brings to light yet another fascinating woman of courage, as well as a peek into her research methods. Lambelet’s pencil, hand-painted, and photoshopped illustrations are lively, distinctive, and strongly support the text.

--Lynn

July Recommendations

July Recommendations in August? This summer sure has flown by. Stay tuned for August rec’s, coming soon!

Picture Books:

In GIB*BER*ISH, by Young Vo, when Dat begins school in a new country, he can’t understand what anyone says. His Mah says to do the best that he can, but without knowing the language, Dat can’t understand what’s going on in class and he has no one to play with. Until “something unexpected [falls] from a tree.” Even though they don’t speak the same language—yet—things are looking up for Dat. Text and art work together seamlessly to tell this hopeful story. It’s especially fun how the people in Dat’s new town all look like black and white cartoon characters until he finds someone he can connect with.

HERE WE COME! by Janna Matthies and Christine Davenier, is an invitation to a nighttime revel, proudly proclaimed in the form of a cumulative chant. Cadenced and magical, a child with a flute leads a stuffed bear outside, where they are joined by a dog strumming a guitar, Little Lu sucking her thumb, a bear with a fiddle, and other wonderful additions. Pencil and ink wash illustrations set the moonlit stage perfectly. “Rum-pum-pum. Wanna come?”

Using rhythmic, lyrical language which weaves words and themes and a warm message of inclusion, THIS IS A SCHOOL, with words by John Schu and illustrations by Veronica Miller Jamison, shows how, from kid to school to community, “we are all important.” Watercolor, acrylic, and digitally collaged illustrations bring the message home visually, adding to the clout of this important and uplifting picture book.

JOHN’S TURN, written by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kate Berube, is another school story. This one is about Friday morning assembly, where, if the kids are good, at the end one of them gets to perform for the rest of the school. Tina plays tuba, Jesse does magic tricks, but when it’s John’s turn, he’s quiet and the other kids know why: he’s nervous. But John shares what he loves and, when he dances, he wins over the crowd. Ink and paint illustrations take center stage in showing John’s joy, and the perfect ending, as related in the text, is delivered with a light, sweet touch.

SWIM JIM, by Kaz Windness, tells the story of Jim, a crocodile who can’t swim. When his sisters Kim and Sim tease him, Jim “wiggle-waggle[s] out of Stigwater Swamp” to find somewhere that’s not “too deep, too dark, and too big” for him to learn. “Ker-splash!” Jim finds the perfect place and the perfect equipment to solve his problem. Graphite on paper, digitally painted illustrations showcase the outsized personality of these entertaining crocs. And don’t forget to look under the dust cover for some bonus art fun!

In SOMEWHERE IN THE BAYOU, by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey, Opossum, Squirrel, and Rabbit try to use a log to cross a river but, one by one, “SMACK SPLASH” a sneaky, scary, mean tail sweeps each of them into the water. Until Mouse performs an act of kindness and gets his just reward… Blocky illustrations using a limited palette lend plenty of style to this entertaining tale.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--The Witchery

YA Review: The Witchery

The Witchery by S. Isabelle (Scholastic Press, 384p., ages 12-up, 9781338758962)

The Witchery is a delightfully dark take on magic and boarding school tropes, wherein a coven of student witches feels compelled to end a bloody, annually recurring curse that's destroying their adopted hometown.

Sixteen-year-old blonde and "pale"-skinned Logan Wyatt is still new to Mesmortes Coven Academy in the "fiendish little witchtown" of Haelsford, Fla., when the Red Three invite her to join their circle. "Sociable and ambitious" Jailah Simmons, greenwitch Thalia Blackwood and deathwitch Iris Keaton-Foster are three powerful Black students who are determined to end the Haunting Season, a "yearly hex that plague[s] Haelsford" in which "monstrous" Wolves emerge from the Swamp and kill. Logan's own magic is weak, but she's also a proxy, someone who holds "the power to manipulate magic against its own rules." With the aid of a powerful amplyfyr stone, and a couple of unexpectedly useful boys from nearby non-magical Hammersmitt School, the witches seek out the enigmatic Wolf Boy, who's prophesied to end the curse. But as bodies begin to accumulate, the magic gets darker and the Wolf Boy proves difficult to control, the struggling coven-mates fear they may be in way over their heads.

S. Isabelle's debut delivers a wonderfully atmospheric and inclusive magical world, full of danger, drama and forever friendship. Multiple POVs allow each distinct voice to provide crucial motivation as they drive the spellbinding plot forward. The Witchery is a thoroughly modern novel steeped in satisfyingly classic witch lore. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger and children's book author.

August's Book of the Month--Attack of the Black Rectangles

August’s Book of the Month is Amy Sarig King’s fiercely personal—and, sadly, universal—look at censorship in her upcoming middle grade novel, ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES. Her novels are always well-crafted and thought-provoking and I haven’t met one yet that I didn’t enjoy.

In her latest, Mac lives in a town where adults keep everyone safe from “unsavory” words, thoughts, and people. No accidents, no crime, no Halloween, no junk food. No girls in shorts. The perfect town. And the person most adults thank for this is Ms. Laura Samuel Sett, Mac’s new sixth grade teacher.

At first, Ms. Sett actually seems like she’ll be the perfect teacher, too. Promising freedom, respect, and little homework in exchange for good behavior, she hands out copies of The Devil’s Arithmetic, by Jane Yolen. It’s an award-winning book about the horrors of the Holocaust that Mac immediately becomes engrossed in. But, before long, he and the rest of his reading group realize that two “ugly black rectangle[s]” cover some words of text in each of two difficult but deeply affecting scenes, and it’s hard to imagine “what could be worse” that someone doesn’t want them to read.

Mac, his best friend Denis, and possible-crush Marci find a used copy in a bookstore in town, so they learn that a phrase and an entire sentence which include the words “breasts” and “undeveloped chest” have been censored. As Marci indignantly points out, she’s in sixth grade and “old enough to have actual breasts.” Mac, Denis, and Marci vow to find out who did this and, when the principal smiles and treats them like kids doing “something cute,” they get impatient, they get angry, and they get motivated.

King’s tightly-focused story is about learning to stand up and speak out but it also contains plenty of regular sixth grade stuff to ground it. There’s lots of wry humor here, and I found Mac likable, despite his assertions that he is not! ATTACK OF THE BLACK RECTANGLES feels like a book of its time, one that needs to be read widely for its message but also—since it’s, first and foremost, a good story, and well-written—just for the heck of it.

--Lynn


(Scholastic generously provided a copy of this book. Opinions are my own.)

Shelf Awareness--Wake the Bones

YA Review: Wake the Bones

Wake the Bones by Elizabeth Kilcoyne (Wednesday Books, 320p., ages 12-up, 9781250790828)

Wake the Bones is a marvelously eerie, atmospheric debut novel in which four teenage friends face hauntings and pure horror as they try to simply survive.

Anna, Laurel Early's "strange" mother, had a suspiciously green thumb, given the name of their farming town, Dry Valley. When Laurel was a baby, Anna's body was found at the bottom of a well. Now 19-year-old Laurel has "strange gifts" of her own and is known in town as "the devil's daughter." Since college didn't work out, Laurel, her best friend Isaac, and their respective sometime-crushes Ricky and Garrett, are in Dry Valley working with Laurel's uncle Jay growing tobacco. Laurel makes extra money by collecting bones for her growing taxidermy practice. When the teens find Anna's "watery grave" bashed open with "a whole wash of" blood around it, they go into the woods to find what was bleeding. They discover a "morbid mandala of old bones pointed like an accusatory finger at a dead deer" stuffed with flowers. Turns out, the inhabitants of Dry Valley weren't entirely wrong: there is a devil haunting the Early farm. Anna was taken by this devil and Laurel, who "reek[s] of destiny and uncontrolled magic," is its next prey.

Elizabeth Kilcoyne delivers a contemporary Southern gothic novel that illuminates the difficulties inherent in being different in a small town. She laces her mesmerizing prose with the darkness of death, the heat of summer and the uncertainty of destiny, and she uses magic to define the tenuous relationships between life, love and loss. There is beauty and horror here that's not to be missed. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

July's Book of the Month--Endlessly Ever After

July’s Book of the Month is the endlessly amusing ENDLESSLY EVER AFTER: PICK YOUR PATH TO COUNTLESS FAIRY TALE ENDINGS! written by Laurel Snyder and illustrated by Dan Santat.

This 86-page picture book begins the tale of Little Red Riding Hood innocently enough: Mama tells Rosie her granny is ill, and Rosie must hurry over with cake to cheer her up. But will Rosie wear her “coziest (faux) fur coat,” or her “favorite red cape?”

It’s up to you, the reader, to decide!

If you pick the coat, you’ll turn to page 20, where new decisions await. Does Rosie knock on the fine, blue door of an unfamiliar house she finds along her path? Or does she hurry to Gran’s instead? Each of her two choices leads to new story possibilities.

However, if you pick the cape, Rosie encounters the wolf along the path, which leads to another decision and even more story possibilities.

This interactive picture book is humorously told by a narrator who alternates between bouncy, rhyming exposition and commentary—peppered with just the right amount of snark—about the myriad decisions being posed. The watercolor and Photoshop illustrations have a comic/graphic novel-style feel that use lots of dramatic angles to amp up the fun, and the large trim-size makes for an impressive presentation.

A hunter, a boy in underpants, and plenty of fairy tale character cameos are all part of the strange, ever-changing adventures to be had within ENDLESSLY EVER AFTER’s covers. With all of the story combinations to pore over, you may never read this book the same way twice!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Goblin Market

MG Review: Goblin Market

Goblin Market by Diane Zahler (Holiday House, 256p., ages 10-14, 9780823450817, August 16, 2022)

Goblin Market is a delightfully imaginative story about the unbreakable bond between two sisters, one who unknowingly falls in love with a goblin, and the other who is driven to save her.

Sisters Lizzie and Minka are extremely close despite being very different: vivacious and outgoing Minka enjoys going into town to sell the family's bread and vegetables; quiet and introspective Lizzie, for whom "each sound [is] a color," prefers to stay near home. One day, when Minka comes home from the market, Lizzie immediately notices that her words are "a little brighter than usual." Apparently Minka met "the handsomest boy," who gave her a "gorgeous" piece of fruit. The next week Minka gives a lock of hair to the boy, Emil, in exchange for more fruit, then develops a fever. By evening, her hair turns gray and falls out. Delirious, Minka begs Lizzie for more fruit.

Lizzie reluctantly agrees to go to town on the next market day. She hopes to find Emil and bring Minka the fruit she desperately craves. But when Lizzie finds Emil, she's disturbed to realize that, unlike everyone else, his words have "no color at all." Soon after, Minka falls into a comatose state. Lizzie goes back to town accompanied by steadfast, cheerful neighbor Jakob. They confront Emil, who tells them he has promised Minka "her heart's desire." But Jakob can't see Minka's suitor, and Lizzie notices flickers of "something quite different standing in his place." Lizzie and Jakob realize that Emil is a zdusze, a forest goblin out of a children's story, and when Minka disappears, the children plunge into the dark Wood to save her. Ultimately, it's only when Lizzie figures out what she has, and the zdusze does not, that she can save her sister.

Dianne Zahler (Baker's Magic) spins a terrifically timeless upper-middle-grade story of sisterly love, goblin magic and overstepped boundaries. Her lush language describes a fully realized fairy tale world, wherein Lizzie and Minka's cozy cottage at the edge of the Wood sets off the creepy, menacing realm of the goblins hidden within. Though Minka is the love interest--the author wisely points out and then expunges the blame associated with her victimization--this is Lizzie's story from start to finish. Her indomitable spirit and unusual abilities allow her to shine. Share this book with anyone who loves their stories located in far off lands potentially inhabited by monsters. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Talker: Goblin Market is a splendid, folklore-inspired story of sisterly affection in which one sister falls in love with a goblin and the other must save her.