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