December's Book of the Month--Thank You, Moon

December’s Book of the Month is the lyrical, informative, beautifully-rendered THANK YOU, MOON, written by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Jessica Lanan.

I love books about the moon! I have two full shelves devoted to picture books which feature Earth’s magnificent nightlight. So when I heard about this book, I immediately knew I would seek it out.

From “guiding tiny turtles to the sea,” to “giving lions a chance to feed their families,” to its “ever-changing beauty, night after night,” THANK YOU, MOON pays tribute to some of the ways the moon’s illumination benefits us. Stewart’s text introduces species of wildlife who live and forage under the moon, and depend on it for safety, as well as basic science about the moon itself. Lanan’s stunning watercolor and colored pencil illustrations are steeped in nighttime blues as they dramatically portray the animals in their habitats—and always, the bright, white light of the moon.

Read it once for the beautiful, lyrical language and art, a love poem to our moon. Read it a second time for all the explanatory science embedded within the lines. And, finally, turn to the back matter for an even more complete picture of what’s being discussed. It’s a fine, multi-layered look at the wide-ranging effect our moon has on Earth and its inhabitants.

--Lynn

Interview with Gina Soldano-Herrle

I met Gina Soldano-Herrle shortly after I moved to Colorado, where we are both active members of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the SCBWI. Gina’s energy and passion for all she does shines through in her writing. She’s released NIA’S RESCUE BOX recently, and I’ve invited her here to talk about it!

First, a synopsis of her story:

Young Nia’s tummy roars as she thinks about her empty refrigerator back home. Here at the food rescue, an organization devoted to “fighting back against food waste,” shelves are lined with donated items which would otherwise end up in a landfill. Nia picks up a box of graham crackers, but she’s too embarrassed to take it. Her cardboard box stays empty as she races past “the juicy peaches, past the giant sesame seed bagels, even past the chocolate cake with curling words, “Happy Birthday, Clara!” But Nia comes to realize that maybe this food needs to be rescued as much as she needs a good meal!

What was the inspiration behind Nia's Rescue Box?

Nia's story was inspired by my own. I visited my first food rescue at the end of summer 2021. I waited in line, walked through with my cheeks feeling aflame (much like Nia's) and hardly took anything they had to offer.

Later I came back as a volunteer and came to more deeply understand the purpose of the rescue, Vindeket Foods, and the role "shoppers" played in preventing food waste in our community. I grew up in a community that frowned upon "handouts." I still remember how I felt when one of my elementary school friends bullied me for wearing shoes I got from Goodwill. There are still similar attitudes out there, however, it is so heartening to see the rise of thrift stores, vintage, and understanding among today's youth.

And I truly believe NOBODY should ever have to go hungry. The United States has astronomical amounts of food waste. According to Feeding America it's around 119 billion pounds of food wasted in the U.S. annually. Last year, the food rescue where I gave my time as a service participant prevented 1 million pounds of food waste. Not only that, the food was given to those who experience food insecurity. They revalue people and food. It's a symbiotic relationship. So, based on that experience I had when I first visited, I wrote Nia's story hoping to spread the word about food rescues which differ greatly from food pantries and hopefully inspire some people out there to open more of them.

What did the publication process look like?

Publication was...harrowing. After writing the first draft in November 2022 and making many, many edits, I tried the traditional route and found some interest among agents and editors. But, in the end each one said they weren't passionate enough about the story to take it on.

Since the book itself is about so much more than the story, I decided to crowdfund and self publish it. Which looked a lot easier in my head than in reality.

Vindeket and I put out a contest to find the illustrator. Everyone who participated made a spread based on the logline for the book. That's how I found Abi Joy Eaton who did a phenomenal job using found materials to illustrate Nia's Rescue Box. By April 2023 I started the Kickstarter and we closed with full funding in May.

Over the summer Abi and I exchanged emails about the book. In August she sent me the first full draft with illustrations. We went back and forth a few more times and the final art was finished around the end of September. After that, I had to figure out digital formatting and I am so grateful Abi was kind enough to help when we ran into a couple technical glitches!! It was officially published October 26, 2023.

Who has been your biggest inspiration (as a writer or otherwise)?

I get inspired a lot by other writers and the things I read. One of the biggest sources is Rachael Herron. She has a podcast called "How Do You Write?" and listening to other writers talk through their process, stumbling blocks, and inspirations has often brought me out of a writing slump.

What role did the writing community play in the creation of Nia's Rescue Box?

A big one! I'd be nowhere without my friends in SCBWI and other writing groups that gave feedback on drafts and connected me with resources about publishing.

I'd like to mention my friend Parker Milgram, in particular, who more than once walked me through the self publishing process after having done it themself in September 2023 for their book I Live for The Sun. We met through an SCBWI virtual conference and they've been a friend ever since.

What are you working on now?

Now? Too many things! I have a handful of picture books in various stages of completion that I'm seeking representation for through the traditional publication route. There's also a middle grade fantasy rough draft I finished over the summer. A couple memoirs I've been working on throughout the past few years and...new ideas that pop into my head and join the endless "miscellaneous ideas" document in my Google drive. Haha!

Right now, I'm focusing on giving Nia's Rescue Box as much of my time as I can so the story gets in front of as many readers as possible. When I need a break, I switch it up with a different manuscript. I might self publish more of my books in the future, but for now I'm taking a beat to settle in, both writing-wise and literally because my family just moved cross country.

NIA’S RESCUE BOX, written by Gina Soldano-Herrle and illustrated by Abi Joy Eaton, is available at Barnes and Noble, Bookshop.org and on Amazon in print and ereader.

50% of all profits from the book are going back to Vindeket Foods in Fort Collins, CO to further fund their growth.

Gina Soldano-Herrle has been a professional ghostwriter and author since 2019. As a member of SCBWI and The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge, she's very active in the writing community. You can find her debut picture book, Nia's Rescue Box, at most online booksellers and read her interviews with other authors on her website.

To order a copy:
Bookshop.org
Barnes and Noble
Amazon

Shelf Awareness--Angela's Glacier

PB Review: Angela's Glacier

Angela's Glacier by Jordan Scott, illus. by Diana Sudyka (Neal Porter Books, 32p., ages 4-8, 9780823450824, January 2, 2024)

Angela's Glacier is an evocative, expressive tale of how the bond between a child and her father--and their shared love for the "ancient blue" of a frigid landscape--leads the girl to find her own heartbeat in the gentle, familiar sound of "a glacier's music."

Angela's glacier, "covered in clouds" before she is born, suddenly "bloom[s] under the milky Arctic sunlight" when Angela makes her appearance. Her father wraps her in a blanket so they can go outside and listen to the "whispers of ancient ice fill[ing] Angela's birthday morning." Before she can walk there herself, her father carries her "to the glacier's ice-blue heart," where Angela listens contentedly to a "universe of sound." Angela's father teaches her the glacier's name, Snæfellsjökull, as they go. As Angela grows, she begins visiting on her own. Step by step, "SNÆ (left foot) FELLS (right foot) JÖ (left foot) KULL (right foot)," Angela hikes to the glacier "to feel and listen."

Eventually, Angela "walk[s] away from her glacier." She becomes busy with "school, friends, violin, soccer, bike rides, homework," and no longer shares her secrets with Snæfellsjökull. That's when she realizes her heart "sound[s] strange." Her father advises her to visit Snæfellsjökull, so she does. Only then, once again, is she able to find the true rhythm of her heart, as it beats over and over: SNÆ FELLS JÖ KULL.

As he did with the text of the magnificent I Talk Like a River, Jordan Scott makes use of elements of the natural world to explore the art of staying grounded. In Angela's Glacier, Scott fashions a story about a girl and the glacier she adores that's surprisingly accessible. Rhythmic, melodious language conjures a kinship for the harsh and beautiful landscape, which includes the "coldest of cold" heart of the book: Snæfellsjökull. Diana Sudyka's (Little Land) dazzling gouache and digital illustrations effortlessly imbue sky, land, water, humans, and animals alike with vitality and elan, her lushly colored world singing with the glacier's sound. This inspiring picture book celebrates the wonder of "staying still" and listening to "ourselves [and] to each other," as well as "to the ecosystems and their inhabitants who sustain us." An endnote points to the fragility of nature, and the tragedy that Snæfellsjökull itself is projected to be extinct in 15 to 20 years due to global warming. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

November Recommendations

THE BRIDGE, written and illustrated by Eva Lindström, is currently a huge favorite of mine. A wolf stops a pig who’s driving north by relating that the bridge ahead is closed. The pig has places to be, but accompanies the wolf home to wait out the inconvenience. Coffee is served and conversation is enjoyed, until the wolf informs the pig that “the bridge should be ready now.” The wolf wishes the pig “safe travels," and the pig drives off. But where is the bridge? Text is quirky and enigmatic, as are the gouache and watercolor illustrations, and the overall effect is vaguely unsettling and absolutely wonderful.

NOTHING EVER HAPPENS ON A GRAY DAY, written and illustrated by Grant Snider (One Boy Watching), describes how a kid might spend a day when “even the rain is too bored to fall.” A girl rides her “rickety bike” across town to the “lonely seesaws” and “sad merry-go-round” of the playground. But, “beyond the fence… a winding path”… and a private adventure turn this gray day into a more colorful one, where “anything can happen!” This lovely paean to exploration, observation, and imagination sings with a lyrical text and fluid colored pencil and marker illustrations that become more vibrantly yellow, blue, and red/pink as the day comes alive.

365: HOW TO COUNT A YEAR, written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Julien Chung, is a creative look at how to measure the time it takes for Earth to make one revolution around the sun. A year can be “365 ‘Good mornings,’ 365 ‘Good nights,’ and, hopefully, 365 clean pairs of underwear.” If that seems like a lot, the days can be grouped into “52 Friday night movie popcorn spills, 52 sleep-in Saturdays, or 52 get-naked-and-SPLASH Sunday baths.” Readers will see that 52 weeks can also be 12 months, or 1 year, or 8,760 hours, or 525,600 minutes, or 31,536,000 seconds. The exuberant text is clear, informative, and humorous, and the bold, colorful digital illustrations cleverly make use of a lion for continuity. It’s a playful and fun way to learn about time.

BEING A CAT: A TAIL OF CURIOSITY, written by Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by Pete Oswald, invites readers to “be like a cat,” which includes “watching, wondering, wandering,” as well as perching, lurking, trilling, and preening, preening, preening. Cats explore, discover, and “stop and smell the flowers—nip, flip, tip!” The spare, poetic text does a nice job of getting to the heart of catness, while back matter defines felines a bit more scientifically. (A companion book, BEING A DOG, gets to the heart of dogness.)

HOW TO WRITE A POEM, written by Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido and illustrated by Melissa Sweet, is a poem about writing a poem that’s inspiring and beautifully illustrated and begins “with a question, like an acorn waiting for spring.” What follows is inspirational, and also oddly, whimsically practical, such as suggesting that the poet “listen to the grass, the flowers, the trees—anything that’s friends with the sun.” Sounds, ideas, words all “twist and turn” to become a poem that’s waiting to be shared. Just named a NY Times Best Illustrated Book of 2023.

JACKIE AND THE BOOKS SHE LOVED, written by Ronnie Diamondstein and illustrated by Bats Langly, nicely showcases former First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy’s lifelong love of books, beginning with how she “learned to read at an early age” and “filled the shelves” her own small library as a child. She was also a writer, creating stories and poems, submitting essays to magazines, and taking a job as a journalist when she was an adult. She helped JFK write his award-winning book and introduced him to voters thorough her newspaper work. After JFK died, Jackie “made her mark as an editor.” This charming picture book adds welcome depth to popular perception of this iconic First Lady, who let “a love of literature [guide] her life.” Appealing illustrations and the author’s note, timeline, and bibliography further expand the view.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Her Dark Wings

YA Review: Her Dark Wings

Her Dark Wings by Melinda Salisbury (Delacorte Press, 336p., ages 13-up, 9780593705582, December 12, 2023)

Her Dark Wings is a fierce and fanciful tale wherein a spurned young woman's accidental interaction with Hades causes a mythically sized shift in her life as well as massive changes in the Underworld.

Corey Allaway has been betrayed. It's always been "Bree-and-Corey, Corey-and-Bree," but the summer they're 17, Bree cuts Corey out of the picture and takes up with Corey's ex-boyfriend, Ali. Corey, hurt, humiliated, and extremely angry, kisses a "random" boy at a bacchanal to honor Demeter while wishing with her "whole heart" that Bree would be "dragged to the Underworld and left there to rot." When shortly thereafter, Bree's body is found in the lake "flirting with the weeds," Corey feels confused, outraged, and completely without closure.

Then Corey looks "over [her] left shoulder, out to the west." This, legend says, is a way to catch a glimpse of the Underworld. Not only does Corey see into that forbidden place, but she also observes Bree's shade with "impossible, awful" Hades himself. The king of the Underworld sends messenger-god Hermes to warn Corey to forget she's seen the afterlife but, when Corey learns the "random" boy she kissed is Hades himself, she realizes her desperate wishing may have caused Bree's death. Though Corey would like nothing more than to be left alone to process her feelings, she is dragged to the Underworld, where three winged Furies want her to join them in their "inhumane" punishment of "guilty" shades. Corey, who is still furious with Bree, must fight to keep her anger in check, as she struggles to keep from becoming a monster.

Her Dark Wings is a feisty, compelling modern-day retelling of the Persephone myth. Melinda Salisbury's riveting plot may serve as an excellent entry point for readers not overly familiar with the Greek pantheon: Hades, Hermes, the Furies, the Boatman, and Hecate all populate these pages and stealthily impact the humans they encounter. Salisbury (The Sin Eater's Daughter series) smoothly shifts between Corey's unlikely, god-filled present and her recollections of the lies and betrayals she suffered at the hands of her two exes. These deceptions continue to shape her future as she navigates harsh and unforgiving landscapes in the Underworld. There are gods and magic, yes, but above all looms the question of what it means to be human. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--Big

PB Review: Big

Big by Vashti Harrison (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 60p., ages 4-8, 9780316353229)

The inspiring and deeply moving picture book Big tells the story of a Black child "with a big laugh and a big heart and very big dreams." She is praised by caring adults for being "a big girl," and this is good--until it's not. Suddenly, big means getting stuck in a swing, being teased by other kids, and finding herself belittled by adults. It means feeling "out of place, exposed, [and] judged." Until, finally, powerfully, this wonderful girl begins to "shake off" the words of others, to "see things more clearly," and to "make more space for herself." Little Leaders series creator Vashti Harrison's succinct text is emotionally resonant and gracefully executed, as are her beautifully rendered digital and chalk pastel illustrations, both of which keep the focus clearly on the child and her rewarding journey to self-love. The gatefold at the heart of the book is stunning, as the child remembers who she is... and it's good! --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

November's Book of the Month--The Scariest Kitten in the World

Once upon a time, on one of those infamous dark and scary nights, you’ll read THE SCARIEST KITTEN IN THE WORLD, by Terrifying Kitten (with help from Kate Messner) and illustrated by Mackenzie Haley, and you’ll howl with laughter!

In a “TERRIFYING HAUNTED HOUSE,” behind a “ragged old door—all splintery and creaky,” our narrator strongly warns readers NOT to turn the page because, if they do, they'll find “the fiercest, most horrifying creature.” And “SNARL! GROWL! ROARRRRRR!” it’s… a cute little kitty, who spends the rest of the book trying to keep us from turning any more pages because surely we will be scared silly. Helped—sort of—by a houseful of adorable critters, the kitten exposes us to one—ahem—terror after another.

The short text is narrated by this most fearsome kitty, with conversational asides by animal cohorts which include a chick, a sloth, and a hedgehog. Spooky! The cartoony art, with its strong yellows, blues, pinks, strikes just the right tone—scary and sweet, as the text commands. Perfect for wee scares and humongous giggles all year long.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Rock Your Mocs

PB Review: Rock Your Mocs

Rock Your Mocs by Laurel Goodluck, illus. by Madelyn Goodnight (Heartdrum, $19.99, hardcover, 32p., ages 4-8, 9780063099890)

Rock Your Mocs joyfully invites readers to take part in a "wonderful celebration of Native and First Nations cultures" as Indigenous children show their Native pride on November 15--and perhaps every day--by "stepping out" with "beauty on [their] feet."

"There's a celebration beginning," and it's time for children of Indigenous Nations to be "kicking it up" wearing traditional footwear. These "vibrant expression[s] of tribal pride and individual style" are created with deer, elk, moose, or seal, as well as with "love, stories, and laughter." Beaded and fringed, shimmering and shining in a "blend of colors and shapes," moccasins are crafted with "skilled hands and knowledge passed down." The mocs themselves can be passed down, too, or they can be new ones that are "traced to fit," thereby honoring "deep-rooted traditions, while adapting to [the] sacred present." Children of all clans--Yurok, Osage, Seminole, and many more--boldly rock their mocs with pride and style, because these exuberant creations are precious gifts, works of art, and symbols of community.

Author Laurel Goodluck's graceful, buoyant text beautifully honors the proud connection between moccasins and "history and identity," as well as how they can be a meaningful way of "stepping into the future." Madelyn Goodnight's energetic, festively colored digital illustrations likewise take care to focus as much on the lifestyles, passions, and communities of the children as they do on their moccasins, further communicating how integral the footwear is to linking Indigenous children with the best version of themselves. Indeed, Rock Your Mocs encourages readers to celebrate their very best selves, each and every day. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

October Recommendations

BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE MUSIC OF JOHN CAGE, written by Lisa Rogers and illustrated by Il Sung Na, delves into what’s behind the music of this avant-garde artist who tried to use “all the sounds” in his compositions, as well as “curlicues and dots and more curlicues and squiggles” rather than musical notes, and “stuck erasers and bolts and screws” inside a piano, and “composed a piece of piano music without any notes,” and set his pants on fire during a concert, and… By framing this book as a series of “what if” questions, the text encourages readers to think, explore, and listen. Art uses “shapes and colors to represent each sound,” and back matter provides more context. It’s an excellent, kid-friendly intro to Cage and to nurturing your own unique vision.

A BUCKET OF QUESTIONS almost answered by Tim Fite (the “wiki-wonky, giggly-googly, jingly-janky, and 100% pooky-pooky” person who wrote and illustrated this picture book) resists following the usual rules and instead creates something new. We begin with a bucket full of questions, and proceed to answer and/or evade them completely. “Why do seals clap?” “Why do kids lose their teeth?” “What are hot dogs (actually) made of?” It’s random unless it’s not. It’s also fun, so give it a try!

LAST FLIGHT, written by Kristen Mai Giang and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk, vividly describes the tension-filled experience of living in Saigon during the Vietnam War, and rushing to get out on the last American plane to leave the city before the North Vietnamese marched in. “As the war close[s] in” around one young girl and her family,” they navigate all kinds of difficulties until ultimately “the plane race[s] for [their] lives down that runway.” This highly personal account is an evocative recollection of the author’s escape from Saigon, with illustrations that perfectly communicate both the drama and hope in the situation.

In THE WELCOME HOME, by Amy June Bates, Mr. and Ms. Gargleson-Bittle are “missing something.” They want a “soft,” “waggy,” and “lick-your-face-play-fetch-roll-over-rub-its-belly-and-chase-its-tail” sort of thing, so they get… a snail. Which they love, but they want “something more.” And more. And more, until their house fills up, with a whale and a cat and some goldfish and “a tiny armadillo named Cauliflower,” and on and on until one more something shows up on their doorstep and everything is perfect. This is a warm, fuzzy, inclusive kind of a book that’s sweet and silly and feels just right.

In THE PET STORE WINDOW, written by Jairo Buitrago, illustrated by Rafael Yockteng, translated by Elisa Amado, a girl finds a puppy and brings him to the pet store where she works. Every evening, Ana goes home, and the now-grown-and-unsold dog wonders why he’s not “walking down the street” with her. Until the uncaring owner of this “very small store” tells Ana the store will be sold, and even though Ana and her grandmother can’t afford it, they take in the leftover pets: the dog, a rat, and a hedgehog—because “it’s good to be together.” This creative duo has produced some noteworthy books (including Afterward, Everything was Different, and Drawing Outdoors) and this one should satisfy, as well.

CHINA, written by Songju Ma Daemicke and illustrated by Jam Dong, is a delightful board book (in the Barefoot Books Our World series) which welcomes the youngest of readers to spend a day in China. From “a fluffy kiss on my cheek,” through dumplings for breakfast, kite-flying, paddle-boating and fruity treats, then on to ink-grinding, dinner, and a sweet bedtime, CHINA is a lovely treat for little ones. The text is bright and cheery, and so is the art!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Curious Tides

YA Review: Curious Tides

Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 544p., ages 13-up, 978166593927)

Complex world-building and original lunar lore help make this debut fantasy, the first in a planned duology, an impressive standout.

"Mousy" blonde-haired Emory Ainsleif, with "storm-colored" eyes, is a second-year student in House New Moon at Aldryn College for Lunar Magics. She is returning to school despite the horrific night last semester when she, best friend Romie, and seven other students went into the mystical sea cave called the "Belly of the Beast" to perform an arcane ritual. Emory--the sole survivor--washed ashore on the banks of the Aldersea with "a spiral burned in silver" on her wrist. Now, one of the eight students thought to have drowned that night four months ago washes back with the tide. As Emory calls on her Healer magic to help the nearly dead student, she accesses rare, new powers and enlists the aid of Romie's brother, Baz, to teach her how to control her magic. Eager to help is entitled, "dapper," chestnut-haired Keiren, a fellow student privy to surprising secrets. Emory, trying to understand the ritual and learn what killed her friend, is determined to find answers within Aldryn's secret, cult-like society.

Magic and an original mythology propel the engrossing dual narratives of Emory and Baz, each differently motivated but equally compelled to investigate Aldryn's dark underbelly. Ambition, power, magic for benevolent-vs.-selfish motives are all on display in this arresting and imaginative escape to a complex fictional world infused with tantalizing lunar magics. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

October's Book of the Month--A Walk in the Woods

October's Book of the Month is the luminous/transcendent/superlative picture book, A WALK IN THE WOODS, written by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney.

“A week after the funeral,” a boy opens an envelope his dad left for him. Rather than “a letter, some special advice, a secret even,” he finds a “stupid” treasure map. The boy reluctantly laces up his boots and stomps into the woods. There, he is able to slow down, breathe deeply, and “drink in the quiet,” as “the hurt inside [his] heart pounds less, and less.” Eventually, he finds a box which holds drawings of wildlife his dad did years ago in these very woods, along with an “unfinished story scrawled beneath each sketch.” The story is shared with readers, as are the sketches, and they are all breathtaking. And the boy feels his dad’s “hand on [his] shoulder, light as leaves.”

Written in both prose and poetry, this book is seriously wonderful. Nikki Grimes and Jerry Pinkney wanted to do a book together, and decided on A WALK IN THE WOOD, based on the artist’s daily walks in the woods. Both had “noticed the rarity of children’s books that feature African American characters engaging with nature.” When Jerry died, his son Brian, another acclaimed picture book artist, was able to take his dad’s sketches, add his own paintings—“impressionistic swirls of color and form”—and the art was merged digitally. The result is sublime. Please read it!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--The Siren, the Song, and the Spy

YA Review: The Siren, the Song, and the Spy

The Siren, the Song, and the Spy by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (Candlewick, 320p., ages 12-up, 9781536218053)

The Siren, the Song, and the Spy is a welcome companion to Maggie Tokuda-Hall's ethereal The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea, and brings to a head the long-simmering conflict between the Resistance and the greedy Nipran Empire.

Imperial operative Genevieve has not died. The pirate ship Dove exploded while under attack but, by the grace of the Sea, Genevieve has landed safely on the Red Shore. She was trained by "the Emperor's greatest spy," but in her weakened state she's taken prisoner by two warriors, brother and sister Koa and Kaia, whose mother rules the Wariuta people. Black-haired, sunburnt-pink Genevieve can speak many languages so, despite Kaia's hatred for her, Genevieve is considered useful. When Imperial Commander Callum comes with a proposal for peaceful occupation, Genevieve encourages the Wariuta to accept. But Callum's soldiers massacre the islanders, and Genevieve must reckon with her complicity in the Empire's brutal agenda. Though the various factions of this splintered world try to come together through shared hatred of the Emperor, it might take a mythical First Dragon from the deepest depths of the Sea to turn the tide.

Tokuda-Hall writes elegantly and uses numerous points of view, such as Genevieve's childhood voice (when she was called Thistle), and those of Koa, Kaia, and even the Sea. Magical prose flows smoothly and brings a sense of enchantment to the story. This strong offering about imperialist aggressions, rebels, and reprisal should effortlessly sweep readers into its realms as it makes a compelling plea for pacifism. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--My Grandfather's Song

PB Review: My Grandfather's Song

My Grandfather's Song by Phùng Nguyên Quang, illus. by Huỳnh Kim Liên (Make Me a World, 40p., ages 4-8, 9780593488614, October 17, 2023)

The satisfying and thoughtful My Grandfather's Song uses the lyrical voice of a grandchild to relate the story of how their forebear, an early "pioneer... to the south of Vietnam," learned to find the music in his new home and use it to coexist with nature. Back matter deepens the takeaways by elaborating on the story's relevance to Earth's current climate crisis.

The grandchild, spending the day working alongside Grandfather, describes how the man journeyed to a new land in a tiny boat across water that was "gentle as a lullaby." The looming jungle the pair visits early in the morning is home to unseen voices, which Grandfather calls a song that must be learned. Likewise, the bamboo they cut is "a melody we raise high as a roof"; the earth is an instrument that, with time, will provide "a harmony of plenty." Even when sounds are frightening--"a rustle, a creak, a slither through darkness"--finding the song eases the fear and a new song follows, one of fish and ocean and forest. Years pass and the now-grown grandchild has learned the "symphony of generations," which they share with new families, who add additional voices to the "chorus of our song."

The inspiring text is passionate and emotive, and the extended metaphor of nature speaking through music proves a powerful tool. Dynamic digital illustrations beautifully convey the wild landscape, their impact emphasized by the horizontal length of the book. Bright, bold colors and a surreal sensibility dramatically evoke the animal spirits--including a giant monkey and oversized turtle--who reside within the jungle and the pages. Water and sky also come alive in swirling, layered currents of color and texture.

In-depth back matter explains that Phùng Nguyên Quang and Huỳnh Kim Liên created this story as a tribute to "the very first pioneers" who lived in a land and time when "humans had to pay respect to Mother Nature and her creatures in order to settle there." Now, this same land is home to modern cities where nature remains both "generous and dangerous"--we should "be thankful for the things we have taken from the earth." My Grandfather's Song gently suggests the potential benefits humans may reap in rethinking our relationship to the earth, to the climate, to the world. Because when "we listen... the land responds with gifts." --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

September's Book of the Month--You Go First

September’s Book of the Month, YOU GO FIRST, written by Ariel Bernstein and illustrated by Marc Rosenthal, stars Cat and Duck, two friends whose fondness for each other forms the heart of this active, funny, caring story.

When Cat and Duck, “two very good friends,” go to the playground, they find that the slide they want to play on has been replaced with a new slide, one that’s bigger, curvier, and “the MOST fun!” according to Duck, but possibly “too much fun?” according to Cat. Cat uses plenty of stalling techniques in trying to persuade Duck that they should play on something else, instead. When, finally, Duck agrees not to go on the slide, Cat now worries that Duck will “miss out on something she wanted” and, because Cat is “a very good friend,” a solution is found. It turns out that Duck is “a very good friend,” too!

The text is clever yet uncomplicated, uses uses well-placed repetition, and is never preachy. Illustrations are in colored pencil with digital color in a pitch-perfect, expressive, cartoony, kid-friendly way and, if you love picture books, you really shouldn’t miss it.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Things in the Basement

MG Review: Things in the Basement

Things in the Basement by Ben Hatke (First Second, 240p., ages 6-10, 9781250909541)

Things in the Basement is a gorgeous, maze-like graphic novel for young readers that features big brother Milo on a reluctant subterranean quest to find his baby sister's "special sock."

Milo, his mother, and twins Lucy and Leo have moved into a new house. Milo's overwhelmed mother asks the boy to check the basement for Lucy's missing sock, the one knitted with Tia Maria's "special yarn." The boy, whose floppy bangs hide his eyes, anxiously heads down to the laundry room... where he discovers another room hidden behind the water heater. He spies a rat scampering away with the missing sock and chases it--into another basement. And then another! Here he finds an old-fashioned drawing room, complete with a skull. Though Milo is at first frightened by the skull's "clattr-clack[ing]," "Chuckles" joins the hunt for the elusive "sock rat." Boy and skull encounter an eyeball-squid monster, a ravenous Gobbler, and a ghost who's haunting an enormous sock pile as they try to complete Milo's task.

Ben Hatke's inspired plot is visually driven, creative, and multilayered. Lavish mixed-media illustrations employ sharp angles and a muted palette--often sparked with dramatic bursts of color and light--to create a strong sense of place and mood. Hatke (Mighty Jack) uses borderless, curvy panels and full-bleed spreads with careful intention to depict action and build suspense. The bulk of the story is told through art with dialogue clarifications when needed and sound effects that add to both the fun and the scares. As Milo aptly points out, "this is a really big basement"--it is, and it's home to a really big, imaginative story! --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

August Recommendations

A RIVER OF DUST, written by Jilanne Hoffman and illustrated by Eugenia Mello, lyrically details the journey of dust as it leaves North Africa—“not just any dust, though”— but dust from the Sahel, which is “a ribbon of land spread between/the Sahara Desert, to the north,/and the tropical savanna,/to the south…from the Red Sea, in the east,/to the Atlantic Ocean, in the west.” Carrying a "precious cargo/needed by all life on Earth,” it swirls and soars, shrouds and sifts, whips and spirals across continents until it comes to rest where it can nourish the earth and anchor the trees of the Amazon rainforest. The poetic text, narrated in the voice of the dust itself, is bolstered by some very thorough back matter, and the vibrant digital illustrations do a fabulous job of making the concepts accessible. Nicely done!

In TOO MUCH!: AN OVERWHELMING DAY, written by Jolene Gutiérrez and illustrated by Angel Chang, a sensitive child is barraged by a noisy alarm clock, harsh sunlight, confining clothes, and unwanted hugs. It’s all “TOO LOUD! TOO BRIGHT! TOO ITCHY! TOO TIGHT!” Luckily Mom is there at the end of a tough day to provide the “careful squeeze” of a sheet-hug, as well as time, space, and plenty of understanding, all of which help the child find “a peaceful place to still [her] mind.” Rhyming couplets entertain while also inviting readers to learn about themselves and/or others, and the book provides plenty of positive coping strategies. The bright, expressive digital art is both animated and quiet as needed. Likewise, this book nicely manages to be both thoughtful and active enough to engage all types of readers. An entertaining, informative, and valuable picture book resource!

In BABY T. REX, written by Julie Abery and illustrated by Gavin Scott, “fluffy and tough” T. rex hatches from his egg and goes in search of food. But then “out of the nest,/tumble and roll,” another egg gets “lost in a hole,” and it’s up to T. rex to save it! The rhyming text, full of clever, active verbs, is well-paired with colorful, active illos using fun perspectives. Kids will bounce and RRRROAR along with the fun. In BABY STEGOSAURUS, equally engaging text and art show Baby chomping and munching along with the herd, until a volcano erupts and Baby can’t keep up. When he’s “snatched by the flow” of a river, thank goodness for a fallen tree—and Mama—to the rescue! These fun board books get it just right.

ONCE THERE WAS, written by Corinne Demas and illustrated by Gemma Capdevila, is a clever fairy tale in which each “episode” serves as a link in the story chain. A little girl who lives by the sea dreams she’s a “princess in a golden gown.” Readers turn the page to find that the “princess in a golden gown” dreams she’s a “horse with a flowing mane,” who in turn dreams she’s a “tree with a tall, straight trunk,” and, yes, the tree dreams, too! Readers will follow the chain back to find the sea dreaming she’s “a little girl who live[s] in a vine-covered cottage by the sea.” The musing text pairs well with stylized illustrations that add to the pleasantly fantastical universe.

THE DUCK NEVER BLINKS, by Alex Latimer, is rip-roaring meta fun, as the narrator addresses readers with mounting indignation regarding said duck’s unwillingness to well, yes, to blink. Perhaps we could all shout, or tell a sad story, or “look away for a second…and then look back really fast,” or ? The digital cartoony duck is simply—yet perfectly—done. Should be a great hit at story time. (Yes, it’s true, as that kid who engaged in endless staring contests…)

CRANE JANE! written by Andrea Zimmerman and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, tells a boisterous, rhyming, onamatopoetic story of Crane Jane, who climbs up and into her “tall, tall crane,” where she hooks, lifts, THUMPS! and sends the freight away on a trip, “TOOT-TOOT!” All goes well until “wilder winds begin to blow,” and the “final load swings to and fro.” But never fear, because “Crane Jane is tough,” and with some help she’ll save the day. Zimmerman’s text scans beautifully and Yaccarino’s digital art is strong and bright. HOORAY! HOORAY! for Crane Jane!

--Lynn

August's Book of the Month--The Sharing Book

August’s Book of the Month is just the thing as summer winds down and we head into fall:

Sun is perfect for mornings.
Clouds are just right for the sky.
Wonder is waiting to happen and…
TODAY, this day, is for sharing.

THE SHARING BOOK, written by Dianne White and illustrated by Simone Shin, offers a smooth segue into cooler days when hiking isn’t quite so sweaty and cozy nights might be spent making music around a campfire. The rhythmic, lilting text unfolds with a series of gentle surprises, and colorful, stylized mixed media art ably conveys all the joys of this delightful experience. From sunrise to sunset and beyond, the diverse group of campers depicted here enjoy their time in nature, sharing friendship, meals, adventure, and much, much more.

I reached out to Dianne about her process for writing THE SHARING BOOK, and she kindly shared this:

"Almost all of the picture books I’ve published arrived by way of a few words that catch my attention. Sometimes those words are part of a conversation I’ve had, sometimes they’re related to something I’ve seen or overheard. Sometimes a phrase literally drops into my head. However it happens, when it does, it’s like a small seed that might, with some coaxing, lead to a new story.

"But, that’s only the beginning. In order for those words to grow into a picture book, I will need to spend a lot of time thinking about the shape the story might take.

"In the case of The Sharing Book, it meant months of playing with the words to land on the frame that I would use for each of the stanzas/vignettes in the book. Once that question was settled, I would then spend more time considering which particular moments I’d include - friends, laughter, adventure, music - and so on.

I hope readers enjoy the heartwarming illustrations Simone Shin (https://www.simoneshin.com/) created to accompany the text and will be reminded of their own special moments shared with family and friends."

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Bean the Stretchy Dragon

PB Review: Bean the Stretchy Dragon

Bean the Stretchy Dragon by Ari Stocrate (Andrews McMeel, 96p., ages 7-10, 9781524881016, September 19, 2023)

Playful, visually punny Bean the Stretchy Dragon is an energetic debut graphic novel for young readers from popular French comic artist Ari Stocrate.

Every day is "an adventure" for cheery Bean, a tiny black dragon with a tan belly and big orange eyes who lives with his witch caretaker, Sally, in the swamp. Today, Bean wakes up with a good, long stretch, takes in the "nice view," and tumbles (literally) downstairs. She performs her "morning routine" of nail trimming (scratching the couch) and tooth sharpening, then enjoys a "light jog" (intense tail chasing) before grooming herself. Next, it's time for her favorite breakfast--beans (cans and cans of them)--followed by an "after-meal snack" of zombie tibia. Bean then heads through the swamp and into the forest to bury the bone in a pit with the rest of her treasures. When "something more interesting comes along," Bean is off in pursuit of a baby jackelope... until its much-larger mom puts an end to Bean's fun.

Bean continues wandering and encounters a multiplier dragon ("anything they eat... they poop out three times!") and picnicking fairies, as well as bouncing mushrooms and crying mandrakes. Sally shows up just in time to save Bean from a swamp monster, but not before the dragon is thoroughly covered in swamp slime--it's time for a bath, after which Sally uses a towel to turn her into "a bean burrito." The pair spend the rest of the day enjoying various other misadventures; in the evening, the little dragon and her witch curl up together by the fire to sleep "until tomorrow comes."

Stocrate's winsome graphic novel is adapted from her popular web comic, "Sally & Bean." Endearing, childlike main character Bean (inspired by the artist's own pets, a cat and two lizards) can usually be found digging, racing, chasing, or swooshing, and spends the entire book getting into amusing and messy trouble. Page turns sustain the action, and the dawn to dusk narrative is interspersed with entertaining illustrations of the "truly magical" beings who inhabit the neighborhood, such as the fur-bearing trout and the abbagoochie ("a mix between an owl, a fox, and a deer"). Throughout this nimble, kid-friendly offering, Stocrate's storytelling makes the most of the visual nature of her format, and this--along with an ever-present sense of humor--allows her to deliver a dynamic and accessible early graphic novel. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--Sometimes, a Tiger

PB Review: Sometimes, a Tiger

Sometimes, a Tiger by Z.B. Asterplume (Feiwel & Friends, 32p., ages 4-8, 9781250823441)

Z.B. Asterplume's debut picture book beautifully conveys how imagination--and "sometimes, a tiger"--can make all the difference on a belly-grumbling, "not-so-shiny day."

Dario wakes up "hungry for possibilities." He looks into the mostly bare pantry where he finds "a can of beans, pretzels, pickles; the usual breakfast stuff." But he also finds "something else" entirely: a large, majestic tiger. The boy squeezes into a school bus seat with the wondrous creature, and muses on "how many other possibilities a not-so-shiny day might hold." By the afternoon, Dario and his tiger have helped all the kids in his classroom, as well as teacher Ms. Voll, "see things a little differently." In fact, wherever Dario and his tiger go, they show folks "what could be instead of just what was." Dario arrives home to find his pantry is still mostly bare, but in a final, joyful moment, his neighbors and classmates bring a picnic to his window, demonstrating that even on "not-so-shiny days there are plenty of possibilities."

Sometimes, a Tiger, with its perfect balance of text and art, is a story of food insecurity, but it's also a story of sharing, caring, making connections, and strengthening community. The accomplished digital illustrations deftly enhance both the whimsy and gravitas of the book, making great use of gloomy shadows to express Dario's hunger, while depicting his hope and imagination in more optimistic shades. Young readers should relate to Dario's kindness being repaid in kind. Because, surely, there are times when everyone can use a tiger. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

July Recommendations

BITSY BAT, SCHOOL STAR, written and illustrated by Kaz Windness, is about a little bat who dreams “BIG STAR dreams.” But on her first night at school, Bitsy seems to be doing everything wrong. (She hangs rather than sits, uses her feet to paint rather than her fingers, and her snacks, well, they crawl!) Finally, Bitsy has “a FIVE-STAR meltdown.” Back home, with the help of her loving family, Bitsy realizes that “everyone shines a little differently,” and she comes up with a “BIG STAR idea” to help her classmates understand. Back matter provides info on autism and an author/illustrator’s note makes it personal. Graphite and Photoshop illustrations showcase a really fun character design and palette, and they add plenty of punny humor to the buoyant text. This entertaining story never lags.

100 MIGHTY DRAGONS ALL NAMED BROCCOLI, written by David LaRochelle and illustrated by Lian Cho, is a humorous, quirky, and super-original counting book, featuring—yes—a hundred mighty dragons all named Broccoli, and they disperse in wide-ranging and unexpected ways. There’s plenty of subtraction, a bit of addition, and a surprise twist at the end. Vibrantly-colored acrylic and colored pencil dragons are full of life and personality. The zany illustrations are a perfect match for the zany text, and this whole zany book will keep even the most math-averse readers engaged.

REMEMBER, written by Joy Harjo and illustrated by Michaela Goade, beautifully celebrates “where and who you come from,” as well as poetry itself, which brings “the most secret dreams of your heart into existence.” The book is a call to remember “the sky that you were born under,” “the sun’s birth at dawn,” as well as “sundown and the giving away to night.” To remember your birth, the earth, and all in this life who “have their tribes, their families, their histories, too.” Who are “alive poems.” The striking, jewel-toned watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil illustrations invoke Tlingit creation stories and “the concept of haa shagoon, which is the understanding that our ancestors are united with the present and future generations.”

HOW TO GET YOUR OCTOPUS TO SCHOOL, written by Becky Scharnhorst and illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett, is full of punny advice for getting your reluctant octopus to school, something you know he “will love…if he gives it a chance,” but who “would much rather stay home with you and play hide-and-seek or dress-up.” Since octopuses are very, very good at hiding, and hugging, and trying on lots of different outfits, getting him there is going to take a while. And once he’s there, well, we’ll just see who has trouble letting go. Digital illustrations are full of energy and amp up the fun. Kids should have no trouble relating to this one, and the humor still leaves room for plenty of heart.

In LIA & LUÍS: PUZZLED, written by Ana Crespo and illustrated by Giovana Medeiros, when Lia and Luís open a package from their grandma, they find “a puzzle…with a secret message.” Mamãe tells them they must hurry and finish the puzzle, and Lia and Luís figure out how to do just that. They inspect the pieces closely, and learn about sorting them based on shape, color, and size. Finally, the puzzle is done and it’s time to solve the mystery. Digital illustrations are bright and clear. There’s a glossary of Portuguese words, an author’s note, and some math activities which make this picture book even more appealing for very young readers.

AS NIGHT FALLS: CREATURES THAT GO WILD AFTER DARK, written by Donna Jo Napoli and illustrated by Felicita Sala, is a lyrical look at nighttime and the creatures that inhabit it. Beginning slowly with “some young ones, who close their eyes and nestle sweetly into sleep without a whisper,” readers will turn the page to find many “other young ones,” whose thoughts “wiggle and giggle and race to burst free.” We see how “nighttime is action time,” as the “mini go ballistic,” and the “big ones go berserk.” Bumping, striking, slither-crawl-looping and swooping verbs drive this narrative, making it sing. But, for me, it’s the wondrous and wonderful gouache, watercolor, ink, colored pencil, and oil pastel illustrations that truly set this book apart. I would happily frame any spread in this book!

--Lynn

July's Book of the Month--The Flamingo

July’s Book of the Month is The Flamingo, a grounded-yet-fanciful, mostly wordless graphic novel by Guojing.

A young girl visits her beloved Lao Lao, and together they enjoy the nearby beach and its many treasures. When the girl finds a flamingo feather in her aunt’s home, Lao Lao begins the story of finding an egg, then hatching and caring for a little flamingo. Scenes of domestic tranquility are interspersed with more whimsical ones of raising the flamingo chick, and much love permeates all.

Back home in the city, the girl dreams of—and draws—a flamingo (is it the flamingo?) on which she flies back to Lao Lao, and the two sail away, on its back, together. The girl’s book of drawings, mailed to Lao Lao, further connects the two loving relatives who live so far apart.

The expressive Photoshop, watercolor, and pencil illustrations wonderfully convey the warm relationship between child and adult, and also the wonder the flamingo brings to their world—soft and muted for reality, bright and colorful for the tale, readers will have no trouble moving between the two. A charming, magical, and lovely book!

PS: maybe it’s because I grew up in the city, but there’s a spread near the end where the child flies away on the back of the flamingo—orange-pink bird against the blue-grey-purple skyscrapers—I’m right there, and I’m flying away, too!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Teddy's Midnight Adventure

PB Review: Teddy's Midnight Adventure

Teddy's Midnight Adventure by Yoko Mori, transl. by Cathy Hirano (Pushkin Children's Books, 32p., ages 3-7, 9781782694014)

In the enchanting, ethereal Teddy's Midnight Adventure, one young girl and her stuffie experience the magic of a moonlit night as they search for Teddy's lost eye.

Akiko and Teddy are playing outside until Akiko's mother calls the girl in. That's when "Teddy's eye pop[s] off and sail[s] through the air." Akiko searches, but the eye doesn't turn up. She lovingly wraps a bandage around Teddy's head and wishes she was "as small as Teddy" so she might "walk under the grass and look for it." That night, Akiko wakes to find that she is indeed very small. She leads Teddy outside and they hunt for the eye, though at first, it's nowhere to be found. The "trilling" bell crickets, Mee-chan the cat, and sleeping Mrs Crow are no help, but after a sudden rainfall Akiko and Teddy find toadstools, "balloon-like" puffball fungi, and "a forest of glowing mushrooms." By the light of these magical lamps, Akiko spots Teddy's eye. When she wakes the next morning, Akiko is "back to her normal size," and Teddy's eye is "back on his face, just like always."

Yoko Mori's story depicts what could be any child's dream: a post-bedtime adventure that transforms the comforting realm of the everyday into fantasy. Hirano's gentle translation fully expresses the magic and sweetness in Mori's picture book. Detailed gray-scale illustrations feature pops of red to highlight Akiko's clothes and the wonderful glowing mushrooms. The intricate, accomplished, often whimsical art fills Mori's nighttime world with glamour. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--The Chaperone

YA Review: The Chaperone

The Chaperone by M Hendrix (Sourcebooks Fire, 448p., ages 13-up, 9781728260006)

In M Hendrix's compelling, vivid dystopia, The Chaperone, 17-year-old Stella struggles with the near-total domination of women in a society where the Minutemen party controls everything, "from the top branches of government--liberty and security--all the way down to the military constables."

In New America, unmarried females who reach puberty must be supervised by a chaperone at all times; they are not allowed romantic relationships, a college education, or careers--only marriage and "babies right away." When "golden-brown"-haired Stella's beloved chaperone, Sister Helen, dies suddenly and mysteriously, she leaves Stella a cryptic message: "Angel." Her new chaperone, Sister Laura, is unusual: Stella is allowed to jog with her usually off-limits dad, take self-defense lessons, and read banned books. These freedoms at first feel terrifying but quickly become liberating. Sister Laura even allows her to spend time alone in public, which Stella and her female classmates are told is exceptionally dangerous due to supposed kidnappings of unchaperoned young women in public. The more independence Stella gains, the more she questions--by the time she figures out "Angel," she knows it is essential she escape.

Hendrix's first work of fiction presents an infuriating, nonsensical diminishment of women that turns them into helpless children and baby-bearers. With its shades of Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, The Chaperone depicts a New America that feels all too real. Hendrix's storytelling is first rate: characters develop believably, and the action builds dramatically to a satisfying conclusion. A strong, rewarding contemporary vision of oppression. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--Under the Blanket Sky

PB Review: Under the Blanket Sky

Under the Blanket Sky by Tim Fischer (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 40p., ages 3-7, 9780593645918)

Under the Blanket Sky is a lyrically written, lushly illustrated picture book about one magical summer friendship that may endure forever as something "between a memory and a dream."

One morning, "with a brush of wind and flutter of sunlight," a "strange creature" appears to a child. It has "bright eyes," soft feathers, and "smell[s] like the sky." The two become friends and, all summer long, the child shares their "favorite things to do and places to spend time" with the owl-like being. When the child wonders if things will "always be this way," the creature assures the child that he's "glad we have today." Then a day arrives "with a curious feeling"--a day that hints of autumn--and the friends know the time has come for the creature to "spread his great wings and return to the sky." Even as summer ends and school draws near, the child sees hints of "hello and goodbye" in the form of "bright eyes at the window" and "blue feathers in the sky."

Tim Fischer's bittersweet debut is a delightful flight of fancy wherein an imaginary creature enriches what might otherwise have been a lonely time for a solitary child. The bond between child and creature is heartfelt and wonderfully communicated through an excellent balance of text and art. Fischer evocatively builds a powerful sense of connection as well as the passage of time through a series of wordless, elegant double-page spreads. This tale of enduring friendship captivates from stunning sunrise to idyllic evening--and all the summer days between. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

June Recommendations

Using a clear and compelling voice, HOPE FOR RYAN WHITE, written by Dano Moreno and illustrated by Hannah Abbo, tells how one young activist changed the world for the better. Born with hemophilia, Ryan needed blood transfusions to stay alive. In 1984, when he was still in middle school, he contracted AIDS from one of those transfusions. When Ryan wanted to go back to school, “misinformation echoed through the town.” Ryan fought long and hard for his rights, and to educate the public about AIDS. He made a difference. This is an informative and uplifting picture book with brightly colored illustrations which does a terrific job of introducing the story of this important activist to picture book readers.

HOW DINOSAURS WENT EXTINCT: A SAFETY GUIDE, written by Ame Dyckman and illustrated by Jennifer Harney, opens with a child in a museum asking a pretty typical question, “How did dinosaurs go extinct anyway?” While Mom begins a pretty typical answer about comets-asteroids-volcanic eruptions-nobody knows for sure, Dad interrupts to say he knows exactly how, “ahem…” Apparently, there was plenty of running with scissors, tipping of chairs, swimming after eating, not changing underwear, scratching bug bites, etc. etc. until one way or another, all the dinosaurs went extinct. The horror-stricken kid asserts they are “NEVER DOING ANY OF THESE THINGS AGAIN!” and that, apparently, is that! Short, cautionary tidbits interspersed with retorts and sounds from the dinosaurs, paired with colorful, frenetic Photoshop illustrations, combine to deliver the fast-paced humor in this book. Should be a real kid-pleaser.

THIS IS A STORY, written by John Schu and illustrated by Lauren Castillo, begins with a word, on a page, in a book, on a shelf, waiting in a library for just the right human to connect with it. Luckily, there is a wonderful librarian who is ready to connect this reader, and plenty of others—all with questions, ideas, hopes, imaginations and “hearts that can grow… endlessly”—to books that will become the way for each reader to “understand… everything.” The text is lyrical and expansive, and the warmly-colored illustrations reference many other familiar and wonderful books, making it a lovely ode to books, reading, libraries… and the power of all things literary!

SOMETHING SPECTACULAR: A ROCK’S JOURNEY, by Carmela LaVigna Coyle and illustrated by Carly Allen-Fletcher, begins 272 million years before “she” finds it. “Huddled inside a behemoth hunk of sandstone,” it splits off, hurtles through the air, endures wind, waves and ice, tumbles and erodes, rests in a ravine, is “pawed and poked,” “nuzzled and nudged,” “smoothed,” “buffed,” and “rounded,” until it becomes—something spectacular! A timeline that references the girl who finds the rock puts its formation into context for readers. This poetic and informative imagining of a rock’s formation, aided by dramatic illustrations, should excite young rockhounds everywhere!

In A BED OF STARS, by Jessica Love, a child is scared to sleep because of “how big the universe is and how it goes on and on forever.” Dad decides a camping trip is in order, and the pair head off to the desert. Among other things, the child and father discuss mountain flowers, enjoy a stop at their “favorite junkyard,” listen to the blues, and jump in the sand dunes. The text is full of sensory details and observations, and meanders in just the right way to convey the wonder of the experience. Watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations are spare yet descriptive, and it turns out that “shak[ing] hands with the universe” is exactly what this pair needs. A quiet, contemplative, and completely lovely book.

ODE TO A BAD DAY, written by Chelsea Lin Wallace and illustrated by Hyewon Yum, begins with a child calling out—in child-ranty individual odes—a bad morning, in which “eyes are crusty, bones are rusty,” and their “teeth feel dusty,” but troubles mount with too much milk turning cereal from “crispy into gushy,” then the “itchy tags” and “icky buttons of getting dressed,” scrambling to school, stinging knees, line-cutters, hiccups, and “oh bad day,” what went wrong?? This fabulous book describes, in passionate odic form, all the small annoyances in this young child’s day, but thankfully ends with hope that “a better day is on its way.” The watercolor and colored pencil illustrations are spot on, highlighting all the drama and keeping the focus of this child-centric story right where it needs to be.

--Lynn