Shelf Awareness--Frostfire

PB Review: Frostfire

Frostfire by Elly MacKay (Tundra Books, 44p., ages 3-7, 9780735266988)

Elly MacKay's radiant, fantastical Frostfire showcases the bond between two sisters who take pleasure in letting their imaginations take the lead.

Celeste and older sister Miriam leave home to enjoy a "glittering winter kingdom" of snow and ice. When they hear a "deep grumbling sound," Miriam insists it is the roar of a snow dragon. Understandably, Celeste has questions. Miriam, luckily, is a dragon expert (she was "just reading about them") and explains all to her younger sister: snow dragons are huge, sneaky, fire-breathing, princess-eating beasts, who prefer flying to walking and never get tired. When Celeste wanders off to find a sword, she hears a grumbling sound and bravely welcomes the snow dragon--as long as it eats pinecones, not princesses. Celeste shows Miriam the wonderful creature (now "camouflaged to look like a cloud") and the girls watch until the wind shifts and the dragon moves "out of sight."

MacKay (Zap! Clap! Boom!) features a charming give-and-take between her two loving, humanlike fox sisters. The author's illustrations--photographs of paper scenes made with numerous materials, such as spray paint, glitter, fabric, and foam--depict crisp characters set upon silvery backgrounds suffused with golden light. At times, Celeste and Miriam appear as if they're floating in the scenes, an effect that makes the protagonists feel ungrounded, but may enhance the whimsy and fantasy of the text and Celeste's dragon. Frostfire is a sweet and elegant tribute to imaginative play. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

October Recommendations

PRUNELLA, written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Claire Keane, is the story of a girl born with a purple thumb. Her parents, with their green thumbs, are puzzled, but all soon becomes clear. Prunella loves cactuses and Venus flytraps, bat flowers and fungi. Her parents “[don’t] always understand Prunella’s choices,” but they wholeheartedly fuel her passion. Unfortunately, the neighborhood kids are “not only nervous but nauseated” at Prunella’s pinching, poking, reeking garden. So Prunella, growing ever more prickly herself, befriends bugs, bees, and her teddy bear cholla, rather than humans. But—eventually—a small Venus Flytrap-loving boy plants a “tiny, hopeful friend-shaped seed” in her heart. This is a quirky, hopeful story about finding your own “peculiar,” if need be, tribe. Offbeat, energetic, digital illustrations are a nice match to the story. (Make’s a nice companion/counterpoint to Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden, by Christy Mandin!)

WOLFGANG IN THE MEADOW, by Lenny Wen, is worthy of a read or three, even though it features yet another adorable ghost who wants to do more than be spooky. Wolfgang lives in the meadow and, like the other supernatural beings who live there, he practices plenty of spooky-haunty things. But he also enjoys hugging trees, picking wildflowers, and gazing at clouds and stars with his (bunny and bird) meadow friends. Wolfgang works hard to achieve his dream of becoming the “mightiest spookish” being who gets to haunt the Dark Castle, but along the way he loses track of his non-spooky side. Now, even thought Wolfgang is living his dream, he finds himself growing weaker and weaker, until one of his bird friends from the meadow is able to remind him of the power of what he’s lost. It’s a terrific story about learning to embrace all of what makes you special, with beautiful illustrations that incorporate graphite, closed pencils, gouache, and acrylic gouache into the final digital images.

In SMALL THINGS MENDED, written by Casey Robinson and illustrated by Nancy Whitesides, Cecil lives a quiet life on his own until neighbor Lily needs her watch fixed. After Cecil mends it, and is rewarded by Lily’s “biggest smile,” Lily’s friend Alfred shows up with a broken music box (“without the music, it’s just a box”). Cecil mends that, too, and when he sees how delighted Alfred is, Cecil hangs a sign announcing he will open a shop to fix neighborhood “trinkets and treasures, doodads and thingamajigs.” He works long and hard, but when Eleanor brings her stuffed elephant Daisy, who has a broken heart, Cecil isn’t at all sure he can help. He tries and tries, until the welcome presence of Daisy at his table gives him an idea. As Cecil opens his heart—and his table—to neighbors and friends, more than one heart is mended that day. Such a delightful story, with the perfect soft, expressive gouache, crayon, pencil and digital media illustrations to bring it to life!

NOODLES ON A BICYCLE, written by Kyo Maclear and illustrated by Gracey Zhang, beings “when the deliverymen set off in the morning,” observed by a group of children. The deliverymen leave on bicycles, with stacks of noodles in “famous house broth,” trays and trays of soup bowls and wooden boxes, balancing one on top of another, “towers on their shoulders.” Beep, beep, honk, honk, deliverymen zip all over the city as hungry customers wait. They are “acrobats, whizzing past other bicycles, soaring around curves, cresting hills, avoiding potholes and the black smoke of motorcycles.” And when night falls and the children are hungry, who delivers their own meal? Papa, of course, bone-tired but always ready to tuck in his kids with a kiss. The vivid, lyrical text is full of energy, as are the ink and gouache illustrations, with their loose style and perfect palette of golds and greens, pinks and purples.

STILL LIFE, written by Alex London and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky, is a fun, tongue-in-cheek romp wherein an artist describes what a still life is in no uncertain terms: “This is a still life. It is a painting of objects sitting still. In a still life, nothing moves.” But, as the artist gets specific about exactly which elements in this still life don’t move—they do. “Eager mice” peek out from behind a cloth, a dragon and a knight appear, and, when chaos erupts, a queen saves the day. It’s playful fun—who wouldn’t appreciate a painting disobeying an artist’s overly-strict rules?—and it all ends with a silly sneeze. The voice is perfectly pedantic and the black pencil and digital art does a nice job of keeping the actual painting separate from the living that’s subverting the narration.

In THE YOWLERS, written by Stacey Lynn Carroll and illustrated by Molly Ruttan, grumpiness is “a way of life.” The monster family shrieks and brawls, shouts and wails, and the baby’s yowling is heard day and night, “in every corner of the neighborhood.” But when a new family, the Nicelys, shows up “doing something weird with their teeth” (erm, they’re smiling), the Yowlers don’t know what to make of it. The Nicely boys teach the Yowler girls how to play soccer—and it’s fun! So is dealing with stuff “without any tantrums.” The astounded Yowler parents are worried, but there are cookies, baked by the Nicelys, and before long even baby Yowler learns how to laugh. The text is lighthearted and relatable, and kids should enjoy figuring out the secret behind the Yowlers’ monstrousness, while the playful art, done in charcoal, pastel, acrylic, and digital media, cleverly illustrates the transition from nasty to nice!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Rory the Remarkable Dragon

PB Review: Rory the Remarkable Dragon

Rory the Remarkable Dragon by Kathryn Rammell (Orchard Books, 40p., ages 4-8, 9781339043159)

Rory the Remarkable Dragon is the lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek tale of a small, white chicken in a big dragon world.

Rory, a "remarkable dragon," attends the Dragon Academy with "all the other remarkable dragons." On her first day, the students "take a loooong look at her..." because, well, clever readers will immediately notice that Rory is not a dragon--she's a chicken. Even though Rory's flight lessons and Pyro PE go poorly, she's embraced by her classmates and teacher, and becomes "the most popular dragon in the school." But the suspicious principal feels that something isn't right. When Rory doesn't eat the roast chicken served for lunch, the principal growls, "I knew from the start something was afoul with you! You're not a 'remarkable dragon.' You're a.../ VEGETARIAN DRAGON!" Rory's great discipline means she is ready to become the "youngest treasure guard in dragon history!"

Debut author/illustrator Kathryn Rammell presents an amusing tale of mistaken identity, and the fact that Rory is so clearly a chicken should make it easy for little ones to be in on the joke. Digitally created characters are full of personality: Rory's mismatched eyes somehow manage to convey multiple feelings without really changing; her orange teacher over-emotes; and the principal, with her oversized pink glasses and matching lipstick, is grumpily suspicious. Prominent text bubbles advance the waggish text and the fun-yet-valuable message that being true to yourself means you get to guard the treasure--or, actually, that simply being yourself is the greatest treasure of all. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

October's Book of the Month--The Ofrenda That We Built

October’s Book of the Month is THE OFRENDA THAT WE BUILT, written by Jolene Gutiérrez and Shaian Gutiérrez, and illustrated by Gabby Zapata.

This sweet picture book is a rhyming look at the way one family builds an ofrenda for Día de Muertos. Included, among other things, are “cloth, embroidered by Amá,” “candles, glowing and bright,” tamales “that Papi prepares for the spirits to eat,” and “photos, reminders so dear.” Step by step, THE OFRENDA THAT WE BUILT weaves together all the many items this family gathers with care and tenderness to honor their “loving abuelo, who’s no longer here.”

Clever, cumulative text based on The House that Jack Built is enriched by vibrant, colorful, cartoony art which brings the complex scenes to life. There’s plenty of backmatter, too. It’s a joyful, heartfelt tribute to family and tradition that’s beautifully done!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord

MG Review: We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord

We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord by Garth Nix (Scholastic Press, 240p., ages 9-12, 9781339012209, October 15, 2024)

Garth Nix's We Do Not Welcome Our Ten-Year-Old Overlord is highly believable, edge-of-your-seat science fiction, perfectly crafted for a middle-grade audience, in which one boy's too-smart-for-her-own-good 10-year-old sister finds an alien object capable of mind control in "an alternate version" of 1975 Canberra, Australia.

Most evenings, 12-year-old Kim Basalt and his best friend, Bennie Chance, along with their younger sisters Eila and Madir, ride bikes to a nearby lake. One night, after the sun disappears "for a fraction of a second," Eila wades into the water and pulls out a perfectly round, golden globe covered in mud. Kim tries to wrestle the object away from Eila, but he's zapped by the "horrible sensation that somethingwas entering his brain," at the same time a voice in his head insists "let me in." Kim resists ("heck no!") and breaks free, but Eila, bossy and "super, super smart," pronounces the object to be a friend, and Madir worshipfully agrees it's "perfectly safe." Kim knows the globe is dangerous and threatens to tell their parents, but the globe disguises itself as a "harmless and ordinary" basketball by the time the kids get home.

Kim can't stop worrying about the globe, but Eila assures him Aster--"she is a person, not a 'globe thing' "--will listen to her and "can help." Eila sneaks out of the house one night and Kim follows to find Eila illuminating a massive ant nest with the globe; the next morning, the ants that had been touched by the light are dead. Later, Kim notices a "thin, perfectly circular layer of cloud directly above them, covering the city." When Bennie's parents start getting along, a sick neighbor is suddenly healed, and Kim's parents buy the color TV they never wanted, Eila finally admits to Kim that Aster is interfering with minds.

Nix (The Old Kingdom Series; The Lefthanded Booksellers of London) brings his consummate skill with speculative fiction to this captivating piece of alternate history. His introduction of a seemingly innocuous object with the potential to throw the known world into chaos is a familiar device, but in Nix's hands it's particularly effective. The ever-increasing tension should keep readers mesmerized, as they struggle with the question at the heart of this clever book: whether mind control is ever okay, even if it brings about "good" changes. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness Pro.

Shelf Awareness--No More Señora Mimí

PB Review: No More Señora Mimí

No More Señora Mimí by Meg Medina, illus. by Brittany Cicchese (Candlewick, hardcover, 32p., ages 4-7, 9781536219449)

Newbery Medal winner Meg Medina's No More Señora Mimí is a tender portrayal of a significant change and is every bit as entertaining as it is heartfelt.

Every morning, Mami drops Ana at señora Mimí's apartment. Today, Ana is excited because Abuela is coming to live with them. This means no more señora Mimí watching Ana while Mami is at work. Ana is thrilled that she won't need a babysitter anymore--no more "vamos, Ana... we're almost out of time" when Ana is tying her shoes or being told "there's no time to play" when there are leaves to kick on the way to school. But when classmate Tynisha points out how lucky Ana is, Ana begins to worry: Does no more babysitter mean "no more señora Mimí?" Ana is afraid she won't be able to tell her caregiver the best and worst parts of her day or buy peanuts with her to feed the squirrels. Luckily, señora Mimí understands and assures Ana that they will still be neighbors. Indeed, even better than that, Ana, Abuela, and señora Mimí "can all become good friends."

Medina (Merci Suárez Changes Gears) crafts an earnest text that unfolds in present tense and delivers a clear, compassionate storyline about dealing with change. Illustrator Brittany Cicchese (The Kitten Story) features warm brown skin tones, tons of textures, thick outlines, and vibrant yellows, blues, purples, and greens in her digital art. Cicchese depicts expressive faces and body language and uses lighter, less distinct backgrounds, keeping the visual focus on the characters. The result is a sweetly affectionate depiction of a child's deep bond with her caregiver. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

Shelf Awareness--One Last Chance to Live

YA Review: One Last Chance to Live

One Last Chance to Live by Francisco X. Stork (Scholastic Press, 320p., ages 12-up, 9781339010236)

One Last Chance to Live by Francisco X. Stork (I Am Not Alone) reveals the thoughtful, moving account of a life on the edge through the journal entries of a young man debating whether to follow in the footsteps of his mentor, who was recently found "dead from a heroin overdose in a hotel room in Queens."

Seventeen-year-old Nico wants to be a great writer, so he signs up for Mr. Cortazar's English class with the "insane requirement" that he journal "at least five hundred words every single day." Rosario, the girl he loved and admired, also wanted to be a great writer. Now she's dead. Nico has dreams of his own funeral, in which his mother, Julia, and brother, Javier, are "previously departed," and Rosario is trying to tell him something important. Upon waking, Nico becomes increasingly obsessed with whether Rosario, not a known drug user, died "on purpose or by accident." When his mother is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and Javier falls in deeper with the X-Teca gang, Nico fears his dream was prescient. As his hope for the future wanes, he wonders if this is how Rosario felt right before she died. If so, what's stopping him from taking the same way out?

Stork's nuanced dive into suicidal ideation is written in a close, achingly honest voice. The private journal entries are a flowing confessional, and readers witness the toll "the crappy part of living" takes on the young man. Underlying all is the profound and believable hope that Nico will overcome his obstacles and be able to recognize his writing--and his life--for the precious gifts they are. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.

BUTTERNUT & THE FLYING BUTTER: Interview with Author Jill Dana and a Giveaway!

BUTTERNUT & THE FLYING BUTTER is the third book in Jill’s Butternut series, and this time around Butternut learns to manage his fears with the help of his supermarket friends.

When it’s time for the Spring Plant Show (“a berry nice time,” according to the blueberries), Butternut really wants to go, but he’s afraid of the supermarket’s sliding glass doors closing on him, smooshing him, or trapping him outside his home.

But Butternut really wants to see the Flying Butter perform at the show, so he asks his BFF Buttercup to help. Together, Butternut and Buttercup gather their friends Dragonfruit, Horseradish, and Elderberry, and all work hard to settle Butternut’s nerves. They give him strategies, like singing and counting, and on the big day, Butternut visualizes his success, recites his affirmations, and gives it a go.

And, when a butterfly is accidentally trapped in the Supermarket, Butternut knows just what to do!

The useful backmatter includes discussion questions and a guide to butterfly gardening.

Jill has generously agreed to donate a copy of BUTTERNUT & THE FLYING BUTTER to one lucky winner who comments below!

Hi Jill, thank you for joining me on the blog to talk about your new book, the third in your Butternut series, called BUTTERNUT & THE FLYING BUTTER! So how did you begin writing about veggies, anyway?

My first story about produce was actually in film school. I made a 1-minute stop-motion movie about a little lost pear. I’ve always loved nature and plants. Fruits and vegetables come in so many shapes, colors, sizes, and many have interesting names.

Later I was inspired by my elementary school students. Many of them didn’t know where food comes from. Many didn’t know what produce looks like in whole form or about different varieties of produce. There were many inspirations.

Did you always think of the Butternut books as a series?

I did always think of it as a series. It was a dream, of course, that I didn’t know would become a reality. I wrote the first full manuscript of Butternut in 2013. I had ideas for other books in the series, especially the potential titles of books. I also wrote a different version of Butternut that was an early highly-illustrated chapter book version.

When I submitted the manuscript to Marshall Cavendish, they were looking for early chapter book series. I submitted that version but mentioned in my query letter that I also had a picture book version. The editor requested the picture book manuscript. She preferred that version and the rest is history.

Can you tell us about your path to publication?

As noted earlier, I attended film school. After film school, I wrote stories that I realized seemed suited to the children’s book world. I researched children’s book publishing and discovered the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. I joined SCBWI. In 2009, I attended my first SCBWI Florida regional conference. There I met many wonderful book creators and I really embarked on my children’s book writing and illustrating journey.

I worked on my craft and submitted manuscripts. I received many rejections, but kept learning, meeting other book creators, and refining my craft. In 2014, my first book, HER PINK HAIR, was published by Guardian Angel Publishing. I both wrote and illustrated HER PINK HAIR and its companion book, HER BROWN HAIR. Both books are very special to me. They’re not currently available (since Guardian Angel Publishing is no longer in business), but I hope to re-release them someday (or find a new home for them with another traditional publisher).

You share a lot of kid—and adult—friendly food facts on social media. Do you compile them on your website, or is there another way readers can access them?

I love learning food facts. I focus on food facts about fruits and vegetables. Some are produce that are also fictional characters in the Butternut books. They’re all available on my Instagram page @JillDanaBooks. Plus, if you search the hashtag #FunFoodFactsFriday, a bunch should pop up on your search page. That’s another way to find them. I post weekly. Follow my page if you enjoy learning facts about foods too.

Any other books on the horizon? What are you working on now?

Yes, there are other Butternut series books in the works. The illustrator of BUTTERNUT & THE FLYING BUTTER (book three of the series), and later Butternut books, Anusha Santosh, and I can’t wait to share them with readers of all ages. The fourth Butternut book is called BUTTERNUT & BOBO. We’re so excited to introduce readers to Bobo, a new character in the series.

There’s also another picture book, BERNARDO, which is about a dog (not part of Butternut’s supermarket world), that’s far along in the illustration process. (The illustrator is Renate Potter.) He’s an adorable character. I’m a huge dog lover, so I’m super excited for that book too. Follow me on social media to stay updated on all my book news.

I’m also writing and revising other manuscripts.

Finally, I gotta ask—what’s your favorite fruit or vegetable? And would you rather have that — or dessert???

I love fruits and vegetables. I don’t really have one favorite. One of my favorite fruits is apples. I especially like apples that are crispy. While researching apples for #FunFoodFactsFriday, I learned that there are 7,500 varieties of apples worldwide.

One of my favorite vegetables is the artichoke. I discovered many really interesting facts when researching artichokes too.

I also enjoy desserts. Do I have to choose? Fruit can be a delicious dessert also. If I picked a non-fruit-based dessert and wanted to be extra extravagant, I’d choose crème-brulee boba tea.

Thanks for interviewing me, Lynn! Your questions were fun to answer. And thank you for introducing the Butternut series to readers of your blog!

Jill Dana loves gardens, especially the garden in her backyard. She loves to discover new blooms and little creatures. Jill hopes the BUTTERNUT books plant the seeds for joy, creativity, and compassion in readers of all ages. Jill holds a Master of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production and a Master of Education in Elementary Education plus TESOL. She is a member of @PictureBookGold, @PBSunrays, SCBWI, and a Rate Your Story judge. Learn more about Jill at www.JillDanaBooks.com and @JillDanaBooks.

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September's Book of the Month--It Is Okay

IT IS OKAY, by Ye Guo, is a charming, understated story of two “very different” friends who discover that—together—they can cope and even thrive amidst life’s many ups and downs.

Every morning, Goat enjoys a cup of coffee and canned grass on toast. One day, there’s no canned grass, so Goat heads to the supermarket, where he bonds with Bunny over which brand to choose. From then on, the two new friends meet up for coffee and canned grass. They find they like a lot of the same things, but not all, and that this "is okay.” Goat and Bunny both enjoy exploring, and when Bunny feels they’ve gotten lost, “it is okay,” because “Goat can always find the way back.” When they miss their train, “it is okay,” because Bunny realizes they can take the next one. And when Bunny ask Goat over for dinner and Goat “cannot fit through the door,” guess what—“it is okay,” because they can picnic outside!

The elegant text is subtle and full of heart. Delicate, quirky illustrations (pencil, pastel, watercolor pen, ink, and collage on mono print backgrounds) highlight the bond between the friends, and the detailed art adds depth and emotional impact—also, it’s fun! This story exudes a gentle geniality that assures readers, without being didactic, that all will indeed be okay.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Heir

YA Review: Heir

Heir by Sabaa Tahir (Putnam Sons Books for Young Readers, 512p., ages 13-up, 9780593616949, October 1, 2024)

Heir is a complex, spellbinding YA saga of love and intrigue that is set in the familiar magical universe of the An Ember in the Ashes series, written by National Book Award winning-author Sabaa Tahir (All My Rage).

"Small-boned, light-skinned" Aiz bet-Dafra, 18, is a desperately poor, orphaned "gutter child" in the crowded city of Kegar. The vile highborn commander of the air squadrons, Tiral bet-Hiwa, is driven to conquest and uses the city's magic-driven Sails to bomb and pillage other lands for food. When Aiz attempts to kill Tiral--who has murdered many of her fellow orphans--she is thrown into prison. There, the blessed Mother Div, historical "Savior of Kegar," manifests as an apparition and aids Aiz's escape. Mother Div promises Aiz that she will help the girl gain strength and save "the poor and wretched of Kegar."

Thousands of miles away, dark-haired, gold-skinned prince Quil is the reluctant heir to the Martial throne. The 20-year-old has been trained to fight by the "greatest warrior in the Empire." Quil is troubled, though, by an epidemic of ugly murders that has left 14 children dead; he confronts Empress Helene but receives no answers. Before he can investigate further, the palace is destroyed in an unexpected Kegari attack. Quil escapes and is sent on a mission to bring back a mysterious weapon that will save the Empire.

Twenty-year-old, "blue-black hair and brown"-skinned Sirsha Westering comes from a line of powerful magic-wielders called the Jaduna. She is approached by a mysterious Martial and asked to find a dangerous murderer who targets young people. Sirsha's magic lies in tracking and binding the magic of others, but she's been banished by the Jaduna and forbidden to use her powers on pain of death. The price the client offers, though, is irresistible. When the royal palace is attacked, Sirsha's path, her mission--and quite possibly her heart--collide with Quil.

This first electrifying book in a duology occurs 20 years after the events of the final An Ember in the Ashes book. In Heir, Tahir's three narrators take turns driving the story, their compelling tales merging into one serendipitous, exhilarating whole. The narrators' goals are seemingly unrelated--Aiz's righteousness, Sirsha's sworn oath, and Quil's need to save his people--yet Tahir's magic lies in how she makes their goals mesh, propelling the novel forward to a violent, tangled cliffhanger of an ending. Heir is a triumphant return to a beloved world. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness Pro.

August Recommendations

In cozy, contemplative HIRO: WINTER AND MARSHMALLOWS, by Marine Schneider, translated by Vineet Lal, Hiro is a bear who’s “too curious to sleep for months on end.” Her mom warns that “winter can bite,” but Hiro packs a bag and slips outside her den. Though the breeze is icy, Hiro thinks winter is beautiful. She follows some tracks and the “sweet, gooey scent of toasted marshmallows” to a party of humans who flee their campfire at her approach. Hiro’s sad sighs rekindle the fire, causing half-eaten marshmallows to melt over the flames. But then Émile, a “marshmallow expert” peeks out from behind a tree, and together they have a wonderful time, sharing stories, running, hiding, and finding common ground. The text is evocative and sweet, and the illustrations, made with colored pencils, watercolors, acrylic paint, and markers, are impressionistic and delightful. A tender treat, not to be missed!

LUCKY DUCK, by Greg Pizzoli, is the funny story about Duck, who’s “feeling a bit unlucky.” The roller skates she ordered online are too big, but then a wolf tells her she’s won a fabulous soup pot. Now Susan feels lucky. When her kitchen lightbulb burns out, she’s back to feeling unlucky. But then the wolf says she’s won onions, “great for soup!” By now readers will likely be having some laughs as Susan’s discovery that the pickle jar is empty is followed by the wolf showing up with celery, and so on. Just when Susan fears her luck has run out for good, the wolf encounters some bad luck (and a pickle jar and roller skates) of his own. I’m a big fan of Pizzoli’s straightforward text and distinctive illos, and kid-friendly Lucky Duck doesn’t disappoint.

I WANT 100 DOGS, written by Stacy McAnulty and illustrated by Claire Keane, begins with a child who wants 100 dogs, (then 90, then 80, etc.) and the two parents who explain why, in each instance, that might not be a great idea. Told all in dialog, the reasons for wanting so many dogs—and the reasons why they would be impractical—include plenty of humor, which is amped up by the energetic art. Text is indicated in speech bubbles and the digital illustrations of all those dogs and their consequences are in thought “clouds.” It all comes together nicely with the child getting just the right amount of dog.

In THE SPACEMAN, by Randy Cecil, the titular, diminutive spaceman is collecting soil samples on one of a series of planets when he’s distracted by “something special” (a flower). At that moment, his ship is stolen by a bird. Though he’s frightened by a huge, “hideous beast, all covered in fur” (a dog), he’s also fascinated by a “fantastical array of creatures” (snails, ladybugs, a butterfly). The charms of this planet and its furry inhabitant grow on the little spaceman, and he begins to weigh his responsibility to find his spaceship and collect more samples with his desire to spend time laughing, playing, and “enjoying the gentle breeze with [his] friend.” Text is droll, and oil painted illustrations have plenty of texture, color, and style. Pair it with WE ARE DEFINITELY HUMAN, by X. Fang, for a couple of tongue-in-cheek fish-out-of-water, aliens-on-earth stories that would make for a terrific storytime.

HIDE-AND-SEEK, written and illustrated by Molly Cranch, is a delightful look at camouflage, disguised as a fun game. Turtle is IT, but Heron doesn’t know where to hide. Trout, Manatee, Otter, and Cricket have taken all the best spots. But soon Heron, too, finds exactly the right place to hide from Turtle. Chirp-chirp! Slish-slosh! Trudge-trudge! Splish-splash! Squeak-squeak! Surprise! Look who’s IT now! This fun book, with its onomatopoeia and beautiful illustrations, will have kids begging to read it again and again.

CAMILLA SUPER HELPER, written by Julie Dillemuth and illustrated by Laura Wood, is another Camilla, Cartographer book which promotes spacial awareness thinking skills and map-making. In this one, Camilla and her neighbor Parsley are reading about superheroes one hot summer day, when Melli, a honey bee, breezes in through the open window. Melli has to fly all day to find flowers to make honey, so Camilla decides to help, by setting up water stations and planting more flowers. There are so many locations to consider, it's a good thing Camilla’s superpower is drawing excellent maps. Before long, Camilla and friends set out to help. This engaging book, about a forest full of superheroes, has back matter about the importance of bees and how to make a bee garden, which includes mapping out the project.

--Lynn

August's Book of the Month--Ahoy!

August 2024's Book of the Month is AHOY!, a gem of a book about the joy of imaginative play by two-time Caldecott winner Sophie Blackall.

When a parent who’s vacuuming wants to know what their child is playing, the answer is a definitive “I’M NOT PLAYING!” Apparently, there’s a storm coming: the rug is a rising ocean, and the parent is instructed not to dillydally or they’ll both be eaten by sharks. The pair happily draw a map, raise a mainsail, hoist a burgee, and swab a poop deck. They set sail in a fabulous vessel (laundry-filled basket and chairs), but when the phone rings, they hit the doldrums. Soon, though, they’re at it again, as a giant squid attacks right before the storm rolls in—and they end up on an iceberg! Luckily, a distress signal brings help, and it’s “not a moment too soon!”

A universe of fun fills these pages as imagination transforms chore time—and the living room—into the scene of a fantastical, seafaring adventure. Blackall brilliantly brings AHOY! to life with a text that’s all dialogue and energy, and enriched by fun nautical terms. The illustrations are bright, whimsical, endearing, and equally energetic, and the roly-poly, hatted characters look like they could be toys themselves. Color and line-work are superb, as always. Be sure to take note of gorgeous endpapers and look under the dust jacket.

As someone whose kids made royal thrones out of egg cartons, I love a good book about imaginative play, and this one does not disappoint. It’s sparkling, creative, dynamic—don’t miss it!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Death at Morning House

YA Review: Death at Morning House

Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson (HarperTeen, 384p., ages 12-up, 9780063255951)

Secrets abound in Death at Morning House, a sure-handed, suspenseful story that combines ominous mystery, droll wit, and queer romance.

Marlowe Wexler's first date with longtime crush Akilah Jones does not go well. After a romantic dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, Marlowe brings Akilah back to the cottage she's housesitting and her petrichor-scented candle turns Marlowe into an accidental arsonist. Marlowe decides she'll "ghost... the world," but instead receives a job offer that will let her leave town altogether: leading tours at an infamous Prohibition-era mansion. The abandoned manor, where two of the extremely wealthy Ralston family's children died tragically on the same day, is being opened to the public for one summer. Marlowe agrees to join the crew, only to learn upon arrival that her colleagues are all locals who have already started the season--and she is replacing a guide who drowned after falling off a cliff. Buried secrets bubble to the surface, Marlowe's boss goes missing, and a "swirling, biblical mess" of a storm turns the tour guides' spooky ice cream party into a nightmare. As Marlowe watches history repeat itself, her brain begins to "assemble the pieces" and she homes in on the mansion's truths.

Maureen Johnson (Truly Devious series) has written an atmospheric, entertaining detective story with multiple entwined mysteries. Marlowe's contemporary narration is augmented by accounts from various Ralston children in 1932, effectively capturing readers' curiosity. Johnson imbues her writing with ominous undercurrents, yet Marlowe's wry voice manages to entertain, even as tragedies unfurl. This is a gripping, darkly funny, and gratifying YA mystery. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--We Are Definitely Human

PB Review: We Are Definitely Human

We Are Definitely Human by X. Fang (Tundra Books, 48p., ages 4-8, 9781774882023)

We Are Definitely Human is a fabulously illustrated, rib-tickling, and affecting picture book in which Mr. Li and his neighbors demonstrate the potential of kindness and cooperative spirit.

It's midnight when something crashes outside Mr. and Mrs. Li's house. Mr. Li investigates, only to find three strangers with "very big" eyes, "very blue" skin, and body shapes that are "very hard to describe." But Mr. Li doesn't worry because these strangers "are DEFINITELY human." Their spaceship (er, "car") has broken down and since Mr. Li is "a kind human," he offers to help. Mr. Li drives his guests to the store, and the people shopping there do "what kind humans do." They offer to help. Before long, there's a party in the woods, with food and dancing and "interesting conversations." At last, the repairs are made, and everyone waves goodbye. The car "float[s] higher and higher until it disappear[s] among the stars." The three visitors reflect on "the kindness of humans, [who] do what kind humans do--offer help to anyone who needs it."

X. Fang (Dim Sum Palace) has made an out-of-this-world picture book that features hilariously deadpan aliens and charming, though (maybe?) clueless, human protagonists (plus one wisely skeptical dog). Outrageously giggle-inducing dialogue from the aliens is characterized by non sequiturs and garbled syntax, and Fang revels in the disconnect between human expectations and alien quirks. Mixed media illustrations in strong purples, yellows, blues, and greens are a delight. This book's wonderful message of offering help where help is needed is wisely and gracefully delivered. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--Beneath These Cursed Stars

YA Review: Beneath These Cursed Stars

Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan (HarperTeen, 432p., ages 13-up, 9780063311909)

Beneath These Cursed Stars is a fast-paced, neatly executed YA dark fantasy featuring human-fae intrigue, romance, and tangled secrets that refuse to stay undercover.

It has been three years since Princess Jasalyn, now 17, was released from imprisonment in the dungeons of "false king" Mordeus. Rumors that the once-dead Mordeus has been resurrected are circulating and Jasalyn's sister, queen Abriella of the Unseelie Court, wants to send Jasalyn to the care of King Misha in the Wild Fae territory. But Jasalyn is no helpless victim; she traded her immortality for a magical ring, "forfeit[ing] any days beyond" the age of 18 in exchange for the powerful tool. At night, Jasalyn seeks out the worst of Mordeus's followers and uses the ring to administer the "kiss of death." On one of Jasalyn's deadly hunts, she is captured by fae disguised as humans who want to use her to fulfill their oracle's prophecy. When Jasalyn finds their goals align, she allows one of the captors, shapeshifting Felicity, to impersonate her, giving Jasalyn the freedom to spend her last year hunting Mordeus. As things turn steamy with leader Kendrick, the price Jasalyn paid for her ring begins to seem too high.

Lexi Ryan (These Hollow Vows) tells her thrilling romantic fantasy through the absorbing first-person voices of Jasalyn and Felicity. Characters wield tantalizing secret agendas as they fight against--and adhere to--the fates, and the sexy "will-they-or-won't-they" nature of the romance heightens the fun. The cliffhanger ending should leave readers eager to learn whether love or betrayal will ultimately win out. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--The Grandest Game

YA Review: The Grandest Game

The Grandest Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 384p., ages 12-up, 9780316481014)

The Grandest Game is a provocative, puzzle box of a novel wherein "seven lucky players" vie for control of a "life-changing" prize of $26 million.

Heiress Avery Grambs and the impossibly rich Hawthorne brothers will oversee the first annual Grandest Game. The seven tickets to play are highly coveted and all the contestants have something to prove--both to themselves and to others. British Rohan, "light brown"-skinned and roguish, competes to buy his way into a rich and powerful legacy. Gigi, master of "chaotic distraction," wants the prize to continue her enigmatic "reverse heist" program, while Savannah, Gigi's "taller, blonder" twin, plays to win. Ex-dancer Lyra needs the money because her parents plan to sell the family home to pay Lyra's college tuition. The seven contestants are rounded out by lip-reading "old lady" Odette, dreadlocked "recovering physicist" Brady, and "scum-basket" Knox--and, surprisingly, Grayson Hawthorne, second-eldest of the brothers, whose unfinished business with Lyra means he'll be competing as well. Teams form, tension skyrockets, and formidable outside forces surreptitiously pull strings, making the game increasingly more dangerous.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes's addictively fast-paced novel is the first in a series set in the same universe as her bestselling The Inheritance Games series, and there's plenty here for even previously uninitiated readers to enjoy. The shifting points of view among Rohan, Lyra, and Gigi, along with complex riddles, misdirection, and steamy sexual tension, keep the plot racing. The contestants all know there is a "price to be paid for power"--but how steep is the cost and who will pay it? --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

July's Recommendations

In TRICKY CHOPSTICKS, written by Sylvia Chen and illustrated by Fanny Liem, Splat-choooo! Jenny Chow finds chopsticks too “slippery, wobbly, and tricky” to master. She’s afraid she’ll fumble badly during her cousin Victor’s annual chopstick challenge and, even worse, what if she’s “the only Chow ever who never learn[s] how to use chopsticks?!” Jenny’s determined to figure out a way to “fix her grip,” but nothing seems to work, until she combines a daring idea with her love of origami. Jenny practices hard, and when the party arrives, she closes her eyes, holds her chopsticks tight, and, with a thumping heart, imagines her trick. Engaging text is enhanced by onomatopoeia and creative STEAM thinking, and digital illustrations are clear and energetic. Backmatter includes an author’s note and instructions on how to try Jenny’s trick with chopsticks.

LOOKING FOR PEPPERMINT, OR LIFE IN THE FOREST, by Maxwell Eaton III, takes readers on an appealing, anecdote-packed journey through the forest to find Peppermint, a dog who’s “up to no good.” The story begins with a child pointing out white pines, “the tallest trees in this forest,” and describing how the trees sway and sometimes even fall over, and what happens when they do. There are also hemlocks and red oaks. We learn about porcupines, fishers, minks, woodchucks, and coyotes, all of which may be encountered there. And turkeys and barred owls. And eventually we find Peppermint (and a red squirrel) and… This engaging hike is illustrated with pen and ink, graphite, watercolor, and colored pencils, in full spreads, comic-style panels, and with what purports to be our young guide’s journal entries. It’s a distinctive fictional picture book that offers plenty of facts.

In IF YOU RUN OUT OF WORDS, by Felicita Sala, a child asks her distracted dad “what happens if you run out of words? Will you have any left for me?” This poignant inquiry immediately captures Dad’s attention, and a fantastical journey of “what-if”s ensues. Dad visits the underground Elves’ Word Factory, climbs up the tallest tree, and flies (via owl) far away. He braves a broken rocket, wacky scientists, and “meany” mice pirates, until he gets home with a jar full of words that includes the three most precious of all… Sala’s imaginative chain of events, driven by the child’s questions, are enhanced by her usual breathtaking art (a glorious combination of gouache, ink, watercolor, colored pencils, and oil pastels), creating an immensely appealing book that’s perfect for end-of-day—or anytime—cuddles.

I finally got my hands on a copy of THE LAST STAND, written by Antwan Eady and illustrated by Jarett & Jerome Pumphrey, and I’m so glad I did. On Saturdays, Papa and the young narrator of this story harvest “peppers, plums, and pumpkins,” which they load, along with their eggs, into “baskets Granny made from sweetgrass.” Lines of customers await them at Papa Earl's stand, the last stand left at this Farmers Market. After the market closes for the day, there are more deliveries to make. “Papa’s hands are black and wrinkled,” his “hair is gray and thin,” and one Saturday he’s too tired to help. Little Earl learns how to take over, and in time the last stand becomes his. Eady’s text is spare yet speaks volumes, and the Pumphreys’ handmade, digitally edited stamps bring the story to life, adding artistry and context. An author’s note enriches with context about the declining percentage of Black farmers in America and thoughts on how “land is complex…but land is love, too.” It’s heartfelt, bittersweet, and pretty much a perfect picture book.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Wicked Marigold

MG Review: Wicked Marigold

Wicked Marigold by Caroline Carlson (Candlewick, 256p., ages 8-12, 9781536230499)

Wicked Marigold is a witty and wise tale of wickedness (with a twist) that's populated by strong-willed princesses, nasty wizards, a fastidious imp, and a sentient yellow blob.

Princess Marigold of the Cacophonous Kingdoms has grown up hearing all about her sister, "perfectly good" Princess Rosalind, who was stolen by the evil Wizard Torville before Marigold was born. Unlike Rosalind, Marigold occasionally sulks and can't "coax strawberries to ripeness" with her laugh, but she builds wonderful contraptions and has adventures with kitchen boy Collin. When Marigold is 11, Rosalind, with hair "even more golden than Marigold had heard," comes home. Marigold (not particularly happy about this) dumps a bucket of water onto Rosalind and, deciding she must be wicked, runs away to Wizard Torville's castle. To stay, she must convince Torville's imp, Pettifog, that she really is wicked. But, after accidentally turning Torville into a yellow "blob of glop," Marigold learns political dissent is growing among the evil wizards of the Cacophonous Kingdoms. Marigold, Collin, and Pettifog must put things right before the wizards cast their "big magic" on Rosalind--and curse Marigold herself.

Caroline Carlson offers an accomplished, rib-tickling take on princess stories, wherein a relatable younger sibling is made to feel she can never measure up. Marigold, neither good nor wicked but rather a very human mix of the two, is spunky, likable, and thinks for herself--she is a child who ultimately understands her own worth and saves the day with her cleverness and tenacity. The smart prose hums along, and this fresh look at familiar tropes is a real winner. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

July's Book of the Month--Millie Fleur's Poison Garden

July’s Book of the Month is the charming, fantastical MILLIE FLEUR’S POISON GARDEN, by Christy Mandin.

In Garden Glen, “prim, pastel houses, each one like the next,” line the streets, except for “one tumbledown house on a scruffy hill at the edge of town.” That’s the place Millie Fleur La Fae and her mom move into. Millie Fleur loves her new home, but one thing is missing—fortunately, Mom has brought seeds and Millie Fleur springs into action. She fills her new garden with plants like fanged fairy moss, sore toothwort, and tentacled tansy. Grumpy gillyflower and glowing jack-in-the-bush.

Of course, “picture-perfect” Garden Glen’s Rosebud Club finds the garden odd, unruly, and unacceptable. But Millie Fleur believes her “wild, weird little garden” is special, and when she brings her class home for a tour, they agree! Before long, “bits of Millie Fleur’s garden [begin] to take root all over town,” and Garden Glen is, happily, “forever transformed.”

Packed with puns, wordplay, and an appreciation of the off-kilter, MILLIE FLEUR’S POISON GARDEN is a delightful celebration of individuality, and the joys of following one’s own passions. It’s also about standing up for what you think is right. Mandin’s text is clear and clever, and the same can be said of her digital illos, which have their own punny references and imbue the plants with plenty of personality. There are faces everywhere and Millie Fleur’s frog sidekick adds a nice touch.

MILLIE FLEUR’S POISON GARDEN is dark—but not really. Like the titular garden, this book celebrates the “wonderfully weird” in a cozy, accessible way.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Immortal Dark

YA Review: Immortal Dark

Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 432p., ages 14-up, 9780316570381, September 3, 2024)

Immortal Dark is a fabulously bloody and intricate reimagining of the vampire myth, wherein an ancient agreement between vampires--or "dranaics"--and humans is all that keeps a massive slaughter of mortals at bay. But the stasis becomes threatened when one bitter, self-destructive 19-year-old embarks on a mission to save her twin, no matter the cost.

Kidan Adane is a murderer. And she'll kill again when she finds the "shadowy vampire" she is convinced kidnapped her twin sister, June. When Kidan's aunt dies, Kidan finds herself heiress to her parents' legacy, which should include the great House Adane, located on the hidden campus of Uxlay University. Uxlay is an ancient Black community that exists because of an uneasy peace, the Three Binds, that was created long ago in Ethiopia between dranaics and humans. Before the powerful binds, "humans were hunted and tortured by vampires," but once the alliance was forged, vampires were invited to live alongside humans as companions.

In a baffling twist, Kidan's parents have willed House Adane not to Kidan, but to dranaic Susenyos Sagad, the very vampire Kidan is seeking. To get to him and break her parents' will so she can inherit, Kidan must live in the estate with Susenyos; at the same time, each races to master the very real power of House Adane. Kidan and Susenyos, with his features "cut like dark glass," behave brutally--despite their growing and violent attraction--as each plots to make the other leave. As secret societies with unknown allegiances contribute to a trail of corpses, Kidan realizes the odds she'll save June without losing her own life are slim. But Kidan has always intended to die for her twin, "wreaking as much chaos as she [can] before facing hell itself."

Tigest Girma's ambitious, vividly imagined debut conjures a complex, often messy world in which humans vie for power and vampires fight for control. Her smart writing, which never shies away from violence, features a cutthroat society where life (both human and immortal) is cheap. Girma's heroes--angry, driven by their own conflicting desires, and unafraid to get bloody--rarely pretend to be virtuous. Readers will likely enjoy the intricacies of the mythmaking, and ultimately be left pondering the price of survival in this rewarding and original read, first in a planned trilogy. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

June's Book of the Month--June Moon

June’s Book of the Month is my own recently released board book, JUNE MOON, beautifully illustrated by Nate Carvalho and published by Familius. Since I wrote it—and am a bit shy about summarizing it myself—here’s what the publisher says:

Rising moon, shining moon, magic as a June moon.

In a story of seasides and summertimes, the rising and setting of the moon mirrors a child’s imaginative play and bedtime routine, all bathed in the natural magic of an evening in June. With gorgeous illustrations and seamless transitions between reality and the fantasy of a child’s view of the night sky, readers of all ages will reach for this lilting bedtime poem again and again.

I hope you’ll take a moment to find and support JUNE MOON, perhaps by buying a copy or requesting one from your local library, and sharing it with a young child!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Under the Surface

YA Review: Under the Surface

Under the Surface by Diana Urban (Putnam Books for Young Readers, 368p., ages 12-up, 9780593625088, August 13, 2024)

Under the Surface is a well-executed, subterranean adventure-gone-wrong, with a satisfying romantic angle and enough drama to keep the narrative hurtling forward.

Seventeen-year-old Ruby is in Paris with her class, on "the best trip in the history of forever." With the help of close friends Sean (who makes Ruby's blood go "warm and tingly") and Val (lover of "daredevil antics"), Ruby is on the hunt for eye-popping locations to film for her YouTube channel. When Val sneaks off alone to a party suggested by a French "hottie," Ruby is worried something might happen to her best friend. Despite her "tangled mess" of blonde hair and "jet-lagged" bloodshot eyes, Ruby slips away to bring Val back. She's caught sneaking out, though, by valedictorian Olivia as well as salutatorian and bestie-turned-nemesis Selena, who get pulled into the unfolding misadventure.

The girls find Val and hottie Julien about to head off to a party in the catacombs, and Ruby can't resist capturing this little-seen locale for YouTube. Most of the place is off-limits to the public, but Julien swears he's a "cataphile" who knows his way around; the group heads down a secret entrance into the intricate web of tunnels that house "the skeletal remains of six million long-dead Parisians." Their guide leads them through dark and narrow passageways until they reach a shaft--a shortcut to the party, apparently. But the ladder breaks when Selena climbs down, and the others take a different route to reach her. When they finally arrive, the "only sign of Selena is her blood." The group gets lost as they head back aboveground for help, and are chased by phantom whisperings, booming drums, and mysterious people in skull masks wielding knives. Meanwhile, at street level, Sean has discovered Ruby and Val are missing and desperately chases down any lead he can find.

Diana Urban (These Deadly Games) has found in Paris's catacombs the perfect setting for a creepy thriller. She expertly amps up the tension as her characters become increasingly desperate, and her use of Ruby's and Sean's first-person narratives places readers inside the action both above and below the streets of Paris. The nightmarish adventure plays out against a backdrop of high school intrigue, including the (possibly) budding romance of Ruby and Sean, shifting loyalties, romantic mishaps, and betrayal. But despite their differences, characters must work together to save themselves, even as the stakes turn deadly. This well-rounded, gripping survival story has as many twists and turns as the catacombs themselves. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

May Recommendations

TELL ME ABOUT OCEANS and TELL ME ABOUT SPACE, written by Lisa Varchol Perron and illustrated by Jennifer Faulkner, both use simple, rhyming text in a question-and-answer format to explain basic concepts in a way that the youngest of readers should appreciate. Melodic main text is supplemented with explanatory sidebars which go into further detail, so the books work on a couple of levels—to keep older siblings interested, as well, and/or to grow with the child as they are ready to learn more.

My favorite page is (of course) about the moon: “Tell me how our moon lights up/ and makes the nighttime glow./ The moon is dark but bounces sunlight/ down to Earth below.” And then we learn in the sidebar how the moon “the moon does not create its own light,” but instead “acts like a mirror,” and so on. The illustrations do a great job of making concepts clear—give these early science books a try!

In EMMA FULL OF WONDERS, by Elisha Cooper, Emma is “a large dog with many small dreams.” In fact, Emma has “one, two, three, four, five” favorite things, which are “singing, dancing, rolling in the grass, splashing in water, going for walks,” and then there are food and naps, which are the sixth and seventh. Readers will go on to learn many other important things about Emma, a gentle, thoughtful dog with a secret. Cooper’s masterful ink and watercolor art works in perfect unison with an absolutely wonderful text that somehow manages to be both active and reflective at once, and never says too much. It’s hopeful, reassuring, and sweetly done.

BENITA AND THE NIGHT CREATURES, written by Mariana Llanos and illustrated by Cocoretto, stars an avid reader who’s too engrossed in her book to be scared of the monsters who try to haunt her. Benita has a new book, so she’s not paying attention when Cuco bounces into her bedroom to yell “BOO!” (or even “BOO HAAAHOOOO!”) Nor is she impressed by Tonche, who whistles “FEEEEE EEENNN!” Or Supay, who wails “BAHAAHAAAHAAAA!” No, Benita is reading and, honestly, isn’t reading the best kind of “enchanting magic,” anyway? Text is active and fun, and bright, engaging pencil and digital illustrations feel like block prints or paper cuts. Lots of storytime fun to be found in this one!

In THE CONCRETE GARDEN, by Bob Graham, “after a cold, hard winter,” Amanda brings a box of chalk outside where children play, having “spilled out [from their apartments] like candies from a box.” Amanda uses green to make a drawing on the ground, which Jackson turns into a dandelion. Janet adds a mushroom and the Bradley twins contribute flowers (which are smudged by Luke’s dog). Next come a snail, some foliage, and, piece by piece, “a beautiful and exotic garden spread[s] across the concrete.” People in the apartments above notice, and the kids all get to take a bow. When rain washes away their concrete garden, the kids aren’t sad, because now they get to create something new! Bob Graham is a master, and I would bet anything he creates is worth a look—this one certainly is. Illustrations, full spreads with some panels, are watercolor and ink in his signature style.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Squirrel Needs a Break

PB Review: Squirrel Needs a Break

Squirrel Needs a Break by Kristen Remenar, illus. by Matt Faulkner (Charlesbridge, 32p., ages 4-7, 9781623543709)

Wife and husband team Kristen Remenar and Matt Faulkner (Groundhog's Dilemma) have created in Squirrel Needs a Break a winning picture book filled with humor, heart, and a celebration of community.

Squirrel's an attentive dad, but after being "stuck in the nest" with three exuberant kits all winter, he's "even grumpier than usual." So, Sparrow, Bear, Hare, Owl, and Groundhog decide to give Squirrel a much-needed break. While Owl takes Squirrel for a breakfast of peanut butter pie, Hare makes pancakes with the kits. Then Hare turns the energetic little ones over to Sparrow (yes, "syrup happened") and Hare and Squirrel proceed to the spa. Meanwhile, Sparrow gives the sticky kits a bath, then hands them off to Owl, who then delivers them to Groundhog. At first, Squirrel enjoys his time off with friends, but during yoga class, he begins to miss his family. As the day winds down, Squirrel and his kits are reunited and Bear has one final surprise in store.

Remenar's earnest characters are as endearing as her plot is full of energy. Her clever text includes fun dialogue and allows plenty of room for Faulkner's expressive digital illustrations. His deftly rendered, cartoony art depicts characters with human-like features and body language, contributing to the story's relatability. Child readers will likely delight in the kits' capering while caregivers will almost certainly connect with the exhausted animals. Indeed, this entertaining, affectionate picture book title should be as big a hit with adults as it is with their rambunctious kits. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.