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