August's Book of the Month--Your Forest

August’s Book of the Month is the board book YOUR FOREST, by Jon Klassen.

“This is your sun. It is coming up for you.” Thus begins a seemingly simple offering from Klassen. But there’s a lot going on. The child is immediately centered in the narrative, with the one and only sun rising just for them!

The book continues: “These are your trees. They can go over by the sun.” Then comes the cabin, and “maybe some rocks. Not too many though.”

To me, this feels like a call to creativity. The trees, cabin and rocks can be placed anywhere, though for now they will go where the narrator thinks they should go. Someday, however, the child might place them differently!

And the ghost! The “forest ghost,” who is “nice” but “only comes out at night.” I want a nice, friendly ghost like this to hang around nearby!

The stream means the child will always have water, and the bridge means they can always go home. The sun sets, and “everyone is closing their eyes.” And finally, because the forest is asleep, the child can sleep too and think about all they “will do there tomorrow.” As a lovely final touch, the last spread shows that nice ghost is keeping watch.

So sweet, so simple, so empowering!

--Lynn

August Recommendations

BEAR LOVES HIS HOME, written by Karen Jameson and illustrated by Ishaa Lobo, follows a bear cub as he “forages and roams” through the “warm amber fields,” “wandering hills,” and “fresh forest pines” of his beautiful “wilderness home.” The book shares plenty of facts about the young Bear’s diet and terrain, both in the main text through exquisite rhyming stanzas full of strong imagery, alliteration, and onomatopoeia, as well as in back matter which supports the text by digging a little deeper into the info introduced on each spread. The sweet digital art showing Bear frolicking, with mom watching protectively nearby, should draw kids in. Though the story ends with the promise of a new day, cuddle up!—Bear’s evening hunt and Jameson’s lilting verse work perfectly for bedtime.

In OUR LAKE, by Angie Kang, an older brother takes his younger sibling “to swim in the lake like Father used to.” As “the domed sky swaddles [them] in heat,” and “the water glistens below,” the older brother is caring and attentive, but, without Father, “the water looks far away.” However, Brother offers plenty of encouragement, and with the memory of Father stretching, soaring, and splashing into this same lake, the younger boy finds strength enough—and joy—to make the leap, soaring like an arrow “the way Father taught [him].” This is a poetically-written, deeply-felt narrative of love and healing, made stronger by evocative mixed media illustrations that channel the rich blues, greens, and yellows of summer.

In A BOOK OF MAPS FOR YOU, written by Lourdes Heuer and illustrated by Maxwell Eaton III, an unnamed narrator shares the book of maps they’ve made. A map of town, which points out details like the “fresh-squeezed juice and honey” smell of the orange groves near Blossom Lane. A map of Pip Street, which shows the old Halloween house on the corner and the house with the chicken coop called “Little Farm.” More maps follow, including school and library, a pirate map, a maze, and a map of “our house,” with a lovely surprise ending that’s all heart. Text is full of details and advice that feel practical, personal, yet full of whimsy, while the also-detailed pen, watercolor, and colored pencil illustrations convey all that is said and more.

In EVERY MONDAY MABEL, by Jashar Awan, Mabel wakes up early on this “best day of the week,” peeks out the window to make sure there’s still time, then races down the hallway with her chair. Past Mira’s room, past the kitchen (where she picks up a bowl of dry cereal), past her dad, and out the door where she does the “most boring,” “cutest,” or “funniest” thing—depending on which family member you ask. Mabel sits and waits and waits until RRRRRRRRRRRRR! HONK HONK! the best thing in the world arrives! The suspense in this book builds and builds, and when readers finally see what Mabel is waiting for, the payoff is worthwhile. Text is exciting and immediate, and digital art resembles cutouts with it’s flat, well-designed color blocks. Should be right up any kid’s alley!

MISTACO! A TALE OF TRAGEDY AND TORTILLAS, by Eliza Kinkz, is the—extremely—high energy story of Izzy, “the PRESIDENT of Mistakes! Whether its eating a bowl of queso while doing homework, singing while brushing her teeth, or “watching important videos about video games” instead of watching where she steps, Izzy’s mistakes make her feel like “chili con KA-KA.” Especially THE HUGE SCHOOL MISTAKE. Her large family may “Hooha Ha,” “Pffffft,” and snort with laughter, but they also know how to make Izzy feel better. Making tortillas with Lito allows her to work out her frustration, and then the whole family gets to eat “mistacos” by admitting their own mistakes. The scribbly-style art, made with pencil, ink, watercolor, gouache, crayon and muchas concha crumbs, is as high energy as the words. But there’s plenty of warmth here, too. And Spanglish. And a recipe for tacos.

In RABBIT’S FEAT, by Barney Saltzberg, every spring, when Cactus’s flowers are about to bloom, Rabbit hears how Boulder—who perches on a cliff above Cactus—wishes to see them up close. Now, Boulder insists “today will be the day.” Cactus “can’t wait!” Rabbit decides they can’t wait either, and while Boulder and Cactus seem content to talk about how much they dream of being near each other, Rabbit tries and tries to push Boulder over the ledge and next to Cactus. Before long, “with… a little… help… and a little kindness… BOOM!” Boulder and Cactus can enjoy being together at last. Mixed media digital illustrations use fun textures and sweet character design to bring this tale to life.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--Immortal Consequences

YA Review: Immortal Consequences

Immortal Consequences by I.V. Marie (Delacorte Press, 512p., ages 12-up, 9780593898802)

In Immortal Consequences, a compelling dark academia YA novel, six ambitious teens are stuck in a magic-infused world "parallel to life and death" where there is copious amounts of romantic tension, intrigue, and deception.

Wren, August, Emilio, Olivier, Irene, and Masika have all died, but none have "crossed over to the Other Side." Instead, they are at Blackwood Academy, a purgatorial magic school. Blackwood students generally "graduate" after a few hundred years--they lose "memories of their previous life" to the Forgetting and are sent to the Ether to "reap lost souls for the rest of their existence." Every decade, however, one outstanding student is nominated for the Decennial, a ritual that allows the student the option to join the academic elite or cross over. When the six teens sneak out to watch a new student arrive, they bear witness to a concerning--perhaps impossible--display of magic. Rather than getting in trouble, though, all six are ordered to participate in a startling revision of the Decennial: instead of celebrating one student, this year's Decennial is a competition. The six "unfortunate acquaintances" become immediate rivals, but there will still be only one winner--and all are determined it will be them.

I.V. Marie's well-crafted debut is a riveting page-turner with action, witty banter, mysterious secrets, and unfulfilled longing. Her agile prose describes an ensemble cast of competitive characters who are each driven to be the best, even as they remain haunted by mistakes of their past lives. The six strive to conquer fears, personality flaws, and errors in judgment, yet remain startlingly human: even dead, all are terrified of running out of time. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author. Originally printed in Shelf Awareness.