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.