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

YA 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.

To order a copy:
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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.