Shelf Awareness--Around Antarctica

PB Review: Around Antarctica

Around Antarctica: Exploring the Frozen South by Tania Medvedeva, illus. by Maria Vyshinskaya (Chronicle, hardcover, 48p., ages 5-8, 9781452172873)

Tania Medvedeva and Maria Vyshinskaya's wonderfully informative, beautifully designed long-form picture book follows Tom, a "top-notch journalist," as he joins an expedition to visit a research station in Antarctica.

A trip to this "mysterious frozen continent" requires warm clothes, but no visa because "Antarctica doesn't belong to any country." There's no military presence or mining, but there is a cooperative world research center, where "scientists from different countries share their research plans and results." Upon arrival, Tom learns rules designed to keep visitors safe, how the center itself functions (accompanied by a cutaway view of this bustling hub) and about different kinds of scientific research taking place. Meteorologists study the earth's atmosphere and ozone layer, a glaciologist and her team inspect ice samples, the oceanologists analyze Antarctica's unique waters and there are scientists who investigate the "more than 20,000 species of living things" that can be found here, including penguins, seals and "hundreds of different species of bacteria."

Reporter Tom's experience provides a continuity that allows Medvedeva to frame her work as a story while packing it with wide-ranging yet pertinent information. The detailed, colorful illustrations enhance and augment the informative yet playful text (such as a timeline of global explorers to Antarctica) and interactive nature of the book's design: a quarter-circle format that opens into a hemisphere with several gatefolds that open into full circles. Around Antarctica delivers a surprisingly thorough survey of this "harsh," complex "icy continent." It strongly conveys the usefulness in studying the area, as well as the need to protect it because, as Tom ultimately realizes, our entire planet is "a single organism. Beautiful, strange, mighty, harsh, fragile... and every action we take affects it." --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

February's Book of the Month--A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree

A BEAR, A BEE, AND A HONEY TREE, written by Daniel Bernstrom and illustrated by by Brandon James Scott, makes clever use of its minimal text to to tell an entertaining story of—well, you guessed it—a bear, a bee, and honey tree!

“A hungry bear” wakes up and climbs to a golden meal in “a honey tree,” but a busy, “very angry fuzzy bee”—and another “million fuzzy buzzing bees”—all have something to say about this.

The simple story is greatly enhanced by the jaunty tone, with wordplay, rhyme, and repetition playing a huge part in its appeal. The vocabulary and structure make it a great choice for early readers, but pre-readers will enjoy the tongue-twistery aspect, as well.

Brightly colored digital illustrations do well by the text. The wide-eyed bear with a mouth full of honey reacting first to the one bee, and then to the emerging swarm, is picture book perfection.

Although he loses this first round, the final spread suggests our bear may be persistent… Pair it with Julie Hedlund’s and Michael Slack’s OVER, BEAR! UNDER, WHERE? for more beary low word count fun!

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--The Fire of Stars

PB Review: The Fire of Stars

The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of by Kirsten W. Larson, illus. by Katherine Roy (Chronicle, hardcover, 48p., ages 5-8, 9781452172873)

In this refreshing, revealing picture book, Cecilia Payne's growth from driven, inquisitive girl to celebrated astronomer is perfectly paired with a lyrical description of the birth of a star.

Young Cecilia "realizes all by herself" that orchids have petals like a bee's belly to trick the bees and her body hums with a "lightning bolt of discovery." The "fields and flowers" inspire Cecilia, but the family moves to London. Cecilia's new school feels like "a black hole," so she pursues scientific study on her own. She eventually wins a scholarship to the University of Cambridge and "yearn[s] to feel that lightning bolt of discovery again." When Cecilia attends a lecture by a noted astronomer, "her brain buzzes." She switches her focus to physics and becomes "the only woman in a galaxy of men." After graduation, Cecilia works at Harvard where she is finally surrounded by other like-minded women. She devotes herself to studying the mystery of "what stars really are" and, through "careful calculations and hours of observation," she discovers "the exact recipe for what makes the stars."

Kirsten Larson (A True Wonder) deftly weaves together her compelling biography of an important woman who "stick[s] to her path" despite the odds. The decision to parallel Cecilia's development with that of an emerging star is an inspired one, and Katherine Roy (Red Rover) uses pencil, ink and digital color to create luminous illustrations that crackle with energy. Extensive back matter includes further discussion of Cecilia's life and accomplishments, along with an elaboration on the process of how "a star is born." --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

Shelf Awareness--Spice Road

YA Review: Spice Road

Spice Road by Maiya Ibrahim (Delacorte Press, 464p., ages 13-up, 9780593126967)

Spellbinding magic, lush description and whirlwind action define Maiya Ibrahim's YA debut, Spice Road.

Seventeen-year-old Imani, Qalia's youngest Shield, is tasked with defending her country's walls from a "never-ending onslaught of monsters," which include djinn, ghouls and sand serpents. Shields awaken their magical abilities by imbibing misra (the Spice gifted by the Great Spirit) in a daily tea ceremony. But misra and the city of Qalia itself are meant to be kept secret from the outside world. When Imani learns brother Atheer, whom she thought dead, may have shared the existence of both with outsiders, she knows she must find him. Rival Shield Taha, with a mysterious directive to protect Qalia's secrets, leads the mission, from which Imani fears Atheer will be brought home in chains. Imani will need to use her magical affinity for steel, as well as the djinni she has--illegally--bound to her dagger, to find Atheer before Taha does. Secrets have been at the core of Imani's worldview but, like her brother before her, the farther Imani journeys, the closer she believes she is getting to truth.

Ibrahim's addictive fantasy takes place in an Arabian-inspired land and depicts a close-knit society that clings to solitude and a strict adherence to rules. In Imani, she crafts a sheltered warrior whose worldview expands philosophically as it does geographically; readers will find much to admire in this powerful young woman who learns that thinking for herself is as vital as the magic she wields. This first book in a series should attract Black Panther fans and readers of epic fantasy alike. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

January Recommendations

Novels:

DAD'S GIRLFRIEND AND OTHER ANXIETIES, by Kellye Crocker, is a terrific middle grade debut. Sixth-grade-graduate Ava should be happy now that summer vacation has begun. Her life is “simple, sweet, and exactly as she like[s] it.” But, suddenly, “practical, responsible, and sort of boring” Dad surprises Ava by dragging her to “super dangerous” Colorado to meet his new girlfriend and said girlfriend’s daughter. Ava’s anxiety kicks in and, because too many changes are coming at her too fast, she decides to plan some surprises of her own. Crocker’s novel is a well-written and satisfying read.

MIDNIGHT AT THE BARCLAY HOTEL, by Fleur Bradley with illustrations by Xavier Bonet, is a super-fun whodunnit that reads like Agatha Christie for middle graders meets the game of Clue—with ghosts! When fancy invitations draw five people and a couple of “stragglers” (kids) to the fancy Barclay Hotel way up in the Colorado Rockies, it turns out most of the adults are suspects in the recent murder of the hotel’s owner. Twelve-year-old JJ, a fledgeling ghost hunter, eleven-year-old Penny, granddaughter of a retired police detective, and twelve-year-old Emma, who lives at the hotel and really wants some kids to hang out with, all decide that they’re going to be the ones to solve this crime. Winner of a Colorado Book Award, this inviting mystery will keep kids turning the pages as fast as they can.

Picture Books:

In POOPSIE GETS LOST, by Hannah E. Harrison, pampered Poopsie enjoys her plush kitty bed, until the narrator of this droll picture book challenges Poopsie to be a “daring adventurer.” So, out the cat door Poopsie struts. She's goaded into some extremely dangerous situations which involve unmarked trails, large snakes, larger tigers, and… well, let’s face it—the narrator of this book is simply not reliable! Will Poopsie get herself out of the “fine pickle” she is in??? This picture book is surprisingly excellent!

TOASTY, by Sarah Hwang, well, it’s weird. Toasty is a slice of bread who wants to be a dog. Yes, there are differences—Toasty doesn’t have hair or fur and he sleeps in a toaster. And instead of four legs, Toasty has “two legs and two arms.” But Toasty tries to act like a dog, anyway. When he goes to the park, things get a bit fraught, but they turn out just fine in the end! “Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof. Woof.” The acrylic, colored pencil, and digitally-collaged art is playful and bright, and the whole package is oddly refreshing.

In WOMBAT SAID COME IN, written by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Brian Lies, when a dreadful fire causes Wombat’s friends Wallaby, Kookaburra, Platypus, Koala, and Sugar Glider to seek shelter in Wombat’s underground home, Wombat repeatedly says “come in, my friend, come in!” As the days pass, his patience is sorely tested… and his kindness prevails. Great language, a repeating refrain, and an abundance of generosity, along with superb acrylic and colored pencil illustrations by the always wonderful Lies, give this picture book plenty of heart.

In MOON LIGHT, by Stephen Savage, “something is on the move.” It swings and slithers, streaks, slips, and tumbles through a forest, over a waterfall, swirling on and out to sea, drifting, hiding, making its way “into your bedroom,” where “it rests for a while… next to you, softly fading.” But never fear, because the moon “will come back tonight.” It’s lyrical and lovely, the art created with linocuts and water-based ink.

--Lynn

Shelf Awareness--The Stranded

YA Review: The Stranded

The Stranded by Sarah Daniels (Sourcebooks Fire, 464p., ages 12-up, 9781728258126)

Sarah Daniels fills her breathtaking futuristic YA thriller with hard-hitting social and political commentary to create a dystopia that seems eerily possible.

Forty years ago, when "war broke out in Europe" and biological warheads were deployed, Esther's grandparents were ticket holders aboard the cruise ship Arcadia. The captain "managed to squeeze on hundreds more who were fleeing for their lives" as the Virus spread. It's now 2094 and although there is no trace of the Virus "in living memory," most of the Stranded are confined to the ship. Sixteen-year-old, "pale"-skinned Esther is training to be a medic but, when she's forced to treat a member of the rebellion, her plans derail. Impulsive, brown-skinned Nik was shot by security forces while pulling an illegal prank and he's put in jeopardy the rebels' mission to escape the ship. Esther, now aware of the revolutionaries' plans, must decide whether she will take on a dangerous undercover mission to help the rebels or stay the course as a medic.

Daniels's riveting futuristic debut uses multiple points of view and careens along at a breakneck pace. Her well-drawn characters grapple with issues of corruption and betrayal, duty and loyalty, as they navigate life aboard this fascinating yet truly dysfunctional ship. A high-stakes ending wraps up the episode, but a planned sequel promises there will be more Arcadia excitement in the future. --Lynn Becker, reviewer, blogger, and children's book author.

January's Book of the Month--The Queen in the Cave

January’s Book of the Month is The Queen in the Cave, a wonderfully surreal 64-page picture book by Julia Sardà.

Franca, who feels “strange,” convinces her two younger sisters, Carmela and Tomasina, to venture out alone, “for the first time ever,” to visit “a marvelous queen who lives in the darkest cave, deep in the forest.” What follows is a magical adventure into the unknown. At times frightening, at times exciting, at times frightening and exciting, the three sisters experience the wild and the wondrous as they journey through the darkening forest. When they finally reach the cave and the queen, Carmela, the youngest, convinces Tomasina to turn back for home, where lasagna, cake, and a soft bed await. But Franca forges ahead to join the witch’s party, going “deeper into the heart of the cave,” to a place where she can be free…

An abundance of fabulous creatures populate Sardà’s eery tale, and her one-of-a-kind, dream-infused, digitally-created landscape is full of fantastical life and energetic motion. This creative, fairy tale-like adventure offers a fresh take on growing up; Franca’s two younger sisters aren’t ready to complete the journey, but one day they just might be…

--Lynn