The Blue House I Loved

Title: The Blue House I Loved

Author: Kao Kalia Yang

Illustrator: Jen Shin

Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

Review Copy: ARC via Publisher

Availability: Release date February 10, 2026

Summary: A Hmong girl tells the story of her beloved aunt and uncle’s first home in America—long gone, but still alive in the family’s memories The Blue House I Loved centers on a family of newly arrived Hmong refugees who move into the lower level of a duplex in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The narrator loves her aunt and uncle’s home with its mismatched furniture, but it is too small for the large family. The boy cousins sleep in the three-season porch, where their wet hair freezes in wintertime, and the rest of the family crowds into two bedrooms. Yet this is the cherished home where they live and love, their own small corner of a very large and unfamiliar place, and in this blue house a young girl learns about her new country. Eventually, the family moves in search of more space, and years later the house is torn down. Where it was, green grass now grows. But for this girl and her family, the ghost of the house remains, its memories a strong thread that holds time at bay and hearts close together.

Combining Kao Kalia Yang’s lyrical prose with ethereal illustrations by artist and architect Jen Shin, The Blue House I Loved speaks to the multitude of refugee experiences around the world, honoring the challenges they face and the homes they create together. 

My Thoughts: I always look forward to new books by Kai Kalia Yang and this one was no exception. No matter the topic, her words always make me feel like I am able to step into a space filled with love. 

As in her other works, Yang has shared much of her heart within these pages. We see children tumbling through the rooms of this home, a baby nursing, and cousins enjoying their days, but also getting into a fight. There are so many everyday details of how they interacted with each other. It's a nostalgic book and leads readers to contemplate the spaces in their own past experiences. It reminds us that the spaces we spend time in and the people we encounter in those places shape us and help to make us who we are in the present and who we will be in the future. 

The illustrations support the text very well and make me eager to share the book with my students. I will likely read it soon with some of my classes. There are activity sheets provided on the publisher page, but even without those prompts, the book looks perfect for inspiring readers to draw a place that is special to them from different perspectives. There are views of the rooms from the top, from the outside, and cross-sections too. It feels like we are getting architectural input along with the interior emotions. They provide somewhat technical images along with the warmth of the colors and the family interactions.

Recommendation: This is a fantastic addition to any library and is somewhat unique in its perspective. We see an immigrant family settling into their new country and finding their way to new paths, but we also see that we can hold onto memories even if those places and spaces no longer exist in the world. Change plays a part in shaping us and it's possible to remember and honor those changes and the spaces where that change and growth has happened. 

Extras: 

Activity Sheets

Podcast Interview with author and illustrator

Rafi y Rosi

Title: Rafi y Rosi ¡Menú!/Rafi and Rosi Menu

Author: Lulu Delacre

Publisher: Children's Book Press

Review Copy: Final copy provided by publisher

Availability: On shelves now

Summary: Rafi and Rosi, the curious, fun-loving tree frog siblings, are cooking up a storm with delicious Puerto Rican treats on the menu. Rafi y Rosi, los hermanos rana arbórea curiosos y amantes de la diversión, están preparando una tormenta con deliciosas delicias puertorriqueñas en el menú. 

My Thoughts: This is a fun beginning reader that is part of the Rafi and Rosi series. The book focuses on the two young frogs who are helping their grandmother with the cooking. After checking the kitchen to see if they have all of the ingredients, they must go make a purchase for her and there are complications along the way. 

The storyline is fun and cheerful even when the characters are facing difficulties. I read the book in Spanish and in English. There are some challenging words for beginning readers, but there is a glossary at the beginning to help with some of that. 

This is a light-hearted and interesting way to read about some Puerto Rican foods. A bonus feature is the inclusion of recipes at the end and some background about the treats. 

I'm looking forward to sharing this book with students and seeing their responses. I am currently learning Spanish and this was a delightful way to practice my reading fluency so I believe that beginning readers will also enjoy spending time with these frog siblings. 

Book Review: We Miss You, George Floyd

Title: We Miss You, George Floyd

Author: Shannon Gibney

Illustrator: Leeya Rose Jackson

Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

Review Copy: Final copy provided by publisher

Availability: On shelves now

Summary: A young Black girl in Minneapolis grapples with the death of George Floyd. In this candid and powerful book, a young girl hears about an unfolding tragedy in her neighborhood. It’s on the news, on the radio, and talked about in her community, and she learns of the murder of George Floyd—and about who he was. As she tries to reckon with the senseless violence of his killing, she finds solace at George Floyd Square. The space is filled with the art of protest and resistance, and she is moved to create her own signs and drawings, lifting her voice to harmonize with the outpouring: “We miss you, George Floyd.” 

For children working through George Floyd’s murder and the police violence plaguing our country, and for the grown-ups trying to help them, this book is an invitation to open up difficult conversations. With striking illustrations reflecting Floyd’s world and a child’s perspective, Shannon Gibney’s clear-eyed account offers healing and inspiration for the strength and solidarity we need to build a more peaceful and just future.

My Thoughts: Tragedies like the murder of George Floyd are difficult for an adult to grapple with and explaining it to a young person is an extremely challenging task, so a book like this is quite helpful. The book opens showing different folks who are grieving and then shares what happened in simple and honest terms. The text and illustrations paint a picture of who George Floyd was to other people and the many ways he was seen by his neighbors, friends, and family. Then, it moves to a variety of responses to his death including protests, marches, organizing, storytelling and calls for justice and liberation. 

The illustrations really bring the time and place to readers in a vibrant way. The street corner and the memorial is shown in vivid colors and the artwork seems to breathe in contrast to his loss of breath. On each page there is a group of wavy lines like a paintbrush has wandered through. It changes color on each page and seems like a breeze coming through or a line of connection. There is a poster in memory of Breonna Taylor on the narrator's bedroom wall as well as signs that people hold up outside and someone wears a t-shirt with Say Her Name on it. The art does a lot to help convey facts from the text and beyond it. The illustrations also convey an incredible amount of emotion whether it's sadness, anger, or hope for the future.

As the summary says, this book would be an excellent way to start the hard conversations around George Floyd's death or other injustices that are happening around us or around the world. It shows the many ways that one can respond and how we can be in community with each other when we experience tragedies like this. 

Recommendation: This book is an excellent addition to any library for young people, but is also a good starting point with older readers too. I would recommend it for any reader who has a heart filled with loss and too many questions especially related to police violence. 

Spotlight on Robin Ha

Robin Ha is a Korean American author and illustrator and if you don't know her work yet, you'll want to check it out. Earlier this year, I reviewed The Fox Maidens over at Rich in Color. It's quite a fun graphic novel especially if you like Gumiho stories. This reminded me that I had also enjoyed Robin Ha's graphic novel memoir, Almost American Girl. I figured I should find her comic book cookbook Cook Korean! as well. There was a copy at the library and I read through it, chose some recipes, and got ready to cook. 

First, I made Pan Fried Tofu. It was relatively easy and quite tasty. The illustrations are super cute and the instructions are clear and easy to follow.

The Rice Cake Soup took longer, but the recipe was also quite easy. Later, I did add an ingredient that isn't in the photo. I dropped in some mandu and that made us all quite happy. 

The Spicy Bok Choy was also simple enough to make and was also a delight to eat. We cook bok choy quite often, but usually it is served fairly simply with a broth or chopped up to add to another dish. The sauce was yummy. 

The Braised Daikon with Saury was very new to us. We've only ever had daikon in a pickled form so it was different to experience it cooked. Also, I had never heard of that kind of fish, but I thought had seen it on the shelves at the local Korean market so this was a good excuse to give it a try. Our market did have it so we were in luck. 

When I was finished making this dish, we had extra daikon left over so the next day I made some quick pickled carrots and daikon because that is one of my favorite side dishes. That wasn't in the cookbook, but I had used this recipe from My Korean Kitchen before and did it again.

I appreciated the engaging way that Robin Ha illustrated the recipes and it was cool to learn about the process of making the book with her mother's input. My family also really enjoyed the wonderful food we had as a result of this book so to Robin Ha I say 감사합니다! 

Here is a video of the author introducing her illustration process. 

Here she talks about Cook Korean!

 

Origin Stories Podcast with Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Review: Warrior Girl

Title: Warrior Girl

Author: Carmen Tafolla

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Pages: 209

Review Copy: ARC via publisher

Availability: On shelves now

Summary: An insightful novel in verse about the joys and struggles of a Chicana girl who is a warrior for her name, her history, and her right to choose what she celebrates in life. 

Celina and her family are bilingual and follow both Mexican and American traditions. Celina revels in her Mexican heritage, but once she starts school it feels like the world wants her to erase that part of her identity. Fortunately, she’s got an army of family and three fabulous new friends behind her to fight the ignorance. But it’s her Gramma who’s her biggest inspiration, encouraging Celina to build a shield of joy around herself. Because when you’re celebrating, when you find a reason to sing or dance or paint or play or laugh or write, they haven’t taken everything away from you. Of course, it’s not possible to stay in celebration mode when things get dire--like when her dad’s deported and a pandemic hits--but if there is anything Celina’s sure of, it’s that she’ll always live up to her last Guerrera--woman warrior--and that she will use her voice and writing talents to make the world a more beautiful place where all cultures are celebrated.

My Thoughts: From the start, Celina, or Tere as she was called at home, knows that she comes from a courageous and loving people. The poems share the many times when she comes up against people in her schools and elsewhere that don't listen to her or believe that they know her or her name better than she does. With her Gramma and the one teacher that encouraged her and other students to use their voice, Celina is able to keep from having her culture, history, and self be erased. 

Writing is Celina's comfort when she is dealing with difficult things and she doesn't want to burden her family or worry them. So we get to see her inner thoughts as she works through the stresses. When it's not writing or her family, the moon and nature are where she looks for peace.

In middle school, Celina learns much more about poetry and writing and as a teacher I see all kinds of possibilities for using this book in a classroom. There are examples of great writing in the poems, but there are also lessons about poetry. And the lessons are in Celina's voice and style so they aren't super didactic. 

There are interesting conversations about history too like when they discuss who gets to relax on Labor Day, or why Columbus could claim the land that already had people, or that slavery was a reason for the battle at the Alamo though it often isn't framed that way in classrooms. There are many times when Celina asks questions of her friends and teachers and creates space for thinking about things. 

Part of the story happens during the spring of 2020 so events of that time including COVID come into play. The fear of illness or loss of loved ones and the killing of George Floyd are part of Celina's life even as she is still waiting for her father to return after deportation. There's a lot going on, but she has the support of family, friends, and some teachers who care. 

Recommendation: Get it soon. This is a short book that packs in a lot of things to think about around freedom, identity, family, friendship, history, community, and more. 

Review: Pixels of You

Title: Pixels of You

Authors: Ananth Hirsh and Yuko Ota

Illustrator: J.R. Doyle 

Publisher: Harry N. Abrams

Format: YA Graphic Novel

Pages: 172

Review copy: Final copy from publisher

Availability: On shelves now

Publisher Summary: In a near future, augmentation and AI changed everything and nothing. Indira is a human girl who has been cybernetically augmented after a tragic accident, and Fawn is one of the first human-presenting AI. They have the same internship at a gallery, but neither thinks much of the other’s photography. But after a huge public blowout, their mentor gives them an ultimatum: work together on a project or leave her gallery forever. Grudgingly, the two begin to collaborate, and what comes out of it is astounding and revealing for both of them. Pixels of You is about the slow transformation of a rivalry to a friendship to something more as Indira and Fawn navigate each other, the world around them—and what it means to be an artist and a person. 

My Thoughts: What is fake? What is real? How much can we even know about ourselves and others? These are some of the wonderings that this story brought up for me. There were also questions about what and how we see the things or beings around us. There is a short and sweet relationship happening, but the AI layer adds a lot to think about.

I also appreciated the design of the book. Don't forget to check under the cover and the endpapers are lovely. The palette is fairly simple for much of the book and sticks with a lot of deep blues and magentas or pinks though for some scenes there is also an abundance of yellows. Little bits of information about AI is also interspersed between scenes through simple white text on a black page.

Recommendation: This is a relatively quick relationship story that can intrigue and inspire readers to question and wonder. It's definitely worth a read and while not a lot of action happens it's a story that will likely stay with readers for a long time.

Extras:

16 Page Sample of Book

Book Trailer:

Review: Sisters of the Neversea

Title: Sisters of the Neversea

Author: Cynthia Leitich Smith

Publisher: Heartdrum 

Pages: 320

Review copy: Digital ARC via Edelweiss

Availability: June 1, 2021

Summary: Lily and Wendy have been best friends since they became stepsisters. But with their feuding parents planning to spend the summer apart, what will become of their family—and their friendship?

 Little do they know that a mysterious boy has been watching them from the oak tree outside their window. A boy who intends to take them away from home for good, to an island of wild animals, Merfolk, Fairies, and kidnapped children. 

A boy who calls himself Peter Pan.

My Review: Cynthia Leitich Smith reimagined Neverland and the adventures of Peter Pan. The original story has been problematic since it was created, but there was much about it to love. Smith has found a way to address some of the racist depictions of Indigenous folks along with a few of the gender role issues too. 

In this retelling, the children are from a blended family with a British father and a mother who is part of the Muscogee Creek Nation. The children are feeling unsettled because of conflict between their parents and in the midst of this, Peter Pan arrives on the scene. He and Tinkerbell are very charming and appealing to Michael and Wendy, but Lily is not convinced that he is trustworthy. He uses words like Injuns which offends them all and calls them useless girls since they can't sew properly. Lily informs his that her mother is brilliant at math and managing money. I love it when Wendy informs Peter that their dad also didn't teach them how to sew. 

Of course the children do end up in Neverland, but it is not as carefree and lovely as Peter made it out to be. As in the original, Peter is pretty focused on himself and does not take advice or instruction well. Though he delivers on adventure, he is not concerned with the needs of the children and he has a lot of "wrongheaded" ideas about Native children. 

There are other children already on the island including Daniel who is Leech Lake Ojibwe from St. Paul. Through Daniel and others, readers see that Native people are still alive and that there is a great deal of variety among them. Lily and the others also appreciate their cultural identity and their family members more as time passes. 

Recommendation: Sisters of the Neversea is a fantastic way to visit the world of Neverland again without having to see the damaging stereotypical Natives. It is a great adventure story even for those who are unfamiliar with Peter Pan. Siblings fall out and feelings are hurt, but love is still there and of course there are fairies and merpeople along with pirates so it's going to be a crowd pleaser. This story is a lot of fun and has great representation. I plan to purchase it for my elementary school library and I believe it will be a great addition to any library serving young people. 

Review: JoJo Makoons

Title: Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend

Author: Dawn Quigley 

Illustrator: Tara Audibert

Publisher: Heartdrum 

Pages: 80

Review copy: Digital ARC 

Availability: May 11, 2021

Summary: Jo Jo Makoons Azure is a spirited seven-year-old who moves through the world a little differently than anyone else on her Ojibwe reservation. It always seems like her mom, her kokum (grandma),and her teacher have a lot to learn—about how good Jo Jo is at cleaning up, what makes a good rhyme, and what it means to be friendly. 

Even though Jo Jo loves her #1 best friend Mimi (who is a cat), she’s worried that she needs to figure out how to make more friends. Because Fern, her best friend at school, may not want to be friends anymore…

My Review: The first thing to see inside this delight of a book is a yearbook style page with each of the characters in a square like a photo, but several of them are bigger than life and don't quite fit inside the squares. Ears or hair poke out. Everyone is smiling and the mood is lighthearted from the start. Jo Jo tells the reader about her cat and a lot about her name. I love that she informs the reader that if you can say Tyrannosaurus Rex, you can certainly say her Ojibwe name nindizhinikaaz. She even shows the way to pronounce it - nin-Dezh-in-i-kauz. No excuses. Jo Jo is proud of her heritage and is happy to share about how awesome it is to be learning the Ojibwe and Michif languages. Jo Jo also gives a few language lessons along the way and there is a glossary in the back.

Jo Jo is clever, curious, and a bit mischievous which makes her a ton of fun. She gets herself into tricky situations, but she is also quick to find creative solutions. One thing I loved was that she enjoys math. So many adults and children have negative feelings about math, but she gets a kick out of it. She also takes a very literal view of the world and this creates some hilarious situations much like with Amelia Bedelia. 

Recommendation: This is the beginning of a great early chapter book series that is sure to be a hit with young readers. There are friendship and family situations that most readers could likely relate to regardless of culture and then there are also some situations that come about that are specifically related to being Ojibwe. It's also simply hilarious. I'm looking forward to sharing this one with students and hope that it finds many, many readers. 

Review: Zonia's Rain Forest

Title: Zonia's Rain Forest

Author: Juana Martinez-Neal

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Pages: 40

Review copy: Digital ARC via Edelweiss

Availability: March 30, 2021

Summary: Zonia's home is the Amazon rain forest, where it is always green and full of life. Every morning, the rain forest calls to Zonia, and every morning, she answers. She visits the sloth family, greets the giant anteater, and runs with the speedy jaguar. But one morning, the rain forest calls to her in a troubled voice. How will Zonia answer? Acclaimed author-illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal explores the wonders of the rain forest with Zonia, an Asháninka girl, in her joyful outdoor adventures. The engaging text emphasizes Zonia's empowering bond with her home, while the illustrations--created on paper made from banana bark--burst with luxuriant greens and delicate details. Illuminating back matter includes a translation of the story in Asháninka, information on the Asháninka community, and resources on the Amazon rain forest and its wildlife.

My review: This is a gorgeous book and it is lovely that the paper the illustrations were made on was created by women of the Amazon with leaves from the rain forest. There is definitely a connection to the land and the people even through the physical creation of the book.

Martinez-Neal is from Peru, but is not part of the community represented in the book. I have no way of determining if the people are being shown in an accurate light, but it does seem that the author went to great lengths to be respectful and she didn't work in isolation. She explains that she wanted to show the resiliance of the Asháninka and their resistance to the outside pressures that would attempt to change their way of life and take or negatively impact the resources from their homeland. 

The story begins gently with Zonia sitting near her mother who is nursing her brother. A blue morpho butterfly then leads Zonia through the pages of the book. The journey playful as Zonia greets her many animal friends. The illustrations have so much texture and are pretty adorable. One bird is red with white wing tips. The wing tips are overlapping just a bit and it gives the impression of a heart. There's just so much love and joy on each page as she interacts with the animals. This makes it quite jarring when Zonia comes across a part of the forest that is not filled with that same loveliness. 

Zonia's story shares much of the beauty that can be found in the rain forest, but also briefly touches on some of the threats to the forest. Even though there is reason to be concerned, there is also a determination to do something about it. This is all dealt with in an age appropriate way and caregivers can choose to share more information via the back matter if there are questions or for the youngest readers, just stick with the text and illustrations of the story. 

The back matter is fantastic and explains about the variety of threats, some of the things that are being done about them, includes the common and Latin names of all of the animals and an Asháninka translation of the main text. The entire books is also available in Spanish. 

Recommendation: Zonia's Rain Forest is a delight and can be read as a very simple story or as a call to action. It will be a great addition to any home or library serving young people.

Extra:

Zonia's Rain Forest author video with Juana Martinez-Neal from Candlewick Press on Vimeo.

Review: Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids

Title: Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids 

Editor: Cynthia Leitich Smith 

Publisher: Heartdrum 

Pages: 320 

Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley 

Availability: On shelves now 

Summary: Edited by award-winning and bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of intersecting stories by both new and veteran Native writers bursts with hope, joy, resilience, the strength of community, and Native pride. Native families from Nations across the continent gather at the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In a high school gym full of color and song, people dance, sell beadwork and books, and celebrate friendship and heritage. Young protagonists will meet relatives from faraway, mysterious strangers, and sometimes one another (plus one scrappy rez dog). They are the heroes of their own stories.

Featuring stories and poems by: Joseph Bruchac, Art Coulson, Christine Day, Eric Gansworth, Carole Lindstrom, Dawn Quigley, Rebecca Roanhorse, David A. Robertson, Andrea L. Rogers, Kim Rogers, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Monique Gray Smith, Traci Sorell, Tim Tingle, Erika T. Wurth, Brian Young, In partnership with We Need Diverse Books

Review: Whether you've been to many powwows or none, this book will touch your heart. Kim Rogers starts things off brilliantly with a definition poem that will introduce the uninitiated and bring memories to mind for those who've had powwows as part of their lives. A powwow has so many facets and many are explored briefly in the poem, but then more thoroughly in the stories that follow.

Monique Gray Smith brought tears to my eyes right from the start. So much of the powwow experience is about connection and family, healing and belonging. She is able to show this through a lovely relationship developing between a step-parent and child. 

The individual stories have connections beyond just the fact that everyone is attending the same powwow. Within the first few stories we meet characters that will have cameos in some of the other stories. One of my favorites is Rez dog.  This dog bobs and weaves through many of the stories bringing smiles and even creating some helpful changes for folks. This critter helps demonstrate a sense of community and belonging.

There are stories that show forgiveness and healing. There are stories that let us see resilience and strength. Readers also get to see the joy of the dance and the pulse of the drum.

One of the best aspects of this book is the many perspectives. The characters are coming from many different states with different types of transportation from a wide variety of tribes and everyone is coming with their own hopes and ideas about what will happen during this weekend. No two people are having the same exact experience, but they are all connected by what happens at this event at this moment in time. Carole Lindstrom's poem at the end brings it all back to a circle explaining that we are all related.

Recommendation: This book is a delight. I recommend it for any home, school, or public library or for any place serving young people. 

Book Review: The Ninth Night of Hanukkah

 

Title: The Ninth Night of Hanukkah

Author: Erica Perl

Illustrator: Shahar Kober

Publisher: Sterling Children's Books

Review copy: Final copy via publisher

Availability: On shelves now

Summary: It’s Hanukkah, and Max and Rachel are excited to light the menorah in their family’s new apartment. But, unfortunately, their Hanukkah box is missing. So now they have no menorah, candles, dreidels, or, well, anything! Luckily, their neighbors are happy to help, offering thoughtful and often humorous stand-in items each night. And then, just as Hanukkah is about to end, Max and Rachel, inspired by the shamash (“helper”) candle, have a brilliant idea: they’re going to celebrate the Ninth Night of Hanukkah as a way to say thanks to everyone who’s helped them!

This book is not only a heartwarming and fun story, it’s also an invitation to join in a beautiful new Hanukkah tradition!

Review: I love the unique take this book has on the holiday. I've often read or heard about the story of the Maccabbean soldiers and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight nights, but hadn't really thought much about the shamash candle. I'm not Jewish, but really appreciated this focus on helping and appreciation for the helpers in our lives. This certainly seems like a book that Jewish families could enjoy, but any family can connect with being helpers and thanking or honoring those who have helped us. This is a story that has the warmth of family, community, and sharing and it feels like a warm hug. I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for books about Hanukkah, but also for those wanting books about kindness, helpfulness, community, and appreciating those "who help heal the world."

Book Review Sunday

Title: How to Spot an Artist 

Author: Danielle Krysa 

Publisher: Prestel 

Review copy: Final copy via publisher 

Availability: On shelves now 

Summary: A book about being an artist...even when someone tells you not to be. This book is for all the art kids out there: the creative young people who love to draw, paste, cut, glitter, and tape their way through life. And what to do when art bullies--or your own inner critic--show up saying nonsense like, "You'll never be good enough!" Hint: make stuff! 

Review: This is a playful book about making art. There is a growing number of books like this encouraging young readers to continue to make art. I'm sad we need these books, but until we don't, I'll keep sharing books like this with young people. Many people stop creating because what they make doesn't seem to be perfect or what other people make. They also seem to forget that even artists need to practice their skills so they don't have to create something perfect the first time. 

The story has creative characters rather than actual people and I think that adds to the humor and lightness of the book. I appreciate that it points out that our inner critic can be bullying us and shaming us. This is the tricky part of making art--doing it in spite of our worries. 

Recommendation: This is a nice book to encourage creativity. If you already have Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg and What if... by Samantha Berger and want more titles to support hesitant artists, this would be another title to add. I also think it would pair really well with Lois Ehlerts picture book memoir The Scraps Book: Notes from a Colorful Life.

Title: The Scary Book

Author: Thierry Dedieu

Publisher: Prestel Junior

Translator & Project Manager: Melanie Schöni (translated from French)

Review copy: Final copy via publisher

Availability: On shelves now

Summary: Snakes, bats, and spiders aren't that frightening--but just wait till you see what they're like on the inside! This delightfully ghoulish book is filled to the brim with creatures perfect for some Halloween fun. Whether it's a big bad wolf or a skeletal ghost, each monster is hiding its really horrible side beneath a foldable flap. Lift the foldout on the crab to reveal sharp teeth and tentacle tongues or pull down the flap on the spider to discover its recently caught snacks. Thierry Dedieu's colorful illustrations bring humor and lightheartedness to many spine-chilling creatures. A perfect blend of silly and scary, this big board book helps kids overcome their worries with laughter. Encourage your children to embrace their spooky side with this Halloween treat!

Review: This is definitely an interesting book. The initial illustrations seem slightly creepy, but when the folded flaps are expanded, there are some ghoulish images inside each creature. I can see this being a delight for young readers who want to have a tingle of fear, but who like to control how much and when they want to see it. They can slowly pull down the tabs or even skip some of them if they are too concerned. I am constantly being asked for scary books in my library for 4-11 year olds. It seems like the 4-6 age range really want to be spooked, but in books they do have the control of the page turn, or in this case, the flap reveal. I do wish they had used the word venomous instead of poisonous with the snake and that it didn't show a wolf as a creature that eats humans, but still, this will delight many young thrill seekers. 

Recommendation: This is a fun book that many readers of spooky fare will enjoy and it will be a hit for Halloween. The flaps will make this one that won't last a long time in a circulating library, but will be enjoyed  while it holds up. 

Title: The House of Happy Spirits: A Children's Book Inspired by Friedensreich Hundertwasser

Author: Géraldine Elschner 

Illustrator: Lucie Vandevelde

Original Co-author: Josef Krawina

Architect: Peter Pelikan

Publisher: Prestel

Translator: Paul Kelly

Review copy: Final copy via publisher

Availability: On shelves now

Summary: The Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser believed that humanity and nature shared a harmonious partnership, a philosophy that he demonstrated with his architectural creations. Filled with color-saturated illustrations that echo Hundertwasser's bold style, this story introduces young readers to the idea of environmentally conscious and playful architecture. When construction starts on a new building in Lea's neighborhood, she fears that her favorite tree will be chopped down. For days she watches anxiously as the tree is covered up and surrounded by bricks. Finally, she learns that the tree has been spared and made the centerpiece of a fantastic new building, where it will live a long and healthy life. Lucie Vandevelde's joyful drawings convey a kid's-eye view of city life, complete with people, pets, automobiles, and machinery. As the new building emerges, readers will come to learn about some of Hundertwasser's celebrated and offbeat principles--such as the rights of tenants to paint the walls outside of their windows, that trees should be given their own rooms, and that "straight lines lead to the downfall of humanity." A brief biography of Hundertwasser at the end of the book fills readers in on the work of this pioneering artist whose ideas were once radical but are now integrated into many architectural concepts.

Review: I can just imagine children pouring over this book. There are so many patterns and colors and unique creations. It's vibrant and gives the eyes so much to explore. The story combines architecture and a concern for nature.

What I truly love is that this is based on an actual place. It's fabulous that they chose to include some photos and information about the artist that inspired the story. It would be great to pair this with The Secret Kingdom: Nek Chand, a Changing Inida and a Hidden World of Art

Recommendation: For readers who like something a little quirky or enjoy art and architecture, this will be a winner. I found the art charming and quite fun. That and the historical aspect were more enthralling than the story, but if unique is what you are after, this is for you. 

Review: Love by Sophia

 

Title: Love by Sophia

Author: Jim Averbeck

Illustrator: Yasmeen Ismail

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Pages: 40

Review copy: Final copy via publisher

Availability: On shelves now

Summary: Sophia loves her family and her wonderful pet giraffe Noodle, so when she gets an assignment to draw something she loves, she wants to make it extra special. Taking her teacher’s advice, Sophia uses a little perspective and creates a work she calls 

Before she can place her masterpiece on the refrigerator, her whole family has to approve of the painting. But this is the Whitney, the Guggenheim, the Louvre of refrigerators. Can Sophia persuade them to take a chance on a new perspective, so they can see love from her point of view?

Review: Sophia is back with another delightful family story. This time the focus is perspective. Her art teacher has shown her how to place and shape things on the page to show perspective, but there is also a nod to personal perspective in how we view the world. 

As with previous Sophia books, there are some pretty high level vocabulary words being used in the text, but again, there is a glossary just in case someone could use a little more information. 

I love Sophia's flair for the dramatic and how she interacts with many family members. They don't all agree, but they communicate their opinions and you can see the love within the family. 

Recommendation: You'll definitely want to grab this one if you have enjoyed the previous Sophia books. Even if you haven't though, it works as a stand-a-lone too. It would be a great one to pair with Brendan Wenzel's book They All Saw a Cat.

Short & Sweet Long & Savory Tour

 

Have you met Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast? How about Baron von Waffle or Professor Biscotti? If you haven't had the opportunity to meet them yet, you will want to do so soon. Books featuring food are some of my favorites. Mostly because it gives me just the excuse I need to make something yummy.

Short & Sweet is the 4th book in the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series. In this delightful kitchen adventure, Professor Biscotti transforms the two sweet breakfast treats into toddlers. Yikes! 

The story is a great romp through entertaining locations such as the Fjords of Farfalle and the Pasta Playground. Along the way there are many fun details to discover within the illustrations.

To get a taste of the tale, you can watch the musical trailer here:

Author: Josh Funk

Illustrator: Brendan Kearney 

Publisher: Sterling Children's Books

You'll want to visit other stops on the virtual tour by clicking on the image below. You'll be able to read interviews and reviews, listen to podcasts, and find out about all the sticky and sweet details about Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast.

Now for a short and sweet introduction to the author. I first met Josh a few years ago at Nerdcamp in Michigan. I appreciated his stories, but also the work he's done to encourage and support picture book creators. If you're thinking about writing a picture book, I suggest you pop over to his resource page. Here's a little more info about Josh.

Photo Credit Carter Hasegawa, 2017

Full Bio: Josh Funk writes silly stories such as the Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast series, the How to Code with Pearl and Pascal series, the It's Not a Fairy Tale series, the A Story of Patience & Fortitude series in conjunction with the New York Public Library, Dear Dragon, Albie Newton, Pirasaurs!, A Night at the Bookstore: A Barnsie & Noble Adventure, and more coming soon! 

Since the fall of 2015, Josh has visited (or virtually visited) over 400 schools, classrooms, and libraries and he is a board member of The Writers' Loft in Sherborn, MA. 

Josh grew up in New England and studied Computer Science in school. Today, he still lives in New England and when not writing Java code or Python scripts, he drinks Java coffee and writes manuscripts. 

Josh is terrible at writing bios, so please help fill in the blanks. Josh enjoys _______ during ________ and has always loved __________. He has played ____________ since age __ and his biggest fear in life is being eaten by a __________. ​ For more information about Josh Funk, visit him at www.joshfunkbooks.com and on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart

Title: A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart
Author: Zetta Elliott
Illustrator: Noa Denmon
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Pages: 32
Review copy: Purchased
Availability: On shelves now

Summary: 
There is a place inside of me
a space deep down inside of me
where all my feelings hide.

In this powerful, affirming poem by award-winning author Zetta Elliott, a Black child explores his shifting emotions throughout the year. Summertime is filled with joy—skateboarding and playing basketball—until his community is deeply wounded by a police shooting. As fall turns to winter and then spring, fear grows into anger, then pride and peace.

In her stunning debut, illustrator Noa Denmon articulates the depth and nuances of a child’s experiences following a police shooting—through grief and protests, healing and community—with washes of color as vibrant as his words.

Here is a groundbreaking narrative that can help all readers—children and adults alike—talk about the feelings hiding deep inside each of us.

Review: The subtitle says it all. These words have the power to heal the hearts of readers. This book spoke to my heart already in the dedication. "for Zion and all the children who miss the hand they used to hold...trust that you will laugh again and love again once your heart has had time to heal." Anyone who has lost a loved one can connect with this wish for the young ones.

Readers will accompany a young child who's sharing about the many emotions hiding within. The words are gorgeous, but so are the illustrations. And the illustrations add information. Readers will need to read those too or they may miss a lot.

Unfortunately, there are still way too many communities and families reeling due to police shootings and other instances of violence by the hands of the state. This book is one way for readers to find their way to healing. Children and their loved ones or caregivers will have opportunities to reflect on their own emotions and ways that they can express and experience them. I see this as a path to meaningful discussions or even just a way for loved ones to sit with each other in their pain and healing.

There is beauty in the strength and the hope that this young Black child finds when looking within and when looking at his community.

Recommendation: I highly recommend this book for any home or shared library that serves young people. Anyone can find healing within the pages of this book, but I think that this is particularly true for Black readers. There are certainly ugly things happening, but that is not where the poem ends. The young person feels pride in knowing that through the struggle, his people have emerged strong. In the face of everything, he is able to show compassion and love and so are others in his community. I believe it will move readers toward healing, but will also be empowering. I hope it gets in the hands of many, many readers.

Review: Siha Tooskin Knows Series

Title: Siha Tooskin Knows the Gifts of His People
Author: Charlene Bearhead & Wilson Bearhead
Illustrator: Chloe Bluebird Mustooch
Publisher: HighWater Press
Pages: 24
Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley
Availability: May 26, 2020

Summary: Transportation, housing, agriculture, communications…there are so many modern conveniences. But are they really modern? Where did they really come from?
Paul Wahasaypa—Siha Tooskin—will learn about their origins and more on his walk home from school with Ade (his father). There’s so much to learn about the earliest forms of technology, travel, medicine, and food from right here on Turtle Island. Come along with Paul and Ade to hear all about the gifts of his people.

The Siha Tooskin Knows series uses vivid narratives and dazzling illustrations in contemporary settings to share stories about an 11-year-old Nakota boy.

Review: This is a wonderful book. Siha Tooskin has been asked to bring a food from his cultural background. This leads to a conversation about the indigenous foods that preceded European contact and remain. Talking about things that the Nakota people have had and done over the years leads to a discussion about the many things people have mistakenly believed are new that Indigenous people have been doing in different places around what is now called North America for thousands of years.

Siha Tooskin even learns about the way that Nakota people have been educating their children over time. Rather than a story with a problem and solution, this follows a conversation between father and son. It is definitely interesting and has a warm family feeling to it.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book for anyone, but especially those teaching history and changes over time. This book shows some of the ways Native and colonial practices have affected each group. There's a lot of content in these few pages that can lead to great discussions. Highly recommended for elementary age readers and their teachers or families.

Title: Siha Tooskin Knows the Catcher of Dreams
Author: Charlene Bearhead & Wilson Bearhead
Illustrator: Chloe Bluebird Mustooch
Publisher: HighWater Press
Pages: 32
Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley
Availability: May 26, 2020

Summary: Siha Tooskin (Paul) takes his expert bike riding to a whole new level to make sure he doesn't miss a thing. At home, Mugoshin (his grandmother) is creating a very special gift to protect the precious little one. Join Paul as he enjoys delicious bannock, imagines the future of a new baby sister, and listens to Mugoshin’s teachings about the catcher of dreams.

The Siha Tooskin Knows series uses vivid narratives and dazzling illustrations in contemporary settings to share stories about an 11-year-old Nakota boy.

Review: This is another lovely story filled with family love. Siha Tooskin's personality can be seen in this story. He is a storyteller himself and has a sense of humor. He's also extremely excited to have a new baby sister. His dreams for her include some of the gender specific things that his mother and grandmother will pass down, but he also sees possibilities for her future that go beyond typical gender expectations. Within this story readers also get to hear about how the dream catchers came to be and how they work to offer protection to the dreamers. As with the other Siha Tooskin book, this one also includes mentions of residential schools and some of the hard truths about Canadian history that are finally being taught about in schools. That's not the point of the book, but it's acknowledged.

Recommendation: Dream catchers and images of them are found in many kinds of media and are even on t-shirts and jewelry or hanging in cars on mirrors. For those who do not know the significance of dream catchers, this would be a very helpful book to read. For readers aware of them, it will also be a validation of what they already know. I look forward to having this available in our school library and believe this series is a must for any library serving young people. 

Review: Astrid & Apollo

Title: Astrid & Apollo and the Starry Campout (Astrid & Apollo #1)
Author: V.T. Bidania
Illustrator: Dara Lashia Lee
Publisher: Picture Window Books an imprint of Capstone
Pages: 64
Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley
Availability: August 1, 2020

Summary: Astrid is afraid of the dark and doesn't want to go on her family camping trip. But her twin brother, Apollo, is excited. When they encounter scary things such as crawly bugs and the creepy dark, Apollo helps his twin through them. And when they encounter the scariest thing of all, Astrid might just be the one to save the starry campout.

Review: I cannot even express how excited I am about this series. This is the first and only early chapter book series to feature a Hmong American family. This first book in the series introduces the eight year old twins and their family as they go on a camping trip.

Along the way, we learn about their Hmong names and their meanings. Astrid, or Gao Nou, is apprehensive about camping, but her twin helps convince her to give it a try by framing it as an adventure. Their cousin Lily had told some horror stories about a camping trip she had been on, but this camping trip is not a horrifying even though they do encounter some intimidating critters at one point.

This is a fun and entertaining beginning chapter book that anyone could enjoy. The mishaps and frights are amusing and so is their little sister and her amazingly noisy screams. My youngest would completely relate to detesting bugs and bathrooms on campouts as Astrid does.

What makes this book more than just a typical chapter book though is the inclusion of Hmong American culture. This is something that will be interesting for other readers, but for Hmong American readers this is filled with many opportunities for connections. Between the smattering of Hmong words, egg rolls, papaya salad, Thai chili peppers, Hmong sausage, and even mention of Hmong Village Mall, there is much that Hmong American students may find familiar. Even though the mall is several hours away in St. Paul, many of my students have been there or know of the mall. The back matter also includes a brief history of how Hmong people came to be in the U.S. which is almost always new information for non-Hmong folks. A list of popular Hmong foods with their descriptions follows the historical notes.

There are many Hmong Americans in our community and across Wisconsin and Minnesota along with several other locations in the U.S. and this book is one way for readers to get a small glimpse into the Hmong American culture or even see themselves reflected on the page.

Recommendation: This is a great early chapter book for any library or home with young readers and it is essential in communities where Hmong Americans are living. The story is engaging and the chapters are brief, but challenging enough for readers just beginning to read chapter books. I cannot wait to share this series with my students, my community, and anyone else I can persuade to read it.

Extra: Author FAQ

Review: Pippa Park Raises Her Game

Title: Pippa Park Raises Her Game
Author: Erin Yun
Publisher: Fabled Films Press
Pages: 288
Genres: Contemporary, Realistic, Sports
Availability: February 4, 2020
Review copy: Digital ARC via Edelweiss

Summary: A Contemporary Reimagining of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens for Middle Graders

Life is full of great expectations for Korean American Pippa Park. It seems like everyone, from her family to the other kids at school, has a plan for how her life should look. So when Pippa gets a mysterious basketball scholarship to Lakeview Private, she jumps at the chance to reinvent herself by following the “Rules of Cool.”

At Lakeview, Pippa juggles old and new friends, an unrequited crush, and the pressure to perform academically and athletically while keeping her past and her family’s laundromat a secret from her elite new classmates. But when Pippa begins to receive a string of hateful, anonymous messages via social media, her carefully built persona is threatened.

As things begin to spiral out of control, Pippa discovers the real reason she was admitted to Lakeview and wonders if she can keep her old and new lives separate, or if she should even try.

Bonus Content: Discussion Questions, Author Q&A, and Korean Language Glossary and Pronunciation Guide

Review: I'm not a sports fan so realistic sports novels aren't usually my first pick. I have to admit sports are a bit of a reading gap for me. Many times though, the stories are great and I end up wondering why I don't read more of them. Pippa Park is one of those books. Basketball isn't why I picked it up, but it also didn't make me stop reading. When a character is passionate and enthusiastic about any one thing, it makes me want to stick with them and see where they go with it. Pippa runs into many roadblocks, but she does not stop pursuing her dreams.

Strangely enough, I didn't go into this knowing about the Great Expectations connection. That let me see that even if readers are unfamiliar (I imagine not many middle grade readers are), they will still be able to follow and enjoy the story. For those who do know the original, there may be times when things are obviously echoing the first telling of the story starting right off with her name and economic challenges.

Many readers will likely be able to empathize with Pippa as she bends over backwards trying to keep up appearances and trying to fit in at her new school. They will also have opportunities for laughter even as Pippa does her balancing act between academics, basketball, working at the laundromat, making and maintaining friendships, and basically trying to remake herself.

It's a cute and fun read about a girl trying to figure out how to fit in and be herself in both her school and her family. She doesn't want to let down her family, but their wishes for her don't always match Pippa's dreams. Added to typical issues of growing up are the specific issues that come up for immigrants.

Recommendation: If you're looking for more sports related realistic fiction with a dash of comedy, this would be a great pick. Pippa is charming and the story is entertaining and just unique enough to keep readers flipping the pages. This will do especially well with fans of K-dramas and K-Pop though some of the references are a little dated. Quite a few of the shows and music mentioned were popular just after current middle schoolers were born. I believe fans will still be excited to see mention of Korean media even if they may not know the specific titles.

Extras:
Author book summary - video
Q&A with Erin Yun

Review: Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons

Title: Viva Durant and the Secret of the Silver Buttons
Creator: Ashli St. Armant, also known as Jazzy Ash
Narrator: Bahni Turpin
Publisher: Audible
Length: 4 hrs. 5 min.
Genre: Mystery

Summary: Viva Durant, New Orleans’ youngest detective is on a quest to solve a jazzy mystery involving hidden treasure, while exploring the city’s unique culture, history and music. This family-friendly Audible Original features original jazz music from the creator, Ashli St. Armant, and enthusiastic narration from world class Audible narrator, Bahni Turpin. Plucky 14-year-old Viva Durant heads to New Orleans every summer to spend time with her loving but stern grandmother, known as Gram. After Gram reads Viva an article in the local paper about a missing treasure related to the world-famous song, “Miss Mary Mack,” Viva traverses the Crescent City on an epic adventure to solve the mystery. Along the way she meets some of the city’s most colorful characters as her journey takes her to the French Quarter, a jazz club, a creepy cemetery, and even the circus.

Review: From the beginning, this sounded professional. This book comes with all of the bells and whistles one could possibly want. There are sound effects and the narrator does a great job with the various voices in a very natural sounding way. It's hard to believe it's one person.

The story itself is engaging. Viva is captivated by the story of the black dress and silver buttons. This leads her through the streets of New Orleans. Curious, I opened Google Maps and as I suspected, using street view, I could locate and see many of the places Viva was visiting. That's a bonus if readers think to do that. Of course the story was complete and the visuals weren't necessary, but it was certainly a fun activity.

Viva is 14, but to me seemed a bit younger. She is hesitant at the beginning and it's nice to see her becoming more and more independent and adventurous as the story progresses. The mystery has a few twists and turns and kept my attention. It comes in at just over four hours, so is not a big time investment.

If I had a complaint, it was Viva's way of creating a song to memorize facts. The songs were not meant to be very stunning musically, but they were a little annoying after a while. I also didn't understand why one would need memory devices when there is a cell phone handy that can photograph or even make an audio recording or store information in any number of ways. That was one part of the story that seemed to be a bit of a stumble.

Recommendation: This would be an excellent story for people looking for audiobooks that are interesting for a wide range of ages. It would work well for family trips. I feel like teenagers may not be the best audience as they would likely find some of this too contrived, but it's great for elementary ages. I think some adults might also enjoy it for the strolls through New Orleans if nothing else.

 Extra:

 

Review: The Dragon Thief

Title: The Dragon Thief
Author: Zetta Elliott
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Pages: 176
Genre: Fantasy
Availability: Oct. 22, 2019
Review copy: Digital ARC via Netgalley

Summary: Stealing a baby dragon was easy! Hiding it is a little more complicated, in this sequel to reviewer favorite Dragons in a Bag.

Jaxon had just one job–to return three baby dragons to the realm of magic. But when he got there, only two dragons were left in the bag. His best friend’s sister, Kavita, is a dragon thief!

Kavita only wanted what was best for the baby dragon. But now every time she feeds it, the dragon grows and grows! How can she possibly keep it secret? Even worse, stealing it has upset the balance between the worlds. The gates to the other realm have shut tight! Jaxon needs all the help he can get to find Kavita, outsmart a trickster named Blue, and return the baby dragon to its true home.

Review: I was so excited to get my hands on this sequel to the wonderful Dragons in a Bag. There simply aren't enough dragon fantasies for the early chapter book readers. And it is truly awesome to see more Black magic and Black history on our shelves.

These children are young and get themselves into all kinds of difficult situations, but they work together to solve their problems. So much of the book is about being in community with one another, building bridges, and redemption too. Humans are complicated and make mistakes, but when we love each other, we stick together.

I appreciate that the children have caring adults in their lives. So many authors try to write the adults out so the children can have agency, but that's not necessary. Children can still have adventures, make their own choices, and solve problems with adults as part of their story. The intergenerational relationships are really a strong point here. Respect is shown to elders and readers can see that everyone wants to feel needed and valued regardless of age. We can all be part of solutions no matter how young or old.

Another interesting part of the book is the historical aspect. Early in the story, Kavita's aunt shares about her ancestry and why her skin is so dark. I had not known of the Siddis in India or that the slave trade had been active in that part of the world. This is a piece of history that many children and likely many adults in the U.S. do not know. It's one more reminder that there is so much that we don't know we don't know.

Recommendation: I will definitely be including this in our elementary school library. Children will love the adventure and magic and may even learn a few things along the way. Don't miss out.