TODAY IS INTERNATIONAL ZEBRA DAY! 

International Zebra Day was created to help raise awareness of zebras! There are three types of zebras - Grevy's, Mountain, and Plains. Plains zebras are thriving but both Mountain and Grevy's are close to being endangered.  

 

Here is a great book to read about solving a zebra mystery!

Follow Those Zebras: Solving a Migration Mystery by Sandra Markle 

 

 

Let's solve a mystery! Every year,  over 2000 plains zebras disappear from their normal grazing along the Chobe (Choh-bee) River - located in northern Botswana and Namibia, Africa. Where do they go? And why? A group of scientists resolved to work together to solve the mystery. In order to do that, female zebras needed to be tagged with GPS collars that would help the scientists track the movement of the herd. The zebras were not excited about this.

The pictures are amazing and there are lots of interesting facts sprinkled on every page. More importantly - scientists and wildlife conservationists now know which pathways to keep open in Africa to facilitate zebra migrations.

 

 If you want to learn how the scientists tag the zebras, where the zebras go, and why - be sure to read this Bluebonnet 2021 nominee! 3rd - 6th grade is the target audience but younger kids will enjoy looking at the pictures and learning more about these amazing animals.

 

 

Meet Moyo! (follow this link!  https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/news/how-do-you-train-zebra?fbclid=IwAR0iLp2bCu7vPCoG-n9ewgP0USIdc-5XELLUEx5wlTPJdkktPzc46_VwQ_4 )

Moyo lives at the National Zoo and his name means "heart" in Swahili. Moyo is a Grevy's zebra.

 

 

Feelings, whoa, oh, oh, Feelings...

     

 Thank you, Morris Albert, for inspiring the title of this blog post. FEELINGS! On the surface these books may appear to be about being quiet or being loud or following rules but they are also about feelings. Feeling grumpy, for example. Or sad. Or frustrated. Littles can really struggle with how to express their emotions so these books would be a great way to explore positive ways to help them identify their emotions, learn emotion words, and learn how to express their emotions in a positive way!

 

Quiet Down Loud Town! by Alastair Heim.

Elephant thinks everyone is TOO LOUD! This makes him quite grumpy. Until he discovers that his town can also be TOO quiet. The illustrations are bright! The "noise sounds" delightful - though a bit of practice before reading out loud would be a good idea.
This would be an excellent book for an opposites storytime. Or a Quiet/Loud storytime. You can ask kids which they like best and let them demonstrate their own loud and quiet. 

Grumpy may be one of the most common preschooler emotions! This book gives you a great chance to explore grumpiness and how Elephant acted towards others when he was grumpy.

Sullivan, Who is Always Too Loud by Micol Ostow; illustrated by Brian Biggs.

Timing is everything. Sullivan is very loud. His mom explains that being loud could wake the baby or upset the neighbor downstairs -- but Sullivan has a hard time controlling his loudness. It just bubbles up inside and erupts. But he tries to hold it in. His mother praises him for his efforts and recommends counting to three as another way to stop and think if loudness would be a good idea - or a bad idea. School is also a problem. Sullivan just really likes being loud - but he gradually learns to control his loudness and to use it at more appropriate times. Because sometimes you need to be loud. Sometimes.
I don't think the author is implying that Sullivan should ignore his emotions or never, ever be loud. I believe they show that Sullivan can, with positive reinforcement, learn how to curb his enthusiasm. Both his mother and his teacher work hard to help Sullivan understand that sometimes loudness is not always the best choice. And that helps Sullivan be more aware of the choice he has to be quiet or loud. Sometimes.
This book would make a great addition to a storytime for Kindergarten. The kids could practice being quiet and loud. There might be a few kids who have never heard a Tarzan yell before (which Sullivan likes to imitate) so you could show them what it is like and have everyone practice! 

 

You can ask the littles in your life how they would respond if they were Sullivan. Do you think he was frustrated?  Some kids really don't like loud noises while others do.  

Two Many Birds by Cindy Derby

 

Welcome to a somewhat dystopian bird state where there is only one tree and lots of rules governing the use of that tree. Which are enforced by a rather grumpy, rude bird. One of the rules? No more than 100 birds on the tree at a time! But one day -- an egg in a nest hatches and inside are TWO birds! Alarms go off and the grumpy enforcer prepares to banish the fledglings. The other birds, however, have had enough of the inane rules so they join forces and fight off the enforcer. What now? Rules are necessary but maybe there is a better solution. And a small act of kindness sparks creativity! 

Lots of fun things to explore in this book! (For example, the enforcer is a VIB - Very Important Bird.) And there's no pooping in the tree so of course there has to be a Bird Port-a-Potty...  But also a great place to talk about rules. Who makes them, who enforces them, and why. And all the grumpiness! Why was the enforcer so grumpy? What helped them change?

IT'S SQUIRREL APPRECIATION DAY! 

also - The Story of Winston

It is also National Hug Day. January 21st was chosen for Hug Day because it falls in between Christmas Day and Valentine's Day. So hug someone in your bubble. Or hug a squirrel? No clue why this date was chosen for our squirrel friends...  We have quite a few squirrels in our neighborhood. In fact, one managed to get into our attic a few years ago. How could such a thing happen? Well - we had to get a new roof after a particularly intense hail storm and the roofers unintentionally left a small space just big enough for a squirrel. Once we realized what had happened (cue the pitter patter of little feet above as we lay in bed), we called the roofing company and they came back to investigate. Sure enough, they found the hole and sealed it up -- with the squirrel inside the attic, of course. We have a ladder that goes up into the attic in our garage so we left that down and lo and behold - the squirrel raced out. Only to return to try and get back into its nest. We named the squirrel Winston (after Winston Churchill) because it never, never, never, never gave up. We would hear scratching at all hours of the day and night as Winston attempted to re-enter his blocked off hidey hole. To no avail, I might add. Winston's sharp little claws and teeth were no match for the metal flashing. But I still call all of our squirrels Winston. 

 

Here are some great books about squirrels. And one or two about hugs.  

 

                    

             

 

The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter 

Meet Squirrel Nutkin, a red squirrel from Potter's English countryside. Nutkin is a rather impertinent squirrel. His teasing goes a bit too far and Nutkin is left with a permanent reminder of his rude behavior. So file this one under "cautionary tales".

 

The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes by Beatrix Potter 

This lovely story features a gray squirrel, a chipmunk, and a black bear. Potter wrote it specifically for her American fans so she chose to feature animals more familiar to American children. Even though the story is still set in her beloved Lake District of England. Note to self - if you are trapped inside a tree, don't eat too many nuts!

Saving the Countryside: The Story of Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit by Linda Elovitz Marshall

You may know about Beatrix Potter's lovely animal stories but did you know about her quest to save the English countryside? Or how she became an artist and storyteller? Explore this delightfully inspiring children's biography and find the answers to these questions and more! There is an author's note and recommended reading at the end of the book which has inspired me to read an adult biography about Beatrix.

Cyril and Pat by Emily Gravett

Cyril is a squirrel. Pat is a rat. They have a lot of adventures and fun together. But no one else thinks they should be friends because Pat is NOT a squirrel. A sweet and funny book about friendship and learning that it's OK to be different. 

Squirrel Meets World by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

Have you met Doreen Green? She spends a lot of time trying to hide her tail because, well, she's got squirrel superpowers. Eventually her secret is revealed and Squirrel Girl is born! These books are a prequel to the popular Squirrel Girl comics. 

 

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo.

I love Kate DiCamillo. And this book is no exception. It's about a squirrel that is suddenly granted superpowers. Because someone tried to suck him up in a vacuum cleaner. His name is Ulysses. And there are donuts. AND it is being made into a movie!  You can follow the link to watch a trailer!

 Flora & Ulysses film trailer

 

The Littlest Things Give the Loveliest Hugs by Mark Sperring.

"From ducklings to seal pups, from bunnies to cubs, the littlest things give the loveliest hugs."  Toddlers will enjoy naming all the baby animals in this book that are sharing hugs with their parents. A fun book for Hug Day and Valentine's Day!

 

How to Build a Hug:Temple Grandin and Her Amazing Squeeze Machine by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville ; illustrated by Giselle Potter.

Have you met Temple Grandin? She is an amazing woman - and one of my personal heroes. Just think of something you REALLY don't like -- a dentist drill? A fork scratching on a plate? A room filled with smelly perfume? That's how Temple felt when someone tried to hug her. She sometimes wanted a hug but she just couldn't bear it. This biography explores how Temple built a hug machine so that she could get a hug anytime without having to touch another person. 

A gentle reminder that not all people like hugs - you should always ask before hugging someone.

 

 

 

 READ SOME NEW BOOKS TO HONOR

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S BIRTHDAY

  

       

Rudine Sims Bishop once said “Books are sometimes windows, offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange. These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created and recreated by the author. When lighting conditions are just right, however, a window can also be a mirror. Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience. Reading, then, becomes a means of self-affirmation, and readers often seek their mirrors in books." 

This is a small sampling of a few books I have read recently that gave me mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors. Books like these can also provide an easy introduction to conversations that your family may not be having. It's never too early - you can start talking to babies about differences in skin color as soon as you start reading to them - which, for me, was as soon as they were born!  Point out everyone you see in the book - not just the children of color. And affirm that everyone is beautiful.

A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story by Sharon Langley and Amy Nathan; illustrated by Floyd Cooper.   

If I had to pick just one book to read on Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, it would be this one because I think it will resonate with so many people. Who doesn't like to ride - or watch others ride - on a carousel? I have seen the carousel on the National Mall dozens of times -- but never knew it's story until I read this book. This is such a great story to help explain the unfairness of segregation and discrimination to younger kids. A young Sharon asks, "But what about the Golden Rule? What about treating other people the way you want to be treated?" Her mother wisely answers, "I guess some people forgot that the Golden Rule is supposed to include everyone."

It also presents a positive illustration of peaceful protest. The amusement park's refusal to sell tickets to black people  was changed because of a peaceful protest (over several days) and the publicity that resulted from over 400 people who protested being arrested. The park changed their rules and opened to everyone on August 28, 1963 - the day Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.  Sharon Langley and her parents were the first African-Americans to purchase tickets to the park and Sharon was the first African-American child to ride the carousel at the park. Today, the still operational carousel sits on the National Mall and has a plaque that tells its story. Plus Sharon's name is on the horse she rode back in 1963. 

 

Overground Railroad by Lesa-Cline Ransome; illustrated by James E. Ransome.  

The Overground Railroad explores what it was like to be part of the Great Migration from rural areas of the Southern states to the urban areas of the Northern states probably sometime between 1920 and 1940. Ruth Ellen, her mother and her father must leave town early to head to New York on the train. Her father is a share cropper and the man he works for would not want them to leave. Ruth Ellen marvels at the vistas presented to her as they travel north. This is a lovely picture book and the text is in verse. The Great Migration is such an important but often overlooked part of American history - I encourage everyone to read this book.

William Still and His Freedom Stories: The Father of the Underground Railroad by Don Tate.        When you think of the Underground Railroad, you probably think of Harriet Tubman. And a lot of white people who helped black people escape slavery. But have you heard of William Still? I had not - but I am thankful Don Tate decided to write a book about him. He has a fascinating story.  

Swish!: The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters by Suzanne Slade; illustrated by Don Tate. 

 Learn all about the history of the Harlem Globetrotters!  And what they players had to go through in the early days of the team because they were not white. They played because they loved the game but also because professional teams would not recruit black players. 

Class Act by Jerry Craft (companion book to the award-winning New Kid).  

New Kid focused on Jordan and his new friends as they navigate 7th grade at Riverdale Prep. Jordan and Drew are both new kids.   Class Act focuses on Drew as the friends begin 8th grade at Riverdale. There is a lot of humor in these graphic novels as Craft also discusses serious topics such as racism, jealousy, and economic disparity. Jerry Craft explains it much better than I could so take time to check out his YouTube video. Be sure to notice how Craft uses other popular graphic novels to introduce each chapter in Class Act. See how many you recognize!

The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann.
This is a good introduction to graphic novels AND camping! A win-win for sure! Ernestine (or E) has never been camping but she KNOWS she will love it. And she does - though there are some things that initially are not so great. For one things - she misses her dad. And there are FISH in the lake where they are supposed to swim! But E learns a lot and by the end of the book, she can't wait to go camping again! Every camping trip is different. And there are a lot of kids that may not have the opportunity to go camping in a tent out in the woods. But this is a nice introduction to what you might expect if you do get to go camping!

Clean Getaway by Nic Stone. 

I love this book. It's about a grandmother (G'Ma) who sort of kidnaps her grandson (William but she calls him Scoob) and takes him on a wild ride through the south in an RV. It's a trip that William's G'Ma wanted to take with her husband back in the 1960's. The problem was that William's G'Ma is white. His grandfather was black. And that made life very difficult for them. So she invites William to come along as she revisits all of the places - many that played an important role in the Civil Rights movement. But there are a few things that G'Ma isn't telling him. And William's dad may not know exactly where they are- and so there's a bit of a mystery to solve on this wild ride through black history in the South. A warning though -- this is a bit of a tear-jerker.

HOW TO SAY "I'M SORRY" - THREE BOOKS TO HELP TEACH RECONCILIATION

 

 

         

 Rita & Ralph's Rotten Day by Carmen Agra Deedy for toddlers/preschoolers

A Mystery in the Forest by Susanna Isern for Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd

The Iggy Series by Annie Barrows for 2nd - 5th

Everyone has had their feelings hurt by a friend. Or maybe even had something broken or destroyed by a friend -- or been physically hurt. And, chances are, each of us has done our own share of hurting. Did you receive an apology for the hurt? Or did you say, "I'm sorry." when you were the one doing the hurting? We may not even always know the best way to say, "I'm sorry." But I think the knowledge that hurting a friend or being hurt by a friend happens to all of us is a topic that should be introduced to kids early and often. And, just as importantly, how to reconcile that hurt - not only how to say you are sorry but also how to receive an apology.  It seems like a good time to teach and/or reinforce those concepts.

I have read three books in the past few days that deal with doing something intentional that results in a friend being hurt plus the anger and sorrow that follow. I did not intend to do that (no pun intended) - it just so happened that I read three books that ended up dealing with that topic.  How timely! 

Two were picture books While they are all different in their own way, they do come to the same conclusion. You do something that is not well thought out and a friend ends up being hurt. In Rita & Ralph's Rotten Day by Carmen Agra Deedy, Rita and Ralph are best friends and play together every day. Until the day they decide to play sticks and rocks. Ralph throws the rock and hurts Rita. (Bearing in mind it could just as easily have been Rita poking Ralph with the stick...). Ralph is sorry; Rita is angry. Ralph tries to apologize but Rita doesn't believe him -- and so now Ralph is angry and Rita is sorry. Eventually, the realization that it was not an intentional hurt and apologies were real plus they miss each other leads to reconciliation. This picture book is based on the traditional rhyme about two friends - Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle. If that doesn't sound familiar - they go up the hill and down the hill and up the hill and down the hill to visit each other every day. This is a great read-aloud for preschoolers since they can join in on the "up the hill, down the hill" parts. Plus they can make the motions that go along with it. (The rhyme and the motions are included at the end of the book). And they can learn the importance of saying you are sorry plus accepting an apology at the same time.

The next book is A Mystery in the Forest by Susanna Isern; illustrated by Daniel Montero Galan, and translated by Jon Brokenbrow. This is the second book in the Whispers of the Forest series (#1 is The Lonely Mailman - all about kindness.) Deer has a secret place in the forest where he gathers delicious food which he then cooks into wonderfully yummy dishes for his friends. But one day - he finds damage to his secret garden. And his kitchen has been ransacked. And his cookbook has been stolen! Who would do such a thing? And why? (The important part here is WHY.) Deer solves the mystery and he is angry. But the perpetrator explains WHY. And Deer's heart is moved. There are consequences - but they are wonderful consequences for everyone. Was Deer intentionally wronged? Yes. But he took the time to listen to the Why and chose to forgive the offender. And even go beyond forgiveness and show grace. A lovely story. Isern is a Spanish author so these books are also available in Spanish.

 

And now we come to Iggy and an illustrated chapter book series by Annie Barrows. The Best of Iggy is the first book - and the only one I have read so far. I read it because it is a Bluebonnet nominee for 20/21. And it has really made me think. At first, I didn't like it. Nope. This book is definitely not for me. But then - the more I thought about it and the more I thought about all of the troublemaker Iggys out there in the world that no one ever really listens to... I had different thoughts. Iggy is a 4th grader that has a habit of getting into trouble. This book contains three of his escapades that all differ a bit in their intent and outcome. Barrows does a good job outlining and explaining the unintended consequences of Iggy's adventures. The stories are based on her husband's childhood so she has some first hand experience to work with. The first scenario could easily have been completely avoided if Iggy's parents had just been willing to listen to him and forgive. I personally lay the blame for story #1 completely on his parents. If Iggy had not been exiled to the back yard for a very forgivable table side offense, none of it would have happened. But exiled he was and so, being bored, he got into trouble and was then tempted/bullied into get into more trouble by a visitor. Iggy could have chosen differently, absolutely. But it didn't have to happen. Incident #2 is similar - Iggy was bored. And he got himself into trouble. He KNOWS that what he is doing is stupid and that it carries with it the potential of getting into trouble but - he does it anyway. The last example is where Iggy truly offends by doing something that he does not think all the way through and he ends up physically and emotionally harming someone he really cares about. And he is TRULY SORRY that this happened.  That does not mean that similar things will not happen in the future. But it is amazing what happens when Iggy is given the chance to explain and then is forgiven for what he did - with the caveat that he should never do it again. 

A lot of kids will find the book funny. A lot of kids will be able to relate to Iggy - the ones who just do things without thinking them through and then get into trouble. Please be like Iggy's teacher and LISTEN to those kids when they try to explain their actions. It doesn't mean there aren't consequences for what they do - it just means that you are trying to understand the WHY behind their actions. There are kids that cause trouble for the sake of causing trouble. There are mean kids that bully other kids because they enjoy doing that. (There are adults that do that also.) But there are a lot of Iggys out there that get into trouble because they are bored or misunderstood or simply don't know how to think things through before acting. This book helped me see that I should work harder to understand those kids and not jump to conclusions. So - yes. Read this one. And let me know what you think.

 HAPPY BUBBLE BATH DAY!

Though when I think of bubble baths, I usually think of pirates! And fortunately, Neil Gaiman has a brand new picture book all about pirates! Published December 1, 2020, Pirate Stew is illustrated by Chris Riddell and it is delightfully silly. I think you may want to make your own version of Pirate Stew after reading this. Or at least go buy some donuts. 

You can watch Neil read the first part of the book below. 

Now why, you may be asking, do bubble baths remind me of pirates? 

 

Because one of my favorite pirate books is Bubble Bath Pirates by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. If you have trouble getting your wee ones to take a bath - be sure to check out a copy the next time you visit the library!

Economic Diversity in Children's Literature

Finding a definition for economic diversity can be challenging! Searching for books in the library that deal with homelessness, poverty, and economic disparity can be even harder. For example, Last Stop on Market Street (written by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson) is a perfect introduction to the fact that not everyone has the same amount of money and/or how they choose to spend that money. But if you are doing a search in a library catalog, chances are the first subject heading for this book that you will find is "buses" followed by grandmothers, city and town life, and African Americans. CJ and his grandma do ride a bus across town but that's not the focus of the story. CJ wonders why he can't have a car like his friend Colby. But when CJ and his grandma get off the bus, you learn that they are making a trip they make every Sunday to help out at a soup kitchen. If you did not know what the book was really about - you would not find it by doing a subject search in the catalog. All children will encounter homelessness and economic disparity at some point. Helping them to understand and develop empathy now is a good goal for the new year.

                                      

 PICTURE BOOKS

The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee; published 2020. Accompanying his parents to their night-shift jobs as office cleaners, young Daniel reluctantly joins in as they use their imaginations to transform the deserted building into a magnificent paper kingdom where he might one day rule. 

A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams; published 1982. A child, her waitress mother, and her grandmother save dimes to buy a comfortable armchair after all their furniture is lost in a fire.

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña; illustrated by Christian Robinson. A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things. And that it's OK not to have as much money as some of his friends...

Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell ; illustrated by Corinna Luyken; published 2018.  Fellow classmate Adrian Simcox brags about owning a horse, and Chloe just knows he's making stuff up. He lives in a small house and has holes in his shoes. With the help of her mom, Chloe learns an important lesson in empathy.

The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang; illustrated by Khoa Le; published 2020.  Drawn from Kao Kalia Yang's childhood experiences as a Hmong refugee, this heartfelt picture book offers a window into the life of a family with little money and a great deal of love.

CHAPTER BOOKS for 3rd-6th

Stay by Bobby Pyron; published 2019. This book does a great job of allowing a reader to enter into the world of someone who is homeless. Piper and her family end up in a new town far away from where they used to live when they had money and a home. First they have to live in separate shelters - mom and the two kids in one shelter; dad in another. Then they get an apartment in Hope House - a family shelter. Piper meets Baby, a dog owned by a homeless woman who lives in a local park because most shelters don't allow pets. But then Baby's owner goes missing and it's up to Piper, her new friends, and other homeless people to find her before Baby is taken away.  

 New Kid by Jerry Craft; published 2019. This award winning graphic novel discusses being a kid who is on scholarship in a prep school. Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds--and not really fitting into either one. 

Pippa Park Raises Her Game by Erin Yun; published 2020. 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. And yes - this is loosely based on Dickens' classic novel, Great Expectations.

Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson; published 2020. The Hart family of Portland, Oregon, faces many setbacks after Ryan's father loses his job, but no matter what, Ryan tries to bring sunshine to her loved ones. One of the setbacks Ryan faces is moving from where she has always lived into a new-to-her, smaller home. And having to cut back on buying favorite groceries. Not drastic but it does allow readers the opportunity to interact with someone whose family is having to cut corners financially. 

Someplace to Call Home by Sandra Dallas; published 2019. In 1933, when twelve-year-old Hallie Turner and her brothers, Tom and Benny, take to the road seeking whatever work they can get, they find kindness in small-town Kansas. This book is historical fiction and takes place during the Great Depression. It does illustrate the importance of kindness and empathy.

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman; published 2019. Eleven-year old Viji and her sister Rukku have an abusive father. So they decide to runaway. They soon discover that being homeless on the streets of Chennai, India is not only hard - it is dangerous. The girls are fortunate to find shelter and friendship on an abandoned bridge. They meet two homeless boys - Muthi and Aurl - and form a sort of family. They make a small amount of money by scavenging "treasures" from the city's trash heaps. And Rukku has a special talent for making and selling bracelets. But when illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or to keep holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom.

 

Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson - Bluebonnet Nominee for 2021

There is so much potential for discussion with this book! (Which is why I think it would make a great read-aloud!) It's hard to know where to start --- but here are some areas that might spark conversation.

Our protagonist, Ryan, is in 4th grade though by the end of the book, she will be a rising 5th grader. I think the book would appeal more to a 3rd-4th audience. Watson is very honest in portraying Ryan - her positive moments and her not so positive ones.. She has a brother, Ray, and sometimes they get along - and sometimes they don't. Sometimes they prank each other. Are pranks good or bad?

Ryan and Ray were give specific names by their parents. And they are expected to grow into their names and live up to the meaning of their names. Does your name have a special meaning? 

Ryan's dad lost his job as a mailman when the local post office closed. He has finally gotten a new job - but it doesn't pay as much as his old job. And he has to work nights. When the story opens, Ryan's family is renting a house that the owners have decided to sell. This is where Ryan has always lived - so she is upset about moving. She won't have to change schools - but the new house they are renting is smaller. Have you ever had to move unexpectedly?

Ryan has two best friends - Kiki and Amanda. Kiki still lives close but Amanda has moved to a new neighborhood, has a huge house with a pool, and goes to a different school. But the friends still remain close. When Ryan is invited to Amanda's house for a birthday party, she is treated meanly by one of Amanda's new friends. And her response is not great. But she learns from it.

Extended family plays a role in the book also. Easter means Ryan's grandmother coming over to straighten her hair, going to church, and having the whole family over for Easter dinner in their new-to-them, smaller house. 

The title comes from a time when Ryan and her friends don't get to do something they had been planning on doing for a long time - because it was raining. But they decide not to let the rain get them down or be disappointed so they make their own sunshine.

I was expecting Ryan's mom to announce a new baby was on the way at some point because there were a couple of times in the book when her mom was really tired and took naps but that's because I'm an adult reader -- I think most kids reading the book will be surprised - like Ryan - that there is a new baby sister on the way. Ryan's initial response is dismay (I think Ryan is not fond of sudden change...) but then she once again looks on the sunny side of the news.

And there's a talent show! But Ryan doesn't really think she has a talent besides cooking. And she just can't make cooking work as an act in the talent show. But she surprises herself. I really liked the thread of the talent show. 

So - like I said -- there is a LOT to discuss with this book! When I first finished it, I thought, "That was OK." But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much there is to discuss and think about in this short book. I'm glad it is a Bluebonnet nominee for next year! I think that will help ensure that it is more widely read.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 THE BARNABUS PROJECT

 by The Fan Brothers

 

 

 

 

 Just look at that Barnabus! Is he not the most adorable thing?  He is half mouse/half elephant. He loves to eat cheese and peanuts! He is also a Failed Project. And he lives far, far underground in a secret laboratory beneath an establishment known as Perfect Pets where new animals are created through genetic engineering. Things don't always go as planned, however. And Barnabus is just one of many Failed Projects. One day, he and his friends learn that the Green Rubber Suits are going to recycle all of the failed projects - but Barnabus doesn't WANT to be recycled! He doesn't want big eyes and pink, fluffiness. He just wants to be Barnabus. So he masterminds an escape! Let the adventure begin...

I truly love anything that the Fan Brothers create and this is certainly no exception. There is LOTS here and everyone will get something different from the book, I think. I liked that Barnabus was told that his situation was impossible - but even though he thought that might be true, he did not give up. He kept hoping. And believing. And trying with a very loud BWAAAAHH! I loved matching the names of the other Failed Projects with their illustrations.

And I loved that they all worked together to be free. Hopefully, your local library has a copy you can borrow!  You won't regret it. It's a perfect book for a New Year.