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.

 

 THREE RECOMMENDED BOOKS!

            

 

 

Greetings from very gray, rainy and cold McKinney! An apropos end to 2020, methinks. Listening to The Planets by Holst and thinking about the books I read yesterday!

The Fabled Stables is a new series by Jonathan Auxier. The fabled stables are on a small island at the top of the world. An eight-year old boy, Auggie, is assigned to take care of all of the creatures that live in the stables.  He is a bit lonely, though. He has Fen, his Stick-in-the-Mud, which can transform into any tool that is needed but Fen doesn't really want to play.... Auggie has finished feeding all of the creatures when there is a big BOOM - and a portal opens in the stables for Auggie to go and rescue a creature that is in trouble. Should he go? How will he get back? And what kind of creature is it? 

This is what I would call a Stepping Stone book. It has short chapters with large-ish print and lots of illustrations. It is similar in length and format to the Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo. It's perfect for kids that have outgrown Readers but are not quite ready for a two or three hundred page book filled with lots of text and few or no illustrations. It would also make a great read-aloud! If you enjoy Willa the Wisp, you can look forward to the second book in the series which will be published in May!

Cozy is Jan Brett's latest book! I love anything by Jan Brett and found this book to be delightful! It's about a young musk ox named Cozy that is separated from his family during a winter storm. He's not too worried because he has his cozy coat to keep him warm. Gradually a few other critters discover Cozy and his warm coat. First is a freezing family of lemmings. Next is an arctic hare. Then a snowy owl and arctic fox... Some ground rules must be laid, of course, with this diverse gathering of animals. Not too much chatter, only a little thumping, no claws and no biting! More creatures gather under Cozy's protective coat but eventually spring arrives and Cozy finds her herd again. Some have compared this to The Mitten and while I can see similarities, I find this to be a completely different kind of story. It's not really a folk tale as much as it is an informational book - introducing children to animals that live in the Arctic and highlighting some of their differences. The illustrations, of course, are marvelous. And I have a soft spot for musk oxen, anyway. I got to see a few of them when I visited Alaska plus they were the favorite animal of Alex Trebek. If you would like to visit a musk ox farm with Jan and see her read the story, here is a link to a YouTube video!

Last is The Language of the Universe: A Visual Exploration of Mathematics by Colin Stuart. This is a book that belongs in every classroom. Or home if you homeschool! So much accessible information is packed into 80 pages! But this is not really a small book - it is oversized - a little over 13 inches tall! - and filled with interesting tidbits about different inventors, different types of math, different formulas... just enough to whet your appetite to learn more. Or to reinforce theories or ideas that you may have already heard a little bit about. 

I was intrigued by the story of Tycho Brahe. He was so passionate about math he lost the tip of his nose arguing over a mathematical formula. With a cousin! Plus Tycho's detailed observations were essential to Kepler discovering his laws about the ways planets orbit the sun.
Plus the Perisan poet Ferdowsi's study of exponential growth in the year 1000.  

Background knowledge is really important for kids. It provides them with hooks to hang other information on to -  and this book provides a wealth of that type of information. 

 

Happy end of 2020! Here's to brighter days in 2021!

HAPPY TICK TOCK DAY!

Did you know that December 29th was National Tick Tock Day? (Not Tic Toc.) Apparently Tick Tock Day was created to remind us to complete any unfinished business that might need addressing before the end of the year. 

I think it's a good day to talk about two books I read this past week.  And one that I started. 

          

Unstoppable by Adam Rex, illustrated by Laura Park is a totally silly book.  Crab has always wanted to fly; Bird has always wanted to tweak noses with claws. Both are being stalked by a cat. They join forces to fly in and tweak Cat's nose. Mission accomplished! Then along comes Turtle and CrabTurd is formed. What kid won't love Crabturd?  

Next our friends are joined by a Bear - an angry bear. He is angry because developers are going to destroy their beautiful lakefront and build a shopping mall. What?! No way! There's only one thing to do -- fly to Washington, DC and kidnap Madame President. She will be able to figure out how to stop that nonsense. And she does, sort of. With a little help. Completely silly. Utterly delightful. And adults will sigh and say, "If only it were that simple..."

 

 

Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots by Michael Rex. As is clearly evident these days, a lot of people do not know the difference between a fact and an opinion. Actually, I am sure it has been that way for a long time but this past year, that distinction has seemed more pronounced. A lot of people think their opinion is fact. Tain't so. Never has been. And we have a team of robots that can help explain the difference. A fact is how many eyes a certain robot has. Or the color of the robot. An opinion is which robot would make the best friend or which ice cream flavor is the best (peppermint!). The book explains how it just does not make sense to argue over opinions. I like peppermint. Other people like vanilla. Or pistachio. And that's OK. There is a lot a parent, caregiver, and/or teacher could do with this book. It's a great introduction to discerning facts from opinions. It belongs in every classroom. Buy a copy. Donate it to your local school or library after you are done reading it. (And once libraries and schools start taking donations again...)

 And last night, I started The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein.  She wrote Code Name Verity and Rose Under Fire.  This is set in the same world - Britain during World War 2. Wein writes excellent historical fiction. If you have read her other books, then you won't want to miss this one! Code breaking that will give the British the edge they need to win the war.

 

OK - back to finishing up any unfinished business for 2020. Like putting a dent in your TBR pile. Or reading a few picture books or graphic novels to reach your Goodreads goal. That's not cheating. Everyone should read picture books on a regular basis. And graphic novels.   

MONDAYS ARE FOR MAVERICKS

    What, you may ask, do Mavericks have to do with books?  Well, the Texas Library Association (TLA) calls their recommended reading lists of graphic novels for elementary, middle school and high school lists "Little Mavericks" and "Mavericks".  Little Mavericks are for grades K-5; Mavericks for grades 6 - 12. I'm not sure where the name maverick originated for these lists. Possibly because a maverick is someone who demonstrates independence in thought and action?  That certainly defines graphic novels -- they do break out of the traditional book mold. And graphic novels are also quite wonderful! And real books, too. Just in case you needed to hear that.

    Unfamiliar with graphic novels? The TLA lists might be a good jumping in point for you. Though I will be the first to admit that the lists can be a little confusing.  And long.  Graphic novels are one of the most popular reading formats for school-aged kids right now. But let us explore the lists and see what we come up with! If a GN is on one of these lists, it stands out from the crowd a bit.

    The Little Maverick list is broken up into age groups and also unanimous vs. non-unanimous selection to the list.  Age groups for Little Mavs include K-5th; K-2nd; and 3rd-5th. That makes a list of over eighty different graphic novels. Even if you only include the unanimous titles, there are still forty six titles. On a more positive note - many GNs are quicker to read than a regular, text filled book.  

    The Mavericks list is not quite as long - around sixty five titles. The age groups are 6th - 8th; 6th - 12th; and adult graphic novels for young adults. There are only seventeen titles with a unanimous vote and there is some overlap with Little Mavericks.   

    If you would like to peruse the lists, I provided links above. If not, that's OK. 

    All of this to say -- Mondays will be devoted to graphic novels.   

    Today I am going to highlight two of my favorite books that you might find in a graphic novel collection. Or you might find them in a picture book collection.  

 

Lift by Minh Le; illustrated by Dan Santat.  This is my review from Goodreads  -"Profoundly imaginative, this book should resonate with anyone - I walked into my garage after I read this and, for just a split second, wished that when I opened the door I would step into a different world. A truly magical read."  It is a book that explores the jealousy that sometimes arises among siblings but also celebrates the love between those same siblings.

 

 

Again - my Goodreads review of ¡Vamos! Let's Go to the Market written and illustrated by Raúl the Third - "I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I have very basic Spanish vocabulary skills so was happy that I understood a lot of what was going on without having to reference the extensive vocabulary provided at the back of the book. I hope that we get to have more adventures with Little Lobo and Bernabé soon."  

 

Fortunately, my wish was granted because soon another Little Lobo book was published!

 

¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat was also written and illustrated by Raúl the Third with coloring by Elaine Bay. On Goodreads I said, " Learn about food trucks and all sorts of yummy foods as Little Lobo, Bernabè, and Kooky help feed a group of hungry luchadores - plus get to sample some of their own favorite foods. I love these books and all of the different types of animals (and food!) Raúl the Third incorporates into his work. Can you find the scorpion standing in line to see El Toro?" I think I liked the second book even more than the first - I'm a fan of luchadores.  But be forewarned - reading this book might make you hungry!

 

 

    So there you have it!  Three picture books that also fit into graphic novels. For the record - Lift made the Little Mavs list for this year; ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat did not. See you next Monday!