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Firebird by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers

Category: Coretta Scott King, 2015 Illustrator Award Winner

Summary: Written by ballerina Misty Copeland, this poetic children's book is written as a dialogue between Copeland and a young, unnamed, aspiring Black ballerina. It encourages the young ballerina to believe in herself and not give up on her dream to be as good as Copeland one day on stage.

Justification: Christopher Myers won the 2015 Coretta Scott King Award for his breathtaking illustrations, acknowledging him as an African American illustrator who beautifully depicted the Black experience.

Evaluation:

Texture - Myers uses broad strokes to capture motion and texture in his paintings. Readers almost feel as though they could touch these three-dimensional images and feel something other than a flat surface.

Color - The vibrant, brilliant colors capture the unbreakable spirit of Copeland's story. Both Copeland and the aspiring ballerina are the typically the brightest spots on the pages.

Dialogue - The story is told as a back-and-forth between Copeland and the young ballerina. They talk about the struggles and challenges they both faced, and Copeland encourages her to not give up, and to keep reaching for her dreams because "The space between you and me is longer than forever."/"And I will show them that forever is not so far away."

Copeland, M. (2014). Firebird: Ballerina Misty Copeland shows a young girl how to dance like the Firebird (C. Myers, Illus.). G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

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Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Category: Printz Winner, 2022

Summary: This crime thriller revolves around 18-year-old Daunis, a biracial girl who feels like she doesn't belong in her hometown or on the reservation, witnessing a murder and the part she must now play as the FBI gets involved. Reluctantly undercover, she uses her knowledge of  Ojibwe traditional medicine and chemistry to help the agency track down where this new lethal drug is coming from, and as the bodies pile up the stakes get higher. Subplots include Daunis crushing on the school hockey star, taking care of her ailing mother, trying to decide whether to go to college, and reconnecting with her Native American roots.

Justification: Boulley's book was awarded the Printz Winner title by YASLA because of its high-quality storytelling. This book also is an #OwnVoices representing Native American culture and reservation life. It presents some mature topics, making it appeal more to older teenagers and young adults. The cover art is gorgeous as well, which will draw in more readers.

Reader's Response: I feel like I learned a lot about Native American reservation life and the divide biracial people in that community may experience growing up, with some of the reservation parts reminding me a bit of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. As a child who was fascinated by "true" stories of Native Americans while growing up (all written by white authors), it's enlightening to begin reading stories told from a Native American's perspective, particularly ones set in the present day. Some parts felt a bit like Breaking Bad, with the drugs as a major plot point. The only criticism I have is for the character Daunis, who often comes across as Not Like the Other Girls meets Nancy Drew. I would have enjoyed seeing her character act a little more maturely or acknowledge her flaws, especially considering the heavy topics weighing on her and her age should have made her grow up a little faster. At times she can appear to have a younger mentality, like a 13 or 14-year-old.

Boulley, A. (2021). Firekeeper’s daughter. Henry Holt and Co.

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My Aunt is a Monster by Reimena Yee

Category: Graphic Novel

Summary: Safia's story begins as a happy child who loved her bookseller parents' stories and ends with a tragic fire at the bookstore that leaves her an orphan. However, she gets a new beginning when her aunt Lady Walteranne Hakim Whimsy, a former adventurer now suffering from a curse that has turned her agoraphobic (read: a blue, furry, horned, three-eyed monster with a tail), takes Safia in. Safia thought being blind meant she could only go on adventures through other people's stories or through her audiobooks, but Lady Whimsy is willing to brave the world again to help her darling ward experience the world as they set off on a new adventure!

Justification: Graphic novels are a wonderful way to engage reluctant readers, and this particular book also does a wonderful job also teaching about the blind and visually impaired community. As stated in previous posts, representation matters. While, ironically, a blind person would not be able to enjoy this book as the audio version is still in progress, it does positively depict how visually impaired people can navigate the world.

Evaluation:

Color - While someone who is completely blind cannot enjoy this book, the color scheme and simple line art does make it easier for those with visual impairment. The text is small in a few areas, but for the most part it has a large font and is either black or dark red. There is little shading which makes it easier to interpret shapes of characters, and while the colors are mostly bright, they contrast nicely with the text and the characters, making it easier to read and see what each scene is depicting.

Lines - The outlines of all foreground characters and objects are simple and strong. This line technique and the lines forming boxes around the important scenes help direct the eye and make it easier to follow the story.

Pacing - The story starts strong, and moves along nicely in the first half of the book. However, it drags a little on the cruise ship arc and feels rushed at the very end, as though Yee wasn't certain whether to wrap up the story in a single graphic novel or leave an opening for a sequel.

Yee, R. (2022). My aunt is a monster (R. Yee, Illus.). RH Graphic.

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Nimona by ND Stevenson

Category: YALSA (Great Graphic Novels for Teens)

Summary: Nimona is a shapeshifting sidekick to the villainous Lord Blackheart, who is constantly fighting the Institution of Law Enforcement and his archnemesis, Sir Goldenloin. Most of the time, Blackheart works just as hard trying to help Nimona control her more impulsive/murderous urges as he does trying to defeat his rival. Together, Nimona and Blackheart discover the Institution is planning to use jaderoot (a poison) as a weapon and decide to expose the corrupt Institution once and for all. A combination of science fiction and fantasy, this is a thrilling comedic (and at times, dramatic) adventure as the lines between good and evil blur.

Justification: YALSA listed Nimona as a Great Graphic Novel for Teens in 2016, before Stevenson transitioned and changed his name. The work is laugh-out-loud funny at times and other times moving enough to bring a tear to the eye. Graphic novels are, of course, wonderful for reluctant readers as well as visual learners, but this one also touches on issues such as disability (Blackheart is missing an arm and uses a prosthetic) as well as gender fluidity (Nimona can be anything or anyone she wants, why always be a girl?) which provides good representation.

Reader's Response: I was initially drawn to this graphic novel because I enjoyed the Netflix film. The graphic novel is very different! I had originally watched the film with my sibling, who is non-binary, and added this graphic novel to my To Be Read list soon after. I enjoy the way Stevenson built fun, unique characters who are relatable in a fantasy science fiction setting. I feel like the world could have been fleshed out a bit more, but the characters and their antics were enough to keep me reading even when it did get logistically confusing. The illustrations are deceptively simple at times and at other times richly complex, showcasing a wide range of talent. Overall, I felt like it was good representation of the disabled and queer communities and agreed with its stance about not always trusting those in power to have your best interests at heart. Instead, look out for your community and do what you can to help those in need.

Stevenson, N. (2015). Nimona (N. Stevenson, Illus.). HarperTeen.

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The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Category: Newbery Medal Winner, 2017

Summary: Every year, the people of a small town must sacrifice a baby to the evil witch who lives in the woods. The only problem is that Xan, the witch, is far from evil. She rescues the children left in her woods and feeds them a diet of starlight until she can find a nice family to take them in. However, one year she accidentally feeds the baby moonlight, which causes the child to become "enmagicked." Xan decides to raise the girl, whom she names Luna, as her own and Luna grows up loving her found family of witch, swamp monster, and a Tiny Dragon. However, Xan locked Luna's powers and memories away for her own protection. Of course, when Luna comes of age those powers will reawaken, but what will Luna do when Xan is away, she's discovering her newly awakened magical powers, and a young man from town has decided to lead a charge to kill the "evil" witch?

Justification: Barnhill was awarded a Newbery Medal for her outstanding contribution to American literature. This book received high praise from many publishing and book companies including a place on the New York Times Bestseller list, an Entertainment Weekly Best Middle Grade Book of 2016, a New York Public Library Best Book of 2016, a Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2016, an Amazon Top 20 Best Book of 2016, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2016, a School Library Journal Best Book of 2016, a KirkusReviews’ Best Books of 2016, and a 2017 Booklist Youth Editors’ Choice. In addition to being beautifully written, the plot is easy to follow and the characters are all likable.

Evaluation:

Drawing a Line in the Sand - Barnhill does this in her prologue, which records only the parent's side of the conversation they are having with their young child, explaining that a child must be sacrificed each year to the evil witch in the forest and yes, once the child had a brother who was sacrificed to the witch. Of course, this is disproven in the third chapter and we know that Luna is going to survive and be raised with love.

Pacing - The Girl Who Drank the Moon is told in short chapters from multiple perspectives, which makes it easy to read multiple chapters at a time (making the book seem to fly by faster) yet it also offers readers frequent stopping points if they need to take a break. The story moves quickly and doesn't take any unnecessary detours, meaning everything wraps up nicely at the end without loose threads.

Tone - Barnhill doesn't pull any punches when it comes to talking about subjects like grief and death yet writes in a way that is easy for children to understand. The tone is that of a light-hearted fairy tale in many parts but without any condescension. During the heavier moments, especially the chapters of the parent talking to their child, it's clear Barnhill respects her reader's ability to make inferences.

Barnhill, K. R. (2016). The girl who drank the Moon. Algonquin Young Readers.

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Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Category: Tejas Star Reading List, 2021-22

Summary: In the fantasy country of Santa Maria, Maximiliano (Max for short) lives a mostly happy life playing fútbol with his friends, although he sometimes wishes his Papá would tell him about his Mamá, who disappeared when he was just a baby. What has also disappeared is his birth certificate, and in order for Max to keep playing fútbol, Papá travels to another city to get one for him. While he's gone, Max discovers a compass and is asked to help take his Papá's place as a Guardian to escort a young girl to the mythical Mañanaland that Max's Buelo has told him so many stories about. Max learns about the dictatorship in the neighboring country of Abismo and hopes that by helping this young girl he may also find his mother along the way.

Justification: This is a high-interest fantasy tale that supports bilingualism, often using Mexican-Spanish phrases during description and dialogue, which is why it made the Tejas Star Reading List. In Texas, it's important to have a bilingual or even multilingual book available for students who are ESL, who are learning Spanish and want to practice, or who are already comfortable with both languages. Representation matters, even in the language an author chooses to write in.

Evaluation:

Music in Language - Since her novel Esperanza Rising rose to fame, Ryan has been known for her lyrical writing. One of the phrases often repeated throughout the story is "Solo mañana sabe."/"Only tomorrow knows the answer." As the story progresses, this phrase takes on an even more powerful meaning. Mañanaland is not just a destination, it's the journey to a better future and neither the readers nor Max knows what it might hold in store.

Figurative Language (Allegory) - The entire book is essentially an allegory for those who help migrants and refugees enter a safe country when the borders are closed to them. It could easily have become didactic, but Ryan carefully toes the line between telling a fantastical story and a lesson about how undocumented immigrants are treated. Because of how it is written, students may relate to one side or another more clearly, or they may feel caught in the middle like many of the other characters inhabiting Santa Maria.

Pacing - While Ryan's writing is undeniably beautiful, at times there are tangents that seem to only contribute beauty rather than plot or character details. I feel like Max's character growth could have been more gradual, and that his arc was rushed. The ending also felt rushed. Perhaps Ryan was running out of time or needed to shorten the book. Either way, the ending was still powerful and had me asking, "Do you believe in happy endings?" 

Ryan, P. M. (2020). Mañanaland. Scholastic Inc.

Note: I read the original English version, not the one translated by Alberto Jiménez Rioja.

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The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

Category: Pura Belpré Award, 2022, Children's Narrative

Summary: In this dystopian science fiction book for middle schoolers, we begin our journey in the near future. It's 2061 and Halley's Comet has been knocked off its path by a solar flare, causing it to barrel towards Earth. Petra Peña and her family board one of three spaceships heading toward the planet Sagan, a 375-year journey that they will remain in stasis during while their cogs upload important skills into their brains. However, when Petra awakens, the ominous totalitarian Collective has taken over the spacecraft and used the cogs to wipe all memories of Earth from the minds of the children they bring out of stasis. Petra's chip has malfunctioned, however, and while she pretends to forget Earth for the Collective, she secretly acts as a cuentista, a storyteller, sharing memories, folktales, myths, and other stories about life back on Earth that she had learned from her abuela with the others who have forgotten.

Justification: In addition to winning the 2022 Pura Belpré Award for portraying and celebrating the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding piece of literature, Higuera's novel has also received a Newbery Medal for its contribution to children's literature. Science fiction, especially dystopian science fiction, is a wonderful way to have students explore concepts and ideas that are relevant today. For instance, The Last Cuentista doesn't just incorporate speculative technology, it shows students the importance of learning history and cultural stories, of retaining knowledge, and of building real-world connections even as we transition more to a digital world.

Evaluation: (There are no illustrations in this book.)

Plot - The conflict in this book is strong, and the odds are stacked against Petra. Readers know she's going to have to somehow undermine the Collective and save her friends (possibly even the people from the other spaceship), but if she's armed with only knowledge and stories, how can she do that? Petra is an underdog, but a clever and compassionate one, and one that many students will relate to and cheer for. It is reminiscent of The Giver by Lois Lowry at times (in a good way).

Setting - Worldbuilding is key in science fiction, especially one that takes place in the far future and on a different planet, but that begins on Earth in the near future. The time jump is significant, not only for the readers but for Petra, as it allows the Collective to build technology that even she isn't familiar with. Readers also learn more about the layout of the spaceship, where much of the initial action takes place. The new planet, Sagan, is mysterious with thick jungles and poisonous plants, and possibly inhabited by other colonists from Earth.

Tension - Tension is built and carried well throughout the story. Readers don't know what will happen when Petra's cog initially malfunctions, but they know it will be an important plot point later. When another girl, Suma, indicates that she remembers Ben, the person who put the children into stasis, readers see what could potentially happen to Petra if the Collective find out about her hidden knowledge. The Collective remains a mysterious entity at the beginning: how widespread is there reach? what is their objective? why did they jettison some people and wake others? what happened to the other surviving ship?

Higuera, D. B. (2021). The last cuentista. Levine Querido.

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The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

Category: Walter Honor Book, Teen

Summary: Yamilet, known as Yami to her friends and family, was stabbed in the back by her former BFF. Not literally, but metaphorically. Yami had trusted Bianca with her secret (she's a lesbian), and Bianca spread the news around the school and kicked Yami out of her friend group. Meanwhile, Yami's brother, Cesar, has been getting in fights with other students at school, so when their mother decides to enroll Cesar at Slayton Catholic High School (he has a full academic scholarship). Yami leaps at the chance to go with him, both to help keep him out of trouble like their mother asked and as a way to not be forced out of the closet before she's ready. However, she needs a way to earn money to pay her half of the tuition, which she begins by revamping her mother's Etsy store, getting the traditional Mexican jewelry that her mother used to make as a hobby trending on Instagram and TikTok. What could go wrong with that? At school, Yami is awash in a sea of white, preppy faces, where she is looked down on as "ghetto." But she tries to play by the rules, constantly asking herself "What Would a Straight Girl Do?" But WWSGD isn't going to help her for long when she becomes friends with Bo, another queer girl, who may just make Yami blow her straight girl cover.

Justification: Reyes's debut novel has received numerous awards and honors including The Walter Honor in 2023, for a diverse book by a diverse creator, The Morris Debut Award, for a first-time author writing for teens, The National Book Award Finalist, for a US author producing outstanding literary work, The Lambda Award, for its depiction of LGBTQ+ representation, and a Pura Honor, for a Latinx author portraying the Latino cultural experience. Furthermore, this novel is another excellent example of books serving as "mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors" as it provides insight into not only queer and Latino culture, but also showcases the experience of going to a private, religious school--something student may either relate to or be curious about. I appreciated that the beginning of the book cautions readers that sensitive topics such as homophobia, racism, and mental health issues will be discussed, so readers who do not feel comfortable with that material may opt out before reading any further.

Reader's Response: What I love about this novel is the way so many different aspects of Yami can be reflected back at the reader. I was also a closeted queer kid at a Catholic school, so every time Yami asked herself "WWSGD?" I laughed. The description of the portables was spot on as well. I also tried my hand at an Etsy store, but didn't have nearly the viral success Yami did; although with how difficult it became to juggle, I'm now rather grateful mine didn't take off like that. Yami and Cesar's relationship reminded me of my relationship with my younger sibling. Both queer, both keeping each other's secrets, both covering for each other and providing alibis. I thought Reyes also did an excellent job portraying the way boys, especially younger boys, are often babied in the family while girls, especially older girls, have a large amount of responsibility and stress placed on their shoulders. Reading about the experience from Yami's perspective made me more aware of the microaggressions (as well as straight-up racism) that POC have to deal with when they're in a mostly white environment. I thought the suspense of how Yami's mother would react if (when) she found about about Yami and Cesar both being queer was an excellent thread to keep us on our toes as readers. Even though the story was written with humor, there were definitely times when I was holding my breath. My only criticism is that at some points the story was moving very fast and weaving together many threads, so a reader really has to pay close attention and remember the small details.

Reyes, S. (2022). The lesbiana’s guide to Catholic school. Balzer + Bray.

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My Thoughts Are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness by Georgia Heard, illustrated by Isabel Roxas

Category: Poetry

Summary: Heard's collection of poems, illustrated by Roxas, aims to teach elementary school children about the power of mindfulness. The poems offer advice for quieting the "monkey mind." In other words, it's designed especially for students who have trouble quieting the mind because they keep jumping from thought to thought, whether from anxiety, worry, ADHD, or any other reason. In addition to a brief introduction to what mindfulness is and how it can help students, there are a total of 28 poems that offer insight and advice, written in many different styles. They are divided into sections titled Breathe In Breathe Out, Mindful Me, Mindful World, Meditation, and Kindfulness.

Justification: I originally was intrigued by this book as I know mindfulness is a useful technique for children to develop, especially when they are dealing with stress, anxiety, or an inability to focus on the here and now. After reading it, I feel it is one of the weaker books on my list. While it has some good tips and tricks for quieting the mind, it's very clearly designed for a specific purpose and a specific audience. If I added this book to my library, I would probably place it on a display near a calming/sensory station.

Evaluation:

Color - Although the book's cover is bright and cheerful, the inside illustrations only contain various shades of blue. While blue is a cool, calming color and all the illustrations were clearly done to inspire relaxation, I feel it may not hold a young child's interest for very long unless they are particularly interested in learning about mindfulness or reading it with a parent/guardian/teacher who was helping them practice the techniques described.

Figurative Language - While some of the free verse poems read more like an instruction manual (for example: "Square Breathing" is basically a series of bullet points giving step-by-step instructions on box breathing), there are a few that introduce figurative language, such as the description of a mind that jumps from thought to thought as a "monkey mind." Other poems like "My Inner Weather Report" do a good job describing feelings by comparing them to sudden rainstorms versus sunny days. Overall, the figurative language in a few of the poems makes them more interesting to read than the poems in the book that don't use figurative language.

Mood - The mood in all these poems is very calm and soothing. Because the mood rarely changes from poem to poem, this can be interpreted as either a soothing book that will calm a child down or a boring book that will make a child lose interest. Much of the mood comes from the author's matter-of-fact tone and the calming, subdued blue illustrations. This type of book would likely appeal more to students seeking something to relax them rather than inspire them.

Heard, G. (2021). My thoughts are clouds: Poems for mindfulness (I. Roxas, Illus.). Roaring Brook Press.

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A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart by Zetta Elliott

Category: Caldecott Honor Book 2021

Summary: A young Black teenager explores the different feelings he experiences: joy, sorrow, fear, anger, hunger, pride, peace, compassion, hope, and love. The exploration and affirmation of these strong emotions is accompanied by powerful illustrations depicting him exploring each feeling, especially as it relates to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Justification: This culturally relevant book showcases the perspective of the Black Lives Matter movement through the eyes of a young Black teenager. As part of the #OwnVoices, Elliot composes a powerful free verse poem that many young children and teenagers may find themselves relating to, as well as providing a "mirror, window, and sliding glass door" by depicting the wide range of emotions the narrator experiences as normal, healthy, and understandable. Denmon, the illustrator, received a Caldecott Honor in 2021 for her beautiful illustrations that add to the strength of the poem's message.

Evaluation:

Illustrations Establish Mood - The characters are all drawn realistically, with many hints about the poem's connection to Black Lives Matter in the details, such as the sticker on the narrator's skateboard, the news on the TV during sorrow, and the signs at the protest during anger. Character movement also plays a key role in how our narrator feels, whether it's joyful or angry movements contrasted with the complete stillness of fear. Additionally, the portrait of Malcolm X is often shown, establishing the sense that the narrator relates to this Civil Rights leader.

Color - While many of the characters are drawn realistically in the foreground, many of the background characters are usually colored in a similar scheme as the rest of the background to keep the narrator in focus. The colors primarily used are blue, yellow, black, and an orange-red color that is particularly prominent in the fear section, where it resembles police lights flashing through the narrator's window while he is curled up in his bed in a dark room.

Figurative Language - Emotions are described as "seething, sizzling, burning"--sensations that we all recognize and incorporate elements of onomatopoeia. There are also many instances of similes and metaphors such as "there is joy inside of me...that glows bright & warm as the sun & shines delight on everything I see." Elliot even uses personification to describe fear as something that "stalks me like a sinister shadow." So even though there isn't much rhyme, the poem still uses figurative language to evoke powerful emotions to which readers can relate.

Elliott, Z. (2020). A place inside of me: A poem to heal the heart (N. Denmon, Illus.). Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers.

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The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier

Category: Bluebonnet Nominee 2018

Summary: Jack Sullivan is an orphan, a foster kid who's never really had a place to call home. Perhaps that's why he's doing so well during the post-apocalypse, fighting off Dozers, Winged Wretches, Zombies, and the most dangerous monster so far: The Blarg. However, this new school is the first one where he's made a single friend, Quint, a brilliant scientist he teams up with to fortify their treehouse from all the monsters that lurk below. Joining their rag-tag team is Dirk, their former bully. As these three go on adventures in the post-apocalyptic landscape, Jack has an ultimate quest in mind: Save June Del Toro, his crush who he saw get trapped in the school as he and Quint ran from the horde of zombies on day one. Can he save the girl, save the day, and survive the Blarg?

Justification: This book is the first in a series that has received high praise from many, including Jeff Kinney of Diary of a Wimpy Kid fame. It's written in a similar style, with many illustrations filling the pages, telling parts of the story. This makes it an excellent book to help students transition from picture books to prose. It also received a nomination for the Texas Bluebonnet Award in 2018, indicating that it was one of the most popular books among students that year.

Evaluation:

Character - Jack, the protagonist, serves as the first-person narrator throughout the story. At first glance, Jack seems like your average, generic hero with a tragic backstory. However, as the story progresses we get to see more of what makes him so well-liked by readers. He's both unique and believable. He shows that it's okay to be afraid and make mistakes, but that we can also be brave and try to fix our mistakes. He's dynamic and the reader is left with a sense that as the series progresses, he will develop even further (Example: He starts by perceiving June as a "damsel in distress" but ends up admitting by the end that she's just as tough as he is).

Unexpected Insights - Many of the characters provide unexpected insights into the way middle schoolers can view the world and how they can change their perspectives with new knowledge. All the characters begin as stereotypes before the apocalypse. Jack is the loner, Quint is the cowardly nerd, Dirk is the bully, June is the tough girl. But their actions and dialogue after the monsters take over reveal more depth of character than they realized about themselves or each other. Jack has more bonds than he realizes and cherishes those connections more than his own life. Quint can be brave and strong and stand up for his friends. Dirk is more than just brawn, he's also clever in his own way and is more insecure than mean. June is strong as well as vulnerable, and it's okay to be both.

Illustrations Depicting Action - The illustrations by Holgate play an integral role in telling Brallier's story. They can either depict what is happening in the prose or add an entirely separate element to the story. Skipping the pictures would make the entire story confusing as several key moments are depicted through the visual medium rather than written words. Jack's initial perception of each of the characters is also portrayed through the illustrations and the actions and dialogue that follow challenge the way he viewed his teammates and himself.

Brallier, M. (2015). The last kids on Earth (D. Holgate, Illus.). Scholastic Inc.

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Gross and Ghastly: Human Body by Kev Payne

Category: Informational

Summary: In this informational book written and illustrated by Kev Payne, children (and adults!) can learn all sorts of fun, whacky, and gross facts about the human body and how it works. With 53 "chapters" (each is essentially a two-page spread with fun facts about each topic) as well as several pages of activities, an answer key, and an index, this book is perfect for students wondering why and how certain body parts work the way they do. Ghastly and Gross: Human Body doesn't just inform, it entertains. Each page has several fun illustrations that help reinforce the material being discussed, and information is presented in several small paragraphs scattered across the pages in their own sections.

Justification: Some students absolutely love learning about gross facts, so this book is a great way to not only give them the fun "ick" factor they're looking for but also to sneakily teach them some good information about human anatomy and how the human body works. You can bet every adult in the reader's life will learn far more about poop than they ever thought they needed to know (for example: Why do some poops float? What do the different colors mean? Why can I see corn in it?). Published by DK, which is well-known for its visually appealing education materials, the copy I borrowed from my local library was clearly well-loved and often read. This a wonderful option to get reluctant readers to check out a book since it doesn't have to be read in any particular order. In fact, the table of contents makes it very easy for students to figure out which facts they want to look up or which pages they might want to skip.

Evaluation:

Precise Vocabulary - Payne uses common words and writes at a lower Lexile level so that students will know exactly what he is talking about (ex: using "poop" and "pee" instead of bowel movement or urine). He does a good job explaining what each part of the body is and does in a way that students will easily comprehend. His use of ordinary language rather than medical terms makes the text accessible to his target demographic (grades 1-4). It's obvious he put some thought into his word choices; the book is highly educational while remaining giggle-worthy.

Illustrations Reinforce the Written Text - Every page of this book is colorfully illustrated with simple, bright cartoons that clearly depict the chapter's topic. The images are not graphic or overly detailed, which is good considering the subject matter. The text is even incorporated into illustrations at times, such as when he gives an explanation about what causes farts to stink inside an illustration of a "fart bubble" (similar to a "speech bubble" but next to a baby's diaper instead of a mouth).

Composition - Payne maintains a balance of unity and variety in his book, creating illustrations that make a visual pattern throughout the pages. Readers can expect to see illustrations of children in a simple, cartoon-like fashion on each page as well as something "gross." Incorporating text into blurbs (each chapter has about 4-5 paragraphs scattered throughout it) and moving them around the chapter's spread makes it an engaging book that is easy to pick up and put down. Because the chapters can be read in any order, it's important the book has illustrations that are similar enough to unite all the content into a cohesive unit; otherwise, it would look disjointed. However, it's equally important that each chapter features unique illustrations that make it distinct from the others. Payne makes each page look well-balanced between the text and illustrations.

Payne, K. (2021). Gross and ghastly: Human body (K. Payne, Illus.). DK Publishing.

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Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Category: Novel in Verse

Summary: Jude and her Mama leave their seaside hometown in Syria, leaving behind Jude's Baba and brother Issa, because of the growing conflict in the area. Mama tells Jude they're going to be visiting Jude's uncle in Cincinnati, OH. However, Jude's mother is pregnant and the unrest in Syria is mounting, so their trip becomes a far longer stay than Jude originally thought. During her time in the United States, Jude meets and befriends many different people including her American cousin Sarah, a first-generation American hijabi girl Layla, a wonderful group of ESL classmates, and a boy she gets her first crush on named Miles. Along with navigating social situations and learning a new language, Jude must decide whether to wear a hijab, whether to try out for a speaking role in the school play, and whether home can exist in many different places for one person.

Justification: Other Words for Home became a Newbery Honor Book in 2020. Warga won this award because her writing wonderfully contributes to American literature for children. It showcases a perspective that has often been overlooked, demonstrating the way refugees, particularly young Muslim refugees, might experience America. It provides insight into a conflict that many students may have heard of in passing on the news but may not know too much about, encourages empathy with the main character and her family and friends, and gives representation to young Muslim women who are deciding whether or not to wear a hijab in America. Like so many other books on my list, this one is a “mirror, window, and sliding door" for students.

Reader's Response: Other Words for Home is a very approachable story. Warga's choice to tell the story in free verse is powerful, as it allows readers to connect with Jude's emotions. Even though I could not relate directly to her experiences, I recognized the feelings of loneliness, uncertainty, love, anticipation, nervousness, frustration, etc. that Jude experiences throughout the novel. Warga writes insightfully--it's clear she spoke to many other Muslim women as well as Syrian refugees to create the character of Jude. It's also clear she's writing about a heavy topic for a younger demographic, however, as much of the violence and Islamophobia is presented in a gentler, more palatable way. Older readers will know what is going on, but younger readers may not grasp the depth of the issues she's addressing. In many parts, it seems as though Warga is holding back to shield an audience of younger readers from some of the darker aspects of these topics. This is not necessarily a bad thing because it does make the book more accessible to younger readers. It was an easy read because of the writing style and the story was fast-paced, making it perfect for reluctant readers. I thoroughly enjoyed Jude's journey and cheered for her during her ups and downs. She is a young girl who dreams of being a movie star, misses her best friend and her father and brother, and is adapting to a new environment. I think many children will be able to relate to her and that her story will pave the way for important discussions.

Warga, J. (2019). Other words for home. Balzer + Bray.

[darthnaderer]

Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho

Category: Easy Reader Picture Book

Summary: A young girl notices her eyes are different than her friends' eyes which are "like sapphire lagoons," big and with long lashes. Throughout the story, she shares all the reasons she loves her "eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea." They are like her mama's eyes, her amah's eyes, and her little sister Mei-Mei's eyes. She loves the way their eyes can tell stories and tell her how much she is loved by her family. She recognizes the power and beauty of her eyes.

Justification: This is an easy book for children to read, as there is lots of rhythm and repetition. This does not mean the language is simple--there are introductions to words children may not be familiar with such as "oolong"--but can figure out through context clues (the word "tea" is nearby and repeated often). It is also a wonderful introduction to the beauty and appreciation of Chinese American culture, with gorgeous illustrations depicting traditional Chinese clothing as well as the use of certain words like "amah" instead of "grandma." It is a good addition to any school library because it does a wonderful job showing children through an empowering tone that all people are beautiful and should appreciate their bodies. I remember many of my Asian friends being teased for the way their eyes looked in elementary school, and a book like this could help empower Asian students and educate those who engage in that kind of teasing.

Evaluation:

1. Vocabulary and Figurative Language - Ho uses figurative language quite often to help paint a positive picture and create a positive association of beautiful and recognizable objects such as "warm tea" and "crescent moons" in association with the narrator's eyes. Illustrations are used to help younger children who have trouble creating mental images just yet but reinforce these similies and metaphors. There are enough synonyms and context clues used so that young children won't be confused by the use of higher-level words or by words in another language than English.

2. Music in language - Although there is no rhyme in this book, there is a lyrical quality because of the repeated verse "eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea." It becomes a comfort that young children can refer back to when reading on their own and listeners will remember the line because of its poetic quality. The cadence and pacing are superb. Emphasis is placed on short sentences ("Not me.") to show how the narrator feels different, while longer sentences towards the end show how empowered she feels by the beauty of her eyes ("My lashes curve like the swords of warriors and, through them, I see kingdoms in the clouds.").

3. Color - The illustrations in this book are gorgeous and support the narrator's increasingly fantastic view of the power of her eyes. The first illustration only shows the back of her head and has muted colors with a semi-realistic depiction of a diverse group of friends waving goodbye after school. The first time we see the narrator's face, she is against a plain white background, wearing a red t-shirt with a small smile on her face. Mama's introduction brings brightness, warmth, and movement to the illustrations. With amah's introduction, we begin to see depictions of traditional Chinese clothing as well as legendary figures like Guanyin and the Monkey King. With Mei-Mei, the narrator is no longer in a red t-shirt but what appears to be a hanfu. As the figurative language becomes more poetic, images of creatures such as dragons and a feng huang appear. Soft, bright, warm colors spill from the pages, with the background landscapes resembling Chinese calligraphy drawings.

Ho, J. (2021). Eyes that kiss in the corners (D. Ho, Illus.). HarperCollins Children’s Books.

[darthnaderer]

Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster by Andrea Mosqueda

Category: LGBTQ+

Summary: Maggie Gonzalez's youngest sister, Alyssa, is preparing for her quinceañera. While her mother and oldest sister Veronica are focused on planning this coming-of-age event for Alyssa, Maggie is dealing with her own coming-of-age dilemmas. Should she leave the Rio Grande Valley to pursue her photography passion at NYU, even if it means leaving her family behind and taking on financial debt? More importantly, who should she ask to be her chambelan/date to the quince? Her (maybe straight-maybe not) BFF Amanda--her first crush who has recently been giving her mixed signals? Her ex-boyfriend Matthew who, despite having a girlfriend, seems to think their on-again, off-again relationship means he can still flirt with Maggie? The new girl in town Dani, who has her own troubled past but seems interested in Maggie in a wholehearted way that the others are not? When Maggie creates a finsta account for an art assignment and decides to use it to sort through her feelings for these three, what could possibly go wrong?

Justification: This book features a cast of well-rounded, relatable characters. The friendships and sibling relationships depict a real way teenagers interact with each other and their families. While the plot may be predictable in some places, the emotions the reader experiences as Maggie explores her potential relationships and navigates the messy gray areas between friendship and romance is a wonderful rollercoaster. Diverse representation of the Latino/a community, unique aspects of life in a small border town, the struggles of living in a low socio-economic bracket and trying to make ends meet while having big dreams, and being an open member of the LGBTQ+ community are all topics that young adult readers are interested in and provide "mirrors, windows, and sliding doors."

Reader Response: Although the book could benefit from cutting a few scenes to improve the pacing, it is overall a solid read. I personally wish I had representation like Maggie when I was a young, closeted, baby-bisexual disaster. Her confidence, security, and acceptance of her sexual orientation by the end is heartwarming. I recognized a lot of my own teenage friendship circle in Maggie's, full of love (platonic and romantic) as well as drama, making this read a fun way to reminisce. Prepping for quinces (I didn't have one, but I was a dama in three), eating raspas on a day when the sun feels like it's got a personal vendetta against you, speaking broken Spanish with la familia y las familias de amigos...it was like a stroll down memory lane, updated for Gen Z. While some may consider parts of the novel pandering to social justice if you've ever lived in a small Texas town, especially one near the border, you'll recognize the truth in those featured elements. The references to WLWs wearing flannel and listening to Girl in Red were a bit outdated but didn't strike me as anything more than a girl establishing her orientation in a way many of us did in our youth--a bit cringe, but disaster recognizes disaster.

Mosqueda, A. (2022). Just your local bisexual disaster. Macmillan.

[darthnaderer]

Titles I will be reviewing for INFO 5420 (Spring 2024):

Children's Books

Firebird by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers

The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera

A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart by Zetta Elliot, illustrated by Noa Denmon

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

My Thoughts are Clouds: Poems for Mindfulness by Georgia Heard, illustrated by Isabel Roxas

My Aunt is a Monster by Reimena Yee

Gross and Ghastly: Human Body by Kev Payne

Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho, illustrated by Dung Ho

The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier, illustrated by Douglas Holgate

Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan, translated to Spanish by Alberto Jiménez Rioja

Young Adult Books

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

Nimona by ND Stevenson

Just Your Local Bisexual Disaster by Andrea Mosqueda