Literacy Now

Established in 1994, National Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan, a demonstration that is largely considered the tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. The books in this column invoke the spirit of pride through narratives about coming out, LGBT families, and gender nonconformity. Another way to characterize the essence of this movement, in the words of New Zealand suffragist leader Kate Sheppard, who is profiled in Chelsea Clinton’s She Persisted Around the World, “We must be ourselves at all risks.”

Ages 4–8

Jerome by Heart. Thomas Scotto. Trans. Claudia Bedrick & Karin Snelson. Ill. Olivier Tallec. 2018. Enchanted Lion.

This picture book celebrates the joys of friendship between two young boys. Raphael readily admits he loves Jerome; he loves his warm smile, the stories he invents, and the way they laugh together. Raphael also knows that his affection for Jerome may be met with disapproval. He says he loves Jerome early on in the book, but qualifies it with “I can say it. It’s easy.” He repeats this statement again at the end of the book. Through the illustrations, readers see Raphael’s parents’ concern and his anger and frustration as they discourage this friendship. Raphael’s accessible voice and the use of color and perspective in the illustrations effectively capture the emotional intensity of the story. The book offers many entry points to young readers as they navigate feelings and friendships.
—LC

Julián is a Mermaid. Jessica Love. 2018. Candlewick.

While riding with his abuela to the swimming pool, Julián absolutely loves seeing the people dressed up as mermaids on the subway. As they return home, he says, “Abuela, I am also a mermaid,” and, while his abuela takes a bath, Julián creates the most splendid mermaid outfit from a gauzy curtain and a headdress created with ferns, fronds, and flowers. When Abuela sees Julián, he is unsure how she will react. She gives him a loving smile, hands him a necklace to add to his costume, and walks him down the street to join in the parade of mermaids and other sea creatures walking on the beach. The illustrations (done in watercolor, gouache, and ink) include Julián’s daydreams of his underwater transformation into a mermaid.
—JS

Teddy’s Favorite Toy. Christian Trimmer. Ill. Madeline Valentine. 2018. Atheneum/Simon & Schuster.

Teddy has many toys, but his pink doll, Bren-Da, Warrior Queen of Pacifica, is his absolute favorite. One day, Bren-Da’s leg snaps off and Teddy wraps her up in bandages. Going off to school, he leaves her on the floor of his room, and his mom unknowingly throws Bren-Da in the trash. When a distraught Teddy discovers that Bren-Da is missing, his mom realizes what she’s done. She springs into heroic action and saves the day. Humorous mixed-media illustrations complement this story about a young boy who is free to choose what toys he wants to play with.
—JS

Ages 9–11

2015 is an exciting year in Oakland, California; the Golden State Warriors, Penelope’s favorite team, win the NBA championships and marriage equality becomes law. Penelope wants her two moms to get married, but they say they already have a “marriage of the heart.” She also wants to learn all she can about her mother’s pregnancy and her soon-to-be sibling, so she starts a journal of letters to the baby. The book chronicles the baby’s development, but also tracks Penelope’s struggles in school. Penelope’s voice and humor shine through in her letters, in which she unpacks some complicated interactions with family and friends.
—LC

She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History. 2018. Chelsea Clinton. Ill. Alexandra Boiger. Philomel/Penguin.

In this companion book to She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World, Chelsea Clinton introduces readers to 13 pioneering women who have defied gender roles and resisted societal expectations to shape history around the world. The women in this book have fought for what's right, including their education, right to vote, and access to professions and athletics. This book features Marie Curie, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, Viola Desmond, Sissi Lima do Amor, Leymah Gbowee, Caroline Herschel, Wangari Maathai, Aisha Rateb, J.K. Rowling, Kate Sheppard, Yuan Yuan Tan, Mary Verghese and Malala Yousafzai. Each woman's story is accompanied by watercolor and ink illustrations and a quote.
—LC

Ages 12–14

Twelve-year-old Caroline lives on Water Island in the Virgin Islands, and her mother has been missing for over a year. Caroline travels by boat every day to a private school where she is ostracized by her peers and mistreated by the teachers. When a school administrator and a new student, Kalinda, show her some kindness, she finds herself motivated to uncover the story behind her mother’s disappearance and perhaps to discover her own story as a child born during a hurricane. Readers will wonder along with Caroline as she struggles to understand if she’s to blame for her mother leaving, if she’s being visited by a ghost, and if she might be in love with her new friend. The author was born and raised on the Virgin Islands and the book features an #ownvoices portrayal of childhood in the Caribbean.
—LC

One True Way. Shannon Hitchcock. 2018. Scholastic.

After her brother dies and her parents split up, Allison Drake finds herself in a new school in rural North Carolina where she meets Sam, an equestrian and the star of the basketball team. Allison is drawn to Sam because she helps her meet people at school and get involved in the school newspaper. She may also have a crush on Sam. While Allison is just discovering these feelings; Sam has been aware of her own identity for a while, but her parents and church are clear on their disapproving stance. Sam's  mother calls her basketball coach—who is a lesbian and dating a fellow teacher—a pervert and an abomination. Set in the 1970s South, the blossoming romance between Sam and Allison portrays the confusion that often accompanies coming out and illustrates the historical and political factors that surrounded gay rights during that time.
—LC

Ages 15+

And She Was. Jessica Verdi. 2018. Point/Scholastic.
                 
When 18-year-old Dara finds her birth certificate and discovers her mom is her biological father, everything she thought she knew about her life is turned upside down. Driven to pursue her dream of becoming a professional tennis player, Dara first feels betrayed by her mom’s elaborate cover-up of her secret and is mad that she’s kept Dara from knowing her wealthy biological mother’s parents, who could have been supporting her tennis career. Joined by her best friend Sam, Dara sets out on a road trip to find the family she’s never known existed until now. Along the way, Dara and her mom exchange emails that lead Dara to new understandings about her mom and the life they’ve lived together in this story about family, friendship, and finding your way.
—JS

The Summer of Jordi Perez (And the Best Burger in Los Angeles). Amy Spalding. 2018. Sky Pony.

Abby Ives is a pink-haired, plus-size, openly gay fashion blogger who is excited to have landed a summer internship at Lemonberry, her favorite boutique. It’s not long before she’s crushing on fellow intern Jordi Perez and finds herself falling in love. When Jordi displays photos that she’s taken of Abby without her consent, their relationship is tested and Abby must decide if she can trust Jordi again. Other leading characters include Abby’s best friend, Maliah, who is not sure Jordi is the best fit for Abby; goofy Jax, who wants Abby to be his “wingwoman” in his quest to discover the best burger in town; and Abby’s mom, who’s best known for her healthy eating franchise.
—JS

Troublemakers. Catherine Barter. 2018. Carolrhoda Lab/Lerner.

Set in London during a time of heightened fear due to the “East End Bomber,” this novel’s cliffhangers will get your heart racing as Alena, the main character, struggles with finding trust and truth. Due to the death of their mother, Alena is being raised by her much older brother, Danny and his life partner, Nick. Alena’s relationship with her brother becomes strained because of his work on the campaign of a conservative politician and because of his refusal to talk about their mother at all. Alena is trying to find her roots and figure out what her mother was like. She wonders if she could be an activist like her mother and why Danny is so upset when she contacts one of her mother’s friends. While the action related to the bombing suspect keeps the plot moving, the real appeal of this story is Alena’s family’s history and her search for identity.
—LC

Lesley Colabucci is an associate professor at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in children’s literature for pre-service and practicing teachers. Jennifer W. Shettel is an associate professor at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in literacy. Prior to joining the faculty at Millersville, she spent 16 years as an elementary classroom teacher and reading specialist in the public schools.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Literacy Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

People of all ages can learn important life lessons from history. In this week’s column we review recently published books, some nonfiction and some works of revisionist history, speculative history, and historical fiction, that inform and engage readers and encourage them to further explore topics of interest.  

Ages 4–8

A Lady Has the Floor: Belva Lockwood Speaks Out for Women's Rights. Kate Hannigan. Ill. Alison Jay. 2018. Calkins Creek/Highlights.

This picture book biography introduces young readers to Belva Lockwood, who spent her life fighting for women’s rights. Despite personal and social challenges, she was one of the first women to study law in the United States and, in 1879, became the first woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court. In 1884, Lockwood accepted the National Equal Rights Party’s nomination for president, running on a platform supporting women’s suffrage and equal rights for all. Hannigan’s lively text is peppered with quotes incorporated into Jay’s signature, crackled, folk art-style illustrations. Back matter includes an author’s note; a timeline of key events in the women’s rights movement, from Lockwood’s birth to present day; a bibliography; and source notes.
—CA

Let the Children March. Monica Clark-Robinson. Ill. Frank Morrison. 2018. Houghton Mifflin.

Debut author Monica Clark-Robinson’s free-verse picture book chronicles events around the May 1963 Children’s Crusade, following Martin Luther King Jr.’s call for participation in a nonviolent protest march in Birmingham, Alabama. When he urged the congregation to march, many adults were afraid of losing jobs, so young people offered to go. Although many of them were sprayed with water, arrested, and jailed, they persevered. The day after the march ended, Dr. King and white leaders negotiated a school desegregation agreement. Frank Morrison’s dramatic oil paintings offer a strong, emotional portrayal of events. A “Civil Rights and Children’s Crusade” timeline is displayed across front and back endpapers, and back matter includes an afterword, an artist’s statement, quote sources, a bibliography, and acknowledgments. 
—NB

Ruby in the Ruins. Shirley Hughes. 2018. Candlewick.

Ruby and her mum have survived the London Blitz and are awaiting Dad’s return from war. When they finally meet him at the train station, Ruby hardly recognizes him and doesn’t know what to say to him. But later, when Ruby is injured while playing with friends in a fenced-off bomb site, posted with “Danger! Keep Out” signs, and her dad comes to her rescue, Ruby knows exactly what to say: “Oh, Dad, I’m so glad you’re back!” Hughes’ detailed mixed-media illustrations beautifully set the scene for this gentle story of a family’s adjustment to life in postwar London.
—CA

Ages 9–11

Betty Before X. Ilyasah Shabazz (with Renée Watson). 2018. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2018.

Cowritten by her daughter, Betty Before X shares the childhood story of Betty Shabazz, wife of Malcom X. When her beloved aunt and guardian dies, 7-year-old Betty is sent to Detroit to live with her mother and stepfamily. Feeling uncomfortable in her new home, she finds support in the local church, where she meets activist Helen Malloy, who encourages Betty and her best friend, Suesetta, to join the Housewives' League of Detroit and participate in the organization's boycott of businesses that refuse to hire or serve blacks. During the tumultuous 1940s, Betty begins to develop her “voice” for equality, a foundational skill for her lifelong activism—and discovered unexpected allies in her community in the fight against discrimination and violence toward blacks. Back matter includes an author’s note; “Detroit in the 1940s,” “Bethel AME Church,” a “Meet the Characters” sections; and a timeline.
—NB

The Island at the End of Everything. Kiran Millwood Hargrave. 2018. Knopf/Random House.

Twelve-year-old Ami lives on Culion, an island in the Philippines for people who have leprosy. Under orders that all healthy children are to be sent to an orphanage on a nearby island, “clean” Amihan is separated from her mother, who is suffering from an advanced stage of the disease. When Amihan learns that her mother is dying, she is determined to return to Culion to say goodbye to her. With the help of Mari, the one friend she has made at the Coron Orphanage, Amihan makes the trip in a small boat to return to Culion (known as the “island of the living dead” or “the island of no return” by those who were fearful and uninformed about leprosy). An author’s note provides background for the story and Hargrave’s choice to call Culion “the island at the end of everything.”
—CA

A Sky Full of Stars. Linda Williams Jackson. 2018. Houghton Mifflin.

In this sequel to Midnight Without a Moon (2017), 13-year-old Rosa Lee Carter has decided to remain in 1955 Stillwater, Mississippi, where she and her younger brother, Fred Lee, are being raised on a sharecropper farm by a cruel grandmother and gentle grandpa. Emotions sizzle after Emmett Till’s killers are acquitted and as white renegades terrorize black families and those attempting to register blacks to vote. Cousin Shorty proposes they shoot at white folks’ windows to even the score, but Rosa is persuaded, instead, to participate in the first peaceful demonstration in town with her best friend Hallelujah Jenkins, the pastor’s son. Although actions exact great cost for all who protest, Rosa courageously forges her own path to be part of the movement for change. An author’s note provides an historical context.
—NB

Ages 12–14

Hunger: A Tale of Courage. Donna Jo Napoli. 2018. Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster.

Set during the Irish Potato Famine in the fall of 1846, 12-year-old Lorraine’s family members are tenant farmers for an English lord in County Galway, where their close-knit community is falling ill as potatoes, the staple of their diet, are blighted for the second year. While gathering wild greens, Lorraine encounters Susanna, the spoiled and lonely young daughter of the manse, who entices Lorraine to attend her dolly tea parties that comes with delicious treats. When Lorraine’s little brother, Paddy, becomes gravely ill, Susanna devises a plan for Lorraine to gather eggs for him (which she secretly uses to feed her family and community). While many Irish abandon their country to survive, Lorraine and her family stay to fight for their rights and rebuild Ireland. Back matter includes a postscript, glossary, bibliography, and timeline of famines throughout history. 
—NB   

The Night Diary. Veera Hiranandani. 2018. Dial/Penguin.

In 1947 India, Hindu Nisha and her twin brother, Amil, have just celebrated their 12th birthdays. Nisha decides to write to her Muslim mother, who died giving birth to her, in the diary that Kazi, their beloved cook, gifted to her. Nisha chronicles the next three months as her comfortable life in Mirpur Khas (now a part of Pakistan) is turned upside down after her country gains independence from the British and is split into two separate countries, new India and Pakistan, based primarily on people’s religions (Hindu or Muslim). But what if you have both Muslim and Hindu relatives and friends and must choose between them? After violence breaks out, Nisha, Amil, their father, and their elderly grandmother, as Hindus, flee on foot to their newly designated homeland of India across the border. Back matter includes an author’s note on the historical background for the story and a glossary of commonly used Indian and Pakistani words used in the book.
—NB

Voices from the Second World War: Stories of War as Told to Children of Today. 2018. Candlewick.

In this anthology individuals share accounts of their experiences during World War II. Many of the stories, first published in First News, were collected by children who interviewed elderly relatives and neighbors. Entries (arranged chronologically from the outbreak of the war to the bombing of Hiroshima) include moving stories of suffering, survival, and heroism of individuals who served in the military, women who met the demand to fill jobs on farms and factories and on the front lines as nurses, radio operators, and support staff in the armed forces, as well as children, including some who were part of the Kindertransport or survived internment in concentration camps. Although most of the interviewees are British, some are citizens of other Allies and Axis countries. Biographical sketches and black-and-white photographs of both the interviewers and interviewees accompany the stories. Back matter includes a subject index, an index of interviewees, and a glossary.
—CA

Ages 15+

Chasing King’s Killer: The Hunt for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Assassin. James L. Swanson. 2018. Scholastic.

The Foreword, writtenby Congressman John Lewis, clearly establishes the impact of the tragic event that occurred on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. “After the assassination [of Martin Luther King, Jr.,] something died in America. The sense of hope, of optimism, of possibility was replaced by horror and despair.” James L. Swanson’s meticulously researched and documented narrative focuses on the murder of Dr. King and the manhunt for his assassin, James Earl Ray. He also provides information on Dr. King’s childhood in Atlanta and his work as a leader in the civil rights movement as well as background on convicted felon Ray, his escape from prison, his planning of the assassination, and his eventual apprehension. The epilogue ends with thought-provoking questions: “Where do we go from here? How long will it take? How long?” The abundance of quotations and captioned photographs add interest to the accessible and engrossing account. The extensive back matter includes source notes, bibliography, and an index.
—CA

Nancy Brashear is Professor Emeritus of English from Azusa Pacific University, in Azusa, California. Carolyn Angus is former director of the George G. Stone Center for Children's Books, Claremont Graduate University, in Claremont, California.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Literacy Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

In spring, as students are busy with standardized testing and end-of-school projects, it’s especially important to make time for recreational independent reading, which increases motivation, generates a sense of agency, and sets the tone for summer reading, among other benefits. Here are some recently published books that are engaging, informative, and—above all—fun to read.

Ages 4–8

A Bear Sat on My Porch Today. Jane Yolen. Ill. Rilla Alexander. 2018. Chronicle.

In this cumulative rhyming tale, a young boy tries to chase away a brown bear, gray squirrel, spraying skunk, playful possum (with her passel of eight babies), clever raccoon, friendly moose, and loudmouthed blue jay when they invite themselves, one at a time, to hang out on his porch, but reluctantly agrees to let them remain. “Okay. Okay! You can stay.” When the porch collapses under their collective weight, the creatures work together to rebuild it while bonding as friends. Pencil and digital collage illustrations and a gatefold picturing the uninvited guests gathered on the porch add to the fun of reading this story about hospitality.
—NB

I Got a Chicken for My Birthday. Laura Gehl. Ill. Sarah Horne. 2018. Carolrhoda/Lerner.

Having told her abuela that she wants amusement park tickets for her birthday, a girl is disappointed with the gift she receives: a chicken. However, it’s not an ordinary chicken. Bright, detailed, mixed-media illustrations feature the plump black chicken, who communicates by holding up signs and who has no time for laying eggs. What the chicken has is a plan and a long shopping list (which unfurls across a double spread). Enlisting the girl’s pet dog, cat, and hamster, as well as her own bird friends, the chicken creates a private amusement park. After a fun-filled day, the girl declares, “Next year, I’m asking Abuela Lola for a trip to the moon!”
—CA

Kalinka and Grakkle. Julie Paschkis. 2018. Peachtree.

Neighbors Kalinka and Grakkle couldn’t be more different. Kalinka, a small yellow bird, is a helpful neat freak, and Grakkle, a burly and bad-tempered beast, is happiest snoozing in his favorite chair while soaking his feet in a bucket of pickle juice. When Kalinka decides to tidy Grakkle’s messy house without permission, her efforts create even more chaos as she stuffs his dirty socks in the woodstove, crumbles his cookies, pokes pencils into a box of spaghetti, and slides mail into the toaster. After frustrated Grakkle throws a tantrum, Kalinka almost perishes in the pickle juice, but he saves her just in time. Exhausted, they take a long afternoon nap together. Colorful, swirly, ink-and-gouache illustrations complement this silly story of unexpected friendship.
—NB

King Flashypants and the Creature From Crong (King Flashypants #2). Adam Riley. 2018. Henry Holt.

When Baxter the hermit from the Wilderness of Crong tells the people of Edwinland that he saw the Voolith, thought to be dead, eating his goats and cow, 9-year-old King Edwin Flashypants vows to defeat the monster. Evil Emperor Nurbison has plans of his own, however, and sends King Edwin on a wild goose chase into a volcano with fire toads. In the meantime, Nurbison tricks the Voolith into becoming his slave, so that he can take over Edwin’s kingdom while he’s gone, but that plan backfires when the Voolith eats him instead. Upon Edwin’s return, the Voolith gobbles him up (covered in pumpkin slush). Luckily, the Voolith burps him back up, and Edwin discovers that every hero needs a crew to defeat a monster. This rousing romp, complemented by expressive black-and-white cartoon illustrations, ends with a teaser for the third book in the series and a short comic strip.
—NB

Terrific Tongues! Maria Gianferrari. Ill. Jia Liu. 2018. Boyds Mills/Highlights.

After instructing readers to “STICK OUT YOUR TONGUE!”, a cute little monkey proceeds to introduce 12 types of tongues that belong to different animals in what becomes a guessing game. For example, an illustration of the monkey with a long straw sipping up water from a pond is paired with the text “If you had a tongue like a straw you might be a . . .” A turn of the page reveals the answer: “MOTH!” along with a brief paragraph providing information on the structure and function of the Darwin’s hawkmoth’s tongue. Back matter includes a “More About These Terrific Tongues” section and a list of eight more terrific tongues.
—CA

Ages 9–11

Itch!: Everything You Didn’t Want to Know About What Makes You Scratch. Anita Sanchez. Ill. Gilbert Ford. 2018. Houghton Mifflin.

Those curious about the itch–scratch cycle will find this accessible and humorous book engrossing. After an introductory chapter about the anatomy of skin, “a bag with you inside,” seven chapters cover some of the animals and plants that commonly make humans itch, including lice, fleas, plants (such as poison ivy, prickly pears, and burrs), mosquitos, tarantulas, fungi, and bedbugs. The final chapter explores the question “Is there anything good about itching?” The inviting format also features historical anecdotes, insets with tips on avoiding and soothing itches, and illustrations. Back matter includes an author’s note, a glossary, a bibliography of books and websites, and an index.
—CA 

Spy Toys (Spy Toys #1). Mark Powers. Ill. Tim Wesson. 2018. Bloomsbury.

After Auntie Roz (an employee of the Department of Secret Affairs) rounds up Dan (a Snugliffic Cuddlestar Bear strong enough to crush a car in a hug), Arabella (a Loadsasmiles Sunshine rag doll with nasty attitude), and Flax (a rogue custom-made police robot rabbit) to work for her, she explains that their weaknesses (malfunctioning chips) make them natural spies. Their first job of protecting Sam Spinks, a senator’s son, from being kidnapped by Rusty Flumptrunk (the half-human, half-elephant crime boss) goes awry when the Spy Toys are on a ski trip with Sam, and Flumptrunk swoops the boy away. After the Spy Toys race to rescue, Sam against the ticking of the giant mayonnaise bomb strapped to his back, Dan is left with a life-changing decision. Black-and-white cartoon illustrations add to the humor of this action-packed first book in the Spy Toys series.
—NB

They Didn’t Teach This in Worm School! Simone Lia. 2018. Candlewick.

When Marcus, a homebody worm, encounters Laurence, a flying chicken (with a flamingo complex) who intends to eat him, he never expects that they will become fast friends. The two head to Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya, with Marcus navigating from his perch atop Laurence’s soft feathers. Comic-style illustrations in gray, black, and red heighten the humor as the pair travel to places that aren’t what they think they are (mistaking an electrical tower for the Eiffel Tower, they think they’re in Paris), learn new skills (dancing and sleep-flying), and trick hungry new acquaintances (a mole, squirrel, and crow). Finally, they arrive at what they believe is Lake Nakuru (the flamingo pond in a zoo) only to discover they aren’t far from where they began and that dreams of adventure can come true—even if you discover you’re not a flamingo. Most important, Marcus learns that friends make you “try to be a better worm.”
—NB

Ages 12–14

George Washington! (Action Presidents #1). Fred Van Lente. Ill. Ryan Dunlavey. 2018. HarperCollins.

The first volume in this hilarious new graphic novel biography series, framed within a fictional story involving two kids and a talking turkey, balances humor and history to grab the interest of readers. Digital, black-and-white, caricatured illustrations keep the action going while a substantial amount of print content is contained within the panels. For instance, did you know that Washington didn’t have wooden teeth, but recycled real teeth (his own and those of others)? Back matter includes a timeline, a glossary, a “Stuff Named After Washington” section, and a bibliography. Abraham Lincoln! was simultaneously published in February 2018. 

—NB

They Lost Their Heads!: What Happened to Washington’s Teeth, Einstein’s Brain, and Other Famous Body Parts. Carlyn Beccia. 2018. Bloomsbury.

Carlyn Beccia presents curious readers with a most unusual book, focusing on what happened to various body parts (hair, teeth, head, brain, heart, or even a wart) of 17 historical figures after their deaths. Not for the faint of heart, these true stories (lightened by Beccia’s chatty and quirky style of writing and playful, black-and-white drawings) are fascinating as well as bizarre, creepy, and morbid. Additional sections on phrenology, embalming, cryogenics, cloning, organ donation, and forensic science are particularly interesting. Beccia includes an overabundance of footnotes. Some of these add information but most are flippant. Readers who feel compelled to read them may soon become annoyed by being pulled out of the text. Back matter includes notes on sources of quotations, a bibliography (organized by chapter), and an index.
—CA

Ages 15+

Where’s Jane?: Find Jane Austen Hidden in Her Novels. Rebecca Smith. Ill. Katy Dockrill. 2018. Kane/Miller.

Where is Jane? She’s hidden in 10 scenes from six of her classic novels: Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, and Mansfield Park. Following a plot summary presented in a series of illustrated panels and a line-up of miniature portraits of characters to be looked for, the next double-spread page features a colorful, intricately detailed scene of elegant 19th-century homes, garden parties, picnics, and grand ballroom dances in which the readers can find the characters and also Jane Austen. By the end of the book, readers will be well acquainted with the characters and the settings of Austen’s novels. An answer key is included.
—CA

Nancy Brashear is Professor Emeritus of English from Azusa Pacific University, in Azusa, California. Carolyn Angus is former director of the George G. Stone Center for Children's Books, Claremont Graduate University, in Claremont, California.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Literacy Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

Family stories are often popular with children and young adults who may find their own experiences mirrored in the pages. At times, books about families may even provide a roadmap for navigating relationships with siblings, parents, and other relatives or for handling life’s challenges with familial support. This week’s column features books that touch on family matters in some way.

Ages 4–8

Flo. Kyo Maclear. 2018. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Flo, a young panda, dawdles through life, taking her time exploring the world around her and literally stopping to smell the roses. Most of the time the bigger pandas don't mind waiting for Flo, but they can only wait so long on this particular Saturday, when they have so much to do. They decide to leave her behind while they go boating. As it turns out, they need to be rescued, and Flo can help, simply because she's been paying attention to the little details that the others failed to notice. This picture book provides a humorous reminder that everyone needs downtime to observe, think, and dream.

I Want My Dad! Tony Ross. 2018. Andersen.

Although the Little Princess loves her father, he often cannot teach her the things she wants to learn. After the maid undertakes the Little Princess’s tutelage, they hike and camp, but the Little Princess is inept at these activities, just like her father. But, as it turns out, her father is proud of her for simply taking a risk and for trying something new. The last illustration shows the two embracing and a daughter who is grateful for the father she has.

Ten Cents a Pound. Nhung N. Tran-Davies. Ill. Josée Bisaillon. 2018. Second Story.

Told in alternating voices and illustrated in luminous colors, Ten Cents a Pound captures a mother’s love and the sacrifices that she will make to give her daughter a better life. In its pages, a young girl notes the toll her mother's hard physical labor in the coffee fields has taken on her body. One by one, she notes its effects on the older woman’s hands, her feet, her back, and her eyes, and deems the cost too high. Although the mother is illiterate and may never learn to read and write, she willingly sacrifices her dreams so that her daughter can attend school, which makes her tedious daily labor worthwhile. As has been the case for generations, this mother wants more for her daughter than performing backbreaking labor for 10 cents a pound. Although the daughter accepts her mother’s gift, embracing the opportunity to learn and see more of the world by going off to school, she swears to return.

Ages 9–11

Frenemies in the Family: Famous Brothers and Sisters Who Butted Heads and Had Each Other’s Backs. Kathleen Krull. Ill. Maple Lam. 2018. Crown/Random House.

Krull unearths interesting facts about famous siblings, including Queen Elizabeth I and Mary I, who battled for the throne of England; Edwin and John Wilkes Booth, talented actors divided by their views on slavery; and Chang and Eng Bunker, conjoined twins who married different women and had several children. The book is organized in chronological fashion, covering the siblings’ formative years and claims to fame, and while Krull includes material that shows her subjects in a positive light, she doesn't avoid dishing out less complimentary anecdotes. While history fans will enjoy the chapters on the Kennedys and Romanovs, other readers will gravitate to the chapters that depict recent siblings, including football stars Peyton and Eli Manning and older brother Cooper, and musician Demi Lovato and her sister Madison De La Garza. The cartoon drawings accompanying the biographical sketches add to the book's appeal, and there is a list of sources and an index for reference.

Good Dog. Dan Gemeinhart. 2018. Scholastic.

Devoted dogs such as Brodie, a “very, very good dog,” are an important part of many families. In this heartrending story, Brodie has died under suspicious circumstances, and is unable to cross over to the afterlife until he knows his boy, Aiden, is safe. Going against natural laws about life and death, Brodie returns to Earth, accompanied by Tuck, a strong pit bull, who seeks redemption for his own mistakes. As memories of his life with Aiden emerge, some blissful and others filled with fear, Brodie risks his own future out of love and loyalty. Back on Earth, Brodie and Tuck are joined by a stray cat named Patsy and beset by hellhounds bent on consuming their souls. Brodie faces disappointment, betrayal, and heartbreak, but he also realizes just how courageous he is and how loyal others can be as well. Readers will be captivated by the strong bond between a boy and his dog, and the idea of love that transcends death.

The Journey of Little Charlie. Christopher Paul Curtis. 2018. Scholastic.

Bad luck seems to plague Little Charlie Bobo. After his father dies in a freak accident in the South Carolina woods, slave catcher Cap'n Buck claims that the Bobo family owes him money and that 12-year-old Charlie can pay off those debts if he accompanies him on a journey north to bring back some thieves. But once Charlie realizes that they're after former slaves, a man, a woman, and their son, he balks. There's not a single misstep in this story about the Fugitive Slave Act and some of the evil practices it inspired as free African American and African Canadian men, women, and children were often kidnapped and taken down South. The rhythmic storytelling and deftly created characters prompt readers to question what they might have done in certain situations. The author's note ruminates on how rarely many of us act on our better instincts, leaving action to others.

Ages 12–14

P. S. I Miss You. Jen Petro-Roy. 2018. Feiwel and Friends.

In this powerful debut novel, seventh grader Evie is heartbroken when her pregnant older sister, Cilla, is sent to stay with an elderly relative. Forbidden to speak with Cilla, Evie secretly sends her letters. Although readers never get to meet Cilla, she comes alive through Evie’s vivid anecdotes. As Evie struggles to make sense of what's going on and why her strict Catholic parents refuse to talk about her sister, she hopes that Cilla will come back. During the year that Evie sends letters to Cilla, she begins to question her faith, her parents' honesty and judgment, and her own sexuality. As she experiences strange new feelings toward June, a transfer student, she desperately seeks Cilla's advice about romantic feelings and what's right and what's wrong and whether something that seems so right could be wrong. As they follow Evie’s transformation, readers may question the price of conforming to the expectations of others and what it means to be true to oneself.

Ages 15+

Don’t Forget Me. Victoria Stevens. 2018. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Seventeen-year-old Hazel Clarke has been sent to stay in Australia with the father she never even knew existed while her mother resolves her health issues back in England. Her mother doesn’t remember Hazel’s name or recognize those around her. Diagnosis of her mother’s condition as early-onset Alzheimer’s means that Hazel must find a way to form new connections and create a new family while holding onto the precious memories she and her mother shared. In doing so, Hazel is supported her father and a friendly, artistic neighbor, Red, and his twin, Luca, who is battling his own demons.

In Search of Us. Ava Dellaira. 2018. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Weaving past with present, this book follows 17-year-old Angie on a road trip to California and journey of self-discovery to find out the truth about her father. Interspersed with Angie’s story is that of Marilyn, her mother, who also lived and loved in Los Angeles 18 years ago. Marilyn’s mother dreams of a modeling and acting career for her daughter, but Marilyn longs to attend college. They are living in a crowded apartment with Marilyn’s uncle, and tension rises as he drinks and becomes increasingly demanding and controlling. He is displeased and judgmental when Marilyn begins spending time with James, the grandson of neighbors, because James is black. While Marilyn wants to please her mother and keep things calm at home, she also needs an outlet. As Angie learns the truth about what caused her mother to leave LA, she also connects with the missing pieces of her family and learns something about her own life choices and how she’s been running away from love. As often happens, realizations come with a high price for both Angie and Marilyn.

Barbara A. Ward teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in literacy at Washington State University, Pullman. She spent 25 years teaching in the public schools of New Orleans, where she worked with students at every grade level, from kindergarten through high school, as well as several ability levels. She is certified in elementary education, English education, and gifted education. She holds a bachelor's in communications and a master's in English education from the University of Tennessee and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Orleans.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Literacy Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

Covering a wide variety of genres, topics, and narrative styles, the graphic novel offers a highly visual format for engaging all types of readers and for making cross-curricular connections. This week’s column highlights some recently published graphic texts that are strong choices for inclusion in classroom and library collections.

Ages 4–8

Monsters Beware! (Chronicles of Claudette #3). Jorge Aguirre. Ill. Rafael Rosado. 2018. First Second/Roaring Brook.

Claudette marches to her own beat—a quality that goes unappreciated by many in her town. When Mont Petit Pierre hosts the Warrior Games, she's eager to use her sword-fighting skills to bring glory to her hometown. But after her brother, Gaston, and friend, Marie, join her team, the marquis softens the competition events because his wife doesn’t want to endanger their daughter. To Claudette's dismay, the teams compete in fierce bouts of butter churning, table-setting, and weaving. Claudette’s team does not fare well, and just when she is close to victory in one event, she must make a hard choice.

New Shoes. Sara Varon. 2018. First Second/Roaring Brook.

Francis the donkey is thrilled to make shoes for Miss Manatee, a talented calypso singer popular in Guyana, where the story is set. There's just one problem: He needs more tiger grass, an important material for his custom-made shoes. When he realizes that Nigel, his usual supplier, has disappeared, Francis must travel through the jungle himself to find what he needs. Along the way, Francis, accompanied by Rhoda, a friendly parrot, faces several challenges, including unfamiliar terrain and a river crossing, and meets several helpful animals. The back matter includes photographs of the places and animals taken by Varon in Guyana to use as references as she was creating the book.

Ages 9–11

Bad Kitty Camp Daze (Bad Kitty #11). Nick Bruel. 2018. Neal Porter/Roaring Brook.

When a head injury causes Kitty to think she's a dog, Puppy is so traumatized by her strange behavior that he is sent to a camp to recover from his trauma. Uncle Murray's Camp for Stressed-Out Dogs provides an idyllic setting for canines to recuperate and get back their canine confidence. But this canine kingdom is in trouble when Kitty smuggles herself into camp. Kitty struggles with learning basic dog skills, such as fetching and swimming, but she enjoys the campfire stories. After sniffing some catnip, she channels her inner cat goddess and returns to her cat self, darting into the woods. But the woods are no place for a feline, even one like Bad Kitty, and she and Uncle Murray, her would-be rescuer, come face to face with a bear. Nick Bruel doesn't show readers what happens to the bear, but it's quite clear that it wasn't pretty, judged by how proudly Kitty leaves the battleground with her head and tail held high.

Sparks! Ian Boothby. Ill. Nina Matsumoto. 2018. Graphix/Scholastic.

An intelligent, talking litter box narrates this humorous yet inspiring story. After two cats, August and Charlie, escape from an animal testing lab, they decide to fight local crime. Disguised in a mechanical dog suit, the partners leap to the rescue when someone is in peril. Meanwhile, a strange couple with an adorable baby appears at the most surprising places and times. Alert readers will realize right away that they can't be trusted, and won't be surprised when Charlie is lured into their home. The villains even persuade the cats’ squirrel friend, Steve, to betray them. While the friendships depicted here aren't perfect, August proves that he will do anything for Charlie.

Ages 12–14

The Dragonet Prophecy (Wings of Fire Graphic Novel #1). Tui T. Sutherland. Adapt. Barry Deutsch. Ill. Mike Holmes. 2018. Graphix/Scholastic.

This graphic novel version of the first book in Sutherland’s popular fantasy series provides insight into the dragons' personalities and how desperately the five dragonets, who are destined to change the world, want to escape from their underground prison. Had one of them not been threatened by their minders, they still might have remained hidden beneath that mountain. In this book, readers watch Clay, the mudwing dragon, develop and resist some of his darker urges. Vibrant artwork depicts the brave but perilous escape of Clay and Tsunami and dramatic battle scenes.

Hermes: Tales of the Trickster (Olympians #10). George O’Connor. 2018. Neal Porter/First Second/Roaring Brook.

Once again, George O'Connor brings the classic myths of Greek gods and goddesses in all their glorious imperfection to life, focusing on trickster Hermes in this latest book. Knowledgeable readers will know to question anything they see or hear from Hermes. The son of Zeus, Hermes is able to slip from the cave where his mother is hiding him to avoid Hera’s wrath, and steal Apollo's cows on his first day of life. From there, he wreaks havoc in Olympus and on Earth. Complemented by lavish, detailed artwork, sometimes relying on panels sliced into interesting strips and sometimes featuring a double-page spread of an important scene, the storytelling is engaging with subtle character development hinting at the human frailties of some of the gods and goddesses.

Robots and Drones: Past, Present and Future (Science Comics). Mairghread Scott. Ill. Jacob Chabot. 2018. First Second/Roaring Brook.

Almost as irresistible as a potato chip from a newly opened bag, each book in the Science Comics series deep dives into a specific topic—in this case, robots and drones. Depicted visually with vivid colors and in panels of different shapes and sizes, the science concepts are easy to understand. From Pouli, a mechanized bird invented in 350 BCE in Italy, and on to the karakuri ningyo in the 1600s in Japan, and all the way to modern times when rovers travel across the terrain of planets and virtual assistants such as Alexa and Siri respond to the voices of their owners, it's clear that robots have been part of our lives longer than we realized. While readers learn a lot about the usefulness of robots and drones, which may have an even greater impact on the future, the book challenges some assumptions about them. The book also explores fears associated with robots and raises ethical questions about artificial intelligence. Back matter includes snippets about 25 interesting and noteworthy robots.

Ages 15+

Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World. Pénélope Bagieu. Trans. Montana Kane. 2018. First Second/Roaring Brook.

This collective biography in graphic novel format highlights 29 “rebel ladies” who brazenly took risks and changed their little corners of the world. The characters include familiar names, such as Nellie Bly, Mae Jemison, and Peggy Guggenheim, as well as unspoken heroes, such as Agnodice, Giorgina Reid, and Sonita Alizadeh. Bagieu devotes several multi-paneled pages to detail each subject's life from birth to death with milestones along the way, represented through meaningful colors and symbols. The individual panels rely on intricate drawings and carefully chosen colors to bring the subjects—women whose activities made them forces to reckon with—to life. The artwork is so detailed that readers can see facial wrinkles clearly present and eyes filled with intelligence, awareness, and determination.

The Prince and the Dressmaker. Jen Wang. 2018. First Second/Roaring Brook.

Much to his dismay, Prince Sebastian's parents have decided that it's time for him to take a bride. The prince is troubled because he worries that his penchant for wearing dresses will be revealed. His secret has been guarded by two trustworthy individuals, one of whom is Frances, his dressmaker, who has designed several exquisite gowns he has worn on public outings under the guise of Lady Crystallia. But Sebastian’s insistence on secrecy threatens his relationship with Frances and her ambitions as a designer, since no one can associate her with the prince’s hidden life. In a sense, she, too, is kept in a closet because of this. But Sebastian’s fondness for women’s couture is revealed in a very public and humiliating way. Pushing firmly against boundaries about gender, appearance, and expectations, this graphic novel is also highly entertaining. Read it for the love story. Read it for the secrets. Read it for the gowns. But above all, read it to open your heart.

Speak: The Graphic Novel. Laurie Halse Anderson. Ill. Emily Carroll. 2018. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Given its pitch-perfect metaphors and descriptions of nature as well as it current relevance, this ground-breaking story of a sexual assault translates powerfully into a graphic format. Readers observe Melinda's first fumbling attempts at creative expression, and then her work as it transforms, revealing much about what she has endured over the school year. Readers will cheer as Melinda finally finds her voice, holds a shard of glass to the throat of her once- and would-be rapist, and urges the other girls to call the police. Even though the graphic novel version of the story has been updated so that there are references to cell phones and technology, those additions aren't intrusive. This story will resonate with teen readers, who will feel connected to Melinda through the powerful, stark black-and-white illustrations. 

Barbara A. Ward teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in literacy at Washington State University, Pullman. She spent 25 years teaching in the public schools of New Orleans, where she worked with students at every grade level, from kindergarten through high school, as well as several ability levels. She is certified in elementary education, English education, and gifted education. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications, a master's degree in English education from the University of Tennessee and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Orleans.

These reviews are submitted by members of the International Literacy Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.