Literacy Now

This collection of biographies, which have garnered honors in 2015, offers engaging and stimulating reading in a range of formats and topics. The biographies give insight into the lives of famous people and their legacies. These reviews identify the honors each book received.

Ages 4–8

Swan: The Life and Dance of Anna Pavlova. Laurel Snyder. Ill. Julie Morstad. Chronicle.

A visit to the ballet one snowy night changes the life of a young girl. “Now Anna cannot sleep. Or sit still ever. She can only sway, dip, and spin… .” Two years later, Anna begins formal ballet training. After five years of hard work, she steps alone onto the stage as the swan. She travels the world, bringing the beauty of ballet to everyone until she falls ill. On her deathbed, Anna calls for her feathered swan dress. Snyder’s spare, lyrical text and Mortstad’s exquisite mixed-media artwork beautifully convey the life story of Anna Pavlova (1881–1931). An author’s note offers more information on the Russian dancer who is recognized widely as the greatest ballerina of all time. 2016 Orbis Pictus Honorable Mention.

—CA

W Is for Webster: Noah Webster and His American Dictionary. Tracey Fern. Ill. Boris Kulikov. 2015. Margaret Ferguson Books/Farrar Straus Giroux.

For Noah Webster, a farm boy with little schooling, nothing was more important than learning and language so, in 1774, his father took out a loan on the farm and sent 16-year-old Noah to study at Yale. Noah immersed himself in words. Becoming a teacher in the newly independent American colonies, he believed that a “national language is a national tie” and created his first speller in 1789. After publishing a small dictionary in 1806, he was determined to write the definitive dictionary of English in America. Lively and humorous mixed-media illustrations show how Webster dedicated his efforts over two decades, in the face of public ridicule and during years in which he and his wife, Rebecca Greenleaf, raised their eight children, to writing An American Dictionary of the English Language, the largest English dictionary ever written. 2016 Orbis Pictus Recommended Book.

—SW

Ages 9–11

Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine. Laurie Wallmark. Ill. April Chu. 2015. Creston.

From an early age, Ada Byron Lovelace (1815–1852) loved numbers. They became her friends in equations and inventions she developed during the long absences of her mother, who had left her father, the poet Lord Byron, when Ada was a baby. Ada longed to build a flying machine and experimented with the effects of wind on the sails of a toy boat. At the age of 17, she began working with mathematician Charles Babbage, who designed a mechanical computer, his Analytical Engine, but had not built it. Recognizing that the computer would need instructions to solve complex math problems, Ada created an algorithm for the Analytical Engine. In doing so, she also created a new profession, computer programming. An author’s note includes information on Ada Byron Lovelace’s lifelong interest in math and science and Ada’s software, the world’s first computer program. 2016 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book.

—SW

Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game. John Coy. Ill. Randy DuBurke. 2015. Carolrhoda Books/Lerner.

In 1944, five basketball players on the Duke University Medical School team set out to play a secret game with the starting lineup of the North Carolina College for Negroes team, coached by John McLendon, who learned the sport from James Naismith. Although the players were apprehensive and awkward at its beginning, the game picked up. The illustrations, rendered in paint and graphite, depict the fast-paced game the African American team generated as they demonstrated moves not seen by white teams before and that became the standard of the game. The game remained secret for decades because the Ku Klux Klan considered “mixing the races” a crime punishable by death. The author’s note includes additional information on Coach McLendon’s life and work. 2016 Orbis Pictus Recommended Book.

—SW

My Story, My Dance: Robert Battle’s Journey to Alvin Ailey. Lesa Cline-Ransome. Ill. James E. Ransome. 2015. Paula Wiseman Books/Simon & Schuster.

Movement and dance were as natural as breathing to 6-year-old Robert after the removal of braces worn to straighten his bowlegs. Raised by his aunt, uncle, and cousin, he loved the music of his home life and grew in confidence through singing at the AME Church. Dance was the center of his life; he began ballet lessons at the age of 13 and then won a scholarship to Juilliard. James E. Ransome’s pastel illustrations show Battle’s expansive, expressive dance style as a student and later as a professional dancer before becoming the artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Company in 2011. Robert Battle provides an inspiring foreword. Back matter includes author’s and illustrator’s notes; a bibliography of articles and video, radio, and Internet resources; and suggestions for further reading. 2016 Orbis Pictus Recommended Book.

—SW

Ages 12–14

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir. Margarita Engle. 2015. Atheneum/Simon & Schuster.

In a series of beautifully crafted poems, Margarita Engle, the daughter of a Cuban mother and an American father, tells of her love of the two worlds to which she belonged as a child: the tropical island world of her mother’s family, with its warm acceptance of her on summer visits, and the busy world of Los Angeles, where her family lives the rest of the year and she attends school with children who are not friendly. Engle recalls the disturbing upheaval of her young life as conflict between Cuba and the United States escalates during the Cold War era and the United States bans travel to Cuba. The last poem expresses the hope Margarita, at the age of 14, has for the future. “Someday, surely I’ll be free / to return to the island of all my childhood / dreams” (p. 185). The author’s note brings the reader up to date. 2016 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Finalist; 2016 Pura Belpré Award.

—CA

Steve Jobs: Insanely Great. Jessie Hartland. 2015. Schwartz & Wade/Random House.

With black-and-white, hand-lettered cartoon panels, Hartland creates a graphic biography of Steve Jobs (1955–2011), the creative genius and entrepreneur who, at 21 years old, started Apple Computer in his family’s garage with Stephen (Woz) Wozniak. After leaving the company, Jobs took on the leadership of Pixar, a computer graphics company, and turned it into a major animation studio. In 1997, Jobs returned to the now-struggling company he had founded and, guided by his insistence that “our job is to figure out what the consumer is going to want before they do,” led the development of Apple into the giant of the personal technology industry it is today. In chronicling the life and work of Steve Jobs, Hartland also provides readers with a decade-by-decade history from “Technology in the 1960s” with rotary-dial phones with cords and typewriters in the 1960s to “What’s New?” in the 21st century with mobile phones spread worldwide, global positioning systems, and the iCloud. 2016 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book.

—CA

This Strange Wilderness: The Life and Art of John James Audubon. Nancy Plain. 2015. University of Nebraska Press.

John James Audubon (1785–1851) is best known for his The Birds of America, with its life-size paintings of almost 500 North American bird species posed naturally against backgrounds of their habitats. Plain’s engaging biography reads like a great adventure story. Her well-crafted text, peppered with quotes from Audubon, presents Audubon as an early 19th-century artist, writer, naturalist, hunter, and explorer who clearly deserves his recognition as the founder of modern ornithology. The inclusion of numerous color plates of Audubon’s wildlife paintings and an appendix that includes a glossary, source notes, a bibliography, and an index makes This Strange Wilderness a splendid introduction to Audubon’s life and art. 2016 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Finalist.

—CA

Ages 15+

Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War.Steve Sheinkin. 2015. Roaring Brook.

Sheinkin’s account of the personal and public life of Daniel Ellsberg covers the decade from 1964 and the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave the President of the United States authority to escalate military action in Southeast Asia, to the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1973. It looks into this tumultuous period and the actions of four Presidents related to Southeast Asia, military forces and war, the Federal courts, American newspapers, and top-secret documents. As an advisor to the State Department, Ellsberg went to South Vietnam to observe the war firsthand for two years. He gradually came to believe that a top-secret study of American policy in Vietnam needed to be made public. He leaked the document, which became known as the Pentagon Papers, to the press in 1971. Was he a hero or a traitor? In his author’s note, Sheinkin details his research. The book, illustrated with archival photographs, opens with a cast of characters and includes source notes, references, an index, and a map. 2016 Orbis Pictus Recommended Book; 2016 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award. 

—SW

Sandip Wilson serves as associate professor in the College of Health and Education of Husson University in Bangor, ME. Carolyn Angus is former director of the George G. Stone Center for Children's Books, Claremont Graduate University, CA.

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

In reviewing science books, we have found the best books have engaging and fascinating information and—perhaps more important—encourage the interest of young readers in scientific observation and investigation. Some of these books integrate science with cross-curricular topics including culture, history, and preservation of the quality of natural environments.

Ages 4–8

Bilby: Secrets of an Australian Marsupial. Edel Wignell. Ill. Mark Jackson. 2015. Candlewick Press.

Written partly as a narrative, the book recounts the life of Bilby, a female bilby, an endangered nocturnal marsupial who creates long, narrow, and steep burrows deep in the earth for protection. Bilby gives birth to Baby Bilby in one of these burrows. Written partly as an exposition, the pages include information related to the life cycle of the marsupial and its survival strategies for living in the desert. This small animal’s rabbit-like ears, long nose, and long, crested tail give it a distinct appearance. Double-spread illustrations, rendered in paint and colored pencil, show Bilby and her son in their desert habitat.

—SW

High Tide for Horseshoe Crabs. Lisa Kahn Schnell. Ill. Alan Marks. 2015. Charlesbridge.

Horseshoe crabs appear on shores of the eastern United States, notably the Delaware Bay, to lay eggs, many of which become food for migrating birds that appear at the same time. A narrative text and dramatic double-spread watercolor and pencil illustrations present the life cycle of the arthropod in the context of the research done by scientists and volunteers who tag the crabs to discern their migratory behavior and life span. Back matter includes information on the evolution and biology of the horseshoe crab and on its importance in the food chain and for humans, such as the use of its blue blood in a test to ensure that medicines and medical devices used in humans are free of harmful bacteria. Endpapers present labeled diagrams of dorsal and ventral views of the horseshoe crab.

—SW

How to Swallow a Pig: Step-by-Step Advice from the Animal Kingdom. Steve Jenkins & Robin Page. Ill. Steve Jenkins. 2015. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Readers of Jenkins and Page’s how-to guide learn about animal behavior from the step-by-step advice of 18 animals, from a humpback whale telling how to trap fish in five steps to a python telling how to swallow a pig in six steps. Jenkins’ signature torn- and cut-paper collages accompany the instructions that are stated clearly and with humor. For example, a lesson on how to woo a ewe like a mountain sheep comes with a warning that following a bighorn ram’s advice could give you a bad headache. The appendix includes thumbnail sketches of each advice-giving animal.

—CA

Ages 9–11

Birdology: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring the World of Birds.Monica Russo. Ill. Kevin Byron. 2015. Chicago Review Press.

As much as this book provides projects of observation related to the study of birds, it includes information on geography, the characteristics of birds, bird identification, the migratory and feeding habits of birds, the work that scientists and volunteers undertake to study birds, and efforts to protect birds. Sidebars describe “Look For and Try This!” activities. The back matter includes a glossary and list of bird orders, a teacher’s guide with whole class and individual activities, online resources, a bibliography, and an index.

—SW

Sand Swimmers: The Secret Life of Australia’s Dead Heart. Narelle Oliver. 2015. Candlewick Press.

Oliver tells the story of the adaptation and survival of animals in the harsh desert wilderness in Central Australia known as Dead Heart. Parallel stories tell of the Aboriginal peoples, whose discovery and understanding of the plants and hidden animals of the desert enabled them to live in the region, and of the first European explorers, who dreamed of discovering an inland sea but found only huge waves of sand and described the region as lifeless. Oliver’s illustrations, created with linocut, colored pencil, and linocut rubbings, provide dramatic desertscapes and intricately detailed portraits of the wildlife that lives in Australia’s Dead Heart.

—CA

Welcome to New Zealand: A Nature Journal. Sandra Morris. 2015. Candlewick Press.

Following an introduction to keeping an illustrated journal of observations and thoughts about the natural world, including notes on creating a seasonal color wheel and adding creative hand lettering, Morris takes readers on a series of nature walks in New Zealand: garden, path in a park, wetlands, city street, countryside, forest, mountain, beach, and zoo. Her mixed media drawings and comments introduce readers to the fauna and flora of New Zealand. Morris’ journal may also inspire readers to explore their surroundings and create their own nature journals. Back matter includes a glossary, an index, and a bibliography of nature guides to New Zealand and books on keeping journals.

—CA

Ages 12­–14

The Great Monkey Rescue: Saving the Golden Lion Tamarins. Sandra Markle. 2015. Millbrook/Lerner.

Markle chronicles efforts to save the golden lion tamarin, a species of squirrel-sized monkeys native to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. With the increasing destruction of its habitat, the tamarin was nearly extinct by the 1960s. Zoos were unsuccessful in raising tamarins until scientists learned that each tamarin family group requires its own territory. Separate housing of pairs of tamarins led to successful breeding programs and, by the 1990s, zoo-born monkeys were being trained for reintroduction into Brazil. As reforestation and protection of habitat projects continue in Brazil, there is hope for the survival of the golden lion tamarin. Captioned close-up photographs of tamarins, maps, and extensive back matter help tell the story of “the great monkey rescue.”

—CA

Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet. Buzz Aldrin (with Marianne J. Dyson). 2015. National Geographic Kids.

With his introductory section on what’s needed to get to Mars, Aldrin describes the exploration of Mars over the last four decades, the characteristics of Mars that dispel myths about the planet, the spacecraft needed to transport people and materials to Mars, and the process of building an environment to support human communities on the planet. Throughout the book are many activities to illustrate the principles of astrophysics described in the text. The book includes two timelines: one related to the exploration of Mars and a hypothetical one showing centuries of settlement during which settlers thicken the air and promote the production of water to sustain life on the planet. Back matter includes a glossary and resources for further reading.

—SW

When the Earth Shakes: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Tsunamis. Simon Winchester. 2015. Smithsonian/Viking/Penguin.

Geologist, explorer, and writer Simon Winchester tells the intriguing story of the three types of catastrophes caused by violent movements within the earth: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis. Using examples of natural disasters such as the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906, the titanic eruptions of Krakatoa in 1883, and the devastating Sumatra-Andaman Tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004, Winchester explores what happens “when the earth shakes.” Stunning captioned photographs and insets with diagrams and maps supplement Winchester’s engaging account of earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis and the work of scientists to understand the why and how of these natural disasters. Back matter includes recommended reading, viewing, and listening resources and an extensive index to the text and illustrations.

—CA

Ages 15+

Chocolate: Sweet Science & Dark Secrets of the World’s Favorite Treat. Kay Frydenborg. 2015. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Integrating a history of the civilizations of Central and South America with the history and business of chocolate production in the United States, Frydenborg describes the science involved in understanding the evolution and cultivation of the cacao tree and the process of making cocoa from the seeds of the cacao plant. She follows the work of individual farmers in the mountains of countries in South America, explaining new understanding about cacao cultivation that contradicts the knowledge scientists and farmers previously had. Throughout the book are recipes for uses of cocoa from spiced drinks to confections and cakes. The back matter includes a timeline on chocolate, an annotated list of websites, and references.

—SW

Fatal Fever: Tracking Down Typhoid Mary. Gail Jarrow. 2015. Calkins Creek/Highlights.

Jarrow’s account of the medical mystery of typhoid outbreaks in the New York City area starting in 1912 is from the perspective of George Soper’s work, a sanitation engineer who tracked down Mary Mallon to solvean earlier typhoid outbreak in Ithaca in 1903. Jarrow explains the biology of the disease and recounts the life of Mary Mallon, a cook who was a healthy typhoid carrier, whose story is also told in the biography Terrible Typhoid Mary by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (2015). Jarrow also explores public health practices of the early 20th century as she presents the life of a second person significant in Mary Mallon’s case, Sarah J. Baker, who was a public health official in the tenements of New York City. In providing context for the events, archival photographs help to make this book engaging. The back matter includes a list of well-known individuals in American history who had typhoid, a glossary, an author’s note, a bibliography, and an index.

—SW

Inside Biosphere 2: Earth Science Under Glass. (Scientists in the Field). Mary Kay Carson. Ill. Tom Uhlman. 2015. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Following an introduction to the original 1991–1993 biosphere residential experiment in the desert near Tuscon, AZ, a closed ecological system in which a team of eight men and women, doctors, scientists, and engineers lived, this book describes the research since the 1990s of four scientists. Four created environments (a rain forest, an ocean, savannah, and a hillside) are laboratories in which researchers can study natural phenomena such as the water cycle, climate change, and the creation of soil from rock under controlled conditions. Throughout the book, numerous photographs depict the research and the environment, visitors who come to observe, and students from nearby schools making scientific measurements as well as photographs of the earlier biospherians at work.

—SW

Sandip Wilson serves as associate professor in the College of Health and Education of Husson University in Bangor, ME. Carolyn Angus is former director of the George G. Stone Center for Children's Books, Claremont Graduate University, CA.

If 2015 has offered a crop of lovely picture books for readers to peruse, clearly it also has offered readers several fascinating chapter books and nonfiction titles. Bibliophiles who enjoy literature for children and young adults will find several must-haves from the wide array of titles available from publishers this year. The titles listed here represent only a sample of the favorites.

Ages 8–13

Finding Serendipity. Angelica Banks. Ill. Stevie Lewis. 2015. Henry Holt.

Writers find inspiration in all sorts of ways. As her mother finishes another manuscript concluding her wildly popular series, Tuesday McGillycuddy is drawn unexpectedly into her mother’s mysterious world. As she searches for her mother, Tuesday encounters several interesting individuals, including Vivienne Small, the swashbuckling heroine of her mother’s books, as well as pirates and a notorious bad guy who practically springs back from the dead. This charming story has much to recommend it, including its characters and the protagonist’s loyal dog Baxterr. Although others have written about worlds where creativity lives, this one is incredibly detailed and imaginative, deftly blurring the line between reality and fantasy and revealing that imagination has much to do with both. Amusingly, Tuesday’s mother plays a role when she must deal with fans, appearing much larger than life and donning disguises in order to thwart her fans and ensure some private time. The book was published originally in Australia.

Moon Bear. Gill Lewis. Ill. Alessandro Gottardo. 2015. Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Twelve-year-old Tam and his best friend Noy find a moon bear cub in Laos but fail to capture it, losing much-needed cash for their families. After their village is relocated to make way for a road and a dam, Tam travels to the city to work in a bear bile farm. The tender-hearted and kind boy is horrified at the bears’ treatment. When the bear cub he first saw in the mountains turns up in a severely malnourished condition, he vows to save the bear Sook-dii from a similar fate. But the same general who moved the villagers away from their mountain homes and had Tam brought to the city has a daughter who is very ill. Desperate to save her, he is convinced that bile milked from moon bears might provide a cure. Poor Sook-dii becomes lethargic and ill under this mistreatment as bile is harvested from his body. This book from Great Britain leaves readers with a lot about which to think and is recommended highly as readers will ponder the lengths some humans will go to find a supposed cure.

Spidermania: Friends on the Web. Alexandra Siy. Photos by Dennis Kunkel. 2015. Holiday House.

In the same fashion with which this creative team explored mosquitoes in Mosquito Bite (2006) and bugs in Bug Shots (2011), they’re at it again, relying on facts to eradicate negative attitudes about spiders. Using a high-power scanning electron microscope to provide image of spiders and their various body parts as well as well-written, lively text that makes them even more fascinating than readers might think, the book highlights 10 different types of spiders, including the diving bell spider, the wolf spider, the crab spider, and the spitting spider. Designed to remind readers that spiders aid humans, the book enables readers to see how those amazingly intricate webs they produce are formed. Even someone who knows a lot about spiders will learn a thing or two from this entrancing book, brimming with stunning photography and a respectful attitude toward spiders. There is even a section on eye patterns and how to identify various spiders, making this title useful for many science classrooms.

Sunny Side Up. Jennifer L. Holm. Ill. Matthew Holm. Graphix.

Ten-year-old Sunny has been sent south from Pennsylvania to spend the summer with her grandfather in a retirement village in Florida in 1976. The days are routine with small errands being their highlight, and Sunny spends her nights trying to get comfortable on the squeaky sofa sleeper. Sunny happens to meet Buzz, the son of the groundskeeper, who introduces her to comics. These stories of superheroes provide blissful hours of escape. The two earn spending money for their reading material by finding lost cats for the residents. But readers will slowly realize that there’s a reason Sunny has been packed off to Florida. As the truth is revealed about her beloved older brother Dale and his problems with substance abuse, Sunny’s confusion about his actions is clear. Although she loves her brother and has even covered up for him at times, she is also confused, scared, sad, and embarrassed by some of his antics. Her feelings even spill over into her present situation as she finds cigarettes secreted in the most unlikely places and realizes that her grandfather is lying about his smoking. An excellent starting place to discuss addiction and family secrets, this graphic novel may reassure some readers while showing the far-reaching effects of addiction.

The Tortoise and the Soldier: A Story of Courage and Friendship in World War I. Michael Foreman. 2015. Henry Holt.

Young Henry Friston dreams of seeing the world and often stares at the world map in his classroom rather than paying attention in class. After a brief stint as a deckhand, he joins the Royal Navy and becomes a gunner in World War I. He faces much danger, eventually engaging in trench warfare in Gallipoli where he and a tortoise end up together in a safe spot. As the violence rages around them, Henry shares a tomato with him and tells stories about home. After the shelling has ceased and Henry is reunited with his crew, he decides impulsively to take the tortoise with him. He and Ali Pasha become inseparable, and he somehow manages to keep his presence a secret from most of the men. Once they return to England, the tortoise settles into an idyllic life. The fact that this account is based on a true story adds to its charms, even while the framing of the story through the eyes of a boy intent on getting his first feature published in the local newspaper works well. This heart-tugging book from the United Kingdom stands as an example of heroism and the comfort that can be found from even the smallest creatures during wartime.

Ages 14+

Chasing Secrets. Gennifer Choldenko. 2015. Wendy Lamb.

Even while 13-year-old Lizzie Kennedy dreams of following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a doctor, her older brother is disinterested in that career, which causes conflict between the boy and his father. Lizzie hates the school she must attend because the studies seem pointless and the other girls seem to tease her or avoid her. But when the family’s Chinese cook, Jing, is unable to come home because of a quarantine related to a suspected plague in China Town, she stumbles on his secret. As a friendship between Noah, Jing’s son, and Lizzie develops, she also finds friendship with Gemma, a classmate, and her brother, Gus. While Lizzie endeavors to get Jing out of Chinatown and back home, she learns about the racism and injustice that lie beneath the city’s superficial politeness, even among those who make a living by taking care of others. Lizzie is irresistible, even as she battles with her Aunt Hortense and the social norms of her times. Perfect for sharing aloud, this is a well-written, totally engaging title, filled with action, intrigue, and bits of humor provided in part by Lizzie’s efforts to send messages to Noah via a most reluctant feline messenger.

Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. Don Brown. 2015. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers.

This outstanding graphic novel depiction of the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina focuses on New Orleans, much of which was under water after August 29, 2005. Relying on illustrations created with pen and ink and digital paint, Brown’s illustrations have somehow managed to thrust readers into the hectic events surrounding this natural disaster. Beginning appropriately enough as the hurricane grows in strength during the late days of August, the story concludes as New Orleans continues to recover, now protected by expansive walls that rise 26 feet. In between, the book features many elements that received much attention in the media as well as other, more private tragedies. It’s all here: The city’s citizens left behind when avenues of escape are denied. The family pets torn from the arms of their human companions. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Coast Guard’s heroic rescues of thousands of individuals. The long lines outside the Superdome and the Convention Center. A governor and a President seemingly at cross purposes and a mayor who seems to have disappeared. Told in an engaging fashion that will leave readers breathless from its pace, this account of a disaster that can be laid at the foot of humans as much as Mother Nature, reminding readers of mistakes that must never be repeated. This book deservedly was tapped for the 2016 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children.

Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir. Maggie Thrash. 2015. Candlewick.

Fifteen-year-old Maggie Thrash once again spends her summer at a camp in Kentucky, where she falls in love for the very first time. To her surprise, the object of her affections is Erin, an older camp counselor. Although Erin seems to return her affections, the two only go so far as holding hands and spending time together. Despite their secrecy, the usual rumors fly and the girls are separated. Woven into this heartbreaking story of prejudice and missed opportunities is the Maggie’s own struggle to find herself. After Maggie is named honor girl, an annual camp distinction, the distinction is tainted by her realization that perhaps she is being rewarded for remaining silent, following the rules without question, and being a good girl rather than being honest. This graphic novel gently explores one girl’s first giddy feelings of affection toward another human being and the uncertainty about the path that lies ahead. Readers may recognize themselves in Maggie’s halting steps toward adulthood and self-awareness even while noting that some of those who should have been older, wiser, and saner show their prejudices in ugly ways. Ultimately, it’s clear that being Honor Girl isn’t particularly honorable, especially when the cost of that distinction is considered.

Young Man With Camera. Emil Sher. 2015. Photos by David Wyman. Scholastic.

T— is the subject of severe bullying from a group of classmates led by Ryan, a young man whose anger and violence are hidden beneath a veneer that belies his cruel interior. T— finds solace in photography and his friendship with Sean and a homeless woman named Lucy, whose wry cardboard statements provide amusing social commentary.  Ryan’s harassment of T— intensifies, especially when he realizes that T— has seen something that could land Ryan in hot water, and when his threats seem to have little effect on the boy, he threatens others who are important to him. The book contains black-and-white photos taken by the protagonist, all of which provide insight into the wonders of the world around him. With support from Ms. Karamath, a teacher at his school, and inspiration from Diane Arbus, whose work celebrated marginalized individuals, T— finds the courage to let his images speak for him to right the wrongs he sees around him.

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 Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

The end of the year is perfect for reflecting on all the year offered. There may be challenges, but consider some of the excellent picture books that have been published. With their amazing colors and unique artistic interpretations, these picture books won’t lie idle for long as readers will want to not only read them in class, but also add them to their personal collections. These book reviews represent only a sample of some of the best picture books of 2015. Anyone who doesn’t have these books among his or her personal collection will certainly want to add them now.

An A From Miss Keller. Patricia Polacco. 2015. G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Although most readers are familiar with how this engaging storyteller found affirmation in her art, they will know very little about her formative years as a writer. Relying on pencils and markers for the illustrations, she honors two important teachers in her life. Her writing teacher, Miss Keller, doesn’t give As on writing assignments and sets the bar of expectations high by telling her students to “dazzle me. Impress me. Send me into ecstasy with your brilliance.” Trisha finds solace talking to Pop Schloss, a talented neighborhood baker who provides encouragement. His death helps her find the words to express her feelings powerfully, finally allowing her to meet her teacher’s standards for writing. Not only does the book provide a lovely tribute to teachers, but also Miss Keller’s writing activities are ideal for helping budding writers notice the details in the world around them.

Big Bear Little Chair. Lizi Boyd. 2015. Chronicle.

Opposites attract, and they make an interesting visual contrast in this color-drenched picture book. Using gouache illustrations and simple text, this book relies on opposites to describe the relationship between Big Bear and Little Bear. Starting with Big Bear and a tiny chair, the book moves all around the place, finally concluding with both bears sitting on the chairs that are the right size for them. This is another winner from the creator of Inside Outside (2013) and Flashlight (2014). Young readers will ask for it to be read aloud repeatedly. Each reread enables readers to notice something different or to see things slightly differently.

Bug in a Vacuum. Mélanie Watt. 2015. Tundra.

The fact that this picture book from Canada highlights Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s five stages of grief through the experiences of a fly makes it especially appealing for older readers because it can be read on several levels. When a bug slips into a house, it has many pun-filled adventures (“It was on top of the world when it happened”; unpaged and accompanied by the bug sitting on top of a globe) but ends up trapped in a vacuum cleaner. While pondering its fate and looking for an escape, the poor bug experiences denial, bargaining, anger, despair, and acceptance before finding an unexpected way out. The mixed-media illustrations feature various fascinating visual details, including pesticides and frozen dinners with directions or cautionary messages. Readers will laugh while also pondering life’s events and its cyclical nature as well as those aforementioned stages of grief. The book design is stylish, highly original, and memorable, leaving adults and young readers equally charmed.

Emu. Claire Saxby. Ill. Graham Byrne. 2015. Candlewick.

Parenting is handled quite differently among many animal species. In the case of the emu, the female emu has nothing to do with raising the young after she lays the eggs. Because the emu father has much of the caregiving responsibility afterward, the book follows him as he settles down on his nest to keep his little ones warm and then later protects his young. The handsome and eye-catching digital illustrations show how this unusual Australian bird spends its time. The description of the emu’s protective nature is found on one page and additional factual information on the facing page, making this an interesting selection for a science classroom library.

A Fine Dessert: Four Centuries, Four Families, One Delicious Treat. Emily Jenkins. Ill. Sophie Blackall. 2015. Schwartz & Wade.

This cross-generational picture book explaining how four families prepare a delicious dessert is simply scrumptious. Spanning four centuries, the book begins in 1710 in Lyme, England, and ends in 2010 in San Diego, CA. Following the dessert’s preparation over four centuries enables readers to detect differences in the way food was prepared during the different eras as well as acknowledging gender roles, slavery, and even what families typically ate during those times. Filled with details, the colorful illustrations, created with Chinese ink, watercolor, and blackberry juice (on the endpapers), will have readers asking for more, more, more. With guidance, young readers will appreciate this succulent treasure even more upon repeated readings.

Five Nice Mice Build a House. Chisato Tashiro. 2015. Minedition.

Filled with beautiful and highly detailed illustrations, this picture book follows five creative mice in search of a new home. The basement in which they dwell is not the best location for them because predators and dangers abound, which causes them to look for new digs. They find a most inviting spot in an unlikely place—a dump where people have left their discards. But one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, of course, and these innovative mice cobble together a home complete with all sorts of conveniences that make a house a home. Just as they are settling in, though, they spot a large feline who might threaten their security. As it turns out, he’s helplessly tangled up in twine, leaving him at their mercy. They agree to take a risk and free him. He, in turn, is grateful and guards their property. After all, who doesn’t need a fierce watch cat? Animal lovers will enjoy this tribute to the ingenuity of mice from an up-and-coming Japanese artist whose illustrations are filled with detail.

Honk! Honk! Hold Tight! Jessica Souhami. 2015. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

In this picture book originally published in Great Britain, a king is desperate to bring a smile to his daughter’s lips. He promises to share his kingdom with anyone who can do so. A boy named Peter decides to take his goose and see if he can amuse the girl. Before he can do so, though, a woman in need rewards him after he shares his food and water with her. Readers familiar with folk tales will realize right away there’s something magical about the goose, especially when a woman is attached to the goose after she tries to steal one of its feathers. She ends up trailing awkwardly along behind Peter and the goose. As Peter moves through the town, others follow her lead with the same results. The sight of all those men, women, and even a dog following along behind a goose and Peter results in making the princess laugh. Delighted by how Peter has amused her, she suggests that they marry. With interesting details well worth a second look, the illustrations, collages on hand-painted papers using watercolor inks and graphite pencil, accompany the story well.

In. Nikki McClure. 2015. Abrams.

Staying inside is no big deal to an imaginative youngster. After all, he can find lots of things to do as long as he has his stuffed giraffe toy. But when he ventures forth and sees what’s outside, he decides that being outside is just as interesting as being inside. At least that’s the case until he starts feeling cold and wet and longs for the comfort of his bed. Following the boy as he goes from one activity to the next, entertaining himself and even using a basket as a rocket ship in which to travel, the interesting illustrations were created by cutting black paper. Readers may enjoy the visual contrast provided through the use of black, white, and yellow colors.

Moletown. Torben Kuhlmann. 2015. NorthSouth.

This talented author/illustrator from Germany impressed readers greatly with Lindbergh (2014), and this follow-up is equally impressive. One mole decides to move underground, leaving the lush greenery of the outside world behind for the joys of tunneling underground. But, slowly, things aboveground become out of hand. Industrialization, progress, and damaging environmental practices take a toll on the once-thriving and visually appealing Moletown, leaving its residents with only a very small patch of land that has not been spoiled by progress. Clearly, while building and renovation have their places, progress has taken a toll on the environment, making this a humorous but stark reminder of what may lie ahead for humans and the world around them. The illustrations are filled with exhausted workers, congested streets, and air that is hard to breathe. Readers will be impressed by this artist’s vision and perhaps pay attention to his caution about too much change in the name of progress.

The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea. Brenda Z. Guiberson. Ill. Gennady Spirin. 2015. Henry Holt.

Based on the eye-catching cover of an anglerfish and the book’s title, readers might be excused for thinking the author is going to provide the definitive answer to which sea creature is most intriguing. But she doesn’t; instead, as was the case in her earlier book, The Greatest Dinosaur Ever (2013), she offers a baker’s dozen of amazing creatures found in the ocean’s depths and then makes a case for why each one is the most amazing. From the Box Jellyfish on the book’s opening pages to the maritime helpers near the conclusion, the amazing, highly detailed illustrations rendered with tempera, watercolor, and pen will have readers absolutely glued to the book’s pages. The book is designed with an “I am...” statement on the first page about the animal, and a description under a huge two-page illustration of each fascinating creature, concluding with “That’s why I am the most amazing creature in the sea.” This gorgeous and fact-filled book will have readers arguing over their favorites.

Sad, the Dog. Sandy Fussell. Ill. Tull Suwannakit. 2015. Candlewick.

A lonely, unloved dog receives basic care from his family, but not a lot of love. In fact, he ends up christening himself “Sad” because that’s how he feels. His human companions ignore him when they aren’t yelling and scolding, and when they finally move, they leave him behind. But a new family with a friendly boy befriends him, and eventually Sad learns to trust again. This family seems to understand dogs, and Jack and the newly-named “Lucky” frolic outdoors, playing with paper airplanes and digging in the dirt, all the things he had been forbidden to do before. This picture book from Australia is a vivid reminder of how much animals learn from humans as well as what humans can learn from animals. Sad is, indeed, very Lucky once the right person befriends him. Those animal “owners” who behave irresponsibly, never allowing their dogs to play or even deserting them need to read this book as a reminder that animals matter and have feelings.

Thank You, Jackson: How One Little Boy Makes a BIG Difference. Niki Daly. Ill. Jude Daly. 2015. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

For years, a donkey named Jackson has patiently and obediently carried a farmer’s wares to the market, but one day he decides not to do so. In his own quiet way, he stages a sit-down strike and refuses to budge. His owner is furious, and he pushes, pulls, and yells at him to get him to move. Just before he strikes Jackson, at his wife’s request, his son intervenes by whispering in Jackson’s ear. The donkey immediately rises, and all three head to market, dividing the load equally. Thanks to his son, the chastened farmer may treat Jackson much better and show how much he values his work. Youngsters will learn important lessons about how words such as please and thank you can make all the difference in the world. Although it’s easy to understand the farmer’s frustration, his anger failed to make any difference in his donkey’s behavior. As is often the case, in the end, a soft word and a little appreciation reap bounteous reward.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt. Kate Messner. 2015. Ill. Christopher Silas Neal. Chronicle.

Lovely mixed-media illustrations highlight the pleasures of gardening, allowing readers to revel in the passage of time and make note of the activities that are occurring beneath the soil’s surface during the course of a year. From checking the soil for its readiness for planting to sowing seeds and plants to finally harvesting them and returning to the dormancy of winter again, readers will surely have the chance to ponder how “a whole new garden sleeps down in the dirt.” Anticipating each phase in the growing season adds to the delights of reading this book as do the thumbnail sketches describing the animals that are so helpful in making sure the garden is healthy. The author’s acknowledgement of the unsung heroes who tend community gardens throughout the year adds to the personal quality and makes it ideal for science classrooms, especially those planning their own community gardens. After all, the book offers excellent coming attractions for what youngsters can expect when they try to grow something.

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 Reading Association's Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group (CL/R SIG) and are published weekly on Literacy Daily.

New books this year related to cultural diversity have provided multiple perspectives on topics in history and social issues. They have suggested the increasing interest in shedding light on new, little-explored topics and in sharing the stories of individuals whose stories have not been told.

Ages 4–8

Crane Boy. Diana Cohn. Ill. Youme. 2015. Cinco Punto.

Kinga lives in Bhutan and watches out of the school windows every fall for the return of the black-necked cranes, much beloved by the people of the valley who have revered them for centuries and preserved the wetlands so they have a habitat. He is concerned about the dwindling number of cranes so he sets about recruiting students, families, and monks to host a crane festival to raise money for the protection of the cranes. During the festival, the people have archery contests and monks perform traditional dances. The children observe and draw the cranes in preparation for their own dance performance. The back matter, richly illustrated with photographs including a double-page spread of the cranes, gives an account of experiences of the author and illustrator when they traveled in Bhutan and provides information on the Phobjika Valley where the story is set, the festival, and the process of counting the cranes. 

—SW

Mama’s Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation. Edwidge Danticat. Ill. Leslie Staub. 2015. Penguin/Dial.

Saya’s Mama is being held at Sunshine Correctional, “a prison for women without papers.” On Saya’s weekly visits to the immigration detention center, Mama tells her Haitian stories about a wosiyòl, a nightingale. Mama sends Saya a cassette on which she tells a bedtime story she made up about a mommy nightingale who has gone on a very long journey and is looking for a rainbow so she can return home to her baby nightingale. As more cassettes arrive weekly and Papa continues writing letters appealing for Mama’s release, Saya decides to write her own story. Papa sends the story to a newspaper reporter, and it is published. With the spread of Saya’s story in the media, Mama is given a hearing. The judge rules that she can come home while waiting for her papers. Staub’s oil paintings in a richly colored, folk art style convey the sadness of separation and the joy of reunion of this hopeful immigration story.

—CA

Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton. Don Tate. 2015. Peachtree.

In this picture book biography of George Moses Horton (1798–approximately 1883), Tate’s rich narrative and softly colored, cartoon-like mixed media illustrations tell the life story of a slave in North Carolina who taught himself to read, composed verses that he memorized and recited before he learned how to write them down, and became a published poet—all before becoming a free man, at the age of 66, when Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Leaving North Carolina, George continued writing about his life experiences. “George’s love of words had taken him on a great journey. Words made him strong. Words allowed him to dream. Words loosened the chains of bondage long before his last day as a slave” (n.p.). In an author’s note, Tate provides a historical context for the book and states his goal in creating for today’s young readers this biography of George Moses Horton—“a person with talents and hopes and dreams, and a desire to be free. Just like them.” 

—CA

Ages 9–11

Dolls of Hope. Shirley Parenteau. 2015. Candlewick.

When Chiyo’s sister becomes engaged, her fiancé vows to pay for Chiyo’s education at a girls’ school, far from her rural village, so she will become a polished and modest young woman who brings honor to her family. Chiyo feels out of place at the school and is belittled by Hoshi, a general’s daughter, who is first in everything. When Chiyo becomes first singer in the singing club, Hoshi redoubles her efforts to make life miserable for Chiyo. The novel, a companion to Ship of Dolls (2014), is set in 1926 Japan during the time of the Dolls of Hope project in which the United States sent thousands of Friendship Dolls to Japan. Chiyo’s school singing club is one of those selected to perform in the national festivities related to the dolls’ arrival in Tokyo, and the school becomes the keeper of one of the dolls with Chiyo as its protector. Hoshi’s acts of retribution escalate, putting girls in danger. Chiyo must make decisions to protect the doll and to honor her family’s vision for her.

—SW

Full Cicada Moon. Marilyn Hilton. 2015. Penguin/Dial.

When 12-year-old Mimi Yoshiko Oliver moves from culturally diverse Berkeley, CA, to mostly white Hillsborough, VT, in 1969, she doesn’t fit in the boxes people expect. Mimi’s mother is Japanese and her father is black. What should she check on the ethnicity part of the school admission form that says Check only one? Other doesn’t fit. “I am half Mama, half papa, and all me.” When her new classmates are confused by her responses to their questions about where she comes from and her nationality and laugh when she says she wants to be an astronaut, Mimi realizes that the question she must answer is not What am I? but Who am I? Hilton’s verse novel takes readers along on Mimi’s journey of self discovery as she struggles to to make friends and fit in while courageously testing gender-based barriers by entering a serious astronomy project in the science fair and protesting the rule that girls take home economics and boys take shop.

—CA

Ages 12–14

Everything, Everything. Nicola Yoon. Ill. David Yoon. 2015. Delacorte.

Madeline Whittier, a biracial 18-year-old, has spent her life in a sterile home under the watchful protection of her widowed mother, a physician. Her father and brother were killed in an accident when she was an infant. As Madeline explains it, she is allergic to the world and must live on “SCID row” because of a rare form of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (known familiarly as “bubble baby disease”) that almost killed her as an infant. When her curiosity about the new neighbor, Olly, begins to move toward a relationship with the unlikely prospect of turning romantic, everything about her life becomes complicated. She wants to experience life outside, and she wants to do it with Olly. Nicola Yoon’s telling of this special love story is heartwarming and balanced with humor added by the inclusion of Madeline’s diary entries, handwritten lists, spoiler reviews about books she has read, e-mail exchanges with Olly, and David Yoon’s line drawings. The book ends with a twist that is both heartwarming and heartrending.

—CA

The Inker’s Shadow. Allen Say. 2015. Scholastic.

When he is 12 years old, Allen is apprenticed to a famous cartoonist in Japan. He pursues his childhood dream of becoming a cartoonist, using a new name the master has given him, Kyusuke, an alter ego who undertakes adventure, gets into trouble, and sees the fun and possibility in everything he encounters.  Kyusuke becomes the character of a series, but he also comes with Allen when he and his family move to the United States. Allen has a scholarship to attend a military academyfounded by his father’s friend in Glendora, CA. In this autobiography, a sequel to Say’s Drawing From Memory (2011), Say shares the challenges, anxieties, and adventure of his experiences as a student in California, with the alter ego Kyusuke depicted in many of the illustrations. Say illustrates events, scenes, and individuals in his life in pencil, pen and ink, and watercolors. The back matter contains additional remarks and archival photographs of places Say lived and people he knew. 

—SW

Sitting Bull: Lakota Warrior and Defender of His People. S.D. Nelson. 2015. Abrams.

Lakota Chief Sitting Bull narrates the account of his life from the time when he was a teenager and proved himself brave and strong to his protection of his people in face of the advance of people and technology that moved across the prairie to settle or exploit the land and its resources.  His life spans the wars between the U.S. government and the Hunkpapa people from the 1860s to 1890. Sitting Bull and a band of his people traveled to Canada, but he returned in face of the destitution of his people and surrendered to the U.S. government in North Dakota. Apprehensive that the Native Americans might mount resistance, the cavalry arrested Sitting Bull, who was then shot while in police custody (ironically, by a Lakota officer). The book includes archival photographs, an extensive timeline detailing the history of the Lakota, source notes, and historical information in the author’s note. The note includes information on the history and craft of Nelson’s ledger art featured throughout the book.

—SW

Ages 15+

All American Boys. Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely. 2015. Atheneum/A Caitlyn Dlouhy Book.

“Mistakes were made./Rashad was beaten./Paul beat Rashad.” Rashad, an African American teen, is in a convenience store buying potato chips. Paul, a white police officer, thinks he is stealing the chips and handcuffs Rashad, removes him the store, and beats him. Quinn, a white teen who Paul has mentored since Quinn’s father was killed in Afghanistan, witnesses the beating and the whole event is caught on camera. As Rashad remains in the hospital, students take sides after a graffiti tag—RASHAD IS ABSENT AGAIN TODAY—is sprayed on the front stairs of Springfield Central High. The story is told alternating the voices of Rashad and Quinn. As a protest is organized against racism and police brutality, these two boys, one black and one white, both Americans, must decide whether they will stand on the sidelines or march.

—CA

Sandip Wilson serves as associate professor at in the College of Health and Education of Husson University in Bangor, ME. Carolyn Angus is former Director of George G. Stone Center for Children's Books, Claremont Graduate University, CA.

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