Literacy Now

“Never to Forget” is the phrase often associated with Holocaust Remembrance. Books for the very young introduce this concept in broader terms whereas books for older readers offer more detailed accounts of people who witnessed, survived, or left a legacy of the experience behind. Teachers can find more information about resources, lesson plans, and ways of commemorating Holocaust Remembrance at the website for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Ages 4–8

Kopelman, Judy Tal. (2014). Grandpa’s Third Drawer: Unlocking Holocaust Memories. New York, NY: The Jewish Publication Society.

Young Uri enjoys visiting his grandparents because they allow him to eat as many chocolates as he likes or he can linger at the breakfast table. One day, whileplaying at his grandfather’s desk he discovers a key. Exploring the desk, he finds it unlocks the third drawer. When he opens the drawer he finds objects strange to him. When Grandfather walks into the room, upset at seeing what Uri is doing, he calms himself and then begins to tell Uri the story behind the objects, actually artifacts, from the years of his childhood known as the Holocaust. Through photo-collage illustrations, Kopelman brings the story of the Jewish persecutions, worded for young children in a way that will open discussion for this difficult-to-explain era. A discussion guide is available at the University of Nebraska website. The original Hebrew edition won the Israeli Ze'ev Prize for Children's Literature in 2003 and won the first prize in Mits'ad Hasfarim (a nationwide survey of all schoolchildren in Israel for first to third grades) in 2003 and 2012. Grandpa's Third Drawer is now included in Israel's "Paths of Memory" nationwide Holocaust learning program in all schools.

Yolen, Jane. (2015). Stone Angel. Illus. by Katie May Green. New York, NY: Philomel/Imprint of Penguin Group.

Set in Paris during World War II, an unnamed young girl narrates the story of her Jewish family’s escape when the Nazis arrive in France. First hiding in the woods and braving the cold and then dealing with the scarcity of food and the constant fear of being discovered by the Germans, the family flees over the mountains into Spain and then onto the seas in a boat setting sail for England to wait out the war. Green’s darkly colored mixed-media illustrations add to the imposing dangers at every turn. Perhaps a little too simplistically, the family finds happiness when they return to Paris to pick up the pieces of their lives and the young girl sees the angel statue outside their apartment and reflects on all the angels that guarded them during their war years away from home.

Ages 9–11

Hopkinson, Deborah. (2015). Courage & Defiance, Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors in World War II Denmark. New York, NY: Scholastic . (Available August 2015)

From Sibert Honor–winning author and noted writer of historical books for children, Deborah Hopkinson focuses her new book on the country of Denmark during World War II and their dramatically heroic efforts at saving the Jews in their country from the dictates of Hitler and his Nazi henchmen. The Danish resistance efforts rescued over 7,000 Jews during this period. Filled with archival photographs, the book is divided into five sections: Occupation and the Sparks of Defiance; Crackdown and Flight; Action and Arrest; Deported and Imprisoned; and Liberations. As the sections unfold in chronological order from the spies and saboteurs, the underground press, from individuals to organized resistance groups to collaborators and sympathizers, the stories of the Danish people and how they worked together as a community and as a nation to stand up for what was right at a time when this courage with little regard for their personal safety was not easy to accomplish.

Lewis, J. Patrick. (2015). The Wren and the Sparrow. Illus. by Yevgenia Nayberg. New York, NY: Kar-Ben Publishing.

Written in the style of a fable, the story is set in Poland during World War II. The location is actually the Łódź Ghetto where Polish Jews have been forced to live together. When the Tyrant (Hitler) calls for all musical instruments to be surrendered and turned over to the guards, the Wren, a local weaver and excellent musician, must bring his hurdy-gurdy into town to leave with the soldiers who are wearing swastika armbands on their sleeves. The Wren asks to play one more time and the townspeople band together and cry out and join the song as a last heroic act before the instruments and the Wren are dragged away, never to be seen again. However, Sparrow, a young girl who is a student of Wren’s, grabs the hurdy-gurdy that contains a secret message, and hides it away in a basement. Years later the hurdy-gurdy is discovered by a young boy and the message is revealed. Nayberg’s stylized and impressionistic illustrations add a somber beauty to the tale and colors brighten toward the end when the message of hope for the future is revealed.

Ages 12–14

Clark, Kathy. (2015). The Choice. New York, NY: Second Story.

Based on the experiences of her father during the Holocaust of World War II and written in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Kathy Clark continues her contributions in writing for the Holocaust Remembrance Books for Young Readers series. Set in Budapest, Hungary, young Jakob, newly renamed Hendrick, and his family have chosen to hide as Catholics rather than have their Jewish identity discovered. One day, Jakob has had enough witnessing the Jewish persecutions and defiantly announces his Jewish heritage and by doing this places his entire family in danger from the Nazis. When his best friend Ivan abandons Jakob and offers no help in allowing them to escape, Jakob is arrested and sent to Auschwitz. It is only his anger and drive for revenge against Ivan that keeps him alive within the concentration camp horrors. At the end of the war, Jakob returns to Budapest to seek out Ivan but learns that all kinds of difficult choices have to be made during wartime.

Cohen-Janca, Irène. (2015). Mister Doctor: Janusz Korczak & the Orphans of the Warsaw Ghetto. Translated by Paula Ayer. Illus. by Maurizio A.C. Quarello. Toronto, ON, Canada: Annick.

The remarkable true story of Dr. Janusz Korczak is told through text and stunningly somber illustrations. Mister Doctor, as he is known in 1940 by all the children in the orphanage at Krochmalna Street, Warsaw, Poland, has created revolutionary concepts in the care of orphan children. As the Nazis take over his city and force the children into the ghetto, Mister Doctor bravely leads the children to appease their fear. Two years later they are moved again, this time on their final journey as they are sent to Treblinka, a death camp. The Holocaust is difficult to explain to young children, and this book tells the story without graphic illustration and applauds a true hero of the period. It is the writing and actions of this brave man and his assistant Madam Stefa who were influential years later in the development of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Child.

Gruenbaum, Michael with Todd Hasak-Lowy. (2015). Somewhere There Is Still a Sun: A Memoir of the Holocaust. New York, NY: Aladdin/Simon & Schuster.

The author, a survivor of the Theresienstadt concentration camp located outside of Prague in then-Czechoslovakia, writes this memoir of his life in the camp. In 1942, Michael, along with his mother and sister, were sent to the camp and remained there until the end of the war. Narrated in the present tense by Misha, as Michael was called, he describes his very pleasant life with his family before the war in Prague. When the Nazis arrive and herd the Czech Jews into the ghetto, it is only a short time later they are deported to Theresienstadt, also known as Terezín. Misha was in a barracks with 40 boys. Some days were pleasant enough—filled with soccer and being with his new friends—but other times, they waited to hear the names on lists of people being sent to other camps, which often meant Auschwitz, a death camp. The story behind Michael’s family survival revolves around a secret and a teddy bear. Archival photos and primary documents add to the reality of this dark time.

Peppas, Lynn Leslie. (2015). The Holocaust. New York, NY: Crabtree.

From the series, Uncovering the Past: Analyzing Primary Sources, this volume begins to answer questions that students, as well as adults, often ask: How did the Holocaust happen? How did Hitler accomplish this genocide? Beginning with the early 1900s, this book chronologically presents primary documents as evidence of the racism, discrimination, and nationalism that Germany and eventually Adolf Hitler used to manipulate everything to take control of Germany and put the country onto the path of genocide. This book and the series of which it is a part is asking readers to be critical thinkers as they look at the primary sources and evidence of Nazi propaganda and how it led people to misinterpret or create perspectives not necessarily their own. Examples of modern day situations direct readers to consider how history repeats itself.

Ten Boom, Corrie. (2015). The Hiding Place: Young Reader’s Edition. Ada, MI: Chosen Books/Baker Publishing Group.

The original book written by Corrie Ten Boom called The Hiding Place was published in 1971. Though not necessarily written for children, this book became one of the early books available on the Holocaust and has been used in classrooms across the country as an entry point to learn about the Holocaust for middle grade and high school readers. This new edition is specifically rewritten with younger readers in mind. The story remains that of the Ten Booms, a family celebrating the 100th anniversary of their watch-making and repair business in the Netherlands. This devoutly Christian family could not stand by and witness when the Nazis invaded their country and the brutal discriminatory treatment of the Jews began. The Ten Booms became active in the Dutch underground and were successful for a time in hiding Jews in the secret room in their home. Upon their discovery and arrest, they are sent to a concentration camp as collaborators. The heroism of this family is beyond compare, and their story is one that needs to be read, shared, and discussed.

Various authors. (2014). Remembering the Holocaust series. New York, NY: Enslow.

Titles in this series include Anti-Semitism and the “Final Solution”; Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, Treblinka: The Holocaust Camps; Hitler, Goebbels, Himmler: The Nazi Holocaust Masterminds; Schindler, Wallenberg, Miep Gies: The Holocaust Heroes; Warsaw, Lodz, Vilna: The Holocaust Ghettos; Wiesel, Wiesenthal, Klarsfeld: The Holocaust Survivors. Each book in this series covers an aspect of the whole picture that led to the Jewish Holocaust of World War II. Use this as an introductory reference set for research projects on this topic. Archival photographs, a chronology, chapter notes, a glossary, further reading suggestions, and an index are helpful tools that will make this set a usable and student-friendly reference resource.

Ages 15+

Deem, James M. (2015). The Prisoners of Breendonk: Personal Histories From a World War II Concentration Camp. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers.

Located outside Antwerp, Belgium, Breendonk was originally built as a fort in the early 1900s to prevent the Germans from entering Belgium. It was damaged during World War I and was not used much and so fell into disrepair. When the Nazis arrived during World War II, they brought the fort into the realm of a prison. Brutal beatings were common occurrences, and starvation was rampant. The inhuman treatment of these prisoners was horrifying. Though not really considered a concentration camp, called instead a “reception” camp, half of the numbered prisoners there survived only to be shipped on to Auschwitz for their final journey. The author has done in-depth research on this little-known camp and the photographs taken by Belgian photographer Leon Nolis bring a look at the camp today that recreates and haunts from the past in the old fortress. Visit the author’s website for more background information and photographs.

Thor, Annika. (2015). Deep Sea. Translated from the Swedish by Linda Schenck. New York, NY: Delacorte/Random House.

This story begins in the Mildred L. Batchelder Award–winning book, A Faraway Island (2009). It continues in the sequel, The Lily Pond (2011), a Mildred Batchelder Honor book. Deep Sea is the third book in a planned quartet of books about the Steiner sisters who have escaped to Sweden from Nazi-held Vienna, Austria. Their parents are still imprisoned there, but the girls soon learn they have been transported to Theresienstadt. The story opens four years after the last book when the sisters are separated. Older sister Stephie is living in Göteborg with friends and has hopes to continue her education to become a doctor, though funding is problematic. As Stephie meets other Jewish refugees, she rediscovers her own Jewish identity and learns to be proud of this, but not so much for younger sister Nellie. Religious issues, genocide, teen pregnancy and other issues all set with the overarching dark cloud of the Holocaust makes this a book for older readers.

Various authors. (2015). A Documentary History of the Holocaust series. New York, NY: Rosen.

A reference collection of books that can be used for research or for students interested in various aspects of the Holocaust, this student-friendly series features the historical, political, and social background to begin an in-depth look into this dark period of the 20th century. Documentary evidence and survivor testimonies are included, in addition to numerous features such as sidebars, timelines, glossary, further information, organizations, further reading, websites, bibliography, index, and author biography. The titles in this series include Elie Wiesel, Jewish Resistance Against the Holocaust, Kristallnacht and Living in Nazi Germany, Nazi Architects of the Holocaust, Nazi Concentration Camps, Righteous Gentiles, The Nuremberg Trials, The Warsaw Ghetto and Uprising.

Karen Hildebrand is retired library media specialist and Library Director for Delaware City Schools in Delaware, OH. She is currently an adjunct professor at Ashland University in Ohio, a reading consultant, and a Holocaust Fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, and chairs the Education Curriculum Committee for the Delaware County Historical Society.

The review contributions are provided by members of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.

As Katherine Paterson writes in “Why Historical Fiction?” “History gives us a pair of powerful eyeglasses with which to examine our own times. It is hard to look directly at our present reality because we are both too myopic and too faint-hearted.” History is alive, and historical books provide opportunities for young readers to experience times and places that, although not their own, have the potential to influence their understandings about the events of the past, the ways in which history both shaped and was shaped by individuals and groups of people, and how those people and events affect present realities. Furthermore, literature can provide multiple perspectives on history and historical events, giving voice to those whose perspectives have been excluded from other accounts. The books featured in this post demonstrate the power of children’s literature—regardless of genre and text type—both to provide information for young readers and to tell the stories of history.

Ages 4–8

Alko, Selina. (2015). The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage. Illus. Sean Qualls and Selina Alko. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine.

The Case for Loving conveys the story behind Loving v. Virginia, the 1967 Supreme Court case that invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage. After opening with (mixed-media) spreads depicting Mildred and Richard Loving and their three children at home, the narrative moves backward in time to contextualize why the couple was not allowed to marry each other in 1958 Virginia: Richard self-identified as white and Mildred self-identified as part African American and part Cherokee. Although laws in Virginia banned interracial marriages, couples like the Lovings could marry in nearby Washington, DC, which is where the couple decided to hold their marriage ceremony. Back home in Virginia, however, they were arrested and imprisoned for “unlawful cohabitation.” In order to be recognized as a married couple, the Lovings moved their family to Washington, DC. Because they wanted to live in Virginia, however, they hired attorneys who eventually argued the case before the U.S. Supreme Court, which decided unanimously in favor of the Lovings. Alko, a white Jewish woman from Canada, is married to illustrator Qualls, an African American man from New Jersey, and indicates in a note at the end of the text that her motivation to tell this story stems from her family’s own personal histories, her desire to help today’s children understand different times in U.S. history, and also from the couple’s hope “that there will soon come a time when all people who love each other have the same rights as Sean and I have.” The Loving v. Virginia case has been cited as precedence for arguments for same-sex marriage, further demonstrating how history shapes and informs what happens in the world today. Text features include notes from the author and notes about the art, a list of sources, and suggestions for further reading.

—TC

Ringgold, Faith. (2015). Harlem Renaissance Party. Illus. Faith Ringgold. New York, NY: Amistad.

The latest from Faith Ringgold, Harlem Renaissance Party features the acclaimed artist’s signature naïve style of illustration, created in acrylics on canvas paper. It also features two characters from her previous book, Dinner at Aunt Connie’s House (Hyperion, 1993): Uncle Bates and his adopted son, Lonnie (Aunt Connie is also mentioned in passing). As the narrative opens, Lonnie and Uncle Bates view an invitation to celebrate the women and men of the Harlem Renaissance written across the sky. They catch a plane and travel back in time to “see musicians, poets, novelists, painters, activists, philosophers, and scholars: wise men and women, giants standing tall above the crowd, sharing dreams of a better life for all black people.” Upon arriving in Harlem, Lonnie and Uncle Bates visit several notable places associated with the Harlem Renaissance and African American history and culture more generally, including 7th Avenue (Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.), Well’s Restaurant, the publishing headquarters for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s The Crisis magazine, one of Madam C.J. Walker’s beauty schools, the Harlem Opera House, the Schomburg Library, and the Savoy Ballroom. Along the way, the duo interacts with figures such as Jack Johnson, Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Du Bois, Paul Robeson, Florence Mills, Zora Neale Hurston, and Langston Hughes, Lonnie’s favorite poet. On the plane home, Lonnie tells Uncle Bates that he now understands why the Harlem Renaissance is so important. “Black people didn’t come to America to be free. We fought for our freedom by creating art, music, literature, and dance.” Text features include a Harlem Renaissance Glossary and a list of books suggested for further reading.

—TC

Weatherford, Carole Boston. (2015). Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America. Illus. Jamey Christoph. Chicago, IL: Albert Whitman.

Stillborn, photographer Gordon Parks was named after the doctor who delivered him and brought him back to life by dipping him into ice water. At 14, his mother passed away and he moved to Minneapolis to live with his aunt, his mother’s sister. He held many jobs, including a porter and a waiter—positions one of his white teachers dictated to her all-black students were the only two jobs appropriate for African American people. At 25, Gordon was inspired to purchase a camera, and he began working as a photographer, moving to Chicago at the suggestion of one of the models he photographed and working as a government photographer. Noting the segregation between blacks and whites and the poverty of many African Americans, he “vows to lay bare racism with his lens.” His boss points him toward a subject for his photographs: Ella Watson, a cleaning person in the building in which Parks works. Gordon takes her picture in front of the American flag while she holds a broom, one of the tools of her trade. This fast-paced biography for young readers demonstrates the importance of photography and its significance as a form of art while bringing attention to the first African American person who wrote and directed a Hollywood film. Gordon also wrote novels and composed music and poetry, but he is famous mostly for his work as a photographer.

—MG

Ages 9–11

Lại, Thanhhà. (2015). Listen, Slowly. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

As the novel opens, 12-year-old Mai Le is in an airplane, frustrated and unhappy that her parents forced her to forego her plans for a relaxing summer with her friends in Laguna Beach, CA—the summer she has been waiting for her entire life. Despite having worked hard and excelling in school (she carries a 4.0 GPA, has an “SAT-ish” vocabulary, and is a team leader in track, science, and chess), she is told that instead of relaxing on the beach with friends, she will spend six weeks escorting her grandmother to Vietnam. Having received a letter that indicated her husband may or may not still be alive, Mai’s grandmother is determined to return to Vietnam and uncover whether her husband, a man who went missing in action during the Vietnam War and had since been presumed dead, is still living. As Mai acclimates to the small village in Vietnam in which she and her family stays (where even Internet access is limited), she begins to make friends, deepen her bond with her grandmother, and recognize how she is connected to the homeland of her parents and their family before them. The believable voice of Lại’s snarky but endearing narrator will draw readers into the novel from its opening page, and the story remains compelling throughout, underscoring the longstanding, often unanticipated effects that events can have across continents and generations.

—TC

Ages 12–14

Almond, David, John Boyne, Tracy Chevalier, et al. (2015). The Great War: Stories Inspired by Items From the First World War. Illus. Jim Kay. New York, NY: Candlewick.

This anthology focuses on 11 items chosen by various children’s authors as the lenses through which they write stories intended to illustrate for readers the importance and significance of the First World War. The writers of the short stories in this collection use different styles, forms, and genres, including poetry. The stories will prompt readers to question the impact and damage—not only physical—that can result from war, and encourage them to consider whether anyone benefits from it. One story mentions the role of women during the war, others seek to provide information from either the British and German sides, providing multiple perspectives for readers to consider. Ultimately, all of the stories included here share the perspective that whether one is deemed the victor is meaningless, as there are no real winners in war and violent conflicts.

—TC

Frydenborg, Kay. (2015). Chocolate: Sweet Science & Dark Secrets of the World’s Favorite Treat. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin.

This text explores the role and importance of cacao seeds, cocoa beans, and chocolate across history and across the globe, beginning with speculations about the origin of the cacao tree between 8000 B.C. and 2000 B.C. and tracing its various ceremonial, medicinal, and culinary uses, as well as its socio-economic, political, and scientific impact, through the present day. Frydenborg weaves together an engaging narrative, investigating and analyzing the production of chocolate, its historical and contemporary ties to slave labor and human trafficking, its chemical structure and affect on humans, and its role in colonialism and industrialization. The content of the book ranges from light-hearted to horrifying and provides a complex introduction to understanding cacao and chocolate across time and cultures. Several chapters conclude with a chocolate-related recipe, including those for Aztec chocolate (1556), chocolate custards (1854), Ecuadorian hot chocolate, and Toll House chocolate crunch cookies (1936). In addition to black-and-white photographs and artwork, the book features a 16-page insert of color images. Other text features include a timeline, bibliography, list of websites, and index.

—MG

Ages 15+

Rauch, Georg. (2015). Unlikely Warrior: A Jewish Soldier in Hitler’s Army. New York, NY: Farrar Straus Giroux.

In 1984, artist Georg Rauch reread letters he had written to his mother while he was enlisted as a telegraph operator in Hitler’s army 40 years earlier. As his wife, Phyllis, in the foreword to the memoir, says that after reading those letters, Rauch “left his art studio (a rare event) and began to write. He wrote seven days a week.” Each evening, the couple would sit together and Georg would read what he wrote; the next day, Phyllis would translate that writing into English. In 2006, 22 years after writing the manuscript and only four months before Georg passed away, the couple self-published the book, which is now revised and published for a young adult audience as Unlikely Warrior. Divided into three parts, Part One describes the military training Rauch received after he was drafted, at 19, into the German army—despite declaring that his maternal grandmother was Jewish, making him Mischlinge (the derogatory word used to describe someone who was a quarter Jewish). During the war, he worked as a telegraph and radio operator before being captured and held as a Prisoner of War in Russia. Part Two focuses on Rauch’s harrowing experiences in Russian labor camps, and Part Three describes his journey home to Vienna, where he hoped to reunite with family members. The book alternates between Rauch’s recollections and excerpts from his letters (printed in a different font). Text features include illustrations (maps, photographs, and drawings), a timeline of events, author’s note, glossaries of German and Russian/Ukrainian words, and a note about the translator.

—TC

Wein, Elizabeth. (2015). Black Dove, White Raven. New York, NY: Hyperion.

Set in the 1920s and 1930s, Elizabeth Wein’s latest novel centers on Em and Teo, two friends (more like siblings) whose mothers performed together as barnstormers, “Black Dove” and “White Raven.” When the plane the two aviators are flying strikes a bird and crashes, Teo’s mother, Delia, is killed. Em’s mother, Rhoda, decides to relocate the surviving trio to Ethiopia, where Delia had already planned to move with her son before her untimely death. Delia’s desire to move her family was grounded in the fact that Teo’s father was from Ethiopia, but also rooted in her hope that there, Teo would not be discriminated against because of the color of his skin. Rhoda’s decision to relocate the family is made, in part, to honor Delia’s wishes, but also results from her own hope that Ethiopia will be a place in which Em would not face discrimination as a result of her gender. The family’s new life on a coffee plantation is interrupted by geopolitical events, as Mussolini’s troops prepare for their invasion of Ethiopia. The richly written, descriptive narrative moves slowly for the first two-thirds of the novel, before building and springing into action in the final act. Told through alternating voices and formats (such as stories, letters, school essays, and flight log entries), the novel is as much about the power and strength of friendship and family as it is about the 1935 Italian invasion of Ethiopia. An author’s note at the end of the text provides contextual information about the novel and its characters and also describes and clarifies how Wein attempted to balance historical fact and storytelling.

—TC

Thomas Crisp is an assistant professor in the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, where he teaches courses in children’s and young adult literature and literacy. Mehmet Gultekin is currently a PhD student in the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, where he also works as a research assistant. They are both at Georgia State University.

The review contributions are provided by members of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.

The best books invite and nurture creativity. In his 2011 Zena Sutherland Lecture, Mo Willems asks, “What if the thing that makes books great, that makes them essential, is that books need us? They’re simple. You invest in them and become part of them. You contribute. They can be read, but they can also be played. I’m not really interested in you guys reading my books a hundred times; read it twenty times and then make your own story. Go from consuming a story to creating your own. This is a magical thing to me.”

The books featured in this column have the potential to work that kind of magic. On the pages of these books, readers will meet children who dwell in fantasy realms, a dog who is an amazing inventor, talented musicians, and even a few pranksters. The characters model creativity while the writing and art open spaces for imagination as readers make inferences, take leaps of faith, and bring their own personal twists to the stories.

Ages 4–8

Agee, Jon. (2015). It’s Only Stanley. New York, NY: Penguin.

One dark night, Stanley (a beagle) hears a beautiful and haunting howl from far, far away. The Wimbledons are sleeping soundly when they are awakened by Stanley’s reply. The family believes Stanley is simply howling at the moon. They go back to sleep, only to be awakened again by another sound. And then another. Each time, Walter (the father), follows the sound to Stanley, who appears to be working feverishly to complete rather bizarre tasks: fixing the oil tank, making catfish stew, and clearing the bathroom drain. The family feels relieved each time and returns to bed. Yet, as the book concludes, the Wimbledons realize their very creative dog has actually invented a way to take them all to another place entirely. This is a fun and intriguing book to read. The detailed illustrations show the reader the depth of Stanley’s ingenious work as well as the growing exhaustion of the Wimbledons. The reader feels mystified by Stanley’s creative genius as he finds a solution to reach the far-off sound and arrive at happiness. The surprising finish delights!

—KH

Andrews, Troy. (2015). Trombone Shorty. New York, NY: Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, a little boy with a big dream, is from the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans where music can be heard at “any time of day or night.” He has an immense passion for music. Little Troy and the rest of Treme celebrate Mardi Gras each year by filling the streets and listening to the brass bands’ music fill the air. Inspired by the parades, Troy started off by creating his own instruments from random materials, but then found a broken trombone he could call his own. He took his trombone out to the parade and played for the crowds. The trombone was twice the size of Troy, and he became Trombone Shorty. This inspiring and uplifting autobiography of Trombone Shorty provides the reader with a taste of the culture of New Orleans and teaches young children that despite the odds, anything is possible if you have a dream.

—SC

Thong, Roseanne Greenfield. (2014). Noodle Magic. Illus. by Meilo So. New York, NY: Orchard.

Every evening, Grandpa Tu slapped, kneaded, and stretched dough into coils. He magically created noodles, jump ropes, and strings for kits. His granddaughter, Mei, wished she could spin magic like Grandpa Tu. As the Emperor’s birthday approached, the village buzzed with excitement. Everyone was busy making something special for the Emperor. But where was Grandpa Tu? Who would make noodles? This year Mei was going to “make noodle magic.” Mei was terrified. Does she have the magic like Grandpa Tu? Will the Moon Goddess help her? There are more than words in this colorful book. Written in the style of Chinese folk stories, the colorful illustrations show the reader Grandpa Tu’s art and creativity. This picture book is filled with imagination and will spark yours as well.

—VS

Walker, Sally. (2015). Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh. New York, NY: Henry Holt.

This book sheds light on a unique relationship between a soldier and a bear cub. As a veterinarian and soldier, Harry Colebourn came across a bear cub for sale at a train station and it soon becomes his. She was named Winnipeg and called her new home a training camp in England. Winnie and Harry developed a close bond as they shared many special moments. With a war overseas getting worse, Harry was soon shipped to France. A war zone is no place for a bear, so he made other arrangements for Winnie care in his absence. Winnie was taken to the London Zoo, where a young boy by the name of Christopher Robin came to see Winnie frequently. A new friendship emerged, as well as the inspiration for the well-known and much-loved character, Winnie-the-Pooh. This is a heartwarming account that illuminates the idea that a creative spark can come from just about anywhere.

—KG

Ward, Lindsay. (2015). Henry Finds His Word. New York, NY: Penguin.

Author and illustrator Lindsay Ward demonstrates the path toward human speech in this creative story that tells how one child starts to talk. Henry is a young toddler looking for his first word. Though he originally thinks that his communication, saying bbbghsh for no, book, and ball is completely sufficient, he soon realizes there must be a better way of getting what he wants. He starts to look for his first word on his own. He looks in many places and asks his friends—the cat, bird, and bunny—for help. He is baffled and getting a bit frustrated until the day he desperately needs his mama. When that happens, he realizes he already had the word inside! This book gives children an opportunity to reflect on creative ways of communicating and shows the power of words and the importance of having the ability to use them.

—KH

Ages 9–11

Harrold, A.F. (2015). The Imaginary. Illus. by E. Gravett. New York, NY: Bloomsbury.

It takes a “really sparky” kid to bring imaginary friends to life. Only Amanda can see Rudger, but her mom generously humors the relationship. Amanda needs Rudger because none of her real friends want to go on the kind of creative adventures she wants to have. When Amanda is hit by a car because of an incident with the dreaded Mr. Bunting, Rudger discovers much more about what it means to be imaginary. Mr. Bunting poses a terrifying threat to all imaginaries, but Amanda and her mom’s devotion to their imaginaries help to save the day. The Imaginary features design elements throughout that add to the mystery and suspense of the story: red and white endpapers with skulls and sharp-toothed creatures, framed chapter headings, carefully placed illustrations, the cat’s shadow on the last page. The book ends with a spread showing Rudger and Amanda; one side of the spread is black and white, while the other side shows the children riding a bright pink dinosaur into yet another adventure.

—LC

Lean, Sarah. (2015). Hero. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

In his imagination, Leo is a heroic gladiator. Fairly quiet and reserved, Leo has two main friends: Jack Pepper, his neighbor’s little white dog, and George, a friend from school. When an accident at school gains him the attention of the popular kids, Leo abandons George and attempts to gain their acceptance and approval. Leo is pressured by the group to misbehave, and he soon is caught in a lie. A story spread in the community that Leo rescued Jack Pepper from the pond, when in fact he trashed his neighbor’s scooter and did not save the dog. When a meteor strikes and forms a sinkhole, Jack Pepper gets trapped. The time comes for Leo to be a hero in real life, redeeming his errors and, this time, saving the dog. This story captures the journey of a boy creating in reality what he has created in his imagination: a personal identity, one of integrity.

—JH

Nolan, Nina. (2015). Mahalia Jackson: Walking With Kings and Queens. Illus. by J. Holyfield. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

This sweet story follows the footsteps of little Mahalia Jackson from her childhood to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the day Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous speech. Mahalia walked through life with music on her mind, even though she was living on the steps of poverty. She moved, worked, and occasionally went to school, but she sang with each new change in her life. During her grandfather’s sickness, Mahalia made a promise to God that she would never sing in a nightclub. Upon her grandfather’s recovery, Mahalia kept this promise as she joyfully sang gospel music at many churches throughout the south. Her faith kept her singing, and her singing lifted everyone’s spirits. The beautiful, rich colors that paint this story tell a tale of how one little girl sang her way from her stoop in New Orleans to the stage at Carnegie Hall.

—MW

Ages 12–14

Barnett, Mac, and Jory John. (2015). The Terrible Two. Illus. by K. Cornell. New York, NY: Amulet.

Miles’s family moves to Yawnee Valley, the town where a cow was once the mayor, and Miles is unhappy, to say the least. Yet there is one glimmer of hope for Miles: the possibility of becoming the best prankster in his new school. When Miles arrives at his new school, he realizes that Yawnee Valley Science and Letter Academy already has a prankster who somehow got Principal Barkin’s car up a flight of stairs and in front of the school’s entrance! Miles begins a pranking war with the school’s resident prankster, Niles; in order to obtain status as the school’s prankster, Miles has to be imaginative with his tomfooleries. Infused with comical illustrations and peculiar facts about cows, readers will be giggling from page 1 until the last sentence, and they may become a little more creative with their pranks, too!

—KO

Clements, Andrew. (2015). The Map Trap. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Alton Ziegler’s life is consumed with maps. He collects maps to learn about the world, follows maps to discover geocaching treasures, and even creates maps to put a creative spin on the world. Unfortunately, not all maps should get out! Some of Alton’s more creative maps include a map of his science teacher’s brain, a map of who has a crush on whom, even a map of which tests get the most kids cheating. When these maps go missing, Alton is forced into a mystery full of so many twists and turns, even reluctant readers will be hooked. Cartography is no longer a complicated study of coordinates and fractions for scaling, it is a creative way to show all of the world’s wonders...from Ancient Egypt to the sixth-grade cafeteria.

—RK

Ages 15+

Hooper, Emma. (2015). Etta and Otto and Russell and James. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

In this book, readers get to know Etta Vogel, an 83-year-old woman who intends to walk the 3,200 kilometers from her home to the ocean. Etta leaves her husband, Otto, behind, but Russell (his friend and Etta’s admirer) attempts to follow her. Etta dismisses Russell’s company, sustained by her coyote companion, James. Although the story centers on Etta, back stories from Otto and Russell overlap and help illuminate the history and tragedy revealed in this novel. As Etta walks, she finds herself supported by strangers, and her journey inspires those she is closest to. Otto writes her letters, and Russell begins his own quest. Although these three characters may not be typical in young adult novels, they offer adolescents a glimpse into the roles love, friendship, and memory play on our own personal journeys.

—LC

Sedgwick, Marcus. (2015). The Ghosts of Heaven. New York, NY: Roaring Brook.

Originally published in the United Kingdom, this book opens with vocabulary, diagrams, and an author’s introduction. The book features four narratives, but the author states that “the four quarters are assembled here in just one of twenty-four possible combinations; this order makes one kind of sense, but the reader should feel free to choose a different order, a different sense, if desired.” This is a demanding piece of fantasy that invites readers to suspend disbelief as they travel alongside an array of diverse characters across a range of times and contexts. The first portion of the story is told in narrative verse from the perspective of a young girl during the Paleolithic era. The next three quartets blend historical fiction and time travel as we meet witches, priests, poets, and a sentinel on a spaceship destined for new earth. The stories intertwine, but there is no neat and tidy ending. As the spiral staircase on the cover indicates, readers may find themselves feeling challenged and even a bit dizzy.

—LC

Lesley Colabucci is an associate professor in the Department of Early, Middle, and Exceptional Education at Millersville University in Pennsylvania where she teaches courses in children’s and young adult literature. Teachers in her graduate-level children’s literature course selected books and reviewed for this column, including Kirsten Hoover, Millersville University of Pennsylvania; Selda Cavus, fourth-grade teacher, Conestoga Valley School District, PA; Valerie Sherts, School District of Lancaster, PA; Katie Gentile, third-grade teacher, Eastern Lancaster County School District, PA; Jessica Heindel, Millersville University of Pennsylvania; Marlene Weaver, sixth-grade teacher, Conestoga Valley School District, PA; Karen Oulahan, ELA Teacher, Elizabethtown Area School District, PA; Rebecca Kremer, English teacher, Wilson School District, PA.

The review contributions are provided by members of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.

We believe the arts matter. We view literary, visual, and performing arts as essential to all realms of society, including both education and the workforce. Creative and imaginative thinking, then, are skills that can (and must) be taught. Across the curriculum, the arts can operate as subjects, tools, settings, lenses, and ways of knowing. A number of professional resources are available to teachers interested in learning more about integrating the arts into their teaching, including offerings through institutions such as the Lincoln Center Institute, the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network, and ArtsNow. As illustrated by the books below, children’s and young adult texts this year further demonstrate for readers the power, potential, and significance of the arts in the contemporary world from poetry, painting, architecture, and photography to music, theatre, and dance.

Ages 4-8

Golio, Gary. (2015). Bird and Diz. Illus. by Ed Young. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

This nonfiction picture book is a playful and rhythmic celebration of jazz musicians Charlie “Bird” Parker and John “Dizzy” Gillespie, artists who, in the mid-1940s, helped develop bebop, a form of jazz that “relied on quick thinking and fast playing, complicated trails of notes, and rhythms that caught listeners by surprise and stuck in their heads.” Like saxophonist Parker and trumpeter Gillespie, author Golio and illustrator Young are each acclaimed artists in their own right. By bringing together their individual forms and styles of artistic expression, however, they contribute equally to the creation of a product with its unique meaning and synergy. Golio’s continuous narrative and Young’s pastel, gouache, and sumi ink illustrations interact similarly, mirroring the call and response, back-and-forth energy of bebop, and chasing each other across pages that invite readers to engage their senses even further by touching and feeling the heavy, matte cardstock paper. Even before readers open the book, they will find that the components of this book are held together by a clasp opposite the spine that joins the front cover to the back cover. Text features include an afterword that includes a brief biographical and contextual note, selected discography, and encouragement for readers to search online for videos of specific performances and to “pick up your crayons and draw!”

—TC

Myers, Christopher. (2015). My Pen. New York, NY: Disney-Hyperion.

The power of a pen (and a little imagination and creativity) is the focus of the latest picture book by acclaimed author-illustrator Christopher Myers. The theme is made explicit to readers even before they open the book: The front dust jacket cover depicts a sea of black ink through which a young child sails in a newspaper boat. The child, who readers are led to conclude is Aurelio (a boy featured on a “1017-dollar bill” on the copyright page) gazes through a spyglass toward the hand of the illustrator, whose pen is poised above the page, mid-sketch. Text written in the upper left-hand side of the cover reads, “All you need is your imagination.” The sketchbook style is further illustrated on the end pages, filled with doodles and squiggles, and when one removes the dust jacket to find the front and back panels similarly covered in splotches of black ink. As the story opens, Aurelio remarks that when he when compares himself with rich and famous individuals, he sometimes feels small—until he remembers he has his pen. The book, illustrated with pen and ink and presented entirely in black and white, creates a sense of open-ended possibility. Throughout, both words and illustrations combine to demonstrate the many ways Aurelio’s pen has the power to create and change the world around him.

—TC

Ages 9-11

Holt, Kimberly Willis. (2015). Dear Hank Williams. New York, NY: Henry Holt. 

Set in 1948, this epistolary novel by National Book Award–winning author Kimberly Willis Holt tells the story of 11-year-old Tate, who responds to her teacher’s assignment to find a pen pal in Japan by deciding instead to correspond with Hank Williams, an up-and-coming country music singer whose radio performances Tate listens to weekly with her great-aunt and great-uncle. In her letters to Williams, Tate describes her family, claiming initially that her mother is an actress and her father is a renowned photographer (later revealing that this is not true). Her letters often focus on her ability to sing, a talent she states she shares with her mother, and that she nurtures through daily practice in anticipation of entering a singing contest. As her letters progress, Tate reveals more of the reality and truth of her life experiences (her mother, for example, is in jail); although the stories are often tragic, the love of her family and her passion for music help Tate persevere. Although the only response Tate receives from Williams comes in the form of a few photographs, Tate continues to send him letters, as writing to the country music star—in addition to listening to his music—serves a therapeutic function for her. Through Tate’s letters, readers learn about historical events of the era (including anti-Japanese and anti-Communist sentiments following the end of World War II), as well as the power and value of music.

—MG

Altebrando, Tara. (2015). My Life in Dioramas. Illus. by T.L. Bonaddio. Philadelphia, PA: Running Press.

Twelve-year-old Kate lives with her parents, both musicians, in a house known by those living in their town as “Big Red.” As a result of financial difficulties, her parents decide they have to sell the house and move the family into the home of Kate’s grandparents. Kate is resistant to this change, hoping instead to stay at her current school with her friends and where she will also have the opportunity to participate in a dance competition. When the house is put on the market, Kate does anything she can to keep the realtor from finding a buyer—making plans that include not only annoying noises but also “fecal matter.” Kate begins making shoebox dioramas of each room in her home, both as part of a school assignment and later as a way to express her feelings. From the dioramas to her interest in dance and her musician parents, Kate’s life is infused with the arts, which are a powerful outlet for the protagonist. Although some of the characters feel underdeveloped and the storyline is somewhat predictable, readers may identify with many of issues Kate must confront and appreciate the broad range of artistic forms described in this novel. Final artwork not seen/review based upon advance uncorrected proof.

—MG

Keenan-Bolger, Andrew, and Kate Wetherhead. (2015). Jack & Louisa: Act 1. New York, NY: Grosset & Dunlap.

Jack & Louisa: Act 1 is the debut novel of musical theater performers Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead. The first in a series of middle grades novels, the authors drew heavily upon their own childhoods and experiences in musical theater to write the story of 12-year-old Jack Goodrich, a boy with extensive Broadway experience who moves with his parents from New York City to Shaker Heights, Ohio. Jack, whose changing voice was the impetus for his family’s departure from New York, intends to leave his life as a performer behind him, a plan challenged by Louisa (Jack’s new neighbor and a self-proclaimed “Musical Theater Nerd”). Keenan-Bolger and Wetherhead took turns writing chapters, and the book alternates between Jack’s and Louisa’s perspectives. As one may infer from the title, Jack & Louisa: Act 1 reflects its creators’ inexperience as writers of children’s literature and, ultimately, the storyline is predictable, the dilemmas feel contrived, and the outcomes of the narrative are obvious. Although teachers, librarians, and children’s literature researchers may have a tepid response to the book, young readers looking for a book saturated with musical theater references (most prominently, Sondheim’s Into the Woods, but also shows ranging from Guys and Dolls and Anything Goes to The Book of Mormon) may find the book an entertaining read.

—TC

Ages 12-14

Balliett, Blue. (2015). Pieces and Players. Illus. by Brett Helquist. New York, NY: Scholastic.

When 13 pieces of art are stolen from a Chicago museum, five children bring their own special talents to the task of locating the missing artwork. With the aid of their former teacher, Ms. Hussey, the children piece together clues, make connections among their findings, follow hints for locating the missing works of art, and even talki with a ghost while they weave their way through the mysterious art caper. Despite questions the children have about the trustworthiness of some individuals with whom they interact (including Mrs. Sharpe, a suspicious-acting museum trustee) and obstacles they encounter (such as resistance from the police), the children persevere and ultimately recover the missing artwork. Fans of Balliett’s previous work are certain to be drawn in by this mystery, where seemingly random clues come together as readers continue toward the surprising conclusion.

—MG

Ages 15+

Wilke, Daria. (2015). Playing a Part. Trans. By Marian Schwartz. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine.

Translated from the original Russian by Marian Schwartz, this novel by Daria Wilke is notable, in part, because international translations are somewhat of an anomaly in young adult literature. Further, the novel emerged in the midst of the enactment of homophobic laws in Russia. This brief and contemplative Bildungsroman centers on Grisha, a teenage boy growing up in a puppet theater in Moscow. At the start of the novel, Grisha struggles with the impending departure of Sam, an actor he admires, who is leaving as a result of the homophobia he experiences in Russia. As the story progresses, Grisha faces further difficulties, such as the replacement of a bellowed puppet master and his best friend Sashok’s upcoming heart surgery. The novel reads like a slice-of-life story, with flashbacks interspersed throughout its primary narrative and will be primarily of interest for the reasons listed at the opening of this review. Removed from the social and political context in which Wilke wrote the novel, however, Playing a Part is similar in vein to the didactic, “affirmative” American young adult problem novels depicting gay males in the 1990s and early 2000s. 

—TC

Thomas Crisp is an assistant professor in the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, where he teaches courses in children’s and young adult literature and literacy. Mehmet Gultekin is currently a PhD student in the Department of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, where he also works as a research assistant. They are both at Georgia State University.
The review contributions are provided by members of the International Literacy Association’s Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group.

Spring is in the air and it’s National Poetry Month again. The Children’s Literature and Reading SIG features here new poetry books that start with the very youngest listener/learners to serious novels in verse for older readers. A noticeable feature of these books is the many different forms poetry can take including tanka, haiku, clerihew, and novels in verse. A special feature is the newest addition in the Sylvia Vardel and Janet Wong collection of wonderful anthologies for teachers and classrooms.

All Ages

Vardell, Sylvia, and Janet Wong. (2015). The Poetry Friday Anthology for Celebrations.  Princeton, NJ: Pomelo Books.

This is the fourth collection in the popular and classroom-friendly anthologies recently created by the poetry team Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. This latest anthology comes in two editions, one for students and “Teacher/Librarian” edition. The Teacher/Librarian edition contains a plethora of ideas and activities called “Take 5!” for teachers to use which are directly keyed into the student edition. The pair of books is ideal for the first-year to the veteran teacher because it is loaded with resources and ideas to make poetry enjoyable and inviting with the added bonus of poems in Spanish. In addition, the anthology suggests picture books to use with the poems and poetry themes included.  Opening with calendar offerings for everything from National Soup Day in January to National Flashlight Day in December, teachers will find their favorite poets and may discover a few new poets among the 115 poets included in the verses. This anthology is currently being featured on the Poetry for Children blog where additional ideas for teachers and the use of poetry can be found.

Ages 4–8

Burgess, Matthew. (2015). Enormous Smallness, the Story of E.E. Cummings. New York: Enchanted Lion Books.

Illustrated with unusual multi-media illustrations, this fascinating picture book tells of the life of poet E.E. (Edward Estlin) Cummings, his childhood in New England and later life in Greenwich Village. Playing with words from the time he was a small child his parents always encouraged his outside-the-box poetry that broke the rules and forms of conventional poetry. Several poems are shared and this is the book that could lead young readers to explore the poetic world of e.e. cummings.

Coat, Janik. (2015). Rhymoceros. New York: Abrams Press.
This new board book for beginning readers is the companion to the 2012  Hippopposites from the author Janik Coat. A blue rhinoceros tromps through each page book sharing 16 pairs of rhyming words. Using bright white backgrounds, bold colors, goldfoil applications and textured formats, this initial look at rhyming words is inviting and playful for young children.

Engle, Margarita. (2015). Orangutanka: A Story in Poems. Illus. by Renee Kurilla. New York: Henry Holt/Macmillan.

Award-winning poet Margarita Engle brings a new format to poetry for young readers. Tanka is a Japanese form of poetry, also known as waka or uta, and is similar to haiku but has two additional lines and 31 syllables.  Readers will travel to an animal preserve in Borneo to observe through vivid illustrations and lively wordplay the playful antics of an orangutan family. At the end, Engle has provided information on the tanka form of poetry, facts about orangutans and an invitation to children to write some of their own poems. Teachers might like to try some tanka poetry with their students and can get a few resources and ideas at the Poetry4Kids website.

Hopkins, Lee Bennett. (2015). Lullaby and Kisses Sweet: Poems to Love With Your Baby (board book). New York: Abrams Appleseed.
Whether reading to a small child on your lap or wrapping it up as a baby gift, this board book collection of over 100 poems is the first that noted anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins has compiled for very young children. Celebrated poets like Jane Yolen, J. Patrick Lewis, Marilyn Singer and more award-winning poets have contributed original poems and as well as favorite older verses. Five themes are organized within this volume including Family, Food, Firsts, Playtime, and Bedtime. This cuddly book will make a wonderful introduction to poetry for young children.

McNamara, Margaret. (2015). A Poem in Your Pocket. Illus. G. Brian Karas. New York: Schwartz and Wade.
Returning from her How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? and The Apple Orchard Riddle, author Margaret McNamara has written a picture book about the approach of Poetry Month where Mr. Tiffin has asked his students to write a poem in preparation for the classroom visit of a noted poet. Elinor commiserates over writing the perfect poem. Slipping in a variety of formats of poetry, this is an appropriate read aloud for National Poetry Month to foster the enjoyment of poetry.

Ruddell, Deborah. (2015). The Popcorn Astronauts: And Other Biteable Rhymes. Illus. by Joan Rankin. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Organized by season but maintaining a food theme throughout, these bite-sized poems are perfect for reading aloud. The poems range from The Strawberry Queen, The Smoothie Supreme, Only Guacamole, to The Picky Ogre and Welcome to Watermelon Lake to mention a few. Watercolor illustrations set the mood for each poem as the seasons come and go.

Zolotow, Charlotte. (2015). Changes: A Child’s First Poetry Collection. Illus. by Tiphanie Beeke. New York: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.

Acclaimed children’s author Charlotte Zolotow would have been 100 years old this year, but she passed in 2013. This collection of seasonal poetry is a tribute to Zolotow and her exemplary work in children’s literature. This volume includes 28 of her poems originally published from 1960 through 1980 but have all new illustrations that realize the simple but beautiful spirit of nature, the seasons and words. This is a special collection of poetry for young children and family reading.

Ages 9–11

Hammill, Elizabeth (ed). (2015). Over the Hills and Far Away: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes. Illus. by more than 70 celebrated artists. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Importing verses from all over the world and from a wide variety of cultures enhanced by beautifully illustrated pages by over 70 celebrated artists, this handsome anthology provides a diverse collection of poems that is a visual and literary delight. Some poems have a folkloric tone while others are playful, fun and childlike. The title is especially appropriate as the verses present a global look at poetry. Use this collection in the classroom or as a family-sharing read aloud.

Janeczko, Paul B. (2015). The Death of the Hat: A Brief History of Poetry in 50 Objects. Illus. by Chris Raschka. New York: Candlewick Press.

This collection marks the 50th book by Paul Janeczko. He teams up once again with artist Chris Raschka whose characteristic watercolor and ink illustrations bring vitality to every page. Janeczko has compiled a chronological look at poetry beginning with the Early Middle Ages (400–1000) and chronicling objects that have inspired poetry through modern times. From the “Midnight Frost” of Basho during the early Renaissance to the “Snow-Flacks” of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the late 1800’s to “The Death of the Hat” from former Poet Laureate (2001-2003) Billy Collins just a few years ago, this historical approach to poetry and poets through the ages is a wonderful addition to poetry collections.

Lewis, J. Patrick and Kenn Nesbitt. (2015). Bigfoot is Missing. Illus. by MinaLima Designs. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. 

"Crytpozoology is the study of hidden animals, or those whose real existence has not yet been proven." The opening line of this new book from Children's Poet Laureates J. Patrick Lewis and Kenn Nesbitt is sure to get kids involved in the mystery and poetry within these pages. And if that isn't enough, the bold illustrations capture hints of these mysterious cryptids lurking in the pictures. From end paper to end paper, scary fun with monsters and poetry will be a huge success with middle readers. Who isn't intrigued by the Loch Ness Monster, the Beast of Bodmin Moor, Bigfoot, Dingonek, Chupacabra, the Mongolian Death Worm, Mothman, and more?

Raczka, Bob. (2015). Presidential Misadventures: Poems That Poke Fun at the Man in Charge.  New York: Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan.

The publisher says this “collection of presidential poems is historical and hysterical.” The poems are written in the clerihew form of poetry that was invented to make fun of people, so be ready for the humorous but slightly irreverent jibes at the presidents. Raczka explains the clerihew form at the beginning of the book so readers are ready for what is to come. An appendix at the end of the book adds a few more historical facts to the poetry and the presidents. A quick sample of one of the poems tells about the time Thomas Jefferson “went to town to buy bananas/and came home with Louisiana.” A bit of sarcasm, a bit of factual information, a bit of droll humor but a fun read for all.

Rosen, Michael J. (2015). The Maine Coon’s Haiku: And Other Poems for Cat Lovers. Illus. by Lee White. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Indoor cats, outside cats, exotic cats, or the cat next door—Michael Rosen presents 20 different breeds of cat through haiku. Catching the spirit of feline affection and attitude as well as habitats, artist Lee White uses digital illustration to provide backdrops for each cat. Rosen’s other collections of pet and animal books have been popular with young readers and this adds another volume to the shelf of favorite animal poetry. Four pages at the end of the book are devoted to additional facts about each of the cat breeds depicted in the poetry.

Ages 12–14

Bulion, Leslie. (2015). Random Body Parts: Gross Anatomy Riddles in Verse.
Illus. by Mike Lowery. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree.

“Riddle Me This: Of course you have a body/But do you have a clue/Where all the body parts you’ve got are found/ And what they do?” This opening verse sets the tone for this humorous book of poetry where each poem is a body part riddle paired with explanatory text boxes giving a scientific explanation of that body part. A cleverly contrived collection of poems tied to real information gives this “Random Body Parts” group of poems a unique place on poetry shelves. Teachers will enjoy some of the backstory and interview with the author at the Poetry for Children blog.

Sonnichsen, A.L. (2015). Red Butterfly. Illus. by Amy June Bates. New York: Simon and Schuster.

Debut author A.L. Sonnichsen brings to middle readers a powerful novel in verse in China with one-child-only policy. When infant Kara is left in a basket and found by an American woman living and hiding in China (her visa expired), she raises Kara as best as her poor and secret existence allows. When their secret is discovered, Kara is sent to live in an orphanage. She is placed with special needs children because she was born with deformed hand. Kara is eventually adopted by a couple from Florida and begins a journey not only in miles but in learning to trust. Pair this with Inside Out and Back Again (Thanhha Lai, 2011) or Red Thread Sisters (Carol Peacock, 2012) to look at immigrant/adoption experiences.

Ages 15+

Lauer, Brett Fletcher and Lynn Melnick. (2015). Please Excuse This Poem: 100 New Poets for the Next Generation. New York: Viking Juvenile/Penguin Group.

A cutting edge look at poetry from contemporary young poets from a cross-section of American lifestyles and points of view, this poetry has appeared anywhere, from Twitter to The New Yorker. All forms of poetry are part of this collection and told in voices with opinions and experiences not often discussed in poetry for young people. AIDS, sex, war, anti-war, drugs, racism, suicide, love, heartbreak and so many more topics covered in these 100 poems that express the feelings of young people today. Provocative and heartfelt, this collection is sure to spawn discussion and perhaps lead budding poets to express their ideas in a new way.

Karen Hildebrand is retired library media specialist and library director for Delaware City Schools in Delaware, Ohio. She is currently an adjunct professor at Ashland University in Ohio, a reading consultant, and a Holocaust Fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. She also chairs the Education Curriculum Committee for the Delaware County Historical Society.