Literacy Now

Every year I eagerly await the release of the lists of books up for discussion at the ALSC Notable Children’s Books and YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults committees at the American Library Association Annual Conference. I want to see which of the books I have read and thought worthy of “best books” recognition are up for discussion, but I am most interested in the books on the lists I haven’t read. I’m now busy catching up on reading these books that leave me asking, “How did I miss this one?”

Ages 4­–8

Glow: Animals With Their Own Night-Lights. W.H. Beck. 2016. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Stunning color photographs and a fascinating text in white print against a black background introduce young readers to some of the strange living things that glow—things that make their own light. From fireflies that flash their lights in the air and one-celled dinoflagellates that float in the ocean to a wide variety of small and large animals that live deep underwater, these life forms share the special adaptation of bioluminescence. Beck covers how these organisms glow and what scientists have discovered as to why they glow. An appended chart includes outline drawings of the life forms, highlighting where the bioluminescence occurs, common and scientific names, sizes, and where they are found in nature.

¡Olinguito, de la A a la Z!: Descubriendo el Bosque Nublado=Olinguito, from A to Z!: Unveiling the Cloud Forest. LuLu Delacre. 2016. Lee & Low.

With an alphabetical format, this bilingual picture book invites readers to explore the cloud forests of the Ecuadorian Andes. The alliteration of the Spanish text presents the beauty of the flora and fauna to be discovered—“Alto, allá arriba en los Andes brilla un bosque bordado de bromelias...”—as it takes the reader through the alphabet. The English text—“High, high up in the Andes blooms a brilliant forest embroidered with bromeliads...”—is also lyrical and expressive. Both serve as a guide to the animals and plants to be discovered in the colorful, exquisitely detailed mixed-media illustrations in which Delacre uses plant specimens that she gathered in the Andes to create printed patterns and collages. Back matter includes extensive notes on both the discovery in 2003 of a new species of a raccoon-like carnivore, the olinguito, and the cloud forest, a glossary of plants and animals featured in the book and other Spanish/English words used in the text, and author’s sources—books, articles, websites, and interviews.

Yaks Yak: Animal Word Pairs. Linda Sue Park. Ill. Jennifer Black Reinhardt. 2016. Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

“Yaks yak.” “Flounders flounder.” “Badgers badger.” Young readers are introduced to these and 15 other homographic pairs of animal names and action verbs. The meanings of the animal word pairs are made clear in the humorous watercolor-and-ink illustrations showing the animals in scenes in which they are taking the actions expressed by the verbs. Succinct definitions of the verbs are included on the double-page spreads. For example, “to yak = to talk” appears in a picture frame hung above a table around which two yaks are chatting—yakking—while having tea. A table of the word pairs that presents the origins of each of the animals’ names and their actions encourages interest in the etymology of words.  

Ages 9–11

When Mischief Came to Town. Katrina Nannestad. 2016. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

In 1911, 10-year-old Inge Maria Jensen travels by boat from Copenhagen to the island of Bornholm to live with her grandmother. Life is not easy for high-spirited Inge Maria as she faces the challenges of a new home, new neighbors, a new church, and a new school while still grieving the death of her mother. Inge Maria is going to have to do chores on the farm and attend to lessons on manners from stern Grandmother and follow the tedious rules of proper behavior at Svaneke Folk School. Inge Maria definitely has a talent for getting into mischief. She has a bucket-kicking competition with Levi the donkey that leaves Henry the turkey unconscious from a head bonking. She joins the rough-and-tumble of the boys on the “No Girls Allowed” area of the schoolyard. She makes the mistake of hiding in the stinky smokehouse where herring is cured when she runs away from school after confronting the strict schoolmaster with her opinion on all things wrong with the school. However, the mischief that Inge Maria brings to town is just what Grandmother and the community need. Irrepressible Inge Maria will remind readers of mischief-maker Pippi Longstocking.

Ages 12–14

The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century. Sarah Miller. 2016. Schwartz & Wade/Random House.

If asked, “What do you know about the Borden murders?” most individuals today would likely respond with “Nothing” or by reciting the verse associated with the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden on August 4, 1892, in Fall River, Massachusetts: Lizzie Borden took an axe, / Gave her mother 40 whacks. / When she saw what she had done, / She gave her father 41. Sarah Miller gives an account of events leading up to Lizzie’s arrest, her imprisonment, her trial, and what came after her acquittal in a readable narrative format. Sidebars include sensational newspaper articles that presented conflicting interviews and edited court transcripts that fueled rumors and divided opinions on whether Lizzie was guilty or innocent of murdering her stepmother and father. Inserts of photographs add interest. Back matter includes Miller’s “Researching the Bordens” notes, sources of quotes, a bibliography of primary sources, books, articles, and online sources, and an index. The Borden Murders reads like a true crime thriller. The book leaves readers not only making their own opinions about Lizzie’s guilt or innocence but also considering what might have happened if the murders had been committed in the 21st century with the advances in forensic science and criminal investigation and changes in trial procedures.  

Ages 15+

The Steep and Thorny Way. Cat Winters. 2016. Amulet/Abrams.

In the small town of Elson, OR, in the early 1920s, life is troubling for Hanalee Denney, the 16-year-old biracial child of an African American man and a white mother. When Joe Adder, the teen who was convicted for killing her father in a drunk-driving accident, returns from prison, Hanalee (with pistol in hand) confronts him. Joe professes his innocence and tells Hanalee he suspects that Clyde Konig, the town’s white doctor and her new stepfather, poisoned her father when he was called in to treat him. Against the backdrop of a small town in which the livelihood of many depends on bootlegging and the Ku Klux Klan is fueling racism and prejudice, Hanalee persistently seeks the truth (with the guidance of the ghost of her father and the help of Joe) as too is responsible for her father’s death. In doing so she uncovers a web of community secrets. This is historical fiction at its best. The inclusion of archival photographs of the period, a “Post-1923 Changes to Oregon Laws” section, and an author’s note on her approach to plotting and characterization and use of Hamlet as a template for the novel enriches the reading experience.

Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories. Stephanie Perkins (Ed.). 2016. St. Martin’s Griffin/St. Martin’s.

Twelve popular contemporary authors—Leigh Bardugo, Nina LaCour, Libba Bray, Francesca Lia Block, Stephanie Perkins, Tim Federle, Veronica Roth, Jon Skovron, Brandy Colbert, Cassandra Clare, Jennifer E. Smith, and Lev Grossman—contribute well-crafted short stories for this anthology. Whether the genre is realistic fiction, fantasy, or science fiction and whether the teens who find love do so in expected or unexpected ways and settings, all the stories feature protagonists with distinct voices navigating life-changing summertime encounters. The collection is a balance of stories that are heartfelt, humorous, and haunting. Teens will not be able to stop with the reading of just one of these stories; they are likely to keep reading day and night until they reach the end of the book. Seeking out other works by these authors is a terrific way to extend the pleasures of summer reading.

Carolyn Angus is former director of the George G. Stone Center for Children's Books, Claremont Graduate University, in Claremont, CA.

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

Literature can take readers on fantastic journeys of discovery, including these selections that explore new worlds, solve problems, invite creativity, and ignite the imagination.

Through creative images, characters, events, and settings, books foster inspiration and help readers shape new understandings of their world.

Ages 4–8

Are We There Yet? Dan Santat. 2016. Little, Brown.

From the cloth cover that looks like a wrapped present with a bow, to the endpapers featuring progressive images of the sky as the car proceeds from early morning through to darkness, every element of this book is designed to create a visual experience for readers. The premise of the story is introduced on the copyright page showing an invitation to a birthday party, and then the full title page shows two already aggravated parents in the front seat while a child in back asks, “Are we there yet?” As the road trip begins, the page layouts feature both panel art and narrative text, and the story quickly leaps into fantasy. The next few pages of the book are positioned upside down and include a locomotive, pirates, knights, the pyramids, and a dinosaur. The brightly colored mixed-media illustrations create a larger-than-life feel as readers travel through the imagination of the kid in the backseat. This book will appeal to anyone who has endured a long road trip (as either a child or parent) because of the playful art, intriguing fantastic elements, and hilarious dialogue.  
—LC

Let Me Finish! Minh Lê. Ill. Isabel Roxas. 2016. Disney-Hyperion.

Finding a quiet place to read a good book should be an easy task, but not for the young boy in this humorous, metafictive picture book. In his search to find the perfect spot to read, a series of well-intentioned animals share spoilers even though he continues his plea, “Let me finish!” Just when he thinks that he has circumvented all the animals, a dinosaur greets him with, “Have you gotten to the dinosaur at the end of the book yet?” The young boy flees again but lands inside the pages of the physical book. With an intriguing end that will puzzle readers, Minh Lê’s debut picture book exudes creativity and cleverness. Accented by Isabel Roxas’s eye-catching and synergistic illustrations, this funny and imaginative story will surely delight young readers (as long as we let them finish).
—MN

The Night Gardener. Terry Fan & Eric Fan. 2016. Simon & Schuster.

Vivid. Imaginative. Magical. These are just a few words to describe this collaborative debut picture book written and illustrated by the Fan brothers. When a mysterious stranger arrives at Grimloch Lane with an assortment of gardening tools, something enchanting happens. One morning, William, the young protagonist of the story, is amazed that the owl he had sketched in the dirt the previous day has appeared overnight, as if by magic, as a topiary. The gorgeous topiary owl delights William, but more important, it brings people together. As the story continues, so does its magic with the appearance of stunning topiaries of animals and a majestic Chinese dragon. Bright ink colors grace the pages as the community gazes in merriment and wonder at the transformation of Grimloch Park. Together, the Fan brothers have created an impactful story, told with spare text and gorgeous illustrations that celebrate art, community, and imagination.
—MN

Turn on the Night. Geraldo Valério. 2016. Groundwood/House of Anansi.

In this wordless picture book, readers join a young girl on an imaginative journey. The first double-page spread shows an aerial view of an unlit majestic sky and a lush green landscape filled with houses, followed by a close-up of one house bearing a reindeer weather vane, a chicken coop, and a doghouse. Inside the house, a young girl is asleep in an unlit room with her stuffed chicken toy and a book. In the ensuing pages, the girl transforms into a wolf-like creature (like the one on the cover of her book) and soars out the window, beaming with happiness. In a dream-like sequence, the wolf, chicken, and reindeer fly through the night sky until they reach a bright star. The animals collect and transport the star back to the girl’s room, transforming it into a celestial wonder. Created with acrylic paint and colored pencil, Valério’s illustrations communicate emotion while celebrating the power of imagination and visual storytelling.
—MN

Ages 9–11

Withering-by-Sea. Judith Rossell. 2016. Atheneum/Simon & Schuster.

Stella Montgomery lives with her three aunts in an old seaside hotel known for its magical water with healing powers. Stella’s aunts spend most of their time scolding her, teaching her French and deportment, and warning her against curiosity. When Stella sneaks out of her room one night to retrieve her beloved atlas, she encounters The Professor and thus begins her adventure. She witnesses a murder, a severed hand that keeps people asleep, and a boy being forced to read minds. Then she finds herself entrusted with a mysterious package. The package contains a small bottle and inside “a sinuous shape seemed to move.” Can Stella protect the bottle from the Professor? Is she really “fey” as the boy who reads minds says? Why do her aunts sometimes call her “a half”? With cliff-hanger chapter endings, intriguing blue-toned illustrations, magical elements, and a fantastical setting, this book begs for a sequel.
—LC

Ages 12–14

The Apple Tart of Hope. Sarah Moore Fitzgerald. 2016. Holiday House.

Set in Ireland, this book opens with a “service” for Oscar Dunleavy, who has been missing and is now presumed dead. His brother, Stevie, holds out hope that Oscar is coming back. Meg, Oscar’s neighbor, best friend, and possible love interest has been away in New Zealand with her parents. She can’t imagine that Oscar would have killed himself, but she struggles to support Stevie in his belief that Oscar is still alive. The book offers a treatise on hope: “Hope is never destructive. Hope is the thing that keeps you going.” As the story unfolds, readers learn the history between Oscar and Meg, who spent hours talking at their windows and may have been falling in love. The chapters (numbered as slices of pie) shift between Meg’s and Oscar’s perspectives, telling the stories of the accident that left Oscar’s mother dead and his brother disabled, a twisted trick played by the girl living in Meg’s house, the man whose suicide Oscar may have prevented, and the magic of Oscar’s baking. The international setting and magical elements make this a unique read, but ultimately readers will remember this book as a love story.  
—LC

Ages 15+

Saving Montgomery Sole. Mariko Tamaki. 2016. Roaring Brook.

Montgomery (Monty) lives with her two moms, Mama Kate and Momma Jo, and her little sister, Tesla, in Aunty, CA. She runs the Mystery Club at school with her two best friends, Thomas and Naoki. Author Mariko Tamaki has created a smart, sarcastic character in Monty, whose perspective on high school, food, family, and “unexplained phenomena” is both refreshing and convincing. Monty, Thomas, and Naoki are outsiders at their high school, and the usual suspects show up to bully and antagonize them. Thomas is gay but seems much less troubled by homophobic teasing and the anti-gay Reverend White, a newcomer to town, than Monty, who rails against both. Monty rips down crosses and posters put up by Reverend White and decides that his son, Kenneth, is as homophobic as his father. When Naoki befriends Kenneth, Monty’s assumptions are tested as she learns how to trust her friends and family and embrace “the big strange universe, and all the mysteries in it.”
—LC

Lesley Colabucci is an associate professor at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches courses in children’s/adolescent literature. Mary Napoli is an associate professor of reading at Penn State Harrisburg, where she teaches literacy courses.

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

Readers have many choices of modern fantasy and science fiction books. Here we review just a few of the recently published books that take readers into the future and worlds of fantasies and the unanswerable question, what if.

Ages 4–8

Hildie Bitterpickles Needs Her Sleep. Robin Newman. Ill. Chris Ewald. 2016. Creston.

Hildie Bitterpickles is a sleep-deprived young witch. Her giant neighbor’s beanstalk elevator keeps her awake with its loud clunking, and an old woman has moved in next door with a gazillion noisy children who play loudly all night. When a wolf blows the roof off a nearby brick house in the middle of the night, Hildie decides it is time to move and seeks help from Monty the Rat, a local realtor, who sends her off to houses with their own issues: blind mice that tinker all night and black sheep that want to sleep with her. She returns home with her own creative solutions for her sleeping problems (such as inviting the blind mice to fix the noisy elevator) until, at last, when she turns out the lights, she hears “Nothing!” Discerning young readers are sure to scour the humorous illustrations for clues to familiar tales and nursery rhymes.
—NB

Ollie’s Odyssey. William Joyce. 2016. Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum/Simon & Schuster.

In the world of toys, the highest honor is to be a favorite of a human child. Ollie, a homemade plush stuffed toy, has been 6-year-old Billy’s “fave” since Billy’s birth. When Ollie is toy-napped by the Creeps, who work for the evil Zozo (the Clown King of the Dark Carnival), the odyssey begins: Billy to find Ollie, and Ollie to escape from Zozo to return home. Through a wild series of “A-ventures,” Billy and Ollie are finally reunited at the Dark Carnival, where they confront Zozo, who retaliates by destroying the crumbling carnival and bringing it down on them. Through a magical turn of events, Zozo loses the hate in his heart for faves and sacrifices himself to save them. his is an excellent read-aloud with eerie,epia-toned illustrations that will have readers clutching their own faves while they shiver with anticipation of what will happen next. 
—NB

Ages 9–11

Girl in the Tower. Lisa Schroeder. Ill. Nicoletta Ceccoli. 2016. Christy Ottaviano/Henry Holt.

Queen Bogdana, an ugly witch who has bewitched a kingdom to become ruler, has everything she wants except beauty. According to her ancient spell book, she needs a feather from a living hummingbird and a strand of black hair from the head of an 11-year-old girl with lavender eyes to cast a spell that will make her beautiful. To acquire these items, Queen Bogdana has imported hummingbirds for her garden and kept Violet and her mother locked in a tower since the lavender-eyed girl’s birth 10 years ago. As Violet’s 11th birthday approaches, the queen plans to make her a princess. Bogdana frees Violet’s mother, but bars her from the castle and contact with her daughter. Violet, who is as clever as she is beautiful, outwits Queen Bogdana, breaks all the queen’s spells, and is reunited with her family in a perfect happily-ever-after fairy tale ending.
—CA

Grayling’s Song. Karen Cushman. 2016. Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

The cottage where Grayling lives with her mother, Hannah, who is a healer and wise woman, has burned. Hannah is rooted to the ground and turning into a tree, and her grimoire, a book of magic spells, has disappeared. The same thing has happened to others with magical powers. With only t magical songs learned from her mother and a basket of herbs and potions, shy Grayling sets out to find the grimoire, hoping it will reveal how to undo the malevolent magic. Along the way, Grayling is joined by a mouse, who, as a result of eating the contents of her basket, can talk and shapeshift. Grayling’s songs gather around her Auld Nancy, a weather witch, and Pansy, her pouty great-niece, as well as a self-centered enchantress and a wizard who tells the future with cheeses. Grayling is determined to thwart the evil force at work and is surprised to find she’s become a leader as the group survives numerous misadventures. Master storyteller Cushman gives readers a lively-paced tale of magic and adventure with an engaging heroine and a host of intriguing secondary characters. 
—CA

Greenling. Levi Pinfold. 2016. Templar/Candlewick.

When Farmer Barleycorn finds a strange baby Greenling growing near his farm, he takes it home only to have bizarre things happen overnight: Melons grow out of the kitchen floor, red peppers sprout from the cupboards, and apple trees bloom in the living room. When a train on a nearby track is brought to a stop by wild vines and the branches of mango and plum trees, there’s nothing that can be done except for the passengers to eat their way out.  In the fall, the youngster suddenly disappears, leaving a bounty of fruits and vegetables for winter behind and fallow fields—and the wonder of what the next year might bring. Told in a rhyming, folktale style, this picture book, with its ecological fable and haunting illustrations, is sure to stir discussion among readers young and old.
—NB

Princess Between Worlds (A Tale of the Wide-Awake Princess #5). E. D. Baker. 2016. Bloomsbury.

Princess Annie of Treecrest and Prince Liam, future King of Dorinocco, are ready to begin their honeymoon, a Grand Tour, when a wood witch gives them a special wedding gift: a collection of postcards from the Magic Marketplace that will literally send them to different places in the world. Touching one of the cards by accident, they are transported to the frozen outpost of Delaroo Pass, where they are forced to leave in a hurry as trolls attack. Aided by the magic cards, the couple travels from kingdom to kingdom in search of a way home and discovers their arrivals are always preceded by lies and warnings about them from an evil wizard. After facing near-fatal encounters with hostile beings, including yetis, dragons, and monsters, they are more determined than ever to return home. Readers will be eager to find out if there will really be a happily-ever-after for Princess Annie and Prince Liam.
—NB

Ages 12–14

Black River Falls. Jeff Hirsch. 2016. Clarion/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

On October 16, the town of Black River is devastated by a mysterious virus that causes the loss of memory. Months later, the town is now a heavily guarded Quarantine Zone. Seventeen-year-old Cardinal Cassidy has avoided being infected by wearing a mask and gloves and living in the mountains above the town with limited contact with “infected.” With no memories, infected individuals begin to make new lives. Cardinal, however, cannot escape memories of his family and what happened to them when the virus struck. Perhaps allowing himself to become infected would be a blessing. When Cardinal learns he is immune to the virus, he is faced with some difficult choices, choices that will affect not only his future but that of Black River. Told as a letter written by Cardinal to his brother, a form that provides flashbacks about family relationships, this is a complex and thought-provoking story of survival and identity. 
—CA

The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle. Janet Fox. 2016. Viking/Penguin Random House.

When 12-year-old Kat Bateson and her two younger siblings are sent to Rookskill Castle Children’s Academy in Scotland to escape the London Blitz, Great-Aunt Margaret gives Kat a precious family heirloom, a chatelaine she says is magical. Kat is soon aware that all is not right at Rookskill Castle. The castle is full of bewildering passages and secret rooms, ghostlike children are seen on the grounds, and the students, locked in their rooms at night, hear frightening noises. Strangest of all is the behavior of Lady Eleanor, the headmistress, who also has a chatelaine, one with unusual charms that disappear one by one as students disappear. In this complex thriller/historical fantasy involving ancient magic and mystery, readers become aware of what is actually happening at Rookskill Castle before Kat does through the author’s use of flashbacks to earlier times as far back as 200 years.
—CA

Ages 15+

Flawed. Cecelia Ahern. 2016. Feiwel and Friends/Macmillan.

In a futuristic society where perfection is valued above all else, Celestine North is a model daughter, sister, student, and citizen until she makes a spontaneous decision that changes everything: She helps a “flawed” person in a society where it is against the code of conduct to aid the flawed in any way. Her boyfriend’s father, Bosco Crevan, is head committee judge for the Guild, which oversees the inquisition and punishment of those accused of moral or ethical mistakes. When Celestine goes before his committee, she is sentenced to five brands, the most ever administered to a guilty recipient (and she also receives an illegal sixth brand during the marking process). Released back to her family, she has to live with the punishments that accompany her brands. A rebellious faction wants Celestine to become their spokesperson, but she is not willing to become their hero. The upcoming sequel, Perfect, follows Celestine as she seeks the truth about the sacrifices she is asked to make.
—NB

Truthwitch (Witchlands #1). Susan Dennard. 2016. Tor Teen/Tom Doherty.

Witchlands is in the 19th year of The Truce, but war is afoot and deadly politics abound. All that Safiyand Iseult, threadsisters (individuals who are closer than family), want is to live freely. Safi, a Truthwitch, can tell when someone lies, and her powerful magic makes her a pawn for her enemies if captured. Iseult, a Threadwitch, uses logic to balance Safi’s fiery personality and sees the invisible relationships of those around her. When they are involved in a holdup that goes wrong, they find the revenge-bound Bloodwitch Aeduan hot on their trail. Shortly after, Safi escapes from an unexpected betrothal with the aid of reluctant Prince Merik, a Windwitch, and the young women are separated from each other. This novel, the first of four books in a new fantasy series that provides non-stop action with an unforgettable cast of characters  as these two ferocious females fight emperors, mercenaries, and witches to find each other and work together to prevent the eruption of war.
—NB

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

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

Ah, summer—those gloriously long days with plenty of time to take part in fun activities, such as diving into a good book! Check out these recently published titles that take readers on road trips, to summer camp, into nature, and on vacation.

Ages 4–8

Calling All Cars. Sue Fliess. Ill. Sarah Beise. 2016. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.

Cars, cars, cars! All kinds of cars driven by a full cast of animal characters make this simple rhyming text a fun choice for young readers who love to talk about cars. Where are the cars headed? Everywhere—to the beach, to town, to the mountains, and to campsites, just to name a few places. This rhythmic book is a great choice to take on a summer road trip to stave off pleas of “Are we there yet?” Brightly colored cartoon-style illustrations created digitally complement the text in this engaging concept book.

Finding Wild. Megan Wagner Lloyd. Ill. Abigail Halpin. 2016. Alfred A. Knopf/Random House.

Nothing goes together better than summertime and exploring. In this poetic and thought-provoking picture book, a young boy and girl set off to explore the wild spaces around them. A feast for the senses, this story describes what wild looks, feels, smells, sounds, and tastes like, and it reminds readers that wild can hide in the most unusual of places, and finding wild is possible for everyone no matter where they live. Detailed watercolor-and-colored pencil illustrations add a muted beauty to the text.

Lady Liberty’s Holiday. Jen Arena. Ill. Matt Hunt. 2016. Alfred A. Knopf/Random House.

The Statue of Liberty is tired of standing in her same spot on Ellis Island day after boring day, and besides that her neck hurts from always holding her arm up over her head. Moe the Pigeon urges Lady Liberty to take a vacation, so one night she puts down her torch and tablet and sneaks away to see the rest of America. Readers follow Lady Liberty on a map as she travels from the Jersey Shore to the Great Midwest and all the way out to California to see the Golden Gate Bridge. But back in New York, people miss her and desperately hope she’ll return in time for the Fourth of July celebration. The brightly colored illustrations are a combination of digital and traditional pencil-and-paint artwork. Back matter includes background information on the Statue of Liberty, a page of trivia related to the statue, and a bibliography.

Penny & Jelly Slumber Under the Stars. Maria Gianferrari. Ill. Thyra Heder. 2016. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Penny is excited to go to Sleepover Under the Stars Night at the local community center, but she doesn’t want to leave her dog, Jelly, behind. Penny tries to construct a pretend Jelly out of paper, yarn, fleece, pipe cleaners, cotton balls, marshmallows, and more but can’t quite duplicate the real Jelly, no matter how hard she tries. So Penny comes up with the perfect solution: Have her own under the stars sleepover—furry friends invited! Colorful, expressive illustrations in watercolor, pencil, and ink perfectly detail Penny’s plans.

Surf’s Up. Kwame Alexander. Ill. Daniel Miyares. 2016. NorthSouth.

Two cool frogs who call each other Bro and Dude love to surf. On their way to the beach, Bro has his nose in a book, which Dude thinks, at first, is boring. However, he soon gets caught up in Bro’s plot tidbits. Brightly colored cartoon-style, digitally created illustrations and plenty of all-caps typography add to the feeling of excitement of a day of both surfing and reading in this story. Adults will enjoy the Moby-Dick references as Bro gives Dude a scene-by-scene account of what is happening in the “TOTALLY AWESOME” book he is reading.

Ages 9–11

The Family Fletcher Takes Rock Island. Dana Alison Levy. 2016. Delacorte/Random House.

The Fletcher family is back for a second adventure as they head to Rock Island for their annual monthlong beach vacation. Dad and Papa and their four adopted sons, Sam, Jax, Eli, and Frog, love to return to their beloved island home every summer and do all of their favorite things, like kayaking out to see the seals and exploring inside the old lighthouse. But this summer, the lighthouse is closed for reasons they can’t quite figure out, and new neighbors have taken over some of their favorite beach spots. This summer-themed book will inspire conversations about adapting to change, creating new traditions, and celebrating the power of family—no matter what your family looks like.

Ocean Animals: Who’s Who in the Deep Blue. Johnna Rizzo. 2016. National Geographic Kids.

Heading to the beach this summer? Take along this fantastic nonfiction manual that explores life in and near the ocean in spectacular detail. Featuring topics such as Oceans of the World, Coral Reefs, Sharks & Rays, Marine Birds, and Ocean Habitats, this book will keep readers (including the landlocked who wish they were at the beach) occupied for hours as they pore over the full-color photographs and descriptive text. Text features include a table of contents, detailed diagrams, photo captions, a glossary, and index. In National Geographic style, this book also includes a section on conservation and what kids (and adults) can do to protect the oceans of the world.

Summer of Lost and Found. Rebecca Behrens. 2016. Aladdin/Simon & Schuster.

Nell Dare’s perfect summer plans are ruined when her botanist mother announces that she and Nell are going to spend the summer in North Carolina on Roanoke Island for a research trip. And to make matters worse, Nell’s father disappeared to London on an unannounced trip, and no one will tell her why he left or if he is coming back. Upon arriving at their destination, Nell makes a few friends who fill her in on the historical mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. The modern-day story is set beside journal entries told in the voice of one of the colonists. Back matter includes an author’s note, which helps readers discern fact from fiction; a brief history of Roanoke, including information about the treatment of Native Americans by the colonists; and a bibliography. A blend of historical and realistic fiction with a mystery and a bit of paranormal action thrown in (ghosts, anyone?), this summer adventure will keep readers turning the pages to find out what happens.

Ages 12–14

The Mother-Daughter Book Camp. Heather Vogel Frederick. 2016. Simon & Schuster.

Fans of the Mother-Daughter Book Club series are in for a treat as Emma, Jess, Cassidy, Megan, and Becca head off to work as camp counselors at Camp Lovejoy in New Hampshire for their final summer before college. When new campers become homesick, it seems only natural that the girls decide to start a book club with their young charges. The alternating first-person chapters are introduced with epigraphs from Dorothy Canfield Fisher’s Understood Betsy, the book the camp book club reads. In this seventh and final book in the popular series, readers who’ve grown up with these five friends will enjoy catching up with their favorite characters’ lives and also bid a fond farewell to the Mother-Daughter Book Club girls as they head off to college.

Summerlost. Ally Condie. 2016. Dutton/Penguin.

Cedar, her younger brother Miles, and her mom are working through the grieving process after her father and younger brother, Ben, were killed in a car accident. This is the first summer without her dad and Ben. They are spending the summer in Iron Creek, the place where her mother grew up. Summerlost is the name of the Shakespearean festival that runs on the local college campus all summer and is where Cedar makes a new friend, Leo, who talks her into working at the festival. Leo and Cedar design a plan to run unauthorized walking tours about the life of actress Lisette Chamberlain, Iron Creek’s most famous resident, who started her acting career with the festival and whose death has been shrouded in mystery. A wonderful summertime read with themes of loss, friendship, finding oneself, letting go, and growing up.

Ages 15+

Boys of Summer. Jessica Brody. 2016. Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster.

High school seniors Ian, Mike, and Grayson have spent every summer together on the island of Winlock Harborsince they were young. But this summer nothing is quite the same. Mike and his on-again, off-again girlfriend Harper have broken up; Grayson is nursing a painful arm injury, which may jeopardize his prospects for playing football at Vanderbilt, and is angry at his mom for walking out on their family; and Ian is not dealing well with the tragic death of his father, a soldier. The three friends find themselves drifting further and further apart until dealing with a series of conflicts and problems forces them to pull together or risk ruining their friendship forever.

Summer of Supernovas. Darcy Woods. 2016. Crown/Random House.

It’s summer, and 17-year-old Wilamena Carlisle is looking for love. In fact, according to her astrological chart (which she has followed to the letter ever since her mother’s death), she has exactly 22 days to find the perfect match. So she and her best friend, Irina, make it their mission to find someone who will align with her astrological sign. Before you know it, Wil finds herself in the middle of a love triangle with two brothers, Seth and Grant, one who is a match made in Zodiac heaven and one who definitely is not. Will Wil follow her heart or her chart? Finding out makes this a super summer read.

Jennifer W. Shettel is an associate professor at Millersville University of Pennsylvania, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate course in literacy for preservice and practicing teachers. Prior to joining the faculty at Millersville, she spent 16 years as an elementary classroom teacher and reading specialist in the public schools.

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

It’s no secret that nonfiction ignites the natural curiosity of readers. An exploration of nonfiction in the classroom offers opportunities to build upon readers’ interests, explore new vocabulary, and deepen background knowledge. Here are some recently published selections of informational trade books and picture book biographies to support content area instruction.

Ages 4–8

Dorothea’s Eyes. Barb Rosenstock. Ill. Gérard DuBois. 2016. Calkins Creek/Highlights.

“Dorothea sees with her eyes and her heart.” Told in a lyrical style, this inspiring biography for young readers offers insights about the photographer Dorothea Lange, including her natural proclivity toward observation. Rosenstock presents information about Lange’s formative years (polio, displaced father, poverty), her keen awareness of the world around her, and her passion for becoming a photographer even when it wasn't considered ladylike. Lange’s photographs during the Great Depression brought awareness to pressing issues of hunger, homelessness, and poverty. DuBois’s acrylic and digital illustrations reflect the emotional and historical significance of the time. Single descriptive words in gray—“Different. Lonely. Watchful. Curious.”—and sentences in red—“Dorothea’s eyes help us see with our hearts.”— echo Lange's poignant journey. The back matter includes reproductions of six of Lange’s well-known photographs, an author’s note, a bibliography and sources for quotations, and a timeline. Readers will enjoy this beautiful tribute to a gifted photographer and artist. Partner the book with Migrant Mother: How a Photograph Defined the Great Depression (Nardo, 2011).
—MN

Fearless Flyer: Ruth Law and Her Flying Machine. Heather Lang. Ill. Raúl Colón. Calkins Creek/Highlights.

In this spirited picture book biography, readers learn about Ruth Law’s daring solo flight from Chicago to New York City in 1916. Law did not let social or gender norms limit her determination to break the record for the longest nonstop flight at the time. Lang’s rich descriptions provide insight into Ruth Law’s ingenuity, knowledge, sense of adventure, and perseverance. When Law decided to make her trip, she wanted to buy a larger airplane but was told that it was too powerful for a woman. Fearless, she made adjustments to her biplane, added extra fuel tanks, and strapped a compass and a map box to her legs to reach her goal despite adverse environmental factors and running low on gas. Law’s own words, featured in a different font, are interspersed across the book. Colón’s color pencil-and-lithograph crayon illustrations done in his distinctive artistic style complement the text with gorgeous hues while accentuating the shifting movement of the flight. Back matter includes further facts about Law, captioned photographs, source notes for quotations, and a bibliography.
—MN

Freedom in Congo Square. Carole Boston Weatherford. Ill. R. Gregory Christie. 2016. Little Bee/Bonnier.

Freedom in Congo Square is an informational picture book that is a good read-aloud. Using rhyming text, Weatherford describes the tradition of slaves coming together on Sundays in Congo Square in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the early 1800s. The focus of the book is on the joy slaves found at these gatherings. “They rejoiced as if they had no cares; / half day, half free in Congo Square.” However, although it highlights and celebrates this little-known phenomenon, the book does not sugarcoat slavery: “The dreaded lash, too much to bear. / Four more days to Congo Square.” The colorful, evocative collage-style paintings set an upbeat tone and extend the content, for instance, by featuring African drums, tambourines, and other instruments. A foreword from a historian and Congo Square expert, a glossary, and an author’s note provide further information.
—LC 

Their Great Gift: Courage, Sacrifice, and Hope in a New Land. John Coy. Ill. Wing Young Huie. 2016. Carolrhoda/Lerner.

In scrapbook style, full-color and black-and-white photographs fill the pages of this book. The front endpapers feature snapshots of individuals, and many of the images throughout the book show families at school or work or in the community. Simple words are set against a white background telling the story of what it’s like to be an immigrant. One page addresses how families “shifted between languages, between cultures, between places” and shows children playing traditional instruments or wearing traditional clothing. Their Great Gift celebrates immigrants from around the world, offering talking points for young children and their caregivers. The author and photographer both tell their own immigration stories in the end matter, and the book closes with a nod to patriotism with endpapers showing fireworks.
—LC

Ages 9–11

Cecil’s Pride: The True Story of a Lion King. Craig Hatkoff, Juliana Hatkoff, & Isabella Hatkoff. Ill. Brent Stapelkamp. 2016. Scholastic.

This well-written selection describes the poignant life of Cecil, a lion who once roamed the vast landscape in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. Readers follow the story of a pride of lions, including its leader, Cecil. The authors include information about the challenges Cecil faced in defending his territory, the loss of his brother, details about his lioness and cubs, and how he formed an unusual alliance with his former rival, a lion named Jericho. The authors also provide information about Cecil’s cubs and the future of his pride after his death. Captioned color photographs appear on every page to illustrate Cecil at different moments of his life. The back matter includes facts about lions, information about Hwange National Park, and the global impact of hunting and wildlife preservation.
—MN

The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial. 2016. Susan E. Goodman. Ill. E.B. Lewis. Bloomsbury.

The story of Sarah Roberts pre-dates many of the stories of school desegregation and civil rights activism currently available in children’s books. For instance, it starts in 1847, and Sarah is only 4 years old when she enrolls in the Otis School in Boston. The trial involved both a white and an African American lawyer fighting for integration, and the climax of the story is a “giant step backward” as they lose the case. The First Step could easily be mistaken for historical fiction because of the narrative style, but the book was thoroughly researched and the author is forthright in describing her decisions as a writer in a detailed author’s note with sections titled “Gathering Facts From Places We Trust” and “Trying to Get at the Truth.” Lewis’s watercolor illustrations are somber in color and highly expressive. Most spreads feature double-page illustrations, but there are a few pages with scattered images. There are also carefully placed single-page illustrations, including one with a portrait of Robert Morris, Sarah’s lawyer, and another with Sarah in front of the Supreme Court judges. Back matter includes a timeline on integration, notes on what happened to key figures in Roberts v. City of Boston, sources and resources, and an author’s note.
—LC

Ages 12–14

The Extraordinary Suzy Wright: A Colonial Woman on the Frontier. Teri Kanefield. 2016. Abrams.

The format of this book is particularly appealing because of the picture book shape and size as well as the ample border space. In 10 chapters, readers learn of Susanna “Suzy” Wright’s journey to America from England at the age of 16, her life in Pennsylvania as a Quaker, and her accomplishments as a poet and activist. Design features such as pull quotes and sidebars are used throughout. Instead of beinga distraction, they offer some of the greatest insight into who Suzy Wright was. Readers will be enthralled by the photographs, maps, and archival material interspersed in just the right places. Thoroughly researched with an afterword, author’s notes, bibliography, and index, The Extraordinary Suzy Wright pays homage to this pioneering woman leader.
—LC

This Land Is Our Land: A History of American Immigration. Linda Barrett Osborne. 2016. Abrams.

With exceptional care and attention to detail, Linda Barrett Osborne’s latest nonfiction work provides a comprehensive history of American immigration from the 19th century to the present. This outstanding work, organized into six chapters with color-coded edges, showcases Osborne’s accessible writing style as she juxtaposes history with personal anecdotes and quotations. Readers gain insight into how immigrants throughout history have faced numerous challenges, including hostility and isolation. She provides background information about political and social circumstances often associated with the topic of immigration and highlights the numerous benefits and contributions of immigrant populations over time. Insertion of high-quality archival photographs, illustrations, and captions offer further insights. The back matter includes a comprehensive bibliography, source notes, and a timeline.  
—MN

Ages 15+

Last of the Giants: The Rise and Fall of Earth’s Most Dominant Species. Jeff Campbell. Ill. Adam Grano. 2016. Zest.

Told in an accessible conversational tone, Jeff Campbell chronicles the extinction of 13 giant species, including the moa, auroch, and passenger pigeon, which once dominated the landscape. Readers gain insight into the complexity of ecosystems and evolution through the loss of these species. Campbell poses thought-provoking questions: What’s happening to cause extinction? Why are so many species failing right now, and what role do humans play in the crisis? What is the danger, to us and nature, when species fail? What can we do to save species before they go extinct? Campbell’s well-researched account draws from geology, zoology, biology, and history. Black-and-white illustrations, maps, fact pages, and quotations enhance this important work. The back matter includes a special section entitled “Call to Action” with a plethora of resources and strategies to make a difference. This impressive work, with an extensive list of citations, offers readers much to contemplate.
—MN

Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune.Pamela S. Turner. Ill. Gareth Hinds. 2016. Charlesbridge.

The story of the legendary samurai Minamoto Yoshitsune is told here in a narrative style and with an irreverent tone. The book is a unique blend of history, biography, adventure, and war chronicle. Readers are not spared the gory details. The first decapitation occurs on page 5: “Only his head returned to Kyoto. The bloody trophy was tied to a sandalwood tree beside the Kyoto prison gates.” This head belonged to Yoshitsune’s father. Yoshitsune’s story begins and ends with violence, but in between readers get to know him as a valiant warrior, conflicted leader, and political figure. The author makes the context of Japanese history and geography accessible to readers by providing a pronunciation guide, glossary, and maps. The text of story ends on page 155, but back matter continues through page 236 with detailed chapter notes that would impress any historian. Author’s notes offer explanations for aspects of the story that may be confusing or questionable (for instance, a note on names and a note on dates used in the text). Back matter also includes two timelines: Yoshitsune and the Wider World and Major Periods of Japanese History, a glossary of Japanese Words, an extensive bibliography, and an index. Gareth Hinds’s illustrations function as a design feature with arrows dividing chapter sections and black-and-white sketches foreshadowing the action in each chapter.
—LC

Lesley Colabucci is an associate professor at Millersville University of Pennsylvania where she teaches courses in children’s/adolescent literature. Mary Napoli is an associate professor of reading at Penn State Harrisburg where she teaches literacy courses.

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