Category: The Kids Are All Right

Hi Kid Lit Friends,

I had an eye surgery earlier this month, and since the recovery was going to take a couple of weeks I pre-wrote all of my Book Riot posts for the month of March. As a result, none of these posts in March had any mention of coronavirus, which I’m sure some of you noticed! I’m popping in here just to say that I’m thinking of all of you teachers and librarians and parents and grandparents who are trying to figure out this new environment we’re living in. If you have ideas for how you’re incorporating reading and books into your socially distanced, quarantined home, email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com to let me know. I’ll be collecting responses and sharing them each week.

And now, on to our book topic of the day! If you’re reading this newsletter, I am certain that you are my people! Those of us who love books are certain to love books that are all about loving books. Here are some wonderful picture books to hand to young bookworms.

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

This book is about author and Caldecott Honor artist Yuyi Morales, who left her home in Xalapa, Mexico and came to the US with her infant son. This gorgeous picture book Dreamers is about making a home in a new place. Yuyi and her son Kelly’s passage was not easy, and Yuyi spoke no English whatsoever at the time. But together, they found an unexpected, unbelievable place: the public library. There, book by book, they untangled the language of this strange new land, and learned to make their home within it.

How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Poetry by Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander and gorgeous illustrations by Caldecott Honoree Melissa Sweet make a perfect match in How to Read a Book – a celebration of books and reading. The words sing on the page and the bright, bold colors of Sweet’s illustrations show that there are an infinite number of ways to enjoy a book.

Hooray for Books! by Brian Won

This sweet book is all about loving books. Turtle has looked everywhere for his favorite book, but it’s nowhere to be found! Maybe his book was borrowed by Zebra, Owl, Giraffe, Elephant, or Lion. As Turtle searches, his friends offer to share their own favorite stories, but other books just won’t do. Or is it time for Turtle to try something different?

Let Me Finish! by Minh Le, illustrated by Isabel Roxas

This book is perfect for all of us who get interrupted just when we get to the best part of our book. In Let Me Finish!, our young hero settles in to read and the last thing he wants is for some noisy animals to ruin the ending of the story. But ruin it they do. And as it turns out, the boy is quickly approaching a surprise ending of his own! Maybe he should have listened to the animals after all. . . .

Help Wanted, Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson, illustrated by Courtney Dawson

This new picture book is a perfect bedtime read aloud. Shailey loves bedtime, especially reading with her dad. But her dad starts a new job, and it gets in the way of their bedtime routine. So Shailey takes action! She fires her dad, posts a Help Wanted sign, and starts interviews immediately. She is thrilled when her favorite characters from fairytales line up to apply. But Sleeping Beauty can’t stay awake, the Gingerbread Man steals her book, and Snow White brings along her whole team. Shailey is running out of options. Is bedtime ruined forever?

This Book of Mine by Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small

The beloved author-illustrator team of The Gardener and The Library brings us a new treasure in This Book of Mine, a sweet picture book that celebrates the power of reading and speaks of the ways in which books launch our adventures, give us comfort, challenge our imaginations, and offer us connection. From new mothers to fantasy lovers, butterfly hunters to musicians, the readers of This Book of Mine all share a common passion for favorite books―whether freshly discovered at the library or bookstore or saved from childhood and reread across a lifetime.

 

What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.

Until next time!
Karina

*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*

Hello readers!

How are you doing? It’s not an easy time at the moment, so I know that’s quite a complicated question to answer. I don’t think I can coherently answer it myself. What I do know is that tiny joys are helping me cope. The new pot plant on my desk. The pile of books waiting to be read. The light through my window right now as I write this. Here’s to the tiny joys in your life – may they be many right now.

Just to let you know as well that we’re rounding up bookish COVID-19 news all in one place, and there’s some really useful resources in there if you’re home educating at the moment. I’m particularly fond of #savewithstories – an initiative launched by Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams where celebs share children’s books online – all in partnership with Save the Children and No Kid Hungry.

Alright, let’s get down to the books! Here’s your hand-picked selection of new titles for this week in the world of children’s books (and two backlist bumps…).

The Only Black Girls In Town by Brandy Colbert

Alberta is thrilled to discover that the new owners of the bed and breakfast across the street are Black, and that they have a daughter of her age. Alberta’s convinced that Edie and her will be best friends, but small town life is a lot to come to terms with when you’ve moved from Brooklyn. And then there’s the day when they discover a box of old journals in Edie’s attic, and decide to figure out the mystery behind them…

Really well-handled and elegantly done, The Only Black Girls In Town explores how to grow up and claim your own identity in a world that doesn’t easily allow that to happen.

The Derby Daredevils : Kenzie Kickstarts A Team by Kit Rosewater

Fifth graders Kenzie and Shelly (aka Kenzilla and Bomb Shell) have dreamed of being stars of the roller-derby scene for as long as they can remember. And now their city has launched a junior league, they’re going to try out! The only problem is that they need to find three other girls and there’s only a week to do it…

From an #ownvoices author, The Derby Daredevils features LGTBQ+ representation alongside an adorable, fierce and furiously empowering team of sporting supremos. There’s a whole lot of heart here – I very much loved it.

My Life As A Potato by Arianne Costner

Ben Hardy believes that he’s cursed by potatoes. The only problem is that he’s now moved to Idaho, and his new school’s mascot is Steve the Spud. Well, that’s not the only problem….after accidentally causing the mascot to sprain their ankle, Ben must take on Spud duty for the final games of the year. But he can’t be popular if he’s Spud – can he?

Richly illustrated, and very funny, this is a great one for fans of vividly visual middle grade fiction.

A Little Love Song by Michelle Magorian

(Backlist bump!) It’s 1943, and two sisters are facing a summer of self-discovery and unexpected independence in their seaside hide-away from the war. Rose – the younger sister – discovers a heartbreaking romance from the first world war alongside her own independence, and Diana comes to terms with standing on her own two feet.

Featuring the best fictional bookshop ever (quite the claim I know, but trust me) alongside a romance that will make your heart whole, this is a glorious read. Do bear in mind that it features certain topics that make it not suitable for young readers, but if you’ve got somebody confidently moving on up into YA, then it’s ideal.

The Boy At The Back Of The Class by Onjali Q. Raúf

(Backlist bump!) There was an empty chair at the back of the class, but now there’s a new boy sat in it. His name is Ahmet, he’s nine years old, and he never smiles or talks. And this is the story of how the class made friends with him…

A heart-warming, genuine and sensitive exploration of life as a refugee, The Boy At The Back of The Class celebrates the power of friendship. It’s a gorgeous, beautiful read and one that I’d recommend in a heartbeat.

Okay, I think that’s it for this week! I’ll be back next week with another email, but until then you can say hello to me on social media @chaletfan and elsewhere on Book Riot co-hosting the biweekly litfic podcast Novel Gazing.

Happy tiny joys! Happy reading!

Louise.

Hi Kid Lit Friends!

We are living in a golden age of graphic novels, and one of my favorite sub-genres is nonfiction graphic novels. I have loved reading these books and think they are such an invaluable way to reach readers and instill a love of nonfiction in them. Here are some of my favorites; what are yours?

For middle grade readers (recommended for ages 8+):

When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed (Dial, April 14, 2020)

Fans of Roller Girl and All’s Faire in Middle School will recognize Victoria Jamieson’s beautiful illustrations and clever writing. In this graphic novel collaboration, Victoria tells the story of Syrian refugee Omar Mohamed. As a child, Omar and his brother were separated from their family and grew up alone in a refugee camp in Syria. This book joins the many wonderful books written about refugees (the middle grade book A Long Walk to Water and the picture book Lubna’s Pebble are two of my favorites) yet adds something new to the conversation by chronicling Omar’s day-to-day life in the camp and his determination to take care of his brother and get an education. A must read – pre-order now!

Becoming RGB: Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s Journey to Justice by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Whitney Gardner

Not many Supreme Court justices can say that they have a nickname, but Ruth Bader Ginsberg is not just any Supreme Court Justice. Books have been written about her life, her childhood, and her work out routine. Now she has a graphic novel that chronicles her childhood as a shy little girl who later became someone who questioned unfairness, who became a student who persisted despite obstacles, who became an advocate who resisted injustice, who became a judge who revered the rule of law, who became…RBG.

Silent Days, Silent Dreams by Allen Say

While this book is the size of a typical picture book, the interior pages are formatted much like a comic and readers that are used to a graphic format will find this book easy to engage with. This book is a biography of James Castle, who was born two months premature on September 25, 1899, on a farm in Garden Valley, Idaho. He was deaf, mute, autistic, and probably dyslexic. He didn’t walk until he was four; he would never learn to speak, write, read, or use sign language. Yet, today Castle’s artwork hangs in major museums throughout the world.  I loved all of the details in this book, especially the way James uses discarded materials to create his beautiful artwork.

 

For older middle grade readers (recommended for ages 10+, but please use your discretion!)

March Trilogy by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell

Most of you will be familiar with this collection of graphic memoirs which won the National Book Award a few years ago. My ten-year-old read it and loved it, but there is violence in here so it might be good to read in a group so various parts of the book can be discussed while reading. This memoir follows Congressman John Lewis, one of the key figures of the civil rights movement. His commitment to justice and nonviolence has taken him from an Alabama sharecropper’s farm to the halls of Congress, from a segregated schoolroom to the 1963 March on Washington, and from receiving beatings from state troopers to receiving the Medal of Freedom from the first African-American president.

Drawing From Memory by Allen Say

Like the other book mentioned above by Allen Say, this one is the size of typical picture book but the interior pages are formatted in a graphic format. This is Caldecott Medalist’s Allen Say’s memoir and the story of his path to becoming the renowned artist he is today. Shunned by his father, who didn’t understand his son’s artistic leanings, Allen was embraced by Noro Shinpei, Japan’s leading cartoonist and the man he came to love as his “spiritual father.” As WWII raged, Allen was further inspired to consider questions of his own heritage and the motivations of those around him.

Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani, illustrated by Maris Wicks

This is a new graphic nonfiction book by the collaborators who brought us Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas. Women on the Final Frontier chronicles the significant contributions of female astronauts, beginning with Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet who was the first woman in space. It took years for the United States to catch up, but soon NASA’s first female astronauts were racing past milestones of their own. The trail-blazing women of Group 9, NASA’s first mixed gender class, had the challenging task of convincing the powers that be that a woman’s place is in space, but they discovered that NASA had plenty to learn about how to make space travel possible for everyone.

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Elsinger, Steven Scott, illustrated by Harmony Becker

Fans of Star Trek will recognize George Takei, but long before he braved new frontiers, he woke up as a four-year-old boy to find his own birth country at war with his father’s — and their entire family forced from their home into an uncertain future. In 1942, at the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, every person of Japanese descent on the west coast was rounded up and shipped to one of ten “relocation centers,” hundreds or thousands of miles from home, where they would be held for years under armed guard. They Called Us Enemy is Takei’s firsthand account of those years behind barbed wire, the joys and terrors of growing up under legalized racism, his mother’s hard choices, his father’s faith in democracy, and the way those experiences planted the seeds for his astonishing future. There are difficult parts of this book, so be mindful of that!

 

What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.

Until next time!
Karina

*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*

Hello readers!

It’s time for your weekly pick of new children’s book releases. I think the theme for this week is taking back control of your life. It’s easy to forget in these complicated days that young people are exposed to as much media as adults and need support in understanding that. It’s also easy to forget that all of that needs managing alongside the difficulty that is life and all it already entails.

So here we are with some books that explore all of that. They talk about power, agency, activism, and finding control of your own destiny. Let’s celebrate that – and hit me up on social media with anything that you think deserves a backlist bump for next week. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Stand up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim

Look at that super cute cover! This is all about aspiring stand-up comedian Yumi Chung. She’s got a lot of material for her Netflix special–she just needs the confidence and a special comedy camp might just give her that. The only problem is that they all think she’s a girl called Kay Nakamura, and Yumi doesn’t tell them the truth…

A coming of age story wrapped up in a deliciously entertaining package, this is full of up to date pop culture references and a whole lot of fun.

Silverworld by Diana Abu-Jaber

Sami’s Lebanese grandmother, Sitti, is ill. Her family think she should be in a nursing home, but Sami doesn’t think that’s she’s unwell at all. Trying to help, she casts a spell from her grandmother’s charm book and falls into Silverworld – an enchanted world that might just hold the secret to Sitti’s illness.

A story full of Lebanese culture, drawing on rich seams of fantasy and real-world issues such as family illness, Silverworld is a potent story of a girl fighting to save her family and so much more.

A Whale of a Mistake by Ioana Hobai

Mistakes can feel overwhelming, right? It’s difficult enough to deal with them as adults, let alone as children. A Whale of a Mistake teaches us that there are as many mistakes as stars in the night sky and maybe they can be dealt with after all. It’s a big concept to deal with and one handled with a lot of sensitivity – plus some beautiful artwork!

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade

Inspired by the Indigenous-led protests across North America, this picture book is a bold cry towards environmental activism. The illustrations are lyrical, often moving, and Lindstrom’s text packs a powerful punch. It also includes a water pledge of care for young readers to co-sign.

Alright, I think we’ll leave it there for this week. Feel free to say hello to me on social media @chaletfan (I am rereading a lot of Cynthia Voigt at the moment so I’m very happy to chat about that!). You can also find me elsewhere on Book Riot co-hosting the biweekly litfic podcast Novel Gazing.

Happy reading!

Louise.

Hi Kid Lit Friends!

I had such a fun time gathering middle grade books about food that I thought I would round up some picture books about food from a variety of cultures. I love food and am very interested in the origins and significance of foods from around the world, and these picture books are some of my absolute favorites.

Magic Ramen by Andrea Wang, illustrated by Kana Urbanowicz, is the story of when Momofuku Ando spotted the long lines for a simple bowl of ramen following World War II. Every day, Momofuku Ando would retire to his lab–a little shed in his backyard. For years, he’d dreamed about making a new kind of ramen noodle soup that was quick, convenient, and tasty for the hungry people he’d seen in line for a bowl on the black market following World War II. Peace follows from a full stomach, he believed. Day after day, Ando experimented. Night after night, he failed. But Ando kept experimenting.

You probably already know how much I love the book Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, given how much I’ve talked about it on this newsletter over the last year! This lovely book brings together the origins of fry bread, how it communicates community as well as the terrible history that led to its creation. This book both inspires and educates. Also, check out the end papers – they are beautiful!

Thank you, Omu! by Oge Mora is one of my favorite books. In this story, everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu’s delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself?
An author’s note explains that “Omu” (pronounced AH-moo) means “queen” in the Igbo language of her parents, but growing up, she used it to mean “Grandma.”

Special food for new year is celebrated all over the world, and Freedom Soup by Tami Charles, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcantara, is about the special soup that Haitians all over the world eat to ring in the new year, a tradition dating back to the Haitian Revolution. This year, Ti Gran is teaching Belle how to make the soup — Freedom Soup — just like she was taught when she was a little girl. Together, they dance and clap as they prepare the holiday feast, and Ti Gran tells Belle about the history of the soup, the history of Belle’s family, and the history of Haiti, where Belle’s family is from.

I love the new picture book, Bilal Cooks Daal! by Aisha Saeed, illustrated by Anoosha Syed. Six-year-old Bilal is excited to help his dad make his favorite food of all-time: daal! The slow-cooked lentil dish from South Asia requires lots of ingredients and a whole lot of waiting. Bilal is so excited to share this food with his friends, and as the day goes on, the daal continues to simmer, and more kids join Bilal and his family, waiting to try the tasty dish. But as time passes, Bilal starts to worry about whether his friends will like it as much as he does.

If you want a fun read aloud, Bee-bim Bop! by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Ho Baek Lee is the book for you! Bee-bim bop (the name translates as “mix-mix rice”) is a traditional Korean dish of rice topped, and then mixed, with meat and vegetables. In bouncy rhyming text, a hungry child tells about helping her mother make bee-bim bop: shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and finally sitting down with her family to enjoy a favorite meal. Young readers who aren’t familiar with the dish will recognize the pride that comes from helping Mama, the fun of mixing ingredients together in a bowl, and the pleasure of sharing delicious food. Includes the author’s own recipe.

Sometimes eating foods when they are unfamiliar to other people is hard, and this is beautifully addressed in The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin. In this story, a Chinese-American girl wishes for a garden of bright flowers instead of one full of bumpy, ugly, vegetables. The neighbors’ gardens look so much prettier and so much more inviting to the young gardener than the garden of “black-purple-green vines, fuzzy wrinkled leaves, prickly stems, and a few little yellow flowers” that she and her mother grow. Nevertheless, mother assures her that “these are better than flowers.” Come harvest time, everyone agrees as those ugly Chinese vegetables become the tastiest, most aromatic soup they have ever known. As the neighborhood comes together to share flowers and ugly vegetable soup, the young gardener learns that regardless of appearances, everything has its own beauty and purpose.

The new ¡Vamos! series by Raul the Third is wonderful, and the second book, Let’s Go Eat, comes out next month on April 2. Follow the adorable Little Lobo and his dog Bernabe as they deliver supplies to a variety of vendors, selling everything from sweets to sombreros, portraits to piñatas, carved masks to comic books! Each page is full of wonderful details to explore!

What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.

Until next time!
Karina

*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*

Hello readers!

I’m writing this newsletter on World Book Day in the United Kingdom, and the streets are full of tiny children dressed up as their favorite book characters. I love it. There’s nothing quite so adorable as seeing a small Gruffalo wander past your window or a Fantastic Mr Fox waiting for the school bus. Even Paddington Bear is wondering about who he’s going to dress up as.

It’s a very appropriate day to be bringing you the pick of the new releases in the children’s book world!

The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman

One day Valentina Kaplan and Oksana Savchenko, neighbours and lifelong enemies, wake up to a bright red sky. The reactor at the nuclear power plant where both their fathers work has exploded. Its name? Chernobyl. Valentina and Oksana are forced into a life together in Leningrad, facing truths and keeping secrets – whatever the cost.

A potent middle-grade read, this explores the power of friendship formed in the most troublesome of times whilst also exploring an unusual point in history.

Woke : A Young Poet’s Call To Justice by Mahogany L. Browne, with Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood, illustrated by Theodore L Taylor

A collection of poetry from women writers to inspire children to stay woke and become activists? Sign me up. Sign me up even more when it’s got authors like this behind it (there’s also a foreword from Jason Reynolds), and sign me up again when it’s got art as generous and as vibrant as this. It’s a lovely, big, collection of motivating work  – perfect for sharing and staying woke.

Like The Moon Loves The Sky by Hena Khan, illustrated by Saffa Khan

Sometimes a cover says it all, and this is a delight. The inside – a celebration of parental love, inspired by verses from the Quran – is similarly wonderful. Look out in particular for Saffa Khan’s gorgeously rich use of colour – this is beautiful, beautiful stuff throughout and full of a quiet power.

Orion Lost by Alastair Chisholm

I recently finished a review copy of this and knew I had to share it with you. Orion Lost is a middle grade ‘kids on a spaceship and everything’s gone wrong plus the AI might actually be evil’ story and it’s great. It’s a really well-told adventure influenced by things like Firefly and Star Trek, and ideal for anybody who can do the Kessel run in less than twelve parsecs.

 

High Rise Mystery by Sharna Jackson

Forgive the fact that this has been out for a while now, but I wanted to give it a quick backlist bump. So here we go! It’s the hottest Summer on record in London and there’s been a murder – it’s time for sisters Anika ‘Nik’ and Norva to solve it. Ideal for fans of Robin Stevens and Katherine Woodfine, and anybody who enjoys twists and turns, High Rise Mystery is really worth getting onto your radar.

That’s it for this week! In the meantime, you can say hello to me on social media @chaletfan (tell me about what you’re reading!) and also elsewhere on Book Riot co-hosting the biweekly litfic podcast Novel Gazing.

(And have you seen that we’re giving away a $50 Barnes and Noble Gift Card to one lucky reader…?)

Happy reading!

Louise.

Hi Kid Lit Friends,

I hope everyone is having a lovely Daylight Savings Day weekend with lots of sunshine, puppies, and dessert. I am heading home from Florida today, where I was doing book events at the Southwest Florida Reading Festival. It’s so sunny and warm here!

My ten-year-old daughter has been really into fantasy books lately, especially the Bliss series by Kathryn Littlewood. She read all three of the books in this series within a couple of days. In this middle grade book, Rose and her siblings are in charge of keeping the Cookery Booke, an ancient, leather-bound volume of enchanted recipes, locked away while their parents are out of town. But when Aunt Lily arrives and whips up delicious dishes for dinner, it makes Rose and her siblings  want to experiment with just a couple of recipes from the forbidden Cookery Booke. There are three books in this series: check out A Dash of Magic and Bite-Sized Magic next!

Since she loved these books, I found some more books with magic food elements in the story for her. Love, Sugar, Magic is a wonderful series by Anna Meriano, illustrated by Mirelle Ortega. In the first book in the series, A Dash of Trouble, Leonora Logroño’s family owns the most beloved bakery in Rose Hill, Texas, spending their days conjuring delicious cookies and cakes for any occasion. And no occasion is more important than the annual Día de los Muertos festival. Leo hopes that this might be the year that she gets to help prepare for the big celebration, but once again she is told she’s too young. Sneaking out of school and down to the bakery, she discovers that her mother, aunt, and four older sisters have in fact been keeping a big secret: they’re brujas—witches of Mexican ancestry—who pour a little bit of sweet magic into everything that they bake. The series continues with A Sprinkle of Spirits and A Mixture of Mischief.

The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop by Kat Saunders is a delightful middle grade book that is filled with magical chocolate and evil villains. Lily and Oz Spoffard have just inherited a magical house with a mysterious boarded-up chocolate shop on the ground floor. The twins’ great-great-uncles were famous chocolatiers, and their chocolate was ANYTHING but ordinary. In fact, it had magical properties. Now an evil gang is after the secret recipe, and it’s up to Lily and Oz to stop them. The fate of their family, and the world, depends on it. Also, that cat on the cover is everything.

Another magical middle grade is The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart by Stephanie Burgis. In this book, Aventurine is a brave young dragon ready to explore the world outside of her family’s mountain cave . . . if only they’d let her leave it. Her family thinks she’s too young to fly on her own, but she’s determined to prove them wrong by capturing the most dangerous prey of all: a human. But when that human tricks her into drinking enchanted hot chocolate, she’s transformed into a puny human without any sharp teeth, fire breath, or claws. Still, she’s the fiercest creature in these mountains–and now she’s found her true passion: chocolate. Check out The Girl with a Dragon Heart next!

One of our favorite kinds of books are the ones that include recipes in it! A Tangle of Knots by Lisa Graff is one of them (our favorite recipe is Viv’s Fudge Cake, which is one of those delicious gooey chocolate center concoctions). In this magical world, eleven-year-old Cady is an orphan with a phenomenal talent for cake baking. But little does she know that fate has set her on a journey from the moment she was born.  And her destiny leads her to a mysterious address that houses a lost luggage emporium, an old recipe, a family of children searching for their own Talents, and a Talent Thief who will alter her life forever.

I have one last book for you: The Magic Cake Shop by Meika Hashimoto, illustrated by Josee Masse. In this story, Emma Burblee is sent to spend the summer with her loathsome Uncle Simon. Although Emma’s days revolve around cooking and cleaning, there is one bright spot. Her uncle’s sweet tooth means she gets to visit the town bakery, Mr. Crackle’s Cake Shop, all the time. This world-renowned baker is as charming and kind as Uncle Simon is vile. But then Emma discovers a plot by Uncle Simon and one of his shady acquaintances; they’ve set their sights on ruining Mr. Crackle (and the entire dessert making industry for that matter). Can Emma stop their evil plan?

 

Around the web…

10 Middle Grade Graphic Novels for Fans of New Kid and Smile, via Book Riot

21 Fascinating and Fun Books Bilingual Children’s Books, via Book Riot

Q&A with Linda Sue Park, via Publisher’s Weekly

 

What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.

Until next time!
Karina

*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*

Hello readers,

It’s that time of the week where I get to tell you all about some delicious new releases in the world of children’s literature. And what a fun week it is! We’re celebrating the stories of women in STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, defeating gender discriminating pirates (*insert down with the pirate patriarchy cry here*), and empowering tiny readers everywhere. Good times.

Changing the Equation : 50+ US Black Women In STEM by Tonya Bolden

Remarkable mathematicians have been in the news recently, so this is a timely read indeed. Telling the real life story of over fifty women who ‘changed the equation’ as doctors, mathematicians, aviators, computer-scientists and more, this is a great non-fiction read for your tiny world-changers.

 

Show Me A Sign by Ann Claire LeZotte

Mary Lambert has always felt safe and protected in her home, but times are changing. Her brother has died, land-disputes are mounting, and a scientist has come to work out why so many people on the island – including Mary – are deaf. Things escalate to the point that Mary becomes a “live specimen” in his experiments…

Inspired by the true history of a thriving deaf community on Martha’s Vineyard in the early nineteenth century, this is a powerful and moving story from an #ownvoices author.

My Best Friend by Julie Fogliano, illustrations by Jillian Tamaki

This is so adorable! We’ve all had those moments when you meet somebody and realise that you’re going to be friends for life. Tamaki’s delightful artwork underscores Fogliano’s lovely text and together, this story of fast, perfect and intoxicating friendship is guaranteed to steal hearts.

 

How To Be A Pirate by Isaac Fitzgerald, illustrated by Brigitte Barrager

CeCe dreams of being a pirate but the neighborhood boys tell her that she can’t. So she turns to her grandpa – a man with some very pirate-like tattoos. As he shares the story of his ink, they enter a whole world of adventure… Perfect for empowering your tiny pirates, this is a story of never giving up on your dreams. Barrager’s art is lovely and really plays gorgeously with the tattoo motif throughout.

I Believe I Can by Grace Byers, illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo

“My presence matters in this world. I know I can do anything, if only I believe I can”

This wise and positive book is a lovely thing, pairing quiet and rich artwork with a series of positive affirmations for children from every background. It’s never too early to be empowered and this celebration of limitless potential does that very nicely.

 

I think that’s an excellent note to end things on, so I’ll see you next week! In the meantime, you can say hello to me social media @chaletfan (please do!) and also elsewhere on Book Riot co-hosting the biweekly litfic podcast Novel Gazing. Our latest episode includes an interview with the director of EMMA, and we chat about that time the CIA rewrote the ending of Animal Farm…

Happy reading!

Louise.

Hi Kid Lit Friends,

It’s March, and in two days it’s Super Tuesday for America (eep!). I hope that all of you who get to vote on Tuesday enjoy engaging in the American democratic process. Meanwhile, I would love to talk about incredible women for Women’s History Month today! There are a lot of wonderful anthologies of fantastic women out there, but here are some of my favorites:

In Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World, author/illustrator Vashti Harrison selects 35 women creators, ranging from writers to inventors, artists to scientists. Readers will meet trailblazing women like Mary Blair, an American modernist painter who had a major influence on how color was used in early animated films, actor/inventor Hedy Lamarr, environmental activist Wangari Maathai, architect Zaha Hadid, filmmaker Maya Deren, and physicist Chien-Shiung Wu. I love Vashti’s illustrations, which infuse each of the stories with hope.

What I love about Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World by Susan Hood is that it’s illustrated by various women illustrators, from Melissa Sweet to Sophie Blackall to Oge Mora and more. In this book of poems, you will find Mary Anning, who was just 13 when she unearthed a prehistoric fossil. You’ll meet Ruby Bridges, the brave six-year-old who helped end segregation in the South. And Maya Lin, who at 21 won a competition to create a war memorial, and then had to appear before Congress to defend her right to create.

I’m a big fan of Chelsea Clinton’s picture books, and one of my favorites is She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World by Chelsea Clinton, illustrated by Alexandra Boiger. Throughout American history, there have always been women who have spoken out for what’s right, even when they have to fight to be heard. In early 2017, Senator Elizabeth Warren’s refusal to be silenced in the Senate inspired a spontaneous celebration of women who persevered in the face of adversity. In this book, Chelsea Clinton celebrates 13 American women who helped shape our country through their tenacity, sometimes through speaking out, sometimes by staying seated, sometimes by captivating an audience. They all certainly persisted.

Author Jamia Wilson and illustrator Andrea Pippins create a marvelous collection in Young, Gifted, and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present. Written in the spirit of Nina Simone’s song “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black,” this vibrant book is a perfect introduction to both historic and present-day icons and heroes. Meet figureheads, leaders, and pioneers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Rosa Parks, as well as cultural trailblazers and athletes like Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey, and Serena Williams.

And finally, Herstory: 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World by Katherine Halligan, illustrated by Sarah Walsh, follow the stories of fifty powerhouse women from around the world and across time who each managed to change the world as they knew it forever. Telling the stories of their childhood, the challenges they faced, and the impact of their achievements, each illustrated spread is a celebration of girl power in its many forms. From astronauts to activists, musicians to mathematicians, these women are sure to motivate young readers of all backgrounds to focus not on the can’ts and shouldn’ts, but on what they can do: anything!

 

Around the web…

Witches, Robots, and Sea Sirens: New Middle Grade Graphic Novels and Comics, via Book Riot

When They Got the Call: PW Speaks with Newbery, Caldecott, and Printz Winners, via Publisher’s Weekly

 

What are you reading these days? Let me know! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.

Until next time!
Karina

*If this e-mail was forwarded to you, follow this link to subscribe to “The Kids Are All Right” newsletter and other fabulous Book Riot newsletters for your own customized e-mail delivery. Thank you!*

Hello readers!

We’re all about the girls this week at TKAAR towers. I’ve picked out a mixture of new releases written by women and which celebrate everything great about being a girl. Whether your small readers are political activists, passionate readers, environmental warriors, or inventive young minds that won’t sit still, there’s a book here for them and their dreams. Who run the world? Girls! [insert Beyoncé  gif here…]

Help Wanted, Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson, illustrations Courtney Dawson

Shailey loves her bedtime routine, but her dad’s new job is getting in the way – so she posts a Help Wanted sign! Some very familiar faces apply – but they all come with problems and none of them are as good as her dad. Soft, rich artwork underscores this fun look at daddy / daughter bonds (and also the unsuitability of giants for bedtime stories…).

Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents An Airplane by Kirsten W. Larson, illustrations Tracy Subisak

Meet Emma Lilian Todd, inventor. Her story towards inventing an airplane is told in this charming non-fiction biography. It gets bonus points for those intensely evocative illustrations, and also for telling the little-heard story of a remarkable woman. This is perfect for all your little inventors!

My Friend Earth by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrations by Francesca Sanna

Start your Earth Day 2020 (22nd April) preparation now with this love letter to our planet. It comes from the author of Sarah, Plain and Tall and the author / illustrator of The Journey, so that’s a great team to begin with. Coupled with the fact that it’s a beautiful read and beautifully produced, this is an absolute winner.

Fight of the Century: Alice Paul Battles Woodrow Wilson for the Vote by Barb Rosenstock, illustrations Sarah Green

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment with this potent, fierce book. It uses the metaphor of a boxing match to explore the battle for women’s suffrage – merging a vintage aesthetic with some pointed political commentary.

Yusra Swims by Julie Abery, illustrations Sally Deng

Yusra Mardini is a swimmer who competed in the 2016 Olympic Games as part of the Refugee Olympic Athletes Team after having to leave her home country of Syria. This is the story of that journey – and all it entailed. It’s told with restraint and eloquence in a series of rhyming couplets alongside some beautiful and moving artwork.

 

Okay, that’s all for this week! Don’t forget that you can say hello to me on social media @chaletfan. and also elsewhere on Book Riot co-hosting the biweekly litfic podcast Novel Gazing. And of course, I’ll always be found in the nearest book store accidentally on purpose buying something new to read.

Louise.