Category: The Kids Are All Right

My Favorite Middle Grade Books of 2018 So Far

Post author By Karina Glaser
Post date June 1, 2018

Hey Kid Lit friends,

There have been so many fantastic middle grade books out this year so far, and I really tried to keep the list to ten but really could not cut anything, so I’m just going to drop twenty-one on here. Happy reading!

Sponsored by The Boy from Tomorrow, by Camille DeAngelis

Josie and Alec live at 444 Sparrow Street. They sleep in the same room, but they’ve never laid eyes on each other. They are 12 years old and 100 years apart. The children meet through a hand-painted talking board—Josie in 1915, Alec in 2015—and form a friendship across the century that separates them. But a chain of events leave Josie and her little sister Cass trapped in the house and afraid for their safety, and Alec must find out what’s going to happen to them. Can he help them change their future when it’s already past?

A Sky Full of Stars by Linda Williams Jackson

This sequel to Midnight Without a Moon by Linda Williams Jackson is set in Mississippi in the 1950’s. Rose Lee Carter lives with her sharecropper grandparents, and in the first book she grapples with the murder of Emmett Till, a young man who is convicted and then killed for whistling at a white woman. In this book, Rose continues to struggle with staying in the south when opportunities arise for her to go north, while also feeling caught between the mounting racial tension and differing ways her friends want to address the injustice. This book is gorgeously written and the author is a much needed voice in children’s literature. Note: Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes (also on this list) incorporates the true story of Emmett Till as well.

Just Like Jackie by Lindsay Stoddard

For as long as Robinson Hart can remember, it’s just been her and Grandpa. He taught her about cars, baseball, and everything else worth knowing. But Grandpa’s memory has been getting bad—so bad that he sometimes can’t even remember Robbie’s name. She’s sure that she’s making things worse by getting in trouble at school, but she can’t resist using her fists when bullies like Alex Carter make fun of her for not having a mom. Now she’s stuck in group guidance. There’s no way Robbie’s going to open up about her life to some therapy group, especially not with Alex in the room. Besides, if she told anyone how forgetful Grandpa’s been getting lately, they’d take her away from him. He’s the only family she has—and it’s up to her to keep them together, no matter what.

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor

I love the way author Leslie Connor writes about unusual circumstances and characters with such warmth and heart. (Her previous book, All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, was amazing). Her new book is about Mason Buttle, the biggest, sweatiest kid in his grade, and everyone knows he can barely read or write. Mason’s learning disabilities are compounded by grief. Fifteen months ago, Mason’s best friend, Benny Kilmartin, turned up dead in the Buttle family’s orchard. An investigation drags on, and Mason, honest as the day is long, can’t understand why Lieutenant Baird won’t believe the story Mason has told about that day.

Checked by Cynthia Kadohata

This book had me completely hooked from the first page. It’s about a middle schooler who loves his Doberman, hockey, and his dad. I absolutely love the voice in this book and found the hockey references both informative and fascinating. There are not too many books that talk in detail about kids who are determined to be professional athletes, and this doesn’t mince both the highs and lows of training to be the best in their sport.

Stanley Will Probably Be Fine by Sally J. Pla

We need more characters like Stanley Fortinbras in children’s literature! Stanley struggles with anxiety, which prevents him from making friends, trying new things, and participating in a much anticipated comics trivia scavenger hunt. I loved this book and have already recommended it to many kids who struggle with anxiety.

The Heart and Mind of Frances Pauley by April Stevens

I cried my way through this story by April Stevens, a beautifully written book about Frances (she prefers to be called Figgrotten), who is happiest when she’s all alone sitting in her rock cave observing the world around her. But things around her keep changing and Figgrotten can’t seem to keep up: her sister suddenly hates her, a new boy who breaks all the etiquette rules enters her class, and her best friend Alvin, her bus driver, gets sick. This book is a beautiful homage to quiet, nature-loving, world wondering kids all over.

The Not-So-Boring Letters of a Private Nobody by Matt Landis

This book had me laughing out loud in every chapter. Twelve-year-old Oliver Prichard is obsessed with the Civil War, so when the last assignment of seventh-grade history is a project on the Civil War, Oliver is over the moon–until he’s partnered with Ella Berry, the slacker girl with the messy hair who does nothing but stare out the window. And when Oliver finds out they have to research a random soldier named Private Raymond Stone who didn’t even fight in any battles before dying of some boring disease, Oliver knows he’s doomed.

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Sidman

I first read this book a few months ago and promptly shared my love for it with my local librarian, who used to work at the New York Botanical Garden library and who loves Maria Merian. This biography is stunning; I learned so much about this pioneer, one of the first naturalists to study live insects and document the metamorphosis of the butterfly.

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

An epistolary novel about a girl growing up in 1947 after India’s separation into two countries: India and Pakistan. Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn’t know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it’s too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can’t imagine losing her homeland, too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.

Cilla Lee-Jenkins: This Book Is A Classic by Susan Tan, illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte

I’m very excited about the continuation of Susan Tan’s Cilla Lee-Jenkins series! In this second book, Priscilla “Cilla” Lee-Jenkins has just finished her (future) bestselling memoir, and now she’s ready to write a Classic. This one promises to have everything: Romance, Adventure, and plenty of Drama―like Cilla’s struggles to “be more Chinese,” be the perfect flower girl at Aunt Eva’s wedding, and learn how to share her best friend.

Rebound by Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander’s prequel to The Crossover is coming out on April 2, 2018 with HMH Books for Young Readers. I didn’t think the author could pull off a book as great as The Crossover, but he did with Rebound. In this book, Josh and Jordan Bell’s father, Chuck Bell, takes center stage as readers get a glimpse of his childhood and how he became the jazz music worshiping, basketball star his sons look up to.

Class Action by Steven B. Frank

I loved Steven’s debut middle grade book, Armstrong and Charlie, and his sophomore book is just as hilarious, important, and touching as his first. This is about a group of kids who bring a lawsuit against homework, and it goes all the way to the Supreme Court! In today’s society of over scheduled, stressed out kids, I found this very relevant and timely. I recommend this for fans of Gary Schmidt, Gordon Korman, Richard Peck, and Andrew Clements.

Jasmine Toguchi: Drummer Girl by Debbi Michiko Florence

If you’ve read this newsletter in the past, you know that I LOVE Jasmine Toguchi! In this latest installment, Jasmine takes up the taiko drums for the local talent show. Can she make the taiko as cool as the other talents her friends (and enemies) have? I adore this series because it blends cultural elements with struggles that any kid can relate to, regardless of ethnicity or background.

Road Trip with Max and His Mom by Linda Urban, illustrated by Kathy Kath

The follow-up to Weekends with Max and His Dad, this new book continues with Max and his mom planning a road trip. With miles to travel, cousins to meet, and a tall roller coaster to ride (maybe), it will be an adventure! But Max always spends weekends with Dad; will Dad be okay if he’s left behind? And will Max be brave enough for all the new explorations ahead of him?

Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages

This amazing book is about Katy Gordon, the best pitcher in the neighborhood. But when she tries out for Little League, it’s a whole different story. Girls are not eligible, period. It is a boy’s game and always has been. It’s not fair, and Katy’s going to fight back. The back matter is filled with true stories about female baseball players and their roll in making baseball accessible to all people. This book is funny, informative, and fun!

Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead

This lovely book is told in alternating perspectives… only one of those perspectives is told by an undefined creature wearing a chicken costume. It’s been five years since Livy and her family have visited Livy’s grandmother in Australia. Now that she’s back, Livy has the feeling she’s forgotten something really, really important about Gran’s house. It turns out she’s right. Bob, a short, greenish creature dressed in a chicken suit, didn’t forget Livy, or her promise. He’s been waiting five years for her to come back, hiding in a closet like she told him to. He can’t remember who―or what―he is, where he came from, or if he even has a family. But five years ago Livy promised she would help him find his way back home. Now it’s time to keep that promise.

The Alcatraz Escape by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

This third book in the Book Scavengers series is a real treat, filled with puzzles, intrigue, and mystery. Legendary literary game-maker Garrison Griswold is back in action―this time with “Unlock the Rock.” For his latest game, Griswold has partnered with the famous–and famously reclusive–mystery writer Errol Roy to plan an epic escape room challenge on Alcatraz Island.

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnuty

I loved this book by Stacy McAnulty. It is about twelve-year-old Lucy who was hit by lightning when she was eight. The zap gave her genius-level math skills, and ever since, Lucy has been homeschooled. Now, at 12 years old, she’s technically ready for college. Then, Lucy’s grandma decides that Lucy needs a change in routine. She insists that Lucy do four things: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book (that’s not a math textbook!). I adored Lucy and found her so endearing and funny. This book is entertaining from beginning to end.

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

Life is quiet and ordinary in Amal’s Pakistani village, but she had no complaints, and besides, she’s busy pursuing her dream of becoming a teacher one day. Her dreams are temporarily dashed when–as the eldest daughter–she must stay home from school to take care of her siblings. Amal is upset, but she doesn’t lose hope and finds ways to continue learning. Then the unimaginable happens–after an accidental run-in with the son of her village’s corrupt landlord, Amal must work as his family’s servant to pay off her own family’s debt.

You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly

Told in two perspectives, two quiet kids living in very different parts of America are going through difficult family situations. They are connected through their online games of Scrabble, and their lives with interweave within the same week in unexpected ways. A sweet, honest book that captures the complexities of growing up, from Newbery award winning author Erin Entrada Kelly.

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

This middle grade book is inspired by the author’s own childhood. Mia Tang’s parents, immigrants from China, take the job as motel managers at the Calivista Motel, and the owner Mr. Yao is cruel and stingy. Mia works the front desk to help out her parents, and through a mix of humor, bravery, and intelligence, she sets out to help her family in every way she knows how. I loved this story.

New Releases

All of these books release this Tuesday unless otherwise noted. The book descriptions are from Goodreads, but I’ll add a if I particularly loved a title.

Picture Book New Releases

Rosa’s Animals: The Story of Rosa Bonheur and Her Painting Menagerie by Maryann Macdonald (Abrams)

Painter and sculptor Rosa Bonheur (1822–1899) led a highly nontraditional life, especially for a woman in the nineteenth century. She kept lions as pets, was awarded the Legion of Honor by Empress Eugénie, and befriended “Buffalo Bill” Cody. She became a painter at a time when women were often only reluctantly educated as artists. Her unconventional artistic work habits, including visiting slaughterhouses to sketch an animal’s anatomy and wearing men’s clothing to gain access to places like a horse fair, where women were not allowed, helped her become one of the most beloved female painters of her time.

Neck & Neck by Elise Parsley (Little, Brown)

Everybody loves Leopold the giraffe. He inspires awe and wonder. His adoring fans gaze and cheer. Best of all, they feed him lots of deeeelicious snacks! But, one day, a shiny, bobble-headed new rival comes in and ruins everything…a giraffe-shaped balloon! Just how far will Leopold go to prove that he’s the hero of the zoo?

Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathyspere by Barb Rosenstock and Katherine Roy (Little, Brown)

On June 6, 1930, engineer Otis Barton and explorer Will Beebe dove into the ocean inside a hollow metal ball of their own invention called the Bathysphere. They knew dozens of things might go wrong. A tiny leak could shoot pressurized water straight through the men like bullets! A single spark could cause their oxygen tanks to explode! No one had ever dived lower than a few hundred feet…and come back. But Otis and Will were determined to become the first people to see what the deep ocean looks like.

If You Ever Want to Bring a Pirate to Meet Santa, DON’T! by Elise Parsley (Little, Brown)

If your dad says you’re going to meet a bearded guy with a red suit and a bag full of treasures…he is not talking about meeting a pirate! But Magnolia has already invited the misbehaving swashbuckler to jump in line to meet Santa. So what if pirates are on the Naughty List? She’ll just teach this one to change his scurvy ways–no plundering or sword-fighting or plank-walking allowed! Plus, Santa is happy to hear everyone‘s wish list. Right?

Run Wild by David Covell (Penguin Random House)

“Hey, you! Sky’s blue!” a girl shouts as she runs by the window of a boy bent over his digital device. Intrigued, the boy runs out after her, leaving his shoes (and phone) behind, and into a world of sunshine, dewey grass, and warm sand. Filled with the pleasures of being alive in the natural world, Run Wild is an exquisite and kid-friendly reminder of how wonderful life can be beyond doors and screens.

Mabel and Sam at Home by Linda Urban, illustrated by Hadley Hooper (Chronicle)

At the new house, there were movers and shouting and boxes and blankets. There were many places a girl like Mabel and a boy like Sam could be tripped over or smooshed or trod upon. There was one safe place where they would not. And that is how Mabel became a Sea Captain. In this three-part picture book of moving house and imaginative play, Mabel and Sam sail the high seas of their new home; tour the intriguing museum of their living room; journey through outer space to the safety of their own beds; and discover how far afield—and how close to home—imagination can take them.

Middle Grade New Releases

Breakout by Kate Messner (Bloomsbury)

Nora Tucker is looking forward to summer vacation in Wolf Creek–two months of swimming, popsicles, and brushing up on her journalism skills for the school paper. But when two inmates break out of the town’s maximum security prison, everything changes. Doors are locked, helicopters fly over the woods, and police patrol the school grounds. Worst of all, everyone is on edge, and fear brings out the worst in some people Nora has known her whole life. Even if the inmates are caught, she worries that home might never feel the same.

The Frame-Up by Wendy McLeod MacKnight (HarperCollins)

There’s one important rule at the Beaverbrook Gallery—don’t let anyone know the paintings are alive. Mona Dunn, forever frozen at thirteen when her portrait was painted by William Orpen, has just broken that rule. Luckily twelve-year-old Sargent Singer, an aspiring artist himself, is more interested in learning about the vast and intriguing world behind the frame than he is in sharing her secret. And when Mona and Sargent suspect shady dealings are happening behind the scenes at the gallery, they set out to find the culprit. They must find a way to save the gallery—and each other—before they are lost forever.

The Mortification of Fovea Munson (Disney Hyperion)

Fovea Munson is nobody’s Igor. True, her parents own a cadaver lab where they perform surgeries on dead bodies. And yes, that makes her gross by association, at least according to everyone in seventh grade. And sure, Fovea’s stuck working at the lab now that her summer camp plans have fallen through. But she is by no means Dr. Frankenstein’s snuffling assistant! That is, until three disembodied heads, left to thaw in the wet lab, start talking. To her. Out loud. What seems like a nightmare, or bizarre hallucination, is not. Fovea is somebody’s Igor, all right. Three somebodies, actually. And they need a favor.

Heartseeker by Melinda Beatty (Penguin Random House)

Fallow was just six harvests old when she realized that not everyone sees lies. For Only, seeing lies is as beautiful as looking through a kaleidoscope, but telling them is as painful as gnawing on cut glass. Only’s family warns her to keep her cunning hidden, but secrets are seldom content to stay secret. When word of Only’s ability makes its way to the King, she’s plucked from her home at the orchard and brought to the castle at Bellskeep. There she learns that the kingdom is plagued by traitors, and that her task is to help the King distinguish between friend and foe. But being able to see lies doesn’t necessarily mean that others aren’t able to disguise their dishonesty with cunnings of their own.

Just Under the Clouds by Melissa Sarno (Random House Children’s Books)

Always think in threes and you’ll never fall, Cora’s father told her when she was a little girl. Two feet, one hand. Two hands, one foot. That was all Cora needed to know to climb the trees of Brooklyn. But now Cora is a middle schooler, a big sister, and homeless. Her mother is trying to hold the family together after her father’s death, and Cora must look after her sister, Adare, who’s just different, their mother insists. Quick to smile, Adare hates wearing shoes, rarely speaks, and appears untroubled by the question Cora can’t help but ask: How will she find a place to call home?

Junior Ninja Champion: The Competition Begins (Catherine Hapka)

Izzy, Ty, Kevin, JJ, and Mackenzie don’t have a lot in common. But they have all seen the reality TV obstacle competition National Ninja Champion. When news breaks that there’s going to be a kids’ version of the show—and tryouts are just a few miles away—all five find themselves drawn to the obstacle course at Fit Kidz Gym. Before they know it, they’ve become a team—training together and helping one another overcome all kinds of obstacles as they compete for the title of Junior Ninja Champion. With lots of heart and edge-of-your-seat excitement, Junior Ninja Champion packs in the action of the competition along with all the ups and downs on the journey to making it.

Project Terra Bites Back by Landry Q. Walker (Penguin Random House)

After narrowly escaping death and saving Paragon from destruction, Elara Adele Vaughn is back in action to start her second year at the Seven Systems Academy of Terraforming Arts. But she’s done being a hero this time around–Elara just wants to learn how to build new worlds with her best friends Knot, Beezle, Sabik, and her alien-sponge roommate, Clare. But when an evil time-hopping force threatens to take down the galactic order, Elara’s “normal” school year might turn into something weird. But what’s a little danger for the Academy’s most troublemaking student and her oddball crew of friends?

The Selkie of San Francisco by Todd Calgi Gallicano (Random House Children’s Books)

Sam London didn’t mean to uncover an ancient secret, but when he found out that mythical creatures are real and living in our national parks, he became the newest recruit to the Department of Mythical Wildlife. Ever since, the middle schooler has been anxiously awaiting the call for his next case . . . and it finally arrives with the brazen appearance of a selkie in San Francisco Bay. Along with Dr. Vance Vantana and the guardian Tashi, Sam pursues the selkie, who has taken a peculiar interest in fashion’s newest “it” girl and social media star, Pearl Eklund. But the closer he gets, the more questions emerge about Pearl’s mysterious connection to the mythical world. Is she the long-lost hope for an entire civilization or the harbinger of its doom? It’s up to Sam to find out the truth, and fast. . . . The fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

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I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

Nala and Ginger Pye, sleeping on the job.

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The Kids Are All Right

My Favorite Picture Books of 2018 So Far

Post author By Karina Glaser
Post date May 25, 2018

Hey Kid Lit friends,

It’s coming up on the end of the first half of 2018 (how did that happen so quickly?), so I thought I would share eight of my favorite picture books published this year so far, plus two more coming up in June and August that I got an advance look at and am very excited about.

Children’s Books with Sports Themes

Post author By Karina Glaser
Post date May 18, 2018

Hey, Kid Lit friends,

I love a good sports story, and children’s books are filled with sports themes and athlete biographies. Here are some of my favorites! (All descriptions from Goodreads.)

Sponsored by Clara Voyant by Rachelle Delaney

Clara’s mother has decided to “follow her bliss,” which involves moving to a tiny apartment, working at a herbal remedy shop and trying to develop her mystical powers. Clara tries to make the best of a bad situation by joining the newspaper at her new school, where she can sharpen her investigative skills and tell the kind of hard-news stories she appreciates. But the editor relegates her to the horoscopes. When Clara’s horoscopes come true everyone at school is talking about ClaraVoyant, the talented fortune-teller. Clara is horrified — horoscopes and clairvoyance aren’t real. But when a mystery unfolds at school, she finds herself in a strange situation: having an opportunity to prove herself as an investigative journalist . . . with the help of her own mystical powers.

Picture Books

I Got It! by David Wiesner

The few seconds after the ball leaves the bat can be infinitely long. For this eager young outfielder, there’s plenty of time to envision the increasingly fantastic and funny situations that might interfere with making the catch. Summoning determination and courage, he overcomes the imaginary obstacles and turns them into a springboard for success.

Down By The River by Andrew Weiner, illustrated by April Chu

One beautiful autumn day, Art sets out with his mother and grandfather for a fishing trip. Fishing days are Art’s favorite. He loves learning the ropes from Grandpa—the different kinds of flies and tackle and the trout that frequent their favorite river. Art especially appreciates Grandpa’s stories. But, this time, hearing the story about Mom’s big catch on her first cast ever makes Art feel insecure about his own fishing skills. But, as Art hooks a beautiful brown trout, he finds reassurance in Grandpa’s stories and marvels in the sport and a day spent with family, promising to continue the tradition with his own grandkids generations later.

*Editor’s Note: I went down an internet rabbit hole trying to determine whether fishing was a sport. There are lots of strong (and opposing opinions) about it, but I made a game day decision (see what I did there?) to add this fishing book in this sport’s round-up anyways.

Cycle City by Alison Farrell

When little Etta the Elephant goes to her Aunt Ellen’s house, she takes a journey through bicycle-filled Cycle City, a town filled with bikes of all kinds! At the end of the day, a special surprise awaits Etta—the most amazing bicycle parade imaginable. Detail-rich illustrations in this fun seek-and-find book paint the colors of this unusual town where everyone rides some kind of bike—whether a penny-farthing, a two-wheeled unicycle, or a conference bike, everyone is on wheels! Packed with prompts and lots to see on every page, this is a sweet story for the sharpest of eyes.

Middle Grade Fiction

Checked by Cynthia Kadohata

Hockey is Conor’s life. His whole life. He’ll say it himself, he’s a hockey beast. It’s his dad’s whole life too–and Conor is sure that’s why his stepmom, Jenny, left. There are very few things Conor and his dad love more than the game, and one of those things is their Doberman, Sinbad. When Sinbad is diagnosed with cancer, Conor chooses to put his hockey lessons and practices on hold so they can pay for Sinbad’s chemotherapy. But without hockey to distract him, Conor begins to notice more. Like his dad’s crying bouts, and his friend’s difficult family life. And then Conor notices one more thing: Without hockey, the one thing that makes him feel special, is he really special at all?

Power Forward by Hena Khan

Fourth grader Zayd Saleem has some serious hoop dreams. He’s not just going to be a professional basketball player. He’s going to be a star. A legend. The first Pakistani-American kid to make it to the NBA. He knows this deep in his soul. It’s his destiny. There are only a few small things in his way. When Zayd gets caught blowing off his violin lessons to practice, Zayd’s parents lay down the ultimate punishment: he has to hang up his high tops and isn’t allowed to play basketball anymore.

Sidetracked by Diana Harmon Asher

If middle school were a race, Joseph Friedman wouldn’t even be in last place—he’d be on the sidelines. With an overactive mind and phobias of everything from hard-boiled eggs to gargoyles, he struggles to understand his classes, let alone his fellow classmates. So he spends most of his time avoiding school bully Charlie Kastner and hiding out in the Resource Room, a safe place for misfit kids like him. But then, on the first day of seventh grade, two important things happen. First, his Resource Room teacher encourages (i.e., practically forces) him to join the school track team, and second, he meets Heather, a crazy-fast runner who isn’t going to be pushed around by Charlie Kastner or anybody else. With a new friend and a new team, Joseph finds himself off the sidelines and in the race (quite literally) for the first time. Is he a good runner? Well, no, he’s terrible. But the funny thing about running is, once you’re in the race, anything can happen.

Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages

Every boy in the neighborhood knows Katy Gordon is their best pitcher, even though she’s a girl. But when she tries out for Little League, it’s a whole different story. Girls are not eligible, period. It is a boy’s game and always has been. It’s not fair, and Katy’s going to fight back. Inspired by what she’s learning about civil rights in school, she sets out to prove that she’s not the only girl who plays baseball. With the help of friendly librarians and some tenacious research skills, Katy discovers the forgotten history of female ball players. Why does no one know about them? Where are they now? And how can one ten-year-old change people’s minds about what girls can do?

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

Running. That’s all Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But Ghost has been running for the wrong reasons—it all started with running away from his father, who, when Ghost was a very little boy, chased him and his mother through their apartment, then down the street, with a loaded gun, aiming to kill. Since then, Ghost has been the one causing problems—and running away from them—until he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medalist who sees something in Ghost: crazy natural talent. If Ghost can stay on track, literally and figuratively, he could be the best sprinter in the city. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed, or will his past finally catch up to him?

Rebound by Kwame Alexander

Before Josh and Jordan Bell were streaking up and down the court, their father was learning his own moves. In this prequel to Newbery Medal winner The Crossover, Chuck Bell takes center stage, as readers get a glimpse of his childhood and how he became the jazz music worshiping, basketball star his sons look up to.

Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh by Uma Krishnaswami

Nine-year-old Maria Singh longs to play softball in the first-ever girls’ team forming in Yuba City, California. It’s the spring of 1945, and World War II is dragging on. Miss Newman, Maria’s teacher, is inspired by Babe Ruth and the All-American Girls’ League to start a girls’ softball team at their school. Meanwhile, Maria’s parents–Papi from India and Mama from Mexico–can no longer protect their children from prejudice and from the discriminatory laws of the land. When the family is on the brink of losing their farm, Maria must decide if she has what it takes to step up and find her voice in an unfair world.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

For most of her twelve years, Astrid has done everything with her best friend Nicole. But after Astrid falls in love with roller derby and signs up for derby camp, Nicole decides to go to dance camp instead. And so begins the most difficult summer of Astrid’s life as she struggles to keep up with the older girls at camp, hang on to the friend she feels slipping away, and cautiously embark on a new friendship. As the end of summer nears and her first roller derby bout (and junior high!) draws closer, Astrid realizes that maybe she is strong enough to handle the bout, a lost friendship, and middle school… in short, strong enough to be a roller girl.

Knockout by K.A. Holt

Levi just wants to be treated like a typical kid. As a baby, he had a serious disease that caused him respiratory issues. He’s fine now, but his mom and overprotective brother still think of him as damaged, and his schoolmates see him as the same class clown he’s always been. He feels stuck. So when his dad—divorced from his mom—suggests he take up boxing, he falls in love with the sport. And when he finds out about a school with a killer boxing team and a free-study curriculum, it feels like he’s found a ticket to a new Levi. But how can he tell his mom about boxing? And how can he convince his family to set him free?

Takedown (June 19, 2018, Wendy Lamb Books) by Laura Shovan

Mikayla is a wrestler; when you grow up in a house full of brothers who wrestle, it’s inevitable. It’s also a way to stay connected to her oldest brother, Evan, who moved in with their dad. Some people object to having a girl on the team. But that’s not stopping Mikayla. She’s determined to work harder than ever, and win. Lev is determined to make it to the state championships this year. He’s used to training with his two buddies as the Fearsome Threesome; they know how to work together. At the beginning of sixth grade, he’s paired with a new partner–a girl. This better not get in the way of his goal. Mikayla and Lev work hard together and become friends. But when they face each other, only one of them can win.

Keeping Score by Linda Sue Park

Both Maggie Fortini and her brother, Joey-Mick, were named for baseball great Joe DiMaggio. Unlike Joey-Mick, Maggie doesn’t play baseball—but at almost ten years old, she is a dyed-in-the-wool fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Maggie can recite all the players’ statistics and understands the subtleties of the game. Unfortunately, Jim Maine is a Giants fan, but it’s Jim who teaches Maggie the fine art of scoring a baseball game. Not only can she revisit every play of every inning, but by keeping score she feels she’s more than just a fan: she’s helping her team.

The Distance to Home by Jenn Bishop

Last summer, Quinnen was the star pitcher of her baseball team, the Panthers. They were headed for the championship, and her loudest supporter at every game was her best friend and older sister, Haley. This summer, everything is different. Haley’s death, at the end of last summer, has left Quinnen and her parents reeling. Without Haley in the stands, Quinnen doesn’t want to play baseball. It seems like nothing can fill the Haley-sized hole in her world. The one glimmer of happiness comes from the Bandits, the local minor-league baseball team. For the first time, Quinnen and her family are hosting one of the players for the season. Without her sister, Quinnen’s not sure it will be any fun, but soon she befriends a few players. With their help, can she make peace with the past and return to the pitcher’s mound?

Fadeaway by Maura Ellen Stokes (6/5/18, Yellow Jacket) *Upper Middle Grade*

Fourteen-year-old Sam thinks she has all summer to hang out with her best friend, Reagan. But then her life changes forever. Sam’s world, once filled with school, basketball, and Reagan, has now abruptly changed and she must learn to navigate high school on and off the court without her best friend. But when Reagan suddenly “reappears,” Sam clings to her friend’s presence, even as it hurts rather than helps her grief. Can Sam learn to accept herself without her other half?

Picture Book and Middle Grade Biographies and Nonfiction

The Funniest Man in Baseball by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Jennifer Bower

Max Patkin was pitching in the minor leagues when he was injured and had to leave his dreams behind. He joined the Navy and eventually was able to play again while in the military . . . and this time he got to pitch against superstar Joe DiMaggio. When Joe hit one of Max’s throws out of the park, Max threw down his glove, left the mound, and chased Joe around the bases, making faces and imitating his every move. The crowd loved it! And a baseball clown was born.

The United States v. Jackie Robinson by Sudipta Barhan-Quallen, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Jackie Robinson broke boundaries as the first African American player in Major League Baseball. But long before Jackie changed the world in a Dodger uniform, he did it in an army uniform. As a soldier during World War II, Jackie experienced segregation every day—separate places for black soldiers to sit, to eat, and to live. When the army outlawed segregation on military posts and buses, things were supposed to change. So when Jackie was ordered by a white bus driver to move to the back of a military bus, he refused. Instead of defending Jackie’s rights, the military police took him to trial. But Jackie would stand up for what was right, even when it was difficult to do.

Champion: The Story of Muhammad Ali by Jim Haskins, illustrated by Eric Velasquez

Muhammad Ali was one of the most electrifying, inspiring, and confrontational athletes of his generation. At the height of his boxing career, Ali was as despised as he was adored. Loud and aggressive as well as confident and dedicated, he was the quintessential showman, the undeniable champion of his sport, and one of the most recognizable faces in the world. He was challenged at every turn: faced with racial discrimination in his everyday life, mocked by the sports media as his career began, ridiculed for adopting a new religion, and stripped by the U.S. government of his very livelihood for refusing to go to war.

Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali by Charles R. Smith, Jr. and Bryan Collier

From the moment a fired-up teenager won 1960 Olympic gold to the day when a retired legend, hands shaking from Parkinson’s, returned to raise the Olympic torch, the boxer known as “The Greatest” waged many a fight. Some were in the ring, against opponents like Sonny Liston and Joe Frazier; others were against societal prejudice and a war he refused to support because of his Islamic faith. The rap-inspired verse weaves and bobs and jabs, while bold collage artwork matches every move, capturing the “Louisville loudmouth with the great gift of rhyme” who shed the name Cassius Clay to take on the world as Muhammad Ali.

Martina and Chrissie: The Greatest Rivalry in the History of Sports by Phil Bildner, illustrated by Brett Helquist

Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert come from completely different places and play tennis in completely different ways. Chrissie is the all-American girl: practiced, poised, with perfect technique. Martina hails from Czechoslovakia, a Communist country, and her game is ruled by emotion. Everything about them is different, except one thing: they both want to be the best. But as their intense rivalry grows, something else begins to swing into place, and a friendship forms that will outlast all their tennis victories.

Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery by Sandra Neil Wallace, illustrated by Bryan Collier

When Ernie Barnes was growing up in North Carolina in the 1940s, he loved to draw. Even when he played as a boy with his friends he drew with a stick in the mud. And he never left home without a sketchbook. He would draw families walking home from church, or the old man on the sofa. He drew what he saw. But in the segregated south, Ernie didn’t know how to make a living as an artist. Ernie grew tall and athletic and became a football star. Soon enough the colleges came calling. Still, in his heart Ernie longed to paint. Would that day ever come?

Courage to Soar by Simone Biles

Simone Biles’ entrance into the world of gymnastics may have started on a daycare field trip in her hometown of Spring, Texas, but her God-given talent, passion, and perseverance have made her one of the top gymnasts in the world, as well as a four-time winner of Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro. But there is more to Simone than the nineteen medals—fourteen of them gold—and the Olympic successes. Through years of hard work and determination, she has relied on her faith and family to stay focused and positive, while having fun competing at the highest level and doing what she loves.

Unsinkable (6/26/18, HMH Books for Young Readers) by Jessica Long with Hannah Long

Born in Siberia with fibular hemimelia, Jessica Long was adopted from a Russian orphanage at thirteen months old and has since become the second most decorated U.S. Paralympic athlete of all time. Now, Jessica shares all the moments in her life—big and small, heartbreaking and uplifting—that led to her domination in the Paralympic swimming world.

All Heart: My Dedication and Determination to Be One of Soccer’s Best by Carli Lloyd and Wayne Coffey

There was a time when Carli Lloyd almost quit soccer. Then she met James Galanis, a trainer who believed in her and saw her as a player with rare talent and skill who needed to work on her weaknesses. He offered to help her, but only if she made soccer her number one priority. Carli said yes. In her own words, Carli Lloyd, the two-time recipient of the FIFA World Player of the Year award, tells her inspirational story of going from near defeat to the ultimate goal. All Heart is for players, fans, coaches, dreamers, and anyone who has ever thought about giving up.

Champions of Women’s Soccer and Champions of Men’s Soccer by Ann Killon

Featuring Top Ten Lists and stunning photos of history-making moments, this comprehensive collection catalogs the rise of women’s soccer in America; the greatest American players such as Mia Hamm, Hope Solo, and Alex Morgan; the greatest international stars, including Marta and Homare Sawa; the future class of superstars; and the most thrilling World Cup and Olympic matches.

I’ve Got This by Laurie Hernandez

At sixteen years old, Laurie Hernandez has already made many of her dreams come true—and yet it’s only the beginning for this highly accomplished athlete. A Latina Jersey girl, Laurie saw her life take a dramatic turn last summer when she was chosen to be a part of the 2016 US Olympic gymnastics team. After winning gold in Rio as part of the Final Five, Laurie also earned an individual silver medal for her performance on the balance beam. Nicknamed “the Human Emoji” for her wide-eyed and animated expressions, Laurie continued to dance her way into everyone’s hearts while competing on the hit reality TV show Dancing with the Stars, where she was the youngest-ever winner of the Mirrorball Trophy.

New Releases

All of these books release this Tuesday unless otherwise noted. The book descriptions are from Goodreads, but I’ll add a if I particularly loved a title.

Picture Book New Releases

Possum and the Summer Storm by Anne Hunter (HMH Books for Young Readers)

Possum calls his children out of the summer storm—but what can he do when their home is swept away by rising water? The possum family must rely on their friends to construct a new house. At first it seems that no other animal’s home is suited for a possum, but they come up with something spectacular!

Speediest: 19 Very Fast Animals and Stinkiest: 20 Smelly Animals by Steve Jenkins (HMH Books for Young Readers)

Steve Jenkins’ Extreme Animals reader series explores nature’s truly superlative animals. These readers are fact-packed and span the globe, detailing the astounding abilities of every shape, size, and species. Each installment focuses on amazing and unusual animals, making these nonfiction readers accessible, informative, and fascinating.

Pet This Book by Jessica Young and Daniel Wiseman (Bloomsbury)

There are lots of ways little hands can care for animals. Each page of this book invites readers to pet the cat, wash the puppy, brush the horse’s mane, and more–no animals required! With a delightful rhyming text and engaging illustrations, this book is full of pets who can’t wait to play. The only thing they need is YOU! Just use your imagination, turn the pages, and Pet This Book!

Middle Grade New Releases

This Moment is Your Life (And So Is This One) by Mariam Gates, illustrated by Libby VanderPloeg (Dial Books)

The key to happiness is being able to find comfort in this moment, here and now. When you are completely present and not distracted by regrets, worries, and plans, even for a little while, you begin to feel more confident and can deal more easily with everything you experience. This is mindfulness: paying attention to this very moment, on purpose and without judgment–simply being present with curiosity. This engaging guide, packed with simple exercises and endearing full-color artwork, provides a handy starting point for bringing mindfulness into your daily life. Chapters on meditation, yoga, and mindful breathing explain the benefits of these practices, and you are free to pick and choose what to try.

Sandapalooza Shake-Up by Chris Grabenstein (Random House)

Life’s a vacation when you live in the world’s wackiest motel! P.T. and his best friend, Gloria, are getting ready for St. Pete Beach’s first-ever Sandapalooza! The Wonderland’s biggest rival, the Conch Reef Resort, is doing everything it can to win the sand sculpture contest, but P.T. has bigger problems: The Wonderland has opened a new restaurant–the Banana Shack–and running a restaurant is harder than it looks! And to make matters worse, a royal guest’s priceless tiara has gone missing, and the prime suspect is the Wonderland’s beloved housekeeper! Can P.T. and Gloria win the contest, keep the restaurant going, and clear Clara’s name?

My daughter loved The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani Dasgupta, and after she finished it (and spoiled the ending for me), she made me read it. I love the humor, the action, and the Indian mythology. Great for readers who love Margaret Dilloway’s Momotaro series and Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series.

I hadn’t heard about All the Animals Where I Live until I saw it at my local indie bookstore, and I immediately snatched it up. I love Philip C. Stead’s writing and illustrations, and this one was super sweet. It is about how the author used to live in the city, but now he lives in the country. I definitely related to the story, except I still live in the city (and something wish I lived in the country).

Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish (Viking, 8/21) is Pablo Cartaya’s next book after winning the Bulpré Honor for The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora (which I loved). The book’s protagonist is a six foot tall, 180 pound middle schooler. When a fight leads to a week’s worth of suspension, Marcus and his mom and brother head to Puerto Rico to reset and to spend a week with relatives they don’t remember or have never met. But Marcus can’t focus knowing that his father–who walked out of their lives ten years ago–is somewhere on the island. This was a great read with a multi-faceted protagonist, which I loved!

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

Books I bought myself for Mother’s Day

The Kids Are All Right

Interview with Penderwicks author Jeanne Birdsall, New Releases, and More!

Post author By Karina Glaser
Post date May 11, 2018

Hi Kid Lit friends,

This Tuesday, the last book in The Penderwicks series will be released. I had the opportunity to interview author Jeanne Birdsall about how she feels about finishing her bestselling series, her pets, and what’s next.

Epistolary Books for Kids

Post author By Karina Glaser
Post date May 4, 2018

Hi Kid Lit friends,

I have a weakness for epistolary books. There is something so intimate and pure about reading correspondence, whether through a diary or a letter to another person. Here are some epistolary books you might want to check out:

Sponsored by Endling #1: The Last by Katherine Applegate, the bestselling author of The One and Only Ivan!

Byx is the youngest member of her dairne pack, a rare doglike species. Rumored to have remarkable abilities, dairnes have been hunted to near-extinction in the war-torn kingdom of Nedarra. When her pack is lured into a trap and wiped out, it seems Byx may be the last of her species: an endling.

As Byx sets out on a quest to find a safe haven—and perhaps even another of her kind—she meets new allies, who each have their own motivations for joining her. They begin as strangers and grow to be their own kind of family, and together they will uncover a secret that will threaten the existence of not just the dairnes, but every other creature in their world.

Picture Books

I know I mentioned The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small, already for Earth Day, but it is one of my absolute favorites. This lovely picture book is a series of letters from Lydia Grace Finch, a girl sent from her home on a farm to live with her cantankerous Uncle Jim who is a baker. Lydia doesn’t have much except a suitcase full of seeds given to her by her grandmother. What amazes me most about the book are the gorgeous and intricate illustrations which tell so much of the story beyond the words. It is a true masterpiece of a book and uses letters in a brilliant and beautiful way.

Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley is a charmer of a book. The story walks us through the life of a wombat, which includes a lot of adorable illustrations of a wombat napping, a wombat eating, and a wombat causing mischief. I guarantee you will be utterly delighted by this animal after reading this book!

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, is a story told through letters from the crayons that leave their owner, a kid named Duncan. The crayons have various grievances, including Blue wanting a break from coloring in great bodies of water, Black going on strike because he is tired of only being used for outlining, and Beige being tired of playing second fiddle to Brown.

Another wonderful epistolary picture book is Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Harry Bliss. This worm lives with his parents, plays with his friends, and even goes to school. But unlike you or me, he never has to take a bath, he gets to eat his homework, and because he doesn’t have legs, he just can’t do the hokey pokey – no matter how hard he tries. Told in diary form with illustrations that look as if they are taped into the diary, this book is hilarious and heartwarming.

Middle Grade

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani is a set of letters that the protagonist, half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha, writes to her deceased mother. It’s 1947, and India, newly independent of British rule, has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India. The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and hundreds of thousands are killed crossing borders. Nisha doesn’t know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it’s too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can’t imagine losing her homeland, too.

The Ava and Pip series by Carol Weston is a sweet early middle grade series about two sisters who are about as different as night and day. While Ava Wren is outgoing, her older sister Pip is shy and quiet. After Pip’s thirteenth birthday goes awry, Ava is committed to helping her sister come out of her shell. Through Ava’s diary entries, we learn about her plan and experience it all through Ava’s viewpoint.

Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary is probably one of the most famous epistolary middle grade books, and for good reason. After his parents separate, Leigh Botts moves to a new town with his mother. Struggling to make friends and deal with his anger toward his absent father, Leigh loses himself in a class assignment in which he must write to his favorite author. When Mr. Henshaw responds, the two form an unexpected friendship that will change Leigh’s life forever.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus. This simple act of defiance spurred African American residents’ 381-day boycott of the Montgomery bus system and arguably fueled the civil rights movement itself. In Dear Rosa Parks: A Dialogue with Today’s Youth, readers can read through a collection of some of the thousands of children’s letters sent to Ms. Parks over her lifetime and her responses to them. Through the letters, Rosa Parks shares her legacy of courage and wisdom, reminding young readers that their actions will determine the future.

Love, Penelope by Joanne Rocklin, illustrated by Lucy Knisely, takes a different spin on epistolary novels. In this book, the main character Penelope writes letters to her soon-to-be born sister. She introduces herself (Penelope, but she prefers “Penny”) and their moms (Sammy and Becky). She brags about their home city, Oakland, California (the weather, the Bay, and the Golden State Warriors) and shares the trials and tribulations of being a fifth-grader.

New Releases

All of these books release this Tuesday unless otherwise noted. The book descriptions are from Goodreads, but I’ll add a if I particularly loved a title.

Picture Book New Releases

Night Out by Daniel Miyares (Random House)

When a small, friendless boy goes to bed at his boarding school, an adventure is about to begin! First he finds an invitation in his turtle’s bowl. Next he makes an escape–out the window, through the woods, across a river, and onto an island. And then he joins a grand celebration, with larger-than-life animals serving tea and dancing late into the night. And finally? After the journey back, he has a fantastic story to tell–the perfect way to make a friend.

Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail by Jennifer Thermes (Abrams)

Emma Gatewood’s life was far from easy. In rural Ohio, she managed a household of 11 kids alongside a less-than-supportive husband. One day, at age 67, she decided to go for a nice long walk . . . and ended up completing the Appalachian Trail. With just the clothes on her back and a pair of thin canvas sneakers on her feet, Grandma Gatewood hiked up ridges and down ravines. She braved angry storms and witnessed breathtaking sunrises. When things got particularly tough, she relied on the kindness of strangers or sheer luck to get her through the night. When the newspapers got wind of her amazing adventure, the whole country cheered her on to the end of her trek, which came just a few months after she set out.

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs by Kate Messner, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe (Chronicle)

All it takes is one: one coral gamete to start a colony, one person to make a difference, one idea to change the world. The ongoing efforts to save and rebuild the world’s coral reefs—with hammer and glue, and grafts of newly grown coral—are the living legacy of Ken Nedimyer, founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation. Kate Messner and Matthew Forsythe tell the true story of the coral restoration pioneer in this brilliant tribute to the wonders of nature and the power of human hope.

All of Us by Carin Berger (HarperCollins)

With a universal message and stunning paper collage art, Carin Berger’s beautiful and timely picture book celebrates the power of community, family, and most of all, love. Her beautiful collage art and lyrical text offer a message of hope in the face of adversity.

Penguin and Tiny Shrimp Don’t Do Bedtime! by Cate Berry, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Balzer & Bray)

Penguin and Tiny Shrimp DO NOT have a bedtime story to share with you.

There are no soft beds or cozy covers here. There are fireworks! And shark-infested waters!!

This book will never make you sleepy. Not at all. Not even a little.

Perrazo y Pettito se meten en problems/Big Dog and Little Dog Getting in Trouble by Dav Pilkey (HMH Books for Young Readers)

When Big Dog and Little Dog play tug of war with the couch cushions, the furniture ends up ruined and their person is not pleased. Best friends have to be great at sharing—in this case, sharing the blame!

Little Helpers: Animals on the Job! by Michele Brummer Everett (HMH Books for Young Readers)

In this book of little helpers, join service animals as they go about their important work. From snakes who give a squeeze when it’s time to take medication to Seeing Eye dogs who help their owners cross the street, from llamas who visit children’s hospitals to pigs who provide comfort for the elderly, this gentle introduction celebrates special connections between people and animals.

One of a Kind by Chris Gorman (Penguin Random House)

Meet a pogo-dancing, punk-rock-loving kid who loves to express himself in his own unique way. His clothes, hairstyle, music, and just the way he hears the world, all set him apart. Not everyone understands him, but he likes being one of a kind–even though it’s lonely sometimes. Fortunately, it’s a wide world out there, and if he looks around a kid is sure to find other one-of-a-kinds with common interests.

Middle Grade New Releases

Polly Diamond and the Magic Book by Alice Kuipers, illustrated by Diana Toledano (Chronicle, 5/1/18)

Polly loves words. And she loves writing stories. So when a magic book appears on her doorstep that can make everything she writes happen in real life, Polly is certain all of her dreams are about to come true. But she soon learns that what you write and what you mean are not always the same thing!

Power Forward: Zayd Saleen, Chasing the Dream by Hena Khan (Salaam Reads)

Fourth grader Zayd Saleem has some serious hoop dreams. He’s not just going to be a professional basketball player. He’s going to be a star. A legend. The first Pakistani-American kid to make it to the NBA. He knows this deep in his soul. It’s his destiny. There are only a few small things in his way. For starters, Zayd’s only on the D-team. (D stands for developmental, but to Zayd it’s always felt like a bad grade or something.) Not to mention, he’s a bit on the scrawny side, even for the fourth grade team. But his best friend Adam is on the Gold Team, and it’s Zayd’s dream for the two of them to play together.

Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed (Nancy Paulsen Books)

Twintuition: Double Cross by Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry (HarperCollins)

In this fourth and final book, tween twins Cassie and Caitlyn Waters are excited to be returning to their hometown, San Antonio, on a class trip. But as they reach their destination, trouble finds them as quickly as a vision, and one of their friends soon disappears. Using their Sight and their street smarts to try and save the day, the twins also begin to see things they didn’t expect—a man in captivity who looks exactly like their father’s pictures. Could he really be alive? And can they use the clues they see to save him before it’s too late?

Marge in Charge and the Stolen Treasure by Isla Fisher, illustrated by Eglantine Ceulemans (HarperCollins)

Marge the babysitter might look like a very tiny elfin grandmother at first, but in these three hilarious stories, she’s letting down her rainbow hair and getting in a brand-new heap of trouble. Siblings Jemima and Jake Button are used to things being very sensible: their babysitters always follow the lists of rules from Mommy and Dad. But sometimes sensible isn’t very fun—and with Marge around, you’ve got to stay on your toes! Before you can say Kalamazoo!, there’s a pirate baby on the loose, lost treasure at the neighborhood pool, and chaos at a very important wedding. When Marge is in charge, you truly never know what will happen next!

Tiny Infinities by J.H. Diehl (Chronicle)

When Alice’s dad moves out, leaving her with her troubled mother, she does the only thing that feels right: she retreats to her family’s old Renaissance tent in the backyard, determined to live there until her dad comes home. In an attempt to keep at least one part of her summer from changing, Alice focuses on her quest to swim freestyle fast enough to get on her swim team’s record board. But summers contain multitudes, and soon Alice meets an odd new friend, Harriet, whose obsession with the school’s science fair is equal only to her conviction that Alice’s best stroke is backstroke, not freestyle. Most unexpected of all is an unusual babysitting charge, Piper, who is mute—until Alice hears her speak.

Boy Bites Bug by Rebecca Petruck (Amulet Books)

Will didn’t plan to eat a stinkbug. But when his friend Darryl called new kid Eloy Herrera a racial slur, Will did it as a diversion. Now Will is Bug Boy, and everyone is cracking up inventing insect meals for him, like French flies and maggot-aroni and fleas. Turns out eating bugs for food is a real thing, called entomophagy. Deciding that means he can use a class project to feed everyone grasshoppers, Will bargains for Eloy’s help in exchange for helping him with wrestling, but their growing friendship only ticks off Darryl more.

Lumberjanes: The Moon Is Up by Mariko Tamaki, illustrated by Brooklyn Allen (HarperCollins)

Welcome to Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. The five scouts of Roanoke cabin—Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley—love their summers at camp. They get to hang out with their best friends, earn Lumberjane scout badges, annoy their no-nonsense counselor Jen . . . and go on supernatural adventures. That last one? A pretty normal occurrence at Miss Qiunzella’s, where the woods contain endless mysteries. As the camp gears up for the big Galaxy Wars competition, Jo and the gang get some help from an unexpected visitor—a Moon Pirate!

The Inventors at No. 8 by A.M. Morgen (Little, Brown)

Meet George, the third Lord of Devonshire and the unluckiest boy in London. Why is George so unlucky? First, he’s an orphan. Second, unless he sells everything, he’s about to lose his house. So when his family’s last heirloom, a priceless map to the Star of Victory (a unique gem said to bring its owner success in any battle) is stolen by a nefarious group of criminals, George knows that there is no one less lucky–or more alone–than he is. That is until Ada Byron, the future Countess of Lovelace, bursts into his life. She promises to help George recover his family legacy, and is determined to find her own father along the way–all in a flying machine she built herself.

Captain Superlative by J.S. Puller (Disney-Hyperion)

Red mask, blue wig, silver swimsuit, rubber gloves, torn tights, high top sneakers and . . . a cape? Who would run through the halls of Deerwood Park Middle School dressed like this? And why? Janey-quick to stay in the shadows-can’t resist the urge to uncover the truth behind the mask. The answer pulls invisible Janey into the spotlight and leads her to an unexpected friendship with a superhero like no other. Fearless even in the face of school bully extraordinaire, Dagmar Hagen, no good deed is too small for the incomparable Captain Superlative and her new sidekick, Janey.

5 Worlds Book 2: The Cobalt Prince by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel, illustrated by Xanthe Bouma, Matt Rockefeller, and Boya Sun (Random House)

Oona Lee surprised everyone–including herself–when she lit the first beacon to save the Five Worlds from extinction. Can she light the other four beacons in time? Next stop, Toki! On the blue planet, Oona must face the sister who left her, and bring to light the Cobalt Prince’s dark secrets. Meanwhile, An Tzu is fading away as his mysterious illness gets worse. Will it stop him from joining the fight? Or will his unique magic be just what the team needs? And Jax Amboy is a hero on the starball field, but in a moment of real danger, will he risk everything to save his friends?

The Key to Every Thing by Pat Schmatz (Candlewick)

Tash didn’t want to go to camp, didn’t want to spend the summer with a bunch of strangers, didn’t want to be separated from the only two people she has ever been able to count on: her uncle Kevin, who saved her from foster care, and Cap’n Jackie, who lives next door. Camp turns out to be pretty fun, actually, but when Tash returns home, Cap’n Jackie is gone. And Tash needs her — the made-up stories of dolphin-dragons, the warm cookies that made everything all right after a fight, the key Cap’n Jackie always insisted had magic in it. The Captain always said all Tash had to do was hold it tight and the magic would come. Was it true? Could the key bring Cap’n Jackie back?

I read and loved Leslie Connor’s new book, The Truth As Told By Mason Buttle. I love the way Connor writes about unusual circumstances and characters with such warmth and heart (her previous book, All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, was amazing). Her new book is about Mason Buttle, the biggest, sweatiest kid in his grade, and everyone knows he can barely read or write. Mason’s learning disabilities are compounded by grief. Fifteen months ago, Mason’s best friend, Benny Kilmartin, turned up dead in the Buttle family’s orchard. An investigation drags on, and Mason, honest as the day is long, can’t understand why Lieutenant Baird won’t believe the story Mason has told about that day.

Meet Yasmin! (Picture Window Books, 8/1) by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Newbery Honor winning illustrator Hatem Aly, is a fun chapter book that should join the likes of Jasmine Toguchi by Debbi Michiko Florence and Lola Levine by Monica Brown. Yasmin Ahmad is a spirited second-grader who is always on the lookout for those “aha” moments to help her solve life’s little problems. Taking inspiration from her surroundings and her big imagination, she boldly faces any situation assuming her imagination doesn t get too big, of course!

Finally, I reread Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me. This is one of those books that make me wonder, “How did she do that?” It’s such a perfect book, and if you haven’t read it (or reread it lately), I think you should!

I have a special treat for you next week! Jeanne Birdsall will be on the newsletter answering six of my burning questions about the final book in The Penderwicks series, The Penderwicks at Last! Stay tuned…

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

Ginger Pye looks skeptical about my TBR pile.

The Kids Are All Right

Children’s Books About The Vietnam War

Post author By Karina Glaser
Post date April 27, 2018

Hi Kid Lit friends,

Forty-three years, on April 30, 1975, the North Vietnamese Army captured Saigon, marking the end of the war in Vietnam. Reports vary, but Vietnamese casualties are estimated to be between one and three million, Cambodian casualties are estimated to be around 240,000, and United States service person casualties were over 58,000.

Sponsored by Gordon: Bark to the Future! by Ashley Spires from Kids Can Press

HOLY FUZZBUTT! Aliens have invaded, and Gordon’s fellow space pets have been captured! Now Gordon will have to fight the enemy alone! Gordon’s never been much of a fighter — his deadliest weapon is his mind. What’s a genius dog to do? Time travel, of course! Will Gordon be able to save himself, his friends and his humans? And get back to the future? Kids won’t want to miss this hilarious trip through space and time!

Our latest family read-aloud is the Newbery Honor winning book The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt. The story is set in the late 1960’s, during the heart of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. My kids have a lot of questions. How did the war begin? Who was fighting who? Why did America get involved? At the same time, I noticed that there are many children’s books set during the Vietnam War from various viewpoints, and I thought I’d share the ones I have come across.

A Different Pond by Bao Phi, illustrated by Thi Bui, is a Caldecott Honor winning picture book about a simple event: a father and a son fishing before the sun comes up. Through the perfectly chosen words and gorgeous illustrations, this story recounts a family, assumed to be Vietnamese refugees now living in America, who has to work long days to make ends meet. The story is based on the author’s own experiences growing up and fishing with his father at a small pond in Minneapolis.

There are a handful of fictional middle grade books that shed light on various aspects of the Vietnam War. Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhai Lai is a beautiful verse novel inspired by the author’s childhood experience as a refugee—fleeing Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon and immigrating to Alabama. The companion book, Listen, Slowly, is about Mai, a girl raised in California, who can’t wait to spend her vacation at the beach. Instead, she finds out that she has to travel to Vietnam with her grandmother, who is going back to find out what really happened to her husband during the Vietnam War.

A recent middle grade book that came out this year set during the Vietnam War is Until Tomorrow, Mr. Marsworth by Sheila O’Connor. It is about eleven-year-old Reenie Kelly who begins writing letters to the neighborhood recluse, Mr. Marsworth. Through their letters, Reenie tells of her older brother Billy, who might enlist to fight in the Vietnam War. As a staunch pacifist, Mr. Marsworth offers to help Reenie.

As I mentioned before, I am reading The Wednesday Wars out loud to my kids. I am a big fan of the author, Gary D. Schmidt (who has another book coming out this fall!). Two of his middle grade books, The Wednesday Wars and Okay for Now, are set in America during the Vietnam War. In the first book, the students live through endless atomic bomb raids and deal with members of their community fighting in the war. In the second book, the older brother of the protagonist returns from the war, changed forever both physically and emotionally.

Two non-fiction books for middle grade readers are Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin and Boots on the Ground: America’s War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge. In Most Dangerous, Mr. Sheinkin writes an engrossing book about the Pentagon Papers and the insistence of the United States government and it’s Presidents to keep troops engaged in Vietnam.

Boots on the Ground includes the personal stories of eight people—six American soldiers, one American military nurse, and one Vietnamese refugee. Each individual experience reveals a different facet of the war and moves us forward in time. Alternating with these chapters are profiles of key American leaders and events, reminding us of all that was happening at home during the war, including peace protests, presidential scandals, and veterans’ struggles to acclimate to life after Vietnam.

New Releases

All of these books release this Tuesday unless otherwise noted. The book descriptions are from Goodreads, but I’ll add a if I particularly loved a title.

Board Book New Releases

Hello, New York! and Hello, Paris! by Christopher Franceschelli, illustrated by Geraldine Cosneau (Abrams Appleseed)

From bestselling author Christopher Franceschelli comes Hello, New York! and Hello, Paris!, board books about the most visited cities in the world. Each book opens with a simple map that puts all of the city sites in context before taking readers on a journey of the landmarks in each city. Playful die-cuts peek into windows and under bridges on each spread, culminating in an iconic gatefold at the end.

I Can Explore by Betsy Snyder (Chronicle)

Adventure awaits! Young readers help characters explore the world—from embarking on a jungle safari through touch-and-feel fabric leaves to riding a tandem bike through Paris—just by wiggling their fingers! Then, with two sets of hands, children assist these explorers as they head off on their next adventure in the gatefold finale. Active and adorable characters model both independence and teamwork, making this innovative board book perfect for interactive reading and playtime fun!

Picture Book New Releases

Be Our Guest! by Gray Malin (Abrams)

Welcome to the Parker Palm Springs, where you’ll experience a delightful time away, filled with everything you’d expect from a sunny, California vacation. There’s tennis courts and a lemonade stand, a gorgeous pool, and a lawn for croquet. But, the other guests and staff are more than a little unexpected…

Help Find Frank by Anne Bollman (Sterling Children’s Books)

Where, oh where, can Frank the French bulldog be? See if you can follow the clues and find the missing pup! Amateur sleuths will have loads of fun with this uniquely interactive book. Frank loves to run, play, and give slobbery kisses. (He also loves to eat cheese, but DON’T FEED HIM ANY! You’ve been warned.) Then he gets lost—and it’s up to readers to find him. Is he at the park? The baseball field? Filled with detective-style evidence exhibits, maps, and detailed seek-and-find pages, this engaging story entices young adventurers to discover clues that Frank leaves behind—and eventually locate the little guy himself.

Just Being Jackie by Margaret Cardillo, illustrated by Julia Denos (HarperCollins)

Jackie Kennedy was an American icon of style and grace—but there was steel under that style. Her poise under fire, intelligence, and tireless work as First Lady earned her the respect of leaders worldwide and made her beloved by generations. Jackie’s legacy also extended beyond her time in public life. She was a talented journalist, a preservationist who secured the legacy of national landmarks, and an editor of award-winning books.

New Shoes by Chris Raschka (HarperCollins)

When a young child discovers a hole in a sneaker, mother and child embark on a big childhood adventure—a trip to the store to pick out new shoes. From having feet measured and making a selection to finally showing off the new shoes to a friend, this momentous child moment is treated with respect, excitement, and page-turning energy in a wonderfully age-appropriate picture book.

Albie Newton by Josh Funk, illustrated by Ester Garay (Sterling)

When precocious inventor Albie Newton enters a new preschool, he concocts the perfect plan for making friends. Unfortunately, it involves stealing the hamster’s wheel, snatching the wings off of Dave’s toy airplane, and generally making a giant mess. Now everyone’s angry at Albie! Will his new invention delight the other kids enough to make everything right—and finally win their friendship?

Sylvia Long’s Big Book for Small Children by Sylvia Long (Chronicle)

From beloved stories like “The Three Little Pigs” and important early childhood concepts (colors, counting, ABCs) to her own family’s favorite recipes and lullabies, this warm, joyous, and comprehensive collection is the perfect start to every child’s library.

Adventures to School: Real-Life Journeys of Students from Around the World by Baptiste Paul and Miranda Paul, illustrated by Isabel Munoz (little bee books)

Children all around the world go to school. Whether they’re from Japan, Ukraine, Ethiopia, or the United States, all students have the desire to learn about the world and shape the future. In Bhutan, children walk for three hours to make it to school, and in Pakistan, children travel by rickshaw. Some children in China must climb a heaven ladder, while children in Nepal must walk over a wire bridge. The treks of these students are unique, extraordinary, and even dangerous, and they signify the common determination, perseverance, and sense of adventure shared by young people around the world.

Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival (Bloomsbury)

Meet Norman.
Norman is normal–perfectly normal.
That’s until he grows a pair of wings!
Norman loves his new wings, but he’s worried about everyone will think. After all, they’re definitely NOT normal. Norman decides to cover them with a big coat, but hiding such a big part of his life makes him feel miserable. Can Norman find the courage to be himself?

Middle Grade New Releases

Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead (Feiwel and Friends)

It’s been five years since Livy and her family have visited Livy’s grandmother in Australia. Now that she’s back, Livy has the feeling she’s forgotten something really, really important about Gran’s house. It turns out she’s right. Bob, a short, greenish creature dressed in a chicken suit, didn’t forget Livy, or her promise. He’s been waiting five years for her to come back, hiding in a closet like she told him to. He can’t remember who―or what―he is, where he came from, or if he even has a family. But five years ago Livy promised she would help him find his way back home. Now it’s time to keep that promise.

The Endling #1: The Last by Katherine Applegate (HarperCollins)

Byx is the youngest member of her dairne pack. Believed to possess remarkable abilities, her mythical doglike species has been hunted to near extinction in the war-torn kingdom of Nedarra. After her pack is hunted down and killed, Byx fears she may be the last of her species. The Endling. So Byx sets out to find safe haven, and to see if the legends of other hidden dairnes are true.

The Alcatraz Escape by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman (Macmillan)

Legendary literary game-maker Garrison Griswold is back in action―this time with “Unlock the Rock.” For his latest game, Griswold has partnered with the famous–and famously reclusive–mystery writer Errol Roy to plan an epic escape room challenge on Alcatraz Island. Emily and James are eager to participate, but the wave of fame they are riding from their recent book-hunting adventures makes them a target. Threatening notes, missing items, and an accident that might not have been an accident have the duo worried that someone is trying to get them out of the game at any cost.

Evangeline of the Bayou by Jan Eldredge, illustrated by Joseph Kuefler (HarperCollins)

Twelve-year-old haunt huntress apprentice Evangeline Clement spends her days and nights studying the ways of folk magic, honing her monster-hunting skills while pursuing local bayou banshees and Johnny revenants. With her animal familiar sure to make itself known any day now, the only thing left to do is prove to the council she has heart. Then she will finally be declared a true haunt huntress, worthy of following in the footsteps of her long line of female ancestors.

The Flourishing of Floralie Laurel by Fiadhnait Moser (Yellow Jacket)

Floralie Laurel, freshly expelled from Mrs. Coffrey’s School for Young Girls, works as a flower seller in an English village with her guardian brother, Tom, miles and miles away from their real home in France. Tom and Floralie are drowning in debt, but fortunately, Grandmama arrives to save them. Unfortunately, Grandmama’s idea of “saving” means sending Floralie to the Adelaide Laurel Orphanage for Unfortunate Children and shaping her into a proper lady-i.e., ridding her of imagination, daydreams, paintings, and poetry.

Out of Left Field by Ellen Klages (Penguin Random House)

The Girl Guide by Marawa Ibrahim, illustrated by Sinem Erkas (HarperCollins)

Growing up is fun . . . but it’s tough, too. There are a lot of unknowns and it can be weird and messy for girls. Worry not! This book covers EVERYTHING girls need to know, and it’s all been reviewed and fact-checked by medical consultant Dr. Radha Modgil.
Learn how:
To make your body your best friend (not your enemy).
To get out there and do YOU (even when you don’t want to move off the couch).
The thoughts and feelings that make you feel alone are shared by every girl on the planet.
To feel amazing through exercise, nutrition, and skin care.
And so much more!

Carnival Magic by Amy Ephron (Penguin Random House)

Tess and Max are back in England for another summer with their Aunt Evie–this time by the seashore in South Devon. And they’re incredibly excited about the travelling carnival that’s come to town. There are rides, games, acrobats, The House of Mirrors–and even a psychic, with a beautiful wagon all her own. In a visit to the psychic’s wagon, while Tess is being hypnotized, the wagon seems to move. Before Tess can shake herself out of the hypnosis, before Max can do anything, they seem to be travelling–along with the rest of the carnival–too quickly for the two of them to jump out. But where are they going and what awaits them? Will they be caught in a world different from their own? And do the Baranova twins, acrobats who miss their sister almost as much as Tess and Max miss their family, hold the keys to the mystery?

Riders of the Realm #1: Across the Dark Water by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez (HarperCollins)

Deep in the jungles of the Realm, the Sandwen clan live amongst deadly spit dragons and hordes of warring giants. But with their winged battle horses, they manage to keep their people safe. Twelve-year-old Rahkki is a stable groom for the Riders in the Sandwen army, taking care of his brother’s winged stallion. The Sandwens believe they have tamed all the wild pegasi in their land, and turned them into flying warhorses. But when a herd of wild steeds flies over their village, Rahkki and his clanmates are stunned.

The Rose Legacy by Jessica Day George (Bloomsbury)

When orphaned Anthea Cross-Thornley receives a letter from a long-lost uncle, she wonders if she will finally find a true home. But she is shocked to learn that her uncle secretly breeds horses–animals that have been forbidden in her kingdom for centuries. More alarming is Anthea’s strange ability to sense the horses’ thoughts and feelings, an ancient gift called The Way. Confused and terrified, Anthea is desperate to leave, but when her family and kingdom are put at risk, can she embrace The Way and the exciting future it might bring her?

The Length of a String by Elissa Brent Weissman (Penguin Random House)

Imani knows exactly what she wants as her big bat mitzvah gift: to find her birth parents. She loves her family and her Jewish community in Baltimore, but she has always wondered where she came from, especially since she’s black and almost everyone she knows is white. Then her mom’s grandmother–Imani’s great-grandma Anna–passes away, and Imani discovers an old journal among her books. It’s Anna’s diary from 1941, the year she was twelve and fled Nazi-occupied Luxembourg alone, sent by her parents to seek refuge in Brooklyn, New York. Anna’s diary records her journey to America and her new life with an adoptive family of her own. And as Imani reads the diary, she begins to see her family, and her place in it, in a whole new way.

This week I read Merci Suarez Changes Gears (Candlewick, 9/11/18) by Meg Medina. This is Medina’s first middle grade novel after a few YA releases. I loved this intergenerational story about a young girl learning how to navigate middle school, friendship troubles, mean girls, and her aging grandparents.

I was at a book conference last weekend and met Heather Hensen, a picture book and middle grade author. She wrote That Book Woman, a book I remembered loving when I first discovered David Small. I own the book, so I picked it up again this week and read it again. It is about the Pack Horse Librarians, people who brought books to the far reaches of the Appalachian Mountains. I loved it, because of course I did.

Where the Watermelons Grow (HarperCollins, 7/3/18) by Cindy Baldwin is a beautifully told story about a girl named Della who is growing up with a mom with schizophrenia. Set during a North Carolina summer, this book brings you deep into those stifling hot days which echo the main character’s own suffocation at the burden of taking care of her baby sister and mom while also tending to the family farm and farm stand.

Around the web…

50 Must-Read Middle Grade Graphic Novels, via Book Riot

Best Summer Reads 2018: Picture Books, via Publisher’s Weekly

Best Summer Reads 2018: Middle Grade, via Publisher’s Weekly

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

It’s always good to have a rabbit guard your book mail!

The Kids Are All Right

Children’s Books for Earth Day

Post author By Karina Glaser
Post date April 20, 2018

Hi Kid Lit friends!

Happy Earth Day! 2018’s Earth Day campaign focuses on the reduction of plastic. According to the Earth Day Network, 300 million tons of plastic are sold each year and 90% of that is thrown away, ending up in our landfills, our oceans, our wildlife and our bodies. The advocacy group The Last Plastic Straw states that 500,000,000 plastic straws are thrown away every day in the United States of America. You can sign the pledge to stop using plastic straws here!

Sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers.

From the New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander comes Rebound, the prequel to his Newbery Award-winner, The Crossover. Before he’s Chuck “Da Man” Bell, proud father of Jordan and Josh Bell, Charlie is a kid who dreams of basketball glory. In his mind, he can steal, jump, dunk, and make the crowd go wild just like a pro-baller. But when tragedy strikes, Charlie can’t help but make all the wrong moves. Will a series of missteps keep him bench, or can he learn how to rebound?

And we all know that action combined with knowledge does a world of good, which is why we have a book list (of course!) for Earth Day!
*All book descriptions from Goodreads.

Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet by April Pulley Sayre

April Pulley Sayre, award-winning photographer and acclaimed author of more than sixty-five books, introduces concepts of science, nature, and language arts through stunning photographs and a poetic text structured as a simple thank-you note. Touching on subjects from life cycles to weather, colors, shapes, and patterns, this is an ideal resource for science and language art curriculums and a terrific book for bedtime sharing.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

When fourteen-year-old William Kamkwamba’s Malawi village was hit by a drought, everyone’s crops began to fail. Without enough money for food, let alone school, William spent his days in the library . . . and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps, and thus became the local hero who harnessed the wind.

A Peaceful Garden by Lucy London, illustrated by Christa Pierce

Two cats lead the way as young readers learn how to choose seeds, dig holes, and water their plants to create their own peaceful garden. From carrots and lettuce to sunflowers and daisies, this is a garden that children will be eager to plant and tend.

The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small

Lydia Grace Finch brings a suitcase full of seeds to the big gray city, where she goes to stay with her Uncle Jim, a cantankerous baker. There she initiates a gradual transformation, bit by bit brightening the shop and bringing smiles to customers’ faces with the flowers she grows. But it is in a secret place that Lydia Grace works on her masterpiece — an ambitious rooftop garden — which she hopes will make even Uncle Jim smile.

The Digger and the Flower by Joseph Kuefler

Each day, the big trucks go to work. They scoop and hoist and push. But when Digger discovers something growing in the rubble, he sets in motion a series of events that will change him, and the city, forever.

Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail by Jennifer Thermes (Abrams, 5/8/18)

Emma Gatewood’s life was far from easy. In rural Ohio, she managed a household of 11 kids alongside a less-than-supportive husband. One day, at age 67, she decided to go for a nice long walk . . . and ended up completing the Appalachian Trail. With just the clothes on her back and a pair of thin canvas sneakers on her feet, Grandma Gatewood hiked up ridges and down ravines. When the newspapers got wind of her amazing adventure, the whole country cheered her on to the end of her trek, which came just a few months after she set out. A story of true grit and girl power at any age, Grandma Gatewood proves that no peak is insurmountable.

Florette by Anna Walker

When Mae’s family moves to a new home, she wishes she could bring her garden with her. She’ll miss the apple trees, the daffodils, and chasing butterflies in the wavy grass. But there’s no room for a garden in the city. Or is there?

One Plastic Bag by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

Plastic bags are cheap and easy to use. But what happens when a bag breaks or is no longer needed? In Njau, Gambia, people simply dropped the bags and went on their way. One plastic bag became two. Then ten. Then a hundred. The bags accumulated in ugly heaps alongside roads. Water pooled in them, bringing mosquitoes and disease. Some bags were burned, leaving behind a terrible smell. Some were buried, but they strangled gardens. They killed livestock that tried to eat them. Something had to change. Isatou Ceesay was that change. She found a way to recycle the bags and transform her community. This inspirational true story shows how one person’s actions really can make a difference in our world.

Aquarium by Cynthia Alonso

A girl ventures to the water’s edge, dreaming of a new friend. And, just like that, a beguiling red fish leaps into her life. But is friendship a sea these two can navigate together? From debut Argentinian author-illustrator Cynthia Alonso comes a wordless picture book about the timeless beauty of nature, the transcendent power of connection, and the importance of letting go.

Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers, arguably the most influential creator of picture books today, offers a rare personal look inside his own hopes and wishes for his child–and in doing so gifts children and parents everywhere with a gently sweet and humorous missive about our world and those who call it home. Be it a complex view of our planet’s terrain (bumpy, sharp, wet), a deep look at our place in space (it’s big), or a guide to all of humanity (don’t be fooled, we are all people), Oliver’s signature wit and humor combine with a value system of kindness and tolerance to create a must-have book for parents.

Heal the Earth, Julian Lennon

Jump aboard the White Feather Flier, a magical plane that can go wherever you want. This time, Lennon’s interactive book immerses children in a fun and unique journey where they can dive below the ocean to bleached coral reefs, visit the city to cultivate green spaces, help the rain forest return and give its animals a home, and explore the planet, meet new people, and help make the world a better place!

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies by Joyce Sidman

One of the first naturalists to observe live insects directly, Maria Sibylla Merian was also one of the first to document the metamorphosis of the butterfly. In this visual nonfiction biography, richly illustrated throughout with full-color original paintings by Merian herself, the Newbery Honor–winning author Joyce Sidman paints her own picture of one of the first female entomologists and a woman who flouted convention in the pursuit of knowledge and her passion for insects.

Back from the Brink: Saving Animals from Extinction by Nancy Castaldo (HMH Books for Young Readers)

How could capturing the last wild California condors help save them? Why are some states planning to cull populations of the gray wolf, despite this species only recently making it off the endangered list? How did a decision made during the Civil War to use alligator skin for cheap boots nearly drive the animal to extinction? Back from the Brink answers these questions and more as it delves into the threats to seven species, and the scientific and political efforts to coax them back from the brink of extinction. This rich, informational look at the problem of extinction has a hopeful tone: all of these animals’ numbers are now on the rise.

Around the web…

Lil’ Libros: Great Bilingual Board Books for Children (via Book Riot)

The Transformative Power of Reading Poetry as a Child (via Brightly)

Reading Harry Potter to My Kid Is Not Working Out As Planned (via Book Riot)

Whoa, the books I read this week were fantastic! First off, The 5 O’Clock Band (Abrams, 6/19/18) by Troy Andrews and illustrated by Bryan Collier is a stunner. This is a companion book to the Caldecott Honor winner, Trombone Shorty, and it’s excellent!

I began the middle grade book Checked by Cynthia Kodohata last night and am completely hooked. It’s about a middle schooler who loves his Doberman, hockey, and his dad. I absolutely love the voice in this book and already know the story is going to make me cry.

The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs (Chronicle, 5/18) by Kate Messner, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe, is a gorgeous gem of a book about Ken Nedimyer, founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation. The cover is quite stunning with foil that glitters in the light.

I would love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

Izzy and I love Llamaphones!

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

The Kids Are All Right

Tips for Reading Aloud to Kids

Post author By Karina Glaser
Post date April 13, 2018

Hey Kid Lit friends!

One of the most frequent questions I receive from fellow parents is, “How do you get your kids to read so much?” My kids are voracious readers; they read while eating breakfast, they read on the subway, and they read while walking on New York City streets (with me occasionally having to confiscate their books when they neglect to put them down when crossing the street).

Bookish Scavenger Hunts for Kids!

Post author By Karina Glaser
Post date April 6, 2018

Hey, Kid Lit friends!

On April 1st, my husband turned on Google Maps to find Waldo from the legendary Where’s Waldo books peeking out from the side of his screen. Have you seen that yet? Google, in partnership with Candlewick Press, launched an April Fools’ stunt that challenged users to find Waldo, his friend Wenda, his dog Woof, the magical Wizard Whitebeard, and even the pesky Odlaw in five locations around the globe — with an extra surprise for the most successful searchers. I tried this out, and it was really fun! (Also, a lot easier than the books because you can zoom in!)

Wishlist upcoming releases you’re dying to read. Get exclusive podcasts and newsletters. Enter to win swag. Do it all when you join Insiders. Subscribe to Book Riot Insiders!

The game is free to anyone using Google Maps on an Android, iOS, or desktop. People can also access the game through the Google Assistant by asking “OK Google, where’s Waldo?” to be directed to the game in their Google Maps app. Signed-in users will be able to track their progress and win badges.

Another scavenger hunt I adore is called Book Scavenger, based on New York Times bestselling series Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman. Copies of Book Scavenger are being hidden and scavenged around the United States, and you can play along. Once you’ve acquired a copy of Book Scavenger, here is how the game works:

Step 1: Read the book!
Step 2: Hide the book in a public place for another reader to discover. Report the hidden book at HIDE & FIND BOOKS so other readers know to seek it out.
Step 3: Share your experience on social media using #BookScavenger

If you have found a book, visit HIDE & FIND BOOKS to report your find. Then start at Step 1 and keep the cycle going.

Lastly, did you know that Indie Bookstore Day is coming on April 29th? This magical day is a perfect way to support your local indie, and many bookstores have bookish scavenger hunts. Last year, the amazing Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, California hosted a scavenger hunt between 10am and 2pm. Shoppers were invited follow a series of clues around the bookstore, collect a special token, and turn it in at the Book Information desk to win a prize. Also in California, a group of fifty Bay Area bookstores hosted a quest: visit ten bookstores on Indie Bookstore Day and be entered to win a library of $1,000 hand selected books.

I’ve heard that eighteen independent bookstores across the greater Twin Cities area are banding together in celebration of Independent Bookstore Day this year with the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Passport. The passport uses bookstore coupons and literary prize packs to encourage customers to visit as many of the 18 stores in one day as they can. Passports will be available to pick up at any of the participating bookstores, and the more bookstores a customer visits, the more prizes they are eligible to receive.

In addition to the scavenger hunts, there are always exclusive literary items only available on that day. Last year I picked up this adorable literary dog pouch:

I’m looking forward to what specialty items are available this year! Follow Bookstore Day on Twitter or check out the Independent Bookstore Day website for news, special events, and of course, bookish scavenger hunt locations!

New Releases!
All of these books release this Tuesday unless otherwise noted. The book descriptions are from Goodreads, but I’ll add a if I particularly loved a title.

Picture Book New Releases

Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book of Shapes by Hena Khan, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini (Chronicle)

From a crescent moon to a square garden to an octagonal fountain, this breathtaking picture book celebrates the shapes—and traditions—of the Muslim world. Sure to inspire questions and observations about world religions and cultures, Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets is equally at home in a classroom reading circle and on a parent’s lap being read to a child.

Everything You Need for a Treehouse by Carter Higgins, illustrated by Emily Hughes (Chronicle)

Featuring beautiful images and a lyrical text with an exquisitely readable cadence, this book gives life and meaning to all the requisite elements of a treehouse, from time, timber, and rafters to ropes of twisted twine that invite visitors to sprawl out on a limb and slide back down again. For anyone who’s ever wanted to escape real life and live in a nostalgic dream come true, this poignant picture book captures the universal timelessness of treehouses and celebrates all the creativity and adventure they spark.

Libraries on Wheels by Sharlee Glenn (Abrams)

Mary Lemist Titcomb (1852–1932) was always looking for ways to improve her library. As librarian at the Washington County Free Library in Maryland, Titcomb was concerned that the library was not reaching all the people it could. She was determined that everyone should have access to the library—not just adults and those who lived in town. Realizing its limitations and inability to reach the county’s 25,000 rural residents, including farmers and their families, Titcomb set about to change the library system forever with the introduction of book-deposit stations throughout the country, a children’s room in the library, and her most revolutionary idea of all—a horse-drawn Book Wagon.

A Most Unusual Day by Sydra Mallery, illustrated by E.B. Goodale (HarperCollins)

Today is a very unusual day! Caroline wakes up late, forgets her socks, and feels strange all the way to school. She tries to help her teacher, but everything is mixed up today and all Caroline manages to do is make a great big mess. Finally, the school day ends and Caroline rushes outside to greet her parents, who are having a rather extraordinary day themselves. In their arms they hold Caroline’s new baby sister, who has just arrived from far away.

Max Explains Everything: Grocery Store Expert by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Deborah Hocking (Penguin Random House)

Max knows everything about trips to the grocery store because his parents make him go All. The. Time. Even when they run out of little things . . . like toilet paper. So he’s pretty much an expert. Whether it’s choosing the right breakfast cereal or surviving the obstacle course that is the produce section, Max is here to help. Having trouble talking mom into finally getting that puppy she promised? Picking up a bag of dog food might just be the push she needs! And always remember to keep your eyes on the prize–the checkout lane is your last chance to grab the real essentials. Candy!

Friends Stick Together by Hannah E. Harrison (Penguin Random House)

Rupert is a rhinoceros of refined sensibilities. Levi, the new tickbird in class, is not. He burps the alphabet, tells corny jokes, and does really embarrassing air guitar solos. Worse, he lands right on Rupert and is determined to be Rupert’s symbiotic best pal! Rupert wants him gone. But when Levi finally does bug off, Rupert finds the peace and quiet a little boring. It turns out, Rupert could really use a friend like Levi.

Chapter Book New Releases

Cody and the Heart of a Champion by Tricia Springstubb, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler (Candlewick)

In Cody’s life, some people keep her on her toes — just like Mother Nature, who is warm one day and snowy the next. Or like Cody’s brother, Wyatt, who has started wearing collared shirts because his girlfriend likes them. Meanwhile, Pearl has begun playing soccer and it’s all she can talk about. Spencer is busy creating a mysterious museum underneath GG’s house and he’s never around to play. And Spencer’s mom doesn’t look any different. . . . Could she really have a baby growing inside her? Maybe the baby is like Cody’s beloved ants, waiting patiently inside the earth for spring to arrive. It seems like everything around Cody is changing — from seasons to friendships — but if she can just navigate it all with her trademark enthusiasm and charm, maybe the most important things will stay the same.

Buster the Very Shy Dog, More Adventures with Phoebe by Lisze Bechtold (HMH Books for Young Readers)

It’s backyard troubles galore for canine friends Buster and Phoebe in two easy-to-read adventures. The trouble begins when Buster and Phoebe get blamed for trashing the backyard and hatch a plan to find the real garbage bandit. But first they have to stay awake and keep away from skunks! Next, the pals search for buried “bone” treasures only to quibble about which bones belong to which dog. Buster may be shy but he’s smart enough to claim what’s rightfully his and kind enough to share it, too.

Big Foot, Little Foot by Ellen Potter (Amulet Books)

Hugo is a young Sasquatch who longs for adventure. Boone is young boy who longs to see a Sasquatch. When their worlds collide, they become the unlikeliest pair of best friends. At the Academy for Curious Squidges, Hugo learns all manner of Sneaking—after all, the most important part of being a Sasquatch is staying hidden from humans. But Hugo dreams of roaming free in the Big Wide World rather than staying cooped up in caves. When he has an unexpected run-in with a young human boy, Hugo seizes the opportunity for a grand adventure. Soon, the two team up to search high and low for mythical beasts, like Ogopogos and Snoot-Nosed Gints. Through discovering these new creatures, together, Big Foot and Little Foot explore the ins and outs of each other’s very different worlds but learn that, deep down, maybe they’re not so different after all.

Middle Grade New Releases

You Go First by Erin Entrada Kelly (HarperCollins)

Twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard and eleven-year-old Ben Boxer are separated by more than a thousand miles. On the surface, their lives seem vastly different—Charlotte lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while Ben is in the small town of Lanester, Louisiana. Charlotte wants to be a geologist and keeps a rock collection in her room. Ben is obsessed with Harry Potter, presidential history, and recycling. But the two have more in common than they think. They’re both highly gifted. They’re both experiencing family turmoil. And they both sit alone at lunch. Over the course of a week, Charlotte and Ben—online friends connected only by a Scrabble game—will intersect in unexpected ways, as they struggle to navigate the turmoil of middle school.

Sunny by Jason Reynolds (Atheneum)

Sunny is just that—sunny. Always ready with a goofy smile and something nice to say, Sunny is the chillest dude on the Defenders team. But Sunny’s life hasn’t always been sun beamy-bright. You see, Sunny is a murderer. Or at least he thinks of himself that way. His mother died giving birth to him, and based on how Sunny’s dad treats him—ignoring him, making Sunny call him Darryl, never “Dad”—it’s no wonder Sunny thinks he’s to blame. It seems the only thing Sunny can do right in his dad’s eyes is win first place ribbons running the mile, just like his mom did. But Sunny doesn’t like running, never has. So he stops. Right in the middle of a race.

The Orphan Band of Springdale by Anne Nesbet (Candlewick)

It’s 1941, and tensions are rising in the United States as the Second World War rages in Europe. Eleven-year-old Gusta’s life, like the world around her, is about to change. Her father, a foreign-born labor organizer, has had to flee the country, and Gusta has been sent to live in an orphanage run by her grandmother. Nearsighted, snaggletoothed Gusta arrives in Springdale, Maine, lugging her one precious possession: a beloved old French horn, her sole memento of her father. But in a family that’s long on troubles and short on money, how can a girl hang on to something so valuable and yet so useless when Gusta’s mill-worker uncle needs surgery to fix his mangled hand, with no union to help him pay?

Camp Panda: Helping Cubs Return to the Wild (HMH Books for Young Readers)

Roughly a thousand years ago, an estimated 23,000 pandas roamed wild and free through their native China. But within the past forty years, more than fifty percent of the panda’s already shrinking habitat has been destroyed by humans, leaving the beautiful and beloved giant panda vulnerable to extinction. Despite the seemingly insurmountable odds—poaching, habitat destruction, pollution, human overpopulation, and global climate change—the panda is making a comeback. How? By humans teaching baby pandas how to be wild and stay wild.

Boots on the Ground: America’s War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge (Penguin Random House)

In over a decade of bitter fighting, it claimed the lives of more than 58,000 American soldiers and beleaguered four US presidents. More than forty years after America left Vietnam in defeat in 1975, the war remains controversial and divisive both in the United States and abroad. The history of this era is complex; the cultural impact extraordinary. But it’s the personal stories of eight people—six American soldiers, one American military nurse, and one Vietnamese refugee—that create the heartbeat of Boots on the Ground. From dense jungles and terrifying firefights to chaotic helicopter rescues and harrowing escapes, each individual experience reveals a different facet of the war and moves us forward in time.

The Crooked Castle: Carmer and Grit, Book Two by Sarah Jean Horowitz (Algonquin Young Readers)

Shortly after saving the faeries of Skemantis, magician’s apprentice Felix Carmer III and his faerie companion, Grit, head out to see the world. They soon come across a mysteriously magical flying circus. As they get to know the outlandish world of Rinka Tinka’s Roving Wonder Show, it becomes clear there’s something not quite normal about this circus or its inventor–and that recent airship disasters plaguing nearby Driftside City may have a sinister explanation.

Charlie and Frog by Karen Kane (Disney-Hyperion)

Charlie’s parents have left him (again). This time they are off to South Africa to help giant golden moles. And Charlie? He’s been dumped with his TV-obsessed grandparents. Lonely and curious, Charlie heads into the village of Castle-on-the-Hudson, where a frightened old woman gives him a desperate message-in sign language. When she suddenly disappears, Charlie is determined to find answers. Frog, who is Deaf, would rather be solving crimes than working at the Flying Hands Cafe. When Charlie Tickler walks into the cafe looking for help, Frog jumps at the chance to tackle a real-life case.

Burning Magic by Joshua Khan (Disney-Hyperion)

In Book 3 of a three-book series, when Lily, aka the “witch queen” and bat-rider extraordinaire Thorn travel to Sultanate of Fire, things go terribly wrong. Instead of celebrating a reunion with their old friend K’leef, they are thrust into royal murder, an epic quest, and a deadly battle for the throne. While investigating the murder, Lily learns shocking truths about her life that could destroy all she has achieved. Yet, among the ruins of her old life, she has the opportunity to become someone greater . . . and more terrifying.

You might have remembered me talking up This is Not a Valentine, an absolutely adorable debut picture book by Carter Higgins and illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins. Carter’s second picture book, Everything You Need for a Treehouse (Chronicle), releases this Tuesday as I’ve already mentioned above. It is delightful!

My ten-year-old daughter and I read The Town of Turtle by Michelle Cuevas, illustrated by Cátia Chien, and we both loved it. My daughter kept exclaiming, “How cute!”, and we thought the illustrations were stunning.

Out of Left Field (Viking, May 1) by Ellen Kluges is about Katy Gordon, the best pitcher in the neighborhood. But when she tries out for Little League, it’s a whole different story. Girls are not eligible, period. It is a boy’s game and always has been. It’s not fair, and Katy’s going to fight back. I’m halfway through this story, and I am loving Katy and her mom.

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

Book cat 🙂

The Kids Are All Right

20 Amazing Children’s Books Coming Out This Tuesday!

Post author By Karina Glaser
Post date March 30, 2018

Hi Kid Lit friends,

I was going through my usual weekend ritual of pulling out all upcoming releases from my galley bookcase, and I was struck by how many amazing books are releasing this Tuesday. I thought I’d pick out my favorite twenty and tell you why I love them.

Sponsored by Nothing But The Truth Publishing

Stewie BOOM! and Princess Penelope get ready to have a fabulous play-date with Eric, their awesome friend with autism. This book delves into many ways families can embrace neuro-diversity.

Board Books

Little Truck by Taro Gomi (Chronicle)

There are not enough truck books in the world to appease all the toddlers who are obsessed with truck books, and I’m so happy this new one is about to come on the scene. Little Truck is setting out to explore! He’s going fast, climbing hills, and braving tunnels, being just the right amount of careful along the way. But no matter how far he goes, his caring parent is never far behind. Filled with adorable, bright illustrations, Little Truck is sure to please the youngest truck lovers (and their parents).

Mama, Is It Summer Yet? by Nikki McClure (Abrams Appleseed)

No, seriously. Is it summer yet? Personally, I’m tired of the snowstorms that keep blowing through New York City and am looking forward to long summer days. In this charming book, one little boy can’t wait for summer to arrive. He keeps asking, “Mama, is it summer yet?” Mama responds saying, ”Not yet,” but there are plenty of signs that indicate spring is changing into summer: The earth is soft and there are seeds to plant, birds singing, ducklings in the pond, and pink blossoms blooming. The young boy even wears his bathing suit and carries a beach pail in preparation, but will it ever be summer?

Frankie’s Magical Day: A First Book of Whimsical Words by Michelle Romo (Abrams Appleseed)

I love the playfulness of this book of first words by Michelle Romo. It introduces a mix of the unconventional and everyday terms with fun, bright pictures. Featuring everything from a post office and a castle to a bunny bandit and a unicorn, this fun-filled book contains hundreds of objects and places clearly labeled to help little readers expand their growing vocabularies.

Courage by Bernard Waber (HMH Books for Young Readers)

There are many kinds of courage. Big acts of courage and the everyday kinds that normal, ordinary people exhibit all the time, like “being the first to make up after an argument” or “going to bed without a night-light.” Bernard Waber explores the many varied kinds of courage and celebrates the moments, big and small, that bring out the hero in each of us. This was first released in 2002, but this sturdy board book format comes out this Tuesday.

Picture Books

Sometimes You Fly by Katherine Applegate (HMH Books for Young Readers)

I love everything about this book, but as a writer I think my favorite part is the author’s biography where Katharine Applegate writes, “Before Sometimes You Fly became the book you are holding in your hands, it was rewritten hundreds of times.” Ah, revision! Even Katherine Applegate needs to do it. A beautiful book sure to become a favorite for those who love Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss.

Aquarium by Cynthia Alonso (Chronicle)

This beautifully illustrated wordless book is filled with magical ocean scenes. A girl ventures to the water’s edge, dreaming of a new friend. And, just like that, a beguiling red fish leaps into her life. But is friendship a sea these two can navigate together? I loved every spread and look forward to taking more time with each illustration.

I Really Want to See You, Grandma by Taro Gomi (Chronicle)

I truly love Taro Gomi’s bright, bold illustrations, and this story is so charming and sweet I could not get enough of it! Yumi and her grandmother have the same great idea: They want to see each other. So they each head out to do just that, only to completely miss each other along the way! No problem—they’ll just head back home and wait for the other to return. The trouble is that they have the same great idea—again—resulting in the ultimate missed connection! Will this duo ever find each other?

But The Bear Came Back by Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Dan Taylor (Sterling Children’s Books)

This is another picture book with missed connections. When a bear ends up knocking on a little kid’s door, the bear gets turned away (obviously). The bear is persistent, but so is the kid! Finally, after many attempts, the bear stops knocking. Only then does the boy realize how much he cares about the bear . . . and misses him. Can he find his friend again?

I Got It! by David Wiesner (HMH Books for Young Readers)

There is something so tender about this story of an outfielder waiting for a ball to be hit in his direction. After the hit, there’s plenty of time to envision the increasingly fantastic and funny situations that might interfere with making the catch. Summoning determination and courage, he overcomes the imaginary obstacles and turns them into a springboard for success. I Got It! reveals the extraordinary within the ordinary, taking readers on an amazing journey in a few seconds on a baseball field.

What’s Cooking, Moo Moo? by Tim Miller (Balzer + Bray)

Moo Moo serves up another half-baked scheme—and loyal Mr. Quackers goes along for the ride—in this madcap follow-up to Moo Moo in a Tutu. Yes, for real! The hilarious cow-and-duck duo are opening their own five-star restaurant. You’ll want to see what udderly ridiculous antics they get up to in their new adventure.

The Town of Turtle by Michelle Cuevas, illustrated by Cátia Chien (HMH Books for Young Readers)

When a solitary turtle decides to make some renovations to his shell, he doesn’t have a blueprint, only a dream for a better life. He starts by building a deck—though he figures the deck could use a fireplace. And a fireplace needs wood, so naturally, he plants a garden. But it isn’t really a garden without a pond . . . Soon, Turtle can barely recognize his own shadow. Finally satisfied with the intricate world upon his back, word begins to spread of the magical “Town of Turtle,” attracting newcomers from far and wide. All are welcome in Turtle’s town, where life is a little less lonely, if only you come out of your shell.

Chapter Books (1)

Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl by Debbi Michiko Florence (Farrar, Strauss, & Giroux)

You knew this was coming, right? Of course this book had to be on this best new releases list, because it’s so awesome! It’s talent show time at school, and eight-year-old Jasmine Toguchi is excited to show her stuff. But as she thinks about her strengths―tree-climbing, mochi making, collage―none of them feel quite right to perform on-stage. Jasmine’s friends already have a talent: Tommy yo-yo’s, Daisy dances, and Linnie plays piano. Plus, Maggie Milsap (aka Miss Perfect) is saying she’ll have the best talent. When Jasmine’s mom introduces her to the taiko, a traditional Japanese drum, Jasmine finally finds an activity that feels just right. But will she be good enough at taiko in time to beat Maggie Milsap?

Middle Grade

Rebound by Kwame Alexander (HMH Books for Young Readers)

Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien (Henry Holt and Company Books for Young Readers)

My ten year old loved this story; she could not put it down! Peasprout and her little brother Cricket are the first students from the rural country of Shin to attend Pearl Famous Academy of Skate and Sword. They soon find themselves in a heated competition for top ranking. Tensions rise when the dazzling pearl buildings of the Academy are vandalized and outsider Peasprout is blamed for the attacks by her rivals … and even some friends. Now, she must uncover the true vandal to ensure peace between Shin and Pearl – all while becoming a champion.

The Stone Girl’s Story by Sarah Beth Durst (HMH Books for Young Readers)

I was sucked into this fantasy story from the first few pages. Mayka and her stone family were brought to life by the stories etched into their bodies. Now time is eroding these vital marks, and Mayka must find a stonemason to recarve them. But the search is more complex than she had imagined, and Mayka uncovers a scheme endangering all stone creatures. Only someone who casts stories into stone can help—but whom can Mayka trust? Where is the stonemason who will save them?

Seeker of the Crown by Ruth Lauren (Bloomsbury)

One month has passed since Valor broke her twin sister Sasha out of jail. But the girl responsible for her imprisonment, Princess Anastasia, has gone missing, and Valor still longs for justice. So when the queen, desperate to find her daughter, asks Valor and Sasha to track Anastasia down, they don’t hesitate to accept the perilous assignment. This sequel to the awesome Prisoner of Ice and Snow does not disappoint!

They Lost Their Heads! What Happened to Washington’s Teeth, Einstein’s Brain, and Other Famous Body Parts by Carlyn Beccia (Bloomsbury)

This book has some pretty disgusting true stories about famous people’s body parts, which of course made it an absolute hit with my kids. From the kidnapping of Einstein’s brain to the horrifying end of Louis XIV’s heart, the mysteries surrounding some of history’s most famous body parts range from medical to macabre. Carlyn Beccia explores the misadventures of noteworthy body parts through history and springboards to exploring STEM topics such as forensics, DNA testing, brain science, organ donation, and cloning. The engaging tone, wonderfully creepy subject matter, and delightfully detailed art are sure to capture even the most reluctant readers.

Class Action by Steven B. Frank (HMH Books for Young Readers)

I loved Steven’s debut middle grade book, Armstrong and Charlie, and his sophomore book is just as hilarious, important, and touching as his first. Sixth grader Sam Warren is fed up with doing endless homework from the time he gets home to the time he goes to sleep. Suspended for his protest to not do any more homework, Sam decides to fight back. He recruits his elderly neighbor/retired attorney Mr. Kalman to help him file a class action lawsuit on behalf of all students in Los Angeles. Their argument? Homework is unconstitutional. With a ragtag team—aspiring masterchef Alistair, numbers gal Catalina, sports whiz Jaesang, rebel big sister Sadie and her tech-savvy boyfriend Sean—Sam takes his case to federal court. He learns about the justice system, kids’ rights, and constitutional law. And he learns that no matter how many times you get knocked down, there’s always an appeal…until the nine justices have the last say.

Into the Nightfell Wood by Kristin Bailey (Katharine Tegen Books)

Wynn and Elric may now be safe, but adjusting to life in the Between is not without complications. Their adoptive mother, the benevolent Fairy Queen, is haunted by the memory of her child who was kidnapped long ago—and she won’t risk letting the same thing happen to Wynn and Elric. But that same grief has been weakening the queen’s powers for years, and the protective shield around their kingdom is deteriorating. Wynn is coerced into the Nightfell Wood by a creature sent to do the Grendel’s bidding, Elric knows he must go after her to save her life. What they discover there—about fear, prejudice, and the true nature of evil—will change the fairy kingdom forever.

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Rivalry, Adventure, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements (Young Readers Edition) by Sam Kean

I picked up this book a few days ago when I was going through my stack of April 3rd releases, planning only to skim the first few pages. I was immediately hooked. This book is a fascinating look at the periodic table, following elements on the table as they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, conflict, the arts, medicine, and the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them. Adapted for a middle grade audience, the young readers edition of The Disappearing Spoon offers the material in a simple, easy-to-follow format, with approximately 20 line drawings and sidebars throughout. Students, teachers, and burgeoning science buffs will love learning about the history behind the chemistry.

Around the web…

Jacqueline Woodson Wins Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (via Publisher’s Weekly)

Rabbits, run: Two books about Mike Pence’s bunny Marlon Bundo top bestseller lists (via the Los Angeles Times)

Kid Lit Marches for Kids (via Publisher’s Weekly)

I adore biographies about writers, and House of Dreams: The Life of L. M. Montgomery (by Liz Rosenberg is a lovely one about the author of Anne of Green Gables. Geared for middle grade readers and beyond, this book is a thorough exploration of her life and various influences to her writing.

Let the Circle Be Unbroken is the next Mildred D. Taylor book on my list. This story continues right after Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. And that cover, right?!?

I already talked about The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean and how much I’m enjoying it, so I won’t rehash that again.

I’d love to know what you are reading this week! Find me on Twitter at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at karina@bookriot.com.

Until next week!
Karina

Izzy is not very good at hide-and-go-seek.

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