Riot New Media

Hey Kid Lit friends,

The first Tuesday of each month is generally the most popular for new releases, and today I have a whole lot of goodies to share with you. As usual, the book descriptions are from Goodreads, but I’ll add a  if I particularly loved a title. (P.S. I loved A LOT of books this week!)

We’re giving away 16 of the books featured on Recommended! Click here, or on the image below to enter:

Picture Book New Releases

 Lucy and the String by Vanessa Roeder

When Lucy spots a string, she can’t help but give it a yank, and before she knows it, she meets Hank! But this bear isn’t quite sure what to make of Lucy, especially because the string is attached to his pants, and they’re unraveling fast! Now Lucy must dream up the perfect solution to Hank’s missing pants, and hopefully win this dubious bear’s heart along the way.

 Good Dog by Cori Doerrfeld

When a puppy in need of a friend follows a kind girl into town, he lands himself into all sorts of trouble. He gets lost. He’s nearly run over. And he gets chased out of a bakery for being a “bad dog.” But when the pup and the girl reunite in the park and she leaves behind her favorite doll, the puppy has a chance to prove just what a good dog he really is!

 Pinny in Fall by Joanne Schwartz, illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant

On a crisp fall day, Pinny decides to go for a walk. She packs a sweater, her rain hat, a book, a snack and her treasure pouch. Set for adventure, Pinny’s day includes a windy game of tag with her friends, an exciting call for help from the lighthouse keeper and a surprising encounter with the falling autumn leaves.

 Mustafa by Marie-Louise Gay

Mustafa and his family traveled a long way to reach their new home. Some nights Mustafa dreams about the country he used to live in, and he wakes up not knowing where he is. Then his mother takes him out to the balcony to see the moon ― the same moon as in their old country. In the park, Mustafa sees ants and caterpillars and bees ― they are the same, too. He encounters a “girl-with-a-cat,” who says something in a language that he can’t understand. He watches an old lady feeding birds and other children playing, but he is always looking in from the outside and he feels that he is invisible. But one day, the girl-with-the-cat beckons to him, and Mustafa begins to become part of his new world.

I’m Glad That You’re Happy by Nahid Kazemi

When a florist puts two plants in the same rosy-colored pot, he tells the bigger, stronger plant to look after the smaller, weaker one. An artist buys the plants and takes them home, where they become part of the family, celebrating happy occasions and feeling sorrowful during hard times. But as time passes and the plants grow, the pot becomes too small, and the two must be separated. While this makes the larger plant sad, it still rejoices in the way the smaller one flourishes on its own, and looks forward to the day when they will be planted in the artist’s garden to grow into trees together.

 Deep Underwater by Irene Luxbacher

Sophia bravely dives down to discover the secrets under the sea. She encounters beautiful fish and floating forests. Farther down, the dark water is full of tentacles and treasures. Deep underwater, she is never alone. Do you dare dive down after her? The ocean is full of endless possibilities in this dreamy, imagistic story from acclaimed author / illustrator Irene Luxbacher. Her otherworldly paintings show colorful fish, rippling seawater and the secrets to be found at the bottom of the ocean. Sophia’s journey will linger with readers long after the return to shore.

 Luna and the Moon Rabbit by Camille Whitcher

Inspired by Asian folklore (Moon Rabbit) and the films of Studio Ghibli, this magical tale follows a young girl who befriends the “moon rabbit” and accompanies him on a nighttime adventure through otherworldly landscapes.

 Buddy and Earl Meet the Neighbors by Maureen Fergus, pictures by Carey Sookocheff

When Wonder Buddy and Super Earl learn that the Evil Doctor Stinker is planning to shut down the only hamburger factory in town, they know they have to find the supervillain’s secret lair ― fast! Hopping into the Earl-mobile, they race into the yard next door where they come face-to-face with the new neighbors. At first, Mister the bulldog is alarmed by Wonder Buddy’s laser-beam eyes (even though Buddy does not know how to turn them on), and Snowball the cat thinks that Earl is the funniest-looking mouse she’s ever seen.

 How to Knit a Monster by Annemarie van Haeringen

Greta the goat is a wonderfully accomplished knitter. She can even knit little goats and turn them loose to play around her feet. But when she gets distracted from her knitting, threatening creatures spring from her needles, each more menacing than the last. It takes quick thinking, courage, and brilliant knitting for Greta to find her way out of a perilous situation.

Elizabeth Warren: Nevertheless, She Persisted by Susan Wood, illustrated by Sarah Green

This book shares the incredible story of the first female senator of Massachusetts. Elizabeth came from a struggling middle-class family in Oklahoma City. After a heart attack put Elizabeth’s father out of work, she helped out by babysitting, waitressing, and sewing, all while shining as a star member of her school’s debate team. Debate taught Elizabeth how to fight with her words, a skill that eventually won her a state championship and a college scholarship. As a lawyer and law professor, Elizabeth learned why it was so difficult for working-class families like her own to advance economically, and today she continues to fight (with her words) for the poor and middle-class in her role as a senator. Claris: The Chicest Mouse in Paris by Megan Fless

Claris: The Chicest Mouse in Paris by Megan Hess follows an adorable mouse who dreams of moving to Paris to follow her fashion dreams. One day, she bravely takes the leap – only to find a mean little girl with a horrible-looking cat standing in the way of her perfect Parisian apartment! Can Claris use all her wit, warmth and – of course – style to make her dreams come true?

The Bunny Band by Bill Richardson and Roxanna Bikadoroff

Lavinia the badger loves vegetables and tends her garden with care, but one morning she discovers that her lettuce has been nibbled and her potatoes and beans have disappeared! She decides to set a snare for the culprit, who turns out to be a frightened bunny. When Lavinia threatens to turn him into stew, the bunny pleads for his life, promising a rich reward if she lets him go.

Up and Away! How Two Brothers Invented the Hot-Air Balloon by Jason Henry

Back in 1782, in Ardèche, France, lived Joseph Montgolfier, a dreamer and an inventor who liked to learn about how everything worked. When one day a gust of wind blew his papers into the fireplace, he noticed that something lifted the pieces into the air—and he realized that heat could make things rise.  With the help of his brother, Étienne, he began to experiment . . . and created a new kind of flying machine: a hot-air balloon! This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of how the balloon came to be, King Louis XVI’s visit to see it fly, and the three animals—a rooster, a duck, and a sheep—who became its very first passengers.

If You’re Going to a March by Martha Freeman, illustrated by Violet Kim

As more and more children attend the growing number of marches across the country, this cheerful guide serves as a great reference tool and conversation starter for youthful participants. Inspired by author Martha Freeman’s own experiences, this picture book addresses many of the questions kids might have: What should I wear? How will I get there? Where will I be able to go to the bathroom? Is it okay to dance? (Yes, it is!). All the while the text stays focused on the fact that the right to assemble is a Constitutional part of our life as Americans . . . whatever our political point of view.

No Frogs in School by A. LaFaye, illustrated Eglantine Ceulemans

Hoppy pets, hairy pets, scaly pets: Bartholomew Botts loves them all. And he doesn’t want to go to school without one. Unfortunately, when Bartholomew brings his brand-new frog to class, his teacher, Mr. Patanoose, declares: No frogs in school! How will Bartholomew keep his animal friends close at hand . . . and follow Mr. Patanoose’s rules, too? Illustrated with energetic and humorous artwork, this back-to-school story will be a favorite with every animal-loving kid!

 Allie All Along by Sarah Lynn Reul

Poor Allie! She’s in a rage, throwing a tantrum, and having a fit! Her emotions have built and built and now they just burst. Is there a sweet little girl hiding somewhere under all the angry layers? And can her big brother find a way to make things all right again?

How to Feed Your Parents by Ryan Miller, illustrated by Hatem Aly

Matilda Macaroni loves to try new foods, whether it’s her grandma’s jambalaya or sushi at a sleepover. But, in this fun, twisted picture book, it’s finicky mom and dad—not the child—who eat only pizza with pepperoni (delivered), burgers from a bag, or noodles from a box. Eager to experience new flavors, Matilda secretly sets out to learn how to cook, satisfy her hunger for something more . . . and expand her parents’ palates, too. There’s also a Macaroni family recipe for quiche that young cooks can try!

Chapter Books

 Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Hatem Aly

Meet Yasmin! Yasmin is a spirited second-grader who’s 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! A creative thinker and curious explorer, Yasmin and her multi-generational Pakistani American family will delight and inspire readers.

Middle Grade New Releases

 Eleanor Roosevelt: Fighter for Justice by Ilene Cooper

Eleanor Roosevelt, Fighter for Justice shows young readers how the former First Lady evolved from a poor little rich girl to a protector and advocate for those without a voice. Though now seen as a cultural icon, she was a woman deeply insecure about her looks and her role in the world. But by recognizing her fears and constantly striving to overcome her prejudices, she used her proximity to presidents and her own power to aid in the fight for Civil Rights and other important causes. This biography gives readers a fresh perspective on her extraordinary life. It includes a timeline, biography, index, and many historic photographs.

 Echo’s Sister by Paul Mosier

Twelve-year-old El has planned on making her first week at a new school fantastic. She won’t go by her given name, Laughter. She’ll sit in the back of the classroom where she can make new friends. She won’t even have time to think about all the fun her old friends are having without her. Everything will be great. But when her dad picks her up after school and tells her that her younger sister, Echo, has a life-threatening illness, her world is suddenly turned upside down. And with her parents now pressed for time and money, El feels lost and powerless.

 The Gift of Dark Hollow by Kieran Larwood

Hiding with fellow refugees, Podkin, Paz, and Pook are temporarily safe in Dark Hollow Warren. But their enemies—the evil Gorm—still search for them. The rabbits’ only hope may be to locate twelve magical Gifts and use them to defeat the Gorm. The fate of all rabbitkind is at stake, and danger lurks at every turn. It will take all the siblings’ courage and ingenuity to find the Gifts, battle the Gorm, and stay alive. Action and intrigue infuse the second installment of a series that shows that anyone—even little rabbits—can do great things.

Graphic Novel New Release

 Estranged by Ethan M. Aldridge

Edmund and the Childe were swapped at birth. Now Edmund lives in secret as a changeling in the World Above, his fae powers hidden from his unsuspecting parents and his older sister, Alexis. The Childe lives among the fae in the World Below, where being a human makes him a curiosity at the royal palace. But when the cruel sorceress Hawthorne seizes the throne, the Childe and Edmund must unite on a dangerous quest to save both worlds—even if they’re not sure which world they belong to.

DC SuperHero Girls: Out of the Bottle by Shea Fontana, art by Marcelo DiChiara, Agnes Garbowska, and Mirka Andolfo

For an assignment in Ms. June Moone’s art class, the girls are working on their very own comic books. The character-created comic pages give us a glimpse into each girl’s personality. But Harley isn’t satisfied with her comics creation and thinks a little of Ms. Moone’s special paint will really help her drawings come to life! The problem? Harley’s drawings literally come to life!

Backlist Book Recommendations

Picture Book Recommendation: The Adventures of Beekle, An Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

This magical story begins on an island far away where an imaginary friend is born. He patiently waits his turn to be chosen by a real child, but when he is overlooked time and again, he sets off on an incredible journey to the bustling city, where he finally meets his perfect match and–at long last–is given his special name: Beekle.

Note from Karina: This book was the winner of the 2015 Caldecott, and I just love it so much! Beekle is such an enduring, lovable character.

Middle Grade Recommendation: The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly

Soledad has always been able to escape into the stories she creates. Just like her mother always could. And Soledad has needed that escape more than ever in the five years since her mother and sister died, and her father moved Sol and her youngest sister from the Philippines to Louisiana. After her father leaves, all Sol and Ming have is their evil stepmother, Vea. Sol has protected Ming all this time, but then Ming begins to believe that Auntie Jove—their mythical, world-traveling aunt—is really going to come rescue them. Can Sol protect Ming from this impossible hope?

Note from Karina: This is one of my favorite Erin Entrada Kelly books. It portrays the lives of Soledad and Mind in very realistic, yet hopeful, ways.

Giveaway!

This month’s giveaway opportunity is 16 awesome books featured on the Recommended podcast! Enter here by August 31.

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

We are fostering a couple of cat sisters (cue my husband’s sigh) through a wonderful cat rescue in New York City, Anjellicle Cats. I think the cats enjoy hiding and playing between the stacks of books in our apartment.

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Hi Kid Lit friends,

I have been thinking about memory lately. What we remember, why we remember, and how our memory might sometimes conflict with what others remember. Memory is a terrific theme in literature, and I thought I would share some of the books that came to mind when I thought about memory.

Sponsored by Automated Books, publisher of Divining Another Dream and creator of Google Play App Multiplicity.

Nine-year-old Laiza Wendel can’t remember anything because her memory consists only of events in her future. But for her, the future suddenly begins to look… short. She believes it means she will die soon, but she can’t see how. Her teacher and friends want to help her overcome her new and unusual fear of getting hurt, but Laiza knows that they can’t help unless she shares the secret about how she sees. Will she be able to determine what’s wrong before her world falls apart?

Now available in paperback for $12.00.

For picture books, Sachiko Means Happiness by Kimiko Sakai, illustrated by Tommy Arai, is a story about Sachiko and her grandmother and their changing relationship as the grandmother loses her memory. It is an honest portrayal of Alzheimer’s and how it affects everyone in the family. This passage was particularly touching to me: “I looked into her eyes, trying to find the Grandmother I once knew. I saw instead a small, lost child, frightened and alone. She did not recognize anyone, not even me, and she was scared.”

The Dress and the Girl by Camille Andros, illustrated by Julie Morstad, is a stunning new picture book that comes out on August 7th. When a girl and her ordinary dress have to leave their Greek island home and immigrate to America, the trunk carrying the dress is misplaced and the trunk goes on it’s own journey through countries and continents while the girl grows up, gets married, and has her own daughter. The theme of memory – the memory of childhood, threads throughout this book in a gorgeous way.

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis, is a lovely and honest book about unkindness in a school setting. A new girl enters Chloe’s class, and for some reason Chloe just doesn’t like her even as Maya tries to be her friend. Chloe always says no whenever Maya asks if she can play with her, and then one day Maya doesn’t come to school. That day, a teacher’s lesson on kindness, and how each little thing we do ripples out into the world, makes Chloe realize that she wants to make the world a better place. But she never has a chance to apologize to Maya, because Maya never returns to school. In the final illustration we learn that sometimes we don’t have the opportunities to correct our behavior, and that lingers in our memories for a long time.

In Knock, Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me by Daniel Beaty, illustrated by Bryan Collier, a young boy wakes up to find his father gone. He writes his dad a letter, then waits for his dad to return to get it. But the knock never comes, and the young boy grows up trying to remember all of those moments with his father. A letter from his father mysteriously shows up, and the wisdom in that letter guides his life and his father’s memory. “Knock knock for me, for as long as you become your best, the best of me still lives in you.”

For middle grade books, Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead was one of the first books I thought about when thinking about memory. In this book, a young girl Livy tries to remember her grandmother’s home when she makes a visit there. While things are familiar, she can’t remember much about her last trip many years ago. But when she finds Bob, a strange creature wearing a chicken costume, the memories flood in and she remembers that she had promised to help him find his way back to his family. Bob, on the other hand, had been waiting patiently for years for Livy to return, living off the memory that she promised she would come back for him.

Restart by Gordon Korman is about middle schooler Chase who wakes up to find himself in a hospital. Apparently he fell off the roof of his house, and now he can’t remember anything. When he returns to school, the guys who seem like creeps treat him like a hero, and the kids he actually wants to be friends with appear scared of him. He begins to piece together his past as he tries to figure out who he wants to be.

Drawing from Memory by Allen Say is a graphic memoir of Say’s childhood and his evolution as an artist. Shunned by his father, who didn’t understand his son’s artistic leanings, Allen was embraced by Noro Shinpei, Japan’s leading cartoonist and the man he came to love as his “spiritual father.” As WWII raged, Allen was further inspired to consider questions of his own heritage and the motivations of those around him.

The Truth As Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor is a book all about memory: what Mason remembers about that fateful day when his best friend, Benny Kilmartin, turned up dead in the Buttle family’s orchard. Everyone knows Mason can barely read or write, but he is honest as the day is long and can’t understand why Lieutenant Baird won’t believe the story Mason has told about that day.

One of my favorite books is Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, and it is all about memory: Woodson’s memory growing up in America’s north and south. What sings in this book is Woodson’s memories of yearning to be a writer – those memories are so deep and beautiful and set the path for the world embracing her as one of the most beloved children’s book writers of all time.

Another book about memory loss is Just Like Jackie by Lindsey 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. 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.

In Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes, twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that’s been unleashed on his family and community in the wake of what they see as an unjust and brutal killing. Soon Jerome meets another ghost: Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. As Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened and tells him about his own memories, they both go on a journey towards recognizing how historical racism may have led to the events that ended Jerome’s life.

I was so excited to get a sneak peek at Kristy’s Big Day, the graphic novel by Gale Galligan and based on the novel by Ann. M. Martin. This releases on August 28th by Scholastic. I grew up on The Baby-Sitter’s Club books, and I just adore the graphic novel adaptations.

Whales, An Illustrated Celebration by Kelsey Oseid (Ten Speed Press, 8/21) is a gorgeously illustrated and filled with interesting and educational facts about whales, dolphins, and porpoises. I’m a sucker for nonfiction ocean books, and this one is a definitely winner.

I also began Grenade by Alan Gratz (10/9, Scholastic), which is set in 1945 and told in two voices. Hideki lives with his family on the island of Okinawa, near Japan. When WWII crashes onto his shores, Hideki is drafted into the Blood and Iron Student Corps to fight for the Japanese army. Ray, a young American Marine, has just landed on Okinawa. This is Ray’s first-ever battle, and he doesn’t know what to expect — or if he’ll make it out alive. Like his NYT bestseller Refugee, this book will make you think deeply about history and the importance of the choices we make.

Around the web…

Guess what the first printing is for Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey? Three million copies.

Amy Poehler Options The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser, via Book Riot (Can you tell I’m excited about this?)

28 of the Absolute Spookiest Books for Kids and Teens, via Book Riot

Are You an Ivy or a Bean? Kids Pick in New Video, via Chronicle Books

New Giveaway Alert!

Hey, we have a new giveaway for August! Get 16 awesome books featured on the Recommended podcast! Enter here by August 31! (Did you know I was on the second season of Recommended? Here me talk about my recommended, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor, here.)

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 time!
Karina

Izzy says hi!

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