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Differently Distinguished

2/28/2020

The Society of Distinguished Lemmings
by Julie Colombet

You are distinguished, just in a different way

Let's start with the lemmings, the most adorable little critters to grace the pages of a picture book.

They are not ordinary lemmings. Oh no. These small rodents are members of an exclusive group, The Society of Distinguished Lemmings.
Society members occupy their days with Shakespearean plays, fine meals, and other high-brow pursuits. The posted list of rules keeps everyone in line. They include the following:

Lemmings only
Always act in a distinguished manner
No unseemly or wild behavior
No questioning the rules

There are no deviations. No exceptions. Let's face it. These Lemmings are snobs.

One day, Bertie has had enough. He decides to venture out of the underground burrow. He meets a bear who introduces Bertie to the joys of rolling around in the grass and playing in the mud.
The aristocratic lemmings are shocked. Such behaviors are against the rules. Bertie and Bear are expelled. Bear is crushed. He has let his friend down.

Meanwhile, the Society has moved on and planned a little summer vacation. They are off to the seashore. What starts as a delightful romp in the ocean water, becomes a terrifying experience when they realize they are exhausted and far from shore.

Fortunately, Bertie and Bear arrive in time to save the water-logged rodents. The grateful lemmings know that it is time to make some adjustments in their society. The former rules are abandoned. A much happier and more inclusive group celebrates outdoors with a picnic.

The charm of this book is in the details. Colombet gives the lemmings distinctive personalities. Readers will enjoy locating the group leader, Bertie, and Norm throughout the story. Numerous speech bubbles reveal personality quirks. The seashore excursion includes a lemming who packs a stuffed toy that bears a striking resemblance to Knuffle Bunny. Another worries about saltwater which causes one's paws to be "pruney." There is plenty of word play. When meeting the bear for the first time observations are "I think things are about to get grizzly..." and "This is unbearable."

It may be interesting to introduce students to the concept of referring to a group of people as lemmings. It might include a discussion of group dynamics and individuality.

Anyone can be distinguished, in any way they choose.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: March 1, 2020 Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company ISBN: 978-1682631560

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Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices

2/21/2020

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Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices
by S. K.Ali (Editor), Alisha Saeed (Editor)

There are a lot of ways to show our faith and love to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.
You pick the ones that are right for who you are right now.
Candice Montgomery

So this is what Eid tastes like!
N.H. Senzai

This collection of short stories paints miniature portraits of an assemblage of Eid-al-Fitr celebrations. While the practice of faith varies within the Muslim community, each unique Eid observance is memorable.

The anthology is feast for the senses. Stories include lighthearted as well as poignant glimpses into the culminating observance of Ramadan with descriptions of private prayer, public celebrations, distinctive clothing, special food, and gifts. Readers meet a recent convert to Islam. She fasts and samples spicy foods for the first time. For others Eid is bittersweet, reviewing celebrations from years past and remembering absent family members. Some entries follow the journey to be with family: taking the subway to the Bronx or sitting in the car’s back seat with siblings on the way to Sydney, Australia. I loved the descriptions of clothing: choosing to wear a hajib for the first time or fashioning a unique gown from a thrift store purchase.

A variety of writing styles and formats (prose, verse, comic panels) share long-standing traditions and introduce contemporary celebrations. Bake a batch of special Eid brownies with ALL the toppings and savor this delightful anthology. Share the joy of family, generosity, and friendship.

Joyous Faces

It’s true. Muslims women are diverse. They cannot be typecast. Each woman is unique, reflecting her country, culture, and family. Some chose to express themselves with a head scarf. Some opt for a western style of dress.

What do they have in common? Pride in their Muslim identity. Respect for the diverse ways to practice their faith.

Insightful stories. Engaging plots. Thought-provoking points of view. S.K. Ali and Alisha Saeed have assembled the work of fifteen talented women. Meet some of the amazing authors who contributed to this anthology.

Once Upon an Eid contributors include: G. Willow Wilson (Alif the Unseen, Ms. Marvel), Hena Khan (Amina's Voice, More to the Story), N. H. Senzai (Shooting Kabul, Escape from Aleppo), Hanna Alkaf (The Weight of Our Sky), Rukhsana Khan (Big Red Lollipop), Randa Abdel-Fattah (Does My Head Look Big in This?), Ashley Franklin (Not Quite Snow White), Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow (Mommy's Khimar), Candice Montgomery (Home and Away, By Any Means Necessary), Huda Al-Marashi (First Comes Marriage), Ayesha Mattu ( Love, InshAllah: The Secret Love Lives of American Muslim and Salaam), Asmaa Hussein (A Temporary Gift: Reflections on Love, Loss and Healing), and Sara Alfageeh ( Star Wars Women of the Galaxy).

I can almost hear their whispered wishes-
duas spoken in the fields each Eid.
Say “ameen” to those prayers,
all our voices as one.
Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Electronic copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: May 5, 2020 Publisher: Amulet Books ISBN: 978-1419740831

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Book Deserts: Another View

2/18/2020

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Recently schools and libraries have considered the problem of “book deserts.” These are generally described as geographic areas where there are few books for young people and families to read. This is a serious issue which certainly needs to be addressed. The research of Susan Neuman and the United for Literacy's quantified literacy landscape interactive map are well-worth studying.

I have been considering another type of book desert. It's an abundance of bound and printed material sitting on shelves. Books remain silent and static. Untouched. Never noticed. The books are there. But they have been deserted. Why?

The Problem

I work for two nonprofit organizations serving specific populations. Both receive large quantities of donated books. Many beautiful brand-new volumes are offered by generous donors. Previously books were piled onto shelves. This resulted in enormous chaotic stacks of reading material.
This post describes the changes that I implemented in the Book Shop at Ronald McDonald House.

My first order of business was to change the arrangement from massive piles of books to neatly shelved books with all spines facing out. I also limited the selections to children's books. It looked better. Afterward, there was a slight increase in reading activity.

I decided to take book organization one step further. Approximately half of the books were displayed with covers facing out. The remaining half were shelved by topic or series, with the spines facing out. Altering the display resulted in increased use of books.

Could I Do More?

I was convinced that there was a better way to offer books to these children. I began tracking usage. I asked: What made a book inviting to these young readers? Why were children attracted to certain displays? What books held little interest? Which books were in high demand?

Here's what I discovered:

It is better to have fewer books. An overabundance of books is difficult for youngsters to browse. Especially when dealing with nausea and other side effects, selecting a book should simple, not a chore. This requires frequent monitoring of the selections, replenishing and refreshing stock as needed.
Pay attention to what the youngsters are interested in. Fill shelves with books that tie-in to popular TV shows, movies, games, and other forms of media. Consider the entertainment factor. Interacting with text and/or illustrations should be fun.
Make book displays attractive and engaging. Place as many books as possible with the covers facing out. Include some board games, puzzles, activity and coloring books as well as wearable items such as book buttons, paper crowns etc. A local book shop donates cardboard display stands. This gives the area a dimensional effect which invites youngster to come and explore. I modify the stands slightly to fit the space and the interests of the children.

It defeats the purpose of creating a book area if shelves are brimming with books but no one is reading them.
It is important to carefully curate the books offered to youngsters. Frequently ask readers what they like. Try new books and display approaches.
When a child finds "just the right book" that will help them through a tough round of treatment, it's a good day.

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When Life Throws You a Knuckleball

2/14/2020

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Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen by Sarah Kapit

There are no guarantees in baseball. But that's where hope comes in. It never hurts to hope.

Vivian J Cohen is a typical eleven-year-old. She likes cheese sandwiches and pizza. She likes baseball. Vivy enjoys watching televised professional games with her dad. Her favorite player is VJ Capello.
In some respects she may be a not-so-typical fifth grader. She is a baseball (NOT softball) pitcher and can throw a mean knuckleball. She dreams of becoming the first female to play professionally. She is autistic, prone to meltdowns and flapping her hands when she gets anxious or excited.

When she was eight years old, she met minor league pitcher VJ. He took her aside and taught her how to throw a knuckleball. She has never forgotten him. Three years later Vivy has a letter-writing assignment. She opts to write to VJ. They begin a lively correspondence, mainly via email.
Kapit begins the epistolary novel on the first day of spring training and concludes with the league's final game for the season. Their emails include plenty of play by play baseball action.

Vivy feels safe speaking candidly with her baseball hero. She shares her triumphs: The community youth baseball coach invites her to become a pitcher for his team. Vivy is the only girl on the team roster. She convinces her over-protective mother to allow her to play baseball. The team's catcher becomes her good friend.

She also discloses her setbacks: The coach's son is a bully who torments her whenever his father is out of earshot. She is struck by a ball and receives a minor concussion. Her father's hands-off parenting style is confusing. He withdraws, wanting his wife to make all decisions. Her older brother Nathan is a puzzle. He used to enjoy playing catch with Vivy. But those days are gone. He vanishes for long periods of time. Vivy wonders, does he no longer like her?

Vivy has a lot of questions to consider. Should she report bullying to the coach or try to solve the problem herself? Will she reach a reasonable compromise with her parents that will allow her to play? Can she get back her confidence after her head injury and return to the pitcher's mound? Can she figure out why her brother is so distant? Can she maintain her correspondence with VJ when both experience defeat and disappointment?

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen is a story of baseball and bullying. It's a realistic look at living with high-functioning autism. It's a story of a girl breaking into a male-dominated sport. It's a story of dreams deferred. It's a story of getting up and trying again. It's a story with heart. Readers will cheer for Vivy.

I do know I have challenges, but sometimes I feel like Mom doesn't see all the things I CAN do.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: February 25, 2020 Publisher: Dial Books ISBN: 978-0525554189

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What Was Lost

2/11/2020

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The Everything I Have Lost by Sylvia Zéleny

“Diaries are for when life isn’t fun.
They are for figuring out what went wrong.”

Thirteen-year-old Julia keeps a deeply personal journal describing her life near the Mexico -United States border. Over the course of approximately two years she discloses her fears, her uncertainty, and the longings of her heart. Detailed lists and commentary reveal her life, her everything.
Living in Juárez with father, mother, and younger brother Willy, Julia’s life experiences a seismic shift when her father begins working for the mafia. She assumes that he is a courier. Suddenly the family has a new car, a new house, and many luxury items. But wealth has a downside.
Mamá is no longer her confidant. Her mother's primary objective is to protect and care for her husband. In an attempt to shield her children from the mob's influence and possible retribution, she sends Julia and Willy to live with family in El Paso: Aunt Tia, Cousin Jose, and their dementia- afflicted great grandmother.

This young girl faces an uncertain and frightening existence. She must adjust to a new city, new home, new school, new language. She is angry with her father who mysteriously vanishes for long periods of time. She resents her mother for what she perceives as abandonment of her children. She feels that she must accept responsibility for Willy and be the mother he no longer has. This is a heavy burden for a young girl to carry.

When her life in Juárez is forever gone, she makes a startling discovery.
Her father is more than a courier. He is a hit man.
Julia is devastated. Her pain bleeds across her diary pages.

She enters an American high school with a few glimmers of hope. She makes a friend and shares with him her shameful secrets. Her great grandmother becomes a source of constancy and comfort. After her husband dies, Mamá reunites with Julia and Willy in the United States and takes tentative steps to reconnecting with family.

The Everything I Have Lost is a story that is bleak and often terrifying. It paints a picture of survival and finding hope when things seem hopeless. Zéleny's prose is poignant and piercing in its honesty and humanity. A story that readers will not soon forget.

Voices from the Border

"Hold on to your dreams...When times get tough, hold on tight and don't let go."
Reyna Grande

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: February 11, 2020 Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press ISBN: 978-1947627178

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Black is Beautiful

2/7/2020

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Black is a Rainbow Color
by Angela Joy ill by Ekua Holmes

Black is a color. Black is a culture.

A picture book blending images and text to describe and define a color, Black is a Rainbow Color is rhythmical verse punctuated with rhyme. The poetry has a singing quality, inviting reading and responding aloud.

It’s a jubilant affirmation of identity. It’s a lyrical homage to history. It’s soul-stirring, thought-provoking. It’s a gorgeous array of colors.

Individuals pictured throughout the pages have a variety of skin tones and physical features. All share a noble heritage.

my color is black.

Angela Joy offers an abundance of resources in the back matter. She begins with an Author's Note, describing the genesis for the book. She realized that her daughter regarded the word Black as simply a color. She wanted to give her daughter a deeper understanding of Black and move the discussion beyond a selection in a crayon box.

A treasure trove of supporting resources includes: playlist of music spanning several decades, annotations explaining the origin for phrases in the text such as "Robe on Thurgood's Back" and "Dreams and Raisins," a few selected poems from Langston Hughes and Paul Laurence Dunbar, timeline of Black Ethnonyms in America, and a bibliography.

Ekua Holmes' vibrant mixed media illustrations feature bold graphic shapes defined by strong black outlines. Each spread contains symbolic images: a caged bird sings on the title page, the shoes of individuals crossing a bridge made from newspaper headlines reporting on the fight for equal rights, stained glass windows glowing with the faces of women who made significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. There is much to see, share, and discuss.