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Curiosity on Mars

10/29/2019

Red Rover: Curiosity on Mars by Richard Ho ill by Katherine Roy

Here's an intriguing approach for an informational picture book: anthropomorphize a mobile space laboratory. Red Rover: Curiosity on Mars introduces young readers to Curiosity, a two-thousand-pound laboratory exploring the geology and climate of Mars for seven years.

With succinct sentences and elegant language Richard Ho describes the mission, history, and accomplishments of the scientific endeavor.

It ...is quiet...but not still.
Vast...but not empty.
Barren...but not lifeless.

Near the book's conclusion the perspective shifts. Moving beyond Curiosity's close-up view, the planet Mars takes up the narration and provides readers with an expanded view of space exploration.

Katherine Roy's predominantly red color palette is awe-inspiring. Full two-page spreads echo the vastness of the endeavor. Inset images offer additional details. A gatefold reveals a stunning panoramic vista. Magnificent!
Supplemental matter includes Mars at a Glance factoids, background information of the Curiosity project, a brief description of each of the previous unmanned explorers, list of additional print and online resources.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 29, 2019 Publisher: Roaring Brook Press ISBN: 978-1250198334

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Celebration of Light

10/26/2019

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Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar ill by Charlene Chua

Diwali, a five-day Hindu festival, commences with the new moon on the darkest night of fall. The picture book Shubh Diwali! introduces young readers to this festival of light.

A multigenerational family dressed in western clothing prepare and decorate their home in anticipation of the holiday. Observance includes wearing new traditional clothing, telling stories, ringing bells, and lighting lamps.

Soundar's rhyming couplets provides a glimpse into the celebration. Back matter includes an Author's Note which introduces Diwali in more detail with her personal recollections, a brief description of each of the Five Days of Diwali and a Glossary.

Chua's illustrations feature wide-eyed family and friends who have a variety of skin tones and manner of dress. Included are depictions of individuals with disabilities.

A complementary color palette that is predominantly various shades of gold and purple accentuate the night sky and contrast with the dazzling fireworks and lamp light. Interior scenes in warm yellows and golds reinforce the warmth and closeness of family and friends.

Wide-eyed wonder of the children's illuminated faces on the cover is particularly striking.

Dessert Over Darkness

Celebrate with this traditional Diwali treat.

Shrikhand (Strained Sweet Yogurt)

Shrikhand is a creamy yogurt-based dessert from western India made simply by straining yogurt and sweetening it. The yogurt is traditionally strained by pressing it between newspaper (to soak up extra whey), but if you can find thick, full-fat Greek yogurt at the grocery store, then the process is even simpler: Hang it in a mesh strainer over a bowl for a day, and let the excess whey drip out. You can substitute slivered almonds for pistachios, if that's more your speed, or even skip the nuts altogether for a smooth shrikhand flavored only with sugar, cardamom and a celebratory sprinkle of saffron threads.

INGREDIENTS

32 ounces plain full-fat Greek yogurt
1 ½ cups loosely packed confectioners’ sugar
1 cup roasted unsalted or lightly salted pistachios, roughly chopped, plus ⅓ cup for garnish, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon saffron threads, finely chopped, plus a pinch for garnish, finely chopped
¼ teaspoon cardamom powder

PREPARATION

Put yogurt in a fine-mesh strainer suspended over a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge. Let excess whey strain for 24 hours.
Transfer yogurt to a large mixing bowl, and gently stir in sugar, pistachios, saffron and cardamom. When they are combined, transfer mixture into a serving dish, using an offset spatula to smooth out the top. Evenly sprinkle reserved pistachios and pinch of saffron over the top, and chill for an hour before serving. Shrikhand will keep covered in the fridge for a few days (though the pistachios will soften).

Recipe: NYT via When It’s Too Hot For Cooking, Try Yogurt For Dessert TEJAL RAO

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 1, 2019 Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company ISBN: 978-0807573556

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Missing Persons

10/24/2019

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"I was so close to feeling like I had Jun’s story nailed down. But no. That’s not how stories work, is it?
They are shifting things that reform with each new telling, transform with each new teller.”

Someone close to you goes missing. There are questions. What happened? Why?
This is an interesting premise for a young adult novel. The search rarely involves the simple task of locating an individual. It requires dogged determination and methodical sleuthing. This pursuit brings teens face-to-face with painful realities. Not all searches are successful. Not all that was lost is found.

Three unique stories have three common elements: drugs, crime, and family. Join each of these protagonists as they search for a missing person and in the process, learn more about themselves.

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: June 18, 2019 Publisher: Kokila ISBN: 978-0525554912

Born in the Philippines but raised in the United States, seventeen-year-old Jay learns that his Filipino cousin is dead. Stunned by the tragedy and his family’s reluctance to divulge any of the details, Jay returns to the land of his birth to ascertain what happened to his gentle, thoughtful relative.
Tracing the life of Jun is challenging. The family is unwilling to discuss anything about him or his life. Jay suspects a cover-up and wants to learn the truth.
He is startled by what he eventually finds and realizes that surviving can be dangerous for a young man trying to make his way through a drug-infested sub-culture.
Ultimately Jay develops an appreciation for his Filipino heritage and decides to make a major life change.
Hopeful, heart-wrenching, unforgettable storytelling.

Disappeared by Francisco X. Stork

Audiobook accessed via Overdrive

Pub date: October 1, 2019 Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books ISBN: 978-1338312829

Devastated by the disappearance of her friend, investigative reporter Sara Zapata discovers the astonishing number of young girls who have gone missing. Her published news articles begin to draw attention. As she searches for answers, things take a frightening turn when she discovers that key pieces of information are missing. Her family is threatened and her home is no longer a safe place. Sara learns that her brother may have jeopardized the family's future by a decision which will brings him into the influence of the drug cartel. Will she find her friend? Can she protect her family? Sara will risk all to discover the truth and remain true to herself.

Seeking asylum and crossing the border from Mexico into the United States make this book particularly relevant.

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 26, 2016 Publisher: Scholastic ISBN: 978-1338032352

Best friends Libby and May invented Princess X, a comic featuring a sword-wielding warrior princess wearing a gold crown and red sneakers. One fateful night Libby's mother fell asleep while driving across a bridge. The car tumbled into the icy water with Libby and her mother trapped inside. Libby is dead. Princess X is no more.
Three years later May discovers Princess X stickers directing her to a website. She wonders: Why this sudden reappearance of Princess X? May sets off on a dangerous mission to uncover what happened that fateful night. Her quest pits her wits and her nerve against a cunning man with a deranged plan. A can't-put-it-down combination comic and prose thriller.

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Weird on Top of Weird. Squared.

10/22/2019

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Weird Little Robots
by Carolyn Crimi ill by Corinna Luyken

Real live robots and their pet squirrel. It's like weird on top of weird squared.

Penny Rose is lonely. In the past, she has always enjoyed friendships with other children in her neighborhood. Now everything has changed. Her family moved and she can't connect with any of her new classmates. She spends her free time sequestered in the shed in her family’s backyard, creating a collection of tiny robots from found objects: outdated technology, broken bits and pieces, even a set of false teeth. She names each creation and fills her days tinkering with these mini-friends.

Then she meets her nerdy neighbor Lark. A budding ornithologist, Lark has a yard brimming with an incredible collection of birdhouses created from assorted curiosities that the birds leave for her,

Lark wasn’t afraid to let her weirdness show, and Penny Rose thought that was very brave.

The two loners combine their shared resources and talents to create roboTown, an intricate metropolis for robots, complete with multilevel buildings, lights, and a battery-operated elevator. One night they discover that the robots have come to life.

Every story must have a dark moment and it arrives for Penny Rose in the form of a mysterious invitation to join a Secret Science Society. In a moment of weakness, Penny Rose shares her robots with members of the secret group. She does this without the knowledge or consent of Lark, betraying the trust of her best friend and the magical robots. There are consequences. Most of the robots are stolen, roboTown demolished, and her friendship with Lark damaged.

In the process of attempting to reclaim and repair broken relationships and the lifeless toys, Penny Rose makes her own discoveries: What does it mean to be friend? What is science? Can all mistakes be fixed?

Crimi brings the story to a satisfying conclusion, including a miraculous recovery of one robot and a repaired friendship. But she leaves a few threads open. Does this mean that there will be more adventures for Penny Rose, Lark, and their robots? Count my vote for an absolutely, positively, without a doubt yes. More Weird Little Robots. More Penny Rose and Lark. Please.

There are so many things to love about this charming little tale of friendship and creativity, science and magic. The girls are interesting and interested in the world around them. But it's the robots who steal the show. There's iPam, made from a cell phone. Her cracked screen displays text messages to the girls. Fraction, the friendly bot, is an old calculator with a heart-shaped sticker, Clunk with a meat thermometer head atop a transistor radio takes over plugging in the lights. Sharpie created from a pair of old dentures, can sometimes be a bit grouchy. Data with a marble eye keeps watch out the window. She can see the future.
I absolutely adore these robots!

Luyken's full page illustrations accentuate the story's magic. She captures the essence to the two girls and the distinctive personality of the robots. Images of roboTown glow with the wonder of the girl's imaginations and cast a bewitching spell over the tale.

Build Your Own Robot

Penny Rose loved the idea of dressing up in the same costume for Halloween..."We'll be Best Friends Robots!"

The girls want to dress up as robots for Halloween.
Although their plans fall through, young readers can create a cardboard robot costume and make their own magic.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 1, 2019 Publisher: Candlewick ISBN: 978-0763694937

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My Constellation

10/15/2019

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The Year We Fell From Space by Amy Sarig King

But I’m twelve. . .And I doubt myself all the time.

The Year We Fell From Space is a searing portrait of a young girl in conflict.
Liberty Johansen distances herself from her classmates when she refuses to participate in school playground activities such as marriages and excommunications. And she’s not afraid to let her views be known.
It’s stupid...We’re in sixth grade. Having weddings is stupid.

She shoulders a massive self-imposed burden, trying to keep her family together, attempting to maintain peace and a sense of normalcy in situations which are beyond her control.
She is fascinated with astronomy and creates her own star maps. Her interest in the stars becomes her safe place. She discovers an unusual rock and believes that it is a meteorite, sent from the skies directly to her. The rock becomes her solace, her companion, and her confidante.

Lib views herself and her world through the lens of her current circumstances: sixth-grade outcast, protector for her younger sister, and dutiful daughter to her separated parents.

That’s my present constellation. Me, middle school, and divorce. It’s an angry constellation. It’s not even glowing red. It’s on fire.

Her life becomes a tangle of messy situations: hiding a classmate's valuable ring, throwing a toaster through the window, surreptitiously leaving her father's home and walking all the way to her mother's house.

She's knows that she's stuck in an emotional quagmire but is unable to find a way out, tapping out on the bathtub a code for H-E-L-P-M-E. Her inner dialog is a constant tug-of-war, pitting her perceptions of the outward world against her inner turmoil. Finally she arrives at the stunning realization that she, like her father, may suffer from depression.

The book concludes with Lib confiding in her parents and taking steps toward receiving help. Acknowledging the changes taking place in her family, talking with a trusted professional, and proactively working through her feelings, Liberty sees the possibility of healing and hope.

Some things take time.

King has created a multilayered exploration of depression. Liberty's story is one of inexplicable sadness, paralyzing pain, courage, truth, and hope. At times mental illness can become overwhelming: immense and far-reaching as the night sky with intimate details as sharply focused as a tiny speck of light flickering in the darkness. An Author's Note includes helpful mental health resources: websites, apps, and helpline numbers.

Smeelings

Liberty's life is filled with hikes, gazing at the night sky, campfires, and s'mores. And smeelings.

Smeelings are "smells that make feelings."
I'm sending a toasted gooey s'more with lots of smeelings to King. Thanks for this poignant portrayal of a young girl and her family coping with mental illness. Its a story that has found a home in my heart.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 15, 2019 Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books ISBN: 978-1338236361

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Mysterious Doings

10/15/2019

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The Upper Case: Trouble in Capital City
by Tara Lazar ill by Ross MacDonald

Following up on her hit picture book 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story Tara Lazar brings readers another clever take on our alphabet system, specifically capitalized letters.

Readers are treated to a noir style whodunit. Private I is informed by Question Mark that the capital letters are missing. ALL of them. Our intrepid detective is on the case.

This was serious. If all the capital letters were gone, there’d be incomplete sentences dangling everywhere.

The super sleuth begins to search for clues, hoping to enlist the assistance of punctuation marks. They are busy. Hyphens dashes around, apostrophe gathers personal possessions, while ampersand minds her p's and q's. Lazar is a master of the well-placed pun.
Eventually Private I returns to waitress little b at Café Uno. Together they locate the missing letters and rescue them from a theater marque. "I'd always wanted to see my name in lights."
Tranquility is restored. Or is it? The final page suggests that there will be more mysteries for Private I.

MacDonald's illustrations add to the frivolity. Letters fade away. Distinctive expressions animate the punctuation and letter faces. Observant readers will find Easter Eggs scattered throughout the book. Hints: Look for the train with conjunction cars attached behind the engine and find Exclamation reading a copy of 7Ate 9. Final tip: keep an eye on the mouse.

The Upper Case: Trouble in Capital City is a read aloud delight. Who knew that grammar and punctuation could be so much fun?

Upper Case Antics

The Upper Case trailer

Alphabuild magnetic blocks

Bake alphabet cookies

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 15, 2019 Publisher: Disney-Hyperion ISBN: 978-1368027656

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Mini-Making

10/11/2019

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Tiny World: Pins! by Keith Zoo

I maintain the Book Shop for our community’s Ronald McDonald House. The facility offers children and their families a welcoming residence when a child requires ongoing medical treatment at local hospitals and treatment centers. The purpose of the Book Shop is to provide books of interest to children and teens during their stay.

As I monitored book usage patterns, one thing became clear: the current collection was not meeting children’s interests. It was time to rethink the Book Shop. What would appeal to young residents?
Here are some things I discovered: Youngsters undergoing therapy want materials that will quickly engage them. While there are differences according to age and interest, I found books with the highest use fell in these general categories: board books, picture books featuring popular characters from T.V. and movies, nonfiction animal books with large color photographs, books celebrating holidays, teen romance, picture books with an engaging cover, and easy-to-read bilingual books.

I decided to try experimenting with other materials which might engage hands as well as minds. For a test run, I began adding puzzles, board games, and small puppets to the mix.
Early response to these changes has been positive.
I learned of an additional service that will be added. Our local Ronald McDonald House will begin supporting children beyond the walls of the residence. A mobile cart will deliver books, magazines, puzzles, games, etc. to youth when they must remain hospitalized for a length of time.
I searched for possible items to add to the Book Shop as well as the mobile cart. These nifty Tiny World kits caught my eye. The projects are fun-to-create crafts. Self-contained packages include most materials and an instruction booklet.

I decided to try a test run with Tiny World: Pins! and document my experience. After opening the kit and examining all the items, I read through the directions and assembled the additional items needed to complete the project.
The step-by step instructions are easy to follow. Detailed illustrations are helpful. I was pleased with the finished product. It's a fun project!

There are enough supplies to make three pins. Zoo provides three pin designs within instructions. Other suggestions are in the back of the booklet. I'm considering the crab motif for my next pin. But maybe I'll get creative and try my own design.

Helpful Hints

Don't color your paper sketch. It is difficult to see the areas that your markers may have missed when working directly on the plastic if the paper template is colored.
Before you cut the plastic, hold the design up to window and inspect any areas needing a bit more color.
Use a very sharp pair of small scissors and follow the instructions' cutting hints to create a precision shape.
Two coats of white enamel paint take time to dry completely. I let mine dry overnight before gluing on the pin backing.
Think about the space requirements needed to complete this project. You'll need a table with space to cut and color. Also, you may want to cover the surface when painting with enamel paint. You'll need an oven or toaster oven and a heat-resistant area when the cookie sheet comes out of the oven. Plan before you begin.
As the package clearly states, this project requires adult supervision.

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 24, 2019 Publisher: Odd Dot ISBN: 978-1250203847

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Friendship & Other Discoveries

10/9/2019

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Nina Soni, Former Best Friend
by Kashmira Sheth ill by Jenn Kocsmiersky

Nina Soni’s life just got more complicated. She accidentally destroys her best friend's art project. Nina fears that Jay will no longer be her friend. She is stymied when her teacher assigns a Personal Narrative Project. She has nothing to write. Her life is as boring as plain rice.
Then she discovers an interesting phenomenon that will be the basis for her person narrative. To her dismay, she learns that her idea is the same experiment used by Jay at last year's science fair. She is discouraged.

When her sister's birthday party plans fall through, Jay and Nina come together and develop a clever solution to the birthday dilemma. Upon reflection, Nina realizes that retelling events of the past twenty-four hours will make an interesting writing project.

Crisis averted. Friendship restored. Assignment completed. Things are working out!

Nina has a way with words. She images that one day she will make a brilliant scientific discovery. She will name it Ninacillian, similar to Alexander Fleming's penicillin.
The narrative is liberally sprinkled with her unique definitions. Some are spot on. All feature her quirky perspective.

For=get-ful-ness means your mind becomes so full of new thoughts and ideas that it pushes out the old ones.

Former means once-upon-a-time.

Sheth includes numerous references to Nina’s Indian-American heritage, including traditional foods such as roti and kachumber. Her notebook Sakhi means friend in Hindi. The family watches Mahabharat, a long-running series based on the Hindu ancient Sanskrit epic Mahabharat.

Nina Soni, Former Best Friend is the first title in this series for young readers. Easy-to-read font, lots of lists, and handy trim size make this a good choice for early chapter book readers. Kocsmiersky’s black and white line drawings capture nine-year-old Nina's irrepressible nature.

Scientific Discoveries

If Nina can try this experiment, so can young readers. Caution: It takes a very large and extra-sharp knife as well as some muscle power to bisect and chop a dense head of cabbage. That part of the experiment is best left to an adult.

Cut a cabbage in half and chop into thin shreds.
Place the cabbage in a large glass or other stain-resistant bowl.
Submerge the cabbage in warm water. Let it rest for about 24 hours until the cabbage water is pink
Strain the liquid and discard the cabbage shreds.
Pour a small amount into individual containers.
Add one additional liquid to each container of cabbage juice. Label the contents of each container.
Record your observations.

Below are the results of my pH experiment.

Dish soap

Lemon juice

Baking soda

Vinegar

Copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 1, 2019 Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company ISBN: 978-1682630570

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All Ways

10/4/2019

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Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds ill by Alexander Nabaum

"You have to look both ways and all ways. That even includes, despite what your dad says, down."

Reynolds has penned a novel comprised of interconnected stories. Read independently they are insightful vignettes, zeroing in on the ten city blocks students attending Lattimer Middle School traverse each day. Collectively the stories reveal the hearts of those bound together by geography. The lives of these unique individuals intersect in unexpected ways.

In the push and pull of everyday life, we meet students affected by life-altering events such as sickle cell anemia, cancer, dementia, incarceration, and gay-shaming.

These ten blocks are jam-packed with a rich assortment of sensory details.

"There's a smell in the air. A mix of exhaust and exhaustion. Also cooked food and cooked hair.
There's a feel in the air. A stickiness like walking through an invisible syrup. A thickness to life.
There's a sound in the air. A shrill and chill. The scream and whisper of the world making a symphony of so good and so what."

Narration is punctuated with cracking bits of humor, clever word play, and laser-sharp insights into the soul of the neighborhood.

Most stories can be enjoyed as a standalone short narrative. "How a Boy Can Become a Grease Fire" begs to be read aloud. I can't read it without voicing the interactions between Geoffrey and Candace. It's a master class in dynamic dialog.

Book design visually recreates the ten block setting. Nabaum's horizontal panels of pedestrians' silhouettes travel down the otherwise blank page, marking the beginning of each new tale. The stories are discrete. Taken together, each one builds on the previous narrative and culminate in the concluding story which brings all of the scattered pieces together and neatly folds individual lives into the fabric of the community. Look Both Ways follows the walk each person takes to arrive home.

Reynolds has a way with words, a way with stories, and a way with people that brings out the heart and the humanity in each of us. His work makes better our literary canon for youth, our lives, and our world.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 8, 2019 Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books ISBN: 978-1481438285

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Outfoxed

10/1/2019

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One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller by Kate Read

Can a counting book be a thriller? In the capable hands of Kate Read the answer is an emphatic YES.
The title page features paw prints, stealthily walking across the two-page spread and heading into... the first page and one famished fox. Page two zooms in on the face of said fox, shifty eyes focused on its prey. A single feather floating at the bottom of the page is a tantalizing hint as to what will follow.
The page turn confirms our suspicions.
Three plump hens.
The tension builds as readers follow the items enumerated on subsequent pages: snug eggs, silent steps, on ominous tapping, beady eyes shining in the darkness, and a set of sharp teeth.

What will happen now? Read's theatrical background is evident as a climactic scene explodes in a wild riot of flying feathers. The conclusion will leave audiences sighing with relief and immediate cries from youngsters "Read it again."

Striking illustrations feature bold colors, textured paper collage, and interesting shapes accented with printed details. Design composition and carefully planned page turns make One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller a visual treat.

Read has elevated the simple counting book format to high drama. Debut author/artist Kate Read is one to watch.

Outfoxing a Fox

These classic picture books feature a trio of hungry foxes.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: October 1, 2019 Publisher: Peachtree Publishing Company ISBN: 978-1682631317

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Curiosity on Mars

Red Rover: Curiosity on Mars by Richard Ho ill by Katherine Roy

Celebration of Light

Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar ill by Charlene Chua

Dessert Over Darkness

Missing Persons

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay

Disappeared by Francisco X. Stork

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest

Weird on Top of Weird. Squared.

Weird Little Robots
by Carolyn Crimi ill by Corinna Luyken

Build Your Own Robot

My Constellation

The Year We Fell From Space by Amy Sarig King

Smeelings

Mysterious Doings

The Upper Case: Trouble in Capital City
by Tara Lazar ill by Ross MacDonald

Upper Case Antics

Mini-Making

Tiny World: Pins! by Keith Zoo

Helpful Hints

Friendship & Other Discoveries

Nina Soni, Former Best Friend
by Kashmira Sheth ill by Jenn Kocsmiersky

Scientific Discoveries

All Ways

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds ill by Alexander Nabaum

Outfoxed

One Fox: A Counting Book Thriller by Kate Read

Outfoxing a Fox

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar ill by Charlene Chua

​​Dessert Over Darkness

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay

Disappeared by Francisco X. Stork

I Am Princess X by Cherie Priest

Weird Little Robotsby Carolyn Crimi ill by Corinna Luyken

Build Your Own Robot

The Year We Fell From Space by Amy Sarig King

Smeelings

The Upper Case: Trouble in Capital Cityby Tara Lazar ill by Ross MacDonald

Upper Case Antics

Tiny World: Pins! by Keith Zoo

Helpful Hints

Nina Soni, Former Best Friend​by Kashmira Sheth ill by Jenn Kocsmiersky

Scientific Discoveries

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds ill by Alexander Nabaum

Outfoxing a Fox

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

Dessert Over Darkness

Weird Little Robots
by Carolyn Crimi ill by Corinna Luyken

The Upper Case: Trouble in Capital City
by Tara Lazar ill by Ross MacDonald

Nina Soni, Former Best Friend
by Kashmira Sheth ill by Jenn Kocsmiersky