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READING STYLE GUIDE

These Stories are Ours: Myths of Mexico

5/22/2018

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Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico
by David Bowles

Can you see the looms of our grandmothers, shuttling out colors, the weft and woof of so many tribes?
They unfurl through the ages, frayed or unraveled by time and conquest like well-worn, rainbowed rebozos.
Take up the threads, each of you, and weave me the multi-hued fabric of our history...
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Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky: Myths of Mexico stitches together a remarkable tapestry of Mesoamerican mythology. David Bowles begins by amplifying and enriching the saga of well-known brothers: Feathered Serpent, also known as Quetzalcoatl, and Heart of Sky, also known as Hurricane or Tezcatlipoca, with fascinating details gleaned from his extensive research.  His poetic language is rich and evocative.
Feathered Serpent burst from the cosmic sea and took flight through the endless sky, his long bodyrippling with bright red, green and blue plumes.
Heart of Sky swirled to life in the heavens before dropping to waters and spinning like a violent cyclone, dark smoke curling from the black mirror on his forehead.
The narrative continues in roughly chronological fashion, recounting the five ages of the world. The fifth age includes stories of the gods Quetzalcoatl and Tezcatlipoca in human form, as well as retellings taken from Mayan and Aztec lore.
The book concludes with the arrival of the Spanish in 1519. Importantly, this account is presented from the point of view of the conquered indigenous people of Mexico and provides much needed perspective and understanding to this period of history.
One of the most compelling aspects of this work is the inclusion of bold and fearless women. Brave Erendira loved the earth and her mother country.  She desperately tried to rally her people to fight the invading armies. Riding a captured white horse, she was a symbol of hope. 
Princess Donaji was destined to serve her people and eventually give her life for them. She was beheaded and from her severed head blossomed a lily of exquisite beauty. Her likeness is memorialized on the city of Oaxaca's coat of arms. 
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In the early 1940s the former St. Augustine temple was turned into a public library.  Juan O'Gorman painted a graphic history of Michoacán right where the altar used to be. Princess Eréndira is riding the white horse on the left side of the painting. Wikkipedia
These final stories are ours​, mestizo missives and manuscripts and music.
We wrote them down, recited them, shared them, mind to mind.
They live on in our histories, in our poetry, on our lips, in our hearts.
The cativating tales are organized into small chunks that may be read consecutively. It is also possible to dip into selected individual sections throughout the volume. The introduction provides valuable background information.  A Guide to Pronunciation and Glossary are helpful reference points while reading. Notes on Sources and a Bibliography round out back matter
An excellent resource for those interested in exploring epic tales, world mythologies, history and culture of Mexico. Highly recommended for students, teachers, historians and storytellers,
Review based on copy provided by the publisher.
Pub date: May 22, 2018       Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press    ISBN: 978-1941026717
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Off the Page

5/16/2018

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Page Fright by Wade Bradford ill Mary Ann Fraser

"Sorry. Everything went crazy. I didn't know what to do."
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​Bradford offers a refreshingly different riff on the time-honored classic tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears and in the process breaks the fourth wall in a unique fashion. Characters move off script and step outside the book’s pages.
At the outset, a charming but slightly self-absorbed young Goldilocks welcomes readers into the volume containing her story. Unfortunately Papa Bear, who inadvertently becomes the story's main character, becomes flustered and can't deliver his scripted lines.
He is embarrassed and becomes so distraught that he tries to escape the story, climbing out of the page. Baby Bear and Goldilocks go in search of their protagonist, hoping to return him to the book and bring the story to a satisfying conclusion. The chase to find Papa Bear takes the youngsters through several books. Along the way, their search presents homages to literary classics such as The Tortoise and the Hare, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as well as the  fairy tale genre in general. ​
Fraser's soft colors, energetic bears, and creative design elements enhance the story experience.  Her skillful portrayal of Goldilocks’ personality with body language and facial expressions move this girl from being a side note into an important character. Nicely played!
Papa Bear's Page Fright gently explores how to recover from forgetting one's lines and making a mistake in front of an audience. A humorous and heart-warming take on the all-too-common fear of public performance. 
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Bears Times Three

Try these innovative adaptations of this classic tale.
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Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
by Mo Willems
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Somebody and the Three Blairs
by Marilyn Tolhurst ill Simone Abel
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Goldilocks and the Three Bears
by James Marshall
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 30, 2018  Publisher: ​Peter Pauper Press, Inc  ISBN: 978-1441325983
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Soul of Invention

5/15/2018

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Calling All Minds ​​by Temple Grandin with Betsy Lerner

How to Think and Create Like an Inventor

"if you want to create, you need to take things apart and put them back together with your own hands."
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Calling All Minds is an intriguing mix of inventor mini-biographies, images of registered inventions from the U.S. Patent office, and step-by step project instructions for youngsters.  Grandin frames all these elements within a running narrative describing her personal journey of discovery.  She introduces readers to her thinking process, her experiments with various concepts, and schematic drawings of her creations. 
"There is no better way to start than by making things of your own design. All the projects I made when I was young contributed to the inventions I've made throughout my life. And they have given my life meaning. I hope these projects and the ones you create will do the same for you."
The book is organized into five general sections: "Things Made of Paper," "Levers and Pulleys," "Things Made of Wood," "Things That Fly", and "Optical Illusions." Each section includes a cornucopia of material that is loosely connected. Like the discovery process, they do not flow in a strict linear fashion, instead inviting moments of serendipity along the way.
"Things Made of Paper" chapter callout boxes contain a plethora of STEM-related components. Readers will find brief introductions to the history of these inventions: moveable type, the typewriter, Liquid Paper, scissors, and Crayola crayons. Bonus material includes an explanation of the term QWERTY and a discussion of the Fibonacci "golden ratio."  Makers are treated to directions for creating Handmade Paper, Paper Snowflakes, a Crystal Snowflake, a Kaleidoscope, and Water Bombs.
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A treasure trove for the curious, creatives, tinkerers, inventors, makers and problem-solvers.  It will find a place in libraries, classrooms, after school programs, summer camps, scout troops, homeschool curriculum, professional development collections, as well as personal and family bookshelves. 
"I observed a situation that needed to be fixed...I could see in my mind how to do that. Then I learned how to draft and communicate my ideas. And that, as far as I can tell is the soul of invention."
Review based on copy provided by the publisher.
​Pub date: May 15,  2018       Publisher: Philomel Books    ISBN: 978-1524738204
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Ubuntu

5/10/2018

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Grandad Mandela
by Zindzi Mandela , Zazi Mandela, and Ziwelene Mandela
​ill Sean Qualls

'I cannot and will not give any undertaking at a time when I and you, the people, are not free.' ​
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Eight-year-old Zazi and six-year-old Ziwelene discover an old photograph. Their grandmother Zindzi Mandela,  the youngest child born to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and President Nelson Mandela, recognizes the photo immediately. It is a picture of her father. Through a series of questions, the great grandchildren learn about their heritage, their great grandfather's legacy, and the struggle to dismantle apartheid and win the freedom for all peoples in South Africa.
The deprivation, pain, and imprisonment Mandela endured are explained. However, Grandmother lovingly frames the story in a positive light, pointing out the strength and dignity of her father and his firm resolve to remain true to his principles. 
​"I want to see you strong,
​you must hold your head up high."
Grandmother continues, relating Mandela's release from prison and his subsequent South African presidency, as well as his tireless efforts to champion equality and justice for all.
The children are encouraged to honor him by volunteering and working to create a better world.
Ambassador Zindzi Mandela, with her grandchildren Zazi and Ziwelene have written a personal and powerful tribute to Mandela's life and legacy.   Grandad Mandela is an exquisite volume and a treasure for children throughout the world. 
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Ubuntu: I am because we all are
Sean Qualls employs a predominantly sepia-toned pallet. It heightens the warmth of family connection. There is a sense of the humanity and humility of this man and of his family, grounded in their country and its people.
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Grandad was fighting for us all to be equal
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Additional Resources

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Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson​
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A is for Activist by Innosanto Nagar 
Review based on an electronic copy.
Pub date: June 28,  2018       Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Bk    ISBN: 978-1786031365
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Bold and Brave

5/8/2018

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Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed

"I thought hope had vanished. But hope was a tricky thing."
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Amal, oldest daughter of a Pakistani farmer who raises sugar cane and oranges, loves school and dreams of becoming a teacher. She is a bold young girl and one day makes the fatal mistake of publicly defying Jawad Sahib,son of the village's powerful landlord.
He extracts his vengeance. Amal is removed from her home and family and is impressed into indentured servitude. She becomes the personal servant to Nasreen Baji, wife of overlord Khan Sahib and mother of the man she boldly withstood in the marketplace.
She learns of dark secrets hidden within the walls of the Sahib residence. With careful, deliberate planning, she is exposes the landlord and his son without endangering herself or any of the household servants.
Her courage saves the lives and fortunes of those closest to her and impacts the surrounding communities.
Aisha Saeed's eye-opening story of one girl's fight for justice and equality is stunning.
"No one would ever know it was a girl who helped save our villages.
​But I knew."

Additional Resources

Let’s Hear It for the Girls

"change, no matter how good and necessary,
​came with a price."
A terrific fiction/nonfiction book pairing is Amal Unbound  ​and I Am Malala. Like Amal, Malala Yousafzai was attacked as a young girl living in Pakistan. After she recovered from a gunshot wound, she began her tireless efforts to build schools and advocate for peace. She is the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. 
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Poetry

"Pakistan was founded by the dreams of poets."
Amal loves books and especially enjoys poetry. She treasures the works of Hafiz, a fourteenth century Persian poet.  Many of his poems explore the essence of love.  His poetic expressions are often quoted and frequently appear as proverbs. Here a few quotes on display in Etsy shops.
Review based on uncorrected text copy.
​Pub date: May 8, 2018  Publisher: ​Nancy Paulsen Books  ISBN: 978-0399544682
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Never Give Up

5/3/2018

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Izzy Gizmo by Pip Jones ill Sara Ogilvie

There's a new little inventor in Kid Lit and her name is Izzy Gizmo. She maintains a massive collection of various pieces and parts. Always on the lookout for new and creative invention ideas, she designs such items as a spaghetti eating contraption and a mechanized teapot. Unfortunately, many of these brilliant ideas do not work out. It is only when she recognizes the need to help a crow with a broken wing that Izzy's efforts succeed.
Everything about this book is a delight! The title is spelled out in stylized letters resembling gears and parts. Wide-eyed Izzy: sporting round spectacles, pencil behind the ear, and held aloft with a bizarre contraption is the epitome of our plucky young heroine. End papers created from relief images of moving parts echo the theme. Then there's Izzy's ever-present tool belt and her boots. How could I forget the boots?
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Pip Jones’ rhyming text is lively, making this picture book an excellent read aloud. Words such as “tweak" "glitch" "piston" "circuits" and "sprockets” provide opportunities for discussion and exploration.
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Sara Ogilvie's illustrations capture the enthusiasm, discouragement, and determination of young Izzy. However, grandpa often steals the show. His long-suffering patience with Izzy and her string of inventions, allowing himself to be the object of her study, is priceless. His optimism after his granddaughter shaves a large swath down the middle of his head, is a testament to the power of his love. When Izzy gets discouraged, his never-failing confidence in her ability to solve a problem spurs her on.
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After a long string of failures, Izzy is determined to try and help her friend fly again. Her willingness to try, fail, and try, try again offers reassurance to creative thinkers and problem-solvers everywhere. There’s a lesson here: desire, determination, creativity, and learning from mistakes is the formula for solving problems.
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Makers Make It Happen

Meet more inquisitive, inventive, and determined young problem solvers.
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The Most Magnificent Thing
​by Ashley Spires
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Mary Had a Little Lab
​by Sue Fliess  ill by Petros Bouloubasis
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Ada Twist, Scientist
​by Andrea Beaty ill by David Roberts
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The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes
​by Mark Pett, Gary Rubinstein
Review based on uncorrected text copy.
Pub date: March 1, 2018 Publisher: ​Peachtree Publishers  ISBN: 978-168263021
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The Music in Me

5/1/2018

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All Summer Long by Hope Larson

”For the weirdos and the part time punks”
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Thirteen-year-old Bina is devastated when her best friend Austin decides to spend a month at summer soccer camp. She wonders: What will become of her? Will there be no fun adventures for her this summer?
With mom and dad away at work, Bina descends into a funk. Austin is pursuing his passion for soccer. Her two older brothers have moved on and created independent meaningful lives, including the imminent arrival of a birth to bless the family. Not Bina. She feels trapped.
A chance encounter sets her off in a new direction. She begins to hang out with Austin's older sister Charlie. Initially they connect because they share a love of music. Charlie needs someone to help with some chores and babysitting jobs. Bina is happy to be noticed by older-sister Charlie and begins to tag along. Eventually she determines that Charlie may be using her. Bina must decide what she want she is willing to do to maintain the relationship.
Bina wants a friend. She also must to be true to herself. The month becomes one of self-realization.
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Characters are presented with a deft hand.  Each is fleshed out with a distinct personality. Readers can readily identify with each one.  There are no "good guys" or "bad guys," just real people in real life struggling to define themselves.
"Lots of people spend forever looking for something they care about. Sometimes they never find it. But you already have, and you're doing it, and you're gonna be great."
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"You're more you every day."
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Many of Larson’s books have a mystical element and so I expected a bit of magic in this graphic novel.  All Summer Long offers a magical scene, but with a distinct difference. Readers witness Bina's transformation as she responds to music. It's subtle, but her joyful rapture is evident. 
​Bonus: Larson uses fingering for guitar chord progressions to signal the beginning of each new chapter. Clever touch.
Savor the delights of coming-of-age in this touching homage to power of family, friends, and music. 

Weird and Wondrous

Hope Larson conjures up more stories featuring phenomenal adventures for young girls.
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Mercury
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A Wrinkle in Time
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Who is AC?
​Review based on an electronic copy.
Pub date: May 1,  2018       Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux    ISBN: 978-0374304850
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Bookjoy!

4/30/2018

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El día de los niños

"Hooray! Today is our day, ¡El día de los niños!" 
"¡Viva! Hoy es nuestro día. El día de los niños!"
It's April 30.  That means its time to celebrate the joy of sharing books with youngsters. The amazing Pat Mora has developed an annual celebration of books for children everywhere.  It is based on the the traditional Mexican holiday, El día delos niño, the celebration the child. Mora expanded on this concept and has developed a festival honoring the joy of books and literacy for children and their families.
Join the celebration!
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Looking for resources to help you celebrate?  Pat Mora and ALSC have created a booklet packed with ideas to help keep the bookjoy going all year along.  Find crafts, games, downloadable posters, ways to involve families and much more.
Try this sample of  picture books and middle grade readers. 
​Bonus: many are bilingual or have both Spanish and English editions.
A day of reading, singing, and dancing call for a grand finale. Cap off the day of festivities with paletas. Frozen treats made with fresh fruit come in a variety of flavors. This recipe uses strawberries and mangoes.  But combinations are limited only by one's imagination and available fruit.  Easy to make.
Está buenísimo.
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What About Bob?

4/26/2018

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Bob by Wendy Mass & Rebecca Stead ill Nicholas Gannon

"You have a gift!  I think you're ...magic!"
  • Mass and Stead have taken the most ordinary of names and created an extraordinary character with a story premise that is intriguing. Bob is the magical tale of ten-year-old Olivia's return visit to her grandmother in Australia. It's been five years since her last stay with Gran. Known as Livy, she struggles to remember people and events from so long ago. There are people and places that seem familiar. Livy wonders how and why she has retained these fleeting impressions. Gradually, with the help of Bob, she pieces together significant bits of information from the past. 
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Who is Bob?
  • Bob is ten years old. He has always been ten.
  • Bob is short.
  • Bob has smooth skin.
  • Bob is skinny with knobby knees.
  • Bob is green, like the inside of an avocado.
  • Bob wears a chicken suit, with feathers that are falling off.
What's with Bob, anyway?
  • ​Bob lives inside the closet of Gran's upstairs bedroom.
  • Bob occupies his time with things located inside the closet: a Lego pirate ship and the dictionary.
  • Bob knows how to play chess.
  • Bob is a friend of Livy's.
  • Bob has been waiting five years for Livy to return.
  • Bob hopes that Livy will keep the promise that she made to him long ago.
I'm putting two and two together, as Dad says.
​Except it's more like trying to add the square root of seven and thirty-one to the fifth power.
In one sense this is a book like others by Stead: seemingly random pieces fit together in the most ingenious way. Words that are glossed over on first reading take on added significance when delving further into the narrative. Here are a few of the phrases that reveal key parts of the story.
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"But chess is not about luck," Bob says. "It's about recognizing the strength of the little guy."
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"Treats are always better when you save them," 
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"The small pieces are really easy to lose," he mumbles.
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The door swings open, and there is Bob, arms crossed tightly over his narrow chest. He is wearing my old tutu.
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"She put a book under her pillow...She said it helped her dream."
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I am going to have to think of something else. I sit down hard on the Sylvester rock. It wobbles a little.
This is a quick read. But don't let the scant page count fool you. It is brimming with charm and grace, humor and longing. And the ending. Ah, the ending. The final page totally melted me. Oh Bob, I love you so.
Review based on uncorrected text copy.
​Pub date: May 1,  2018       Publisher: Feiwel & Friends    ISBN: 978-1250166623
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Into the Woods

4/24/2018

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Be Prepared by Vera Brosgol

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It begins with the cover. All the trauma, drama, insecurities of summer camp are perfectly captured in this image. She’s got the gear, all the gear. She’s got the uniform with requisite badges. She’s got the wilderness setting, complete with flags and tents and little critters.

​But wait.  She's got a look that seems to cry out "Help!"
​This is NOT at all what she signed up for. Not. At. All.
Vera had heard the stories of camp and was sure that a summer experience was what she desperately needed. With a great deal of coaxing, her mother relented and signed Vera and brother up for Russian camp. Certain that this would be the experience she envisioned, she set off with high hopes.
In a strange twist of fate, her brother who initially protested the idea of summer camp, instantly took to the experience and dived right in.  Vera, on the other hand was having a miserable experience. No friends, mean girls, unfamiliar routines: this just wasn't working out. Unfortunately, it is too late. Mom has deposited the siblings and Vera is stuck at a summer camp for children of Russian heritage.
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Anyone who has experienced the unique challenge of using the camp "facilities" will appreciate Vera's first encounter with the outhouse, known to these campers as "Hollywood." A midnight trek to the primitive, odiferous, and generally repugnant latrine is a never-to-be forgotten encounter.
Exploring camp, Vera finds a directional sign for Hollywood.
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Further investigation brings her to the horrifying conclusion: a
​visit to Hollywood is a dreaded necessity.
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Look at her face. It captures the range of her emotions and sensations.
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Kudos to Brosgol for predominantly featuring Russian culture. From occasionally use of Cyrillic alphabet, depictions of Russian Orthodox services and icons, and traditional foods, she brings her heritage to the forefront.
It was a little pocket of Russia, a familiar place in a strange land.
Russian camp setting notwithstanding, this dramatic recreation of real-life youth camp transcends a specific culture. Vera's story will resonate with all youngsters who feel different but want to be accepted and included. 
So you're making some friends, huh?
​...be careful how you make them.
​Vera Brosgol distills her memories as a novice camper in this engaging, visually arresting, emotionally riveting graphic novel for middle grade readers.
Come summer, tuck this book, along with a package of Skittles into the backpack of every young camper you know. Camp will be ever-so-much better when kids know how to Be Prepared.

Graphic Novels Go Camping

Gather round the campfire with these graphic novels.
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Brain Camp by Susan Kim, Lawrence  
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Camp Midnight by Steven T. Seagle Jason Adam Katzenstein
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Chiggers by Hope Larson
Review based on copy provided by the publisher.
Pub date: April 24, 2018       Publisher: ​First Second   ISBN: 978-1626724440
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    Barbara Moon

    I like talking about books and  interesting ideas. I like thinking about how books affect my life. Not particularly interested in giving out stars or in rating books. 

    Audio Publishers Association
    2013, - present  Audies judge 
    American Library Association Book Awards and Lists 
    ​2017 YALSA Award Nominating Committee
    2016 Excellence in Nonfiction 
    2014 Margaret Edwards Award
    2012 Odyssey Awards.  
    2009, 2010, 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

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