• Home
  • Style Guides
  • Blog
  • Author Index
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
READING STYLE GUIDE

Heroic Women

3/23/2021

0 Comments

 

Standing on Her Shoulders
​by Monica Clark-Robinson art by Laura Freeman

Mother and grandmother share with a young daughter/granddaughter her awe-inspiring legacy. For generations the women in her family have been trailblazers, creating a noble foundation for their progenitors. Due to their efforts, their descendants face the possibility of a bright future. As the narrative progresses, a vision of the reach of influential women expands beyond family to encompass a broad range of American women who have made significant contributions to arts, sciences, athletics, and activism. Individuals such as Shirley Chisholm, Serena Williams, Chloe Kim, Frida Kahlo, Mary Church Terrell, Ynes Mexia, and Megan Rapinoe are singled out.
​Clark-Robinson's succinct text consists primarily of rhythmic rhyming couplets. Alliteration packs a powerful punch. Excellent read aloud.
For we are standing on the shoulders
of the strong, smart, sage, and soulful
​ones who have gone before us.
Picture
The artist uses two distinctive styles. Classic portraits depict each woman from history who made her mark on the world. A modern stylized view of a dewy-eyed youngster contrasts with the more formal rendering of each historical figure.
​Freeman captures the warmth of a multigenerational family. Hope is poignantly expressed by the glimmer in the girl’s eyes as she views portraits of heroic women. As she remembers these extraordinary individuals, they become her role models. She will want to build a better world for her posterity. Her actions come full circle when she reaches out to support her younger sister.
Back matter includes beautiful portraits and brief biographies of twenty-six women representing a variety of races, cultures, achievements, and time periods.
Text and images combine to create a stellar picture book. Outstanding resource for African American History and Women’s History studies. This book would make a wonderful gift to celebrate any achievement in a young child’s life.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: February 2, 2021  Publisher: Orchard Books  ISBN: 978-1338358001
0 Comments

Wishes and Waves

2/4/2021

0 Comments

 

The Old Boat by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey

Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey, the team of brothers who celebrated the life of a well-used pickup truck are back with another picture book. The Old Boat chronicles the life of a small boat, a family, an island, and the ocean.
A young boy and his grandmother set out on a fishing expedition. Their time together on the water is filled a sense of awe at the expanse of water and myriad sea life. It’s an ode to the mesmerizing mystical quality of the ocean.
"waves and wishes, wants and wonders"
Time passes. The boy has grown. The pristine waters of childhood have become an underwater junkyard, filled with dirt and debris. A violent storm smashes the old boat and washes the vessel and it’s captain ashore. He surveys the seascape and knows that it is time to return the ocean to its former state.
Picture

While text is limited, poetic language and the accompanying illustrations convey an eloquent storyline. Aquatic plant and animal shapes are repeated across each two-page spread. Artful graphic design with a muted primary-colored palette hint at the passage of time. Attention to detail is evident. Watch the changes in the young man and his world as the tale progresses.
There is so much to see and experience here. The book is replete with themes: tides, time, renewal. One of the fascinating aspects of this book is the study of the effects of time, both positively and negatively. Time takes its toll on the boat. It slowly deteriorates. ​In the intervening years the effects of pollution take a toll on the condition of the seashore.
The boat rides the tide. It is the undertow and current that determine the boat's fate.
​​A new sailor turns the tide: People act, reversing the gradual destruction of coastal life. With time and effort the beaches and ocean return to the abundant aquatic life it once nurtured.
The Old Boat tells a tale of generations. This is not a "once and done" book. Each reading reveals more little gems.
Electronic copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: March 2, 2021  Publisher: Norton Young Readers  ISBN: 978-1324005179
0 Comments

Immigrants Welcome

1/26/2021

0 Comments

 

Three Keys by Kelly Yang

Good news for those who love Yang's Front Desk. There are more stories and further adventures at the Calivista Motel. 
​Mia Tang is growing up, dealing with complex issues as well as daily frustrations. Sixth grade is not what she expected. She and best friend Lupe are in a classroom located in a temporary building. This year her teacher seems more critical of Mia and her writing style.
Set in the 1970's during the reelection campaign of Pete Wilson, Mia is devastated by her teacher’s support for a ballot measure that will deny educational opportunities to children of undocumented workers.
Yang delves into the plight of immigrants from a variety of viewpoints: Classmate Jason appears to have achieved the American dream of financial success. Lupe, Mia's best friend and the daughter of a Calivista employee, confides that she and her family are undocumented and risk deportation.
The Tang family hopes Proposition 187 will be defeated. Their motel's marque proudly displays the notice "Immigrants welcome."
Picture
"We're Chinese, that's what we do."
Mia experiences the push and pull of two different cultures: retaining her Chinese identity while assimilating into the American lifestyle of chocolate chip cookies.  She resists a "bowl" haircut, dislikes red bean shaved ice, and worries about her slightly Asian accent. She wants to become an author but lacks basic English grammar skills.  Her parents who were respected professionals in China now devote their days to menial labor, struggling to keep their fledging business solvent. 
Picture
"You're stronger than you think"
Three Keys is populated with an assortment of well-developed multigenerational characters with a variety of cultures and ethnicities. They are complex individuals with fascinating backstories, experiencing life's joys, heartbreaks and disappointments. Circumstances help them understand themselves and others in new ways.
There is no magic wand that solves all problems at the Calivista. While the story's conclusion is hopeful, there remain thorny political and societal issues to be addressed.  Lucky for us, a continuation of Mia's story will be published this fall. 

Front Desk Stories

Don't miss the continuing adventures of Mia Tang
Picture
First book in the Front Desk series. Meet Mia Tang, her family, and friends.
Picture
Third book in the Front Desk series. Room to Dream follows Tang Family's visit to Beijing.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: September 15, 2020  Publisher: Scholastic Press  ISBN:  978-1338591385
0 Comments

Fair Trade

11/20/2020

0 Comments

 

A Long Road on a Short Day
by Gary D. Schmidt & Elizabeth Stickney ill by Eugene Yelchin

On a winter day when snowfall is imminent and daylight is scarce, Samuel and his father set out on a journey. The two are in search of a milk cow.
They hope with a series of trades to parlay Father's Barlow knife (a high-quality pocket knife) into a source of milk for the family’s baby girl. Using his insight into the circumstances and interests of his neighbors, Samuel’s father puts his plan into action. Both father and son are determined to make each trade a satisfactory arrangement for all parties. From a desired timepiece to the fleecy softness of Merino wool for the weaver's loom, neighbors benefit from these exchanges.
In addition to learning the value that an item may have for a specific individual; Samuel learns to approach each person with respect and kindness.
Picture
As sunset approaches a neighbor has light glowing in his barn, a lonely window has a volume to poetry to keep her company, and a little girl has a pony cart to take her to school. The family has a milk cow and Samuel receives the secret wish of his heart. All because of a wish, a pocketknife, and an astute father who knows the value of friendship and fairness.
Schmidt is a master storyteller, delivering a tale with succinct narration. Each phrase contains a rhythmic quality and sensory imagery that precisely capture the relationship between father and son, young boy and animals, and a members of a closely-knit community.
Yelchin's illustrations are sublime. Like peering into a snow globe, each image is a magical moment encapsulated amid the swirling flakes. ​ 
 A Long Road on a Short Day is a short book that is long on wishes and the wonders of a winter's day. A perfect read aloud that will warm hearts. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Electronic copy accessed via NetGalley.
Pub date: November 10, 2020  Publisher: Clarion Books  ISBN:  978-0544888364
0 Comments

Play Like a Girl

10/14/2020

0 Comments

 

Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez read by Sol Madariaga

Always proud to play like a girl
Fútbol is in Camila Hassan’s blood. As a young girl, she took the head off a doll and used it as a ball to practice her kicking technique. It’s more than a sport, it’s her passion. Her goal is to compete professionally. Camila knows that the best opportunity to play with a world-renowned team will require her to leave her native Argentina. The first member of her family to graduate from high school and to receive an English fluency certification, Camila wants to improve her chances of earning a spot on a professional team. She dreams of escaping the restrictive existence that she seems to be her destiny and creating a new life for herself. She will not be deterred, both on and off the pitch. Her teammates honor the fútbol-fueled fire that burns within her, naming her La Furia.
Picture

So, what’s holding her back? Her family. Her macho domineering father considers fútbol a man’s game and would never consent to permitting his daughter to compete in the sport. Her mother, cowed into silence by her controlling husband, submissively works as a seamstress, fashioning elegant gowns. She wants a better life for Camila and plans for her daughter to attend medical school.
Camila constructs an elaborate charade to conceal from her family her passion for fútbol and her identity as La Furia. She tells her mother that she is with a friend when she participates in games and team practice. So that she can’t be contacted, she allows her phone to run out of minutes. She waits until no one is home to wash her uniform and pretends to study for an upcoming medical school entrance exam.
Her life is further complicated when a childhood friend, now an international fútbol star, returns to Argentina for a brief visit. It is apparent to both that this is more than friendship. The attraction is mutual. Camila faces a heart wrenching dilemma. Does she abandon her dream of becoming a world class athlete and follow the guy who makes her heart sing? Or does she remain focused on her life-long ambition and reject his offer of a life together?

This story is about choices. Hard choices. Camila agonizes over her decisions, recognizing that with each choice, she may be closing a door. Will she choose to follow her passion for fútbol or succumb to her desire to be with the boy she loves? Can she stand up to her abusive father? Will she remain silent? Can she confide in her mother?

Narration moves fluidly between Spanish and English. Madariaga flawlessly differentiates the varying degrees of English fluency among her Spanish-speaking characters. Singing flows beautifully as a natural extension of the narration. The longing, indecision, frustration, and passion of an older teen is clearly evident in this performance.

The author obviously knows and loves the sport. The play by play descriptions bring readers onto the pitch, delivering immediacy and fierce intensity to the narrative. Méndez storytelling is a polished gem. Her characters are multifaceted. The narrative reveals their sparkling qualities as well as inherent flaws. Their lives are messy. There are no simple solutions. Things are not perfect. However, there is hope.
Furia is intense, filled with desires and dreams, heartache and disappointment, pain and passion. Camila is a girl of my heart.
Audiobook accessed via Hoopla.
Release date: September 15, 2020  Publisher: Workman Publishing
0 Comments

Ripped from Today's Headlines

7/17/2020

0 Comments

 

Illegal: A Disappeared Novel by Francisco X. Stork

Siblings Sara and Emiliano Zapata are on the run, hoping to elude an international human trafficking cartel. Illegal continues their story which began with Disappeared. After leaving Juárez Mexico, the two separately cross the Rio Grande River, hoping to outpace and outsmart the syndicate.
The story is told in the alternating voices of the brother and sister. Sara opts to legally request asylum as she believes that ample documentation will support her amnesty claim. Emiliano chooses to go underground, hiding in the back of a horse trailer to evade detection and eventually living in the basement of his father’s home in a Chicago suburb.
Picture
The two have an explosive secret: a cell phone containing damning photographs and documents detailing human trafficking that originates in Mexico and extends into the United States. Those involved include a federal government employee. Before they part ways, Sara entrusts the phone to her brother. Sara and Emiliano must protect this valuable piece of evidence without endangering one another.
Stork ratchets up the tension as both lives are on the line. Sara is locked in solitary confinement within a detention center in Fort Stockton Texas because she refuses to disclose the whereabouts of her brother. Emiliano tries to stay one step ahead of a killer hired to track down the phone. It’s a nail biting, intense read.
The narrative includes fascinating details about everything from technical processes used to open a phone to some of the legal intricacies in the asylum process. There are striking contrasts: Emiliano sharing tender moments with his half brother while Sara endures horrific cruelty. A stunning betrayal keeps the central characters constantly questioning who to trust. Both siblings are faced with moral dilemmas. There are no easy solutions. Every choice has positive and negative consequences. ​
An electrifying story that could easily have been ripped from today's headlines, this can't-put-down story of danger, intrigue, and corruption will keep readers rapidly turning pages. It's action and suspense to the max.
​While the book’s conclusion brings resolution to the immediate dangers facing Sara and Emiliano, there is obviously more to the story. Please Mr. Stork, don’t keep us waiting too long.
Uncorrected copy provided by author.
​Pub date: August 4, 2020  Publisher:  Scholastic Press  ISBN: 978-1338310559
0 Comments

From Cuba with Love

7/10/2020

0 Comments

 

Letters From Cuba by Ruth Behar

Late 1930's were perilous times in Europe. The Nazi party was ascending to power and invading surrounding nations.
Twelve-year-old Esther’s family is Polish and Jewish. They face a future filled with uncertainty and fear. Bravely Esther leaves her mother, siblings, and grandmother to join her father in Cuba. The plan: father and daughter will secure funds for the entire family to escape the dire conditions in their homeland and emigrate to Cuba.
Through a series of letters to her sister, Esther describes her life in this new country. Her correspondence is infused with sensory descriptions: luscious tropical fruit, beautiful countryside, eloquent Spanish language, and the poetry of José Matí. ​She tells of heartbreaking setbacks and small triumphs.
Picture
Initially, the two earn money peddling religious statues in the predominantly Catholic villages. It seems a unusual thing: Jews selling religious statues. Sadly, this venture produces little income.
Their fortunes begin to look up when, desperate for suitable clothing to wear in the oppressive heat, Esther designs and sews a light, comfortable dress to replace her heavy woolen clothing. By hand, she sews similar dresses for her friends. Several of her creations are displayed in a local shop. Then the miraculous happens. Esther receives a sewing machine. With help from her father, the two make attractive lightweight dresses for women in the village. Eventually her designs are sold to a buyer in Havana. Now there is hope that she can earn enough money to reunite her family in Cuba. After some tense moments, the family obtains the necessary money to emigrate.
Esther is a natural at reaching out and connecting with people. She quickly becomes acquainted with many of the villagers. Her father’s rents lodging from the local doctor and his wife. They befriend an Afro-Cuban woman and her grandson. A couple from China own the local store patronized by Esther and her father. She invites this diverse group to share a Seder meal in their tiny apartment. She must improvise, dipping onions in salt water and filling glasses with sour cherry tea. The celebratory dinner is a success. New friendships are formed.
Esther is the star of this story. Her resourcefulness, hard work, willingness to try new things, and acceptance of other cultures and customs make the story shine.
This epistolary middle grade novel was inspired by Behar's grandmother’s journey from Poland to Cuba. Her story offers young readers a fresh perspective on a contemporary issue. ​  Letters from Cuba is a mind-opening,  heart-expanding look at the plight of immigrants, the far-reaching effects of World War II, and the stain of racism.  
​Electronic copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: August 25, 2020  Publisher:  Nancy Paulsen Books   ISBN: 978-0525516477
0 Comments

Real Life

6/9/2020

0 Comments

 

In the Role of Brie Hutchens by Nicole Melleby

Every weekday morning for the past eight years Gabrielle Hutchins has buttoned up a white shirt, slipped on her plaid skirt and headed off to parochial school. ​Now things are changing. Gabrielle, known as Brie, has begun to seriously examine who she is and what she believes. She realizes that she may not be the person her mother expects her to be.
Her life is complicated. There’s a financial aspect. Her father lost his job and is now her school’s custodian, which is embarrassing. School tuition is a expensive. There’s the matter of religion. Mom is devoted to her faith. Brie doesn’t want to disappoint her mother but she questions the teachings of the church. Cozy afternoons Brie and her mother spent watching soap operas seem to be a thing of the past. Brie desperately seeks her mother’s attention and approval, so she resorts to lies. One lie results in a major family spectacle. School is a problem. Brie is not motivated by academic excellence and wants to leave private school and attend a school for the performing arts.
Picture
​Then there’s the realization that she likes girls and one girl in particular is unsettling. She wonders how coming out will affect her family relationships, her school standing, and the reaction of the girl she is attracted to.
Brie struggles to accommodate the expectations of those in her immediate circle. Her interactions with friends, teachers, and family are often prickly. Sometimes those close to Brie let her down. At times she makes mistakes that seem impossible to rectify. Brie wonders: What does she believe? Can her parents love their gay daughter? Can she repair a damaged relationship?
The mother is sensitively portrayed as a woman dealing with the complexities of her life: faith, finances, and family relationships. Mom’s not perfect. But then Brie isn’t either. A major source of tension is the struggle for this mother and daughter to salvage the good parts from their past and construct an honest and supportive relationship built on mutual love and understanding.
The author uses an interesting device throughout the narrative thread. Brief synopses of actual soap operas are featured at the beginning of each chapter. They mirror the drama in Brie’s life. Now she is a performer rather than an audience member. This is life, real life.
In an interesting instance of life imitating art, I was parked off the road, waiting for a curbside delivery. The traffic whizzed by as I read the book’s final chapters. The intensity of Brie’s situation hit me with full force. Here I was insulated inside the bubble of the automobile while cars passed. I was emotionally wrecked. Tears streamed down my face as I began to understand Brie’s anguish. I hope that I never forget that feeling.
Melleby has created a glimpse into the soul of young gay. Meet a young girl with a developing acknowledgement and acceptance of her identity. Meet a daughter who wants to be valued and loved, to be "seen." In the Role of Brie Hutchens is a middle grade novel that will linger in readers' hearts long after the final page.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: June 30, 2020  Publisher:  Algonquin Young Readers   ISBN: 978-1616209070
0 Comments

Dos Chicos

4/30/2020

0 Comments

 
Two Latino boys. Two engaging stories. Two distinctive illustration styles.  ¡ bravo! 

Frederico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez ill by Elisa Chavarri

Once upon a modern time...
Gomez takes the well-known tale of "Little Red Riding Hood," dresses the main character in a scarlet hoodie, adds a distinctive Latin flavor, and sets it to a rhythmic beat. It's Federico and the Wolf, a contemporary retelling.
In this version, young Federico bikes to his grandfather's shop. First he stops to purchase ingredients for pico de gallo.  He and grandfather plan to enjoy lunch together and then whip up a batch of hot salsa. 
Federico is on his way with a basket of groceries when a hungry wolf appears and declares his intent to devour this niño. It takes some quick thinking and a large habanero to outwit un lobo.
Picture
At the tale's conclusion, Gomez shares a recipe for pico de gallo. She adds a glossary of Spanish words and phrases with pronunciation guide along with definitions. 
Chavarri's charming illustrations have a contemporary folk-art quality. End papers feature colorful traditional patterns with the faces of Federico and Grandfather nestled within the designs. Her portfolio includes this dazzling bookmobile art.
Picture
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: May 19, 2020  Publisher:  Clarion Books   ISBN: 978-1328567789

Brick by Brick by Heidi Woodward Sheffield

Tonight I dream in my house.
Nuestra casa para siempre-
our always house.
Brick mason meets young reader. Sheffield has ingeniously woven together the building of an architectural structure and the creation a reader. Both are busy: constructing brick by brick, book by book.
​Pages views alternate between parallel activities. Papa scales the scaffolding while Luis scrambles up playground equipment. Papa mixes mortar and trowels a layer of cement as Luis molds clay. Papa stacks bricks row by row and Luis arranges a tower of his favorite stories, book upon book.
The heart of the story is the relationship between a father and son. Luis rides on his father's shoulders while wearing papa's hard hat. The two share a warm abrazo.
Together they work and plan for the fulfillment of a dream: a house that they can call home.
Picture
Sound effects displayed with various font colors add to the sensory experience.
TAP TAPS brick into place
SCRRRRAPES drips the mortar
KERCHUNKS lunch box closes
WHIRRRRRR a mixer at work
WHOOOSH water added to the slurry
Illustrations are stellar. Sheffield's collages of textures, colors, shapes and snippets of photographs are ingenious. Artistic assemblages are enhanced with painted details.
Observant readers will find papa's boots are photographs of actual work boots. The United States flag is a collection of irregular red and white stripes, hand drawn stars on a blue background and a snippet of blue jeans. Pieces of actual brick form the buildings. Multicolor angular shapes become falling autumn leaves.
Spanish phrases are seamlessly woven into the narrative. Messages are carefully placed throughout the illustrations. A city illustration includes the messages "dream" and "mis sueños" which echo the father and son's hopes for the future. When the pair drive away from the city toward their new home the environmental art contains a different message: "bye" and "adios." Brick by Brick is brimming with the joy of hard work and the realization of a dream.
Copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: May 5, 2020  Publisher:  Nancy Paulsen Books  ISBN: 978-0525517306
0 Comments

Think Pink: A Triple Treat

4/24/2020

0 Comments

 
Pink. Look at all the pink! Love the warm, positive vibes this color embodies. This trio of books for middle grade readers feature stories of Muslim girls living in a world where they are frequently a minority. These narratives explore discovering and embracing one's religious and cultural identity. Delightful. Thoughtful. Read one. Read two. Read all three!
Picture

All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney

Picture
Allie Abraham works on blending in. A Circassian with reddish-blond hair and hazel eyes, it is easy for this sixteen-year-old cheerleader, academic standout, and school choir member to ignore her Muslim heritage. Allie's non-practicing Muslim father believes that this will protect her from discrimination.
However, Allie is drawn to the culture and religion of her grandmother. She wants to learn Arabic, study the Qur'an, begin a habit of regular prayer, and dress modestly. She meets with a group of forward-thinking Muslim young women who practice their faith in modern America. She's an All-American Muslim Girl.
Publicly acknowledging her heritage is a challenge. She hides her newfound interest in Islam from her father, walks a fine line with her boyfriend whose father is a well-known and bigoted news personality. She deals with classmates who mock her faith and other Muslims who condemn her for not being Muslim enough. What to do?
Allie must determine who she is and what she believes. How will she dress? How will she handle her growing attraction to a young man when her faith forbids personal contact? At what point will she inform her father of her changing views on religion? She must answer for these questions for herself.
Copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: November 12, 2019  Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) ISBN: 978-0374309527

Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices
edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed

Picture
​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 contains 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 who fasts and samples spicy fare for the first time. For others Eid is bittersweet, reviewing celebrations from years past and remembering absent family members. ​ Some stories follow the journey to be with family: taking the subway to the Bronx or sitting in the car’s back seat with siblings while traveling 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.

Once Upon an Eid celebrates traditional and contemporary Eid observances with a variety of writing styles and formats including prose, verse, comic panels. Bake a batch of special Eid brownies with ALL the toppings and savor this delightful anthology. Share the joy of family, generosity, and friendship.
​Electronic copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: May 5, 2020  Publisher: Amulet Books  ISBN: 978-1419740831
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
Picture
Jude leaves her father and brother to escape the increasing violence in her Syrian hometown.  She and her mother journey to Cincinnati, Ohio where they take refuge at the home of her uncle. Mother and daughter attempt to build a new life. It's hard. Everything is foreign including communicating in an unfamiliar language, eating strange food, and encountering a different style of dress. Jude has the added burden of being a seventh grade student, a difficult experience for anyone. Ignored by her cousin, Jude must navigate the treacherous waters of this strange school environment on her own. She struggles to find her place among students who “don’t look like me."
A possible solution presents itself. Jude loves theater and movies. She learns that the school is staging a production of Beauty and the Beast. Summoning her courage, she auditions for a part in this fairy-tale musical. Can a girl from Syria can make it onto the stage in Ohio?
​Other Words for Home is a 2020 Newbery Honor Book. The lyrical free verse is richly textured, layered with sensory imagery, poetic language, and astute observations. Jude speaks eloquently to the plight of a young Syrian refugee adjusting to a new home and culture. This is also a story for anyone who has felt left out, trying to fit in when belonging seems impossible. Ultimately it’s a story of hope.
​Audiobook accessed via Overdrive.
May 28, 2019  Publisher: HarperAudio AISN: B07PJWVHBD
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Author/Illustrator Index
    Get the latest updates delivered directly to you inbox:

    powered by TinyLetter

    Category

    All
    Activity Books
    Adventure
    Alphabet Books
    Animals
    Anthology
    Art
    Asian
    Audiobook
    Author-interview
    Author-profile
    Awards
    Bilingual
    Biography
    Black Lives
    Board Books
    Book Awards
    Book-club
    Book Stores
    Book Trailers
    Classroom Connections
    Comics
    Coming Of Age
    Cosplay
    Creativity
    Diversity
    Early Readers
    Fairy Tale
    Family
    Fantasy
    Food
    Friendship
    Girls
    Grahic Novel
    Halloween
    Historical Fiction
    Horror
    Humor
    Immigration
    Informational Books
    Latinx
    LGBTQ
    Library Activities
    Literacy
    Magical Realism
    Maker
    Math
    Memoir
    Middle Grade
    Music
    Mystery
    Mythology
    Native American
    Nonfiction
    Own Voices
    Picture Book
    Poetry
    Prose-and-comic
    Read Aloud
    Reading
    Reading Writing Connection
    Realistic Fiction
    Romance
    Self Acceptance
    Series
    Social Issues
    Sports
    STEM
    Storytelling
    Texas Connection
    The Margin Project
    Wordless
    YA Lit

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    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.

    Professional Reader
    Picture
    Frequently Auto-Approved

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.