Take note. There will be a CRAFT-MERGENCY; plenty of drama from Anya; a healthy snack "another way of saying it's good for you and tastes bad" which, by the way,  is enjoyed by everyone;  and an important lesson learned about friendship. ​
Back pages include directions for making each of the six monster crafts described in the text. With great characters, clever dialog, and simple craft projects, Charise Mericle Harper has a created a graphic novel series for young craft and comic enthusiasts.

​Some things that I have come to expect from a John Green Book: There will be a well-meaning parent (Green tends to be less harsh on parents of teens than many YA authors). There is the ever-present snark. It’s witty. There will be some deep philosophical concepts. There will be an odyssey of some sort, maybe an actual journey to a place and/or a pilgrimage in search of an ideal. A friend will often serve as a companion on this quest. Expect to find references to literary and pop culture classics.

​But there are some distinct differences with his latest YA novel. First, the voice is that of a female. To be honest, I so clearly hear John Green in his prose that I usually picture his face. I had to constantly remind myself that Aza Holmes was female. I found it hard to do. Sometimes the relationships, especially the relationship between Aza and her mother felt more like a mother- son relationship. Would the story have worked as well if Aza had been a male?

I completed a second read. The grapes and chocolate long gone. But the conclusion remains true and bittersweet, realistic yet hopeful. Good-bye Mr. Green.

The pages go dark. Literally go dark: black paper with the white italicized text. But it's not just the visual change that is immediately apparent. The narration moves from Lucia’s engaging first person voice to a strangely detached almost other-worldly third person view when she is goes to sleep.

These dark pages are interspersed throughout Lucia's story of her contentious connection with Velvet, her developing friendship with two classmates, and her strained relationship with neighbor Will. She is also dealing with the fallout from her parent's broken marriage: mom moves away to Sweden with a new partner, older sister remains aloof, and dad seems to be paralyzed by this divorce. Now she's thirteen and trying to figure it all out.

Lucia tries to puzzle out what is happening when she appears to be asleep and yet another part of her begins to act out her subconscious desires.  What causes these episodes?  These strange interludes are forcing her to see another side of herself. Does she like who she becomes during her sleep-induced experiences? Who is in control here and what does she really want?  
Magic, shadows, dreams, and desires all come together in this spell-binding middle grade novel.  

From day one, Impy is constantly aware that middle school has transported her into an entirely new enviornment. Unlike the familiarity of the festival community, the halls of middle school are fraught with terrors at every turn. She must navigate the complex maze of classrooms, negotiate seating in the cafeteria, and meet the demands of a regimented assignment schedule. She is immediately the subject of curiosity. Some express honest interest while others resort to ridicule. For Imply trying to fit in, trying to discover who she is, trying to keep up with the demands of teachers becomes very...well, trying.
She makes two fatale mistakes: one with her younger brother and one with a classmate. From her perspective, it appears that each one is impossible to completely recover from.
This book is honest, so painfully honest. No one is perfect: not Imogene, not the kids at school, not her family. They all make mistakes and struggle to learn, live, and forgive. The characters are spot on and Jamieson imbues each with a distinctive personality.
It is impossible for me to express how much I adore this book. Both the images and text work together to create storytelling magic. Copies of the book should be given as a gift to every youngster about to enter middle school. Not only will tweens learn about the Middle Ages and life in middle school, but they will also gain important insights into self acceptance.

I have always been fascinated by illuminated manuscripts and was delighted to note that Jamieson chooses to begin each chapter with an introduction featuring some gorgeous illumination.  Why not encourage young readers to try this intricate art?  Instead of illuminating an entire page, why not try illuminating a letter? Here is my attempt to illuminate the first letter of my last name. It's not nearly as intricate and the gold pigment ink is missing. But I had fun with a fine point black sharpie and a fistful of colored pencils. 

​Johannes’ early chapter book contains wild adventures, puns, and illustrations with just the right amount of zaniness. Did I mention the Pig Latin? Young readers will not be able to get enough of Miss Zinker, a book chock full of more fun than should be allowed. But go ahead and read it. You too might be an upside down thinker.

If you are acquainted with Beatrice, then you know of her affinity with this dessert. Why not try making these Pineapple Upside Down Mini-Cakes? They are fun and easy and yummy! Here is the recipe from an upright girl who knows the up and down sides of cake: Betty Crocker.

During her underwater travels Corinne encounters a vessel on the ocean floor. She makes a horrifying discovery when she uncovers what she assumes to be a rock. Instead Corinne has discovered chains that once enslaved the mermaids, her underwater companions. Their bodies still bear the marks left by these cruel iron bands. Recent reading of Shackles from the Deep brought these scenes to my mind with a fierce intensity. The reality of enslaved people trapped within a sinking ship is indelibly seared into my consciousness.

Baptiste's book is also a testament to the power of friendship and affirms the enduring bonds which connect family members. "All families are connected, Corinne. It's true. We don't get to choose who we share blood with. But we do get to choose how we are with each other."

Read this book for the flavorful Caribbean setting. Read it for the fantastic mythology. Read it to meet one very brave girl. Read it if you like the thrill of a good scare. Read it to discover more about a shameful past hidden in the depths of the sea.  That's a tall order for one middle grade book, but Baptiste delivers on all counts.
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Paige Britt's lyrical text opens with a question posed by a boy and girl while walking on the streets of their bustling community. Independently each begins to notice individual physical differences and wonder why they exist.  This private reflection causes each to extend thoughts beyond self and into the neighborhood. They observe a community filled with a richly diverse array of humanity. Both wonder what life would be like if these difference did not exist. 

The star metaphor continues to reappear on each page, moving the concept of individual worth and shared humanity from a personal perspective to a cosmic vision. Rich with symbolism, poetic text, and thoughtful images, this book belongs in every home, library, and school. Readers young and old will find a wealth of inspiration within its pages.

Make some stars.  Fill them with messages recognizing the uniqueness of a classmate, neighbor or acquaintance. What makes that person special? Try to choose someone who may be different from you in some way. Deliver your star either in person, or leave the star message as a secret surprise to be discovered.

Several years ago I worked at a school in Manhattan's Lower East Side. I loved that neighborhood, filled with mamas and papas walking their little ones to school. I loved the rich diversity of cultures. I loved the strong family ethic. This is a community of people who live and work together. I loved the feeling of neighborhood and connection that I experienced whenever I stepped off the F Train at Delancey and Essex Streets.
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My memories of that place awakened in me a sense of nostalgia as I savored McGhee's simple text and Lamaître muted color palette. It's a story filled with warmth and compassion. Each page provides plenty of white space, allowing time to appreciate the softly rendered drawings. While my time in the Lower East Side enriched my appreciation for the story, this picture book also rekindled memories of my time with that community. I compared photos of New York City life with Lamaître's illustrations. Each representation, regardless of the medium, portrays a strong sense of home, community, and interconnection.

Now I live on the coast in South Texas, an environment that is both different and the same when compared to the neighborhoods I knew in Manhattan.  The temperatures and coastal waters are much warmer. There are many more open and undeveloped land areas as well as some very distinctive types of vegetation. But in both New York and South Texas I can experience everyday encounters with kindness and courage.

Discover life in the city with these books.

She manages to locate Lint Bear within the tumbling clothes. PinchnSqueeze becomes convinced that he is alive and she commences a series of torture-like operations, certain that she can bring the doll to life.
​Lint Boy is determined to rescue his friend from the clutches of this evil woman. He sets out on his noble task with assistance from the captive dolls and battalion of lost socks. Armed with courage and a very sharp needle Lint Boy succeeds.
The book's design and page layout have a unique style that is a visual treat. There is a art nouveau feel to the text and image arrangement as well as to the individual panel shapes and ornamentation. Soft pastels fit nicely with the sweet fabric characters.
​There are just enough chilling details to make the villain truly evil. But the fanciful setting and the charming characters keep the story well within the realm of fantasy. Lint Boy is destined to enjoy a prosperous life on bookshelves everywhere. Thank you Aileen Leijten for this delightful graphic novel gem.

Okay, I couldn't resist. Creating with lint is an entirely new craft concept for me. I consider lint as merely a fluffy amalgam of fiber that needs to be removed from the dryer. Can this really be the basis for a craft? Not one to shrink from taking on a new creative challenge, I reasoned that lint has been through a wash cycle and the heat of the dryer. It must be clean enough to work with. Let's do this!

Viola!  Meet my version of Lint Boy (thank you white bathroom mats lint) and Lint Bear (thank you casual clothes lint). They were so fun and easy to make.  However, for a group project I would suggest forgoing lint and using old mismatched socks. They work well with the story.  Cut the clean discarded socks up and assemble your own Lint Buddies using buttons, scraps of felt, thread and a glue gun.

Dolls That Will Creep You Out:  Just the right amount of horror for younger readers