The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo

Clara is the class clown, the prankster. When she takes it too far, she and her arch-nemesis Rose get into a knockdown brawl. As punishment Clara and Rose must work together at KoBra, her father’s Korean-Brazilian fusion food truck. Complications arise when Hamlet from the coffee kiosk begins to pay Clara an inordinate amount of attention. After one date, he decides that she is his girlfriend. Whoa! This is more than Clara's typical superficial relationship. Our girl has some serious growing up to do. Can she sustain a friendship with a former enemy? Can she commit to one guy? Can she work through her complicated relationship with her mother? Can she repair the damage that her impulsive actions have caused? That’s a lot to ask of one sixteen-year-old. Maurene Goo’s romantic comedy is more than a smart, slick portrait of love and friendship. It’s also a tantalizing send-up to food trucks. Impossible to read this without having some serious cravings for walk-away eats.

From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon

Twinkle feels that she is a "nobody." Ignored by her parents, she longs to be noticed at school. The opportunity comes when Twinkle is asked to direct a movie for the local arts festival. Here is her chance to show the Colorado Springs community that she has talent. Film geek Sahil has offered to help her produce her filmmaking debut. They brainstorm an imaginative story concept, turning the classic Dracula into a gender-reversal version. But Sahil clearly wants more than just a business relationship. There is a slight problem. Twinkle has an ongoing crush on Sahil's athletic superstar twin brother Neil. When she begins receiving anonymous emails from a secret admirer, Twinkle assumes (hopes) that the sender is Neil. Sandhya Menon uses a series of imaginary emails that Twinkle sends to famous women of filmdom in this story of finding where her heart lies.

American Panda by Gloria Chao

Mei Lu's parents have her life arranged. At the age of seventeen, she has followed the life plan that they set for her and is about to enter MIT, studying to become a doctor. Her mother, who gives new meaning to the term helicopter parent, has obtained a copy of her class schedule and relentlessly voicemails Mei, wanting to know where she is and what she is doing every moment of the day. She has even selected a suitable husband for her daughter. Mei, a germaphobe, constantly worries about contracting a disease from normal human contact and struggles to stay alert in biology class. She loves dance and is attracted to a young man who is definitely not Taiwanese. Gloria Chao's heartwarming tale of the girl struggling to be true to herself, while honoring and respecting her family and culture is served with a generous quantity of humor. Love her. Laugh with her. Agonize with her. Mei’s story is the quintessential romantic comedy.

Bonus: Love currently available on a screen near you. ​

Turning Pages: My Life Story 
by Sonia Sotomayor ill Lulu Delacre

Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, has penned a tribute to the power of books and the pivotal role that they have played in shaping her life. Born and raised in New York City, Sotomayor is the product of a vibrant Puerto Rican culture.  Books played an integral role in her young life. Superhero comic books encouraged her to be brave in the face of daily insulin shots. The local library provided solace following the death of her father. Mystery books meant searching for clues and figuring out puzzles. Novels invited her to discover the importance of law. The Bible gave her an appreciation for the importance of distinguishing right from wrong. A set of encyclopedias, science fiction, and the university library opened new vistas. Books became her maps, mirrors, lens for viewing the world, and loyal friends. Turning Pages: My Life Story highlights the importance of reading and the value that knowledge from books can have in attaining one's goals.

Bonus

Pasando páginas: La historia de mi vida, the Spanish edition is also available.

Meet Justice Sotomayor in this interview conducted during the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

When I first viewed the illustrations featured in Yuyi Morales picture book Dreamers, I gasped in astonishment. The art was so vibrant, so full of imagination and wonder. As I read the text, tears began to form and softly spill onto my cheeks. Yuyi's story of a young immigrant mother and her child is a story of hopes and dreams, A story of discovery.  A story of possibility. A story of love. The text seamlessly blends English and Spanish, moving between present reality and the opportunities to explore the richness of art and imagination. Yuyi has created a glowing tribute to the power of libraries, books and art. Dreamers everywhere can find inspiration within the pages of books.  Hint: Be sure to look at the cover inside the book's jacket for another perspective of Dreamers.

Bonus

Yuyi describes her first encounters with picture books at the public library.

Yuyi Morales currently resides in Mexico. Learn more about her decision to return to Mexico in this interview.

We Rise. We Resist. We Raise Our Voices
Wade Hudson (editor) Cheryl Willis Hudson (editor)

Anthology of poetry, essays, and art reflects and honors the ongoing struggle for Justice, equality, and respect. It simultaneously celebrates the rich cultural heritage of under-represented members of our society, while acknowledging the painful past as well as current unsettling conditions. As the title We Rise. We Resist. We Raise Our Voices suggests, young readers are encouraged to take an active role, making positive and much-needed changes in their world. Rather than sink into despair, this book is a call to action. A reason to believe that change is possible. A sense of hope permeates every page. The striking red cover is instantly attention-catching. The bold color palette, carefully crafted page design, and visually arresting art on every page engages readers. A variety of formats fill these pages with important ideas, deeply held beliefs, and strong emotional connections.

Bonus

Yes. I have an ARC signed by both editors: Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson. Lucky me!

Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome

It is 1946. Young Langston's life has been turned upside down.  Gone are quite slow-paced days. Gone are family and friends. His warm rural Alabama hometown has been replaced with Chicago. I pick up my life And take it with me And put it down in Chicago, Detroit Buffalo, Scranton. After his mother dies, Langston's father decides to move north, seeking a better life for his son. Moving into a shabby apartment with wallpaper created from newspaper is a huge adjustment. This Alabama transplant wears overalls and speaks with a distinctive drawl. Instantly he is derisively called "country boy" by the class bully. Others join in taunting the new boy in school. He wonders, can he ever feel at home in this strange place?

Magic of Words

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson ill Rafael López

Uncertainty. Anxiety. Fear. We've all experienced a stomachache, teary eyes or wobbly legs symptom when venturing into the unknown. Jacqueline Woodson's latest picture book assures readers that these are natural and normal feelings. At some point we all are keenly aware that we don't "fit in." Appearing different, speaking an unfamiliar language, having a unique culture and capabilities can cause one to feel alienated from other members of the group. Woodson doesn't stop with reciting a list of differences. She provides strategies for moving past negative thoughts and emotions. For example, she suggests that when someone feels excluded, the response may be to first relate a personal story. Then listen to the individual stories of others. Understanding commonalities and appreciating differences can help to build friendships.

Bonus

Front end papers

Back end papers

More Picture Books to Share

Why am I Me?

Last Stop on Market Street

Each Kindness

Carrot and Pea: An Unlikely Friendship

Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: 
The Sanitation Strike of 1968
by Alice Faye Duncan ill R. Gregory Christie

So much was won. So much was lost. Freedom is never free. Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop transports young readers back to the momentous events of 1968 in Tennessee. Informational narration, poetic text, and free verse recount events surrounding the Memphis Sanitation Strike as seen through the eyes of nine-year-old Lorraine Jackson. Her father, a sanitation worker, joined with 1,300 men who organized a labor strike. The workers demanded increased job safety, improved working conditions, and better wages.

Christie’s signature style is used to excellent effect. Lorraine’s head is proportionally large, suggesting her pivotal role as storyteller. Images of picket lines are monochromatic with raised placards displaying no text. This puts the focus on the marchers and allows readers to envision their own protest slogans. Back matter is an exceptionally rich resource. Included are a three-page annotated timeline, a description of the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, a list of sources, and source notes.

Bonus Resources

Introduce students to the power of Dr. King’s words with this excerpt from his speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” delivered at the Masonic Temple in Memphis on April 3, 1968.

Experience the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. or visit it virtually to learn more about the legacy of this leader.

Note: one of my treasures is this ​R. Gregory Christie signed print. It is on display in my personal library.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: August 28, 2018 Publisher: Calkins Creek Books  ISBN:978-1629797182

Path to the Stars:
​My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist 
by Sylvia Acevedo

Meet Sylvia Acevedo, daughter of a Papa, Texas chemist originally from Mexico and Mami, a native of Mexico who didn’t speak English. She recalls this story of her birth: ​Some of the babies had blond hair. Some had brown hair or no hair at all, and nearly all of them had fair skin. Only one baby had very dark hair. “That was me!” Acevedo grew up in Las Cruses, New Mexico, surrounded by a close-knit family. Young Sylvia had the desire to learn about her world and the drive to excel in a wide variety of endeavors. She credits the Girl Scouts with helping her learn to set goals and work to achieve them. From childhood she realized that she had an affinity for numbers and a curiosity to learn how things work. By the age of thirteen, she assumed the responsibility of maintaining the family vehicle, including changing the oil. In junior high school, she opted out of home economics class, choosing instead to take an additional math course. Interestingly, one of the most challenging Girl Scout badges for her to earn was the cooking badge.

​I was nine years old, living in a small desert town. And on that day I decided I would go to Stanford someday.

They'd never had a woman engineer, so they didn’t even have a bathroom for women in the test labs.

From Brownie to NASA scientist. Still the same winning smile!

My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist (English edition)   ​is also available in Spanish:  Camino a las estrellas: Mi recorrido de Girl Scout a ingeniera astronáutica This autobiography is enhanced with liberal use of personal and family photographs inserted throughout the text. The author's "Note about Girl Scouts Yesterday and Today" provides context.

Companion Reading

Super Women: ​Six Scientists Who Changed the World

First Girl Scout: ​The Life of Juliette Gordon Low

Hidden Figures: ​Young Readers Edition

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

​​What would happen if you intentionally leave a group of kids alone in a classroom? This story framework, a group in a confined space for a specific period of time, is generally reserved for adult literature. Think: a sequestered jury, a therapy group, passengers on a plane/train etc. The most notable equivalent application for teens is The Breakfast Club. But a group of students deliberately put together in a classroom without an adult present is something I don’t offhand recall in another work of juvenile fiction. It’s a bold construct that really works. It works so well that I became a virtual member of the group, as the dynamic slowly, often painfully, evolves. I could relate to each student. It was easy to picture myself as an unseen participant in the room. ​​Concepts of immigration, incarceration, racial disparity, and economic inequality are woven into the narrative. While these are important issues, it’s the relationship among the six kids that is imprinted on my mind and heart. Each voice is distinct and offers a unique perspective.

Kudos for the cover design. It captures the essence of creating harbors for kids.

Sing Along

Bonus: Twitter post from Jacqueline Woodson

My Hair is a Garden by Cozbil A. Cabrera

For as long as she can remember, MacKenzie has been the object of ridicule at her school. Students constantly tease her about her hair. She tries ignoring their taunts. That doesn't work. She takes to wearing a hat to cover her head. That doesn't help. Finally she flees to the home of her neighbor Miss Tillie, who lives in a warm and welcoming home. MacKenzie pours her heart to her compassionate friend. "I need help with my hair. Folks have been poking fun of my hair since I was little...Mama tried to fix it, but the truth is, she doesn’t know what to do with it."

Following a gentle shampoo and careful combing, Miss Tillie invites her young guest outside to enjoy her garden. Years of thoughtful planning, cultivation, and nurturing have resulted in a retreat that is a filled with a variety of lush and vibrant landscaping.   MacKenzie discovers the similarities between caring for a garden and caring for her crowning glory.

​Cozbi A. Cabrera has created a lovely picture book celebrating the magnificence of natural black hair. In addition to the narrative, she thoughtfully includes helpful hair care tips, along with suggestions for self-improvement and personal development. ​Recipes for Herbal infusion Rinse and Moisturizing Shea Butter include directions on proper application.

For the Love of Hair

Bonus