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READING STYLE GUIDE

Heroic Women

3/23/2021

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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.
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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
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Air in Motion

2/27/2021

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Hear the Wind Blow by Doe Boyle ill by Emily Paik

Lyrical text, expressive illustration, and the science of weather are beautifully blended in Hear the Wind Blow, a picture book describing the wind.
Beginning at dawn, when all is calm, with just a "kiss of air," the text progresses throughout the day as later a breeze sends leaves "scuttling in the gutter." Evidence of the approaching storm can also be observed when ocean waves begin cresting.
The narrative climaxes when hurricane force winds batter a community and a family must take shelter. The denouement describes the storm’s devastating effects. Individuals move outdoors and neighbors work together to clean up and repair damage.
Wires droop, and tree roots shudder-
​the world's atilt, without a rudder.
Boyle's reassuring text makes clear that the storm will pass. But a warning embedded in the verses emphasizes the importance of responding to signs which signal potentially extreme weather.
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You must listen! Heed each sound,
as the Earth turns round and round.
Paik captures the stages of the approaching storm using stark changes in the color pallet. The sky progresses from pastel blues to intense shades punctuated with diagonal slashes of rain. The story concludes by reverting to soft azure skies. ​​Most pages feature outdoor scenes. When the storm reaches its apex, the tempest is viewed through windows, while the family remains safe within their home.
Rhyming text and evocative illustrations are a key story element. But there is more. Back matter moves this picture book above and beyond a charming children's book. Wind is defined as air in motion. Bonus material includes a copy of the Beaufort Wind Force Scale with an accompany introduction to the scale and its history, a glossary, and a list of suggested supplemental books. An excellent addition to school and library STEM collections for young readers.
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Weather Spotting

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The National Weather Service invites interested individuals to become weather spotters. Students may be interested in creating a school-wide initiative to identify and catalogue local weather patterns.  Charting and reporting on weather conditions could be an interesting activity.
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Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: March 1, 2021  Publisher: Albert Whitman and Company  ISBN:  978-0807545614
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The Power of Poetry

9/10/2020

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Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusef Salaam read by Ethan Herrise

This explosive cover introduces Punching the Air's powerful message. Inspired by the life and writings of Yusef Salaam, exonerated after serving almost seven years for a crime he did not commit, authors Zoboi and Salaam have joined forces to create an extraordinary novel in verse.

​Sixteen-year-old Amal Shahid is a young black man with a promising future. A talented visual artist, his large-scale works feature innovative design and bold use of color. He recently earned a coveted spot for a prestigious high school art exhibition. His talent is not limited to visual expression. He is also a poet.
One night he finds himself in a situation he never considered possible. A combination of wrong place, wrong skin, wrong time set him up for criminal conviction and subsequent incarceration that should never have happened. The only witness who knows the truth is in a comma.
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As a young Black man falsely imprisoned, he experiences shock, confusion, despair, anger, discouragement, and mistrust. Over time his feelings slowly evolve as he meets people that he can trust and is given an opportunity to create meaningful art. He begins to hope. ​The change in Amal is evident throughout the book, revealing his developing self-awareness and literary skill.
Herrise’s narration is understated, allowing Amal’s "old soul"  to take center stage. Hearing the poetry read aloud magnifies its impact.
This is a story of pain and poor decisions, of circumstances that in an instant can change the trajectory of a life. Amal’s anguish bleeds through each phrase, each page. It’s raw. It’s real. Ultimately it is a story of overcoming impossible odds and holding on to hope. A must read.
Listen to a sample.

Additional Resources

Ethan Herrise recording Punching Air
Interview with Zoboi and Salaam
The Exonerated Five
Audiobook accessed via NetGalley.
Release date: September 1, 2020  Publisher: Harper Audio  
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28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World

8/3/2020

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28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World by Charles R. Smith ill by Shane W. Evans full cast narration

A handsome volume of intertwined poetry, prose, and direct quotations honors Black History Month by using the February calendar format with twenty eight entries. Subjects include individuals, federal laws, and milestone events that have positively influenced United States’ Black history. A nod to Leap Year adds a twenty ninth entry that encourages readers to create their own significant moments in history.
Beginning with Crispus Attucks and bookending with Barak Obama, a selection of outstanding Black individuals are featured. Notables include Harriet Tubman, Hank Aaron, Malcolm X, Matthew Henson, Shirley Chisholm, and Oprah Winfrey. Lyrical verse combines with informational text to highlight the contributions of these Black change agents.
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Free audiobook. Listen here.
The audiobook edition of 28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World enhances the book’s message. Among the many imaginative sound backgrounds are an original recording of Marian Anderson singing "My Country "Tis of Thee," the back and forth dialog describing Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson that simulates a tennis match, Barak Obama reciting the oath of office, and a choir singing "We Shall Overcome." Narrators Dion Graham, William Jackson Harper, Zainab Jah, January LaVoy, Robin Miles, Lizan Mitchell, Jonathan Earl Peck, and Carter Woodson Redwood introduce themselves in the preface. Careful listeners will be able to identify each performer throughout the recording. The author and the illustrator introductions are read by Smith and Evans respectively.
For an optimal experience, pair the printed book with the audio edition. It's an elegant and informative history lesson.

Bonus

A sample of Shane W. Evans' stunning art.
View the author, Charles R. Smith reading his book.
Audiobook accessed via NetGalley shelf
​​Release date: March 2, 2017 Publisher: Live Oak Media
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King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

7/21/2020

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King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender

It begins with dragonflies. Dragonflies flitting everywhere in a sultry Louisiana town.
Kingston James, known as King, has become fixated with dragonflies. There’s a reason for his obsession. After his older brother Khalid suddenly and tragically dies, King is convinced that his brother has morphed into a dragonfly. Whenever he sees one of these large-eyed iridescent insects he feels that Khalid is nearby.
Callender tells a compelling story of grief and the oppressive burden that death places on a family. The loss of his brother has cast a pall over King’s home. Familiar family routines have been set aside. There is now an empty place at the table. The family dynamic is fractured.
One of the few constants for King is Sandy Sanders. Sandy is the friend he can confide in, can talk with about things that really matter. The two friends share a love for anime and manga, spending spend hours sketching characters and discussing their favorite stories.
To please his brother, King has severed this treasured friendship because Sandy is gay. Khalid convinced King that he should not associate with gays.
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King knows that Sandy’s home situation is painful. He is physically and emotionally abused by his father, the town sheriff. Sandy's life becomes unbearable when his father discovers that his son is gay. Sandy runs away to escape his father’s vicious attacks.
King is the friend who comes to Sandy's rescue, finding him sanctuary in an abandoned shack. Together in this secluded place, the two learn to forgive, to accept one another, and make plans to move on with their lives. Sandy is ready to leave his abusive home for good. King is not sure if he should join Sandy. Is he ready to leave his grieving parents? Will his father accept his gay son?
King felt bound to honor his brother in a way that required him to deny his identity and hurt a friend. He now wonders: Will he honor his brother if he chooses his own life path?
The choice of the dragonfly is an apt metaphor This insect with large, often many-colored wings symbolizes change, transformation, adaptability, and self-realization. King experiences a change in his view of himself and his world. Like the dragonfly he is emerging, ready to embrace his identity, his family, and friends.
King and the Dragonflies is a thoughtful exploration of grief, coming out, abuse, friendship, and healing.
​Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: February 4, 2020  Publisher:  Scholastic Press  ISBN:  978-1338129335
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Black is Beautiful

2/7/2020

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Black is a Rainbow Color
​by Angela Joy ill by Ekua Holmes

Black is a color. Black is a culture.​
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A picture book blending images and text to describe and define a color,  Black is a Rainbow Color is rhythmical verse punctuated with rhyme.  The poetry has a singing quality, inviting reading and responding aloud.
It’s a jubilant affirmation of identity. It’s a lyrical homage to history. It’s soul-stirring, thought-provoking. It’s a gorgeous array of colors.
Individuals pictured throughout the pages have a variety of skin tones and physical features. All share a noble heritage. 
my color is black.
Angela Joy offers an abundance of resources in the back matter. She begins with an Author's Note, describing the genesis for the book. She realized that her daughter regarded the word Black as simply a color. She wanted to give her daughter a deeper understanding of Black and move the discussion beyond a selection in a crayon box. 
A treasure trove of supporting resources includes: playlist of music spanning several decades, annotations explaining the origin for phrases in the text such as "Robe on Thurgood's Back" and "Dreams and Raisins," a few selected poems from Langston Hughes and Paul Laurence Dunbar, timeline of Black Ethnonyms in America, and a bibliography.
Ekua Holmes' vibrant mixed media illustrations feature bold graphic shapes defined by strong black outlines. Each spread contains symbolic images: a caged bird sings on the title page, the shoes of individuals crossing a bridge made from newspaper headlines reporting on the fight for equal rights, stained glass windows glowing with the faces of women who made significant contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. There is much to see, share, and discuss.
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Listen: Playlist Selections

Picture This: Celebrating Black Color & Culture

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Copy provided by publisher.
​Pub date: January 14, 2020  Publisher: Roaring Brook Press  ISBN: 978-1626726314
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Celebration of Light

10/26/2019

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Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar ill by Charlene Chua

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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.
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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
  1. 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.
  2. 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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Finding Her Voice

8/5/2019

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A Likkle Miss Lou:
​How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice
by Nadia L. Hohn ill by Eugenie Fernandes

‘I wish’ I wished, ‘that I could be
A poet great and with my pen
Trace paths of peace and harmony
For the uncertain minds of men.’
​May 1, 1928
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A picture book brimming with poetry, rhythms, and song, A Likkle Miss Lou: How Jamaican Poet Louise Bennett Coverley Found Her Voice introduces young readers to the early years of a native poet and performance artist. 
Nadia L. Hohn describes Louise's fascination with the speech she that was an integral part of her daily life. Jamaican patois, an English-based creole language with a West African influence is spoken by the most Jamaicans.
At school, she was required to restrict her language to what was considered "proper" English. Louise was reprimanded by her teacher when she included words and phrases from Jamaican dialect in her assignments. ​Fortunately, she became a student at Excelsior College, where acceptance and appreciation for her native tongue was encouraged.
​Hohn's narrative is rich and colorful. She captures the flavor and cadence of the language in this sumptuous feast of poetic expression. 
Like a doctor bird's wings, the words tickled Louise's ear and like peanut drops, they stuck.
Fernandes' illustrations tell their own tale. Louise's face moves from doubt and discouragement to wonder and joy. The animated faces of her classmates and native storytellers feature a variety of warm shades of brown.
Back matter includes an extensive Note from the Author with details on the life and works of Coverley. Hohn describes her own introduction to the works of this poet. A glossary, with photos of peanut drops and water crackers, is helpful. References contains a citation list.
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Spread out youself deh, Liza.
Dress ooman a come.
A picture book that sparkles with a love for language. Excellent as an introduction to the power of one's own voice and as a validation of student self-expression.
Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: August 13, 2019  Publisher: Owlkids ISBN: 978-1771473507
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No Place Like Home

7/12/2019

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Home is a Window
by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard ill by Chris Sasaki

Home is what feels the same and sometimes what is new.
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Home is a Window is a quiet little treasure. wrapping youngsters who face change in a reassuring embrace. 
​Title page features a busy urban neighborhood, filled with homes and shops, pets and people. Observant readers will notice a young girl walking her dog. With the first page turn, she steps off the street and enters her home.
Stephanie Parsley Ledyard's descriptive text enumerates the comforting familiarity of simple things: a basket for your shoes, someone to help, a blanket all your own.
As the narrative progresses, it becomes apparent that things are changing. Belongings are packed. The family piles into the car, leaving the city. A journey commences. Eventually the family reaches their destination. A new home. A new neighborhood. ​​​However, a sense of belonging, the familiarity of routines, and reassurance of family remain a constant. She realizes that this new place can become a home for her.
Note the book’s case nestled beneath the cover, resembling a warm and cozy patchwork quilt. This colorful blanket makes cameo appearances throughout the story. Endpapers appropriately frame the story, with a daylight urban neighborhood serving as an introduction and a suburban night scene bringing the story to a restful conclusion.
Chris Sasaki's illustrations feature a multiracial family joined together with warmth and love. Many images feature some form of an embrace: mother and daughter, husband and wife, friends and neighbors, father and daughter, dog and boy. Each reach out to touch another individual, providing a strong sense of connection. Joyous simplicity and tender reassurance permeate each image.
Share this book with those who have experienced change or anticipate a change. 
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Copy provided by publisher
​Pub date: April 23, 2019  Publisher: Neal Porter Books  ISBN: 978-0823441563
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Undefeated

7/3/2019

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The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander ill by Kadir Nelson

This is for you. And you. And you. This is for us.
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When times are tough and faith gives only the thinnest glimmer of light, there is hope, there are heroes. Newbery Award-winner Kwame Alexander's poetry pays tribute to Black Americans who with determination, persistence, dignity, courage, and vision have survived and thrived.
The Undefeated honors some of the individuals, past and present, who embody the struggle to dream and achieve. Authors, artists, athletes, poets, politicians, Civil Rights leaders, and musicians are among those referenced through soaring verses which capture the dignity and grace of the human spirit. 
​Alexander also pays tribute to those who suffered, sacrificed, and lost their lives.
A heart-breaking image features the framed photographs of four young girls killed in the 1963 bombing of the Birmingham Church, their faces shown behind shattered glass. Lives shattered. ​
Probably the most moving spread is a blank page, devoid of any face, acknowledging those who did not survive. ​
Two-time Caldecott Honor-winner Nelson's close-up portraits capture a spirit of quiet strength and determination.  The realistic style exudes countenances glowing with warmth and intelligence. Nelson uses a rich variety of skin tones and facial characteristics. Each an individual. Each unique.  The faces also portray joyful and proud moments. Eyes shining with tears. 
Back matter includes an Afterword by the author, describing his inspiration for this ode to Black America. References to  individuals, historical events, lyrics, and speeches that inspired individual verses provide context and background information. 
This book is for everyone. It speaks to the best in us. It inspires us all. Thank you, Mr. Alexander and Mr. Nelson
"We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated."
​Maya Angelou

Be Inspired

View The Undefeated trailer and an interview with the author and illustrator, filmed at the National Gallery of Art.
Copy provided by publisher.
Pub date: April 2, 2019  Publisher: Versify.   ISBN: 978-1328780966
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    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
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    ​2017 YALSA Award Nominating Committee
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    2014 Margaret Edwards Award
    2012 Odyssey Awards.  
    2009, 2010, 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens.

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