Favorite Books of 2016

In 2016, I set the goal to read 500 books.

 I read 534.

60 were novel-length and of those 60, half of them I read with my eyes and the other half I read with my ears.

Of those 534 books that I read in 2016, here were some of my favorites. In the interest of full-disclosure, links will take you to my Amazon Affiliate page, so if you buy any of them, I receive a small percentage.


Favorite Picture Books - Inspirational
 
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley
In order to get through the next 4 years, I'm gonna have to read a whole lot more books about inspiring and heroic women like RBG.


Preaching to the Chickens by Jabari Asim, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
John Lewis represents all that is good and right in our country. Before he was making Good Trouble, as a child, he was taking care of his family's flock of chickens and also preparing for his aspirations as a preacher at the same time. An endearing look at the childhood story of the man who has become known as America's moral conscience and who has always been on the right side of history. 


A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston
This book is EVERYTHING. If you love books, it will resonate strongly with you and hopefully it will make you want to share it with every child in your life.  
  

Ideas Are All Around by Philip C. Stead
If you teach writing, you're going to want this book because once you finish reading it, you will want to write and create. A book that manages to inspire readers to say, "I want to do that and I CAN do that!" is a rare gem indeed.


School's First Day of School by Adam Rex, illustrated by Christian Robinson
A book that is an absolute must-read on any first day of school, no matter how old your students are. And if any picture book of 2016 were to be considered for a Newbery and not just a Caldecott, it would be this one. Adam Rex's writing has that exact distinguished quality that the Newbery committee saw in Matt de la Pena's Last Stop on Market Street. 


The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield
David Litchfield, you had me at piano. And you kept me turning pages at this tender, quirky prodigal son story. 
 

Favorite Picture Books - Humor

Penguin Problems by Jory John, illustrated by Lane Smith
A cranky penguin who complains about everything gets a lesson on appreciating what you have from a wise walrus. I loved the juxtaposition of the short, simple text on all the pages, coupled with the wise walrus's lengthy soliloquy toward the end of the story.  


Dragon Was Terrible by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli 
How do you tame the savage beast? That's what the king, the knights, and the villagers are trying to figure out. A hilarious story that will no doubt be a read aloud hit. I may even be able to use it as a mentor text about supporting your thesis (just HOW was dragon so terrible?) :)   


Favorite Middle Grade Novel:

Hour of the Bees by Lindsay Eagar  
I didn't read much middle grade this year but what I did read was pretty amazing. This book is simply stunning. It is magical realism at its finest. Despite being middle grade fiction, I wouldn't hesitate to put this book in a high school classroom. In fact, I'd recommend it to anyone who read and loved Bone Gap.  


Favorite YA Novels

The Last True Love Story by Brendan Kiely
I had the pleasure of hearing Brendan talk about the premise of this book at a Simon & Schuster dinner at NCTE and it immediately became my plane reading on my flight home. It did not disappoint. This modern retelling of The Odyssey takes place on a roadtrip and has a feminist spin. Kiely's desire to celebrate consent, coupled with his protagonist's honorable desire to help his grandfather, who is suffering from Alzheimer's, visit the place where he was married so he wouldn't forget his wife, makes him one of the most memorable protagonists of 2016.


Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
In her new novel, Ruta Sepetys does just as she did in Between Shades of Gray -- brought to light a moment in history that no one ever knew about. In this case, it's the biggest disaster in maritime history. Told in short chapters via four characters' alternating points-of-view, this book will leave you staying up late into the night to finish as you say to yourself, "Just one more chapter."

The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner
 This is a book that takes place during 9/11 but manages to not be ABOUT 9/11. It's a reminder to us all that despite great tragedy, life goes on and the world keeps turning. It's a book that took me back to that fateful day in September of 2001 and what I was feeling, but it reminds me that the students I now teach weren't even born yet when it happened.

Beethoven's Heroic Symphony by Anna Harwell Celenza, illustrated by JoAnn E. Kitchel

When 19th century classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven discovered that he was going deaf, at first he despaired, for surely his life and livelihood were over. But as he sat at his desk and attempted to write his brothers a letter, a melody filled his ears and wouldn't let go. It was then Beethoven realized that, "My ears might be failing, but music has not abandoned me. If I can imagine music, then I can write it!"

When he began writing the Eroica Symphony (Italian for "Heroic") Beethoven was initially inspired by the leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte whose destiny it was to rid France of their tyrannical king. But when Bonaparte betrayed his people and declared himself emperor of France, Beethoven all but destroyed the symphony he initially called The Bonaparte Symphony.

Thankfully, his friend Ferdinand saved the music and helped Beethoven to see that the symphony was never really about Bonaparte at all and that it was about trying to find the hero in us all.

I enjoyed reading this small snippet into the life of one of my favorite composers. The more I learn about Beethoven, the more I realize he was kind of the bad boy, rock n' roll musician of his day. And that was made even more evident in Beethoven's Heroic Symphony by JoAnn E. Kitchell's illustrations of Beethoven with a mane of wild, spiky black hair. He looks more punk rock than classical composer and I kind of love that.

Also check out Anna Harwell Celenza's books about other classical masterpieces:
Bach's Goldberg Variations
Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue
Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite
The Farewell Symphony
Vivaldi's Four Seasons
Pictures at an Exhibition
Saint-Saëns's Danse Macabre


Beethoven's Heroic Symphony by Anna Harwell Celenza, illustrated by JoAnn E. Kitchel
Expected publication: October 18, 2016
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Pages: 32
Genre/Format: Nonfiction Picture Book
Audience: Middle Grade
Disclosure: Finished copy provided by publisher

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. 

Blog Tour: Beautiful by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Beautiful is a picture book that reimagines what our society thinks beauty is. With magazines and internet images constantly being photoshopped and airbrushed, it is virtually impossible to live up to the standard of beauty our culture has upheld for women. 

In this book, beauty is not an outward appearance but an inner projection of your spirit and joy. It is about what you contribute to the world, not just your mere physical presence. Though the text might sound like an attempt at upholding the status quo on gender conformity, when paired with the illustrations, the text immediately takes on a whole new meaning.  If you know any friends or family members with little girls, this would be a great book to add to their shelves. I know I'm looking forward to sharing this book with my students. 

Follow the Beautiful blog tour stops here:

8/29 Flowering Minds

8/30 Kids’ Book Review

8/31 My Word Playground

9/1 Stacking Books

9/2 Unpacking the POWER of Picture Books

9/3 MomReadIt

9/5 Enjoy Embrace Learning

9/6 Geo Librarian

9/7 A Foodie Bibliophile

9/8 MamaBelly

9/10 Diapers and Daydreams

9/11 The Late Bloomer’s Book Blog

9/12 Unconventional Librarian

 

Beautiful by Stacy McAnulty, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Expected Publication: September 13, 2016
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
Audience: All ages
Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher 

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. 

Chik Chak Shabbat by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker

Every Saturday, Goldie Simcha in apartment 5A makes her famous cholent. The tantalizing smell reaches the noses of all her neighbors and they join her for the Shabbat. One Saturday, however, the building residents notice there are no smells emanating from Goldie's apartment. When they realize that she has fallen ill and can't make her famous cholent, they organize an impromptu Shabbat dinner for their ailing neighbor.

When I picked up Chik Chak Shabbat, I'm ashamed to admit that I was fully expecting it to be one of those didactic picture books that teach kids about another faith. Boy was I wrong. What I love so much about Chik Chak Shabbat is that despite the Shabbat being a Jewish religious observance, this story emphasizes more about the importance of community and breaking bread with your neighbors rather than that of a specific religious observation. Goldie's neighbors are all diverse and clearly of other faiths and backgrounds, but they still join her for dinner every Saturday out of respect for her faith and traditions. If only more of the world operated this way: sharing, learning, and celebrating differences rather than fearing and condemning them. This is a beautiful book to share with kids and adults alike.


Chik Chak Shabbat by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker
Published: September 3, 2014
Publisher: Candlewick
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
Audience: Primary
Disclosure: Paperback copy provided by publisher

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. 

Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley

When Solomon Reed was in seventh grade he had a panic attack at school that was so severe that he never went back. And three years later, he still hasn't gone back to school. He also hasn't left the house. Battling agoraphobia and panic disorder, the only people Solomon ever interacts with are his parents and his grandmother.

Until Lisa Praytor.

Lisa has her heart set on a university with a prestigious psychology program, but in order to earn a scholarship, she needs to write an essay about her personal experience with mental illness. Since she has no personal experience, she decides to go looking for some. Lisa remembers Solomon from her middle school days and now has decided that she's going to fix him in time for her to turn in her scholarship essay.

What she doesn't anticipate is that both she and her boyfriend Clark will hit it off with Solomon and form a bond so special that it leaves Lisa questioning everything about her future, her friendships, and her relationship with Clark.

Highly Illogical Behavior is a novel that will stay with me for a long time. It's not one of those books that has a suspenseful, fast-paced plot. Instead, it's more of a quiet book. And yet, despite that quietness, the story arc is unique and page-turning and the characters are memorable. And it's not so much that the characters are lovable individually, but instead, you find yourself rooting for these three unusual friends because you love the bond that they've formed together, no matter how deceitful and dysfunctional the original intention was.

If you liked John Corey Whaley's book Noggin, chances are, you will enjoy Highly Illogical Behavior due to both novels' unique plots and memorable characters.

Lastly, I'd like to comment on the cover of this book. Not only is it visually appealing when you see it on a shelf, but as you read the book, there are so many layers to peel back, on both the front and the back. It's one of those covers that becomes more meaningful the more you read the book. I really hope that the marketing team at Penguin doesn't redesign this cover when it goes to paperback because it is perfect just how it is.


Highly Illogical Behavior by John Corey Whaley
Published: May 10, 2016
Publisher: Dial
Pages: 249
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Audience: Young Adult
Disclosure: Finished copy provided by publisher

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. 

Three 9/11 Themed Novels to Put on Your TBR Pile

With the 15th anniversary of 9/11 fast approaching, many who follow the goings-on in the kidlit world have noticed a spate of 9/11-themed novels being published this year. I've read three such novels in the past few months and I'd like to give you my thoughts on them.


The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner
Expected Publication: September 6, 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 288
Audience: Middle Grade
Disclosure: Digital ARC downloaded from NetGalley


When Kyle Donahue who sees the twin towers fall from the window of his high school, he immediately flees to safety across the Brooklyn Bridge like so many did on that fateful day. As he's running for his life, he notices a girl along the side of the bridge, not moving, covered in ash, and wearing angel wings. Fearing for her safety, Kyle decides to bring her home with him. As he tries to figure out who this girl is and where she lives so he can get her home safely, Kyle realizes that the girl has amnesia. 

As the chaos of that horrible day in history unfolds, Kyle tries to solve the mystery of who this girl is and why she was so content to just stay put on the bridge as everyone else was running for their lives.

The Memory of Things is a book that takes place during 9/11 but manages to not be ABOUT 9/11. It's a reminder to us all that despite great tragedy, life goes on and the world keeps turning. It's a book that took me back to that fateful day in September of 2001 and what I was feeling, but it reminds me that the students I now teach weren't even born yet when it happened. 
 
It's so easy to dismiss narrative and expressive writing in favor of teaching students dry, expository essay writing in school. But students aren't going to feel loss and empathy by reading about 9/11 in a textbook. They feel it by reading stories. All the more reason that books like this, while fiction, bring out an understanding that expository writing just can't accomplish. I have a feeling that when this book finally hits bookstores, it's going to be a popular staple in my classroom library.


Nine, Ten by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Published: June 28, 2016
Publisher: Atheneum
Pages: 208
Audience: Middle Grade
Disclosure: ARC provided by Simon & Schuster rep

This book begins a few days before that fateful day as we meet four different kids from across the country whose stories seem disparate and unrelated, but stick with it because the stories do intertwine in a meaningful and important way at the end — especially in today's political climate of fear and mistrust.


Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Published: July 12, 2016
Publisher: Little, Brown
Pages: 240
Audience: Middle Grade
Disclosure: Purchased copy


Fifth-grader Deja doesn't understand why they have to study history in school. To her the past is the past and it's better to look toward the future. She also doesn't understand why her dad is always sick and depressed and why he can no longer work -- especially since his lost income means they must now live in a homeless shelter. 

But when a school project forces Deja to confront a moment of history she knew absolutely nothing about, suddenly the past as well as their family's circumstances are very much part of her own present and future. 

It's hard to believe the kids I teach now weren't even born when 9/11 happened. This novel speaks to that feeling of what it must be like to be a kid who doesn't know about 9/11 when the adults in their lives are still haunted by it. For that reason, Towers Falling is a book for adults just as much as it is for kids.

This is NOT a Cat! by David Larochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

In mouse school it's very important that students know how to identify a cat -- it's a matter of life or death after all. But when a teacher's lesson on cat identification suddenly turns into a real world dilemma, readers are left wondering, is this really a cat?

Few words actually do the storytelling here. The heavy lifting is done with Mike Wohnoutka's adorable and hilarious illustrations. But don't let the scant number of words fool you. If read with conviction and expression, it's the words that will make kids laugh hysterically as they're discerning what's really happening in the story based on the pictures. I have a feeling this book will be a very popular read aloud with my students. I'm looking forward to watching their reactions as I read it to them.


This is NOT a Cat! by David Larochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
Published: August 9, 2016
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book
Disclosure: Finished copy provided by publisher

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. 

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor

Perry Cook's only home in his eleven years of life has been at the Blue River Co-ed Correctional Facility in Surprise, Nebraska. Yes, prison. Thanks to the vision of a forward-thinking warden, Perry has been able to stay with his mom and has come to know the inmates like family. The warden sees Perry's presence, the presence of young innocence, as a beacon of hope to for the residents at Blue River.

But when Thomas VanLeer, the new district attorney in Surprise, Nebraska, hears that a child is living at Blue River, he forces Perry from the only home he's ever known and puts him into a foster home -- his home. Which also happens to be the home of Perry's best friend Zoe because VanLeer is also Zoe's stepfather.

Not only is VanLeer keeping Perry from his mother, he is also (somewhat questionably) holding up her parole hearing due to his desire to conduct an investigation into any wrongdoing by the warden and the prisoners in allowing Perry to live at the prison.

While Perry is incredibly upset and resentful toward VanLeer for keeping him from his mother, he still manages to conduct himself with grace, dignity, and savviness beyond his years.

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook is a wonderful, heartfelt middle grade novel full of memorable, lovable characters. The story is meant to make you stop and think what it really means to be part of a community and how we view people who are incarcerated. Because this book brings forth those questions of community, Perry's story would be one worth reading aloud to a classroom full of upper elementary students to get kids thinking about what makes communities thrive -- even ones you wouldn't expect, like a prison community.


All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor
Published: March 1, 2016
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 400
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Audience: Middle Grade
Disclosure: Audiobook download provided by publisher

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. 

Esquivel! Space-Age Sound Artist by Susan Wood, illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh

Juan Garcia Esquivel was a self-taught musical child prodigy. He figured out how to disable the mechanism on the player piano in his house so that he could play it himself. By age seventeen he was already the bandleader of an orchestra for a comedy show at a radio station and quickly became an innovator in stereophonic sound.

Esquivel created a style and sound all his own that became iconic of soundtracks of the 1960s. If you want to hear his influence in a more modern soundtrack, check out the Austin Powers theme song to give you an idea of what kind of music Esquivel was creating.

But if you're going to read this book at all, you can't truly appreciate Esquivel's genius without listening to his actual music. So here is an Esquivel playlist on YouTube for your listening pleasure. Play it whilst reading this book.

Now that you have some background about who Esquivel was, let's talk about the actual content of the book, shall we? The writing of Susan Wood is both fluid and engaging. It's accessible to kids, but it's also a model of simple but effective prose. Here's a passage from the book that I found especially well-written:

Juan started experimenting with popular Mexican tunes. He tinkered with tempos, slowing songs down, then revving them up. He fiddled with dynamics, swapping soothing soft sounds and startling loud sounds. He twisted chords and combined instruments to sound thrilling, dreamy, and often funny, because Juan liked music that made people laugh. But underneath the humor, it took great music skill to play Juan's challenging music. 

What a perfect example to share with kids about writing with precision. The verbs Wood uses in that paragraph are all strong and action-oriented: tinkered, revving, fiddled, swapping, twisted, combined... along with precise musical nouns: tunes, tempos, dynamics, chords, instruments.

The illustrations of Duncan Tonatiuh are typical of his style, which is inspired from ancient Mexican art. I have read a few other books that Tonatiuh has illustrated and I have to admit, the style takes some getting used to. It's very flat and all of the people are always illustrated from a side profile. While this aspect of his illustrations takes some getting used to, what is always a delight about them is his bold lines and bright, opaque colors. 

A great book for music lovers of all ages.


Esquivel! Space-Age Sound Artist by Susan Wood, illustrated by Duncan Tonaituh
Expected Publication: September 6, 2016
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Pages: 32
Format/Genre: Picture book biography
Disclosure: Finished copy provided by publisher

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. 

Girl Last Seen by Heather Anastasiu and Anne Greenwood Brown

Kadence Mulligan and Lauren DeSanto are musical YouTube sensations. While Kadence loves the spotlight, Lauren is the brains and heart of the duo: writing soulful lyrics and haunting melodies. When Lauren falls ill and loses her voice for an indefinite amount of time, Kadence sees this as an opportunity to go solo. This along with some major boy-drama causes the two to have a falling out. This does not bode well for Lauren since she was the last person to see Kadence before she went missing.

Now it seems the only person at school who is convinced of Lauren's innocence is her former best friend who has a terrible secret of his own to hide, along with some rather disturbing writing and behavior that he must explain to the investigators of Kadence's missing person case.

Girl Last Seen is one of those books that I went into without any expectations. I hadn't heard of the authors before and I tend not to read a lot of mystery -- not because I dislike the genre, but because I don't come across that much of it in YA. So I started reading it rather slowly. I'd read a few pages and then put it down, read a few more pages and put it down... until I got to about the halfway point and then I couldn't put it down -- the wheels and cogs in my brain were turning at lightning speed because I was trying to figure out what happened to Kadence and who was responsible.

Girl Last Seen is an engaging read that keeps readers guessing until the very end. It's a great book to give to teens who love mystery and suspense with a dash of boy drama.

And, as an added bonus, I especially love that the publisher of Girl Last Seen, AW Teen, posted videos of Kadence and Lauren's songs to go along with the lyrics that are included in the story. (Though I caution you... listen to "Twisted" at your own risk. The chorus will likely get stuck in your head for days if you listen to it. I know it did mine!)

Book Trailer


"Twisted"


"Sing to Me, Calliope"



Girl Last Seen by Heather Anastasiu and Anne Greenwood Brown*  
Published: March 1, 2016
Publisher: AW Teen
Pages: 272
Genre: Mystery
Audience: Young Adult
Disclosure: ARC provided by publisher

*Purchasing the book from the above Bookshop affiliate link supports independent bookstores and gives me a small percentage of the sale.  

Return by Aaron Becker

If you have not read the stunning wordless picture book Journey, stop reading this blog post and do that right now before you even continue -- not because this review will spoil the trilogy for you, but because Journey is a book everyone should read and you need to get on that.

Return is the third and final book in the Journey trilogy and if you've read the other two books, it is just as stunning as you would expect it to be. It is a book that reminded me of everything I loved about Journey but this time the young protagonist understands the world in which she has drawn herself and is guiding someone into that world with her.

In Return, the young girl journeys back to the magical land into which she drew herself for the same reason she did before: a lack of attention from her family. Only this time, her father notices and follows her into this magical world. The man is awed by the wonder and curiosity of this place, but he can't quite take it all in because he is focused on finding his daughter. When he does finally catch up to her, she has no desire to return home with him, which leads them on a magical journey fraught with wonder and peril.

For lovers of Journey and Quest, Return is everything you want it to be: stunning illustrations, a compelling story full of imagination and fantasy, and characters that we find a way to care about despite the fact that they never speak.

I can't wait to share this book with my students in the fall. Thank you Aaron Becker for gracing the world with the gift of your stories and drawings.

GIVEAWAY! (Note: This giveaway has ended)

In anticipation of the release of Return, Candlewick Press is generously giving away to the readers of this blog a hardcover copy of both Journey and Quest to get caught up on the trilogy before the third books comes out.

Terms and conditions:
Must be 13 or older to enter and have a U.S. or Canadian mailing address
One winner will be selected to receive a hardcover copy of Journey and Quest.
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Whose Story Is This, Anyway? by Mike Flaherty, illustrated by Oriol Vidal

This is the story of a young boy and his cat, Emperor Falafel.

Or maybe it's a story about Salty Pete the Pirate?

No. It's definitely about a taco truck-loving dinosaur.

Or maybe it's about vikings?

No, robots. Definitely robots.

In Whose Story Is This, Anyway? our young narrator gets increasingly agitated that other storybook characters are horning in on the story he is trying to tell about his life and pet cat. Of course, what our young narrator fails to realize (at least at first anyway) is that pirates, dinosaurs, aliens, vikings, and robots showing up unexpectedly in your life makes for quite a riveting story.

This would be a fabulous mentor text to share with students about how the story or piece of writing your intended to write might not be the piece you end up with -- and why that's perfectly OK!


Whose Story Is This, Anyway? by Mike Flaherty, illustrated by Oriol Vidal
Published: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book
Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher 

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. 

Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat

When taking a road trip, especially one to Grandma's house, the drive can seem endless. To the point where time doesn't just stand still... it moves backwards.

All I can say about this book is that Dan Santat is a genius. This book is cray... And I mean that in the best possible way. From time moving so slow you have to read the book backwards, to robots talking in QR codes, and even the beloved Beekle making a surprise appearance, Are We There Yet? is sure to entertain the most discriminating readers.

Despite winning the most coveted prize in children's picture book illustration last year, Dan Santat continues to push himself creatively and artistically, which for many people would be hard to do after experiencing such a career high. In Are We There Yet? Santat returns to his more humorous side that we're used to seeing in his books, but he found a way to show his readers that he's trying new things and not resting on his laurels. While I certainly love The Adventures of Beekle, I almost love Are We There Yet? more (almost) because my appreciation for Santat's work went from excited for his Caldecott win to realizing he is a full-fledged artistic genius.

Check out the fabulous book trailer for Are We There Yet?



Are We There Yet? by Dan Santat
Published: April 12, 2016
Publisher: Little, Brown
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book
Audience: Primary/Middle Grade
Disclosure: Library Copy

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. 

Audiobook review: The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon

Lovers of Lemony Snicket, Neil Gaiman, and Roald Dahl (there's quite the Trunchbull-like character in this novel) will surely find nothing dull about The Doldrums, the story of a young Archer Helmsley who lives with his parents in the house formerly occupied by his grandparents. While Archer has never met his grandparents, he feels very close to them and wishes he could accompany them on their great adventures around the world. Instead, he must be reminded daily by his mother that life should be lived with an abundance of caution because no one wants to end up presumed dead as a result of a rogue iceberg in Antarctica like his grandparents. 

But Archer is convinced that his grandparents are in fact alive and he enlists the help of his two friends -- Adélaïde L. Belmont who moved to their little town from France and claims she lost her leg to a crocodile, and Oliver Glub, who is as practical as Archer is impetuous -- to accompany him to Antarctica to find them. 

I listened to the audiobook of this novel, but also checked out a physical copy of the book at the library so as not to miss out on the stunning color illustrations that reminded me a bit of Molly Idle's style.

Bronson Pinchot narrates the audiobook and does a fabulous job. After listening to him narrate The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, I already decided that if I ever saw him narrate another audiobook, I would listen to it regardless if I wanted to read the book or not. His voices are always so full of life and character. I especially loved how Pinchot interpreted the character of Oliver Glub, someone who knows how to rock a lisp. 

I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 


The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon
Audiobook Narrator: Bronson Pinchot
Published: September 29, 2015
Publisher: Greenwillow/HarperAudio
Pages: 358
Audiobook Length: 6 hours, 19 minutes
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Middle Grade
Disclosure: Audiobook download provided by publisher
 
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Treat by Mary Sullivan

Mary Sullivan's picture book Ball is a favorite of mine, so I was elated to discover she had another one-word story, Treat, and it is just as charming as her first. I especially love that both Ball and Treat say "Word and Pictures by Mary Sullivan." That just makes me giggle every time I see it.  

As you would imagine, Treat is the story of a highly food-motivated dog who thinks of nothing but where he can find his next snack. As he begs several different members of his family and is teased mercilessly by the family toddler, this French Bulldog walks off dejected and has a series of odd dreams that all revolve around objects he encountered during the day. The big question readers are left wondering as they turn the pages is: will this neglected pooch find something to sate his hunger?

To say the dog in this book reminds me of my pug Frank would be an understatement. He has spent his entire life trying to think of ways to acquire his next meal or snack. And if he's not looking for a snack, he's looking for a lap. So I think I'm definitely going to have to own this book. 

Was Mary Sullivan inspired by my pug Frank? :)

Treat by Mary Sullivan
Published: March 1, 2016
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book
Disclosure: Library Copy

If you buy this book or any book through Amazon, it is my hope that you also regularly patronize independent bookstores, which are important centerpieces of thriving communities. While I am an Amazon Affiliate, that by no means implies that I only buy my books through their website. Please make sure you are still helping small, independent bookstores thrive in your community. To locate an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. 

The Typewriter blog tour + giveaway: Interview with Bill Thomson

I am excited to interview Bill Thomson on the blog today for his new picture book, The Typewriter.

In this nearly wordless picture book, a group of kids happen upon a typewriter on a carousel and suddenly the words they type become their fantastical reality. For readers who enjoyed Chalk and Fossil, The Typewriter is classic Bill Thomson. 

In your new book, a group of kids discover a typewriter that drastically and magically transforms their surroundings whenever they type on it. If you discovered a magical typewriter, what is the first word you would type on it?

This might sound like the standard answer of a beauty queen contestant, but the first word I would type is LOVE. With all the sadness and self-absorption in the world, we could all use more love and compassion for each other.

The kids in the story find the typewriter on a carousel. What is significant about the bumblebee on the carousel?

The Typewriter, celebrates the power of words. The book intends to foster creativity and encourages young readers to view writing as a fun and powerful tool. To attract the interest of children, I placed the typewriter in a shiny black case adorned with letters on the back of a bumblebee on a carousel. The bee stands out as a different choice from the carousel horses, representing the choice to write as one of the many possible activities that children can devote their time to. When they open the case, the children discover a vintage typewriter with a ribbon that matches the bumblebee. As the children type, their words are brought to life. I hope the ensuing adventure encourages young readers to use their imaginations and appreciate the power of words and the wonderful potential they offer.

What can a typewriter do that a computer can't?

A typewriter works when the power goes out. A typewriter plays beautiful music in click-clack sort of way. A typewriter also allows us to hold our words, and even offers the chance to crumple them into a ball if we don’t like what we wrote (a delete button doesn’t offer the same release of frustration). And finally, a typewriter connects us to our past and was the tool used to create many great works of literature.

Since my blog is about food, books, and travel, what is your favorite food, favorite book, and favorite place you’ve ever traveled?

Of all the places I have traveled, my favorite place is Sunset Beach, North Carolina. My family has been going there for forty years, and it is the most relaxing place I know. The beach in The Typewriter was based on photos I took of Sunset Beach (as was the crab that I caught there with my sons). Excluding the Bible, my favorite book is Rodeo Drawings of Murray Tinkleman by Murray Tinkelman. Murray was my undergraduate illustration teacher and he changed the course of my entire life. His fantastic book contains the most beautifully rendered pen and ink drawings that I have ever seen, and although I have had it for over thirty years, it still continues to amaze me to this day. My favorite food is a chilidog from Frankie’s Restaurant in Waterbury, Connecticut. Visiting Frankie’s has been a family tradition for nearly five decades, and while some restaurants may offer fancier food or more luxurious surroundings, there is no place I would rather eat. 



About the Author:

Bill Thomson is the creator of Chalk and Fossil and the illustrator of Baseball Hour, Karate Hour, Soccer Hour, and Building with Dad, all written by Carol Nevius. Thomson’s books have received many accolades: the National Parenting Publications Gold Award, designation as a Notable Children’s Book by the American Library Association, a Teacher’s Choice selection from the International Reading Association, a Booklist Editor’s Choice, the Connecticut Book Award for Children’s Illustrator, Kentucky’s Bluegrass Award, Ohio’s Buckeye Children’s Book Award, and the Prix Livrentête in Paris, France. Thomson’s artwork has also received more than 75 awards in the country’s most prestigious juried illustration competitions.

Thomson lives with his family in Southington, Connecticut and is also a professor of illustration at the University of Hartford. To see more of his artwork, visit: www.billthomson.com.

Download the curriculum guide

Giveaway!

Win a copy of THE TYPEWRITER 

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 Follow all of the stops on his tour!

Mar 4      Teach Mentor Texts 

Mar 7      The Book Monsters 

Mar 8      Kid Lit Frenzy

Mar 9      5 Minutes for Books 

Mar 10    Cracking the Cover
Mar 11    Unleashing Readers
Mar 14   Sharpread
Mar 15   Jean Little Library
Mar 16   NC Teacher Stuff
Mar 17   A Rup Life 

Mar 18   A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust
Mar 22   Library Fanatic